This unusual name is of Dutch origin, found mainly in the province of Utrecht, and first recorded there in Rietstap's Armorial General (see below). The arms granted to Johannes van Dompselaer consisted of a red cross on a silver field, the cross traditionally symbolising Christian faith. The name is thought to be locational, but the origin and meaning are obscure. There are a number of variant forms of the surname recorded in the Netherlands: the marriage of Johannes Dompzelaar to Yda Klaas at Oresijssel, in August 1725; the christening of Wijnades Domseller on July 16th 1747 at Monnikendam in North Holland, and the marriage of Anna Hendrika Dompsler to Roelof Rijphagen on May 15th 1791 at Nijbroek, Gelderland. Among the recordings of the name in England occurs the marriage of John Dompselar to Sarah Swan, on January 30th 1804 at Newgate, in London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes van Dompselaer, which was dated 1680, Ulrecht, Rietstap's Armorial General, during the reign of King William 11, Stadtholder and Prince of Orange, 1647-1702. 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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