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.

Langham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Langham

Historical Forms

  • Laingaham 1086 DB
  • Laing(e)ham 12th FeudalEngland 1239 For
  • Leingeham 1190–6 P
  • Leyngham 1246 Cl 1248 Ass
  • La Wingeham 1130 P
  • Lawingeham 1197 FF
  • lauhingeham, Lavi(n)gaham, Lahingeham 1139–89 FeudalEngland
  • Laghenham 1254 Ass
  • Leng(e)ham 1238 SR 1254–6 FF 1281 Ipm 1291 For
  • Lenham 1254 Ass
  • Langham 1291–2 Pat

Etymology

This is a difficult name. It may perhaps be associated with the name lahhan mere (BCS 945) in an original Oxfordshire charter. A first element lahinga would satisfy the phonological conditions, but its interpretation is obscure. It may be that we have traces of the same word or name in DB Laghenberia , cf. Lawn Hall infra 481. The third series of forms makes it unlikely that the name should be associated with Longham and Launditch (Nf). Cf. PN in -ing 129–30.

Places in the same Parish