Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

These names must be considered with others of which the name Friday forms part. The oldest reference is probably to be found in BCS 197, where, in the bounds of Wivelsfield (Sx), the boundary runs on frigedægæs east , i.e. presumably 'to the east of Friday.' We also have in the bounds of Cranborne (Ha) (BCS 596) a boundary which runs along a path to frigeðæg (sic) and from frigeðæg to the north end of the dirty road. In the bounds of Ginge (Berks) in BCS 1047, we pass along the hearpaþ to frigedæges treow and from the treow along the water valley.

Names including this element are curiously frequent in Surrey.We have noted: la Fridayfeld (1326) in Lambeth, Fryedayesmed (1354) in Dorking, Frydaysfurlong (1366) in Egham, and Fridaiesmed (1447) in Reigate. It should be noted that except for one possible example of Monday, there is no reference to any other day of the week in place-names as so far observed. Perhaps this is not surprising, for if, in relation to early country life, we were to try to imagine what day of the week might be expected to stand out, it would certainly be Friday. It is the one day of the week round which beyond all question medieval superstitions tended to gather. Largely because of its association with the Crucifixion, it was the unlucky day of the week, always different for good or for ill from other days, and in a more definite sense it was the day on which fasting was ordered by successive Old English legislators. This may well have led to its association, by way of reproach, with pieces of land which were notoriously unlucky or infertile, with sinister trees, and with poverty-struck settlements. It might also be used as a nickname of reproach for a field that only provided meagre fare. It would be no great extension of this idea that places of this type might from time to time bear the simple nickname 'Friday.' It may be added that the only sites which we are in a position to identify, viz. the Friday Streets, are in lonely and sequestered districts. See further Appendix iii infra 410.