The surname is a variant anglicised spelling of the early German (and Anglo - Saxon) "Lieseman", which translates as "The friend (or servant) of Liese". The word "Liese" denotes a physician. one who applied leaches, although in some cases the name may derive from the Old Polish "Lis", a nickname for a shrewd or cunning fellow. The Suffix "Mund" is not found in any early recordings and is a dialectal addition which may have been deliberate to conceal the original name spelling. This was a widespread practice through to the First World War in 1914, when for political reasons people chose to camouflage their French, German or Ashkenazic origins. As Lishman the name is recorded in the Yorkshire Friary Rolls of 1605, although this spelling is generally regarded as being Scottish. Early German and Continental records generally are either erratic or often missing, however Heinrich Lieseman is recorded in Brenheim, Province of Westfalen on July 9th 1790 and Cornelius Lieseman in Gelderland on May 17th 1786. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Lacheman, which was dated 1210, The Curia Regis Rolls of Yorkshire, 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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