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.

Woodchurch, Woodchurch Green, Holy Cross Church

Major Settlement in the Parish of Woodchurch

Historical Forms

  • Odecerce 1096–1101(1150),1150 Chest
  • Wodechirche 1096–1101 Chest 1280 Plea 1530
  • Wodecherch(e) 1271 ChFor 1281 Court 1322 JRC
  • Wodechurch 1288 ChFor 1539–47 Dugd
  • Wdekirche c.1200 Bark
  • Wodekirke c.1250 ib
  • Hwodekerk c.1240 Sheaf 17
  • Wudechurch 1241 Cl
  • Wodchurche 14 Chest 1511 Plea 1549 Sheaf
  • Wodchirche 1365 JRC 1418 ChRR 1428 Orm2 1433 Plea
  • Wodchirch 1440 ChRR
  • Woodchurch 1396,1512 ChRR
  • Woodchurch Green 1842 OS
  • Wodenchurch 1499 Sheaf
  • Woodechurch 1499 Orm2
  • Woddechirche 1503 ChRR
  • Woddechurche 1522 Plea
  • Wadchurche 1535 VE
  • Wudchurche 1535 VE

Etymology

'Church in a wood', also 'wooden church' v. wudu , cirice . One form has ModE  wooden adj (1538 NED). The final el. shows Scand influence, cf. kirkja . The name refers to the predecessor of Holy Cross Church, which stands in a circular churchyard, probably the religious precinct which gave name to Landican, v. 267supra .