Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• atte Merheye 1327 SR

• Merehey 1516 Ct

• Myre Hayes 1577 Comm

• Meerehaie 1629 DCMCt

• Me(e)rehay(e) 1632 1646,1648 SC

• Meerhay 1683 DCMDeed

• Meerhay Barn 1811 OS

• Lower Meerhay Farm 1850 DCMDeed

Etymology

Meerhay (ST 486027), Meerhay Ctg, Hr Meerhay Fm & Lr Meerhay Fm, atte Merheye 1327 SR (p), Merehey 1516Ct , Myre Hayes 1577Comm , Meerehaie 1629DCMCt , Me (e )rehay (e )1632ib , 1646, 1648 SC, Meerhay 1683DCMDeed et passim , Meerhay Barn 1811 OS, Lower Meerhay Farm 1850 DCMDeed, cf. (le ) Meerehaie , Mearehaie Feild (e ), Mearehay (e ) Feild (e )1629–39DCMCt , (Lt ) Meerhay Fd 1842TA , claus ' voc ' Me (e )rehaie , Me (e )rehay Water 1629–51DCMCt , Meerhay Water (pasture) 1842TA , 'pool enclosure', v. mere 1 , (ge)hæg. Several springs on the S slopes of Mintern's Hill infra feed into a small stream that flows through this place toward R. Brit, hence no doubt the 'pool' (Water probably refers to the same feature, v. wæter ). Lr Meerhay Fm is described as 'formerly Mansion House' on 1904 6″.