Scarles Family History

variant of Scarle (1) with an additional -s. The -s-less form originates in Notts and Lincs and like the -s form is also found in Northants. The medieval examples may be genitival meaning ‘son or servant of a man surnamed Scarle’ or possibly plural if referring to both the adjacent villages of North and South Scarle (Lincs and Notts) though this would be an unusual practice.

Alternatively they may belong with (ii). In post-medieval examples the final -s is probably excrescent and newly added. perhaps for someone with an unblemished skin from Middle English scar (Old French escarre) ‘scar scab’ + the adjectival suffix -les ‘without’.

variant of Scarle (2) with post-medieval excrescent -s. Compare William Scarles 1618 William Scarle 1632 in IGI (Donnington Sussex).