Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Michelbra(n), Litelbra(n), Litelbram 1086 DB

• Braham 1154–76 YChx 13 Percy 1200 Cur 1206 OblR 1242 YDiv 1243 Fees 1259 Ass 1617 FF

• Bram 12 YDiv 1190–1212 YChx 1198 P l.12 YDvi l.12 YDx 1204–8 YDiv 1238,1268 FF 1352 FF

• Braam 1217 YDix,73

• Briam 1279–81 QW

• Brame 1303 Aid 1362 FF 1363 YDv 1373 YDiv 1589 WillY

Etymology

The Braham , Braam spellings rule out any connexion with OE  brōm 'broom' (Ekwall) or with ON  bráum 'at the brows' (Moorman).The spellings may be explained as 'Brahha's homestead', from an OE  pers.n. Brahha (as in Braughing Hrt 189) and hām; formally a compound of ON  brá 'brow' with hām is possible, but hām is unlikely to be combined with an ON el. v. Addenda.