Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hortes(h)eue 1086 DB

• Hertesheued, Hertesheved 1147 YChviii 1194-9 1197 Ebor 1301 Font l.12,13 Cur 1201 FF 1205 Cur 1221 FF 1246 Pat 1374

• Hertesheuet Hy2 Kirklxvi,319 1170-90 YChviii 1344 DodsN

• Hertesefeth 1164-81 YChviii

• Ertesheved 1200 OblR

• Hertisheved, Hertisheued 13 DodsN 1330 Lewes38d 1343 Arm

• Herteshede 1334 FF 1379 PT 1393 YDvi

• Hertshed 1335 DodsN

• Hertsed 1520 FF

• Hertsyd 1545 LS

• Hertished(e), Hertished(e) 1510 Testv 1531,1549 Arm

• Hertisheide 1549 ib

• Hertishead 1608 FF

• Hartishede 1541 MinAcct

• Hartishead 1549,1623 Arm

• Hart(e)shead(e) 1562,1565 Arm 1623 FF

• Hartsett 1553 Arm

• Hartshit 1654 WillS

• Harshead 1670 PRMrf

Etymology

'The hart's head', v. heorot , hēafod . It is formally possible for this to be a name recalling the ancient Germanic custom of setting up the head of a sacrificed animal on a stake, but it would be unusual to find a name of such an ancient type in this region. The 'head' therefore must be taken to refer to the prominent projecting hillside on the top of which the village stands in contrast to Harts Hole 5supra .