Origin of the Name

               The BAALHAM name is not very common as I found out whilst researching the name.  I am not a Baalham by birth but my mother was. The Baalham's in my family seem to have lived in Ipswich, Suffolk or Manningtree / Lawford in Essex. As I researched my family I came across other Baalhams and began to 'collect' the names, so to speak. I started a database originally in the hope that eventually there would be some connection to my family. It was always said whilst I was growing up that the name was from Dutch origin with a possible Jewish connection but no one really knew for sure. There is a village in Suffolk called BAYLEHAM, an area in London called BALHAM and a street in West Ham called BAALAM street.

 Baalham is of ''English origin. First found in Suffolk, where the name is associated with the village of Baylham. First landed was Charles Baalam who sailed to New England in 1656. Charles Balam arrived in Barbados in 1679 and William Balam sailed to Philadelphia in 1856.'' Source: FamilyTree.com

,John BALAM, one of the first of the BALAAM family, acquired his surname through residence at Baylham, Suffolk, in 1568'. Source: Freeman, J.W (2001) 'Discovering Surnames- Their origins and meanings', Shire Publications ltd: Buckinghamshire.

Below are some submissions people have sent:

'BAALHAM \ BALAAM (Eng.) Habitation name from "Baylham" in Suffolk, recorded in Domesday Book as "Beleham". Source: A Dictionary of Surnames by Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges.

'BALAAM English: habitation name from BAYLHAM in Suffolk, recorded in Domesday Book as BELEHAM, and apparently deriving its name from Old English 'begel' bend + 'ham' homestead or 'hamm' water meadow. The spelling has been affected by folk etymological association with the biblical character who was converted to the Israelite cause by his talking ass (Numbers 22-3). Variation: BALLAAM'. Source: Patrick J. Hanks and Flavia Hodges, A DICTIONARY OF SURNAMES (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1992 (1988).

Submitted by Julie Case          Submitted by Ed and Barbara

 'I have always been led to believe that the name is Dutch in origin and was somehow involved with the Dutch weavers who came to Colchester and settled in the Dutch quarter - I could be wrong though!!!'

Submitted by Elizabeth Baalham

'Balaam, Ballaam:  (1) Hamelinus de Baalon 1176 P (D); John Balum 1212 Cur (W)Rosa Balam 1275 SRWo . From Baalon in Meuse. (2)John Balam 1568 SRSf. Eliza Baalam 1830 LitWelnetham PR (Sf).  Sophia Baylham 1834 ib. From Baylham (Suffolk) Abbrev:  P (D) = Pipe Rolls  Domesday Book,   cur W = Curia Regis Rolls  Wiltshire, SRWo = Subsidy Rolls Worcestershire,  SRSf= Subsidy Rolls Suffolk'. Source: Reaney & Wilson(1997) 'Oxford Dic of English Surnames' (Revised Ed), OUP : Oxford.

Submitted by ?

'Whilst at S.O.G. I traced The Visitations of Norfolk 1563,1589 and 1613 which says that the name originates from Guernsey (Garnesey) with a William Balam'

Submitted by Lin Burton

'This is just an idea, but there is a town in Denmark named Baelum. It would be pronounced the same'

Submitted by Carol Walck

' Stephen Pewsey's 'Britain in Old Photographs: Stratford West  Ham and Royal Docks' p. 35 - Balaam Street, Plaistow, West Ham...."locally pronounced Bay-lam not Bar-lam"  p. 105  photo of "Balaam Street, Plaistow.  The curious name is an ancient one; it was known as early as 1371 and was taken from the local Balame or Balun family.  (Pewsey, 1996)* I may be wrong, but it is a name which occurs in the Bible isn't it?  I seem to recall Balam's ass or Balam's donkey coming into it somewhere!' Source: Stephen Pewsey, 'Stratford, West Ham and the Royal Docks', 

Submitted by Rosemary Dixon-Smith

Thankyou to all those who have made contributions to this page