Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Eywoda 1119–46 Gesta

• Eywode c.1250 StAlbansJ c.1460 Whet

• Eywodefeld c.1250 StAlbansJ

• Eywodemade t.Ed2 Gesta

• parcum de Eywode c.1460 Whet

• Eywoode 1540 LP

• Eywoodfeild 1610 Ipm

• Aye Woods 1766 Verulam

Etymology

Aye Woods (lost) is Eywoda 1119–46 Gesta, Eywode c. 1250StAlbansJ et freq to c. 1460 Whet, Eywodefeld c. 1250StAlbansJ , Eywodemade t. Ed 2 Gesta, parcum de Eywode c. 1460 Whet, Eywoode 1540 LP, Eywoodfeild 1610 Ipm, Aye Woods 1766 Verulam.A compound of OE  eg, 'island, well-watered land' and wudu, 'wood,' The estate covered land between Watling Street and the river Ver to the south of St Albans, and the eg was no doubt the low-lying land around Sopwell Mill.