Springham

This is an Anglo - Saxon pre 9th Century locational name which derives from 'Ham' meaning a farm or home-stead and 'spring' which does actually mean spring - 'The farm by the spring'. If there even was such a place (village) as Springham, this is apparently no longer the case, and surprisingly perhaps the name is quite rare and not recorded in any of the usual sources. The name recordings and development includes Mary Springham who married John Childs at Cuxton Church, Kent on January 1st 1720, earlier in 1611 Alice Martin married Nicholas Springham at St. Dunstaus, Stepney. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Joan Springham, which was dated 1561, married William Alleyn at Uxbridge Church, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, 'Good Queen Bess', 1558 - 1603. 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.