Surname Newsam - Meaning and Origin
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Newsam: What does the surname Newsam mean?
The surname Newsam is of English origin and is a locational surname deriving from a place called 'Newsham' in Northern England. There are various locations named Newsham across regions such as North Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Northumberland. The name Newsham itself comes from Old English words; 'niwe' which means 'new', and 'ham' which refers to a homestead, village, or manor. So, someone with the last name Newsam or Newsham likely has ancestors who lived in one of these towns or was given the name to denote that they came from there. Like many surnames that originated as place names, Newsam is often found in large numbers in the area where the place name existed, providing a clue to a family's past geographic location.
Order DNA origin analysisNewsam: Where does the name Newsam come from?
The last name Newsam is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. Specifically, the highest concentration of Newsam families is located in Lancashire, England. The Newsam surname is found on a few modern family trees as it is quite rare today and is thought to have been in existence since before the 12th century. According to records, Newsam is derived from the Old English term 'nesan,' which translates to either mean 'of the nose' or 'lowland.' It has since evolved to become an uncommon surname throughout the British Isles.
Outside of the UK, there are various pockets of Newsam individuals sprinkled throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although it is still an uncommon name and relatively hard to find, the Newsam family is present and thriving on nearly every continent in the world. A few other countries with members of the Newsam name include South Africa, India, New Zealand, and a handful of European countries.
The Newsam family is a unique branch on the ever-growing family tree. Although it is not as common as other surnames, the legacy of Newsam will live on for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Newsam
Newsam is a locational surname that originated from the areas of Lancashire, England and West Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is derived from Old Norse and translates to “Næss-ham” meaning "nose or cape-shaped homestead". Variants of the surname include Newsome, Newsham, Neasham and Noseham. Newsam has also been spelled in various forms including Newsum, Newshome, Newsham and Niehome.
The earliest record of the surname dates back to 1379 in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire, wherein Johannes de Newsome was granted tax relief. During the early fifteenth century, several members of the Newsam family were prominent landowners in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Records of the name can also be found scattered throughout the county records.
Later, the Newsam family moved to Ireland during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Records show that several Newsam families were living in the province of Ulster. In the nineteenth century, the Newsam family was still strongly represented in both Lancashire and Ulster with the surname spelling changing from Newsam to Newsome.
Today, Newsam is still relatively common in England and Ireland. It is also found in the United States and Australia due to migration.
In conclusion, the Newsam surname is derived from Old Norse and has variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, including Newsome, Newsham, Neasham and Noseham, as well as other spelling variations such as Newsum, Niehome and Newsome. Over the centuries, variations of the name have spread across England, Ireland, the United States and Australia.
Famous people with the name Newsam
- Maxine Newsam: athlete and former track and field athlete and current field analyst
- Underwood Newsam: former basketball player
- Coralie Newsam: actor
- Seth Newsam: stuntman
- Derek Newsam: ice hockey player
- Henrik Newsam: soccer player
- Jordan Newsam: rhythmic gymnast
- Fredrick Newsam: professional baseball player
- Stephen Newsam: artist and artisan
- Tom Newsam: journalist
- Brock Newsam: musician
- Donald Newsam: former professional football player
- Sasha Newsam: Modern Pentathlon athlete
- Roy Newsam: actor and filmmaker
- Christopher Newsam: former baseball player
- Rachel Newsam: musician
- Gerda Newsam: former professional tennis player
- Shannon Newsam: photographer and videographer
- Lars Newsam: actor
- Alec Newsam: darts player