Hellidon
Major Settlement in the Parish of Hellidon
Historical Forms
- Elliden 1189–95 ADB11398
- Eliden 12th Survey
- Helidon 1193,1194 P 1242 Fees
- Heleydon 1424 IpmR
- Heylidene, Heilidene c.1210 WellsR
- Heylydon 1549 SR
- Heliden(e) 1220 Fees 1452 ADvi
- Hellyden 1538 ADiii
- Helledon 1622 FF
- Haliden' 1246 Cl 1537 ADiv
- Haledon 1316 FA
Etymology
This is a difficult name, and any suggestions with regard to it must depend upon the weight we attach to the third series of forms. On the basis of them, Dr Ritter and Dr A. H. Smith would suggest the OE pers. name *Hægla (as found in Hayling Island (Ha), heglinga eg BCS 979), with the same phonological development as in OE snēl from snegel . Cf. the later forms of Hayling, Halingei 1086 DB, Halyngeia t. Hy 1 (1318) Ch, Helingei 1266 Ch. In that case the full form would be OE Hæglingdenu , 'Hægla 's denu,' with connective ing .
Professor Ekwall would take it to be from OE hǣlig , a secondary form of OE halig, which yields ME hely , hence 'holy valley' or 'hill.'
Dr A. H. Smith suggests alternatively the rare OE adj. hǣlig , 'unstable, slippery,' only recorded in the metaphorical sense, but doubtless, like its ON cognate háll , used originally of something smooth or slippery. For this word v. Torps. v. hall .