Show ContentsKingham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The current generations of the Kingham family have inherited a surname that was first used hundreds of years ago by descendants of the ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The Kingham family lived in the barony of Kinghorn in the county of Fife. The surname Kingham belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Kingham family

The surname Kingham was first found in Fife, at the historic former Royal Burgh of Kinghorn, now a town which derives its name from the Scottish Gaelic Ceann Gronna, meaning "head of the marsh" or "head of the bog." Perhaps best known as the place where King Alexander III of Scotland died, this town is steeped in history including the former castle in Kinghorn which was frequently visited by the Scottish Court in the period of the House of Dunkeld. No trace of the castle can be found today. King Alexander III returned here to see his new wife Yolande of Dreux, but fell from his horse on the way and was found dead on the beach of Pettycur bay.

Early History of the Kingham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kingham research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1292, 1296, 1513, 1597 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kingham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kingham Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Kingham has been spelled Kyngorn, Kinghorn, Kinghorne, Kingorn, Kynghorn, Kyngorne, Kynghorne, Kinghan and many more.

Early Notables of the Kingham family

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

Ireland Migration of the Kingham family to Ireland

Some of the Kingham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 84 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 Kingham migration to the United States +

The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Kingham:

Kingham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Kingham, who settled in Maryland in 1722

Australia Kingham migration to Australia +

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

Kingham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mary Ann Kingham, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "America" on December 30, 1830, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 1
  • Susanna Kingham, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Florentia" 2
  • Susanna Kingham, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Florentia" in 1849 2

New Zealand Kingham 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:

Kingham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • David Kingham, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Portland" in 1864
  • Mary Kingham, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Queen of Nations" in 1874
  • Mary Kingham, aged 25, a housekeeper, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
  • James Kingham, aged 3, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879

West Indies Kingham 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. 3
Kingham Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • William Kingham, who settled in Barbados in 1674

Contemporary Notables of the name Kingham (post 1700) +

  • Jonathan Kingham, American folk, pop and jazz musician from Seattle, Washington
  • Henry Ronald Kingham (1904-1920), English footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s
  • Teresa Jane "Tess" Kingham (b. 1963), English Labour Party United Kingdom politician for Gloucester from 1997-2001
  • Brigadier Howard Stanley Kingham (1910-1982), Australian Director of Ordnance Services, Army Headquarters from 1943 to 1945 4

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • Jay Joseph Kingham (1944-1988), American Pharmaceuticals Executive from Potomac, Maryland, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 5


The Kingham 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: A favore regis nomen
Motto Translation: The popularity of the name


  1. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1830 with 135 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1830
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) FLORENTIA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Florentia.htm
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  4. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, August 30) Howard Kingham. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Kingham/Howard_Stanley/Australia.html
  5. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html


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