Burnham

A Dictionary of British Place-Names | 2003 | 700+ words | Copyright

Burnham, usually ‘homestead or village on a stream’, OE burna + hām: Burnham Bucks. Burneham 1086 (DB). Burnham Deepdale & Burnham Market, Burnham Norton & Burnham Overy, Burnham Thorpe Norfolk. Brun(e)ham, Depedala 1086 (DB), Brunham Norton 1457, Brunham Overhe 1457, Brunhamtorp 1199. Distinguishing affixes are ‘deep valley’ (OE dēop + dæl), ‘market’, ‘north farm’ (OE north + tūn), ‘over the river’ (OE ofer + ēa) and ‘outlying farmstead’ (OScand. thorp). Burnham on Crouch Essex. Burneham 1086 (DB). Affix is from the River Crouch (not recorded before 16th cent., probably from OE crūc ‘a cross’).

However two Burnhams have a different origin: Burnham N. Lincs. Brune [sic] 1086 (DB), Brunum c.1115. ‘(Place at) the springs or streams’. OScand. brunnr in a dative plural form brunnum. Burnham on Sea Somerset. Burnhamm c.880, Burneham 1086 (DB). ‘Enclosure by a stream’. OE burna + hamm.

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A. D. MILLS. "Burnham." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

A. D. MILLS. "Burnham." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Burnham.html

A. D. MILLS. "Burnham." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Burnham.html

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