Eleam History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Eleam family

The surname Eleam was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1231 when John Ellam held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Eleam family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eleam research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1324, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Eleam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eleam Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Eleam family name include Elam, Ellam, Ellams, Ellum, Elham, Elhame, Eleam, Elleam, Elums, Elames and many more.

Early Notables of the Eleam family

More information is included under the topic Early Eleam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Eleam family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Eleam surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Ann Elam, who came to Virginia in 1652; Joseph Elam, who settled in Philadelphia in 1794; M. Elam, who came to San Francisco in 1851; James Elion, who arrived in Ontario in 1871.

The Eleam 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: Nec Sperno Nec Timeo
Motto Translation: I neither despise nor fear.