-hay (place name element) explained

-hay (also hays, hayes, etc.) is a place-name word-ending common in England. It derives from the Old English word hege^[1] or haga,^[2] Middle English heie,^[3] in Icelandic hagi,^[4] meaning "an enclosed field", and is from the same root as the English word "hedge", a structure which surrounds and encloses an area of land,^[5] from the Norman-French haie, "a hedge".^[6] Haw (from O.E. haga) and Hay (from O.E. hege) are cognate and both mean "hedge".^[7]

Examples

• Cheslyn Hay, Walsall, meaning "a fenced or hedged enclosure", here perhaps around an ancient cromlech or burial-mound.^[8]
• Pipe Hayes ("hedges"), Erdington.^[9]

Derbyshire

In the vicinity of Derbyshire:

• Floyer Hayes
• Cotmanhay
• Idridgehay
• Lower Hartshay
• Marehay
• Parsley Hay
• The Findern Hays
• Upper Hartshay

Devon

Exeter

In the vicinity of Exeter:

• Floyer Hayes
• Northern Hay
• Southern Hay
• Shill Hay
• Fryers Hay
• Bon Hay
• Princesshay

Tiverton

In the vicinity of Tiverton:

• Moor Hayes, Cullompton
• Passmore Hayes
• Buck Hayes
• Rashleigh Hayes
• Gorn Hay
• Wid Hayes
• Moor Hayes, Washfield

See also

• Hayes (surname), sometimes derived from this topological source

Sources

• Johnston, Rev. James B., The Place-Names of England and Wales, London, 1915, p. 147 https://archive.org/stream/placenamesofengl00john/placenamesofengl00john_djvu.txt

References

1. Johnston, p.196
2. Johnston, p.147
3. Johnston, p.296
4. Johnston, p.147
5. Johnston, Rev. James B., The Place-Names of England and Wales, London, 1915, p.147 https://archive.org/stream/placenamesofengl00john/placenamesofengl00john_djvu.txt
6. Johnston, p.75
7. Johnston, p.296
8. Johnston, p.196
9. Johnston, p.402