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.

Chilsham

Early-attested site in the Parish of Herstmonceux

Historical Forms

  • Chelesham 1261 Ass 1306 FF
  • Chelewesham 1287 Ct 1327 SR
  • Chelewysham 1287 Ct 1288 Ass
  • Cheluesham 1288 Ass
  • Chelsham gate 1522 Ct
  • Chilsum 1823 G

Etymology

As the forms are comparatively late we are probably right in taking the original form to be Cēolwīgesham (m ), 'the ham(m) of Cēolwīg .'