Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Winteham 1086 DB

• Wichtham, Witham William Abingdon c.1240

• Wi(c)htham, Withham a.1170 ClaudiusCix c.1200

• Wightham 1316 FA 1728 LN

• Wygtham 1327 SR

• Wyghtham 1342 Pat

• Wyhtham 1383–4 ObAcc

• Wyghtham Phylyp 1486 Ipm

• Witham 1221 Cur 1263 Cl

• Wytham 1284 Ass

• Whitham 1390 Eynsh

• Wytteham 1242–3 Fees

• Wightam 1675 Ogilby

• Whiteham 1761 Rocque

Etymology

'Village in a bend', v. wiht , hām . The reference is to the position of the place in a sharp curve of the Thames. The modern pronunciation is represented by Ogilby's spelling Wightam . Several members of the family of de Wytham , which held the manor from the 12th to the 15th cents., were called Philip , v. VCH iv, 428.