Frenchay
Early-attested site in the Parish of Winterbourne
Historical Forms
- Fromshawe 1248 Ass 1277 Mrk 1352,1369 FF
- Fromeshawe 1405 Ass
- Frompshahe 1250 Mrk
- Framshaw(e) 1397 FF 1533–8 ECP
- Framesshawe 1552 Asht
- Franshawe 1608,1640 FF
- Franchehay 1628 ib
- Frenchay 1607 FF
- Frenchaw 1675 Ogilby
Etymology
'Copse on the R. Frome', v. Frome (2) i, 7supra , sceaga . On the form Fram - cf. Frampton (ii, 196supra ); the assimilation of -m - to -n - before -sh - produced Franch - which was then wrongly associated with French -.