Apparently recorded in the surviving registers of England since the 18th century and in the spellings of Gland, Glander, Glanders, Glendor, Glend, Glind and Glinds, we believe that the origin may be Anglo-Saxon. The surname would seem to originate from the words 'glend or glan(d)t', which were topographical in ancient times to describe an area of land in a forest, cleared for agriculture. An example of a place name which may also provide the origin is Glandorf. The surname is well recorded in the registers of the city of London since at least Stuart times, with for instance Thomas Glendore and his wife Katherine who witnessed the christening of their daughter Katherine at St Olaves church, Hart Street, in the city of London on August 13th 1655, and Thomas Glander and his wife Margery, who were also christening witness's, but at Allhallows church, London Wall, on September 8th 1672. Other recordings include William Gland at St Botophs Bishopgate on September 28th 1718, and Samuel Glind at St Saviour Southwark, on October 27th 1805. In the USA the name is said to have the additional recording as Glinde, Glanz and Glendzer, the latter being found in Pennsylvania as early as 1784. On this basis the first recorded spelling of the family name may be that of Hans Glend. This was dated 1480, when he was recorded as the miller of Neckartenzlingen, Germany, during the reign of Emperor Frederick 111rd of Hapsburg, 1440 - 1493. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes 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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