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This interesting surname has two origins. Firstly, it may be of German origin, being either a topographical name for someone who lived near a cherry orchard or a wild cherry tree, or it may be a metonymic occupational name for a gatherer or seller of cherries, or it may be a nickname for a person with a ruddy complexion, all deriving from the Germanic Kirsh (baum) meaning cherry (tree). Secondly, it may be of Hebrew origin being an Askenazic ornamental name, one of the many taken from words for trees and other features of the natural world. Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Kirsche, Kirsz, Kerdsch, Karsh, etc.. One Adam Kirsh married Angelingue Hans on October 8th 1798 at St. Marylebone, St. Mary Street, Marylebone Road, London and Adam Kirsch married Elizabeth Jane William on February 24th 1833 at St. Pancras, Old Church, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Elizabeth Kirsch, christened, which was dated 1786, in St. Stephen Coleman Street, London, during the reign of King George 111, known as "Farmer George", 1760 - 1820. 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.
Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Kirsch#ixzz1rCNlpD2d