Foxearth
Major Settlement in the Parish of Foxearth
Historical Forms
- Focsearde 1086 DB
- Focsherde 1202 FF
- Fox(h)erd(e) 1232 FF 1249 BM 1274 RH
- Fox(h)erth(e) 1198–1253 FF 1255 Ass 1265 Misc 1274 RH
- Foxierth 1202 FF
- Fox(h)ierd 1221 1428 FA
- Foxhol(l)e 1212 RBE 1314 Cl
- Foxhyrd(e), Foxhirde 1246 FF 1292 Fine 1295 Pat 1358 1361 BM
- Foxerht 1261 FF
- Foxeyerde 1294 Pat
- Foxherne 1362 IpmR
- Foxhorn 1363 Cl
- Foxzerd 1428 FA
- Foxearth 1594 N
Etymology
'Fox-hole or burrowing-place.' The various forms of the second element show different developments of OE eorðe (v. forms in NED), with the exception of Foxhol (l )e , for which v. foxhol , and -hern , -horn , where hyrne , 'corner,' has been substituted.This name carries back the meaning 'hole of a fox' for earth nearly 500 years earlier than the first example in NED (1575).Cf. foxe erthe (taisniere ) 1530 Palsgrave.