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.

Blizewood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Caterham

Historical Forms

  • woodland called Blithes 1605 Ct
  • Blythe 1332 SR

Etymology

Blizewood (6″) is woodland called Blithes 1605Ct , and is to be associated with the family of Elias de Blythe (1332 SR). Cf. also Blitheshook near by (1605Ct ). v. hoc . As one is on the top of the downs here, there can be no question of a river Blyth, and the name must be manorial rather than local in origin. For the modern form cf. Blisworth (PN Nth 143) and Size Lane (London), earlier (St ) Osithes Lane .