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.

Horseshoes

Early-attested site in the Parish of Southwick

Historical Forms

  • Horishawe 1319 Inqaqd
  • Horyngeshawe 1345 For
  • Horyshawe 1370 For
  • Horeshawes, Horeshawes Wood 1523 LP 1551 Pat
  • Great Horseshoes Coppice, Little Horseshoes Coppice 1718 WoodsRept 1823 B

Etymology

Horseshoes (lost) is Horishawe 1319 Inq aqd, Horyngeshawe 1345For , Horyshawe 1370For , Horeshawes , Horeshawes Wood 1523 LP, 1551 Pat, Great Horseshoes Coppice , Little Horseshoes Coppice 1718 Woods Rept, 1823 B. This is probably a compound of OE  horig , 'foul, dirty,' and sceaga , 'shaw, wood.'