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.

Selham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Selham

Historical Forms

  • Seleham 1086 DB 1230 FF 1283 Ipm
  • Selham 1230 FF
  • Sellam 1604 MarC
  • Seltham c.1200 SAC5,251 1291 Tax
  • Suleham 1209 FF 1254 Perc 1279 Ass 1296 SR 1310 Seld20 1332 SR 1356 Ass 1428 FA
  • Sulham c.1200 SAC5,251 1428 FA 1442 Cicestr 1752 Wills
  • Sulleham 1279 Ass
  • Soleham 1279 Ass 1296 SR
  • Sylham 1428 FA

Etymology

OE  syla-ham , 'homestead of the wallowing-places,' from OE  syle , a derivative from the same stem as sol. Selham lies low.Cf. beaddansyla , a Sussex denbær or swine-pasture, in BCS 961, possibly the same as Bassell's infra 185. Skeat gives the same etymology for Syleham (PN Sf 61).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site