Pittam Family History Society

What's In A Name?

 According to documented research, the name PITTAM is described as being of toponymic origin. This means that it relates to the place where the initial bearer of the name once lived or had land. If the name can be associated with other derivations such as Pitham,Pittham and Pitman, then it can mean "Pytt" meaning Pit or Hollow and "Ham" meaning homestead or village.

Someone has recently informed me that Pittam's originally were gypsies who migrated west from India circa 1200-1300 AD and/or the Pittam name was first found in The Algarve, Portugal around the 16th Century. These are exciting but unsubstantiated claims, which I hope to pursue and get to the bottom of them. 

Earliest known origins of the name PITTAM have been found in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, of a Willyam Pittam marrying a Annes Balor on 11th August 1563 ( Source IGI). 

Others have been found in London (1597) and Woburn, Bedfordshire (1586) and Northamptonshire (1596). 

One source points to the name deriving from the "Walloons" of Southern Belgium, where there is a village called Pittem. 

Another source links the name to a wealthy Devonshire family, Tin Mining in the 15th Century, although this has not been substantiated. 

Records exist of PITTAM's being transported to the "New Colonies" such as North America and Australia, in the 16th Century.

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