This interesting surname is of English locational origin from "Shardlow", in Derbyshire, recorded "Serdelau" in the Domesday Book of 1086 and "Schardelow" in the Fees Records, 1242, so called from the Old English pre-seventh Century elements "sceard", notched, and "hlaw", a hill, hence "a hill with an indentation in its outline". The surname itself first appears in written records in the late 13th Century, (see below). Elizabetha Shardlowe married John Pendleton on May 1st 1590, at All Saints, Derby, while Richard, son of Raph Shardloue was christened Repton, Derbyshire on July 9th, 1590. Joan Shardlow married Christopher Cundy at St. Peters Derby on February 2nd 1595. Stephen Shardelow married Martha Langley at St. Martin Birmingham, Warwickshire on July 11th 1796. A notable name bearer, Sir John de Shardelowe or Scherdelow, who died in 1344, was a judge of the court of common pleas from 1332-1342, knighted 1332, and a trier of petitions in parliament, 1343. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Edmund de Scardelowe, which was dated 1273, Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, 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.

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