 The <unk> of Oldham seems to imply " old village or place " from <unk> ( Saxon ) signifying <unk> or antiquity , and Ham ( Saxon ) a house , farm or hamlet . Oldham is however known to be a derivative of <unk> , undoubtedly an Old Norse name . It is believed to be derived from the Old English <unk> combined with the Old Norse <unk> or <unk> , meaning " promontory or <unk> " , possibly describing the town 's hilltop position . It has alternatively been suggested that it may mean " <unk> or <unk> of a farmer named <unk> " . The name is understood to date from 865 , during the period of the <unk> . 
