Translating as "the son of Tell" this name has Olde German origins but seems to have been an introduction by the Normans after 1066. "Tell" is either a shortened form of Dietrich which translates as the compound "people-ruler", or is a descriptive nickname for somebody slim and slender, with "Teli" being a twig or branch. The patronymic tellet is a compound of tell and "Petit",-little Tell or son of Tell. The name development includes Alice Tellit being recorded in Liverpool in 1698, whilst Catherine Tellett was also recorded at St. Nicholas, Liverpool in 1727. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Tellet. which was dated 1600 (Married) Annis Sotherton, at St. Martins, London. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 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.