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.

Grittenham Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Tillington

Historical Forms

  • Greteham 1086 DB
  • Gretenammys 1480 Banco

Etymology

Grittenham Fm is Greteham in 1086 DB, Gretenammys in 1480Banco . The paucity of forms makes it very difficult to settle the etymology of the name. One might suggest that the first element was OE  gryten , 'gravelly,' as in Grittenham (W), Grutenham KCD 817, but the soil is low rich land, with no likelihood of gravel. Possibly the first element is OE  great and the whole name means '(at the) great enclosure,' v. hamm .