indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Meaning & History
locational origin either from Lichfield, south east of Stafford in Staffordshire, or from Litchfield in Hampshire. The former place, first recorded as Letocetum in the Romano-British period, and as Liccedfeld circa 890 in "the Old English version of Bede's 'Historia ecclesiastica'", was so called from the British (pre-Roman) "Letoceton" meaning "grey wood". By the Old English period this had been reduced to Licced, and the element feld, "pasture or open country", was added; hence, "open land in Licced forest". The latter place, recorded as Liveselle in the Domesday Book was originally named with the Old English pre 7th Century "Hlifgesella" from hlif "shelter", and scylf "shelf or ledge", later changed to hlith, "slope", plus feld, "open country".