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.

Farnham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Farnham

Historical Forms

  • Fernham 688 BCS c.1150 BCS324 804 BCS627 c.1150 PatR 909 Fees c.1150 Pat 1206 1212 1217
  • Fearham, Fearnaham 858 BCS495 c.1150
  • (æt) Fearnhamme 894 ASC c.900 BCS1156 c.965 c.1150
  • Fearnham c.965 BCS1154,1156 c.1150
  • Ferneham 1086 DB 1128 Dugdv 1318 BM 1147
  • Farneham 1228 Pat
  • Farnham 1233 Cl
  • Farenham 1238 Pat 1278 Ass 1291 FF
  • Farham 1266 Winton
  • Ferneham al. Farneham 1650 Recov

Etymology

v. fearn , ham(m). The ASC form, probably the most reliable of the OE spellings, points to OE  hamm, and is probably correct.Hence 'enclosure or enclosed place in the bracken or fern.'