Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Chetesham c.1170 ElyM c.1195 ElyE 1475 et freq

• Cheteshamwodegate 13th ElyF

• Chetisham, Chetysham 1240 Rams 1490 Ely

• Chettysham 1497 Ct

• Chetsham 1579 Ely

• Chedesham 1221 ElyA 14th Cai

• Chedesham bosco 1277 Ely

• Chedisham 1292 Sacr

• Schetesham 1298 ElyF

• Scheteham crouch' 1349 ib

• Checham bushes 1606 Depositions

• Churcham 1638 ElyVis 1763 Bowen

• Churcham or Chetisham 1808 L

• Chetesfeld or Chedesfeld 1251 ElyCouch 1277 Ely 1302 MinAcct

Etymology

This is not an easy name. The first element looks like a personal name Cett , the strong form of Cetta , confused with Cedd . The forms in Chedes - are later than those in Chetes - and are probably due to voicing of intervocalic t . There was also in the neighbourhood a place called Chetesfeld or Chedesfeld (1251ElyCouch , 1277Ely , 1302MinAcct ). The first element might well be taken as British cēt , 'wood,' from which were formed two genitival compounds similar to Chettisholt (PN D 604), were it not that a compound Chetesfeld , 'open country of the wood,' seems unlikely. v. feld .