Beyer

This interesting surname of German and Ashkenazic origin is a regional name for someone from Bavaria, German Bayern. This region of southern Germany derives its name from that of the Celtic tribe of the Boii who once inhabited this area as well as Bohemia. In the 6th Century they were displaced by a Germanic people, a branch of the Marcomanni, who took the name Boioarii, or Baiuoarii. The surname dates back to the late 13th Century, (see below). Further recordings include John le Beyere (1292) "The Hundred Rolls of Hertfordshire". Katherine Byer married Henry Pavill on June 14th 1648, at St. Bartholomew the less, London. Elizabeth Frances, daughter of John and Martha Beyer, was christened on October 1772, at St. Vedest, Foster Lane and St. Michael le Querne London, and Anne, daughter of Adam and Anne Beyer, was christened on March 4th 1764, at St. Anne Soho, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Simon le Beier, which was dated 1273, "The Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire", during the reign of King Edward 1, "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. 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.