Show ContentsCaldghan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Caldghan family

The surname Caldghan was first found in Cambridgeshire at Coldham, a hamlet in Elm civil parish, part of the Fenland district. Coldham Estate in Cambridgeshire is a co-op farm today but Roman remains can be found there giving evidence to ancient Roman farms from late-Roman fenland settlements. The name is derived from the Old English word "cald" meaning "cold" and "ham" meaning "homestead." 1 Coldham Hall is a Grade I listed building which was built in 1574 for Sir Robert Rookwood.

Early History of the Caldghan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caldghan research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1046, 1147, 1397, 1430, 1433, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1561 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Caldghan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caldghan Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Caldghan include Coldham, Cooldam, Coldem, Coldhem, Codeham, Codeham and many more.

Early Notables of the Caldghan family

More information is included under the topic Early Caldghan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Caldghan family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Caldghan were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Thomas Coldham, his wife and two children, who arrived in Lynn, MA in 1633; William Coldham, who arrived in Virginia in 1653; Charles Coldham, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1682.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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