Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wiham 1086 DB

• Uicheim c.1115 LS

• Wycham l12,e13(13) Alv e13 Gilb 1409 RAiv 1230–40 Fees 1242–43 FA 1428 VEiv 1535

• Northywycham 1271–72 Ass

• Wicham 1200 Cur e13 HarlCh e13,a1205,a1218 RAiv m13 HarlCh 1346 FA

• Wykam 1242–43 Fees

• Wykham 1263 FF 1327,1332 SR 1343 NI 1367 Ipm Hy8 Lanc

• Wikam Hy3 HarlCh

• Wikham c.1275 LNQvi 1316 FA

• Wikham iuxta Nettiltona 1276 Gilb 1409

• Wikeham 1236 Fees 1336 RAiv

• Wikeham de Netelton' 1330 CottCh

• Wykeham 1282 Ipm 1303 FA 1557 Pat 1832,1833,1852,1875,1889 Yarb

• Wykehame 1365 Bodl

• Wycholm 1521 Anc

• wicame 1577 Terrier

• Wicame c.1580 Terrier

• Wicam 1662 Terrier

• wickham Cloase 1587 Yarb

• Whicum Close 1794 EnclA

Etymology

This is derived from OE  wīc-hām, discussed at length by Margaret Gelling, 'English Place-Names derived from the Compound wichām ', Medieval Archaeology , xi, 1967, pp. 87–104, reprinted in Place -Name Evidence for the Anglo -Saxon Invasion and Scandinavian Settlements , EPNS 1987, pp. 8–26, and also Signposts to the Past , Chichester 1988, pp. 67–84 and 245–48. The exact meaning and significance is uncertain, but from an analysis of a group of p.ns. derived from wīc-hām it has been suggested that it was an OE  term for a small Roman settlement which “survived without being swamped by neighbouring Germanic settlers, and was given this name by neighbouring Germanic communities in recognition of its non-Germanic characteristics” (Signposts to the Past , pp. 70–71). It should be noted that a significant number of these names occur near smaller Roman settlements, rarely near the larger. The nearest Roman town is Caistor, two and a half miles away. In Nettleton parish itself, Romano-British pottery has been found at, at least, seven sites, and similar finds are recorded from the adjacent parish of Claxby, where a “substantial building” is marked on the Map of Roman Britain , O.S. 1956, about one and a half miles from Wykeham , v. also B.N. Eagles, The Anglo -Saxon Settlement of Humberside , BAR British Series 68 1979, pp. 383 and 362–63. In addition, the f.n. Chesterfelde , in f.ns. (b) infra , has been noted three times in 16th century Nettleton documents, and frequently p.ns. containing Chester - (v. ceaster ) have Roman associations. Unfortunately, it does not seem possible to identify the site of this f.n. It should also be noted that an AS inhumation cemetery has been identified between Nettleton and Caistor. Wykeham is an example of one group of wīc-hām names, which are now depopulated and which lie near the boundary of a large parish. Its situation is shown on the 6″ O.S. map and is indicated by the f.n. Whicum Close 1794EnclA (Plan). Its land extended to the south to the boundary with Normanby le Wold, as is indicated in a charter dated l12 (13) Alv , f. 145 and in two similar documents, e13 RA iv, 201 and a1205 ib, 191, and to the east it is bounded by High Street, on which v. Margary no 270, p. 240. The name survives in WYKEHAM WELL, 1824 O.