Derham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Derham family

The surname Derham 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 Derham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Derham 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 Derham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Derham Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Derham family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

Samuel Derham (1655-1689), was an English physician, born in 1655 at Weston, near Campden, Gloucestershire, being the son of William Derham of that place
William Derham (1657-1735), was an English divine, born at Stoulton, near Worcester, on 26 Nov. 1657. He was educated at Blackley grammar school, and on 14 May 1675 admitted to Trinity College, Oxford...

Migration of the Derham family to Ireland

Some of the Derham 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.

Derham migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Derham Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Derham, who settled in Boston in 1744
Mary Derham, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1744 4

Derham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael, William, and James Derham who, who settled in Philadelphia in 1849
B Derham, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Derham (post 1700) +

Tim Derham, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 4th District, 2002 5
Ray Derham (1888-1957), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State Senate 31st District, 1933-34; Defeated in primary, 1934; Candidate for Circuit Judge in Michigan 25th Circuit, 1947 5
John S. Derham, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1928 5
Donald A. Derham, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 4th District, 1970 5
C. S. Derham, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Philippine Islands, 1932 5
William Derham (1657-1735), English clergyman and natural philosopher
Professor David Derham, Chancellor of University of Melbourne, Australia
Mr. Patrick Sibley Jan Derham O.B.E., British Chief Executive for Dhamecha Group, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Exports, to Economic Growth and to Philanthropy 6
Major-General Francis Plumley Derham (1885-1957), Australian General Officer Commanding 1st Australian Division from 1942 to 1943 7
Enid Derham (1882-1941), Australian poet and academic
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, August 30) Francis Derham. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Derham/Francis_Plumley/Australia.html