The name Grandam is of
Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Grantham, a town located in the county of
Lincolnshire. The name was derived from the Old English word
grand which may have been derived from the
personal name Granta and the Old English word
ham meaning "homestead"
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)Early Origins of the Grandam family
The surname Grandam was first found in
Lincolnshire at Grantham, a market town within the South Kesteven district, which was first listed in the
Domesday Book as Grantham and probably meant "homestead or village of a man called Granta" derived from the Old English
personal name + ham. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the Old English word "grand" meaning "gravel" + ham.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Early History of the Grandam family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grandam research.
Another 210 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1328, 1573, 1630, 1604, 1629, 1589, 1612, 1655, 1640, 1641 and 1718 are included under the topic Early Grandam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Grandam Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few
hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early
Anglo-Saxon surnames like Grandam are characterized by many
spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Grandam include: Grantham, Grantam, Grantem, Grantum, Granthem and others.
Early Notables of the Grandam family (pre 1700)
Notables of this surname at this time include: John Grantham, Lord Mayor of London; Sir Thomas Grantham (1573-1630), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1604 to 1629, matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford (1589); and his son, Thomas Grantham (1612-1655)...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Grandam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Grandam family to Ireland
Some of the Grandam family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Grandam family to the New World and Oceana
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Grandam or a variant listed above: John Grantham arrived in Pennsylvania in 1772; another John settled in New
England in 1778; Peter Grantham settled in New York in 1807; James Grantham arrived in Philadelphia in 1851.
The Grandam 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: Honore et amore
Motto Translation: With honour and love.