Recorded in a number of spellings as shown below, this is an English and German surname of pre 5th century Frankish origins. As a surname is was medieval and a nickname for a troubled or anxious person. This is from the Old French word "dolere", meaning to hurt. The surname in its varied spellings was an example of that sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. These were given for a variety of characteristics physical, mental or moral, or for instance supposed resemblance to an animal or bird. The modern surname can be found as Dole, Doll, Dolle, Doelle, Doale and others. An early English example is the recording of James Doel who married Anne Huckwell on January 4th 1668 at St. Katherine's by the Tower (of London), whilst In Germany the christening was recorded Maria Catharina Doll, the daughter of Joannis Doll on July 1st 1674 at Mayen Katholisch Kirchen, Rheinland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de la Dole, This was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire", during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the 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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