Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hefresham c.1050 StCuth

• Hevresham 1157 YCh

• Eureshaim 1086 DB

• Euresham 1445 Richm

• Hev-, Heveresham 1090–7 Ch 1308 Kendi,386 1160–70 1246 Ipm 1283 Ass1 1291 Misc 1303 AD(E.326) 1398

• -aym 1292 Ass6

• Heverisham, Heuerisham 1293 Kendi,136 1332 SR

• Heversaim 1180–1200 Kendii,190

• Heuersaym 1292 Ass14

• Heversham, Heuersham 1256 Ass11 1279 1282 StBees 1626 PR(K)

• Heversam 1543 RichWill

• Everesheim l.12 Weth

• Everesham 1291 Tax 1342 Pat 1429 Richm

• Everysham 1436 Pat 1482 Kendii,152

• Euersheim, Eversheim 1200–15 Kendii,214 1204–12 ib

• -ham 13 MaryH51 1282 StBees 1362 Richm 1583 Kendii,155

• Haversheim, Hauersheim l.12 Weth

• -ham 1247,1256 Pipe

• Hersham 1453,1481 Kendii,151–2

• Heaversham 1588 PR(Cr) 1673 WilsonL

• Hearsham 1583 FF 1597 Kendii,156 c.1700 ib

• Heresham als. Hersam 1702 Dep

• Hirsom 1754 Pococke

Etymology

The first el. is probably a pers.n. and Ekwall has suggested OE  Hēahfrið (in a reduced form), v. hām 'homestead', with some spellings showing the influence of the cognate OE  heim. The latest dialectal forms Hearsham , etc. are noteworthy.