Hempsted
Major Settlement in the Parish of Hempsted
Historical Forms
- Hechanestede 1086 DB
- Heccamstuda 1137 Monast
- Hechamstede 1199 ChR
- Heghamstede 1236 FF
- Heghamstud 1335 ib
- Heghampstede 1287 Ass
- Heyghamsteede 1316 FA
- Heyham(p)stede 1282 Episc 1292 Ch
- Heyham(p)stud(e) 1287 QW 1311,1325 GlR 1391 Ipm
- Heyham(p)stueode 1327 SR
- Heyamstede 1395 Ass 1396 Works
- Hempsted(e) 1535 VE 1540 AOMB 1681 PR
- Hamstede 1540 Monast
- Hemsteed 1630 Inq
Etymology
'The high homestead', v. hēah , hām-stede, with the SW variant stude from styde . It could be called 'high' because the village is on the top of a low hill which rises some 45 ft above the flat low-lying land along the Severn.