This interesting name is locational from places so called in Berkshire and Warwicks, which derive from the Olde English pre 7th Century, 'hyrne', corner or bend, and 'leah' a clearing. Thus describing a village built perhaps, on a corner of cleared land. In medieval times as migration from country to town was becoming increasingly common people often adopted their village name as a means of identification. At Epson, Surrey in 1778 one Elizabeth Hurley married Thomas Meek. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John de Hurleia, which was dated 1210 - 1211, Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire, during the reign of King John, '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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