Sidewood
Early-attested site in the Parish of Horsell
Historical Forms
- Siþuuode hagan 675 BCS 13th
- siþ wuda 956 BCS955 c.1250
- Sithwod(e) 1229 ADiii 1430 WAM
- Sythewode 1409 WAM
- Sythewood 1629 FF
- Sytwode 1282 WAM
- Sidwode 1345,1348 WAM 1348 FF
- Sydewode 1363 WAM
- Sidwood end 1680 Seller
- Sidewood End 1749 B 1773 Kitchin
Etymology
It is difficult to be sure what the first element in this name is. Alternative possibilities suggest themselves: (1) The OE word sīþ is used of a journey, an expedition, and the like, but is mainly poetic and metaphorical in its use, though we have suggestions of a more ordinary use in siþ -boc as a gloss for Lat. itinerarium . It is just possible that the siþ -wudu was so called from some expedition in the past. (2) More probably it may be suggested that the first element is (ge )sīð , 'socius, comes.'A wood which had once been in the possession of such might be called (ge )siþ -wudu . Cf. Thenford (PN Nth 61), which is a compound of OE þegn . (3) As the forms are late, it may be that we have a compound of OE sigþe , siþe , 'scythe,' the wood having been so called from its shape.