This is an Olde English (Anglo-Saxon) locational or topographical name which derives from residence at a homestead (ham) by a slope or steep bank (Sorre), or from a place such as Shoreham in Sussex. The modern spellings as Sharrem, Sharram, Sherrum, and Shyram, indicate a dialectal transposition to a form of "slang" spelling, usually an indication that the original nameholders were in some way dispersed from their village by plague, war or agricultural clearance, the village of (Old) Sarum in Wiltshire being a good example, and a possible origin of this name. The early recording examples include: Susan Sharrum, christened at St. Dunstan's Church, Stepney, London, on August 25th 1668; Joseph Sharram, a witness in London at St. Sepulchre's Church, on December 22nd 1754; and Elizabeth Shyram, who married John Wade at St. George's, Westminster, on February 5th 1778. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Shearam, which was dated November 12th 1599, marriage to Elizabeth Listrope, at St. Giles' Church, Cripplegate, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.