This late medieval surname is an endearment diminutive form of the surname Buch, and implies "son of Buck", or "little buck". The development is from the Olde English "Bucc" or "Bucca", this being originally a pre 7th Century baptismal name. The ancient tribal people of the Dark Ages invariably gave their children names which were either warlike, godlike or reflected characteristics which were related to the perceived attributes in nature or beasts, such as strength, speed or cunning. In this case "Bucc" refers to the male deer, an animal renowned for its speed and fleetness of foot. The name is recorded in France as "Lebouc"; in the Netherlands as "De Bock"; and in Germany as "Bock", although in every country there are many variant forms. The first of all recordings is that of Godwig Se Bucca in the 1055 Saxon Rolls of Somerset, although this is not a surname form, it is one of the earliest forms of any name. Other recordings include: Walter Le Buk in the 1243 Assize Rolls of Taunton, Somerset. The later recordings include: Peter Bucksie, who married Jane Hungerford at the Church of St. Gregory by St. Paul's, London, on February 8th 1618, and Robert Bucksey, who married Lucie Manning at St. Giles' Church, Cripplegate, London, on January 21st 1658, in the reign of Oliver Cromwell (1653 - 1658). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Herbert Bucke, which was dated 1195, in the "Pipe Rolls of Sussex", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. 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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