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.

Ownham

Early-attested site in the Parish of Boxford

Historical Forms

  • Ouenham c.1180 Abingdon 13th
  • Ovenham 1316 FA 1340–1 RentSur Hy6 ib
  • Ovenham, Ownham, Owenham 1547 LRMB
  • Houeham 1284 Ass

Etymology

Probably 'Ofa's homestead', v. hām . Formally the first el. could be ofen 'oven', but this is only postulated for names of later origin than this.