Horwood
Major Settlement in the Parish of Horwood
Historical Forms
- Hareoda, Horew(o)da 1086 DB
- Harewde 1219 FF
- Horwude 1196 FF
- Horewode 1291 Tax
- Churchehorwode 1356 Ass
- Horwood al. Worewood 1692 Recov
Etymology
The term har is commonly applied to a wood in OE and the compound har-wudu would denote a grey wood. As this compound would explain the early forms in a , with later regular rounding to o before shortening took place, we are probably right in assuming a first element har rather than hor , 'mud,' which would leave the a -forms unexplained.