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.

Hobs Aerie

Early-attested site in the Parish of Arkesden

Etymology

Hobs Aerie. Cf. Hobbesday 1475–85 ECP, Hobbys pytell 1542Ct , Hobs-hary 1777 C. These places clearly all take their names from the common ME  pers. name Hobb (e ). For pytell v. pightel infra 587. Aerie is probably a jesting name, the farm standing on the crest of a steep hill. daye , deye is a ME word for a dairy-maid and is found in the compound dey-house , 'dairy.'It is just possible that Hobbesday is short for Hobbesdeyhouse .We may possibly have a similar shortening in Overday (PN D 643).