Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Wideheia c.1150 HMCVarCollvii43

• Widehieie 1203 Cur

• Wydehaye 1220 Fees 1327 SR

• Wydehaye Osevill 1221 Pat

• Wydehay Doseville 1227 Ch

• Westwydehaye 1284 Ass

• La Wydehaye 1310 Ipm

• Wdehaye 1228 DEPN

• Westwodehay 1428 FA

• Westwodhay 1439 AD

Etymology

The form from c. 1150 refers to East Woodhay in Ha. Mr J. E. B. Gover informs us that other early forms for the Ha place include Wydenhaya 1144, Ric 1, Widenhai 1189, Wydenai 1316. These probably indicate an etymology 'wide enclosure', from (ge)hæg and wīd (dat. wīdan ). The first el. has been associated with wudu .

West Woodhay was called Osevill , Dosevill from Sewal de Osevile , who held it in the e. 13th cent. (VCH iv, 242).