Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hedfelt 1086 DB

• Heyfeld 1285 For 1286 Cl 1345 Cor

• Heyfeld alias Hethefelde 1584 FF

• Hayfeld 1307 FF 1332 Middleton 1343 Cor

• Heathfeld 1577 Saxton 1610 Speed

• Magna Heyfeld c.1250 Okeover 1584 FF

• Great Heyfield 1637 DuLaSC

• Magna Hayfeld 1330 Ass 1355 EveryCh 16th

Etymology

The DB identification, which appears reasonably certain, clearly suggests that this is identical with Hadfield supra 103, the two names appearing in the same entry in the Survey. 'Heathy open land', v. hǣð , feld . This is unsupported by the ME forms, which suggest 'open land where hay was obtained', v. hēg , feld . In the 16th century the two types occasionally appear as alternatives. If the DB spelling is to be accepted, the only solution would appear to be that there were two separate places Heathfield and Hayfield, the former being represented by Heathfield, about half a mile from Hayfield, though there is nothing to show that the settlement at the former is old and the place is not marked on the early maps of the area. It was formerly distinguished as Great and Little Hayfield, cf. infra 116.