Adlum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Adlum

What does the name Adlum mean?

The founding heritage of the Adlum family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Adlum comes from when one of the family worked as a soldier. The surname Adlum 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 Adlum family

The surname Adlum 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 Adlum family

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

Adlum Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Adlum has been spelled many different ways, including Headlam, Adhelm, Eadhelm, Adelhelm, Addlam, Adlum, Adlam and many more.

Early Notables of the Adlum family

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 Edlyn (1631-1677), was an English astrologer. He was...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Adlum Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Adlum family to Ireland

Some of the Adlum 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.

Adlum migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Adlums to arrive in North America:

Adlum Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

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 he was also a pioneering American viticulturist, a surveyor and a judge

Contemporary Notables of the name Adlum (post 1700) +

Bernard Adlum, American educator

Sources +

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