Surname Mepham - Meaning and Origin
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Mepham: What does the surname Mepham mean?
The last name Mepham is of English origin, derived from the Old English words meppa, meaning "small horse," and ham, meaning "home." It is thought to have originally been a topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small horse-breeding farm.
The Mepham family name dates back to the early days of British family history, and its members were prominent in their local community. In the sixteenth century, John Mepham owned a modest estate in Sussex, and in the mid-eighteenth century, Anne Mepham and her husband Philip Wakeford were affluent farmers in the area.
The Mepham's have made notable contributions to history. In the eighteenth century, Reverend John Mepham, Lord Bishop of Dorset, was Macebearer to the Parliament of Great Britain. His descendant, Charles Mepham, was one of the principal figures behind the construction of the London Underground.
Today, the Mepham family is spread out across England, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. It is an incredibly diverse and thriving family, with its members active in an array of occupations from health practitioners and stock brokers to academics and entrepreneurs.
Simply put, the Mepham last name is a proud symbol of colourful history, hard work, and perseverance. It is a reminder of the family's past and of its great accomplishments today.
Order DNA origin analysisMepham: Where does the name Mepham come from?
The last name Mepham is most commonly found in England. According to the U.K.'s Office for National Statistics, the Mepham surname ranks in the ten thousandth percentile. It is primarily found in and around London where there are sizable populations of people with this name. In addition to London, there are concentrations of Mephams in West Sussex, Essex, Kent, and Surrey, all located in south-eastern England.
Mepham is not a highly common surname, particularly in the US. The US Census Bureau does not rank the name in the top one thousand surnames. However, there are small clusters of Mephams in certain states throughout the country including Michigan, California, and Pennsylvania. Emigration in the 19th century brought some Mephams to the US, and other families have since moved for employment and educational opportunities.
Given its relatively small profile, it is likely that most people with the surname Mepham are related to each other in some way. DNA analyses can confirm more distant levels of relationships between Mephams in different countries.
Today, the Mepham surname can be encountered in many countries across the world. Most Mephams are found in England and the US, however, there are also pockets of the name in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and occasionally other countries.
Variations of the surname Mepham
The surname Mepham is derived from the Olde English personal name Mepphe, which is composed of the elements meppe, meaning ‘friend’, and ham, meaning ‘home’ or ‘village’. This surname can be spelled in various ways including Mepham, Mepom, Mepun, Mepomme, Mepam, Mappam, Mippam, Meppom, and Meppum.
The variant Mabbam is also likely derived from the same origin. This may also be related to the Middle English word ‘mepen’, meaning to ‘seethe’. Additionally, a variant of this surname is Meopham, which may come from the Olde English place name ‘Mihteham’ or ‘Myteham’, which is derived from the words ‘mitta’, meaning ‘middle’, and ‘ham’, meaning ‘town’ or ‘village’.
Variants of Mepham have also been used as forenames, such as Meppan, found in an early 14th century example from a document from Lincolnshire, England. Mepham is also the name of a village in the Gravesham district of Kent, England.
Other spelling variations of Mepham include Mepheem, Mephame, Mefame, Meffam, Metham, and Mefem. There are also certain surnames which have the same origin as Mepham, such as Maffam, Mepper, and Meppersam.
Famous people with the name Mepham
- Richard Mepham: an English artist, poet and musician.
- John Mepham: an English Jesuit theologian and philosopher.
- Jack Mepham: a Canadian politician who served as a Member of Provincial Parliament.
- Harry Mepham: a former Australian rugby league footballer who represented Warrington, Fulham and York.
- Mike Mepham: a British selector of books, film and music who has contributed to prestigious publications such as the Guardian, the Observer and the Times Literary Supplement.
- Dame Elizabeth Mepham: a British philanthropist and educationalist.
- Peter Mepham: a British microbiologist and academician.
- Charles Mepham: a former British railway director, president and managing director of the Great Western Railway.
- Henry Mepham: a British architect who completed many projects in Oxford and around the country.
- Jonathan Mepham: an English cricketer who has played in the Minor counties for Devon.