Mettrick

This surname is relatively popular in the Yorkshire region, and derives from a now "lost" medieval village which was called "Metter-wic". This translates as "the farm (wic) where mead was brewed", the word "metter" being of Saxon (German) origins, although "wic" is Olde English. The Saxon "metter" dates the place origin as pre 10th Century, although the surname is much later. It is probable that in the 16th Century the village was cleared and the inhabitants evicted to facilitate sheep farming. This was a relatively common occurrence, and equally usual was the practice of taking the name of the former village as the surname. This also led to a variety of spelling forms, in this case: Mettrick, Metrick, Mettricke and Metterick(e). The name was first found in the Northallerton area, but is recorded in Leeds in 1664, when Mary Metteriche was christened at All Saints Church, on August 15th of that year. Another recording was that of George Mettrick, of Husthwaite, Yorkshire, on January 7th 1748, and of Joannah Mettrick of Almondbury, on August 27th 1787. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Guilhelmus Metterick, which was dated April 1st 1591, christened at Coxwold, Near Northallerton, Yorkshire, 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.