Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Echam 1086 DB

• Hecham 1101–7,1153–68,1155–66 Holme 1269 Ass 1275 RH

• Hegham 1257,1286 Ass 1323 BM

• Heyham 1268 Ass 1275 RH 1297 BM 1379 FF

• Heghham 1316,1318 FA

• Hygham 1368 Ipm

• Heygham 1392 Pat

• Hegham Potter(e) 1182 BM 1312,1351 Pat 1329,1338,1357 FF

• Hecham Pottere 13 Holme

• Hegham Poter 1308 BM

• Hegham Potters 1315 AD 1328 Banco

• Heygham Pottere 1357 FF

• Heigham Pottere 1408 BM

• Higham Potter 1535 VE

• Highampotter 1558–1603 NoRec

• Potterehecham 13,1251,1253 Holme

• Potter(e) Hecham c.1230,1237–51,1260 Holme

• Potter Heitham 1250 FF

• Potteres Hecham 1254–75 Val

• Pottereheygham 1285 FF

• Pottere Hegham 1286 Ass 1346 FA

• Potterehegham 1329 NoD 1339 Pat 1373 FF

• Pottehegham 1345 Bodl

• Potter(e)heigham 1374 FF 1395 Pat

• Potter Heygham 1402 FA

• Pottere Heigham 1413 FF

• Potter Hayham 1787 Marshall

Etymology

The early forms as well as topographical considerations forbid derivation from hēah 'high', with the adj. in the uninflected form (cf. DEPN). The first el. may be OE  hecg 'hedge' or hecc , a side- form of hæcc , which had a variety of meanings, such as 'gate, floodgate, a grating to catch fish at a weir'. Cf. Löfvenberg 86 and Heigham in Norwich (PN Nf I 18). There is no record of any family of the name of Potter ever having held land here, so Potter would seem to refer to potteries. Large heaps of pot-sherds from the Romano-British period and mounds of wood-ash, supposed to have been made in heating the furnaces, are reported from Potter Heigham (Archaeologia 23: 373). The second el. is OE  hām or hamm .