This very interesting name with variant spellings Adlem and Adlum, derives from Adelelm, later Alleaume - French forms of the Olde German personal name Adalhelm composed of the elements "adal" meaning "noble", plus "helm", a helmet or protection. The name was first introduced into England by the Normans and is recorded as Adelelmus (without surname) in the 1086 Domesday Book for Kent. The surname appears in the early half of the 12th Century, (see below). One, Roger Adalem is recorded in the 1260 "Assize Court Rolls of Cambridgeshire" and on July 19th 1621 William Adlam and Dorathie Janeway were married in All Hallows, London Wall. The name re-emerges in the French forms Alleaume and Alliaume in late 17th Century London Registers - this time as a Huguenot name. On April 26th 1696 Abraham, son of Salomon and Susanne Aliaume was christened in the French Huguenot Church, Threadneedle Street, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robertus Adelelmus, which was dated 1130, "The Pipe Rolls of Essex", during the reign of King Henry I, The Lion of Justice 1100 - 1135. 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.

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