This interesting and unusual name is of medieval Spanish origin, and has two possible sources. Firstly, it may be a locational surname deriving from any of the numerous places called "Real" in Spain. All of these are named with the Spanish term "real", encampment, rural property, ultimately derived from the Arabic "rah(a)l", farmhouse, cabin. Secondly, the modern surname Real may represent a "nickname surname", one that was gradually created from the habitual use of a nickname during the medieval period of surname acquisition, as is the case with a large grow of modern names. In this instance, the nickname would have been bestowed on someone who behaved in a regal manner, from the Spanish "real", royal, from the Latin "regalis". It may also in some few instance be an occupational name for someone in the service of the king. The surname is also found in London in the early 19th Century: the marriage of Manuel Fereso Real and Sarah Brooks was recorded at St. Anne's, Soho, on April 28th 1819. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Bernarda Lopez Real (christening), which was dated August 20th 1684, San Nicolas de Bari, Valladolid, Spain, during the reign of King Charles 11, King of Spain, 1665 - 1700. 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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