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.

Bablock Hythe

Early-attested site in the Parish of Northmoor

Historical Forms

  • Babbelack 1277 Ipm
  • Babbelak 1278–9 RH 1361 Cl
  • Babelake 1280 Os
  • Babbelake 1291,1368 Cl
  • Bablick Hithe 1797 Davis
  • passagium de Eatona 1212 FF
  • ferry in More 1476 AD

Etymology

Bablock Hythe takes name from Babbelack 1277 Ipm, Babbelak 1278–9 RH, 1361 Cl, Babelake 1280 Os, Babbelake 1291, 1368 Cl, Bablick Hithe 1797 Davis. 'Babba 's stream,' v. lacu . Hythe seems to be a late addition of the word hithe derived from OE  hȳþ, 'landing place,' which remained in use till the late 19th century. The ferry is referred to as passagium de Eatona 1212 FF (from Eaton in Berks) and as a ferry in More 1476 AD.

Places in the same Parish