This very interesting name appears in almost all European countries, although under a wide variety of localised spellings perhaps rather unusually one of the earliest recordings is in London (as shown), it is probable that originally earlier records existed on the continent, but like many such names the records were probably lost in the second world war holocaust. The meaning of Bobasch - Botas - Bobek - Bobik - Botascheck etc. is uncertain but is probably a development of the Russian "Bobr" meaning "The Beaver" - the word also means "brown", and may have referred originally to persons of brown complexion. It is also possible that some names developed from the Latin "Balbus", found in Spain as "Bobo" (to stammer). Name recordings include David and Elizabeth Bobas, witness at their daughter Elizabeth's christening, at Allhallows Church, London Wall on December 27th 1713, and Joannes Bobek who married Maria Kniurova at Brumovice, Hustopece, Czechoslovakia on November 21st 1757. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Anna Bobach, which was dated January 29th 1704, married Christopher Kralisch at Lindwerder Schweintz, Sachsen (Germany), during the reign of Emperor Leopold 1 of the Holy Roman (German) Empire, 1658 - 1705. 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.