Chapter 5 - As far back as surnames go
he beginning of a story is a good place to start; but where is that? We cannot go back as far as the Garden of Eden. If we did, we would find Adam had no Surname. We must pick up the story at the turn of first millennium in England when more than nine-tenths of the population lived in the countryside. For two-hundred years, this percentage remained unchanged. Surnames were unnecessary because families worked on small farms and rarely had time to travel far. Late twelfth century changed that. Towns began to grow: Oxford and Cambridge grew around their universities, Rochester and Orford in Suffolk grew around their Castles Durham and Lincoln around their cathedrals.
One person now had to be distinguished from another with the same name because he no longer worked in the family unit, but travelled to sell his skills. Most middle and upper classes would want to continue the name of the father or grandfather down through the family to denote the line of succession. The first-born male carried the traditional first name; the second male carried the name of an uncle and so on. A growing trend after C1100 AD, gave children the names of kings or lordly persons. In Saxon times, the face of England changed rapidly - almost daily. Many Saxon kings gave way to a rising national monarchy under the invading Norman king William. William of Normandy fought long and hard during this consolidation. Twenty years after his invasion, only two major estates remained in English hands. William brought with him the French language, which remained as the main language for two hundred years then rapidly became Anglicised throughout half the country, forcing the other half to adapt and accommodate. William, having imposed the feudal system, rewarded many of those who fought with him with huge estates, (in return of course for a regular donation to his coffers).
Many of the poor but free peasants under Edward the Confessor (1042 AD), ousted from their land and possessions, were now forced to become bondsman under new Lords of the local manor.
Limmers were here well before 1000 AD. It is hard to establish where and when they came, earliest theories might suggest C450 AD30 or as late as C700 AD31. We can say with some authority that at a time when Saxon Chief Woke was establishing his people in Wokingham and Wokefield, Limmers were establishing their name in history in place names nearby as we shall see now by taking a second look at some early maps.