Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Suafham c.1050 KCD907 13th 1086 Ass 1272

• Suafham by Cambridge 1312 Misc

• Suafahm (sic) c.1060 LibEl 12th

• Suafam 1086 DB, InqEl

• Swafam c.1300 ElyA

• (Altera) Suuafham 1086 InqEl

• Swafham c.1150 LibEl

• Swafham Bolebek, Swafham Prioris 1218 SR

• Swafham prioris Elyensis 1232 ElyC

• alia Swafham 1236 Barnwell

• Swafham le Cunte 1252 FF

• Swafham magna 1253 ib

• Swafham Sancti Cyricii, Swafham Sancte Marie, Swafham Monialium 1254 Val

• Long Swafham 1258 Cl

• Swafham Prior 1261 FF

• Swafham Bulebec 1268 Ass

• Swafham Prior de Ely 1279 RH

• Swafham iuxta Riche, Swafham Gildene 1285 Ass

• Swafham iuxta Reche 1285 FF

• Swafham le Counte 1324 Abbr

• Swafham Peche 1334 Ct

• Swafham Comitis 1451 IpmR

• Sæufham 1170 LibEl

• Saufham 13th ElyCh

• Sawfham 1284 FA 1394 MinAcct

• Saffeham Monialium 1487 Elien

• Swaffham 1196 FF

• Swaffham cum Reche 1298 Ass

• Litle Swaffham 1643 Blomefield

• Swauesham 1197–8 P 1199 ElyC 1285 Ass

• Swaveham 1471 Pat

• Swapham 1256 Barnwell 1529 LRMB

• Swapham and Bulbech 1464 Pat

• Swefham 1556 Pat

• Swof(f)ham 1272 Ass 1553 EAvii

• Sofham 1440 Ct

• Soff(e)ham 1442 1574 Ely

• Sopham 1481 MinAcct

• Soffhom, Soughom 1501 Ct

• Shoffam 1550 Pat

• Bolebec(h) 1086 ICC, InqEl

Etymology

OE  Swāfhām or Swǣfhām , 'the Swabian home,' the first element being the stem of the tribal name Swǣfe . Cf. Swaffham (Nf), DBSuafham and v. also Swavesey infra 172 and Introd. xxxiii. For the formation cf. Saxon Street supra 127. Bulebec from Hugo de Bolebec (h )1086 ICC, InqEl. It was also called magna , le Cunte or Comitis from the family of Aubrey de Vere, earl of Oxford (d. 1214), who married Isabel de Bolebec (v. Farrer 128–9), and Monialium from the nuns of Swaffham Bulbeck Priory founded before the reign of King John by one of the Bolebecs (Tanner 46) (cf. Nunnysmill , le Nunnys Weyer 1536–9MinAcct ). For Gildene , cf. Guilden Morden supra 61, and for Reche , v. infra 136. Long because Swaffham Bulbeck lies along the road, cf. Long Stanton infra 183. Swaffham Prior called also Little , was a manor of the Prior of Ely. There were formerly two parishes here (united in 1667) and two churches dedicated to St Cyric and St Mary . Peche from the fee of Hamon Pecche in Swaffham Prior (1236 Barnwell).