Caller Family History

In Kent and Somerset chiefly a variant pronunciation of Callow (2) or (3). Compare John Callowe 1592, Susanna Caller 1754, and Mary Callow 1775 in IGI (Canterbury, Kent); Thomas Caller 1744, Josiah Callow 1748 in IGI (Durston, Somerset); Josephi Caller 1717, William Callow 1772 in IGI (Wedmore, Somerset); Henry Callow 1710, Joan Caller 1712 in IGI (Wilton, Somerset); Ann Callow 1774, Ann Caller 1760 in IGI (Tenterden, Kent).

From Middle English callere ‘maker of cauls’ (baskets, nets, women's close-fitting caps or headdresses for covering tied-up hair), a derivative of Middle English calle (Old English cawl) ‘basket, net’. See Call and compare Keller.

For someone who lived by or worked at a sheep pen or pigsty (Middle English calle), synonymous with atte Calle; see Call. This type of name, consisting of a topographical term + -er, was particularly common in Sussex, Surrey, Hants, and Kent.