Sixsmith - Name

This interesting and unusual name, recorded in the Winwick area of Lancashire from the late 16th Century under the variant spellings Suchsmithe, Suxsmith and Sixesmith, is a variant form either of Scythe-smith or Sickle-smith, both occupational names from makers of the said implements. The former derives from the old English pre 7th Century "Sigthe", a scythe, plus "Smith", a smith, and the latter from "Sicol smith". On May 11th 1589 Alis Suxsmith, an infant, was christened in Winwick. Entries in "Wills Records at Chester" include Thomas Sixsmith of Atherton and John Sixsmith of Wigan. In 1617 Thomas Sixesmith or Sicksmith was entered in "The Oxford University Register". On February 22nd 1619, Anne Sixsmith was christened in Leigh, and on August 30th 1623 Ann Sixsmith married a John Holt in Winwick. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Bryan Suchsmithe, (christening), which was dated September 17th 1585, Winwick, Lancashire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.