Recorded in several spelling forms including Inger, Inker, believed to be a Somerset spelling, and Ingerson, this is an English medieval surname, but probably of pre 7th century Scandinavian-Viking origins. It was not as may be implied occupational, but is a rare survival of the Norse personal name "Ingvarr", composed of the elements "Ing", originally the name of a minor Norse god associated with fertility, and "varr", a guard. It is first recorded in the famous Domesday Book of 1086 as Ingeuuar and Imgarus, and surprisingly given the propensity for French and names of "Christian" origin, was still in use as a given name even as late as the end of the 15th Century. The register of the guild known as Corpus Christi of the city of York in the year 1472, lists one Ingre Jonson. Examples of the surname recording taken from surviving church registers of the diocese of Greater London include that of Ellen Inger who married Henry Humfry in 1589, and later Edwin Inker and his wife Harriett who were christening witnesses at St Pancras Old Church, on Febuary 4th 1867. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of Roger Inger. This was dated 1255, in the "Hundred Rolls" of the county of Wiltshire, during the reign of King Henry 111 of England, 1216 - 1272. 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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