This is an East Anglian dialectal corruption of the Norse-Viking 8th century locational word 'skali' which developed into the twelfth century 'scale or scole' - and means 'the dweller at the hut or sheds'. It is found as well in the village names of Scales, Schole or Scole in Cumberland, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Norfolk and probably refers to the buildings or temporary huts used by shepherds. The origin is also found in the surnames: Scholar, Scoular and Scollard and Scholey or Schooley, where the meaning is 'the hut on the low lying lands'. The first recording in the East Anglian mode is probably William Skowle of Lincoln circa 1350. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas del Scales, which was dated 1332, in the Pipe Rolls of Cumberland, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as the Father of the Navy, 1327-1377. 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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