Greenard - Name

This is a rare and unusual name which appears to derive from the Olde English "Grene-weard" - a forester or warden of the Green(wood), but almost certainly is from the German equivalent "Grien-Wald". This is born out by the recording for 1827, the earlier recording being perhaps an "anglicised" version. It is probable that the origination in England has an association with the Huguenots, but this is unproven. The name recordings include Mary Grienard, christened at St. Andrews, Holborn on April 27th 1827, Charles Greenard who married Sophia Bacon at St. Nicholas, Deptford on March 24th 1830, and the further variant Greenhard, William Greenhard being a witness at the Church of Holy Trinity in the Minories, May 10th 1863. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Susannah Greenerd, which was dated September 17th 1794, married John Gilbird at St. Mary-le-Bone, during the reign of King George III, "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.