This interesting surname is a variant of Emmett, which is of early medieval English origin, and is a Middle English (1200-1500) diminutive of the female given name "Emma". The personal name was introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. The name is of Germanic origin, originally a hypocoristic form of women's names with the first element "ermin", meaning entire. A popular Norman Queen, Emma, married Aethelrede the Unready in 1002, and later King Canute in 1017, which gave to the popularity of the name. The modern surname can be found as Emmett, Emmott, Emmitt, Emmatt, Hemmett, Emeline, Emblin(g), Emblow and Emblem. Among the recordings in London is the christening of Ann, daughter of William and Mary Emblem, on June 23rd 1717 at St. Mary's, Whitechapel, Stepney, whilst Elizabeth Emblow married John Kirby at St. George's Chapel, Mayfair, London on April 20th 1749. Richard, son of John and Mary Emblem, was christened on June 1774 at St. Clement Danes, Westminster. John Emblem married Ann Burles on May 12th 1830 at St. Bride's, Fleet Street, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Emelin, which was dated 1208, in the "Charter Rolls of Suffolk", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. 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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