This interesting surname of English origin is an occupational name for a maker of paling and fences, from an agent derivative of the Old French "pal(e)is" meaning "palisade". The surname dates back to the early 14th Century, (see below). Further recordings include one Robertus Palycer (1379), "The Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire", and Richard Palicer (1381), "The Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire". Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Palser, Paliser, Palister, Pallister, etc.. Mary Palliser married John Farrelo on January 6th 1626, at Stepney, London. Ralph Palliser married Rachell Polly on January 27th 1639, at St. Dunstan, Stepney, and Mary daughter of William and Margritt Palster was christened on October 28th 1666, at St. Andrew, Holborn. William Palliser (1646-1668), archbishop of Cashel. He was a fellow of Trinity College Dublin 1668, professor of divinity, Dublin 1678, appointed bishop of Cloynes 1693, translated to Cashel 1694. He bequeathed the "Bibliotheca Pallcseriana" to Trinity College, Dublin. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Paleser, which was dated 1315, in the "Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire", during the reign of King Edward 11, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. 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.