See also TOUR - street names

The varied spellings of Eynsham from the 10^th to the 18^th century are recorded by Alan Hardy and Roslyn Smith ('Eynsham, a Village and its Abbey', Oxford Archaeology 2002). The spelling 'Egonesham' seems to have been in use as early as 571 when the settlement was captured from the Britons by Cuthwulf, King of the West Saxons according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. More abbey history; more village history.

The meaning of 'Egonesham' is an enclosure or river meadow of a man called Aegen (AD Mills, 'A Dictionary of English Place Names', Oxford University Press 1998). The modern spelling “Eynsham” was first used in 1390 and has been in regular use since the latter part of the 19th century.

The local pronunciation is EN-SHUM (at least today).

The original lettering shown here was done for the calligraphy stall at St. Benedict's Fair on 23 July 2005, by Isabelle Spencer of Witney, who is a calligrapher and artist, and a founder member of the Oxford Scribes. She has kindly donated this lettering to Eynsham. The original hangs in the Village Hall by courtesy of the Parish Council, as a memento of the Abbey Millennium.

A cream cotton tea towel with lettering in navy blue and terracotta red is being sold in aid of the renovation of St Leonard's Church Hall, which will benefit the whole community.

The same design is also available as notelets and notebooks and on cotton canvas bags. They are on sale in several outlets around the village, at the rear of St Leonard’s Church and also by mail order.

Prices, availability and further developments from Eynsham Enterprises.

Egonesham C10
Igeneshamme
Iogneshomme
Egeneshhomme
Eghenesham
Eogneshame
Eigenesham
Egenesham
Evenesham
Eglesham
Egglesam
Egnesham C11
Einselsam
Eygnesham
Eigenesham
Eisnesham
Einesham
Enesham
Heynesham
Heinesham
Aynesham
Ainesham
Enysham
Eylnesham
Einegham
Eynesham
Egnsham
Eynsham 1390
Eynysham
Enesham
Eneysham
Enysham
Enisham
Enysam
Enensham
Enensam
Enseham
Egnosham
Evinsham
Evensham
Einsham
Ensham C18