90 TEESDALE PLACE-NAMES. 



the feeling of reverence for private right, but Mm involves a 

 notion more mystical, more holy. It expresses the sanctity of 

 the family bond; it is the home, the one secret {geheim) and 

 sacred place. In the A.-S. charters we frequently meet with 

 this suffix united with the names of families — never with those 

 of individuals." "Words and Places, pp. 123-4. 



" Several Bedfordshire villages, as Filmersham, Biddenham, 

 and Bennham, which are almost surrounded by the serpentine 

 windings of the Ouse, exhibit this suffix." E. Gr. 



Ham, in one or other of its forms, is Icel., Goth., Scand , H. 

 and L. Ger., and A.-S., also Greek, as k/xaSes, Kw/xas. 



Examples : — 



Barningham — the habitation of Berning (Whitaker), or from 

 ieorna v. incga, descendants of Beorna. In Kemble's " The 

 Saxons in England," vol. i., p. 457, Beorningas — Barningham 

 occurs in the list of marks inferred from local names in England. 



Bolam — q.v. the place stands on a lofty ridge of limestone — 

 the house on the hill. W. Garth, Esq., of Bolam, in 1686, was 

 father of the celebrated Dr. Samuel Garth, author of "The 

 Dispensary," and other able poems. Surtees' Hist, of Durham. 



Cleatlam — a village on a high exposed brow (Surtees' Hist, 

 of Durham), formerly Cleathlam, Cleatelam, Cletelam, and Clet- 

 1am — possibly from Suio-Goth. Idett ; mons, collis; Isl. Mettur, 

 and Mm — mountain or hill house, See Glints. 



Halam — q.v. under H. 



Keekham — {SpyMuse\ heeh, to pry into, to look stealthily 

 about or into. Bell). Suio-Goth. Mica, intentis oculis videre. 

 A place of observation. 



Mortham — ?from morth, A.-S., death, murder. See Mortham. 



Newsham— ?^^^^e, A.-S., new, late ; formerly ]S"eusum. 



Spanham — ? Sponham, where a spon, or splinter, of the true 

 cross was kept. Edmunds. Spon, A .-S., a chip or splinter of wood. 

 Bosworth. 



"Wham — home of some one unknown. 



Wytham Moor — moor of the house inclosed by withies, Withie, 

 withige, withthe, A.-S., a twisted rod, a willow withe or withy, 

 band, fillet, rope. Moor, from A.-S. mor, wasteland, moor, heath. 



