As with many old English personal names such as "Alfgar" composed of the disparate elements "aelf", elf and "gari", spear, most double-barrelled names are the result of a marriage between two families, where the resulting name has no overall meaning, but the separate elements have their own meaning and derivation. In this instance Oldfield, is of English locational origin from any of the various places so called, for example, in Yorkshire, Worcestershire, and Cheshire. The name in all cases, derives from the Old English pre 7th Century "eald", old, plus "feld", translating variously as pasture, open country or land free from wood. Cherry, is an occupational name for a grower of seller of cherries deriving from the Middle English "chirie", a cherry. An early recording of this name appears as Robert Chyry (1284 Assize Rolls of Lancashire). One John Oldfield (1789 - 1863) was a general who played a major role in the battle of Waterloo. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Agnes de Aldfeld, which was dated 1221, "Tuely Diocesan Registry", Suffolk, during the reign of King Henry 111, "The Frenchman", 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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