English
The surname 'Metcalf' originates from England (Yorkshire). It is of uncertain origin, probably derived from the Middle English word 'metcalf' meaning 'meat calf', i.e. a calf being fattened up to be slaughtered for meat at the end of the summer *from the Old English word 'mete' meaning food, and 'c(e)ald', meaning calf. It is thus either an occupational name for a herdsman or slaughterer, or a nickname e for a sleek and plump individual, from the same word. The variants in 'med-' appear early, and suggest that the first element was associated by folk etymology with the Middle English word 'mead', meaning meadow, pasture. Public and Civil registry archive's confirm that the surname 'Metcalf' and or it's variant's, date as far back as the Fourteenth century were a 'Willelmus de Miducroft', from the county of Yorkshire, England, is recorded on Poll Tax records in 1379. The exact period of settlement in North America has not been definitely determined but Information extracted from Public and Civil registry archive's confirm that one of the first settlers was a certain 'Michael Metcalf', Freeman of Norwich, and afterwards of Dedham, Massachusetts, where he was admitted a townsman onj the fourteenth of July 1637, and a Selectman in 1641. In his own words 'Michael Metcalf', was 'persecuted in the land of my fathers' sepulchres for not observing ceremonies in religion, and was forced for sake of liberty of my conscience to flee in into New England, sailing on the fifteenth of April 1637, and arrived three days before midsummer, with my wife, and nine children, and a servant.' The sailed aboard the ship named the 'John and Dorothy'. Today, 'Metcalf' is the 'One thousand and twenty-second' most common surname in North America.***