Taskis Family History

From Taskus (Gwinear Cornwall) found in (William de) Talscus in 1316 Michael Talscoys in 134. However, no early-modern bearers of the surname have been found, and it is obscure how and when it arose and came to be transmitted as a modern surname.

The place-name appears to be from Middle Cornish tal ‘brow’ + schus ‘shade’; the first-syllable stress suggests instead a compound ‘brow-shade’ which makes less sense.

However, the pronunciation of the name may have been influenced by nearby Trevaskis of different derivation.