Show ContentsPickham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Pickham family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Bikome, a town in the county of Somerset.

Early Origins of the Pickham family

The surname Pickham was first found in Somerset where Kirby's Quest listed the first two entries for the name: Walter de Bikome, Somerset, 1 Edward III and Godfrey de Bycorobe, Somerset, 1 Edward III. [1] In both cases, these poeple lived "1 Edward III," or in other words "during the first year of King Edward III's reign."

Early History of the Pickham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pickham research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1743, 1747, 1758 and 1769 are included under the topic Early Pickham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pickham Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Pickham include Bickham, Bickam, Bigham, Biggam, Bigholme, Bighone, Begholm, Beghome, Biggem and many more.

Early Notables of the Pickham family

Notables of this surname at this time include: George Bickham the Elder (d. 1769), writing-master and engraver, born about the end of the seventeenth century. "He was the most celebrated penman of his time, and published in 1743 a folio volume entitled 'The Universal Penman . . . exemplified in all the...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pickham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Pickham migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Pickham were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Pickham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Pickham, aged 26, who arrived in New York, New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Bothnia" from Liverpool & Queenstown [2]
  • Catherine Pickham, aged 20, originally from Lappamore, who arrived in New York in 1899 aboard the ship "Servia" from Queenstown, Ireland [2]
Pickham Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ernest Pickham, who arrived in New York in 1904 aboard the ship "Oceanic" from Liverpool, England [2]
  • Mary E. Pickham, aged 32, originally from Cappamore, Ireland, who arrived in New York in 1908 aboard the ship "Lucania" from Queenstown, Ireland [2]


  1. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  2. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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