Jeram

This interesting surname of English origin with variant spellings Jerrom, Jerrome, Jerram, Gerram, Jerran, Jeram, Jaram, etc., is derive from the medieval given name Jerome, itself coming from the Greek Hieronymos, composed of the elements "hieros" meaning "sacred" plus "onyma", "name", which achieved some popularity in France and elsewhere, being given in honour of St. Jerome (circa 347 - 420), who created the Vulgate. It may also have derived from the Norman personal name Gerram, composed of the Germanic elements "geri", "gari" meaning "spear" plus "hraban", "raven". The surname dates back to the late 12th Century (see below). Further recordings include one Roger Geram (1333), "A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds, Leicestershire". Church records include one Katheryn Jeram who married John Watman on August 19th 1555 at St. Margaret's, Westminster, Dorothie Jeram married Richard Rake on July 26th 1591 at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, and Mary, daughter of John and Frances Jeram, was christened on July 30th 1672 at St. Dunstan's, in the East, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Geran, which was dated 1194, in the "Curia Regis Rolls of Shropshire", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "The Lionheart", 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.