Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Pashlingham 1277 Ct

• Posselingehamme 1279 Bay

• Poslyngham 1323,1325,1350 CplM

• Puslyngham, Puslingham 1351,1401,1443,1656,1724 CplM

Etymology

Puslingham (lost) is Pashlingham 1277Ct , Posselingehamme 1279Bay , Poslyngham 1323, 1325, 1350CplM , Puslyngham , Puslingham 1351, 1401, 1443, 1656, 1724CplM and ultimately was known as Puzzlingham . The forms are too difficult and inconsistent for any certain suggestion to be possible. There is an OE  word pusa , posa , 'bag, wallet' which might possibly have given rise to a pers. name Pusa . Such a pers. name is on record (v. Searle) though not on very good authority. From it may have been formed a diminutive Posel , Pusel , hence 'hamm of Posel 's (or Pusel 's) people,' v. ing . See further Possingworth supra 407.