Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Aiegete c.1060 WDB

• Ægete 1065 CottCh

• Ægeatte 1066–87 WDB

• Aðgiðe c.1060 KCD864 14th

• Aiete 1086 DB

• Aiethe t.John Dugd

• Aieta 1254 Val

• Aietta 1254–8 Grossteste

• Ayete Lorencii 1303 FA

• Aet' Munfichet 1220 Fees

• Aete 1227 Ch 1248 Ass

• Aettemunfichet, Aette de Sco Laur' 1255 ib

• Aeta Sci Laur' 1275 RH

• Aete Monfichet 1281 Ipm

• Eccl. Sci Laurentii de Aete 1291 Tax

• Ayte Munfichet ib.

• Ayte 1428 FA

• Ayot Laurence 1367 Pat

• Lawrens Ayotte 1428 FA

• Lawrence Eyott 1505 ADi

• Eyotte Sci Laurencii 1535 VE

• Laurence Ayot al. Great Ayot 1572 FF

• Ayote Mounfechet 1428 FA

• Ayott Mount Fichett 1622 CtWards

• Eyotte Sci Petri 1535 VE

• Lyttle Ayott 1545 SR

• Eyot Parva al. Peter Eyot 1546 LP

• Ayott St Peters oth. Little Ayott oth. Ayott Montfitchet 1770 Recov

Etymology

This name has been explained as from OE  iggoþ , 'small island, ait' (cf. Skeat 58–9 and DEPN s. n .) but it is difficult to justify this on the score of either topography or the early forms.The Ayots lie on a broad ridge between the valleys of the Maran and the Lea, but there is nothing in the site to suggest the idea of an island (or peninsula), still less of a small island. The history of the forms is equally difficult. OE  iggaþ , igeoþ , so far as our evidence goes, becomes regularly ME  æite (Layamon), eite , eyte ; cf. Comberton Aits and Neight (PN Wo 194, 137), Bos Ait, Dockett, Thorn Ait (PN Sr 108–9, 114), Medley (DEPN s. n .) and ait (NED). The matter is not made easier by the fact that the natural development of iggoþ , igeoþ in Hertfordshire would have been to eyth , and the development to eyt has never been fully explained (cf. NED loc. cit .). We must further beware of the snare that the variant form eyot , as found occasionally in modern place-names, seems to be an entirely modern coinage.

The earliest forms suggest a second element geat and not any word ending in ð, while the persistent early Aie -, Ae - is inconsistent with derivation from OE  iggaþ , iggoð or igeoþ . (The form in KCD 864 is clearly corrupt and comes from a document found in a late transcript which has no linguistic authority.)

It is difficult to put forward any certain alternative explanation but it may be that we have a compound of the OE  personal name Aega , found in Eydon and Aynho (PN Nth 35, 48), and geat , 'gate, gap,' It is impossible to determine the exact topographical significance, as we do not know which Ayot first bore the name and cannot therefore satisfactorily examine the site. Most probably the reference is to the gap in the hills between the two Ayots. They are on hills going up to over 400 ft. There is a well-marked valley between them whose highest point is 328 ft.

Ayot St Lawrence from the dedication of the church. Ayot St Peter or Little Ayot was held by Robert Gernon in DB; his estates were granted t. Henry II to William de Montfichet (cf. VCHEssex i, 347). St Peter from the dedication of the church.