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.

Hitchin

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hitchin

Historical Forms

  • Hicca 7th BCS297 c.1000
  • (ad) Hiccam 944–6 13th ib
  • Hicche 1062 KCD813 14th FA 1428
  • Hiches 1283 BM
  • Hiz 1086 DB
  • Hichene 1147 Templars 1351 Pat
  • Hychen 1271 ib
  • Hicchen 1316 Ass 1317,1350 Pat
  • Hicchyn 1325 FF
  • Hichchen 1329–31 Ipm
  • Hycchyn 1402 FA
  • Hytchyn 1521 FF
  • Hitching(e) 1652 FF 1675 Ogilby
  • Heicchen 1147 Templars
  • Huche 1291 Tax 1332 Misc
  • Hecchyn 1382 FF
  • Hechen 1405 Cl 1460 Pat
  • Hechyn 1496 FF
  • Huchen 1394 FF
  • Huchon 1433–72 ECP
  • Huchyn 1460 Pat 1493 FF
  • Hitchin al. Hutchin 1618 FF
  • Hekyn 1518 BM

Etymology

Hicce is the name of an Anglo-Saxon tribe, the form Hicca being the genitive plural, the later forms with final n going back to the dative plural Hiccum . The history of the name is obscure.The present river-name Hiz seems to be a late antiquarian formation from the Domesday form for the name.