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.

Lightwater

Early-attested site in the Parish of Windlesham with Bagshot

Historical Forms

  • Light Water Moor 1719 Aubrey
  • Lightwater Pond 1765 R
  • Wetmore Pond 1789 LandC

Etymology

Lightwater is Light Water Moor 1719 Aubrey, Lightwater Pond 1765 R, taking its name from a former pool on the spot. An alternative name was Wetmore Pond (1789 L and C) and Rocque and Faden give the name Whitmoor or Whitmore to the heathland adjoining the pond. It may therefore, as pointed out by Mr Bonner, be identical with the whitheke mere , hwytheke mere in the bounds of Chobham (v. supra 114 n.).