May Williamson: The Non-Celtic Place-Names of the Scottish Border ...

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Hedenham, 1165-1214 (c 1320) Kelso. “The hm on the River Eden”, which is: Edene, 1178-
98 (c 1320) Kelso; c 1300 ib; Etinn, Edna, Blaeu, from OBrit *Ituna > *Eodene > ME Edene.
Compare Eden We, and Eden Burn Du (ERN, 142-3). Other examples of pre-English rivernames
with -hm are Alnham Nb (PN NbDu, 4), Warenton Nb (ib, 207). Cockerham (PN La,
170), Irlam (ib, 39). Compare Edrom (infra).
MIDLEM (Bow): (80, 13 F):
Middleham, c 1120 (c 1320) Kelso; 1159 ib; Medil-, c 1300 ib; Myddil-, 1429 HMC (Drml).
“The middle village”: cf Middleham (PN YNR, 252). The reason for the epithet is not
obvious, unless it is because Midlem lies in a small valley which is more or less in the middle
of a ridge.
OXNAM (Oxn): (81, 5 J):
Oxenham, 1165-1214 NMS: 1354 Kelso: Oxana-, 1152-3 (15 th ) Whitby; Oxene-, ib. OE
Oxena hm, “village or farm of the oxen”.
SMAILHOLM (Smh): (81, 4 C):
Smalham(e), c 1160 (16 th ) Dryb; c 1300 Cold; 1248 C de M; Smailhame, 1465 Dryb. OE
Smæl hm, “small village”.
/14/
TOWN AND KIRK YETHOLM (Yth): (81, 9 F):
Gatha’n, c 1050 (12 th ) HSC; Yetham (P), 1165-1214 LSMM; 1296 RS; 1296 CDS (Seal);
1335-6 CDS; Yatheam, 1214-43 LSMM. OE æt, “gate”, in the sense of “pass” is used here.
Yetholm is situated where the Bowmont Water traverses a narrow gap in the hills. For this use
of OE æt (eat), compare Yatton He, W, (DEPN, 518), Yettington D (ib, 519).
BERWICKSHIRE
BIRGHAM (Eccl): (81, 8 B): [bIrdZ@m]
Brygham, 1095 (15 th ) ESC; 1260 (c 1320) Kelso; Bricg-, 1095-1100 (15 th ) ESC Birgham(e),
1165 (1434) Cdstr; c 1200 ib; Briggeham, c 1300 Cold. OE brymust be the first element
although there is now no stream of any size here for a bridge to cross. The modern
pronunciation shows that the final consonants of bryremained palatalised is spite of
metathesis. Birgeane cruk, c 1490, Wallace, may be the land enclosed by the bend in the
Tweed, or may be the present farm of Crooks near The Hirsel.
EDROM (Edr): (75, 9 J):
Edrem, 1095 (15 th ) ESC; Ederham, 1095, 1095-1100, 1138 ib; Edir-, 1248 LSMM; Heddre-,
1248 APS; Heder-, 1263 C de M. “Hm on the Adder”. Edrom is near the Whiteadder /15/
Water: cf Edrington (No III).
KIMMERGHAME HOUSE (Edr): (75, 9 L): [kimərdhəm]
Chynbrygham, 1095 (15 th ) ESC; Cynebritham, 1095-1100 ib; Kynbriggeham, 1296 CDS;
Kymbregam, ib; Kymbrigham, ib; Kymbridgeham, 1330 Rot Scac; Kymbringham, 1330 Cold;
Kymbirgame, 1332 Rot Scac; Kymmerjame, 1536 RMS. OE cna-bry-hm “hm at the
cows’ bridge”, is suggested by the earliest spellings. A patronymic based on OE Cyneberht is