d'Elboux

This interesting French-Flemish surname is both locational and (possibly) job descriptive. It derives from the town of Elbeuf, famous in medieval times for the manufacture of a type of Linen. The name is also recorded heraldically as d'elbo of Eggremont in Flanders, the Coat of Arms being a Silver fish on a blue sea, surmounted by two gold knights spurs. It is almost certain that the original entry into England resulted from Huguenot associations, both the date and the name recordings at Huguenot Churches, appearing to give the necessary confirmation. An example is Sarah Delboux married at St. Martins in the Fields, Westminster to a Lovis Grant on February 25th 1808. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Francis Delboux, which was dated September 13th 1767, married of Hannah English at St. James, Westminster, during the reign of King George 111, 'Farmer George', 1760 - 1820. 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.