UK surname
A variation of the English place name Calham referring to someone from Calham.
In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Callaham surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #31,604 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, St Leonard Bromley and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Callaham is 158 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.9%.
1881 census count
14
Ranked #31,604
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
158 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Callaham surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Callaham surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 158 | #14,644 |
| 1881 | historical | 14 | #31,604 |
| 1891 | historical | 84 | #26,229 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 16 | #31,804 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, St Leonard Bromley, Lambeth, Nottingham St Mary and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Nottingham St Mary | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Callaham surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Callaham, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Callaham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Callaham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Callaham is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Callaham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Callaham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Callaham is believed to have originated in England, most likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that no longer exists or has changed significantly over time.
One possible origin is that it could be a variation of the place name Callingham, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a settlement in Berkshire. This place name is thought to have derived from the Old English words "calu" meaning "bare" or "bald" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village."
Another theory suggests that Callaham may have its roots in the Old English personal name "Calla" or "Calla," combined with the common suffix "-ham," indicating a homestead or village associated with someone bearing that name.
The earliest known recorded instances of the surname Callaham date back to the 13th century. In 1275, a Richard de Callaham was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire. Meanwhile, in 1327, a John de Calleham was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire.
Notable individuals with the surname Callaham throughout history include:
1. Sir John Callaham (c. 1520-1587), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. Thomas Callaham (1634-1705), an early settler in the American colonies who established a plantation in Virginia.
3. Mary Callaham (1778-1841), an English author and poet known for her works depicting rural life in the Cotswolds.
4. William Callaham (1835-1912), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, who rose to the rank of brigadier general.
5. Alice Callaham (1877-1963), a pioneering female architect and one of the first women to be licensed as an architect in the state of New York.
While the exact origins of the Callaham surname may remain uncertain, its history spans centuries and continents, reflecting the diverse journeys and contributions of those who have borne this name throughout time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Callaham surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 9 Callahams recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | 9 | 48.94x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 2.93x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 9 Callahams recorded in 1881 and an index of 189.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottingham St Mary | 9 | 189.08x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 54.95x |
| Chertsey | 1 | 232.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Callaham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Callaham surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Callaham households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Milliner | 4 |
| Scholar | 3 |
| Hair Dressers Wife | 1 |
| Lace Warehouseman | 1 |
| Mantle Maker | 1 |
| Milliner (Shop) | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Seamstress & Genl Servant Domestic | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Callaham surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Callaham a modern rank of #39,061.
A variation of the English place name Calham referring to someone from Calham.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Callaham bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.