Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (apud) Divisas 1135–53 Ch 1316 BM 1141 Cl 1233

• Divise 1282 Winton

• Divises 1152,1157,1227 SarumCh 1280 Ipm

• Dyvises 1279 Ass 1318 Cl

• (de) Divisis 1176,1187,1196,1199,1202 P 1205,1212 ClR 1234 Bracton

• (in) Divisis 1249 Ass

• Devises, Devyses 1195 FF 1316 FA

• Devisis 1260 Cl

• Devysis 1327 Banco

• le Devisez 1485 Ipm

• the Devizes 1675 Ogilby

• (Castrum) Divisarum 1223,1229 Pat 1242 Fees

• The Vyse 1480–3 ECP 1492 NQi

• the Vies 1502 NQi c.1540 L

• the toune of Vyes, The Vyes 1529–32 ECP

• Veighes 1620 NQvii

• Devys 1423 Cl

• Device 1443–50 ECP 1497 PCC

• Devizes al. le Devize 1618 FF, Devizes

• Vize 1630 Recov

Etymology

Devizes is a post-Conquest place-name. The name goes back to the OFr  devise (pl. devises ), 'boundary,' from Latin divisæ , cf. Viza (PN D 128) and Pipewell (PN Nth 176). The boundary was that between the hundreds of Potterne and Cannings which passed through the castle, the former being chiefly in the king's hands, the latter belonging to the Bishop of Salisbury.The town of Devizes grew up around the Norman Castle built by Bishop Roger in the 12th century. The use of the definite article alike with the full Devizes and the shortened Vyse should be noted.