This unusual and interesting name is of Old French origin, and is an occupational name for a person who performed operations, mostly amputations, deriving from the Middle English and Old French term 'sur(ri)gien', which itself is derived from the Latin 'chirurgianus', from 'chirurgia' handiwork, Greek 'kheirourgia', a compound of 'kheir' hand and 'ourgia' work, from 'ergein' to perform or do. Before anaesthetics were invented, only primitive surgery was possible, which was often carried out by a barber or bath-house attendant. This name can be found under the variant forms of Surgey, Surge(o)ner, Surgenor and Surgen. The name development in London includes Thomas Surgye (1647), Phillip Surgie (1651), and Oliver Surgee (1657), and one Jane Surgey was christened at St. Giles', Cripplegate, on July 17th 1673. In France, the christening of Angelique Surgey was recorded in St. Germain-en-Laye on May 26th 1746. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William le Suriegien, which was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of Northamptonshire, during the reign of King Edward 1, known as '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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