Dereham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Dereham family

The surname Dereham was first found in Norfolk at East and West Dereham which dates back to at least the Domesday Book where it was listed as Dereham and literally meant "homestead where deer are kept" having derived from the Old English doer + ham or hamm. 1

Another source better explains the origin. " This place, formerly called Deerham, from the number of deer by which it was frequented, and distinguished by its adjunct from a village of the same name, is of very remote antiquity." 2

West Dereham has probably more records of the family than East Dereham. "Sir Thos. Dereham, who was envoy to the Duke of Tuscany in 1697, and to whose family the site of the abbey was granted, erected a wing on each side of the gateway, with a cloister on the south; after his family quitted the mansion, it became the seat of the earls of Mountrath. The church is in the later style, and consists of a nave and chancel, with a circular tower: the chancel contains some handsome monuments to the Derehams." 2

Some of the first listings of the name include Robert de Derham and John de Derham, both listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 3

Early History of the Dereham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dereham research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1655, 1657, 1675, 1678, 1689, 1735 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Dereham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dereham Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dereham, Deerham, Dearhamk and others.

Early Notables of the Dereham family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Sir Thomas Dereham (died 1738), was an English bachelor who had been educated at the court of Cosimo III de' Medici

Migration of the Dereham family to Ireland

Some of the Dereham 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 Dereham family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: James Derham who settled in Philadelphia in 1849; together with Michael and William. Mary Derham settled in Boston in 1744.

Contemporary Notables of the name Dereham (post 1700) +

Francis Dereham (d. 1541), most famous for his affair with Queen Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII of England

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)