Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Stalham 1044–7 (13 Sawyer 1055) KCD 785

• Stalham, Stalha, Stanham 1086 DB

• Stalham 1101–7,1140,1153–68 Holme 1166 RBE 1167 LibNig 1197(p),1213(p) Cur 1213 RP 1242–3 Fees 1250,1269,1286 Ass 1254–75 Val 1275 RH 1282to1351 FF 1302to1428 FA 1304to1401 Pat 1330 SR 1351,1373,1378 Cl 1363 Seld

• Stallam 1287 Ass 1351 Pat

• Staleham 1349 Pat 1422 Cl 1518 AD 1535 VE

Etymology

The first el. is OE  stall, steall, here presumably in the sense 'fishing pool' (cf. DEPN s.n.). Stalham is situated near Sutton Broad. The second el. is hām or hamm . White (775), writing in 1845, says the church “is a fine Gothic edifice, dedicated to St. Mary. The chancel was rebuilt in 1827.”