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.

Imbhams Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Haslemere

Historical Forms

  • Inbeham 1202 P
  • Imbeham 1287 Cl 1350 Ipm 1428 FA 1441 Loseley
  • Imbehamme 1357 Ipm
  • Imbham 1409 FF
  • Southymbeham 1492 Moulton
  • South Ymbames 1575 FF
  • Embhams 1610 Speed 1647 ParReg
  • Inbombs 1823 G

Etymology

The first element here, as in Emley infra 213, is probably OE  imbe , ymbe , 'swarm of bees,' hence 'ham(m) where bees swarm,' cf. ymbstocc (BCS 731), 'stump where bees swarm,' and (possibly) imbæs dæl , 'valley of the swarm' (BCS 707), and Empshott (Ha), Hibesete DB, Ymbeschete 1218FF .