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.

Handside

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bishops Hatfield

Historical Forms

  • Haneshida 1251 ElyCouch
  • Haneshyda 1277 Ely
  • Hanshyde 1435 Cecil
  • Hanside 1558–79 ECP

Etymology

Handside is Haneshida 1251ElyCouch , Haneshyda 1277Ely , Hanshyde 1435Cecil , Hanside 1558–79 ECP. The forms are insufficient for any satisfactory suggestion as to the first element to be possible. The second is clearly hid, 'hide.'