Wimbridge

This unusual and interesting name is of early medieval origin and is a locational surname from the estimated seven to ten thousand villages and hamlets that have now disappeared from the maps in Britain. Enforced 'clearing' and dispersal of the former inhabitants to make way for sheep pastures in the 14th Century was a prime cause of these 'disappearances' along with natural causes such as the Black Death of 1348. The name means 'meadow or pasture near the bridge' from the Olde English 'wynn', meaning meadow and 'brycg', bridge. Wimbridge would have been a surname given to 'one who hailed from that place'. Church recordings include one Mary, daughter of William and Elizabeth Wimbridge who was christened on October 29th 1704 at St. Dunstan Stepney, Thomas Wembridge married Mary Singer on February 28th 1786 at St. Marylebone, St. Mary St., Marylebone Rd, London and their son William was christened on April 20th 1788 also at St. Marylebone, St. Mary Street, Marylebone Rd., Thomas Wembridge who married Mary Singer on February 28th 1686 at St. Marylebone, St. Mary Street, Marylebone Rd., London, and their son William was christened on April 20th 1788 also at St. Marylebone, St. Mary Street, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Mary Wimbridge (christened), which was dated 1704, St. Dunstan's, London, during the reign of Queen Anne, Last Stuart Monarch, 1702 - 1714. 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.