Welham Family History

The name Welham in Leicestershire is derived from the Old English words wella and hām, meaning ‘homestead by the stream’. This surname appears to have migrated to Norfolk and Suffolk by the 14th century. However, the variation between Welholme (1308) and Welham (1310) in the lineage of the lords of Stratton Saint Michael in Norfolk suggests a different source.

No specific location called Welholme has been identified, where the second element is the Old Scandinavian holmr, meaning ‘raised land in a marshy area’. It is possible that Welholme represents an altered form of Welham, influenced by its association with Holme Hill, the original site of their manor house in Stratton.

Another instance of the name Welham can be found in Clarborough, Nottinghamshire. This iteration is also derived from Old English, specifically from the term wellum, meaning ‘(at the) wells or springs’. Additionally, there is a Welham in East Riding of Yorkshire, which shares the same etymological roots but is not known to have given rise to a surname.