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.

Acton Beauchamp

Major Settlement in the Parish of Acton Beauchamp

Historical Forms

  • Aactune 727 BCS146 c.1200
  • Actune 972 BCS1282 c.1050 DB 1086
  • Acton ultra Tamedam (ib. 224)

Etymology

Other forms are without interest. The name means 'oak- farm,' v. ac , tun . It was called Beauchamp from the possession of the manor by that family from the 13th cent. onwards (VCH iv. 225). It was also known as Acton ultra Tamedam (ib. 224) from its situation on the far side of the Teme in relation to Worcester and in contrast to Acton in Ombersley.The first form, with its archaic representation of ā by aa , is derived from one of the few OE Evesham charters which seem to have a genuine basis.