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.

Orsett

Major Settlement in the Parish of Orsett

Historical Forms

  • Aetorseaþan 957 Bodl(James23) 17th
  • (of) Orseaþun, of þam westrum Orseaþum c.1000 CCC383 c.1125
  • Dorseda, Orsedā 1086 DB
  • Orsed 1259 FF
  • Orsede 1404 Cl
  • Orset(e) 1230 FF 1361 Pat
  • Great Orset(e) 1393 Cl
  • Horset(e) 1232–54 FF 1274 RH 1352 Fine 1428 FA 1537 LP
  • Horesete 1272 Ass
  • Orseth(e) 1248 ADi 1428 FA
  • Corseth (sic) (alias Orsete) 1303 Ipm
  • Horseth(e) 1285 QW
  • Horsete 1303 FA 1343,1349 Ipm 1344 Cl
  • Oreseth 1291 Tax 1323 Londin
  • Oresete 1303 Ipm 1332 Londin
  • Horsed alias Orsett 1584 ADvi
  • Oset 1708 Stifford

Etymology

The second element in this name is clearly OE  seað, 'pit, hole, pool.' The OE forms give it to us in the dat. pl. form.The first is probably OE  ora, 'bank,' the reference in the first element being to the ridge on which Orsett stands, above the marshes. The reference in the second is probably to pools in the marshland.