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.

Swite's Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Dorking

Etymology

Swite's Fm (old 6″). Cf. Swytefeld , le Swytelond , Swytehach 1403Norfolk . The same word is found in Swite's Wood infra 332, in le Swytes 1410 (Alfold), in Swytelond 1441 (Chiddingfold), and in several field-names (v. infra 366). It is tempting to connect the word with the modern switch , used perhaps of a twig or shoot, but the history of that word is obscure (v. NED s. v .).