Althem History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEarly Origins of the Althem familyThe surname Althem 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 Althem familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Althem 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 Althem History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Althem Spelling VariationsSound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Althem family name include Altham, Aletham, Althem, Althum, Allthem, Alltham, Eltham and many more. Early Notables of the Althem familyDistinguished members of the family include Agnes of Eltham (1498-1530), an English noblewoman who was an orphan and ward of Dartford Priory in Dartford, Kent who married Adam Langstroth, the head of a landed family in Yorkshire with 'a considerable dowry'.
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...
For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Althem surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Althem Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
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.
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