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.

Netherfield Hundred

Hundred in the County of Sussex

Historical Forms

  • Nad'erfeld 1187 P
  • Naðerfeld 1188 P
  • Naddrefeld 1316 FA
  • Nadderfeld 1327 SR
  • Nederfeld 1190 P
  • Nederfeud 1248 Fees
  • Neddrefeld 1265 Misc

Etymology

The first element is OE  (d )re , 'adder, snake,' and the name must have referred to some snake-infested open space (v. feld ). The actual hamlet of Netherfield (infra 498) is now in Battle parish, where further forms are given. The creation of the Liberty and Half-hundred of Battle was effected by cutting off part of the Hundred of Netherfield, which was then called the 'Half-hundred of Netherfield' (J.E.R.). Netherfield lies high. The hundred is called (H )ailesaltede in DB. No explanation of this name can be offered.

Parishes in this Hundred