Cullham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The lineage of the name Cullham begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in either of the settlements called Culham in the counties of Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The surname Cullham belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Cullham family

The surname Cullham was first found in Oxfordshire at Culham, a parish, in the union of Abingdon, hundred of Dorchester. 1

"This place, which is nearly surrounded by the river Isis, was the occasional retreat of the abbots of Abingdon; and in the ancient manor-house, now occupied as a farmhouse, is a room still called the Abbot's chamber." 2

While Oxfordshire is the ancient homestead of the family we must look to Berkshire for the first record of the family. For it is there that Vincent de Culeham was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1212. 3 From this early start, we must move to the 16th century for the following two listings: John Cullum in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524; and William Culhame, or Colham, or Culme, who was listed in the Register of the University of Oxford in 1570. 1

Early History of the Cullham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cullham research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1574, 1587, 1597, 1628, 1633, 1657, 1662, 1664, 1674, 1680, 1690, 1699, 1702, 1705, 1720, 1754, 1774 and 1855 are included under the topic Early Cullham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cullham Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Cullham has undergone many spelling variations, including Cullum, Culme, Cullam and others.

Early Notables of the Cullham family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Hugh Cullum; Sir Henry Culmer (c. 1574-1633), 1st Baron Culmer; and Sir Richard Culmer (1597-1662), English peer; Thomas Cullum (c. 1587-1664), 1st Baronet of Hastede, Suffolk; Thomas Cullum (1628-1680), 2nd Baronet of Hastede; Sir Dudley Cullum, 3rd Baronet of Hastede (1657-1720)...
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cullham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cullham family to Ireland

Some of the Cullham 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.

Migration of the Cullham family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Cullham were among those contributors: Elizabeth Cullum and her husband settled in Maryland in 1720; another Elizabeth Cullum, her two daughters, her son George, and husband, settled in New York State in 1820..

The Cullham Motto +

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: Sustineatur
Motto Translation: Let it be sustained.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)