This long-established surname is of combined Old French and Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old French "char", car, cart, and Olde English pre 7th Century "mann", man, and was originally given as an occupational name to a carter or driver of a "char". The name also appears as "Charer" in early documents. In its original sense "a man who has to do with", the agent suffix "-er" designates persons according to their profession or occupation. Job-descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and later became hereditary. Early examples of the surname include: John le Charrer, 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of Nottinghamshire; William le Charman, witness, in the Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire, dated 1293; and Adam le Charman, 1310, in the Calendar of Letter Books for the City of London. A quotation from "Issues of the Exchequer", dated 1333, reads, "To Master William la Zousche, clerk of the King's great wardrobe, in money, paid to him by the hands of John le Charer, for making a certain chariot". On July 1st 1542, Edward, son of Thomas and Margerye Charman, was christened at Horsham, Sussex, and on February 23rd 1544, Patrenell Charman and John Stone were married at Stopham, also in Sussex. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Chareman, which was dated 1183, in the "Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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.

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