Vallender

This is a Huguenot name first recorded in the 17th Century as Valledino. The origination of the name is believed to be from the Provence Region of France. The name translating as 'the son of one who resided in the Little Valley'. The name in England has been slightly transferred to give an appearance of being job descriptive, but this was probably a 'political' move to try to lose the original continental appearance. The name recordings include Robert Valender who married Sarah Randall at St. Mary le Bone on September 26th 1733 and Leah Vallender, who married one Robert Dempster at St. Lukes, Chelsea, on February 8th 1792. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jean Vallendino, which was dated September 23rd 1688, witness at Threadneedle, St. Huguenot Church, during the reign of King William III, 1689 -1702, 'William of Orange.' 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.