Laslett - Name

This very unusual name is well recorded but not before the early 18th Century in England. It is a patronymic (son of) development of the Slavanic word "lach" and translates as "The person from Poland", "Lash" being a similar national descriptive surname to Scot, England or Frank. The name actually translates as "A Dalesman" or "Countryman" but in the context of the surname has a national meaning. The name development in England includes Stephen Laslett, who married Elizabeth male at St. Botolphs Church, Bishopsgate on February 5th, 1737 and Michael Laslett, christened at St. Mary's, Rotherhithe, on January 4th 1807. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Lacelett, which was dated 1723, who married Mary Clark at the Church of St. Bent, London, during the reign of King George 1, known as "Hanover George", 1715 - 1727. 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.