This interesting and unusual name, with variant spellings Dysart, Dyshart, Dysert, etc., is of Scottish locational origin from any of the various places named with the old Gaelic "diseart" meaning a hermit's cell or church, (from the latin "desertum", a desert or solitary spot). The surname dates back to the early 15th Century, (see below). One, Michael Disard was recorded in the "Charters of Trinity College", Edinburgh, in 1527 and in 1542 Sir Michael Disert was preceptor of the Augustinian house of Saint Anthony, Leigh. A John Dysart was admitted burgess of Aberdeen in 1579. Recording from church register of Scotland and England include the christening of Agnes, daughter of John Dishart, in Leuchard, Fife, on October 15th 1673, the marriage of Espeth Dysert to James Wallace in Abbotshall, Fife, on January 17th 1716, and the marriage of Sarah Dysart and William Staker in St. Andrew's, Enfield, London on August 20th 1816. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter de Dysert, which was dated 1427, in the "The Register of Panmure", Scotland, during the reign of King James 1 of Scotland, 1406 - 1437. 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.