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.

Frithsden

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Berkhamsted

Historical Forms

  • Frithesden(e) 1291,1293,1309 Ch 1304 Ipm
  • Freseden 1406 Brownlow
  • Frysdene, Fresdone, Freesdone 1565 AOMB

Etymology

Frithsden is Frithesden (e )1291, 1293, 1309 Ch, 1304 Ipm, Freseden 1406Brownlow , Frysdene , Fresdone , Freesdone 1565AOMB . In 1285 (Ch) we have reference to a wood called le Fryth and this in 1291 and 1293 is closely associated with the valley called Frithesden , so that the name is doubtless a genitival compound, 'valley belonging to the wood or wooded country,' v. denu , fyrhðe .