This name, with variant spellings, Goodrum, Gooderham and Guthrum derives from the Old Norse personal name "Gathormr", composed of the elements "guth", "battle" plus "ormr", "snake" or serpent, hence "battle snake" Gudram, was the name of the first Danish King of East Anglia and the name is preserved in the York street-name "Goodragate". The name is now mainly found in Norfolk. The surname was first recorded in the mid 13th Century (see below). One, Thomas Guderam appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk, 1283. Hester Goodram was christened on July 22nd 1706 in St. Giles, Cripplegate, London. One, Godfrey Goodram married Elizabeth Alred on May 28th 1720 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hugh Godrum, which was dated 1260, (witness) "Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire", during the reign of King Henry 111, "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. 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.