This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Ingram' or 'Ingelram', one of the many compounds of which Ingle or Engle is the prefix.

Ingelram the first, count of Ponthieu': Freeman's Norman Conquest.

One of these Ingelrams of Ponthieu married the Conqueror's sister Adelaide. By-and-by Ingeram or Ingram became the recognized form.

Engeram Betencurt. Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum in Turri Londinesi.

Ingrramus de Holtot, Northumberland, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Ingelram (without surname), Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Sibil Ingelram, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Ingeram de Betoyne, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

Peter Ingeram, Wiltshire, ibid.

John Ingeram, Yorkshire, ibid.

Ingeramus (without surname), Buckinghamshire, ibid.

William Engram, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Ingram Carter, wryghl, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Willelmus Ingram, 1379: ibid.

Ingelramus de Gren, 1379: ibid.

Willelmus Ingramson, 1379: ibid.

The temptation to make this surname look like one of local origin was too great to be resisted:

1618. Buried — Thomas Ingerham, worker, in the Liberary: St. Peter, Cornhill.

In America this form has settled down into Ingraham.

From the Old English personal name Ingelram, later Ingeram, also ME. Ingelmm, Ingerom. Latinized Ingelramus. Hyngelrom, clericus, witnessed a charter by David I to the Abbey of Neubotle, c. 1142 (Neubotle, p. 14). Engeham (Engellram, Inselleran, Hingelram, Engeram), rector of Peebles, archdeacon of Glasgow, became chancellor of Scotland in the reign of Malcolm IV (Lawrie, p. 364). Hyngelramus de Monte acuto was a witness in Dumbarton, 1271 (RMP., p. 192). John Ingeram held a land of the abbot of Arnbroath, 1330 (RAA., II, p. 8). Sir William Ingelram was chaplain of Stirling, 1476 (SBR., p. 259), and William Ingrim in Tullobeg is mentioned in 1716 (SCM., IV, p. 170). As a forename it appears as Imgrie in 1580. Engram 1249, Ingrm 1541.

For Ingram.

(English) Descendant of Ingram (Ing’s raven-Ing was a mythical Scandinavian hero); one who came from Ingram (grassland enclosure) in Northumberland.

Latinized Ingelramus-an ancient personal name. It occurs in the various forms of Ingelram, Ingerham, &c.

(German.) Camden derives this name from Engelramus, from Engel, Saxon, angel, and rein, purity. Pure as an angel.

Ingram was the name of a vicar of Narburgh two centuries ago; and much further back, in 1433, John Ingram was patron of the living of Hempstead, where he owned property (Bl.).