The surname of ABADAM was of Welsh origin, a baptismal name 'the son of Adam' - meaning red earth, it was an early and popular font name, now long forgotten. Early records of the name mention Thomas Apbadham of County Somerset, who was documented during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). Hoel ab Adam of the County of Shropshire was recorded in the year 1255. John Hunter and Mary Baddam were married at Kensington Church, in London in 1597. Phillip, son of William Baddams was baptised at St. James's, Clerkenwell, London in 1630. Richard Powney and Eleanor Abadam, were married at St. George's Chapel, Mayfair, London in 1754. The acquisition of surnames in Europe has been affected by many factors, including social class and social structure. On the whole, the richer and more powerful classes tended to acquire surnames earlier than the working classes and the poor, while surnames were quicker to catch on in urban areas than in rural areas. These facts suggest that the origin of surnames is associated with the emergence of bureaucracies. As long as land tenure, military service, and fealty were matters of direct relationship between a lord and his vassals, the need did not arise for fixed distinguishing epithets to mark out one carl from another. But as societies became more complex, and as such matters as the management of tenure and in particular the collection of taxes were delegated to special functionaries, it became imperative to have a more complex system of nomenclature to distinguish one individual from another. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the flowing and draped garment worn over the armour. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884.