Winsborrow - Name

This interesting locational name is of Olde English origin and derives from the Village now called, Winsbury in Somerset, but formally "Wineces burug" as recorded in 963. By 1164, the spelling had become "Winuc's burg", the change to the modern spelling being Circa 1340. The surname development has included Hellen Winsberrye recorded at the Abbey of St. Nicholas Cole in 1540, whilst Ann Sophiam Winsbury was found at Lincolns Inn Fields in 1543 and a later variant spelling as "Windsbrow" was recorded in 1812, when Ann Rachel Windstrow was baptised at St. Mary Lambeth. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of George Winsborrow. which was dated 1779, Baptised at St. Clement Danes, London. 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.