Malem History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Malem

What does the name Malem mean?

Malem is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in either Sussex or in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Malham, 1 a township, in the parish of Kirkby-in-Malham-Dale, union of Settle, W. division of the wapentake of Staincliffe and Ewcross. Nearby is Malham-Moor, a township, in the parish of Kirkby-in-Malham-Dale. 2

The place names literally mean "dweller at the stony place," 3 or "settlement by the gravelly place." 4 The Domesday Book of 1086 lists the Yorkshire townships collectively as Malgun. 5

Early Origins of the Malem family

The surname Malem was first found in Winchester where Roger Malham was recorded 1210-1211. Later in Sussex, the Pipe Rolls show William de Malham held a family seat at Malham Farm in Wisborough Green and John de Malham was listed here in the Subsidy Rolls of 1296. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: John de Malghom; Stephen de Malgham, draper; Thomas de Malgham, cissor; Willelmus de Malghom; Adam de Mallom; and Thomas de Mallum. 6

Early History of the Malem family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Malem research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1487 and 1774 are included under the topic Early Malem History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Malem Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Malem family name include Mallam, Malham, Maleham, Malam, Malem, Mallem, Malgham, Mallom, Mallum, Malhamdale, Malghom and many more.

Early Notables of the Malem family

More information is included under the topic Early Malem Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Malem family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Malem surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Ben Mallam, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1914; George Mallam, aged 23, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1917; M. Mallam, aged 21, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1906.

Sources +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)