Show ContentsLeathem History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Leathem Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Leathem

What does the name Leathem mean?

The ancient and distinguished surname Leathem hails from Lathom, Lancashire which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Latune at that time. 1 Over the years the place name, evolved to Lathum in 1200, and Lathom in 1223. It derives its origin from Old Norse "hlaoa," literally meaning "a barn," whereas the place name means "at the barns." 2

The manor of Lathom was the most important of 17 manors held by Uctred, an Anglo-Danish landowner at the time of the Conquest in 1066.

Early Origins of the Leathem family

The surname Leathem was first found in Lancashire at Lathom, a township, in the parish and union of Ormskirk, hundred of West Derby. One of the first records of the family was Robert Fitzhenry de Lathom, who possessed lands throughout south Lancashire, extending to Flixton in the barony of Manchester. Robert de Latam was listed in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1204 and later, Henry de Latham was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327. 3

"The seat of the Lathom family, of whom Robert de Lathom, in the reign of Edward I., received the grant of a weekly market and an annual fair, and whose baronial mansion of Lathom House, remarkable for its extent and magnificence, and formidable for its strength, afterwards became so conspicuous in history. This noble castle, which had eighteen towers, and was surrounded by a fosse eight yards in breadth, with a drawbridge defended by a lofty gateway tower, was twice besieged by the parliamentary forces during the reign of Charles I., of whose cause its owner was a resolute supporter." 4

Other records show Latham in the West Riding of Yorkshire could also be a point of origin for the family. Laytham is located the East Riding of Yorkshire. 3

"The Lathams are a very old and distinguished Cheshire and Lancashire family, that took its name from Lathom in Lancashire. Their Cheshire home was at Astbury from the 14th to the 16th century; afterwards they resided at Congleton." 5 "For six centuries they presided with little interruption over the civil government of Lancashire." 6

"The pedigree usually commences with Robert Fitz-Henry, Lord of Lathom, who between 1189 and 1199 founded Burscough Priory. The patronymical Fitz was continued until about the middle of the XIII. century, when the fixed surname of De Lathom was adopted." 6

Early History of the Leathem family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leathem research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1618, 1740, 1750, 1761, 1788, 1789, 1795, 1796, 1837, 1843 and 1875 are included under the topic Early Leathem History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leathem Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Letham, Lethem and others.

Early Notables of the Leathem family

John Latham (1740-1837), an English ornithologist, born 27 June 1740 at Eltham, Kent, where his father, John Latham, had long practised as a surgeon, and died 23 Aug. 1788. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, studied anatomy under Hunter, and practised medicine for many years at Dartford. He soon acquired a considerable fortune, and, retiring from practice in 1796, settled at Romsey, Hampshire. He received the degree of M.D. at Erlangen in 1795. John Latham M.D. (1761-1843), the English physician, was born on 29 Dec. 1761 at Gawsworth, Cheshire, of which parish his...
Another 93 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leathem Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Leathem family to Ireland

Some of the Leathem family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leathem migration to the United States +



Leathem Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robt Leathem, aged 50, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Columbia" in 1871 7
  • Grace E. Leathem, aged 58, Scottish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Victoria" in 1877 7
  • Joseph Leathem, aged 38, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "State Of Indiana" in 1881 7
  • Margt J. Leathem, aged 16, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Anchoria" in 1882 7
  • Bessy A. Leathem, aged 24, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Anchoria" in 1882 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Leathem Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • William Leathem, aged 19, Irish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Caledonia" in 1905 7
  • George Leathem, aged 25, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Mauretania" in 1908 7

Leathem migration to Australia +

Leathem Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. A. M. Leathem, British settler who arrived in Brisbane, Australia aboard the ship "Jervis Bay" in 1924 8
  • Mrs. E. Leathem, British settler who arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Orontes" in 1939 8

Leathem 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:

Leathem Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Margaret Leathem, (b. 1845), aged 19, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th March 1864 9
  • Miss Mary Leathem, (b. 1848), aged 16, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indian Empire" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 24th March 1864 9
  • Mr. Joseph Leathem, (b. 1842), aged 24, British baker travelling from London aboard the ship "John Temperley" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st June 1866 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Leathem (post 1700) +

  • Stephen J. Leathem, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Ontario County, 1928 10
  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  7. Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  8. National Records of Australia retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html

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