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.

Horningsham

Major Settlement in the Parish of Horningsham

Historical Forms

  • Horningeshā 1086 DB
  • Horningesham c.1155 StOsmund 1202 FF 1332 SR
  • Horningham 1086 DB
  • Hornigeham late12th BM
  • Ornigesham 1242 Fees
  • Magna Hornynggesham 1289 Ass
  • Little Hornyngesham 1390 Pat
  • Hornesham 1405 ib
  • Hornyssame 1535 VE
  • Hornisham, Hornisom 1585 WMxxi
  • Hornson 1675 Ogilby

Etymology

The most likely suggestion for this name, as for Horningsea (C) and Homingsheath (or Horringer) (Sf) is that the first element is a personal name Horning , perhaps a weakened form of OE  hornung , 'bastard,' used as a surname. Horning is a common OGer name (cf. Forstemann PN 867). v. ham(m).