Frohock - Meno

This interesting name is of Flemish origin and is thought to be a nickname for a person of a cheerful disposition, deriving from the Germanic element 'fro', meaning cheerful. Frohock is first recorded in London in the 17th Century (see below), a time when many Huguenot exiles sought refuge in England, escaping from the intolerance and persecution in France, and there was also a great influx of Flemish weavers who brought innovatory skills to the textile industry in Britain. Amongst the sample recordings in London is the marriage of Marmeduke Frohock and Mary Layton at St. Lawrence Pountney on March 7th 1654, and the christenings of Elizabeth Frohock on April 24th 1744 at St. Olave, Southwark, and Esther Frohock on July 24th 1747 at St. Andrew's, Holborn. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of George Frohocke, which was dated May 28th 1634, St. Andrew's, Holborn, London, during the reign of King Charles 1, 'The Martyr', 1625-1649. 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.