MARKHAM
Markham is a surname of English origin, classified as a locational name derived from a settlement within Nottinghamshire. The etymology combines the Old English word mearc, meaning boundary or landmark, with ham, meaning a homestead or village. Consequently, the name can be interpreted as “the homestead on the boundary.” The locational nature implies that bearers originally identified themselves by their nearest place of residence.
The earliest documentary evidence of the place name dates to the Domesday Book of 1086, in which it appears as Marcham and later as Westmarcham in the same county. An associated locality, called East Markham, was situated near Tuxford, and the name of the village is spelled in the same way. These entries confirm the antiquity of the place and consequently of the surname.
In the early fourteenth century the surname is recorded as Jordan de Marcham in 1204, a reference preserved in the Records of Pleas before the King's Justices during King John’s reign. By the late sixteenth century the name appeared in various records, including the name Henry Markham cited in the Register of the University of Oxford in 1585. A marriage between Richard Markham and Mary Yetsweirt took place at Sunbury-on-Thames on 24 May 1576, further demonstrating the surname’s use within England.
As England expanded abroad, bearers of the name relocated for trade, exploration, and colonisation. In recent centuries the surname has become common in the United Kingdom and has spread to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The proliferation of the name is reflected in the naming of towns and cities in the United States and Canada that bear the name Markham.
Variations of the surname exist, including Marcham, Marcam, Markem, Markam, and Merchem. In old Latinised records the name appears as de Merceham. Phonetic equivalents such as Marcum and Marcombe arise from transcription differences. While each variation may have distinct lineages, all are historically linked back to the original settlement in Nottinghamshire.
Modern genealogical and DNA research indicates that the surname Markham may be related to other surnames with matching genetic markers, such as Markin and Markum, although such connections require confirmation. In any case the surname remains a recognised representative of England’s place-name heritage, and its bearers continue to carry the historical association with the boundary homestead of Nottinghamshire.
Typical given names associated with the Markham surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Christine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Jacqueline
- Jennifer
- Joanne
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Markham in...
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There are approximately 7,071 people named Markham in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,335th most common surname in Britain. Around 109 in a million people in Britain are named Markham.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Markham
- Beryl Markham - Writer, aviator, adventurer, racehorse trainer (1902 to 1986)
- Petra Markham - Actress
- David Markham - Actor (1913 to 1983)
- Clements Markham - Geographer (1830 to 1916)
- Frank Markham - Politician (1897 to 1975)
- E. A. Markham - Academic (1939 to 2008)
- Leo Markham - Professional football player
- Toby Markham - Motorcycle racer
- John Markham - Royal Navy admiral (1761 to 1827)
- William Orlando Markham - (1818 to 1891)
- Edwin Markham - Army officer (1833 to 1918)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.