Surname Dereham - Meaning and Origin
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Dereham: What does the surname Dereham mean?
The surname Dereham is of English origin and is primarily located in East Anglia. It is derived from a place name, specifically the town called Dereham in Norfolk. In old English, "dere" refers to a wild animal such as a deer, and "ham" means homestead or settlement. Therefore, the entire name can suggest a homestead inhabited with deer. The surname may have been initially used to denote individuals from Dereham or who had a significant association to the town. It should be noted that the name has been used and spelled in a variety of ways, such as Deerham or Deirham in the past and can often vary due to regional dialects and historical changes in language. Family names like Dereham became popular in England from the 14th century onwards, as increasing population meant people needed a way to differentiate between individuals of the same name.
Order DNA origin analysisDereham: Where does the name Dereham come from?
The surname Dereham is of English origin, specifically deriving from the town of Dereham in Norfolk, England. It's an Old English locational name, with "deor" meaning deer and "ham" translating to a homestead or enclosure, hence indicating a settlement where deer were kept.
Traditionally, such names evolved when individuals moved from their birthplace to a new town or village, subsequently adopting the new location's name as their surname as a means of identification. The earliest recorded use of Dereham as a surname can be traced back to Ralph de Dereham in 1219.
Today, Dereham is not a particularly common surname. You can still find individuals with this last name residing in the United Kingdom, where its origin lies. Dereham is not a common name within the United States, Canada, or Australia either. With advancements in technology, some individuals with this surname might have spread throughout the globe, but its presence might still be more noticeable in regions within the UK.
Variations of the surname Dereham
The surname Dereham is of English origin and there don't seem to be many variants of the name. It is believed to be derived from the town of Dereham in Norfolk, England, also known as East Dereham. Considering the phonetic transcription and historical variations in English spelling, the surname might also appear as Derehame, Derehaem, or Deream.
Different spellings could have come into existence due to illiterate recording clerks, spelling the name phonetically, leading to several different spellings of the same name. However, Dereham seems to be fairly consistent with little to no variation.
As for surnames of the same origin, it is harder to find an exact match. Surnames were often derived from geographical locations, occupations, descriptive nicknames, or patronyms. Thus, other surnames derived from names of places in Norfolk or surrounding regions could be loosely considered of the same origin. This might include surnames like Norfolk, Norwich or Yarmouth.
Please note that genealogical studies might provide more accurate and detailed information on the variations, spellings, and origin-connected surnames of Dereham.
Famous people with the name Dereham
- Thomas Dereham: He was a prominent British diplomat and the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the 17th century.
- Francis Dereham: An infamous courtier in the court of King Henry VIII of England. He had affairs with Catherine Howard and was executed as a result.
- Sir Thomas Dereham, 3rd Baronet: He was a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Orford.
- Sir Thomas Dereham, 4th Baronet: Also a British politician, and served as the Member of Parliament for Orford as well.
- George Dereham: He was a British lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1705 to 1722. Though these figures may not be 'famous' in a modern mainstream respect, they hold significance within a historical context. There seems to be a sparse representation of the surname Dereham in modern popular culture.