Oldham

English

Etymology

Recorded as Aldehulme in the Domesday Book, the English toponym is named with Old English eald (old) + Old Norse holmr (holm, islet). Or else, the first element may be Old English Alda, a male given name, or the Cumbric/Proto-Brythonic equivalent of Welsh allt (cliff).[1]

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ɒldəm/

Proper noun

Oldham (countable and uncountable, plural Oldhams)

  1. A town and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England (OS grid ref SD922053).
  2. A community in the Regional Municipality of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
  3. An unincorporated community in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, United States.
  4. An unincorporated community in Boone County, Missouri, United States.
  5. A minor city in Kingsbury County, South Dakota, United States.
  6. A habitational surname.

Derived terms

Statistics

  • According to the 2010 United States Census, Oldham is the 2792nd most common surname in the United States, belonging to 12928 individuals. Oldham is most common among White (85.84%) individuals.

References

  1. ^ James, Alan G (2024) “The Brittonic Language in the Old North - A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence - Guide to the Elements”, in Scottish Place-Name Society[1]

Further reading