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.

Litchardon

Early-attested site in the Parish of Fremington

Historical Forms

  • Lychedone 1333 SR
  • Lycherton fild 1499 Ipm

Etymology

Litchardon is

Lychedone 1333SR (p), Lycherton fild 1499 Ipm, v. dun . The first element may, as suggested by Blomé (50), be OE  lic, 'corpse,' hence 'corpses' down,' but the reason for the name is unknown. Possibly a gibbet once stood here.