Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bennahamme, (æt) Bennanhamme 956 BCS942 c.1240

• Bennanham 960 BCS1055 contemporary

• Ben(n)eham, Benham 1086 DB

• Benneham, Bennaham Hy1 Abingdon c.1240

• Benham 1160 P

• Bennham 1212 Fees

• Marsh Benham 1761 Rocque 1817 OS

• Benham Buslot 1830 OS

• Holebenham 1220 Fees 1242–3 ib

• Hole Benham 1235–6 ib

• Halebenham 1242–3 ib

• Holbenham, Ole Benham 1284 Ass

• Lobbenham 1401–2 FA

• Hoobenham 1547 LRMB

• Holt Benhame 1619 Dep

• Hoe Benham 1761 Rocque

• Estbenham 1275–6 RH 1284 Ass

• Benham Valences 1284 ib

• Benham Valence 1316 Ipm 1327 SR 1360 AD

• Benham Lovell 1385 Cl 1427,1432 Fine 1619 Dep 1665 PubLib

• Benhamlovell 1453 Fine

Etymology

Marsh Benham, Bennahamme , (æt ) Bennanhamme 956 (c. 1240) BCS 942, Bennanham 960 (contemporary) BCS 1055, Ben (n )eham , Benham 1086 DB, Benneham , Bennaham Hy 1 (c. 1240) Abingdon, Benham 1160 P et passim , Bennham 1212 Fees, Marsh Benham 1761 Rocque, 1817 OS, 'riverside meadow belonging to Benna', v. hamm . The pers.n. cannot be the recorded OE  Beonna , as BCS 1055 is a contemporary parchment. Except for Hoe Benham and Benham Burslot the settlements with this name are on the marshy N. bank of the R. Kennet. The other settlements are: Benham Burslot (Welford parish), Benham Buslot 1830 OS. Hoe Benham (Welford parish), Holebenham 1220 Fees, 1242–3 ib, Hole Benham 1235–6 ib, Halebenham 1242–3 ib, Holbenham , Ole Benham 1284Ass , Lobbenham 1401–2 FA, Hoobenham 1547LRMB , Holt Benhame 1619Dep , Hoe Benham 1761 Rocque. The prefix is holh 'hollow'; the place lies at the head of a valley. Benham Valence, Estbenham 1275–6 RH, 1284Ass , Benham Valences 1284 ib, Benham Valence 1316 Ipm, 1327SR , 1360 AD. The gift of the manor to William de Valencia is recorded 1251 Ch. Est - because E. of Marsh Benham supra .Benham Lovell (lost), Benham Lovell 1385 Cl, 1427, 1432 Fine, 1619Dep , 1665PubLib , Benhamlovell 1453 Fine. The family of Lovell held the manor in the 13th cent. (VCH iv, 106).