This interesting and rare surname derives from the old English pre 7th Century personal name "Bealdhere" meaning "bold army" or from the Germanic given name "Baldhari" composed of the elements "bald" meaning "bold, brave" plus "hari, heri", "army" or "ger, gar" meaning "spear". The personal name is recorded as Balder Martell in the "Cartulary of St. Mary, Clerkenwell of 1160 - 1162". The surname dates back to the early 16th Century (see below). Church recordings include Jannet, daughter of John and Jannet Dalder who was christened on April 28th 1745 at St. George in the East, Stepney, and their daughter Ann was christened on May 21st 1749 also at St. George in the East. John Joseph, son of Joseph and Mary Dolder was christened on July 9th 1809 at St. Botolph without Aldgate, London. A Coat of Arms was granted to the Dolder family which depicts six red fleurs-de-lis, three in chief, two in centre and one in base, on a silver shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Balder, which was dated 1524, "The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King Henry V111, "Bluff King Hal", 1509 - 1547. 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.