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.

Acklam

Major Settlement in the Parish of Acklam

Historical Forms

  • Aclun 1086 DB
  • Aclum 1130,1195 P 1190 YCh 1203 Ass 1206,1212 Cur 1358 Ipm
  • Aclom 1267 YI
  • Acclum 12th,13th Bridl t.Hy2 Ch 1308 YCh824–6 1160–75 FF 1206 Test 1377
  • Acclum juxta Lethenyng 1280 Ass
  • Acclum Wodecok 1365 Pat
  • Acolhum 1196 FF
  • Akolum 1379 ADi
  • Hackelum 1240 FF
  • Acelum 1273 Bridl
  • Athelom 1276 RH
  • A(c)kelom 1285 KI 1295 For
  • Acclom, Acklom 1290 Ch 1297 LS 1546 FF
  • Aiclom 1316 NomVill
  • Acklam 1587 FF 1828 Langd

Etymology

This name is clearly of the same origin as Acklam (PN NRY 162), suggested to be from OScand  ǫklum , dat. plur. of OScand  ǫkull 'ankle,' used in Norw place-names in the sense 'slope,' a meaning appropriate in the present instance. Ekwall, however, raises a serious objection to this proposal, pointing out that it would be unusual to find two examples of this word exhibiting OWScand  consonant assimilation of nk to k as early as DB (v. Anderson 14). Although Buckrose is perhaps one of those areas where such OWScand influence might be expected, the early appearance of k is certainly noteworthy. On the other hand Ekwall's own suggestion (DEPN s. n .) that we have early reduction of OE  dat. plur. acleum (from acleah ) is equally difficult.Parallels are difficult to find and if the double occurrence of Scand  nk becoming kk is difficult, equally difficult would be the double occurrence of so drastic an early reduction of an original acle (g )um . For Lethenyng , v. Leavening infra .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement