Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Leygham 1165 Dugdv,97

• Legham 1259,1279 Ass 1291 Tax 1316 FA 1351 Seldxl

• Leyham 1291 Tax

• Leghham 1302 Pat

• Liegham 1279 Ass

• Lygham(e) 1535 VE 1542 LP

• Leighams Courte 1541 Dugdv,101

• Leyghams woode 1561 DeedsEnrolled

Etymology

This may be a compound of OE  læge, 'fallow, unploughed,' and hamm. The name of this old manor now survives only in a road-name. A local pronunciation and spelling was Lime , and some open land now forming the upper part of Streatham Common was known as Lime Common up to the early 19th century. (A. B.)