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.

Highwood Copse

Early-attested site in the Parish of West Dean

Historical Forms

  • Haywode 1279,1281,1289 Ass
  • Heywode t.Ed2 For 1324 Cl

Etymology

Highwood Copse (6″) is Haywode 1279, 1281, 1289Ass , Heywode t. Ed 2For , 1324 Cl. The modern form seems to be corrupt.The first element would seem to be OE  (ge)hæg, 'enclosure,' etc. Hence 'enclosed or preserved wood,' cf. Heywood supra 149.