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.

Quoditch

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ashwater

Historical Forms

  • Quidhiwis 1249 Ass
  • Quidhiwische 1318 Exon
  • Quydiche 1609 FF
  • Cowditch 1765 D

Etymology

This is probably a compound of OE  cwēad , 'dung, filth,' and hiwisc, 'land to support a family,' hence perhaps 'dirty land' or 'well-manured land.'Cf. Quidhampton (PN W 138), Quidhampton (Ha), Quedamtone 1337 Ch, and Quither infra 216.