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.

Hadham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Much and Little Hadham

Historical Forms

  • Hædham 957 Bodl(James23) 17th
  • Hedham c.975 ASWills 11th
  • Magna Hedham 1278 Ass
  • Hadham c.1060 KCD907 c.1250
  • Parva Hadham 1303 FA
  • Muchel Hadham 1373 FF
  • Magna Hadham 1428 FA
  • Myche Hadham 1552 CtRequests
  • Haddham 1316 Ass
  • Hadhamstret 1578 Egerton
  • The Hadhams 1646 Sess
  • Hadam, Parva Hadā 1086 DB
  • Haddam 1241 LiberA
  • Mochehadam 1547 FF
  • Heddeham 1163–87 BM
  • Hadeham 1242 Cl
  • Parva Hadeham 1428 FA
  • Magna Haddeham 1261 FF

Etymology

This must be for OE  hǣð -ham , 'heath homestead,' with curious stopping of ð to d at a very early date. Cf. Hadleigh (Sf), Hedlæge c. 975 (11th) ASWills, Hædleage 1002 (11th) ib.Much is from ME  micel , mucel , 'great,' cf. Much Wenlock (Sa).There is an ancient jest that “Much Hadham (i.e. much had'em) is so called from the number of lawyers who live there.”

Places in the same Parish

None