English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Neasham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hurworth

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 .