Bosham
Major Settlement in the Parish of Bosham
Historical Forms
- Bosanhamm c.750 Bede
- Bosanham 8th Bede c.1000 otherMSS 1049 ASBede c.1100 ASC
- Bosenham 1046,1048 ASC c.1150
- Boseham 1086 DB 1121 AC 1156 RBE 1407 IpmR
- Bosham 1306 Ipm 1428 FA
- Bosam 1462 Pat
- Bossom 1575 SRS29
- Bozam 1628 Pat
Etymology
Probably 'Bosa's ham' though the form in the Moore MS shows how early confusion with the suffix hamm arose. It is of interest to note that the neighbouring Hundred of Bosmere in Hants (DB Boseberg ), which included Hayling Island, Warblington and part of Havant, contains the same pers. name, suggesting that Bosa must have been an important early settler and that the present county boundary may not exactly correspond with the original Sussex-Wessex boundary.