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.

Chettisham

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ely St Mary

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 .