Origins of Place Names
Erleiam (sic) 1086 (Domesday Book), Ardlega 12th century. Probably 'woodland clearing with a dwelling place'. Old English eard + leah.
BENTLEY (Great and Little)
Old English beonet + leah. 1086 (Domesday Book). - A common name, 'woodland clearing where bent-grass grows'.
BRADFIELD
Bragefelde 1086 (Domesday Book). 'Open country by higher ground'. Old English = bragen + feld. The affix dates from the 16th century.
BRIGHTLINGSEA
Brictriceseia 1086 (Domesday Book) 'Island of a man called Beorhtric or Beorhtling'. Old English personal name + eg.
BROMLEY (Great and Little)
Brumleiam 1086 (Domesday Book). usually 'woodland clearing where broom grows', Old English brom + leah.
CLACTON (Great and Little)
Claccingtune c. 1000. Clachintune 1086 (Domesday Book). 'Estate associated with a man called Clacc'. Old English personal name + ing + tun.
DOVERCOURT
Douorcortae c.1000. Druurecurt (sic) 1086 (Domesday Book). 'Possibly enclosed farmyard by a river called Dover'. Celtic river-name (meaning 'the waters') + Old English cort(e) (perhaps from Latin cohors, cohortem).
ELMSTEAD
Elmsted Market 1475. 'Place where elm-trees grow'. Old Englishelme or elmen + stede. Affix market from the important early market here.
FRATING
Fretinge c. 1060, Fratinga 1086 (Domesday Book). '(Settlement of) the family or followers of a man called Fraet(a) , or Fraeta(a)'s place'. Old English personal name + ingas or ing.
FRINTON
Frientuna 1086 (Domesday Book). 'Farmstead of a man called Fritha' or 'protected farmstead'. Old English personal name (genitive -n) or Old Emglish Frithen + tun.
HARWICH
Herewic 1248. 'Army camp', probably that of a Viking army. Old English here-wic.
HOLLAND (Great and Little)
Holande c. 1000, Holanda 1086 (Domesday Book) - 'cultivated land by a hill-spur', Old English hoh + land.
KIRBY LE SOKEN
Kyrkebi 1181, Kireby in the Sokne 1385. Affix is from Old English socn 'district with special jurisdiction'. - usually 'village with a church'
LAWFORD
- Lalleford 1045, Laleforda 1086 (Domesday Book) - probably 'ford of a man called Lealla', Old English personal name + ford.
MANNINGTREE
Manitre 1248. 'Many trees', or 'tree of a man called Manna'. Old English manig or Old English personal name + treow.
MISTLEY
Mitteslea (sic) 1086 (Domesday Book), Misteleg 1225. Probably 'wood or clearing where mistletoe grows'. Old English micel + ham.
OAKLEY (Great and Little)
Accleia 1086 (Domesday Book).- a fairly common name, 'wood or clearing where oak-trees grow', Old English ac + leah .
ST OSYTH
Seynte Osithe 1046. From the dedication of a priory here to St. Osgyth, a 7th-century princess. Its early name Cice 1086 (Domesday Book) is from Old English cicc ' a bend'.
RAMSEY
Rameseia 1086 (Domesday Book) probably 'island where wild garlic grows'. Old English hramsa + eg.
TENDRING
Tendringa 1086 (Domesday Book). Possibly 'place where tinder or fuel is gathered'. Old English tynder + ing.
THORPE-LE-SOKEN
Torp 12th century, Thorpe in ye Sooken 1612. Affix is from Old English socn 'district with special jurisdiction'. A common name, from Old Saxon and, thorp 'outlying farmstead or hamlet, dependent secondary settlement'.
THORRINGTON
Torinduna (sic) 1086 (Domesday Book). Torritona 1202. Probably 'thorn-tree enclosure or farmstead'. Old English thorn or thyrne + tun.
WALTON ON THE NAZE
Walentonie 11th century, Walton at the Naase 1545. Affix means 'on the promontory', from Old English naess. A common name, often 'farmstead or village of the Britons', from Old English walh (genitive plural wals) + tun.
WEELEY
Wilgelea 11th century Wileia 1086 (Domesday Book). 'Wood or clearing where willow-trees grow'. Old English wilig + leah.
WIX
Wica 1086 (Domesday Book). 'The dwellings or specialized farm'. Old English wic in a Middle English plural from wikes.
WRABNESS
Wrabenasa 1086 (Domesday Book). 'Headland of a man called Wrabba'. Old English personal name + naess.
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