OLDHAM
Origin and Etymology The surname Oldham is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words eald meaning “old” and ham meaning “homestead” or “village.” The literal meaning is therefore “the old homestead” or “the village of the old.” The name was originally a locational surname, used to describe someone who hailed from the town of Oldham in Lancashire or who lived near an ancient settlement.
Historical Record The place name was first recorded as Aldholm in the Book of Fees and as Aldhulm in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1226. The surname appears in the early 13th century; the earliest reference is to Achard de Aldeham in the Feet of Fines of Kent, dated 1218–1219 during the reign of King Henry XI. Later medieval sources include Richard de Oldham in the Calendar of Inquisitiones post mortem, Lancashire, 1324; Robert Oldum in the Close Rolls for London, 1470; and Ralph Oldham in the Coroners' Rolls of Nottinghamshire, 1508.
Notable Bearers A prominent member of the family was John Oldham (1779–1840), an engineer employed by both the Bank of Ireland and the Bank of England. He produced machinery for printing and numbering notes and patented paddle wheels for steamers. He also introduced a system of central heating for buildings.
Coat of Arms The coat of arms granted to the family bears the blazon of a black field charged with a gold chevron, between three silver owls; on a gold chief are three red roses.
Distribution The surname is most commonly found within the United Kingdom, especially in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Warwickshire, and the surrounding counties. Outside Britain it occurs in Ireland, Scotland and increasingly in the Americas with significant concentrations in Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and Georgia, as well as in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. In Canada, Australia and New Zealand it is also recorded, and occurrences exist in parts of Europe, South America and the Middle East.
Variants The name has spawned a range of spellings, many reflecting local dialects or inter‑linguistic influence. Variants include Oldam, Aldham, Oldum, Ouldam, Oldome, Aldom, Aldum, Ouldham, Ayldam, Uldam, Uldame, Uldham, Ayldham. These forms demonstrate how the surname evolved as families moved, migrated or were recorded by clerks of differing linguistic habit.
Geographical Significance Oldham is classified as a locational or geographical surname. In the early medieval period, as surnames began to be used, a person who moved from the town of Oldham to another area needed an identifiable means of distinction. Hence the surname served to denote origin or association with that ancient settlement.
Typical given names associated with the Oldham surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Derek
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gillian
- Joanne
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- 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 Oldham in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Oldham are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Custard Cream.
There are approximately 6,556 people named Oldham in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,446th most common surname in Britain. Around 101 in a million people in Britain are named Oldham.
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 Oldham
- Andrew Loog Oldham - Record producer
- Sam Oldham - Gymnast
- Richard Dixon Oldham - Geologist (1858 to 1936)
- Derek Oldham - Singer and actor (1887 to 1968)
- Charles Thomas Oldham - Actor, writer and producer
- Ernest Holloway Oldham - Spies for the Soviet Union (1894 to 1933)
- George Oldham - Football player (1920 to 1993)
- Charles Oldham - Naturalist (1868 to 1942)
- Charles Oldham -
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.