Show ContentsFulham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Fulham family

The surname Fulham was first found in Middlesex at Fulham, a parish, in the union of Kensington, Kensington division of the hundred of Ossulstone. "Fulham is a spot of considerable antiquity: the Danes, on their invasion of England, fixed their head-quarters here, in 879; and, after wintering in the place, set sail for Flanders in the spring." 1

This ancient Saxon parish was first listed as Fulanham (c. 705) and then later as Fuleham in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 Literally the place name means "land in a river-bend of a man called Fulla" from the Old English personal name + "hamm." 3

Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Fulham, held by Fulcred who held the lands from the Bishop of London and who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Fulham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fulham research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1294, 1393, 1412, 1519, 1633, 1651, 1660, 1682, 1691, 1694, 1699, 1702, 1749, 1750, 1777 and 1799 are included under the topic Early Fulham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fulham Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Fullem, Fullam, Fulham and others.

Early Notables of the Fulham family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Richard Pulham, English Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University (1393-1412.) Edward Fulham...
  • George Fulham...
  • Fulham was educated at Christ Church, Oxford...
  • John Fulham...

Ireland Migration of the Fulham family to Ireland

Some of the Fulham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 90 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Fulham migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Fulham or a variant listed above:

Fulham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Fulham, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 4
  • William Fulham, who landed in Virginia in 1663 4
Fulham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Fulham, who arrived in Carolina in 1703
  • Peter Fulham, who was on record in Philadelphia in 1743
  • Thomas Fulham, a bonded passenger who arrived in America in 1754
  • Edward Fulham, a bonded passenger who arrived in America in 1765
Fulham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Arthur Fulham, aged 12, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 4
  • Patrick Fulham, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1856 4
  • Richard Fulham, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1879 4

Canada Fulham migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Fulham Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Sigismd Fulham, who arrived in Quebec in 1784

Australia Fulham migration to Australia +

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

Fulham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Fulham, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Fulham (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Fulham (1915-1995), American businessman and academic from Winthrop, Massachusetts, President of Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts from 1970 to 1980
  • Rowena Fulham (b. 1960), née Nutira, New Zealand footballer who represented New Zealand at international level (1981-1983)


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. 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)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt


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