Needham is an uncommon surname of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name Nythum. It is believed to mean "home of Nytha" or "homestead by the valley," reflecting its geographical roots. The name was likely given to individuals who lived in a settlement located near a valley or in a valley itself. Over time, this surname has become quite rare and distinctive, with few people bearing this unique name today.
The name Needham saw peaks in popularity during the early 20th century, particularly between 1918 and 1924 where there were consistently high numbers of births each year, with a total of 77 babies named Needham born in those six years alone. However, this trend did not continue, as the number of annual births decreased significantly afterwards, averaging around 6-7 per year from 1925 to 1933. There were notable spikes again in 1943 and 1949 with 10 and 8 births respectively, but overall, the name's popularity appeared to decline steadily throughout the mid to late 20th century.