Pekam History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
The ancestors of the Pekam family brought their name to England in the wave of migration after the Norman Conquest of 1066. They lived in Kent, at Peckham. The surname of derives from the Old English words pekke, indicating the top of a mountain or hill, and ham, meaning homestead or settlement, and distinguished the settlement by its proximity to a prominent peak.
Early Origins of the Pekam family
The surname Pekam was first found in Kent at either East Peckham or West Peckham. Both are villages that date back to the 10th century where they were collectively listed as Peccham. By the time of the Domesday Book of 1086, they were known as Pecheham  and were held by the Archbishop. At that time, there was a church, ten servants, one mill, and six acres of meadow.
Part of the manor of East Farleigh lay within what is now East Peckham which was held by Ralph Fitz Turold.
The place name literally means "homestead by a peak or hill."  Peckham was a hamlet, in the parish and union of Camberwell, E. division of the hundred of Brixton in Surrey, but is now a district in South-East London within the London Borough of Southwark. 
Early History of the Pekam family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pekam research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1272, 1230, 1292, 1279, 1292, 1346, 1400, 1372, 1377, 1383, 1388, 1388, 1380, 1389, 1608, 1572, 1615, 1673, 1654 and 1673 are included under the topic Early Pekam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Pekam Spelling Variations
A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Peckham, Pecham, Peckem, Peckam, Packham and others.
Early Notables of the Pekam family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Archbishop Peckham of Kent; John Peckham (1230-1292), English Archbishop of Canterbury (1279-1292); James Peckham (c.1346-1400), English politician, Member of Parliament for Kent 1372, 1377, 1383, 1388, and 1388, appointed Sheriff of Kent in...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pekam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Pekam family
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Pekam or a variant listed above: John Peckham settled in Newport in Rhode Island in 1630; J. and N.A. Peckham arrived in San Francisco in 1852.