Surname Wakeham - Meaning and Origin

Wakeham: What does the surname Wakeham mean?

The surname Wakeham is of English origin and it is a geographical or locational surname. It is derived from a place called "Wakeham" in the county of Dorset, England. The name itself can be broken down to two Old English words: "wacu," which means "watch or wake," and "ham," which means "homestead or village." So, it is often interpreted to mean "watch tower village" or "the homestead where the watch is kept." This could indicate that the original bearers of the surname may have lived in or near such a location. Names of this kind were often given to individuals after they had moved away from a place, as a means of identification. As with many surnames, variations such as Wakehim, Wakem, and Wackham can be found over the centuries.

Wakeham: Where does the name Wakeham come from?

The last name Wakeham is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in the southwest portion of the country. This was most likely due to the prevalence of the Wakehams tracing their lineage back to coastal villages in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset. These small communities existed since the early 11th century, with the most famous Wakeham having been the commander at Dartmouth Castle.

The Wakeham surname can also be found in the United States today, in particular in the states of Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York. Here, the name would have been brought over by emigrants from the United Kingdom, retaining the same spelling from its point of origin.

Aside from the UK and USA, Wakeham is rare in other countries. However, its presence can also be found in countries such as Australia, Canada, South Africa, and France. It should be noted, however, that its usage is much less common in these countries, so the prevalence of the name Wakeham is much lower here than in its original countries of origin.

Variations of the surname Wakeham

The surname Wakeham has many variants and spellings which can be traced to the same origin. In England, the surname is commonly spelled Wakeman, Wakman, or Wakim. In Europe, the surname is commonly spelled Wachmann, Wachman, Wachim, or Wachym. The United States has many variants of the surname, some of which are Wickham, Wiikham, Waykham, Weakham, and Wiekham.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the variety of surnames derived from the same origin as Wakeham, which can lead to confusion between them. Different spellings of the name, such as Walkham, Walkem, Wichman, or Wychman, can all be traced back to Wakeham.

In Scotland, some variants of Wakeham include Walkam, Wacham, Wachom, Weekem, Wakeen, and Wickham, among others. In Wales, some variants include Walkham, Wicham, wichom, and Wychham, among others.

Surnames derived from Wakeham can be found in many different countries, though the origin of the name remains the same. People with the surname Wakeham or a variant spelling of it can trace their lineage back to a common ancestor.

Famous people with the name Wakeham

• Paul Wakeham: Former British politician who twice held the cabinet position in the Conservative ministry under John Major.
• Suzanne Wakeham: Canadian field hockey player and bronze medalist in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
• Ruth Wakeham: Senior British journalist and radio broadcaster for BBC Radio Sussex.
• Archie Wakeham: Canadian ice hockey player who represented the Montreal Maroons and the Chicago Blackhawks between the 1920s and 1940s.
• Alan Wakeham: British member of the upper house of the British Parliament House of Lords.
• Gordon Wakeham: British professional boxer from the 1950s and 1960s.
• Lulu Wakeham: Canadian actress best known for her roles on the television series Final Destination and Monster Warriors.
• Jon Wakeham: British business executive and current president of the British Venture Capital Association.
• John Wakeham: British Sovietologist and current director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
• Lionel Wakeham: Former British ruler and member of the historical House of Wakeham.

Other surnames

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