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.

Hindhead

Early-attested site in the Parish of Thursley

Historical Forms

  • Hyndehed 1571 SACxv
  • Hynde head lane 1606 Swanton
  • Hynde head 1610 Speed

Etymology

Hindhead is Hyndehed 1571 SAC xv, Hynde head lane 1606 Swanton, Hynde head 1610 Speed. This is probably 'hind hill,' v. heafod , though the forms are not early enough for certainty.Hind Head was properly the name for the high ground on the south side of the Devil's Punch Bowl supra , culminating in Gibbet Hill (895 ft.). The modern inhabited district loosely known as Hindhead is outside Thursley parish and partly outside the county.