Rayham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Rayham arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Rayham comes from the Norman personal name Raimund. This name is composed of the elements ragin, meaning counsel, and mund, meaning protection. 1

However, another source claims the name was "an ancient Christian name Raimundus. It was introduced at the Conquest, or soon after." 2

Early Origins of the Rayham family

The surname Rayham was first found in Essex where "Giraldus Raimundus" who appears in Domesday as a mesne-lord there. The name continued there till about 1272, when John Reimund is found in the Hundredorum Rolls. At the same date the family was numerous in Kent. Their original seat was at Raymond's, near Rye. They were for a great length of time Stewards to the Abbot and Convent of Battel for their lands near this place; and it is probable that it was once the original stock from which the Raymonds of Essex, Norfolk and other counties, derived their extraction. 3

Richard filius Reimund and Robert filius Reimund from Cambridgeshire were also mentioned in the Hundredorum, Rolls. 4

In Somerset, Philip Remond was listed there 1 Edward III (in the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

Early History of the Rayham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rayham research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1626, 1673, 1680, 1683, 1725 and 1733 are included under the topic Early Rayham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rayham Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Raymond, Rayment, Raymonds, Raymon and others.

Early Notables of the Rayham family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Raymond or Rayment (1626-1683), an English judge, Justice of the Common Pleas (1680); and his son, Robert Raymond...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rayham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rayham family to Ireland

Some of the Rayham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rayham family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Rayham or a variant listed above: John and William Raymond, who settled in Salem in 1630; Arthur Raymond, who settled in Virginia in 1635; William Raymond, who settled in New Hampshire in 1631.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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.