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.

Chest Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Layer de la Haye

Historical Forms

  • Cystewde a.1272 Colch
  • Chistewod(e) 1276,1291 For
  • Chestwode 1427 Pat
  • Chesten Woode 1540 LP

Etymology

Chest Wood is Cystewde a. 1272 Colch, Chistewod (e )1276, 1291For , Chestwode ib., 1427 Pat, Chesten Woode 1540 LP. Possibly 'chestnut-wood,' from OE  cyst , cisten (v. Chestham, PN Sx 217) and cf. Chisbon Heath infra 348), but as the wood is on the parish-boundary it may be that we have ME  cheste , chyste , 'strife,' hence 'wood whose use or ownership is disputed.'