Scullard

There are at least two possible origins for this interesting medieval English surname, found in the modern spelling as Scollard and Scullard. The most likely is that it is a patronymic or diminutive development of the surname "Skull" or "Schol" meaning either a bald headed person, or a Scholar, plus the suffix "ard" to denote son of or little. However there is a claim that the name is habitational and derives from a "lost" village called Scollard, apparently the place of the scholars, but we have not been able to identify such a spot. The name development includes Benjamen Scullard who married Mary Biss at St. James church, Clerkenwell on December 16th 1692, whilst Jane Scullerd was christened at New Broad street Presbyterian Church, London On June 13th 1714 in the last year of Queen Anne. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of James Scollard, which was dated November 16th 1676 married Margaret Kirke, at the church of St. Katherine's by the Tower, London, during the reign of King Charles 11, known as "The Merry Monarch", 1660 - 1685. 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.