Yokehurst
Early-attested site in the Parish of East Chiltington
Historical Forms
- Yokehirst 1358 Ass
- Yokherst 1488 Ct
Etymology
Yokehurst is Yocherst 1307 Canterbury Reg, Yokehirst 1358Ass (p), Yokherst 1488Ct . The first element here seems to be the common word yoke from OE geoc , 'yoke' or gēoc , 'help.'The latter sense is found in OE gēoc -burna , 'helping-stream,' v. supra 240 n., but it is difficult to see what gēoc -hyrst could mean. On the other hand yoke-elm is a name given to the hornbeam because from it 'yokes' were made (v. NED s. v .).Is it possible that a Yokehurst was a wood noted for the excellence of its wood for making yokes? For a similar compound with geoc , cf. geochangra (BCS 1080) in Hampshire.