Byams History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Byams

What does the name Byams mean?

The name Byams is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in or near the settlement of Bytham in the county of Lincolnshire.

Early Origins of the Byams family

The surname Byams was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Byams family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Byams research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1575, 1578, 1580 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Byams History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Byams Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Byams 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 Byams include: Byam, Biam, Byams, Biams and others.

Early Notables of the Byams family

Henry Byam (1580-1669), English Royalist divine, born 31 Aug. 1580, at Luckham, Somerset, the eldest of four sons of Lawrence Byam, presented to the rectory of Luckham 19 June 1575, and...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Byams Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Byams family

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 Byams or a variant listed above: John Byam who settled in Maryland in 1774; Patrick Byam settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1805.