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.

Grimsditch Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Saffron Walden

Historical Forms

  • litelgrimswich 1387 Walden
  • Great Grimswick, Little Grimswick, Grimswich wood 1605 WaldenA

Etymology

Grimsditch Wood (6″) is named from litelgrimswich 1387Walden , Great Grimswick , Little Grimswick , Grimswich wood 1605WaldenA .'Grim 's dairy-farm,' v. wic . The pers. name may be the Scandinavian Grímr or the English Grim . It is fairly common in Essex, cf. Grimesleye (Little Maplestead) 13thStJohn , Grimesho (Greenstead) t. Hy 3 Colch, Grymesfeld (Eastwood) 1374MinAcct , Grymisleye (Bumpstead) 13thQueens .