Framingham Family History

From Framingham Earl and Framingham Pigot (Norfolk) recorded as Framingaham in 1086 and Framingeham in 1130. The place-name means ‘homestead of the people of a man called Fram’ from the Old English personal name Fram + the group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘homestead village’. In 1254 the places were recorded as Framelingham Comitis and Framelingham Pigot with an intrusive -el- presumably due to influence from the Suffolk place-name Framlingham.

Among surname forms there has clearly also been some confusion with sense (2); note Thomas de Framingham and wife Agnes identical with Thomas de Framlyngham and wife Agnes 1301–3 in Feet of Fines (both relating to land in Great Hautbois Norfolk) and compare John Framlingham 1663 Barbara Framingham 1705 in IGI (North Elmham Norfolk).

Perhaps occasionally from Framlingham (Suffolk) which is recorded as Framelingaham in 1086 and Framillingeham in 1175. The place-name means ‘homestead of the people of a man called Framela’ from an Old English personal name *Framela + the group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-) + hām ‘homestead village’.

The place certainly gave rise to a medieval surname but it is unclear whether this has died out or survived with loss of -l-. There has evidently been some confusion with and perhaps ultimately absorption by sense (1).