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.

Southoe

Major Settlement in the Parish of Southoe

Historical Forms

  • Sutham 1086 DB
  • Sudho 1187 P 1220 Fees333
  • Suho 1220 FF
  • Southo(u) 1255 FF 1274 Ipm
  • Southo(u) Wynchestr', Southo(u) Lovetoft 1276 RH
  • Sutho cum Westho 1286 Ass

Etymology

The meaning is obvious for there is a well-marked hill here (v. hoh ). It was 'south' in relation to a lost West -oe, which may have been the hill just to the north of Little Paxton Wood.This place was the caput of the Feudal Honour of Southoe Luvetot , held by Nigel de Luvetot in 1166 (RBE 372, 3).Luvetot is a Norman p.n. with Scand. tot or toft as the second element. It is once found as Ulvtofte . It is difficult to say which of the two is the original and which the translation (cf. Fabricius, Danske Minder , 314). In 1242 (Fees 922) the Earl of Winchester held the third part of a knight's fee in Southoe.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site