This most interesting and unusual surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an English locational name from Fullaway, an extra-parochial district in Start parish, Wiltshire. The placename itself is composed of the Olde English pre 7th Century elements "ful", dirty, muddy, and the Olde English "weg", way, road, route. The surname may also be a topographical name for "a dweller by a muddy track or road", from the same elements as mentioned above. The surname itself is most widespread in the Wiltshire area. Locational names were originally given to local landowners and the lord of the manor, and especially to those former inhabitants who left their original homes to live and work in another area. Topographical names however were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features provided easily recognizable distinguishing names. Mary Fulway was christened on October 31st 1584 at Defford in Worcestershire, while William Fullway was christened in 1588 at Chippenham, Wiltshire. John Fulloway married Margaret Askew on June 24th 1611 at St. Benet Fink, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Mawde Fullwey, which was dated October 20th 1571, marriage to John Pickeney, at Urchfont in Wiltshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "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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