Parham
Major Settlement in the Parish of Parham
Historical Forms
- Perham 959 BCS1050 11th DB 1086 Cicestr 1438
- Pereham a.1066 KCD824 12th WestminsterDomesday 1042–66,1066,1137–57(14th)
- Parham 1086 DB 1121–5 WestminsterDomesday 1200 FF
- Perreham 1186 P
- Parrum 1575 ChurchConsistoryCourtDepositions
Etymology
This must be a compound of OE peru 'pear' and ham(m), hence 'pear-homestead or enclosure,' presumably one where they grew in abundance. Parham (Sf), DBPerham , Perreham , 1208, 1246, 1250 FF Perham , is a parallel to this name, as also Parham (Gl), 1264Perham , Perham (W), 1308 Ipm Perham (p).Cf. also Perton (St), KCD 824 Pertun , Parley (Do), DBPerlai , Parley (Ha), 1283 Ch Perleye , perleage (BCS 955) in Surrey, and perhangra (BCS 924) in Berks.