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.

Haydon

Major Settlement in the Parish of Haydon

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Hægdune 1046 KCD1334(S1474) 12
  • Heydone, Heydona c.1163 Sarum 1569–74 Map
  • Heydon 1253 Misc 1278 Banco 1284 Drew 1288 Pat
  • Heydon' 1473 Digby
  • Heidon 1202 FF 1204 FineR
  • Hedon' 1204 Cur
  • Haydon(') 1258,1268 For 1280 Ass 1285,1316 FA
  • Haydoun 1385,1412 Cl
  • Haidon(') 1406 Digby
  • Haidon(') juxta Shirburne 1412 FA 1614 Digby
  • Haydon Mannor 1677 ib
  • Haddon 1303 FA
  • Hayden 1664 HTax

Etymology

Probably 'hill or down where hay is made', from hēg and dūn , but alternatively the first el. could be hege 'hedge' or (ge)hæg 'enclosure', cf. Haydon So (DEPN), W 32, Heydon Nf (DEPN). The identification of the 1046 form is doubtful; it may belong to Haydon So (preferred by DEPN, though ASCharters says 'Dorset or Somerset').