Fairholme
Early-attested site in the Parish of Swine
Historical Forms
- Fayrholm(e) 1210–20,1221–35 Melsa
- Feirholm(e), Feyrholm(e), Far(r)om 1535 VE 1650 ParlSurv
- Fareholme 1571 FF
- Fairholm Grange 1611 YAJxi
Etymology
Fairholme is Fayrholm (e )1210–20, 1221–35 Melsa, Feirholm (e ), Feyrholm (e ), Far (r )om 1535 VE, 1650 ParlSurv, Fareholme 1571 FF, Fairholm Grange 1611 YAJ xi. 'Fair water-meadow,' v. fæger , holmr . Melsa has a note on the name (1210–20), “Fayrholme , which was formerly called by its right name Scitelholme. ” The first element of the earlier name is OE scytel 'excrement,' which suggests that 'fair' is here a euphemistic alternative.