Haywards Heath
Major Settlement in the Parish of Haywards Heath
Historical Forms
- Heyworth 1261 Ass 1291 Ass 1296 SAC40,189 c.1296 SAC25,29 1298,1306 Banco
- Hayworth(e) 1276 FF 1359 SAC34,260 1542,1594 SRS19,209
- East Haiworth 1606 SRS13,10
- Great Hayworth 1610 ParReg
- Haywards Hoth 1544 Ct 1608 SRS13,12
- Heywards Hoath 1675 SRS29,143
- Haywarde 1603 SRS13,6
- Great Hayward 1605 SRS13,8
- Great Haward 1675 SAC49,91
- Hewards Hethe 1603 ParReg
- Hewards hoth 1705 Perambulation
- Hewwards Heath 1788 SAC40,138
- Hayworths Hethe 1607 ParReg
- Hayworthes Hoth 1609 ParReg
- Haywards in Wivelsfield 1621 SRS14,164
Etymology
It is clear that the original nucleus of this name is a place called Hayworth , a compound of worð and either hege , 'hedge,' or heg , 'hay.' For the former compound cf. Haworth (WRY) from haga and worð . This became by a natural development Hayward or Heward . The place-name clearly gave rise to a pers. name but it is impossible to say whether Hayworths Hethe is 'the heath which belonged to Hayworth ' or 'which belonged to a man named Hayworth .' In some of the forms we have the distinctively East Sussex hothe in place of the more usual heath v. Hoathly infra 270.