This is an Italian or Southern French patronymic or diminutive form of the Old French residential or job descriptive surname Cormie, Cormy, or Curmo. It derives from the word "cormier", and describes one who lived by a plantation or orchard of "corme trees", or who worked the orchard. The "corme" was cultivated both for its white flowers, believed to have healing properties, and its edible brown fruits, which have an apple-like quality, but have the appearance of a bulb. Perhaps surprisingly, the earliest recordings in any spelling are found in England, one William Corme being registered at the famous church of St. Dunstan's in the East, London, on his marriage to Agnes Esvis, on July 19th 1579. This however, is more a comment on the paucity of European records, than a definite indication of origin. Other recordings include Adolf Corms, who married Christina Von Beck at Linnep, Rheinland, on August 20th 1684, and Mathias Curm, who was christened at Birkesdorf (also Rheinland), on July 20th 1742, whilst Joseph Curmi is recorded as a christening witness at San Guiseppe Iato, Palermo, Italy, on January 15th 1891. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jeanne Cormy, which was dated February 18th 1612, marriage to Jean Guillot, at Rumigny, Ardennes, France, during the reign of King Louis X111 of France, 1610 - 1643. 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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