Chalkham Fm
Early-attested site in the Parish of South Malling Without
Historical Forms
- Schalkyngeħm 1340 NI
Etymology
Chalkham Fm is Schalkyngeħm in 1340 (NI). There is evidence for the OE word scealc , 'servant, man, warrior,' in place-names, cf. scealcesburna in an early Sussex charter (BCS 144) and scealceshom (BCS 702) in a charter belonging to Sussex or Kent.Whether it is used here as a significant word or as a pers. name it is difficult to say. The cognate OGer scalc (o ) is freely used as a pers. name. According as one interprets the first element, the name means 'ham(m) of the warrior's people' or 'of Scealc 's people.' The place is off the chalk-downs.