Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Saxefeld 13 Earw c.1290 Orm2

• Great Sak Field & Higher Sak Field 1841 TA

Etymology

Saxfield (101–825900), Saxefeld 13 Earw, c.1290 Orm2, the Higher Saxe Felde & Lower Saxe Felde 1578, Saxefielde pitte 1586 ib, Great Sak Field & Higher Sak Field 1841TA , cf. Saxbroke 1494 Earw I 269 (i.e. Baguley Brook 329infra , a boundary of Hazelhurst supra ), 'Saxons' open country', v. Seaxe , feld . The name belonged in 6″ OS to a house erected on land which bore it; in the thirteenth century the area so called extended to the southern boundary of Northenden, to Hazelhurst supra , and included part of Wythenshaw infra . In the construction of the house 'some much decayed weapons etc., were found there buried', which led Earwaker to derive the name from OE  seax 'a knife, a short sword', v. Earw I 269, 270, cf. Orm2 iii611. It is to be presumed that there was a settlement of Saxons among the Anglian population of north-east Ch.