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.

Queen Holme

Early-attested site in the Parish of Willingham

Historical Forms

  • Quenholm 1221 ElyA 1251 ElyCouch 1277 Ely
  • Henholm ib.
  • Queneholme c.1465 ElyB
  • the Quinam Ware 1569 CHuASi
  • Queenhams 1638 ElyVis
  • the Queenhams or Showells 1638 CHuASiv
  • Queenholmes, Queensholms c.1840 TA
  • Queenham's 1870 Witcham

Etymology

Queen Holme is Quenholm 1221ElyA , 1251ElyCouch , 1277Ely , Henholm ib., Queneholme c. 1465ElyB , the Quinam Ware 1569 CHuAS i, Queenhams 1638 ElyVis, the Queenhams or Showells 1638 CHuAS iv, Queenholmes , Queensholms c. 1840TA , Queenham 's 1870Witcham . It is impossible to say whether this takes name from some unknown queen or from OE  cwene , 'woman'; cf. Quendolf (1395 EA iv) in Newton. For Showells , v. The Shoals infra .