Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Perham 1228 FF 1244,1288,1330 Ass

• Perhamme 1413 FF

• Pereham 13 Forde 15

• Parnham 1431 FA 1517 Ct

• Parneham 1634 DCMCt

• Parham 1436–42 Strode 1499 Ipm

• Pernhame 1576 DCMDeed

• Perneham House 1627 DCMCt

Etymology

'Pear enclosure or river-meadow', from peru and hamm , cf. W Parley par. 2 231. Parnham lies on R. Brit. The -n - in the modern spelling, first found in the 15th cent., is excrescent. For an account of the 'mansion house' at Parnham c.1628, v. Hutch3 2128, and for Parnham Park, v. infra . Cf. also Parnham Mill 1811 OS.