A locational name derived from the Parish of Moorby, in Lincolnshire, near Horncastle. The origin is Danish-Viking pre 8th Century and means 'the dweller at the farm (by) on the moor'. Like most locational names, the original holder was the Lord of the Manor, or in this case the Lords, an occurence which was rare but not by any means unknown. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elena de Moreby. which was dated 1379 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Records. during the reign of King Richard 11, nicknamed Richard of Bordeaux 1378 - 1400. 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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