Hickstead
Early-attested site in the Parish of Twineham
Historical Forms
- Hicstede 1279 Ass
- Heghestede 1296 SR
- Heghested, Heysted, Heghsted, Hecghsted 14th CottonNeroEvi.268,271
- Hixted 1546 SAC32,139
Etymology
The forms and development of this name resemble that of Haxted (Sr), for which Hopwood (PN Sr 74) gives Hexestede (1199), Hehsted ' (1200), Hekestede (1326), Heghsted (1351), Hexted (1453). Both are compounds of stede with either heah , 'high,' or its superlative form hiehst , ME heghst , hext . Possibly the latter form would help to explain the difficult development of x rather better than the former. Hence 'high' or 'highest place.' That h however may become k in Sussex is seen in Freek's Fm and Tickeridge supra 260, 273.