This interesting and unusual name, with variant spellings "Ditter" and "Diter" derives from the Old French and Medieval English word "Ditour", another, which was also used to denote a composer, public crier, summoner or indicter (a person who makes public announcements in a town or court). The surname first appears in records in the mid 14th Century, (see below). The London church records list the name on 17th June 1587, when one George, son of Richard Ditter was christened at St. Margarets Westminster. Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Dyter was christened on May 25th 1701, according to Sussex church records. On December 2nd 1677, the Lancashire church register records the christening of Thomas, son of Southwark, London on November 8th 1795. Walter George Dyter christening occured on October 26th 1873, at St. Peter's, Liverpool. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Helewisa Ditnr, which was dated 1327, in the "Subsidy Rolls of Sussex", during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. 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.