Whatcombe
Early-attested site in the Parish of Fawley
Historical Forms
- Watecumbe 1086 DB 1167 P 1327 SR
- Wattecumb' 1231 FF
- Wattecoumbe 1275–6 RH
- Whatecumbe 1241,1284 Ass
- Whatecombe 1353 Cl
- Whatcombe 1412 FA
- Whatcomb 1742 ArchJ
Etymology
Probably 'wet valley', v. wǣt (wēt), cumb . There are a few spellings with Wh -, which would be appropriate to a derivation from hwǣte 'wheat', but these are heavily outnumbered by forms in Wate -. Watcombe O 96 is probably identical. Whatcombe Do (DEPN) is OE Hwetecumb , so can confidently be derived from hwǣte .