Waldrum

Recorded in several spellings including Waldram, Waldren, Waldron, Waldrum, Waleran, and Walrond, this is an English surname. It is derived from the pre 5th century Olde German personal name "Walahram". This may have been introduced into Britain by the Anglo-Saxons, but the first certain recordings are Norman-French, after the famous Invasion of 1066. These are to be found in the Domesday Book for Essex in 1086, in the Latinized spellings of Waleranni and Galeranni. The name translates literally as "Wall-raven", but it is probable that the original meaning was more on the lines of "strong bird", walls being associated with great strength. The raven is heraldically known for its wisdom and cunning. Early examples of the name recording include Walerannus de Crikelade in the Pipe Rolls of Oxford for the year 1182, whilst Robert Waldrond is recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Worcester and Matilda Waldran in the Hundred Rolls of Warwick, in the year 1275. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Waleram. This was dated 1196, in the charters of the district of Clerkenwell, city of London. This was during the reign of King Richard Ist of England and known as "The Lion Heart", 1189 - 1199. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.