Fairholm Family History

from Fairholme in Benningholme (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Fayrholm in the 13th century or from a lost place called Fayrhome in Brierley (WR Yorks) which is recorded thus in 1438. Both place-names derive from Middle English fair ‘fair beautiful’ + holm ‘islet raised land in a marsh piece of land partly surrounded by water’. possibly also from Fairham Bridge in Ruddington (Notts) which is recorded as Feareholme bridge in 1690.

The second element of the place-name is Middle English holm ‘islet raised land in a marsh piece of land partly surrounded by water’ while the first is uncertain. However, given the lateness of the place-name record and the late appearance of bearers in Notts, it seems much more likely that the Yorks surname has migrated south.

from Fairholm in Crawfordjohn (Lanarks) or Fairholm in Dryfesdale (Dumfriess). The former is recorded as Fairholme in 1613 (Retours Scotland no. 98) probably ‘a holm (low land by a river etc.) where fairs are or were held’.