Hobden
Early-attested site in the Parish of Dodderhill
Historical Forms
- Obeden 1375 Wigorn
- Abdon 1558 Wills
- Obden 1613 Wills 1649 Surv 1892 Kelly
- Hobon 1772 T 1789 Gough
Etymology
There is a pers. name Oba which is well established, but there is no doubt that, at least in the majority of cases, it stands for OE Ofa rather than for Obba , which we must assume to explain the present name. Obba is found once (in one text) for a man who is otherwise called Ova (Redin 102). It may possibly be a hypocoristic form of that name, with gemination of medial f .On the other hand it may be that there was a name Obba of an entirely different origin. Obba would be a regular hypocoristic form for such a pers. name as OE Ordbeorht . Hence 'Obba's valley,' v. denu .