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.

Easneye

Early-attested site in the Parish of Stanstead Abbots

Historical Forms

  • Isneye 1253 Ch
  • Isney 1532 LP
  • Isnie parke 1556 AOMB
  • Iseneistrete 1279 Pat
  • Iseneyestrete 1287 Ass
  • Iseneye, Yseneystrete 14th WalthamB
  • Isene strett 1540 Ct
  • Eseneie 1296 SR
  • Silva de Iseneia 13th WalthamA
  • Isenheye, Hysenheye, bosc. de Ysenheye 14th WalthamB

Etymology

Easneye is on the Ash, earlier Ysme , Isenwater , Yseneye (supra 1). It is probable that the river-name was at one time isenea (v. ea ) and that at a later stage confusion with eg arose, as in Colne supra 2. The first element may be isen , 'iron' (cf. isenan æwylm BCS 144 in Sussex), but no reason for such a name is known: cf. further Isenhamsted , the old name for Chenies (PN Bk 222–3), and perhaps Isewell infra 302.