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.

Oreham

Early-attested site in the Parish of Henfield

Historical Forms

  • Erham 1170 P
  • Orham 1199 Cur 1262 Ass 1310 SRS31,142
  • Orram, Oram, Horham 1200 FF

Etymology

Oreham is on a well-marked hill so the name must be from ora and ham(m), i.e. 'ham(m) on the bank or slope.'