Turnham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Turnham was first found in Middlesex where the family was first referenced in the year 1194 when Robert de Turnham held Turnham Green in Chiswick. Another reference was found of what we presume is the same person. "Bayham Abbey [in the parish of Frant in Kent] was founded for Præmonstratensian canons, by Robert de Turneham, who, about 1200, gave all his lands here for the purpose." 1

The same Baron Robert de Turnham (d. 1211), was noted as the younger son of Robert de Turnham, founder of Combwell Priory, Kent. His brother Stephen de Turham (d. 1215) was a justice who was also identified as Stephen de Tours or de Marzai, but this is where confusion starts. "Stephen de Tours or de Marzai (d. 1193) is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls for Norfolk in 1158, and was one of the Royal Chamberlains in 1161. There are references to him as 'Stephen de Turon' in the Pipe Rolls from 1159 to 1172. " 2

Turnham (Turneham) Hall was a fortified manor house that included a chapel located west of Cliffe in Yorkshire on the banks of River Ouse, near Hemingbrough as early as 1327. At one time, the house was moated but that section was destroyed in the 19th century.

Today Turnham-Green is a hamlet, in the parish of Chiswick, union of Brentford, Kensington division of the hundred of Ossulstone, in Middlesex. "The village contains many handsome houses occupied by genteel families; it is lighted with gas, and supplied with water from the West London water-works. " 1

Originally known as Turneham in 1235 and later as Turnhamgrene in 1369, the Battle of Turnham Green was fought nearby during the First English Civil War on 13 November 1642 which resulted in the Parliamentarians blocking the King's advance to London. The village is briefly mentioned in Charles Dickens "Tale of Two Cities."