Haldish Fm
Early-attested site in the Parish of Wonersh
Historical Forms
- Havelders 1228 Ch 1255 Ass
- Haveldersh 1304 FF 1332 SR 1336 Ass
- Havelderssch 1325 Ass
- Hevelders 1263 Ass
- Hauldershe 1544 SR
- Haldershe 1593 SACxix
- Halldersh 1596 Musters
- Haldesh 1602 SrWills
Etymology
There can be little doubt, as Dr Ritter suggests, that the first element here is the same word as OE hefeld , 'thread for weaving,' modern dialectal heald , hevel . It is difficult to see by what association of sense such a word could be used to describe a piece of ersc or stubble-land. Dr Ritter suggests that it might be from its fancied resemblance to a hefeld-gyrd or 'weaver's beam.' He notes a possible parallel in the old Bavarian place- name Hevelt (11th cent.) and Hevelde (12th cent.) (Förstemann, ON i, 1354). OE hefeld should give later heveld , but Dr Ritter suggests that there may have been an alternative OE hæfeld , a parallel form to ON hafald . Professor Ekwall suggests the same elements but notes the possibility that hefeld , which meant originally 'instrument for raising,' may have also had some such sense as 'eminence.'