Ocsen 2

Ocsen ‘of Gierdaleah’ (Hants), fl. 1066
Male
DWP
4 of 5

Name

Ocsen

Summary

Ocsen 2 held two estates in Hampshire TRE with a combined assessment of 4 hides; the TRE value of the smaller manor is not recorded but the larger was then 30s and together they were worth 80s in 1086. Ocsen held these with power of alienation and under King Edward’s (Edward 15) lordship.

Distribution map of property and lordships associated with this name in DB

List of property and lordships associated with this name in DB

Holder 1066

Shire Phil. ref. Vill DB Spelling Holder 1066 Lord 1066 Tenant-in-Chief 1086 1086 Subtenant Fiscal Value 1066 Value 1086 Value Conf. Show on Map
Hampshire 46,1 Will Hall Ocsen Ocsen 'of Gierdaleah' Edward, king Walter fitzOther - 1.00 2.00 2.00 B Map
Hampshire 46,2 Malshanger Ocsen Ocsen 'of Gierdaleah' Edward, king Walter fitzOther - 3.00 1.50 2.00 B Map
Totals

Profile

Ocsen 2’s two estates were both held in allodium from King Edward (Edward 15) TRE, both passed to the same TRW successor and lay just under 12 miles apart, which together with the DB form of the personal name in both instances renders it beyond reasonable doubt that both estates were held by the same person.

Both estates lay in the North Downs of Hampshire. The largest was called Gerlei in DB, from Old English *Gierdalēah ‘wood where spars are obtained’ (Coates 1989: 114; cf. Smith 1956: I 200); this can be identified with what is now Malshanger. The smaller estate was at Will Hall, from OE wielle ‘spring’ and perhaps referring to the source of the River Wey (Coates 1989: 22).

DB’s record that these were held by Ocsen 2 in allodium from the king implies that he had power of alienation over them and was commended to the king rather than being a dependent tenant.

Bibliography


Coates 1989: R. Coates, The Place-Names of Hampshire (London, 1989)

Smith 1956: A. H. Smith, English Place-Name Elements, 2 vols (Cambridge, 1956)