Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Mel(e)come 1086 DB

• Melecoma c.1086 GeldR

• Melecumb(e) 1206,1207,1208 Cur 1291 Tax

• Melecombe 1316 FA

• Nether Melecumb' 1265 CottCh

• Nither Melecumb' 1268 Ass 1297 Pat

• Nethermelecumb(e) 1288 Ass

• Nethermel(e)combe 1300,1310 Cl 1433 et freq

• Nythermellecombe 1317 Ipm

• Nuthere Melcombe 1318 Hutch3

• Estmel(l)ecumbe 1280,1288 Ass

• Bynghammes Melcombe 1412 FA

• Melcombe Byngham 1431 1433 Cl

• Bingeham melcombe 1575 Saxton

• Freke and Binghams Melcombe Tithing 1664 HTax

• Melcomb Bingham 1811 OS

Etymology

Nether - from neoðerra 'lower', and ēast 'east', to distinguish it from Melcombe Horsey supra . The family of de Byngham held this manor from c. 1243 along with West Stafford q. v. 1243, cf. also Robert de Byngham 1265CottCh , 1303 Ipm, 1310 Cl, William de Bingeham 1274–81 Ipm, cotag ' Emme Bynghams 1400Ilch (Hilton), and Hutch3 4 368.The name of the tithing in 1664 HTax is from Thomas Freke , mentioned alongside John Bingham in the same record.