Show ContentsAddelhelm History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Addelhelm name was originally an Anglo-Saxon name that was given to a soldier. The surname Addelhelm literally means noble protector. The name was derived from the Old English adel helm which literally means "eagle shield." 1

Another source claims the name was "from adel, meaning fine, noble, and ham, meaning a village or castle. " 2

Early Origins of the Addelhelm family

The surname Addelhelm was first found in the county of Somerset in south western England where, it is said the family had been settled centuries before the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Addelhelm family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Addelhelm research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1631, 1659, 1677, 1750 and 1823 are included under the topic Early Addelhelm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Addelhelm Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Addelhelm has undergone many spelling variations, including Headlam, Adhelm, Eadhelm, Adelhelm, Addlam, Adlum, Adlam and many more.

Early Notables of the Addelhelm family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Captain W. Adlam, who fought with the "Roundheads" (Parliamentarians) during the English Civil War of the 17th century; and Captain S. Adlam, who fought in the French wars in Canada. Richard Edlin or...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Addelhelm Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Addelhelm family to Ireland

Some of the Addelhelm 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 Addelhelm family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Addelhelm were among those contributors: John Adlam who arrived at Nevis in 1670. John Adlum (1759-1836), was a major in the American Provisional Army during the American Revolutionary War, and later a Brigadier General in the Pennsylvania militia.



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print


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