Recorded as Sugar in England, Sucre in France, Zucker and Zuckerman in Germany, and Sugarman, which seems to be an anglicized form of Zuckerman, this most interesting surname has two possible origins. Firstly, it may be of Anglo-Saxon and Germanic pre 7th century origins and a metonymic occupational name for a dealer in sugar or a confectioner. This is from the pre 7th centurty word 'zucker' meaning sugar. Secondly the name in all countries may also be of Germanic origin, but from the early personal name "Sigiheri", in English "Saher", and composed of the elements "sigi-", meaning victory, and "-heri", an army; or from the Olde English personal name "Saehere", from "sae-", meaning sea, and again "- heri", army. Early examples of recordings include in Germany Berholt Zuckemann of Roggenbach in 1424, and in England the christening of Elizabeth, the daughter of Thomas Sugar, on September 11th 1573, at St. Stephen Walbrook; in the city of London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hugar Sugar, which was dated 1486, in the "Patent Rolls", during the reign of King Henry V11, known as "Henry Tudor", 1485 - 1509. 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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