This unusual name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational surname deriving from the place called 'Timperleigh' or 'Timperley' in North Cheshire. The place is recorded in the 'Pudsay Deeds' of circa 1230 as 'Timperley', and in the Court Rolls of Cheshire of 1285 as 'Tympirleg'. The name means 'the clearing where timber for building was obtained', derived from the Old English pre 7th Century 'timber', wood, timber, with 'leah', glade, clearing in a wood, thin wood. The change of 'p' for 'b' is evident also in the Middle English term 'timperon', timber building, found in Cumberland, which is a development of the Old English 'timber-aern', 'aern' meaning 'building'. Locational surnames were acquired mainly by those former inhabitants of a place who moved to another area, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. Henry Timperley was christened at St. Mary's, Stockport, in Cheshire, in February 1640. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Emmet Timberly (marriage to Francis Hatterly), which was dated August 30th 1561, St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, 'Good Queen Bess', 1558-1603. 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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