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.

Easedike

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wighill

Historical Forms

  • Estdik 12 Percy 1254 Ch 1310
  • Esdic, Esdik(e), Esdyk(e) 13 1285 KI 1303 Ebor 1535 VE
  • Esdicke 1617 FF
  • Hesdike 13 Heal17d
  • Esedik(e), Esedic, Esedyke c.1250 Heal19 1254 c.1260 1379 PT 1400 YI 1536 MinAcct
  • Easdyke 1585 FF
  • Easdike 1588 WillY

Etymology

Probably 'Ese's ditch', from the ODan  pers.n. Ēsi , or OE  Ēsa , and dīc. The early spellings with Est - have been influenced by ēast 'east'. But ēast is also possible with assimilation of the dentals -td - to -d -. The dīc may refer to some ancient earthworks just north of the present farm.