English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Marcham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Marcham

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Merchamme 900 BCS592 12th
  • Mercham, (to) Merchamme 965 c.1240 ib
  • Mercham 835 c.1200 Abingdon William Cur c.1240 ObAcc 1199 1383–4
  • Merchham 1284 Ass
  • Merceham 1086 DB
  • Marcham William Abingdon c.1240 Pat 1345
  • Mericham c.1180 Abingdon 13th
  • Merecham 1220 Fees
  • Mergham 1242–3 Fees

Etymology

'Riverside meadow where smallage grows', v. hamm . DEPN suggests that OE  merece , the plant apium graveolens , is the first el. of Marcham and of Marchington St and Marchwood Ha. The plant is referred to also in Smallege Mede , f.n. in Thatcham, Pt 1193.