Show ContentsPadham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Padham comes from when its first bearer worked as a boatman. The surname Padham is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word bat, which means a boat. 1 In some cases, the name is also derived from the Old English word bate, which means one who contends, but this word is most often found as the root of the name Bater.

Early Origins of the Padham family

The surname Padham was first found in Herefordshire at Shobdon, a parish, in-the union of Leominster, hundred of Stretford. "The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £5. 7. 11.; net income, £764; patron, Lord Bateman. The church, which is the burial-place of the Bateman family, was partially rebuilt in 1757, by John, Viscount Bateman. The rent of several acres of land, and the proceeds of some minor benefactions, are distributed among the poor. " 2

Old Hutton in Westmorland was another family seat. "Bleaze Hall, for several centuries the seat of the Batemans, was a large and elegant mansion, which still retains traces of its former consequence in a fine oak-wainscoted room, dated 1624." 2

One of the first records of the family was William Bateman (1298?-1355), "Bishop of Norwich, who is also called, from his birthplace, William of Norwich. His father was one of the principal citizens of Norwich, having no less than eleven times filled the office of bailiff of the city (Norwich had no mayor till 1403), of which he sat as the representative in the parliament of 1326-1327." 3

Early History of the Padham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Padham research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1298, 1355, 1480, 1560, 1573, 1584, 1626, 1644, 1663, 1687 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Padham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Padham Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Padham include Bateman, Batman, Bademan, Badman, Pateman, Padman, Pademan and many more.

Early Notables of the Padham family

Notables of this surname at this time include: William Bateman (c.1298-1355), Bishop of Norwich and founder of Trinity College, Cambridge, who was sent to Avignon, to present the English King's claim to the French throne to the Pope; Robert Bateman (1560-1644), an English merchant and politician, London City Chamberlain (1626-1644); and...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Padham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Padham family to Ireland

Some of the Padham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 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 Padham family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Padham or a variant listed above: Elizabeth Bateman who settled in Virginia in 1685; Robert Batement settled in Virginia in 1635; Elizabeth Pateman settled in Virginia in 1653; Isaac Pateman settled in Philadelphia in 1753.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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