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.

Holmwood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Dorking

Historical Forms

  • Homwude 1241 Cl 1243 Misc
  • in bosco de la Homwode juxta Dorkyng' 1307 Ass
  • ate Homwode 1332 SR
  • la Homwode 1354 Norfolk
  • Homewod 1538 LP
  • Holm(e)wood(e) 1597 SrWills 1604 Norfolk
  • Homewood 1765 R
  • Holm Wood 1823 G

Etymology

Holmwood is Homwude 1241 Cl, 1243 Misc, in bosco de la Homwode juxta Dorkyng '1307Ass , ate Homwode 1332 SR (p), la Homwode 1354Norfolk , Homewod 1538 LP, Holm (e )wood (e )1597 SrWills, 1604Norfolk , Homewood 1765 R, Holm Wood 1823 G. This name, like Homewood (PN Sx 258), is a compound of ham and wudu . The form in the Court Rolls is invariably Homewood , but the numerous hollies have led to a change in the name and the loss of the distinction between the 'High Wood' on the skirts of the big forest of the Weald and the 'Home Wood.' Cf. VCH iii, 144.