Horsey
Major Settlement in the Parish of Horsey
Historical Forms
- Horsheia, Horseia 1086 DB
- Horseye t.St BM 12,1302 HMC 1250to1286 Ass 1254–75 Val 1255etfreqto1398 FF 1275 RH 1282,1288 Pat 1457 AD
- Horseya Hy2,1155–75 Holme
- Horseia t.R1(p),1202,1203 FF 1211 P 1212 Cur
- Horshey 1209 FF
- Orseie 1209 Ass 1209 AR
- Horsheye 1220 Cur c.1240 Holme 1257 Ass 1346 FA
- Horsie 1231 Cl
- Horsheg 1332 Pat 1364 FF
- Horseie 1282 Ipm 1302 FA
- Horsheie 1286 Ass
- Horsy 1290 Pat
- Horssey(e) 1330 SR 1370 BM 1483 FF 1492 AD
- Horsey 1392 Pat 1535 VE
Etymology
This is a compound of OE hors and ēg, i.e. 'horse island'. White (771) says that the place is “on a gentle eminence”. The forms with inserted h are presumably because the second el. was interpreted as OE (ge)hæg, (ge)heg 'enclosure'. There are other Horseys in So, Sx and Hu.