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.

Trimingham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Trimingham

Historical Forms

  • Trimingeham 1185 P
  • Tremingham 1242 P
  • Trimingham 1242 Lib
  • Trymingham 1294 Pat
  • Trymyngham 1316,1317,1358 FF 1317–8 NfD 1327 Cl 1345 Ipm 1347 Fine
  • Thrymyngham 1318 DeBanco
  • Tremyngham 1535 VE

Etymology

The meaning generally accepted is 'the hām of the followers of *Trymma ', a pers.n. which can be postulated as a short form of names in Trum -. This is the explanation given by Ekwall (DEPN) and Mills and is in agreement with the interpretation of other -ingham names in the area. Tre -spellings are not surprising in Norfolk (v. Jordan § 36).

The coast-line of Trimingham, said to be the highest along the Norfolk coast, has been hit by serious cliff falls on several occasions, the most recent in 1969 and 1970. The view from Beacon Hill is much praised.