Recorded in many forms as shown below, this is an English surname, although one of French origins. It derives from and is a diminutive of, the female given name "Emma". This personal name was introduced into England before the Norman Conquest of 1066, and is strictly speaking of pre 7th century Germanic origins. It is said that it originates from the word "ermin", meaning entire. Queen Emma married the unfortunate English king known to history as 'Aethelrede the Unready' in the year 1002, and later after his death to King Canute in 1017. It seems that she was highly respected and as such she gave the name its popularity which as apersonal name it has never lost. The modern surname can be found in a very wide range of spellings including Emmett, Emmott, Emmitt, Emmatt, Hemmett, Emeline, Emblin, Embling, Emblem and Emblen. Amongst the many recordings in the surviving church registers of the city of London are the christenings of Ann, daughter of William and Mary Emblem, on June 23rd 1717 at St. Mary's, Whitechapel, Stepney, and of Richard, son of John and Mary Emblen, in June 1774 at St. Clement Danes, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Emelin, which was dated 1208, in the "Charter Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. 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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