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.

Southam (Delabere)

Major Settlement in the Parish of Southam & Brockhampton

Historical Forms

  • Suth-ham c.991 BCS1166
  • Surham 1086 DB
  • Suthan 1137 Monast
  • Sudham 1260 FF
  • Suham 1209 Fees 1216 ClR 1221 Ass 1276 RH
  • Sutham 1269 FF 1274 Cl 1286 Ipm 1478 MinAcct
  • Sutham iuxta Clyue Epi' 1310 FF
  • Southam 1299 Ipm 1327 SR 1557 Val42d
  • Southeham 1438 Pat
  • Sowth(e)ham 1535 VE 1593 FF

Etymology

'South homestead', v. sūð , hām (hamm); it was the southern part of the old manor of Cleeve. For the affix cf. Johannes Delabere de Southam 1662 PR 3, 88 and Rudder 370; this name also appears in Delaberes house c. 1550Rent .