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.

Dedham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Dedham

Historical Forms

  • Delham 1086 DB
  • Diham, Dyham 1142 Mandeville 1232 Cl 1236 Fees 1238 SR 1239 For 1239–61 FF 1255 Pat 1281 Ch 1303 FA
  • Dynham 1307 Cl
  • Dedham 1166 P 1189 Dugdvi 1346 FA
  • Dedham Campessey 1509 Ct
  • Dedham Magna 1510 LP
  • Deddam 1167 P
  • Dedenham 1233 Bracton
  • Didham 1428 FA

Etymology

'The ham or hamm of Dydda .' The name is not on independent record, but it is found in its diminutive form in OE  Dyddel , and Dydda itself must be found in dyddan þorn (BCS 596). For the loss of d in the early forms cf. that of t in Witham supra 299. Campessey from the nuns of Campsey (Sf).