| ![Show Contents]() Altham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England Early Origins of the Altham familyThe surname Altham was first found in Lancashire where one of the first record of the name was found in 1246 when Adam de Eluetham held estates in what is now known as Altham in Whalley in that shire. Eltham in Kent was an ancient family seat. "This place, in Domesday Book called Alteham, is supposed to have derived its name from the Saxon, Eald, old, and Ham, a dwelling. It formed part of the royal demesnes in the reign of Edward the Elder, by whom it was given to Odo, Archbishop of Canterbury; and at a very early period became a favourite retreat of the English kings." 1 A few years later, John of Eltham, 1st Earl of Cornwall (1316-1336) born at Eltham Palace, Kent, was the second son of king Edward II of England and his queen Isabella of France, heir to the English throne. "Edward II. resided here for some time, and at this place also his son was born, from this circumstance called John of Eltham, and the palace, erroneously, King John's Palace." 1 He was buried with full honors at Westminster Abbey in January 1337. Early History of the Altham familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Altham research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487, 1498, 1530, 1557, 1570, 1607, 1612, 1617, 1661 and 1786 are included under the topic Early Altham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Altham Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Altham are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Altham include: Altham, Aletham, Althem, Althum, Allthem, Alltham, Eltham and many more. Early Notables of the Altham familyDistinguished members of the family include - Sir James Altham (d. 1617), was an English judge, descended from Christopher Altham of Girlington, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the third son of James Altham, Esq., of Mark Hall, Latton, in Essex...
- A later Sir James was knighted in the Order of the Bath in 1661. Sir Edward Altham was knighted in 1612. Sir William Altham, Mayor of Thetford in Norfolk, was knighted in 1786. His family held a famil...
 Altham migration to the United States | + |
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Altham or a variant listed above:
Altham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Emanuel Altham, who settled in Maine in 1624
- Mr. John Altham, (Alcome), who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" 2
- Emmanuel Altham, who settled in America in 1638
Altham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Heinrich Altham, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1748 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Altham (post 1700) | + |
- James Altham, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Connecticut 3rd District, 1974 3
- Harry Altham (1888-1965), English cricketer
- Captain Edward Altham, CB
- Major Harry Altham, DSO. MC
- John Altham (1589-1640), British Jesuit missionary
| Historic Events for the Altham family | + |
- Mr. Arthur Altham (b. 1903), English Stoker 2nd Class serving for the Royal Navy from Clitheroe, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 4
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: Pro Deo at Catholica fide
Motto Translation: For God and the Catholic faith.
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
|
Altham migration to the United States 
