This is an English locational name from Kingham in Oxfordshire. The place name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Caningeham' and in the 'Feet of Fines' for Oxfordshire of 1220, has become 'Kaingeham'. The name derives from the Old English pre 7th century personal name 'Caega' and 'ham' meaning a village, estate or homestead. As a surname therefore it denotes someone who comes from the village of Caega's people - 'Caegingaham'. Locational names were normally given to the lord of the manor and to those who lived there, or to the people who moved from that place to live or work in another village or town. Edward Ralph and Mary Kingham were married at St. George's in Hanover Square, London in 1749. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jane Kingham, christened which was dated 10th May 1607, at St. Michael's, Wood Street, 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.