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.

Hidcote Boyce

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ebrington

Historical Forms

  • Hudicota 716 BCS134 14th
  • Hudicot(e) 1196 Finberg 1221,1248 Ass
  • Hudicot(e) Boys 1327 SR
  • Hudecote 1314 Ipm
  • Hedecote 1086 DB 1404 Ipm
  • Hidecot(e) 1200 Cur
  • Hydecote Boys 1556 FF
  • Hodykote 1287 Ass
  • Hydycote Boys Hy6 AddCh
  • Hidcott Boys 1601 FF
  • Great Hidcote 1683 PR
  • Hittcott Boys 1620 FF
  • Hitcote Boyce 1688 PR
  • Ernolf de Bosco 1200 Cur
  • Ernald de Bosco 1212 Fees

Etymology

The first el. of this name and Hidcote Bartrim (244infra ) is probably an OE  pers.n. Hydeca , a derivative of Huda (as suggested by Ekwall), but there is some evidence for medial -i - being a reduced form of OE  -an (cf. Phonol. § 48), so that the first el. could be the OE  pers.n. Huda itself, with fronting of -u - to -i - before the dental (cf. Phonol. § 29). 'Hydeca's or possibly Huda's cottage', v. -ing 4 , cot 'cottage'. The affix Boyce is from the surname of the feudal tenant Ernolf de Bosco (1200 Cur) or Ernald de Bosco (1212 Fees), from Lat  boscus , OFr  bois 'wood'.