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.

Midhurst

Major Settlement in the Parish of Midhurst

Historical Forms

  • Mid(d)eherst t.Hy2 Pat 1361 P 1185,1190

Etymology

Further forms with Mid (d )e -, Mid - are found passim . In the 12th cent, we have 5 herst -forms, in the 13th cent. 11 hurst - and 4 herst -forms and 1 hirst -, in the 14th only hurst - and in the 15th 2 herst -forms, so far as they have been noted.

v. hyrst . 'Mid' or 'middle wood,' possibly because of its position midway between high woodland to the north and the South Downs.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site