Waldram

This is a surname of ancient pre 7th century origins. Recorded in the spellings of Waldram, Waldren, Waldron, Waleran, and Walrond, it is an excellent example of a style of individual name from the "Dark ages". It derives from the Olde German personal compound name "Wala-hram", and whilst it may have been introduced into Britain by the 8th century Anglo-Saxons, the first certain recordings are Norman-French, or at least after the 1066 Norman Invasion. These are found in the 1086 Domesday Book for Essex in the Latinized spellings of "Waleranni" and "Galeranni". The name translates literally as "Wall-raven", but it is probable that the original meaning was more on the lines of "strong bird", walls being associated with great strength, whilst the raven is heraldically known for its wisdom and cunning. Early examples of the name recording include Walerannus de Crikelade in the Pipe Rolls of Oxford for the year 1182, whilst Robert Waldrond is recorded for Worcester and Matilda Waldron in Warwick, both in the Hundred Rolls for their particular county in the year 1275. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Waleram. which was dated 1196, in the charters of the district of Clerkenwell, London. during the reign of King Richard I, known as "The Lion Heart", 1189 - 1199. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.