Henfield
Major Settlement in the Parish of Henfield
Historical Forms
- Hanefeld 770 BCS206 14th
- Hamfeld(e) 1086 DB 1227–33 Ch
- Hamfeud 1248 Ass
- Hanefeld(e) 1166 RBE 1438 Cicestr
- Hanfeld(e) 1169 P 1272 RH 1316 FA
- Hannfeld 1255 FF
- Hanvelde 1195 France
- Hannefeld 1279 Ass 1337 Pat
- Henfeud 1272 RH
- Henfeld 1272 RH 1324 Ipm
- Hendfild 1603 MarL
- Hendfielde 1605 MarL
- Heanvell 1654 SAC42,112
- Henvill 1721 MarC
- Heffeild 1706 MarC
Etymology
This is probably from OE (æt þǣm ) hēan felde , '(at the) high open land,' which suits the site well. v. heah , feld , but henna feld , 'hens' land,' is formally more likely. For interchange of a and e cf. Introd. xxvii.