The history of the Kilm family name begins after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived at Kelham in Nottinghamshire, a parish northwest of Newark. The name Kilm is derived from the Old Norse expression for at the ridges. It is most commonly found in Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.
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Early Origins of the Kilm family
The surname Kilm was first found in Nottinghamshire. "A Norman family, who derive their name from Kelham, near Newark-upon-Trent, co. Nottingham, where they were seated at an early period. They still bear in their arms three covered cups, in allusion to the office of cup-bearer to Alan, earl of Richmond, the Conqueror's son-in-law, which was held by their ancestor. " 1
This was the place that Charles I. spent his last night before he gave himself up to the Scottish army, who encamped on the spot in May, 1646. 2
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Early History of the Kilm family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kilm research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kilm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Kilm Spelling Variations
Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Kellam, Kelham and others.
Early Notables of the Kilm family
More information is included under the topic Early Kilm Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Kilm family
Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Kilm name or one of its variants: Patrick Kellam arrived in Philadelphia in 1840; John Kelham arrived in New Orleans in 1821; Timothy Kelham arrived in Boston in 1763 with his wife and servants..
England
