English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Lindfield

Major Settlement in the Parish of Lindfield

Historical Forms

  • Lindefeldia, Lendenfelda 765 BCS197 c.1300
  • Lindefeld, Lyndefeld 12th ADiii 1483 ADvi
  • Lyndefeld Bardolf 1327 SR
  • Linfeld 1590 MarL
  • Linfeild or Lindfeild Dorchter 1675 Ogilby

Etymology

The form Lendenfeld is almost certainly corrupt (like many others in this charter) and the name may be interpreted as from OE  linda-feld , 'open land of (or with) lime-trees.' The chief manors belonged to the College of South Malling and the Bardolf family. The former was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop who held the view of frankpledge in the hundred of Burleigh Arches. Dorchter is a corruption of D 'Arches , cf. Burleigh Arches supra 280.