Witham
A locational surname meaning “from Witham,” named for places in Essex, Lincolnshire, or Somerset.
The #7,734 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 71,918 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname comes from the place-name Witham, which appears in several English counties. The name is commonly explained as Old English witan + hām, meaning something like “the home of the wise men/councillors,” or more loosely “the councillors’ estate.” In some old sources the first element is treated as wita, “wise man” or “councillor.”
History
Medieval and later bearers usually took the surname from residence near, or migration from, a place called Witham. 19th-century surname writers specifically connect it with Essex and Lincolnshire, and some also note Somerset. Variant spellings such as Whitham and Whitwham reflect local pronunciation and historical spelling fluctuation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The Essex place-name Witham is recorded very early, in Anglo-Saxon sources from the 10th century.
From the historical record
“W.C. Wilson, A., Bookseller, London, E.C. WiTHAM, J. S^ Esq., Ulverston. ■ WooDBURH, Miss, Ulverston. Young, H. E., Esq., Blundellsands. Zaehnsdorf, J., Esq., London, W.C, (2 copies.) .yGooglc Dig.tized by Vj O t)Q IC”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with special American instances