Turnham Hall
Early-attested site in the Parish of Hemingbrough
Historical Forms
- Turneham 1198,1201 P 1549 FF
- Turnehamall 1474 Pat
- Turnham 1204 Ass
- Turnhamhalle 1421 YI
- Thurnham 1311 Ch
- Turnamhall c.1346 Works 1616 FF
- Turnumhalle 1349 Ipm 1363 Works
- Turnomhalle 1349 Ipm
- Turnemhall 1363 Works
- Turmanhall 1613 FF
- Tormond-Hall 1828 Langd
Etymology
The first element of Turnham and Turn Head supra 257 is no doubt used with a reference to the sharp bends made by the Ouse at these places. English turn with the meaning 'place at which a river or road turns off' is found from the 15th century (NED s.v.), and it is thought to be from an Anglo-Norman *t (o )urn . There may have been, however, an OE word *trun or *turn 'circular, circular place,' which Ekwall has suggested for Trunnah, PN La 158. Other examples are given in PN Ess lxi. In Turnham Hall, Turnhead, and Trumfleet (WRY), where the topography is closely associated with a winding river, we may have an extended meaning 'bend, bight.' A further difficulty with Turnham Hall is presented by the variation between ham , um and om in the second element. In Wharram, Hotham and Yapham supra 134, 225, 182 there is evidence of an original dat. plur. um being represented by ham from an early date and it may be so here, in which case the name means 'at the bends.' But against this it should be noted that ham is definitely older than um in this series of spellings, and with an original ham so suggested a fairly early reduction to um , om , em in the medial syllable might be expected, as in other cases like Goxhill, Newsome, etc., supra 66, 27. Turnham therefore probably means 'homestead at the river-bend,' v. ham . We may have this same element in Turnham Green (PN Mx 87).