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.

Bitch Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wakefield

Historical Forms

  • Bichehil(l), Bychehil(l) 1314,1327 WCR 1492 MinAcct
  • Bychehull 1461,1462 ib
  • Bichull' 1392 ib
  • Bicchill 1392 1408 WCR1
  • Bechehill 1551 ib
  • the Bitchill 1650 1709 WMB

Etymology

Bitch Hill (lost), Bichehil (l ), Bychehil (l )1314, 1327 WCR, 1492MinAcct 02, Bychehull 1461, 1462 ib 60, 99, Bichull '1392 ib 88, Bicchill 1392 ib, 1408WCR 1, Bechehill 1551 ib 4d, the Bitchill 1650 ib 9d, 1709 WMB. 'Bitch hill, v. bicce , hyll . Like Beech Hill (Knaresborough) pt. v, Hound Hill (Newton on Hodder) pt. vi infra , Hundhill 94supra , the name refers to a hill frequented by bitches or where hounds were bred.

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Early-attested site