This interesting and unusual name with variant spellings Faraday, has two possible origins. It may be an anglicized form of the Gaelic "O' Fearadaigh", O, meaning "male descendant of", and "Fearadach", a personal name, composed of the old Celtic elements meaning "man" and "wood". The surname may also be occupational, denoting "a travelling merchant", from the medieval English "faren", to travel, and old English "daeg", a day. The surname itself dates from the 17th Century, (see below). On March 22nd 1591 at St. Andrews Holborn, London Margarett, daughter of William Fayreday was christened. On July 4th 1692 Rebecca Ferreday married John Ragg at St. Marylebone, London. In Sussex at West Hoathly, one George Faranden married a Johan Payne on September 7th 1669. Hannah Fereday married Henry Ficken on May 22nd 1785 at the church of St. Dunstan, Stepney in London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johane, daughter of James Fearetie was christened, which was dated March 1576 at St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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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