Occams

Occams is a surname of English origin, occurring as a variant of the toponymic surnames Occam or Ockham. These in turn derive from the place name Ockham in Surrey, England, a toponym likely formed from early English elements referring to a homestead or settlement near oak trees. The spelling Occams appears in historical records as a patronymic or plural form related to families associated with Ockham, though the exact medieval usages vary by region and document.

In historical usage, Occams functioned as a way to indicate lineage or belonging to the family that came from Ockham. Over time, spelling normed toward Occam and Ockham in many contexts, while Occams persisted sporadically in records as an alternative variant or plural form. In modern times the surname Occams remains relatively uncommon, with Occam and Ockham more frequently encountered in English-speaking regions and among descendants of British emigrants.

Geographically, bearers of the name Occams are most often found in the United Kingdom and countries with historical British diaspora, including parts of North America, Australia, and New Zealand. As a surname, Occams is typically treated as a family name and is not associated with a single, widely recognized individual.

See also: Occam’s razor, a separate concept named after William of Ockham, and variants of the surname such as Occam and Ockham. The entry for Occams is distinct from discussions of the philosophical principle, though both share a common etymological link to the English place name Ockham.