English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Leatherfield Common

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bennington

Historical Forms

  • Litherfilde, Letherfilde, Lederfilde 1556 AOMB

Etymology

Leatherfield Common is Litherfilde , Letherfilde , Lederfilde 1556AOMB . The first element in this name is probably OE  lȳðre , 'worthless, ill-conditioned,' ME  lither , luther , lether . lether , lither would be the forms commonly found in Hertfordshire and confusion with the common word leather would readily arise if the bad condition of the ground arose from its hardness or stubbornness.