Flexborough Hundred
Hundred in the County of Sussex
Historical Forms
- Flexeberg(e) 1086 DB 1188 P
- Flexbrow 1565 DuLa
- Fexeberge 1195 P
- Faxeberg(h) 1248 1285 CplM 1296 SR
- Faxeberewe 1272 RH
- Faxberwe, Faxberge 1272 RH
- Faxberewe 1275 SAC6,143
- Flaxbergh(e) 1316 FA 1332 SR
- Flaxebergh 1327 SR
Etymology
The meeting-place of the hundred is unknown so the site does not help us in the interpretation. It is equally irregular for Flax - to become Fax - or for Fax - to become Flax -, so since fleax is not likely to grow on a hill or barrow we are probably right in taking the original element to be OE feax , used in one of the senses noted under Vox End supra 337. Hence, 'hill with tufts of grass' or the like. The rare fax was probably re- placed by the more common flax , regardless of the meaning of the compound.