Show ContentsWellham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Wellham family

The surname Wellham was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from ancient times and the Chief branch resided at Ilchester, but the senior branched removed to Poundsford Park in that shire.

Welham is a parish, in the union of Mahket-Harborough, hundred of Gartree, S. division of the county of Leicester. 1 ANd Welham is a village in the civil parish of Clarborough and Welham, in the district of Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire. Both date back to the Domesday Book where they were listed as Weleham and Wellun, respectively. It is thought that the place names mean "homestead by the stream" and/or "place at the springs." 2

Early History of the Wellham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Wellham research. Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Wellham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Wellham Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Welman, Wellman and others.

Early Notables of the Wellham family

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


Australia Wellham migration to Australia +

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

Wellham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Wellham, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 9th May 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Wellham (post 1700) +

  • Wally Wellham (b. 1932), Australian former cricketer, uncle of Dirk Wellham
  • Dirk Wellham (b. 1959), Australian former first class cricketer from Marrickville, New South Wales
  • Lieutenant-Commander John Wellham (1919-2006), British Naval aviator, the last surviving pilot of the 1940 Taranto raid, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions
  • Dirk MacDonald Wellham (b. 1959), former Australian cricketer who played in 6 Tests and 17 ODIs from 1981 to 1987
  • Walter Arthur Wellham (b. 1932), former Australian first class cricketer for New South Wales cricket team in the 1959 season


The Wellham Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Dei providentia juvat
Motto Translation: The providence of God is our help.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa


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