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.

Hollybed Common

Early-attested site in the Parish of Castle Morton

Historical Forms

  • Holibed Hy3 BM
  • Holybet 1378 IpmR
  • Holybedde 1535 VE

Etymology

Compounds of bedd with a plant- or tree-name are common.The first element is holegn, 'holly,' cf. holenbedde , holnebedde followed soon by wiþibedde or 'withy-bed' in BCS 910, þyrnbedd or 'thorn-bed' in KCD 705, riscbedd or 'rush-bed' in BCS 687, æsc -bedd or 'ash-tree-bed' in BCS 552, cf. Gettes Ashbed supra 42 and Nettlebed (O).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement