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.

Exfold Wood and Exfold Cottage

Early-attested site in the Parish of Abinger

Historical Forms

  • Exfolde 1381 SR
  • Exfouldes c.1575 ParReg
  • Axfold c.1650 SACxvii

Etymology

Exfold Wood and Exfold Cottage (6″) is Exfolde 1381SR (p), Exfouldes c. 1575 ParReg, Axfold c. 1650 SAC xvii. This is so near Exfold in Rudgwick (PN Sx 157) that it is probably manorial rather than local in origin. The further occurrence of the element etsce in Surrey p.n.'s and in Northamptonshire (v. Mapledrake supra 240) makes it probable that the Ex - in the Sussex Exfold is this word, denoting pasture-land or the like, rather than OE  exena , 'oxen.'