Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hobbesse 1044–7 (13 Sawyer 1055) KCD 785

• Hobuist, Hobuisse 1086 DB

• Hobosse 1134–40 Holme

• Magn. Hobbesse c.1140 ib

• Hobbosse 1153—68 ib

• Magno Alto Bosco 1239 Holme t.Ed1 Bromh 1374 Ct

• Hobissam 1191,1192 P

• Haubois 1198 Cur

• Hobuisse 1199 NfA

• Hobewis, Hobuisse 1199 Coxf

• Hobwisse (p), Hobwis 1199 Abbrev

• Magna Hauboys 1199 Coxf 1312 FF

• Magna Hautboys 1199 Coxf

• Hobwise, Hobwiss 1200 Cur

• Hobois or Alto Bosco 1211 NfA

• Hauboys 1242–3 Fees 1269 Ass 1287 NoRec 1302 FA 1355 Pat

• Hautboys 1242–3 Fees 1250,1257 Ass 1275 RH 1330 Cl 1330 Ipm

• Magna Haubois 1254 Cl 1324 Coxf

• Hauboys maior 1254–75 Val

• Magna Hauboyes 1257 Ass

• Magna Haubeys 1307 FF

• Hautboys Magna 1316,1428 FA

• Hauteboys 1324 Ipm 1535 VE

• Hauboysse 1343 Bodl

• Hauboys Magna 1346 FA

• Great Hauboys 1346 Cl

• Hoboys 1350 Cl

• Graunt-Hauboys 1351 Bodl

• Magna Haubesse 1377 FF

• Magna Hobesse 1381 ib

• Hawboys Magna 1401–2 FA

• Magna Hauteboys 1476 FF

• Hobbes 1535 VE 1547 Pat 1574 Saxton 1610 Speed 1637 Camden

Etymology

Ekwall interprets this name as a compound of OE  *hobb 'hummock, tussock' and *wisse 'meadow, marsh'. The latter is difficult to distinguish from OE  wisce 'marshy meadow'. A plausible meaning would then be 'marshy meadow with tussocks or hummocks'. A great number of the later spellings show that the name was associated with Fr  haut 'high' and bois 'wood', presumably by an owner with social pretensions. Ekwall points out that the place is on an elevation (DEPN).The pronunciation is given as /hɔbis/ or /hɔbəs/ (v. Miller and Forster).

In the thirteenth century the place was a centre of St Theobald worship. The old church, dedicated to St Mary, is ruined, although the chancel is protected by a roof. Being in a dilapidated state it was abandoned and a new church, dedicated to Holy Trinity, was built in 1864 (EAA 51: 94 ff.). At Hautbois was also the hospital of St Mary, founded about 1235 by Sir Peter de Alto Bosco for the reception of travellers and poor people. It was licensed by Pope Alexander IV to have a chapel bell and a proper chaplain (NfT 204).

For Little Hautbois, v. Lamas with Little Hautbois infra .