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.

Gerrard's Fm, Lr Gerrards

Early-attested site in the Parish of Marshwood

Historical Forms

  • Gerard's 1783 Hutch3
  • Jerynshull(e) 1380 HarlCh 1398 IpmR 1399 Cl
  • Gerynsattehull(') 1396 FF 1409,1410 HarlCh
  • Grynsattehille 1397 AddCh
  • Gerynsatte Hulle 1410 HarlCh 1440 Cl
  • Gerynsathull(e) 1410 HarlCh
  • Gerneshull 1425 IpmR
  • Geronys 1431 FA
  • Garynsate Hulle 1440 Cl
  • Gerens atte Hille 1448 HarlCh
  • Gerens 1525 ib
  • Higher and Lower Gerrands Farm 1769 DCMMap
  • Gernershull 1795 Boswell
  • Gerrands Hill 1843 TA(WhitchurchC.)
  • dominium nostrum de Blundesheyis 1448 HarlCh

Etymology

Gerrard's Fm (SY 421988), Lr Gerrards, Gerard 's 1783 Hutch3, to be identified with Jerynshull (e )1380HarlCh , 1398 IpmR, 1399 Cl, Gerynsattehull (')1396 FF, 1409, 1410HarlCh , Grynsattehille 1397AddCh , Gerynsatte Hulle 1410HarlCh , 1440 Cl, Gerynsathull (e )1410HarlCh , Gerneshull 1425 IpmR, Geronys 1431 FA, Garynsate Hulle 1440 Cl, Gerens atte Hille 1448HarlCh , Gerens 1525ib , Higher and Lower Gerrands Farm 1769DCMMap , Gernershull (a farm) 1795 Boswell, Gerrands Hill 1843TA (Whitchurch C.). This is 'Gerin's hill', alternatively 'Gerin's (place) at the hill', from the OFr  pers.n. Gerin , Jerin (OG  Gerin , v. Forssner 108) and hyll , with ME  atte 'at the'. The farm occupies a low 300′ hill. In 1236 FF (p. 62) Matilda de Lahull and Gerinus de Merswude were parties to a fine concerning land in Marshwood, cf. also Gerino de la Hull ', terra de la Hull 'Hy 3AddCh , and the surname of John Geryn 1312 SoDoNQ, 1327, 1332 SR, Nicholas Geryn 1332ib (taxpayers in Marshwood). Gerneshill was considered 'lost' by Fägersten 295–6, but there are various clues to the identification proposed: lands here were infra dominium nostrum de Blundesheyis in 1448HarlCh (= Bluntshay c.1 mile SSW in Whitchurch C. par. infra ), and Gerrands Hill (together with Gerrands Gate & Gerrands Wood ) are in the TA for Whitchurch C., this being one of the two areas transferred to Marshwood in 1884. The replacement of Gerrands by the less unfamiliar Gerrards seems to be relatively recent. For the loss of -hill from the modern form of the name (evidenced in fact from the 15th cent.) cf. the loss of earlier -hay in Baber's Fm supra and Harper's Fm infra .