Springham Family History

from Springham Farm in Hellingly (Sussex). The place-name probably derives from Old English spring ‘spring well’ or possibly ‘young copse’ + hām ‘village homestead’ or hamm ‘enclosure water meadow’. It may have been conflated with the name represented by Willelmus Spryngand 1379 in Poll Tax (Edburton Sussex).

Johannes Spryngaunt 1379 in Poll Tax (Perching Sussex); of uncertain origin. This may be an altered form of Springall since Anglo-Norman espringal(d) ‘catapult’ also occurs in the form espringant possibly an error for espringaut.

However, it is supported by the Poll Tax surnames, suggesting a connection between these variations and the origins of the name Springham.