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The fourteenth-century poll tax returns and the study of English surname distribution

Parkin, Harry

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Authors

Harry Parkin



Abstract

The modern-day distributions of English surnames have been considered in genealogical, historical, and philological research as possible indicators of their origins. However, many centuries have passed since hereditary surnames were first used, and so their distribution today does not necessarily reflect their original spread, misrepresenting their origins. Previously, medieval data with national coverage have not been available for a study of surname distribution, but with the recent publication of the fourteenth-century poll tax returns, this has changed. By presenting discrepancies in medieval and nineteenth-century distributions, it is shown that more recent surname data may not be a suitable guide to surname origins and can be usefully supplemented by medieval data in order to arrive at more accurate conclusions.

Citation

Parkin, H. (2015). The fourteenth-century poll tax returns and the study of English surname distribution. Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History, 48(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/01615440.2014.946985

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 2, 2014
Online Publication Date Jan 22, 2015
Publication Date Jan 1, 2015
Deposit Date Mar 15, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Historical Methods
Print ISSN 0161-5440
Electronic ISSN 1940-1906
Publisher Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 48
Issue 1
Pages 1-12
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/01615440.2014.946985
Keywords distribution, medieval period, poll tax
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/843883
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01615440.2014.946985
Additional Information Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History on 22 January 2015, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/01615440.2014.946985

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