Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hamme 1236 Fees 1268 Ass 1280 ib

• Hamme juxta la Pole 1285 FF 1476 Cl

• Hammes 1247 FF

• Hanme 1288 Ass

• Hame iuxta Pole 1463 MinAcct 1554 AddCh e17 Cecil

• Hampne 1484 Eton

• Hamd (sic) 1504 Ipm

• Ham als. Ham Worthy 1612 DCMDeed

• Ham, Hamworthy, Upper or South-Ham, Hr Ham & Lr Ham 1774 Hutch1

• Southam juxta Poule 1407 IpmR

• Southaunnes (for Southammes) juxta Poule 1412 FA

• Southamme 1465 Ct

• South Ham or Hamworthy 1565 Hutch3

• Hamworthy 1463 MinAcct 1520 Rent

• Hamworthy or South-Ham 1661 Hutch1

• Hamwurthy 1535 VE

• Hamworthie 1539 Ct 1613 AddCh

• Hampne Worth 1484 Eton

• Hamworthe 1540 Ct

• hundred' de Hamworthy in 1463 MinAcct

Etymology

'The enclosure', v. hamm , with the later addition of worðig 'enclosure' (from 1463), alternating with the synonymous worð (from 1484) of which worðig is a derivative. The name is discussed by M. Gelling, NoB 48 145ff, who suggests that this is one of several names in the S of England where hamm appears to have the sense 'promontory' (with reference to the situation of Hamworthy on a marked peninsula between Lytchett Bay and Holes Bay, i.e. on a site 'enclosed' by water), cf. however, K. I. Sandred, NoB 64 82ff. 'South' probably in relation to Hampreston par. infra (6 miles NE), v. sūð . Hutch1 2129 describes Hamworthy as 'divided into 2 parts, Higher and Lower', cf. duar ' partium manerii de Hamworthie 1613AddCh , and the use of the pl. form Hammes in 1247 and 1412; Higher (or Upper ) Ham and Lower Ham are now Hamworthy Junction (from the railway) and Lower Hamworthy respectively (the land rises to over 50′ at the former), cf. also Hither Ham 1612 Hutch1, apparently used of the extreme E tip of the promontory which was anciently part of Poole par. There is mention of hundred ' de Hamworthy in 1463MinAcct . Smith 1 98 notes that Hamworthy is always called Ham by 'the natives of the place'.