Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bochenham 1086 DB

• Bukenham 1244 Ass

• Bukeham 1244 Ass 1285 FA

• Bukkeham m13 Salis 1285 FA

• Bocham 1280 Ass 1303,1431 FA

• Bokham 1303 FA

• Boucham 1346 FA 1428 FA

• Boukham 1428 FA

• Bukumbe (sic) 1280 Ass

• Bukham 1288,1330 Ass 1450 Cl

• Bucham 1297 Abbr 1298 Ipm 1413 FF 1443 Strode

• Buccham e14 Salis

• Bukhaump (sic) 1412 FA

• Buckham 1499 Ipm

• Buckam 1628 Strode 17

• the house called Buckham 1638 DCMDeed

Etymology

Probably 'homestead or enclosure where bucks (male deer or he- goats) are kept', from OE  bucca (gen.sg -n , gen.pl. -ena ) and hām or hamm , cf. Buckenham Nf which is perhaps identical in origin (it is Bucanaham in 1086 DB and interpreted as from bucca and hām by VEPN 2 62 s.v. bucca ). The OE  pers.n. Bucca (gen.sg. -n ) is a possible alternative as first el. in the Do name, but the animal word seems preferable.

The form (æt ) Buchæmatune 1002–12 ASWrits is perhaps to be identified with this place (the menaing would then be 'farmstead of the dwellers at Bucham ', with hǣme and tūn ) but may rather belong under Hr Brockhampton & Lr Bockhampton 1367.

According to Hutch3 2 126–7, Buckham was divided in the reign of Elizabeth 'into three farms, since called by the several names of West Buckham, Larder's Buckham, and Buckham Mill' (the second of these 'was held by the Larders of Loders and West Chelbury for many generations' ib , v. Buckham Mill infra ), cf. also South Buckham 1843TAMap .