Kelham
Major Settlement in the Parish of Kelham
Historical Forms
- Calun 1086 DB
- Chelum c.1155,c.1180 Dane
- Kelum 1156 Holtzmann 1185,1186 P 1335 Ass
- Keloum 1302 FA
- Kelom(e) 1428 FA 1503 NtIpm
- Chelun 1165 P
- Kellum 1194 1232 FF 1268 Ebor
- Kellom(e) 1428 FA 1506 Pat
- Kelmp 1279 Cl
- Kelme 1316 FA
- Kelm 1333 SR 1337 Cl 1338 FF 1353 Ch
- Kelhom 1280 Ass
- Kelhome 1539 MinAcct
- Kyelm 1349 Cl
- Killum 1394 IpmR
- Kellam juxta Kelham (sic) 1556 FF
- Kellam 1578 BM
- Kellum 1646 Peck,DesiderataCuriosa
Etymology
'At the ridges.' The name probably goes back to the dative plural of ON kiǫlr , 'keel, ridge,' with reference to the line of hill north-west of the village. Cf. Keal (L) (v. DEPN s. n .) where the topography makes the 'keel' interpretation more obviously appropriate.