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.

Hatfield

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bishops Hatfield

Historical Forms

  • Haethfelth c.750 Bede
  • (on) Hæþfelda 680 ASC c.900
  • (æt) Hæðfælda c.970 ASWills 12th
  • (æt) Hæðfelda c.1000 CraggMS
  • (into) Hæðfelda 11th KCD1354
  • Hethfeld(e) c.1060 ElyM 14th P 1130 RBE 1211 Dugdii 1218
  • Hathfeld 1077–93 Gesta t.Hy2 Dugdii 1222 Fees 1230 Cl 1250 FF 1323–7 Ipm
  • Hathfeld Episcopi 1316 FF
  • Hatfeld(e) 1077–93 Gesta 1086 DB 1210–12 RBE 1500 Pat
  • Hetfelle 1086 DB
  • Hetfeld 1211 RBE 1307 SR
  • Hadfeld 1190 P 1198 FF 1220 Pat
  • Hadfeld Episcopi 1279 FF
  • Hattefeld Episcopi 1351 Cl
  • Bysshoppeshatfelde al. Kings Hatfelde 1548 Pat

Etymology

'Heath-covered open land,' v. hæþ , feld and cf. Heathfield (PN D 214, PN Sx 463), Hatfield (PN Ess 39, 287). The manor was held by the Bishop of Ely in DB.