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.

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.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site