Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Erpingaham nort (Nord), Erpingeham Nort(h), Erpinham North, Northerpingeham, Norterpingeham, Erpincham nord 1086 DB
• Norhterpingeham 1275 RH
• North Erpingham 1212 Fees 1316 FA
• Northerpingham 1220 Fees 1257,1269 Ass 1275 RH 1330–35 Ipm
• Northerpyngham 1384,1397,1399 Pat
• (in duobus hundredis de) Herpingeham l.12 HMC
• hundredum de Kaustun (Cawston) 1222 Pat
• Hondred hill 1632 Ct (2x)

Etymology

Named from Erpingham, parish and village in South Erpingham Hundred (v. infra ). Arngart (EHN I 64 note 2) points out that hundredum de Kaustun (Cawston) 1222 Pat refers to South Erpingham Hundred.According to Blomefield VI 240 a hundred court was held at Cawston under Henry III in 1226. Cf. Moathill in Cawston (v. South Erpingham Hundred infra ) to be compared with Moat Low (PN Db II 399) and Mutlow Hill (PN C 138) from OE  mōt 'meeting' and hlāw 'hill'). Matlask in North Erpingham Hundred (v. infra ) is a name which clearly also indicates a kind of meeting-place, and Hondred hill 1632Ct (2x) in Skeyton, South Erpingham Hundred, is worthy of note.