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.

Dedisham

Early-attested site in the Parish of Slinfold

Historical Forms

  • Doddesham 1257 Ch 1401 FF
  • Daddisham 1288 Ass
  • Dad(d)esham 1294 Pat 1386 IpmR
  • Dadysham 1408 Ass
  • Detsum 1675 Ogilby

Etymology

The phonology of this name is difficult. Possibly the o -forms are errors of transcription, though we do find similar hesitation in Todham supra 18 and, at a late date, in Trotton supra 44.There may have been an OE  pers. name Dæddi , a pet-form of an OE  name in Dǣd -. Cf. Deddington (PN O 93). 'Dǣddi 's ham(m).'