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.

Pudson

Early-attested site in the Parish of Okehampton and Okehampton Hamlets

Historical Forms

  • Poddesdon 1244 Ass
  • Puddesdon 1270 Ass

Etymology

Pudson is

Poddesdon 1244Ass (p), Puddesdon 1270Ass (p), v. dun .The first element may be the strong form of the OE  pers. name Podda (Redin 107), cf. also to poddan beorge (BCS 1072). It may be noted that there was a William de Podehongre in the parish in 1330 (SR ), suggesting that there was also in the parish a hangra or hillside named after the same man. The single form shows the weak inflection but it may be that in the late OE period at any rate the weak or strong form of a pers. name could be used indifferently for the same individual.