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Meacham History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Meacham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

The Welsh Meacham surname is thought to derived from name of the village of Machen, located near Caerphilly, in the county of Monmouthshire.

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of Matthew.' 1

Early Origins of the Meacham family

The surname Meacham was first found in Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy), at Machen, a parish, in the union of Newport, partly in the hundred of Wentlloog, South Wales. 2

Early History of the Meacham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meacham research. Another 65 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1541, 1600, 1614 and 1675 are included under the topic Early Meacham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meacham Spelling Variations

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. People could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Meacham name over the years has been spelled Machen, Machin, Machon, Mackon, Makin, Makins, MacMacken and many more.

Early Notables of the Meacham family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Thomas Machen (c. 1541-1614), an English mercer who was mayor of Gloucester three times, Member of Parliament for Gloucester in 1614; Bathsua Reginald Makin (c.1600-c.1675) English middle-class proto-feminist who...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Meacham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meacham Ranking

In the United States, the name Meacham is the 4,043^rd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Meacham family to Ireland

Some of the Meacham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meacham migration to the United States +

The Welsh began to emigrate to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s in search of land, work, and freedom. Those that arrived helped shape the industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. The records regarding immigration and passenger show a number of people bearing the name Meacham:

Meacham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Jeremiah Meacham, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1636 4

Meacham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J B Meacham, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4

Meacham Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Elizth. Meacham, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States, in 1904
Walter Meacham, aged 50, who immigrated to the United States, in 1904
Maggie Meacham, aged 21, who landed in America from Liverpool, England, in 1908
Robert Meacham, aged 27, who settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1911
Sida Meacham, aged 52, who settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Meacham migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Meacham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Meacham, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
Miss Mary Ann Meacham, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 16th November 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6

Meacham 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:

Meacham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Meacham, aged 28, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875
Rosa Meacham, aged 26, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875
Lilly M. Meacham, aged 17 months, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Meacham (post 1700) +

Robert Meacham (1835-1902), American leader in Florida during Reconstruction, he helped write Florida's Constitution
George Frederick Meacham (1831-1917), American architect in the Boston, Massachusetts
Mildred Meacham (b. 1924), American infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
James Meacham (1810-1856), American politician, United States Representative from Vermont
Mary Anne Meacham (1925-2006), noted American actress of stage, film and soap opera, probably best remembered for her role on Another World
Beth Meacham (b. 1951), American writer and editor
Scott Meacham (b. 1963), American politician, the 17th State Treasurer of Oklahoma
Robert Andrew "Bobby" Meacham (b. 1960), American former Major League Baseball shortstop
Jon Meacham (b. 1969), American executive editor, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and executive vice president at Random House
Russell Loren "Rusty" Meacham (b. 1968), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played between 1991 and 2001
... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia