Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Telgherst 1285 CplM 1296 SR

• Telughurst 1298 Ass

• Telkeherst 1302 Lewes

• Telghurst 1388 FF

• Tilkerst 1574 SRS3,92

Etymology

Tilkhurst is Telgherst 1285CplM (p), 1296 SR (p), Telughurst 1298Ass (p), Telkeherst 1302Lewes , Telghurst 1388 FF, Tilkerst 1574 SRS 3, 92 and must be a compound of OE  telga , 'branch, bough,' still surviving in the Sussex dialect tellow , 'young oak.'Hence, 'young oak wood.' The stopping and unvoicing of the consonant g to k in place of the normal development to ME w is curious but cf. Tickeridge supra 273. v. hyrst . For another compound of telga , cf. Telghefold (p) in Wiggenholt (1327 SR).