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.

Upshire

Early-attested site in the Parish of Waltham Holy Cross

Historical Forms

  • Up(e)scire 1274 RH
  • Up(e)chire 1285 Ass
  • Up(e)shere 1415 Pat 1561 Winstone
  • Up(e)shire 1423 Pat
  • Pekeupshire t.Hy8 LRMB

Etymology

Upshire is Up (e )scire 1274 RH, Up (e )chire 1285Ass , Up (e )shere 1415 Pat, 1561 Winstone, Up (e )shire 1423 Pat, Pekeupshire t. Hy 8LRMB .'Upper district,' v. upp(e), scir , and cf. Pickhill supra 29–30. This is probably that part of the shire or liberty of Waltham (supra 27) which lay on high ground above the Lea.