There are two very different possible origins of this interesting English name. Firstly from the Middle English personal name Dere, Olde English Deora, meaning "beloved". Secondly, a nickname from the Olde English deor, wild animal, or from the adjective of the same form meaning "wild" or fierce". Later, however during the Middle English period the name took on the more modern meaning - "deer". The dialectual variants include, D(e)are, Deer(e), Dearman, Dorman. The National Biography lists George Deering botonist, envoy to Queen Anne, and also John Deering as architect famous for his design of public building in London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Dering, which was dated circa 1250, in the "Cartularium Monasterii de Rameseia", Norfolk, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", (1216 - 1272) . 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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