This interesting surname, with variant spellings Taverner, Taven(n)er, Tavenor, Tavner, etc., derives from the Anglo-Norman French 'taverner', itself coming from the Olde French 'tavernier', meaning 'tavern-keeper', and was originally given as an occupational name to an innkeeper. The surname first appears on record in the latter part of the 12th Century, (see below). Other early recordings include: William le Tauernier, (Yorkshire, 1177); Richard le Taverner, the 1173 'Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire', and John le Tevernour, A Calendar of documents held in the Tower of London, dated 1327. Richard Taverner, (1505 - 1575), a religious reformer, published his English version of the bible in 1539, and upon his release from the Tower of London was granted various estates by Henry V111 in circa 1545. On February 25th 1592, Richard Tavernor and Elizabeth Barbor were married at St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, London, and on June 30th 1616, Christopher Tavernor, an infant, was christened in Allhallows, Bread Street, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William le Tauerner, (note 'u' for 'v'), which was dated 1175, The Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Henry 11, 'The Builder of Churches', 1154 - 1189. 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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