Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Horsedene, Horsedune 1086 DB

• Horsendon 1175 P 1200 Cur

• Horsindone 1221 WellsR 1262 Ass 1333 Ch 1337 Cl

• Horsingdone 1221 WellsR 1262 Ass 1766 J 1797 Desb

• Horsyngton 1359 IpmR

• Horsyngdon 1360 Ipm 1474 Pat 1477 IpmR

• Horsington 1512 LP 1526 LS

• Horssingdon 1535 VE

Etymology

OE  Horsan-dun or -denu , 'Horsa's hill or valley,' with later corruption of en (from an ) to ing .

In actual situation -den best suits the village as it lies on the flat in the centre of the Risborough Gap (Harman).

This name is exceptionally interesting, for it helps to prove the existence of an OE  pers. name Horsa , borne according to tradition by the brother of Hengest the leader of the mercenaries invited by Vortigern. The fact that this name is not otherwise found in OE has been sometimes taken to throw doubt on the authenticity of the tradition. The argument falls to the ground in face of the present name and Horsington (L), an equally certain compound of an OE  Horsa .