Double barrelled names are the (usually) Victorian equivalent of the Olde personal names of the pre 10th Century which were often compounds such as 'Arnkjell' translating as 'Eagle-Cauldron' a name which has no specific meaning when comformed although the individual parts have their own translating. In this case 'Read' derives from the Olde English 'Rud' meaning 'a red haired person' ie. a Saxon, as in Godwine Le Rede, 1273, Norfolk, whilst Moutray is of French origin and derives from 'Montreuil', a name recorded Heraldically in Rietstap's Armorial General. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Montreuil de Gramont. which was dated C. 1680 Paris, France. during the reign of King Louis X1V, The Sun King 1643 - 1715. 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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