Who Or What Is An Osler Anyway?

The name OSLER is actually of occupational origin. In early times names such as Smith, Baker, or Butcher were to be found in each village or town. Each bearer of the name being recognized and referred to by the occupation they pursued. After a time occupational names became hereditary even though the bearer no longer followed this trade or vocation. In our case the name would've been applied to someone who was employed as an innkeeper. This is derived from the middle English word '(h)osteler'. Originally, the expression was used to denote a secular officer in a monistary whose responsibility it was to provide the lodging of visitors, this was, however,later extended to also denote keepers of commercial hostelries.

Investigations of the surname OSLER (or a variant) show that it appears in English documents from at least the 12th century when William Hostilier is recorded in the Eynsham Cartulary of Oxfordshire in 1190 A.D. Also around this time, Robert le Osteler of Straffordshire is mentioned in the Assize Rolls in 1204. In England (1170) all Writs of Assize were tried at Westminster in London, or awaited trial by the circuit of Justices every 7 years. In 1215 the Magna Carta made provisions for these hearings to be held in the local jurisdiction on an annual basis.

Later in the century, Godfrey le Hoselur is entered in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. Laws of the mid 10th century stipulated that courts in each hundred (an area) assemble every four weeks to arbitrate and resolve any local legal disputes within their community. All dwellers living within the boundary of the hundred were obliged to attend these meetings. This system of local goverment was introduced duringthe reign of King Edmund (9390946). More recently, records show that Richard Hosteler was bailiff of Yarmouth in 1501. From church records we find marriage of Laurence Osler and Elizabeth Buttler at St. James, Clerkenwell in 1668 and the baptism of Martha, daughter of Henry Ostler there in 1694. Also, William Oastler is listed in the Register of the Freemen of York in 1738.

It is also discussed at family events that we may be related to Sir William Osler (AKA The Father of Modern Medicine) and Paul Revere (not the singing group guy....the "other guy").

Blazon of Arms: Argent on a fesse azure between two martlets sable three fluer-de-lis

Crest: A talbot sejant argent gored with a collar azure charged with three fleurs-de-lis or.

Origin: England