Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Ludham 1020–2 (13 Sawyer 984) KCD 740, 1044–7 (13 Sawyer 1055) KCD 785

• Ludham, Lodham 1086 DB

• Ludham 1101–7,c.1163–6,1186–1210(p) Holme 1177to1230 P 1200 Cur 1209to1286 Ass 1209to1329 FF 1214 RP 1253 Ch 1253 Holme 1254–75 Val 1275 RH 1288to1550 Pat 1290 Abbrev 1295 Orig e.14 Oxenedes 1302to1428 FA 1328 Banco 1363 Seld 1535,1544 VE

• Ludeham 1170to1206 P 1227 ChR 1306 Orig

• Lodham 1297 BM

• Loudham 1378 Pat

Etymology

The first element of this name has traditionally been explained as the OE  pers.n. Luda (Redin 67, DEPN s.n.). One would have expected a few more spellings with a medial -e - and even a sign of genitival forms with medial -n - in East Anglia (v. Studies1 33), but it is dificult to think of any other plausible explanation. The spellings certainly point to a short vowel, unlike those for Loudham Sf and Lowdham Nt (v. DEPN s.n.), where the first el. is assumed to be the OE  pers.n. *Hlūda . Ludham was a very extensive manor which was granted by King Cnut to the abbot of Holme, who held it in King Edward the Confessor's time (v. DB and Blomefield IX 330). Pevsner (190) classes the church of St Catherine as large.