Schoular

This interesting surname has two possible sources; the first is of English origin, and is a topographical name for someone who lived 'by the shieling with a hut'. The name is derived from the Old Norse 'skali', a hut and 'erg', shieling. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names. The second source is also of English origin and is derived from a nickname for a person who could read and write, in the days when education was the exception rather than the rule. The name is derived from the Middle English (1200-1500) 'scoler', aphetic, from the Old French 'escoler' which is from the Latin 'scholaris'. The modern surname can be found as Schol(l)ar, Scholer, Scollard and Scoular. The marriages were recorded in London of David Schollar and Margaret Hill on October 4th 1677 at St. Katherine-by-the-Tower, and of Joseph Schollar and Grace Burgess on August 28th 1751 at St. George, Mayfair, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam del Scoler, which was dated 1332, in the Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as 'The Father of the Navy', 1327-1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.