Accordin tae the Muslim historian al-Maqrizi, Umm al-Fahm wis established in 1265. Its name means ""Mither o Charcoal"" in Arabic,) the veelage wis surroondit bi natural forests which wur uised tae produce charcoal. Several archaeological sites aroond the ceety date tae the Iron Age, as well as Muslim, Roman an Hellenistic periods.