Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Avenham 1300 Monast 1367 Hopt 1487 MinAcct 1553 Pat

• Avonham c.1540 AOMB 1555 FF 1632 Inq

• Habene homme 779 BCS232

Etymology

Avon Ham, Avenham 1300 Monast, 1367Hopt 5, 1487MinAcct , 1553 Pat, Avonham c. 1540AOMB , 1555 FF, 1632 Inq. 'Water-meadow by the Avon', v. R. Avon (i, 2supra ), hamm ; cf. also Severn Ham (infra ). This stretch of level meadow, often inundated with floodwater, lies between the Severn and the Old Avon to the north-west of the town. Habene homme 779 BCS 232, which is on the bounds of Kemerton and Bredon, may have a similar origin but can hardly refer to what is now called Avon Ham; it was probably the low-lying land between the Avon and the Carrant to the east of Tewkesbury.