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.

Galsham

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hartland

Historical Forms

  • Gallecusham 1189 Oliver 1365
  • Galkysham 1333 SR 1577 Oliver
  • Gallkisham 1345 Ass

Etymology

v. ham(m). The first element may be a British pers. name Ga (l )oc . This is not on record, but the simple Gall occurs in the Mabinogion, and Loth (Chrest 131) gives several instances of compounds such as Gal-budic , -con , -du , -uuorveth , etc.