Loudham's Farm
Early-attested site in the Parish of Chalfont St Giles
Historical Forms
- Ludham 1256 FF 1283 Mert
- Loudham al. Loutham 1329 Ipm
Etymology
OE Hlūdan -ham , 'Hluda's homestead.' The strong form Hlūd is found in the p.n. Hlūdes -beorh (BCS 741). One would have expected the vowel to have been shortened, but cf. Lowdham (Nt). There is evidence of a temporary shortening of the vowel in Lowdham (Luddeham 1191–3 (Cal of Doc France 16) from an original charter). Probably the influence of the common word loud was too strong for the shortening to be permanent. Mutschmann suggests a pers. name Luda for Lowdham and such does occur in OE but its vowel must have been short as no OE stem in lūd - is known. 'Loud' is also possible as a stream-name in English (cf. Loud in Ekwall, PN La 139) but there is no stream here at all. Like the present name, Lowdham (Nt) can hardly be derived from a stream-name, for the brook which runs through the village bore its present name of Cocker Beck already in the 13th cent.