This interesting name is of English locational origin from "Nyland", a place in both Dorset, recorded "Iland" in the Domesday Book 1086 and "Liland" in Feet of Fines of Dorset, 1212, and Somerset, recorded "Ederedeseie" in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, 725. The former derives from the Old English word "iegland", island, the addition of "N" comes from "atten iegland", at the island (the "-n" at the end of "atten" being fused with "iegland") and the latter from the pre-seventh Century personal name "Eadred", thus meaning "Eadred's island". William Kneeland married Helen Hickman at St. Dunstan, Stepney in London on February 13th 1613, while a Margaret Neland married Roger Ounsted at St. Stepney, Dunstan on April 29th 1628. At Benedict Grace church in London, Thomas Kneeling married Sarah Booth Willis Neeland was christened on April 27th 1767. Sustauas Nyland married Ann McCormack at Christ Church, Greyfriars, Newgate in London on August 7th 1814. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Knellen, was christened on, which was dated June 20th 1552, at St. James Clerkenwell, London, during the reign of King Edward 1, "The Boy King", 1547 - 1553. 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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