Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

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

• Wacstanest, Wactanesham, Wacstenesham 1086 DB

• Waxtonesham 1127–34(p),1154–75,1162–6(p),1163–6 Holme 12(p),1202to1430 FF 1211 P 1212 Fees 1220 Cur 1248 ChR 1250to1286 Ass 1253–4 VHNf 1286 BarthCott 1303to1351 Ipm 1342 FF 1401–2,1428 FA 1492 Bodl 1548,1550,1552 Pat 1595 BM

• Wasxtunesham 1127–34 BS

• Waxstonesham t.St BM 1312 FF 1442 Past

• Waxtunesham 1153–68 Holme 12 HMC 1202 FF 1204 RC 1234,c.1300 Bromh 1275 RH

• Waxtanesham t.R1to1208 Cur 1202 Seld

• Wacstonesham 1199 RC

• Wextanesham 1203 Cur

• Wastonesham 1209,1269 Ass 1209 Ass 1234 FF 1254 Pat

• Waxtuneham 1220 Cur

• Waxtenesham 1220,1224(p) 1257 Ass 1302,1346 FA 1333 FF

• Waxtenham c.1230 Holme 1285 AD

• Wachesham 1244 Fees

• Wextonesham 1248 Ch

• Wastnesham 1250 Ass 1324 Stiffk 1330 SR

• Waxton(e) 1254–75 Val 1282 Ipm 1535 VE

• Waxstone 1254–75 Val 1514 NoVis

• Waxtoneham 1275 RH

• Wauxtenysham 1301–2 HMC

• Waystenysham 1302 NfD

• Wastesham 1313 Ipm

• Waxtunsham 1316 FA

• Wastlysham 1329 Ct

• Waxnesham 1337,1356 Cl 1357 Ipm 1391 HMC

• Waxtnesham 1339 FF 1345 Ipm 1380 Pat

• Waxtenesham 1344,1354 Cl 1370 BM 1370 FF 1401–2 FA

• Wastenesham 1346 1347 BM

• Wastlesham 1348 Ipm

• Wastlexham 1368 ib

• Waxtenisham 1371 Pat

• Waxtensham 1379 FF

• Waxham 1440 Past 1595 BM

• Waxam 1485 ib

• Waxtonsham 1535 VE

• Magna Waxtonesham 1283 Holme

• Magna Waxton' 1283 ib

• Parua Waxton' 1283 Holme

• Little Waxham' 1283 Holme

• Little Waxham 1845 White

Etymology

Originally there were two parishes, Great (St John) Waxham and Little (St Margaret) Waxham, but the church of Little Waxham was abandoned soon after 1383 (EAA 51: 55). Both its village and church were engulfed by the sea centuries ago (White 777). Ekwall explains this name as possibly a compound of the OE  pers.n. *Wǣgstān (DEPN), to be compared with Wǣgdæg and Wǣgbrand (Feilitzen 411), and hām , the first el. being OE  wǣg 'wave, sea'.Alternatively, he says, the name may contain a word related to OE  wacian 'to keep watch', e.g. OE  wæcce 'watch', although it would seem that OE  wacu (only evidenced in niht-wacu 'night watch') would agree better with a great number of the old spellings. This would give the plausible meaning 'the hām by the stone where watch was kept' (DEPN).