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.

Farlam

Major Settlement in the Parish of Farlam

Historical Forms

  • Farlam 1166 Weth 1169 Laner
  • alia c.1195 ib
  • parva c.1200 ib
  • Magna c.1290 ib
  • Estfarlam 1336 Ass
  • West Farlan 1485 Ipm
  • Furlaham 1183 Pap 1402
  • Farlaham 1279 Ass 1316 Carliol
  • Farleham 1279 Ass 1610 Denton
  • Farlham 1292 Ass 1428 FA
  • Westfarham 1424,1445,1460 Fine
  • Forlam 1576 S
  • Farelam 1610 Denton
  • Farlome 1658 CantWviii

Etymology

This may possibly, as Ekwall (DEPN) suggests, be OE  fearnlēam , '(at the) fern clearings,' or fearnlēah -hām , 'hāmby a fern clearing,' v. (a)h. It is less likely that hām should have been compounded with a Scandinavian personal name such as the Faraldr or Farle which may occur in Farlesthorpe (L) and Farleton (La) respectively.