Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Nesshai' 1154×89 ZRI5/1

• Nessham 1155×89 AA(1893)270

• Nesham 1154×89 ZRI5/1 1157 AA(1893)270 early14th Cler 15th 1324 15th ib

• Neseham 1535 CC 1578 BW

• Neisham 1583,1602 BW

• Neasham 1538,1540,1666 ZRI5/23–5 1692 Eldon 1770 BowesG69/1 c.1840 ib

• the Township of Neasham 1839 TA

• Neesum 1660×72 SurteesIII229

• Neesom 1780 CG13/145

• Neesham 1757 NCB1/X222 1780 CG13/145

Etymology

'Homestead at the nose-shaped bend', OE  *nesu, hām, a most apt designation for the village which sits on the Tees at the tip of a tight elongated meander. The long vowel in the name is due to ME lengthening in open-syllable. The earliest spelling, Nesshai ' 1154×89, if genuine, seems to reflect ON  heim rather than OE  hām .