Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Horsfrith(e) 1213 ClR 1230 Cl 1276 For 1280 Pat

• parco de Horsfrith(e) 1429 MinAcct

• Horsfreth(e) 1330 Cl

• Horsfreth(e)hacche, Horsfreth(e) parke 1495 EASxix

• Horsfirth(e) Park(e) 1484 Pat 1521 LP

• le Horesfrit 1250 CottCh

• Hoastl(e)y Park, Hoastl(e)y Hatch 1777 C 1805 O

• Horsleygheg 1336 Ipm

Etymology

Although the maps show that Hoastley (or Osterley, according to some editors) and Horsfrith Parks were identical, the names are different. Hoastley or Osterley is from Horsleygheg (1336 Ipm), 'enclosure by the muddy clearing,' v. leah , (ge)hæg. The two places were not far apart, and Hoastley is probably identical with Horsley, a field-name in Roxwell, the boundary of which is less than half-a-mile distant. For a similar name covering a fairly wide area cf. Horsted infra 476.