Hampshire
/ˈhæmp.ʃər/noun
A county in southern England.
Did you know?Hampshire preserves the ancient name of Southampton, whose Old English form Hamtun gave the county its original designation, Hamtunscīr.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*haimaz
“Home or dwelling-place”
Old English
Old English
hām
“A home, estate, or settled community”
Old English
Old English
Hamtūn
“Home settlement; the original name of Southampton”
Old English
Old English
scīr
“A district or administrative division”
11th Century
Old English
Hamtūnscīr
“The district or shire of Hamtūn”
Middle English
Middle English
Hantescire
“The county associated with Southampton”
Modern English
English
Hampshire
“A county in southern England”