Recorded in several spellings as shown below, this is a medieval Anglo-Scottish surname. It was occupational, and originally described an "estorer". In England this is thought to have been a status name for an official in charge of the dry stores of a manor or monastery, one who collected goods such as wool and grain from farmers, who paid their rent in kind. In Scotland and Northern England the meaning is probably different. Here it was applied to a farmer who raised "stors". These were bullocks, kept for fattening, although the same word was also applied to sheep. The derivation in either case is from the Old English pre 7th century word "stor" or the French "estor", and ultimately from the Roman (Latin) "instaurare", meaning to renew or replace. Occupational surnames were amongst the first to be created, but did not became hereditary until usually a son followed his father into the same skill or business. The surname is found in the spellings of Storer, Storrar, Storah, Storror, Sturror, and Stores. Early recordings include Thomas le Storer of Cumberland in the Subsidy Tax rolls of 1332, John Storrer in the register of the manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1501, and William Sturror who was a charter witness in Banff, Scotland , in 1534. The marriage of John Storer and Mary Smith was recorded on February 2nd 1584, at St. Matthew's church, Friday Street, city of London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is probably that of William le Estorur. This was dated 1309, in the cartulary of Guisburn Priory, Yorkshire, during the reign of King Edward 11nd, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes 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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