Recorded in many spellings including it would seem Wassmar, Wassmer, Wasne, Wasmus, Wasmuth, Wasmothe and Wasmith, this is a most interesting English surname. It is of uncertain origin and requires much more research than we have had the time to give to it. The development however may be from the German surname Wassmer or Wassmar, a name introduced into England about the time of the accession of King George 1st of Hanover in 1715. Wassmar was an ornamental surname of a type popular in Germany some three centuries ago, and created because it seemed nice. Ornamental names commemorated the beauty of the countryside with this name meaning literally 'water lake'. If we are correct the first recording in the surviving church registers of the diocese of Greater London, may be that of Elizabeth Wassmer who married Tom Collins at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney in 1720. In 1777 we have the recording of Charles Wasmus at St Paul's church, Covent Garden, and then in 1833 the appearance of the modern spelling with the recording of John Wasmuth at St Andrews Holborn, on November 19th 1843.

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