 The toponymy of Oldham seems to imply " old village or place " from Eald ( Saxon ) signifying oldness or antiquity , and Ham ( Saxon ) a house , farm or hamlet . Oldham is however known to be a derivative of Aldehulme , undoubtedly an Old Norse name . It is believed to be derived from the Old English ald combined with the Old Norse holmi or holmr , meaning " promontory or outcrop " , possibly describing the town 's hilltop position . It has alternatively been suggested that it may mean " holm or hulme of a farmer named Alda " . The name is understood to date from 865 , during the period of the Danelaw . 
 The toponymy of Oldham <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>seems</mark></a> to imply " old village or place " from Eald ( Saxon ) signifying oldness or antiquity , and Ham ( Saxon ) a house , farm or hamlet . Oldham is however known to be a derivative of Aldehulme , undoubtedly an Old Norse name . It is believed to be derived from the Old English ald combined with the Old Norse holmi or holmr , meaning " promontory or outcrop " , possibly describing the town <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>hilltop position . It <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>has</mark></a> alternatively been suggested that it may mean " holm or hulme of a farmer named Alda " . The name is understood to date from 865 , during the period of the Danelaw . 
Da toponymy of Oldham seem to imply " old village or place " from Eald ( Saxon ) signifying oldness or antiquity , and Ham ( Saxon ) a house , farm or hamlet . Oldham is however known to b a derivative of Aldehulme , undoubtedly an Old Norse name . It is believed to bbderived from the Old English ald combined wid the Old Norse holmi or holmr , meaning " promontory or outcrop " , possibly describing tdatown  hilltop position . It done alternatively been suggested that it may mean " holm or hulme of a farmer named Alda " . Thdaame is understood to date from 865 , durin the period of the Danelaw .