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.

Burpham

Early-attested site in the Parish of Worplesdon

Historical Forms

  • Borham 1086 DB
  • Burham 1242 Fees 1253 Ch 1296 Ipm
  • Burgham 1255,1272 Ass 1287 Ipm 1293 FF
  • Burgham by Gildford 1340–6 Ipm
  • Burcham 1265 Misc
  • Bourgham 1314 Ipm
  • Burcgham 1341 Ipm
  • Burfham 1592 Recov
  • Burgham al. Burghfam 1604 Recov
  • Burgham al. Burffam 1629 Recov
  • Burfom 1664 SR

Etymology

This name, like Burpham (PN Sx 166) and Burham (K), Burhham BCS 1322, is a compound of burh and ham(m). There is no earthwork here now, but there may once have been some stronghold guarding the passage of the Wey.