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.

Washfield

Major Settlement in the Parish of Washfield

Historical Forms

  • Wasfelta, Wasfella 1086 DB
  • Wasfeld(e) 1166 P 1283 Exon 1291 Tax
  • Wasfeld(e) Magna 1317 Ass
  • Wassefeld 1242 Fees762
  • Wassefeld Parva 1242 Fees761
  • Was(s)hfelde 1316 FA 1342 Exon
  • Wayshfelde 1329,1354 Exon
  • Wasshefelde 1351 Ass
  • Wayschefelde 1409–16 Exon
  • Wesfelde 1265 Exon
  • Westfeld 1283–7 Exon

Etymology

OE  wæsc -feld , 'open land by the low-lying marshland,' v. (ge)wæsc. The place stands high but there is flat marshy land in the Exe valley below.