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.

Oakham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Oakham

Historical Forms

  • Ocheham 1086 DB
  • Occham c1154 Rut
  • Ocham(e), Okham(e) 1067 BM 1154 WDB 1202 Ass 1205 P 1400 Pat 1454 ShR
  • Hocham(e), Hokham(e) 1152 BM 1166 RBE 1328 Fine
  • Okeham' 1190 CartAnt 1231 RegAnt 1369 ELiW 1551 Pat 1610 LML 1703 PSJ
  • Ockham 1252 IpmR 1263 Ass 1388 Cl
  • Ockeham 1260 Cl
  • Okam 1208 PatR 1269 Cl 1349 Wyg
  • Hokam 1317 ib
  • Owkeham 1519 EpCB
  • Oukeham 1519 LWills
  • Oukham 1610 Speed
  • Owkham 1608,1615 LML
  • Oakeham 1685 FF
  • Oakham 1846 White

Etymology

Probably 'Oc(c)a's village or estate', v. hām . Both the OE  pers.n. forms Oca and Occa are Recorded in Anglo-Saxon charters.Roman pottery found at SK 853 089 indicates an early settlement site, v. BrownArchSites 20.