This interesting surname, with variant forms, Lermit and Larmet, derives from the Old French "L'Hermite", literally meaning "hermit" and was originally given as a nickname to someone living alone or in an isolated place. There is evidence that the name existed in England probably after the Norman Conquest (1066). William le Heremit is recorded in the Curia Rolls of Yorkshire in 1208. Andrew Ermite is entered in 1255, in "The Court Rolls of the Abbey of Ramsey". John Harmet is recorded in the Register of the Guild of Corpus Christi in the City of York in 1549. The name was probably re-introduced in the 17th Century by French Huguenots, fleeing religious persecution. On April 13th 1617, Mary, daughter of Peter and Katheren Larmet was christened at Saint Ann Blackfriars London. A Gulielmus Lehermite was christened at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, London on March 11th 1655. A French Huguenot, Daniel, son of Pierre L'armet and Ester Dorer, christened at Threadneedle Street on October 17th 1725, is further proof of the French connection. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Lermite, which was dated 1196, in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "Richard the Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. 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.