This name may be the English equivalent of an Olde German personal name, Mandel meaning 'an almond'. It may also be a diminutive of the English and German given name, Man(n) - meaning a fierce and strong person. The surname from this source is first recorded as, Maundrell in the late 14th century. In 1605 the spelling, Mandrell is recorded in the Oxford University Registers. Both names appear together in the 1614 Marriage Licence Records of London 'Emme Maundrell, wife of Henry Mandrell'. In the late 17th century, a further transposition, Maidrill is recorded. In the modern idiom the name is spelt, Mandrell or Maundrell. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Maundrell which was dated 1379 The Poll Tax Returns Records of Yorkshire during the reign of King Edward 1 The Hammer of the Scots 1272-1307 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.