Stanmer

This interesting and unusual name is the patronymic form (son of) of Stammer, itself derived from the Olde English personal name 'Stanmorr'. This pre 7th century a.d. personal or baptismal name is composed of the elements 'stan', stone and 'moer', - famous. Quite why anybody should be called 'Famous stone' is unclear, but the origin is probably a religious temple such as 'Stone-henge' or similar. There is an alternative in that it maybe a habitational name from a place such as Stanmer in Sussex or Stanmore in Middlesex. The derivation of these place names is from the Olde English 'stan', stone and 'mere', a lake. Early church examples of recordings include Margarett Stammirs, the infant daughter of John Stammers, (so much for spelling!) christened on the 6th July 1603, at Kingston Gorse, Sussex, and Sarah Stammer who married Matthew Draper at St Botolphs Church, Bishopgate, London, on August 5th 1629. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Widwinus Stammere, which was dated 1220, in the register of St Bartholomews Hospital, London, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as the Frenchman, circa 1216 - 1272. 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.