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.

Highnam

Major Settlement in the Parish of Highnam

Historical Forms

  • Hamme 1086 DB
  • Hinehamme, Hynehamme 12,13,1316 Glouc 1316 FA 1326 FF
  • Hynehame 12 Glouc
  • Hyneham 1287 QW 1291 Tax 1542 MinAcct
  • Hynehomme c.1230 GlR 1327 SR 1355 Heref
  • Ourehynehomme 1338 FF
  • Hynehom 1248 Ass
  • Hynehome 1282 For
  • Hynham 1287 Ass
  • Henham 1543 AOMB
  • Hinam 1675 Ogilby

Etymology

v. hamm 'water-meadow'; the parish includes the low-lying meadows between the Severn and the Leadon. The affix, from OE  hīgna , gen.pl. of hīwan 'members of a religious community', refers to the monks of St Peter's Gloucester, to whom the estate belonged (Glouc); cf. Highleadon (158supra ).