Burnham
Major Settlement in the Parish of Burnham
Historical Forms
- Burneham 1086 DB 1164 P
- Burnham 1175,1189 P
- Bournham 1405 Pat 1562 BM
Etymology
There is no stream of sufficient importance to make derivation from burna likely. There is an early pers. name stem Byrn (cf. byrne , 'corselet') found in Byrnham in an original 8th cent. Kentish charter (BCS 199) and in Byrnhom the name of the grandfather of the 8th cent. Ealhred, King of Northumbria, and in Byrngyð , a nun addressed by Aldhelm in the preface to the De Laudibus Virginitatis (pre-Alfredian MS). This would account for the forms of Burnham and also for the pet-names Bynni and Bynna from earlier *Byrni and *Byrna .
The only other reasonable possibility is that the name contains the OE pers. name Brun (n )a . This name seems to be the origin of Burnham (Nf). Cf. Stevenson on Brunemue (EHR xi. 302–4). The difficulty in the present name arises mainly from the absence of any Brun - forms. If the name is really derived from Brun (n )a metathesis must have taken place very early. That it might have occurred by 1086 is shown by DB Burnulfestune for Burnaston (Db) from ON Bryniólfr . Association with the common burna would materially help the change.If Burnham contains Byrna or Brunna the name falls into line with Hitcham, Wexham, Loudham's Farm and Cippenham in this neighbourhood, all of which are derived from pers. names.