Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (æt) Wuealtham, (to) Wealtham 940 BCS762 c.1240

• (æt) Wealtham 1007 KCD1303 c.1240

• parva Waltham, Waltam 1086 GilbertCrispin

• Waltham 1086 DB

• parua Waltham 1169–89 Hurley

• Wautham 1212 Fees

• Waltamia Sancti Laurencii 1224–5 Ass

• Wautham Sancti Laurencii 1284 ib

• Waltham Sancti Laurencii 1294 SR

• parva Waltham l.13th Hurley

• Lutelwaltham 1315 ib

• Waltham Sancti Laurentii 1316 FA

• Waltham Seynt Laurens 1400 Fine

• Laurence Waltham 1535 VE

• Larrance Waltham 1606 BM

• Lawrance Walthum 17th PubLib(Clayton)

Etymology

'Homestead in a wood', v. w(e)ald, hām . For other examples of this name, and for a discussion of the OE forms, v. DEPN and Sx 77.Ekwall's explanation that weald became wealt before the h - of hām has been generally accepted. This place is called 'small', 'St Lawrence' (from the church dedication) for distinction from White Waltham (70). The charters disposing of land at Waltham are discussed in Pt 3. BCS 762 probably refers to both the Walthams and Shottesbrooke (which is situated between them), and KCD 1303 probably refers to Waltham St Lawrence only.