Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hanfast l16 Hutch3

• Studland castle, Studland Castell alias Hanfast Point 1575 Saxton c.1586 Tres

• Handefaste, Handefeste Pointe 1583 SPDom

• Handfast Point 1861 Hutch3

• Studland Poynte e17 Cecil

• Foreland 1811 OS

Etymology

The Foreland or Handfast Point (SZ 055825), Hanfast l16 Hutch3, Studland castle , Studland Castell alias Hanfast Point 1575 Saxton, c. 1586 Tres, Handefaste , Handefeste Pointe 1583SPDom , Handfast Point 1861 Hutch3, Studland Poynte e17Cecil , Foreland 1811 OS, cf. Handfast Bay in Purbyke c. 1500RoyRoll . The Foreland is foreland 'cape, headland' as in N Foreland K 603. Handfast is probably 'rock stronghold', v. hān , fæsten , but 'high stronghold', v. hēah (wk.obl. hēan ), is also possible, in either case with reference to Studland Castle infra or an earlier fort here, v. point . As a final el. OE  fæsten was usually reduced in ME  to -fast , cf. Buckfast D 293; for the development Han - to Hand -, v. Phonol.