Dixter
Early-attested site in the Parish of Northiam
Historical Forms
- Dicdstere c.1200 Pens
- Dixterve 1276 Pens
- Diksterne 1295 HMCVarvii
- Dikesterwe 1270 Ass
- Dykesterue 1127 SR
- Dyksterf 1296 SR
- Dicksterve 13th Robertsbridge 1340 SAC52,153
- Dextern 1518 SRS19,131
- Dixster al. Dixsterne 1596 SRS19,131
Etymology
The form Dyksterf in 1296 makes it clear that the n in the forms given above is an error of transcription for u . The second element is the word stiorf found in an old forest area in biddanstiorf (BCS 502, a Kentish charter) and probably also in to sifer þinge steorfan of the Bexhill charter (BCS 208), which may either be a weak form of this word or a dat. pl. form. It is found also in Purster supra 515 and (possibly) in the unidentified Bromsterne (sic) in Bexhill in 1320 (Misc) and 1335 (LibP ). Middendorff (125 s. v. steorfa ) suggests that this denotes a place where there has been a steorfa or pestilence, but such a place-name element does not seem very likely. The interpretation must remain uncertain. The first element is probably dic .