Wexcombe
Early-attested site in the Parish of Grafton
Historical Forms
- West Cumbe 1155 RBE
- Westcumba, Westcumbe 1156,1158,1172 P c.1200 RBE 1202 P 1255 RH 1275 Ch
- Wexcumbe 1167 P 1211 RBE 1235 Cl 1296 Ipm 1331 Stowe 1332 SR
- Wex Cumba 1173 P
- Waxcombe 1426 Ass
- Wexecumbe 1201 Cur 1275 Cl 1281 Ass
Etymology
It is difficult to be sure of the interpretation of this name, seeing that the early forms are so evenly balanced between west and wex , but on the old principle of choosing the harder of two readings it is clear that there is more likelihood that wex occasionally gave place to west than that west has developed to wex .If so, the name must be interpreted as 'wax-valley,' from the presence of bees in the valley. For a similar compound cf. Waxholme (PN ERY 29) where reference is also made to Wexham (Bk) as explained in PN Sx, Pt. I, xli.