Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hemedesw(o)rde 1086 DB

• Hemedeswurth 1243 FF

• Emmedeswurtha 1180 P

• Hemmesdeswurda 1194 ib

• Hemmedeswrda 1195 ib

• Emedeswurth 1238 Ch

• Hemdesworth 1278 Pat

• Hemeleswurth 1224 ClR

• Hemelesworth(') 1288 Ass

• West Hemelesworth(') 1290 FF 1302 Ch 1303 FA

• Est Hemelesworth(') 1304 Ch 1312 Cl 1320 Pat

• West Hemelesworth(') 1340 NI 1346 FA

• Wes Hemelesworth(') 1392 Pat 1399 Cl

• Emeleswurth 1224 ClR

• Emelesworth 1291 Tax 1303,1346,1428 FA

• Hemlesworth' 1280 Ass

• Hemelisworth(') 1337 FF 1387 MiltRoll e15

• Hendesworth 1235–6 Fees

• Hyndesworth' 1288 Ass

• Hamelesw(o)rth 1257 FF

• West Hamelesw(o)rth 1303 Ch

• Emmeswurth 1278 Pat

• Hemsworth 1553 Cecil

• Hemsworth East or Lower Hemsworth, West Hemsworth or Higher Hemsworth 1774 Hutch1

• Hemsworth Fm 1838 TA

• Henlesworth' 1280 Ass

• Hemblesworth Giffard 1348 FF

• Hanlesworth 1361 Cl

• Elmesworth 1412 FA

• Hammesworth(') 1428 FA 1494 Cecil

Etymology

Probably 'Hem(m)ede's enclosure', from worð and an OE  pers.n. Hem (m )ede , a derivative of Hemma found also in Hempshill Nt 150, v. ēast , west . During the 13th cent, the forms for the first el. show alternation with, and eventual replacement by, the recorded OE  pers.n. Hemele . Ekwall, DEPN s.n. Hemsworth, suggests that the two Hemsworths may once have had different names, Hemedesworth and Hemelesworth , but this seems unlikely. Giffard - is clearly a manorial affix; Gif (f )ard occurs in Do as the byname of two DB landholders (VCHDo 397) and as a surname in 1332 SR and other 13th and 14th cent, sources, though not in connection with this place, cf. however Henry Giffard '1332 SR taxed under Kingston Lacy in Pamphill par. (adjacent to Witchampton), v. the f.n. Giffards in Holt par. supra .