The Gothom surname was a habitational name, from Gotham in
Nottinghamshire, which was in turn derived from the Old English "gat," or "goat," and "ham," meaning "homestead."
Early Origins of the Gothom family
The surname Gothom was first found in
Nottinghamshire at Gotham, a village south of
Nottingham which dates back to at least the
Domesday Book where it was listed as Gatham
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) and literally meant "homestead or enclosure where goats are kept," from the Old English "gat" + "ham or hamm."
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) The village is most famous for the stories of the "Wise Men of Gotham" in which the villagers feigned imbecility when the royal messengers arrived thereby foiling King John's intent to build a hunting lodge there. One reference claim that he said "we ween there are more fools pass through Gotham than remain in it." However, one of the first listing osf the surname was found years later in
Essex in the year 1291 when Stephen de Gotham held estates in that shire.
Early History of the Gothom family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gothom research.
Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1381, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Gothom History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Gothom Spelling Variations
Early Notables of the Gothom family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Gothom Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Gothom family to the New World and Oceana
Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Gotham, who settled in Virginia in 1688; John Gothen, who came to New York in 1832; as well as Lorinda Gotham, who was on record in the census of Ontario, Canada of 1871..