Keam History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Keam is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Keam family lived in Lincolnshire. The surname comes from one of two places in Lincolnshire which bear the name Kyme: South Kyme and North Kyme, both in the vicinity of Tattershall. 1

Early Origins of the Keam family

The surname Keam was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Kestevan. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book census in 1086 initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England in 1066, the holdings are not shown but later, within the next century, it was recorded as the Honour of Kymes. 2

"This parish, which is situated on that part of the Sleaford navigation called Kyme Eau, derived its name from the Kyme family, who were barons by tenure and writ in the reign of Stephen, and had a seat here, mentioned by Leland as a 'goodly house and park,' of which only the tower now remains." 1

Sir William, the founder of the family, also founded the Priory of Bolinton about 1135. "The Kymes assumed the surname from a fair lordship, the principal place of their residence in Kesteven. " 3

Sir Philip de Kyme was the first officially recorded, succeeded by his son Sir William de Kyme. Sir Philip was Baron Kyme, Lord of the Manor, and was summoned to Parliament in 1295-1313 to represent Lincolnshire. Sir William was summoned to Parliament in 1323-1336.

Early History of the Keam family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Keam research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1160, 1412, 1413, 1414, 1420, 1422, 1427, 1428, 1431, 1433, 1455, 1463 and 1530 are included under the topic Early Keam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keam Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Keam are characterized by many spelling variations. 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. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Keam include Kimes, Kymes, Kyme, Kime and others.

Early Notables of the Keam family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Gilbert Kymer (died 1463), an early English educator and physician, Dean of Salisbury, Chancellor of the University of Oxford. was educated at Durham College, on the site of which the present Trinity College stands. He graduated as master of arts and philosophy, bachelor of laws, and doctor of medicine previously to 1420 (Tanner). In 1412-1413 he served the office of proctor, and from 1412 to 1414 was principal of Hart Hall. On 16 Dec. 1420, being still a layman, he was presented to the living of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, by William, lord Ferrers...
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Keam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Keam migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Keam, or a variant listed above:

Keam Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Bennett Keam, (b. 1873), aged 30, Cornish miner from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York on 24th April 1903 en route to Pennsylvania, USA 4
Miss Edith Keam, (b. 1897), aged 6, Cornish settler from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York on 24th April 1903 en route to Pennsylvania, USA 4
Mrs. Honor Keam, (b. 1873), aged 30, Cornish settler from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York on 24th April 1903 en route to Pennsylvania, USA 4
Miss Louie Keam, (b. 1896), aged 7, Cornish settler from St. Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York, New York on 24th April 1903 en route to Pennsylvania, USA 4

Keam migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Keam Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Samuel Keam, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hurunui" in 1877
Phillipa Keam, aged 29, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hurunui" in 1877
Mrs. Phillipa Keam, (b. 1847), aged 29, Cornish settler departing on 23rd September 1876 aboard the ship "Hurunui" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 18th February 1877 5
Mr. Samuel Keam, (b. 1855), aged 21, Cornish farm Labourer departing on 23rd September 1876 aboard the ship "Hurunui" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 18th February 1877 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Keam (post 1700) +

Mark L. Keam, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 2008 6
Mark Lee Keam (b. 1966), American politician, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Wellington 1872-1880 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nz_wellington.pdf
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html