Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Gullham 1824 O 1830 Gre

• High Gullum 1828 Bry

• Gulham 1837 BT

Etymology

, Gullham 1824 O, 1830 Gre, High Gullum 1828 Bry, Gulham 1837BT ( Owersby ) cf. Goulholm , Goulholmendes 1280–85Foster , Gulholm 1358Monson , Gullholme 15 (c.1570) ib , Gulholme 1707Terrier , Gulholm 1709ib , Gullholme bancke 1611TLE , Gullam 1608Monson ,1700, 1706Terrier , Gullam als Gulholme 1625Monson , Gullam ground 1664Terrier , gullam Cloase 1693ib , upper Gullam 1721Monson , Gullum 1646Inv , Gulham groundes 1674Terrier , Gullham Grounds 1679ib . This appears to be a compound of ME  goule ' a ditch, astream, a channel ' ( probably derived from OE  *golu denoting some form of watercourse ) and ON  holmr ' an island of land, higherground in marshy land ' , the latter showing developments to -um , -am , -ham , common in north L . The place lies on the slope above the R . Ancholme , though personal examination suggests that there is now no obvious watercourse to which goule referred . Just to the west is Peaseholm infra , another name in holmr .