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.

Bottisham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bottisham

Historical Forms

  • Bodekesham 1060 KCD809 c.1350 ChronRams 1077 ADi 17th 1494
  • Bodekisham, Bodekysham 1284 FA 1492 ADi
  • Bodechesham 1168,1176 P
  • Bothekesham, Bothekisham 1218 SR 1350 FF
  • Bodekesam 1227 NLC
  • Bodichesham 1086 ICC
  • Bodichessham 1086 DB
  • Bodikisham 1357 Pat
  • Bodischesham 1086 ICC
  • Bodeske(s)ham 1172,1242 P 1275 FF
  • Bodkesham 1236,1274 Cl 1371 FF
  • Boding(e)s(h)am 1155,c.1186,1227 NLC t.Hy2 Ch 1313
  • Bodeg(h)esham 1195 P 1496 ADi
  • Bodesham c.1210 Wardon 1527 Bott
  • Bo(c)kesham 1213 Cur 1291 Tax 1411 SR 1412 FA
  • Bot(h)ekesham, Bot(h)ekisham, Bot(h)ekysham 1218 SR 1468 Pat
  • Botkysham, Botkisham, Botkesham 1399 FF 1430 Pat
  • Bodelsham 1272 Ass
  • Botelesham, Botelysham 1384,1443 Pat
  • Bot(t)esham 1298 Ass 1605 Imb
  • Bottisham, Bottysham 1434 Pat
  • Bottessam 1512 CAPrxxxi
  • Botsom 1558 Ct
  • Bosham 1712 CCC

Etymology

'Boduc 's farm,' v. hām , as suggested by Skeat and Ekwall. This personal name is not on record, but is a derivative of the Boda found in Bodiam (PN Sx 518), Bodenham (He) and Bodham (Nf). In the 12th century confusion with a more common type of name in -inges - such as Horningsea (infra 145) seems to have taken place.