Surname Pellham - Meaning and Origin
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Pellham: What does the surname Pellham mean?
The surname Pellham is of English origin and it is derived from the name of a place. It likely comes from the Old English words 'pel' meaning 'to destroy' and 'ham' meaning 'home', therefore possibly indicating it was initially given to someone who lived near a home that had been destroyed or ravaged, likely by a military event such as a battle. The name is also associated with the villages of Pelham in Hertfordshire and Essex in England; family bearing this surname might have once lived in or come from these areas. As with many old names, its meaning may have shifted or evolved over the centuries. It's also important to note that meanings of surnames can have multiple interpretations and may not definitively reveal the early history or characteristics of those who carried them.
Order DNA origin analysisPellham: Where does the name Pellham come from?
The last name Pellham is primarily found in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019 there were approximately 267 people living in the United States with the surname Pellham. The majority of those individuals, 127 people, lived in California. Other states with a concentration of individuals with the last name Pellham include New York, Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Florida, and Washington.
The Pellham name can also be found in other countries, such as Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, and New Zealand. In fact, census data shows that, remarkably, the last name Pellham is more common in some countries than it currently is in the United States. Specifically, in England and Scotland there are 458 and 192 people respectively with this last name.
Overall, the last name Pellham is a relatively uncommon surname that has been found primarily in the United States, with a few individuals also found in countries throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Pellham
Pellham is an English surname with multiple spelling variations and derivatives, including Phelam, Pollam, Pelam, Pellam, Pellum and Phylham. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon “Phleah,” which means a meadow or enclosed ground. It is believed to have originated in Norfolk, England. Although all of these variations are derived from the same source, they typically refer to separate and distinct families.
The variant spellings of Pellham generally stem from the way the name was pronounced when it was originally spoken by its first bearers. As a result, all spellings share the same meaning while having slight variations in phonetics. Furthermore, the spelling of the name may have changed over time as families changed locations or generations passed down the name.
Debates exist as to whether Phelam, Pollam, and Pelam are distinct surnames in their own right or variants of Pellam. By far the most common variant was Pellham, which can be found most often in Yorkshire, England.
The alternative spellings of Pellham also produced several surnames derived from the original meanings. For example, Pellum may be a contraction of Pellham and Pellham is sometimes found mixed in with other surnames including Phylham, which is derived from Pellham's "Phleah" meaning meadow. In some cases, the spelling of Pellham could have even been influenced by region, in which case, other spellings including Pelham, Pelhamm, Pheleham, Pelam, Phyllam, Pillam, Pellam and Pehalem may have been used.
In summary, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Pellham include: Phelam, Pollam, Pelam, Pellam, Pellum and Phylham. These variations of the surname usually refer to distinct families of the same origin.
Famous people with the name Pellham
- Paul Pellham: American college basketball coach
- Matthew Pellham: American men's soccer player
- James Pellham: British illustrator and cartoonist
- Robert Pellham: American politician
- Oliver Pellham: Magazine editor
- John Pellham: British politician
- Millicent Pellham: Early American actress
- Susan Pellham: British television director
- Mary Pellham: English classical scholar
- Edward Pellham: English courtier