Genders

This interesting surname of French origin with variant spellings Legendre, Geindre, Gindre, Ganders, Genders, etc. is a nickname from the Old French "gendre" meaning "son-in-law" from the Latin "gener". It was often given with slightly mocking intent to someone who had battered his lot by marrying the daughter of a rich or influential person. The suffix "s" denotes "son of". The surname dates back to the early 17th Century, (see below). Church recordings include one Elizabeth, daughter of Edward and Heals Genders who was christened on November 4th 1683 at Alton, Staffordshire, Anna, daughter of Thomae Genders, was christened on December 27th 1742 at Colton, Staffordshire, and Ann, daughter of John Genders, was christened on October 14th 1750 at Norlon Canes, Staffordshire. One Francis Genders, aged 30 yrs, a famine emigrant, sailed from Liverpool aboard the Waterloo bound for New York on June 1st 1846. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Mary Ginder married Thomas Shortt, which was dated 1602, in the "St. Mary le Bow", London, 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.