Old Ea Drain
Early-attested site in the Parish of Hayton
Historical Forms
- The Old Ea 1762 EnclA
- Old Eau c.1825 O.S.
- Eau Drain c.1840 TA
Etymology
Old Ea Drain is The Old Ea 1762EnclA , Old Eau c. 1825 O.S., Eau Drain c. 1840TA . ea and eau are common in the Fen district as names for channels or watercourses forming part of the drainage of those areas. The name is fully discussed by Ekwall (RN 140) who shows that eau is a gallicised form either of ME o from OScand á , 'stream,' or of OE ēa , 'river.' It is commonly pronounced [iˑ].