Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Mades 1196 FF

• Medese t.Hy3,1316 CplM 1287 CplM 1296,1332 SR 1293,1318,1331,1343 Ct

• Medese by Bourne 1349 Ipm 1445 Pat 1560 SRS20,298

• Medesye 1324 FA

• Med(d)ys 1505 CplM 1510,1543 Ct

• Medysse 1539 Ct

• Me(e)des c.1550 SRS16,57and20

Etymology

It is impossible to associate this name with OE  mæd for it is downland. We owe to Dr Ritter the suggestion that we may have here an early development of a form Medese , from OE  æt þǣm edisce , the dative of OE  edisc. For the possible meanings of this word v. EPNs. v. For the reduction of final sce to se , we may compare the form iwedise in the Bexhill charter (BCS 208), which seems to contain the same element.