That this is a surname of French Huguenot origins is beyond argument, one Noel or Noe Obblein being recorded at the French Protestant Church, Threadneedle Street, London on march 5th 1775. However strangely, the name is recorded some two hundred years earlier as shown below and presumably there were several entry periods into England. The earliest recording could also be Huguenot, but if so then the original name holders must have been amongst the very first emigres. The name spelling and recordings include Sara Oblein christened on July 13th 1788, (daughter of Noe Oblein), whilst oddly the son Pierre is recorded in the spelling of Obblein for his christening earlier on May 12th 1776. The name is believed to be a patronymic "son of Ob" from Rob(ert). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Maria Oblyn, which was dated August 21st 1575, married Johannes Johnson at St. Martins, Westminster, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "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.