Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Pelehā 1086 DB 1177 P 1187 P 1221 FF

• Pelleham 1190 P

• Pelham 1207 FF

• Pelham Arse 1210 FF

• Pelham la Arse 1254 Pat

• Pelham Arsa 1303 FA

• Pelham Combusta 1539 LP

• Barndepelham 1230 Pat

• Barnedepelham 1278 Ass

• Brendepelham 1241 LiberA 1373 Cl

• Brende Pelham 1278 QW 1289,1334 FF

• Brentpelleham 1399 Ct

• Bruntepelham 1550 Pat

• Byrnpellam 1566 Wills

• Burnte Pelham 1619 Sess

• Brent Pelham oth. Burnt Pelham 1804 Recov

• Stokenepelham 1235 FF 1278 Ass 1294 SR

• Stocken Pelham 1255 Ass

• Stokkenepelham 1303 FA

• Stokking Pelham 1428 FA

• Stockypellam 1566 Wills

• Pelham Furnelle 1240 FF

• Pelham Forneys 1291 Tax

• Pelham Furneus 1293 Ipm

• Pelham Forneus 1303 FA

• Pelham Fourneaux 1324 Pat

• Pelham Furnex 1428 FA

• Furnysshe Pelham 1541 FF

• Pelham Furnax 1630 StJohns

• Pelham Funish 1700 Sess

• Pelham Parva 1291 Tax

• Stocken Pelham al. Parva Pelham 1535 VE

• Pellen 1587 Cai

• The Pelhams 1646 Sess

Etymology

The first element is probably the personal name Peol (a ) or Piol (a ), discussed under Wootton Pillinge (PN BedsHu 87). Cf. also PN in -ing 162, s. n. Pillinge. Brent (Lat combusta , French arse , cf. Arsey Hills infra 300) Pelham must have been so distinguished from the occurrence of some great fire in early times, and Stocking Pelham by some kind of defence made of logs and trunks or by the land being covered with stumps. The word is OE  stoccen , an adjective from stocc . Cf. Stockenbridge (PN D 281), Stockbridge (PN Sx 14), Stokenchurch (PN O 196), Stoke Newington (Mx), Neweton Stocking 1274Ass , Stokene Neuton 1294 ib. Furneux Pelham was held by Simon de Fornell ' in 1232 (Cl) but the family appears earlier in the neighbourhood, a Richard de Furneals being mentioned in the 12th century in connection with Barkway (Colch).