This very unusual name which is found in the spelling of Minchae, Mincher, Minsher, Mincer and Minchir, is a developed form of the Old French given name "Dominque". The derivation was from Dominique to the nickname form "Minque" and hence to the Anglicized "Minch" circa 1400. The "modern" name forms are a development of the late Medieval "Minchard", the suffix "ard" translating as "Little", but more specifically "son of Minch", a form of patronymic. Early recordings include Rebecca Minchir, in Stepney (1683) and John Mincher of Clerkenwell in 1715. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edward Minchard, which was dated February 28th 1619, a witness at St. Katherines by the Tower, London, during the reign of King James I of England and VI 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.