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.

Reepham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Reepham

Historical Forms

  • Refham 664 S c1115 LS c1128 ChronPetro 1189 Ch 1211 FF 1219 Cur 1228 Ch 1431 FA
  • Refam 1086 DB 1530 Wills 1539 LP
  • Refaim 1086 DB
  • Refan 1086 DB
  • Resham Regis 1197 P
  • Repham c1200 RAiv 1212 Fees 1254 ValNor 1325 Pat 1378 Fees 1384 Peace 1402 FA 1496 Ipm 1509 LDD 1526 Sub 1838 TA
  • Reffham 1202 Ass 1227 Ch 1271 Ass 1274–5 RH 1284 FF 1428 FA
  • Ryfam 1222–6 CNat m14
  • Reffeham 1275–6 RH ?1280–90
  • Rypham 1531 Wills
  • Reffame 1535 VE 1554,1568 InstBen 1598 SC
  • Rephaine 1538 LP
  • Reffam 1554,1562 Pat
  • Rifam 1562 InstBen
  • Reepham 1601 DCLB
  • Repeham 1657 SP
  • Reipham 1700,1711 Foster

Etymology

'The village, homestead of the reeve' from OE  (ge)rēfa and hām.One should note that (ge)rēfa is used adjectivally here.

Some fields within the orbit of the Manor of Fiskerton were transferred to the parish of Reepham in 1699 after a private enclosure agreement 1667–8 (1699 (1708) ReepPar ). To study the development of these field-names reference has been made to LRO terriers relating to both Fiskerton (TerrierFis below) and to Reepham (Terrier below).