This interesting and unusual name is from that group of english surnames which originated as a result of peoples occupation, thus, people acquired their surnames as a result of their occupation. In this case the name is an English occupation. In this case the name is an English occupational name for one who drives in stakes, perhaps in fence construction or one who lived by the stake, perhaps a stake where bears were tied and dogs set on them which was a common medieval sport or perhaps a "Maypole" stake, The name itself in its current form was first recorded in the early 13th Century, (see below). Manasse, son of Richard Staker was christened at St. Giles Cripplegate, London on April 4th 1590, while one Mary Staker married Edward Wileder also at St. Giles on December 18th 1614. Sarah, daughter of John and Sara Staker was christened at St. Mary Woolnoth, London on June 20th 1655. A coat of arms was granted to a family of the name at Jarrow Lodge, Durham, which contains three silver arrows pointing downward, two above and one below a silver chevron, which contains three blue mullets (stars), on a blue field. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Stephen Staker, which was dated 1242, Liber Reodorum of Leicestershire, during the reign of King Henry 111, "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. 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.