 It is a rural parish, mostly consisting of dairy farmland and woods, despite being surrounded by the town of Wokingham and the large villages of Winnersh, Arborfield Cross and Finchampstead.The toponym "Barkham" is derived from the Old English "bercheham" meaning "birch home" referring to the birch trees on the edge of Windsor Forest.The name evolved "via" forms including "Berkham"' in the 14th century and "Barcombe" in the 18th century.