English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Newnham and Polmere

Major Settlement in the Parish of Pontesbury

Historical Forms

  • Newnham 1209-10 MGS 1601 SBL12706
  • Newneham 1572,7 PR(H)
  • Neunam 1255 RH
  • Neunham 1276 Ipm
  • Newnum 1672 HTR
  • Newenham 1255-6 Ass 1308,1490 Ipm
  • Newenam 1291-2 Ass
  • Newenam' c.1380 SBL6172

Etymology

'New settlement', v. nīwe , hām . The -n - is from the dat.sg. inflection of nīwe . This place-name is widespread in the country, and it is likely that it continued to be applied to new settlements after hām had otherwise gone out of use in place-name formation.