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.

Hawcombe

Early-attested site in the Parish of Shipton Gorge

Historical Forms

  • boscus de Havocumbe 1086 DB
  • boscus de Hauocumba Exon
  • a furzy ground called Haucomb 1863 Hutch3

Etymology

Hawcombe (lost, about SY 486915), boscus de Havocumbe 1086 DB, boscus de Hauocumba Exon, a furzy ground called Haucomb 1863 Hutch3, 'hawk valley', from hafoc and cumb . In the DB entry, it is stated that this wood belongs to Bridetone (Burton Bradstock par. supra ).According to Hutch3 2283–4, Haucomb was near Shipton Hill infra , but the group of f.ns. Hocombe (Hill ), Long Hocombe & Lr Hocombe , Hocombe (Lt ) Mead , and Hocombes in 1841TA provide a more precise location.