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.

Harrowick

Early-attested site in the Parish of Dean

Historical Forms

  • Harewyke, Herewik 1287 Ass

Etymology

The material is poor, but if the form Harewyke is to be trusted, Professor Ekwall suggests that the early form might be OE  heargawic (Anglian hergawic ). This would mean 'farm of (or by) the sacred groves' (v. wic , hearg ). That word is commonly used in the plural if we may judge by the scanty OE charter material. Harrowick stands at the highest point in the parish. For such a hill-situation, cf. Harrow-on-the-Hill (Mx) and Harrowden infra 91 and (Nth) and Peperharow (Sr).

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement

Early-attested site