This name derives from the Medieval given name Elis first recorded in the 1220 Pipe Rolls of Middlesex "Elis de Adham". The ultimate origin of the name is the Hebrew, Elisha or Elijah (meaning "Jehovah is God"). The surname adopted from this source appears in the 13th century. A William Elis is recorded in the Lincolnshire Pipe Rolls (1202), and an Andrew Elice in the 1309 Subsidy Rolls of Bedfordshire. The surname Ellis with its many variant forms is well recorded in Kent Church Registers from the mid 16th century on. The spelling Ellis appears in 1559, Ellas (1628), El(l)ice (1633) and Allos (1634). On January 13th 1638, one Barnard Elles was christened in Dartford and on February 26th 1643 an Albane Elles, daughter of John Elles, was christened in St. Dunstan, Canterbury. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Elle. which was dated 1221, in the "Ely Diocesan Registry". 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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