Eastam is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Eastam family lived in Cheshire, at the Manor of Eastham.
Loading...
Early Origins of the Eastam family
The surname Eastam was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Eastham. At the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086, a census initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England at Hastings in 1066, Eastham consisted of a village and Mill on the banks of the Mersey and the tenant-in-chief was Earl Hugh, the Earl of Chester who later became the Earl of Carlisle. Eastham was one of many holdings in Cheshire by Earl Hugh and conjecturally the Easthams are descended from a relative or a Norman noble tenant who operated the Mill. Two or three centuries later when the village of Liverpool took shape, there was a ferry from Eastham, a part of the borough of Bebington.
Early History of the Eastam family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eastam research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eastam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Eastam Spelling Variations
Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Eastam were recorded, including Eastham, Eastam, Estham, Esteham, Esterham and others.
Early Notables of the Eastam family
More information is included under the topic Early Eastam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Migration of the Eastam family
The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Eastam arrived in North America very early: Michael Esterham who landed in North America in 1710.
