Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Frome 1086 DB(f.80d)

• Froma la foghechyrche, Frome la fowechurche e13 ChrP 1372

• Frome Foghecherche 1235 Ass

• Fromefougechurche 1280 Ass

• Frome Fowechirch' 1288 ib

• Frome Foghechurche 1300 Drew

• Frome Foechurch 1303 FA

• Frome Fouchurche 1303,1346 1360 Cl

• Frome Foghechirche 1329,1337 FF

• Frome Foucherche 1360 Ipm

• Frome Fow(e)church(e) 1360 1428 FA

• Frome uoʒecherche e13 ChrP 1372

• Frome Voghechurch(e) 1297 Pat 1340 NI

• Frome Vow(e)church(e) 1327,1332 SR 1412 FA 1469 Ilch

• Frome Voechurch 1341 Ipm

• Frome Voghechurce 1341 Cl

• Frome Voucherch(e) 1352 Weld1 1386 Ilch 1403 Cl 1412 FA

• Frome Vouchurch(e) 1352 Weld1 1386 Cl 1486 Ipm

• Fromevoughchurch' 1405 Ilch

• Frome Voghechirch 1425 Cl

• Frome Veghechirch (sic) 1428 FA

• Fromevouchirche 1442 Ilch

• Fromevocherch' 1475 Marten

• Froumeuowchurch' 1372 ChrP

• Fromesfrogge Cherche (sic) 1259 FF

• vill' de Foucherche 1288 Ass

• 'Frome and Vowechirche' 1305 Ipm

• 'Frome and Fowechirche' 1361 Cl

• Vowechurche 1399 Cl

• Fromefrauchurche (sic) 1316 FF

• Frome Bowechirche (sic) or Frome Voghchirche' 1423 Pat

• Fromesfoghechurche 1319 FF

• Frome Wowechurche 1399 Cl

• Fromesvauchurch 1455 FF

• Frome Vauchurche 1535 VE

• Fromvawchurche 1550–3 BMI

• Fro(o)me Vawchurch 1653 ParlSurv

• Frome Vau-church 1664 HTax

• Froom Vauchurch 1686 DCMCt

• Fromesfrogge Cherche 1259 FF

• Frogge 1332 SR, 1340 NI

Etymology

Named from R. Frome, v. Frome St Q. par. supra , RNs.. infra ; for the identification of the DB form, v. VCHDo 392. The distinguishing affix means 'coloured or multi-coloured church', v. fāh , cirice , cf. Vowchurch He (DEPN) for a name of identical origin. For an interesting though mistaken interpretation of the affix, cf. the following footnote in 1863 Hutch3 2651: 'The first syllable Vau , Vou , or Vough , is probably a corruption of the French  Vieu , or Vieux , as the vill seems to have taken its additional name from the antiquity of its church.' The curious corruption Fromesfrogge Cherche 1259 FF may have been partly influenced by the unusual surname of (the ancestors of) William Frogge 1332 SR, 1340 NI (a prominent taxpayer and juryman of this par.).According to 1774 Hutch1 1506 (followed by Hutch3 2651), Frome Vauchurch was 'commonly [known as] Downfrome ', cf. Down Froome 1628 (17) Strode .