Fyfield
Major Settlement in the Parish of Fyfield
Historical Forms
- (æt) Fif Hidum 956 BCS977 c.1240
- (æt) Fifhidan 968 c.1200 ib
- Fivehide 1086 DB
- Fifhida c.1180 Oxoniensiav 1284 Ass
- Fifyd' 1220 Fees
- Fifide 1241 Ass
- Fiffyde 1316 FA
- Fyfeld 1517 DInc
Etymology
A common name, which appears also as Fifield (e.g. Pt 145) and Fifehead. It means 'five hides', and was presumably applied to an estate of that assessment. Surviving charters for Fyfield give much higher assessments. BCS 1221, which is a grant of the whole modern parish, gives 25 hides.