Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Fifhide 1086 DB(f.80)

• Fifhidam 1135–54(1318),1153–4(1318) Ch

• Fyf(h)ide 1285 1288 Ass

• Fifhyde 1285 FA

• Fifide 1291 Tax 1428 FA

• Vifhide 1316 FA 1332 SR

• Fyshude 1327 SR

• Fyf(e)hed(e) juxta Henstrigge, Fyf(e)hed(e) juxta Henstrygge 1473,1481 Drew

• Lifiden (sic, for Fifden) 1158 France

• Fifhide Abbatis 1268 Ass

• Fiffide Abbatis 1280 ib

• Fyfide Abbatis 1288 ib

• Fyffyde Sancti Augustini 1364 For

• Fifyde Maudaleyne 1388 Drew

• Vifide Maudeleyne 1393 Pat

• Fyffeh(u)yd(e) Maud(e)lyn 1460 Cl, Fine, IpmR

• Fighfeld Magdalyn 1535 VE

• Fifehead Magdelen 1664 HTax

Etymology

'(Estate of) five hides', from fīf and hīd , a common p.n., cf. Fifehead Neville par. 2 95; Henstrigge , Henstrygge is the adjacent par. of Henstridge So. This manor was assessed at five hides in DB (VCHDo 388), and was granted in the 12th cent. to the abbey of St Augustine, Bristol (Hutch3 456, VCHDo 357), hence the affixes in 1268 and 1288. The later affix is from the dedication of the church, v. St Mary Magdalene's Church infra . According to Hutch3 4 56, Fifehead Magdalen was called alternatively (but with no indication as to date) 'Fifehide Abbas , vulgo Marnhull infra Fifehide , from its vicinity to Marnhull'. For the development Fighfeld in 1535, cf. Fifield O 351, W 207.