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.

Nunningham

Early-attested site in the Parish of Herstmonceux

Historical Forms

  • Unnyngeham 1296 SR
  • Noningham 1327 SR
  • Nonnyngham 1332 SR
  • Oningham 1335 Ct
  • Ennyngham 1339 Coll.Top.andGen.

Etymology

Nunningham is Unnyngeham 1296 SR, Noningham 1327 SR, Nonnyngham 1332 SR, Oningham 1335Ct , Ennyngham 1339 Coll. Top. and Gen. 7, 118(all p). The last four forms all refer to the same man, with the Christian name Elias . This is probably 'ham(m) of the people of Nunna ,' this being a well-known Sussex name. Common confusion in such names as Ore and Nore , Ash and Nash , may have led to similar confusion here.Alternatively we might start with the OE  name Una but that does not seem so probable. Cf. Novington supra 305.