This unusual surname is a diminutive of Pimm, which is of early medieval English origin, and is derived from the medieval female given name "Pymme, Pimme", a vernacular short form of "Euphemia", a Greek name composed of the elements "eu", well and "phenai", to speak (i.e. to avoid words of ill omen). The name was adopted by early Christians in the sense "praise of God" or "good repute", and was borne by a 4th Century virgin martyr burnt at the stake in Chalcedon. The name was popular in England in the Middle Ages, official documents usually recording only the learned form. The personal name was first recorded as "Pimme" in the Curia Regis Rolls of Staffordshire, and the earliest recording of the surname is that of William Pimme, in the Book of Fees for Nottinghamshire of 1250. Recorded in the London Church Registers are the christening of John, son of Thomas and Ellen Pimlott, on February 18th 1651 at St. Margaret's, Westminster, and the marriage of Elizabeth Pimlott and John Blyth, on April 24th 1745 at St. George's, Mayfair, Westminster. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Mergret Pymlot, which was dated 1561, in the "Register of Burials, Prestbury, Cheshire", during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.