Surname Fulghum - Meaning and Origin

Fulghum: What does the surname Fulghum mean?

The surname Fulghum is considered to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from old English pre 7th-century compound "Fugel-ham", in which "Fugel" means 'bird' and "ham" means 'home'. Alternatively, it could originate from "Fugol-heah" where "Fugol' means 'bird' and "heah" means 'high, lofty'. Both derivations suggest the name could initially be a topographic name for someone living in a place that was a notable habitat for birds or a high place where birds flock. It could also be an occupational name for a person who has a specific connection with birds such as a bird-catcher, bird-watcher, or bird-trainer. The name has many different variations of spellings, ranging from Fulgham to Fulgam, which reflects the wide range of pronunciation and dialectal differences across regions. Today, this surname is found in many countries including the United States, where it has been carried by notable people like American author, Robert Fulghum.

Fulghum: Where does the name Fulghum come from?

The surname Fulghum is of English origin. It stems from the English family who lived in Fulham, a district of the metropolitan borough of Hammersmith in the county of London. The surname Fulghum belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Traditionally, these surnames were used to identify a person as coming from a particular place.

This surname is not very common but it is mostly found in the United States today. It might be found to a lesser extent in England and other parts of the English-speaking world. However, based on various census data, the majority of people with the Fulghum surname live in the United States, particularly in southern states like Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Florida. There might also be a smaller concentration of Fulghums in other countries where there was significant English migration, like Australia and Canada.

Variations of the surname Fulghum

The surname Fulghum is English in origin and derived from the Old English personal name Fulcher, which is composed of the elements "folk", meaning people and "hari", meaning army. This name came to England with the Normans and has several spelling variations due to factors like pronunciation, language evolution, and Anglicization.

Some alternate spellings may include Fulgam, Fulgham, Fulgum, and Foulghum. Similar sounding surnames such as Folkham, Folkum, or Fullam may be remotely related. But it's important to keep in mind that surnames of the same origin can evolve differently based on geographical location and cultural influences. Variations of surnames depend on the country's language and the way it has documented the surname throughout history.

Surnames are often modified over time and across regions to make them easier to understand, write, or pronounce in the local language. Some variants have arisen due to clerical errors in recording the name. Researching these potential alternates can be beneficial when trying to trace back family lineage or genealogy.

Famous people with the name Fulghum

• Robert Fulghum: An American author, primarily of short essays. He is best known for his first book, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten."
• Robert L. Fulghum: An American politician who served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives.
• Carlton Fulghum: An American jazz bassist known for his work with a number of notable musicians including Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.
• Andy Fulghum: A professional American soccer player who played as a defender.
• Howard Norman Fulghum: A writer, best known for his work "Project Blue Book”.
• James E. Fulghum III: He was an American medical doctor and politician. He served as a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly. These are a few notable people with the surname Fulghum, ranging from fields like literature, music, sports, politics to medicine. The most well-known among them arguably is Robert Fulghum, largely due to the success of his book and essays.

Other surnames

Fulgham