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HALLAM - the origins

The origin of the HALLAM name is very hard to ascertain. Numerous people have investigated the origin, of which I am indebted to Robert Hallam & Desmond Holden for additional information.

There is a school of thought that there may be two origins, one from the villages on the outskirts of Ilkeston in Derbyshire and the other from the Yorkshire Sheffield area. There is a possible third - HALAM, northeast of Nottingham, though this is a remote possibility.

DERBYSHIRE - WEST HALLAM, KIRK HALLAM, LITTLE HALLAM, HALLAM FIELDS:

The first area is in the area of Derbyshire, (west of Ilkeston), the Hallam (Halum) name was prominent, with main settlement being Kirk Hallam, which has evolved over the years from when it appeared in the Domesday Book in 1086 as 'Halum' and later appears as 'Burkhalum' which means 'the cottage in the nook' ('Burh' is Old English for cottage). The date in this case was 1011 but by Domesday (1086) it was recorded as only 'Halum'. When a new settlement was later set up in 1230 it was desirable to differentiate the settlements and hence evolved the names of 'West Hallam' (1230) and 'Kirk Hallam' (1234), then little Hallam and Hallam Fields (now integrated with Ilkeston). Not surprisingly, the first record of the name is found in Derby as 'Richard de Halom'. (1327). At that date 'Kirk Hallam' was spelled as 'Halom' which pinpoints his place of origin.

This manor / area, I believe, gave rise to the HALLAM name and all the Hallam's we generally see today around the immediate area, England, Scotland and the many that emigrated to USA, Canada, and Australia.

My particular branch of the Hallam family originated in this manor of Hallam, and migrated to villages and towns locally (West Hallam, Mapperley, Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston and Cotmanhay). They moved with their work, particularly in the mining industry, which was prevalent around this area of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. (Map of the local area)

Please visit the HallamFamily Statistics page for a run down on the stats for the area's of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and other local Counties, prevalent with the name HALLAM. Here

YORKSHIRE - SHEFFIELD:

The second area was the village of Hallam and location of Waltheof's manor near Sheffield. Waltheof was one of the most powerful Danish earls who were allowed to retain their manor lands and titles after William the Conqueror established his hold on England, and he actually married into William the Conqueror's family. The first mention of the Hallam name occurs in a pre-Norman Charter dating to 958 and is clearly Old English being established before the Dane Law. The village first gave rise to the Manor of Hallam and then to Hallamshire, a large part of southern Yorkshire.This encompassed the present City of Sheffield and the neighbouring localities. It has now no exact boundaries and its exact location if still unknown

The original manor was owned by Waltheof (the last of the Saxon barons and the Anglo-Saxon Earl of Northumberland. His father was Siward, who, as Earl of Northumberland before him, had defeated Macbeth at the battle of Dunsinane in 1054). The manor then eventually passed to the Dukes of Norfolk who are still associated with it. The name is familiar from such usages as Hallam Moors, the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Hallam University, Hallam FM Radio, Hallam Arena and as a parliamentary constituency.

The village of Hallam was totally annihilated in a singular act of vengeance by William the Conqueror's army in 1069, three years after the Battle of Hastings, in revenge for the uprising of the northern earls. The village, which had been lost for 930 years, it's whereabouts today is a total mystery, has only recently been re-discovered. Although this village gave rise to one branch of the Hallam family name, this branch died out around about the 1400's.

NOTTINGHAM - HALAM

The third area is over the border from Derbyshire into Nottinghamshire. This 'Halam' (North Nottingham) village, is on the road from Mansfield to Southwell, which owes its name to its standing in a valley. No corresponding surname seems to been generated from this village, though over the years there have been a few HALLAM's living there.

Hallam origins

If you have any additions or information to add, please contact me