This surname is of Old Cornish origin, and is a variant of Tallack, which originated as a nickname given to someone who had particularly large eyebrows, deriving from the Cornish "talek", meaning big browed. Thus the surname is an example of that sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. Nicknames were given in the first instance with reference to a person's occupation or to a variety of features, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, and mental and moral characteristics, including supposed resemblance to an animal's or bird's appearance or disposition. The surname itself is chiefly found recorded in Mid West and Mid Cornwall. Early examples of the surname in Cornish Church Registers include: the marriage of Melsente Tallacke to John Glawen on November 6th 1597, at St. Agnes near Truro; the marriage of Willamus Tallacke and Anna Penprase on January 20th 1626, at Helston; the christening of Robert, son of Peeter Tallach, on November 14th 1684, at Tywardreath; and the marriage of Thomas Tallach to Mary Hilly on October 17th 1720, at St. Mewan. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roberte Tallacke, which was dated September 10th 1589, a christening witness at Landrake, Cornwall, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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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