This most interesting and unusual name is a rare variant of "Skerne", which is of English locational origin from Skerne, the name of a river in Durham and a parish and village in Yorkshire. The river-name appears as "Schyrna" circa 1190 in Feodarium Prioratus Dunelmensis, while the latter placename was recorded as "Schime" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The placename itself derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century word "scir", meaning "bright and clear", with the "Sk-" indicating a Scandinavian influence. Early recordings of the variants include the following: George, son of Nicholas Skearne who was christened at Dartford, Kent, on September 21st, 1562; while one Johes Skerne was christened at Whitgift, Yorkshire, on November 8th 1563; and Elleonar Skarine married George Glanvell at Allhallows, London Wall, London, on November 2nd 1632. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Nicholas Skern who married Alice Stokemaid which was dated July 14th 1551, at the Church of St. Peter Cornhill, London, during the reign of KIng Edward V1, known as "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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