This most interesting and unusual surname has two possible interpretations. Firstly, it may be of Old Scandinavian/Norse origin, from the Old Norse word "dengja" (Old Swedish "dangia", Old Danish "daenge") to hammer, beat and may have been an occupational name for a smith, his assistant or a metal-beater of some kind. Alternatively the name may be a variant of "Deng", from Thon, an aphetic form of the given name Ant(h)ony. Deng is found in Switzerland and Germany (where it is also found as Ting). Moritz, son of Jacob and Burg Ding was christened on May 5th, 1558 at Neckarkreis, Fewerbach, Wuertt (Germany), while Lancelot and Vrsula, children of Johis Dinge were christened at the Church of St. Luke, Chelsea, London on April 8th 1597 and May 14th 1598 respectively. Other examples of the surname include the marriage of Catharina Dinges and Johannes Diel on August 11th 1622 at Birkenfeld, Oldenburgh in Germany; and the christening of Johannes Jacobus Ting on May 19th, 1729 at Aach, Rheinland Germany. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Patrick Dyng, which was dated September 14th 1586, marriage to Margaret Florance at St. Mary Somerset, London. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, 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.