Heydon
Major Settlement in the Parish of Heydon
Historical Forms
- Haindena 1086 DB
- Haidenam 1086 DB
- Haiden 1222 FF
- haidene 1086 InqEl
- Haidenn 1194 Abbr
- Haydon 1238 SR
- Hayden 1345 Cl
- Heidenñ 1199 CurR
- Heiden(e), Heyden(e) 1202 FF 1339 Cl
- Heydon(e) 1246–54 FF 1274 RH
- Great Heydon(e) 1290 FF 1308 Abbr
- Heydenne 1318 Ass
- Eydene 1285 Ipm
Etymology
No certainty is possible with regard to this name. Heydon lies at the head of a well-marked valley, and it is clear that unless we lay stress on the three denn -forms the second element is denu, 'valley,' rather than denn , 'swine-pasture.' The first may be the common word heg , hence 'hay valley,' or it may be (ge)hæg, hence 'valley or swine-pasture marked by an enclosure.' v. Addenda supra lxii.