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.

Hammerden

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ticehurst

Historical Forms

  • Hamerden(ne) 1279 Ass 1429 BM
  • Homerden 1288 Ass
  • Hamurdenn, Hameredene 1334,1342 Ipm

Etymology

Hammerden is Hamerden (ne )1279Ass et freq to 1429 BM, Homerden 1288Ass , Hamurdenn , Hameredene 1334, 1342 Ipm, v. denn . The first element is probably the ordinary word hammer , referring to an old forge-hammer. If this is correct (and it is difficult to see what other sense the first element can have) we have reference to forge-hammers at a considerably earlier date than has hitherto been recorded.