This interesting and unusual name is of medieval Cornish origin and is locational from a place so called in Cornwall, which is further suggested by the numerous recordings of the name in that county. The derivation is thought to be from the Welsh 'merthyr', martyr and the Old English pre 7th Century 'hyll', hill, thus (the church of) the martyr on the hill. It is interesting to note that an early recordings of a variant of this name appears as 'Martha hill' in London in 1691. During the Middle Ages, when it became customary for people to migrate, generally seeking work elsewhere, they would often adopt the placename as a means of identification. Recorded in St. Columb Major, Cornwall, is the christening of Honor Metherell on May 27th 1627, and in Launcells, of Richard Metherell on March 6th 1672. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Metherell, which was dated April 18th 1617, St. Columb Major, Cornwall, during the reign of King James 1 of England and V1 of Scotland, 1603-1625. 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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