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.

Rackham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Rackham

Historical Forms

  • Recham 1166 RBE 1447 Ch
  • Rakham 1295 Ch
  • Racham 1295 Pat 1307 Ch
  • Racomb 1724 B
  • Regham 1370 Ct

Etymology

Professor Ekwall suggests that the first element may be OE  hrēac , 'rick,' but the exact sense of the compound is uncertain.Possibly the ham(m) may at some time in its history have become known as 'rick-ham' owing to some specially large rick once made there or from the prominence of the ricks around the homestead.

Places in the same Parish

None