Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• iter versus horside 13 Cecil

• Horsyth(e) 1249 FF 1256 FF 1331 FF 1338

• Horseth 1256 FF

• Horsith(e) 1311 Cl 1327 SR 1463 Cl

• Horsiche 1330 FF 1369 ChrP 1372

• Horshide 1412 FA

• Horsetts 1535 VE

• Horsych 1774 Hutch1 1795 Boswell 1869 Hutch3

Etymology

Horsyth (lost), iter versus horside 13Cecil , Horsyth (e )1249 FF, 1256 FF, 1331 FF, 1338 Cl, Ipm, Horseth 1256 FF, Horsith (e )1311 Cl, 1327SR (p), 1463 Cl, Horsiche (for Horsithe ) 1330 FF, 1369 (1372) ChrP , Horshide 1412 FA, Horsetts 1535 VE, Horsych (for Horsyth ) 1774 Hutch1, 1795 Boswell, 1869 Hutch3. Possibly 'dirt pit', from horu and sēað , as suggested by Kökeritz 130; the compound is recorded in OE (BT), and the same derivation is suggested by Smith EPN 2 116 for Horseheath C 108 (interpreted in PN C and DEPN as from hors and hǣð ).However, Professor Löfvenberg suggests that this name is probably a cpd of hors 'horse' and īgoð , īgeð 'small island', comparing Nythe W 284 and (for the meaning) Horse Eye Sx, Horsey Nf, So (DEPN), v. Löfvenberg 114–115. Horsyth was probably in the S of the old par. of Cranborne; according to Hutch3 3 386 it may have comprehended 'the manors of Eastworth and Westworth', v. Eastworth Fm now in Verwood par. infra , Westworth Fm in Edmondsham par. infra .