An interesting name of Scottish origin this is a dialectal variant of the locational name Tarras, from a place so called in the parish of Rafford, Moray. The derivation of this surname is possibly from the Olde French 'terrace', meaning Rubble or platform, as the variants include Terras and Terrace. Jacobus Terras, is on record as 'Succentor of Moray' in 1659, and as example of the name development, James Tarres, former bailie of Elgin is recorded in 1669. There are two example, of the name Tarras, when, it is recorded a pension was paid to Elizabeth Tarras in Edinburgh in 1732, and David Tarras appears in the 'Commissariot of Aberdeen' in 1783. There is also evidence of the name reaching London as early as 1605 when Tobie Terris married Jane Ellyott on 2nd March at St. Giles, Cripplegate. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam de Tarays, Monk, which was dated 1375, Register of the Abbey of 'Aberbrothoc'. during the reign of Robert II of Scotland, 1371 - 1390. 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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