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.

Cold Higham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Cold Higham

Historical Forms

  • Hecham 1086 DB 1176 Dunstable 1198 Fees 1205 Pap
  • Heccham 1176–90 Dunstable
  • Hegham 1316 FA 1335 Ch 1338 Cl
  • Heygham 1350 Ipm
  • Heigham juxta Patteshull 1362 IpmR
  • Little Hygham 1401 Cl
  • Colehigham 1541 Statutes 1672 LRMB
  • Coldhigham 1616 FF
  • Couldhigham 1632 FF

Etymology

'High ham.' It stands high and exposed. Formerly named Hecham-parva or Little -Higham (Bridges i, 259), presumably in relation to the more important Higham Ferrers infra 191.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site