Show ContentsIngram History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Ingram family

The surname Ingram was first found in Northumberland at Ingram, (meaning grassland enclosure) a small village in the Cheviots on the River Breamish. 1 The first listing of the village was in 1242 when it was listed as Angerham and literally meant "homestead or enclosure with grassland," having derived from the Old English words anger + ham. 2

Alternatively, the name could have been a variant of the Latin name Ingelramus, an ancient personal name which was also listed as Ingelram and Ingerham. 3

According to the source, Freeman's Norman Conquest, "Ingelram the first, was Count of Ponthieu. One of these Ingelrams of Ponthieu married the Conqueror's sister Adelaide. By-and-by Ingeram or Ingram became the recognized form."

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had a plethora of listings: Ingelram (without surname), Cambridgeshire; Sibil Ingelram, Huntingdonshire; Ingeram de Betoyne, Huntingdonshire; Peter Ingeram, Wiltshire; John Ingeram, Yorkshire; and Ingeramus (without surname), Buckinghamshire. 4

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls included: Ingram Carter, wryghl; Willelmus Ingram; Ingelramus de Gren; and Willelmus Ingramson. 4

Interestingly, Thomas Ingerham, a worker, in the Liberary was buried at St. Peter, Cornhill in London, but "in America this form has settled down into Ingraham." 4

In Scotland, the first record of the family was as "Ingelram, later Ingeram, also Middle English Ingelmm, Ingerom. Latinized Ingelramus. Hyngelrom, clericus, witnessed a charter by David I to the Abbey of Neubotle, c. 1142. Engeham (Engellram, Inselleran, Hingelram, Engeram), rector of Peebles, archdeacon of Glasgow, became chancellor of Scotland in the reign of Malcolm IV. Hyngelramus de Monte acuto was a witness in Dumbarton, 1271." 5

Early History of the Ingram family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ingram research. Another 210 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1142, 1249, 1330, 1476, 1541, 1580, 1604, 1607, 1609, 1614, 1620, 1621, 1623, 1625, 1627, 1640, 1642, 1663, 1666, 1668, 1686, 1688, 1689, 1691, 1694, 1702, 1714, 1715, 1716, 1717, 1721, 1736, 1761, 1762, 1763, 1800 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ingram History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ingram Spelling Variations

Although the name, Ingram, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Ingram, Ingraham, Ingrome, Ingrum and others.

Early Notables of the Ingram family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • Henry Ingram, 1st Viscount of Irvine (1620-1666); Edward Ingram, 2nd Viscount of Irvine (1663-1668); Arthur Ingram, 3rd Viscount of Irvine (1666-1702), an English Member of Parliament for Yorkshire an...

Ingram World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ingram is the 371st most popular surname with an estimated 74,610 people with that name. 6 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Ingram is ranked the 560th most popular surname with an estimated 81 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Ingram is the 467th popular surname with an estimated 8,178 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Ingram as 618th with 1,154 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Ingram as 476th with 13,570 people. 10

Ireland Migration of the Ingram family to Ireland

Some of the Ingram family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Ingram migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Ingram family name Ingram, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Ingram Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Ingram, aged 18,who landed in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 aboard the ship "Blessing" 11
  • Rich Ingram, who landed in Virginia in 1642 11
  • Joseph Ingram, who landed in Virginia in 1652 11
  • John Ingram, who settled in Virginia in 1652
  • Richard Ingram, who settled in America in 1652, along with Toby
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ingram Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Samuell Ingram, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 11
  • Jona Ingram, who landed in Virginia in 1703 11
  • Ruth Ingram, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 11
  • Jonathan Ingram, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 11
  • Jacob Ingram, who arrived in America in 1766 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ingram Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andieu Ingram, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1803 11
  • Farmer Ingram, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 11
  • Florena Ingram, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 11
  • Sally Ingram, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 11
  • Mary Ingram, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Ingram migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ingram Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Ingram, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Thomas Ingram, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Ingram Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Ingram, aged 25, a merchant, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Sir Robert H. Dick" from Liverpool, England
  • Margaret Ingram, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ambassador" in 1834

Australia Ingram migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ingram Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Ingram, British Convict who was convicted in Leicester, Leicestershire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. John Ingram, British Convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. James Ingram, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. John Ingram, (b. 1811), aged 19, British Convict who was convicted in Monmouthshire, Wales for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1862 15
  • Mr. John Ingram, English convict who was convicted in Dorset, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Ingram migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ingram Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Samuel Ingram, (b. 1823), aged 16, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 17
  • Mr. Joseph Ingram, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 17
  • Thomas Ingram, aged 40, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Seringapatam" in 1856
  • Benjamin Ingram, aged 40, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Seringapatam" in 1856
  • Margaret Ingram, aged 13, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Seringapatam" in 1856
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Ingram migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 18
Ingram Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Robert and William Ingram, who arrived in Barbados and/or Jamaica in 1699

Contemporary Notables of the name Ingram (post 1700) +

  • Rex Ingram (1895-1969), American film and stage actor best known for his role in "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940), born Reginald Ingram Montgomery Hitchcock
  • Jack Ingram (1936-2021), American NASCAR Busch Series race car driver, nicknamed the "Iron Man", he won 31 races and 5 poles, and the 1982 and 1985 championships
  • Daniel Trombley "Dan" Ingram (1934-2018), American Top 40 radio disc jockey
  • Riccardo Benay Ingram (1966-2015), American former Major League Baseball player who played from 1994 to 1995
  • John Randolph Ingram (1929-2013), American Democratic politician, attorney, North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance (1973–1985)
  • Gunners Mate 1st Class Osmond Kelly Ingram (1887-1917), American Navy sailor awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously
  • Jack Ingram (1902-1969), American film actor in over 300 films between 1935 and 1966
  • Erskine Bronson Ingram (1931-1995), American businessman and billionaire, long time head of Ingram Industries
  • John Henry Ingram (1842-1916), English author, editor
  • David John Edward Ingram (1927-2001), English physicist and university administrator
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Leslie R Ingram (b. 1921), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Dartford, Kent, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19
  • Mr. John W Ingram (b. 1887), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Derby, Derbyshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Jack Ingram, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 20
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. George Ingram (d. 1912), aged 20, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic, died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 21


The Ingram Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Magnanimus esto
Motto Translation: Be great of mind.


Suggested Readings for the name Ingram +

  • The Descendants of Jonas Ingram and Melinda Butler by James Barry Bingham.
  • Rhodes-Barnett and Mitchusson-Ingram by Norma Rhodes Ladd.

  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  19. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  20. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  21. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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