HAMPSHIRE PLACE NAMES
AND THEIR MEANINGS

Where a place was recorded at the time of the Domesday Survey in 1086, the code "DB" has been added, and the earliest recorded spelling of the place is highlighted by italics.
Aldershot Halreshet 1171. "Projecting piece of land where alders grow".
Alresford Alresforda 701, Alresforde 1086 (DB). "Alder-tree ford"
Alton Aultone DB. "Farmstead at the source of a river."
Andover Anderferas 955, Andovere DB. "(Place by) the ash-tree waters".
Ashley Old English for "ash wood"
Basingstoke Basingastoc 990, Basingestoches DB. "Secondary settlement or outlying farmstead of the family or followers of a man called "Basa"".
Bishop's Waltham Waltham DB. "Homestead or village in a forest". Affix from its early possession by the Bishop of Winchester.
Brockenhurst Broceste DB. "wooded hill of a man called "Broca"". Alternatively the first element could be from Old English brocen "broken up, undulating".
Compton "Village in a combe"
Copythorne "Cropped Thorn" from the practice of pollarding trees, a practice in the area
Dummer Originally Dunmere "the lake or meer on a hill"
Eastleigh East lea 932. "East wood or clearing".
Easton Estune the saxon name, tun meaning village and Est meaning east.
Emsworth Emeleswurth 1224. "Enclosure of a man called Æmele"
Fareham Fearnham 970. "Homestead where ferns grow."
Farnborough Ferneberga DB. "Hill(s) or mound(s) growing with ferns".
Fleet Flete 1313. "(place at) the stream, pool or creek".
Fordingbridge Fordingebrige DB. "Bridge of the people living by the ford".
Gosport Goseport 1250. "Market town where geese are sold."
Havant Hamanfuntan 935. "Spring of a man called Hama".
Hayling Island Heglingaigæ 956. "Island of the family or followers of a man called Hægel".
Hordle May be drived from Old English, hordyll. meaning "treasure mound"
Isle of Wight Vectis Roman name of Island
Liphook Leophok 1364. Probably "angle of land by the deer-leap or steep slope".
Liss Lis DB. "A court, chief house in a district".
Lymington Lentune DB. Probably "farmstead on a river called Limen."
Lyndhurst Linhest DB. "Wooded hill growing with lime trees".
Marchwood "the wood where smallage grows"; smallage (a word now obsolete) was wild celery or parsley
New Milton Milton derives from Middletune, meaning "middle farm."
Petersfield Peteresfield 1182. Probably "(settlement at) the open land with a church dedicated to St Peter".
Portsmouth Portesmuthan (late 9th century). "Mouth of the harbour".
Romsey Rummæsig 970. "Island, or dry ground in marsh, of a man called Rum".
Southsea Southsea Castle c1600. Self-explanatory. The present place grew up around the castle built by Henry VIII in 1540.
Southampton Suthamtunam 962, Hantone DB. "Estate on a promontory".
Stockbridge Stocbrugge 1221. "Bridge made of logs".
Twyford 'Two fords' or 'double ford'
Waterlooville Named in 1815 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo.
Whitchurch Hwitancyrce 909. "White church", that is, probably "stone-built church".
Winchester Ouenta c150, Uintancæstir c730, Wincestre DB. "Roman town called Venta."
Worthy Saxon Wordie (Worthy) meaning a place or hamlet
Yateley Yatele 1248. "Woodland clearing with or near a gate or gap."