Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hussiat Moruell hill 1577 Harrison67

• Husseatt-Morvill Hill, Moruell hill 1622 Drayton

• the Hughe Seate 1636 BdyR(M.3)

• Hugh seate otherwayes called Morvell head 1652 ib

• Hugh Seat Morvel(l) 1684 Dd 1812 BdyR(M.17)

• Hugh de Morville's Seat 1823 M

Etymology

Hugh Seat, 1670 CliffordL, 1751 Pococke, Hussiat Moruell hill 1577 Harrison 67, Husseatt -Morvill Hill , Moruell hill 1622 Drayton, the Hughe Seate 1636BdyR (M. 3), Hugh seate otherwayes called Morvell head 1652 ib (M. 4), Hugh Seat Morvel (l )1684Dd , 1812BdyR (M. 17), Hugh de Morville 's Seat 1823 M. Named from Hugh de Morvill , to whom the Barony of Westmorland was enfeoffed by Henry II (NWm 1). The second el. is ON  sǽti 'seat', which is frequently used of lofty places and hilltops, especially (as here) of natural seat-shaped outcrops of rock; cf. Lauerdsate , the Lord's seat, Lord Seat (i, 27, ii, 11 supra , ii, 122, 176 infra ), High Seat (infra ), Dolphin Seat, Simon Seat (ii, 29, 48 infra ), and Lord's Seat (YW vi, 62, where other examples are given). The first el. in such p.ns. usually refers to a prominent landowner. It may be added that in view of the particular application in the names in question OE  sǣt 'trap' and ON  sǽtr 'shieling' are out of the question.