English place names and their meanings

Abberley (Stourport). Domesday Book Edboldlege, circa, 1200 Albo(l)desleye, 1275 Albedeleye. Compare circa 1350 charter Aberleye, probably Lines. ' Meadow of Eadbeald ' or ' AEdbold,'' a very common old English name. See how one liquid l, glides into another, r! Compare next and Abram, also Ablington, Bilbury, circa, 855 charter Eadbaldingtune. See -ley.

Abberton (Pershore and Colchester). Pershore A. 969 charter Eadbrigtincgtune, Domesday Book Edbritone, 1275 Edbriston (stark Norman), 1538 Aburton. ' Dwelling of (the sons of) Eadhriht ' or ' Eadbeorht.'' Compare Abberley and Domesday Book Salop, Etbretone, and Ebrington (Gloucester), Domesday Book Bristentune, circa, 1300 Ebricton. But Colchester A.is Domesday Book Eadburghetun, ' dwelling of (the woman) Eadhurga.' Compare Aberford. See -ing and -ton.

Abbey Dore (Pontrilas). Corruption of Aber Dore, 'place at the confluence of R. Dore' and Monnow; Welsch aber, ld Gaelic aber, abber, abir, ' confluence.' The other places in Abbey denote a former abbey e.g., Abbey Hulton (Burslem), or ' Hill town,' where a Cistercian abbey was built in 1223.

Abbots Bromley (Rugeley). 1004 Bromleag, Bromlege, Domesday Book Brunlege, circa, 1400 Bromley Abbatis, Abbottes Bromley. It belonged to Burton Abbey. See Bromley.

Abbotsbury (Dorset). Dom. Abbodesberie, 1155 Abbedesberi, c. 1180 Bened. Peterb. Abbotesbiria. ' Burgh, of the abbot,' Old Englisch ahhod. Compare 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Gloucestershire., Abotestun. A Benedictine abbey was founded here in 1044 by the steward of King Cnut. See -bury.

Abbot's Kerswell (Newton Abbot). Domesday Book Carsewelle, Car svelle, 1158-59 Rolls of the Great Pipe Carsewell. 'Watercress well,' old English coerse, cerse, now ' cress,' Swedish karse. Compare. Cresswell and Keresley. For the Abbot see Newton Abbot; also compare 940 charter, Abbodes wyll, Wilts.

Abbots Langley (Herts). ' Abbot's long meadow,' old English lang leak. Close by is King's Langley.

Abbotsley (Hunts). 1225 Aiboldesley, circa 1256 Abboldesley, 1340 Abbodesley, ' Ealdbeald's ' or ' Albold's meadow.' Fine lesson in caution, and in the liquidity of l. See -ley.

Abbots Ripton (Hunts). 960 charter Riptone. Probably not ' harvest village. Old English rip, harvest, reaping;’ but, ‘village of Rippa. Compare Codex diplomaticus 1361, Rippan leah (Now Ripley, Woking) and Ripton.

Abbotts Ann (Andover). Domesday Book Anne. It is on the R. Anton, of which Ann seems to be a contraction; though there is no early record of the form Anton; and Anne maybe a contraction of Welsch afon, ' river.' See and Andover.

Aber (N. Welsch). In W. Aber -gwyngregyn. Welsch aber, ' confluence,' or ' place at the mouth of ' (here) a beautiful glen. Nennius speaks of an Oper linn liuan where the Llivan, a tributary, joins the Severn; and Irish Nennius speaks of an Operuisc, now Caerleon. Compare Aber (Scottish) at mouth of R. Endrick. Aber in Gaelic is often pronounced obair; in old Gaelic it is also apor. Gwyn gregyn is Welsch for' of the white shells, 'sing, cragen.

Aberaman (Aberdare). ' Confluence of the R. Cynon with R. Aman,’ which is probably an unaspirated variant of afon, 'river.' Compare R. Almond (Scottish) and Gaelic amhuinn, 'river.' There is also a R. Amman, Carmarthen.

Aberangell (Dinas Mawddy). W. angel, 'an angel'; and see Aber.

Aberarth (Aberystwith). 'Confluence at the height’; Welsch and Cornish arth.

Aberayron (Cardigan). ' At the mouth of R. Ayron.' See Aeron.

Aberbargoed (Rhymney). ' Confluence of the R. Rhymne with R. Bargoed.' This last, the P.O. spelling, should be W. bar coed, ' height with the wood ‘; but the more correct spelling seems to be Bargod, which means' a march, a boundary.'

Aberbeeg (Pontypool).? Little confluence’, old Welsch becc, Welsch bach, Gaelic beag, little.

Aberbran (Brecon). On Bran see Brancaster. In Welsch, Irish and old Gaelic hran is ' a crow.'

Abercanaid (Merthyr). ' At the mouth of the Canaid,' a rivulet here Welsch cannaid, ' white, gleaming.’

Abercarn (Newport, Monmouthshire). ' Confluence at the cairn orm ound’ Welsch, old Irish, and Gaelic, cam.

Aberconway (N. Welsch), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Aberkonewe, Aberconeu; 1295Aberconewey. See Aber and Conway.

Abercrave (Neath). ' Confluence of R. Tawy with the brook from W. craf (f pronunciation v), ' claws, talon’ crafu, ' to scratch or tear up,' referring to the action of the stream.

Aberdare. 'Confluence of the R. Cynon with R. Dar'; Cynon may mean ' chief brook,' whilst Dar is probably W. da?', ' an oak.'

Aberdaron (Pwllheli). ' At the month of the R. Dawn,' which is said to mean 'noisy river ‘; the ending -on may quite well stand for ' river,' as in Carron (Scottish, Garonne, etc., and as in Cynon, see above.

Aberdulais (Neath). 'Confluence of the dark, black stream’; Welsch du glais. Compare Douglas and Dowlais.

Aberedw (Builtli). ' Confluence of the R. Edwy,' of which the Ed-maybe from Welsch eddu,' to press on, to go,'whilst the-wy is= Wyeor' river.'

Abererch (Pwllheli). 'Confluence of R. Erch’; Welsch erch, 'dun- colored, dark.'

Aberffan (Merthyi'). ' Confluence of the brook Fan,'' vith R. Taff. Said to be from W. Ian, ' high.'

Aberffraw (W. of Anglesea). before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Aberfrau,1232 Close E. Abbefrau, circa, 1350 Aber(i)frowo. Ffraw is thought by H. Bradley to represent an originally Frama, later from (name of R. Frome in old English Chronicum 998), which would develop on Britlipsto Frauv, and later to Ffraw. The earliest recorded form of R. Frome actually is Fraau (Old English Chronicum 875). Meaning doubtful; some think it means ' agitated, active, swift ' river.

Aberford (Leeds), before 1200 Rolls of the great Pipe AEdburgforth, AEdburford. Nothing to do with Welsch aber, ' confluence ' lady 'Eadburh,' genitive -hurge, as in Abberton (Essex). See -ford.

Abergavenny, circa, 380 the Antonine Itenarary Goban(n)io, before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Abergavenni, Abergevenni, circa, 1200 Gervase Bergevene, 1281 and often later, Bergeveny, 1610 Holland Aber- Gevenny. Local pronunciation Aber-venny. In Welsch Abergefni or Y Fenni. ' Confluence of the Gavenny; and Usk. Gobann is genitive of goihniu, ' a smith,' in Ir. a proper name=: Smith and Govan (Scottish) and Gowan. In late W. legend Gofannon is a patron god of metalworkers. The a- in aber- is rarely lost, as in many old forms here; but compare Barmouth, Berriew, etc.

Abergele (N. Welsch). Pronounce -gayly. Perhaps circa 1350 charter Abergelon. 'At the mouth of the R. Gele'; probably Welsch gele, 'a leech ‘; leeches used to be common in the estuary here.

Abergwili (Carmarthen). Gwili is a river name. Here it is probably the same root as R. Wiley. Some derive from Welsch gwyllt, ‘wild’.

Abergwynfi (Bridgend, Glamorgan). 'Confluence of the brook Gwynfi'; Thos. Morgan says Gwynfai means 'blessed plain’; Welsch givyn flau would mean ' clear cave.' The writer cannot learn if there is one here.

Abergwynolwyn (Towyn). 'Confluence of the white swallow;’ Welsch gwinnol gwyn. Bat the name seems better spelt Abergwernolwy(n). The river here is the Gwernol, Welsch for' swampy, boggy.'

Aberkenfig (Bridgend, Glamorgan). ' Confluence at Kenfig Hill.'

Aberllefni (Merioneth). The -llefni is very doubtful. W. llefnau means ' ruins, some think of Welsch Llech feini, slate stones.' Thos. Morgan inclines to the form Llwyfeni, as the name is spelt by Ifan Tew; this means ' elm-trees,' still found on the bank of the river. Compare Leven (Scottish) and Aberllynfi, 1233 Close R. Abberlewin, Abrelenuith.

Aberlleiniog (Anglesey). c. 1205 Brut re anno 1096, Aberlleiniawc. ' Confluence of the Lleiniog,' a mere brook. The name seems connected with Welsch lleinio, ' to blade,' lleiniad, ' a putting forth of blades, from llafn, ' a blade.'

Aberporth (Cardigan). Welsch aber porth, ' confluence at the harbour.' Compare Langport.

Abersychan (Pontypool). ' Confluence of the Sychan,’ which may mean, a brook that runs dry in summer; from Welsch sych, 'dry'; sychin, ' drought.'

Aberteivi (Cardiganshire) Sic before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis; he also has Aberteini, Abertheini (? mistakes, n for u) ; also Abertewi (? the same place). See Tivy.

Abertillery (Pontypool). 'Confluence of the R. Tilleiy' perhaps a pre-Keltic name. To derive from a reputed ty O'Leary, or ' O'Leary's house,' seems ridiculous; nor is it likely to be from old Welsch twyllawr, lwr, ' a cheat, a deceiver.'

Aberystwith. c. 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Aberescud; 1461 Libre Pluscard. Abirhust Wiche -a bad shot by an ignorant scribe. Welsch ystwyth is ' pliant, flexible,' a likely name for a river. But -escud suggests Welsch ysgwd,' a thrusting forward,' or ysgod,' a shadow,' or ysgoad,' a starting aside.'

Abingdon. Sic circa 1540; 699 charter Abbendune; 1051 old Englisch Chronicum Abbandune, AEbbandune; c. 1180 Benedict Peterb. Abbendonia; circa, 1377 Piers PL Abyndonn. Old English AEbban dun. ' Ebba's hill or ' fort.' Abba or AEbba is a common Wessex name. In Yorks the Abbetune of Domesday Book Has become Habton. See-don.

Abestger Common and Hammer (Dorking). Pronunciation Abenjer, compare Birmingham. Old Abingworth, Abingerth. Old English Ahhanivorth, ' Abba's farm,' rather than ' Abba's yard ' or ' garth,' Old English geard. See Hammer. Dora. Surrey has only Abinceborne. See -bourne and -ing and -worth.

Abington (Cambridge and Northants). Cambridge A. Domesday Book Abintone, 1302 Abyntone. Norman A. charter Abintone, Old English Abban tun, ' village of Abba.' Abington (Scottish) is 1459 Albintoune.

Ab-Kettleby (Melton Mombray). Domesday Book Chetelbi, circa, 1350 charter Abbekettelby. The Domesday Book Form is simple, ‘dwelling of Cetel or ' Ketfel,'' a common Old English name. The Ab- is difficult; perhaps the name intended is AEfcytel. a fairly common one, of which a variant AElbcytel occurs. There is also a name Aha, seen probably in ' Abegrave ' in Domesday Book of this same shire. Compare ' Abblinton,' Lines, in Roll Rich. I., and Abload, Gloucester 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Abbelada; also Kettleburgh. See -by.

Abram (Wigan). 1190-1322 Adburgham,1212 Edburgham,1372- 1481 Abraham. ' Home of Eadburh ' or ' Eadhurga, a common old English woman's name. Of course, the later forms have been modified through supposed connection with Abraham. Compare Abberton, Babraham, and Wilbraham.

Aby (Alford). Domesday Book Abi. 'Dwelling, village on the stream'; Old Norse a-bi. Compare Abridge, Romford, and 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe, Hants, Abrigge, Hamonis; only in this last the A- will be old English ea, ' river.' See -by.

Acaster Malbis (York), and Acaster Selby. Both in Domesday Book Acastra, Acastre, also 'Acastra, other Acastre'; 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Acastra. Probably Norse a-caster, ' camp, fort by the stream.' See -caster. The Malbysse family dwelt at A. Malbis for some centuries after the Conquest. It is on R. Ouse.

Accrington. 1258Akerynton, 1277Acrinton, before1300 Alkerington, Akerington, circa, 1350 Alcrynton; compare Domesday Book Worcester. Alcrintun. This seems to be ' town, village of Ealhhere’; also spelt Alcher and Ahhere, or, of his descendants. The name is very common in Old English. See-ing and-ton.

Acklam (York). Domesday Book Aclun. 1202 Aclum, 1528 Acclame, 1530 Acclome. A little puzzling. Said by some to be an old locative of Old English ac, ' at the oaks.' Compare Kilham. But how account for the l? The first part must be the name of its owner, given in Domesday Book as Ulchel, or Ulkel, short for the common Ulfcytel; the Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum also gives a form or name Achil. The ending may be a locative 'at Ulkel's,' afterwards assimilated to -ham, q.v. Compare Acklington, Morpeth, where old forms are needed, and Acomb.

Ackleton (Wolverhampton). Old forms needed. Probably 'Aculfs or Acwulfs town ‘; but compare above, and Acle; and see -ton.

Ackley (Kent). [789 Old English Chronicum Acleah, and Sim. Dur. ann. 851 Aclea, in Northumbria.] a. 1000 charter Acleah, Old English = ' oak- lea, oak-meadow.' Compare. Acle and Ockley. But Acksley (Dorset) is Codex Diplomaticus 706 Accesleah,' meadow of Acca.' Ackholt, Kent i.e., ' oakwood '—is 1232 Close R. Achalt, Acholt.

Ackworth (Pontefract). Domesday Book Acewrde, 1204 Acworth, which is Old English for ' oak place.' See -worth.

Acle (Norwich). Sic in Domesday Book. A rare type of name, Old English ac leah, oak mead,’ ‘ley is rarely slurred into -le. But compare Oakle Mintserworth, old Okkele, Ocle, also compare Ackley and Ockley.

Acomb (Hexham and York). Hexham A. old Oakham, modern pronounce Yekhm. York A. Domesday Book Acum, Acun. This seems to have nothing to do with -combe ' valley,’ but to be an old loc, Old English acun,' at the oaks'; afterwards influenced by -ham. Compare Acklam and Kilham.

Aconbury (Hereford).1218 Patent R. and 1285 Close R. Acornebury. ' Burgh of '? Acorn, used as a personal name, not in Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. The sb. is Old English cecern, ' fruit of the acre,' i.e., ' un- enclosed land.' Oxford Dictionary does not give the form acorn till 1440. Very likely, however, Acorn- may be corruption of Ecebearn or Ecgheofn, a name found in Worcester circa 1055.

Acrefair (Ruabon). 'Acre' or 'field of Mary’; Welsch Fair [f is aspirated m in W.).

Acton (London, Suffolk, Nantwich, etc.). London A. circa 1300 Acton; Suffolk A. a. 1000 charter Acantun; Nantwich A. Domesday Book Actune. Old English ac-tun, ' enclosure, village, with the oaks.' But Acan- must be the genitive of Aca or Acca, a common old English personal name. In S. Yorks the Actone of Domdesday Book is now Ackton, whilst in E. Riding Domesday Book Actun has become Aughton.

Acton Burnell (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Achetone, 1271 Actone Burnel. The ch in Domesday Book is the habitual softening of the Norse scribes. See Acton. Sir Robt. Burnel, tutor to King Edward I., and made by him Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Bath and Wells, was given the manor here circa1270. Brunel is the same name.

Acton Trussell (Penkridge). 1004 Actun, Domesday book Actone; and Acton Turville (Chippenham). See Acton. A Tourvile or Turville came over with Wm. the Conqueror and is found on the roll of Battle Abbey. One is found at Normanton-Turvile, Co. Leicester, temp. Hen. II. The Trussells were also a Norse family.

Adbaston (Eccleshall). Domesday Book Edbaldestone; later Adbaldestone, Alboldestun, Albaldiston. ' Town, village of Eadbeald,'' a common name. Compare Abberley and Adbolton (Notts) Domesday Book, Alboltunc.

Abbotsbury (Dorset). Domesday Book Abbodesberie, 1155 Abbedesberi, circa, 1180 Bened. Peterb. Abbotesbiria. ' Burgh, of the abbot,' old English abbod. Compare 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Gloster. Abotestun. A Benedictine abbey was founded here in 1044 by the steward of King Cnut. See -bury.

Abbot's Kerswell (Newton Abbot). Domesday Book Carsewelle, Carsvelle, 1158-59 Rolls of the Great Pipe Carsewell. 'Watercress well,' Old English coerse, cerse, now ' cress,' Swedish karse. Compare Cresswell and Keresley. For the Abbot see Newton Abbot; also compare 940 charter, Abbodes wyll, Wilts.

Abbots Langley (Herts). ' Abbot's long meadow,' Old English lang leah. Close by is King's Langley.

Abbotsley (Hunts). 1225 Alboldesley, circa, 1256 Abboldesley, 1340 Abbodesley, ' Ealbeald's ' or ' Albold 's meadow.' Fine lesson in caution, and in the liquidity of l. See -ley.

Abbots Ripton (Hunts). 960 charter Riptone. Probably not ' harvest village. Old English rip, ‘harvest, reaping’. But, village of Rippa. 1316 Rippan leah (Now Ripley, Woking), and Repton.

Abbotts Ann (Andover). Domesday Book Anne. It is on the R. Anton, of which Ann seems to be a contraction; though there is no early record of the form Anton; and Anne van, y be a contraction of Welsch afon, ' river.' See Andover.

Aber (N. Wales). In Welsch Aber -gwyngregyn. Welsch aber, ' confluence,' or ' place at the mouth of ' (here) a beautiful glen. Nennius speaks of an Oper linn liuan where the Llivan, a tributary, joins the Severn; and Irish Nennius speaks of an Operuisc, now Caerleon. Compare Aber (Scottish) at mouth of R. Endrick. Aber in Gaelic is often pronunciation obair; in Old Gaelic it is also apor. Gwyn gregyn is Welsch for' of the white shells,' sing.

Aberaman (Aberdare). ' Confluence of the R. Cynon with R. Aman,’ which is probably An unaspirated variant of afon,'river.' Compare R. Almond (Scottish) and Gaelic amhuinn, 'river.' There is also a R. Amman, Carmarthen.

Abberangell (Dinas Mawddy). Welsch angel, 'an angel'; and see Aber.

Aberarth (Aberystwith). 'Confluence at the height'; Welsch and Cornish arth.

Aberayron (Cardigan). ' At the mouth of R. Ayron.' See Aeron.

Aberbargoed (Rhymney). ' Confluence of the R. Rhymney with R. Bargoed.' This last, the Postal Guide spelling, should be Welsch bar coed, ' height with the wood ‘; but the more correct spelling seems to be Bargod, which means' a march, a boundary.'

Aberbeeg (Pontypool)? Little confluence. Old Welsch becc, Welsch bach, Gaelic beag,’ little.

Aberbran (Brecon). On Bran see Brancaster. In Welsch, Irish and Old Gaelic bran is ' a crow.'

Abercanaid (Merthyr). ' At the mouth of the Canaid,' a rivulet here Welsch cannaid, ' white, gleaming.'

Abercarn (Newport, Monmouthshire). ' Confluence at the cairn or mound; Welsch, Old Irish and Gaelic carn.

Aberconway (N. Welsch), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Aberkonewe, Aberconeu; 1295Aberconewey. See Aber and Conway.

Abercrave (Neath). ' Confluence of R. Tawy with the brook Craf, from Welsch craf (f pronunciation v), ' claws, talons crafu, ' to scratch or tear up, referring to the action of the stream.

Aberdare. 'Confluence of the R. Cynon with R. Dar'; Cynon may mean ' chief brook,' whilst Dar is probably Welsch da?', ' an oak.'

Aberdaron (Pwllheli). ' At the month of the R. Daron,' which is said to mean 'noisy river ‘; the ending -on may quite well stand for ' river,' as in Carron (Scottish) Garonne, etc., and as in Cynon, see above.

Aberdulais (Neath). 'Confluence of the dark, black stream'; Welsch du glais. Compare Douglas and Dowlais.

Aberedw (Builth). ' Confluence of the R. Edwy,' of which the Ed-maybe from Welsch eddu,' to press on, to go,' whilst the-wy is= Wye or' river.'

Abererch (Pwllheli). 'Confluence of R. Erch'; Welsch erch, 'dun- coloured, dark.'

Aberffan (Merthyr). ' Confluence of the brook Fan, with R. Taff. Said to be from Welsch ban, ' high.'

Aberffraw (W. of Anglesey). before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Aberfrau,1232 Close R. Abbefrau, circa, 1350 Aber(i)frowo. Ffraw is thought by H. Bradley to represent an originally Frama, later from (name of R. Frome in Old English Chronicum 998), which would develop on Brit, lips to Frauv, and later to Ffraw. The earliest recorded form of R. Frome actually is Fraau (Old English Chronicum 875). Meaning doubtful; some think it means ' agitated, active, swift ' river.

Aberford (Leeds), before 1200 Rolls of the great Pipe AEdburgforth, AEdburford. Nothing to do with Welsch aber, ' confluence ' but ‘ford of’ (the lady) 'Eadburh,' genitive -hurge, as in Abberton (Essex). See -ford.

Abergavenny, circa, 380 Antononic Itinary Goban(n)io, before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Abergavenni, Abergevenni, circa, 1200 Gervase Bergevene, 1281 and often later, Bergeveny, 1610 Holland Aber- Gevenny. Local pronunciation Aber-venny. In Welsch Abergefni or Y Fenni. ' Confluence of the Gavenny’ and Usk. Gobann is genitive of goihniu, ' a smith,' in Irish a proper name=: Smith and Govan (Scottish) and Gowan. In late Welsch legend Gofannon is patron god of metalworkers. The a- in aber- is rarely lost, as in many old forms here; but compare Barmouth, Berriew, etc.

Abergele (N. Welsch). Pronunciation -gayly. Perhaps circa, 1350 charter Abergelon. 'At the mouth of the R. Gele'; probably Welsch gele, 'a leech ‘; leeches used to be common in the estuary here.

Abergwili (Carmarthen). Gwili is a river name. Here it is probably the same root as R. Wiley. Some derive from Welsch gwyllt, ‘wild’.'

Abergwynfi (Bridgend, Glamorgan). 'Confluence of the brook Gwynfi'; Thos. Morgan says Gwynfai means 'blessed plain'; Welsch gwvyn flau would mean ' clear cave.' The writer cannot learn if there is one here.

Abergwynolwyn (Towyn). 'Confluence of the white swallow;' Welsch gwinnol gwyn. Bat the name seems better spelt Aber- gwernolwy(n). The river here is the Gwernol, Welsch for' swampy, boggy.'

Aberkenfig (Bridgend, Glamorgan). ' Confluence at Kenfig Hill.'

Aberllefni (Merioneth). The -llefni is very doubtful. Welsch llefnau means ' ruins ' some think of Welsch llech feini, slate stones.' Thos. Morgan inclines to the form Llwyfeni, as the name is spelt by Ifan Tew; this means ' elm-trees,' still found on the bank of the river. Compare Leven (Scottish) and Aberllynfi, 1233 Close R. Abberlewin, Abrelenuith.

Aberlleeniog (Anglesey). circa, 1205 Brut re anno 1096, Aberlleiniawe. ' Confluence of the Lleiniog,' a mere brook. The name seems connected with Welsch lleinio, ' to blade,' lleiniad, ' a putting forth of blades, from Llafn, ' a blade.'

Aberporth (Cardigan). Welsch aber porth, ' confluence at the harbour.' Compare Langport.

Abersychan (Pontypool). ' Confluence of the Sychan,’ which may mean, a brook that runs dry in summer; from Welsch sych, 'dry'; sychin, ' drought.'

Aberteivi (Cardiganshire) Sic before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis.; he also has Aberteini, Abertheini (? mistakes, n for u); also Abertewi (? the same place). See Tivy.

Abertillery (Pontypool). 'Confluence of the R. Tillery.' perhaps a pre-Keltic name. To derive from a reputed ty O'Leary, or ' O'Leary's house,' seems ridiculous; nor is it likely to be from Old Welsch twyllawr, -lwr, ' a cheat, a deceiver.'

Aberystwith. circa, 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Aberescud; 1461 Lib. Pluscard. Abirhust Wiche -a bad shot by an ignorant scribe. Welsch ystwyth is ' pliant, flexible,' a likely name for a river. But -escud suggests Welsch ysgwd,' a thrusting forward,' or ysgod,' a shadow,' or ysgoad,' a starting aside.'

Abingdon. Sic circa, 1540; 699 charter Abbendune; 1051 Old English Chronicum Abbandune, AEbbandune; circa, 1180 Benedict Peterb. Abbendonia; circa, 1377 Piers PL. Abyndonn. Old English AEbban dun. ' Ebba's hill or ' fort.' Abba or AEbba is a common Wessex name. In Yorks the Abbetune of Domesday Book Has become Habton. See-don.

Abinger Common and Hammer (Dorking). Pronuncation Abenjer, compare Birmingham. Old Abingworth, Abingerth. Old English Abban worth, ' Abba's farm,' rather than ' Abba's yard ' or ' garth,' Old English geard. See Hammer. Domesday Book Surrey has only Abinceborne. See -bourne and -ing and -worth.

Abington (Cambridge and Northants). Cambridge A. Domesday Book Abintone, 1302 Abjoitone. Norman A. charter Abintone, Old English Abban tun, ' village of Abba.' Abington (Scottish) is 1459 Albintoune.

Ab-Kettleby (Melton Mombray). Domesday Book Chetelbi, circa, 1350 charter Abbekettelby. The Domesday Book Form is simple, dwelling of Cetel or ' Ketfel,'' a common Old English name. The Ab- is difficult; perhaps the name intended is AElfcytel. a fairly common one, of which a variant AElbcyiel occurs. There is also a name Aha, seen probably in ' Abegrave ' in Domesday Book of this same shire. Compare ' Abblinton,' Lines, in Roll Rich. I., and Abload, Gloucester 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Abbelada; also Kettleburgh. See -by.

Abram (Wigan). 1190-1322Adburgham,1212 Edburgham,1372- 1481 Abraham. ' Home of Eadlburh' or ' Eadhurga,’ a common Old English woman's name. Of course, the later forms have been modified through supposed connection with Abraham. Compare Abberton, Babraham, and Wilbraham.

Aby (Alford). Domesday Book Abi. 'Dwelling, village on the stream'; O.N. a-bi. Compare Abridge, Romford, and 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe, Hants, Abrigge, Hamonis; only in this last the A- will be Old English ea, ' river.' See -by.

Acaster Malbis (York), and A. Selby. Both in Domesday Book Acastra, Acastre, also 'Acastra, other Acastre'; 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Acastra. Probably Norse a-caster, ' camp, fort by the stream.' See -caster. The Malbysse family dwelt at A. Malbis for some centuries after the Conquest. It is on R. Ouse.

Accrington. 1258 Akerynton,1277 Acrinton, before1300Alkerington, Akerington, circa, 1350 Alcrynton; compare Domesday Book Worcester Alcrintun. This seems to be ' town, village of Ealhhere’; also spelt Alcher and Ahhere. or, of his descendants. The name is very common in Old English See-ing and-ton.

Acklam (York). Domesday Book Aclun. 1202 Aclum, 1528 Acclame, 1530 Acclome. A little puzzling. Said by some to be an old locative of Old English ac, ' at the oaks.' Compare Kilham. But how account for the l? The first part must be the name of its owner, given in Domesday Book as Ulchel, or Ulkel, short for the common Ulfcytel; the Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum also gives a form or name Achil. The ending may be a locative ' at Ulkel's,' afterwards assimilated to -ham, q.v. Compare Acklington, Morpeth, where old forms are needed, and Acomb.

Ackleton (Wolverhampton). Old forms needed. Probably 'Aculfs or Acwulfs town ‘; but compare above, and Acle; and see -ton.

Ackley (Kent). [789 Old English Chronicum Acleah, and Sim. Dur. ann. 851 Aclea, in Northumbria.] before 1000 charter Acleah, Old English = ' oak- lea, oak-meadow.' Compare Acle and Ockley. But Acksley (Dorset) is Codex Diplomaticus 706 Accesleah,' meadow of Acca.' Ackholt, Kent -i.e., ' oakwood '—is 1232 Close R. Achalt, -holt.

Ackworth (Pontefract). Domesday Book Acewrde,1204 Acworth, which is Old English for ' oak place.' See -worth.

Acle (Norwich). Sic in Domesday Book A rare type of name, Old English ac leah, oak mead’, -ey is rarely slurred into -le. But compare Oakle, Minsterworth, old Okkele, Ocle, also compare Ack- und Ockley.

Acomb (Hexham and York). Hexham A. old Oakham, modern pronunciation Yekhm. York A. Domesday Book Acum, Acun. This seems to have nothing to do with -combe ' valley’ but to be an old locative Old English aun,' at the oaks'; afterwards influenced by -ham. Compare Acklam and Kilham.
Aconbury (Hereford). 1218 Patent R. and 1285 Close R. Acornebury. ' Burgh of ‘? Acorn, used as a personal name, not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The sb. is Old English aecern, ' fruit of the acre,' i.e., ' un- enclosed land.' Oxford Dictionary does not give the form acorn till 1440. Very likely, however, Acorn- may be corruption of Ecebearn or Ecgbeofn, a name found in Worcester circa, 1055.
Accrefair (Ruabon). 'Acre' or 'field of Mary'; Welsch Fair [f is aspirated m in Welsch).
Acton (London, Suffolk, Nantwich, etc.). Lond. A. circa, 1300 Acton; Suff. A. before 1000 charter Acantun; Nant. A. Domesday Book Actune. Old English ac-tun, ' enclosure, village, with the oaks.' But Acan- must be the genitive of Aca or Acca, a common Old English personal name. In S. Yorks the Actone of Domesday Book is now Ackton, whilst in E. Riding Domesday Book's Actun has become Aughton.
Acton Burnell (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Achetone, 1271 Actone Burnel. The ch in Domesday Book is the habitual softening of the Norman scribes. See Acton. Sir Robt. Burnel, tutor to King Edward I., and made by him Ld. Chancellor and Bishop of Bath and Wells, was given the manor here circa, 1270. Brunel is the same name.
Acton Trussell (Penkridge). 1004 Actun, Domesday Book Actone; and Acton Turville (Chippenham). See Acton. A Tourvile or Turville came over with Wm. the Conqueror and is found on the roll of Battle Abbey. One is found at Normanton-Turvile, Compare Leicester, temp. Hen. II. The Trussells were also a Norman family.
Adbaston (Eccleshall). Domesday Book Edbaldestone; later Adbaldestone, Alboldestun, Albaldiston. ' Town, village of Eadbeald,'' a common name. Compare Abberley and Adbolton (Notts) Dom, Alboltunc.
Adder or Adur R. (Wilts), before 420 Notitia Portus Adurni i.e., Aldrington on this river. Nothing to do with adders; but Keltic, Cornish dour, Welsch dywr, 'water.' The A- is doubtful. The So. R. Adder is probably Aspirated from Gaelic fad dobhar or dur,' long stream.' There is a R. Adur both in Sussex and Cornwall.
Adderbury (Banbury), before 1000 Codex Diplomaticus 1290 Eadburgebyrig, Domesday Book Edburgberie, 1229 Close R. Eadburebir', 1230 the same Eburbir', 1270 Abberbury. 1288 Adburbur', 1428 Addurbury. ' Burgh, town of the lady Eadburh,' genitive -burge. To-day it is the d, not the b, which has survived, as in Abberton and Abberford. But we still have the d in St. Adborough' s Ditch, Cotswolds. See-bury.
Adderley (Market Drayton). Domesday Book Eldredelei, 1284 Close R. Addredeleye; 'Meadow of the woman Aldreda,’ in Old English Mthelthryteh, a common name. See-ley.
Addingham (Leeds), circa, 1130 Sim. Dur. Addingeham, various reading Hatyngham,' Home of the descendants of Adda,' 'a common Old English name. See -ing and -ham and compare next.
Addington (Bucks, Croydon, Maidstone, Northampton.). Croy, A. Domesday Book Edintone, Norman A. charter Adyngton(a), Domesday Book Edintone, whils Domesday Book Kent is Eddintone. ' Village of Adda or Edda,' or his descendants. Compare above, and-ing.
Addiscombe (Croydon). Old Adscomb, Adgcomb; not in Domesday Book 'Adda's vale,' Old English cumb(e). Compare above. But Addiscott, S. Tawton, is 1228 Close R. Eilrichescot, ' cottage of Elric,' variant of the common AElfric.
Addle or Adel (Leeds). Domesday Book Adele, Ecton's Liber Regis Adhill. ' Hill of Ada’ 2 in the Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Possibly the -ele represents -hale or -hall, q.v.
Addlethorp(e) (W. Riding and Burgh, Lines). Domesday Book Yorks, Ardulfestorp, Lincs, Arduluetorp. 'Ardulf’ s village.' Compare Addlestone (Chertsey) and see -thorpe.
Adisham (Canterbury). 616 Grant Adesham, various reading Edesham. ' Ada's ' or ' Edda's ' home. Compare Addingham and see -ham.
Adlestrop (Stow-on-Wold). Domesday Book Tedestrop, Thatlestrope, 1198 Tadelesthorp, Feud. Aid; Tatlestrop. This must be originally ' Taedald's ' or ' Taedweald's village'; one such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The name is very interesting for (1) the rare dropping of initial T, and (2) the preserving of the true Old English form t(h)orp, very rare in Eng. names, except in this shire. Compare Westrip, old Westrop, and Wolstrop, old Wulvesthrop. See-thorpe.
Adlingfleet (Goole). [Perhaps Old English Chronicum 763 AElflet ee; ee= Old English ige, 'isle.'] Domesday Book Adelingesfluet, circa, 1080 Athlingfleet, 1304 Athelingflete. ' Stream of Atheling.' the Old English aedel-ing, ' descendant of a noble family,' spelt 1337 Trevisa ' adeljyngus.' Compare Germanics adel. The -fleet is Old Norse ffjjot, ' stream, river,' cognate with flljot-t ' fleet, quick.' The Adelingestorp of Domesday Book is now Ellinthorpe, S. Yorks.
Adlington (Chorley and Macclesfield). Chorley A. 1184-90 Edeluinton, Adelton, Aldeventon, Adelinton, Athelmgton, 1294 Adelingtone, 1286 Edlington. Macclesfield A. circa, 1250 Adelvinton. The name is the very common Old English Mthelwine, in its Latin form, Adelwinus; but some of the spellings were evidently influenced by the Old English aedeling. See above, and-ton.
Admaston (Rugely and Wellington, Salop). Rugeley A. before 1200 Edmundeston, Admerdeston, before 1300 Admundestan, Edmundestone. Wellington A. before 1300 Ademon(e)ston. ' Town, village of Eadmund’ (or ' Eadmaer''). The forms show how both the liquids n and r can vanish.
Adstock (Winslow). Domesday Book Edestocha. ' Place of Ada, AEdda, or AEddi’; -stock is=Stoke. Compare Adwick, and Adsett (Gloucester), 1221 Addesete, ' Adda's settlement.'
Advent (Lanteglos, Cornwall). May be from Advent Sunday, day of the consecration of the Church here; or from St. Adwen, daughter of a Welsch saint and king, 4th century.
Adwalton (Bradford). 1202 Athelwaldon; 'Town, village of AEthelweald,'' or its equally common variant, ' Eadweald.'
Adwick - le - Street (Doncaster) and Adwick - on - Dearne (S. Yorks). Both Domesday Book Adewic, ' Dwelling of Ada.' Compare Adstock and see -wick. For Dearne see Wath-on-Dearne.
Adwyrclawdd (Wrexham). Welsch adwy r’ clawdd, ' gap, breach m the dyke ' i.e., Offa's Dyke, close by.
Aeron or Ayron R, (Cardiganshire). Possibly from Agriona; Keltic goddess of war, Welsch aer, ' battle.' Welsch air is ' bright, clear,' whilst -on is contraction of afon, ' river,' Compare Carron (Scottish).
Affpiddle (Dorchester). Domesday Book Affapidele. Probably ' puddle or 'puddly stream of Affa'; 2 called Affa and 2 Afa in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum See Piddle.
Afon Alaw (Anglesea). Welsch= ' river of water lilies.' Afon in Welsch is, of course, pronunciation Avon.
Afonwen (Holywell). Welsch afon gwen, ' very clear, bright river.'
Aigburth (Liverpool). 1190-1256 Aykeberh, 1329 Aikebergh. Old Norse eik-berg, ' oak-clad hill ' or ' rock ‘; the endings have been influenced by the forms of what is now Barrow sb Oxford Dictionary, Old English beorg, 3 berhg, 4 bergh, burgh. Compare Eakring.
Ainderby (Northallerton). Domesday Book Aiendrebi, Andrebi, 1208 Enderby. ' Dwelling of Andar' or AEnder,' though the only forms in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Are Andhere and Andahari. Compare Anderby and see-by.
Ainsdale (Southport). Domesday Book Einuluesdel, 1199 Annovesdala, 1190-1206 Aynuluisdale, 1201-02 Ainolvesdale, 1206 Einonesdal. ' Valley of Einwulf,' one in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Armthorpe and Eynesbury.
Ainsworth (Bolton). 1190-1216 Haineswrthe, 1244 Ainesworth, circa, 1514 Aynsworth. Doubtful. It may be 'farm of Eginulf or ' Einulf,' as in Ainsdals. It probably is 'farm of Hagena' (now Haines); or perhaps 'of Egon' as in Eynsham. Ainstable, Armathwaite, Cumberland is 1210 Einstapeleth, which may be ' Einwulf’ s market, compare Barnstaple. See-worth.
Aintree (Liverpool). 1244-92 Eyntre, 1296 Ayntre. Perhaps AEne’ s tree.' Compare the ' Aynburg in Sim. Dur. Braintree, etc. ' But Wyl dsays, Old English awtreow,' one tree,' one in Norse dialect, being ane, 5-6 ayne, ain.
Aire R. (Yorks). 959 charter Yorks, 1314 Hayr. Probably Old Norse eyri, ' tongue of land, gravelly bank.' Compare Ayr R. (Scottisch), which probably has the same origin.
Airmyn or Armyn (Goole). (? Domesday Book Amuine.) 1314 charter Hayrminne, 1317 Ayremynn, before 1400 Ayermynne. Aire -munn is 'confluence of the R. Aire' and the Ouse; from Old Norse minni, Norse munn-r. ' mouth.' Arminni is common in the Sagas for ' a confluence.' Compare Stalmine.
Airton (W. Riding). Domesday Book Airtone. ' Town on R. Aire.'
Aisholt (Bridgewater). Not in Domesday Book, but it has in Somst. Aissecote and -forde. Old English aesc-holt, ' ash-wood.' Ash is round before 1300 as asse, circa, 1450 aish. Compare Great Aish, South Brent. But Aisthorpe, Lines, is 1233 Close R. Austorp, probably ' east village.' Compare Austerfield.
Aislaby (Sleights, Yorks). Domesday Book Aslachesbi. ' Dwelling of Aslac. Compare Aslachby and see -by.
Akeld (Wooler). Old Norse eik-kelda, 'oak-tree spring'; compare Little Salkeld. Possibly the name is purely Old English Compare Old English ac ('an oak'), and Bapchild.
Alberbury (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Alberberie. Probably ' Ealdbeorht’s burgh ' or ' fort.' Several men of that name known in Mercia. Compare Alburwyk, Alberwyk in a charter of Edw. III, and Elberton (Gloucester), 1230 Albricton. There is in 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe N'hants, an Albodeston, or ' Ealdbeald's town,' which may be the same name as Albaston, Tavistock; old forms needed. At an yrate we have 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe, Gloucester Abbdedeston, Abbedeston, also found as Albedeston. Ealdbeald is more commonly Eadbeald, various reading Aedbold.
Albourne (Sussex). (1 Domesday Book Aldingeborne.) Compare 931 in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum II. 358 quot AEt aleburnanaet ham lytlan egilande [near Clare. Hants]. The Al- is doubtful. Compare Alburgh; and see -bourne.
Albrighton (Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton). Domesday Book Salop, Albricstone. [823 charter ' Aldberhtingtun in occidente Stur,' near Canterbury.] ' Town or ' village of Ealdbeorht.' Compare Elburton, Plymouth: on the -st in Domesday Book Compare p. 26.
Alburgh (Harleston) and Albury (Guildford and Bps. Stortford). Guildford A. before 900 charter Aldeburi, whilst Bps. Sortford is still spelt Aldboro'. Old English eald (Mittel English ald), burh, ' old burgh, fortified place.' Compare negro ole for old, Aldborough and Aldeby; also, Bee -burgh.
Alcester (Redditch). 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Alecestr', 1178 the same Alencestra, 1217 Patent R. Alencestre, 1538 Leland Aulcester. ‘Camp on R. Alne.' It certainly was a Romansch camp. Close by is Great Alne. See-cester.
Alconbury (Hunts). 1232 Close R. Alcmundebir', before 1300 Alkemundebyri. ' Burgh of Alchmund. But Aconbury, Hereford, is 1218 Patent R. Acornebury, seemingly from a man called Acorn, Old English aecern, ' acorn.' See -bury.
Aldborough (S.W. Essex, Norwich, and W. Riding). Norwich A. Domesday Book Aldebga, York A. 1203 Vetus Burgum, Latin for Old English eald, Mercian ald burh, ' old burgh’or ' fortified place.' A. in Yorks is, e.g. Roman (L. Isurium). Compare next and Alburgh. For Aldborough Hatch (Ilford) see Hatch.
Alde R. and Aldeborough (Suffolk). Sic 1298, but Domesday Book Aldenbuee. This, unlike the above, is ' town on R. Aide,' Welsch allt, ' side of a hill, wooded crag,' cognate with Germanisch allt, which in Scottish names is often Auld. In Scotland it usually means a stream, or the high banks through which a stream flows; thus=Latin altus. Compare Alt.
Aldeby (Beccles). Not in Domesday Book North. Old English eald by, ' old house ' or ' hamlet.' Compare Albury, and -by. This cannot be a Norse name, as Norse used only gamel for ' old,' positive degree.
Aldenham (Bushey). Sic 969, but 785 charter Aeldenham, before 1000 Ealdenham. Domesday Book Aldeham, 'Home of Ealda’; several so called in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Alderbury (Salisbury). Not in Domesday Book Probably Old English aler-burh, ' town of the alder-tree,' Old English alor, aler, as early as Chaucer, alder. Compare Alderford (Norwich) and Alderholt (Salisbury), Old English holt, ' a forest, a wood ‘; and see next.
Alderley (Crewe, Manchester, Leek, etc.). Crewe A. Domesday Book Aldredelie. Leek A. 1129 Aldredeslega. ' Aldred's lea ' or ' meadow,' Old English leah. There are many Ealdreds in Mercia in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum But in some cases, it may be simply ' alder-meadow ‘; compare above. With Alderley Edge, Manchester, compare Domesday Book Suffolk Ethereg. now the name Etheridge.
Aldermaston (Reading). Sic circa, 1540. Domesday Book Eldromanestune and Heloremanesune (scribe's error), 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Alder- mannestun, 1316 Aldermanston; also, Aldremannoston. 'Village of the alderman,' Old English ealdormann. The i has been lost through its liquidity.
Alderminster (Stratford-on-Avon). 1275 Aldremoneston, -moston. Not in Domesday Book Corruption of ' alderman's town,' as in above, influenced by -minster.
Alderney (Channel Islands). before 380 Antonic Itenary Riduna. France Aurigny, 1218 Aurennye, 1219 Aureneye, 1224 Alnere. As it stands the name is ' alder-tree isle,' Old English aelren-ige. Aldern is an adjectiv already found, 1001, as oelren. Riduna might represent a Keltic riddun,' reddish hill.' Compare Welsch rhydd, rhudd,' red.'
Aldershot. Shot is a broad way or glade in a wood, through which game can dart or shoot. Compare Shotover and Cockshutt. Similarly, Aldershaw (Lichfield), circa, 1300 Alreshawe, is ' alder wood,' Old English sceaga, Mettel English schawe.
Alderton (Beckford, Chippenham, Felixstowe). Chippenham A. Domesday Book Aldritons. Felixtowe A. circa 1150 Alretun. 'Alder-tree village.' Compare Allerton.
Aldford (Chester). ' Old Ford,' Old English eald, Mercian ald.
Aldin Grange (Durham). Probably from the very common Aldhun or Aldhun; one was bp. at Chester-le-Street, Durham, circa, 990. Compare Grange.
Aldington (Hythe and Worcester). Hy. A. before 1124 Eadmer Ealdintune. Wor. A. 709 charter and Domesday Book Aldintone. Codex Diplomaticus 61 Aldantune, ' Town, village of Alda ' or ' Ealda' gon. -an. Compare Aldingbourne, Chichester, and Aldingha' in Domesday Book N. Lanes.
Aldridge (Walsall). Domesday Book Alrewic, before 1200 Alrewich, Allerwych. Old English alr wic, ' dwelling, village among the alders.' Compare Alderbury and Penkridge.
Aldringham (Saxmundham). Not in Domesday Book Perhaps ' Home of the elders or parents,’ Mittel English, circa, 1300, eldryng. But old forms might reveal that it comes from some personal name. See -ing and -ham.
Aldrington (on R. Adur, Wilts), before 1300 Aldrinton. Probably now ' Village of the elders.' Compare above. But originally it came from the river on which it stands, q.v.
Aldwark (Easingwold). 'Old fort' or 'bulwark'; Old English worc, an ' outwork,' a fortification. Compare Wark.
Aldwincle (Northampton). 1137 Old English Chronicum Aldwingel; 1166- 67 Rolls of the great Pipe Aldewincle,1298 Audewyncle. Nothing like-wingel in Old English. So this will be ' Ealdwine-geil.’ The former is a common Old English name, compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1280 Aldwines barwe; the latter is Old Norse geil, gil, ' a deep glen or ravine, a gill; not found in England till 1400 and see -gill.
Aldworth (Reading), circa, 1225 Audeworth, 1316 Aldeworth. 'Old farm'; Old English eald, Merc. aid. But Aldsworth, North- leach, Domesday Book Aldeswrde. is ' farm of Eald ' (the old man). See -worth.
Alford (Lines and Somst.). Lin. A. Domesday Book Alforde, Som. A. perhaps Domesday Book Aldedeford. These names are uncertain; perhaps Old English eald ford, ' old ford.' But Alford, Hants, is Codex Diplomaticus 1035 Aewelford—1: e., ' AEfweald, Alfwold, or Aethelweald's ford.' All these names are common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum.
Alfreton (Chesterfield). 1002 charter AElfredinegtun. ' Hamlet of Alfred's descendants.' See -ing.
Alfriston (Polegate). Domesday Book Alvricestone, 1288 Close R. Alvericheston. ' Village of AElfric ' or ' Alfricus,' both in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Alfric (Worcester), said to be for Alfredeswic, and 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe, Devon, Ailricheston.
Algarkirk (Boston). 810 charter Algare. ' Church of AElfgar, various reading Alger, a very common name. It may be from Earl Algar, 9th century., a brave opponent of the Danes.
Alkborough (Doncaster). before 1100 (in Grant of 664) Alkebarue, 1359 Alkebarowe. ' Burial mound of Alca,’ one in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum This is Old English elch, Mittel English alcee, Latin alces, ' an elk.' Compare next and Barrow; also, Alkham, Dover.
Allan R. (Bodmin and St. David's), and Allen R. (S. Northumberland and Dorset). Keltic aluin, ' fair, lovely.' See Aln and compare Allerdale. The Alwyn, tribe of Coquet, is, of course, the same name.
All Cannings (Devizes) and All Stretton (Church Stretton). Probably the all is for hall. Old English heall; compare Halton. See Cannington. Stretton is ' street town,' ' village on the (Roman) road.'
Aller (Somerset). 878 Old English Chronicum Alor; perhaps Domesday Book Alra. Old English alor, ' the alder-tree.' Compare Coulter Allers (Scottish), also 808 charter Alercumb, Somst.
Allerdale (Cumberland), circa, 1080 Alnerdall. ' Valley of the alder-trees', sie above and Alderney. Only, through it flows the R. Alne or Ellen, near whose mouth is Alneburg or Ellenborough, forwhich see Allan. The liquids r and n easily interchange. See -dale. Allerden (Northumberland), is 1099 Elredene, ' alder dean; sea -dean.
Allerthorpe (York). Domesday Book Alwarestorp. ' Ealdweard''s village.' Compare Alverthorpe and Ellerby and see -thorpe.
Allerton (Axbridge and 3 in Yorks.). Domesday Book Yorks, Alreton, Alretun, including Northallerton twice; Cheshire, Salop, and Worcester
Alreton(e). Perhaps = Alderton, ' village in the alder-trees.' But Axbury A. may be before 1199 Roll Rich. I. Alurinton (in Somerset), where the first part may represent a man's name, it is uncertain what. And Allerston, Pickering, is Domesday Book Alurestan, Alvrestain, Alvestun, ' town ' or ' stone of Alfere,’ late form of the common AElfhere, from which also comes North- allerton. Compare Ellerton.
Allesley (Coventry). Sic before 1300, and Allestree (Derby). Probably ' lea, meadow,' and ' tree of AElla' a common name. But Allestond, Pembroke, is ol Ayllewarston, or “Aethelweard’ s of Aelfweard’ s town.
Allington (Grantham). Domesday Book Ellingetone. Compare Domesday Book Cheshire Ale- tune. Probably ' town of the sons of AElla.' See -ing.
Allithwaite (Grange). ' Place of Alli.'' a man found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum and Alia was King of Northumbria in 560. See -thwaite.
Allonby (Maryport). circa, 1350 Alajnby. ' Dwelling of Alayn, Alio, or Allon.' There was an Alio, genitive Allonis, dux circa, 800; and Allon is still a surname. Of course, the name may be, ' dwelling near the R. Alne or Ellen ‘; but this would not be in accordance with analogy in names ending in -by, q.v.
Alltwen (Swansea). Welsch allt gwen, ' bright, clear hillside or wooded crag.' Compare Alde.
Almeley (Eardisley). circa, 1200 Gervase Almelege. Old English elm-leah, ' elm-meadow.' Old English elm Old Norse alm-r. Swedish and Danish alm, ' elm.' No man Alm or the like in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Almondbury (Huddersfield) and Almondsbury (Bristol). Huddersfield A. Domesday Book Almaneberie, 1202 Aumundebir. Bristol A. Domesday Book Almodesberie, 1233 Alemundebere. Nothing to do with almond or Scottish Almond; but 'burgh, town of Almund, Alemundus, or Ealhmund,'' a very common name. See-bury.
Aln R. (Northumberland), Alne R. (Warwick), Alne or Ellen R. (Maryport), and Alne (York). Northumberland A. probably circa, 150 Ptolemy Alaunos, with Alauna? Alnwick, circa, 730 Bede Aln, Alna; Warwick A. Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1227 re the year 723, AElwinnae, 1178 Alen; York Alne., sic in Domesday Book. All these names are apt to run into Allan, Allen, and, like those in Scotland and Ireland, are all Keltic.; though not always with the same meaning, for the Scottish and Irish Allans are often from ailean, ' a green plain.' But the English names are probably= Scottish R. Ale, circa, 1116 Alne. Welsch alain, alwyn, alwen, Gaelic aluinn, ailne, ' exceeding fair, lovely, bright.' Compare Alcester and Alnemouth.
Alnemouth (Northumberland). Often locally pronunciation Alemouth. See above.
Alney (R. Severn). Probably1016 Old English Chronicum Olanige; before1200 Warminster Newbury Alnewich. ' Olla’ s isle'; see-ey. Compare Olney and Alne.
Alnwick, pronunciation Annick. c, 1175 Fantosme Audnewic; circa, 1180 Bened. Peterb. Alnewic; circa, Annewyke. ' Dwelling on the Alne. See -wick.
Alphington (Exeter). Domesday Book Alfintone. Probably ' town, dwelling of AElfin'; one was bp. at Athelney in 1009.
Alresford (Colchester and Hants). Col. A. Domesday Book Alreforda, before 1200 charter AElesforda, Hants A. circa, 830 charter Alresforda, 1286 Alresford. Form before 1200 may be a scribal error but compare Aylesford. Probably ' ford of the alder-tree,' Old English aler, air, olr, Mittel English aller. Compare Allerston.
Alrewas (Lichfield). Sic 942 and Domesday Book 1284 Allerwas. Pronunciation Allr-wass. Old English air, alor wase, O.N. olr veisa, ' alder fen ' or marsh.' Compare Alderbury, Broadwas, Rotherwas, Herefd., and Oxford Dictionary s.v. ooze sb 1280 Cto.se R. has ' Alrewasheles,’? in Northumberland.
Alsager (Stoke-on-Trent). Pronunciation Al-sae'jer. Old forms needed. Compare ' Alsiswich,' Herts, before 1199 Roll Rich. I., Alsi is a contraction for AElfsige or Aelfswith, both very common Old English names. This latter part is doubtful.
Alston (Stafford and Carlisle), and Alstonfield (Ashbourne). Stafford A. Domesday Book Alverdestone i.e., ‘Aefweard's town.' But another Alston (Staffs), is before 1200 Aluredstone, where Alured is variant of Alfred; whilst Alstonfield is Domesday Book Aenestanfelt—i.e.,' field of Aene ‘s stone.' Note, too, that Austonley (S. Yorks) is Domesday Book Alstanesleie. How needful and important early forms are! Compare Beer Alston and Athelstaneford (Scottish).
Alt R. (S. Lancashire) =Alde. On it is Altcar, from carr sb in Oxford Dictionary, ' a bog, a fen it is Norse Norwegian kjaer, kjerr, ' pool, marsh, wet corpse.'
Altarnun (Launceston). Pronunciation altar-nun, as if English 1294 Ecclesia de Altar Nun, 1536 Alternone, Corn, altar Non, ' altar of St. Non,' sister of Gwen of the three breasts, and mother of St. David, before 550.
Althorne (Maldon). Not in Domesday Book Probably ' old (Old English eald) thorn.' Compare Albury. Only Altham (Lanes), is old Alvetham, Elvetham -i.e. home of AElfgeat.''
Althorpe (Doncaster). Not in Domesday Book before 1100 charter Alethorpe. Perhaps 'Ale place,' 'alehouse'; Old English alu. ealu, in 2 ale; but probably ' village of a man Aela ' or ' Ala' both forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Alatorp, Domesday Book Norfolk., and Altofts, Normanton, (see -toft), in Domesday Book it is simply Toftes.
Alton (Dorset, Hants, etc.). Hants A. circa, 880 charter Aeweltun, Aweltun, 1166 Rolls of the great Pipe Aultona, which looks like Old English awel-tun, ' village shaped like an awl,' Old English oel, eal, awel, aivul. McClure says = Ea-well ' i.e., 'spring-ton' or 'river-source.' Domesday Book ' Surrey has Aultone. Some of the others may be ' old town ' compare Albury and Norton. But Alton or Alveton (Uttoxeter), is Domesday Book Elvetone, circa, 1300 Alneton (n for v), which is probably 'town, village of Aelf or Aelfa,' one each in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The ' Alton ' in Domesday Book Yorks is now Halton.
Altrincham (Manchester). Pronunciation Al'tringham. Named from some man; there are Aldran and Aldran in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; or perhaps' home of the elders,' Old English eldran, comp. of eald, ' old,' circa, 1440 either. There is a personal name, Eltringham; also see -ing.
Alvanley (Warrington). Not in Wyld and Hirst. It may be ' meadow of Alfa,' or ' of AElfheah ‘; compare 1294 Alvedene, also in Lanes, and Alvingham. See-ley.
Alvechurch (Birmingham). 780 AElfgythe cyrce, Domesday Book Alvievecherche. 1108 AElfithe cyrce, before 1200 Alviethechurch. Now pronunciation Allchurch. 'Church of AElfgith'‘; but Domesday Book's form is influenced by Alvsva or AElvive, late forms of Aelfgifu, a very common woman's name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Alvecote (sic before 1300), Tamworth.
Alveley (Bridgnorth). 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Aluielea 1231 Alwithel'. See above and -ley.
Alvermere (Worcester). Codex Diplomaticus 120. AeIferamaere, ' Aelfhere’ s lake.' But Alverthorpe (Wakefield), not in Domesday Book is probably = Allerthorpe.
Alverstoke (Gosport). Domesday Book Alwarestoch, ' Alward's place.' Compare next, and Domesday Book Essex, Alueraina; and see -stoke.
Alverstone (Sandown). Domesday Book Alvrestone, and Alverton (Notts and Penzance). ' Town of Alfer," late form of the common AElfhere. The two ' Alvretone ' or ' Alvretune ' in Domesday Book Yorks, have now become Allerton Mauleverer and North Allerton. But Notts A. is Domesday Book Aloretun, but circa, 1190 Alvrington, Auvrington, which seems to be a patronymic. Compare, too, Ailvertune, Domesday Book Norfolk. See -ing and -ton.
Alvescot (Bampton), Domesday Book Elfegescote, 1216 Elephescote, 1274- 79 Alfayscote, Alfescote, 1276 Aluescot. ' Cottage, cot of Aelfheah.' Compare Exon. Domesday Book Ailesvescota.
Alveston (Thornbury). circa, 955 charter AeIfestun, AeIvestun, Domesday Book and circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Alvestan. 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Alvestan 1229 Alewestan. ' Dwelling of Aelfe ' (the elf); Compare Sim. Dur. ann. 1093 Alwestan, Elston and Olveston. See -ton, which often interchanges with -stone. But A. (Stratford-on-Avon) is 985 charter Eanulfestune, 988 the same, Domesday Book Alvestone, ' town of Eanwulf.' For Alweston, Sherborne, old forms are needed; perhaps it is 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Alfwieteston, which may be, 'town of Aelfswith,' a common female name.
Alvingham (Louth), old forms needed, and Alvington (Lydnoy and I. of Welsch). Lydnoy A. 1221 Alwintone. 1223 Elvetim, later Elvynton. Isle of Welsch A. Domesday Book Ahvinestun. Probably all ' home and ' town of Aelfwynn ‘; but, in last case perhaps, ' of Ealhwine or ' Alwinus,'' names in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum. It should also be at least noted here, that Old English aelf, elfen, ‘a alve is ' an elf,' and Old English celfen, elfen, ' a female elf.' See -ing, -ham, and -ton.
Alwalton (Peterborough) Said to be 955 charter AEthelwoldingtune i.e., 'dwelling town of Ethelwold's descendants.' But before 1100 charter and 1230 Close R. Alewalton, which may be' old, walled town.' Compare Albury and Walton.
Alwen R. (N. Welsch). Welsch al-(g)wen, ' very white, very bright': same as Elvan Scottish circa, 1170 Elwan, Alewyn. Compare Alwin.
Alwin R. (Rothbury) =Alwen. On it is Alwinton.
Alwoodley (Leeds). 1288 Close B. R. Athewaleley ' AEhelweals ‘s meadow.' See -ley.
Ambergate. Not in Domesday Book Probably 'pitcher-road'; from Old English amber, omber, ' a pitcher, a bucket,' and geat, ' gate, way,' de- noting the road to a well. There are many names in Amber-; Domesday Book Bucks Ambretone suggests a man? Ambet; so even more does Domesday Book Ambresdone, now Ambrosden; only it is probably from Ambrosius. Amber Hill, Boston, will be from Old English amber, from its shape.
Amberley (Stroud, Harden, Hereford and Arundel). Stroud A. 1166 Umberleia, later Umberley. Manchester A. Domesday Book Amburlege, Arundel A. Domesday Book Ambrelie. ' Meadow of the pitcher,' see above; compare Ombersley, Some derive from A man Amber or Amalbeorht. See-ley.
Amble (Acklington). Old forms needed. Perhaps Welsch am fwl, ' round about the pool.' But compare Ampleforth. Amblecote- Stourbridge, is Domesday Book Elmelecote, before 1300 Amelecote,' cottage of Hemele,' a common Old English name, still found as Hamil. Compare Amblestone.
Amblerthorn (Halifax). Old forms wanted. Not in Domesday Book Perhaps from a man Amalbeorht, a name in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum.
Ambleside. Perhaps ' Hemele' s seat'; compare Amblecote and next: -side is corruption of Icelansh saeti, set. which means ' a seat in ‘modern use.
Amblestone (Pembroke). In Welsch Tre amlod, of which Amblestone is a translation, ' house ' or ' town of Hamill,’ said to be one of the Vikings who founded the Norse colony here. Hamil is still an English surname; compare Hamilton Scottish. Also Domesday Book Surrey' Amele- brige,' and above.
Ambrosden (Bicester). Domesday Book Ambresdone. Probably ' den, haunt of Ambrosius, Aurelianus, Damnonian chief, leader of the Britons against Hengist, circa, 450 a.d. Compare Amesbury, and Ambresbury Bank, Epping. In circa, 800 Nennius we read of 'Ambros, British Embres guletic' vhich last. Welsch gwledig, means ' a leader, a general.' The Epping place is or was also called Amesbury and Ambers' Banks and is reputed the site of Queen Boadicea's final defeat.
Amersham (Riokmansworth). 1218 Patent R. Aumodesham,1231 Agmodesiiam, 1280 Close R. Agnumdesham, 1291 Amundesham. An interesting corruption,' Agmimd-r's home', compare Amotherby.
Amerton (Stafford), circa, 1300 Embricton, later Ambricton, Ambrighton. ' Town of Eanhriht ' or ' Eanbeorht.'
Amesbury (Salisbury). 995 Old English Chronicum Ambresbyri(g); Domesday Book Ambresberie; circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Abbesiriensis (probably scribe's error); circa, 1180 Bened. Peterh. Ambres-, Ambesbiria, 1280 Aum bresbir'. ' Fort, town, of Ambrose.'' See Ambrosden and -bury.
A(l)mington (Tamworth). 889 charter Alchmundingtuun, later Alhmundingtun. ' Abode of the descendants of Alchmund.' But Almington. Market Drayton, is Domesday Book Alrmontone, before 1300 Alkementon, which is simply, ' town, village of Alchmund ' or ' Ealhmund.' See-ing and-ton.
Amlwch (Anglesey). circa, 1451 Amlogh. Welsch, meaning ' a circular inlet of water'; the lwch is cognatewith Gaelic loch.
Ammanford (Carmarthen). ' Ford on the R. Am(m)an.’ See Aberaman.
Amotherby (Malton). Domesday Book Edmundrebi, Aimundrebi; circa, 1350 Aymonderbi, ' dwelling of Agmund-r.' Compare Osmotherley and next. Domesday Book says Edmund-, because Agmund-r was an unfamiliar name to the Norman scribe. But compare next and see -by.
Amounderness (Preston). Domesday Book Agemundrenesse, Sim. Dur. anno 1123, Agmunderness; later, Ackmounderness. 'Cape, promontory of Agmund-r.' Compare above. But in charter dated 705 it is Hasmunderness, from Asmund or Osmund, well-known Norse names. Compare Osmotherley. See Ness.
Ampleforth (York); Sic circa, 1505, but Domesday Book Ampreforde, Ambreforde, 1166 A'pleford, 1202 Ampleford, 1298 Ambelforde. ' Ford of the pitcher.' See Ambergate and -forth. The name is a lesson in phonetics.
Ampney Crucis (Cirencester). The Ampney is a river, Domesday Book Omenie, Omenel, later Omenai, Ameneye, Amanell. This name is a tautology, the p, as often being a late intrusion, compare Hampton. Amen or Omen is simply Old. Keltic for 'river 'whilst the -ie or -ey is Old English ea, ' stream.' Here stands the Early English Church Santae Crucis,' of the Holy Cross."
Ampthlll (Bedford). Sic 1454, and circa, 1350 Ampthull, but Domesday Book Ammetelle. ' Anthill, Old English aemete, aemyte, 3-4- amte, 4-6 ampte, ' an ant or emmet.'
Amrath, Amroth (Pembroke), circa, 1130 Liber Landav. Amrath, 1603 Owen Amrothe. Probably Welsch am Rhath,' on the Rath, 'the river Liber Land, calls the Radh. Compare Cilrath and Penrath nearby, and llan am ddtyfri = Llandovery. Welsch rhath is ' a mound, a hill,' as probably in Roath, Cardiff.
Amwell (Ware). Domesday Book Emmewelle, 1281 Amewell, later Emwell. There is in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 801 an Ammanuuelle, but not this one. ' Well of Amma.' Compare Birch, Cartularium Saxonicum 1110 Amman broc.
Ancaster (Grantham), circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Anecastrum. This must be ' Anna's camp.' Anna is an Old English man's name. See next and -caster; and compare Anwick, Sleaford.
Ancroft (Beal). before 1128 Anaeroft, later Anecroft. This must be ' Anna's croft or ' field.' Anna is a fairly common Old English name, and croft a real Old English word. Compare Ancaster. We have croft also in Domesday Book Cornwall Croftededor.
Anderby (Alford) and Anderton (Northwich). ' Town of Andar' or 'Andhere,' names in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ainderby and ' Andrelav,' Domesday Book Salop and' Andrebi, 'Domesday Book Holderness; and see-by and -ton. But Andersfield, Somerset, is1233 Close R. Eldredesfeld, from the common Ealdred.
Andover (Hants). 994 Old English Chronicum To Andeferan, Andefaran, Andefron; Domesday Book Andovere, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Andovre, 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Andieura. Andover is now on R. Anton, but no early forms of this name seem on record; and the earlier forms seem to have been Ancle or Anne (see Abbotts Ann). The Old English form has been interpreted as ' fare sage, ferry, over the Ande.' But the Old English word is foer, faru, inflected fare, not fara; the root being faran,' togo, fare, make one's way'; so this is doubtful. More likely is it Ande-ofer, ' on the bank of the Ancle,' -over, q.v., being a very common ending. The similar-looking names Wendover (Bucks), and Cen- or Candover (Hants), tempt to a derivation from the old British Dover. Welsch dwfr, ' a stream.' In that case An- might be the Keltic an ' the.' In any case the river-name Anton, Ande, or Anne, is doubtful. It may have some connection with Ann 'mother of the gods among the Kelts e.g., in ' The Two Paps of Ana,' Kerry. But the R. Ant, S. Norfolk, must be the same root; then what of t or d? Andover(s)-ford (Cheltenham) is 759 charter Onnanford, circa, 800 the same Annanford, circa, 1270 Anneford, which Baddeley derives from the Old English man's name Anna. It is also 1266 Andevere, circa, 1270 Andovere, where he makes the latter part =Dover, and the former he leaves doubtful. In Welsch on, plural on nis' an ash-tree.' Compare Ampney.
Anerley (Norwood). Not in Domesday Book ' Meadow of Aner.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 910 Aneres broc. See -ley.
Angarrack (Gwinnear Road). Cornish an carrack, ' the rock,' Gaelic carraig.
Angerton (Morpeth). ' Town of Anger.' Mittel English angard, ongart, ' boastful, arrogant.' There is one Angerus in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare the modern name Ainger.
Angle or Nangle (Pembroke), circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Angulus, 1594 Nangle. The Eng. sb. angle is from France. There seems no Welsch equivalent name. It lies in an angle; but W.H. Stevenson thinks it may be Old Norse ongull, ' a fjord,' from ang-r, Old English eng, ' narrow.' Compare Anglesey. Nangle is for an angle.
Anglesark (Lanes). ' Shieling, hut of the Angle ‘; argh, ark, or ergh, is a Norse corruption of Gaelic airigh, airidh, ' shepherd's hut.' Compare Arkud, Golcar, Grimsargh, etc. Final -gh in Gaelic is now usually mute. The fuller form is seen in Airyholme, N. Riding, which was Ergun in Domesday Book The-un is sign of the locative plural
Anglesey. 1098 Old English Chronicum Angles ege i.e., ' isle of the Angle,’ or Englishman. But in Welsch ynys Fon, ' Mona's Isle,' compare Man, and see -ey. The same name is found in Cambridgeshire 1270 Angleseye. However, W. H. Stevenson thinks the originally name was Old Norse Ongalsey, ' isle of the fjord ' (see Angle). It is so named circa 1225 in Orkney. Saga.
Angmering (Worthing), circa, 885 Alfred's Will, also in 2 charters, Angemaeringtun, Domesday Book Angemare. ' Place of the descendants of Angemcer.' See-ing.
Anker R. (Nuneaton). Old English ancra, 3-6 ancre, 4-7 anker, ' an anchorite, an anchoress, a nun.' Evidently so called from the Benedictine nunnery on its banks—almost a unique river name in its way. Compare Ankerwyke, Staines, where a Benedictine nunnery was founded, in 12th century.; also, Ankerdine Hill, Bromyard, 1275 Oncredham, circa, 1300 Ancredam, and -ham; probably also from ancre; for its ending see -den; the Old English would be ancran denu.
Anlaby (Hull). Domesday Book Umlouebi, Unl-, Umloveby. 'Dwelling of Unlaf or ' Anlaf: Compare Anlafestun Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1128. One Anlaf was King of Northumbria, 941-52. See -by.
Annaitsford (Newcastle). Anait is Keltic for ' a parent church.' Compare Annat, Scottish Possibly Annait- is corruption of a man's name. There is nothing in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum nearer than one Enefaet. It may be Annette, dimin of Anne.
Annear or Ennor (Cornwall). Cornish =' the earth,' an being the article, and nor, ' earth.'
Annesley (Nottingham). Domesday Book Aneslei. ' Lea, meadow of Anna or 'Ana.'' Several of this name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum One was King of East Anglia, 636-54. Compare Ainley and Norse and S. Anston, Yorks, which in Domesday Book are Anele and Anestan, also Ancaster, etc.
An Ors (rock, Lizard). Corn. ='the bear, Latin Ursa, France ours.
Ansley (Atherstone). Domesday Book Hanslei, before 1500 Ansteley, Anstelay. Doubtful, but probably' Meadow with the narrow pathway.' See next and -ley. However, Anslow (Burton-on-Trent) is 1004 Ansythlege, Eansythlege. Ansideleye, circa, 1300 Ansedesleye. ' Meadow of Eanswyth,' possibly a female saint. Ansdell (Lytham) is not in Domesday Book and doubtful too.
Anstey (Alton, Buntingford, Leicester, Tamworth), and Anstye Cross (Hayward's Heath). Alton A.1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Anestiga. Tamworth A. Domesday Book Anestie, before 1300 Anesty, Anestleye; Old English anstiga, anstige, ' a narrow path, a pass,' literair ' one footway.' In Domesday Book Yorks, we have Ainesti, Annesti Wapentac, 1179-80 Ainsti, now Amsty Wapentake.
Antrobus (Nantwich). Domesday Book Entrebus. Probably France entre buis, ' among of the box-trees.' France autre, ' a cave’ is not recorded till 1564. Norman names are very rare so early in this locality. Compare Warboys and 1215 Close R. Grambus=France grand bois.
Apethorpe (Stamford) and Apeton (Stafford). Domesday Book Abetone, before 1300 Abbeton, Abeton, Apeton. ' Place ' and ' village of Eappa,' a common name, found also as AEbba, Ebba, and Eappa. Compare next, Epsom and' Apetun,' charter Hants. The ape is found in Old English as apa, ape, but is hardly likely here. Compare Apes Dale, Bromsgrove, 1552 Apedale. See-thorpe.
Apperley (Leeds). 1201 Appeltreleg i.e., ' apple-tree meadow.' A. (Tewkesbury) is 1221 Happeley, 1413 Appurley, probably also from Old English oeppel, ' apple-tree.' But the common Eadbeorht has once Eappa as var, so this may be ' Eadbeorh’s meadow,' as in Abberton. See -ley.

Appleby (Westmorland and Doncaster). Westmorland A.1131 Aplebi,1174 Rolls of the great Pipe Appelbi. 'Apple-town,' Old English aeppel, aepl, Old Norse epli, Old Swedish aepli, ‘an apple’, and see -by. Also, Appleby Magna (Atherstone,) ‘great Appleby; compare Ashby Magna. Etv. The “Aplebi’ of Domesday Book Yorks is now Eppleby in the Norse Riding. The Don. A. is not found there. However. The local pronuncation of this Westmorland name is Yaeppleby, which favoers a derivation from Hialp, a name known in the Sagas; and vertainly in a Danisch region “Hialp’s -welling ' would be more in accord with analogy.
Appledore (3 in Devon, and S. Kent). Crediton A. 739 charter Apuldre, and -Apuldran; whilst S. Appledore, Halberton, is the same Suran Apuldran, Exon. Domesday Book Surapla,' sour apple-tree.' Bideford A. Domesday Book Appledore. Kent A. 893 Old English Chronicum Apulder. Domesday Book Apeldres, circa, 1200 Gervase Apeldre, 1439 Will Apuldr. Some of these (especially at Bideford) probably were originally O.W. apul dur (or dwyn), ' at the confluence of the streams '; apul being for apur or aber [q.v.); the liquids l and r easily interchange; compare Applecross (Scottish), circa, 1080 Aporcrosan. But very early Apuldre was thought to be simply ' apple-tree.' Compare Mapledurham and Apperley. There is an “Appel doucham; 1217 in Patent R.” and there is still an Appledram of Apuldram near Chichester; cf, too, 940 charter Appildore (Wilts)
Appleford (Abingdon). 892 charter Aeppelford, Domesday Book Apleford. ' Ford at the apple-tree.' But compare Appledore.
Appleshaw (Andover). ' Apple-wood,' Old English scaga, 'a wood.' Domesday Book Hants has only Aplestede.
Appleton (7 in Postal Guide) also Appleton Wiske (Northallerton, Domesday Book Apletune). 1179-80 Appelton, 1202 Apelton (both in Yorks). 'Town of the apples'; Old English oep(p)el, 2-7 appel. Wiske, not in Domesday Book, is now the name of a little R. here, 1212 Wise, which is probably old Keltic uisg, Gaelic uisge, ' water, stream,' hence whisky compare Latin Isca, Usk, and Kirby Wiske. But it may be Eglish Frisian wiske,' a small meadow,' Germanics wiese,' a meadow,’ in English usage seemingly one moist and low-lyig. Compare Whistley, in Old English charter Wiscelea, Wisclea.
Appletree (Derby). 1298 Writ ' Henrico de Apletrefelde.' This tree was the meeting-place of the hundred (or shire-division). Compare Gartres, Greytree, Plumtree (Notts), and Apperley.
Appley Bridge (Wigan). Not in Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. Probably Old English oepl-laeh, ' apple-treemeadow.'
Apps Court (Surrey), before 1000 charter AEpse; also Abbs. Old English aespe, oeps, ' the asp or aspen tree.' Compare Mittel English and dialect claps for clasp.
Apsley (Bedford). Domesday Book Aspeleia, but 969 charter AEpslea, which is Old English for' aspen-tree meadow', see above. Or else, meadow of Aeppa or Eppa’; compare Epsom and Ipsley, also before 810 Nennius ' Episford,' in our tongue 'Set thir gabail,' where gabail must surely be the same as Gaelic gabhal, or gohhal, ' a fork.' Apsley, Tanworth, is better Aspley; but before 1300 Apsele.
Aquilate (W. Stafford.). 1129 Rolls of the great Pipe 'Matilda de Aquila,' before 1300 Aquilade, before 1400 Aquilot, before 1600 Acquilat. Called after the Norman family L'Aigle, Latin aquila, Eng. eagle. The Matilda of 1129 was widow of Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland, and has also conferred her name on Winford Eagle, Dorset. The ending is quite doubtful. It may have been suggested by lade, ' channel,' Old English ge lad, see Cricklade; hardly by lot, Old English hlot, which is not applied to land till quite late; though loot mede or ' lot meadow ' is found as early as 1553.
Aran Mowddwy (montain, Merioneth). Welsch aran mwddi, 'peaked hill with the arch or vault.' This is (1590) Spenser, Faerie Queen's ' Under the foot of Rauran mossy hore; Rauran being yr Aran, ' the peak.'
Arborfield Cross (Reading). circa, 1540 Arburfeld. Dr. Skeat informed the writer that a charter has recently been found showing that this is originally ' Eadhurh's field,' Eadburh being a woman. Another warning against guessing!
Archenfield, Archfield, or Irchenfield (Herefordshire). circa 1130 Lib. Landav. Ergyng, and probably circa, 380 The antonic Itenerary Areconium, circa, 1147 Geoff. Monmouthshire Erging. Very doubtful; perhaps erging may suggest Welsch ergryn, ' terror, horror.'
Arddleen (Oswestry). Welsch ardd llion, ' height on the streams,' llion plural of lli. Compare Caerleon.
Arden and Ardens Grafton (Alcester, Warwick). before1199Arden. The first part is probably a contraction of one of the numerous Old English names in Eard-. The ' Forest of Arden ' is an invention of Shakespeare, in allusion to the Ardennes, Belgium, so Duignan.
Ardengley (Hayward's Heath), not in Domesday Book, and Ardington (Wantage and Surrey). Warwick A. Domesday Book Ardintone,1316 Ardynton. Surrey A. 1233 Eardom, Erdendon. Probably ' meadow and town of Eardwine,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare the modern Surname Harding, and Erdington; and see -ley and -ton.
Ardleigh (Colchester); also Ardley (Bicester). Domesday Book Ardulveslie, 1149 Ardusley, 1229 Ardolvesl,' 1259 Erdulfiey, 1316 Ardele. ' Meadow of Eardwulf' or ' Ardulf. The Colchester name may not be the same; old forms needed. Compare1297 Writ Arderne, Essex. See -ley.
Ardsley (Barnsley, Wakefield, etc.). 1202 Ardislawe, 1208 Erdeslawe. Probably ' Eard's lea ' or ' meadow,' Eard being short for Eardwulf, a very common Old English name. But -lawe is, of course, not ' meadow,' but ' hill', see -low.
Ardwick (Manchester). 1282 Atheriswyke, 1502 Ardewyk. A case of dissimilation; at least, as Wyld suggests, Ather- probably represents some Old English name in Aeoel-; there are many. Compare Atherstone and Atherton. ' Arduuic Domesday Book Hardwick. S. Yorks is now Hardwick.
Arenig (Bala).? dimintiv of Welsch aren., ' a kidney.'
Argoed (Tredegar). Welsch ar coed, ' ploughed land by the wood.' Compare Bargoed.
Arkendale (Knaresborough). Domesday Book Archedene, Arghendene; and Arkengarthdale (Richmond, Yorks). Doubtful. Probably the Arken- is a contraction from some of the many names in Earcan- or Eorcon- in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Possibly it might be ' valley of the arks or ' chests,' Old English earc, arc. Compare Domesday Book Hereford Archenfeld, and Arkinholm, old name of Langholm (Sc). The Old English dene, see -dean, has been changed by Norse influence to -dale. The -garth is O.N. garo-r, Old English geard, before 1300 garth, ' enclosure, field, yard.'
Arkesdon (Newport, Essex). Domesday Book Archesdana. This Ark- or Arch- here may be contraction from the common Arcytel or Arkil; there is no recorded Arc. Or the name may be: ' (wooded) valley of the chest ‘; Old English earc, arc. Compare Arkleby and Arksey; and see -den.
Arkholme (K. Lonsdale). Domesday Book Ergun. ' Hut on the meadow. Norse Gaelic argh. See Anglesark and -holm. In Domesday Book -un represents -am or -ham rather than -holm—indeed, is a locative generally made afterwards into -(h)am; so Ergun will be 'at the huts.'
Arksey (Doncaster). Domesday Book Aicheseia. Probably as in Arkesdon, ' isle of the chest,' or ' of Arc'. See -ey.
Arkleby (Aspatria). [Compare circa, 1215 Arkilleshow, S. Lancashire.] ' Dwelling of Earcil, Arcytel or Earcytel, 'a common Old English name. See -by.
Arklid (Cumberldand). Gaelic-Norse argh, Gaelic airigli , airidh,' a shieling, a hut ' ; and Norse hlio. ' a slope.' Compare Anglesark and Pavey Ark; also, Golcar, Goosnargh, etc.
Arlecdon (Cumberld.). Old forms needed. Perhaps hybrid= Harlech: and Old English dun, ' a hill, a fort.'
Arlesey (Hitchin). Domesday Book Alriceseie. 'Isle of AElric or Aelfric.' But Arlescote (Warwick) is 1080 Orlavescoth, Domesday Book Orlavescote, 1123 Ordlavescot: ' Ordlafs cot.' Arleston. Salop is 1284 Close R. Ardolfeston, ' town of Eardwulf' a common name. Three places in Aries-, and all different! See -ey.
Arley (Bewdley and Northwich). Bewdley A. 994 Earnleie, Domesday Book Ernlege, before 1300 Erlei, Arnlegh. ' Meadow of the eagle,' Old English earn; though Duignan prefers to think of a contraction from one of the numerous names in Earn-, Earnbald, -grim, etc. Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Erlega (Cumberland) and circa, 1537 ' Erleghecote haythe ' (Furness) which seem to come from earl. See above; also, Arncliffe and Early; and Arle (Cheltenham), old Alra; i.e., Old English aler, alder-tree.'
Arley Regis or A. Kings (Bewdley). Domesday Book Ernlege, circa, 1275 Ernleie. See above. Regis is Latin for ' of the King.' It belonged to the Crown in the Middle Ages, having twice escheated.
Arlingham (Stonehouse). Domesday Book Erlingeha. ' Home of Arling ' or ' Erling ' i.e., ' the descendant of the earl.' But Arlington (Bibury and Barnstaple) is Bi. A. Domesday Book Aluredintune, 1221 Alwintone; Ba. A. probably not in Domesday Book 'Town, dwelling of the sons of Alured.' Searle does not equate this with Alfred. See -ing, -ham, and -ton.
Armathwaite (Cumberland.). A little doubtful. It maybe' place of ' some man, with a name in Eormburh. Eormenburh, Eormfrith, etc., and here contracted. But it maybe Old Norse arm-r,' an arm,' and then, ' the spur of a valley.' Compare Armley, Armthorpe, and Armadale (Scottish); and see -thwaite.
Armitage (Rugeley). before 1300 Hermitage; in Eng. 1290 ermitage, 5 armitage; Old France hermitage. There was one here in the 13th century.
Armley (Leeds). Domesday Book Ermelai. Probably ' Eorni' s meadow.' See Armathwaite, and -ley.
Armthorpe (Doncaster). Domesday Book Ernulfestorp, 1202Arunthorp, 1212 Ernetorp. ' Village of Eamwulf’; the latter unaccented syllable often drops away. See-thorpe. Armscott (Shipston-on- Stour) is actually 1275 Edmundescote!
Arncliffe (Skipton). Domesday Book Arneclif, and Gerneclif. Perhaps ' Cliff of the erne or eagle’ Old English earn. But possibly Arn- represents a man's name; compare above and Armley. Compare Arncot (Oxon), which is Codex Diplomaticus 1279 Earnigcote, Domesday Book Ernicote i.e., ' cot of Earnwig ' or ' Arnwi.''
Arnesby (Leicester). 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Ernesbi. 'Dwelling of Ami' i.e., 'the eagle.' Compare above, and Arnisort (Scottish); and see -by.
Arnold (Nottingham). Domesday Book Ernehale. 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Erneshala, 1316 Arnall, 'Nook of Earne' or 'of the eagle'; see above and -hall. The present, quite late form has been influenced by the common name Arnold. On the excrescent d see p. 81. Compare Domesday Book Arnodestorp, now Arnoldstoft, N. Riding. See-toft.
Arnside (Carnforth). ' Eagle-slope,' Side. Old English side, here has the sense of ' the slope of a hill or mountain.' Compare Ambleside.
Arrad Foot (Ulverston). Probably Welsch aradiad, ' tillage,' from aradr, ' a plough'; Latin aratrum.
Arram (Beverley). Domesday Book Argun. The Arg-is Norse Gaelic argh,' hut, shieling; see Anglesark. The -un is a locative; see Arkholme.
Arreton (Isle of Wight). Sic 1285. Not in Domesday Book Hants, but in Suffolk Aretona, Aratona; 'town, hamlet of Ara,' or 'Are,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum.
Arrington (Royston, Camb.). Domesday Book Erningtone, charter AErningetune, 1270 Arington, 1307 Arnington. ' Village of the sons of Erne or AErn,' OLD ENGLISH earn, oern, ' an eagle.' Armingford, also in Cambridgeshire has the same origin. Skeat thinks the change to Arrington arose through association with Barrington nearby.
Arrow R. (Warwksh.), Arrow Brook (Wirral, Chesh.). A. River before 800 charter Aro. Probably same root as Welsch aru, ' to plough.' The river seems nowhere like ' an arrow,' OLD ENGLISH arewe.
Arthengton (Otley). Not in Dom, 1204 Arthigton. Further old forms needed. May be ' village of Earthegn or Ertein.' The name is in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Hartington, Buxton.
Arthog (Barmouth). Dimm. of Welsch arth, ' a height '; ' little hill.'
Arthuret (Carlisle). Wh. Stokes thought this the same as Verteris in circa, 400 Notit. Dign., which is probably of same root as Welsch gwerthyr, ' fortification.' But K. Arthur was a real Keltic King none the less, and his name probably influenced the form of this. The name is first found inm Juvenal Sat. 3, 29, Artorius. This, says Rhys, is early Brythonic Artor, genitive Artoros.
Arun R. (Sussex). Perhaps named from a neighbouring hill, Welsch aran, ' a peaked hill.'
Arundel (Sussex). Domesday Book Harundel; 1097 Glostrsh Chronicum Arundel; circa, 1175 Arandel. ' Dell dale (Glostrsh doel) of the Arun.' Very early the Arundel family had on their arms the swallow or hirondelle. a France word found in Eng. circa, 1600 as ' arrondell.' Of course, this is only heraldic etymology.
Ascot (Berks), before 1300 Escot, also Ascote; Ascot-under-Wychwood (Oxford; see Wychwood), Ascote (Southam) before 1300 Astanescote. Ascott (Shipston-on-Stour), no old forms. Ascot or Escot maybe eas tcot—compare Astley; but is probably=Ashcott, Bridgewater, 'cot, cottage made of ash wood,' Gloucestershire caec compare Ashford, Domesday Book Asford. Ascote is ' cot of Aelfstan,'' a ' faithful man ' referred to in a grant by Oswald, Bp. Of Worcester, in 991. Domesday Book Bucks has an ' Achecote.'
Asfordby (Melton Mowbray). No in Domesday Book ' Dwelling of Asford,' bailiff at Croyland. See Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum and- by.
Asgarby (Lincolnshire). 1154-66 charter Asgerbi, Ansgesbia; before 1200 Asgerebi. 'Dwelling of Asgar or Asgaer ‘; so, in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Askerswell and see -by.
Ash R. (Wilts). 712 charter AEsce, which is Glostrsh for ' ash-tree.' But almost all our river names are Keltic, and so this is prob =Ax or ' water.'
Ash (Aldershot, Sevenoaks, Sandwich). Probably Glostrsh Aesce, ' ash- tree.' The c has remained hard in Aske, Yorks; Domesday Book Hasse.
Ashbourne (Uttoxeter and Derbyshire). Derbyshire A. Domesday Book Esseburne, 1162-65 charter Esseburna; ' ash-tree stream,' bourne =Sg. burn; Glostrsh hurna, Icel. hrunn-r, 'a brook, a stream.' Ash, the tree, is given as 3 asse and 5 esche.
Ashbrittle (Wellington, Somerset). Not in Domesday Book, and old forms needed. The origin of the English Brittle is doubtful; see Oxford Dictionary But probably this has nothing to do with brittle; probably it is ' AEscbeortht’ s hill.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum. 624. AEscbyirhtes geat, and Astle, before 1300 Asthulle.
Ashburnham (Battle). Codex Dplomaticus 930 Ashbornham, ' home at the Ashbourne.' There is also an ' Esburneha ' in Domesday Book Bucks.
Ashburton (S. Devon). Probably Domesday Book Essebretone. ' Burton, fortified hamlet, by the ash-tree; or ' of ' a man ' AEsc ' or ' AEse,' the names are in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare next and Ashdown.
Asbury (Berks and Okehampton). Berks A, circa, 931 charter AEscaesbyrie, 953 charter Aescesburh, 960 AEscesburuh, Glostrsh for ' burgh, fort of Aesc,’ 'perhaps he who was the son of Hengist. Aesc means ' an ash,' and Ash(e) is still a common surname. There is an ' Asseberga ' in Domesday Book Wore, which is probably ' burgh of Asa,' a name common in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ashdown.
Ashby (Doncaster) and Ashby de la Zouch. Don. A. 1179-80 Essebi, Do la Z. A. circa, 1300 Eccleston Esseby (the E. Anglian pronuncation; compare Ashwell). ' Dwelling of AEsc ' or ' Asa,' see above, and afterwards of the Norman Family La Zouch. See-by.
Ashby Puerorum (Horncastle). (Orob, 1292 Parva Askeby) ‘Ashby of the boys'; Latin puer,' aboy.'
Ashby St. Ledgers (Rugby). See above. St. Ledger, in France St. Leger, is Leodegarius, a famous France saint and martyr, Bishop of Autun in France; died 678. Compare the Doncaster St. Leger, which already, in 1567, had reached its popular corruption ' Sellinger ' or 'Selenger’.
Ashdown (Berksh.). 673 charter ' In Escesdune LV in loco qui vocatur Earmundeslea.' Glostrsh Chronicum ann. 661 AEscesdune, ann. 871, AEscesdun; also sic in before 910 Asser, who (or an interpolator) explains the name as mons fraxini, ' hill.' or ' hill-fort of the ash- tree.' But, on the analogy of AEscaes byries Sudgeate or ' South gate of Ashbury ' (circa, 931 charter), this may be ' hill ' or ' fort of AeEsc’. There are 3 called Aesc and one AEsca in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ashbury.
Asheldam (Southminster). Not in Domesday Book Probably ' Home of Ashild,'' a Norse female name. But Ashelworth (Gloucester), Domesday Book Esceleuuorde, 1260 Asselworth, is either' farm of Aescelf,' one in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum; or else from the common Aschil, Ascil, or Ascytel. See -ham and -worth.
Ashey Down (Ryde). The only adjectiv in Oxford Dictionary from ash, the tree is ashen; yet this Ashey is probably from it also. See -down.
Ashford (Kent, Laleham, etc.) and Ashford Careonel (Ludlow). Laleham A. Domesday Book Exeforde; also, old Echeleford, Eckleford. from the little R. Exe or Echel here. Ashford Carb. Domesday Book Asford. Probably they all mean ' ford on the river.' See Ash R, and compare Ashbourne. A Sir John Carbonell is mentioned in Norfolk, 1422, in Paston Lett.
Ashtington (Morpeth and Pulborough). Pulborough A. Domesday Book Essingetune {compare 1298 'Johannes de Asshendene '). Probably ' town, vlliage of the Askings ‘; on this family or dynasty see Bede, ii. 5, See, too, Assington.
Ashley (many). E.g. in Domesday Book Ascelie (Cheshire), Esselie (Cambs and Staffordshire). Achelei (Bucks). ' Ash-tree meadow.' Some may come from a man AEsca, as we have Ashley (Staffs), before 1300 Assingelegh. Compare Domesday Book Wore, Escelie. See -ing and -ley.
Ashmansworth (Huuts). before 1200 charter AEscmeres weorth, which is ' farm beside the mere or lake of the ash-tree ‘; a curious corruption. Butt there is both an Asman and an Aescmann in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Rickmansworth and see -worth.
Ashmore (Salisbury and Lichfield). Li. A. circa, 1300 Esfmeresbrok, Asschmorebroke, Aslimeresbroke. Probably ' brook of Aescmaer.'' Compare B.G.S. 1227 on Aescmaeres hammas. Salisbury A. may be ' ash- tree moor.'
Ashorne (Warwick). 1196 Hasshorne, 1370 Asshorne. Perhaps ' ash-tree nook.' Old English aesc, Mittel English asse, esse, ' an ash,' and Glostrsh hyrne, hern, ' nook, corner.' But -horn in Whithorn (Scottish), etc., represents Gloucestershire erne, ' house.'
Ashover (Chesterfield). Domesday Book Essovre. ' Ash-tree bank,' from Old English obre, of from Mittell English overe, ' border, bank of a river.' Compare Bolsover, etc., also Asher.
Ashow (Kenilworth). Domesday Book Asceshot (-shot probably error, but compare Aldershot), before 1300 Ascesho, Ashyho, Asshisho. ' Hoe, outstretching point of land, with the ash-tree.' See above, and Ashbury.
Ash Parva (Whitchurch). Little Ash. Latin parvus, little. Compare Ashby Magna, etc.
Ashreigney (Chulmleigh). Not in Domesday Book Reigney seems to be the S.W. dialect reen, reene, rhine, ' a ditch, an open drain.' probably from Old English ryne.
Ashridge (Bucks). Probably 1376 Assherugge. Ridge in the Norse usually takes the form rigg., Old English hrycg, Icelandic hrygg-r. Of Askrigg.
Ashton (Northampton, etc.). circa, 955 charter Aesctune, Bristol. 963 Old English Chronicum AEsctun? which. ' Ash-tree village.' Ashton in Domesday Book is sometimes Estun as well as Essetone, but that will here mean the same.
Ashurst (Southampton). (Domesday Book has Eisseburne.) ' Ash-tree grove,' Old english hyrst, Swedish hurst, 'a wood.' Compare Chiselhurst, etc.
Ahswell (Herts), before 1300 Eccleston Assewelle (for this spelling compare Ahsby De La Zouche). ' Well by the ash-tree.'
Askam (Carnforth). Old English aesc-ham, ' dwelling, village by the ash- tree,' the hard c being retained in North. English, compare Askham. The Aesc may well be a man's name here. Compare Asbhury.
Askern (Doncaster). Not in Domesday Book Old English aesc-erne, ' house built of ash-wood.' Compare Whithorn (Sc).
Askerswell (Bridport). Not in Domesday Book ' Well of Asgar '; several named Asgar, Asgcer, Esgar, in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Asgarby.
Askham (Penrith and Yorks). Yorks, mor than one, Domesday Book Ascam, Ascha'. =Askam.
Askrigg (Bedale). North, form of Ashridge.
Askwith (West Midlands and Yorks). Domesday Book Yorks Ascuid, Ascvid; 1201 Ascwith. Old Norse ask-r vio-r (Danish ved). ' Ash wood or forest.' Compare Askam and Beckwith. This is, of course, the same name as Asquith.
Aslackby (Folkingham) and Aslacton (Long Stratton). Domesday Book Aslachesbi. ' Dwelling of Aslac '; several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare next and Aislaby; and see -by.
Aslacoe (Lincoln). Domesday Book Aslacheshou. ' Hoc or how or mocthill of Aslac ‘; see above. Hoe, as in Morte Hob. also means ' an island,' as this may once have been.
Aslockton (Nottingham). Domesday Book Aslachetone. ' Aslac' s village.' See above.
Aspatria (W. Cumberland). Local pronounce Spatry. 1224 Patent R. Estpateric. Said to be from As-patrick or Gos- patrick, first lord of Allendale, or from As or St. Patrick, predecessor of Kentigern, and patron St. of the church here. In time of King John, we find a ford near here called Wath-Patrick-weth. Ass in Old Norse means a sort of demi-god, one under the patronage of a god. usually Thor. But possibly the first syllable is the obs. English este, Old English est, Old Norse ast, 'delight, good pleasure, favour'; so, the name would mean ' The delight of St. Patrick,' which is more in accord with analogy than to call a place after a man alone.
Aspenden (Buntingford). circa, 1280 Apsedene. Feud. Aids Aspedene, Old English aespe denu, ' aspen-tree vale.' See -den.
Aspley (Huddersfield, and 2 in Staffs; Domesday Book Haspeleia, 1227 Aspeleg, Eccleshall; and 2 in Warwick, both 1272 Aspeley; but one before 1300 Apsele), and Aspley Guise (Woburn). 1232 Aspel'. ' Lea, meadow (Old English leah) of the asps or aspens,' Old English aespe. Compare Apsley, and Asps, 1196 Aspes (Warwick). Guise may or may not show connection with the well-known ducal family of Lorraine; at any rate Guises held property here.
Aspull Moor (Wigan). Probably ==' asp-hill ' or 'aspen-tree hill,' Old English aespe, ' an aspen '; hill is found spelt 2-5 hull. Compare Aspenden and Solihull.
Asselby (Yorks). Domesday Book Aschilebi. 'Dwelling, village of Aschil or Ascytel,'a common Old English name. Compare Haisthorpe; and see-by.
Assingdon or Assington (Colchester). 1016 Old English Chronicum Assandun; circa, 1115 Henry Hunt. Esesdun. This placename is correctly translated by Flor. Wore. circa, 1097, ' mons asini' hill of the ass, Old English assa, genitive assan,' a male ass.'
Astbury (Congleton). Not in Domesday Book Probably ' burgh, town of Ast,' given as ' 956 regulus Wore' in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum However, Old English ast is ' an oast or kiln.' Compare next.
Astle Hall (Macclesfield), before 1300 Asthulle. ' Ast-hill,' OLD ENGLISH ast, ' an oast or kiln ‘: hill is spelt 2-5 hull. Compare Aspull and Solihull.
Astley (5 in Postal Guide). Nuneaton A. Domesday Book Estleia, before1300 Est(e)ley. 1327 Astleye. Stourport A. Domesday Book Eslei, before 1200 AEstlege, before 1300 Estley, Astle, Estele. The Oxford Dictionary gives no spelling of East as ast, yet old forms show that many names in Ast- must come from East. See below. So, this name is, ' East lea ' or' meadow.' See-ley.
Aston (Herts, Bucks, Staffordshire Warwick, Yorks, and Nantwich). All Domesday Book Eston or Eastun(e) i.e., ' east-town.' It may at times be 'ash-tree-town.' Compare Ashford, in Domesday Book Asford. Duignan says one Aston was in Old English AEsctun but does not say which.
Aston Magna (E. Worcestershire). Probably Codex Diplomaticus 616 Eastune, 1275 Estone. ' Magna ' is ' great.'
Aston Tirrold (Wallingford). Domesday Book Estone i.e., ' East-town.' Compare Aston. Tirrold? from Walter Tirel or Tirrold, who shot Wm. Rufus in New Forest. Tirweald was a common OLD ENGLISH name; it is the same as the modern Eng. name Thorold.
Aswarby (Folkingham). Domesday Book Asuuardebi. ' Dwelling of Asward.' Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum has only one Asuert. See -by.
Atcham (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Atingeham; later Attingham. ' Home of the sons of Ata,'' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum For the present form compare Whittingham, now pronuncation Whittinjem.
Athelney (Taunton). 871 Old English Chronicum AEoeling eg or eigg i.e., ' island of the Athelings,'or princes or noble-bornmen. fromaedel, ' noble ' and -ing, ' belonging to.' McClure thinks the name purely personal, and meaning 'descendants of some man called AEthelbeorht, AEthelraed,' or the like. See -ey.
Atherstone (Nuneaton, on-Stour, and Somerset). Nuneaton A. Domesday Book Aderestone, 1246 Edrideston; also Aldredestone. Stour A. Domesday Book Edricestone, 1248 Athericstone, 1249 Athereston. The former is either ' Eadred's' or perhaps ' Ealdred's town'; it may be ' stone,' see -ton. The latter is from a man AEthelric or Ethric.
Atherton (Manchester). Sic 1258-59; but 1265 Aserton, Adserton, 1320 Athyrton. This must have been originally 'town of Asser'; or, in its Old Norse. form, ' Atser.' Compare Azerley.
Attenborough (Trent), Not in Domesday Book circa, 1200 Adigburc, circa, 1240 Hadinbur, 1291 Addingburg, circa, 1500 Addyngborough. 'Burgh, town of the sons of Ead(d)a.' See-ing and-borough.
Attercliffe (Sheffield). Domesday Book Ateclive. ' Cliff of Ata.' The letter r tends to insert itself, as in Kidderminster, etc. Here it has been influenced by otter, which is found in Mittel English as atter.
Attleborough (Norfolk and Nuneaton). Nuneaton A. 1155 Atteleberge, before1400 Atleborowe, Attilburgh. Norfolk A. Domesday Book Atlebure, circa, 1456 Attylburgh. Perhaps ' Burgh, town of Athulf or Aethelwulf ' severalin Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Of that name. But there is a known Attile in Domesday Book
Attlebridge (Norwich). Domesday Book Atebruge, Attebruge, circa, 1465 Attylbrigge. 'Bridge of Athulf; see above. Old English brycg, North. And Scottish brig,' a bridge.'
Atwick (Hull). Not in Domesday Book Seems to be ' at the dwelling-house,' Old English wic. Compare Atcombe, Atlow (Derby). 1285 Attelawe, ' at the law or ' hill,' Atworth, Melksham, not in Domesday Book and Attewell, now only a surname, but 1281 Close E. Ettewell, Notts. Domesday Book often has Adewic, but always for Adwick.
Aubourne (Lincoln). Domesday Book Aburne, 1208 Audeburn. Probably ' old burn or brook' as in Audlem presumably an old channel superseded by anewerone. There is also an Auburn or Awburn near Bridlington; Domesday Book Eleburn, 'brook of Ealla’; a liquid sound like al easily slurs into aw. Compare next.
Auckley (Doncaster). Domesday Book Alcheslei, Alceslei, Alchelie. 'Meadow of Alca.' Compare Awkley, Notts, 1278 Alkelaye. See Alkborough, and -ley.
Audenshaw (Manchester). 1190-1212 Aldenshade, Aldensawe, 1240-59 Aldensagh, later Aldwynschawe, 1523 Aldewynshaw, '' Wood of Alda ' or ' Ealda; Old English sc(e)aga, a wood. Shaw is still common in North, dial, and Scottish
Audlem (Nantwich). Domesday Book Aldelime. Probably Old English aid elm, ' old elm-tree '; elm is found in dialect as elem, ellum; whilst old is 4-6 aulde, awld, dialect awd, aud, aad. Compare next, and Thorp Audlin, W. Riding, not in Domesday Book except as Torp.
Audley (Newcastle, Staffordshire and Saffron Walden). Newcastle A. Domesday Book Aldidelege. 1217 Aldidelee, 1218 Aldithelee. 1223 Alvithelegh, 1280 Aldithel'. ' Meadow of Aldgith' or ' Ealdgyth.' See -ley.
Aughton (Ormskirk and Rotherham). Ormskirk A. Domesday Book Acketun, 1285 Aghton. Roth. A. Domesday Book Actun. Old English ac-tun. ' Oaks' town.' Compare Acton.
Aust (Tockington). 691-2 charter aet Austin, 794 the same aet Austan, Domesday Book Austreclive ('cliff '), circa, 1100 Augusta, 1285 Awste, Hawste, 1368 Augst. Not ' East,' as often thought, but the Roman Augusta, name also given to Caerleon by Rav. Geogr. Compare Aosta, Piedmont and Eastburn.
Austerfield (Bawtry). 702-05 Ouestrefelda, Eostrefeld. 'East field,' Old English easter feld; easter being comparing of eastan, ' East.' Compare 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Austurcarii, and 1166 the same Austerbi. both Lincs, But the Austrells, Aldridge. is before 1300 Asterhull, ' hill of the hearth ' (forge or furnace), Mittel English astre, Old France astre, aistre, modern France atre. Compare Aisthorpe, 1233 Austorp.
Austerson (Nantwich). Old Alstanton- i.e., ' Athelstan's town,' a curious study in liquids. Compare Athelstaneford (Scottish).
Austrey (Atherstone). 958 charter Alduluestreow, later charter Aldulfestreo- i.e., Old English for ' Ealdwulf 's tree; Ealdwulf is a common name in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum, also found as Aldwulf, Aldulf; and compare Oswestry. A name like this shows how hopeless it often is to guess, without old forms to guide. As late as 1327 it is Aldulvestre.
Austwick (Settle). Domesday Book Oustewic, 1202 Austwic. dwelling,' O.E, eastan (Old Norse aust-r) wic. Compare Austerfield.
Authorpe (Louth). Domesday Book Avetorp. Probably ' village of Eawa' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Anton, Hants; and see-thorpe.
Avebury (Calne). Perhaps Domesday Book Avereberie, 1740 (and? still) Abury. If originally Avereberie it may be ' burgh of AElfhere,' a very common Old English name, found once as Aelfure. More old forms needed; it may be 'burgh of AEfla or AEfle,' also a common name. Compare Aveton. See-bury.
Aveley (Purfleet). Domesday Book Auileia, 1285 Alvetheley. ' Meadow of AElfgyth.''a common woman's name. One was abbess of Barkingin 11th century. See-ley.
Avenage (Bisley, Gloucester). 1337 Abbenesse. Probably ' Abba’ s ash- tree.' Avenham (Preston), not in Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire., may be from the same man, or else from AEfle -en. Today Avenage is called Avon Edge. Compare next and Ashton.
Avening (Stroud). 896 charter to AEfeningum (dativ plural). Domesday Book Aveninge,1221 Evening. On R. Avon, with-ing or-inge here as a river-ending. Compare Twyning, etc.
Aveton Giffford (Kingsbridge). Domesday Book Afetone. ' Town, village of Afa' or “AEfle.' Compare Affpiddle, Avebury, etc.
Avington (Alresford). 961 charter Afintune; 1316 Aventon. Probably ' Town of Afa,''2 in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum
Avon R. (7, 3 tribes of R. Severn, also Afon Wrangon, S. Welsch). Severn A. Tacitus Avona, 704-9 charter Afen; 793-6 Aben, before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Aveina, Avenna; Wilts A. circa, 380 The antonic Itenerary Abone; circa, 650 Rav. Geogr. Abona; before 910 Asser Abon; Old English Chronicum ann. 653 Afene, Afne; also charts. Afene, Auena, Eafen, Hafene. Welsch afon, Gaelic abhuinn, ' river.' The name is found in Scottish both as Avon and Almond. Compare Ravenglass or yr afon glas.
Avonmouth (Bristol). 918 Old English Chronicum Aftena muda, 1067 the same into Afenan mudan.
Awliscombe (Honiton). Domesday Book Avlescome, 1282 Haulescumbe. Probably' Valley of Eauwulf or AEthelwulf, a very common name. Compare Alton, circa, 880 AEweltun. See-combe.
Awre (Newnham). Domesday Book and 1223 Aure, 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Aura. Domesday Book Devon has Avra. Welsch awr means 'golden'; but this scarcely seems to satisfy. Oxford Dictionary, gives awre as variant of Owhere,' anywhere.' But the Old English never made jokes with their names!
Awsworth (Nottingham). Domesday Book Eldesvorde, 1316 Aldesworthe; ' farm of Ealda.' The change is quite according to rule, so far as phonetics go. See -worth.
Axe R. and Axmouth (Somerset), circa, 708 Grant Axa; Old English Chronicum 755 Asca; 944 charter Exa, 1049 Old English Chronicum Axamutha. Keltic for 'water, river' =Ex, Usk, etc. Compare Ashford. We probably have the same name in the France R. Aisne, Latin Ax -ona, the-ona being the common Keltic, ending for ' stream.'
Axholm (N. Lincoln), circa, 1180 Bened. Peterb. Axiholm. For Ax- see above; this was a very marshy region. A holm is properly ' an island in or near a river AEcci,'' a known name. See -holm.
Axminster. Old English Chronicum 755 Axanmynster, Ascanmynster, Domesday Book Axeminstre, ' Monastery on the R. Axe '; Old English mynster, ' a monastery,' then ' a (cathedral) church,' from Latin monasterium.
Aycliffe (Darlington), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Heaclif i.e., Old English clif, 'high cliff.' But School Aycliffe is 1183 Boldon Bk. Sculacle, Sulley, and 1130 Acheleia, 1211 Aclai i.e., Old English Hac leah, oak meadow, this looks as if there had been a transition form, aik lee, and the meaning of aik being forgotten, it was improved into Aycliffe. But the existence of the double old gorm is puzzling.
Aylburton (Lydney). 1224 Aylbricton, 1288 Close R. Albrithton. Probably 'Albert's town' or 'village'; Old English Ealdheorht or Alberht, of whom there are many in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Elberton (Thornbury), Domesday Book Eldbertone, 1175 Rolls of the great Pipe Alberton, 1346 Aylberton.
Aylesbeare (Exeter). Domesday Book Eilesberge. ' Aegil’s wood,' Old English bearu. See Aylesbury, and compare Beer, Larkbeare, and next. The -berge (= Barrow) of Domesday Book is probably an error for -here.
Aylesbury. Old English Chronicum ann. 571 AEgelesburh, AEglesbyrig; 1154-61 charter Aeilesbiria. ' AEgil’s burgh ' or 'fortified place,' AEgil is the sun-archer of Teutonic mythology. See-bury and compare Aylesbeare and Ailsbury (Warwick) 1272 Ayllesbury.
Aylesford (on R. Medway). Old English Chronicum 455 AEgelesford, also AEgelsthrep; circa, 1120 AEglesforda, AEilesforda; Sim. Dur. anno 1016, Eagelesford, 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Ailesfort, ' AEgil’s ford.' See Aylesbury.
Ayleston (Stratford, Warwick) and Aylestone (Leicester). Stratford A. Domesday Book Alnodeston, 1095 Elmundestone, a. 1200 Alvodestone. Either' AElfnoth’ s,' later' Alnod's town,'or' Ealhmund's town.' For Leicester A. old forms needed. Compare Aylesbury: and on -stone, see -ton. Aylworth, Gloucester Domesday Book Eleurde, Baddeley would derive from the name AEthel.
Aylmerton (Norwich). Domesday Book Almartune. ' Town, village of Aylmer.'' There are several called AElfmoer or Elmer in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Aylsham (N. Norfolk). 1157 Ailesham, 1443 Aylesham. ' Home, of AEgil'; see Aylesbury, and -ham.
Aylston (Hereford), circa, 1030 charter AEgilnothes stcanc i.e. ' stone of AEgilnoth or AEgil.' See Aylesbury.
Aymestrey (N. Herefordshire). Domesday Book Eiminstre. Probably ' islandminster ' or ' church.' See -ay and -minster. Compare Menstrib (Scottish) from Gaelic ‘nainistreach, ' belonging to a monastery,' in 1263 Mestreth. Aydon, Corbridge, is 1285 Close R. Eyden.
Aynho (Banbury). Domesday Book Aienho. ' Hoe or hill of Egon ' or ‘AEga; compare Birch, Cartularium Saxonicum. 226 AEganstan; there is also a Bp AEine in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Aslacoe and Eynsham.
Ayot St. Laurence and St. Peter (Welwyn, Hatfield). Ayot, ait, eyot is ' a small island,' probably a dimintiv of Old English ig, ' island.' See Oxford Dictionary S.V. Ait.
Ayr, Point of (Wirral). Old Norse eyri, ' tongue of land, gravelly bank ' =Aire.
Aysgarth (Bedale). Domesday Book Echescard, 1202 Aikeskerth. ' Garth, enclosure, court, yard of AEcce or Jecci,' names in Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum Aythorpe Roding (Dunmow). Not in Domesday Book Oldforms needed. The Ay- may mean ' high ' as in Aycliffe, or it may mean ' eggplace, egg farm,' from Old English oce; Mittel English ay ' an egg.' See -thorpe, and Roding.
Ayton (Cleveland. Pickering, etc.). Cleveland A. 1202 Haitone. Pickering A. 1208 Aton. There are several Aytons in Yorks; in Domesday Book all are Aton, Atun, or Atune. This is probably ' river-town,' Old English ea, Mittel English oe, ' river,' running stream. But compare Eyton.
Azerley (Ripon). Domesday Book Aserla, Asserle, 1281 Close R. Atherley, Azarlay. 'Meadow of Atser' (Old Norse.) or ' Asser' (Old English), as in Atherton. Searle’s Onomasticum Anglo-Saxonicum has the forms Adser, Azer, Azor, all as variant of the common Atser. See -ley.

Babbacombe, Babbicombe (Torquay). 'Valley of Babba' or ' Bebba,' several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Bablake, Coventry, 1344 Babbelak, and Bablocklithe, Oxon, which mean ' Babba's pool ' (Old English lac, see Oxford Dictionary, lake sb2), and ' the landing stage ' or ' Hythe ' beside it. See Babwell and -combe.
Babcary (Somerton). Exon. Domesday Book Babakari, Babba cari, Domesday Book Babecari. Probably ' Babba' s forts,' Welsch caer. plural -rau (pronounce -ray), ' a fort, a castle.' See Babbacombe and compare Castlecary (Sc).
Babraham (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridge and 1166 Rolls of the great Pipe Badburgeham, Domesday Book and 1286 Badburgham, 1450 Baburgham. This must be from a woman Badburh, genitiv -urge, not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ham.
Babwell (Bury St. Edmunds). Domesday Book has only Babenberga. 1289 Contin. of Gervase, Balbewelle. ' Well of Babba.' There are 5 Babbas and one Baba in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum In form 1289 lb is a common scribe's error or ' trick ' for bb. Compare, too, Babthorp (Yorks); Domesday Book Babetorp.
Backbarrow (Ulverston). Barrow Is Old English beorg, 2 beoruh, 6 barow, ' a mount, a hill.' then, ' a grave mound, a tumulus.' The Back-, as in Backford, is doubtful; it may be Icelandic bakki, Danish bakke, Swedish backe, ' a hill-ridge,' and so the name will signify long ridged hill.'
Backford (Chester). The meaning of back- here is uncertain. It may just be ' back '; less likely =' hill-ridge,' as probably above; very possibly =bach or beck as in Sandbach, Domesday Book Sanbec, and so, ' ford over the beck or stream.' Compare Bacton and Backworth, (Newcastle-on-T)
Baconsthorpe (Holt, Norfolk). Domesday Book Baconstorp, 1346 Baconthorpe. ' Place, village of Bacon.' a name which seems not otherwise recorded in England till 1200. It is an Old France accusativ of a Germanic Bacco. See -thorpe.
Bacton (N. Walsham and Stowmarket). N. Walsham B. Domesday Book and circa, 1150 Baketun(e), before 1310 Baketon. Stowmarket B. Domesday Book Bachetuna. Probably ' village, town of Bacca or Becca.' Compare Domesday Book Essex, Bacsteda, and Baxby, Yorks, Domesday Book Backesbi. But also compare Backford.
Bacup (Lanes). Local pronunciation Baykop. circa, 1200 charter Ffulebachope, circa, 1470 Bacop, 1507 Bacope, 1579 Baccop. circa, 1200 clearly is ' fou lbach hope,' or' enclosed valley of the foul, dirty brook'; see -hope. Bacup stands at the centre of four valleys or ' hopes.' Bach or bache (see Oxford Dictionary, s.v.), is a rare variant of beck, Old English boece, bece, Old Norse bekk-r, ' brook, rivulet,' which also becomes batch, as in Comberbatch. Sandbach (Cheshire), is Domesday Book Sanbec. Compare Eccup and Fulbeck; 'foul' is Old English ful, 2-5 fule.
Badbury (Berks), charter Baddanbyrig, and Badby (Daventry) Domesday Book Badebi. ' Burgh ' and ' dwelling of Bada ' or ' Badda,' a name common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-bury and-by.
Baddesley Clinton and Ensor (Atherstone). Domesday Book Bedeslei, 1327Baddesleye Endeshover. ' Badda's meadow.' Compare Badby and Badenhall, Eccleshall, Domesday Book Badenhale. See -ley. Ensor is contraction of Edensor. The ‘ Ednesovre ' family owned the Warwick manor before 1300, Clinton is from the De Clintons of Coleshill.
Badgeworth (Cheltenham). 872 charter Beganwurtha, Domesday Book Beiwrde, circa, 1150 Begeword, and Badgeworthy (Lynmouth) local pronounce Badgery. Domesday Book Bicheordin, 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Badewurth. The man's name is a little uncertain, but probably Both mean' Boecga’'s farm.' Bicca is also a fairly common Old English name. and the phonetic change from Biche- to Badge- is exactly illustrated in Burbage, also found as Burbidge, now a personal name. The endings are in root all the same, Old English worth, with its extended forms worthig and worthign, ' farm; see -worth and -wardine. Compare Bageridge, Wolverhampton, 1286 Baggerugge.
Badingham (Framlingham). Domesday Book Badincha. Compare 902 Ols English Chronicum ' Baddanbyrig,' near Wimborne, and before 1100 charter ' Badingtun ' near Melton.] ' Home, dwelling of the sons of Badda.' Compare Baddesley; and see-ing.
Badlesmere (Faversham). Sic 1363, but Domesday Book And 1283 Badelesmere. ' Mere, lake of Badela.' Compare Codex Diplomaticus 714 Badelan broc.
Badminton (Gloucester). 972 charter Badimyncgtun, Domesday Book Madmintune [M an error) town, village of Beadumund or Bademund, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum It may be a patronymic; Baddeley thinks it is from Beaduhelm, a very rare name. See-ing.
Badsey (Evesham). 709 charter Baddeseia, 714 the same Baddesege, Domesday Book Badesei; and Badsworth (Pontefract). Domesday Book Badesworde. ' Isle ' and ' farm of Badda.' Compare Baddesley; and see -ey and -worth.
Badwell Ash (Bury St. Edmunds). (709 charter Badeswelle? Worecester). Not in Domesday Book Probably ' Badda's well.' Compare above; not likely from bad adjunctive. Compare Barkston Ash.
Bagborough (Somerset). 935 charter Bacgingberghe, ' burgh, fortified place of Bacga.' Compare Bagley and Bagendon, Cirencester, Domesday Book Benwedene, before 1300 Bagmdon, See -burgh and -don.
Bagby (Thirsk). Domesday Book Bagebi. ' Hamlet, town of Bacga ‘; compare See -by. But, Baggaby Bottom, Pocklington, not in Domesday Book, is 1202 Bagothebi, where Bagoth seems a corrupt form of Beagnoth, a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; or else it is from Bagot, a surname probably from old France Bottom. Old English botm, is found with the meaning of ' valley, dell low-lying land,' from circa, 1325.
Bagden (Reigate). Not in Domesday Book Probably ' Bacga's den,' or else ' dean ' i.e., (wooded) valley. Certainly nothing to do with badger, as some imagine. Compare Bagborough and Bagley.
Bagillt (Holywell). A difficult name; evidently a Welsch corruption of some Eng. name. The oldest sure form is Bagilde. By some it is identified with the Cheshire Domesday Book Bachelie, later Bakley. But it is not certain that this is the same place, and the identification is phonetically difficult. Bachelie would probably represent ' Bacga's lea,' as in next. Quite possibly the name is Welsch, bach gallt (plural gelltydd), ' little cliff.'
Bagley (Berks), before 1100 charter Bacganleah, Old English for ‘Bacga' meadow.' Compare Bagden and Bagworth. There is also a Bagnor (Donnington). ' Bacga's, bank or edge '; Old English ora.
Bagnall (Stoke on T ). before 1200 Baggenhall, a 1300 Bagenholt, Baghinholt, a 1400 Baknold. There has been a mingling here of ' Bacga's hall ' and ' B.'s holt,' Old English holt, ' a wood ' See above and -hall.
Bagshot (Camberley). Probably ' Bacga's shot or ' glade through a 'wood ' See Bagden and Aldershot. The old forms are numerous—Baggeshott, Bagshat, etc; but also Bagshet, Bakeshet, Bakset, Baggeshete, which Skeat says must be, Old English baec sceat, ' back nook or corner.' A wood near Winkfield is called Bac-sceat in Chronicum Abingdon, temp. Wm. I.
Baguley (Stockport), circa, 1320 Baggulegh. ' Bago's lea' or ' meadow.' There is a Bago in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ley.
Bagworth (Leicester). Old English charter Baeganwyrth, 1442 Baggeworth. ' Baega' s or Bacga's farm.' Compare Bagleya nd Bayworth, also 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Bagewurda, 1160-1 Beggewurda. Somerset, and 1158-9 the same Beggewurda, Wilts; and see -worth.
Baildon (Shipley). Domesday Book Beldone. Probably Old English bael dun, ' hill of the fire or funeral pile.' In later Eng. it is 4: -bale, 4 baile, 5 belle, 6 bele; see Oxford Dictionary s.v. bale sb. and balefire.
Bailey Gate (Wimborne). Bailey is found in Eng. before 1300 as bailly. It is old France bail, wall of the outer court of a feudal castle.' Compare the Old Bailey.
Bainbridge (Bedale). Not in Domesday Book Perhaps ' Straight bridge,' Old Norse beinn, ' straight, direct,' Mittel E.nglish bayn (though not in this sense). North, dialect bane. Whitby Gloss. ' That way's the banest ' i.e., the shortest. But perhaps from a man Baga, as in next.
Bainton (Driffield and Stamford). Dr. B. Domesday Book Bagentone. ' Town of Baga. Bacga, or Becga' genitive -an. Compare Baynhurst, Cookham, and 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Lines, Baenburc.
Bakewell (Derbyshire). 924 Old English Chronicum Badecanwylla, various reading Badecan wiellon; 1280 Close R. Bathekewell, 1287 the same Bauquell, 1297 Baukwelle. ' Beadeca's well,' Old English willa, wylla, ' a fountain, a well.' There is one Beadeca in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Birch says 949 charter Badecanwell is Bucloiall cum Bagnall, Stafford. Compare Baginton, Coventry, Domesday Book Badechitone.
Bala. Welsch bala,' a shooting-out, 'bala llyn,'' the outlet of a lake.'
Balby (Doncaster). Domesday Book Ballesbi. Probably ' village, hamlet of Bald, Beald, or Bealda ‘; here already seen in its more modern form. Ball. Compare Baldon, and Balcombe, Hayward's Heath.
Baldersby (Thirsk) and Balderton (Newark). Domesday Book Baldrebi. The original Balder was son of Odin, and hero of one of the most beautiful myths in the Norse Edda. See-by and-ton.
Baldock (Herts), before 1200 Baudac, Baudoc, 1287 Baldak, Baudak. An amazing name, given as a fancy name by the Knights Templars, its founders—Ital. Baldacco, the Eng. Baghdad! Compare Eng. baldachin, older baudekin, a fine embroidered stuff also named from Baghdad.
Baldon (Oxford). 1054 charter Bealdan hama. ' Bealda's home.' Note the contraction and compare Balby and Beedon.
Bale (Holt, Norfolk). Not in Domesday Book Old English boel, OLD NORSE bal, ' a funeral pyre, a balefire.' Compare Baildon.
Balking (Uffington, Berks). 948 charter Bedalacing; 963 the same, Badalacing, Bathalacing; later Bethelking. The Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only the names Badeca and Badela. But this seems to bea patronymic, denoting the ' place of the descendants of some man Bedalac,' or the like. See -ing.
Ballingdon (Sudbury). Not in Domesday Book, but compare 704-709 charter Balgan dun, Shottery. This last is ' hill or ' hillfort of Balga.' But the name as it stands means ' hill of the sons of Ball,’ a known Eng. name; in Old English Beald or Bealda, the ' bold,' not ‘ bald,' man. Compare Balby and Ball's Cross, Petworth. See-don.
Balmer (Sussex). Domesday Book Burgemere; later, Bormer. A curious example of the easy interchange of liquids, and the result of ' Cockney pronunciations. The originally name would mean ' mere or lake beside the burgh,' or fortified place.
Balne (Doncaster). Not in Domesday Book Possibly a locative of Old English boel or Old Norse bal. ' at the funeral pyres or bale fires.' Compare Hoxne, formerly Hoxon, and Baildon.
Balsall Heath (Birmingham) and Balscott (Banbury). 1226 Belaessale, 1327 Hen. Hunt. Balesham. ‘Home of (Probably) Ball.’ See Ballingdon, and -ham and ' cottage.' Compare Bram(h)all, Cheshire, Domesday Book Bramale, and Balby, and see -hall.
Balsham (Cambridge). 974 charter Bellesham, Domesday Book Belesham, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Balesham. ' Home of (probably) Ball.'' See Ballingdon, and -ham.
Balterley (Newcastle, Staftfordshire). 1004 Balterytheleage, Domesday Book Baltredelege, before 1300 Balterdeleye, Baldridele, Baltrydelegh. ' Meadow of Bealdthryth ‘; she of this lea is the only one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Baltonsborough (Glastonbury). 744 charter Baltersberghe, Domesday Book Baltunesberge. 1610 Balsboro'. Another case of the interchangeableness of the liquids r and n. The originally name was ' burgh, fortified place of Baiter,' a name found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum as Baltherus or Baldred or Baldhere. They are all the same names. See -borough.
Bamber Bridge (Preston). Omitted by Wyld and Hirst. Old formal needed. Compare Baumber, Horncastle, not in Domesday Book, and next. Bamber is also found as a surname. The -ber may be for -burgh or -bury q.v., Old English hurg, burh, and berig, dativ berie, ' a fort, castle, or fortified town ‘; as it is in Domesday Book Caldeber, now Caldbergh, N. Yorks.
Bamborough (Belford). Founded Old English Chronicum anno 547; 709 Eddi Bebbanburg; 1119 Bawmburgh. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Babbanburch; circa, 1175 Fantosme Banesburc; 1197 Banburc; 1213 Baenburc; 1221 Bamburg; 1281 Baumburgh. Bede, iii. 16, says the place was called ' ex Bebbae quondam reginae vocabulo.' Bebbanburh is Old English for ' Bebba's burgh or castle '; and Bebha was perhaps wife of King Ida, its founder.
Bamford (Rochdale and Sheffield). Rochdale B. sic 1228, 1282 Baumford. Bam- will either be Old English bean, ' bean,' or beam, ' a tree.' Compare Bampton, and next. The Sheffield B. is not in Domesday Book
Bamfurlong (Wigan). 1205-23 Bonghefurlong, Bonkefurlong, Bancfurlong, 1200-20 Benfurlong, 1200-68 Benefurlong. The latter form sare' bean-furlong,'lit. furrow-long, properly the name of an unenclosed field of indefinite size. But the earlier forms seem to be from bank. Mittel English banke, Icelandic bakki, ' a ridge, eminence, or bank of a river,' first in English in Onomasticon Anglo-Saxionicum, circa, 1200; in 4 bonke, bonc. Compare Ashfurlong, Sutton Colfield, 1242 Hasfurlong.
Bampton (Oxford, etc.). Old English Chronicum ann. 614, Beandun; 1155 Rolls of the Great Pipe Bentune; 1298 Bamptone. Bean-dun is Old English for ' bean hill.' For change of n to mp, compare Sampton, 833 ' Sandtun.' See -don and -ton.
Banbury. Domesday Book Banesberie; 1155-62 charter Bannebiria; 1298 Bannebury. ' Burgh, fortified town of Bana.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1219 Banan wyl. See-bury.
Bandon (Croydon). Not in Domesday Book Probably, like Bampton, Old English bean-dun, ' bean hill.' Compare Banstead and Banham, Attleborough.
Bangor. Sic 1250 Layam., but circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Banchor, Sim. Dur., anno 1102, Bancorensis, before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Bangorensis ecclesia; also see next. There are several in Welsch, two in Brittany, and more than one m Ireland. Irish benn-chor, ' a row of points or peaks,' either a circlet of rocks or a row of hills, as Joyce has shown. Welsch bangor now means ' an upper row of rods’ then a coping, a battelement. Welsch bann, ‘high’, Bret. Ban, ‘an eminence’.; ' It so happens that several Bangors are lofty sites of churches or monasteries, but this is accidental; and the common derivation, ‘high choir’ is now abandoned. Compare Banchory (Scottish) the same name.
Bangor Isycoed (Wrexham). Bede Bancornburg. See above. Welsch I scoed means ‘under the wood.'
Bankyfelin (Caermarthen). Might be Welschbanc y Ffelin,'table of Felinor Velyn.' Compare Stirling (Sc), originally Ystrevelyn, and Helvellyn. But simpler is the derivation ' bank, slope of the mill,' melin, aspirated feline.
Banningham (Aylsham). ' Home of the Bannings.' ' Banningas nomen populi,' in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ing.
Banstead (Epsom). 727 charter Benstede; Doyn. Benestede; 1280 Banstede. Old English bean-stede, ' bean place or store.' ' Bean ' is Old English bean, 3-6 ben, 4-6 bene. Compare Bampton and Bandon.
Banwell (Somerset). Charter Banawell. Banuwille, Domesday Book Banwelle. Probably Old English bana-waeel, 'pool of the bones.' McClure thinks bena-wille, ' prayer-well.'
Banwen (three in Glamorgan). J. B. Bury thinks one of these represents Bannauenta or Vicus Bannavem, the home of St. Patrick. See his Confessions, circa, 450 a.d. This is very doubtful. Welsch ban given is ' fair, clear hill.'
Bapchild (Sittingbourne). Not in Domesday Book Said to be before 716 charter King Withred Baccancelde, which is ' Bacca's spring '; Old Norse kelda, ' a spring, a well.' See keld in Oxford Dictionary There is no likely name with a p in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and that letter remains unexplained. But celde here must be genuine Old English and not Norse, as McClure thinks. Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Celdestane, ' stone at the well.'
Barbon and B. Fells (Kirby Lonsdale). Domesday Book Berebrune. Probably Old Norse barr or berr brunn-r, ' bare-looking burn or stream.' Liquid r is easily lost. Or the Bar- may be Old Norse barr, Old English bere, ' barley.' Compare Babbridge and Barford. The ' Barebones' Parliament,' 1653, was called after 'Praise God Barbon,' a Fleet Street leather-seller, reputed to have sprung from this district.
Barbridge (Nantwich). Most of the names in Bar-are doubtful. The sb. ' bar,' old France barre (origin unknown), occurs in Englishas early as circa, 1175. but it may not enter into any of them. Some- times Bar- may represent a man's name, a corrupt- of Old English Boerht or Beorn or Beam, as in Barthorpe Bottoms, Yorks, 1208 Barkesthorp; sometimes, especially where Norse influence is likely, as in Barby, it will be Old Eenglish borrr, Old Norse berr, Danish bar, ' bare.' Then sometimes it may be for Old Norse bar-r, Old English bere, ' bear or barley,' as in Barford; sometimes, too, for Old English beor, bear, ' beer,' as in Barham. Old forms are always needed to ensure certainty.
Barbury Hill (Ringwood, Hants). Probably Old English Chronicum anno 556, Beranbyrg; also, Byranbyrig, Berin Byrig. ' Burgh, fort, af Berin,’ perhaps Berinus, in Bede, a foreign bishop who came to Wessex a.d. 635. But see also Burbury Hill; and -burgh.
Barby (Rugby). Domesday Book Berchebi is=Barkby. But Barden, Yorks, is Domesday Book Bernedan, ' valley of Bjorn,’ or ' the Bear.' See -dean.
Bardney (Lincoln). Bede Beardeneu; Old English Chronicum ann. 642, Bardanige, Bartdanig; 1230 Bardenay. ' Barda's or Bardi's isle,' Old English ig, ige, Mittel English ey, ay, ' island.' Compare Barnstaple, also a ' Bardunig or ' Bardanig,' in charter circa, 680, and Bardsley, Ashton-under-Lyne.
Bardon (Leicester, Haltwhistle). Leicester Domesday Book has only Bartone, see Barton. Perhaps Old English boer dun, ' bare hill.' ' Bare 3 bar. 4-5 baar. But Duignan says Bardon Hill, Stratford, Warwickshire is 704 charter Baddan dun, ' Badda's hill.' For intrusion of r, compare Kidderminster.
Bardsea, Bardsey (Leeds. Ulverston). Leeeds B. Domesday Book Berdesei.' Isle of Bardi.' See Bardney. Compare 1387 Trevisa Higden I. 'At Nemyn in North Welsch a litel ilond . . . hatte Bardeseie.' which may be ' isle of the bard,' not found in Englant till 1449. But Ulverston B. is Domesday Book Berretseige, ' isle of Berred. Beorred. or Burgred.' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ea, -ey. For Bardsley (Gloucester), see Barnsley.
Bare and Bare Lane (Morecambe). Domesday Book Bare, (?) 1094 and before 1200 Bar. Probably Welsch bar, 'top': Corn, bar, bor, 'summit'; Gaelic barr. ' a height.' It can hardly be Old English boer, ber, ' a bier.'
Baregain (farm, Cornwall, etc.). This may simply indicate a small holding. For other conjectures, see McClure, p. 272.
Barford (Warwick, on Tees, etc.). Warwick B. Domesday Book Bereford; Tees B. 1183 Bereford. 'The barley ford.' See Barbridge.
Bargoed (Cardiff). See Aberbargoed.
Barham (Canterbury and Linton, Cambridgeshire). Canterbury B. is 805 charter Beorahame, 809 Bereham, Domesday Book Berham; OLD ENGLISHbeor-ham,' beer- house ' or 'brewery’; Old English beor, bear, 3-4 her, 'beer.' It is urged that Barham or Berham Court belonged to the Fitzurses, or ' sons of the bear,' Old English hera, 2-7 here. But. of course, they come in far too late here. Cambridgeshire B. is circa, 1080 Inquis. Camh. Bereham. Domesday Book Bercheham, 1210 Berkham, 1302 Bergham, 1346 Eerugham, Old English beorh-ham, ' home on the hill or Barrow.' Barmoor, co. Durham, is in charter Bejyrmor. (?)' bare moor.'
Barkby (Leicester). Domesday Book Barchebi, 'dwelling of Beorc or Berc'. See next, and compare Barkhajm, Wokingham, 952 charter Beorcham. Domesday Book Bercheham, which could mean ' home by the birch-tree ' but Birch, like Ash, Beech, etc., is certainly also a personal name.
Barking (Essex). 693 charter To Bercingon, Bede Bercingas, Bercingas, Domesday Book Berchinges, before 1100 Wm. Poitiers Bercingis. Patronymic, ' place of the descendants of Berc.' the modern name Birch. In Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum the only forms found are Bercta, Beorga, Beorht. Compare Birkin and see -ing.
Barkston (Nottingham), Barkstone (Grantham), and Baekston Ash (Yorks). Yorks B. Domesday Book Barcheston, ' town, village of Beorc', See Barking.
Barkway (Royston). Not in Domesday Book 1450 Berkewey. Probably ' road laid with bark,’ found in English before 1300, Old Norse bork-r, Danish bark.
Barlaston (Stoke-on-Trent). 1004 Beorelfestun, Domesday Book Bernulvestone, circa, 1200 Berlaston, Berlewston. ' Town, village of Beorn wulf or Bemulf ('brave wolf'). Barlestone, Nuneaton, is the same name, Domesday Book Berulvestone.
Barlboro' (Chesterfield). 1287 Barleburgh, and Barley (Selby). Domesday Book Bardulbi. ' Burgh, fort.' and ' dwelling of Bardolf' in Old English Bardwulf. See-borough and-by.
Barling (Shoeburyness) and Barlings (Lincoln). Barlings Line. 1233 Barling. Patronymics ' place of the descendants of? See above and -ing.
Barlow (Selby, Manchester, etc.). Manchester B. 1259-60 Berlawe, 1325 Barlawe, Domesday Book Bucks, Berlaue. 1183 Boldon Bk., Berleia, Durham. Manchester B. seems bere-lawe, ' barley-covered hill.' Compare Barton. But all the names may not be the same. See-low.
Barmbough (or Barnbough, Doncaster) and Barmby Moor and on the Marsh (Yorks). Doncaster B. Domesday Book Barneburg, Berneborc. Marsh and Moor Barmby Domesday Book Barnebi (this name is eleven times in Domesday Book Yorks). ' Burgh, fortified town,' and ' dwelling of Beam, Beorn, or Beorm." Compare Barnby and Birmingham; and see -borough and -by.
Barming (Maidstone) and Barmingham (on Tees). 1214 Bermigeham. Patronymics, ' place of Bearm's or Beorm's descendants.' Compare above and Birmingham, also Bermintona in Domesday Book Devon; and see -ing and -ham.
Barmouth. In Welsch Abermaw. English corrupt (adopted in 1768) of Abermawddach,' mouth of the R. Maw.' For loss of the initial a, compare old forms of Abergavenny, also Berriew. Mawddachis from Welsch mawdd, ' that which fills or spreads out.' Colloquially the name at times gets clipped down to Bermo.'
Barnack (Stamford), before1100 Grant of 664 Bernake. Old English berne- ac, ' barn oak.' ' Barn ' is Old English ber-ern, before 1000 berne, ' barley- house.' Barnacle, Nuneaton, is Domesday Book Bernanger, ' barn in the hanging wood,' Old English hangre. See Clayhanger, etc.
Barnard Castle. 1200 de Castello Bernardi;1305 Villade Castro Bernardi. Built,1112-32, by Bernard Baliol, ancestor of John Baliol, King of Scotland. Bernard in Old English is Beornheard. There is a Biornheardes lond ' in 808 charter (Kent).
Barnby (Beccles, etc.). Newark B. Dow. Barnebi =Barmby.
Barnes (London). Domesday Book Berne; also, old Bernes. ' Barns,' Old English berne, ' a barn.' Compare Barnack.
Barnet (N. of London). [1199 charter Bergnet is spurious] circa, 1200 charter Barnette,1278 L aBernette,1428 Barnette. This is Normal France, and a dimin. of berne od berme. ' a narrow space, a ledge, a berm,' probably cognate with Old Norse harm-r, ' brim, edge.' A very rare name for England.
Barnetby (Lines). Domesday Book Bernedebi, Bernetebi. Probably ' dwelling of Beomheard ' or ' Bernard.'' See -by.
Barnham (Bognor, etc.). Bognor B. Domesday Book Berneham. ' Home of Bearn or Beom,'' though possibly ' house with the barn.' Compare Barnack and Barnwell.
Barnoldswick (Colne). Domesday Book Bernulfeswic. ' Dwelling, village of Beomwulf or Barnulf,'' a common Old English name. See-wick.
Barnsbury (N. London). It is said to be Bernersbury, from Juliana Berners, prioress of Sopwell Nunnery, near St. Albans, circa, 1400. This is for several reasons doubtful. Otherwise, it might be ' baron's burgh or fort,' from haron, before 1200 harun, 6 barne.
Barnsley (Yorks and Cirencester). Yorks B. Domesday Book Berneslai. ' Meadow of Beom ‘; eo regularly becomes before But Cirencester B., also spelt Bardsley, is circa, 802 charter Bearmodeslea, 855 ib Beorondeslea. 855 the same Beorondeslea, Domesday Book Berneleid, a 300 Bardesl otherwise Barnsley, and must be from Man Beornmodern Seer -ley.
Barnstaple 930 charter Beardastapole, 1018 charter Beardestaple, Domesday Book Barnestaple, circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Bardestapula, 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Berdestapl'. circa, 1200 Gervase Bernestapele. As early as 1397 contracted Barum (m and n commonly interchange). The originally name was ‘Barda’s market’. Old English stapel, ‘a prop, a post.’ Them ‘a fixes market.’ Compare Nardney. But in some abnormal way it was early changed into ‘Beorn’ s oft Bearn ‘s market.’ Perhaps Bevause it is in the hundreds of Branton (Bearn-town)). Compare Barmborough. There is also a ‘Berdestapla’ I’ in Domesday Book Essex.
Barnston (Birkenhead and Dunmow), Barnstone (Nottingham), and Barnton (Northwich). First three in Domesday Book Bernestone, -tuna. Perhaps all mean ' Beam's or Beom's town or village.' Compare above. But Barnton, not in Domesday Book, may come from barn. Compare Barnham.
Barnt Green (Birmingham). ' Burnt Green,' from burn, Old English hboman, bearnan, past t. 1 bearn, barn, 3 barnde, bearnde, modern burnt. Compare Barnhurst, Wolverhampton, before 1400 Barnthurst. also, Burntisland (Scottish).
Barnwell (Oundle and Cambridge). Oundle B. before1100 Grant of 664 Bernewell, which might be 'well beside the barn,' Old English berne, earlier ber-ern, ' bear or barley house.' But Cambridge B. is 1060 charter Beornewell, circa, 1250 Bernewell, ' well of Beorna or Beorn,'' Old English for' warrior.'
Barras (Kirby Stephen) and Barrasford (Warwick). old France barras, Mittel English circa, 1375, barras, ' a barrier or outwork in front of a fortress ', then ' the lists for knightly tournaments ' Compare Barrassie (Scottish).
Barr Beacon (Walsall), circa, 1200 Barr(e). Welsch bar, bor, bur, ' top, summit '; Gaelic barr, ' a height '; Beacon, Old English beacn, is a common name for a commanding hill. Worcestershire Beacon, Dunkery Beacon. Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor, etc. -but Oxford Dictionary's earliest quotation is 1597.
Barrington (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridge Barentone, 1210 Barntone, 1428 Baryngtone. ' Village of Bara, -an.'' But B. (Gloucestershire.) Domesday Book Bernintone, Bernitone, circa, 1245 Bernington, is probably ' village of Beomwine.’ There are two others. Compare Berringron and the surname Baring. See -ing and -ton.
Barripper (Camborne). Not in Domesday Book There are elsewhere in Cornwall also Bereppa, Brepper, and Borripper. which good authorities think all come from France beau repaire, ' fine haunt or lair.' Compare Belrepeir, Haresfield, circa, 1220 Bewper, before 1470 Beau- repaire; and see p. 64.
Barrow (nine Barrows in Postal Guide), also Barrowden (Stamford) and Barrowford (Nelson). Cheshire B. Domesday Book Bero. Worcester B. 1275 Barew. Old English biorg, beorh, 'a hill'; after 1576 barrow is often applied also to a gravemound, a tumulus. It is a common name of hills in the S.W.—Bull Barrow, Dorset, etc. In the Norse usually it is a long, low hill e.g., Barrow near Derwentwater, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, etc. Compare Berrow and next, and Burrow.
Barrowby (Kirkby Overblow, Yorks, and Grantham). Yorks B. Domesday Book Berghebi,' dwelling by the hill,' or ‘tumulus,' See above. ' Berghebi in Domesday Book is often Borrowby. See -by.
Barry (Cardiff). In Welsch Y Barri, ' the Barry.' The island belonged to the family of Giraldus de Barry, lords of the island. The du Barry family is well known, or rather notorious, in later France history. There is also a Barry, sic 1603, in Pembroke.
Barston (Birmingham). Domesday Book Bereestone, Bertanestone, before 1300 Berstonestun, 1327 Berstanson. Town, village of Beohrstan or Beortht.’ See -ton.
Bartestree (Hereford). Domesday Book Bertoldestreu. ' Tree,' Old English treow, ' of Beorlitweald' a very common Old English name. Compare Oswestry. Bartherton or Batherton, Nantwich, is 1283 Close R. Bercherton, probably from a man Beorhtheard or Berehthart, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum.
Barthomley (Crewe). Domesday Book Bertemlea. ' Lea, meadow of Bertram or Beorhthelm,’ a very common Old English name. See-ley.
Bartley (Southampton and Birmingham). ' Beorht’s meadow.' Compare Bartestree. Duignan omits. See-ley. Beacon, Exmoor, etc. 1597.
Bartlow (Cambridge). 1303 Berklawe, 1316 Berkelowe, 1428 Berklowe. ' Hill of Beorht, Beorh, or Beorc,' all the same name. Compare too. Barham (Cambridgeshire) See-low.
Barton (16 in Postal Guide). Leicester B. Domesday Book Bartone; Domesday Book Suffolk Bertune. Barton-on-Humber is thought to be Bede. iv. iii. ad Barve, which Bede renders ' at the wood.' Barton Regis is Domesday Book Bertune apud Bristou; and Barton - on - the - Heath (Warwick) is Domesday Book Bertone. Barton-under-Needwood is the same. But Barton le Street (Yorks) is Domesday Book Bartun(e), and so is Barton le Willows. Barton is Old English here-tun, ' grange or enclosure for bear or barley or other corn, farmyard.' Compare Barwick.
Barton Bendish (Norfolk), Barton-in-the-Clay (Ampthill). etc. There are forty-five such names compounded with Barton in Postal Guide Bendish is said to be for fen-ditch, but phonetically that is very unlikely. It is probably a family name.
Barwick-in-Elmet (Leeds). Domesday Book Berewich. Old English bere-wic, ' house for bere or barley' =Berwick and Barton. Elmet, sic Nennius, Bede and Domesday Book Elmete, before 800 charter Elmed saetna (' dwellers in '), was a British kingdom, now the W. Riding of Yorks. Origin unknown.
Baschurch (Shrewsbury) Domesday Book Bascherche, “Church of Bassa’. See Llywarch Hen's elegy. Bassa or Bassus, a valiant soldier of King Edwin of Northumbria, is mentioned in Bede. (Compare, too, the modern surname Bass, though it may be from Le bas.) Similar is Bascote, Southam, sic before 1300, and the 2 Basfords, Domesday Book Notts, Baseford.
Basildon or Basilden (Wallingford). Domesday Book Bastedene; 1241-42 Bastilesden; also Basteldene. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 565 Beatles ford. ' Dean, (wooded) valley of Boestel or Bestle.' Compare Bisham.
Basingstoke (Hants). 871 Old English Chronicum Basingas; Domesday Book Basinge stoch(es), 1238 Basyng. Patronymic. ' Place (Old English stoc—litirair ' stake '), 'of the Basings,' or 'descendants of Bass.' Compare Bas-church. But Old Glossary Basincge, melotae, ' in goatskins.' Bessingby (Yorks), is Domesday Book Basingebi.
Basingwerk (Flint), sic 1277, but before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Basingeworc i.e., ' outwork, fort of the Basings.’ See above, and Baschurch. There is a' Basingewerc,'1160, in Rolls of the great Pipe Notts and Derby.
Baslow (Chesterfield). 1156 Bassalawa. ' Bassa's hill.' See Baschurch and -low.
Bassaleg (Newport, Monmouthshire). Thought to be circa, 800 Nennius Campus Elleti (‘t common scribe's error for c), and so =the modern Welsch name Maesaleg, 'plain' (W. maes) 'of AElloc’ or 'A locative'' names of men in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Close by is maes Arthur, ' plain of Arthur.' But it is circa, 1130 Lib. Landav. Ecclesia de Bassalec. Kuno Meyer derives this from Latin basilica, Gk…, ' royal residence, court- house,' in Latin, after 4th eny. a.d., 'cathedral, church,' found in O. Ireland as baisleac. But there seems no sure evidence or analogy for this, and it contradicts the evidence given above. Moreover, the church here is dedicated to St. Basil, and the -lee or -leg might easily represent the common Old English Ieah, leaz, see -ley, and so the name be ' Basil's meadow.' Only, English names so early as 1130 in this region are very unlikely. The present Welsch pronunciation varies between Maesaleg, Mashalyg (' field of willows '), and Maeshalog (said to be ' salt-field '), showing that the natives are all at sea; and the rest of us are not much better!
Bassenthwaite (Keswick). ' Place of Bassa ' (the -en is a genitive). See Baschurch, and -thwaite.
Bassetlaw (a wapentake of Notts). Domesday Book Bernedeselawe, ' Hill of Beotnheard ' or ' Bernard,'' a common Old English name. But 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Desetlawa, 1189 the same Bersetelaw. before 1199 Basselaw (d or t probably omitted in error). As Mutschmann says, the originally name probably was, Old English bearu-saetena-hlaw, 'mound of the forest- dwellers'; compare Dorset and see next. In 1155 D is an error for B. See-low, -law.
Bassett (Southampton). Domesday Book Bessete. Difficult. Perhaps ' heath of Besa, Bassa, Bass, or Basso,''all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The ending -et is generally puzzling; but for the suggested origin here compare the forms of Hatfield, Herts, and Hodnet. The Bassetts were Norman lords of Drayton Bassett, Tamworth, and elsewhere, for several generations. So possibly the name is old France, though not probably. France basset means ' of low stature,' and gave name to a Norman family very early in Notts.
Bassingbourn (Royston, Cambridgeshire), also Bassingham (Newark). 1202 Bassingburn; 1298 Bassingburn, -borne; before 1300 Eccleston Bissingburne (Norfolk pronuncation). ' Burn or brook of Bass's descendants.' Compare Baschurch and Basingstoke. See -bourne and -ham.
Baston (Market Deeping). Sic in charter of 806. 'Town, village of Bass.' See Baschurch: etc.
Bastwell (Blackburn). 1288 Baddestwyssel, 1329 Battistwyssel, 1322 Batestwysel. 1594 Bastwell. A remarkable contraction
' the Twizel,' or' confluence of Badda.' Compare Haltwhistlb and Domesday Book Norfolk, Bastwic.
Batchworth Heath (Rickmansworth). 1007 charter Baeecceswyrth. Probably ' Place of Bacca or Becca,' both names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Betchworth, and Bletchley from Blecca. But possibly from batch, variant of bache, ' a river-vale.' See Oxford Dictionary It is the same root as beck, compare Comberbach and Pulverbatch, Salop. Skeat inclines to the meaning, ' farm in the river-valley.' The sign of the genitive in the charter is against that. See his own Pl. Names of Berks, p. 35. Compare The Batche, Forest of Dean.
Batcombe (Bath, etc.). before 900 charter Batancumb. 940 charter Batecombe. Compare 1298 ' Thomas Botencombe.' ' Valley of Bata' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-combe.
Bath. circa, 380 The antonic Itenerary Aquae Solis. 781 ' at Beathum; 796 charter ' Celebri vico qui Saxonies vocatur set Badum'; 1088 Old English Chronicum (Peterb.) Badon, 1130 il. Bathe, circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Batthentona, also ' Batta quod Balneum interpretatur.' Old English boed, ' a bath.'
Bathealton (Somerset). Domesday Book Badeheltone, Batheaston (the same), (?) Domesday Book Estune, 'east town,' and Bathwick, 'dwelling near Bath.' See -wick. In all three cases, of course, the first part is Bath. The -ealton may be Old English eald tun, ' old town. Compare Eltham. But it maybe' town of Ela. Eli 'or' Ella,'' all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Elton.
Batley (Dewsbury). Domesday Book Bateleia, Bathelie; 1202 Battelege; 1298 Bateleie. ' Pasture lea or meadow,' from Old Norse beit, ' pasture'; heita, 'food, bait'; or else ' Bata's lea.' Compare Batcombe and Domesday Book Norfolk. Bathele, Notts, Badeleie (now Bathley).
Batley Carr (Dewsbury). See above. Carr is Northumbria. Old English carr (circa, 950 in Lindisfarne Gosp.), ' a rock.' Compare the Carr Rocks, Berwick, and Redcar.
Battersby (N.E. Yorks). Domesday Book Badresbi. 'Dwelling of some Norseman, probably Beaduheard or Badherd, common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Buttermere and see -by.
Battersea (London). 693 charter Batriceseye; Domesday Book Patricesy; 1308 Badricheseye. ' St. Patrick's ' or ' St. Peter’s Isle ‘; Peter and Patrick are often interchanged. See -ey. It belonged to the Abbey of St. Peter of Westminster. Compare Padstow. Change from P to B is not common, and McClure suggests ' Beadurich' s isle,' and compares Beadorices Uurthe, old name of St. Edmunds ‘'s Bury in Ethelwerd 's Chronicle.
Battle Abbey (Hastings). Begun1070, four years after the battle of Hastings. Domesday Book Ecclesia de labatailge (old France bataille, ' battle 1297 Robert of Gloucester ' Ycleped in Engelond abbay of pe batayle.'
Battyeford (Normanton). Not in Domesday Book Probably from some man. The surname Batty is well known, and there is Beata in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Baughurst (Basingstoke). B.C.8. 624 Beaggan hyrst. ' Wood of Beagga.' See -hurst.
Bawdeswell (Dereham). Domesday Book Baldereswella. ' Well, spring of Bealdhere,'' 5 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The change to Bawde- is quite according to phonetic law. Compare Bawdsey.
Bawdlands (Clitheroe), not in Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire., and Bawdsey (Felixstowe). Old forms needed for the first; probably from bawd sb.-, ' a hare.' The second is Domesday Book" Baldereseia, Baldeseia. ' Isle of Bealdhere.' Compare Bawdeswell and see -ey.
Bawdrip (Bridgewater). Domesday Book Bagetrepe. ' Drop of Baga,' or ' Boega.' There is The Drip near Stirling; the Scottish verb is dreef, ' to drop down from a height.' It occurs in Mittel English as dripe, and in Old English as drypen, but is not found in either as a sb, Cognate with drip, droop, and drop. Compare Bawtry, Yorks, not in Domesday Book? ' Baga's tree.'
Baxenden (Accrington). 1332 Bakestonden; also compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 917 Beaces hlaw, -and B.C.8. 906 Bacgan broc. A somewhat rare combination 'town of Leaca,' + -den, q.v. Compare Baxby, Coxwold par., Yorks, Domesday Book Bachesbi, 1201 Baxeby.
Baxterley (Atherstone). 1327 Baxterleye. A unique name. ' Meadow of the baxter,' still a common Scottish surname. Old English boecestre, Mittel English 882 Beagan wyl. Compare Bayton and Bayworth. Bay='bay-coloured,' is old France hai, and is not found in Englant till 1374. Bayford (Hereford) will have a similar origin.
Baylham (Ipswich). Domesday Book Beleham,1453 Beylom, 1456 Boylom. Probably Old English Boel-ham, 'home, house of Bael ' or 'Bayle'; compare B.C.8. 1316 Bailies waeg. Not so probably from Old English boel, Old Norse bal, 5-9 bail, ' a blazing pile, a bonfire, a funeral pyre.'
Baynards Castle (Horsham). Said to be from Bainiardus. Bainardus or Baignardus, tenant of the abbot of Westminster, named in Domesday Book Compare Bayswater. The final -ard in personal names, like Bernard, Reynard, etc., is usually Old English heard, O.H.G. hard,' strong in (counsel).'
Bayston Hill (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Begestan. 'Town, village of Begha or Baega,' same name as St. Bees. Compare Bayworth; -Stan i.e., -stone often interchanges with -ton, q.v.
Bayswater (London). 1653 Grant, ' At Paddington, near to a place commonly called Baynard's Watering.' But in 1720 clipped down to Bear's Watering.
Bayton (Cleobury Mortimer). Domesday Book Betune, a 1200 Bertune, 1275 Beyton, 1339 Baynton. Some confusion here, but Duignan is probably right in making in old English Boegan tun,' Baega's town.' Compare Baydon and next.
Bayworth (Abingdon). 956 charter Baegenweorthe; Baegan wyrthe; Domesday Book Baiorde; before 1200 Hist. Abindgon Baigeuuortha. 'Farm of Baega or Begha,' same name as St. Bees. Compare Bayston and Bagworth and see -worth.
Beachamwell (Swaffham). Domesday Book has Becheswella, ' well, spring of Boccaa, Beac,' or ' Beocca,'' all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Domesday Book also has Becham, Bicham, which is probably ' home on the beek,' Old English boece, bece, compare Bacup, but may also be ' Beac's home.' This Beacham can hardly be the same as Beauchamp (pronunciation Beecham) Court, Wore, Domesday Book Bello Campo, which is France and Latin for ' fine field ' =Belchamp. Beachley, Tewkesbury, is old Betesle, from a man Beta or Betti.
Beachy Head (Sussex). France beau chef, ' fine head or headland.' There is a Beauchief near Sheffield.
Beaconsfield (Bucks). Old forms needed. Compare Baconsthorpe. Domesday Book has only Bechentone and Bechesdene, from Becca or Beco, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Beadlam (Helmsley). Domesday Book And 1202 Yorks Fines Bodlum.-lun. Older forms needed. See-ham. But Bodlum suggests corruption of Old English botlon, locative ' at the dwellings.' Compare Hallam, Kilham, etc. Old English botl is O. Frisian bodl. Compare Harbottle. etc.
Beadnell (Bedford). [Compare B.C.8. 936 Beaden heal.] Probably ' Beada's nook ' or ' hall,' as in charter cited. Compare Bednal and Bedwin and see -hall.
Beal (Northumberland). charter Behil, Beyl. Probably Old English be. bi, hil or hyl, ' by the hill,' as in Biddick, Durham 1183 Bedyk, Bydyk, ' near the (Roman) Wall,' and Biwere, ' by the weir,' Inquis. Eli., p. 190, ‘Hec sunt piscaria monachorum…Vttrewerc (‘outer weir’) Landwere… Biwere, Northwere, etc.' Beaford. Torrington may also mean ' by the ford ‘; old forms are wanting, but we have Domesday Book Worcester Beford. On the other hand, see Beaworthy in the same county. The ending in Beal maybe -hale (see -hall). Beall (Knottingley) is Domesday Book Begale, which is probably' Bega's nook.' Compare Baydon and Brill.
Bealings, Great and Little (Woodbridge). Domesday Book Belinges, and B. parva. Patronymic; ' place of the sons of Bella ' or ' Beola,’ both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Probably =Billing.
Beane R. (Hereford), circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Beneficia. This yields a curious conundrum.
Bearsted, Bersted (Maidstone). 1005 charter Berhamstede, and so same name originally as Berkhamsted; or else as in Bersham, ' stead, place, farm of Ber.'
Bearley (Alcester). A changed name. Domesday Book Burlei, 1327 Burlege, before 1600 Byrley. ' Burgh on the lea ‘; see -burgh and -ley.
Beaudesert (Henley-in-Arden and Cannock). Henley B. c. 1135 Beldesert, before 1400 Beaudesert. Can. B. before 1300 Beaudesert, before 1400 Bellum Desertum. This is France for 'beautiful wild'; desert in Eng. is often used for ' wild, mountain or forest land.' Henley B. was in Domesday Book Donnelie.
Beaufort (Brecon). France beau fort, ' fine fortress.' Called after the France Beaufort, near Angers. It belonged to the Lancaster family in the 11st century. and from them the Dukes of Beaufort are descended. Beaupre House, Cowbridge, France for ' fine meadow,' is on the site of a Norman fortress. See also s.v. Beaumaris.
Beaulieu (Southampton). Pronunciation Bewly. circa, 1246 de Bello Loco Regis (i.e., John), 1289 Contin. Gervase Bellum-locum. France beau lieu, ‘beautiful place’, founded by K. John for the Cistercians in 1204. Compare Beauchief (Sheffield), Beauly (Scottish), and Bewdley.
Beaumaris (Anglesea). Old forms Bumaris, Beumarish, Bywmares. The old Welsch name was Rhosfair, ' moor of Mary.' In 1293 Edward I. built a castle on the low-lying land by the shore, that so the castle ditch might communicate with the sea. Because of this suitability of site, the King called it Beau marais, (old France mareis), which is France for ' fine marsh ' or ' low-lying, swampy ground.' Compare Beaudesert. In Welsch to-day it is pronunciation Bliwmaris, just as Beaufort, (Monmouthshire) is pronunciation Bluefort. Maresden (Gloucester) is also from mareis. But Beamish, Co. Durham, is old ‘Beaumeis, 'fine dwelling,' from old France mes, 'a manse, a mansion.'
Beaumont (Lancester, Colchester, and Jersey). Lancester B. 1230 Bello Monte, 1316 Bealmont. 1494 Fabyan, ' The castell of Beawmount.' France beau mont, ' fine hill =Belmont. But Bowmont Water, Cheviots, is before 1000 Bolbend, of doubtful meaning; it cannot be from bend sb;
Beausale (see Beoley).
Beaver (Ashford). Old forms needed. It maybe=Belvoir (pronunciation beever). France for 'fine outlook' or 'view,' = beau voir. Compare Beachy Head.
Beaworthy (N. Devon). Domesday Book Bicheordin. ' Farm of Bica (i =ee). The ending is Old English wordige, a dativ; see -warden and -worthy. Compare Beaford (Devon),old forms needed.
Bebington (Birkenhead). (Compare 1298 Willelmus de Bibington.] ' Town, village of Bebba,' or of his descendants. Compare Bambrough and see -ing.
Beccles (Lowestoft). Sic Domesday Book1151Rolls of the great Pipe in Becclis,1298 Bekles, 1443 Bekelys. An abnormal name. Possibly Old English bi, be Eccles, ' by, beside the church.' Compare Beeford, Bix, etc. But probably one of those rare cases of a man's name in the genitive standing alone for a placename, as in Beedon, Brailes, Coven, etc., and so ' (place of) Beoccel.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1117 Beocceles put. Domesday Book Suffolk has also Abecles, and Domesday Book Norfolk. Breckles, Breechles.
Beckenham (Kent). Old English charter Beohhahamme, Beohhema, Domesday Book Bacheham, before 1200 Text. Roff. Becceham. A little doubtful; probably not 'Becca's home,' as in Beckbury (Shifnal), nor' enclosure on the bach or beck, as in Bacup; but probably 'enclosure of Beohha,’ though we should have expected some sign of the genitive Compare Domesday Book Essex, Bacheneia; and see -ham,' enclosure.'
Beckermet (Egremont and W. Riding). Egremont B.1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Bekirmet, before 1200 Becchiremond. W. Riding B. not in Domesday Book but old Beckermond; Old Norse bekkjar mud-r,' mouth of the beck or brook.' Beck occurs again in Albuquerque Guernsey; probably Old Norse all-bekkr, 'ed brook.' ' Mouth ' in Old Norse is munn-r, mud-r. Danish mund and Norse nd regularly becomes th or t in Eng. names. Compare Amotherby, Osmotherley, and Mite. Also compare 1183 Boldon Bk. Becchermore,' moor of the brook,' in Durham.
Beckford (Tewkesbury). 803 charter Beccanforda i.e., 'ford of Becca'; 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Becheford. Compare Beckbury (Shifnal) and Becesworde. Domesday Book Surrey.
Beckingham (Gainsboro' and Newark). Domesday Book Notts Beching(e)ham, [Lines Bechebi]; and Beckington (Bath). Domesday Book Bechingtone. ' Home ' and ' village of Beca's descendants.' Compare above; and see -ing, -ham, and -ton.
Beckwithshaw (Harrogate). Domesday Book Becvid. It seems tautology. ' Wood on the beck or brook.' Compare Beckermet. For -with is Icelandish vith-r, ' a wood, shrubs ' (compare Askwith); and -shaw is Old English scaga, ' a wood ' (compare Audenshaw).
Bedale (Northallerton). Sic in Domesday Book It is on R. Ure. Analogy would make this, Old English he dal.,' by, near the dale.' Compare Beal and Beeford. Of course, it might be ' bee dale,' Old English beo probably not.
Beddgelert (Carnarvon). W.='grave of Gelert,’ trhe famous and faithful dog of Prince Llewellyn, in the legend, killed by him by mistake. Some, however, say the originally name was Bwth Cilarth or Bethcelert, and say it originally -was ' house; booth of Celer,' patron saint of Llangeler.
Beddingham (Lewes). 810 Grant Beadyngham, ' Home of the Beadingas.' Compare Beeding, Bedestgham, and next.
Beddington (Croydon and Hants). Croydon B. circa, 905 Beddinctun, Domesday Book Beddmtone. Probably patronymic like the above, and so ' town, village of the Beadingas.' Compare 854 charter Beaddingbroc. But both this and the above may be from a man Bedda.
Bedfont (Middlesex). Domesday Book Bedefunde, -funt. ' Beda's font,' Old English font, 2-6 funt(e). Compare Bedfield, Framlingham, and Chalfont.
Bedford. There is also a Bedford near Manchester. The Bedford is in Welsch Rhydwely, which probably means ' ford on this torrent,' Welsch gweilgi. Old English Chronicum 577 Bedecanford; 1011 Old English Chronicum Bedanfordscir, 1016 the same Beadaford scire, circa, 1150 Bedefordia. ' Ford of Bedeca.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1307 Bedecan lea. The Manchester B. is 1296 Bedeford,' Boeda's ford.'
Bedingfield (Eye and Notts). Eye B. Domesday Book Bedinge-fielda, Bedinga- fielda, Bading-. Notts B. Not in Domesday Book, before 1199 Bedingefeld. Probably both patronymics like Beddingham. But Bedingham (Bungay). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 81, Beddenham, is ' home of Bedda’,' See -ing.
Bedlengton (Northumberland). Charter Betligtona, Bellintona, circa, 1155 Bellingtonesir (-shire). 'Town, village of Bedling,’ a name found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, probably a patronymic. Compare Bidlingtom, Sussex, before 1100 Bedelingstone. See-ing.
Bedlinog (Glamorgan). Welsch bedd llwynog,' grave of the fox'; but T. Morgan thinks rather, bedw llwynog., ' place with a grove of birch-trees ‘; they are plentiful here.
Bedminster (Bristol). Domesday Book Betminstre, 1155 Bedmenistre. ' Beda's minster ' or ' church.' Compare Bedfont and see -minster.
Bedmont (Herts). Not in Skeat. ' Beda's mount' or 'hill.' Old English munt, Latin mons, -tis,' a mountain.'
Bednal (Stafford). Domesday Book Bedehala. 1271 Beden hulle (-'hill'), before 1300 Bedan- Baden hale. ' Bede's nook ' or ' hall =Beadnell. Compare Bethnal Green, and 1160-01 Rolls of the great Pipe Nthbld. Bedehal.
Bedwas (Cardiff). Old Welsch bed gwas, ' grave of the servant.'
Bedwin, Bedwyn, Great and Little (Hungerford). 778 charter Bedewind, Domesday Book Bedvinde,1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Eastbedewind. As wind in Old English simply means ' wind,' this would seem to be Welsch bedd gwynn, ' fair, beautiful grave.' Though it is said to be Old English Chronicum 675 Bedanhafod or Biedenhafod, i.e. ' Bieda's head' or ' headland.' But the two names cannot be the same.
Bedworth (Nuneaton). Domesday Book Bedeword. ' Beda's farm ' Compare Bedminster, etc., and see -worth.
Beeding (Steyning). Domesday Book Bed(d)inges (nominativ plural). Patronymic. See Beddingham.
Beedon Hill (Newbury). Charter Bedene, Bydene; Domesday Book Bedene; 1316 Budeneye; 1428 Budene, Bedene. Skeat thinks this must be simply Old English Bedan, ' Byda's or Beda's,' 'home ' to be supplied. Compare Biddenham. This is a rare type of name, but see Baldon, Benson, and Wigan.
Beeford (Driffield). Domesday Book Biworde. ' Beside the farm or estate 'Old English bi worth; -worth and -ford often interchange. Also compare Beal and Bideford.
Beenham or Benham (Reading). 956 charter Bennanhamme; Domesday Book Benneham, Beneham. ' Home of Benna’; see-ham. In Calend. Inquisit. I. we find ' Benham manerium among lands held by ' Adomarus de Valencia or Aymer de Valence, hence the full name B. Valence.
Beer (Axminster), Domesday Book Bere, Beer Alston, and Beer Ferris (Devon). Domesday Book Bere, Bera. Old English bearu, 'a wood'; and see Alston. The other name is better written Bere Ferrers. F. was a crusader, whose tomb is in the church here.
Beesby (Alford). Domesday Book Besebi. ' Village, dwelling of Besa.'' One in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-by.
Beeston (Leeds, etc.). Leeds B. Domesday Book Bestone, 1202 Bestona. Notts B.-Domesday Book Bestune. Chester B.Domesday Book Buistane. Perhaps Bovis in the antonic Itenerary The Chester B. looks as if from Norse bui, ' a goblin; but the others are probably from the name Begha or Bees. Compare above.
Beeston castle recorded as Buistane in Domesday, Beeston comes from the Old English ‘byge’ and ‘stan’, meaning the stone or rock where commerce takes place.
Beetham (Westmorland). Domesday Book Biedun, which may be ' Bede's hill; it is very rare ford dun to become -ham. '
Beetley (Dereham). Domesday Book Betellea. Doubtful, more old forms needed. Probably, as above, from a man Beta. But perhaps ' beet- root meadow.' from Old English bete; whilst Betel- might also stand for Bethild or Betweald, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Begelly (Pembrokshire). Old Bugeli. It is thought to be a tribal name, from Welsch bugail, Gaelic buachail, 'a shepherd'; or perhaps a man's name, Bugail; compare Merthir ('martyr') Buceil in Lib. Land., once near Bridgend, Glamorgan
Beighton (Rotherham and Norwich). Rotherham B. not in Domesday Book Norwich B. Domesday Book Begetona, 1450 Beyton, Boyton. ' Begha's town.' Compare St. Bees.
Bekesbourne (Canterbury). Not in Domesday Book ' Beca’s' or ' Becca's brook. See-bourne, and compare Beckbury.
Belbroughton (Stourbridge). 817 charter Belne, et Brocton, Domesday Book Bellem, Brotune. before 1200 Beolne, 1275 Belne-Bruyn, Brocton, before 1400 Belne-Brocton, -brotton, Bellenbrokton. A curious compound. Broughton is plain enough but ' Belne’'seems at present insoluble.
Belchamp St. Paul and Belghamp Walter (Suffolk). Domesday Book Belcamp. O. France hel cliamp, ' fine field or plain.' Same name as Beauchamp or Beacham. Compare Domesday Book Bucks, de Belcamp, 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe ' Belcap,' Hereford, and Beachamwell; also 1281 Close R. Belcham, Essex.
Belchford or Belshford (Horncastle). Domesday Book and 1281 Beltesford. Domesday Bookand 1281 Beltesford. Probably ‘ford of Bealda’, two in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But compare Dom Essex Belcham. Onom has one Balchi.
Belford (Northumberland), circa, 1175 Fantosme Belefort; there is in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 454 Bellan ford. Perhaps Old France ' bel fort, ' fine fort,' as in Belfort, Alsace. But probably ' ford of a man Bella ‘; compare Bellingham.
Belgrave (Leicester). Old forms needed. Not in Domesday Book Probably 'Bella's grave,' Old English graf. Compare above. From this comes Belgravia, London.
Bellbusk (Leeds). Not in Domesday Book ' Bell-bush,' referring to an inn sign. ' Good wine needs no bush,' which is M.E. busk, OLD NORSE busk-r, 3-7, and still in Northern dialect, busk.
Belleford (Dartmoor). Old forms needed? Domesday Book Boleborde (b for f, or else v. and so =-worth, with which -ford often interchanges)? 'ford of Bola' two in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Bolsover and Belford. All Dartmoor names in -ford are said by some to be from W fjord, ‘a road, a way’. This is doubtful.
Belford. All Dartmoor names in -ford are said by some to be from Welsch ffordd, ' a road, a way.' This is doubtful.
Bellerby (Bedale). Domesday Book Belgebi,1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Beleg'ebi, Berlegerbi perhaps ' dwelling of Bealdgaer,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum More old forms needed. The name may still survive in the surname Bellairs. See -by.
Belle Vue (Manchester). Modern France =' fine view.' Compare Belvoir and Belvedere, Erith, which is Ital., with similar meaning
' fine to see,' or ' fine view.'
Bellingham (N. Northumberland, Notts, and Kent). Notts B. sic 1230 Close R. ' Home of Belling ' or 'of the sons of Bella.'' Compare Inquis. Cambridgeshire Belincgesham, and Billingsgate. Also, Bellington (Worcestershire.), Domesday Book Belintones, 1275 Belinton. See -ing and -ham and -ton.
Belmont (Bolton and Surrey). France='fine hill.'
Belper (Ambergate). Not in Domesday Book Compare Belrepeir, Haresfeld, circa, 1220 Bewper, circa, 1450 Beaurepaire, which last is France. for' lovely haunt'; old France. bel., France beau, 'fine, beautiful.' Compare Barripper.
Belsay (Newcastle). ' Bells or Bella's island. Compare Belford and see -ay.
Belsay Hall Belsay, as in Belsay Hall, has two possible explanations. ‘Bel’ could mean a warning beacon or could refer to a man called Bil, and ‘ho’ or ‘hoh’ means hill spur or ridge. So it could be something like beacon hill spur or Bil’s ridge – take your pick.
Belstone (Okehampton). Domesday Book Bellestham. Here the ending has changed from ham to tun or -ton. The name of the man intended by the first part is a little doubtful but is probably Bella. Compare Belford and Domesday Book Beleslei, Salop. Domesday Book's form may be a scribal error.
Belton (Doncaster. etc.). Probably not ' town with the bell,' Old English belle, but ' Bella's town.' Belthorp, Helmsley, is Domesday Book Balchetorp (compare Belchford); but Belby, York, is Domesday Book Bellebi. Compare Belford.
Belvoir Castle (Grantham), pronunciation Beever. circa, 1540 Leland Beavoire, Bever. Old France =' fine to see,' or 'fine view.' Compare Bellevue and Belvedere.
Bembridge (Ryde). Old forms needed. Bern- may be Old English beam, ‘a tree, a beam.'
Bemerton (Salisbury). Domesday Book Bimertone. 'Town, village of the trumpeter,' Old English beamere, bymere.
Bempton (Flamborough). Domesday Book Bentone. Probably= Bampton= i.e., Old Eenglish bean-dun, ' bean hill.' It is 3-6 ben. See -don and -ton.
Benefield (Oundle). before 1100 Grant of 664, Beinfelde, circa, 1200 Gervase, Benigfelde. Doubtful. Possibly ' field of Beonna,' or Benna,’ a common Old English name, in one case Latinized Benignus. It might even be Old English bean-feld, ' bean field.'
Benenden (Staplehurst). Domesday Book Benindene. ' Den or dean or haunt of Benna or Beonna, genitive -an. Compare above and Biddenden, close by.
Benfleet, N. and S. (Essex). 893 Old English Chronicum Beamfleot (circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Beamfled), which is Old English for ' tree river,’? river lined by trees. It is Domesday Book Benflet, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Bemflet. See Fleet.
Bengeo (Hertford). Domesday Book Belingehon, 1210 Beningeho, Benigho, 1291 Beningho. ' Hoe, hoo or high ground of the Bennings,' or 'sons of Ben(n)a'; Old english hoh, ho, 'high ground, hill.' Compare Bletsoe and next. As to Domesday Book's form, compare Bennington. Domesday Book is always confusing the liquids.
Bengeworth (Evesham). 709 charter Benigwrthia. 714 the same Benincgworthe, 780 the same Benincwyrthe, Domesday Book Benningeorde, Bennicworte. ' Farm of the sons of Ben(n)a.' Compare Benefield, Bengeo, and Benniworth; and see -ing and -worth.
Benhall Green (Saxmundham). Domesday Book Benehal(l)a. ' Benna'' or Beonna's nook.' Compare Beenham and Benson, and Domesday Book Benehale, Salop. See-hall.
Benhilton (Sutton, Sussex). Not in Domesday Book Old Benhill Town. Probably ' Benna's or Beonna's hill.' Compare above.
Benington (Boston), Bennington (Stevenage), and Benniworth (Lines.). Boston B. Domesday Book Beninctun, Beningtone, circa, 1275 Benig-ton. Stevenage B. Domesday Book Belintone. ' Town and ' farm of the ' Bennings,' a patronymic. Compare Bengeo and Benton; and see -ton and -worth.
Ben Rhydding (Leeds). ' A modern coinage.' Ben is Gaelic beinn, ' a mountain, a hill,' Welsch penn. Welsch rhydd is ' red.'
Benson, more fully Bensington (Wallingford). Old English Chronicum ann. 571 Baenesingtun, 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Bensentun. 'Town of the Bensings.' There is a Dan. chief Benesing in 911 Old English Chronicum. For the contracted or dropped ending, compare Baldon and Beedon; and see -ing and -ton.
Bentham (Lancaster and Badgeworth). Lancaster B. Domesday Book Benetain (scribe's error). ' Home among the bennet or bent grass,' Old English beonet, circa, 1325 bent. Compare next and Chequerbent; and see -ham.
Bentley (Doncaster, Walsall, Atherstone, on Severn, Suffolk, etc.). Don. B. Domesday Book Benedlage, Benedleia, Benelei, 1298 Bentele, Walsall B. before 1200 Benaetlea, Benetlegh. Atherstone B. Domesday Book Benechelie, before 1300 Bentley. Severn B. 962 charter Beonet leage, 1017 the same Beonetleah. Suffolk B. 1455 Bentele. ' Meadow of the bentgrass or bennet,' see above. Compare Bentworth, Hants. In some cases, perhaps from Benet for Benedict. See -ley.
Benton (Newcastle). 1311 Durham Reg. Benton, Benington. This is clearly a contracted patronymic, ' Town, village of the Bennings’; compare Benington. Other ' Bentones ' have become Bampton or Bempton.
Benwell (Newcastle), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Bynnewalle i.e., ' within the (Roman) wall.' Old English binnan, 2-4 binne ' within, inside of.' Compare Binbrook, and the Scottish ' ben the house,' where ben is, says Oxford Dictionary, variant of binne.
Benwick (March). Ramsey Charter Benewick. Probably ' Ben(n)a's or' Beonna's dwelling.' See-wick.
Beoley (Redditch). 972 charter Beoleahe, Domesday Book Beolege, 1327 Beleye. ' Meadow of the bees,' Old English beo. Compare Beley, Beobridge, Claverley, Salop, and Beausalo, Warwick, Domesday Book Beoshelle or ' bees 's nook,' see -hall; also see -ley.
Berden (Bp's. Stortford). Domesday Book Berdane. Probably ' barley dean or ' den ' or ' glen.' Old English bere ' bear or barley.' Compare Berwick; and see -den.
Berea (Haverfordwest), France Acts xvii. 10. Welsch Nonconformists love to name their chapels, and the villages around them, so. Hence, we also have Bethel, Beulah, Horeb, etc.
Bereppa (Cornwall). See Barripper.
Bere Regis (Wareham). Old English beam ' wood.' Latin regis ' of the king.' Compare Beer and Lyme Regis.
Bergh Apton (Norwich). Domesday Book Berc, Berch. Merc, berh., Old English beorh, beorg, ' hill, grave, barrow.' Apton is ' town, village ' of ‘Apa, Ape, Appa, Appe, or Appo’; all these forms are found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Baddeley derives La Berge, Gloucestershire., from beorg also.
Berghholt (Colchester). Domesday Book B'colt, Bercoit. See above. Holt is Old English and Icelandish holt,' a wood, a grove.'
Berkeley (Sharpness). 824 charter Beorc-, Berclea, 1088 Old English Chronicum Beorclea. circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Beorchelaum, before 1142 Wm. Malmes. Bercheleia, 1297 Robert of Gloucester Berkele. Probably ' meadow of the birch-trees,' Old English beorc, byre. Compare Domesday Book Wore, Berchelai. B. Herness, in same shire, Baddeley derives from Old English hyme, Mittel English hilrne, 'corner, district'; it is Domesday Book Berchelai hernesse.
Berkhamsted 1066 Old English Chronicum Beorhhamstede; 1155 Berkhamstede, before 1200 charter Berhamstead; 1501 Will Gret Berkehamstede. Probably Old English beorh-ham-sted, ' sheltered-home-place,' or fortified farm. Perhaps 'home-place of Beorht,' a very common OLD ENGLISHname. Compare Berstead.
Berkshire. 931 charter Be(a)rruc-scire; 1011 Old English Chronicum Bearrucscir; Domesday Book Berrochescire, Berchesira; 1297 Barcssire; circa, 1325 Barkschyre (which is still the pronunciation). ' Box-tree-shire,' Old English bearroc; though some, without sure evidence, would derive from the tribe Bihroci, Caesar B.G. v. 21 or even say it is ' bare oak shire’! Bearruc is a diminitiv of bearu, which mean simply, ‘a wood, a grove ' the meaning ' box-tree ' is a later and perhaps mistaken idea.
Berkswell (Coventry). Domesday Book Berchewelle; before 1400 Bercleswelle. It seems ' well of Beorht or Berct,’ but form before 1400 points to an earlier Begrcol. 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Bermondsey (London)? Before 715Vermundsei, 'isle of Foermund or Pharamond.' But Domesday Book Bermmidesye circa, 1180 Ben. Peterb.; Bermundsheia. ' Bermund's ' or ' Bermond’ s isle.' Compare ' Bearmodes lea,' Worcestershire in Grant, circa, 802; and see -ey.
Berney Arms (Yarmouth).? from the France Bernay near Evreux. Villages called after public - houses are common all over England, and not less so in Welsch.
Bernwood Forest (Bucks). 921 Old English Chronicum Byxnewudu i.e., Old English for ' Beorn's or ' Byrne's wood.' Old Norse bjorn means ' ' a bear.'
Berriew (Montgomery). =Aber-Rhiw, ' confluence of the R. Rhiw' with the Severn. In Welschrhiw is ' a breakout also ' a'; slope.' Compare Barmouth.
Berrington (Tenbury and Shrewsbury and Gloucestershire.). Tenbury and Shrewsbury B. Domesday Book Beritune. Tenbury B. 1275 Beriton. Gloucestershire B. 1273 Byrton. Possibly =Burton; quite as likely, ' town of Boera,' -an, now become Berry. Compare Barrington and Burbury; and see -ing.
Berrow (Burnham and Ledbury). Variant of Barrow.
Berry Brow (Huddersfield). Berry like the above, is perhaps a variant of Barrow, ' a hill, a mound,' M.E. berghe, berie. But Berry or Bury Hill, Stone, is a 1300 Le buri; see -bury. Brow, Old English bru. is found used for ' brow or edge of a hill as early as circa, 1435. In North, dial, it commonly means ' a slope, an ascent,' as in Everton Brow and Shaw's Brow, two steep streets in Liverpool. Compare Domesday Book Warwick and Wore, ' Bericote.' The Yorks Domesday Book Berg has now become Baragh and Barugh.
Berrymead Priory (Acton, Middlesex). ' Mead or meadow with the mound or hillock.' See Berry Brow and Barrow.
Berrynarbor (Ilfracombe). Old forms needed. Not in Domesday Book, and all is doubtful. The first part is probably Old English biorn, beorn, 4-5 beryn, ' a hero, a warrior.' As to -arbor, it might quite possibly be for harbour, the Mittel English herberg, in 6 harbor, which means originally ' any kind of place of shelter or sojourn.' Not so likely from arbour, which is from France and first in English circa, 1300 herber.
Bersham (Wrexham). Old forms needed, compare Domesday Book Suffolk, Barsha; but probably' Home of Ber, 'a man named in Cheshire Domesday Book
Bersted (Sussex). 680 charter Beorganstede, Old English for ' Beorgd's place ‘; 2 Beorgas in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Berwick (on Tweed, etc.). 700-15 charter Wihtred Bereueg (Kent); 1060 charter Uppwude cum Ravelaga berewico suo' ; Berwick on Tweed 1097 Berwick, before 1150 Berewic, Berwich, 1187 Suthberwyc (as contrasted with North Berwick, Sc). Shrewsbury B. Domesday Book Berewic. Old English berewic ' a demesne farm.' from here, ' barley.' and wic, ' dwelling, village.' Compare Barton, also Berwick St. James and St. John, Salisbury.
Berwyn (Llangollen) and Berwyn Mount, Welsch aher gwyn, ' clear, bright confluence.' For loss of a-compare Abergavenny and Berriew. Beryan (Cornwall). Sic 1536. Called after Buriena, pretty daughter of Aengus, King of Munster, time of St. Patrick.
Bescar Lane (Southport). Old forms needed. Not in Wyld and Hirst. Possibly it is =Bessacar, Cantley, Yorks, 1202 Besacre, which, though it might be ' Besa's acre ' or ' field,' is probably ' Besa's rock,' Anglian Old English carr. But Bes- may represent many things. See below.
Bescot (Walsall). Domesday Book Bresmundescot, before1300 Ber(e)mundescote, Bermondscote, Bermonscot, before 1400 Berkmondescote, Berkescote. This is an extraordinarily contracted form, from Old English Beorhtmundes cot.
Besthorpe (Attleborough and Newark). Attleborough B. Domesday Book Besethorp, Newark B. Bestorp. ' Besa's, village.' Compare Beeston and Bescar and see-thorpe. Bessingby, Yorks, was Domesday Book Basingebi.
Beswick (Manchester and Beverley). Manchester B. 1327 Bexwyk. 'Becc's dwelling.' But Beerley B. is Domesday Book Basewic, which is probably ' Bassa's dwelling.' Compare Baschurch and Bastwell. See -wick.
Betchley (Tiddenham). Old Bettisley, 'lea of Betti.' Compare Beachley, Batchworth, and Betchworth, Surrey (? from Becca).
Bethania (B1. Festmiog), Bethel (Carnarvon), Bethesda (Bangor), and Beulah (Brecon) are all Bible names for villages called after Nonconformist chapels. Compare Berea.
Bethnal Green (London), before 1600 Bednall Green. Said to be ' Bathon'shall,' from the family Bathon, who had lands in Stepney, temp. Edw. I. But Bednal is Bedanheal or ' Bede's nook or hall.' See -hall.
Betley (Crewe). Domesday Book Betelege, before 1200 Betteleg. 'Beta's lea or meadow.' Old English bete also means 'beet root'; but this would give Beetley. Compare Bitton.
Bettisfield (Whitchurch). Domesday Book Beddesfeld. 'Field of Beta, Beta, or Bettu,' all names found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Betesden.
Bettws (8 in Postal Guide). Welsch bettws, ' a place of shelter and comfort,' ' a (prayer) house.' Common in Welsch, and there are two in England, B. y Crwwyn (Old Welsch crewyn, ' pen. sty. hovel) Salop, and B. Newydd (' new '), Newport, Monmouthshire It seems now agreed that Welsch bettws phonetically and actually represents Eng. head-house, circa, 1160 bed hus, ' prayer-house, alms-house.' Bettws is said to have been first applied to a Welsch parish church in 1292, Taxat. of Benefices. But how is it that Welsch has so many ' bead-houses ' among her placenames, and England none?
Bettws Cedewen (Montgomery). Cedewen is probably Cedwyn, a Welsch sixth century. saint.
Bettws Garmon (Caernarvon). ' House of St. Garmon' or Germanus, twice a visitor of Britain, and peril, the man who sent St. Patrick to Ireland. Compare Capel Garmon and Llanarmon.
Bettws-Gwerful-Goch (Corwen). ' House of Red Gwerful,'' who must have been a Welsch saint. Compare Ffynon gwerfil, ' Gwerfil's well,' a farm, Cardigansh.
Bettws-y-Coed (N. Wales). Welsch' house in the wood.'
Bevere(ge) (island in Severn). Charter Beverege, before 1100 Beverie. Old English beofer-ige, ' beaver-isle.' The beaver was not extinct in England till circa, 1 100. Ige as an ending in Eng. names has usually become -ey, q.v.
Beverley Domesday Book Bevreli, Beurelie; circa, 1180 Bened. Peterh. Beverlacum; 1387 Trevisa. ' Beverlay….the place or lake of bevers.' O.E ‘beoferor byfere-leah.' beaver-meadow ' though both Bened. And Trevisa seem to think the ending maybe Old English lac.' pool.' Compare Filey. Beverley is also the name of a brook at Wimbledon, 693 charter Beferith, where rith is' stream.' Compare above.
Beverstone (Tetbury), 1048 Old English Chronicum Beofres stan. i.e., ' the beaver's rock,' Domesday Book Beurestone.
Bewcastle (Carlisle). Old France beau castel, ' fine castle.' Compare Beaulieu pronuncation Bewley, and next.
Bewdley (Kidderminster). 1304 Beaulieu, circa, 1440 Bewdeley. France beau lieu, ' beautiful spot,' as in Beaulieu, Hants, pronuncation Bewly. Also compare Bewsboro’, Kent, 1228 Close B. Beausbergh.
Bewholme (Hull). Domesday Book Begun, 1202 Beighum. Probably ' Begha's ham.'' or ' home.' The endings -ham and -holme, ' meadow,' q.v. often interchange. Possibly begun maybe locative Of Old English beg, ' at the rings.' This locative is common in Yorks. See -ham.
Bexhill (Hastings). Domesday Book has only Bexelei. ' Becca's hill.' next, B.C.8. 309 Beccanford. and Domesday Book Bucks, Bechesdene.
Bexley (Kent). Domesday Book Bix; before1200 Text. Roff. Bixle; later Bekesley; also compare Domesday Book Hants, Bexeslei. ' Bicas, Bicca's, or Becca's lea or meadow.' All these names are found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Bexhill and Bix.
Beyton (Bury St. Edmund's). Domesday Book Begatona, 1288 Beyton, ‘Begha’s town.' Compare Bayworth.
Bibury (Fairford, Glostr.). circa, 740 charter Beagan byrig, Domesday Book Beche-, Begeberie. This must be as above, ' burgh, fortified town of Begha.' See -bury.
Bicester (Oxon). Domesday Book 1307 Bernecestre? 1149 Burcetur, 1216 Burnecestr', 1414-31 Burcestre, 1495 Bysseter, 1612 Bisceter, 1634 Bister, the present pronuncation ' Camp of Beorn,'' in Norse Biorn. A fine study in the disappearance of liquids! See -cester.
Bickenhill (Birmingham). Domesday Book Bichehelle before1200 Bychenhulle, Bigen hull, Biken hull Old English Bicanhyll, ' hill of Bica' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Bickmarsh, Alcester, 967 charter At Bicanmersce. It is just possible it is ' beacon-hill,' Old English becen, becun, Wyclii bikene, S.W. dial, bick'n. This is not confirmed by Bickmarsh, Honeybourne, Domesday Book Bichemerse, 1608 Bickemershe.
Bicker (Boston). Domesday Book Bichere. Doubtful. Probably Not Mittel English biker (1297 Robert of Gloucester), origin unknown, 'a bicker, a skirmish'; nor Old Norse bikarr, ' a beaker, an open cup or goblet,' used here to describe the shape of the site; but probably variant of Old Norse bekk-r, ' a brook.' Also compare next.
Bickerstaffe (Ormskirk). circa, 1200 Bikerstat, 1230 Bykstat, circa, 1260 Berkerstat, circa, 1280 Bekirstat, 1292 Bykerstath. 1267 Bikerstaff. The Bicker- is a little uncertain. The Eng. bicker, ' a quarrel,' is of unknown origin, and not found till 1297, so is unlikely here. The old forms seem to waver between Old Norse bekkjar, ' of the brook,' compare Beckermet, and bjarkar, genitive of Old Norse bjork, 'birch.' The ending is curious; it also wavers between Old Norse stad-r, ' place,' and Old English stoep, 'shore, riverbank this is still preserved in the personal name Bickersteth. Compare Bickershaw. Wigan, and Bycardyke, 1189 Bikeresdic, Notts.
Bickerton (Wetherby and Cheshire). Wetherby B. Domesday Book Bickretone, Bichreton. Cheshire B. Domesday Book Bicretone. Asbicker is not found in Engelant till 1297, probably' brook-town.' See above and Bickerstaffe.
Bickerey (Glastonbury). 971 charter 'In insulis ' (i.e., the lowlands often forming islands in flood-time) . . . Bekeria, which is called ' parva Ybernia,' or 'little Ireland'; from Old Irish bee Eriu, ' little Erin,' Erinn being genitive of Eriu. Off Wexford is Beggary-island, really the same name; McClure, p. 205.
Bickington (Barnstaple and Newton Abbot). Domesday Book Bichentone. ' Town, village of Bic(c)a' genitive -an. See above. Compare Bexley, and1167-8 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon, Bichingbrige. See-ing.
Bickleigh (Tiverton) and Bickley (Kent). Both in Domesday Book Bichelei. ' Bicca's ' or ' Bica's. meadow.' Compare Bickford, Penkridge, Domesday Book Bigeford, 1334 Bikeford, probably from Bica too; also Domesday Book Cheshire Bichelei, and Devon Bicheford.
Bicknacre (Chelmsford). ' Field of Bica' -an. Acre is Old English aecer, acer, ' a plain, open country ‘; Latin ager, ' a field.' Compare Bickenhill, and next.
Bicknoller (Taunton). Domesday Book has only Bichehalle. ' Bica' a alder'; or else perhaps 'Beacon-alder-tree’. Old English alor, aler, air, olr, ' an alder.' See above and Bickenhill. Bicknor on Wye, Domesday Book Bicanofre, 1298 Bykenore, is clearly ' Bica's bank.' See -or, -over.
Bickton Heath (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Bichetone, also the same Bichedone (Bucks). [Compare 1298, 'Thomas de Bikebury.] ' Bicca's town or village.' Compare Bexley and Bickleigh.
Biddenden (Staplehurst) and Biddenham (Bedford). Ol dBidenham, Bedenham. ' Bidda's ' or ' Byda’s wooded valley ' and ' home.' Compare Beedon, and Bidboro', Tunbridge Wells; and see -den and -ham.
Biddestone (Chippenham). Domesday Book Bedestone, ' Bedda's' or ' Bidda’ s stone' or 'town.' See -ton; and compare Bidston, Domesday Book Cheshire Bedesfeld, and above.
Biddler R. (Congleton). Domesday Book and later Bidolf. This is an Old English personal name, Beadulf or Beaduwulf. Such are very rarely applied to places without a suffix; but compare Crantock, Snitter, Northumberland Tydd, etc.
Bideford. Domesday Book Bedeford, before 1300 Bydyford, Budeford. The form ' Bytheford ' is also found early but this is mere ' popular etymology.' The name is ' ford of Bede. Buda,’ or ' Byda.'' Compare Biddestone and next. Possibly-ford maybe for fjord, as in Haverfordwest, Waterford, Wexford, etc. The Norsemen- came all round the Bristol Channel.
Bidford (Stratford-on-Avon). 710 charter Budiforde, Domesday Book Bedeford, before 1600 Bidford. ' Ford of Buda' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, which has also 2 Bydas. Compare above, and Bidfield, Fort Of Dean, old Budefield.
Bidston (Birkenhead), and Biel. See Biddestone and Beal.
Bierton (Aylesbury). Domesday Book Bertone. Probably 'bear' or 'barley -town.' Old Eenglish here, 6-8 beer. Hardly from Old English boer, ber, ' a bier for carrying a corpse.' North Bierley (Yorks), Domesday Book Birle, looks as if Eng.-ley had been attached to Old Norse by-r,' house, hut, byre.'
Bigbury (Kingsbridge). Domesday Book Bicheberie. Not from 'big,' adjectiv, which is unknown in Eng. till circa, 1300, but ' Bica’s or Biga's, burgh,' or 'fort.' Compare Bigsweir on Wye, 1322 Bikiswere. See -bury.
Biggin (Coventry and Rugby) and Biggin Hill (Westerham, Kent), The only old form we have met is Cov. B.1327 Bugginge. Biggin is North, word for 'building, house,' Old Norse byggja, 'to dwell, to build,' already found in 1153 Newbigginghe, Oxnam, Roxburgh.; but probably It only filtered late South into Warwick. In Kent it seems most unlikely; there biggin may be France beguin, 'a child's cap,' found in Eng. from 1530, whose shape might easily be thought like that of the hill; or else from a man Biga, -an.
Biggleswade (Beds). Domesday Book and1132 Bicheleswade, Bichelesda.,'Ford,' literair ' wading-place of Bichel ' or ' Beccel.' Perhaps he who was servant of St. Guthlac of Croyland; -wade is Old English weed, Mittel English wath, ' a ford.'
Bighton (Alresford) Domesday Book Bighetone. ‘Bigha’s. Biga’s, or Begha’s town or village.
Bignall End (Staffordshire). Not in Duignan. Probably ' Biga's' or ' Bigo's nook ' or ' hall.' Compare Beadnell and Bednal. The n is the sign of the genitive See-hall.
Bigrigg (Carnforth). Possibly ' Big ridge'; see -rigg. Big is an adjectiv of unknown origin, and does not come into Eng. until Havelock, before 1300. The big may also be Old Norse bygg, ' barley,' found in Engelant and Scottish from circa, 1450.
Bilbrough (York). In Domesday Book Mileburg (? from a man Milo). ' Burgh, fortified town of Billa' as in Bilham and Bilton also in Yorks, Domesday Book Bileham and Bil(l)etone. Compare Bilsborough, Bilborough, Notts, Domesday Book Bileburg(h), and Domesday Book Essex, Bilichangra,' steepslope of Bila.' See -burgh.
Billesdon (Leicester). ' Billa's dune' or 'hill,' or 'fort.' Compare Bilborough, and Billesley (Warwick), 704 charter Billes laeh, Domesday Book Billeslei, 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Bileslega; and see -don.
Billing (Wigan). Patronymic. There are two Billings in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum it may mean ' descendant of Belin.' On ' blissful King Belyn see circa, 1205 Layamon, 4290 seq. Compare Billingford, Dereham, Billingham, Stockton, and next; also, Bealings.
Billinghay (Lincoln). 1285 ' Waltero de Billingeye' (found in Norfolk). See above; -hay is Old English haga, Icelandish hagi, ' an enclosed field,' same root as hedge.
Billingley (Yorks). Domesday Book Bilingeleia, 1178-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Billingslea, and Billingsley (Bridgnorth). Perhaps 1055 Old English Chronicum Bylgesleg. 'Billing's, meadow.' Compare before 1100 ' Belnesthorpe,' Lines. See -ley.
Billingsgate (London) and Billingshurst (Sussex). 1250 Layamon, Belynes sar. See Billing, and -hurs, a wood’, aso cf 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Bilingete, Hants.
Billington (Stafford), Domesday Book Belintone, and Billington Langho (Whalley). Sim. Dur. ann. 798 Billingahoth. 'Town of the Billings,' see Billing. The-both in Sim. Dur. Ma yrepresent the -ho in Langho. Hoe, as in Plymouth Hoe, is Old English hoh, ho, ' a hill, high ground.'
Bilney, East (Dereham). Domesday Book Bilenei, 1298 Bilneie. 'Isle of Bil(l)a.' Compare Binley and see -ey.
Bilsborough (Preston), and Bilsby (Alford). Domesday Book Billesbi. =Bilbrough. ' Billa's burgh or fort,' and ' dwelling.' See -borough and -by.
Bilston 994 Bilsetnatun, -netun. Domesday Book Billestune, before1300 Bilestun, Bilestone. ' Billa's town ' or ' village.' See Bilbrough and Billesdon. In 994 -setna is genitive pl. of soetan, ' a settler, dweller in.' Compare Dorset, Somerset, etc.
Bilton (Knaresborough and Rugby). Knaresborough. B. Domesday Book Billetone, Bileton. ' Billa's town.' See Bilbrougii. But Rugby B. is Domesday Book Beltone, 1236 Belton, 1327 Beultone. Duignan says this is Old English Beolantun, ' town of Beola' only one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Binbrook (Market Rasen). Domesday Book Binnebroc. Probably ' within the brook.' Old English binnan, Mittel English byn ' within, inside.' Compare Benwell, Binfield, etc. But Binneford (Stockleigh, English) is 739 charter Beonnan ford,' food of Beonna' perhaps he who was father of St. Sativola of Exeter.
Binchester (Bp. Auckland), circa, 380 Antoninc Itinary Vinonia. Here the Bin- or Vin- probably represents Welsch gwyn,' white, clear'; in 1183 Boldon Bk. it is Byn cestre, -chestre, 1197 Bincestr'. Benwell. See -chester, ' camp.
Binegar (Shepton Mallet). Old forms needed. Not in Domesday Book Perhaps corruption of hin acre, ' within the field.' Old English oecer, acer, Latin ager, a' field.' Compare Bicknacre, Binfield, and Bessacar.
Binfield (Bracknell). 1316 Benefeld; but earlier Benetfeld, Bentfeld. This is ' field of bent or bennet ' i.e. a coarse grass. Old English beonet. Compare Bentley. But by temp. Hen. VIII. it had become Bynfeld, which by analogy should mean ' within the' field.' Compare Benwell, Binbrook, etc.
Bingham (Notts). Domesday Book Bingheha, Bingehamhou Wap., 1230 Close R. Bingeham. It seems hardly to be from OLD NORSE bing-r, ' a heap,' found in Eng. circa, 1325 as ' bing,' and though there seems no name in the Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum which suits, form 1209 in next suggests a man Binge or Binga. Compare Bengeworth. Mutschmann derives from Benning; see Bennington.
Bingley (Keighley). Domesday Book Bingheleia, Bingelei, 1209 Bingelege. Doubtful. See above; -ley is Old English leah, ' meadow,' and Binge- is probably some man's name.
Binley (Coventry). Domesday Book Bilnei, Bilueie, 1251 Bilney. Probably Old English Billanige, ' isle of Bil(l)a.' See -ey. Compare Bilney. Change from ln to nl is uncommon.
Binneford. See Binbrook.
Binstead (Ryde and Sussex), and Binsted (Alton, Hants). Sussex. B. 1280 Close R. Benested. Ryde B. Domesday Book Benestede, which may either be ' bean place ' or, less likely, ' prayer place,' from Old English bean, 3-6 ben, 4-6 bene,' a bean, 2-4 bene,' a prayer, petition, boon, and stede, ‘farm-yad’, staeding’. Compare Homestead. Not from bin or benne. Old English binnan, ‘within’. This never seems spelt with a central e.
Binton (Stratford, Wwk.). 710charter Bunintone, Domesday Book Benintone, Benitone. before 1200 Buvintone, 1325 Bunynton. ' Town of Buna,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; but the form Bynna is much commoner. Domesday Book Yorks, Binneton, is now Binnington.
Bercham (King's Lynn). Domesday Book Brecham, 1489 Brytcham. Compare Domesday Book' Bercham, 'Warwick. Probably' house, home built of birch.' Old English beorc, berc, byrce, birce; though the first part may be the name of a man Beorht or Berh, as in Domesday Book Yorks, Berceworde, now Ingbirchworth.
Birchanger (Bp's. Stortford). ' Birch-slope.' Old English hangra, angra, once said to be ' a meadow ' but McClure thinks ' the slope of; a hill,' and Duignan, moree xactly,' a wood growing on a hillside.' Compare Clayhangbe, Alderhanger (Worcestershire), Hungerford, and Rishangles.
Birchills (Walsall), before 1600 Birche leses, Burchelles, Byrchylles, Byrchells. ' Birch hills.' Old English berc, beorc, 5-6 byrche.
Birchover (Matlock). Domesday Book Barcoure. ' Birch brink or bank,' Old English ofr, obr, ' brink.' See Bircham, and -over.
Birdham (Chichester). Domesday Book Brideha, and Birdholme." (Chester- field). ' Bird home' and 'bird meadow.' See -holme. Bird may be a man's name, compare next. Bird in Old English is brid, Northumb. bird; and Brid is a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Birdsall.
Birdingbury (Rugby). Pronuncation Birbury. 1043 charter Burtingbury; Codex Diplomaticus 916 Birtingabyrig juxta Aven, Domesday Book Berdingberie, Derbingerie (blunder) before 1300 Burdingbury. ' Burgh, fort of the sons of Beorht,' or 'Birht.' Patronymic. See -bury.
Birdlip (Gloucester). Not in Domesday Book, 1221Bridelepe, 1262 Brudelep. Probably ' bird's leap,' Old English hlyp(e), 3 lee'p, lip, 4-6 lepe. Hindlip and Islip. Here, again. Bird may be a man's name. W. H. Stevenson points out, hlyp must sometimes mean not ' a leap,' but ' an enclosed space.' Compare Lypiatt (Stroud), old Lypgate, Lupeyate,' gate into the enclosure.'
Birdsall (York). Domesday Book Briteshale, Brideshala, 1208 Brideshale. ' Nook of Brid, Briht, or Beorht,'all names on record, and probably all the same name too. Change of r is common, as in board and broad, etc. Compare Birkby and Birtley and see -hall.
Birkby (Co. Durham and Huddersfield). Domesday Book Yorks, and 1197 E. Bretebi, Durham. ' Dweling of Beorc ' or ' Beorht,' of which Bret(t) is a late rform. Compare Birdsall; and see-by.
Birkdale (Southport). Birk is N. Eng. and Scottish for birch, Old English beorc, byrce, birce, berc. Compare Birkacre ('field '), Chorley.
Birkenhead. Sic 1282, but before 1100 Byrkhed. ' Head, promontory covered with birch,’ Old English beorc, berc, byrce, birce. The adjectiv birchen, Northern birken, is not given in the Oxford Dictionary before 1440; so that this name, in 1282, seems the earliest known instance of it.
Birkenshaw (Leeds). ' Birch wood,' Old English scaga, a wood; see above. Now a personal name in this district.
Birkin (Normanton). Domesday Book Berchinge, Berchine. A patronymic, 'Place of the descendants of Beorht.' Compare Barking; and see -ing.
Birling (Maidstone) and Biblingham (Pershore). 972 Byrlinghamme, Domesday Book Berlingeham, 1275 Byrlyngham. ' Place of the descendants of the cupbearer or butler,' Old English byr(e)le. The -ham, q.v., in this case means ' enclosure.' Compare Burlingham.
Birmingham. Domesday Book Bermingeha', 1158 Brimigham, 1166 Bremingeham, 1255 Burmingeham, 1333 Burmyncham, circa, 1413 Brymecham, circa, 1463 Bermyngham, 1538 Bermigham, also Bromieham. ' Home of the Beormingas,’ or ' sons of Beorn.' Duignan makes the original family Breme, ' illustrious,' and connects with Bromsgrove; see his full art. s.v. For the modern pronunciation Brummajem compare Whittingham, pronuncation Whittinjem, and ' Nottingjam ' is also heard.
Birstall (Leeds). Domesday Book thrice Beristade (? -ade, error for -ale) Berist- seems to be for '' Beorhtsige's' or ‘Byrcsige's,' a very common Old English name; and -ale is 'nook,' see -hall. Close by is Birstwith, from Old Norse vith-r, Old Danish wede, Danish ved, 'a wood.' Compare Askwith, etc.
Birtley (Herefordsh., Chester-le-Street, and Wark.). Chester B.1183 Britleia, Birdeia, ' Meadow of Brid,' or ' Bird,' or ' of the birds.' Transposition of r is common; compare Birdsall and Birtwistle (see Twizel). Birts Morton, Gloustershire is before 1350 Morton Brut,' 1407 Bruttes, Brutis, from Walter le Bret, known as living here, 1275, or someone earlier. The name means' the Breton.'
Biscovey (Par.) Not in Domesday Book Might be English ' Biso's cave'; the names Besa, Besi, Bisi, and Biso are all found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; whilst the Old English for ' cove or inlet ' is cofa. But Bis- looks like Cornish bes, bis, bys, ' a finger.' Compare Bissoe.
Bisham (Marlow). Domesday Book Bistesham; 1199 Bistlesham; later Bestlesham, Bustleham. ' Home of Bestel,' compare B.C.8., i. 108, ii. 206, Bestlesford, Baestlaesford, near Bradfield, also Basilden.
Bishampton (Pershore). Domesday Book Bisantune, before 1100 Bishamtone. ' The hometown or village of Bisa,' see Biscovey. The modern -hampton may here be a corruption of -antune.
Bishop Auckland, also North and West Auckland (Co. Durham). 1183 Boldon Bk. North Alcland and Aclet, West Aclet, Alcletshire, various reading Aukelandschire, 1305 Auke-, Aucland. Auckland is Old English ac land, 'oak land'; but the form Alclet is puzzling. McClure thinks it is Old English halc clet, ' haugh, river-meadow rock'; but klett-r, ' a rock’, is Old Norse, not Old English at all, nor even English, save late in Scotland. The -let r maybe a variant of Old English hlith, ' a slope.’ But this is doubtful. The Bishop is, of course, the Bishop of Durham. Also compare Auckley.
Bishop Burton (Beverley). Domesday Book Santriburtone, ' Bishop's burgh town’ or ' fortified village? from St. John of Beverley, Bishop of ' Hexham and York. The Santri-in Domesday Book Must be a corruption of sanctuary, old France saintuarie, spelt in English in 6 sanctuary; but not given in Oxford Dictionary, as English till before 1340.
Bishop Monkton (Ripon). Domesday Book Monuchetone. Old English monuc, munuc, munec, from Latin monachus, ' a monk.' CJ. Monkton.
Bishop's Canning (Devizes). Sim. Dur. ann. 1010 Canningamerse (compare Mersey). Canning is a patronymic, from Cana or Cano, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Bishop's Caundle or Caundle Bishop (Sherborne). Domesday Book Candel, Candele, Candelle. Caundle is Old English cendel, 1-4 condel, ' a candle.' Compare, too, Florio, 1611, ' Fungo . . . that firy round in a burning candle called the Bishop.'
Bishop's Cleeve (Cheltenham). Bede and circa, 780 charter Clife, Domesday Book Clive. Cleeve is Mitel English cleve, variant of cliff, Old English clif. Compare Cleveland. It is called ' Bishop's' to distinguish it from Prior's Cleeve.
Bishop's Fonthill (Salisbury). Domesday Book Fontel; but charter Funtgeall; Old English font, fant, (Latin fons, fontis), Old Frisian and in English 2-6 funt, 'a font, a fountain'; but in Dictionary gealla has only the meaning of' bile' or' a gall in the skin, ‘so it maybe an error in the charter, perhaps for heal, ' hall.' Compare Fontley, Fareham.
Bishop's Hull (Taunton). Hull is west midlands for ' hill.' See Aspull.
Bishop's Itchington (Leamington). 1043 charter Ichenton,1111the same Yceantune, Domesday Book Icetone. ' Town on the R. Itchen.' It belonged formerly to the Bishop. of Lichfield and Coventry.
Bishop's Lydbeard (Taunton). See Lydiard.
Bishop's Nympton (S. Molton). Domesday Book Nimetone, 'Town of Nima.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Numa and Nunna. On the common intrusion of p, compare Bampton.
Bishopstoke (Southampton) ‘Bishop’ (Of Winchester’s) place’. See Stoke.
Bishopston (Stratford, Warwick and Glamorgan), also Bishopstone (5 in Postal Guide) Stratford B. 1016 charter Biscopesdun i.e.,' bishop's hill-but circa, 1327 Bisshopeston. See-don and-ton.
Bishop's Stortford. Domesday Book Storteford. Skeat thinks the R. Stort may mean' pourer.' Compare Dan. styrte,' to rush, to spring, cognate with start.
Bishop's Waltham (Hants). 1001 Old English Chronicum Wealtham. The Bishop of Winchester's ' home in the weald or forest.' See Waltham.
Bishopsworth, contracted Bishport (Bristol). 'Bishop's farm.' See -worth.
Bishton (Rugeley, Tidenham, Newport, Monmouthshire). Rugeley B. Domesday Book Bispestone, before 1300 Bissopestune, Tidenham B. 956 charter Bispestune. ' Village of the bishop ' of Lichfield or Llandaff, Old English biscop, though possibly from a man Bisp), found before 1200. Compare Bishport and Bispham.
Bisley (Stroud, Coventry, Woking). Stroud B. 896 charter (late MS.) Bislege, Domesday Book Bisclege, 1156 Bisselega. Coventry B. before 1200 Bisselei. Skeat thought there must have been an Old English bisse, 'a bush'; compare Bushwood (Stratford, Warwick), before 1300 Byssewode, 1404 Biswode. But this is probably ' mead of Bisi or ' Biso,' both in ' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Wore, Biselege, and Bisham. See -ley.
Bispham (Preston). Domesday Book and circa, 1141 Biscopham i.e., 'bishop's home.' Compare Bishport.
Bissoe (Perranwell, Cornwall). Doubtful. Domesday Book Has a' Beveshoe,' which may be this, and may stand for ' how, hollow of Beffa, 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum It may be from a man Bissa. Compare Biscovey and Bengeo.
Bitterne (Southampton). Perhaps circa, 380 Anton. Itin. Clausentum. ' Bitta's or Bitto's house,' Old English erne, ' a house.' Compare next, and Whithorn (Scottish).
Bitteswell (Lutterworth).? Domesday Book Betmeswelle. [Compare circa, above 1200 Gervase ' Bittesdene,' Northants.]? ' Bitta's well.' Compare above.
Bitton (Kingswood, Glos.). Domesday Book Betone, 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Bettune. Probably ' town, village of Beta,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, or ' of Betti,' also 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Betley.
Bix (Henley). Domesday Book Bixa,1216-1307 Bixe, Bixa,1300 Buxe Jelwyni (from the Gelwyn family). Doubtful. Alexander compares Box, Herts, not an exact parallel, and derives from Old English bixen, byxen, ' (place) of the box-tree'; this is far from certain. The form bixen is very rare, and for the sb. there seems only box. Nor does here seem any good analogy. Bexley (Kent) is also Bix in Domesday Book, and seems to mean ' Beca's ' or ' Bica's lea.' As likely as not Bix is bi Ex, ' by the river.' Compare Beeford, Beal, etc., and Exe.
Blaby (Leicester). Sic 1298. OLD NORSE bla-r bi, ' blue, blae-looking hamlet.' Compare Bladon and see-by.
Blackawton (Dartmouth). (Domesday Book has Blache-berie, Blach-grave, Blache-pole, etc.). Old forms needed. Perhaps ' Blaca's Haughton" or ' village on the haugh or river-meadow.'
Blackboys (Uckfield). Not in Domesday Book Old forms needed. One may conjecture ' Blaca's boss ' or ' knoll.' Boss is found in English before 1300 meaning ' a hump,' and in 1598 meaning ' a hump- like hill '; whilst it is spelt in 5-6 boys(s). But all this is quite doubtful. Compare Blachestela, Domesday Book Surrey.
Blackburn. Domesday Book Blacheburne; also, charter Blagborn. 'Black brook,' Old English blaec, blac, circa, 1190 blache; and see -bourne. 833 charter ' Blakeburnham,' Kent.
Blacker (Barnsley). Old forms needed. Not in Domesday Book As a rule -er is contracted from -over, ' bank.' Compare Ashover, Hasler, Wooler, etc. so this is probably' black, dark bank.'
Blackheath (London, etc.). London B. circa, 1420 Lydgate, Blakeheth. Compare Blachefelde, Domesday Book Surrey.
Blackpill (Swansea). Pill here is corruption of English pool, Welsch pwl. In S. Pembrokeshire pill is quite common for ' a little bay, a creek.' Compare next.
Blackpool. Modern. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 834 Bleeccanpol i.e., ' Blacca's pool.'
Blackrod (Chorley). 1199 Blackeroade, 1292 Blakerode. Either ' Blaca's road,' or ' dark, black road,' Old English rod, North. Engelant and Scottish rodd. Compare Blackburn.
Blackwall (London). 1377 Blakewale, 1480 'the wall called Black Wall,' along the bank of the Thames.
Bladney (Somerset). 'Not in Domesday Book Probablycirca, 712 charter Bledenithe. ' Bleda's ' or ' Bloedda's Hythe.' A hithe is ' a landing-rise.'
Bladon (Woodstock, both river and village). Old English chart Blaedene, Bladaen, Domesday Book Blade, 1216-1307 Bladen(e), 1272 Bladone. Cannot be ' blae hill,' because blae or blue looking is OLD NORSE bid. But it may be contr. for ' Bloedda's hill.' Compare Codex Diplomaticus 721 Blaeddan hlaew. See -don. Baddeley thinks that this, as a river name, must be pre-English.
Blaenau Festiniog. Welsch= ' highlands of Festiniog.' Compare next.
Blaenavon (Monmouth). Welsch blaen afon, 'source, hill source of the river i.e., the R. Avon, Glamorgan.
Blaengarw (Glamorgan). Welsch= ' rough forepart,’ blaen means both ' source ' and ' fore part,' whilst its plural blaenau means ' highlands.' Welsch garw or geirw, ' rough,' is the same as Gaelic garbh, so common in Scottish names; whilst in Scottish we also have Blantyre.
Blaenllecha (Pontypridd). Welsch=' projecting rocks or stones.' Compare Blaengarw.
Blaen-y-ffos (Pembroke). Welsch=-' source of the ditch' or 'little brook.’ Welsch ffos, l. fossa.
Blagdon (Bristol and Taunton). Domesday Book Blachedone. Old English blac dun, 'dark hill'; compare Blagborn, old form of Blackburn. Blaisdon, Gloucestershire, is 1200 Blecheclun, probably ' hill of Bloecca,’ which may be the origin of Blagdon too.
Blaina (Monmouth). Welsch blaenau, 'highlands.' Compare Blaengarw.
Blakedown (Kidderminster and Kenilworth). 'Black down' or 'hill'; Old English bocec, blec, blac. Duignan has no authority for saying that black here means ' uncultivated, running wild.'
Blakenall (Walsall) and Blakenhall (Nantwich, Wolverhampton). Nantwich, B. Domesday Book Blechenhale, Wolverhampton B. circa, 1300 Blakenhale, ' Blecca's or Blaca's nook.' Compare next and Bletckley and see -hall.
Blakeney (Newnham, Glos., and Norfolk). Not in Domesday Book Newham B. circa, 1280 Blacheneia, ' Bloeca's ' or ' Blaca's isle.' Bloeca is the modern surname Blake, which may either be from Old English bloec, blac, ' black, dark man,' or from OLD NORSE bleik-r, in Eng. circa, 1205 blake, ' pale, wan.'
Blakenham, Great (Ipswich). Sic 1298, but Domesday Book Blacheha. ' Blaca's or Bloeca's home,' Compare Domesday Book Surrey, Blachingelei, a patronymic, and Blakesley, Towcester.
Blanchland (Corbridge). Land paid for in 'white' or silver money, France blanc, blanche, ' white.' ' Blanch farm ' or ' blench ferme' is a common legal term.
Blandford. Domesday Book Blaneford, Bleneford. Difficult to say what the Domesday Book forms stand for; whilst Old English blandis' a mixture, a blend,' and our adj. bland is quite modern Blandsby (Pickering), Domesday Book Blandebi, must be' dwelling of a man Bland; Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only. Blandmund and Blandwinus. More light needed for Blandford.
Blankney (Lincoln). Domesday Book Blachene. 'Isle of Blaca,' here nasalized Blanca, genitive -can. See -ey.
Blatghington (Brighton). Probably Domesday Book Bechingetone (l omitted in error). The present name represents an Old English Blceccan tun, ' Blaecca's town.' Compare Bletchingley.
Blatherwyck (Kingscliffe). 1166-7 Rolls of the great Pipe Blarewic, circa, 1350 charter Blatherwyk. ' Dwelling of Blitligoer, Blithhere, or Blithmoer.' All these names are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum For omission of th in 1166-7 compare ' Brer Babbit for ' Brother R.' See -wick.
Blawith (Ulverston). Old Norse bla vith-r, 'dark blue, blae-looking wood.' Compare Askwith.
Blaxhall (Tunstall). ' Bloecca' s nook ' or ' hall.' Compare Blatchlngton; and see-hall.
Blaydon-on-Tyne. Probably ' dark blue, blae-looking dune or hill,’ Old Norse bla, North. English and Scottish blae. Compare next.
Bleadon (Weston-s.-m.).? 975 charter Bledone and before 1100 Wincester Anno Bleodona. Probably' Coloured hill, ‘Old English Bleodun, from bleoh, ' hue, colour.' Compare Blewbury, Blofield, and Domesday Book Bucks, Bledone.
Blean or Blee (Canterbury). Domesday Book Blehem, circa, 1386 Chaucer Ble(e). Probably ' Blih's home,’ one Blih in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. For the contraction compare Beal, but it is rare to find the unstressed final syllable fallling quite away. See-ham.
Bleasdale (Garstang). 1228 Blesedale,1540 Blesedale. Possibly from a man, but seemingly ' dale, valley of the blaze or beacon- fire,' Old English blase, bloese, 3-6 North, blese.
Blea Tarn (West Midlands). 1256 Assize B. Blaterne. 'Blae, bluish mountain lake,' Old N.orse bla-r; and see Tarn.
Bleddfa (Radnor). Perhaps Welsch blaidd fau,' wolf ‘s cave.' But the old form is Bleddfach, where the ending is doubtful. Bledd is 'a plain,' and the latter part maybe ffag,' what unites or meets in a point.'
Bledington (Chipping Norton). Domesday Book Bladintone, 1221 Bladyntone, ' Town on R. Bladon.' See -ing, as river-ending.
Bledlow (Bucks). Codex Diplomaticus 721 Blaeddan hlauw; Domesday Book Bledelai,’? 1297 Scottish Chancery Roll ' Johannes de Bledelawe.' ' Bloedda's or ' Bleddas hill.' Bledisloe, Awre, Domesday Book Bliteslau, is probably from a man Blith. See -low.
Blencow (Penrith).? Welsch blaen cu, ' dear source or promontory '; compare Blaengarw and Glasgow (Scottish), also 1210 Blenecarn, Cumberland,' headland with the cairn.'
Blennerhassett (Aspatria). 1189Rolls of the great Pipe Blendherseta, 1354 Carlisle will Alan de Blenerhayset, 1473 Paston Lett. Blaundrehasset and Blenerhasset (as a personal name). This seems to be ' seat, dwelling of Blandhere or ' Blender,' an unknown man. Compare Dorset, etc. But this leaves the -hass ill-accounted for.
Bletchingley (Red Hill), Bletchington (Oxford). Domesday Book Blecestone, Blicestone, 1139 Blechedon, Blachedon, 1216-1307 Blecchesdon (see -don) and Bletchley. ' Meadow' and' village of Blecca,’; or his descendants. Compare Blatchington; and see -ing and -ley.
Bletsoe (Bedford). Domesday Book Blechesou, Blachesou, before1199 Blacheho. ' Blecca' mound.' Compare Thingoe; and see-how.
Blewbury (Didcot) and Blewbury Down. 944 charter Bleobyrig. Domesday Book Blitberie, before 1450 Bleobery. One would expect this to be from some man; but there is no name in Bleo-in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. So the first part may be as in Bleadon, ' bright borough,' literair, as Skeat puts it, ' show-borough.' Compare Fairfield, etc.
Blickling (Norfolk), Domesday BookBilkelinga,1450 Blyclyng. A patronymic; but it is not easy to give the root. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives no help.
Blidworth (Mansfield). Domesday Book Blideworde, Vlidevorde. ' Bloedda's farm.' Compare Bledington; and see-worth.
Blindley Heath (Red Hill). Old forms needed. Not in Domesday Book? blind leas or meadow’, blind being here used in its meaning of ‘obscure, dark, concealed’. A place Blindsyke is found in a Dumbartonsh. charter as early as circa, 1350.
Blisland (Bodmin) and Blisworth (Northants). Domesday Book Blidesworde, 1158-9 Rolls of the great Pipe Blieswurda. ' Land' and' farm of Blida’ (or Blih). See -worth. Pike o ‘Blisco, West Midlands’ Will be ‘peak of Blida’s or Blih’s wood.; -sco or -scou for Dhaw, cf Burscough.
Blockley, (Moreton-Henmarsh) 855 charter Bloccanleah, Domesday Book Blockelei. ' Blocca's lea.' Compare Bloxham.
Blofield (Norwich). Domesday Book Blafelda, 1157 Blafeld, 1452 Blofield. 'Leaden-coloured, bluish field.' Mittel English circa, 1250 bio, Old Norse bla, ' livid,' cognate with blue and blue. Compare Bleadon and Blowick.
Bloomsbury (London and Birmingham). Londen B. circa, 1537 Lomesbury, Lomsbury. The history of this name is very obscure, and more evidence is needed. Possibly the Lome- represents Leofman, a fairly common Old English name. See-bury.
Blore Heath (Staffordshire). Domesday Book and later Blora. Blore is an onomatopoeic word meaning ‘a violent gust or blast’, not found in Engelant before 1440.
Blow Gill (Helmsley). 1200 Blawathgile. Old Norse bla wath,' leaden- coloured, bluish ford,' in the ravine. See -gill. Compare Langwathby.
Blowick (Southport). 'Leaden-coloured, bluish dwelling.' See Blofield and -wick, which must be Eng. here and not Norse, as Blowick is inland and can have no' bay.'
Bloxham (Banbury). Domesday Book Warwick, Lochesham (error), 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Blochesham, 1231 Blokesham. ' Home of Blocca.' Compare Blockley.
Bloxwich (Walsall) and Bloxworth (Bere Regis). Domesday Book Blocheswic, before 1300 Blockeswich, Blokeswyke. ' Blocca',’ dwelling and' farm.' See-wich and-worth.
Blundell Sands (Liverpool). Perhaps from Randulph de Blundevill, Earl of Chester in1180. Blundell has been a common Lancashire name from at least the 17th century. Compare next and -hall, which the -ell may represent.
Blundeston (Lowestoft). Not in Domesday Book ' Blunda's town or village.' The name is now Blunt, France blond. Normal France blund, ' fair, flaxen.' Compare next, and Domesday Book Essex, Blundeshala.
Bluntisham (Hunts). Domesday Book Bluntesham. 'Home of Blunti' or ' Blunt,' which last is still a common surname. Compare Domesday Book Wilts, Blontesdone, Codex Diplomaticus 666 Bluntesige, and Bluntington, Worecester. Blunham, Sandy, probably represents the same name.
Blyborough (Kirton Lindsay). Domesday Book Bliburg. Probably, as in Blisworth, ' burgh, fort of Blida,' but it may be ' of Blih.' Compare1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Norfolk Bheburc. See-borough.
Blymhill (Shifnal). Domesday Book Brumhelle (r for l, one liquid confused in sound with the other), before 1200 and later Blumonhull. Probably ' hill of the blooms,' or molten masses of metal, Old English bloma, -an, then, curiously, not found till 1600 bloom: but 1584-5 blomary, or bloomery, a forge for making blooms. One must have stood on this hill, which is in an iron-producing district.
Blyth(e) (Northumberland, Warwick, Notts, and Rotherham), Blythe Bridge (Stoke-on-T.). Roth B. circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Blida; Notts, B. Domesday Book Blide,1146 Blida, circa, 1180 Blya, 1298 Blythe. The English blithe never refers to places; so, this may be connected with Welsch blythair, ' a belching,' blythach, ' a bloated person,' and blwth, ' a puff, a blast.' There are two rivers in Northumberland and one each in Staffordshire Notts, and Suffolk, all called Blyth(e), and nearly all English rivers are Keltic in origin, though what that was is now lost. On the Stafford Blythe are Blithbury, before 1200 Blith(e)burie, and Blithfield, Domesday Book Blidevelt. In Northumberland we find 1208 Snoc de Bliemus i.e., 'snout, projecting headland of Blythmouth' —1423 Blythe-snuke, before 1800 Blyth-snook, from Old Norse snok-r, ' a mark stretched out,' hnuk-r, ' a little mountain, a rock'; compare 'The Snewke or Conny-warren ' in Blaeu's map of Lindisfarne.
Boarstall (Bucks). Popular etymology. See Borstal.
Bobber's Mill (Nottingham). Bobber in midland dialect, means 'a chum.'
Bobbington (Stourbridge). Domesday Book Bubintone, before 1200 Bobintune; compare 798 charter ' Bobing-saeta,' Kent. ' Town, village of Bobba’.
(or his descendants), mentioned in a Worcester charter of 759.
Bockhampton" (Lambourn and Dorchester). Both before 1300 Bochamton. 'Beech-built Hampton,' or 'home-farm'; Old English boc, Old Norse bok, 'a beech.' Compare Buckland and Great Bookham; also Domesday Book Norfolk, Bocthorp.
Booking (Braintree). Domesday Book Bochinges. Patronymic, 'place of the sons of Bocca ‘; compare 806 Bokenhale? near Croyland. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives only Bacca and Bacco. See-ing.
Bockleton (Tenbury and Salop). Tenbury B. Domesday Book Boclintun, 1275 Boclinton, before 1400 Bocklington, Bokelinton. Salop B. 1321 Bochtone (an error), 1534 Bucculton. ' Town of Boccel.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives only one Beoccel.
Bodedern (Anglesea). Welsch bod edyrn, 'residence of sovereignty,' or ' royal house’, but T. Morgan says; ‘abode of Edern’, son of Nudd, warrior and poet.
Bodelwyddan (Flintshire). Welsch bod-el-gwyddan, 'residence of the wood-spirit ' or ' satyr,’
Bodenham (Leominster and Salisbury). Sic 1202. ' Boda's home.' Old English boda, 2 bode, is ' a herald, a messenger,' one who ' bodes ' or forebodes. Domesday Book Wilts, has Bodeberie, and Domesday Book Norfolk, Bodenham. Compare Boddington on Chelt, Domesday Book Botintone.
Bodfari (Denbigh). Perhaps circa, 380 The antonic Itenerary Varis. But now Welsch bod Fari,' hous of Mary, 'the m being aspirated.
Bodfford (Anglesea). Welsch bod ffordd, 'dwelling by the road or passage.’
Bodham (Holt, Nforfolk). Domesday Book has both Bodha and Bodenham. ' Home of Boda' or' Boddus.' See-ham.
Bodicott (Banbury). Domesday Book Bodicote, 1216-1307 Bodicot. ' Boda's cottage.' Compare above.
Bodmin. Domesday Book Bodmini, Exon. Domesday Book Bodmine; circa, 1180 Ben; Peterborough Bothmenia; circa, 1200 Gervase Bomine; 1216 Bodminium. 1294 Bodmin. Cornish bod or bo is ' a house,' the second half is more uncertain; it maybe' house of stones,' Cornish min, myin (compare next), or ' on the edge,' min, or ' on the hill,' mene.
Bodvean (Pwllheli). Welsch bod faen, 'house of stone.' Compare cist faen, ' a stone coffin.' As houses in Welsch and Cornwall usually are of stone, the reference will probably be to some ' Druidical erection.’
Bognor. Not in Domesday Book, but 680 charter Bucgan ora i.e., ' Bucga's edge ' or ' brink ' or ' shore ‘; three Bucgas in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum In 1166-7 Rolls of the great Pipe it is Begenoura. See-or.
Boldon (Jarrow). 1183 Boldona. Probably Old English botl-dun, ' hill, dune with the dwelling on it.' Compare Bolton and Bole.
Bole (Gainsborough). Sic 1316, but Domesday Book Bolun. (Domesday Book Lines has Bolebi, ' dwelling of Bola.') This may be Old Norse bol, ' house, dwelling ' (with -un an old locative), if not bol-r, ' bole, trunk of a tree.' Compare Bolford, Kendal, Domesday Book Bodelforde, 'ford at the house '; see Bolton. Also compare next, and Domesday Book Salop and1157 Rolls of the great Pipe, Northumberland Bolebec. 1160-1 Rolls of the great Pipe, Sussex, Bulebech, may not be the same.
Bole Hill (Wirksworth) Oxford Dictionary, bole sb, ' a place where miners smelted their lead.' Not found before 1670, and origin unknown. Bolingley (Truro). Probably ' isle of the Bolings,' or ' descendants of Bola,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum We have ' Bullingbrooke ' already in the time of Wm. the Conqueror, 1166-7 Rolls of the great Pipe, Billingeburc and Bullbroc 1233 Bulingbroc, Lincsc, hence the name Bolingbroke.
Bollington (Macclesfield and Altrincham). ' Town, village on the R. Bollin,' which may be connected with same root as Welsch bol, boly, ' the belly,' and so ' swollen river.’ See -ing as river-ending.
Bolney (Hayward's Heath) and Bolnhurst (St. Neot's). Not in Domesday Book ' Isle ' and ' wood of Bola,' Bolan. Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Bolebech (= bach, ' brook '), Devon, Bolewis, Yorks, Bolesford; also, Bollesdon (Newent), old Bolesdone, Bullesdone, whilst Domesday Book Yorks, Bolebi is now Boulby. See-ey and-hurst.
Bolsover (Chesterfield). Domesday Book Belesovre, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Bolleshoura, 1173-74 the same Castella de Pech et de Bolesoura, circa, 1180 Bened. Peterb. Boleshoveres. ' Bola's bank or brink'; Old English ofer, obr; Mittel Englisch overe, ' border, bank of a river.' Compare Ashover, and see Bolney, etc.
Bolsterstone (Sheffield). Not in Domesday Book Not likely to be from English and Old English bolster, but probably a tautology, from Old Norse bol-stadr, ' dwelling-place ' or ' farm '; so common in Scottish names as -bister, -buster, and -bster; Scrabster, Ulbster, etc. Bolster will have been taken for a proper name, and -ton added; for the final and compare Johnston and Johnstone, both meaning ' John's town.'
Boltby (Thirsk). Domesday Book Boltebi, 1209 Bolteby. 'Dwelling of Bolt,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Hardly from bolt sb; but perhaps a tautology, from Old English bold, 'house, dwelling,' and -by.
Bolton (nine in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Boletone,1208 Bollton (on Swale), Other Bolton's in Domesday Book Yorks and Lanes are Bodeltone. We get an interesting set of forms for the Scottish Bolton (Haddingtonsh.), circa, 1200 Botheltune, Boteltune, Boweltun, 1250 Boulton, 1297 Boltone. Old English botl-tun,' dwelling-enclosure, collection of houses, village'; influenced by Old Norse bol, 'a house, a dwelling-place.' It is according to its rule for Domesday Book to spell Both- or Bot- as Bod-. Compare Bootle.
Bomer(e) Heath (Shrewsbury). Earlier Bolemere. 'Mere or lake,' Old English mere, ' of the bull,' not in Old English, but Old Norse bole, boli; in Eng. circa, 1200 bule, 3-5 bole. Compare Domesday Book (Yorks) Bolemere, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Bulema, now Bulmer; also, The Bolmers, Castle Bromwich, and the Bullmoors (Shenstone), and Boll Bridge (Tamworth), 1313 Bollebrigge.
Bonby (Hull) Either a man “Bonda or Bondo’ s dwelling’ or dwelling of the peasant'; Old English bonda; Old Norse bonde; d readily disappears. But Domesday Book (Yorks) Bonnebi (twice) is now Gunby. See -by.
Boncath (Pembroke). Welsch boncath means 'a buzzard'; but bon cath is ' tree stump of the cat.'
Bonchurch (Ventnor). Domesday Book Bonecerce. Bone- must be Old Norse bon, ' a prayer, a boon ‘; in Eng. 2-7 bone, 3-4 bon. Compare Bunwell. There is no man named Bona or Bonna. In Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The Old English for a prayer is ben, so that, curiously, this must be a Norse name, the indication of a forgotten early Norse settlement here. This is confirmed by Domesday Book's ending -cerce, the hard c's having quite a Norse look. Domesday Book nearly always has -cherche, chirche,' Alvievecherche,' ' Bascherche,' etc. Domesday Book's form is also our earliest English example of boon; the earlier in Oxford Dictionary Is in circa, 1175 bone.
Bonington (Notts and Kent). Sic 1297-98, but Domesday Book Bonintone (Kent), Bonnitone (Notts),1296 Bonigtone (? where). Doubtful. It should mean ' Bona's town," but there is no such name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Bonnington (Scottish).
Bonsall (Derby). Perhaps Domesday Book Bunteshale. Probably 'nook, corner of Bunda or Bonda,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But compare Domesday Book (Bucks) Bonestov? 'Place of Bone,' still a surname. Compare Bunny and see -hall.
Bontddu (Dolgelly). Welsch 'pont du, ' black bridge.'
Bontnewydd (Caernarvon). Welsch 'new bridge '; Welsch pont.
Bonvilston (Cardiff). Bonville, France for 'good town,' as well as Melville, ' bad town,' occurs as a surname in Britain. In Welsch it is Tresimwn, ' house of Simon Bonville,' chief steward of the Norm. Sir Robt. Fitzhamon. There is a Hutton Bonville (Yorks). We find-ville common in the Channel Isles.
Boosbeck (Yorks). Not in Domesday Book Probably' Brook with the cow-stall beside it '; Old Norse bass; Mittel English boose, ' a cow-stall.' See -beck.
Boot (Ravenglass) Old Norse bud; Danish and Swedish bod,' a hut, a dwelling. Compare Gaelic both or bot ‘a house.’
Boothby (Grantham). 1298 Bothebi. Probably 'dwelling of Botha or Bota.' Booth is still a common surname. Compare Bootham (York). See-by.
Boothroyd Lane (Dewsbury). Called after a man Boothroyd, where -royd is probably from rod sb, roid, ' a path, a way.'
Bootle (Liverpool, Cumberland). Liverpool B. before 1540 Bothul. Domesday Book for Norse Lancaster has Bodele and Fordbodele (now washed away). Old English botl,' a dwelling, a house.'Compare Bolton and Newbattle (Sc).
Bobden (Sittingbourne), Not in Domesday Book 'Boar's den'; Old English bar, 3-7 bor. The wild boar was not extinct in England till at least the 17th century.
Bordesley (Birmingham). 1156 Bordeslega, 1158 Bordeslea, in 1275 also Bordeshale. ' Borda's lea ' or ' meadow.' Compare, too, Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 739 Bordeles tun. See-ley.
Boreham (four in Postal Guide). Domesday Book (Surrey) Borham. 'Boar's home.' See Borden. Boar may here be a proper name. Compare Borley Green (Sudbury). But Borley House (Upton-on- Severn) is Domesday Book Burgeleye, or ' fortified place in the meadow.' See next, and Burley. Borefleet is the old name of Brightlingsea Creek, earlier found as Bordfliet, Berfliet, and Balfleet; probably Fleet or 'river of the boar'; Old English bar, 3 ber, 4-7 bore. Dr. Diekin postulates an Old English bord, ' border,' which does not exist; and bore, ' tidal wave,' is not found till 1601.
Boroughbridge (York). 1380 Ponteburg. 'Fort-bridge' or ' fortified bridge,' from Old English burh, ' a fort, castle, or burgh.' Compare Pontefract, 'or broken bridge,' and Borough Green (Cambridgeshire).
Borrodail (Cumberland). Norse borg-dal-r, ' dale, valley with a fort in it.' Compare next and Borrowstonness or Bo'ness (Scottish).
Borrowash (Derby). Not in Domesday Book ' Burgh ash-tree.’ Compare above and next.
Borrowby (several in Yorks). All in Domesday Book Berg(h)ebi. ' Fortified dwelling-place,’ from Old Norse borg or Old English borh, borg, burh, ' fort, burgh.' Compare Barrowby, Borwick, and Borrodail; and see -by.
Borstal or Bostal (Rochester). Domesday Book Borestele, Borchetelle; before 1200 Text. Roff. Borestella, Borgestealla. Old English beorh-steall, ' seat, place, stall on the hillside.' Or Bor- may be Old English borh, borg, burh, 'fort, burgh.' Compare Rolls of the great Pipe 1157 Burchestala, probably in Beds.
Borth (Cardigan). Welsch bordd, burdd,' a board or table.'
Borwick (Carnforth). Domesday Book Borch and Bereuuic (second e an error) Old English borh-wic,'fort-dwelling, fortified house.' Compare Borrowby.
Bosahan (Falmouth). Pronuncation Bow-sane. Corn. Bos, bos, bo,' house, dwelling,' Gaelic both, common in Cornwall names, as in Boscawen, ' house beside the elder tree,' scawen, Boslowick, Bosistow, etc. The latter half is often now uncertain, but Bosahan may be from sawan, ' a hole in a cliff beside the sea.' None of these in Domesday Book.
Bosbury (Ledbury). Flor. Wore, and Sim. Dur. re ann. 1056. Bosanbyrig,' Burgh, castle of Bosa.'
Boscastle (Cornwall). Probably ' Bosa's or Boso's castle'; names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Corn. 605 also means ' moor.' Compare Bosahan.
Boscombe (Bournemouth and Salisbury). Salisbury B. Domesday Book Boscumbe. ' Bosa's valley.' See above and -combe.
Bosham (Chichester). Bede Bosanham, 1048 OLD ENGLISH Chronicum Bosenham,1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Boseham. ' Bosa's home.' Compare Bosbuby.
Bosherston (Pembroke). Modern. Bosher is an English surname, probably from France boucher, 'a butcher.'
Bosley (Macclesfield). Domesday Book Boselega. 'Bosa's lea or meadow.' Compare Bosham.
Boston. Not in Domesday Book 1090 charter Ecclesia sancti Botulphi, before 1200 Hoveden Sti Botulphi, circa, 1250 Dame Siriz Botolfston in Lincolneschire, Leland Botolphstowne, and Boston. Linking forms seem curiously lacking. The copious Hist. of Boston, 1856, by Thompson, mentions none; but the name was St. Botolph's in Eng. or in Latin, rather than Boston, till after 1400. We have found 'Boston' first in 1391, Earl Derby's Exp. (Camden), 23. Of the origin there can be no doubt, as Old English Chronicum ann. 654 says, the hermit Botwulf (L. Botulphus) built the minster at Icanho, the earlier name of Boston. A similar contraction is perhaps seen in Bossall (Yorks), whose church is also dedicated to St Botolph. But here Domesday Book's forms are puzzling—Boscele and Bosciale. The ending is certainly -hall, q.v.; but Bosc- does not suggest Botulph. The only name near it in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is one Bascic. Compare Domesday Book (Hunts) Botulvesbrige.
Bothamsall (Newark). Domesday Book Bodmescel(d), 1180 Bodemeskil, 1278 Bodmeshill, 1302 Bothemeshull, 1428 Bothomsell. Now '' Bothelm's nook' or 'hall. Compare Bonsall, etc., and see -hall. But the originally ending was either late Old English cell,' a small monastery or nunnery.’ Med. Latin cella ; or, more probably, Old Norse kelda, ' a spring, a well.'
Botley (Hants and Henley-in-Arden). Hants B. Domesday Book Botelei. Henley B. Dugdale Botle. Probably ' Botta's ' or ' Botto's lea or meadow.' Possibly Old English botl-leah, 'meadow with the hut or house on it.' Compare Botloe (Dymock), Domesday Book Botelav (see -low); also Domesday Book (Cambs) Botestoch (Old English stoc, ' a place ').

Bottisham (Cambridge). Domesday Book Bodichesham, 1210 Bodekesham, 1372 Bodkesham, 1400 Botkesham, 1428 Bottesham. ' Home of Bodeca.' See-ham.
Bottlesford (Pewsey, Wilts). Not in Domesday Book [circa, 1190 charter ' Botlesford,' Notts].? 'Ford of Botwulf or ' Botweald.' Only, in 796 charter (Wilts), we have a Butlesleye, which must represent a name Butela, or the like.
Botusfleming (Cornwall). Corn. = ' parish of the Flemings' or men from Flanders. Compare Flushing opposite Falmouth. Botus may be=Welsch bettws, corruption of English head-house, 'house of prayer'; but this is uncertain, circa, 1175Lambeth Horn, has bode, beode, for bede, ' prayer, petition.' Compare Bacchus (Gloucestershire), 1304 Bakkehuse,' the backhouse.'
Boughton (nine in Postal Guide). Domesday Book (Notts, Norfolk, Northants) Buchetone, Buchetuna. 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe (Yorks) Bouton. Some conceivably might be ' town at the bend.’ Mittel English bought, same root as bight, 'a bay.' But B., Notts. 1225 Buketon, is from a man Bucca. Boughton (Wore.) is 1038 charter Bocctun, 1275 Boctone, which is certainly ' town of the beech-trees, Old English boc'. The phonetics here are as in Broughton.
Boughto(u)n-under-Blee (Canterbury). Sic Chaucer, circa, 1386. See above and Blee.
Bourne (Cambs and Lincoln). Cambs B. Domesday Book Brune,1171Brunne, 1210 Bume. B. Lincoln. circa, 1200 Gervase Brunne. Old Norse brunn-r, ' a brook Old English burn(a), ' a spring, a well, a stream,' the Scottish ' burn.
Bournemouth. Perhaps circa, 1150 Gaimar, re ann. 1066 Brunemue. See above.
Bourton (seven in Postal Guide). Gloucester B. 949 charter Burgtune, Domesday Book Bortune. Rugby B. Domesday Book Bortone. Bath B. circa, 1160 Burton; also Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum i. 506 Burgton (Berks). =Burton, 'fortified town.' See-bury and-ton.
Boverton (Cowbridge) Probably Old English bi-ofer-tun, ' town, village, by the brink or edge.' Compare ' Bovreford ' (Hants) in Domesday Book; also, Beeford, Bolsover, etc.
Bovey Tracey (S. Devon). Pronuncation Buvvey. Domesday Book Bovi. Probably Bofa's isle ‘, see next, and -ey. On Tracey compare Wollacombe Tracy.
Bovington (Hemel Hampstead). 1298 Bovyngton. 'Bofa's town,' or else ' Botwine's town.' This last is a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Bouinton,1205 Buvintone (inYorks), now Boynton; and Domesday Book (Wilts) Boientone. Boving may be a patronymic. See -ing.
Bow (London). Early often called ' De Arcubus,' from a bridge arched or ' bowed,' built here in the time of Queen Maud, the first in England.
Bowes Castle (Yorkshire.). circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Beoves, Probably from a man Bofa or Beofa; several Bofas in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The s will be the genitive
Bowness (Cumberland), circa, 1200 Bowenes. 'Ness or naze (Old Norse and Old Eenglish naes, ' cape, nose ') at the bow or bend ‘; Old English boga.
Bownhill (Stroud). Not in Domesday Book Some think this is Bede's Mons Badonicus. But old forms are needed; meantime doubtful. Baddeley can throw no light.
Bowthorpe (Menthorpe, Yorks). Dow. and 1199 Boletorp. 'Village of Bola,' two in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Bolney; and see-thorpe.
Boxford (Newbury and Colchester). Newbury B. B.C.8. i. 506 Boxora, Domesday Book Bovsore, Bochesorne. The present form seems quite modern Box-ora is Old English for ' edge, riverbank lined with box- trees.' Compare Windsor, etc. Box Hill (Surrey) was early famed for its box-trees. Closeby is Box Hurst or' boxwood.'
Boxley (Maidstone).? Domesday Book Bogelei,1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Boxel', circa, 1188 Gir, Cambridgeshire Boxletha, 1289 Boxleya. Probably Old English box-hlid,' box-tree meadow.' There are no names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum like Boc or Bocca; but next. The -letha might be for Old English hm, Gaelic 1200 hlid, ' a slope.'
Boxworth (Cambridge). Domesday Book Bochesuuorde, 1228 Bukeswrth, 1256 Bokesworth. ' Farm of the he-goats.' Icel. bokk-r, Sw. bock; also Old English buc, ' a buck, a he-deer,' from which comes from 1228. Compare Boxwell (Charfield), Domesday Book Boxewelle,1316 Bockeswelle.
Boynton (Bridlington). See Bovington.
Brabourne (Kent). Domesday Book Bradeburne. Old English bradburna,' broad stream.' See-bourne.
Boyton (Launceston) Domesday Book Boyetone, Boietone. ‘Boia’s town or village.' Several of this name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Boythorp (Yorks), Domesday Book Buitorp.
Braceborough (Stamford). Domesday Book Braseborg, and Bracebridge (Lincoln), Domesday Book Brachebrige, 1298 Bracebrigge. Probably ' burgh, fort,’ and bridge of Bracca. or Brece.' But as to the latter note also 1483 Cathol. Angl. ' A brace of a bryge or a vawte’, sinus, arcus= ' span.’ Compare next, and Bracewell (W. E-Riding), Domesday Book Braisuelle.
Brackley (Northampton), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Brakelega, Bracheleia. ' Bracca's lea or meadow.’ Compare Brackenthwaite (Cockermouth), 1202 Brakinthweit; see -ley and -thwaite.
Bracknell (Winkfield). 942 charter Braccan heal. There can be little doubt this means' nook of Bracca.' There is no word like the modern bracken in Old English, and in any case' bracken nook' is not the likely meaning according to analogy, though it is supported by Skeat. See above and -hall. There is also a Bracken (Yorks), Domesday Book Brachen, which must be ' Bracca's place.' Compare Beedon, Coven, etc.
Bradbury (Durham), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Biydbyrig. Broad, Old English brad, never takes the form bryd or brid, so this is probably 'Burgh or castle of the bride'; Old English bryd, 3-4 bryd. See -bury.
Bradden (Towcester). 1221 Braden is ' Broad valley.' See Bradon, and -den. But for Braddn see Vraddan (Lizard).
Bradenham (Thetford and High Wycombe). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 877 Bradanham. [Comparec. 672 Grant' Bradanfeld' (Berks), and 1298' Thomas de Bradenston.'] ' Brada's home.' The name is common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But Skeat holds that Bradanfeld, now Bradfield, is a weak dative from Old English brad,' broad.'
Bradeston (Norfolk). (Domesday Book has only Bradeha.) 1298 Bradenston, 1422 Breydeston, 1450 Brayston, 1451 Braydeston. ' Brada's town.' Compare Bradenham. Form 1298 will then show a double genitive
Bradford, Domesday Book Bradeford; and Bradford-on-Avon (Wilts). Old English Chronicum 652 AEt Bradanforda be Afne. ' Broad ford.' Compare Bretford, and Domesday Book (Yorks) Bradfortun, Bratfortone, now Brafferton.
Brading (Isle of Wight). Domesday Book Berarding. This must be 'place of the descendants of Beorhtweard,' later Beorhward, Berard. See -ing.
Bradley (Keighley, and 7). Domesday Book (Yorks) several, Bradeleia; Bilston B. Domesday Book Bradeley; Stafford B. Domesday Book Bradeleia. 778 charter Bradan leaze (? which), ' Broad lea or meadow,' or possibly ' Brada's meadow.' Compare Bradeston.
Bradon (a district W. of Swindon). Sic Old English Chronicum 904. Old English brad dun, ' broad hill.' Compare, too, ' Bradene,' Domesday Book Somerset i.e., ' broad dean ' or ' valley.'
Bradshaw (Bolton and Halifax). Not in Domesday Book Bol. B. 1313 Bradeshagh. Old English bradscaga,' broad wood.’
Bradwell (5 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Bradeuuelle (Bucks)., Braintree B. before 1300 Bradwall i.e., ' broad well or spring.’ Compare 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Bradew'h, in the same region. But Domesday Book Bradewell (Yorks), is Braithwell (Doncaster)
Bradyair (Cumberland), circa, 1141 Bradjere. Old English brad zeard, ' broad yard.'
Brafferton. See Bradford.
Brafield (Northampton). Domesday Book Bragefelde. before 1130 Braufield? ' Field on the brae or brow or hill slope.’ Old Norse bra, Old English braew, breaw; lit. 'the eyelid.' But Domesday Book suggests ' field of' an unrecorded' Braga.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Broga.
Brailes (Banbury). Sic in Domesday Bookand1248. A unique and puzzling name. Probably some man ' Brail's ' (village), as in Brailsford (Derby). The name is otherwise unknown; it might be contr. from Breguweald, 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum We have similar names, only with Old English genitive, in Beadon, Coven, etc.
Braintree (Essex). Domesday Book Branchtreu; later Branktry, Brantry. This must be' tree of Branc,' the same name as in Branksome (Bournemouth), Branxton (Coldstream), and Branxholm (Hawick); before 1400 Brancheshelm. The ch in Domesday Book and in this last are due to the habitual softening of Norman scribes. Compare Oswestry.
Braithwaite (Keswick). 1183 Boldon Bk. Braitewat, Braithewath, perhaps in Durham. ' Brae-place.' See Brafield and -thwaite. But Braithwell (Doncaster) is Domesday Book Bradewell. See Bradwell.
Bramber (Shoreham).? Domesday Book Branbertei, which suggests an unrecorded ' Brandbeorht's isle.' See -ey. Old Brymmburg; also compare Grant of 672 Brember wudu (Salisbury). The first part is doubtful. It may be Old English brom, ' the broom,' compare next, or breme, 3-6 brem, ' famous.' The -ber seems to be for burh, compare Bamber, and see -bury. Compare Kirk Bramwith (Doncaster), 1201 Bramwith, where the ending is Old Norse vith-r, ' a wood.'
Bramcote (Nottingham and Nuneaton). Nottingham B. Domesday Book Broncote, Brunecote, circa, 1200 Brancote. Nuneaton B. Domesday Book Brancote, before 1300 Brom(p)cote, before 1400 Bramkote. Duignan says, ' cot in the broom ' or ' gorse,' Old English brom. Mutschmann thinks of brand cote, ' cot on the place cleared by burning.' Neither is certain. Compare the other names in Bram-; also, Castle Bromwich.
Bramham (Tadcaster); sic 1202, and Bramham (S. Yorks). Domesday Book Bramha, Brameha. See above and next. The Bram- here is doubtful. Bramshall (Uttoxeter) is Domesday Book Branselle, before 1200 Brumeshel, before 1300 Bromsholf, Bromsulf. Both look certainly as if from a man Bram, Brom, or Brum. The Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has Brand, Bron, Brum, and Brun, the last common. For the present ending see -hall; but -sholf, and -sulf point to Old English scylfe, 'a shelf, a shelving piece of land.'
Brampton (7 in Post Guide). Norfolk and Suffolk B. Domesday Book Brantuna. Hants B. 1121 Old English Chronicum Bramtun, 1149 Brantona; 1238 Close E. Brampton? which. Probably ' town of Brand or Brant.' Brand is common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 712 Brantes wyrth. But Branton Green (Aldborough) is 1202 Brankston before Compare Bampton for common intrusion of p.
Brancaster (N.W. Norfolk), before450 Notitia Bransdunum.' Castle, camp of Bran.' It. and O.G. bran, 'a raven'; in Breton 'a crow.' A chief Bran is found in Bk. Of Taliessin, while Nant Bran, vale of Glamorgan, is circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Nant Baraen.
Brandeston (Wickham Market). Domesday Book Brantestuna. 'Town of Brand' (common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum), or ' Branti.' Compare Bransburton, (Yorks), Domesday Book Brantisburtune, and Branston.
Brandon (Hereford and Durham, Coventry, Salop, and on Little Ouse). May be same name as Rav. Geogr. Branogenium. Coventry B. Domesday Book Brandune, 1227 Brandon, 1273 Braundon. Another, before 1200 Brandune. ' Hill of Brand,' a common Old English name. See -don. Brancot (Stafford), is often Bromcote in the 14th century i.e., ' cot among the broom.' See Brampton and Brancaster.
Branscombe (Axminster). Charter Brancescumb. Domesday Book Branchescome. ' Branca's valley.' Compare Brantin Green (Aldborough), 1202 Brankstona, and next. See-combe.
Branston (Burton, Grantham, Lincoln). Bur. B. 771 charter Brantistun, 978 Brantestun, Domesday Book and later Brantestone. 'Town, village of Brant or Brand'; the names are the same. Compare Brandeston. Bran(d)sby (N. Riding), has been identified with 910 Old English Chronicum Bremesbyrig. This cannot be. See rather Bromsberrow. This is Domesday Book Branzbi, ' dwelling of Brant.' See -by.
Brant Fell and Brant How (Bowness). Old English brant, bront,' high, steep, sheer'; while How is Old Norse haug-r, 'mound, cairn.' Compare Great How, and Maeshow (Scottish). See-fell.
Brantingham (Brough, Yorks). Domesday Book Brentingeha', Brentingham, Brendingham. circa, 1180 Ben. Peterb. Brentingeham. ' Home of the Brentings,' or descendants of Brent. Branting, Brenting, and Brantare all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare R. Brent.
Branton (Alnwick). Compare1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Brantona (Devon). ' Town of Brant.' See above.
Braunston (Oakham and Rugby). Not in Domesday Book 1298 Braunteston. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 712 Branteswyrth. ' Town of Brant or Brand.' Compare above and Branston.
Brawby (Malton). Domesday Book Bragebi. 'Dwelling of?' See -by.
Brawdy (Pembroke), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Breudi. Probably Welsch brwyd, ' full of holes.' T. Morgan conjectures O.W. brawd dy, ' judgment house ' or ' court.'
Bray (Maidenhead). Domesday Book Brai; later Braie, Broy, Bray. Perhaps =Scottish brae. See Brafield. Skeat agrees with this, and connect with Old English brdw; Mercian breg,' an eyebrow.'
Brayton (Carlisle and Selby). Sel. B. Domesday Book Bretone, Brettan. Perhaps ' Brae-town.' See Bray.
Breage with Germoe (Helston). France St. Breaca and her companion who landed forcibly, as missionaries from Ireland, at the mouth of the Hayle B., circa, 500.
Brean Down (Weston-s.-M.). Tautology. Welsch bre, ' a hill, a brae '; pl. breon. The R. Breamish, Northumberland, probably contains this root, or else bryn, a' slope ‘; n so easily changes into m, and will mean ' slope, brae, with the stream ' or ' water.' Compare Gaelic uisge, pronunciation ushge, ' water.' There is also The Bream, For. of Dean, old Le Breme. English Dialect Dictionar gives for bream ' an elevated place exposed to wind,' which quite suits breon.
Brecknock or Brecon. 916 Old English Chronicum Brecenanmere, 1094 Brut y Ty. Brecheniauc, before 1100 Brechennium, circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Brecheniauc, Brekemiiauc, circa, 1540 Leland Brekenock, Brecknock. These last are just English spellings of the originally Welsch name as seen in 1094. The name comes from Brychan, son of Anlac i.e., ' the speckled ' or ' tartan-clad.' He was an Ir. prince who conquered all this region circa, 430. The town is called both Brecknock and Brecon in 1606; but the town's Welsch name now is Aberhonddu, being at the confluence of Honddu and Usk. One of K. Arthur's battles in circa, 800 Nennius was Cat Bregion, near the mountain Breguoin. Some hold that these are the same names as the above. The-ock probably represents a Welsch dimin.
Bredon (Tewkesbury) and Bredon Forest (Wilts). Bede Briudun, 781 Breodune, Domesday Book Breodun, circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Briodun. Tautology, Welsch bre, and Old English dun, ' hill.' But B. Forest is 905 Old English Chronicum Bradon, Braeden; which may mean ' hill with the brow or brae or cliff.' See Brafield.
Bredwardine (Hereford). 'Farm of Brid,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -wardine.
Breedon-on-the-Hill (Ashby-de-la-Z.). before 1100 Bredun. Atriple tautology, for Welsch bre, Old English dun, and Eng. hill all mean the same.
Bremhill (Calne). 940 charter Brembelwerna must have been quite near here, from Old English bremel, brembel,' the bramble or blackberry,' and Bremhill might be corruption of this. Only it is probably Domesday Book Breme, for which see Bramber.
Brent R. (Middlesex) and Brentford. 705 Lett. Bp. Waldhere, Breguntford; 918 Old English Chronicum Braegent forda; 1016 the same Brent forda. This first half is Welsch bre, a ' hill,' a ' brae '; the second may be gwyn, gwen, 'clear, bright'; but perhaps more probably from Welsch gwantu, ' to sever, ‘or gwant, ' a butt, a mark.' The name of the tribe Brigantes, who dwelt N. of Humber, looks like the same name.
Brent Knoll (Axbridge). circa, 708 Grant K. Ine Mons qui dicitur Brente. Old English brant, bront, 'high, steep, sheer"; and cnol, ' knoll, knowe, hill.' Not the same as next. But Brand or Brent Ditch (Cambridgeshire), is the same word. Rhys inclines to connect the Brents with O.W. breni,' a prow.'
Brentwood (Chelmsford). Not in Domesday Book Probably 'burnt wood,' from burn, 4-6 brenne. Compare Brandwood (Rossendale), circa, 1200 Brendewod, and Burntwood.
Brepper (Cornwall). See Barripper.
Brereton (Rugeley and Sandbach). before 1300 Breredon. 'Brier, bramble hill,' Old English brer, braer, 3-9 brere. See -don.
Bretford (Coventry). Sic 1180, and Bretforton (Honeybourne). 709 charter Bretferton, 714 Brotfortun, 860 Bradferdtun, Domesday Book Bratfortune, 1275 Bretforton. A Uttle doubtful; it may be = Bradford -ton. But quite likely ' Ford of Bret ' or ' Briht.' Brett is still a common, personal name. Compare Brettell, sic 1614, Kingswinford. It may simply mean' Briton.' Compare Brafferton and Britford.
Brettenham (Suffolk). Domesday Book Bretenhame, and Bretton (Wakefield). Wa. B. Domesday Book Brettone. 'Home' and 'town of the Briton,' Old English Bret. Compare Britain.
Brewood (Stafford). Domesday Book Brevde, before 1200 Breode, Brewude, before 1300 Brewode. Hybrid; Welsch bre, 'a hill,' and -wood. The Scottish brae is from Old Norse bra ' (eye) brow.'
Bridgenorth, 912 Old English Chronicum Bricge, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Bruge; before 1145 Orderic Brugia, all meaning 'bridge.' North probably added circa, 1090 by Robert of Bellesne, to distinguish this place from his father's castle at Quatbridge, 3 miles to S. We have circa, 1350 charter Brugenorth.
Bridgerule (Bude) Not in Domesday Book Old Lan Bridget, or' church of St. Bridget, or Brigida, or Bride,' of Kildare, a.d. 453-523. It was granted at the Conquest to one Raoul. Compare Abbotrule, (Scottish)
Bridlington. Domesday Book Bretlinton (4 times); Sim. Dur. contin. ann. 1143 Brellintun; 1200 Bridlinton. Probably named from a man, but his name is doubtful. Probably Old English Bretelan tun, ' town of Bretel,' one such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ton.
Bridport. 1156 Bridep't. ' Harbour on the R. Brit,' which is probably Welsch brith, ' spotted, parti-coloured.' Connexion with Britain is uncertain. We get the root again in Little Bredy, nearby. Domesday Book Litelbride.
Bridston (Herefordshire). Not in Domesday Book 'Town, village of St. Bridget.' See Bridgerule.
Brigg (Lincolnsh.). Not in Domesday Book, but ' Bruge ' (Cheshire). Old English brycg, Scottish brig, ' a bridge.’ CJ. Briggate (Leeds and Knaresboro').
Brigham (Cockermouth And E. Riding). E Riding B. Domesday Book Bringeha'. Prob,' home of Brine.' Compare Briningham.
Brightlingsea (Colchester). Local pronunciation Bricklesy. 1223 Patent R. Brichthngese; 1521 Bryghtlyngsey. 'Isle of Beorht- ling,' not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, where we have only noted Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1282 Brihtulfing tun; whilst Domesday Book has Brictriceseia, from the common Beorhtric. The r here has changed into its kindred liquid l, and the patronymic -ing has been added, after Domesday Book No less than 193 variants of the name are said to have been enumerated. See -ea.
Brighton and Brighthampton (Oxon) and Brickhampton (Gloster). All three practically the same name! Brighton is Domesday Book Brichelmestone, Bristelmeston (on the st see p. 26), ' Stone of Brihtelm, variant of the common Beorhthelm. There was a Brithelm, Bishop of Chichester, in 956. Called Brighthelmstone as late as 1834, and Brighton as early as 1660. B. Oxon is old Brighthelmstone, and B. Gloster is circa, 1230 Brithelmetun. But Breighton, (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Bricstune Briston, from Bricsi or Beorhtsige, compare Brixton. See -ton which often inter-, changes with -stone.
Brightwalton (Lambourn). 939 charter Beorhtwaldingtune; 1086 Bristwoldintona ; Domesday Book Bristoldestone ; also Brictewalton. 'Town of the descendants of Beorhtweald,' very common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Bristwoldus, is known variant of Beorhtiweald. Compare next. Domesday Book regularly writes st for a guttural.
Brightwell (Wallingford and Oxon). Oxon B. 947 charter Beorhtan wille; also aeb Berhtanwellan, which hart, translates' declaratam fontem ' i.e., 'clear, bright well.' Old English beorht, berht, ' bright.' Wallingford B. Domesday Book Bristowelle (Domesday Book always avoids gutturals and usually has st for gh). Later Brictewell.
Brigstock, (Thame) 11160 Rolls of the great Pipe Brichestoc. ' Place of Brica ' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Brixworth, and Domesday Book (Bucks) Bricstoch; and see -stock.
Brill (Thame). 1155-57 Rolls of the great Pipe Bruhella, -bulla; 1231 Brehull. ' Hill,' or else ' nook' (see -hall) 'on the brow or brae '; lit. the eyelid, Old English braew, breaw. Compare 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Northumberland Briehellee, Domesday Book Essex, Bruheleia, and Beal.
Brimham Rocks (Harrogate). 'Brim's home.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 64 Brimes dic. Locally, brim means ' a high place exposed to weather, -" cognate with Eng. brim, first found circa, 1205 brimme origin doubtful. Compare next.
Brimpsfield (Gloucestershire.) and Brimscombe (Stroud). Domesday Book Brimesfelde. Old Brimmescombe. ‘Field’ and ‘valley of Brim.’Compare before 1000 charter Brimhirst (Leicestersh.), Brimstage (Cheshire), Boomberrow, and above. The man's name is a little uncertain. See -combe.
Brimpton (Reading). 944 charter Bryningtune, Domesday Book Brintone, before1300 Brimpton. ' Townofthesonsof5nm.' Compare Brington. For interchange of n and mp compare Bampton.
Brindle (Chorley). 1227 Brimhill, 1228 Burnehull, 1254 Brunhull, 1356 Burnhull, 1584 Brindle. The d is thus quite late, and the name is ' hill of the burn ' or ' brook.’ Old English bryn, variant of burna. Compare -bourne. There is also a Brindle Heath (Salford). Brineton (Shiflfnal) is Domesday Book Brunitone; before 1300 Bruneton, which is probably' town of Brun' or' Brown.' Domesday Book Yorks, Brinitun and Brinnistun is now Burniston.
Brington (Hunts). Domesday Book Breninctun. ' Town of the sons of Brini ' or 'Brine.' Compare Brimpton and next; and see -ing.
Briningham (Norfolk). Domesday Book Bruningaha. 'Home of Bruning or ‘the sons of Brun’; both namen common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum which also has Brine, and Brin as variant of Beorn. Compare Brigham; and see -ing. see -ing.
Brinkburn (on R. Coquet) and Brinkworth (Chippenham). 1150 Brink(e)burne, 1183 Brenkburna; 1065 charter Brinkewrtha. ' Brook' and' farm, at the edge' or' brink, a Norse word. See Oxford Dictionary s.v. The above are the earliest instances of it in Eng. There is no name like Brin kin Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, though there is a Brica, Brican. But Brink is a Du. quasi- personal name, as in the well-known Prof. Ten Brink; brink in Du. has the same meaning and root as the Eng. word. Thus the above names might mean ' brook' and' farm of Brink.' However, the1183 form Brenkleans towards Old Norse brekka, ' hillside, slope,’Danish brink, ' steepness, precipice, declivity.' See -bourne and -worth.
Brinklow (Rugby). Compare above, before1200 Brinchelau, 1251 Brincklawe; also thought to be the' Bridelawe, 'circa, 1188 in Giraldus Cambrensis if so the form will be corrupt, and also nasalized since that time. Brink is Norse and means,’edege, border or steep place’, here a huge tumulus of burial-mound, Old English hloew. See -low and above.
Brinscall (Chorley), Brinscar (Lanes), 1228 Brunesgare, Brinsford (Wolverhampton and Lutterworth); Wol.verhampton B. 994 Bruns-, Brenesford; 1227 Bruneford; 1381 Bruynesford. Lutterworth. B. old Brunesford; Brinsley (Notts); Domesday Book Bruneslei, and Brinsworth (Rotherham), 1202 Brinesford. Probably all from men named Brun or' Brown,' a common Old English name. One Brun was Domesday Book tenant of Brownsover ('bank'), Rugby. Brinscall's ending, without old forms, is uncertain, but -car is Old Norse kjarr, ' copsewood, brushwood '; or Norse kjoerr, kjerr, ' marsh, wet corpse.' Wyld and Hirst omit both Brinscall and Brinscar, but give Brindle in the same district. For the other endings see -ford, -hall, and -worth (' farm ').
Bristnall (Smethwick). before 1300 Brussenhulle, which is probably ' bursten ' or ' broken hill.' Old English berstan, 'to buist.' past tense 4-6 briste, brust, pa. pple., 4-5 brusten, brosten; dial, brossen. Compare Burstwick. See also-hall.
Bristol. 1052 Old English Chronicum (Worcester) Bryegstow, Domesday Book Bristou. before 1142 Wm. Malmesbury Bristow, circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Bristoa; circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Bristollum. Brycg-stow is Old English for ' bridge- place.' It is interesting to see the -ow change into the liquid -ol.
Britain. 345 B.C. Aristotle at……. 55 b.c, J. Caesar Britannia, circa, 50 b.c. Diodorus Sic. ....a. d. 43. Lett, of Claudius … Old English Chronicum ann. 495 Bretene, anno 755 Bryttisc (=British). Welsch is Prydain,' isle of Britain.' Prydain is the Brytlionic form of Irish Cruithni, usual Irish name of the Picts; but whether this is really connected with the name Britain, and what that name means, is doubtful.
Britford (Salisbury). 1065 Old English Chronicum Brytforda, Brytan forda; before 1100 Brethevorde. 'Ford of the Briton '; the th in the latest form cited is a common Norm, softening. Compare Bretford.
Brixton. Codex Diplomaticus 940, Brihtricestan? Which is Surrey, is Domesday Book B Bricistan, Brixistan,' stone of Beorhtsige, a common name, found also as Byrcsige, Brehtsig, Bryxie, and Brixius. Plymouth B. Domesday Book Brictricestone, Bedricestone. ' Stone of Beorhtric,' another common name, found also as Brychtrich, Brihtrig, and Bricxtric. The endings -stone and -ton, q.v., often interchange. Brixton Deverill (Warminster) is not in Domesday Book but see Deverill. Compare Domesday Book Bricsteuuelle, near Wallingford, ' Beorhtsige's well.' In Domesday Book we regularly have st for guttural h or ch. Domesday Book Yorks Bricstune, Briston, is now Breighton.
Brixworth (Northampton). Domesday Book Briclesworcle. This is probably 'farm of Beorhtel or Berhtel, or else Beorhtgils, all found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum ' 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Northants has Brichestoc. Compare Brigstock; and see -worth.
Broadwas (Worcester). 779 charter Bradeuuesse, Bradewasse, Codex Diplomaticus iii. 386 Bradewasan, 1218 Bradewas. Old English for' broad, stagnant pool.' Old English wase, modern ooze. Compare Alrewas.
Broadwater (Sussex). Domesday Book Bradewatre. Old English brad, 'broad.’
Broadway (Wore, and Ilminster). Wore.B.972charter Bradwege and Bradanwege (a dativ). Domesday Book Bradeweia. It is on the road between London and Worcester.
Brochurst (Warwickshire) and Brockenhurst (Hants). Warwickshire B. 1327 Brochurst, Hants B. 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Brocheherst. ' Wood of the badger.' Old English broc. Compare next; and see -hurst.
Brocklesby (Lines). Domesday Book Brochesbi, ' dwelling of Brocwulf.' Domesday Book is very careless of the liquids. Compare Broxted; and see -by.
Brockley Hill (Edgeware). Old English Broc- lah, ' badger meadow.’ Compare 674 grant Brocces broc and Broxburn (Sc). Similar is Brockton, Much Wenlock, Domesday Book Broctune, Brochetune, and three Broctons (Staffordshire), all Domesday Book Broctone. In all 3 Duignan prefers Old English broc, ' a brook." Only the o here is long. Compare Brockhill Dingle, Alvechurch, 1275 Brochole, Brockhampton (Gloucestershire.), old Brochamtone, Brechampton (see Hampton), and Brockworth, the same Domesday Book Brocowardinge, Brockwordin; see -worth and -wardine,' farm.'
Brokenborough (Malmesbury). [737 charter To brocenan beorze.] 1298 Broukenbury, 1324 Brokeneberwe. ' Broken ' i.e., presumably ' rugged hill.' Old English beorg. Compare Barrow.
Bromfield (Wigton and Salop). Wigton B. circa, 1215 charter Brunefeld; 1610 Brumfield. From Old English brom, ' broom, gorse,' rather than brun,' brown.' Compare next; m and n freely interchange.
Bromley (Kent, Stafford, etc.). 862 charter Bromleaz (near Langley). Stafford B. 1004 charter and circa, 1097 Flor. Wore, Bromleage, Bromlege. Domesday Book Brunlege. Kent B. Domesday Book Brunlei, Bronlei. As above, ' broom meadow ' and not ' brown meadow.' There is also King's Bromley (Lichfield), 942 charter Bromlege, Bromli, Domesday Book Bromelei.
Brompton (London and Northallerton). Londen B. before 1016 Ordinance Ethelred I. Bromdun. Northallerton. B. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Bromtun. ' Broom, gorse village,' or else ' hill.' For intrusion of p compare Bampton and Hampton. See-don and-ton.
Bromsberrow (Ledbury). 910 Old English Chronicum Bremesbyrig; Domesday Book Brunmeberge; circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Brimesbirih; various reading Brunesbirih, Brismesbirith; 1284 Brommesberewe. Confusion here in both halves. The man's name in the first may either be Brunman, a fairly common name, or Brem(e); also, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The ending is either what is now -bury i.e. ' (fortified) town,' or Old English beorg, ' hill,' now represented by -berrow or Barrow, Compare Berry Brow and Bromsgrove. Brom's Ash (S. Hereford) is 1228 Close R. Bromesheff, where heff is' accustomed pasture- ground of sheep,' same root as heft. See Oxford Dictionary s.v. heaf, where the earliest quatation is circa, 1525.
Bromsgrove 830 charter Bremes grafa, 1156 Bremesgraua, Brimesgraua, 1166 Bromesgrava. ‘ Brem's grove.' Old English graf. Compare above and Birmingham.
Bromwich. See Castle Bromwich.
Bromyard (Worcester). Charter Bromgeard, Old English for 'field covered with broom.'
Brondesbury (London). 1766 6Entick Bromesbury. Probably 'burgh, castle of Brom or Brem.' Compare Bromsgrove. M and 31 and n often interchange. Compare Dum- and Dunbarton, etc.; and d often intrudes.
Brongwyn (Caermarthen) Welsch for ‘fair, clear breast’, or ‘breastlike hill.' Compare Welsch bron goch, ' Robin redbreast.' The Welsch for ' hill' is bryn, but both bron and bryn are used in Cornwall.
Brook (Ashford and Godalming). circa, 1290 S. Eng. Legend Robert de Brok. Old English broc, 'a rivulet.' Brookwood (Woking). 1289 contin. Gervase Brokwode.
Broomfield (Bridgwater, Salop, etc.). Salop. B. before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Brumfeld, Bridgewater B. 1297 Robert of Gloucester Brumefeld, ' broom-clad field.' Compare 909 charter Brombricge, which will be called after a man Brom. Or Brem. Compare Bromsgrove.
Broseley (Salop). Not in Domesday Book Old' Burhweard's lea, 'still seen in full in Burwardsley (Chester). Compare Burslem.
Brotherton (Ferrybridge, Yorks). Not in Domesday Book; but compare Domesday Book (Norfk.) Brodercros, ' town of Broder or Brother,' ' brother being used as a surname.
Brotton (Yorks). Sic 1179-80; but Domesday Book Brotune. Probably Old English broc-tun, ' badger village.' Compare Domesday Book Bucks Brotone.
Brougham Castle (Appleby). Thought to be circa, 380 The Antonic Itenerary Brocavo or Brovonacae. But more old forms are needed. Probably like Brough (Yorks), Domesday Book Burg, from Old Norse borg’; Old Norse burh, 'castle, fort, ' a broch,' with the common transposition of the r, and so =' castle home. Compare Brough Ferry (Elloughton),1202 Burgum.
Broughton (14 in Postal Guide). Broughton Hacket (Pershore), 972 and Domesday Book Broctune. Edinburgh B. 1128 Broctuna. Probably all like that inWarwick,1285Brocton,' badger town.' Old English broc is ' badger,' broc is ' brook.' Duignan seems certainly wrong in deriving from brook, a word never used in Scottish, though we have two Scottish Broughtons as well as Broxburn and Broxmouth. Broctune occurs 14 times in Domesday Book Yorks and represents several Broughtons. Of course, Broc may be a man's name, now Brock. However, Broughton (Eccleshall) is Domesday Book Hereborgestone, plainly a contraction from ‘Hereburh's (genitive -burge 's) town.' Compare Codex Diplomaticus 710 and 1298 Hereburgebyrig.
Brown Willy (Camelford). Said to be Cornish bron geled, 'conspicuous hill.' Compare Brongwyn. Perhaps Willic is for Cornish gelli or celli, ' a grove.' Yet another guess is ' hill of shackles,' Welsch huel or hual. Names in Brown like Brownshill (Stroud, Gloucester), and Brownsover (Rugby), pronunciation Brownsor; see -over) —will all come from a man Brun. Compare Brinsford.
Broxted (Dunmow) and Broxstowe (Notts). No. B. Domesday Book Brocholvestou, Brochelestou, 1457 Brocholwestouwa, also Broweston. Both probably ' place (Stead and Stow both mean that) of Brocwulf.' Compare Brocklesby.
Broyle, Forest of the (W. Sussex). 1399 la Broile. Old France bruill, broil; Modern France breuil,' an enclosed piece of brushwood or matted underwood.'
Brue R. (Somerset). ? Cognate with Welsch bru,' womb, belly'; as likely from A similar root to Gaelic bruith,' to boil.’ Compare Bruab (So.). For old forms see Bruton.
Bruen Stapleford (Tarvin, Cheshire). Probably Domesday Book Brunhala, or ' Brun's nook,’ or ' hall.’ See -hall. But said to be called after ' the Le Brun family, settled here in 1230. There is a Brunhelle in Domesday Book Bucks.
Brundall (Norfolk). Domesday Book Brundala, 1460 Brundehale? ' Brand's or ' Brond's nook." See -hall. But compare Domesday Book Cheshire, Brunford, probably ' ford over the bourne or burn,’ and Brundala may be ' dale with the bourne '—Old Norse brunn-r dal-r. Horsfall Turner seems to identify all the numerous Bruntons or Brunetonas in Domesday Book Yorks with Bromptons. But one Brunton (Yorks) is 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Birunton, ' town of Birun ' or Byron.' The Buruns, or Biruns, held lands in Notts, Derby, and Lanes as early as Domesday Book
Bruton (Somerset). Domesday Book Breuutona, 1471 Brewton. 'Town on the R. Brue.'
Bryncoch (Neath). Welsch = ' red hill.' Welsch bryn, Old Gaelic brun, Cornish bron, bryn, ' a hill.' Compare Brongwyn, and Brynmor, ' hill slope by the sea.'
Bubbenhall (Kenilworth). Domesday Book Bubenhalle. 'Hall of Buba' or' Bubba.' See-hall.
Buckerell (Honiton). Not in Domesday Book 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Bucherel. More old forms needed. Perhaps 'nook of Bucard,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The -el could be from hale or -hall, q.v.
Buckingham. 915 Old English Chronicum Buccingaham, 1154-61 charter Buchingham, 1297 Bukingham. ' Home of the Buccings.' Patronymic, from Bucca or Bucco, both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Parva et Magna Bukesbi (Yorks).
Buckland (9 in P.O.). Faringclon B. Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 205 Boc land, 1292 Bokeland. Devon B. Domesday Book Bochelanda. Betchworth B. Domesday Book Bochelant; also Domesday Book Glostr. and Bucks, Bocheland. Old English boc-land,' book land, 'land granted by a' book' or written charter to a private owner. Compare Bockhampton.
Buclebury (Reading). Domesday Book Borgedeberie, 1316 Burghldeburg, ' burgh of Burghild'; perhaps Daughter of Cenwulf, King ofMercia, 796-819. The old Icknield St. between Saintsbury and Newcomb, and also N. of Bidford, is called now Buckle Street, 709 charter Buggildstret, 860 the same Buggan stret, ' road of Burghild.'
Bucknell (Oxford and Salop). Oxford B. Domesday Book Buchehelle, 1149 Buckenhull (=hill), 1216-1307 Bikehell, Buckehull. Salop B. Domesday Book Buche -hale, Buche-halle. Old English Buccan hale, ' nook, corner of Buvva’ – the he-goat. Compare Buckingham. Bucknall cum Bagnall (Staffordshire) is not 949 charter Badecanwell, as Birch says, but Domesday Book Buchenholc, before 1300 Bukenhale, Bokenhowe, before 1400 Buchenhole, and so the same as above. Only here the ending varies between -hale (see -hall) and -hole, softened into -howe. Old English hol, holh, ' a hollow.’
Bude Haven (N. Cornwall). Not Budecalech (see Butleigh). Probably same root as Welsch bwth, ' a hut.’ Gaelic both, ' a house '; Eng. booth, first found circa, 1200 as bode.
Budleigh Salterton (Devonshire). Domesday Book Bodehe, ' Boda's lea' or ' meadow.’ See -leigh. Compare, too, 693 Grant Budinhaam, probably in Essex, Budbrook (Warwick), Domesday Book Budebroc, and Dom Essex, Budcerca. Budby (Notts), Domesday Book Butebi, and 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Butebroc (Essex) are from a man Butti, a Norse name.
Budock (Falmouth). Sic 1536. Probably a Keltic dimin. = little hut.’ Compare Bude.
Bugsworth (Stockport). ' Bugga's farm.' Bugga is said to be a pet contraction of St. Eadburga. Compare Bugthorp (E. Riding), Domesday Book Bughetorp, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Buittorp, Buttorp, also Bugbrooke (Weedon). See-thorpe and -worth.
Builth (Llandrindod). before1000 Buelt, circa, 1100 Irish Nennius Boguelt, before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Bueld, before 1600 Byellt. In Welsch Llanfair Ym Muallt. Welsch buw-allt, ' steep place, cliff (Latin alius, ' high ') of the cattle.' The Nennius form will be from Welsch gallt= allt. Buelt was that part of Powys between Wye and Severn. Compare Buildwas (Old Welsch gwas, ' a servant '), Abbey, Wroxeter. This abbey dates from 1135.
Bulkington (Nuneaton). Domesday Book Bochintone, 1232 Bulkintone. Doubtful but probably' Town of Bulca.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 225 Bulcan pyt.
Bull Gap (Derbysh.). Thought to be a tautology. Bull= Welsch bwlch (Gaelic bealach), ' a gap, a pass, a broken cut.' Gap is an Old Norse word, not recorded in English till circa, 1380, which makes the idea of a tautology decidedly doubtful. Bull How (West Midlands) is thought to be from a Norseman, Bol—i.e., 'The Bull'; Old Norse bole, boli. How is ' mound, hill.' See -how.
Bullingdon (Oxford and Hants). Oxford. B.? circa, 1097 Flor. Worcester anno 1053 Bulendun, 1216-1307 Bulenden, Bulingden, Bolinden. Hants B.? Domesday Book Bolende. 'Hill of Bula.' Compare 1233 Close R. Buleworthy (Devon) and Bulley (Gloucestershire.), Domesday Book Buleleye. See -ing and -worthy.
Bulmer (York and Suffolk). See Bomere.
Bungay (Suffolk.). Not in Domesday Book 1460 Bowunggey. Probably Skeat is right in deriving from Icel. bunga, ' a round hill, a bing,' and ey, ' island, peninsula.' The site supports this. Certainly, it is not France bon gue, ' good ford.' 1460 might suggest derivation from some unknown man, perhaps a nasalized form of Buga. Compare Domesday Book Sussex, Bongetune. See-ay.
Bunhill (London). Old Bonhill. Doubtful. Compare Bonchurch, Bonsall, and Bownhill.
Bunny (Nottingham). Domesday Book Bocei, 1228 Close R. Boneya, 1284 Boneye. Might be Old Norse bon-ey, ' prayer isle.' Compare next. But perhaps from Old Eenglish bum, ' a reed, the stem of the cow-parsnip'; it is only once given with an o, in 1388. See bun sb’. However, we have 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Boueneia (Oxon), which must be ' isle of Bofa,'genitive-an, a fairly common name. See-ey.
Bunwell (Norfolk). Not in Domesday Book. 1444 Bonewell, 1477 Bonwell. ' Prayer-well '. Old English ben, Old Norse bon, 'a prayer'; in Eng. 2-7 bone, 3-4 bon. Compare Bonchuech and above.
Burbage (Buxton, Hinckley, and Marlboro'). Hincley B. Domesday Book Burbece (also in Domesday Book Sussex). Marlboro B. 961 charter Burhbece; Old English for 'burgh, castle on the beck' or 'brook'; Domesday Book Burbetce. The more regular form would be Burbeck, still a surname but Oxford Dictionary, gives beck as a name found only in those parts of England, once in Danish or Norse occupation. See-bach, -beck.
Burbury Hill (Swindon). Old English Chronicum ann. 556 Beranburh or Beranbyrig (see Barbury Hill), which is perhaps meant. Maybe from a man, Beorga or Berga, or Boera. But Burcote (Bromsgrove) is Domesday Book Bericote, 1275 Byrcote. Probably Old English bere-cote, ' cot or storing here or barley.' Compare Berwick.
Burden (Durham), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Byrdene, 1197 Bireden. 'Dean, (woody) valley,' Old English denu, 'with the house.’ Old English bur, the modern Eng. bower, and Scottish byre.
Burford (Oxford). Old English Chronicum ann. 752 Beorford, Beorgford; charter Bergford; circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Bereford, 1231 Bureford. Old English burg, burh, old Norse borg, 'a shelter-place, fort, burgh'; from Old English beorgan, ' to protect.' See -burgh.
Burgh (Lincoln, West Midlands, etc.). Lincoln B. Domesday Book Burg. West B. circa, 1175 Fantosme Burc, circa, 1180 Bened. Peterb. Burgus. ' Castle, fortified dwelling.' See above. Compare Domesday Book Surrey Berge,? 'the Borough '; and the same Essex, Burghstede.
Burgh Castle (Gt. Yarmouth). Bede Cnobheresburg id est, ' Cnobher' s Town.' See Burford.
Burghclere (N.Hants). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 674 Clere, and Domesday Book Often Clere, These may represent this place, or Highclere or Kingsclere nearby. The Eng. adj. clear is from France and is not found till 1297. This must be Welsch clegr, clegyr,' a rock.'
Burgh-on-Sands (Carlisle). circa, 1175 Burc; 1356 Scalacronica Burch sure le Sabloun (France sablon, ' sand '). Now pronunciation Bruff. Thought to be Sim. Dur. ann. 792 Aynburg. Compare Aintree. Brough (Yorks) is Domesday Book Burg.
Burley (Leeds, Oakham, Hereford, Ringwood). Le. B. Domesday Book Burghelai. Hereford B. Domesday Book Burlei. 'Meadow with the burgh or castle.' Sec above and -ley.
Burlingham (Norwich). Domesday Book B'lingaha, 1452 Byrhyngham,1454 Suth birlyngham. ' Home of the Birlings.' See Birling and-ham.
Burmington (Shipston-on-Stour). Domesday Book Burdintone, 1413 Burmynton. Doubtful. Duignan thinks ' Burhman's town.' A burhman or burgman was one who lived in a burgh or town.
Burnham (Chiltern). Sic circa, 1018 charter, Domesday Book Burneha, Berneha. Probably Old English burna-ham, ' house, home beside the spring, well,' or' stream.' See-bourne.
Burntwood (Lichfield), before 1600 Brendwood, Brandwood. Brand, brent, etc., are M.E. pa. tense of burn. Compare Brentwood and Barnhurst. In 1262, says Duignan, a Forest jury find ' a certain heath was burnt by the vills of Hammerwich (Burntwood's parish), to the injury of the King's game.'
Burrage Town (Plumstead). 1355' Bartholomew de Burghest,' 1370 Burwash; also, Burrish, Borage. The first syllable is probably Old English burh, ' fort, burgh ‘; but the ending is quite uncertain. Earlier forms are needed.
Burringham (Doncaster) and Burrington (Bristol and Chumleigh). Old forms needed. Chumleigh B. Domesday Book Buretone. Done. B. (not in Domesday Book) might be from Ralph de Burun (now Byron), who had lands in Notts in Domesday Book in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum we also find the names Burwine or Beornwine, and Burro, which are all possible origins; so is Burga, genitive -an. See -ham and -ton.
Burrough (Melton Mombray). Domesday Book Burgo. Probably burgh-hoe, or ' castle hill.' See -burgh and Hoe. Burrow (N. Lanes) is Domesday Book Borch= Barrow.
Burry Port (Carminshire). Possibly the Eng. burgh or -bury, q.v. But it might easily be Welsch burgwy,' wild, frothy water'; whilst Welsch bur is variant of bar, ' top, summit.' Indeed, it is close to Penbre,' head of the hill.'
Burscough (Ormskirk). Sic. circa, 1200, but 1189-96 Burscogh, 1292 Burskew, 1306 Burscow. ' Wood of the burh ' or ' fort '; Old Norse shog-r, Danish skov, ' a wood.' See Shaw. For ending -scough compare Swinscoe (Ashbourne), before 1300 Swyneskow, Swyneschoch. See -burgh.
Burslem. Domesday Book Barcardeslim (scribe's error), before 1300 Burlyme, Borelyme. wardeslyme, before 1400 Tunstall R. Borewaslym. Old English Burhweardes hlimme, 'Burward's stream.' Compare Burwardsley and Lyme.
Burstall (Ipswich). Compare 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Burchestala (? Beds.). ' Place of the burgh ' or ' castle '; Old English steall, steel, ' place, stall.' See -bury. Burston (Diss), Domesday Book Burstuna, has presumably a similar origin. Or it may be from a man, Burh or Burg.
Burston (Stone and Diss). St. B. before 1200 Burweston, before 1300 Burceston, Buregeston, Bureweston, before 1400 Bureston. Domesday Book Burouestone, almost certainly this place, though in the wrong Hundred. It must mean ' town of Burga,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; or Buregestone, Burwestone, may be a contraction of Burgweard, or some other of them any names in Burg-. Old forms needed for the Diss name.
Burstwick (Hull). Domesday Book Brostewic, Brocstewic. 'Burst or broken dwelling.' See Bristnall and-wick.
Burton (23 in Postal Guide) Warwick B. Domesday Book Bortone, Salop. B. Domesday Book Burtune. Pembroke B. circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Bertune. There are 29 instances in Domesday Book Yorks, all Burtone, or Burtun. Also, Burton-on-Trent. circa, 1180 Bened. Peterb. Burtona; monastery founded here, 1004. They are all Old English burh-tun, ' fortified dwelling-place.' Compare Bo'ness (Scottish) and Burgh. Burton Agnes (Yorks) is 1281 Close E. Anneys-burton. However, Burton, Bamboro', is originally Burnulfeston.
Burwardsley (Chester). 1280 Close R. Borewardesleye, ' Meadow of Burhweard.' Compare Burslem and Burwarton (Bridgnorth); and see -ley.
Burwell (Cambridge). Domesday Book Burewelle, 1346 Burgewelle, 1521 Bury Wells Berwill. Probably 'burgh well'; with form 1521 compare Bertune, old form of Burton. It probably stands where K. Stephen afterwards built a castle; burge is genitive of Old English burh.
Bury, also Bury St. Edmunds. 1066 Old English Chronicum Byrtune =Burton). Domesday Book' In Beccles villa abbatis sancti Edmundi,' also, ' burgo ht abb. sci edmundi ‘; 1450 Bury Seynt Edmond, 1480 Bury Wills Bury. Bury is Old English burh, ' castle, burgh.' St. Edmund is Edmund the Martyr, K. of the East Angles, slain at Hoxne by the Danes in 870. Compare Brougham.
Buscot (Lechlade). Domesday Book Boroardescote, circa, 1540 Barwardscott. ' Cot, cottage of Burgweard.'
Bushbury (Wolverhampton). 994 Biscopesbry, Domesday Book Biscopesberie, (Warwick), circa, 1300 Bishbiri, Bischbury, ' Bishop's burgh,' a curiou scorruption. It is still pronunciation Bishbiry. See-bury.
Bushey (Middlesex). Domesday Book Bissei. ' Byssa's isle' or' peninsula.' Both Byssa and Bisi are found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ey.
Butcombe (Wrington, Somerset). Not in Domesday Book 1298 Butencumbe, which is Old English for ' without the valley.' Old English butan, Mittel English buten, bute, ' without.' Compare Binbrook. No But(t)a in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-combe.
Butleigh (Glastonbury), circa, 725 charter and circa, 1130 Wm. Malmsbury Budecalech, 801 Bodecanleighe, Domesday Book Bodechlie, Boduchelie, Exon. Domesday Book Bodecaleia. ' Bodeca's lea or meadow.' See-leigh.
Butley (Tunstall, Suffolk.. Domesday Book Butelea. This may be ' outside the meadow.' Compare Butelege, Domesday Book Cheshire, and Butcombe.
Butterby (Durham). Butterknowle (Co. Durham, Old English cnoll- ' hill-top, hillock, knoll,' 7-9 knowle), Buttermere (Cocker, mouth), Bttershaw (Bradford). We have grouped the names in Butter- in two sets and give first those which almost certainly have nothing to do with butter sb., but come from some Danish or Norse settler. Butter or Buthar (Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives only one Buterus); he may even have been sometimes a Saxon, as we have already in 931 chart and in Domesday Book a Butermere (Wilts). Or some of these names, if late, may come from Mittel English bitoure, Old France butor, the bird bittern, in Scottish butter, as in Butterdean (E. Berwicksh.). Buttergask (Dunkeld), however, is Gaelic bothar gasc, ' causeway-hollow ‘; whilst Butterstone nearby is plainly from a man. Butterton, there are 2 in Staffordshire stands in debatable ground. It is before 1200 Buter-, Boterton, Buterdon, 1200 Buter-, Boterdon, 1223 Butterdon, Buterden, before 1300 Botredon, before1400Butterton. The endings-don and-ton often interchange, but it is more than likely that -don is the original here. If so, a hill would much more probably Be called after a man than after butter. See -by and -shaw.
Butterleigh (Cullompton), Butterley (Derby), Butterwick (Boston, Penrith, etc.); also, Butterton. See previous article. Boston B. Domesday Book Butruic, 1216 Butterwyck, 1274 Boterwyke, circa, 1275 Boturwyk, 1410 Boterwick. Domesday Book Yorks Butruic, 1183 Buterwyk (Co. Durham). There is also a Butterworth (Rochdale). These all probably, though not certainly, mean ' meadow, dwelling, farm or village where they made butter." Old English butere, 3 buttere, 4 boter(e), botter, 5 buttyr, botyr, 4 -butter. See -ley, -ton, -wick, -worth, and above. With Butterwick compare Chiswick, and with Butterworth compare Cheswardine.
Buttington Tump (Montgomery). 893 Old English Chronicum Buttingtun. circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Budingtun. Compare Codex Diplomaticus 746 Bottanige. Probably patronymic; 'town of the descendants of Botta or Butta.' Tump is Welsch twmp,' mound, barrow.'
Buxhall (Stowmarket). Domesday Book Bukessalla, before 1200 charter Bucysheal. Compare Domesday Book Buchehalle (Salop) and Bucknall. ' Buca's nook.' See -hall.
Buxton. 1572 Buckstones. Enc. Brit says probably Domesday Book Beetune (3 times); if so, Bee- must be error for Buc-. The Enc. also gives as old forms Buestanes (where again Bue- must be error for Buc-) and Bawdestanes, a form which cannot represent Buxton. Probably ' stone of the buck,' Old English buc, bucca; and see -ton for -stone. But more evidence is needed.
Bwlch (Breconshire). Welsch for 'pass, gap,' Gaelic bealach or Balloch. Bwlch Gwynt (Pembroke.) is ' pass of the winds,' in old charter Windy yete, where yet or gate also means ' pass, gap.' Bwlch-y- Ffridd (Newtown) is' gap in the forest.'
Byfleet (Weybridge). 727 charter Byflcte, Old English for' by the river.’ Compare Beeford and Fleet.
Byland with Wass (Coxwold, Yorks). Domesday Book Begeland, 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Beland, 1199 Beilande, 1228 Close R. Begheland, 1242 ibid. Beyland. ' Land of Boega '' a marsh, a fen.' Compare Alrewas.
Byley-cum-Yatehouse (Middlewich). Old Biveley. Doubtful. Perhaps' meadow of Beoba,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Bevington, Alcester, 1316 Byvinton, before 1400 Beovynton. Bive- suggests connexion with Old English bifian, Old Norse bifa, Mittel English bive, ' to shake, to tremble.' See -ley, Yate- is Gate-. Compare Yetholm (Sc).
Bytham Parva (Lines). Domesday Book Bitham, 1228 Close E. Bihamel, Byhamel, 1292 Parva Byham. Probably ' by the home.’ Old English ham. Compare Byfleet,’ Beeford, etc.; also, Attewell = ' at the well.' Parva is Latin for ' little.'

Cadair Idris (mtn. Central Welsch). Welsch=' seat of Idris, 'a Welsch hero and a great astronomer. Welsch cader, cadair, is ' a chair,' but in O.W. and Corn, 'a cradle, a framework.' The c has become g in Llyn-y-Gader hard by.
Cadbury (Crediton and Wincanton). Crediton C. Domesday Book Cadebirie, circa, 1540 Cadburi. Wincanton C. Domesday Book Cadeberie. ' Fort, burgh of Cada, Cadda, or Ceadda'; several so named in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Cadenhov (Essex) and Cadnam (Hants). See-bury.
Cadney (Brigg). Old English Chronicum 675 Cedenac (late MS.), 'Isle of Ceadda,' genitive-an, or' Chad.' See-ey.
Cae Athraw (Caernarvon). Welsch=' Field of themaster or doctor cae, ' a field, an enclosure.' Compare Caeglas, and the curious Cae Llwyn Grydd, Carnarvon, which is ' field of the bush of the' red wall,’ y gaer rudd, referring to an old castle now in ruins.
Caerau (Bridgend, S. Welsch). Plural of Welsch caer, ' fort, castle '; Old Welsch also gaer, Bret, ker, Gaelic cathair, ' a fort.' Compare Caerleon and Carew.
Caergwrle (Fhntsh.). An old castle here, and perhaps once a Rom. station. Said to be Welsch caer gwvr lle, ' castle, fort at the boundary place.’ Cwr or gwr, ‘a boundary;’ but the ending is decidedly doubtful.
Caerleon-on-Usk, pronunciation Karleen; in Welsch Caer Llion ar Wysc. circa, 800 Nennius, ' city of Leogis ' or ' Cair Lion,' Domesday Book Carleion' Castell; probably circa, 1145 Geoffr. Monmouthshire Civitas Legionum, 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Carliun, circa, 1205 Layamon Kair-luine and Kair Uske, in edit. circa, 1275 Ceyr-lyon, 1241 Karlyun. From early times thought to be Welsch caer lleon, ' camp of the (Roman) legions '; and the second legion, the Augusta, is said to have been stationed here. But the true ' city of legions ' is Chester, which Nennius place ' doubtful. So this name is 'fort on the streams'; Welsch lli, plural llion, ' a flood, a stream.’ There is also a Caer Leon, St, David’ s. The present surname Carlyon is pronunciation Kar-lion. Compare Caerdon (Sottish).
Caermarthen, Carmarthen. In Welsch Caerfyrddin, circa, 150 Ptolemy.., circa, 800 Nennius Cair merdin, 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Cairmerdin, circa, 1188 Girald Kairmardhin, Kairmerdhin, circa, 1205 Layam. Kair Merdin, 1240 Close E. Calverdin, 1242 the same Kaermerdin, circa, 1330 R. Brunne Kermerdyn. In Welsch ll has the soft th sound; hence the idea which arose early that the name is ' fort of Merlin,' the famous wizard at K. Arthur's Court. The Latin form Merlinus is found as early as 1148, the Modern Welsch is Myrddin. The originally name of Merlin's Bridge, S. of Haverford Welsch, was Mawdlen's or Magdalen's Br. It is doubtful what this name meant in Ptolemy 's day; perhaps ' castle by the sea.' The dun is certainly caer, and mari may be Kelt. for ' sea '; in Welsch mor, but in Gaelic muir; genitive mara.
Caernarvon or Carnarvon. Also in Cumberland, Beckermet, with the same meaning. In Welsch Caernarfon, before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Kairnarvon, Kaerarvon; in his Itinnary Cambridgeshire ' Dicitur Arvon, provinicia contra Mon ' (or Monia insula) 1307 Carnaruan, before 1340 Kaernervan, Ltywelyn's Survey Caer yn Arvon. Welsch caer 'n arfon, ' fort opposite Mona ' or ' Anglesea ‘; but in the Cumberland. case the the Mona is the Island of Man.
Caer Rhun, (Caernarvonshire) Welsch=’fort of Rhun; son of Maelgwynn Gwynedd, a prince of the 6th century.
Caerwent (Chepstow), circa, 380 The Antonic Itenerary Venta Silurum. The -went may be Welsch gwant,' a butt, a mark.'
Caistor (Norwich and Lincoln), Domesday Book, both, Castre, also Castra. Li. C. circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Castrum apud Lindeseiam. The root is, of course, Latin castra, neut. pl.,' a camp.' But this in Bede is always caestir, and in Mercian cester. Mr. Anscombe has shown this implies origin rather from late Latin castra, fem. sing; the Wessex ceaster, the Merc. cester, and Northumberland caestir all coming normally from the inflected form castrae through an unrecorded caestri.
Calbourne (Isle of Wight). Pronunciation Kaalbourn. 826 charter Cawle- burne, Domesday Book Cauborne. Old English for ' burn, brook of the fish- baskets or creels'; Old English caivel, cawl, 'a basket'; still used in Cornwall as cawell or cowel. Compare Porthcawl. See -bourne.
Caldecott (Cambs) and Caldicot(e) (Newport, Monmouthshire, and 2 in Wrwksh.). Domesday Book Cambridgeshire, Bucks, Wrwk., and Chesh., Caldecote, which is Old English for ' cold cot ' or ' dwelling.' Skeat says Calde- is a remnant of the dativ of Old Eenglish cald, ceald. Domesday Book Yorks Caldecotes is now Coldcotes. Compare Cauldcots (Sc), and Domesday Book Norfk. Caldanchota.
Calder R. (Cumbld. and Lanes). Probably Old Norse kald-r, ' cool, cold.’ Compare Caldbergh (N. Yorks), Domesday Book Caldeber; see Barrow.
Caldy (Tenby). In Welsch Ynys Pyr. 884 Wrmonoc Insula Pyrus. circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Caldei; also before 1196 the same Enis Pir, Insula Pirri. This Pir must be some man. Compare Manorbier. But Cald-ei is Norse or Mittel English for ' cold island." See -ey. There is also a Caldy in Cheshire, which may be Domesday Book Calders, which may be connected with Calder.
Calf Heath (Cannock.). 994 charter Calfre heie, Old English for ' Calves' hedge.' Caldon, (Cheadle) in the same shire, is 1004 Celfdun, ' calf hill.' Compare 940 charter Chealfa dune (Wilts.).
Callington (Cornwall), circa, 988 charter Caellwic, Domesday Book Calwetone. Ex. Domesday Book Caluuitona, ' Town of ‘? The nearest names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum are Caldewine and Calwinus. The charter form seems to mean ' dwelling of Coell.' Callerton (orthumberland) is 1073 Calverdon, 1242 Cauveredon. See Calverton and -don.
Callingwood (Burton-on-T.) is an unique word. circa, 1280 Calyngewode, Chalengwode; in Latin deeds Boscum calumpniatum; before 1600 Challengewood. O.France calenge, chalenge, chalonge (from Latin calumnia), 'a reproach, an accusation, then a challenge.' In Eng. before 1300 Cursor Mundi, ' chalange.' Compare Threepwood (Scottish) and in Northumberland and Cheshire, from threap, 'a (scolding) contest.'
Callow Hill (Blithfield, Staffordshire Chippenham, etc.). Blithfield C. a 1300 Caluwhill, Kalewhull, before 1400 Kalughulle. Old English cahi, calwe, Latin calvus, ' bald, bare.' Compare Caludon, Coventry, 1327 Calwedone. There are also 3 places called Callow (Wirksworth, Hereford, and Worcestershire (more than one).
Calne. circa, 996 Calna, 1387 Calne. Doubtful. Possibly from Welsch or even calon, ' heart, centre.' Colne (Lanes) is the same. Compare Caunton.
Calsthorpe (Louth). Domesday Book Caletorp, 1233 Kaltorp. 'Farm, place of a man Calla or Ceolla,’ the latter a common name. See -thorpe.
Calverton (Nottingham and Stony Stratford). Domesday BookNotts and Bucks, Calvertone. ' Town, village of Ceoliveard.' But Mutschmann prefers Old English calfre tun, 'calves' town.' See -ton. But Calverley (W. Riding) is Domesday Book Caverleia, Caverlei; it may, however, be from the same name; or else from what? Compare Callerton, and 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Northumberland Calualea. See-ley.
Camallan R. (Bodmin). Cornish for ' crooked Allan '; the Allan and Camallan unite to form the Hayle. Cam is ‘crooked ' in Welsch, Corn., and Gaelic; in Welsch the fem. is gam. But R. Cam is quite different. See Cambridge.
Camberwell (London). Domesday Book Ca'brewelle; thereafter h is rare till 17th century; 1199 Camwell; Camerwell, Cambwell, and Kamwell are also found. Doubtful; camber, 'slightly arched’ is impossible. See Oxford Dictionary Welsch earn ber, 'crooked pike or spit,’ might be possible, if Kelt. names were not so very rare hereabouts. Probably it is ' well of Coenbeorht,' a common Old English name; and this is phonetically quite admissible. Compare Alberbury from Ealdbeorht.
Cam R. and Cambridge. Possibly The antonic Itenerary Camhorico; probably Old Keltic, camb or, 'crooked river' (compare Cambo and Orr, Scottish), with ic- adjectival. No doubt this Rom. name influenced scholars long after to fix the name as it now is—Cambridge. But originally, they had no connexion, circa, 700 Felix Crowland Grouta flumen, Bede Grantacastir (the modern Grantchester is 2 ½ miles from Cambridge); probably before 810 Nennius Caer Grauth (for Grant), Old English Chronicum 875 Grantebrycge, 1011 the same Grantabrycgscir, before 1145 Orderic Gruntebruga, 1142 Cantebruggescir, before 1153 Hist. Eli. Cantebrigia, 1150-61 Cantabrigia, 1436 Canbrigge, 1449 Kawmbrege, 1462 Cambryge, 1586 Camden Camus. Granta is the old name for the stream now called Cam. The two names have gradually become assimilated, Gr having originally become C through Norm. mispronunciation. Granta maybe cognate with Gaelic granda, 'ugly.' Compare Allt Grand (Scottish), also Grantown (Scottish); or it may perhaps be connected with Welsch grwnan, ' to hum, to drone.' Compare Grantley There is also a little R. Cam, trib. of Severn, Dursley (Gloucestershire), 1177 Camme, 1221 Kaumne, which is Keltic cam, 'crooked'; and on it there is a Cambridge, too.
Cambo (Morpeth). 1298 Cambhou, Camou. Compare Cambo (Scottish),1327. Cambou. Keltic camb ou, ' crooked stream ‘; the ou is same root as in Latin Awe (Scottish), and in Eu (Normandy), circa, 1110 Owe. Gf. next.
Cambois (Blyth), pronunciation Kamis. 1183 Boldon Bk. Camboise, Cambous, Camhus, Cammus; later Commes. This is not France, but Gaelic camus, 'a bay,' as in Cambus (Sc). from GAELIC cam, Old Gaelic camb ' crooked.' Compare above and Aldcambus, (Cockburnspath) 1212 Aldchambos, Aldecambus (ald=Gaelic allt,' burn').
Camborne. Sic. 1536. Probably Cornish cam bron, ' crooked hill.' Transposition of r is a common phenomenon.
Camden Town (N. London). Called, after1791, from Baron Camden of Gamden Place, Chiselhurst (Kent), where Wm. Camden, b. 1551, author of Britannia, resided. The name may be Keltic, cam din, ' crooked hill’ but where was the original Camden? Perhaps Staffordshire to which Welsch Camden's father belonged.
Camel R. (Cornwall, and name of village, Somerset.) and Camelford (N. Cornwall), circa, 1145 Geoffrey Monmouthshire Cambula, circa, 1205 Layamon Camelforde. Camel is perhaps Kelt. for ' crooked stream,' in Gaelic cam allt. Compare Cambo, and Gamescleuch (Scottish). But probably from a Keltic god, Camulos, a deity found both in Gaul and Britain, and giving name to Camulodunum, or Colchestek. Keltic rivers are much associated with deities. Camhula, ' crooked river,’ suggests a quite possible origin for the much- disputed name Campbell. Compare Campbeltown (Scotish). With Camelford compare Galford. Near the Som. C. lay Camelot, circa, 1440 Lancelot Kamalot. Here the final syllable is perhaps Welsch lloed, ' a place." It seems first mentioned circa, 1170, in Chretien de Troyes' Chevalier de la Charrette. Compare next.
Camerton (Bath). Domesday Book Camelerton, 'town on the R. Camelar (sic in 961 charter). See Camel. The -ar is quite uncertain. But the first part is almost certainly the god Camulos.
Campden (Glostr.). Domesday Book Campdene. 'Wooded vale with the battle site.' Camp is an early loan from Latin campus, ' a plain.' Compare Eynsham Cart.' To Campsetena gemaera.' See-den.
Camrose (Pembksh.). 1324 Kameros. Welsch cam rhos, 'crooked moor.'
Candover (Hants). Probably 707 charter (Codex Diplomaticus v. 40) Cendefer, 1238 Close R. Candevre. Welsch cefn dwfr, ' ridge by the stream.' Compare Cenarth and Condover.
Canewdon (hill, S. Essex). 1240 Close R. Canewedon' (and Calewedon), but Domesday Book Carendun, which Freeman thinks must be an error. The name is probably ' Canute’ s hill ' or dun. It lies close to the site of King Canute's or Cnut's victory at Assandun, 1016.
Canklow (Rotherham) and Cank Thorn (Cannock). 1595 Canek Thorne, Cannock Thorne. The Cank- in both cases must be the same, one would think, as Cannock. If so, Canklow (not in Domesday Book) is a tautology; Keltic and English=' hillock' or' mound.' See -low. In Midlands dialect cank means 'gabble or cackle,' as of geese.
Cannington (Bridgewater). Domesday Book Candetona. Probably named from some man, but both his name and the present name must be much corrupted. There is nothing in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum nearer than Coenheard.
Canning Town (Plaistow). So named from the former principal employer of labour there.
Cannock Chase (Staffordshire). Domesday Book Chenet, 1130 Chnoc, before 1200 Canot, Chenot, Chnot, Cnot, 1238 Canoe, before 1300 Canok, Kannock, before 1500 Cank. Domesday Book regularly spells Old English en as chen; and in all old MS. c and t are constantly confused. So this must be that rarity a Goidelic Eng. place-name, Gaelic and Irish cnoc, genitive cnuic, ' a hill, a knoll,' so common in Scottish and Irish names. Eng. and Welsch placenames in Knock- are very rare, perhaps only Knockin. There are also Knook and Knucklas, but they are from Welsch cnuc rather than Gaelic cnoc. There is no trace of u in all the many old forms of Cannock. Compare Canklow. Chase is Old France chace, ' chasing, hunting, a hunting-ground, wild parkland,' not found in Eng. in this sense till 1440. Compare Chevy Chase.
Canterbury. [In Bede iv. 5 Rochester is also called Castellum Cantuariorum, Old ENnglish versn. Cantwaraburhge.] before 810 Nennius Cair Ceint [also Cantguaraland]; Old English Chronicum 754 Cantwareburh, the same 1011 Cantwaraburh; Domesday Book Cantorberia, circa, 1100 Anselm Cantuarberia, 1258 Kant'bur', circa, 1330 R. Brunne Canterbirie, ‘Kentmens’ burgh, wara meaning, ‘dwellerin; Compare Lindiswara, Mersewara (dwellers in Romney Marsh) and Whitwara. See -bury. In Romanisch Days it was called Durovernum (Welsch dwr gwern, ‘river with the alders’)
Canwell (Birmingham), before 1200 Canewelle; later Canewall, Canwall, Kanewall, -well. The name may be ' well of St. Cain ' or ' Keyne ' or ' Keigwin.' There was a priory and a spring here, the latter dedicated to St. Modan; but there is no note of any connexion with St. Cain. Compare Keynsham. Welsch can, cain, ' beautiful, clear,' seems impossible here. But the first syllable may be Old English canne, a ' vessel for liquids, a can.' Oxford Dictionary gives only one quatation from Old English, and then nothing till circa, 1375, 'a vatir-cane.' The name must thus be left doubtful; prob, it is from can.
Capel Curig (Bettws y coed). Chapel dedicated to Curig, son of Ihd or Julitta; the mother shares the dedication with her son. The form Capel, Old Norse France capele, ' chapel,' late Latin cappella, originally ' a little cloak or cape,' reappears in Capel St. Mary and St. Andrew (Suffolk). There is also a Capel (Dorking), as well as a Domesday Book Hereford. Capel. In Pembk., 1603 Owen gives Capell Castellan and C. Colman (Irish Bp. of Lindisfarne, 661).
Carisbrooke Castel. Named twice for a nearby stream - Celts called the stream ‘Cary’, and the Saxons added ‘broc’, meaning brook.
Caradoc or Caer Caradoc (Salop). Welsch caer Madoc, or else Cadoc ' fort of St. Madoc,'or' of St. Cadoc' Either M or C musthave been lost by aspiration. Madoc or Modoc was a disciple of St. David in Welsch and lived 558-625. Compare Kilmadock (Scottish). Cadoc, Cadocus, or Docus, another Keltic saint, lived some years in Central Scotland, and is also commemorated in Landoc (Cornwall).
Carden (Malpas). Old Carwarden; the personal name Carwardine is still found. 'Farm of Car' or 'Cari,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum For a similar contraction compare Hawarden, now pronunciation Harrden. See -warden.
Cardew (Dalston, Cumberland). circa, 1080 Carden. Welsch Caer Dewi, ' fort of David‘; or possibly from Tiw, the Northern god of war.
Cardiff. 1126 Kardi, 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Cardif, before 1150 Kardid, Cairti, before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Kaerdif, Kerdif, 1218, Kaerdif, 1298 Kerdife, Kerdyf, circa, 1450 Cayrdife. Usually said to be ' fort on R. Taff '; but early forms make this more than doubtful. In Modern Welsch it is Caerdydd, pronunciation Kaerdaeth. This suggests ' fort of ' Didius, general of The Romans against the Silures, the British tribe of this region’ a.d. 50. This is confirmed by the fact that we now know Cardiff was a Romanisch fort. The form Caer Daf (Taff) is found only in Leland, circa, 1550, though Caer Dyv does occur. However, there are 2 Cardeeths in Pembroke; and the learned editor of Owen's Pembroke declines to suggest any etymology either for these or for the plainly cognate Cardiff.
Cardigan, circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Ceredigion, Kerdigaun; Brut y Tywsy. ann. 991 Ceredigion; 1218 Kaerdigan, 1298 Writ Gardygan. Said to be from Caredig or Ceroticus, a Welsch prince, to whom St. Patrick wrote, denouncing him for his cruelty in Ireland.
Cardington (Church Stretton). Domesday Book Cardintune. 'Town, village of Carda.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum. 877 Cardan hlaew.
Cardurnock (Bowness, Cumberland). Gaelic cathair, Welsch caer, ' fort,' and Gaelic dornag, ' by the pebbly place '; a pebble being a stone easily held in the' fist,' Gaelic dorn, genitive duirn. Compare Dornock (Annan, Scottish).
Carew (Pembroke), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Kaereu, Kerreu. The same name is pronuncation Carey in Cornwall, because this is for Welsch caerau, pl. of caer,' castle, fort,' where the au is pronunciation ay.
Carham (Kelso), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Carrum, probably Old English locative 'at the carrs' (Old English carr) or 'rocks.' Compare Harlow Car, Harrogate. But see -ham.
Carisbrooke (Newport, Isle of Wight). 1217 Patent R. Carebroc, 1218 Kaerbroc, 1224 Carrebroc, circa, 1350 Caresbrok; but Old English Chronicum 530 Wihtgarsesbyrg, or Wihtgarabyrg, which means 'Wight- dwellers' burgh ' or ' castle.' It does look as if the Wiht had been dropped, and the rest transformed into Carisbrooke; but this is contested by Stevenson in his Asser, and by McClure. In Domesday Book the name seems to be Bovecombe. There is in 1199 charter a ' Carsbrok ' near Launceston i.e., ' brook of the fort.' Possibly the first syllableis Carr sb2, or Carse. Old Norse kjarr,' copsewood ' then ' bog or fen,' and not Keltic caer, ' fort.'
Carleton (Pontefract and Skipton) and Carlton (22 in Postal Guide). Codex Diplomaticus iv. 288 Carlatun, the same 300 Carletun. Domesday Book Carlentune (Cambridgeshire), Careltune, Carentune (Notts), Cerletune (Chesh.), Cerletone (Salop), Ceorlatona (Devon); and in Yorks, 16 times, Carletun. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Carltun, Stockton,1189 Karlatun (Cumberland). Old Norse karla, or Old English ceorla tun, ' carls', churls', serfs' village.' Compare Cableton (Scottish). Cearl or Ceorl is also a personal name.
Carlisle. circa, 380 Antoninc Itinerary Luguvallum, Bede Lugubalia, before 810 Nennius Caer Ligualia, Taliessin Caer Lliwelydd (so in Welsch still), 1092 Old English Chronicum (Peterburough) Carleol, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Carleol quae a populis Anglorum corrupte Luel vocatur, Sim. Dur. ann. 1122 Lingua Britonum Cairlel quae nunc Carleol Anglice appellatur, 1129 Chaerleolium, before 1145 Order. Vit. and Waverley Ann. Cardeol, circa, 1175 Fantosme Karduil, 1330 R. Brunne Carlele, 1617 Carliell. W. Stokes says, Luguvallum is 'wall of the god Lugus.' See Lugg. And Llewellyn, of which Luel or Leol is a contraction, is probably modern Welsch for Lugu-behnos. The same name is seen in Lugdmium or Lyons. Carlisle is, of course,' castle of Leol.'
Carmel (Holywell and 2 others, Welsch). Presumably all Welsch caer moel, ' fort on the bare, round hill.' T. Morgan gives none. 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Hereford, Cormel (o error for a) is almost certainly the same name.
Carn or Corn Cavall (mtn., Builth). Welsch carn Cabal,' cairn of Cabal," King Arthur's dog.
Carnaby (Bridlington). Domesday Book Cherendebi. 'Dwelling of' some unknown person. The nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum seems Ceohven, a widow; eo regularly becomes a, and liquid l easily turns into its kindred r. Another possible name is Carthegn or Carthen. See. -by.
Carnforth (N. Lancashire). Domesday Book Chreneford. before 1250 Kerneford. Probably ' ford of Crina ' or ' Crin,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ford, -forth.
Carperby (N. Yorks). Domesday Book Chirprebi. 'Dwelling of some Norseman unknown. His name may perhaps be represented by the modern surname Capper, the liquid r having vanished, though Prof. Weekley does not think so. Very likely the originally name is the common Ceolbeorht, which would suit phonetically. Compare Carnaby. See -by.
Carrington (Manchester and Nottingham). Nottingham C. Domesday Book Carentune, Caretune; 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Carenton. Seems to be ' village of Car or Cari; both forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing and -ton.
Carshalton (Mitcham). Pronunciation Casehalton, Casehorton. Domesday Book Aultone, circa, 1200 Crossalton; also, Kresalton, Kersalton, Case Horton. Originally ' old town,' Old English ald tun, then ' Cross old town'; r continually gets transposed. With thi scase compare Bean cross for Bean corse or Bean carse (Falkirk). Caese (Scottish), ' low lying land beside a river,' is found in Scotland circa, 1200, but not in Engelant till much later, if really at all. Carsington (Wirksworth) circa, 1460 Karsynton, must be from some unrecorded man, Carsa, or the like.
Carswell (Newent and Gower). Newent C. Domesday Book Crasowel, 1221 Karswelle, 1303 Cassewalle; plainly =Crasswell, Ceesswell, ' watercress well.' Gower C. is also spelt Caswell and is probably The same. Dr. G. Henderson, however, thinks this name to be Norse, with the ending Norse voll-r, ' field,' compare Scatwell (Scottish), and the former part presumably = Carse (Scottish). In face of the evidence above this is doubtful. There is also Karswell (Dursley).
Carter Fell (Cheviots). Sic before 1540. Contract, from Gaelic ceartachair, ' a regulator, an adjuster,’ fit name for a lofty hill, from ceart, 'right, just." Probably also the origin of the Dhu Heartach lighthouse, Colonsay. See-fell.
Cartmell (Ulverston). Sic before 1130 Sim. Dur., 1224 Kertmel, Cart is probably Connected with Gaelic caraid,' a pair' (compare Cart, Scottish) because Cartmell Fell stands in the triangle between the two streams which unite to form the R. Winster, just as the Black and White Cart unite to form the Cartin Renfrewshire. The -mell is Norse for a ' sand dune ' or ' sandbank.' See Mellis. Compare Cart- be Norse too—Old Norse kart-r, ' a cart '—it may refer to a sandbank found firm enough for a cart to cross. However, Cartworth (W. Riding) is Domesday Book Cheterwrde, or ' farm of Kater.' Compare Kettering and see-worth.
Cary R. (Somersetshire). 725 charter Kari, circa, 1160 Carith. Probably Welsch carth, ' scouring ' river, the root which Dr. Mc. Bain suggested for R. Cart (Scottish). Compare Castle Cary.
Cassop Colliery (Coxhoe, Durham). 1183 Cazehope, ' enclosed valley of Casa'; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -hope. But Domesday Book Salop Cascop will be “Casa’s cop. Old English cop, copp,' top, summit, crest of a hill.' 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon has a Cassewell, 'Casa's well.'
Casterton (Kirby Lonsdale), circa, 380 Antoninc Itinerary. Calacum; possibly Domesday Book hre and Cheshire Castretone. Hybrid from Latin castra, Old English, English ceaster, ' a camp.' But Casterne (Ham) is 1004 charter Coctes thyrne, ' Coet' s thorn.'
Castle Bromwich (Birmingham). Domesday Book Bromwic (under Northants), before 1200 Bramewic, Bromwich, before 1400 Castel Brom wych; Old English bromwic,' dwelling among the broom.' See -wich. Castle (sic) is found in Engelant as early as 1137 Old English Chronicum See also p. 61.
Castle Carey (Somerset), circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Castellum de Cari, circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. 'Duo castella, Carith videlicet et Harpebren.' The personal names Carey and Carew, probably derived from this, are interchangeable. In Cornwall Carew is pronunciation Carey; and we find in Berks before1300 a Nicholas Carew or Cary. See Cary. The Scottish Castlecary is a tautology.
Castle Carrock (Carlisle). 1222 Patent R. Castel Kayroc. Probably = Carrick (Sc). GAELIC and Jr. carraig, ' a rock, a sea-cliff.' Carrick (Ayrshire.) is in Taliessin Carrawg.
Castleford (Yorks). Probably 948 Old English Chronicum Ceasterforda. Old English ceaster, Latin castra,' a camp.' Compare Castley (Yorks), Domesday Book Castelai.
Castle Rising (King's Lynn). 1224Patent R.Castra de Risingis, 1450 Rysyng. Rising sb. is not found in Oxford Dictionary, with the meaning of' rising ground, hillslope, hill, 'until 1565. So, probably this is a patronymic, like Barking or Reading, ' place of the descendants of Rhys,' a well-known British name. Compare Risby. Its English form is Rice.
Castleton (Isle of Man). Manx Balla Ghastal, which means the same thing. Ballais Gaelic and Irish bail, baile,' farm, village.’
Gaston (Attleborough). Domesday Book Castetuna, Kastetuna. Difficult to say what Caste- represents, unless it be that the liquid r has dropped, and it is -caster, gf-v. This would be abnormal. No likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Castor (Peterborough). Domesday Book Castre,1154-61charter Castra. See Caistor.
Caterham (Croydon). circa, 1210 Katerham, 'Home of Kater.' Still found as a surname. Compare Kettering, and Catterton (Yorks), Domesday Book Cadretone.
Catshill (Bromsgrove and Walsall). Bromsgrve Gaelic 1275 Catteshull, before 1400 Gates-, Kateshull. Walsall Gaelic before1300 Cutteslowe (see-low), before1500 Catteslowe alias Cattshill; also circa, 1220 Elect. Hugo. Kateshill ' Hill of Catt, Catta, or Ceatta.' Compare Catfoss (Yorks), Domesday Book Catefoss, ' ditch of Catta,' ' Cattestone,' sic circa, 1200 in Norfolk, Catton and Chatham.
Cattal, Magna and Little (Yorks). Domesday Book Cathale, Cathala, C. Gatale. ' Nook of Catt.' See above and -hall. Magna is Latin for ' Great.'
Catterick (Yorks). circa, 150 Ptolemy Katouraktonion, circa, 380 Anton. Itin. Cataractone, Bede Cataracta, Latin for' cataract, waterfall', ‘juxta Cataractam usque hodie cognominatur’, a 900 Old English vers. Bede Cetrehta, Domesday Book Catrice, 1241 Cheteriz.
Catton (Allendale and E. Riding). E. Riding G. Domesday Book Cattune, Caton, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Catton. ' Village of Ceatta or Catta.' Compare Ghatham and 1238 Close R. Catteshal' (Suffolk).
Caunton (Newark). Domesday Book Calnestone, Carleton (an error),1166-7 Rolls of the great Pipe Galnodeston, 1241 Close R. Calnedon. Clearly, ' town of Ceolnoth,' a fairly common name. Causton (Rugby) is Domesday Book Calvestone, from a man Ceolf. See -don and -ton.
Cavendish (Suffolk). Domesday Book Kauanadisc, Kavanadis. Old English Ceofan, Cafanedisc,' park, enclosure of Cafa.' Compare Standish.
Caversham (Reading). 1219 Caveresham, 1238 Cavresham. From some unknown man. Caverswall (Stoke) is Domesday Book Cavreswelle, before 1200 Chavereswelle, which seems clearly ' Coefer's well.' In Old English we have cafer-tun, ' a hall, court, or mansion '; but this is not likely to be the origin. Compare Caversfield (Oxon). Domesday Book Yorks, Caverlei is now Galverley. See-ham.
Cawood (Lanes and Selby). Lanes C. 1230 Cawude, 1346 Kawode. Selby C. not in Domesday Book (but Domesday Book Notts Cauorde? ' Cawe's farm'). Doubtful; but probably either, as in Cawthorne, 'cold, cauld wood,' or as in Cawton, 'Ceolf's wood.' Compare 1233 Close R. ' Galwodeleg' (Devon).
Cawsand (Plymouth), more correctly Cosdon. Might be 'hill (Old English dun) of Casa,' the only probably name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Cawston (Norwich) and Caxton (Cambridge). No. C. Domesday Book Cauestuna, Caustituna, Caustuna,1167-68 Caustona. Cambridge C. Domesday Book Caustone, 1238 Close R. Kaxston,1245 Caxton. The great printer's name is often spelt Causton. Difficult. Skeat conjectures, ' village of Cah,' genitive Cages. Compare Codex Diplomaticus ii. 137 Cahing laeg. But the Norman name at least surely comes from Caua (3), Cawe, or Cawo, all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ton.
Cawthorne (Barnsley). Domesday Book Caltorne, 1202 Kalethorn, Kaldthorn. Probably 'cold thorn tree'; Old English cold, 'cold'; col, 'cool.’ But Cawton (Yorks) is Domesday Book Caluetun, which is probably ' town of Ceolf.' Compare Codex Diplomaticus 816, Ceolfestun. It may be from Old English cealf, a calf.'
Cefn Coch (Newtown). Welsch= 'red ridge.' Cefn Llys (Radnor). 1246 Patent R. Keventhles. Welsch= ' ridge with the hall or mansion.'
Ceiriog R. (Oswestry). Welsch=' abounding in trout.'
Cemais, incorrectly Cemmaes (N. Pembroke, Machynlleth, and Anglesea). Pembroke C. 1222 Patent R. Kammeis, 1298 Kemmeys, circa, 1550 Leland Kemes, 1603 Owen 'Kemes head called Pen Kemes pointe.' Welsch cemmaes is ' a circle for games, a circus,' said to be from camp, ' a feat, a game ' derivation is disputed.
Cenarth (Caermarthen). circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Cenarth Maur, circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Canarth maur. Old Welsch can arth, ' white hill or height.'
Centurion's Copse (Brading). Corruption of 'St. Urian's copse.' Compare Polurrian.
Ceri (Montgomery). 1298 Kery. Welsch ceri, 'medlar-trees.' For other suggestions see T. Morgan.
Cerne Abbas (Dorchester). Sim. Dur. anno 1102 Cernel, circa, 1114 Old English Chronicum Cernel, circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Cernei, 1237 Cern'. Cerney or Cernel is also variant of R. Churn, circa, 800 charter Cyrnea, circa, 1130 Cirnea. Doubtful. There is an Old Norse or France kernel, ' an embrasure in a battlement, a battlement,' which has probably Influenced the Cernel forms. But th eroot of Cerne Abbas is the R. Cerne, which is probably Welsch, as there is a R. Cerniog (Montgomerysh.) which flows into the R. Carno. Welsch cam is ' a cairn, a heap of stones,'but this can hardly be the root here; perhaps it is pre-Kelt.
Cerridge, The (Macclesfield). Welsch cerrig, 'a rocky ridge. Compare Carrick (Scottish).
Cevnon (Cardiff), circa, 1550 Leland Kevenon. Welsch cefn onn, 'ridge of the ash-tree.'
Chacombe (Banbury). Sic 1373. Not in Domesday Book or Alexander. Probably' valley of Ccec, Cec, Cecca,' a fairly common Old.English name. Compare Checkley. See -combe. Possibly it maybe 'chalk combe.’ The hard Old English c as a rule becomes the softer ch in Southern names.
Chadderton (Oldham). 1190 Chaderton, 1278 Chadreton. There is no name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum like C(h)ader, so this is perhaps a case of a Norse genitive, Chad-r, ' of St. Chad.' Such a genitive is very rare in an English placename, but in this case, it seems confirmed by Chatterley, which before 1300 is both Chadderlegh and Chaddendelle (or 'dale'). Compare Chadkirk. However, Catterton (Yorks) is Domesday Book Cadretone; so that Chader may be variant of Kater, as in Caterham and Kettering.
Chaddleworth (Wantage). 960 charter Ceadelanwyrth, Domesday Book Cedeneord, 1291 Chadelew'rth. ' Ceadela'a farm.' See -worth. Compare Chadshunt (Warwickshire), 1043 Chadeleshunte; Chadbury (Evesham) 714 charter Chadelburi, 860 the same Ceadweallan byrig; also, Chaddleton and Chalfont.
Chadkirk (Stockport). [Compare Domesday Book Cheshire, ' Sco Cedde tenuit Estun.'] 'Church of St. Chad,’ 'Bp. of Lichfield (d. 672). Kirk is the North, form of church, and is here near its South, limit. But Chadwick (Birmingham) is before 1200 Chadeleswiz, while Chadwick (Worcestershire)—there are two—are both before 1300 Chadeleswick or Chadleswick; the Bromsgrove one is Domesday Book Celdvic. But Chadsmoor (Cannock Chase) is from ' the blessed St. Chad.' Compare Chadderton.
Chagford (Dartmoor). Domesday Book Chageforde, and still so pronunciation ' Ceagga's ford.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 762 Ceaggan heal.
Chale (Ventnor). Domesday Book Cela. Perhaps 'cold place.' Compare Old English cele, ' cold, coldness '; 2-4 chele, modern ' chill '; also Old English cald, ceald, 2-4 southern cheald, ' cold.'
Chalfont (Slough). Old English charter Ceadeles funtan, Domesday Book Celfunde, 1292 Chalfount sancti Egidii (St. Giles), 1298 Chalfhunte. ' Ceadela's font, fountain, or spring ‘; Latin fons, fontis. Compare Chaddleworth and Bedfont, and next. But Chalford (Gloucestershire) is 1297 Chalkforde.
Chalgrove (Walingford). 1232 Close R. Chaugrave, 1240 the same Chalfgrave. ' Grave,' Old English groef, ' of Ceolf,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum In modern name endings -grove often supersedes -grave.
Chalk Farm (N. London). Originally ' Chalcot farm '; and Upper Chalcot mansion house survived near here tillr ecently. Chalcot is probably chalk cot. 1746 Rocque's Map of London has ' Upper Chalk House Lane.'
Challock (Ashford). 835 charter Cealf-loca. ' Calf-enclosure ' or lock.' Compare Porlock.
Challow, East and West (Wantage). Charter Ceawan hlaewe, 1291 Westehaulawe, 1316 Estchaulo, circa, 1540 Westchallow. ' Ceawa's mound, or burial-mound,' See-low.
Chalton (Horndean, Hants). Domesday Book Celtone, and perhaps Codex Diplomaticus 722 Cealhtune, for Old English cealc tun,' chalktown.’
Chapel-en-le-Frith (Stockport). 'Chapel in the wood' or ' forest.' Frith is some kind of a wood. See Frith Bank and Oxford Dictionary, s.v.
Chapmanslade (Westbury). ' Lade' or' watercourse of the chapman,’ or 'pedlar.' Compare 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Hants, Chepmanneshale, 1160 -essele (see -hall), and Chepstow.
Chard (Axminster). Not in Domesday Book Perhaps Welsch cardden, 'a wild place, a thicket,' from cardd, ' exile.' Possibly from a man Carda, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but it is rare for a placename to be of this pattern. Compare Goodrich and Tydd; also, Chardstock, a little to the S., Domesday Book Cerdestoche. See Stoke.
Charford (Salisbury). Old English Chronicum 508 Cerdigesford. The Saxon ealdorman, Cerdic or Ceardic came to England in 495. But Charford (Bromsgrove) is 1275 Cherleford, 1327 Chorleford. Old English ceorla ford, ' ford of the churl ' or ' hind; whilst Charfield' (Wotton-under-Edge), Domesday Book Cirvelde, circa, 1250 Charfelde, Baddeley derives from Old English ceart, ' rough, fern-growing ground,'
Charing (Ashford). 799 charter Ciornincge, 940 the same Cirringe, Domesday Book Cheringes. This may be ' place of the sons of Ceorra, Ceorran, only likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Cherrington (Shipston-on-Stour), no old forms. But the earliest form suggests a river-name, formed with -ing, q.v., from a stream called Ciorn, which would be akin to Cerne, Churn, and Cirencester (? any such name still here. Could it be an old name of the Len, on which Charing stands?). We also have 940 chart Cyringhyrst (Kent). Charingworth (Ebrington) is Domesday Book Chevringaurde, circa, 1320 Chavelingworth, which Baddeley thinks maybe' farm of the sons of Ceafhere, 'an unrecorded name.
Charing Cross (London), circa, 1290 Queen Eleanor's Executors Crucem de la Char-rynge. Popular etymology says, ' Chere reine,' King. Edward I.'s tribute to his Queen Eleanor; but this is absurd. Probably it is simply a patronymic like the above.
Charlbury (Oxford). Die Heilige English Ceorlingeburh, 1197-1208 Churlebiry, 1238 Cherlebir. ' Burgh, castle of (the descendants of) Ceorl or Cearl,' a common Old English name i.e., ' the churl '; eo regularl becomesa in modernEng. Compare next.
Charlcombe (Bath). ' Valley of Cearl or Ceorl,' lit. ' of the churl, or carl, or bondman.' See -combe.
Charlcote (Stratford-on-Avon). Domesday Book Cerlecote; in Salop, too. ' Cot, hut of the peasant or bondman.' See above.
Charlton (15 in Postal Guide). Old English charter Ceorlatun, Domesday Book Cerletone (Berks), etc. 'Village of the churls or carls.' See Charlcombe and compare Chorlton. We also have a Domesday Book Bucks Cerleslai.
Charmouth (Dorset). Old English Chronicum 833 and Hen. Hunt. Carrum. R. Char is perhaps the same Kelt. root as in Cauron (Sc), and so either 'rough' or 'crooked' river. 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Kent, has a' Charho.'
Charney Bassett (Wantage). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 506 Ceornei, Domesday Book Cernei, 1291 Cernee. ' Island on R. Cerne.' See -ey. The Bassets were a Norman family who owned lands hereabouts. But Charnes (Eccleshall) is Domesday Book Cervernest, before 1200 Chavernesse, 1227 Chaunes, before 1300 Chavernes, Charneves, Chaunes. O. Eceafor, cefer 5 chauer, a beetle; and nest, ‘nest’, or naes, promontory, headland, ness'—a very curious corruption.
Charnwood Forest (Leicestershire). Not in Domesday Book, but it has Cernelega. Probably same as Carnwath (Sc), which is circa, 1165 Charnewid, Welsch cam gwydd, ' cairn, cairnlike hill, covered with shrubs or woods'; influenced, too, no doubt by the Old Danish wede, Danish ved, English wood. No name like Camor, Cern in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Chart Sutton (Maidstone). 838 charter Cert. Chert, a kind of quartz, is not found in Engelant before 1679, so this name is doubtful. It seems little use to compare Chertsey. However, Chartley (Uttoxeter) is Domesday Book Certehe, circa, 1300 Certelea, which must be ' Certe's ' or ' Ceort's, meadow.' We have in Old English charters Certsecer, Ceortanstapol, etc., as well as Certham, now Chartham (Canterbury). Thus, the name Certe or Ceorta, though not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, is well established.
Chatburn (Chitheroe). 1241-42 Chatteburn. Probably 'brook of Ceatta ' or ' Ceatt,' as in next and in Chetham, sic 1235. But both this and Chat Moss may be from Old Welsch c(h)et, Welsch coed, 'a wood,' as in Chetwode.
Chatham Old English charter Ceattham, Domesday Book Ceteham, circa, 1150 charter Caetham. ' Home of Ceatta,' a Jute. Compare Catton.
Chatteris (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Cateriz, Catriz, Chetriz, Domesday Book Cetriz, Cietriz; charter Ceatrice, Chaterik; circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Chateric; before1153 Lthe same Eli. Chateriz. The forms in Ch and z are all Normandish. Difficult. Possibly it contains the personal name Kater. Compare Kettering. Skeat and Stevenson think not, and think it may be a Kelt, river-name, which is doubtful.
Chatterley (Newcastle, Staffordshire), before 1300 Chadderlegh, Chaddendelle. This may be ' meadow ' or ' dale of St. Chad.' The -en is the Old English genitive -an, whilst the er is a trace of the Norse genitive in -r. Norse influence is common in N. Staffordshire Compare Chadkirk. Great and Little Chatwell in the same shire, before 1200 Chattewelle, are also from Chad. But compare Catterton, s.v. Chadderton.
Chawton (Alton). Not in Domesday Book It has a Caudevre (compare Micheldever). Old forms needed. Perhaps =Chauson (Droitwich), Domesday Book Celvestune,1108 Chalvestone. Old English Cealfestun, 'town of Calf, 'or' the calf.'
Cheadle (Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire), also C. Hulme and Moseley (Cheshire). St. C. Domesday Book Celle (error for Cedle; Domesday Book continually has felle for felde), 1166 Chelle (repeating Domesday Book's error), 1194 Chedele, before 1300 Chedle, Dogge-Chedile. Cheshire C. 1194 Chedle. This must be Norse kvidal,' fold-valley'; Norse influence is common in N. Staffordshire Compare Katewell (E. Ross-shire), in Gaelic Ciadail, the same name. For -dale slurring into -dle, compare Rodil (Harris), and the ending of Marple; whilst for N. k becoming ch, compare -caster and -chester.
Hulme is Old English holm, ' a piece of low, flat land by a river.' Compare Hume (Scottish), 1250 Home. The origin of ' Dogge-Chedile ' is unknown. Though Celle and Chelle are clearly errors here, Chell (Burslem)"is 1313 Ceolegh, or ' Ceol's lea.' But Kiddal (W. Riding), Domesday Book Chidal(e), is manifestly the same name as Cheadle; plainer still is Chee Dale, Millersdale (Derbyshire). It is worth adding as to the Celle forms that the sb. needle, Old English nedl, whilst 3-6 nedle is also 3-7 nelde.
Cheam (Sutton). 1018 (or later) charter Cheyham. 'Home of Ceahha,’ or some such name, Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1230 Ceahhan mere. See -ham.
Chebsey (Eccleshall). Domesday Book Cebbesio (o for e), before 1250 Chebbesey. ' Isle of Ceohha ' or ' Ceob,' 3 or 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Suffk. Cebbenhala. See-ey.
Checkley (Cheadle, Herefordshire, Essex, and S. Cheshire). Cheshire C. Domesday Book Cedla (error), 1227 Chekkesleye, Checkele. Ches. C. circa, 1190 Roll Chekelee, later Chackleigh. Herefordshire circa, 1252 Chackileg. ' Meadow of Coec, Coacca, Cec ' or ' Cecce,' all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Checkendon (Reading), ' hill of Cecca,' and Kekewich. See -ley.
Cheddar (Somerset). Exon. Domesday Book Cetdre, Charter Cedre, before 1142- Wm. Malmesbury Ceddren; later Chedare. Keltic cetder, Welsch coed dwr, ' wood on the stream.' 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Cedresfeld (Somerset) seems to imply a man Ceder, of whom we would have the patro nymic in1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Gloucstr., Chedringwurda,' farm of Ceder's sons.' Compare Chetwode.
Cheddleton (Leek). Domesday Book Celtetone, 1200 Chetilton, 1204 Cheteleton, before 1400 Chetelton. Probably not ' town of Ceadel ' or ' Ceadela,' as in Chaddleworth, but 'town of Cetel or Cytel,' a common Old English name. Change of t to d, or vice versa, is common. Compare Catterton (Yorks), Domesday Book Cadretone, Chatterley, and Chedworth (Gloucestershire), 872 charter Ceddanwyrde, from Cedda, but also 1190 Chedeleswarde, ' farm of Ceadel.' Caddel is still a surname.
Chelford (Cheshire). Domesday Book Celeford, also in Bucks, Celforde. ' Ford of Ceolla ' or ' Cella.' Compare Chelsfield. Chellow (Bradford) is from the same name, Domesday Book Celeslau, ' Cella's hill.' See -low.
Chellaston (Derby). Probably Domesday Book Cellasdene. Compare 939 charter Ceolan hyrst (Kent). Now ' town of Ceolla; but the ending seems to have been formerly -dean, q.v.
Chelmarsh (Bridgnorth). 1179 Cheilmarsh, 1255 Cheylmerse. Probably contract, for ' Ceolmund's marsh.' Compare Chelmick in the same shire, 1232 Chelmimdewyk; but Cheylesmore (Coventry) is before 1300 Chisilmore, Old English ceosel mor, ' shingly moor.'
Chelmondiston (Ipswich). Local pronuncation Chimston, Not in Domesday Book ' Village of Chelmond or Geolmund, 'a very common Old English name. Compare Cholmondestone (Cheshire), Domesday Book Chelmundestone; also, Cholmondeley.
Chelmsford. Domesday Book Celmeresfort,1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Chelmesford, 1161ib. Nord chelmeresford. ' Ford of Ceolacer ' or ' Celmar,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Liquid r easily disappears. The name of the river Chelmer is thus a back formation from the ford.
Chelsea. Old English Chronicum 785 Cealchype, 1465 Chalchithe, before 1600 Chellsaye. The name has changed. Originally it was ' chalk- hithe ' or ' landing-rise.' See Hythe. But the present form represents Old English ceosel-ize, 'pebble-bank isle'; Old English ceosel, ' pebble or shingle.' Compare Germanics kiesel, and Cheselhanger (Berkeley), 1368 Chisulhanger, 'shingly wooded slope.'
Chelsfield (Chiselhurst). Possibly by dissimilation Domesday Book Ciresfel. 1298 Chelesfelde, ' Field of Ceolla,' a fairly common name. Compare ' Chelesbergh ' in charter of 935, near Shaftesbury, Domesday Book Surrey, Celesham, and Cheleswurda,1159-58 Rolls of the great Pipe Wilts. But Chelsworth (Bildeston, Suffolk) is 962 charter Ceorlesworth, 'farm of Ceorl'—i.e., the churl or carl —common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-worth.
Cheltenham. 803 charter Celtanhom, Domesday Book Chinteneham, 1158-59 Chilteham. ' Enclosure on R-. Chelt,' probably a Keltic, word, possibly the same root as Celtce. The ending here is hamm, not ham. See -ham.
Chelwood (Bristol). Old forms needed. (Domesday Book has only Ceolflede, Celflede, from Ceolf or Ceolivulf.) May be ' Ceolla's wood,' or perhaps ' cold wood,' from 4 cheld, cheald. South, form of cold, Old English cald.
Chenies (Rickmansworth).? 1131 Old English Chronicum (Laud.) Chinni, 1297 Cheyny. Probably Old English cine, cyne, 3 chine, 4-6 chene, chyn, ' a fissure, a crack, a chine.' Compare Kempton. The ending is the commonly suffixed English plural. But Domesday Book Yorks Chenehall is now Killinghall.
Chepstow. In Welsch Casgwent (cas for castel). Domesday Book Estrighoiel, 1228 Close R. Striguill; also Straguil. The Domesday Book Form looks like ' dwelling, abode, Welsch ystre, of the Goidel or Gael.' But the present name is Old English ceap-stow, ' marketplace, place for bar- gaining,' as in Cheapside.
Chequerbent (Bolton), circa, 1574 M.S. Checkerbent. This must be ' checkered, variegated bent grass.’ The vb. chequer is rare so early in Eng., so this seems to be formed from chequer sb. ' chess- board’ or ' chessboard pattern '; Old France eschequier; in Eng. 1297 chekere. See also Bentley; and compare Chowbent (Lanes), 1641-42 Cholbent? ' bent of Ceol.'
Cherhill (Calne). Domesday Book Cheurel, 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Ceriel. Doubtful; first part probably as in next; -el is a very rare representative of -hill. It is conceivable that the root is Old English ceafor, cefer, 4 chauer, ' a chafer, a beetle '; O.H.G. che variant
Cheriton (4 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Ciretona (Devon). Hardly from the cherry, Old English ciris, cyrs, and then not found till circa, 1350, cheri, chiry. Perhaps ' village of Ceorra ' or ' Cyra,' one such of each in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Cherrington (Warwickshire) is the same name, 1327 Chirytone. Here, and also in the case of the two Chirtons, Duignan votes for cherry. But Cheriton (Alresford) is probably Domesday Book Cerewartone, from some man of doubtful name, (?) Ceorl- weard, a name not recorded, or, by dissimilation, Ceolweard, a fairly common name. The Kent Ch. is not in Domesday Book Compare Churston. However, Cherington (Tetbury), Domesday Book Cerintone, circa, 1120 Cherintone, later Chederintone, Baddeley thinks is, ' ton, farm-enclosure of the Ceadrings ' or ' sons of (?) Ceadhere.'
Chertsey. Bede Cerotaesei, id est insula Ceroti, various reading Ceoroti [grant of 675 Cherteseye]. 1084 Old English Chronicum Ceorteseye, Domesday Book Certesy. ' Isle of Cerot.' See -ey.
Cherwell R. (Oxford). 681 charter Flumen quod appellatur Ceruelle. 864 the same Cearwellan, 1005 Cearwylle, Cyrwylle. Possibly connected with Old English cyrran' to turn,’ but probably pre-Keltic.
Chesham (Bucks). Codex Diplomaticus 658 Cissanham. Old English for 'home of Cissa.' Compare Chessington, Keswick, and Domesday Book Essex, Cesseworda, Cishelle. The names Cis, Cisi, and Ciss also occur.
Cheshunt (Waltham Cross). Domesday Book Cistrehunt, before 1300 Cesterhunt, 1402 Chesthunte, ' camp's hunt ' or ' hunting-ground.' See Chester. But Chesford (Kenilworth) is circa, 1422 Chessford, of quite uncertain origin perhaps Old English ceosleg,' shingly.' We get the; personal name Chesney in Sezincote (Gloucester), Domesday Book Che(i)snecote, ' cot of Chaisne ' or ' Chesney,' O. Er. chesnaie, ' an oakwood.'
Cheslyn Hay (Walsall), before1300 Hay of Chistlynn, Chistling, Chistling, Cheslyn, Chystlyn. Duignan takes this to be a dimin. of chest, Scottish hist, Old English cest, cist. Compare Chestal (Dursley), 1374 Chystelay. Hay is Old English hege, ' a fenced or hedged enclosure,' here perhaps round an ancient cromlech or burial-mound.
Chessington (Surbiton). Domesday Book Cisendone. ' Cissa'& fort'; Old English dun. Compare Chichester. See-don and-ton.
Chester. Bede,' Civitas Legionum, which by th eEnglishis called Legacestir, but by the Britons more rightly Carlegion,' in circa, 810 Nennius Cair Ligion (W. caer, 'fort, castle') and Urbs legionis, 894 Old English Chronicum Anre waestre castre, Domesday Book Cestrescire, circa, 1097 Flor. Wore. ' Civitas quae Carlegion Britannice et Legeccaster dicitur Saxonice. Latin castra, ‘camp’. Old English ceaster. ‘a fortified place,’ then often a town.’ Compare A. S. Gospels (Luke x. II). In modern Welsch Caerlleon Gwr, great fort of the legion. (? The 20th). Compare Caerleon and Leicester; and see Caistor.
Chesterfield (Derbysh. and Lichfield). De. C. 955 Cesterfelda, 1162-65 Cestrefelt. Li. C. 1262 Cestrefeud, Chestrefewde. See Chester. Field is Old English feld, 3-5 feflt(e). In 1262 the liquid l has become w, as it often does, esp. in Scottish, but Oxford Dictionary, gives no examples under field.
Chester-le-Street. before1130 Sim. Dur.; also R. of Hexham Cuncha Chester; 1183 Cestria. The street implies a Roman road. Cuncha is also found in the form Cununga, which suggests Icel. konung-r,' king.'
Chesterton (Cambridge, Cirencester, Bicester, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.). Cirencester C. circa, 1100 Cestretone. Warwickshire C. 1043 charter Cestretune, Domesday Book Cestretone, Cestedone. Old English ceaster-tun,'town of the fort, castle-town.' See Chester and -ton. Also compare Domesday Book Bucks Cestreham.
Cheswardine (Market Drayton). Domesday Book Ciseworth, before 1200Chesewurda, Cheswordyn, Chesewardyn, Chesew'rthin. ' Cheese- making farm.' Old English cese, cyse, ' cheese,' and -worth or its variant -wardine, q.v. Similar is Cheswick (Northumberland), circa, 1100 Cheseuuic, 1631 Cheswick, literair ' cheese-house.' See -wick. Also compare Butterwick and Chiswick.
Chetnole (Sherborne). (Domesday Book has Chenolle and Chenoltone and Cnolle.) Hybrid. O. Keltic chet; Welsch coed, ' a wood '; and Old English cnoll, ' a rounded hillock, a knoll.' Compare Chetwode, Knowle, and Kits Coity House, name of a cromlech, Aylesford, Kent. Jos. Colebroke, circa, 1800, says Kit was an old shepherd, who fed his flocks here; and Coity must be from coed.
Chettle (Blandford). Domesday Book Ceotel (o probably error). 1238 Close R. Chetel. Old English cytel, cetel; Old Norse cetel, 'a kettle,' hence a valley shaped like a kettle, a ' corrie.' Compare Kettle or Kingskettle (Fife).
Chetton (Bridgnorth). 1 Domesday Book Catinton. ' Town of Ceatta,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Cetendone.
Chetwode (Bucks). 949 charter Cetwuda, Domesday Book Cetevde, 1248 charter ' Forest of Chett,' 1270 ' in Bosco (wood) de Cett,' 1290 Chetwood. Hybrid tautology; Old Welsch coit; Welsch coed, ' a wood.' Compare Chute and the personal name Chetwynd (Welsch coed gwvyn); also Domesday Book Cornwall Chilcoit (Cornish for' neck of the wood'), and Bucks, Cetedone, though this last may be from Old English cete, ' cot, hut.' Compare Datchet. Also compare Chetnole.
Cheveley (Newmarket), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Cauelei, Chauelei, Cheuelei, Domesday Book Cliavelai, before 1200 charter Cheaflea, Caeafle, 1346 Chavele, 1426 Cheveley. ' Chaff-meadow '; OLD ENGLISH ceaf, 2-4 cheue, 4 chaue, ' chaff.'' See -ley.
Chevenage (Avening). Not in Domesday Book 1626 Chavenedge. Probably Cheven- is Old English Cifan,' Cifa's’ with the usual Norm, softening. Compare Chevening, Chevington, Chieveley, and Domesday Book Surrey Civentone. But it maybe from Cefn. -age, q.v., is usually a late ending, and needs old forms to interpret it.
Chevet (Barnsley) Domesday Book Cevet; and Cheviot Hills, circa, 1250 Montes chiueti, before 1300 Mons chiuioth, circa, 1500 Chevet, 1596 Cheuott. Possibly Gaelic c(h)iahach, ' bushy place,' from ciahh, ' hair," which may also be the root of Chevy Chase. For-ach becoming-iot, compare Elliot (Sc). There is also Caville (Yorks), which is Domesday Book Cevetle (see -ley). The name is very doubtful. France chevet, 'a pillow,' seems impossible. But the Chevin (Otley) is plainly Welsch cefn,' a hillridge.'
Chevington (Acklington, Bury St. Edmunds, and Pershore). Bury C. Domesday Book Ceuentuna. Pershore C. 972 charter Civincgtune, Domesday Book Civintone, 1275 Kyvintone, Chyvintone. ' Town of the sons of Cifa.' Compare Chevenage. See-ing and-ton.
Chevy Chase (N. Northumberland). Sic circa, 1650, but before 1500 ballad. 'The hunttis of Cheuet.' See Cheviot and Cannock Chase.
Chewton Mendip (Bath). Domesday Book Civetune, 1230 Close R. Chiweton, 1238 the same Chyweton. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has no Ciwa, onlyone Ceawa, which may be the name here, and also in Chew Magna and Stoke (Bristol). Domesday Book Chiwe. There seems no likelier origin, though it is rare for a place to be called after a man alone, but compare Goodrich, etc. Magna is Latin for ' Great.'
Chichester. 891 Old English Chronicum Cisseceaster, circa, 1070 Ecclesia Cicestrensis, circa, 1114 Cicestre, 1167-68 Cycestr', circa, 1180 Cicestria, late charter Chichestra, 1297 B. Gloucester Chichestre. ' Camp, fort of Cissa, 'son of Ella, died circa, 520. See Keynor and compare Cissbury Camp (Worthing).
Chich St. Osyth (Colchester), circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Chicce, Sim. Dur. ami. 1123 Cice, 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Chich. Doubtful. None of the words spelt chich in Oxford Dictionary, yield a likely origin, and there seems nothing helpful in Old English Compare Domesday Book Devon, Cichet. So probably the name is Keltic, meaning some thing or place of concave or hivelike shape. Compare Welsch cychu, ' to cover, to hive.' Osyth was a virgin martyr, of doubtful date? 600-800. Said to have been granddaughter of Penda of Mercia and pupil of Abbess Modwenna.
Chiddingstone (Eden Bridge). The' chidingstone,' a sandstone boulder from which fractious wives used to be' chided, 'stills tands at the rear of the village; Old English cidan, to chide, pa. tense, chid, pa. pple. chidden. But for all that, this is probably an example of popular etymology, and the real name will be Old English Cyddan Stan, ' stone of Cydda ‘; there are 2 of this name in Kent mentioned in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Kiddington (Oxon), Domesday Book Chidintone; but the Kent name is not in Domesday Book
Chieveley (Newbury). Old English charter Cifan lea, 1291 Chivele. ' Lea, meadow of Cifa.' Not the same name as Cheveley (Cambs). Compare Chevington and see -ley.
Chigwell (Ongar). Old English chart Cingwella, later Cinghewella, Chiwellia. ' King' swell,' Old English cyning, 1-2 cyng, cing. Compare Chingford.
Chilcott (Wells) and Chilgote (Ashby-De-La-Z.). Probably, as in Chilton and Chilwell, ' Cilda's cot'; the adj. chill is inadmissible in all these cases, being recent. But Domesday Book Cornw., Chilcoit, will be Old Keltic, or Corn, for 'neck of the wood'; with Corn. chil, compare GAELIC caol, ' narrow,' and caolas, ' a strait, a kyle.' The Wells name could quite easily be Corn.; it is not in Domesday Book Compare Kilcot.
Childrey (Wantage). Charter Cillan rithe. Cilia rithe, Domesday Book Celrea, before 1300 Celrea, Cehy. Cilia is presumably a personal name. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1242 Cillan hrycg (i.e., ' ridge '); probably Cille, sister of Hean, first abbot of Abingdon. The letter d often suffixes itself. Compare Drummond (Sc). Rith is Old English for ' stream,' cognate with Latin rivus. Compare Shottery. But Childerley (Cambs) is Cildra-ledh,' children's' Cildra 'lea.', children’s. (C childers’ s) la.
Child's Wickham (Broadway, Worcester). 706 charter Chilcleswicwon, Wicwone, 972 charter Vuiguuennan. The present ame is a corruption the charter name may contain Welsch gwig,' a thicket, grove, forest,' or els ethe name of the tribe Huiccii. See Worcester; also see Wikhamford. Child is Old English cild, 'a child,' not found as child till circa, 1160, so that the copy of the 706 charter must be late. Cild is also early found as a proper name.
Chillingham (Bedford). Sic 1595, and Chillington [Kingsbridge (Sussex), Crewkerne and Brewood (Staffordshire)]. Ki.ngsbridge and Crewkerne C. Domesday Book Cilletone. Bewood C. Domesday Book Cillentone, before 1200 Cilderton, before 1400 Chilinton, ' Home, village, or town of Cille.' The names Cild. Cilia, Cille, and Cilli are all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But Sussex C. is circa, 1060 charter Cillingtun (probably), or ' village of Cilling,' probably Patronymic from above. See -ham, -ing, and-ton.
Chiltern. before 800 Chilternsaetna, Domesday Book Cilterne (Somerset), before1125 Old English Chronicum ann. 1009 Ciltern, circa, 1200 Gervase Chiltre. Compare, too, chart Hen. I. a ' Ciltre.' Oxford Dictionary says origin unknown. The name is also applied to a kind of soil. The -ern is probably Old English erne,' a house.'
Chilton (5 in Postal Guide). C. Poldon, Bridgewater, Domesday Book Cildetone, Steventon C. 1015 charter In loco ubi solicolae appellativo usu Cilda tun nominant, Domesday Book Cilletone, before 1300 Chilton, Domesday Book Bucks Ciltone. Cilda, 1015; probably is a man's name, as the proper genitive plural of Old English cild, ' child’ is cildra. But Skeat says that this, like Chilford (Cambs)means' children's.’ Yet Kilton, (Yorks), sic 1179, is Domesday Book Chilton, which makes Skeat's assertion doubtful, Compare next.
Chilvers Coton (Nuneaton). Domesday Book Celverdestoche (see -stock), before 1200 Chelverdcote, before 1300 Chilverdescote, Chelverescot. 'Ceolweard’ s cottages, 'coton being an Old English plural of cot.
Chilwell (Nottingham). Domesday Book Cilleuuelle, Cidwelle, Chidewelle. Compare Domesday Book ' Cildewelle ' (Cheshire). Chil- probably represents a man Cild, Cilia, or Cille; all these forms are found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. The Eng. adjunctive chill is not found till 1513. See, too, above, and compare Chilworth (Romsey and Guildford), Domesday Book Leicester Chilurda, and 1238 Close R. Cheleworth (Cricklade), which all must be from a man Cille, or the like. But some think Chil- is same root as in Bapchild. See-worth.
Chine (in Blackgang Chine, etc., in S. and S.W.). See Chenies. The Oxford Dictionary gives no quotation before 1830.
Chingford (Walthamstow). The early forms vary much Domesday Book Chilgelford, 1242 Chingelford, also Cingeford, Cingheford, Echingelsford. Schingelford. This seems to be ' Shingle – ford.’ Norse singl, ' water-worn gravel or pebbles,' Mittel English chingle; but plainly confused with 'King's ford.' Compare Chigwell, and 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Chingeswuda (Kingswood? in Surrey).
Chinnock, E. and W. (Somerset). Domesday Book Cinioch. Probably Keltic. Possibly variant of Cannock, from Welsch cnwc, ' a hillock.' But also compare Gaelic cianog,' a small piece of arable land.'
Chinnor (Wallingford). 1234 Close R. Chynhore, Chennor. ' Bank, edge of Cina ' or ' Cyna,' genitive -an. Compare Chinley (Stock- port). See -or.
Chippenham (Wilts, Bp’s. Cleeve, Cambridgeshire). Wilts C. 878 Old English Chronicum Cippan hamm, circa, 900 charter Cippenhamme, 1158-59 Chepeham, Bp’s. C. circa, 812 charter Cippanhamme, Cambeshire. C. circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Chipenham, Domesday Book Chipeham. ' Enclosure,' Old English hamm, or ' home,' Old English ham,' of Cippa,'-an, a rare name; Cippan cannot be=Chipping. Compare Domesday Book Essex, Kippedana, the 2 Chipsteads, and Chippinghurst (Oxon), charter Cibbanhyrst,' Cibba's wood.'
Chipping Norton, Ongar, Sodbuby, etc. before 1300 Roll Norton Mercatoria. Chipping is variant of cheaping, found circa, 1200 cheping, ' a market, a marketplace,’ from Old English ceap, ' barter,' cipan, ' to sell, same root as cheap, cheapen, etc. Compare Chepstow, and see Norton, etc. The modern Swede has the same sound and meaning, though not the same spelling. He always speaks of Copenhagen as Chippenhavn, ' merchant's haven,' though he spells it Kjobenhavn or -hamn, whilst a name like Jonkoping, ' John's market,' he pronounces Yon chipping. But Chipping (N. Lanes), Domesday Book Chipindcn, is probably- ' vale of Cipa ' or ' Ceapa,’ one in Onom (see -den), and Chippington (Nthbld.) old Cebbington,' town of Ceabba,' genitive-ban, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ing.
Chipstead (Red Hill and Sevenoaks). Not in Domesday Book Probably hHomestead of Cyppa.' Compare Chippenham and Domesday Book Norfolk Chiptona.
Chirbury (Salop) 913 Old English Chronicum Cyricyrig i.e.,' church burgh’ or' town.' See the interesting article Church in Oxford Dictionary But by circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt .it is Cereburih, 1236 Chirebir'. See -bury.
Chirk (Accrington and Oswestry). Accrington C. 1202 Chirche, or ' church '; but Oswestry C. before 1300 Cirice, circa, 1350 Chirk, which may not represent Old English for' church,' as in Chirbury; but, as Chirk is on the R. Ceiriog, it may be a corruption of it. In Welsch it is Eglwys y waen,' church of the moor.'
Chiselhurst, 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Chiselherst, circa, 1380 Chesilhurst. ' Woody place on the shingle,' Old English ceosel. See Chelsea and -hurst; and compare Chesil Bank, Dorset. But Chiselborough (Stoke-under-ham) is 1236 Close R. Sidelberg, probably 'burgh of Cecil.' The original seat of the Cecils was in Monmouth, where the name is pronunciation Seisyl; we see the same name in Isolde or Yseult of the medieval romances and in Chisholm (Scottish). See -borough'. We also have 1240 Close E. Chiselhampt'.
Chisenbury (Pewsey). Domesday Book Cheseberie. Compare Domesday Book Surrey Cisendone. ' Burgh, town of Cisi,’ one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Cissa is much commoner. See -bury. Great Chishall (1597 Chishill), Royston, may be from the same name.
Chislet (Canterbury). Charter and Domesday Book Cistelet. Possibly Old Norse, France castelet, chastelet, dimin, of chastel, modern France chatelet and chateau, ' a little castle.' We have eastelet in Eng. circa, 1320 and chastelet in 1494; but the early change from a to i is scarcely explained. Prof. Weekley is quite doubtful.
Chiswick (London). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1230 Chesewycke. Old English cese, cyse wic, ' dwelling, hamlet where cheese was made.' Compare Butterwick and Cheswardine and see -wick.
Chitterne (Wilts), before 675 Grant Cyterene forde.? Domesday Book Chetre. Probably ' Cyta's house,' Old English erne. We find both a ' Cytan ford ' anda' Cittan den' in early charters.
Chittlehamholt (Chulmleigh) and Chittlehampton (Umberleigh), both Devon. Domesday Book Citrametona (though in MS. Curametone). The first part must be the common Old English name Cytel, Chitel, or Ketel; the r in Domesday Book is due to the common interchange of liquids. Domesday Book also has Chetelescote. Holt is Old English and Icelandic for ' a wood, a grove.' See Hampton.
Cholderton (Salisbury). Domesday Book Celdretone, Celdrintone, 1287 Close R. Childwarton. ' Town of Ceolweard,' variant ' Kilvert.'
Chollerford, and -ton (N. Tyne). circa, 410 Notit. Dign. Cilurno, before 700 Rav. Geogr. Celunno, 1232 charter Chelreton. Cilurno suggests Welsch cilwrn, 'cauldron,’ from the cavities in the rocky riverbed here; Scottish Rhys. But the disappearance of the n is curious. Compare above.
Cholmondeley (Cheshire). Pronunciation Chumly. Domesday Book Calmundelei. “Calmund's or ' Ceolmund's meadow.' Compare Chelmondiston. See -ley.
Cholsey (Berkshire). 1005 Old English Chronicum Ceolesige, Domesday Book Celsei, Sim. Dur. ann. 1006 Ceolesegia, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Coleseige. ' Ceola's isle '; several Ceolas are known. See -ey.
Choppington (Morpeth), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Cebbingtun. ' Ceahba's village.' Compare Birch. Cartularium SAaxonicum 282 Ceabban sol. It may be a patronymic. See-ing and-ton.
Chorleton- cum- Hardy (Manchester). 1296-97 Chorleton = Charlton.
Chorley (Preston). 'Meadow on the R. Chor,' a name probably Keltic? cognate with Welsch cor, 'a circle, a crib.' Compare Domesday Book Worcester' Chure.' But Chorley (Lichfield) is sic before 1400 and before 1600 Chorley alias Charley. ' Meadow of Ceorl,' or ' of the carl or churl.’ Old English ceorl.
Chrishall (Royston). Not in Domesday Book 1298 Cristeshale i.e., ' Christ's, nook.' Compare Domesday Book Worcr. Christetone, and Christon Bank (Northumberland).
Christchurch. 1058 Old English Chronicum AEt Christes cyrcean, before 1109 AEt Xrescircean, circa, 1160 Gesta Steph. Cristiciria (sic).
Christian Malford (Chippenham). 940 charter Cristemalford, ' Christ's Malford,’ or ' ford of the tax or impost.’ Old English mal, seen in the Scottish mailing.
Chudleigh (2 in Devon). Not in Domesday Book 'Meadow of Cudd' or ' Gudda,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-leigh.
Chulmleigh (Devon). Domesday Book Calmonleuge, Exon. Domesday Book Chalmonleuge, 1242 Close R. Cha(u)meleg'. ' Meadow of Ceolmund,' a very common name; eo regularly becomes a, now slurred into u; and -leuge is scribe's error for -leage, dativ of leah. See -ley.
Churchhill (4 in Postal Guide). Kidderminster C. Domesday Book Circehille, Oxford C. 1295 charter Cercelle, later Cherchehulle, Domesday Book Bucks Cherchehelle, also Chirchefeld; in Domesday Book Surreyit is Cercefelde. Form 1295 is only an early spelling of ' church hill.' Compare the forms under Christchurch. Churchdown (Gloucestershire), now pronunciation Chosen, is already in Domesday Book Circesdune.
Churchinford (Honiton). Not in Domesday Book Perhaps 935 charter Chircelford. The liquids do interchange, but l rarely becomes n. The early spellings in the Oxford Dictionary, do not encourage us to derive Chircel from circle; but there is a Modern Latin cercella, old France cercelle, ' the teal duck,’ which seems possible.
Church Minshull (Middlewich). See Minshull Vernon.
Churchover (Rubgy). Domesday Book Wara, 1257 Waur(e), before 1300 Church Waver, 1327 Chirche-Wavre. The -overs of Warwick, Brown over, Cester-Over, etc., are all from Old English wafre, waefre, ' the aspen poplar.' See Wavertree, etc.
Churn, R. (Cirencester). Probably found in circa, 150 Ptolemy Corinion and before 700 Rav. Geogr. Cironium, names for Cirencester, which stands on this river; it is sometimes called the Corin. If the name is so old it cannot be Old English cyrin,' achurn,' and is probably pre-Keltic. There is also a Churnet, trib. of R. Dove (Staffd.), 1284 Chirnete, which might be diminitiv of Old English cyrin, cirn; but Duignan is probably right in connecting it with the other river. Of. Cerne.
Churston Ferrers (Devon). Probably 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Chirestona. ''TovfnoiCire,' one. Cyra in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Cheriton. On Ferrers, see Beer.
Chute (Wilts) and Chute Standen (Andover). 1238 Close R. Cett, 1241 ib Cet? which. Compare 1248 charter ' Forest of Chett,' 1270 in Bosco de Cett. Keltic chet, coit, Welsch coed,' a wood.' See Chetwode.
Chyandour (Penzance). Corn. = ' house on the water,' ti, chi, ' a house.' The Gaelic tigh, 'a house,' also commonly takes the ch sound. Compare Chysauster, Corn, chysawstir, ' house on the Saxon or English land,' and Chyangwail, Lelant,' hous in the field,' gwel, gweal, rather than' among the cornstalks,' gwail. Also see Tywarnhaile.
Cilsan (on R. Towy). Welsch cil is 'the back,' then 'a retreat, a place of retreat, a corner.' Compare Gaelic cill and cuil. The -san is thought to be Old English segne, Latinsagina, Gk….' a seine (net).'
Cindery I. (Brightlingsea). 1539 Syndry, 1674 Sinder Isle. Probably Old English sunderea,' isle sundered or separated' from the mainland. Compare Sunderland; whilst Cinderford, For. of Dean, is 1281 Sinderford. See-ey.
Cirencester. Probably circa, 150 Ptolemy Corinion, before 700 Rav. Geogr. Cironium, Old English Chronicum 628 Cirenceastre, circa, 893 Asser Cirrenceastre called' Cair ceri’ in British, which is the south part of the Huiccii (see Worcester), 1155 Cirecestre, circa, 1180 Ben. Peterb. Cirencestria, Cirecestria, 1298 Cicestre, which last is near the present pronuncation, Sister, Sizeter. In Welsch Caergeri, really the same name. Usually said to be' Ciren's camp.' Ther eis no Ciren or Cyren in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, though we do find B.C.8. 349 Cyran leah i.e., ' meadow of Cyra.' However, the root must be pre-Saxon, the name being ' camp on the Ciren' or ' Churn.' See -cester.
Cissbury (Worthing). Not in Domesday Book ' Burgh, fort of Cissa.' See Chichester and -bury.
Claines (Worcester), a, 1100 Cleinesse, before 1200 Claines. This is certainly an abnormal name, but it can hardly be aught else but Old English claene, clane noes, 'clear, clean headland '; the originally meaning of clean was ' clear." Of course, final -ness, q.v., is usually sounded; but it could easily be slurred.
Clandown (Radstock) and Clanfield (Hants and Oxon). Oxon C. Domesday Book Clenefelde, 1216-1307 Glanfeld, 1274-79 Clanefeld. Compare Domesday Book Clanedun (Surrey) and Clandone (Bucks). All from Old English cloene, clane,' clear, clean, free from dirt or weeds.' See -don. Clapham (West Midlands, London, and Beds). We. C. Domesday Book Clapeham; London C before 900 charter Cloppaham, Clappenham, Domesday Book Clopeham; Beds. C. 1236 Clopham. Some think London. C. is ' Home of the Osgod Clapa,' d. 1054, where Harthacnut drank himself to death; but Skeat prefers to associate both the above, and also Claphams in Yorks and Lanes, with mid. Danish Mop, 'a stub, a stump,' probably allied to clump: so ' house in the stumpy ground.' Similarly, Clapton (Hungerford), 1316 Clopton, and Clapton (Gloucestershire.) circa, 1200 Cloptune; whilst Domesday Book has a Clopcote (Berks). Compare Clopton. Skeat does not seem to have noted the Domesday Book, West Midlands form, which favours derivation from a man. Compare, too, Domesday Book Suffolk Cleptuna.
Clarendon (Salisbury). 1164 Hoveden Clarendonum, 1373 Claryndone. The adjunctiv clear is not found in Eng. before 1297, and there is only one obscure Clare in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, so the origin of this name is doubtful. Welsch clawr, 'surface, cover,' does not seem likely; ' Hill of Clare ' is more so, Old English dun, ' a hill, a fort.' Compare next.
Claro (Yorks), Not in Domesday Book, though now name of a wapentake. May be ' clear, conspicuous how Old Norse haug-r, or moothill of its wapentake; only, clear, 3-5 cler, is not found in English before 1297. But there is also Clareton (Yorks), Domesday Book Claretone, which favours derivation from a man Clare. Compare Clarendon, Greenho (Norfolk), and Thingoe.
Clatford (Andover). Domesday Book Cladford. Doubtful. No name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum like Clad. Perhaps from Old English elate,' bur, burdock, clivers.'
Claughton-on-Brock (Garstang). Domesday Book Clactune,1208 Clatton, 1241 Close E.C lexton,1288 Claghton. ' Village of Clac,'several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, whilst Brock is Old English broc, ' a brook.' Compare Claxton, Clawton, Holsworthy, and 1160-61 Pippe Clawurda (Notts and Derby); also Domesday Book Yorks Clactone, now Clayton West, and Cloctone now Cloughton.
Claverdon (Stratford, Warwickshire), Domesday Book Clavendone, 1151 Claverdon, 1326 Clardon. 'Clover hill'; Old English Cloefre. Compare next and see -don.
Clavering (Newport, Essex). Domesday Book Both Essex and Norfolk Clavelinga,1241 Close R. Cluering,1330 Claveryng. This cannot be the same as Claverley (Wolverhampton.) and Claverhoitse (Scottish.), from Old English clafre, doefre,4-7claver,' clover.’ It mus tbe, by dissimilation, from a man Clavel, probably he who came over with Wm. The Conqueror- ‘place of the sons of Clavel.' See -ing.
Claxton (Stockton, Yorks, and Norfolk.). Sockton C. sic 1344, Yorks C. Domesday Book 3 times Claxtorp (see -thorpe), Norfolk C. Domesday Book Clakestona. ' Town of Clacc ' or ' Klahk-r,' a Norse name. Compare Clacton and Claughton.
Clay (Lincoln). Sic circa, 1180 Bened. Peterb. The earliest instance of the form clay, Old English claez, in the Oxford Dictionary, is before 1300.
Clayhanger (Devon, S. Somerset, Staffordshire Essex). Devon C. Domesday Book Clehangre, Gloucestershire C. Claenhangare; Somerset C. 1300 Cleyhunger, later Cleohongre; Essez. C. 1015 Old English Chronicum Claeighangra i.e., ' clay slope.' The probably meaning of Old English hangra is ' slope,' from the ob. hang, or perhaps ' wood on a slope.' See Oxford Dictionary, hanger’. Compare Birchanger, Hungerford, etc. In Glostr. it has now become dinger, 1138 Cleangra.
Clayton (8 in Ppostal Guide). More than one in Yorks Domesday Book Claitone. Clayton Griffith (Newcastle, Staffordshire) is Domesday Book Claitone, before 1300 Clayton Griffyn. Old English cloeg-tun, ' town in the clay.' But Domesday Book Yorks also has a Clactone=Claytcon West. See Claughton. The Griffyns were lords of the manor in the 13th century.
Clayworth (Retford). Domesday Book Clauorde. 1156 Clawurda, 1202 Clawurth. ‘Clayey farm.' Compare above and -worth. The surname Cleworth is the same name.
Cleasby (N. Riding, Yorks). Domesday Book Clesbi, 1202 Clasebi, 1298 Cleseby. Probably ' Dwelling of Clea,' or some such name, not found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by. Hardly from Old English cleof, later cleo, ' a cliff, a cleve ' (q.v. in Oxford Dictionary). This last is the origin of Clee and Cleobury.
Cleatlam (Barnard Castle). before 1130 Sim. Dwr. Clethinga. Doubtful. The -am will be -ham, ' home.'
Cleator (Whitehaven). Old Cletergh. Old Norse klett-r, 'a cliff, a crag,' and ergh, Norse corruption of Gaelic airigh, 'a shieling, a hut.' Compare Anglesark.
Cleddy R. (Milford Haven). 921 Clede mupan, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Glade mouth, circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Clediv and Doncledif. Probably Old Welsch eled, 'warm'; perhaps Welsch cladd, 'a trench,' Compare Clwyd. But Owen, 1603, spells it Clydagh.

Clee Hills (Salop). Domesday Book Clee, Cleie. Old English cleof, later cleo, 'a cUff, a brae,' same word as Cleveland. Cliff' in Old English is also clif, Norse klif. Compare Domesday Book Lines. Cleia, and Cleetiiorpes (Grimsby), not in Domesday Book
Clenchwarton (Kings Lynn). No tin Domesday Book 1234 Close R.Clenchewartun. Doubtful. Hardly from Eng. to clench Old English clincan, which as sb. is late. Compare Clench Common (Marlboro'), which may be connected with 941 charter Clinca leage, Tisted (Hants). Possibly Keltic? Welsch clyn, ' brake, thicket,' with 2nd syllable half lost, as in Trunch. See Warton.
Clent Hills (Stourbridge). Sic Domesday Book Dan. and Sw. Mint, Icel. klett-r,' a hard, flinty rock,' found in Eng.as clint. 1300 and as clen ta.1400. Compare Glentworth, and Clint (Ripley, Yorks), not in Domesday Book; also Dunclent, sic in Domesday Book, nearby.
Cleobury Mortemer (Salop). Domesday Book Cleberie, 1287 Cleburi Mortimer? 1298 Cluburi. ' Cliff-burgh' or 'castle.' See Clee and -bury, and Mortimer.
Clerkenwell (London). Sic E. E. Wills 1442. Very likely named ' well of the clerks ' in the time of Henry I. There is a ' Clerchewelle ' (Kent), in 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe. Stow, Survey, 1598, says, the London place' took the name of the Parish Clerks in London who, of old time, were accustomed there yearly' to assemble and to play some large history of Holy Scripture.'
Clevedon (Somerset). 1321 Clivedon. ' Cliff-like, brae-like hill.' See Clee, Cleveland, and and-don. Cleeve Prior (Everssham) is 888 charter Clife, Domesday Book Clive. 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe, Northants has a Chua. Compare Bishop's Cleeve.
Cleveland (N. Yorks). Sim. Dur. ann. 1093 Clivelande, 1209 Cliveland, 1461 Clevland. ' Cliff-land.' See Clee. Domesday Book has only Clive in Yorks, but this 12 times = North and South Cliff, etc.
Clewer (Windsor and Cheddar). Windsor C. Domesday Book Clivore, 1291 Cliwar, Clyfwere, 1316 Clyware. Probably Old English clif-wara, ' home of the cliff-dwellers.' Such cliff-men are referred to in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum i. 318 (Kent). Domesday Book Somerset has only a Clovewrde, 'farm of ' Clofa; this can hardly be Clewer, Cheddar, but? With it compare Clearwell (Fort of Dean), old Clowerwall, from dower, 'sluice, milldam,' found in 1483 clowre, and still in North dial, door, but further S. usually clow. See Oxford Dictionary s.v.
Cliffe. Probably that at Selby, circa, 890 AElfred Baeda 112 Clife. Old English clif, ' a cliff.' See also s.v. Cleveland.
Clifford (4 in Postal Guide). Gloucester C. 922 charter Clifforda, Domesday Book Clifort. ' Cliff-ford '—i.e., ' steep ford.'
Clifton (14 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Yorks Cliftun, 14 times, before 1100 Hugo Candidus a ' Cliftune,' Rugby C. Domesday Book Cliptone (p an error). Clifton Camville (Tamworth) is Domesday Book Clistone, another error, but 1100 Cliftun. ' Cliff town.' See above. The Camvilles were Norman lords of the manor, who took their name from Canappeville, Eure, Normandy. Their name was also spelt Campville.
Clipsham (Oakham) and Clipston (Market. Harboro'). Domesday Book Clipestone, 1317 Clipston. 'Clip's home' or 'village'; one Clip in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Clipesbei, now Clixby (Norfolk).
Clitheroe (Lanes). Sim. Dur. contin. ann. 1138 Clitherhou, 1175-76 Cliderhous, 1230 Cliderho, 1241 Cliderhow, 1501 Cliderowe. France early dialect dithers, modern dial, clider, for clivers, ' goose- grass, and Hoe, Old English hoh,' a height.'
Clive (Shrewsbury). Sic 1327. Old English clif, 2-6 cliue, really a dativ, ' a cliff.'
Clopton (Gloucestershire., Thrapston, Stratford, Wwk., Woodbridge [or Clapton]). Gloucestershire C. Domesday Book Cloptune. Thrapston C. circa, 1080 Inquis Cambridgeshire Clopetuna, 1210 Cloptune. Stratford C. 1016 Cloptune, Domesday Book Clotone. 'Town of Clopa' compare, Clapton, also 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Clopton (Yorks). But compare Clapham.
Closworth (Sherborne). 'Not in Domesday Book 1252 charter Cloveswurthe, 1270 Clovesuude (i.e., ' wood '). Probably ' farm of Clovis or Clofa,' or some such name. The nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is Clofena. Compare a ' Closley, 1285 in Salop, and Lowestoft; and see-worth.
Cloughton. See Claughton.
Clovelly (N. Devon). Domesday Book Clovelie. Doubtful; perhaps Corn. clog (Gaelic clock), ' a steep rock ' and velen, ' yellow.' There is also a Bratton Clovelly, near Okehampton.
Clun (W. Salop). Domesday Book Clone, Clune. Now in Welsch Colunwy. [Compare 1131 Old English Chronicum ' Prior of Clunni.] Welsch clyn, ' a brake, a thicket.' But compare Clunie (Scottish), and Gaelic cluain, ‘a meadow’, Clungunford, nearby, will be Welsch clyn gytvn, ' fair, clear thicket,' whilst Clunbury is Domesday Book Cluneberie. See-bury and Clunton is Domesday Book Cluton.
Clwyd R. (Denbighshire). Domesday Book Cloith, Cloit. Welsch clwyd, 'warm,' also ' strong.' Compare Clyde (Sc).
Clydach (Glamorgan and Abergavenny). Glamorgan C. 1207-08 Cleudach. Welsch clwyd, ' warm, comfortable, sheltering.' Some say, ach is ' river'; it is more probably a suffix of place. Compare Clarach, Aberystwith.
Clyst (Exeter and Topsham). Exeter C. 1001 Old English Chronicum Glistun, various reading Clistun, Domesday Book Clistone, Glustone. Also Domesday Book Bucks, Worcester and Dorset Clistone, Clistune. Hybrid. Welsch glwys, ' a hallowed place, a fair spot,' and -ton.
Coalbrookdale (Salop) and Colebrook (Plympton). Domesday Book Colebroche, 1298 Colebroke. Old Eenglish col, ' cool, cold,' does not suit well phonetically, so it maybe from Old English col, 2-8 cole, ' charcoal, coal’; —brook beside which charcoal was burned. Compare Domesday Book Chesh. Colbourne, 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Northumberland Colebr'., 1107-28 Lib. Winton. Colobrochestrel (Winchester), and Coleshill. See -dale.
Coaley (Frocester). Domesday Book Coeleye, later Coveley, Couley. Probably ' Cofa 's mead.’ See -ley.
Coanwood (Carlisle). ' Wood of Coen or Coena,' several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 313' Cohhanleah’, date 804.
Coates (Peterborough, Cirencester). Peterborough C. Domesday Book Cota, Cote. Old English cot, cott; M.E. cotes, ' cots, cottages.'
Cobden Hill (Elstree). Old Copdene; also compare ' Coppdene ' 1314 in Sussex, later Cobden, now extinct. ' Hill at the head of the (wooded) valley,’ from Old English cop, coppe, ' top, summit' (Oxford Dictionary gives no spelling of the sb. cop with a b). See -den.
Cobham. Surbiton C Grant of before 675 Chebeham, Chabbeham, Domesday Book Cebeha, 1315 Cobeham. ' Home of Geabba,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Gravesend C. 939 charter Cobbahamme,' enclosure o fGobba.' Compare Cobley (Alvechurch), before 1200 Cobbeslee; and see -ham.
Cockermouth circa, 1310 Cokermue, 1317 Cokermuth. Can this river's name come from Old English cocer, Mittel English koker, cokre,' a quiver’? If not, then from what? There is also Cockerham (Garstang), Domesday Book Cocreha, 1206 Cokerheim, which must be from a man Gocker, a surname still found. In Eng. cocker is ' a prize-fighter, a wrangler,' not found circa, 1275, or ' a hay-worker,' 1st in 1393. But in our place-names Cocker- is probably the inflected form of the Norse name Kok-r. The river name must remain doubtful. Compare next and Coker, Somst., Domesday Book Cocre.
Cockerton (Darlington), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Cocertune, 1183 Cokirtona. ' Town of Gocker,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but see above, and compare Cockers and Abbey (Lancaster), 1213-15 Cocressand, 1236-42 Kokersond; also 1225 Patent B. Cokerinton, a patronymic.
Cockfield (Bury St. Edmunds and Durham). Bury C. charter Cochanfeld. ' Field of Cocha ' or ' Cocca.' Compare B.G.S. 246 Coccan burh. Old forms needed for Durham C. Compare 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Cochulla (? Gloucestershire), and Domesday Book Worcester ' Cochesie.' In Rolls of the great Pipe Rolls of Rich. I. we also have' Cokefeld' (Oxford) and' Cockesfeld' (Norfolk), which seem to come from cock. See next. Compare Coughton.
Cockley Cley (Swaffham). Not in Domesday Book 1451 Cokely Clay. Gf. Domesday Book Cheshire. Code, and 1200 charter Kokedale. ' Cock's meadow '; Old English cocc, coc, kok, ' a barnyard cock.' Compare next and Clay, Old English cloez, 4-6 cley; also Coxley. See -ley.
Cocknage (Trentham). 1194 Cokenache. Ache is not a Mittel English form of oak (see Oxford Dictionary, s.v.), as Duignan thinks, but is for hatch, Old English hoea(c), genitive hoecce, 3-7 hacche, bacche, so this is ' hatch, half-door or wicket-gate of the cock,' Old English coc; or, of a man Coc or Cocca, both forms are known. Compare Stevenage. Cocktrup (Gloucestershire), old Cocthrop, is ' Gocca's farm.' See thorpe.
Cockshotts Wood (Lanes). 1377-99 Cokeshoteslace, and Cocksutt (Cakemore, Halesowen, and Ellesmere). Ca. C. 1440 Kockshete. A cockshut is a broad way or glade through which game ('cocks) might be shoot, so als to becaught in nets. There are many so named in Worcester.
Codnor (Derby) Domesday Book Cotenovre. ‘Bank border of Coda’ or ‘Cota’, both on record. Compare Codbarrow (Warwickshire), before 1300 Codbarwe, ' Coda's mound, and Domesday Book Kent ' Codeha.' The n is the sign of the Old English genitive See or, -over.
Codsall (Wolverhampton), before1200 Coddeshal, before 1300 Codeshale. ' Nook of Godda ' or ' Goda.' Gf. Codnor and see -hall.
Coedpenmaen (Pontypridd). Welsch for' wood of the rocky headland or height.' Coed Rhath (Pembroke) 1324, Coyt rath is Welsch for 'wood on the mound or hill.' Coety (? Pembroke) is old Coetif, Old Welsch for' dark wood.’ Welsch dy.
Coggeshall (Essex). Domesday Book Cogghessala, 1298 Coggeshale, 'nook of Coga or C. Gogga.' See Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Probably not from Mittel E.nglish cogge, ' a small ship.' Compare 1183 Boldon Bk. Cogesalle (Durham). See -hall.
Cogyros (Cornwall). Said to be Corn, for ' cuckoo-moor.' Literair it is' cuckoo in the mood, Welsch and Corn. cog.
Colchester. (? 940 charter B.G.8.750, Collacestr), Domesday Book and1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Colecestra. The Camulodunum of Tacitus Gamulos was a Keltic deity. An inscription shows that the Empr. Claudius founded' Colonia Victricensis' here, and so it may hav ecome to be called ' Colonia castra,' Old English charter Colenceaster, in Welsch Caercolun. So Colchester may mean' colony camp' or' city.’ Only it is on R. Colne, and so quite possibly it means only ' camp, castle on the Colne.'
Cold Aston (Gloucestershire). circa, 955 charter AEsctun i.e., 'ash-tree town.' Domesday Book Escetone. Gf. Caldicot.
Cold Coniston (Craven). Domesday Book Congehestone, Coningeston; 1202 Calde Cuningeston=Cold Kingston. Compare Conisborough.
Cold Harbour (Boston, Grantham, Cambridgeshire Gloucestershire., Leith Hill). ' Coldshelter, 'an ironic name, says Leo o fHalle, in Ger. Kalteherburg. On harbour, which is lit. ' a place of shelter,' see Oxford Dictionary Compare circa, 1485 Skelton, ' some say the devil's dead and buried in Cold Harbour.'
Colesbourne (Cheltenham), circa, 800 charter Colesburna, circa, 802 the same Collesburna i.e., ' burn, brook of Colle ' or ' Cola,' a common Old English name. Compare Coleby (Lines), and Coseley, also Domesday Book Surrey Colesdone; Norfolk Colebei. Colbourn (Yorks) is in Domesday Book Corburne by dissimilation. There is a brook Cole (Wilts). Colecombe (Sevenhampton) is from R. Coln.
Coleshill (Swindon, Warwickshire and Flint). Swindon C. Domesday Book Coleselle, 1298 Coleshulle. War. C. 799 charter Colles hyl, Domesday Book Coles- hille. Fl. C. circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Koleshull but said also to bo old Counsylht. ' Hill of Colle ' or ' Cola.' But both the Berks and War. places are on a R. Cole, whose origin is hard to guess. It will not be old English cawel, cawl, 4 col,' cole, cabbage ‘; nor does O.l English col, 'cool’ suit well phonetically'-; while col, 'charcoal; does not seem likely. Compare Coalbrookdale.
Collingbourne Ducis and Kingston (Marlborough). Domesday Book Colingeburne, 1298 Colyngborn. ' Bourne, burn, or brook of Colling,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, where also are Collanus and Collinc. It is a patronymic from Coll{a), a fairly common name. Compare Domesday Book Yorks Colingaworde, now Cullingworth, and Coneyswick (Warwickshire), Domesday Book Colingwic. Ducis is Latin for' of the duke.'
Collingham (Newark). Domesday Book Colingeham, before 1100 Colingham. ' Home of Colling.' See above and -ing.
Colmworth (St. Neot's). Domesday Book Colmeworde, Colmehorde (c for v). 'Farm of Colm.' Compare Domesday Book Colmestan (Salop). In Scotland Colm, is short for Columba. Here it may be for Colman. See -worth.
Coln R. (Gloucestershire.) and Colne R. (Herts). Gloucestershire. C. [circa, 740 charter Cunugl ae, 855 the same Cunelga, 962 the same Cungle] old Culna, Culne, Colum; He. C. 985 charter Colen, 893 Old English Chronicum Colne. Probably pre-Keltic. A river would not be named from Latin colonia, and Welsch collen, 'hazel, hazel-wood,' is scarcely likely. In view of the undoubted early forms of both rivers, confirmed by a Devon R. Coin, found so early as 670 charter Culum, it is all but certain that the Cunugl forms must have been applied to the Gloucester River through some Saxon's error. Phonetically they are hard to identify, and Cunugl is now represented by Knoyle. Coln St. Aldwyn's, Fairford (Gloucestershire), corrupt charter form, dated 681 Enneglan, probably= Cuneglan, is from the hermit monk St. Ealdwine, probably he who died 1085, and was founder of Malvern Priory. - Ealdwine was a favourite name with churchmen. See Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Colne (St. Ives, Hunts, and Lanes). Hunts C. is sic in Domesday Book, and so probably=above. Lanes C. is 1230 Calna, 1241 Close R. Kaun, 1251 Caune, 1327 Coin, so must be=Calne. Compare Domesday Book Nhants. Calme.
Colney Hatch and Heath (St. Albans). Old English charter Colenea i.e., ' isle on R. Colne, q.v. and -ey. Hatch means ' a wicket- gate.' See Aldborough Hatch.
Colton (Rugeley and 6 others). Domesday Book Coltune, Coltone, and so later. Domesday Book Yorks gives Coltune, Coletun, or Colletim 15 times. Uncertain, but probably Old English coltun,' charcoal (or coal) town.' Colwich (Rugeley), 1166 Calewich, before 1300 Colewych, Colwych, is also ' coal-village.' Coal is Old English col, 2-8 cole, 6- coal, but Oxford Dictionary gives no cale, and it may be an error.
Combe (Coventry and Hungerford). Coventry C. old Cumb, Combe; Hungerford C. Domesday Book Comba. Old English cumb,' a bowl, a valley, a coomb.' Compare Welsch cwm, ' hollow, and Coomlees (Sc), also Domesday Book Wore, ' Combl, or ' meadow, lea, in the valley.’ Combrooke, also in Warwick, is ' brook in the valley.' Combe Martin (N. Devon) is from a Martin of Tours, who received lands here from Wm. Rufus. We have a plural form in Combs (Stockport and Stowmarket), the latter 1235 Cambes.
Comberbach (Northwich), Comberford (Tamworth), and Combermere (Nantwich). before1200 Cumbreford. 1135 Cumbermere, 1240 Cumbremer. One is tempted to derive Comber- from. a Keltic root meaning' confluence, as in Cumbernauld (Scottish) and in Quimper o rKemper (Brittany). Compare Welsch cymme and Gaelic comar with this meaning. There is a ' Roger de Combre ' in Cheshire before 1200, and Combere or Combre may be Old English cumbra, genitive pl. of cumb, ' a valley '—at least in some cases. But Comberton and Comberworth almost force a derivation from Cumbra, a man's name, lit. ' a Welschman.' The -bach is Old English a boec, old France bache, Normal France bake, Mittel English bache (q.v. in Oxford Dictionary), ' the valey of a stream,' same root as beck. Compare Batchworth, Sandbach, and Pontcymmer. Mere is English and Old English for ' lake.'
Comberton (Pershore and Cambridge). Pershore. C. 972 charter Cumbrincgtune, Domesday Book Cumbri(n)tune, 1275 Cumbrintone. Cambridge C. Domesday Book Cumbertone, 1210 Cumbretone. ' Town of Cumbra,' or 'the Welschman,' or their descendants. Compare Cumberworth and 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Cumbremara (Staffd.); and see above and -ing.
Comberworth (Lincs) and Upper Cumberworth (Huddersfeld). 1236 Close R. Comberworth. Compare Earle Charter 447 Cumbran weord, Pershore. ' Farm of Cumbra,' or ' the Welschman.' Compare above and Cumberland.
Combwich (Bridgwater). Domesday Book Comich. Old English cumb wic,' valley dwelling or hamlet; wic regularly becomes wich in later English. ' Compare Combridge (Uttoxeter), before 1300 Combruge.
Compton (16 in Postal Guide). 804 charter Cumbden, Kent (-den and -ton interchange), 962 the same Cumtun (Glostr.), 990 the same Cumtune (? which), circa, 1020 Cumtune (Guildford or Petersfield?), Domesday Book Cunton, Contone (Warwick), Contone (Wolvermpton.), Cantune (Isle of Wight); 1298 Cumpton (? wlich, before 1400 Comptone (Wolverhampton). Old English cumb tun, ' valley village.' Domesday Book has 32 manors, always with n—Contone. Compare Combe.
Compton Beauchamp (Berks) is named from Guido de Bello Campo (in France Beau Champ), Earl of Warwick, and Alicia his wife, who held lands here 1315-16. C. Scorpion (Shipston), Domesday Book Contone parva, 1279 Compton Scorfen, which last, thinks Duignan, may be ‘track, score over the fen,' but it is quite uncertain. Scorpion, at any rate, is popular etymology. C. Winyates, nearby, is said to show an old form of ' vineyard.' It is before 1300 C. Wyniate, Wyndyatcs, circa, 1540 C. Vyneyatis.
Conbelin (Wales). Thought to preserve the name of the early British King Cunobellinus.
Condate (Northwich). Early forms, see Cound. Old Keltic= ' confluence’ from con, ' together’ and dhe, ' set.’ Compare Conde, (France), in Old English Chronicum Cundoth, and Kind St., modern name of the Roman road here. Also see Watson, Place-Names Ross, s.v. Contin. The streams Dane and Croco join here. Compare Condovee, and Cunliffe. Congreve (Penkridge) is Domesday Book Comegrave, before 1300 Cunegrave, Ciimgrave, where the Con- is uncertain, but it may be from Old English cumb,' valley,'so often in Domesday Bookas Cotrune.
Conderton (Tewkesbury). 875 charter Cantuaretun, 1327 Conterton. Very interesting proof of a settlement of Kentmenhere; for the name in Old English means' Kent-dwellers' town,' as in Canterbury. But R. Conder (Lancaster), 1228 Gondouere, is, of course= Condover. Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. absurdl ysuggest a derivation from Gunnhildr!
Condicote (Stow-on-Wold). Domesday Book Condicote, Connicote, 1169 Cumdicote. Hybrid: cond. Old Keltic for 'confluence,' see Condate, France Conde; and Old English cot, ' cottage.' Baddeley prefers to derive from a man. There is no Conda, and only one Cunda in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Condover (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Conodoure, 1228 Cunedour, 1234 Cunesdour, 1238 Conedover, Cvmdover. Old Welsch for ' the joining of the streams.' See Condate and Dover. Candover is probably the same name; Conder R. certainly is.
Coneysthorpe (Malton). Domesday Book Coningestorp. 'King's village.' Old Norse konung-r, ' king,' an interesting corruption See Coningsby and Coningsthorpe. But Coneybury and Coneyburrow Hill (Worcester) and Coneygar (Gloucestershire) are from cony, Mittel English for' rabbit,'' while Coneywick or Conningswick (also in Worcester.) is Domesday Book Colingwic, 1275 Collingwike, ' abode of Colling,' or ' the sons of Coll.' Compare Collingham and see-wick. Coneygar is for cony-garth. See Oxford Dictionary s.v.
Congerstone (Atherstone). 'Stone of Congar,' not in Duignan, But compare Domesday Book Norfk. Congrethorp', and Congresbury; also see -ton.
Congleton (E. Cheshire). Domesday Book Cogeltone. One would expect the first half to be the name of a man, but there is none likely in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Thereisa Conall, son of Comgal, King of Dabriada 563, which names might suggest an origin; but more old forms are needed. Compare Coln (Gloucestershire), 962 Cungle; also cogill, found circa, 1400, now dial, coggle, ' a water-worn or cobble-stone.'
Congresbury (Weston-super-Mare). Exon. Domesday Book Cungresberia, Old English charter Congaresbyrig, which is ' burgh, town of St. Congarus,' who is buried here. The monastery of ' Cungresbyri’ was granted by King AElfred to Asser. Little seems known about the saint himself. In 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe it is Cungresbi. See -by.
Coningsby (Boston). Domesday Book Cuningesbi, 1298 Cunynggesby. ' Dwelling of the King.' Old Norse konung-r, Danish konge. See -by. Compare Coningsburgh (Scottish), Cnington (Cambridgeshire), Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 630 Cunningtun, Domesday Book Cunitone, 1210 Conintone, 1290 Conington, 1426 Conitone, Skeat thinks, may perhaps be from a man, Cuna, genitive Cunan. Compare Connington (Hunts), 1236 Close R. Conninton, Ounyton, and Cold Coniston. Conisburgh (Rotherham), 1240 Close B. Cunigeburg, is clearly: ==Coningsby. See-burgh.
Conisborough (Rotherham). Domesday Book Coningesburg, Conningesbore, c, 1145 Geoffr. Monmouth ' Kaerconan, now Cunungeburg,' 1202 Kuningbere. ' King's burgh.' See above and -burgh.
Coniscliffe (Darlington), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Cingcesclife, 1202 Cuniggesclive super Teisam. The namere presented in the first half is perhaps doubtful. It maybe Cynegyth or Cynesige (Kinsige) Probably it is for King. Compare Coningsby. On cliffe, see Clee.
Cononley (Keighley). Domesday Book Cutnelai. Doubtful. Perhaps corruption Of Cutan leah,' Cuta's meadow.' Cuta and Cutha are both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ley.
Consett (Co. Durham). 1183 Boldon Bk. Conekesheued. Interesting corruption. Heued is Mittel English for Old English heafod, ' head, height,' and this must be ' the height of ' some quite unknown man. There is one Cynech in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Constantine (Padstow). From Constantinus, King and martyr-, a convert of St. Petrock. He died 590.
Conway (N. Welsch). Probably circa, 380 ~The Antonic Itinerary Conovio, and before 700 Rav. Geogr. Canubio (the river), before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Cunewe, Aberkonewe, Aberconeu; 1295 Aberconewey'-, still the proper name of the town. The R. in Welsch is Conwi, ' chief river,' from Keltic con, ' together,' and gwy, ' river,' referring to the mainstream being joined by tributaries. Conway" (Scottish) is not the same word.
Cookham (Maidenhead), before 971 will Coccham, Domesday Book Cocheham, 1238 Cokh', 1241 Cocham, also Cucham. The chief evidence points to Old English coc-ham, 'cook's home'; but Cocham and the like point to Old English cocc, ' a cock,' ' cock's home.' Cookridge (Yorks) is Domesday Book Cucheric? ' cook's ' or ' cock's.' Cook Hill (Inkberrow) is before 1300 Cochulie, and Cooksey (Bromsgrove) is Domesday Book Cochesei, before 1300 Cokesey. The present phonetic evidence is all in favour of cook. Compare Cuxham.
Cookley (Kidderminster). 964c charter Culnan clif, 1066 Cullecliffe. The charter name must be ' Gulna's cliff.' The 1275 Coleclif, corruption to -ley, ' meadow,' is rare. We have it the other way round in Trotterscliffe.
Cooling (Rochester). 805 charter Cinges Culand, or 'King's Cow- land,’ but in other charters it is 774 Colling, 778 Culinga, and 805 Culingas, as if a patronymic. The name has got mixed. There are two named Coling and two named Culling in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum This latter personal name still exists. Compare Cowling.
Copdock (Ipswich). Compare 900 in Thorpe Diplomatic 145 On da coppedan ac. Copdock is' copped'—i.e., pollarded' oak'—Old English Hac, very rarely found now as ock. Oxford Dictionary gives only 3-5 ok. It also gives only Old English quots. for this sense of copped, which is from cop sb., Old English cop, copp, ' head, top; ' But Domesday Book Surrey has a Copedorne, which his1160-01Rolls of the great Pipe Coppedethorn. Compare Copythorne and the surname Braddock.
Copmanthorpe (York). Domesday Book Copemantorp. 'Village of Cop man,' Norse for ' Chapman, merchant.' One in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 1242 Close R. Copmaneford, now Coppingford (Hunts). See-thorpe.
Coppenhall (Stafford and W. Cheshire). Domesday Book both Copehale, and later Copenhale, Coppenhale. ' Nook of Coppa ' or ' Copa' the modern Name Cope. Compare Copgeove (Yorks), Domesday Book Copegrave; and Copnor (Portsmouth), Domesday Book Copenore, Old English Copanora,' Copa's bank.' See-hall and-or.
Copplestone (Devon). Compare Domesday Book Suffolk Copletuna. Probably' Town or ' stone of Cuthbeald,' common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; compare the surname Cupples. See-ton.
Copythorne (Southampton). Not in Domesday Book, but compare Codex Diplomaticus v. 240, Tot dan coppedan porne; also Domesday Book Surrey Copedorne and Copededorne, 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Coppedethorn, 'the pollarded thorn tree.' See Copdock. But if this name be late, it will be from old France in 5-6 copie, copy; but in modern English coppice, ' a wood or thicket of small trees or underwood.' The earliest quatation in Oxford Dictionary, is 1538, - but copy is found in 1486 in Nottingham Bee. iii. 254.
Coquet R. (Northumberland). circa, 800 Hist. St. Cuthbert Cocwuda, before1130 Sim. Dur. Coqued. Compare circa, 1250 Matt. Paris Koket insula. Cocc-wuda is Old English from ' cock's wood.'
Corbridge (Hexham), circa, 380 The antonic Itenerary Corstopitum, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Corebricge, 1150 Corbrig, 1157 Corebrigge. Corstopitum is probably Gaelic corr stobach, ' hill-spur full of stumps ' (stob), with Brythonic p for b, and t common scribal error for circa, Gaelic corr is literair' a snout, a bill, a horn'; Welsch coris' a circle, a crib.'
Corby (Carlisle, Grantham, Kettering). Carlisle C. 1120 Chorkeby, 1222 Korkebi i.e., ' dwelling by the oat-field.' Norse korki. Compare Corkickle. But Grantham C. is Domesday Book Corbi, and Kettering C. Carbi, ' dwelling of Cor ' or ' Car.' One in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by.
Corfe (Taunton) and Corfe Castle (Wareham). Corfe circa, 1180 Ben. Peterb. Chorf. C. Castle, 975 E.O. Chronicum Corfes Geat (gate), circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Corfli castellum, 1234 Corf, 1393 Letter Notre Chastelle de Corf. Probably ' a cutting ' in the Purbeck hills, in which the castle stands, from Old English ceorfan,’' to cut.’ Compare Domesday Book Corfan (Salop), 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Corfha, and Gorton.
Corkickle (Whitehaven). Probably Norse korki-keld, 'oat-field well.' Of. Cockley Beck, also Cumbld. old Korkahth, Old Norse hlith, ' a hillslope, 'and Corby. But there I sa Keekle beck near Whitehaven, and this raises uncertainty.
Corley (Coventry and Salop). Coventry C. Domesday Book Cornelie, 1327 Cornleye, before 1400 Corley. Salop C. Domesday Book and later Cornlie. ' Corn- growing meadow.' See -ley. We have a reverse change in Cornbrough (E. Riding), Domesday Book Corlebroc, a form of somewhat doubtful meaning.
Cornhill (London, Sunderland, on Tweed). Lo. C. 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Cornhelle, 1167-68 the same Cornhille, 1234 Close R. Cornhull, where all the endings=' hill.' But Snderland.C. is 1183 Cornehall, 1322 Cornhale = -hall, q.v.
Cornwall. 1047 Old English Cliron. Cornwalon (inflected), Domesday Book Cornvalge, circa, 1110 Orderic Cornu Britanniae, id est Cornwallia, 1189 Cornubia, circa, 1205 Layam. Cornwaile, Cornwale. Compare Cornouaille (Romanics Rose Cornewaile), Brittany. Earle says, ' Place of the Walas or strangers of Kernyw.' Compare Welsch. Others derive from old France corn, Latin cornu,' a horn,' from the shape of Cornwall.
Cornwood (Ivybridge). Local pronunciation Kernood. Domesday Book Cornehude. Looks like Old English corn wudu, ' corn wood ‘, but wherefore such a name? No Corn or the like in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Cornworthy, ' corn farm ' (Totnes), and Corndean (Winchcombe), 1189 Corndene. But, because of a Corne and a Cornbrook, also in Gloucestershire., Baddeley thinks Corn must be an old stream name, and says compare Abercorn. But that Scottisch name is in Bede AEbbercurnig.
Corringham (Stanford-le-Hope and Gainsboro'). St. C. Domesday Book Coringe-,1242 Curingeham. Gainsboro C. Domesday Book Currincham. Patronymic. ' Home of the sons of some unrecorded Curator Cora. See-ing.
Corse Lawn (Tewkesbury). 1179 Corse Welsch cors, 'a fen,' and llan, 'enclosure, then church.' Compare Carse (Scottish). There seems no authority for Duignan's assertion that corse is a Mittel English form of causey.
Corsley (Frome) and Corston (Bristol). 941 charter Corsantune, Domesday Book Corstune, ' mead ' and ' village of Corsa. See -ley.
Corton Denham (Sherborne). Domesday Book Corfetone, 1235 Close R. Corfton and Cortun. See Corfe. Denham is ' home in the dean' or' (wooded) vale.'
Corwen (E. Merioneth). Possibly Welsch cor faen, 'circle of stone,' or, as T. Morgan says, ' stone in a circle.' But, as likely, Welsch cor gwen, ' white, beautiful circle,' or ' choir,' or ' church.' Compare Bangor. There is a ' Corfan ' in Salop Domesday Book, but this must be the Corfham of 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Salop.
Coseley (Bilston). 14th to 17th century. Colseley, Coulsley, Colsley, later Cossley. Probably ' meadow of Col and see -ley.
Cosgrove (Stony Stratford). 1238 Close R. Couesgrave, 'grave,’ Old English groef, ' of Cufa.' Compare Coveney. The endings -grave and -grove often interchange. But Cosby (Leicester), Cosford (Rugby), and Cosham (Hants), 1241 Cosseby, before 1200 Cosseford, and Domesday Book Coseham, Cosseham, are from an unrecorded man, Cosa or Cosse. See -ham.
Cosheston (Pembroke). 1603 Owen Costeinston. 'Town of Constantine.' King Constantine is 926 Old English Chronicum Cosstantin.
Cossington (Bridgwater). 1237 Close B. Cusinton. 'Village of Cusa,' genitive -an. 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Cosby. See -ing.
Cotheridge (Worcester). 963 charter Coddan hrycce, hrycge, Domesday Book Codrie, before 1300 Coderugge. ' Ridge,' Old English hrycge, hrycce, ' of Codda ' or ' Coda.' One each in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum In same shire is Cotteridge, 1275 Coderugge.
Cotherstone (Darlington), before1130 Sim. Dur. Cuthbertestun. ' St. Cuthbert' s town, ‘an interesting corruption. The great Cudberet or ' Cuthbert of Melrose flourished circa, 700. Comparea. 1110' Cotherstoke (Oundle). But Cotherston (N. Yorks) is Domesday Book Codrestune, Codreston, ' town of Codra.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1282 Codranford.
Coton (Cambridge, 2 Warwick, Staffordshire Shrewsbury). Cambridge C1211 and 1291 Cotes, 1272 Cotun, 1296 Coton. Warwick C. Domesday Book and 1287 Cotes, 1327 Cottone. Staffordshire C. Domesday Book Cote. Skeat thinks probably Old English cotum, dativ plural of cot, 'cottage.' But coton, cotun, are regular, and cotes irregular nom. plurals. Compare Cotton and Cotham, Notts, Domesday Book Cotun, Cotes.
Cotswolds Hills. 780 charter Monte quem nominant in colae mons Hwicciorum, circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Montana de Codesuualt, 1231 Coteswold, 1300 Rolls Parlement Coteswalde, a. 1500 Cottasowlde, a.1553 Udall Cotssold. The present spelling maybe, as Oxford Dictionary, thinks, popular etymology but the name probably is ' Code's, Cota's, or Cotta's wood.' All 3 name sare in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Old English wald, weald, ' a wood,' is the origin of both weald and wold. Compare next and Cutsdean, a yet older name.
Cottbred (Buntingford). Domesday Book Chodrei, 1236 Close R. Codreye, Coudr'. ' River, stream, brook of Coda,' Old English rith, ' stream.' Compare Rye, Ryde, Childrey, and Cotgrave, Notts, Domesday Book Godegrave.
Cottesbrooke (Northampton). ' Cotta's or Cota's brook.' Compare above, ' Coteshala,' and ' Coteslai ' (Bucks) in Domesday Book, and Cotttenham (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Cotenham, 1283 Cotenhame. This last migh tmean' cottar's home.' Domesday BookYorks Cotesmore is now Kedmoor, so there will be error for c, ' moor of Coca.'
Cottingham (Hull). Probably Old English Chronicum and Sim. Dur. re anno 800, Cettingaham, Domesday Book Cotingeham, 1135 Old English Chronicum Cotingham. Patronymic. ' Home of the descendants of Gotta or Cota.' Cf, above, next, and Cottingham (Market Harborough) and Cottingley (Bingley). Cottingwith (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Cotewid,' Cota's wood.'
Cotton (Cheshire., Derby, and Stowmarket). Cheshire. C. Domesday Book Cotintone, Stowmarket C. 1479 Colton (a mistake), before 1490 Cotton. Some perhaps Old English colon, locative plural of cot, cota, ' a cot, a cottage.'' But Domesday Book's form is ' Cota's town.' See above and compare Coton. Domesday Book Yorks has Cottun 5 times, representing Cottam, Crosby Cote, etc.
Coughton (Alcester and Ross, Hereford). Alcester C. Domesday Book Coctune, before 1200 Cocton. Either from a man Cocca or Coche, see Cockfield field, or from Old English cocc, coc, ' a cock.' See Cockley. For oc becoming ough, compare Broughton, 1128 Broctuna.
Cound (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Cundet, 1240 Close R. Cunitte. ' Con- fluence.' See Condate and next.
Coundon (Bp. Auckland and Coventry). Bp. Auckland 1183 Condona, Coundon. Coventry C. Domesday Book Condone, Condelme, 1257 Cundulme, 1327 Cundholme. Cond or cound is Old Keltic for ' confluence of two streams.' Compare Condate, Condover, and Cound. The -don is ' hill,' whilst -elme, -ulme, etc., represent Old English holm, ' meadow by a river.' Compare the early forms of Durham.
Courage (Berks). Old English charter Cusan riege, hricge,' Cusa's ridge'; Domesday Book Coserige; 1147 Cuserugia; 1316 Coserugge; 1428 Currygge. The modern form is ‘a daring respelling after the Normann manner,’ (Skeat). It should properly be Curridge.
Courtheenhall (Northampton.). Domesday Book Cortenhale, Cortenhalo;1235 Close R. Cortenhal, Curtenhal. ' Nook, corner of Curda,' the only name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and it but once. See -hall. The abnormal -een- seems a pure freak. Compare 932 charter Cyrdan heal (Meon, Hants)
Coveney (Ely). Charter Coveneye, Coveneie, Coueneia. Skeat is sure this is ' Isle of Cufa,' genitive Cufan. Compare Domesday Book Surrey, Covenha. Only Coven (Wolverhampton) is Domesday Book Cove, before 1200 Covene, which must be Old English cofa, genitive cofan, 'a cove, cave, repository.' See -ey.
Covent Garden (London). The convent garden belonging from circa, 1220 to the abbots of Westminster. Convent is always spelt covent before 1550.
Coventry, circa, 1043 charter Cousentree, 1053 Old English Chronicum Cofantreo, 1066 the same Couentre, Domesday Book Couentreu, Sim. Dur. ann. 1057 Covantreo, before 1142 Wm. Malmes. Coventreia. Cofan treo (w)is Old English for ' tree by the cove, cave, or chamber,' or else ' tree of Cofa. Compare Coveney and Covenham. (Louth). The word convent, Mittel English couent, is impossible here. It is not found in Eng. before 1225.
Coverdale (Yorks) Sic 1202. Compare 1203; Courleer; or Coverley. Cover- here is difficult. The Eng. cover is from old France, and the word is not found in Eng. till circa, 1275; whilst in the sense of ' covert or shelter for hunted animals ' it is not found till 1719. There is a Welsch cyfair, a land measure, two-thirds of an acre, found in Engelant in 1709 as cover. Possibly Cover- represents some unidentified personal name, as in Coverham (N. Yorks), Domesday Book Covreha'.
Cowbeech (Hailsham, Sussex). Not in Domesday Book. This seems the same name as Cowbach, now called Clatterbach, near Clent (Wore), where St. Kenelm's chapel was.? before 1200 Cu-bache, circa, 1305 Coubache, 1494 Cowbacch. See Oxford Dictionary, s.v. bache, which means ' the vale of a stream or rivulet.' Compare Batchworth and Comberbach. With the first syllable compare Cowick (Old English wic, ' dwelling, house '), Snaith (Yorks), 1241 Cuwic.
Cowbridge (Glamorgan). English translation of Welsch Pontyfon, where fon is by assimilation for mon, Old Welsch for' cow.' Said to have been called after a cow whose horns stuck in the arch of the bridge here so firmly that it had to be shot on the spot. It is 1645 Pontyfuwch, with the same meaning. Sofar T. Morgan. But there is also a Cowbridge (Boston), circa, 1280 Cubrygge, which may be the origin of the Welsch place, as the same family of Williams, alias Cromwell, held lands in both places in 16th century. See Thompson, Hist. Boston, 616. But Cowthorp (S. Yorks) is Domesday Book Coletorp, ' village of Cola,' and similarly Cowsdown (Upton Snodbury) is circa, 1108 Colleduna, 1275 Coulesdon.
Cowes (Isle of W.). Dates only from 1540. It must be a pl. form of cove, Old English cofa, coua, ' an inner chamber,' only found with the meaning ' cove, inlet,' after 1590. The form cowe is called Scottish, and the meaning,' cave, den, 'Scottish and North. The name then 'is inlets.'
Cowlam (Driffield). Domesday Book 4 times Colnun, once Coletun. Colnun is probably an Old English locative ' at the tops or summits.' Compare Old Norse koll-r, ' top, summit,' and Howsham, a locative too.
Cowley (Gnosall and W. Drayton). Gnosall C. Domesday Book Covelau, before 1200 Coule. W. Drayton C. Domesday Book Couelei, 'cow-meadow,' Old English cuu, cu, before 1300 cou. See -ley.
Cowling (Skipton and Suffolk). Skipton C. Domesday Book Collinghe, 1202 Collinge. Suffolk C. 1459 Cowlynge. Patronymic, like Cooling, ' place of the sons of Cola or Coll.' See -ing.
Coxley (Wells). Not in Domesday Book 1231 Cockesleg. 'Meadow of Cocca,' in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, or else ' cock's meadow.' See Cockley and compare Domesday Book Chesh. Cocheshalle. See-ley.
Crackenthorpe (West Midlands). Old Kreiginthorpe. 'Village of? There is no name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum like Creaga, but in Lib. Vit. Dunelm. there is a Craca, genitive -can, also compare Crayford. See -thorpe.
Cracow or Cracoe Hill (Craven). 1202 Craho. 'Crow how' or ' mound.' Old English crawe,' a crow.' Compare Crowthorne and see-how.
Craddock (Cullompton). Not in Domesday Book Corruption of Caradoc. Compare Cramond (Scottish).
Cradley (Stourbridge and Herefdsh.) and Cradley Heath (Staffordshire) Stourbridge C. Domesday Book Cradeleie, before 1200 Crad(e)lega, 1275 Cradeley. Herefdsh. C. Domesday Book Credleia. ' Meadow of Crada ' or ' Creda,' or ' Creoda.' The two latter only in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ley.
Crakehall (Bedale). Domesday Book Crachele. Probably 'nook of Craca.' One such is named in Liber Vitae Dunelm. See -hall (-ele is for -hele or-hale). Domesday Book Also has a Crachetorp in E. Riding, whilst Domesday Book Crecala is said to be Crakehill in Topcliffe.
Cramlington (Northumberland). circa, 1141 Cranlintune. Doubtful. Perhaps Old English cran-hlinn-tun—i.e., frequented by cranes.' Compare Linton.
Cranage (Congleton). Probably for an Old English cranawic, 'crane's dwelling.' Compare Swanage, Old English Swanawic. There is a Cranswick (Driffield), Domesday Book Cranzvic (z=ts), and before 1241 Close B. Crendon (Bucks).
Cranborne (Salisbury), 1241 Craneburn, and Cranbourne (Windsor). Sic 1485. ' Crane's (or heron's) burn or brook.' See above and Bourne. The crane, now extinct, was once abundant in Britain.
Cranbrook (Kent). It was a haunt of cranes. Cranbrook Castle (Dartmoor) is said to be corruption of Cranburh, from Old English burh, burg, ' fort, castle, burgh.' Compare Cranebrook (Lichfield), 1300 Crone brouke, Domesday Book Norfk. Cranaworda, and Cranham (Painswick), 1190 Rolls of the great Pipe Cronham.
Crank (St. Helen's), Crank Hill (Wednesbury), Crank Wood (Derby). See Oxford Dictionary, crank sb2, ' a crook, bend, winding, a crooked path or channel.' Not found in Eng. till1 552. Duignan identifies this with a number of obscure names in Cronk, several Cronk Hills in Salop, etc. But crank is never spelt with o in English and Cronk is probably a nasalized form of crook sb. Old Norse krok-r. See Oxford Dictionary, s.v. 6 and 11.
Cransley (Kettering). 95 6charter Cranslea. See Cranbrook.
Crantock (Newquay). From St. Carantocus, a Welsch saint who lived circa, 450, and who also crossed to Ireland. Compare Cradock.
Craswall (Herefd.). 1237 Cressewell=Creswell.
Craven (Yorks) and Craven Arms (Salop). Yorks C. Domesday Book Cravescire (shire). 1202 Cravene. Old Norse kra fen, 'nook in the fen.' Fen is also Old English fen and is found from 2-4 as ven or venn(e). The name must therefore indicate a dry spot in the midst of marshes.
Crawley (Winchester). All names in Craw- are from Old English crawe, ' a crow.’ Compare Domesday Book Leicester Crawsho.
Crawnon (Brecon). Perhaps, says Anwyl, the name of the Keltic goddess of storage.
Crayford (W. Kent). Charter Creganford, Creacanford, Creagan-ford. ' Ford of Creaga,' a name not found inSearle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Still, as Oxford Dictionary says, this name has nothing to do with creek, and still less with crayfish! Craycomb (Fladbury), however, is 1275 Craucombe, Crowecombe, from Old English Hcrawe,' a crow." See-combe.
Crayke (Easingwold). Domesday Book Creie, 1197 Rolls Crech; 1236 Creek, Crek. See Creech. However, this, instead of being Welsch crug, 'stack heap,’ maybe GAELICcrioch, genitive criche,' boundary, frontier, landmark.' Only, if so, it is very rare to find a Gaelic name so far south. Domesday Book Norfk., Kreic, must be the same.
Creditor. 905 in Eadmer Ecclesia Cridiensis; circa, 1097 Flor. Wore. Cridiatunensis; circa, 1540 Leland Crideton. Also found as Kyrton. ' Town on R. Creedy —739 charter Cridia, Domesday Book Cridic, Credie, by some said to be from Crida or Creoda, grandfather of Penda, King of Mercia, or from Crioda, Creoda, first King of Mercia, d. 593. But it is rare toind a river called after a man. Compare Credenhill (Hereford) and Domesday Book Bucks, Credendone, plainly from a man Creda. The river name maybe connected with Welsch cryd, O. Welsch crit, ' to shake.'
Creech (Wareham), before 1130 charter Crucha; also, Creech Hill (Somst). 702 charter Crich hulle. O. Welsch cruc, Welsch crug, Gaelic cruach 'a stack, heap, pile.' Compare Crich, Crickhowell, Cricklade. Thus Creech Hill is a tautology. Domesday Book Somst. Has Crice, Cruce, and often Cruche; in Norfk., Kreic, Kreich.
Creech Michael (Somerset). Charter of 682, 'The hill which is called in British speech Cructan, but by us (English) Crycbeorh.' Cructanis' heap, pile, hill on the R. Tone,' while Crycbeorhis ' Stack-burgh.' 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe, Norfk., has a Crichetot (=toft). Compare Evercreech.
Creighton (Uttoxeter). 1241 Cratton, so perhaps Old English cacet, crat tun, ' cart enclosure ' or ' village.' More old forms needed.
Cressage (Much Wenlock). Domesday Book Cristesache, 1540 Cressege. Not 'crest ' (only found in Eng. from 1325), but Christ's, edge ' or ' border,' Old English ecg, 1205 agge. It is at the foot of Wenlock Edge. Compare 1494 Fabyan,' in the egge of Walys.'
Cresswell (Northumberland, Stafford, and Mansfield). Northumberland C. 1235 Kereswell. Stafford C. Domesday Book Cressvale, before 1300 Cresswalle. This ending is certainly 'well' or 'spring,' Old English wella, often in M.E. wale; and Cress- is Old English cerse, ' watercress.' Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Cresselai,' cress-meadow,' and Craswall.
Crewe. Domesday Book Crev, Creuhalle (Crewe Hall). O.W. creu, crau, Modern Welsch crcwyn, Cornish crow,' apen , sty, hovel.'
Crewkerne (Yeovil). Not in Domesday Book; perhaps 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe, Devon Creueq'r. Old English cruc-erne, ' cross-house,’ house with the cross. Rolls of the great Pipes form may refer to the France family of Crevecoeur, often referred to in England. Compare Crevequer, circa, 1330 charter Kent and Lines.
Criccieth (Portmadoc). Probably Welsch cnug caeth,'narrow hill.' Compare next.
Crich (Matlock Bath). Domesday Book Crice and Crick (Rugby and Chepstow). Rugby. C. Domesday Book Crec. Welsch crug,' a heap, stack, mound, hill.' Compare Creech and Crickhowell and Penkridge. Duignan would derive this group of words from Gaelic and Irish crioch, genitive criche, ' boundary, limit, frontier,' as in the Scottish Creich. But this is not found in Welsch, and the evidence given under Creech Michael and Crickhowell seems practically conclusive, though compare Crayke. There are a Crickapit and a Crickley in Cornwall.
Crickhowell (Abergavenny), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Cruco-hel. In Welsch Crughywel, ' Conspicuous hill,' from Old Welsch cruc, Welsch crug, ' a heap, a stack,' and hywel, ' conspicuous.' Hewell Grange (Warwick) always found sic, ma be the same word. Baddeley thinks Crickley (Birdlip), old Cruklea, contains Old Welsch cruc.
Cricklade (Wilts). 905 Old English Chronicum Crecca-gelade, Cricgelad; circa, 1097 Flor. Worcester Criccielad; circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Crikelade, Cricalade; circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Crichelada. Gelad is Old English for ' passage,' same root as lead and lode: but the first half is doubtful. The English creek is not found till circa, 1250 crike, and Oxford Dictionary, does not favour it here. McClure conjectures Welsch craig, ' a rock,' or cruc, ' a mound '; the latter is quite possible. Compare Creech and next. There is a Craca, but no nearer man's name, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum 1160-61Rolls of the great Pipe, Surrey, has a Crichefeld.
Cricklas (Carmarthen). circa, 11S8 Giraldus Cambrensis Cruclas. Old Welsch cruc glas (Modern Welsch crug), ' bluish or greenish mound or stack.' Compare Creech.
Cricklewood (Middlesex). 1525 Crekyll Woddes, 1553 Crekle Woods. Doubtful; older forms needed. Probably from a man Crecel, otherwise unknown. Compare 1241 Close E. Krikeleston.
Crocken Hill and Crockham Hill (Kent). Probably' pot-shaped hill, from Welsch crochan, Old Irish crocan, Gaelic crogan, Old English crocca, -an, ' a crock, a pot, an earthenware dish.' Compare before 1000 ' Crocford ' in Codex Diplomaticus V. 17. The -ham may be a quite late corruption; old forms needed. Domesday Book Has only Croctune.
Crockern Torr (Dartmoor), circa, 1630 Crocken Torr. See Crocken Hill. Torr is a ' tower-like rock or hill,' Welsch tor. Corn, twr, tor.
Crockerton (Warminster). Not in Domesday Book ' Town of th epotter'; Crocker is first found circa, 1315 in Shoreham. Compare ' Crokerbec’ Egremont, Cumberland.
Crockford Water (Lymington). before 1000 charter Crocford? this one. Probably hybrid. Welsch crug, O.W. cruc, 'a tumulus, a low hill'; compare Cruckbarrow Hill (Worcester), 1275 Cruckberew, Crokeborow, a double tautology. See Barrow. I can hardly be from crook, Old Norse krok-r, as in Le Croc du Hurte, Channel Islands.
Cromer (Norfolk) Not in Domesday Book 1351 Crowemere. ‘Crouw’ (Old English crawa) mere, ‘or ‘lake. Compare Bomer Pool (near Shrewsbury) i.e. bull lake’ and Cranmer.
Cromford (Derby), Domesday Book Crunforde (m and n easily interchange), and Cromhall (Gloucester). Domesday Book Cromhal. Old English cromb, crumb, 'bent, crooked, curved,' cognate with Welsch crwm, crom, Gaelic and Irish crom, Old Gaelic cromb, with same meaning. Compare Croomed Abitot, Pershore, 972 Cromb, 1275 Crombe Dabitoth, ' Crook of the D'Abitots,' found in Domesday Book, who took their name from St. Jean d' Abbetot, E. of Havre. Earl's Croome, nearby, is 969 Cromban, Cromman, Domesday Book Crumbe. There is also a Crambe (Yorks), Domesday Book Crambom, Crambon, which probably is a locative for ' at the crooks,' from an unrecorded Old English cramb, cromb, now represented by crome, cromb, 'hook, crook,' first found before 1400.
Cromwell (Newark) and Cromwellbottom (Yorks). Newark C. Domesday Book Crunwell, 1223 Crumbwell, 1298 Cromwelle, circa, 1340 Crumwell. Probably' curved or crooked well,' or' brook,' as in Cromford but; Crum may be a man's name; it is so now. Compare Cromhall (Charfield), Domesday Book Cromale, Cromhal, and 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Yorks, Crumwurda. Bottom is Old English botm, ' the lowest part of anything,' found from circa, 1325, meaning ' low-lying land, an alluvial hollow.' Compare Ramsbottom, etc.
Crondall (Farnham). Domesday Book Crundele, 1242 Crundel. See Crundale.
Cronton (Prescot). Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Cronstone, ' Village of Cron,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Cronware (Pembroke) is 1603 Owen Cromewere, and in circa, 1130 Lthe same Land. Lann cronnguern, perhaps Welsch llan crum wern,' church on the crooked moor.'
Crookham (Berks, Hants, and Northumberland). Berks C. Old English charter Croh-hamme; Domesday Book Crocheham; before 1300 Crokham. ' Saffron enclosure '; croh being the Old English form of the Latin crocus, whilst the ending here is hamme, and not the commoner ham, ' home.' Compare Cbowle. But Crooks House (Yorks) is Domesday Book Croches, which will be Old Norse krok-r, 'a crook, a bend,' with English plural. The ending -hes has afterwards got turned into -house.
Croome (three on Severn near Pershore). 969 charter Cromman, Croman, Cromban, all datives, 972 the same Cromb, 1038 the same Hylcromban (now Hill Croome), Domesday Book and 1241 Crumbe, Hilcrumbe. Old English cromba,' a crook, a bend,' cognate with Old Gaelic crumbadh, as in Ancrum (Scottish) and Welschcrwm, crom,' crooked.'
Cropredy (Oxon). Domesday Book Cropelie, 1109 Cropperia? 1275 Croprithi, 1291 Cropperye, 1330 Cropperdy, 1405 Croprydy, 1460 Cropredy. Probably ' Croppa's stream.’ Old English rith, as in Rye and Ryde; but on Crop- compare next.
Cropthorne (Pershore). 780 Cropponthorne, Croppethorne, 841 Croppanthorn, Domesday Book Cropetorn. Crop sb. Is found as meaning 'the head or top of a tree.’ before1300. But the early charter forms show that Croppa must be a man. Compare next. Cropwell (Notts) Domesday Book Crophelle, Crophille, is from Norse kropp-r, ' a hump or bunch, a hump- shaped hill.'
Cropton (Pickering). Domesday Book Croptun, so also in Domesday Book Suffolk. ' Village of Croppa.' See above.
Crosby (5 in P.O.). Domesday Book Crosebi (Cheshire), 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Grossebi (Cumberland). Domesday Book Yorks has Crox(e)bi, Crocsbi, and Crochesbi, representing more than one Crosby. ' Dwelling by the cross,’ Old English cros, 3-4croiz, 4-7 croce; or, at anyrate in Yorks,' dwelling of Croc(c ),a fairly common name. Compare Croxby; and see -by.
Crostwight (Norfolk). Domesday Book Crostueit, circa, 1460 Crostweyt. ' Crossplace' or 'farm with the cross.' This name gives a rare corruption of -thwaite. Compare Crosthwaite (Kendal), 1201 Crostweit; and see -thwaite, which is very rarely found except in the North-West.
Crouch End and Hill (London). Old English cruc, 2-3 cruche, 3-5 crouch(e), ' a cross.' R. Crouch, Essex, may not be the same.
Croughton (Brackley). Not in Domesday Book Curiously, this means much the same as Crostwight,' crosstown'; Old English cruc, Mittel English cruche, crouche,' across.'
Crowborough (Leek and Tunbridge W.). Neither in Domesday Book Leek C. before 1300 Crowbarwe. Probably ' crow's wood,' Old English crawe, and beam, dativ barwe. Compare -borough.
Crowland or Croyland (Peterborough). 806 charter Croylandie; Sim. Dur. anno 1075 Crulant; circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Crulande, 1238 Croiliand. Doubtful; the first syllable may be Old English croh, ' saffron.' Compare Crowle.
Crowle (Worcester and Doncaster). Worcester C 836 charter Croglea, 840 the same Crohlea, Domesday Book Croelai, Crohlea, 1275 Crowele, Old English croh- leah, ' saffron meadow.' Crowley is, of course, the same name. Duignan prefers the meaning' crocus meadow, 'and compares a ‘Richard de Croccuswell found in 1332. Old English croh is just Latin crocus in an Eng. dress. Compare Crookham and Croydon.
Crowthorn (Berks). Compare Codex Diplomaticus iv. 103, 'Crawan thorn,' Hants. ' Crow's thorn, 'thorn- tree frequented by crows, and used as a boundary' mark. Compare, too, Crowmarsh, Wallingford, Domesday Book Cravmares (Old English mersc, merisc, but here rather old France mareis, marais, ' a marsh '), 1242 Crawmers.
Croxby (Lincoln), circa, 1180 Ben. Peterb. Croxebi. ' Crocc's dwelling; two so named in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Croxall (Lichfield), 773 charter Crokeshalle, Domesday Book Crocheshalle, and Crosby.
Croxton (4 in Postal Guide). Eccleshall C. Domesday Book Crochestone, Cheshire. C. Domesday Book Crostone, Cambridge C. Domesday Book Crochestone, 1302 Croxtone, Thetford C. charter Crochestune, 1240 Croxton, 1303 Crokeston, circa, 1460 Croxeston. Also 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Lanes. Crokeston. ' Village, town of Croc,' a man; 3 In Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare above.
Croydon (London). 809 Monasterium quod dicitur Crogedena; Domesday Book Croindene, 1288 Contin. Gervase Croyndona. It lies on the edge of the chalk, and so is often said to mean ' chalk hill ' compare Oxford Dictionary s.v. Cray and crayer. Yet form 809 must mean ' dean," (wooded) valley of the' saffron,' Old English croh. Compare Crowle. But Croydon (Royston) is Domesday Book Crauuedene 1238 Craweden, 1316 Croudene, 1428 Craudene, 'Dean, wooded vale of the crow,' Old English crawe.
Crudgington (Welhington, Salop). Domesday Book Crugetune. Probably ' town, village of Gruga,’ genitive -gan, an unknown man. For dg, compare bryg and bridge, Maggie and Madge. There is a surname Grudgings. See-ing.
Crudwell (Malmesbury) Domesday Book Credwelle. Perhaps ‘crypt-well’, Old France crudde, Mittel English crowd, ' a crypt, a vault.' See Oxford Dictionary, crowd sb2, not given there till 1399; so, it may be from a man Grud. Compare B.C.8. 536 Crudes silba (' wood ').
Crug Mawr (Pembroke), before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis ' Crug Maur i.e., Collis magnus,' ' big hill,' ' stack like hill.'
Crukeri Castle (Radnor). Older Cruk-keri. Probably before 810 Nennius Caer Ceri, 'Castle of Ceri.' But Cruk- must be Welsch crug, 'a heap, a stack.'
Crumlin (Pontypool). Welsch crom llyn,' crooked or concave pool.'
Crundale (R. Wye, Kent). Old English crundel, crondel, still in South, dialect, 'a cutting shaped like an open. 'V, made by a little stream, a ravine.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 906 Abbancrundel, also 3 farms in Worcestershire called Crundel or Crundles, and Crondall. Baddeley says Crundel (Kemble), 1280 Crondles, means ' a quarry.’
Crutchley (Northampton and Monmouth). Not in Domesday Book ' Meadow with the cross,' Old Eenglish cruc, 2-3 cruche. Compare Crouch End and Croughton, and Crutch Hill (Worcestersh.), before 1200 Cruche, 1275 Cruch, Cruce.
Cub(b)ington (Leamington). Domesday Book Cobintone, Cubintone, before1300 Cobyngton, Cumbyngton. ' Village of Cuba.' See -ing.
Cubberley or Cobberley (Cheltenham), Domesday Book Coberleie, later Cuthbrightley, is ' Cuthbert's mead.'
Cuckamsley or-Low (Berks). 1006 Old English Chronicum Cwichelmeslaewe, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Chichelmes laue, 1297 Quichelmeslewe. ' Burial-mound ' or 'hill ' (Old English hloew) of Cwichelm '; either he who was King of Wessex, died 636, or an earlier pagan king of this name, died 593. See -low.
Cuckfield (Hayward's Heath). 1092 Kukefield, 1121 Cucufcld. Hardly from vb. cuck= cacare, not found before 1440, though we have cucking-stool in 1308; nor likely to be from the cuckoo, which in Old English was geac. Scottish gowk, though it is found as early as circa, 1240 cuccu. Analogy, as well as other reasons, points to ' field of Cuca'; compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 936 Cucan healas. The 1121 spelling certainly suggests the bird; if so, it is much the earliest instance known. Compare next. Cooksland (Stafford) is Domesday Book Cuchesland, which Duignan takes to be land of Cuca or' Cue' Compare Cuxham.
Cuckney (Mansfield). Domesday Book Cuchenai, 1278 Cuckenay; and Norton Cuckney (Yorks). 1202 Yorks Fines Cucuneia. Probably' Cuca's isle ‘; see above and -ey. To derive from cuccu ' cuckoo ' is forbidden by the n, sign of the Old English genitive; whilst to make it Old English oet cucan eze, ' at the running stream,' cwicu, cucu, ' living, quick,’ is not in accord with analogy.
Cuddesdon (Oxford). 95 6charter Cupenesdune; before 1200 Codesdona. ' Cuthen's dean ' or ' wooded valley.' Cuthen seems to be a contraction of the name Cynethegn or Cytliegn; 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But ' Cudandene,' 958 charter, on Stour (Staffordshire). There are compare several named Cudd, Cudda, or Cuddi in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; also compare Cutsdean. See-den and-don.
Cudworth (Barnsley). Not in Domesday Book ' Cudd’s place or farm.' Compare Cudeley, Worcester) (974 charter Cudinelea, Domesday Book Cudelei, originally a patronymic, see -ing: also Domesday Book Cornw. Cudiford. Domesday BookYorks Cuzeworde is Cusworth.
Culcheth (Wigan and Cumberland). Cumberland C. circa, 1141 Culquith; also, Culchet. Wigan C .1200-1 Culchet, Kulchet, 1300C ulchyt, 1311 Culcheth. Farolderis 793 Mercian charter Celchyth, which seems the same name. Probably ' strait ' or ' passage in the wood,' Welsch cul, 'a strait (Gaelic caol, a' kyle'), and coed, pl. coydd,' a wood.'
Culgaith (Penrith). This surely must be Gaelic cul gaoith, 'at the back of the wind,' or from Gaelic cuil, ' a nook’; whilst cul in Welsch means' a strait, a narrow place.'
Culham (Abingdon). 821 charter Culanhom? 940 Culenhema, 1216 Culham. ' Enclosure of Cula.' Compare Culworth; and see -ham.
Cullercoats (Newcastle). First syllable doubtful. It may be 'dove cots,' Old English culfre, ' & dove.' If a man's name it may be Ceolheard, a common Old English name, or Ceolweard, also common, and found once as Kilvert. Compare Killirby (Durham), sic 1183 in Boldon Bk., but 1197 Culverdebi, plainly ' Ceolweard's dwelling'; also Domesday Book Norfolk, Culuertestuna, and circa, 1200 Culdertun, Egremont, Cumberland. There is a Culkerton (Tetbury), Domesday Book Culcortone; if not from Ceolheard, then from some unrecorded name. The -coats is ' cots.' See Coates.
Culmstock (Cullompton) Domesday Book Culmestoche. ' Culm's, Cylm's or Cylma's place '; all these forms are found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See Stoke.
Culworth (Banbury). 1298 Culeworthe. ' Cula's farm.' There is only one Cula in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum but compare Culham. See-worth.
Cumberland. 945 Old English Chronicum Cumbraland, circa, 960 charter Cumbras (i.e., 'men of Cumbria'), before 142 Wm. Malmes. Cumberland, 1461 Lib. Pluscard. Cummirlandia. Now usually held to be ' land of the Cumhri ' or Cymry, med. Latin Combroges, ' fellow- countrymen.'' Of course, Cymry is now the common name for the Welsch, whose Brythonic kingdom spread right away up to Strathclyde until the 10th century. Compare Comberbach and Domesday Book Worcester' Cubrinture,' Yorks Cu'brewrde, now Cumberworth.
Cumdivock: (Dalston, Cumbld.). before1080 Combedeyfoch. Combe is, Old English cumb, lit. ' a bowl,' ' a coomb, a valley’, cognate with or loaned from Welsch cwym, ‘hollow’, the second part, may be Welsch diffaith, ‘wild, uncultivated, uninhabited.’ The Scottish Divot, ‘a turf’, alwaus has t, end is not known before 1536. But -theyfoch may well represent a man’s name, as in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1237 Theofevan hyl. Only there is a Devoke Water, S. of Eskdale, in this same county. Compare Cumwhinton and ‘Cunbehop’, circa, 1200 charter Whalley.
Cumnor (Oxford). Old English charter Colmanora, Cumanora, Cumenoran; Domesday Book Comenore. ' Colman's edge or bank,' Old English ora the liquid l easily disappears. Compare Cowdenknowes (Scottish).
Cumwhinton and Cumwhitton (Carlisle). Old forms needed, but perhaps both Keltic, with English -ton. The former seems to be Welsch cwmgwyn,' clear, bright hollow.' However, Lawhitton (Cornwall) is ' long, white town.'
Cunliffe (Whalley, Lanes). 1278 Gundeclyf, 1283 Cundeclive, circa, 1300 Conhve, 1317 Cunliffe. Doubtful. Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire’s derivation from Gunnhild-r is little less likely here than in Conder. Probably hybrid, Keltic conde, cunde, ' confluence,' see Condate, and Old English clif, ' a cliff or cleve.' Compare Cleveland, and Lilliesleaf (Scottish), 1186 Lillesclif, or ' Lilla's cliff.'
Cunsdine (Durham). Sic circa, 1200 charter Probably 'Dean (wooded) valley of Cuna '; 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Cunsall (Leek), Domesday Book Cuneshala, and Cundall (York), Domesday Book Cundel.
Curdworth (Birmingham). Domesday Book Credeworde, before 1200 Crudworth, Croddeworth, 1327 Cruddeworth. 'Farm of Creoda'; metathesis of r is common. Compare Kersoe (Worcestershire), 780 Criddesho, 1275 Crydesho.
Curry Mallet and Rivel (Taunton). Domesday Book and1155 Curi (see North Curry). Welschcyri,' a cauldron-shaped valley,' Gaelic coire compare Cyri, and Scottish Corrie and Currie. Mallet denotes the name of the family to which this place once belonged. Compare Shepton Mallet, and for Rivel compare Rievaux.
Cury (Falmouth). 1219 Patent R. Egloscuri ('church of Cury'); 1445 Curytowne; also Corantyn. From St. Corentinus, a saint of Quimper, Brittany.
Cutsdean (Broadway, Worcester). 974 charter and Domesday Book Codestune, 1275 Cotestone, before 1500 Cotesdon, before 1600 Cuddesdon. This, then is not' Dean, ‘but' town of Code or Cola,' perhaps The same man as gave name to the Cotswolds. Already in 730 we find B.C.8. 236, set Codeswellan.
Cuxham (Wallingford). Old English charter Cuceshamm. 'Enclosure of Cue' Compare Cuckfield and Cuxwold (Lines), 1235 Cukewald; also B.C.8. 936 Cucan healas (see -hall). See -ham.
Cwmhir (Radnor), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Welsch cwm hir, ' long valley or hollow." Compare Cumdivock.
Cwm-llaw-Enog (Chirk). Welsch= ' valley of Enog's hand.' Enog was a Welsch chief who, it is said, had his hand cut off for being found on the E. side of Offa's Dyke.
Cych R. (between Pembroke and Caermarthen). before 1300 Cuch. Welsch cwch, pl. cychod,' a boat.'
Cyffdy (Llanrwst). Welsch for ' dark, black stump.' Compare CyffyHiog (Ruthin), and Cuffern (Haverford Welsch), old Coferun.
Cynon R. (Glamorgan) seems to be built like, and to mean the same as, 'the R. Conway (W. con gwy) i.e., chief river,' compared with the little Dare. Con, as in Latin, means ' together,' and -on is a common ending for' river,' as in af-on itself, in Carkon (Sc), etc.
Cyri (Merioneth). Name of several ' cauldron-shaped hollows,' with tarns, same as GaelicC coire, 'a Corrie ' (Scottish). Compare Taliesin, ' the cauldron of Cyridwen,' and Curry.
Cytiau-'r-Gwyddelod (Holyhead). Welsch= 'cots of the Irish.' It is a mountain, said to be the scene of a battle, circa, 600, between the Gwyddel (or Goidels, or Gaels) and the Cymri, or Welsch.

Dacre (Penrith), sic 1353, and Dacre Banks (Leeds). Bede Dacore (R. and monastery). Domesday Book Yorks, Dacre. Possibly med. Latin (e.g., in Domesday Book) dicra, circa, 1300 dacrum, old France dacre, dakere, Mittel English dyker, modern English dicker, corruption of Latin decuria. This number 10 was the customary unit of exchange, esp. in hides; but was it ever applied to land measurement?
Dagenham (Barking). 693 charter Deccan-haam; circa, 1150 charter Dechenham. ' Daecca's enclosure ' or ' pasture ‘; only one Doecca in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ham. But Dagnall (Oxon) is before 1400 Dagenhale. See-hall.
Daglingworth (Cirencester). Feud. Aids Dagelingworth; also 1240 a Dagehngstrete. ' Farm of the sons of Doeghild,' or ' Doegweald,' nearest names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-worth.
Dalden or Dawden (Sunderland), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Daldene, Old English dal-denu, 'allotment, portion, field, deal,' 'by the dean or deep, wooded vale.' See -den.
Dalston (Carlisle). 1189 Daleston, Dalstonn. ' Town, village in the valley or dale.' Old English doel, Old Norse daliact. Possibly Dale may be here, as it is still, a personal name; would hardly be in use so early. Dalbi and Dalham (Newmarket), sic in Domesday Book Dale (Pembroke) is found in 1307 as La Dale i.e.,with the France art.,' the dale.'
Dalton (5 in Postal Guide). Furness D. Domesday Book Daltun. Compare a ' Daltone in Domesday Book Cheshire. ' Town, village on the allotment,’ see Dalden; in northern cases,' village in the dale,' Norse dal.
Danby Wiske (Northallerton). Domesday Book and 1202 Danebi, or' Dane's dwelling.' Compare Tenby and Danemarche, Jersey; and see -by. On Wiske, see Appleton Wiske. But Danethorpe (Notts), Domesday Book Dordentorp, 1637 Dernthorp, is 'village of Deorna.' The phonetic changes are all explainable.
Dane or Daven R. (Cheshire.; hence Davenham and Davenport (Cheshire). Domesday Book Deveneham and Deneport, before 1130 Sim. Durham Devenport. Perhaps Welsch dain, ' pure, pleasing, beautiful,' or else dwfn, ' deep.' Compare Debenham. Duignan suggests Gaelic deann, impetuous, swift,' but that would rather yield Dann or Denn.
Darent R. See Dartford.
Darlaston (Wednesbury and Stone). Stone D. 954 Deorlavestun, Derlavestone, 1004 the same Deorlafestun, Domesday Book Dorlavestone. Wednesbury D. before 1200 Derlavestone. ' Town of Deorlaf.' Compare Darliston (Whitchurch) and Darlton (Notts), Domesday Book Derluveton.
Darley (Leeds) and Darley Abbey and Dale (Derbyshire.). Derbyshire D. Domesday Book Dereleie. Dar- is probably from Deor or Deora, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and phonetically possible. Darton (Yorks) is Domesday Book Dertune. In Old English deor means' any wild animal, 'then' a deer,' then used as a personal name, ' a man like a deer.' See -ley.
Darlington, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Dearningtun, Dearthingtun; but 1183 Boldon Bk. Derlingtona. A name which has changed. There is no trace in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum of the Sim. Dur. forms, and only one Deorling or Derling. As it stands, the name is ' village of the darlings,' Old English deorling, a dimin. of ' dear.' ' Dearthingtun may possibly represent Darrington. Compare Derlintun in 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Notts, in Domesday Book Dallingtune and now Dalington. We have Darlingscot, Shipston-on-Stour, before 1300 Darlingscote.
Darnall (Sheffield). Old English derne heal, ' hidden, out of the way, dark nook.' Compare Darnhall Pool (Cheshire), Dernford (Cambridgeshire, and Darnick (Scottish); also see -hall.
Darrington (Pontefract). Domesday Book Darnintone, Darnitone, 1204 ' Darthingtone, 1208 Dardhintom. Town, village of Deorna’ (one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum) or possibly ‘of Deorwen, or Deorwine’, see -ing.
Dartford (Kent), before 1200 Derenteford, Darentford. 'Ford on R. Darent,' which is probably a variant of Derwent; it is 940 charter Daerinta. Compare Darwen.
Dartmouth (on R. Dart). Exon. Domesday Book Derta, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Derte, 1250 Layam. Derte mup. Doubtful; certainly not from Eng. dirt. Perhaps Welsch dorth, ' limit, covering’ or Old English darrod, ' a dart, a spear,’ though our Eng. dart comes to us through old France dart. Dartmoor is 1228 Close R. Dertemor.
Darwen R. and town (Lanes), before1130 Sim. Dur. Dyrwente, 1311 Derwent. Welsch dwr gwen, ' white, clear stream.' Compare Darent, Derwent, and Gaelic dobhar,' water, river.''
Dassett (2, Kineton, Warwick). Domesday Book Derceto, Dercetone, before 1200 Afne Dereet, before 1400 Chepyng and Great Derset. Old English deor, ' deer,' and set, ' a place where animals are kept, a stall, fold.' See Avon, Chipping, Darley, and r on p. 83.
Datchet (Windsor). Domesday Book Daceta, 1238 Dachet. A puzzling name but all solutions fail phonetically except 'Dacca's cot,' Old English cete, ' cot, hut.' Compare Datchworth (Stevenage), 769 charter Decewrthe, Domesday Book Daceuuorde, Birch. CAartularium Saxonicum 81 Daeccanham, and Watchet. The Old English cc normally becomes tch.
Dauntsey (Chippenham). Domesday Book Dantesie. Compare 940 charter Dauntesbourne (Wilts). ' Isle of Daunt.' See -ey.
Davenham and-port. See Dane.
Daventry (Weedon). Domesday Book Daventrei, before 1124 Dauentre, circa, 1200 Gervase Davintria. The present pronunciation is Daintry, which would suggest an Old English Doefan treo, ' tree of Doefa ' ; compare Oswestry. However, no Docefa or Dave is in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, though compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Yorks Dauebi; whilst John Dawe, who gave name to Dawshill (Powick), was living there in 1275. In the abence of good evidence for an Old English origin, a Welsch origin is not altogether to be dismissed, though a Welschname would be very unlikely here. It may be 'the two summits,' from Welsch dau, 'two,' and entrych, 'summit’, as D. stands on a hill, and there is another a mile away. It may be circa, 380 The Antonic Itinary Devnana.
Dawlish (S. Devon). Old English charter Doflisc, Domesday Book Dovles, before 1500 Doflysch. Doubtful. The first syllable may be Welsch du, Old Welsch dub, Cornish dew, ' black,' or dwfn, ' deep.' Compare Dewlish and Dowlais, also R. Divelish (Dorset), which is charter Deuelisc, Deflisch, Deuulisc, Defelich, and Domesday Book Devon, Monlish. All these are originally river-names. The river at Dawlish is now the Dalch. So the second syllable is probably Welsch glais, ' stream, river,' rather than Illys, ' court, hall,' or glwys, ' hallowed place, a fair spot.'
Deadwater (N. Tyne) Perhaps 1249 Dedy. Doubtful. We find' a standing pool or dead water’, as early as 1610 Holland’ s Pliny.
Deal. Not in Domesday Book 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Dela; later Dale, Dele, Dola. Old English doel, 3-6 del, 4-7 dele, ' a division, a section, a part,' a ' deal,' cognate with dale, sb2.' a portion or share of land,' and with dole, Old English dal.
Dean, E. and W. (Eastbourne). Asser Dene. Old English denu, 'a dean, a dell, a deep, wooded vale.' See also Forest of Dean.
Debden (Saffron Walden). Domesday Book Deppedana, 1228 Close R. Depeden i.e., ' deep, wooded valley.’ See Dean.
Debenham (Framlingham, Suffolk). Domesday Book Depbenham, Depbeham. ' Home on the R. Deben, which maybe Welsch dwfn' deep. Compare Davenham.
Dee R. (Cheshire), circa, 150 Ptolemy Deva, 1480 Dee; but before 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Deverdoen Deverdoe, which is just the modern Welsch name Dwfr Dwy. Welsch dwfr or dwr (Old Welsch deifr), is' river, stream’ and dwy is ' two’ feminine. But Dee (Scottish), also R. Divie, trib. of Findhorn, Moraysh.
Deerhurst (Tewkesbury). 804 Grant Deor-hyrst(e); Domesday Book Derehest, before 1200 Walter Map Durherst. Deor, dior in Old English means ' any kind of beast; ' hyrst is ' forest.' See -hurst.
Deganwy, Diganwy, or Dwyganwy (N. Wales), before1145 Orderic Dag(e)aunoth; Ann. Cambr. ann. 822 Arx Deganhui. Difficult. By some connected with Ptolemy's Dekantai; by Rhys Jones* with the Irish Ogam form Deccetes, found in (?) sixth-century inscriptions in Devon, Anglesey and Ireland. In the Patent R. circa, 1245 it is often Gannok, which suggests a similar origin to Cannock.
Deighton. See Ditton.
Delph (Yorks, Rochdale, N. Staffordshire) and the Delves (Wednesbury) A ' digging ' (for iron ore or the like). Old English doelfan, deljan, ' to dig, delve.' Compare Dilhorne.
Denary Main (Rotherham). Domesday Book Degenebi, Denegebi, dwelling of’, it is uncertain who, perhaps Degb or Thegb- i.e. thane, lord, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Dagenham; and see -by. Main meaning ' main' or' chief vein of mineral, 'seems a quite recent usage.
Denbigh, circa, 1350 charts. Denbiegh, Dynbiegh, Denbeigh, 1485 Dynbigh. Welsch Dinbych. In Welsch din bych would mean, 'hill or fort of the wretched being.' This would be absurd. Probably it is, as pronunciation In English Den-by,' dwelling of the Dane'; we have Denbymore than once in Yorks, Domesday Book Denebi, from Old English Dene, ' Danes,' and Dene- or Den-mearc, ' Denmark.' Thus, it would be the same name as Danby and Tenby. See -by. But T. Morgan favours Welsch din bach, ' little hill,' which it is. This certainly accounts better for the final guttural -gh or -ch.
Denchworth (Wantage). Old English charter Dences wyrthe, Deneces wurthe, Denices wurth Domesday Book Denchesworde. ' Farm of Dence,’; a name otherwise unknown; though Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has Denisc, or 'the Dane.’ See -worth.
Denham (Uxbridge and Eye, Suffolk). Uxbridge D. Domesday Book Daneha. Eye D. Domesday Book Denham. Probably ' home of the Dane.' Compare Denton and Den-mark.
Denny Bottom (Tunbridge Wells). Compare Denny (Scottish) 1510 Dany, and Domesday Book Bucks, Danitone. Denny is a diminitiv of den or dean, ' a narrow, wooded valley.' See -den.
Denston(e) (Uttoxeter and Newmarket). Uttoxer D. Domesday Book Denestone, ' village of Dene,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, meaning, of course, ' the Dane.’ Compare above. But New. D. is Domesday Book Danardestuna, 'town of Deneheard.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 480 Deneheardes hegersewe.
Denton (8 in Postal Guide). 801 charter Deantone (Sussex). Domesday Book Yorks and Lines Dentune, ' village by the Dean, or deep, wooded vale.' Compare Denford (Berks), Domesday Book Daneford, where Old English doen, a word cognate with den and dean, means esp. ' a woodland pasture for swine." Few Eng. names in Den- or Dane- show any connexion with the Danes; but compare Denbigh, and above.
Deptford. Sic. 1521, but circa, 1386 Chaucer Depford; not in Domesday Book 'Deep (Old English deop)) ford' on the Ravensbourne, or rather, the creek at its mouth. There is another at Sunderland. Compare Defford (Pershore, 972 charter), Deopford, Domesday Book Depeforde, also in Domesday Book Wilts.
Derby. 917 Old English Chronicum Deoraby, 1049 Deorby, 1598 Darbishiere. In Welsch Dwrgwent. ' Beasts' dwelling.' Old English deor, dior, Icelandic dyr, ' a beast '; and see -by. Derby was a Danish name; Northweordig was the Old English one. For its ending, compare Badgeworthy.
Dereham (Norfolk). Domesday Book Dereham, Derham. circa, 1460 Dyram, so =Dyrham and Derby,' beasts' home.'
Dersingham (King's Lynn). Domesday Book Dersincham, 1234 Patent R. Dersingham ' home of the Dersings.' Compare Sandringham.
Derwent R. (Cumberland and Yorks), also Derwentwater, sic 1298. The two rivers get a little mixed in early records—circa, 380 The antonic Itenerary, and circa, 700 Rav. Geogr. Derventione, Bede Dorowensio, Deruuentis fluvius, circa, 850 Old English vers. Deorwenta, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Dyrwenta, 1229 Patent R. Derewent (Yorks). Welsch dwr, dwfr gwen, ' white, clear stream.' Compare Darent and Darwen. For suffixing of t, compare Leven and Levant.
Desborough (Market Harborough). Domesday Book Deisburg, Diesburg, circa, 1260 Rot. Hund. Dosteberge. Very puzzling; no name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum seems to suit any of these forms; but it may be Deorswith (see Dosthill). ' Dais ' raised table in a hall, is old France deis, and not known in English till 1259, so very unlikely here; but compare Diss. See-burgh.
Deuddwr (Wales). Welsch daud wr,' two streams.'
Deverell—Kingston Deverill (Bath), Longbridge Deverill, and Brixton Deverill (Warminster), Domesday Book Devrel, 1245 Patent R. Deverel (Wilts). Probably hybrid. Devr- will be Old Keltic for 'stream,' Welsch dwfr (see Andover and Dover); whilst -el is probably English for hill, or else -hale, ' nook.' See -hall. Compare Derridge, Kingswood, old Deveridge. Possibly Devrel is Normal for Devereux or d'Evreux.
Devil's Water (Hexham). 1610 Speed Dovols fl. Thought to be corruption of Gaelic dubh glas, 'dark, peaty stream '= Douglas. This is very doubtful.
Devizes. 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Divisis, circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Divisa, 1228 Close R. ad Divisas. This is corrupt Latin, and probably means ' place at the division or border " (? that between Saxon and Kelt).
Devon. 878 Old English Cronicum Defenascir; Exon. Domesday Book Duuenant, 1189 Devonia; 1402 Devenshir, circa, 1630 Risdon, 'Devonshire, now by a vulgar speech Denshire.' In Old Welsch Dyvnaint, which seems to be Old Welsch dub, Welsch du nant, ' dark ravine or valley^ or stream.' The Scottish Devon, circa, 1210 Dovan, has a similar origin, Gaelic dubh an, ' dark river.' But Rhys identifies both with the Damnonii, who originally inhabited Devonshire, the m here being aspirated into mh or v. There is also a R. Devon, Notts.
Devonport. Dates from 1689. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Devenport is Davenport. See above.
Dewchurch, Little (Hereford). 1234 Close R. Deweschirch, ' Church of Deivi,' Welsch for St. David. Compare Dewiston, near St. David's, Llandewi, and Dewsbury; also, Dowthorpe (Yorks), Domesday Book Dwetorp, 1202 Duuestorp.
Dewlish (Dorchester). Charter Diolisc, 1230 Close R. Deuehz, 1238 Patent R. Deuelis. Must be same as Dawlish and as Dewlas R. See Dowlais.
Dewsbury (Yorks). Domesday Book Deusbereia, Deusberie, 1202 Deubire. ' David's burgh.' See Dewchurch and -bury.
Dickleborough (Scole, Norfolk). Domesday Book Dicclesburc, 1232 Close R. Dikelebury. Probably ' burgh of Dicuil,' a Keltic name. See -borough.
Didcot (Oxford). Not in Domesday Book before 1300 Doudecote, also Dudcote; and Didcote (Beckford),1177Rolls of the great Pipe Dudicota. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 101. Dyddan hamm, the same 486 Dydinc cotan (dative). 'Cot, cottage of Dydda or Dudda.' Compare Dudley and Diddington (Warwick), 1188 Didindon.
Didmarton (Tetbury). 972 charter Dydimeretune, Domesday Book Dedmertone. Feud. Aids Dudmerton. Perhaps ' village of Dudemcer,' as in 1015 charter To Dudemseres hele (' nook '), Chilton (Berks), But it may be ' mere- or lake-town of Dydda ' or ' Dudda,' the latter a very common name. Compare Dummer.
Digbeth (Birmingham, Coventry, and Northfield, Wore). Duignan thinks this may be corruption of dike path; dike, Old English die, being either ' ditch ' or 'embankment.' But there are no old forms, and this is doubtful.
Dilhorne (Stoke-on-Trent). Domesday Book and till 1300 Dulverne. Duignan thinks, Old English dulfern, delfern, ' place of digging or delving.' Compare Delph. However, in Domesday Book Bucks we have ' Dileherst,' and Di Dilston (Hexham), before 1300 charter Divelin, which looks like Welsch ty Felyn, ' house of Velyn.' Compare Helvellyn and Stirling (Scottish) circa, 1250 Estrivelin. But—surely very improbably—Sir H. Maxwell thinks this name is D'Eyville's town ' (see Scala- cronica MS., folio 211); whilst McClure thinks the Dils- is a corruption of Douglas, ' dark stream.'
Dinas (Glamorgan). Welsch and Cornish, a castle,’ from din, ' hill,’ then ' hillfort.' Compare Pendennis.
Dinas Emrys (small hill near Snowdon). 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis says this means ' promontory of Ambrosius,' a celebrated bard of the 5th century.
Dinas Powys (Cardiff). 1223 Patent E. Dinant powis. ' Hill ' or ' fort of Powys.' Compare above.
Dinefrw Castle (Carmarthen). circa, 1196 Giraldus Cambrensis Dynevur, 1246 Patent E. Dynavor. Welsch din y ffwyr, ' castle of the onset or assault.'
Dingerrein (Cornwall). Corn, din Geraird, 'fort of K. Geraint, husband of Enid, who fell at Langport, 522. Compare St. Gerrans.
Dinmore (Hereford). Welsch din mawr, ' big hill.' It is a village on the top of a high hill. Compare Dunmore (Sc).
Dinnengton (Newcastle-on-T. and Rotherham). Rotherham D. Domesday Book Dunnitone, Dunintone, ' town of Dun, Duna, or Duning,' all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Din-Orwig (Caernarvon). Old Dinorddwig i.e., 'fort of the Ordovices,' a tribe of central Welsch. See Tacitus Agric. 18. But in charters of Edw. III. it is Dynnorbin. Rhys derives Ordovices from Old Welsch ord, Welsch gordd,' a hammer.'
Dinton (Aylesbury and Salisbury). Salisbury D. Duntone. 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Yorks. Dinton, ' village of Dynne or Dyne,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ton. But Dinsdale (N. Yorks) is Domesday Book Dirneshale, from Deorna, or perhaps Deoring, Diring, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -hall.
Diss (Norfolk). Domesday Book Dice. Doubtful.? Old France deis, found in English circa, 1259 as deis,' a dais or high-table.' Diseworth (Derby) and Disley (Stockport) imply an unrecorded man Disa. Compare Desborough and next.
Dissington (Northumberland).? The Digentum in Hexham Chronicum. Should be ' town of Dissa ' or the like but there is no such name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Still we have Dishforth, Thirsk, Domesday Book Disforde, and the places above, suggesting such a name.
Ditton (Widnes, Bridgnorth, and Surrey) and Fen Ditton (Cambridgeshire. Cambridgeshire D. circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Dictune, Dittune. Domesday Book Surrey and Bucks Ditone, Ditune; also circa, 1170 and 1213 charts. Dicton? which, and circa, 1005 charter Dictune, Kent, Digneshale, ‘Town, enclosure, with the ditch. Old English dic. Compare Ditchford (Warwick) Dom Dicforde. The names Deighton and Dighton have the same origin as Ditton. N. Yorks is Domesday Book Dictune, and Deightonby is Dictenebi, a somewhat rare hybrid.
Doccombe (Newton Abbot). Not in Domesday Book 1174 Documba, 1322 Dockumbe; also corrupted into Dockham. Old English docce-cumbe, ' dock-valley,’ valley in which the docken weed abounded.
Dodcott (Nantwich). 1135 Dodecotte. Compare before 1300 ' Dodeford,’ Northants. ' The cot or cottage of Dodd, Doda, or Dodda’ a very common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Didcot and Dodwell, Stratford (Warwick), close to the Doddanford of 985 charter.
Dodington (Yate and Bridgwater). Yate D. Domesday Book Dodintone, 1170 Duddinton; and Doddington (5 in Postal Guide), March D. Domesday Book Dodinton, 1302 Doddyngtone. ' Village of Dodda ' or ' Dudda,' genitive -an. Compare Domesday Book Bucks and Salop, Dodintone. But Dodingtree (Leicester) is perhaps from dod, ' to clip or top,’ found before 1225 dodd; compare 1440 Prompt. Parv., ' doddyn trees or herbys . . . decomo.' This tree was the meeting-place of the hundred. Compare Manningtree. See -ing.
Dogsthorpe (Peterborough). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1100 Grant Dodesthorpe. Interesting corruption;' farm of Dodd.' See Dodcott and -thorpe.
Dolebury Camp (Mendips). 'Burgh, fortified place of Dola'; one such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum It is the site of a pre-Roman fort. See -bury.
Dolgelly. Welsch dol gelli, ' meadow with the grove or corpse,' gelli being variant of the commoner celli.
Dolly Meadows (Bath). Welsch Dol. li. dolau (pronunciation dola), ' a meadow.' Compare Gaelic dalialect Thus, the name is a tautology.
Dolton (Devon). Domesday Book Dueltona. 1235 Patent E. Dughelton. ' Town of Dougal ' (see Duggleby), only here the h has ' eclipsed ' the g. Compare the surname Doulton.
Don R. and Doncaster. Probably circa, 380 The Antonic Itenerary Dono and Bede II. xiv Campodunum, circa, 850 Old English vers. Donafeld; Nennius Cair Daun; Domesday Book Doncastre, 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Dane Castre, 1202 Fines Danecastre, 1206 Donecastre. It can not be the same as Don (Scottish). Perhaps Welsch dwn, Gaelic donn,' brown.’ See-caster.
Donnengton (Salop, Gloucester and Berks). Salop D. Domesday Book Donitone. Gloucester D. 1176 Rolls of the great Pipe Dunnington. Berks D. 1316 Dunyngton. ' Village of the sons of Dunn.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 601 on Dunninglande. Compare Dunnington; and see -ing.
Donyatt (Ilminster). 1234 Patent R. Dunyed. Old English dun zeat, ' hill of the gate, opening or pass.' Yat or yat(t)e has been the S.W. dial, form of gate since the 16th cnv. Compare Symond's Yat.
Dorchester (Dorset), circa, 380 The Antonic Itenerary Darno(no)varia, 939 charter villa regalis quae dicitur Doracestria, circa, 1100 Flor. Worcester Dorsetania, 1387 Dorchestre. Durno-varia is probably Keltic, for ' fist-plays,’ there having been a Romanic amphitheatre here; Welsch dwrn, Irish dorn, ' fist ‘; and Cornish gware for Latin varia, ' a play.' Asser, anno 875, speaks of the district (paga), called in British Durngueir (in MS. -eis), but in Saxon Thornsseta (or Dornsseta), nowDorset. In the present name there is nothing which represents varia, so that it really seems to mean ' fist camp." Old English deoc, ‘dark’. Also see Dorset.
Dordon (Tamworth). 1285 Derdon. Perhaps 'hill of the deer,' Old English deor. Compare Dassett; and see -don.
Dore R. (S. Wales), circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Door; and Dore (Hereford and Sheffield). Sheffield D. Old Eenglish Chronicum 827 Dore, the same 942 Dor. Welsch dwr, ' water, stream ‘; GAELIC dobhar. Compare Appledore, Dour (Yorks), and Durra (Cornwall). But Plummer derives the towns from Old Eenglish duru, dor,' a door, an opening.'
Dorset, before 900 Asser Thornsseta, Dornsseta, Domesday Book Dorsete, circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Dorsetania. Dornsseta should mean ' seat, settlement among the thorns'; but compare Dorchester; while some connect with Ptolemy's Durotriges, who dwelt about here. Compare Somerset. Domesday Book Essex has a Dorseda.
Dorsington (Stratford-on-Avon). Domesday Book Dorsintune, and Dorstone (Hereford), before 1300 Dorsinton. ' Village of the Dorsings,' or? ' sons of Deorsige.' Compare Dersingham. See -ing.
Dosthill (Tamworth). Domesday Book Dercelai. before 1200 Dertehulla, Derchethull, before 1400 Dersthull, Dorsethull. The ending is clear. In Domesday Book -lai is from -ley, ' meadow,' q.v. and hull is the regular Midland form of ' hill.' Derchet or Derst probably represents a man Deorswith; 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But compare also Domesday Book Bucks Dusteb'ge and Desborough.
Douglas (Isle of Man). Local pronunciation Doolish. Moore says, Manx dub glais, ' dark stream.' Compare Douglas (Scottish) and Dowlais, pronunciation Dowlish. One of King Arthur s battles, in Nennius, was at ' Duglas.' circa, 1205 Layamon has a ' Duglas water ' too.
Dove R. (Derbv) and Dovey or Dyfi R. (S. Wales and Machynlleth). Derby D. 890 charter Dufa, before1300 Duve Douve. Machynlleth D. 1428 Dyvi. All from Old Welsch dubr, Welsch dwfr, dwr,' water, stream.' Duignan thinks Dove the ' diving ' river, Old English dufan. Its tribes certainly, dive underground. Doverdige (Uttoxeter) is Domesday Book Dubrige, circa, 1300 Doubrig,' bridge on R. Dove.'
Dover (also near Leigh, Lanes), circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenerary Portus Dubris; before 716 charter Duiras, 104S Old English Chronicum Dofre, before 1100 Wm Poit. Doueria, circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Doru-bernia, Doro-bernia; 1160 Doura, Dovre; circa, 1205 Layam. Doure, circa, 1275 Douere. The Kent Dover is on R. Douver, Welsch dwfr, a stream,’ still correctly pronunciation. In France Douvre(s) compare above, and Doverdale, Droitwich, 706 charter Dourdale, 817 the same Doferdael, also Domesday Book Wilts Dobreha. There are also a R. Doverle (Berkeley) and a Dover Bevk, 1225 Doverbec (Notts), and a Douvres on the N. coast of France.
Dovercourt (Harwich). Domesday Book Druurecurt (first r an error). ' Court on the river,' Welsch dwfr. See above. Court, Old France cort, curt, Latin cohors, cohortem, ' court, poultry-yard, yard,' is not in Oxford Dictionary, till 1297. It means ' a clear space enclosed by a wall,' then' a large building in a yard, a castle.'
Dowlais (Glamorgan). Pronunciation Dowlish. Disputable; perhaps Old Welsch dau, modern Welsch dou glais, ' two streams '; but probably = Douglas. The Dewlas, tribe of Northern Dovey, is sic 1428 and locally pronunciation Diflas, clearly' dark (W. du) stream.' Dowlish Wake (Ilminster) should be the same. Compare Dawlish. The Little and Great Doward Hills, lower Wye, were old Dougarth, which is Old Welsch for ' two garths,' or ' enclosures.'
Downham (Cambbridgeshire and Norfolk). Cambridgeshire D. Codex Diplomaticus iv. 209 Dunham. Norfolk D. 1461 Dounham. Old English dun-ham, ' hill-dwelling.' Compare next. Downholme (Richmond, Yorks) is in Domesday Book Simply Dune. See -holm.
Downs, The (off Kent), before 1460 Gregory's Chronicum The Downys, 1520 The Downes. Perhaps so called from the down or hill, Old English dun, opposite the E. end of the North Downs.
Dowton (Salisbury). circa, 1160 Duntuna i.e.,' hill-town' or Hilton.
Dowthorpe (Yorks). Domesday Book Dwetorp. Probably 'village of Duua' or' Duha,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -thorpe.
Doxey (Stafford). Domesday Book Dochesig, circa, 1200 Dokesei, 'Isle of Docca,' or ' the duck,' Old English docce. Compare Duxford. In Domesday Book Salop there is Dehocsele or ' Docca's nook. ' See -ey and -hall.
Drakenedge (Warwivkshire). 1251 Drakenegg. Old English dracan ecg, ' devil' s or dragon' sedge' or' brink.' Compare Drakelow (Derbyshire) and Wolverley, former 942 ' set Dracan hlawen (see -low) also Drakestone (Gloucester).
Draughton (Skipton). Domesday Book Dractone. Doubtful. Possibly it is 'town of the devil,' Old Eenglish draca. Compare above. Possibly Drayton.
Draycott (Berks, Bleckley, Dunchurch, Stoke-on-T.). Berks D. Domesday Book Draicote; Bleckley D. 1275 Draycote; St. D. before 1300 Dracote and Draycote. This must go with Drayton, an even commoner name with older recorded forms. Draycott would seem to mean ' dry cot'; Old English dryge, drige, 2 dreie, 4 draye, dreye, 'dry.' Possibly it is from Old English draege, 'a dragnet, a dray'; but then, why so? Certainly, Skeat's derivation from an Old English droeg, supposed to mean ' a place of shelter, a retreat ' (compare modern dray, ' a squirrel's nest '), seems rather laboured. But the matter is not yet settled. Domesday Book Devon has a Draheford? ' ford for a dray.' Compare Drig.
Drayton (9 in Postal Guide). Charter Draetun, Domesday Book Draitone, 1210 Drayton (Cambridgeshire). 810 charter Draiton (N. Notts), 960 charter Draaegtun, and Domesday Book Draitone (Berks), before 1100 ab. 'dry town'; but the early forms make Old English droege' a dray,' at least a possible origin. Skeat derives the place in Cambridgeshire and Berks from the Old English droeg, referred to s.v. Draycott. The ' Cair Draithon ' of circa, 800 Nennius has been identified with one of the Draytons, which is doubtful.
Driffield (Bridlington and Cricklade). Bridlington D. circa, 1050 Old English Chronicum 705 Driffelda, Domesday Book Drifeld, Drifelt, 1202 Driffeld. Cricklade D. Domesday Book Drifelle (common Domesday Book variant). 'Dry field,' Old English drige, 3 drigge, drie, ' dry.' Duignan says Driffold (Sutton Colfield), is drift fold,' fold into which cattle were driven.' Compare next.
Drig (W. Cumbld.). Old English drige, ' dry '; droeg, ' a place of shelter. Compare above.
Drighlington (Bradford). Domesday Book Dreslintone, Dreslingtone. The s in Domesday Book is to avoid the guttural gh; such Domesday Book hates. Probably ' village of the descendants of Dryhtweald,'or perhaps' Drycghelm (once in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum). Compare Domesday Book Gloucs. Dricledone. See -ing.
Dringhoe (Holderness). Domesday Book Dringolme; and Dringhouses (York). Not in Domesday Book Norse dreng, 'a free servant of the king endowed with lands.' They were found all over, N. of the Humber and Ribble. The ending -hoe is here a corruption of -holm, q.v., through the liquidity or vanishing tendency of l and m, influenced by Hoe, 'height'; whilst holm is 'river- meadow.'
Droitwich. 716 charter In wico emptoris salis quern nos Saltwich vocamus, 888 the same Saltwic, 1017 Sealtwic, 1049 Old English Chronicum Wic, Domesday Book Wich 24 times, Wic once, 1347 le Dryghtwych, 1469 Dertwyche. But D. is not Ptolemy's Salinai. Wich is simply Old English wic, ' dwelling, village.' See -wich. True, here and in Cheshire and the neighbouring districts it is the ending of most salt-producing towns; but there is no Old English authority for saying that wic or wich has anything to do with salt. Many—even Skeat—derive this wich from Old Norse vik, ' a bay, a small (salt) creek '; hence, it is said, the transition is easy to ' salt or brine spring.' But that wich could come from vile in 716 in Worcestershire seems simply impossible. Droit- (France droit, ' right, privilege ') was prefixed by sanction of Edw. III., who gave the inhabitants the right to manufacture salt here before 1293. The right had to be restricted in other places owing to the great waste of timber in making salt. But Edw. the Confessor already had £52 a year from the saltworks. Compare' The Droits of Admiralty.'
Dromonby (N. Riding). Domesday Book Dragmalebi, twice. A remarkable corruption ' Dwelling of Dragmel,' one in Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. We here see how anyone liquid can become another, even I become n. See -by.
Dronfield (Sheffield). Not in Domesday Book 'Field of the drone-bees'; Old English dran, 3-6 dron.
Droxford (Bps. Waltham). 939 charter Drocenesforda; not in Domesday Book ' Ford of Drocen, not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but compare Drakenedge.
Druid (Corwen) may be for Welsch derwydd, ' a Druid.' T. Morgan omits it. But Druid Heath (Warwick) is circa, 1400 Druwood, Drewood, from a family of Dru, or rather Druce probably taking their name from Dreux, Normandy.
Drypool (Hull). Domesday Book Dridpol, Dritpol, Dripold, 'dirty pool,' Icelandic drit, dirt.'
Dudbridge (Stroud). 1302 Dodebrygge; and Duddo (Norham); 1183 Dudehowe. Named from some man Dudd, Duda, or Dudda, names very common in Old English, esp. in Mercia. Compare Dudley and Duddeston (Birmingham), 1100 Duddestone. The -o is -howe, ' a mound,'q.v.
Duddon (Tarporley) and Duddon R. (Cumberland). Latte rthought to be circa, 709 Eddi Regio Dunutinga, a name of uncertain origin. But Taporley Duddon may be Welsch du din, 'dark, black hill’, though compare next.
Dudley. Domesday Book Dudelei, 1275 Duddleye, ' meadow of Dudd, Dudo, or Dodo,’? the duke in Mercia, and founder of Tewkesbury Abbey, 715. Compare Didcot and Dudbridge; and see -ley.
Duffield (Derby). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1180 Ben. Peterb. Dufelda, ' dove field.' Old English ‘dufe, circa, 1200 duue, circa, 1300 duu. If this derivation be correct, we have here one of the earliest recorded examples of the English word dove. Compare Doveskar, Wensleydale, 1202 Duuesker, and Doveridge, Domesday Book Dubrige.
Duggleby (Yorks). Domesday Book Dighelbi, Difgelibi. 'Dwelling of Dougal,' in Irish and Gaelic Dubhgall, or' dark stranger,' the Ir. name for the Danes. This Danish Keltic probably came from Ireland. There are other traces of such settlers. Compare Dolton; and see -by.
Dullingham (Newmarket). Domesday Book Dullingeham; also, old Dilintone. ' Home of the Dillings.' Compare Dillington (Hunts) and Dilham (Norfolk) i.e., ' home of Dill,' still a personal name, of which Dilling is the patronymic.
Dulverton (Somerset). Domesday Book Dolvertun. The name here seems unknown. There seems trace of a Norse Tolf-r or Tolrius.
Dulwich, sic 1606. Not in Domesday Book (There are coins with Dulwic on them, supposed to be a man's name.) Possibly ' Dola's dwelling '; one Dola in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The adjective dull is not in English before 1430. Compare Domesday Book Derby, Duluestune.
Dumbleton (Evesham). Sic 1327, but 930 charter Dumolan, Dumollan, 995 Dumbletain, Domesday Book Dunbentone. The forms are corrupt. Skeat suggested ' Domwulf's town,' but this is doubtful.
Dummer (Basingstoke). Domesday Book Dumere. Probably ' Duda's mere' or ' lake.' Compare Domesday Book Dodimere (Sussex) and Didmarton, also Cromer.
Dunchurch (Rugby). Domesday Book Donecerce. circa, 1200D unchirch, 1444 Dunkyrke. ' Church on the hill,' Old English dun, though possibly from a man Donn or Dunn. The 1444 -kyrke is interesting, as showing the lingering of Dan. influence, just as in Dunkirk, N. France.
Dungeness (Kent). 1052 Old English Chronicum Naess i.e., 'nose, cape, naze.' Dunge- is probably Danish dynge, 'a heap, a pile (of dung),' modern Icel. dyngja, ' heap, dung,' Old English dung. Compare Dinganess, Norway.
Dungleddy (Glamorgan), circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Dou Clediv, 1603 Doyglethe,' the dark (Welsch du) Cleddy R.'
Dunham (6 in P.G.). Sic 1150 charter Codex Diplomaticus iv. 209. Domesday Book Notts, Duneham. Norfolk D. circa, 1460 Donham. Old English dun-ham, ' hill-dwelling.'
Dunheved (Launceston). Domesday Book Dunhevet, circa, 1140 Downehevede, Dunehevede, 1250 Dunhefd. Corn, din hafod,' hill of the summer residence'; no doubt confused with Old English heafod; Danish hoved, ' the head.'
Dunmore (Leckhampstead). Not in Domesday Book Charter dunn mere, which is Old English for ' dun-coloured, brownish lake.' Perhaps Remodelled on Dunmore (Sc),' big hill.'
Dunmow (Essex). Domesday Book Dom(m)auua,1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Dumawa, circa, 1386 Donmowe. Perhaps tautology. Welsch din, ' a hill,' and Old English muga ' a heap, a mow, a pile of hay’; found 3-7mowe.
Dunnington (York). Domesday Book Domniton, Donniton, also Dodinton; 1202 Dunnigton. There are several men named Dunning in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but the name here is doubtful. Compare Doddington.
Dunstable. Not in Domesday Book 1123 Old English Chronicum Dunestaple, circa, 1200 Gervase Dunstapele, 1433 Dunstaple. ' Hill of the market '; it lies at the foot of Dunstable Downs. Old English dun-stapel. Compare Barnstaple. Dunsley (Yorks) is Domesday Book Dunesle, ' meadow on the hill.'
Dunstall. Common variant of Tunstall.
Dunster (Somerset). No tin Domesday Book Probably 1231 Patent R. Dintre, which looks like Welsch din tre, ' hill with the house.' But 1243 the same Dunesterr, which may be an Eng. remodelling; Old English dun steor- ra(n), ' hill of the star.' The common Scottish ending -ster, Old Norse stadr,' dwelling is not very likely here.
Duntisbourne (Cirencester). Domesday Book Tantesbourne, 1102 Dontesborne, 1221 Duntesborne.? ' Stream of.' Baddeley gives up the implied name as hopeless. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has a Dunniht and a Thront, which seem at least possible. See -bourne.
Dunton (3 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Norfolk Dontuna. Compare 672 charter Duntun’? near Winchester, and Domesday Book Duntune, Salop. ' Town at the hill; Old English dun, which also means ‘a fort.’
Dunwich (once in Suffolk, now submerged). Bede Domnoc, Dommoc, circa, 1175 Fantosme Dunewiz. Doubtful. Some derive from Welsch dwfn, ' deep.' Compare Dymock. See -wich.
Durdans, The (Epsom). Sic 1658. Said to be Mittel English durden, 'a coppice'; but there seems no trace of this in Oxford Dictionary where the only durdan is a variant of dirdum, ' uproar, tumult,' a Scottish and North dialect word found circa, 1440 in York Myst. as durdan. This name is probably Domesday Book Dordnhoes? ' Hill of Dorda '; the nearest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is Durand. See Hoe. The plural s often suffixes itself.
Durdar (Carlisle). Keltic for ' stream with the thicket; Gaelic dobhar, ' Welsch dwr, and Gaelic daire; or else from Gaelic darach,' an oak.' The same Dur- is seen in Durbeck or Doverbeck (Notts), 1225 Doverbec, probably atautology, and in Durbridge (Worcester). Compare Dover and Dwrbach.
Durham. Founded Old English Chronicum anno 995, but no name is given there, circa, 1070 Wm. Jumieges Castrum quod propria lingua Dunelmum nuncuparunt; 1075-1128 Dunholme; circa, 1175 Fantosme Durealme; 1295 Dwresysm; circa, 14:10 Henry Dursim; 1535 Stewart Durhame. A name which has changed more than once. Dunelm or Dunealme is originally Keltic dun ealm, 'hill of the elms,' an early loan-word. But Dunholme is Old English, meaning ' fort by the holm or river-meadow'; whilst Durham should mean 'wild-beasts' home or lair,' Old English deor ham, same root as deer; Icel. dyr Sw. diur,' a wild beast.' That the n should have become r is but one other proof of the liquidity of the liquids. Compare Dereham and Dyrham.
Durlstone Head (Dorset). Not in Domesday Book ' Perforated rock'; Old English thyrel, 'a hole,' same root as nos-tril. The name is perhaps a translation of Tillywhim nearbv. The Head is full of holes.
Durnford (Amesbury) Domesday Book Darneford. Old English derne, dyrne,' secret, hidden, obscure.’ Compare Darnall and Darnick (Scottish)-Dornford (Wootton, Oxon) is the same; 1236 Patent R. Derneford.
Durrington (Salisbury and Worthing). Salisbury D. Domesday Book Derintone, Worthing D. Domesday Book Derentune. Probably Old English Deoran tun, 'town of Deora.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum also has Deorwen or Denvine. Compare Dursley (Gloucester), 1153 Duresle, also Derselega, where the name is doubtful. Durrance (Upton Warren) is probably called after a Robt. Duran, known to be living in an adjoining manor in 1275.
Duston (Northampton). Domesday Book Dustone. Probably ' Dudd's town.' Compare Domesday Book Dudestan (Cheshire) and Dudley and Dummer.
Dutton (Warrington). Sic 1302, but 1102 Dotona. Perhaps 'town of Dutta.' Compare 940 charter Duttan hamme (Wiley, Wilts). But perhaps here becomes a proper name.
Duxford (Cambridge). Domesday Book Dochesuuorde, 1211 Dokesworth, 1284 Dukesworth, circa, 1660 Fuller Dokesworth. The-ford is quite a modern corruption ' Farm of Due,' says Skeat, and not ' of the ducks,' Old English duca, though Due is an unknown personal name. Compare Doxey. See -worth. But Duxford (Berks) is Domesday Book Dudochesforde, ' Ford of Dudoe ‘; 10 such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Dwrbach (Pembrokesh.). Welsch='little stream.' Durbeck or Dover Beck (Notts), 1225 Doverbec, might be the same name, but is more likely a tautology; Welsch dwr= English beck, 'stream.'
Dwyfor and Dwyffach (Criccieth). Probably, says Anwyl, 'great and little goddess,' Latin diva; Welsch mawr, 'big,' and bach, 'little,’ in both names aspirated.
Dyffryn (Merioneth), old Dyffrynt. Welsch dyfr-hynf, 'water' or ' river way, 'and so' vale.'
Dymchurch or Dimchurch (New Romney, Kent). Not in Domesday Book McClure compares Old English dimhus and dimhof,' hiding or dark place.'
Dymock (Gloucester). Domesday Book Dimoch, 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Dimoc, 1223 Dimmoc. Doubtful. It looks like an Old Welsch diminutive of Welsch din, dyn, 'hill' or 'fort'; m and n constantly interchange. Compare Dum- or Dunbarton, and Dunwich.
Dyrham (Chippenham). Said to be Old English Chronicum 511, also 950 charter, Deorham i.e., ' wild beasts' lair or home.' Compare Durham. But Domesday Book Wilts has a Dobreham, which may be the Chronicum place, and so a hybrid—Old Keltic dobr; Welsch dwfr, 'river'; and Old English ham, ' home.' Compare Dover.
Dyserth (Flint). 1245 Patent E. Dissard. Welsch form of Latin desertum, ' a desert place, 'then' a hermit' scell,''a house for receiving pilgrims,'' a church,' and so the same as the Deserts and Dysarts of Ireland and Scotland. There is a ' Desertelawa ' (hill), 1156, in Rolls of the great Pipe Derby.
Dyvi R. (Merioneth), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Ostium Devi. Probably another instance of river-worship, the name probably meaning ' goddess.' Compare Dwyfor.

Eagle Stone (Baston Edge). Local tradition says, from the Saxon archer god Egil or AEgle. Compare Aylesbury and Eglesbourne.
Earring (Newark). Domesday Book Aigrun, Ec(h)eringhe, 1229 Close R. Ekering'. 1278-1428 Aykering. This seems to be Old Norse eik- runn, 'runlet, little stream with the oaks.' Compare Aigburth Oxford Dictionary, gives run, sb. 9, with this meaning as North, dialect, and has no quotation before 1581. But the verb run in its earlier usages seems to have come to us chiefly through Scandinavian sources. See Dictionary s.v. run vb. The later forms seem to be Norse eikar eng, in Mittel English ing, 'meadow of the oaks.'
Ealing (London). 1245 Patent R. Gilling; later Yehng, Yealing, and Zealing (Z for Y). Evidently the same patronymic as in Gillingham. For the falling away of g, compare Ilchester, Ipswich, etc., also Yarmouth. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has both Gilo and Gillus; from either Gilling may have come. See -ing. There are also Domesday Book Berks Elinge, and 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe Eling, Hants. These, however, are probably patronymics from Ela, a man's name found in Beowulf.
Eamont or Eamot Bridge (Penrith). 926 charter Eamotum. McClure says, Old English ea-(ge)mot, in 926 in a locative plural, meaning' river confluence' or' meet the form-mont probably showing the influence of Norse munn-r, 'a river-mouth.' Possibly the same name as Emmet.
Earby (Colne). Domesday Book Eurebi. Probably ' dwelling of Eofor.' Eoformaer of Driffield is found also as Euremarus. Compare Everley. See -by.
Eardington. See Erdington.
Eardiston (Tenbury), Eardisland, and Eardisley (Herefordshire). Tenbury E. 957 charter Eardufestun, Domesday Book Ardolvestone, before 1100 charter Eardulfestune. ' Town, land, and meadow of Eardwulf.' See -ley and -ton.
Earith. See Erith.
Earlswood (Birmingham, etc.). Birmingham E. in circa, 1274 charter is ' the Earl of Warwick's wood.'
Early (Reading). Domesday Book Erlei, 1316 Erie, Erlee, 1428 Arle. Skeat conjectures ' Earna's lea,' or 'meadow of the eagle,' Old English earn, and compares Arley. Compare Domesday Book Bucks Erlai, and Earnley (Sussex), Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum i. 331 Earneleagh.
Earsham (Bungay). Not in Domesday Book 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Eresham. ' Home of Ere' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Arreton.
Easington (4 in Postal Guide). Thame E. Domesday Book Essedene. Castle Eden E. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Esingtun,1183 Esyntona. ' Town, village of Ese or Esne, both very common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The-ing, q.v.,may either represent the Old English genitive -an, or be the sign of a patronymic. Compare Domesday Book Bucks Esenberge. For interchange of -den, -don, -ton, see these endings.
Easingwold (Yorks). Domesday Book Eisicewalt, Eisincewald ,1230 Close R. Esingewald. Probably patronymic. ' Wold, wood of the sons of’ some man with name in Is- (compare Eastoft). Wold is Old English wald, weald. Compare Easinghope (Worcester) 1275 Esighope, 'valley of the sons of Is or Esi, 'and a bove. See -ing.
East Beckham (Norfolk). Domesday Book Becham, 1458 Estbekham. May not be ' home on the beck ' or 'brook,' see Bacup; but perhaps from a man, as in Beckenham.
Eastbourne. Domesday Book Borne, 1114 Old English Chronicum Burne, circa, 1450 Fortescue Borne,1730 Eastborn or Eborn. Burne or bourne is just early English for' brook,' the Scottish burn. Eastburn (Driffield) is actually Augustburne in Domesday Book See Aust.
Eastcote (Pinner). Compare 958 charter ' Eostacote ' on Stour, Staffordshire i.e., ' east cot ' or ' cottage '; also 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Westcotun and Oustcotun (Yorks).
Easterton (Market Lavington). 'Eastern village.' Compare Domesday Book Surrey Estreha and Eastry.
Eastfield (Northampton). 963 Old English Chronicum AEstfeld. East- usually is ' east '; but Eastbrook (Sutton Coldfield) is before 1200 Essebrook, which is probably ' ash-tree brook.' Old English oesc, 3 asse, 5 esche; esse for ' ash ' is found in Domesday Book Eastington, 2 in Gloucester, 1119 Estinthone, is probably Old English eastan tun, 'at the East village.' See -ing.
Eastoft (Goole). Probably 1119 charter Istofte, which looks like Danish i -toft, ' ice ' or ' icy field.' There is one man Iso in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and many names in Is-, Isgod, Ishere, Iswulf, etc., and the Is- may be a contraction of any of them. Domesday Book has only Esetorp, Estorp.
Easton (12 in Postal Guide). Old English Chronicum 656 AEstun, 1137 Estun (Northampton), 796 charter Eastun (Berks). Domesday Book Estune (E. Biding, Yorks), Estone (Bucks). ' East town.'
Eastrington (Brough, Yorks). Domesday Book Estrincton. Perhaps 'town of Eastorwine,' and it may be a patronymic. See-ing.
Eastry (Dover). 788 charter In regione Eastrgena, 805 charter Easterege, before 1000 Eastrege. The first half will mean' Eastern' McClure connects the second with the continental tribe of the Rugii. But in Old English the ending -ige usually means ' island.' Compare Austerfield. Eastrea, or Eastrea (Cambridgeshire), is probably B.C.8. iii. 438, Estrey, or ' eastern isle. Compare Westry farm, March, and -ey.
Eastwood (Nottingham). Domesday Book Estewic, error for -twit, 1166-7 Rolls of the great Pipe Est Twait, 1225 Estwaite, and often so. This is now no region for -thwaite (see p. 59), hence the change.
Eathorpe (Leamington). 1327 Ethorpe. ' Village on the running water.’ Old English ea, Old Norse o.a. This is one of the south most instances of -thorpe, q.v. Compare Edale, and Domesday Book Gloucester Aiforde.
Eaton Constantine (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Etone.
Eaton Hastings (Farringdon). Old English charter Eatun, circa, 1300 Eton.
Eaton Socon (Bedford). 1155 Eitune, 1581 Eaton Sooken. Eaton Water and Wood (Staffordshire). Domesday Book Eitone, Etone. Eaton (Notts) Domesday Book Etune, Ettone, Ettune. Old English ea-tun, 'river-town.' Socn is a district held by tenure of vocage i.e., for certain, determined service; Old English soc, 'privilege of holding a court in a district.' There are 8 Batons in Postal Guide. Compare Eton.
Ebberston (Snainton, Yorks). Domesday Book Edbriztune, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Edbrihteston. ' Town of Eadbeorht,' a very common Old English name. Compare Domesday Book Salop Etbretehe. But with Ebberly (Torrington) compare Domesday Book Hereford, Elburgelega,' meadow of (the lady) Elburga.'
Ebbesbourne (Salisbury). 672charter Ebblesburnon, Domesday Book Eblesborne. 'Elba's brook' or 'burn,' Old English burn(e). Eabba and Eabe are common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and there is also one Ebbella. The liquid l would easily disappear. Compare Ebley (Gloucester), 1317 Ebbaleye, and Epsom.
Ebbsfleet (Thanet). Old English Chronicum 449 Eopwinesfleot, Ypwinesfleot also Wippedsfleot. Not in Domesday Book Old English fleot, Icelandic fljot is ' a stream ' or perhaps ' a creek,' same root as fleet. See Fleet. The first part must represent the name of some early Jutish settler. Ebbs-maybe a contraction of Ypwines- or Eopwines-. There was once a channel between Thanet and Kent, and this is at the south-east mouth of it. Compare Ipplepen.
Ebchester (Co. Durham). Perhaps before 700 Bav. Geogr. Ebio. ' Camp of? ‘See -Chester.
Ecchinswell (Newbury). Domesday Book Eccleswelle. Eccles, as in next, is probably Latin ecclesia, Welsch eglwys, and so this name may mean ' church well.' It is a curious corruption, and shows how anyone liquid may run into another, though I very rarely become n. There is one Echun in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Eccles (Lanes, Attleborough, Maidstone) and Ecclesfield (Sheffield). Lanes. E. sic circa, 1100. Sheffield E. Domesday Book Eclesfelt, 1179 Ecclesfeld. Either Latin ecclesia, Welsch eglwys, ' a church,' or rare case of a personal name in genitive used for a place, without suffix,' (village of) AEcel ' or 'AEcle,' a known Old English name. Compare Beccles, Beedon, and Brailes. It is hard to be certain which alternative is right both are contrary to the usual. E.g., why should the name AEcel so often be used alone, when almost no other is?
Eccleshall (Stafford). Domesday Book Ecleshelle, 1298 Eccleshale, 1459 Eggleshal. ' Nook, corner, beside the church,' or ' of Aecel (see above). See -hall. Compare Eccleshill (S. Yorks), Domesday Book Egleshil, and Eccleston (Lanes), Domesday Book Eglestun.
Eccup (Leeds). Domesday Book Echope. 'Shut-in valley of Ecca.' Compare Bacup and see -hope.
Eckington (Pershore and Sheffield). Pe. E. 972 charter Eccynegtune, Domesday Book Aichmtune, before 14.00 Ekington, Ekynton, Sheffield E.? Domesday Book Ecinton. 'Town of the sons of Ecca." Compare next and Grant before 675' Eccantrewe' in Surrey. See -ing and -ton.
Ecton (Northampton). Domesday Book Ecdone, 1298 Eketon. ' Ecca's town.' Ecca is a very common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; -don and -ton commonly interchange.
Edale (N. Derbysh.). Domesday Book Aidele. ' Dale,’ Norse dal-r, ' with the running stream.' Old English ea, Old Norse aa. Compare Eathorpe and Edzell (Sc), 1204 Edale; and see -dale.
Eddington (Heme Bay). Domesday Book Eddintone. 'Town of (the sons of) Ede ' or ' Eada.' Compare next and Domesday Book (Bucks) Eddingraue. See -ing.
Eddisbury (Cheshire). 914 Old English Chronicum Eadesbyrig, 'Eada's or Ede's burgh.' Compare Domesday Book (Bucks) Eddinberge. See-bury.
Eddlethorp (Yorks). Domesday Book Eduardestorp. ' Village of Edward,' Liquid r has changed to liquid l. Compare Eddlesborough (Dunstable)—not in Domesday Book However, in another place in Domesday Book it is Ged Welschtorp probably error.
Eddystone Lighthouse (Plymouth). 'Stone or rock of Eadda or AEddi.'
Eden R. (Cumberland and Kent). Cumberland E. probably circa, 120 Ptolemy Ituna’, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Iodene and duas Geodene = Castle Eden and Little Eden (Hartlepool); latter also occurs as Suth Yoden. The early form so Eden Water, a Scottish tributary of the Tweed, are seen in those of Ednam (Sc).; circa, 1100 Aednaham, 1116 Edyngahum, circa, 1120 Ednaham, circa, 1220 Edenham. These forms are perplexing, and it is hard to come to a verdict. The first part possibly contains a Keltic root meaning 'corn,' Welsch yd, Irish etha, so perhaps 'river flowing through corn-lands.' On en or an for ' river,'. Compare Itchen.
Edenhall (Langwathby) Eden.' See above and -hall.
Edensor (Bakewell). Domesday Book Ednesoure. As this is on the R. Derwent, it probably means ' bank, edge of AEdan ' or ' Aidan.' See -or and -over. But Eden, see above, may have been another name of the Derwent. We get the same nam ei nBaddesley Ensor, before 1300 Ednesovre, 1327 Endeshover.
Edgbaston (Birmingham). Domesday Book Celboldstone (Ceolbeald's town'), 1150 Egboldeston, before 1200 Egbaldeston, Eggebaldeston. ' Ecgbeald's village.' We cannot now explain the change of name. But Old English ecg- by rule becomes edg: e.g., edge is Old English ecg(g).
Edgeware (London). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1160 Eggeswere, circa, 1500 Eggesware. Perhaps, from an Old English Ecgeswer, ' at the edge of the wear,’ ecg, 2 egge, ' edge,’ and wer, woer, ' a fence, an enclosure for fish.' Domesday Book also uses wara for ' an outlying portion of a manor,’ which Round makes cognate with wer, ' a fence." But the first part may be from a man AEga, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Norfolk Egemere and Edgworth (Cirencester), Domesday Book Egesuuorde, Egeiswurde, ' farm of AEga ' or ' Ecg.'
Edgton (Aston-on-Clun, Salop). Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Roll Eggeton (Yorks). Either' Agra's town, 'or' village at the edge.' See above.
Edingley (Southwell). Not in Domesday Book but sic 1302. Compare 1005 charter in Dugdale, Egaeanlaea. ' Eda's lea ' or ' meadow.' Compare Eddingthorpe and Edingale (Tamworth), Domesday Book Ednimghalle, before 1200 Eadinghall, Edenynghal(e), which may be a patronymic, but is probably derived from Eadhun.
E(d)dingthorpe (N. Walsham). Not in Domesday Book 1429 Edithorp. ' Eada's village.' Many of this name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -thorpe.
Edington (Wilts). 957 charter Ethandun, Domesday Book Edintone. [879 Old English Chronicum Ethandun, compare Ashington.] ' Town of Eda, Eada, Etha, or Eata ‘; all these forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing. But Athelney E. is Domesday Book Edwinetone, 1199 Edintone.
Edlingham (Alnwick). before 1130 Sim. Dur. Eadulfingham, Eadwulfincham. A patronymic. ' Home of the descendants of Eadwulf,' a common Old English name. Similar is Edlington (Horncastle) Domesday Book Ellintone, Eilintone, circa, 1275 Testa de Neville Edelington.
Effingham (Leatherhead). Not in Domesday Book Old English Effingeham, patronymic; 'home of the descendants of Effa or Eafa' (f. Bede III. 24).
Egerton (Ashford, Kent, and Bolton). Not in Domesday Book ' Eadgar's town.' Compare Agardesley (Staffordshire), circa, 1004 charter Eadgares leye.
Egham (Surrey). Grant of a 675, and Domesday Book Egeham. 'Home of AEga.' Compare Edgeware, and Egbrough (Yorks), Domesday Book Egburg, Acheburg.
Eglesbourne or Ecclesburne (Derbysh.). Not in Domesday Book Said to be, like Eagle Stone, from the archer Egil; though the first syllable Maybe for' church,' see Eccles. A man's name is probably in Egglestone (Darlington), Domesday Book Eghistun (h error for l), and in 1342' Eglesfeld,' (Westmunsterland).
Eglingham (Alnwick), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Ecgwulfingham, 1197 ' Home of the descendants of Ecgwulf,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Egloshayle (The Lizard). Sic 1536. Corn, eglos hayle, ' church on the tidal river.' Eglos is in Welsch eglwys, Gaelic eaglais, Latin ecclesia, Griechisch…
Egloskerry (Launceston). Corn. eglos, 'church,' see above, and it is doubtful what; perhaps the Corn, for ' fort,' Welsch caer, or perhaps (? Corn. and) Welsch ceri, ' medlar trees.' In Domesday Book Cornwall we have Eglosberrie, probably from St. Baire of Cork, friend of Brendan and Cainneach.
Eglwys Newydd (Cardiff), now usually' called Whitchurch, circa, 1540 Egglis Newith, which is phonetic Welsch for ' new church.' The usual Welsch for church is llan.
Egremont (Pembroke and Whitehaven). Whitehaven E. before1200 Egenermot, which is clearly Old Norse for 'meeting-place, court of Egen,' the -er being the Norse genitive Compare Ennerdale. But it is 1218 Egremunde, 1246 Egremund, where the ending is Old Norse munn-r for mund-r, 'mouth, river-mouth'; perhaps influenced by Old English munt, Latin mons, montis,' hill, mountain.'
Eirl (mountains, Caernarvonshire). Welsch='rivals.'
Eldon (Bps. Auckland), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Elledun. Probably ' AElla' ‘s or Ella's hill,' Old English dun.
Eldwick (Bingley). Domesday Book Helguic, Helwic. Old English halig wic,' holy dwelling,' holy is 3-4 heli, hely. Compare Old Norse heilag-r, Sw. helig, and Elloughton; and see-wick.
Elford (Tamworth) 1004 charter Elleford, Domesday Book Eleford. ' Ford of AElla' or' Elle,' common Old English name. Compare Domesday Book Essex Elefforda.
Elham (Canterbury), circa, 1000 Ulaham, Old English for 'owl village.' Not in Domesday Book
Elkington, South (Louth). Domesday Book Alchinton, 1233 Suthelkinton, 1359 Elkyngton. Probably ' town, village of Ealhhun,’ fairly common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and found also as Alchun. Bu tit maybe ' of the sons of Elc'. Compare next and -ing.
Elkstone (Cheltenham and Leek). Cheltenham E. Domesday Book Elchestane, 1177 Rolls of the great Pipe Elkestan. Leek E. 1227 Elkesdon. Elc may be a man's name, otherwise unknown. Compare above; Baddeley says Ealch for Ealh-, which also may be. But these are probably ' stone ' and ' hill of the elk,' Old English elch, elh, then not recorded till 1486 elke. See -don and -ton.
Elland (Halifax). Domesday Book Elant, Elont. This seem sto be a variant of island. It stands on the R. Calder, but was it ever an island? Island is Old English inland, izland, iland, zillond, yllond, 4-5 eland. But Ellel (Lanes.) is Domesday Book Ellhale, probably' Ella's nook.' See-hall.
Ellastone (Ashbourne). Domesday Book Edelachestone, Elachestone, before 1200 Adelakestone, Athelaxton, Ethelaxton,' village of Aethelac. 'There is also 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Adelacheston (Bucks and Beds). See -ton, which often interchanges with -stone.
Ellenborough (Maryport). Old Alneburg, and (probably) Aynburg. ' Burgh, town on the R. Ellen or Alne.' But Ellenhall (Eccleshall) is Domesday Book Linehalle (an error), before 1200 Ellinhale, ' nook of Elle.' Compare Ellesham. And in Old English charters we find both an Ellenbeorh and an Ellesbeorh. But Ellenthorp (W. Riding) is Elwinetorp and Halwidetorp (d error for n) in Domesday Book i. e. ‘village of Eahlwine or Aluuines, same name as Alcuin. Compare Elvington.
Ellerby (Holderness). Domesday Book Aluerdebi, Alwerdebi, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Alwardebi. 'Dwelling of Ealdweard.' Compare Allerthoepe; and see -by.
Ellerdine (Wellington, Salop). Domesday Book Ellevrdine, 1233 Close R. Elewarthin and Ailwarthin. ' Ella's farm.' The ending -vrdine or -wardine (q.v.) is common in this region.
Ellerker (South Cave, Yorks). Domesday Book Alrecher. Probably Old Norse olr or elrir kjarr, ' alder copse.' Compare Ellerton and Carswell, also Ellerburn (E. Riding), Domesday Book Elreburne.
Ellerton (on Swale). Sic 1203, but Domesday Book Alreton, twice, Eire ton(e), 5 times. Perhaps =: Alderton, and some cases of Allerton", ' town among the alders,' Old English alor, aler, 5 ellyr, Old Norse olr, elrir. But it may as likely be from the common Old English name Ealhhere, or else, AEilfhere, as in Allerston. Ellerby (Holderness), Domesday Book Alwerdebi, Aluerdebi, Aluwardebi, Elworclebi, ' dwelling of Ealhweard,' must be of different origin.
Ellesham or Ailsham Priory (Lines). Domesday Book Elesham, 1233 Ellesham. 'Home of AElli, AElla, or Ella.' Compare 808 charter AElesbeorge, (Somerset).
Ellesmere (Oswestry). Sic in Domesday Book ' Lake of Ella ‘; see above.
Ellingham Gt. (Attleborough). Domesday Book sic and Elincgham, and Ellington (Hunts and Morpeth), Hunts E. Domesday Book Elintune, may all be patronymics; 'home, tow of Aella’s descendants.' But Ellingdon (Swindon) is the Ellandune or ' Ella's fort,' of the great Mercian defeat by K. Egbeit in 825; Ellingham (Bungay) is Domesday Book Elmingheha,' home of the sons of Elm, or Elmund, or Ealhmund'; and Ellinthorpe (S. Yorks) is Domesday Book Adelingestorp. See Adelingfleet. Also see -ing and -thorpe.
Ellonghton (Brough, Yorks). Domesday Book Elgendon, The Elgen- is doubtful, more old form sneeded. It is not impossible it may represent hallow, 'a saint,' Old English halga, halganan, 3 Orm, plural alhen, 4 alwes. Compare Old Norse heilag-r, Swedish helig, ' holy',' and Eldwick. See -don and -ton.
Elm (Cambridge and Frome). Cambridge E. before 1154 Old English Chronicum 956 AElm, 1346 Elm. Old English elm, Danish oelm, alm, ' an elm-tree.' Compare Ash, Poplar, etc. Elmbridge (Gloucestershire) is circa, 1210 Elbrugge, but circa, 1200 Telbrugge also Thellbruge ' bridge made of deals.' Old English pell. The change arose through Thel- being taken as Th'el- or ' The elm ' bridge. There is a ' Thel- brycg ' (Sandford, Devon) in 930 charter. On the other hand, Elmbridge (Droitwich) is Domesday Book Elmerige, a .1300 Elmrugge, and Elmbrugge, which is originally' elmbridge, Old English hrycg.
Elmers End (Beckenham). Elmer is a late form of Aelfmoer, a very common Old English name. But Elmore (Gloster) is 1177 Rolls of the great Pipe Elmour, 1221 Elneovere. ' Elm-tree bank.’ Compare Hasler, etc., and see -over.
Elmett. See Babwick-in-Elmet.
Elmham (Norfolk).? 1038 charter AElmham? Old English - ' house built of elm-wood.' Compare Elmdon (Birmingham), Domesday Book Elmedone.
Elmsbridge (Surrey). Domesday Book Amelebrige, often; 1230 Close R. Emelesbrug, ' Bridge of AEmele,' perhaps he was praefectus in Sussex in 772 (C.S. 208). We have a similar corruption in Elmstone (Kent), 124t3 Patent B. Eylmerston—i.e., 'town of Aylmer,' very common in Old English as AElfmoer.
Elmsett (Ipswich). Domesday Book Elmeseta, circa, 1210 Jocelin Elmset. The meaning is a little doubtful. Seat, Old Norse soeti, is not found in Eng. till circa, 1200, and with the meaning ' place of abode ' not till circa, 1275. But the ending -set or -soet, as in Somerset, is very old; and so the meaning here is probably 'dwelling of a family called Elm.' Trees' names often became personal names. However, Elmstone Hardwick (Cheltenham) is 889 charter Alchmundingtun, Domesday Book Almondeston,' dwelling of Ealhmund.' See -ing.
Elslack (Skipton). Domesday Book Eleslac. AElla's slack,' Old Norse slakki, ' a small shallow dell or valley, a hollow or dip in the ground.' Compare Beeslack, Penicuik (Scottish).
Elston (Newark). Domesday Book Eluestune, circa, 1190 Elvestona, 1302 Eyliston. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 936 AElfestun. ' Town of AEIf.' Compare Alveston and Domesday Book Dorset. Elfatune. Old English oelf, Old Norse alf-r is ' an elf, a fairy.'
Elstow (Bedford). Domesday Book Elnestou, circa, 1160 Alnestowe, circa, 1200 Gervase Helenstoe, 1233 Patent R. Alnestowa, 1327-1632 Elnestowe. Perhaps ' St. Helen's place,' Old English stow. Compare Morwenstow. The Helen is said to be Helena, mother of Constantino the Great. But it may well be ' Ealhhun's, AElhun's, or Ealhwine's place.' These are all known names. But older forms are needed. Elstree (St. Albans). 1287 Idolvestre; later Idelestree, Ilstrye i.e.,' Eadwulf; s tree.' Compare Oswestry, etc. The form Eaglestree is a stupid invention.
Elswick (Preston and Newcastle). Perhaps E. Domesday Book Edelelsuuic. Doubtful. Perhaps ' AEthel’ 's dwelling.' See -wick.
Elsworth (W. Cambridgeshire). Charter Elesword, Domesday Book Elesworde, 1316 Ellesworthe. Local pronunciation Elser. 'Ella's farm.' Compare Ellesham. In Old English charters we also have ' Ellewurthie,' now the personal name Elworthy. See-worth, -worthy.
Elterburn (Northumberland), old Eltheburn and Elterwater (Ambleside). Doubtful. There is one-man Eltor mentioned in Domesday Book
Eltham (Greenwich), Sic 1511, but Domesday Book Ealdham, which is Old English for' old home or house.' Another Eltham in the N. is found sic in1314. Compare Elton.
Eltisley (St. Neots’). Not in Domesday Book 1251 Eltesle, 1302 Elteslee. The nearest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is one Eltan or Elstan, a monk. Skeat conjectures Aelfgeat ‘s lea,’ but more evidence is needed.
Elton (4 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Derby Eltune, Hants Eltetone. Stockton E. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Eltun; Nottingham E. Domesday Book Ailtone, circa, 1190 Elletona. On analogy of Elthaini one would incline to Old English eald tun, 'old town." But Elletona suggests derivation from a man Ella; whilst Mutschmann is probably right in deriving Ailtone from AEgel, late variant of AEthel or Ethel, ' the noble- born.' Compare Ellesham, etc.
Elvington (York). Domesday Book Alvintone, ' Ealdwine's' or ' Ealhwine's town.' Compare Ellenthorp.
Ely. Bede iv. 19 Elge, q.v., Old English versn. Elige, Elia lond; 936 Old English Chronicum Elig, Die Heilige English Eligabirig, before 1153 Liber Eliensis Ely. Anglice id est, a copia anguillarum quae in eisdem capiuntur palludibus. Old English el-ize, 'eel-island.' Compare Elie (Sc). But Skeat thinks that Elge represents el-ge, ge being a very rare and early Old English word for' region, district; Germanic Gau. See -ey.
Ember R. (Hampton Court). Probably same root as Ember sb2, Oxford Dictionary, which is from Old Eenglish ymb, ' about, round,' and ryne, ' course, running.'
Emborrow (Bath). Not in Domesday Book Probably before 1142 Wm. Malmesbury Eatumberg, 1270 charter Eteneberga, ' Barrow, mound of Eata (Eatan, Eathun),' a name common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum It is an interesting corruption. Compare Barrowby, etc.
Embsay (Skipton). Domesday Book Embesie, 1202 Emeseia. ' Island of Embe.' One monk of this name is found in Lib. Vit. Dunelm. See -ay.
Emlyn (Carmarthen). circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Emelin. Must surely have some connexion with Welsch ymlyn, emlyn, ' to follow, to adhere; or perhaps emyl, ' border, edge ‘; but the origin is quite 'doubtful. A castle was built here by Sir Rhysap Thomas, in time of Hen. VIII.; hence it is often called Newcastle Emlyn, because built on the site of a previous castle. Compare 1603 Owen ' Emlyn Yskych ... wherein newe Castle standeth.'
Emmer Green (Reading). Compare Domesday Book Bucks Imere. Perhaps Old English ed-mere, ' lake beside the stream.' Compare Eton and Hammer.
Emmet (Northumberland And Yorks). Perhaps 926 Old English Chronicum Eamo tum is that in Norbld.; charter Emmet-roda (Yorks). McClure says Eamotum is locative plural of ea-(ge)mot, ' river confluence.'
Emneth (Wisbech). Not in Domesday Book Old English emnet, 'a plain,' from emn or efn or efen, ' even, flat, level,' with denominative suffix as in thicket, etc. The present th had probably its origin with a Normandy scribe. Compare Granth for Grant (s.v. Cambridge), Thames for Tames, etc.
Empingham (Stamford). Sic in Chronicum Petrob., 1166P ipe Empingeha. ' Home of the Empings,' an Old English tribe. Compare Impington (Cambridgeshire), charter Impintun, 1210 Empintone. Empshott (Hants) is Domesday Book Hibesete, ' seat, dwelling of Hiba.’? for Himha or Hima, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Aldershot.
Emscote (Warwick), before1200 Edulfascote, before 1300 Edelvecote, and Edelmescote. Two names here, ' Edidf's or Eadwulf's ' and ' Eadhelm's cottage.'
Emswell (Yorks). Domesday Book Hehueswelle, Elmeswell. ' Well of Helm or Helma.' Compare Emsworth (Havant), 1231 Close R. Elmeworth. Only Roll Rich. I. Emeswelle, Enewelle (Herts) is now Amwell. Emley (Yorks) is Domesday Book Ameleie, Amelai, which, like Amwell, is from a man Amma.
Enborne (Berks), circa, 1300 Enedburn, and Enford (Pewsey), Domesday Book and charter Enedforde. From Old English ened, Latin anas, -tis, ' a duck.' See -bourne.
Enderby (Leicester). Domesday Book Endrebie, 1229 Close R. Endredebi. ' Dwelling of Endred ' or 'AEndred,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by.
Endon (Stoke-on-T.), Domesday Book Enedun, before 1300 Henedun, Enedun, and Enfield (London), Domesday Book Enefelde, later Enfeld, Endfield, may be 'duck's hill' and 'field' too. See above and compare 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe (Cumblerland) Endehal,' duck's nook.' But they maybe from a man Aena, Aeni, Eana or Eni, all forms found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. For Endmoor (Kendal) we need old forms. It might be from Old English ende,' the end, 'which in Old English also means' a quarter, a division,' and later,' a boundary.'
England. Freeman says, first in 991 Treaty K. Athelred Englaland; 1258 Henry III. Engleneloande. In 975, 986, and 1002 the country is called Angel-cyn; and older is the name Saxonia. ' Land of the Engels or Angles,' who came over from East of the R. Elbe, where there is a Schleswig district still called Angeln. Compare Freeman, Norman Conq. i. 538 (3rd edit.).
Englefield (Reading). 871 Old English Chronicum Englefeld, Domesday Book Englefel, Inglefelle. ' Field of the Angles.' Compare above, and Engleton (Warwichdhire), sic before 1200.
Ennerdale (W. Cumberland), before 1200 Egenerdal, ' dale of Egen,' genitive case. Compare Egremont and Eynsham.
Entwistle (Salford). circa, 1400 Entwisell. Perhaps 'confluence of Ena.' See Enfield and Twizel.
Enville (Stourbridge). Domesday Book Efnefeld, before 1200 Efnefeld, Evenesfeld, Evene feld. ' Even field.' Compare, however, Evenwood, which with this, may be from a man, though in this case probably not. ' Even ' in Old English is ebn, emn, efn, efen. The -ville must be a quite modern' Refinement.’
Enys Dodman (Land's End). 'Island of' probably some unknown saint. Mr. H. Jenner spells it Dodnan, and would identify with Donan, perhaps he after whom the Breton churches at Landonan and St. Thonan are called. This is very dubious. Compare The Dodman, Fowey. Corn, enys is Welsch ynys, Gaelic innis, ' island.' Compare Ince.
Epping (London). Domesday Book and 1229 Close R. Eppinges. Patronymic. ' Place of the descendants of Eppa,' a name of which there are' several examples in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 811 charter ' Appin(c)g lond (Kent), and Domesday Book Surrey Epingeha; also Epney (Glostersh.), 1252 Eppen',' Eppa's isle.'
Eppleby (Darlington). Domesday Book Aplebi=Appleby.
Epsom (Surrey). Domesday Book Ebbasham(e), 1662 Ebsham or Epsom. ' Home of Ebbe' or' AEbbe,' an abbess, early in 7the century. Domesday Book's Ebbas-must be an error for Ebbes-. Compare Mill-om (N. of Barrow) also Ipsley.
Epworth (Doncaster). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1444 Eppeworth. 'Farm of Eppa or Eappa.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 253 Eppanhrycg. See-worth.
Erdington (Birmingham). Domesday Book Hardintone, before1200 Erdin(g)ton. ' Village of Harding,'once in Domesday Book Erding. Compare Hardingstone and Eardington (Bridgenorth). This last might also be from Eardwine.
Erewash R. (Derby). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1175 Yrewis, 1637 Arwash, Erewash. Doubtful, probably -Saxon. But compare Guash, Irwell and Wash.
Erith (London), also Earith (St. Ives, Hunts). London. E. circa, 962 charter Earhyth, Earhide, Domesday Book Erhede, 1486 Erith, circa, 1580 Eareth. St. I. E. Ramsey Chronicum Herhythe, Erethe, Erithe. Dr. Morris says, Old English ea-rith, 'water-channel.' But Skeat is positive that it is Old English ear-hythe, ' muddy landing-place ' or ' shore.' Old English ear is a very rare word, Icelandic aurr, ' wet clay, mud.' See Hythe. Skeat is almost certainly right.
Ernley. See Arley.
Escomb (Bps. Auckland), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Ediscum. ' Edda's or Adde's valley'; but already 1183 Boldon Bk. Escumba. See -combe.
Esgair Felyn (Ogwen). Welsch= ' yellow scaur or cliff.' Esgair is same root as the Scottish skerry, Gaelic sgeir, all borrowed from Old Norse sker, Norse skjer,' a rugged, insulated searock.'
Esher (Surbiton). Domesday Book Aissela, Aissele, circa, 1210 Ashal, 1230-31 Close R. Esser, Eyser, Eiser, circa, 1240 Assere. A curious name. It is probably 'Ascytel's' or 'Aschil's lea or meadow,' Old English leak; and l has become r by dissimilation. But it is rare for the ending -lea or -ley to have wholly fallen away. In 801 Grant we find an Esher or Echer in Somerset, to which the above explanation could not apply it will be= Asher, ' ash-tree bank.’; Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 158 Uckinge Esher.
Esk R. (S. Cumberland). 1340 Eskheved or Eskhehead. For forms see Esk (Scottish), 3 rivers there, before 800 Esce, etc. Keltic root for ' river, water,' as in Exe, Gaelic uisge, etc. Wh. Stokes cannot be right in calling Esk Pict, when we have it in S. Cumberland; but it may well be cognate with Old Irish esc,' a marsh, a fen,' and Old Welsch uisc or Usk.
Essendine or Essendean (Stamford). Old English Chronicum anno 657 Esendic, before 1100 Esendike. ' Ditch,' Old English die,' of Esa, Ese, or Esi, 'all these forms are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The-dean is a later ending, q.v. Compare Domesday Book Essex Lassendene, which may be La (The) Essendean (as in Lasham), as no man Lassa is recorded. But by 1230 Close R. we get Esenden. See-dean.
Essendon (Hatfield). 1298 Writ Estdene = ' East Dean'; but Essington (Walsall) is 994: charter Esingetun, Domesday Book Eseningetone before 1300 Esynton, Esnyngton. ' Village of the descendants of Esne,' a common Old English name, meaning ' servant,' or else ' of Esa, Ese, or Esi’ as above. 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Northumberland has an Essinton.
Essex. Nennius Est saxum (inflected). Old English Chronicum 499 East Sexa, before 1087 Essex, Domesday Book Exsessa, before 1236 Rog. Wendover Est- sexia. ' Land of the East Saxons.'
Etchells (Cheshire etc.). See Nechells. But Etchilhampton (Wilts), not in Domesday Book, is 1228 Hechelhamt, ' Homestead of? Heahhelm or Hehelm ‘; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See Hampton.
Etchingham (Sussex). 1298 Echingham. 'Home of Ecca,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, once found as Eccha. It may be a patronymic. See -ing. Domesday Book has only Echentone, Achintone and Achingeworde. Etchden (Kent) is 1286 Close R. Haccheden, perhaps' Woody vale entered by a hatch' or half-door, or wicket; Old English hoec, hoecce, 3-7 hacche, 5 hetche, 5-6 heche; but it maybe from a man Eccha.
Eton. Sic 1298, but Domesday Book Ettone, Etone. Old English ea-tun, ' town on the river.' Compare Eaton.
Etruria (Burslem). The pottery works here were founded in1769 by Josiah Wedgewood, who gave them this fanciful name ' as that of the country of old most celebrated for the beauty of its ceramic products.'
Ettingsham (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Attingeha, before 1145 Orderic 'Apud Ettingesham in ecclesia Sancti Eattae confessoris,' abbot of Melrose, then Bishop of Lindisfarne (Bede iii. 26). 'Home of Eatta's people'; a patronymic. Compare both Eteshale and Ettinghale in Domesday Book Cheshire, and Ettingshall (Wolverhampton), 994 Ettingeshall, Domesday Book Etinghale; also Eatington (Warwickshire), Domesday Book Etendone, and Eteloe (Awre), Domesday Book Eteslau,' burial mound of AEtta' or' Eatta.'
Etton (Market Deeping and Beverley). Market D. Ett. sic before 1100, Beverley E. Domesday Book and 1202 Ettone, 1179-80 Eton. 'Town of Eatta.' Compare above.
Euston (Thetford). Domesday Book Eustuna, and Eusfort, 1479 Euston. Probably ' Eowa's town.' This accords with analogy better than to derive from Old English eowu, Mittel English ewe, ' an ewe.' Euston Sq. is called after the Dukes of Grafton and Earls of Euston, ground landlords here.
Euxton (Chorley). Pronunciation Allstn, Elestn. 1241 Euckeston, 1246 Eukeston, before
1300 Euchestona, 1311 Huxton. ' Town of Euca,’ a name unrecorded, but Hue, Hucco and Huch are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Evenlode (Stow-on-Wold). 772 chart Euulangelade, 777 the same Eunlade (u=v), 969 the same Eowlangelade, Domesday Book Eunilade, 1327 Evenlode, 1330 Eweneload. Old English Eowlan gelad, ' channel of Eowla,' gelad being cognate with English lade and lode. Duignan translates, ' ford, ferry.' Eowla is found at 812 as Eowel, name of a Welsch prince, better known to us in the form Howell. Evenwood (Bps. Auckland), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Efenwuda. ' Eafa's or Eafe's wood.' It might be from Old English efen, efn, ' even, level.' Compare Enville.
Evercreech (Bath). Exon. Domesday Book Euercriz. See next and Creech. Thus, it is a hybrid—the' Creech' or' Hill of the Boar.'
Everley or-Everleigh (Marlborough and Yorks). Marlborough E. before 1140 Wm. Malmsbury Eburleah. Yorks. E. Domesday Book Eurelai, Eurelag. ' Meadow of the wild boar.' Old English eojor, eofer, 3 eaver, 4 ever, cognate with Latin aper. Compare Old English seofon, now seven. Eversley (Winchfield) is, of course, the same. But in both cases Eofor may be a proper name, just as Bear, Wolf, etc., are so used. Compare Evringham and Everton (Notts), Domesday Book Evretone. See -ley.
Eversden (Cambridgeshire). circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridge Eueresdona, Domesday Book Auresdone, 1291 Everesdon, 1316 Everesdene; and Everthorpe (Yorks), Domesday Book Evertorp. 'Hill' (or 'valley'), 'enclosure,' and 'village of Eofor' or 'of the wild boar.' See Everley, Everdon, Everdean, and Everthorpe; also compare Heversham.
Evesham. 709 charter Homme, Eveshomme, also Cronochomme, 714 the same Eouesham, 716 the same Cronuchhomme, 854 the same Ecquines hamme, 1045 Old English Chronicum (H)eofeshamme, Domesday Book Eovesham, circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Eoveshamm. ' Enclosure of Eof,' herdsman to Bishop Ecgwine, mentioned in 854 charter here, it is said, the Virgin appeared to Eof, and a monastery was erected on the spot. In Worcestershire a ham means specifically ' riverside meadowland.' See -ham (2). Compare Eaveston (Yorks), Domesday Book Eveston, Domesday Book Surrey Evesha, and 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Yorks Euesham.
Evington (Bedlington, Sussex and Leicester). Bedlington Domesday Book Givingtune, 1303 Yivynton; and changes for Sussex, name are similar. ' Dwelling of Gefwine.' For similar changes also see Ealing; and see -ing.
Evringham (Yorks). Domesday Book Evringha', 1202 Everingeham. ' Home of the Boar's sons.' Compare Everley, and Domesday Book Bucks Evreham and Evringehou. See-ing.
Ewell (Epsom). 727 charter Euuelle, 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Aiwella, which lookslike an Old English ea welle, ‘river well’, well by the river. But it is Domesday Book Etwelle, or ' at the well.' Compare the surname Attewell. There was a well-known well here. There is also an Ewell (Kemble) whose only old form is Ewelle. Compare next.
Ewelme (Woodstock). Sic1450. Not in Domesday Book, but charter Eawylm. This last is thought to be Old English ea, river; and wielm, walm, woylm, ' boiling, welling up.' It probably means ' a spring.' Compare Ewell, Gyting, and Walmsley.
Ewhurst (Battle, Sussex). 822 charter Iu hyrst, Old English for' yew-tree wood.' Hyrst also means' a sandy place.'
Ewyas Harold (Hereford), circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Eugias, 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Euwias, modern Welsch Euas. Doubtful. Nothing in modern Welsch seems to suit. Eweston (Pembroke) is in Black Bk. St. David's Oweynston.
Exbourne (Devon). Domesday Book Echeburne. The stream here now is the Okenent. Eche- maybe=Exe; and Oke-may be a variant of the same root, while -nent will be Welsch nant, ' a valley.'
Ex(e) R. and Exeter. Sic 1485, but circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary Isca Dumnoniorum, circa, 810 Nennius Cair Legion guar Usic ('fort of the Romanic legion on the Exe '), 877 Old English Chronicum Escanceaster, 893 the same Exanceaster, circa, 893 Asser Exceastre, Domesday Book Exonia urbs, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Brittanice Cairwisc, Latine Civitas Aquarum, circa, 1275 Excetre. ' Camp, town on the R. Ex,' in Ptolemy Ictku, Latin Isca, 739 charter Exa, Eaxa. Same as Scottish Esk, same root as is seen in usque-baugh and in whisky, also in Ax and Usk, and probably Ox- (in Oxford), too, all being Keltic forms of the word for ' water, river.' The modern Welsch name is Caerwysg. For Exe R., compare Ashford.
Exhall (Alcester). 710 charter Eccleshale, Domesday Book Ecleshalle. ' Nook of AEcel or AEcle,' or possibly' of the church. Compare Eccles and see -hall. Extall (Staffordshire) is 1220 Hecstall, probably ' place of the hatch ' or ' heck '; whilst Exilby (N. Yorks) is Domesday Book Aschilebi. ' Ascytel's ' or ' Askil's dwelling.'
Exmouth. 1001 Exanmudan. See Exe.
Exning (Newmarket), circa, 1097 Flor. Worcester Yxninga, 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Roll Exningis, the same 1160 Exining, 1298 Ixinynge. 'Place on the water or stream.' Compare Exeter. Merivale connects with the tribe Iceni, as in Icknield. This is improbable. See-ing, as river-ending.
Exton (Oakham, on R. Meon, Hants, Dulverton, etc.). Oa. E. 1126 Extona, Hants. E. 940 charter East Seaxnatune. This last is ' town of the East Saxons ' or ' Essex men.' The others may he' town of Ecca,' a common name. Compare Domesday Book Cheshire Exestan, which is probably Estyn (Flint). More old forms needed. Domesday Book has Exwelle in Rutland, but no Exton there or in Somerset. 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Kent has an Exfnea (compare Eastney, Portsmouth)
Eyam (Northants and Sheffield). Not in Domesday Book Northants E. 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Hehham. ' High home.’ Old English heali, Mittel English heal 3-5 hey. See -ham. For Eyeford or Heyford (Stow-on-Wold), Domesday Book Aiforde, Baddeley prefers Old English hege, 'hedge'; Mitte English heie, which is doubtful.
Eynesbury (St. Neots). Domesday Book Einulvesberie, circa, 1130 Wm. Malmsbury Einulfes biri, circa, 1136 Enesbure. 'Burgh, town of Einwulf,' which is contracted into AEna, ' A Ene,' or 'Ena'; all forms are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare next; and see -bury.
Eynsford (Dartford). circa, 983 charter AEnesford. 'Ford of AEne.' See above. Compare Domesday Book Norfolk Ensford.
Eynsham (Oxford). Old English Chronicum 571 Egonesham, before 1142 Wm. Malmes. Egnesham, circa, 1450 Bromtun Eynesham. ' Home, house of Egon.' This is probably the same name as Egensheim, ol dform of Ensisheim, Alsace.
Eythorne (Dover). 805 charter Heagyde dorne, probably Domesday Book Haihorne. The first part probably represents the name of some unknown man. Old English gip is 'corn cockle.'
Eyton (Wellington, Salop). Domesday Book Aitone. Perhaps 'islet' or 'ait- town.' Old English iggath, 2 eyt, 7 ait, 8 ayte, 9 eyot, ' a little island.' Ayton, Eycote (Colesbourne), Domesday Book Aicote, is ' cot on the islet.' See -ay, -ey.

Faddiley (Nantwich). Probably Old English Chronicum 584 Fethanleag. No man Fetha in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, so probably' meadow of the troop,' Old English feda. For th becoming d, compare faddom for fathom, fader for father, etc. Compare Fiddington (Ashchurch), Domesday Book Fitentune, before 1300 Fedyntone. But Fadmoor (Kirby Moorside, Yorks) is Domesday Book Fademore, where Fad- is doubtful. Compare too, Domesday Book Suss. Fodilant.
Faircross (a hundred of Berks). Chronicum Abingdon Balliva Belle Crucis, 1428 Hundred um de Bella Cruce, of which' fair, beautiful cross' is simply the translation.
Fairfield (mountain near Helvellyn, Cumberland). Norse ocer-fjall, 'sheep mountain or fell.' Compare Fair Isle (Scottish). Fairburn (W. Biding), Domesday Book Fareburn, probably has a similar origin. But Fairfield (Bellbroughton) is 816 charter Forfeld, ' fore, front field.'
Fakenham (Thetford). Domesday Book Fachnha, Fagenham. 'Home of Facca.' Compare Cartularium Saxonicum 1232, Faccan heah.
Fal R. (Cornwall), circa, 1200 Gervase Fale, 1680 Vale. Probably a Keltic root meaning ' moving, running, flowing.' Compare Gaelic falbh, ' to go, to walk.' But Welsch ffal means ' closure, or the heel of a shoe.'
Fallings Heath (Wednesbury). before 1200 Olde Falinge. Duignan thinks this refers to a falling or felling or clearing of timber. Oxford Dictionary gives no quotation illustrating such a usage, and yet it may well be. Falloden (Alnwick) is ' fallow valley’, Old English falu. fealo, ' pale brownish, or yellowish coloured.' Compare Falfield (Thornbury), 1347 Falefield.
Falmer (Lewes). Domesday Book Falemere. Old English for 'pale brownish, or reddish -yellow mere or lake ‘; Old English falu, 4 fale, now fallow. Compare Fowlmebe. But Falsgrave (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Wal(l)esgrif, ' Welschman's or foreigner's grave,' Old English groef, Old Norse grof.
Falstone (Northumberland) and 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Faleslea (Nhants.) seem to imply a man's name, like Fala. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicumhas only one Fawle.
Falmouth. Sic 1478, 1231 Close R. Falem', 1234 ih. Falemuth, circa, 14:50 Fortescue the Falmouthe; but till 1660 usually Smithwick or Pennycomequick. See Fal.
Farcet (Peterborough). Not in Domesday Book, but Old English charter Fearresheafod, or ' bull's head.' Compare Fazeley and Forset (N. Riding), Domesday Book Forsed, which is sperhaps 'head of the waterfall or force.' Norse fors.
Fareham (Hants). Not in Domesday Book 1160 Ferham. ' Fair, beautiful home.' Old English foeger, Icelandish fag-r, Danish feir, ' fair.'
Faringdon (Swindon and Exeter). Swindon F. Domesday Book Ferendone, Exeter F. Domesday Book Ferentone. Doubtful at both ends. Feren-may represent a patronymic, ' town of the Ferrings or Farrings.' Compare Farringford. Or it may be from Old English fearn,'ferns' (only no early spelling feren is recorded here); or foera, -an, early Mittel English fere, ' a spouse,' a comrade, ' spouse's hill ‘; and the ending may either be Old English tun, 'village, town,' or dun, 'dune, hill, hill-fort.' See Farndon.
Farleigh or Farley (Halesowen, Cheadle, Elmore, on Medway, Surrey, Salisbury). Cheadle F. Domesday Book Fernlege, Elmore. F.1221 Farnlee, Medway F. Text. Roff. Fearnlega. These are all' fern-meadow.' But Surrey F. is charter Fearlege, Domesday Book Ferlega; and Salisbury F. Domesday Book Farlege, 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Ferlega. There is only one Fara in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, so this may be from Old English foira, Mittel English fere, ' spouse, comrade,' and so ' spouse's mead.' But Farewell (Lichfield) is before 1300 Eagerwell, Fagre, Fayrwell, ' fair, clear spring,' from Old English foeger, 3 fager, 4-7 far(e).
Farlington (Havant and N. Riding). Havant F. 1256 Deed Farlingetone, N. Riding F. Domesday Book Farhntun. ' Town, dwelling on the ferlirg,' Old English feordling, before 1300 ferlyng, ' fourth part,' here ' the fourth part of an acre.'
Farmington (Northleach). Domesday Book Tormontonc, 1182 Tormertonc, 1226 Thormerton, 1601 Farmington or Thormerton. Probably ' village of Thurmeer.' For change of early th to,’ see Fenglesham. Compare Fabningham.
Farnborough (Banbury, Wantage, etc.). Banbury F. Domesday Book Fernberge. Wantage F. 931 charter Fearn beorg(an), Domesday Book Fermberge, 1291 Farnberg. 'Hill covered with ferns.' See Faringdon and Farndon; compare Devon Domesday Book Ferenberga. The ending -berg(e) represents Barrow, ' mound, hill,' rather than ' burgh.' Farncote, also in Warwickshire, is sic before 1300.
Farncombe (Godalming). Domesday Book Fernecome, 'fern valley.' See -combe.
Farndon (Newark). 924 Old English chronicum Fearndune, Farndune; Domesday Book Farendune; circa, 1140 Wm. Malmes. Ferenduna. This is clearly ' fern hill.' Compare Faringdon, which some hold is the place meant in these references. But Farndon (Chester) is Domesday Book Ferentone, which maybe' town of the Ferrings.'
Farnham (Surrey, Hants, and W. Riding). Surrey F. 893 Old English Chronicum Fearnhamm, Domesday Book Ferneham, 1297 Farnham. Hants F. 80 5charter Fernham. W. Riding F. Domesday Book Farneha.' 'Enclosure,' or 'home among the ferns.' See Farnley and -ham.
Farningham (Dartford). Domesday Book Fermingeha. ' Hom of Farman,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, or else' of Farman's on'(m and n often interchange), Compare Farmington. See -ing.
Farn Isles (Bamborough). Bede Fame. McClure thinks this is Keltic ferann, Irish fearran, ' land.' It may be Old English fearn, ' ferns.'
Farnley (Leeds and Otley). Both Domesday Book Fernehe, circa, 1200 Gervase Fernlege, 1202 Farnelai and Fernleie. ' Fern meadow.' Compare Domesday Book Salop Fernelege, Farleigh, and Farnham. See -ley.
Farnsfield (Southwell, Notts). Domesday Book Franesfeld, Farnesfeld, 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Farnefeld. ' Field of Frani or Franc,' a Norse name. ' Field of ferns’ is not likely.
Farrinodon (Alton, Hants). = Faringdon.
Farringford (Freshwater), before 1400 Ferringford. Probably 'ford of the Ferrings or Farrings. Compare Faringdon and Ferrensby (S. Yorks),' dwelling of Ferren.'
Farsley (Leeds). Domesday Book Fersellai. There is no likely man's name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and connection with parsley (see Oxford Dictionary) hardly seems possible. Probably it is 'furze meadow,' Old English fyrs, 4c-firse. Compare 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon Farling, Fairesling. See -ley.
Farthingstone (Weedon). Domesday Book Fordinestone, 1292 Fardingeston. Probably ' stone of Feerthegn,' also found as Farthain and Fardein, or possibly from Forthwine, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Derivation is not impossible from). Old English. feordung, 4:6 ferdyng(e), 6 farthing, which usually means ' a farthing ' in money, but also, as early as Exon. Domesday Book we find ferdin meaning a land-measure? a quarter acre. Compare Ferndale. But Farthinghoe (Brackley) is Domesday Book and 1229 Ferning(e)ho, probably from the same name as Farningham, ' height of the Farnings.' See Hoe.
Faversham. See Feversham.
Fawley (Aylston, Hereford and Lambourn). Aylston F. circa, 1030 charter Feligly. ' Meadow of one Felig,' or some such name. There is a Felaga and two anchorites called Fel(i)geld in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But Lambourn F. is before 1300 Falelegh, 1316 Fallele, which Skeat derives from E. Frisian falge, ' fallow land.' Northants F. 1242, Falghesr, might be either, but the -es of the genitive makes it probably from a man.
Fazakerley (Liverpool). 1277 Fasakerlegh, 1376 Fasacrelegh. Looks as if Old English fas-cecer-leah, ' border of the open-country meadow,' from fas, fees, ' border, fringe,' and cecer, acer, ' open plain, field,' modern ' acre.' See -ley. There is no name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum that would suggest Fazaker-.
Fazeley (Tamworth). 1300 Faresleye, before 1400 Fareslee. 'Meadow of the hill,' Old English fearr, -es. Compare Farcet and see -ley.
Featherstone (Wolverhampton, Pontefract, Haltwhistle). Wolverhampton F. 994 charter Feother(e)stan, Domesday Book Ferdestan, 1271 Fethereston Pontrefact F. Domesday Book Ferestane, Fredestan. ' Stone of Fether ' or ' ' Feader i.e., father,' which is still dialectically pronunciation fether. Compare also Fearby (Yorks), Domesday Book Federbi.
Feckenham (Redditch). 804 charter Feccanhom, 957 Feccanham, Domesday Book and 1156 Rolls of the Great Pipe Fecheham. 'Home of Fecca.' Compare Domesday Book Surrey Feceha. See -ham, which here may either be ' home' or' enclosure.'
Felbridge (E. Grinstead). and Felbrigg (Norfolk and York) E. Grinstead not in Domesday Book, but old Thelbrig. York F. 1206 Felebrigge. No.F.1451 Felebruge, Felbrygge. Early th not seldom becomes f, and so fel-= Old English pel, pell, ' a deal, a board or plank.' Thus this name is' bridge (Old English brycg) made of boards.' Compare Fenglesham, also fill variant of thill,' the shafts of a cart,' likewise Elmbridge and Thelwall.
Feliskirk (Thirsk). 1210 Ecclesia S. Felicis. This is the same saint as in Felixstowe. However, in Domesday Book it is Fridebi, ' dwelling of Freda.'
Felixstowe (Suffolk). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1080 charter 'The church of St. Felix of Walton.' Sometimes said to be ' place,' Old English stow, of Felix, first bp. of E. Anglia, circa, 640. But this does not agree with the form in 1318 Filthstowe, which might be ' filth place,' place full of dirt or foulness, Old English fyld. This is not likely, as there is a 'To. de Fylethe ' in Kent in 1318, and a Domesday Book Felede, which is Fauld (Uttoxeter), before 1300 Falede, Fauld, Felde —i.e., Old English fald, falced, ' a fold, a farmyard.’ Only it is not easy to see how this last could become either Filth or Felix. The bp’s name certainly influenced the present form.
Felmingham (N. Walsham). Domesday Book Felmincha. A patronymic, otherwise unknown. See -ing and -ham.
Felstead (Chelmsford). 1082 charter Felstede. Old English for 'skin, hide-place, tannery.' Old English fel, fell,' a skin.'
Feltham (Hampton Court). Sic 969 charter and Domesday Book Possibly ' home of ' some man with a name like Felgeld or Fildas, the nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Probably ' home, house in the field,' Old English feld, 3-5 felt. The English sb. felt already occurs in Old English Felthorpe (Norwich), Domesday Book Felethorp, seem stobe' village of' some man. See -thorpe.
Felton (Northumberland and Bristol). Northumberland F. 1242 Felton. Not in Domesday Book May be, like Feltham, named from some man. Compare 1305 Rougham charter,'Robertus de Feletone,' E. Anglia. But Northumberland F. at least may be ' town on the fell' or ' hill.' Old Norse fjall found in English as fell before1300. Also compare Felstead.
Fen Ditton and Drayton (Cambridgeshire). Compare 1272 Fenne (Lincolnshire). Old English fen, fenn, ' a marsh,' Old Norse fen, ' a quagmire.' See Ditton and Drayton.
Fendrith Hill (W. Durham). Probably Welsch ffaend(e)rwydd,' rock of the magician, sorcerer, or Druid.'
Fenham, Finglesham (Deal). 831 charter Thenglesham. Not in Domesday Book ' Home of Thengli,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum For change of early th into f compare Farmington, Felbridge, and Finchale, and Threshfield (Yorks), Domesday Book Freschefelt and Treschefelt.
Fenny Compton (Warwickshire). Domesday Book Contone, before 1200 Cumton, before 1400 Fenni Cumpton. See Compton, and compare Fenton (Stoke), Domesday Book Fentone.
Feock (Devoran, Cornwall).? circa, 1400 Ecclesia Sancto Feoko, a saint also termed Feoca, Fyoch, Fiach; the name is Keltic for ' raven'; but about this person little seems known. Compare Fixby (W. Riding), Domesday Book Fechesbi, which must be' dwelling of one of the same name.
Ferndale (Glamorgan). McClure suggests that this is ferthingdeal, or ' fourth part.' Compare Farthingstone. But old forms are needed.
Ferriby N. and S. (Yorks). Domesday Book Ferebi. Probably 'dwelling of the comrade or partner'; Northum. Old English foera, 2-9 fere. See -by. But Ferrybridge (Yorks) is Domesday Book Ferie i.e., ' ferry,' Old Norse ferja. The Oxford Dictionary, has nothing for the sb. before 1425.
Festiniog. France Welsch ffestinio, ' to hurry, hasten,' Latin festinare,? in allusion to the many waterfalls around.
Feversham, Faversham (Kent). 811 charter Fefresham, 858 ibid. Febresham, Domesday Book Feversham, 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Fauresham. Some suggest from a man, or from Latin faber, a ' smith,’ but this seems doubtful; more probably ' home of fever.’ Old English fefer, fefres. It is also said to be the Fauresfeld of 1154 Old English Chronicum, which is doubtful.
Fewston (Harrogate). Domesday Book Fostune, ' Town at the waterfall '; Danish fos, Old Norse fors. To be perhaps noted also is O. Normal France fiust, ' lofty trees '; but Normal France names are very rare in England.
Filby (Gt. Yarmouth). Domesday Book Filebey, circa, 1471 Fylby. 'Dwelling of' some (Danish) man, whose name has been rubbed down into File. Compare Filleigh and see -by. But Baddeley says Filton (Bristol), 1340 Fyltone, is ' farm in the field,’ which is doubtful.
Filey (Yorks). Domesday Book Fiuelac i.e., 'five pools, Old English fif, 3-9 five, and lac, ' a lake, a pool.' Camden derives from an early English ' a thin slip of land, like a small tongue thrust out,' into the sea. The Oxford Dictionary does not recognize this word file. Lac for ' pool ' is very rare in Old English, and there is perhaps no other instance where it has become -ley. But we have Fishlake (Doncaster) in Domesday Book Fiscelac, and also Fixca-le. Compare, too, Beverley and Fyfield. We may add that North Fyling (N. Yorks) is Domesday Book Nortfigelinge, a patronymic, ' place of the sons of Fugel,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Filleigh (S. Molton). Compare 940 charter Fileleighe (Glastonbury).? 'Meadow of File.' Compare Filby and see -leigb. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only a Filica, seen in Filkins (Lechlade), old Fileching, ' place of Filica’s sons.' See -ing.
Fillongley (Coventry). Domesday Book Filunglie, Filungelie, before 1400 Filungeye, 1475 Fylongley. Duignan cannot explain but say sehe Fillingham (Lincoln), Domesday Book Filingeham, Figelingeham, circa, 1120 Figelgaham, Figelingaham. There is no likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But we have Fyling (N. Riding), Domesday Book Figelinge, Figlinge, which must be a patronymic. Compare Filby. See -ing.
Finchale (on R. Weir, Durham). Thought to be Bede, iii., 27, Pegnaleth; 1298 Fynkhale, 1305 Fynkhalgh. Old English finc-halh means ' finches' haugh ' or 'meadow by a river.' Compare Finstall, and 1240 Close E. Finkel', 1241 the same Finchel' (Andover). For -hale see -hall.
Fincham (Downham). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1150 Fincheham, 1451 Fyncheham. ' Home of a man Finch,' or' of the finches,' Old English fine. Compare above. Also Finchamstead (Berks). Domesday Book Finchamstede; 1316 Fynchamsted. 'Homestead, farm with the finches.'
Finchingfield (Braintree). Domesday Book Fincinghefelde, Fincingefelda, 1297 Fynchingfelde. Presumably ' field for finching or hawking, or ' catching finches or birds in.' Only there is no sb. ' finching in Oxford Dictionary, nor any likely man's name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, though Domesday Book Form looks like a patronymic. See next and -ing.
Finchley (London). Recorded from time of King John. Compare above. Finch is Old English finc, 4: finch, some sort of small bird of the sparrow order.
Finedon (Wellingborough). Probably Domesday Book Tingdene, 1296 Thindon. Probably 'hill of the thing,' or 'local parliament,’ Old Nore ping, Norse ting. Compare Thingoe. On common change of early th to f see Felbridge. But Findon (Worthing) is Domesday Book Findune, which is probably 'hill of Fin' or 'Finn,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -Domesday Book. Compare Finningley (Notts). -Domesday Book Fcniglei, 1278 Finningelay. See -ing. Domesday Book (Nahant’s) also has Finemere, now Finmere (Buckingham)
Finghall or Fingall (Bedale, Yorks). Domesday Book Finegala. Perhaps Old English Chronicum 788 Fingale (in Northumbria), which is probably not =Finchale. Old English finnig or fennig halh, loc hale, 'marshy fenn ynook' or' corner.'
Fintstall (Bromsgrove). before 1400 Fynchale. See Finchale.
Firbank (Sedbergh). Old Frithbank. Frith is some kind of a wood. See Frith Bank. But Firby (Wistow, Yorks) is Domesday Book Fredebi, 1202 Fridebi, which is ' Freda's, dwelling.'
Fishguard (Pembroke), circa, 1390 Fishgarth, 1535 Fisshecard. ' Fisher's garth or enclosure,’ the -guard being but a modern spelling of Old English geard, ' yard, court, enclosure.' In Welsch it is Abergwaun, ' at the mouth of the level or straight river.' Compare Hasguard in same shire, 1307 Huscard, where the first syllable probably represents a man's name, now uncertain.
Fiskerton (Lincoln). Sic before 1100, but Domesday Book Fiscartune. ' Town, village of the fishers,' Old English fiscere.
Fittleworth (Sussex). Not in Domesday Book 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Fitelwurtda. 'Farm of Fitel, Fitela,' or ' Fithele,' all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -worth.
Fladbury (Pershore). 691 charter Fledanburg, 714 the same Fladeburi, Domesday Book Fledebirie. 'Town, castle of Fleda or Floeda.' Compare Fledborough (Notts), Domesday Book Fladeburg. See -bury.
Flamburgh Head (Yorks). Domesday Book Flanebure, Flaneburg, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Flamburge, circa, 1450 Fortescue Flaymborough, also Flaynburg, Flaynborght. ' Fort of Fleinn,' a Norse man. Flame (Old France flambe) is not found in literary English before 1340; but doubtless it has had some influence on the present form of the name. Compare Flensburg, (Schleswig). See -burgh.
Flavell Flyford (Pershore). 930 charter Fleferth, 1002 the same Fleferht, before 1200 Flavel, before 1400 Fleyford, before 1600 Flyford Flavell. The two names are really duplication. Fie-or Fla-will be a man Foceda, Fleda, as in Fladbury, and -ferth is softened form of -ford (q.v.). Flaeferth has become Fleyerth and then Flavell, through the common dissimilation of r for l.
Flaxby (W. Riding) and Flaxton (York). Domesday Book Flatesbi, and Flastun, Flaxtun. The former is probably ' dwelling of Floeda,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, the latter 'village among the flax,’ Old English fleax. See -by and -ton.
Flaxley Abbey (Gloster). 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Flexlega, circa, 1188 Gir. Cambrensis Flexleisb. ' Flax meadow.' Compare above; also, Flechhamstead (Coventry), 1327 Flechamstude, ' flax homestead.'
Fleam Dyke and Flendish (Cambridgeshire). Variants of same name, circa, 1080 Inquis. Gamb. Flamencdic, Flamminedic, Domesday Book Flamingdice, Flam(m)iding, 1158 Flemedich, 1279 Flemigdich, 1284 Flemesdich. 'Fleming's ditch,' of which dyke is the older, hard form. Fleming is Old France Flamenc, late Latin Flamingus. This name shows the early settlement of the men of Flanders in our midst.
Flecknoe (Rugby). Domesday Book Flachenho, before 1200 Fleckenho. Probably ' Hoe, hill of Flecca,' genitive-can, not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Fleet R. (London and 2 others), also Fleet (Hants), which is Codex Diplomaticus 688 Fleot. Old English fleot, Old Norse fljot, 'a stream, a river, also a creek or inlet.' The root is seen in Old Norse fljot-r, 'quick.' Compare Fleet (Scottish). and Fleetwood (Lanes), also Domesday Book (Norfolk) Fletwest and Shalfleet. Fleggburgh (Gt. Yarmouth). Compare 1442 ' Fleghalle,' manor in Norfolk? ' Fort, burgh among the flags or rushes.' Flag is not found in English till 1387, and is of doubtful etymology, but is spelt fleg in 5. Flag sb.2 Icelandic flag, ' the spot where a turf has been cut,' Old Norse flaga, 'a slab of stone,' still used in E. Anglia for ' a turf, a sod,' is quite a possible origin. Domesday Book Has East and West Flec and Fliceswella; but Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has no name the least likely here.
Fletching (Uckfield). Domesday Book Flescinge(s), 1232 Close R. Flescing. A patronyonic; the man'sname implied is unknown. See -ing.
Fletherhill (S. Wales) Sic before 1349. A tautology; Welsch llethr, ' a hillside, a slope.' Compare Shakespeare's Fluellen for Llewelyn, and p. 82.
Fletton (Peterborough). Sic before 1100. 'Town, village on the fleet or stream,' Old English fleot, in 6 flett. Compare Fleet.
Flimwell-vent (Hawkhurst). Old forms needed for Flim-; not in Domesday Book; possibly Old English fliema, flyma, 'a fugitive, an outlaw.' A vent or went is said to be 'a place where roads meet.' The root is Old English wendan, ' to go, to wend.'
Flint. In Welsch Fflint, or Tegeingl. 1277 In castris apud le Flynt prope Basingwerk, 1277-8 Welsch R. Le Chaylon and Rothelan, where Chaylon is probably France caillou, 'pebble, flint.' Old English flint, 'flint, rock,' from the rocky platform on which the castle stands. Flints are not common here. Flinton (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Flentun, probably ' town of the flints.' Flintham (Notts) sic in Domesday Book, is clearly 'flint house.' See -ham.
Flixton (Salford). circa, 1200 Flyxton, Fluxton. Perhaps 'town of the flitch,’ Old English flicce, 5 flytske, 5-6 flik. There is, however, in Codex Diplomaticus mention of a Flecge, Flecges, a man otherwise unknown, and this is quite a possible origin. There is no likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum.
Flockton (Wakefield). Domesday Book Flocheton, 1201 Floketon. 'Town of ' an unrecorded Flocca. Hardly from Old English flocc, Old Norse flokk-r, ' flock.' Compare Domesday Book (Norfolk) Flokethorp.
Flodden (Northumberland). 1512 Floudane. Probably flood-dean—i.e. ' (wooded) glen with the stream,' Old English flod, Mittel English flod, 6 floud, ' a river, a flood.' See -dean.
Flookersbrook (Chester). 1340 Flokersbroke. Probably called after some man; there is nothing in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum nor yet in the dictionaries which seems helpful. Flokk-r would be Norse form of the Flocca of Flockton.
Flushing (Falmouth). Sic 1661. Named after the Dutch port at the mouth of the Scheldt.
Foggathorpe (Selby). Domesday Book Fulcartorp. ' Fulchar's place or village.' In Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum there are several Folcheards, one Folcgaer, and one Fulcker. The originally name has had eg in it, and the liquid l and r easily disappear.
Foleshill (Coventry). Domesday Book Focheshelle, before 1200 Folkeshulle, 1327 Folkeshull.' Old English folces hyll, 'people's hill,' which in Midland Mittel English regularly is hull.
Folkestone, before 716 charter Folcanstan, 1051 Old English Chronicum Folestane, Domesday Book Fulchestan. ' Stone, rock of the folk or people,' or, more probably, ' of a man Folca.' The Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has a Folco and a Fulco, and we have Folkton (E. Riding), Domesday Book Fulcheton.
Fontmell Magna (Shaftesbury). 939 charter Funtmeales, Domesday Book Fontemale. Perhaps 'Fountain of Mail(a),' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; Old English jont, 2-6 funt. The order is unusual as -funt or -font usually comes last. Compare Bedfont. But -mell may be Old English moel, ' a mark, sign, cross, crucifix ', font at the cross.’ Fontley (Fareham), Domesday Book Funtelei, will be ' mead with the fountain or spring.' Magna is Latin for ' Great.'
Ford (Shrewsbury, etc.). Domesday Book Ford. 1184 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon, Ecclesia de Forda. Nothing is commoner in early English names than to name a place after a ford, which was often a very important spot before bridges were made.
Fordham (Colchester and Soham). Colchester F. sic 1373, but circa, 1080 charter Fordam. Soham F. Domesday Book Fordeham. ' House at the ford.'
Fordington (Dorchester). Domesday Book Fortitone, 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Fordintune. Perhaps' Village of Forthwine,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Forest of Dean. Domesday Book Dene, 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Foreste de Dena, circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Danubia; Sylva, which is supposed to mean ' forest of Denmark or of the Danes.' Dean here may be Welsch din, ' fort, hillfort '; but is probably as in Dean.
Formby (Liverpool). 1203-04 Formebi, 1227 Forneby, 1269 Fornebi. ' Dwelling of Forni.' There are several called Forna or Forne in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare next. In British names m and n are frequently found interchanging. See -by.
Fornham (Bury St. Edmunds). Sic in Domesday Book 'Home of Forne'. See Formby. There is a Forne in Domesday Book (Herefd.).
Forton (Gosport, Newport, Staffordshire N. Lanes, and 3 others). Newport F. 1199 Forton, whilst for the others Domesday Book has Fortune, and Fordune (twice). Probably 'town by the ford.' Of course, dune is ' hill.' Leland calls Forthampton (Tewkesbury) Fordhampton; but it is Domesday Book Fortemeltone, probably ' Forthhelm's town.'
Foss Dyke (Boston). 1480 Caxton Chronicum Eng. 'Two other weyes this Belyn made . . . that one is called fosse and that other fosse dyke ' i.e., a raised causeway over marshes, etc. Fosse sb., Latin fossa, 'a ditch,' is first found in Eng. before 1440. There is also the Fossway, which stretched from Exeter to Lincoln, via Bath and Leicester. Compare Fangfoss (N. Riding), Domesday Book Frangefos? ' Ditch of the Frank.'
Foston (3 in Postal Guide). Foston on Wolds. Domesday Book Fodstone. 1158-59 ' Some maybe' town on the foss (see above); but Fodstone must be from some unknown man. See -ton.
Fotheringhay (Northampton). Domesday Book Fodringeia. before 1163 Fodrigeia, 1237 Fodringh', 1434 Fotheringhey, circa, 1460 Foodryngdrc. ' Foddering-island.' Old English fodor, Old Norse fodr, Danish foder, ' fodder, food for cattle.' The vb. Old Norse foora, is not found in English till before 1300. Compare the Pile of Fotheray in Furness, q.v.; also Featherstone. See -ay, -ey.
Foulness (Cromer). Not in Domesday Book 'Foul, dirty cape or ness." Old Norse ful noes. Foul is also found in Old English as ful, and this is a more likely origin than Old English fugol, 'fowl, bird.' Compare next and Fulford. Still Domesday Book not found. Has a Fugalduna.
Foulsham (Dereham). Domesday Book and 1454 Folesham. Probably not ' home of the fowls,' which is Old English fugol. Foolston (W. Riding), Domesday Book Fugelestun, is phonetically different, and even it means the man ' Fowl's town.' Foulsham will be ' home of the man Fula,' seen in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1052 Fulan ea. Compare Domesday Book (Suffolk) Folsalre, or ' Fula's alder.'
Fountains Abbey (Ripon). 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe De Fontibus, circa, 1246 de Fontanis. ' Abbey of the springs or wells.'
Fovant (Salisbury). Not in Domesday Book, but Old English charter Fobbefunte i.e., 'font, spring of Fobba.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 862 Fobbanwyl (well), Fontmell, and Havant.
Fowey R. and town (Cornwall), circa, 1200 Gewase Fawe fl. Town before 1400 Fawi, circa, 1450 Fortescue, the Ffowe; circa, 1530 Foye, 1536 Fowey. Pronunciation Foy. The river, which names the town, is ' said to be from Cornish foys or foy fenton, 'walled well or fountain (which rises near Altarnun). But it looks a little like the Cornish the Welsch ffau. Foy (Hereford) is circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Lanntiuoi, 'church of St. Tyfai.' Compare Lamphey.
Fowlmere (Royston). Domesday Book Fuglemaere, Fugelesmara, which is Old English for ' fowls' lake or mere'; 1302 Fulmere, 1401 Foulmere.
Fownhope (Hereford). Old forms needed. It seems a sort of hybrid; 'fawn's refuge'; Old France foun, faon, Mittel English (1369) foun, ' a fawn '; but very probably Fown- is Old English Fornan, ' of Forna,' a common name; and Old Norse hop, ' a haven, a place of refuge.' See -hope.
Foxholes (Yorks). Bom. Foxhole, Foxohole, Foxele. 1202 Fines Foxholeforde. Compare Foxton (Cambridgeshire)., Domesday Book Foxetune, and Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum. 750 Foxcotone. There is a Foxcote (Gloucestershire), Domesday Book Fuscote.
Fox Lydiate (Redditch). 1300 Fox Huntley yates, 1377 Foxhunt Ledegate. 'Fox hunter's gate.' See Lidgate; and compare Hyett, Henbury, 1221 Hyate, ' high gate.'
Foxt (Cheadle, Staffordshire). 1253 Foxiate i.e., fox-gate, or 'opening'; Old English geat, get, 6-9 dialect Yat(t))e, (Scottish) yett. But in 1292 it is Foxwyst, which is inexplicable.
Fradley and Fradswell (Staffordshire). 1262 Foder(e)sleye, 1286 Frodeleye. Domesday Book Frodeswelle, before 1300 Frotheswelle, Frodeswall, Frodeswell. Probably all from a man Frod, which is Old English for 'wise.' Form 1262 probably simply illustrates the shiftiness of r. See -ley.
Framingham Earl (Norwich). Domesday Book Framingaha. 1424 Framyngham. ' Home of the descendants of Frame, 'still a surname. Froena is common, andt there is one Fram in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Fremington. See -ing.
Framlingham (Suffolk). Domesday Book Framlingaham, 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Framingeham, 1425 Fremelyngham, before 1444 Framlyngham. ' Home of the Framlings.' These may be' descendants of Frambeald'; 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Frampton (Boston and Dorchester). Boston F. Domesday Book Framantune, Dorchester F. Frantone. 'Town of Frama' or ''Fram'; 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum For intrusion of p, compare Bampton and Hampton; also compare above. There is a Framwellgate, Durham, and a Framelle (? ' Fram's nook ') in Domesday Book Suss. But Frajmpton, 3 in Gloucestershire, is Domesday Book Framtone, 1221 Fremtone, ' town on R. Frame,' or ' Frome '; whilst Fraunton, same shire, is 1166 Freulinton, 1182 Froulinton, perhaps from a man Freowine, Freawine.
France Lynch (Stroud) and Franche (Kidderminster). Kidderminster F. Domesday Book Frenesse, 1275 Frenes, Freynes. Duignan says, Old France fresne, ' ash-tree,’and that the -esse in Domesday Book is meant for Old English cesce, ' ash-tree,’ and so Domesday Book's name a reduplication. He may be right.
Frankley (Bromsgrove) and Frankton (Rugby). Bromsgrove F. Domesday Book Franchlie, before 1200 Frankle, Frankeleg. Ru. F. Domesday Book Franchetone. 'Meadow' and ' town of Franca' or 'the Frank.' Origin from Old France franc, 'an enclosure,’ specially to feed swine in"; in English circa, 1400 as frank, fraunke, seems just possible.
Freckenham (Ely`) ‘Home of Freac or Frecca’, both forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare chart Frecinghhyrte (? Kent) also Friockheim (Scottish). The root is Old English free, ' ready, quick.' We have also Frickley (Yorks). Domesday Book Frichehale, or ' Freca's nook.' See -hall.
Freckleton (Preston). Domesday Book Frecheltun. ‘Frecel’s or Freculf's town.'
Freeby (Leicestershire). Domesday Book Fredebi, 1230 Close E. Fretheby. ' Village ' or ' dwelling of Frith (e.) ' (one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum), or of some of them any men whose names begin with Frithu. But Freethorpe (Norwich) is Domesday Book Frietorp, ' village of Freyja,' which was the name of a well-known Saxon goddess. Compare Freystrop and Fritton.
Freemantle (Bournemouth and Southampton). Not in Domesday Book Compare circa, 1220 Elect. Hugo ' Frisomantel,' a now vanished place near High Clere House, Hants. This is a puzzling name. Friso- suggests the Frisians of N. Holland; and -mantel must surely be Old France mantel, ' a mantle or cloak.' But how comes this in a placename? Mantel (see Oxford Dictionary, s.v.) in the sense of ' a fortification,' is not found in Eng. till 1475. Probably this is one of the rare cases of a place called simply by a man's name, often referred to in 12th century Rolls of the great Pipe as Frigidum Mantellum. Goodrich, Snitter, etc.
Freiston (Boston). Sic 1274, Domesday Book Fristune, 1381 Frestoine also Ferry Fryston (S. Yorks). Domesday Book Fristone. Peril, 'town of the Frisians or Frieslanders '; possibly from the Saxon goddess Frea or Freyja. Fraisthorp (Bridlington) is Domesday Book Frestintorp, which is puzzling.
Fremington (Yorks and Devon). Yorks F. sic in Domesday Book The family name must be the same as in Framingham.
Freseley (Polesworth). Sic 1256. Friezeland (Walsall and Tipton) and Frisland (Tibberton). Duignan derives all, not from the Frisians, but from Old English fyrz, ' furze, gorse,' dialect freze, friez. Oxford Dictionary, gives furse as 4-6 firse, but not with transposed r.
Freshwater (Isle of Wight). Domesday Book Frescewatre. Why so called is not very apparent. The usual Old English for 'fresh' i.e., not ' salt '—is fersc. Oxford Dictionary says the fre- forms do not occur till circa, 1205 Layamon, and so are most likely due to adoption from Old France freis, fresche. But the much earlier Domesday Book form shows this untenable. Compare Threshfield, Domesday Book Freschefelt.
Frssingfield (Harleston). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1590 Fresingfield; and Freston (Ipswich). Domesday Book Frisetuna, Fresetuna. The latter is ' town of the Frisians,’ who called themselves Frise, Frese. The former is probably ' field of the Frisians' descendants.' Frisington. See -ing.
Freystrop (Pembroke). ' Freyja's village.' She was a Norse goddess, akin to the Latin Venus. Fraisthorpe (Yorks) is Domesday Book Frestintorp, which is puzzling; also compare Freethorpe and Fridaythorp. See -thorpe.
Fridaythorp (Yorks). Domesday Book Fridarstorp, Fridagstorp, Fridaizstorp. 'Village of Friday,’ Old Eenglish Frigedcog, Old Norse Friadoeg-r, ' day of Frigg or Frig,' the Norse Venus. But Friday seems to have been used as a personal name. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1047 Frigedaeges treow. There is a Friday Street (Gloucester). See -thorpe.
Frilford (Berks). Old English charter Frileford, later Frylesford. Like Frilsham (on R. Pang), Domesday Book Frilesham, probably contracted from Frithel, Fritholf, Frithuwolf, or some such name.
Frimley Green (Farnborough). Not in Domesday Book 'Moist meadow,’ frim dialect, Old English freme, ' full of moisture, sappy.' See -ley.
Frindsbury (Rochester). Domesday Book Frandesberie. ' Burgh of Fraud,' which may be contraction of Freomund, likeliest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum probably influenced by friend, which in Southern Engelant is 4 vrind, 5-7 frind. See -bury.
Frisington (W. Cumberland). 'Town of the Frisings,' or 'descendants of the Frisians.' See Fressingfield and-ing.
Fritghley (Derby). Not in Domesday Book Compare Domesday Book Norfolk Frichetuna. ' Meadow of Fricca.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Frecca and Freca.
Fritham (Lymington). Not in Domesday Book Compare 804 charter Fridesleah (Kent). ' Home of Frith,' or of some man with a name beginning in Frith-; there are many in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Frithubeorht, Frithugeard,' etc. The Old English fyrhde, ' a wood,' is seen in Chapel- en-le-Frith, and in Fretherne, Frocester, Domesday Book Fridorne, 1372 Freethorne, Old English frith-thyme, ' thorn-bush by the wood.'
Frith Bank and Frithville (Boston). 1323 Le Frith, 1512 'The King's Frith beside Boston.' Frith is Old English fyrhloe, 'a wood ' or ' woody pasture; -ville is always modern.
Frittenden (Staplehurst, Kent). 804 charter Fridding-, Freddingden, and in the same charter Fridesleah. ' Dean (wooded) valley of the descendants of Frith.' Compare Fritham.
Fritton (Long Stratton, Norfolk). Domesday Book Fridetuna, Frietuna, ' Town of Frith ' or ' Fride.' Compare Freeby.
Frocester. Origin unknown; perhaps pre-Keltic. See -cester.
Frodesley (Shrewsbury) and Frodsham (Retford and Warrington). Retford F. 1240 Frodesham. 'Meadow' and 'home of Froda or Frod,' common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Frodingham (Yorks), Domesday Book Frotingha'. See -ham, -ing, and -ley.
Frognal (Windsor and 2 others). Old forms needed. The -al almost certainly represents -hail (compare Birstall, Brinscall, etc.)’ and the Frogn- must be some personal name. Of course, Old English frogga, -an is ' a frog,’ as in Frog Hall (Dunchurch), Frogham, and Frogmore (Camberley). Though there is no likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, we have 704 charter Frocesburna (Middlesex), which is probably ' Froce's ' or ' Froga's brook.'
Frome (Somerset). Pronunciation Froom. 875 Old English Chronicum Frauu, circa, 950 the same Frome, the same From (river); also, Frome R. (Gloucester and Hereford), whose forms are found in Frampton, Framilode, 1175-76 Rolls of the great Pipe Fremelada (Old English gelad, 'ferry'), and Frenchay, 1257 Fromscawe (Old English scaga, 'wood'). The Gloucester R. is now rather called Frame. Dr. Bradley thinks this must be originally Frama, which, on Keltic lips, would aspirate and yield Frauu or Frauv. Compare Aberffraw and Bp's. Frome. Meaning doubtful; origin from Welsch ffromm, 'angry, fuming,' is not likely.
Frosterley (Co. Durham). Sic in 1183 Boldon Bk., but 1239 Close R. Forsterlegh.' ' Meadow of Forster ' or ' Foster ' i.e., ' the forester '—a word not in Oxford Dictionary, till 1297, though ' Archibald Forester ' occurs 1228 in Gartul. Ross. No name Froster is known, but metathesis of r is common. See -ley.
Froxfield (Hungerford and Petersfield). Petersfield F. 965 charter Froxafelda, ' field of the frogs,' Old English frox(a), variant of frogga, frocga; but also compare 704 charter Frocesburna (Middlesex). So perhaps ' Field of Froca.' The name is not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Froxmore (Crowle), 1275 Froxmere, 1327 Froxemere, is plainly ' frogs' mere or lake.'
Fulbeck (Lines) and Fulbourn (Cambridgeshire). Lines F. 1202 Fulebec. Circa F. circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Fuleburna, Domesday Book Fuleberne, charter Fuulburne. Old English and Old Norse ful, 'foul, dirty'; and see -beck and -bourne. Compare Bacup, circa, 1200 Ffulebachope.
Fulford (York, Stone, and Solihull). York F. Domesday Book Fuleford and Foleford, Sim. Dur. anno 1066 Fulford, Stone F. Domesday Book Fuleford. ' Foul, dirty ford.' See above. Compare 1183 Boldon Bk. Durham, Fulforth.
Fulham (London). Sic 1298, but 879 Old English Chronicum Fullanhamme. This I sprobably' enclosure of Fullan.' There is one such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum ' Home of fowls ' would need a g in 879. Old English fugol, ' a fowl.' See -ham 2.
Fulney (Lincoln). Thought to be Birch. CAartularium Saxonicum 1052 Fulan ea, ' isle of Fula.' Not in Domesday Book It has a Fulnedebi.
Furness. Not in Domesday Book Old Futherness, Fuderness, which is probably ' fodder-ness or cape ' (see Fotheray) though McClure ventures to identify with Pictic father, ' a piece of land.’ Compare Forteviot (Scottish. Foodra Castle, on the point at Furness, was formerly called ' the Peel of Further' (Whitaker's Craven)
Fyfeld (Abingdon). Domesday Book Fivehide i.e., five hides of land still 1437 Fifhide, but circa, 1540 Ffield. Fyfeld (Essex), is also Domesday Book Fifhide, while places of the same name in Hants and Wiltswere 1257-1300 charter Fifhide. There are both Five Hide and Fyfield in Gloucester Compare Filey.
Fyling. See Fillongley.

Gad’s Hill (Gillingham, Kent). 'Hill of Gadd' or' Gaddo,' as in Gaddesby (Leicester), Domesday Book Gadesbie, and Godshill. See -by.
Gaerwen (Anglesey). Old Welsch gaer. Modern Welsch caer gwen. 'White, clear castle or fort.' G and c freely interchange in Welsch Compare Dolgelly, etc.
Gailey (Cannock). 1004 charter Gageleage, Domesday Book Gragelie (error). before 1300 Galewey, Gaule, Gaueleye. ' Bog-myrtle meadow,’ from Old English gagel, 4 gayl, 5-7 gaul(e), 5 gawl, gawyl, 'the gale or sweet gale.' See -ley.
Gainford-on-Tees. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Ge(a)genforda, circa, 1150 Gainesford, 1200 Geincford. ' Straight, direct, favourable ford.' Old Norse gegn, found in English from 1300 as gain.
Gainsboro'. 1013 Old English Chronicum Gaeignesburh, Gegnesburh, Domesday Book Gainesburg, Sim. Dur. anno1013 Gainesburh. Maybe from some man Gegne or the like, but there is no such name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, unless it be Gagan-heard. So perhaps ' town, castle of gain, help, advantage,' Old Norse gagn, gegn, found in Eng. circa, 1200 as gazhenn, Modern Eng. gain. Compare Ganstead.
Galford (S. Devon). Old English Chronicum ann. 823 Gafol, Gaful forda. Not in Domesday Book ' Ford of the tribute, or payment to a superior, or gavel.' Old English gafol, which does not mean ' a toll.' McClure would derive from a Keltic gabail or gabal, meaning 'the fork of a stream,' Gaelic gabhal; this seems doubtful, though compare Yeovil, which must be from Old English, rather than Keltic, gafol, geafl,' a fork ,a forked opening.'
Galtres forest (Yorks). 1119-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Foreste de Galtris; also, Caltres. Thought to be same word as Calathros, name in the Irish Annals for Callander (Scottish). The meaning is doubtful. Some identify it with ' Gerlestre Wapentac ' in Domesday Book Yorks, which is possible, and may be ' tree of Goerlaf,' or some such name.
Gamblesby (Langwathby). 1179-80 Gamelebi, 1189 Gamelesbi. 'Dwelling of Gamel,’Old Norse for 'old'; the surname now is Gamble or Gemmell. Gembling (Yorks), Domesday Book Ghemelinge, is a patronymic from the same name, and shows the same intrusion of b. Compare next, Gammelspath, name of the old Romanic Road. Middle March (Northumberland), and Ganfield. See -by.
Gamlingay (Sandy). 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Gamelengeia (Essex), 1210 Gamehngehey,1211Gamelingey. 'Isle of the descendants of Gamel.' Compare above; and see -ing and -ey.
Gamston (Retford). Domesday Book Gamelestune. before 1199 Roll Rich. I. Gamelesdun. ' Hill ' or ' town of Gamel ' or ' Gamall,' names frequent in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, being Norse for' oldman.' See-don and-ton.
Ganfield (a hundred in Berks). Domesday Book Gamesfelle, Gamenesfelle (n here for l). See above.
Gannel (New Quay). Corn, gan hael, 'mouth of the saltings.' Hael or hayle means' a tidal river.'
Ganstead (Hull). Domesday Book Gagenestad, 1208 Gaghenestede. The first half mus tbe the same as in Gainsboro'. See -stead,' place.'
Ganthorpe (Yorks). Domesday Book Gameltorp, 1202 Gaumesthorp. ' Village of Gamel.' Compare Gamston and Ganton; and see -thorpe.
Ganton (York). Domesday Book Galmetona, probably 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Gonton. ' Town of Galmund,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and no other likely name. But compare Gamston and above.
Gargrave (Leeds). Domesday Book Geregraue, Gheregrave. 'Grave,' Old English groef, ' of Goer ' or ' Geir ' ; compare next. But Garford (Berks) is ' i.e. ' promontory or triangular piece of land,' Old English gara. Compare Gartree. Yet Garforth (Leeds), Domesday Book Gereford, Ingereforde, is from the man Goer. See -ford.
Garstang (Preston). Domesday Book Cherestane, 1204-05 Geirstan, 1206 Guegrestang, 1208 Geersteng, 1230 Gerstang, 1304 Gairstang. This is a peculiar rname. It seems to be, the man ‘Geirs’ s stang i.e., spear,' or goad —same root as sting. But Domesday Book Evidently thought that tge name was' Geir's pool,' Old France estang, Latin stagnum, still used in English as' a stank.' This certainly gives a likelier sense; compare Mallerstang (Cumberland), and Gargrave. But Garshall (Stone) is a much-altered name, before 1400 Gerynges halgh, Gerynges hawe i.e., ' river-meadow of Gering.' See -hall and Haughton.
Garston (Berks and Liverpool). Berks G. Old English charter Gaerstun, Gerstim, Grestun. Also Domesday Book Garstune (Worcester). Old English geerstun, ' a grassy enclosure, a paddock,' Old English goers, gras, ' grass,' the old forms being still preserved in Scottish. The originally meaning of ton or town is ' enclosure.' But G. (Liverpool) is 1093-94 Gerstan, 1142 Gerestan(am), 1153-60 Grestan, 1205-06 Gaherstsang, 1205-6 Gahersatang (compare Garstang) 1297 Garstan. ‘Stone, rock among the grass.’ Compare the Gastons (Twekesbury), old Gerstone. Garriston (N. Riding) is Domesday Book Gerdeston, from Geard, contracted from Geardwulf, or th like. Compare Greasborough.
Garth (Bangor, etc.) Welsch garth, ‘enclosure, yard’; also Hill ridge, headland,’ Irish gart, ‘a head’. If the meaning be ‘yard’, it is a loan-word in Welsch Compare Gwaelod-Y Grath.
Gartree (Leicester) Domesday Book Geretreu. ‘Tree at the gore of land,’ Old English gara, 4-9 gare, Old Norse geire. It was the meeting-place of the Wapentake. Seer Garford and Appletree.
Gatcombe (Isle of Wight). Domesday Book Gatecome. ' Valley with the opening,' or 'gate,' Old English geat. Also 2 in Gloucester, .no old forms. See -combe.
Gateacre (Liverpool). 'Field, acre,' Old English acer, 'with the gate.’ Old English geat. Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Gateherst, and Fazakerley.
Gateshead. Probably circa, 410 Notit. Dign. Gabrosenti (for-centi, perhaps the same Keltic root as in Kent, and meaning head,' or ' headland.') (Keltic gabar, ' goat '). Bede in. 21 Ad Murum, AEt Walle (the Roman Wall). Sim. Dur. ann. 1080 Gotesheved id est Ad caput Caprae; also Caput Caprae; but Sim. Dur. contin. circa, 1145 Gateshevet, 1183 Gatesheued. These names, of course, all mean' goat's head' i.e., the Gate- is Old English zat, ' a goat,' and not zeat, ' a gate.' Compare Gateford (Notts) 1278 Gayt-, circa, 1500 Gatford, also from Norse geit or Old English zat, ' a goat.'
Gavenny R. (S. Wales). Welsch Gefni. See Abergavenny.
Gawsthorpe (Macclesfield). ' Village of?' Compare Gawthorpe, Ossett, and Domesday Book Norfk., Gaustuna? from an unrecorded Gaha. Gawsa (Welsch) is thought by Rhys a corruption of causey or causeway!
Gaydon (Kineton) and Gayton (Stafford, Blisworth, and King's Lynn). King’ s Lynn. G. 1327 Geydon, St. G. Domesday Book Gaitone, 1227 Gaidon. Lyinn G. circa, 1150 Geitun. Probably not from gate, but from a man Gcega or Gega, Codex Diplomaticus vi. 137 and 148, while we get the patronymic Goeing in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 257. Gay is now a common surname. Compare Ginge (Berks), Domesday Book Gainz, 1225 Est geyng, and Gaywood, also found near King's Lynn, likewise 940 charter Gaecges stapole (market), Hants. See-don and -ton.
Geddengton (Kettering). Not in Domesday Book Said to be circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Garcedune. This, if the same place, must be a different name. Probably ' town of Geddi,' one such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 1363 charter' Wilhelmus Bateman de Giddingg,' near Kettering (which is, of course, a patronymic), Gedney (Lines), and Gedelega, 1157 in Rolls of the great Pipe Devon.
Gedling (Nottingham). Domesday Book Ghellinge, 1189 P'pe Gedlinges. A patronymic. The same name is seen in Gillamoor (Yorks), Domesday Book Gedlingsmore. Mutschmann derives from Old English godlingas, ' companions in arms,' and makes Gilling the same.
Gee cross (Stockport). An ancient cross was erected here by the Gee family.
Gelliswick farm (Milford Haven). Hybrid. Welsch gelli or celli, ' hazel grove, ‘and Norse vik, ' a bay.' Compare Wick (Scottish) and Goodwick (S. Pembroke). But the Welsch tale, Kulhwch and Oliven [before 1200), speaks of ' Gelii ' or ' Kelli Wic ' in Cornwall.
Gentleshaw (Rugeley). 1505 Gentylshawe. 'Wood of Gentle,' a surname still in use. A John Gentyl is known in this district in1341. Domesday Book Bucks, Intlesberie, may represent the same name. See -shaw.
Gerrans (Falmouth). Perhaps the same as circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Din- Gerein i.e., 'castle of Geraint,' King of the Welsch in 711; 1536 Gerens. But the Welsch chronicler's castle may be in Pembroke.
Giggleswick (Settle). Local pronunciation Gilzick. Domesday Book Ghiceleswic, Ghigeleswic. Compare Ickleford. 'Dwelling of Gicel,' now Jekyl, from 'Bveton Judicael, which also yields Jewell, 1215 Close R. Gikelswik and William Gikel. See -wick.
Gilcrux (Carlisle). Old forms needed. Compare Domesday Book Norfolk, Gillecros, Gildecros. Can it be ' cross of the guild ‘? Old English gild, gyld. Cross was early taken into English in more than one form; see Oxford Dictionary. The Mittel English crouch shows that late Old English must have had a form cruc, Latin cruc-em, ' cross.'
Gilling (N. Yorks). Bede in Gethlingum, Gaetlingum. Domesday Book Gellinge(s). See Gedling. Gilling and Gillon are still surnames. There is a ' Gilleburc ' 1160 in Rolls of the great Pipe (Northants). Compare Ealing. See -ing.
Gillingham (Dorset and Kent). Dorset G. 1016 Old English Chronicum Gillingham; Domesday Book Geling(e)ham, 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Gillingeha; Kent G. circa, 1150 charter Gyllingeham. ' Home of the Gillings,' a patronymic from Gilo.
Gilling-, Gyllingdune, and Gillingvase (Falmouth). Said to be Cornish for 'William's hill,' and 'William's field,' Cornish moes, here aspirated. The William is said to be he who was son of Henry I., drowned in the White Ship, crossing from Normandy to England,1120. All this is a littlel doubtful.
Gilsland (Carlisle). Sic 1215, but 1291 Gillesland. 'Land, territory of Giles' or of' Gilo,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Gimingham (N. Walsham). Domesday Book Giming(h)eha, 1443 Gymyng-am, circa, 1449 Gemjnigham. The name or patronymic is a little uncertain here. Perhaps ' Home of Gemmund or Gefmund,' the nearest nam in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Gipping R. See Ipswich.
Girdle Fell (Cheviots). ' Mountain with the belt or band round it.' The ending ' fell ' (q.v.) is Norse, and so the root is quite as likely Old Norse gyrdill, Old Swedish giordell, as Old English gyrdel. If so, this is one of the very rare Norse names in Northumberland. Compare Girdle Ness (Aberdeenshire)
Girlington (Bradford). Domesday Book Gerlinton; also sic in Domesday Book Somerset. ' Town of Gerling,' or perhaps ' of Goerlan,’ one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Girton (Cambridge). Domesday Book Gretone, Codex Diplomaticus iv. 145 Gretton, 1236 Greittone, 1434 Grettone, Gyrttone. Skeat inclines to think this is not ' great town' (compare the six Littletons), but probably English gratton, 'grass which comes after mowing, stubble.’ from Old English greed, Mercian gred, ' grass.' The forms in Girton (Notts) are practically the same. Mutschmann derives, rather doubtfully, from Old English great, 'sand.' Compare Gretton, which may be 'great, Old English great, town.' Great is 3-6 gret(e), 4-6 grett(i)j. Compare Girsby (Yorks), Domesday Book Grisbi.
Gisburn (Clitheroe). Domesday Book Ghiseburne, 1179-80 Giseburne, 1197 Kiseburn. ' Burn, brook of Gisa,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Kisiw as a Norse giant. Compare Guisboroogh. See -bourne.
Gislingham (Eye). Domesday Book Gisligeha, Gisghaham, Gissilincham. ''' Home of the descendants of Gisel i.e., the hostage, Old English zisel, Old Norse gisl. Compare 1384 ' Giselyngton ' (Lines).
Gladmouth (S. Welsch). See Cleddy. Compare also Gladder Brook (Worcester)1275-1340 Gloddre, also Welsch, -der being dwfr,' stream.'
Glamorgan. 1242 Close R. Clammorgan, circa, 1250 Layam. Glommorgan, 1461 Glomorganeia. Old Welsch name Morganwg, modern Welsch Gwlad Morgan, ' dominion of Morgan,’ a 10th century, prince, of which the other forms are corruptions or contractions.
Glapthorne (Oundle). Not in Domesday Book before 1100 Glapthorn. Probably Thorn-tree of Gleppa, found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Clapton (Notts) sic 1216-72.
Glasbury (Brecon), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Glasbiria. Hybrid; Welsch glas, ' blue, green, verdancy, hence, a green spot,' and Old English burh. See -bury; also compare Glazebrook.
Glascote (Tamworth). Sic a 1300. ' Cot, cottage with windows of glass,’ Old English glees, a very rare thing for an early cottage.
Glaston (Uppingham). Not in Domesday Book before1100 grant of 664, Glathestun. There is no name like Glath in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, though there is a Gloedwis. So this may be ' town of gladness,' Old English -gloed, 4 glathe, but probably not. Gleadthorpe (Notts), Domesday Book Gletorp, 1278 Gledetorp, must have the same origin.
Glastonbury (Somerset), before 716 Boniface Glestingaburg; 1016 Old English Chronicum Glaestingabyrig; 1297 Robert of Gloucester Glastinbury. In Welsch Ynys Wychin (' isle of Wydiin; found already in charter said to be of 601, Ineswytrin. Freeman thinks this a patronymic. William of Malmesbury says the name is from a N. Wales Glasting, who wandered there in search of a lost sow. The Lib. Hymn (Brashaw Society) a 900 calls it Glastimner of the Goidels’,’and before 1100 Anno Cambr. calls it Glastenec. McClure would derive from a somewhat dubious Welsch glastan, 'an oak'; there is certainty glasdonen (iv. glas and tonen),' the scarlet oak, a quite possible origin, though it is more probably a patronymic, as the very early first spelling indicates. See -bury.
Glatton (Peterborough). Not in Domesday Book 1217 Glattun. Seems to ' be ' glad town Old English gloed, 3 glad, Old Norse glad-r, ' bright, beautiful,’; cognate with Old Gaelic glat,' smooth.'
Glazebrook (Manchester). 1227 Glasbroc, 1303 Glasebrok. Perhaps tautology. Keltic glas and English brook, both meaning the same. Glazebury is nearby. Compare Domesday Book Glese (Worcester), now Glasshampton, and Glass Houghton (Yorks), not in Domesday Book Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. prefer' glassy brook,' Old English glees,' glass,'but are probably wrong.
Gleaston (Ulverston). Domesday Book Glassertun. This implies a name Glasser, or the like, probably Norse. Glasserton (Wigtown), looks the same name; in early chronicles it seems to get confused with Glastonbury.
Glen R. (S. Lines and Northumberland). History wanted. Either may be Nennius § 56 Fluminis quod dicitur Glein. Gaelic gleann Welsch glyn,' aglen, a valley.'
Glencune, Glendhu, and Glenwhelt (all near Haltwhistle) Glencune is Gaelic gleann cumhann, 'narrow glen.' Compare Glencoe (Scottish). Gaelic dubh means ' black,' Welsch du, and -whelt may be Welsch gwelllyn, ' blade of grass,' or? ullta, ' a crazy one, an oaf.' Glencoin (Ullswater)=Glencune, Gaelic comhann, being variant of cumhann, and mh has become mute.
Glenderamackin (R. (Keswick). Pure Gaelic, glean dobhair or doir-a- meacain, ' glen of the stream with the roots, bulbs, or parsnips.'
Glenfield and Glen Magna (Leicester). 1232 Close B. Glenesfield. Seemingly from a man, Glen may be contraction from Gloedwine, 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But in Domesday Book is Glen, which surely must be Gaelic gleann, Welsch glyn,' valley,' though it, too, maybe a man's name. Magna is Latin for ' great.'
Glentworth (Lincoln). Domesday Book Glenteuurde. Compare grant before 675 Glenthupe,? in Hants. Perhaps ' farm of the hard, flinty rock '; Danish and Swedish klint. See Clent and -worth. ‘Glinton (Market Deeping), sic Domesday Book and before 1100, would suggest a man's name like Glent or Glint. None such is recorded, but probably must be postulated.
Glogue (Pembrokesh.). In Welsch Y Glog, from Old Welsch clog, ' a stone '; Cornish clog, ' a steep rock'; Gaelic clog, genitive cloiche, ' a stone.'
Gloucester. Pronunciation Gloster. circa, 120 Latin inscription. Glev.= Glevensis civitas, later Domesday Book Glevi, circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary Glevo, Clevo, before 700 Raven. Geog. Glebon, 681 charter Gleawceasdire, 804 grant Gleaw(e)ceastre, Lanfranc Hist. ann. 1071, Cloecistra, the same 1080 Claudia Civitas, 1085 the same Cleucestra, before,1130 Sim. Dur. Glocestre, 1140 Old English Cliron. Gloucestre, circa, 1160 Gesta Steph. Glocestrensis, 1375 Barbour Gloster. In Welsch Caerloew, as in before 810 Nennius Cair Gloui, Saxonice autem Gloecester. Said to be called ' camp of Gloni ' from its builder, a mere guess, whilst to connect with Emperor Claudius is to make a worse guess. Many think the name Keltic, ' bright castle,' from Welsch glaw, ' brightness.' The forms all have the c, in later times the soft c, and not ch (except in Layam Gleochaestre), owing to Norman influence. See -cester.
Gnosall (Stafford). Dora. Geneshale, 1199 Gnowdeshall, Gnoddeshall, 1204 Gnoweshale, 1223 Gnoushale. ' Nook, corner of probably ' Geonweald,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Duignan suggests ' of Cnof- wealh,'which isvery far from Domesday Book. But older forms are needed. Compare Domesday Book Norfk. Gnaleshala. See-hall.
Gobowen (Oswestry). (1298 ' Robertus Gobyon.') Welsch gob Owen, ' heap, mound of Owen.'
Godalming (Surrey). Domesday Book Godelminge, before 1199 Goldhalming. Patronymic, from Godhelm. Domesday Book also has' Godelannge,' Surrey? an error.
Godley (Mottram). before 1250 Godelegh; also compare Domesday Book Surrey, Godelei. Probably not ' good meadow,' but ' meadow of Godd, Godda, or Gode,' all of them names found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Godestoch in Domesday Book Salop, and Godeston in 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon. See -ley.
Godmanchester (Huntingdon). 970 charter Guthmuncester, Domesday Book Godmundcestre, circa, 1150-1623 Gumecestre. 'Camp of Guthmund,' a name common and early found occasionally as Gudmund which is but variant of the common Godmund,' the man whom God' (or 'a god') 'protects,' as gud, god is Old Norse for 'god'; Old English god. The contracted form Gume- is influenced by Old English guma, 3-4 gume, 3-6 gome,' a man,' and Goma occurs as a name twice in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum We have parallels in Goodmanham and Gumley. See-Chester.
Godshill (Wroxall). 1499 Gaddishill= Gad's Hill.
Godstow (Oxford). Not in Domesday Book 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Godestov,1161-62 the same Godesto. ' Place of Goda,'a very common Old English name. See Stow. Domesday Book Oxon has Godendone, ' Goda's hill.'
Golant, Glent, or St. Sampson's (Par). 1507 Gullant. Probably Keltic or Corn, gol land, ' holy ground.'
Golborn Bellow and David (Chester), circa, 1350 Golborne, which is probably' goling’ s burn or brook, 'from Gull sb.2 in Oxford Dictionary found in 4 as goll, ' a gosling.' Bellow is from the family of Bella Aqua or Belleau,' fine water,' which once held this place.
Golcar (Huddersfield). Domesday Book Gudlages arc, and argo; later, Gouthelagh chaithes, Goullakarres. ' Shieling,' Norse Gaelic argh, Gaelic airigh, ' of Gudlag ' or ' Gutglac'. See Anglesark, and compare Grimsargh, etc. The -car comes through the influence of Norse kjarr, 'marshy ground.'
Golden Valley (S. Hereford). We find circa, 1130 Richard de Aurea Valle as King' s chaplain. Said to be because the French monks confused Welsch dwr,' stream’, with France d'or,' of gold.’
Goldington (Bedford). Domesday Book Goldentone. 'Village of Gold' or ' Gould.' Compare Domesday Book Essex, Goldingham. See next and -ing. But Goldicote (Alderminster) is 1275 Caldicote, ' cold cot.'
Goldsborough (Knaresborough). Domesday Book Golborg, Goldeburg, 1179-80 Goldburg. ' Burgh, castle of Gold,' which is still an English surname. One Golda and one Golde in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -borough. Goldthorpe (Rotherham), Domesday Book Guldetorp, Goldetorp, Godetorp, is from the same name. See -thorpe.
Gonalston (Nottingham). Domesday Book Gunnulveston, 1278 Guneliston, 1316 Gonelston. ' Town of Gunnulf-r.'
Goodmanham (E. Yorks). Bede Godmundigaham. Domesday Book Gudmundham, Gudmandham. ' Home of Godmund i.e., the man whom God protects. Old English mund, ' protection.' The -iga in Bede probably represents -ing, q.v. Compare Godmanchester and Gumley.
Goodrich (Ross, Hereford). Not in Domesday Book Old English Godric(h), a man's name. A rare type of placename. Compare Snitter (Northumberland), also before 1400 Godrichesley, now Gothersley (Stourbridge).
Goodwick (Fishguard). Danish and Swedish gudvik,' good bay.'
Goodwin Sands, or The Goodwins (Kent). 1405 le Goodwine sandes, 1546 Goodwins sands. Said to be from Earl Godwine, so prominent in the reign of Edward the Confessor. Compare The Bedwins, sands in R. Severn, perhaps from Old English Beaduwine.
Goole (Lines) gool, found in Eng. in 1542 as goole,' a small stream, a ditch'; Old France gole, goule,' the throat.' For -flete, see Fleet.
Goonhavern (Perranporth, Cornwall). Cornish goon, 'a down, a moorland, a marsh,' and? some word for ' iron,' Welsch haiarn.
Goosey (Faringdon). Old English charter Gosige, Domesday Book Gosei, 1291 Goseye, ' Goose-isle.' See -ey. But Goosnargh (Preston), Domesday Book Gusansarghe, is ' shieling of Gusan,' an unrecorded, probably Norse, name. See Anglesark and Grimsargh.
Gore (hundreds of Middlesex, around Kilburn). circa, 1134 charter Gara, which is Old English or Earl English for’ a wedge-shaped strip of land on the side of an irregular field.' This is a good deal earlier than any quatation in Oxford Dictionary Compare Domesday Book Wilts, Gare.
Gorleston (Great Yarmouth). Domesday Book Gorlestuna. The name is doubtful? from Garweald, or Geroldus or Gerbold, as in Domesday Book Norfolk, Gerboldesha.
Gornal Wood (Dudley), before1500 Gwarnell, Guarnell. Probably' hall or ' nook ' (Old English heall or healh) ' of Garnwi ' or ' Geornwig’, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Duignan derives from Old English cweorn, cwearne, 6 quearn, ' a quern, a hand-mill,’ but this is not probably phonetically. See -hall.
Gorsley (Gloucester). Not in Domesday Book 1228 Close R. Gorstley. Probably not 'furze-meadow,’ Old English gors, 'furze, whin,’ but 'meadow of Gorst,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but still a surname. See -ley.
Gosforth (Seascale and Newcastle). Seascale G. circa, 1170 Goseford, 1390 Gosford, 1452 Gosforth. ' Goose ford.’ Old English gos, 3-6 gose, ' a goose." But Goscote (Walsall), before 1300 Gorstycote, is gorsey cot or ' cottage among the gorse '; and Gossington (Gloucester), 1189 Gosintone, is ' village of Gosa,' Gosan. Compare 940 charter Gosanwelle (Dorset). See -forth.
Gotham (Notts). Sic 1316, but Domesday Book Gatha. Old English gat ham,' goat- house,' 4-6 gote, 6- goat. Gotherington (Bishop's Cleeve), Domesday Book Godrinton, is from Godhere. See -ing.
Gower (S. Welsch). In Welsch Gwyr, before 810 Nennius Guir, circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Goer, Anno Cambridgeshire 1095 Goher. Probably Welsch gwyr, ' awry, askew '; there is a Cornish gover, ' a rivulet '; and Welsch gwyr is ' fresh, verdant.' There can be no certainty as to the name.
Gowy R. (tribe of R. Mersey, Cheshire). Corruption Of Welsch givy, 'water, river.’
Goxhill (E. Riding and Grimsby). E. Ri. G. Domesday Book Golse (? c), Grimsby G. Not in Domesday Book, 1210 Gousele (where-ele probably represents -hale or -hall, q.v.). Difficult; more old forms needed. No name like Gole is on record; and gowk ,4-6 gok, Old Norse gauk-r,' the cuckoo,' yields no l, nor is it found in English till circa, 1325.
Goyt R. (N.E. Chesh.). M.E. gote, 'a watercourse, a stream'; Old English gyte,' a flood,' from geotan,' to pour,' still found in North dialect as goit, goyt. Compare Welsch gwyth, ' a conduit, a channel'; also ' Skirbeck Gowt,' sic 1593, near Boston, which is a watercourse or channel. Guyting-Power and-Temple (Gloucester) must be from same root; 814 charter Gythinge, Domesday Book Getinge, 1221 Guytinge, with -ing, q.v., here in its meaning of ' place on a stream.' But Goytre (Glamorgan) may be for Welsch coed tre, 'woodhouse, dwelling in the wood.'
Grafton (5 in Postal Guide). Worcester G. 884 charter Graftune. Two in Warwick, 710 charter Graftone, 962 the same Greftone, Domesday Book Grastone, 1189 Grafton. Northants G. 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipee Grafton. ' Grove town,' Old English graf. See -ton.
Graham. The originally Graham probably was in Northumberland; circa, 1195 a David de Graham witnesses a charter re Ellingham (Belford). The surname is found before 1128 as Graeme, and 1139 Graha. Old English gra ham, ' grey house.' Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Gremrig (Yorks). Grainthorpe (Lines). [Domesday Book Lines has only Greneham.] 'Village in the forked valley '; Old Norse grein, ' division, branch'; Swedish gren. ' a branch.' See -thorpe and Grain (Scottish), also Grain, sb.- in Oxford Dictionary, found in Eng. before 1300. This last also means ' arm of the sea, branch of a stream,' as in Isle of Grain (Medway).
Grampound (Truro). Corn. gran pont,' great bridge.'
Gran(d)borough (Rugby and Winslow). 1043 charter Graenesburgh, Greneburga, Domesday Book Grane-, Greneljerge, 1260 Greneborwe, ' Burgh of Groen,’ not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. Compare Granby (Notts), Domesday Book Granebi, and Domesday Book Lines., Granham. See -borough.
Grantchester. See Cambridge.
Grantham. Sic in Domesday Book ' Home of Granta ' or ' Grant,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but we have also Grantley (Ripon), Domesday Book Grentelaia. On the meaning of Grant, see Cambridge.
Grasmere (Cumberland). 'Grassy lake'; Old English groes, 3-6 gras, ' grass.' Compare Graseley (Wolverhampton), sic 1282.
Grassington (Skipton). Domesday Book Ghersinton, 1212 Gersinton. 'Town of Gersent' or' Gersendis,' both names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Grateley (Andover). Not in Domesday Book Probably before 941 Lett. to Athelstan Greatanlea. ' Greta's lea ' or ' meadow ‘; but the name is not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Greetham and Gratwich (Uttoxeter), Domesday Book Gratewich, which Duignan thinks 'great, large village.' Old English great, 3 greet, 4-6 grait, grett.
Graveley (Stevenage and Huntingdon). Huntingdon G. charter Graeflea, Greflea, Domesday Book Gravelei, ' grave or trench meadow.' See -ley. Compare Graveney (Faversham), 940 charter Gravenea. See -ey.
Gravesend. Domesday Book Essex, Grauesanda, 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Grauesent. circa, 1500 in Arnold's Chronicum Gravesende i.e., ' at the end of the moat.' Compare Med. Dutch grave, ' a trench.'
Greasborough (Rotherham). Domesday Book Once Gersebroc. One would expect a man's name here, but on analogy of Garston this is probably ' grassy brook,' Old English broc, altered to -borough (. v.). Old English for ' grass ' is goers, groes. But it is also in Domesday Book Greseburg, Gresseburg, probably ' burgh, castle of Grese ' or ' Grise ' i.e., ' the Pig!' See Gristhorpe. So Gersebroc is probably an error.
Great Ayton (Yorks). Domesday Book Atun, 1179-80 Atton. Perhaps' village of AEtta, AEtte,' or'AEtti,' all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. If so, not=Ayton (Scottish). It may well be=Eton; Old English ea-tun, 'town, village on the stream.'
Great Bookham (Leatherhead). Charter Bocham, Domesday Book Bocheha. Compare 1224 Patent R. Bukeham (Norfk.). Probably 'beech-built home,' See Bockhampton.
Great Bradley (Newmarket). 1341 deed Bradeleghe; Mittel English for ' broad lea' or ' meadow.' See -ley.
Great Kimble (Bucks). Domesday Book Chenebella, charter Cunebelle,1291 Kenebelle. Compare 903 charter Cynebellinga-gemaere. Perhaps, as Dr. Birch suggests, called after Cunobelllinus, the British King, said to have been buried here. There is also a Cynebill or Cynobill, brother of the Bishop Cedda and Ceadda, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Kemble (Cirencester), before 1300 Kenebelle.
Great Tey (Kelvedon). Old English tih, teah, ' a paddock.'
Great Witchingham (Norwich). Domesday Book Wicinghaha, circa, 1444 Wychyngham. ' Home of Widling ' or ' Wicing '; three of this name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, really a variant of viking,' bay-man, sea-rover.' Probablyhere a patronymic. See -ing.
Greenodd (Lonsdale). Old Norse oddi, odd-r, 'a small point of land,' as in Odde (Norway). Compare Greenhow (Pately Br.). Old Norse haug-r, ' mound, cairn ', and Domesday Book Norfolk, Grenehov.
Greenwich. 1013 Old English Chronicum Grenawic, Domesday Book Grenviz, circa, 1386 Chaucer Grenewich. Old English grene wic, ' green, grassy town or dwelling.'
Greetham (Oakham). Domesday Book and 1292Gretham. Compare Domesday Book Hants, Greteham. Probably' Greta's home,' as in Grateley. But it may be ' great house '; Old English great, grecet, 3-6 gret, 4-6 greoet. Greetland (Halifax) is Domesday Book Greland.
Grendon (Atherstone, Northampton, Aylesbury). Atherstone G. Domesday Book Grendon. Old English gren dun, ' green hill.' Grindon (Ham and Co. Durham), H. G. Domesday Book Grendone, and 1183 Boldon Bk. Grendona (Durham), is the same name.
Gresham (Norwich). Domesday Book and 1426 Gressam. Older forms needed, but probably 'Home of Gressa,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but seen in Gressenhall, and compare Greasborough, whilst Domesday Book Norfolk has also Gresingaha, the patronymic form. See -ham.
Gresley (Burton-on-Trent). Old forms needed. Perhaps ' meadow of Gresa' or 'Gressa.' Compare Gresham. But also compare 1179-80 Greselea, 1283 Greseleye (S. Lanes), Grizebeck and Grizedale, which may come from Old Norse griss, 'a pig.' See -ley. Greis- or Grassthorpe (Notts), Domesday Book Grestorp, is probably 'grassy village'; compare Garston.
Gressenhall (Dereham), Domesday Book Gressenhala, circa, 1450 Gressenhale. Probably as above, ' nook, corner of Gressa.' It does not seem probably that it comes from grass; no adjunctive grassen or gressen is known. See -hall.
Greta R. (Yorks). Old Norse griot a, 'stony, shingly river,' from griot, Old English greot, 'gravel, sand, stones.' The name reappears in Lewis, the R. Greeta or Creed, in G. Gride. We also have a R. Greet (Notts), 958 charter Greota, Great Bridge (Wednesbury) on a stream called before 1400 Grete, before 1600 Greete, and Greet (Gloucester), 1195 Greta, a hamlet on a brook.
Gretton (Kettering and Winchcombe). Kettering G. not in Domesday Book Chronicum Ramsey Gretton. Same as Girton. But Winchcombe G. is Domesday Book Gretestan, or Gretestanes, circa, 1175 Gretstona, probably 'great stone or rock.’ Compare Greetham; and see -ton, which often interchanges with -stone.
Greystones (Sheffield). Compare 847 charter Fram Smalen cumbes heafde to graewanstane; not this place. There is no Smallcombe in the Gazetteers.
Grimsargh (Preston). Domesday Book Grimesarge. ‘Grim's shelling' or ' hut.' argh being Norse corruption of Gaelic airigh. See Anglesark; and compare Sizergh (Kendal), also next.
Grimsby. Domesday Book, and 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Grimesbi, 1296 Grimmesby, 1297 Grymesby. 'Grim's dwelling.' See -by. Grim was a very common Old English name. Grimsby existed from the days of Cnut, or earlier. Its origin is described in circa, 1300 Havelok. There is a Grimsbury (Berks)and a Grimstock (Coleshill). See -stock. But Grimscote (Whitchurch) is said to have been Kilmescote and Kenemyscote, which, as Duignan says, is probably' Coenhelm's' or ' Kenelm's cot.' There are also several Grimstons e.g., Domesday Book Yorks and Notts, Grimeston, Grimstun, and a Grimsbury (Gloucester)
Grim's Dyke, or Ditch of Grim, runs from Bradeham (High Wycombe) to Berkhamstead (Herts). It is an ancient earthwork of unknown origin, possibly Roman. Compare above and Graham's Dyke (Falkirk), which is the old Roman Wall; also, Grime's Hill (Worcester), 1275 Grimesput (' pit '). Grim in Old English means ' fierce, cruel,' common as a surname. Grimley (Worcester) is 851 charter Grimanleage, ' Grima's meadow.'
Grindleton (Clitheroe). Domesday Book Gretlintone. This seems to be a corruption of the common ' Grimcytel’s town,' a name also found as Grichetel, Grinchel, Grichel. But compare next, Grindleford (Sheffield) and Grindalythe (see Hythe), Thirsk, neither in Domesday Book
Grindley Brook (Whitchurch) may simply be ‘meadow with the barred gate'; Old Norse grind. See -ley. Some would compare Grendlesmere (Wilts) from Grendel, the witch in Beowulf. Compare before 1000 charter Grendles bee and Grindeles pytt (Worcester), and there is a Grindelay, or ' Grendel's isle ' (Orkney) but see, too, above. Grindley (Uttoxeter) is often in 13th century. Greneleye, as if ' green meadow.' Compare Gringley (Notts), Domesday Book Grenelei.
Grindon. See Grendon.
Grinshill (Shrewsbury). Not in Domesday Book Grin is probably variant of Grim, as in Grimsby, etc. Grimthorpe (Yorks) is in Domesday Book both Grimtorp and Grintorp; compare 940 charter Grinescumb (Dorset). But Grindale (Yorks) is Domesday Book Grendale,' green dale.'
Gristhorpe (Filey). Domesday Book Grisetorp and Griston (Thetford). Domesday BookGristuna, Grestuna. ' Village of the pigs,' or, of a man Grise'; ' Old Norse griss, ' a pig.' Similar is Girsby (Yorks), Domesday Book Grisebi. Compare next and Greasborough; and see -thorpe.
Grittleton (Chippenham). 940 charter Grutelingtone, Domesday Book Gretelinton. ‘Village of the sons of Grutel’, a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Perhaps it is for the fairly common Grimcytel, variant Grichetel, See -ing.
Grizebeck (Furness) and Grizedale (Cumberland). Old Norse griss, ' a pig.' Compare above. On beck, ' a brook,’ see Beckermet.
Groby (Leicester). Domesday Book Grobi, 1298 Grouby. ' Dwelling by the pit.' Old Norse grof, Germanic grube. See -by.
Gronant (Rhyl). Welsch gronant,' sand' or' gravel valley.'
Guash R. (Rutland). Probably Old Welsch gwes, 'that which moves or goes.' Compare too Gaelic guaimeas, ' quietness,' and Wash.
Guernsey. Possibly circa 380 Notit. Dign. ' Granona in Armorica.' If so the first part of this name must be Keltic, or pre-Keltic; perhaps Welsch gwern, ' plain, moor, and alder tree,' with Norse ending. But it is before 1170 Wace Guernesi, 1218 Patent R. Ger(n)esie, 1219 Gernereye; 1286 Close R. Gennere, 1447 Guernesey, 1449 Garnyse,1454 Gernessey. Some think it is also before 1220 Volsunga Saga Varinsey. The name is probably Norse ' Isle of Goerwine ' or ' Gerinus, ‘names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, or of an unrecorded Goern, in which case s in 1218 will be an English genitive and r in 1219 a Norse one. See -ey.
Guilden Morden (Royston, Hunts) and Sutton (Chester), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Mordune,1166 Mordone, 1236 Mordene. ' Moor, down '; Old English dun, changed into denu, ' (wooded) valley.' Later, 1255 Geldenemordon, 1317 Guldenemordon, 1302 Gylden, 1342 Gilden, 1346 Gyldene. This also probably, thinks Skeat, means ' Morden of the guild-brother,' Old English gyldena, genitive plural of gylda, ' a guild-brother.' But further evidence is needed. It can hardly be the same as Domesday Book Goldene (Salop), with which compare Goldenhill (Stoke-on-Trent).
Guildford. Domesday Book Glideford, Geldeford, circa, 1100 Ralph the Black Guldedune (Old English dun, ' hill, hillfort '), 1120 Geldeforda, before 1199 Goldeford, 1298 Gildeforde. ' Ford with the toll '; Old English zield, zeld, zyld, ' payment, tribute.'
Guisborough (Yorks). Domesday Book Ghigesborg; but it is also Domesday Book Giseborne, 1151 Gyseburne. Compare Gisburn and see bourne. It is difficult to say what name Ghige- represents, but probably it is the same as in Ginge (Berks), which is in Old English charter Gaeging, Geinge, Gainge; Domesday Book Gainz,' place of the sons of Goega'; also compare Codex Diplomaticus vi.137, Geganlege,' Gega's meadow.' In Ghiges-we have astrong genitive instead of the weak -an, and Gise- is a contraction; also see next.
Guiseley (Shipley). Domesday Book Gisele. ' Gisa's lea' or 'meadow.' See above, and compare Domesday Book Norfk., Guistune. See -ley.
Gulval (Penzance). Sic 1521; 1536 Gulvale alias Lanesleye (1222 Lanesely). Called after Gudwall, Bishop of St. Malo, 6th century. But Lanesely must mean' church of' some other saint.
Gumley (Leicester) Domesday Book Godmundelai, 1292 Gomuudele. 'Lea, meadow of Godmund'; 3 such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Godmanchester and Goodmanham; and see -ley.
Gunnersbury (Kew). Not found till the the 15th century. 'Burgh, town of Gunner.’ Norse Gunnarr, a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum next and Ballygunner (Waterford); and see -bury.
Gunnerskeld (Shap). 'Well of Gunner' (see above); from Old Norse kelda, ' a well, a spring." Compare Threlkeld (Penrith).
Gunnisleke (Tavistock). Perhaps 'Lake of Gunna'; there is one such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum On this Norse name, which means ' war,' see the interesting discussion in Oxford Dictionary s.v. gun sb. Gunston (Staffordshire) before 1300 Gonestone, Gunstone. Gunn is still a common surname. Lake is already found in Old English as lac, though rarely. Compare Filey. But Domesday Book Devon has a Gherneslete? this place, which may be from Old English geloet(e), ' open watercourse ' or 'junction of roads' (see leat, sb.), and so 'leat of Geornn' or ' Geornwi,' corrupted into Gunnislake. Compare, too Gurney Slade.
Gunthorpe (Nottingham and Norfolk). Nottingham G. Sic before 1100 in grant of 664, but Domesday Book Gulntorp, Gunnetorp, 1278 Guntorp. Normal G. Domesday Book Gunestorp. ' Village of Gunna.' See above, and -thorpe. Possibly the name embedded is Gunhildr; compare Gunthwaite (Yorks), 1389 Gmmyldthwayt.
Gunwalloe (The Lizard). Named from Winwaloe, son of Fragan of Brittany, circa, 550.
Gurney Slade (Bath). This looks as if the same name as Domesday Book Devon, Gherneslete; see Gunnislake. Domesday Book Somerset has only Gernefelle,' Georn's field.''
Guyhirn (Wisbech). 'Guy's nook' or 'hiding-place'; Old English hyrne, now hern, hirn. Guy is ac ommon Norman Name in England. But Guy's Cliff (Warwick) is before 1200 Gibbechve, Kibbechve, before 1300 Chibbeclive i.e., ' Gibbie's ' or ' Gilbert's cliff.'
Gwaelod-y-Garth (Cardiff). Welsch, 'bottom of the little cornfield.' Garth must be a loan-wood, from Old Norse garh-r, ' an enclosure, a yard'; but in Welsch it now means ' a ridge, a hill, a promontory.'
Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen (Glamorgan). Looks like Welsch gwaen cae gwr gwen, ' moor with the field of the fairman'.
or Gwayne (Pembrokesh.) before 800 Guoun, or Gvoun; Welsch gwaen, ' a (wet) moor.' Compare Waunarlwydd, Glamorgan (W. arglwydd, ' a superior, a lord ')
Gweek (Helston). Corn, gweek; Latin vicus, 'town, village.' Compare Week St. Mary, etc.
Gwinear (Hayle, Cornwall). Not in Domesday Book 1536 Gwynner. Some would say. Cornish gwin nor, ' white earth.' Compare Annor. But Gwynear was a saint, killed by King Listewdrig.
Gwynfai or -Fe (Llangadock). 1317 Gwynuey. To-day Welsch gwyn fai, aspirated from mai, ' fair field.' But -uey may= gwy, 'river.'
Gyting and Temple Guiting (Cutsdean, Worcester). 974 Gytincgas Aewelme, Gytinc, -ges. Gyting seems a patronymic, ' place of the sons of Gytha, Gythe, Githa,' or ' Gida,' all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing. Old English cewylme is ' a spring, a well.’ See Ewelme.

Hacheston (E. Suffolk). Domesday Book Haces, Hecestuna. 'Town of Hacca"; 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Hackness (Whitby). Bede Haconos, Hakenes; Old English vers. Hecanos; Domesday Book Hagenesse. Haconos is Old Norse for' Haco's ness' or' nose.' Compare Hackthorpe (Penrith) and Haconby (Bourne). But a farm called Hackbury or Ackbury (Brewood, Staffordshire) is before 1300 Herkebarewe and 1304 Erkebarwe,' burial-mound of' an unidentifiable man.
Hackney (London), circa, 1250 Hackenaye, Hacquenye; temp. Edw. IV. Hackeney or Hackney. " Isle of Hacca, Hacco’ or ' Hacun ‘; several so-called in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ey. Nothing to do with hackney, the ' horse,' which is Old France haquenee, and not found in English before about 1330. Compare Hagbourne (Wallingford), before 900 charter Hacca broce, Domesday Book Hacheborne, 1291 Hakeburn.
Haddenham (Thame and Ely). Thame H. Domesday Book Hadena; Ely. H. Cocex Diplomaticus vi. 98 Haedanham; circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Hadenham, Haederham, Hadreham; Domesday Book Hadreham; 1300 Hadenham. ' Home of Hoeda ' or ' Heada.' The forms with r pro n are due to a common confusion of liquids.Compare Haden.
Haddon Hall (Bakewell). Domesday Book Hadun(a), old English for' high hill,' hedh, ' high.' Compare a ' Hadune ' (Notts), in Roll Rich. I.
Haden Cross (Dudley). Named from a family long resident here. A family of Haden is found at RowleyRegis in 1417. Compare Haddenham.
Hadfield (Manchester). Not in Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. Compare 778 charter 'To' hadfelde zeate.' This cannot mean 'head field,' but will be ' field of Hadd, Hada, Hadde, or Headda,' names all found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Essex Hadfelda. Not the same as Hatfield.
Hadleigh (Suffolk) and Hadley (Droitwich). Suffolk H., not in Domesday Book, before 1200 Heddele, still the local pronunciation Dr. H. 1275 Hedley. Probably ' Headda's meadow.' But Hadley (Wellington, Salop) is said to be old Haethleigh, Old English hoeth,' a moor, a heath.' It is Domesday Book Hatlege, and in Domesday Book medial th regularly becomes d. Hadsor (Droitwich) is before 1100 Headesofre, Domesday Book Hadesore, 1275 Haddesovere. ' Bank, edge of Headda,' Old English ofr, obr, ' bank, brink, edge.' See -or.
Hadstock (Cambridge). 1494 Fabyan Hadestok. Compare R. Rich I. Hadestache (Derby). Either ‘place of Hadde or Headda, see Hadfield; or from hade sb1 Oxford Dictionary ' a strip of land left unploughed, as a boundary, etc'. Found in 1523. Stock is the same root as stake.
Haggerston (London). Domesday Book Hergotestane. Either 'stone of Hoergod, Heregod, or Heregyth,' all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; or ' stone of the heriot,’ Old English here-geatu, a feudal service, now commuted to a money payment on the death of a tenant. See Oxford Dictionary s.v. Heriot. But there is or was a Haggerston (Co. Durham), 1183 Agardeston, 1213 Hagardeston, which must be from a man Haggard, Old France Agard, still a surname.
Hagley (Stourbridge). Domesday Book Hageleia, before 1200 Hageleg. The first half is thought to be Norse, though such names are very rare in this shire. Old Norse hagi, Sw. hage, ' enclosed field, pasture,’ not found in Eng.,as hag sb",until 1589. More probably is derivation from Old English haga, with the same meaning, cognate with Old English hege, ' a hedge.' The -ley (q.v.) is ' meadow.' Compare Haglow (Awre), old Hagloe. See -low. This may be from a man Agga, short for Agamund, a common name, as a form Aggemede is found for Hagmede, also in Gloucester
Haigh and Haighton (see Haughton).
Haikable (West Midlands). Said to be High Cop Gill or ' ravine '; from Old Norse ha-r kopp-r, ' high top (of a hill).' See -gill.
Hailes (Gloucester) and Hales (Market Drayton). Domesday Book Hales (?), before 1400 Hali, Hales. Gloucester H. Domesday Book Heile, circa, 1386 Chaucer Hayles. Old English healh, dativ heale, Mercian halh, hale, ' a nook, corner, secret-place,' with common English plural. Some make it ' meadowland by a river, a haugh.' See -hall. Hale (Arreton, Isle of W.) is Domesday Book Atehalle, ' nook of Ata,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, where the personal name has fallen away. We have the simple Hale also at Liverpool, Altrincham, Gloucestershire and Chingford. The plural s is usually late.
Hailsham (Sussex). Not in Domesday Book 1230 Close R. Eilesham. ' Home of AEla,' 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Hainault Forest (Essex). Old Henholt. This old form tends to bar out connection with Hainhault or Philippa of Hainhault, Germany, consort of Edward III. Some think it is, Old English hean (inflected form of heah), holt, 'high wood.' As likely hen represents Danish hegna,' a hedge, an enclosure,' Old Norse hegna,' to enclose.' Domesday Book Essex has only Henham.
Hainton (Lincoln), Domesday Book Hagetone, Haintone, Haintun, and Hainworth (Yorks), Domesday Book Hageneworde. Probably from same man as in Haunton (Tamworth), 942 Hagnatun, before 1300 Hagheneton, and in Hanyard, 1227 Hagonegate, Hageneyate. ' Town and' farm of Hagene.' See-worth.
Haisthorpe (Yorks). Domesday Book Aschiltorp, Ascheltorp, Haschetorp, ' Place of AEs or Ascytel,' variant Askyl, Aschil. See Asselby and -thorpe.
Hakin (Milford Haven). Sometimes thought to be from the Norse King Haco(n) (? which). Such an origin would be contrary to analogy. It may be corruption of haven. Compare Copen-hagen, ' merchants' haven.’
Halam (see Hallam).
Hale (see Hailes).
Halesowen (Worcestershire). Domesday Book Halas, 1276 Halesowayn, 1286 Halesowen. See Hailes. The Owen comes from David ap Owen, prince of N. Wales who married Emma, sister of Henry II., in 1174.
Halford (Shipston and Stourbridge). Shipston H. 950 charter Halhford, 1176 Haleford. ' Ford at the meadow-land,' or ' haugh,' Old English healh ; see -hale, -hall. But Sorbridge H. is 1343 Oldeforde.
Halifax. Curious name. It seems always (see below) to have been so spelt, since the founding of the Church of St. John the Baptist here soon after 1100. If so, it must be Old English halig feax, ' holy (2-4 hali) locks ' or ' head of hair,' perhaps referring to some picture of the head of St. John. On the strength of a comparison with Carfax (see Oxford Dictionary, s.v.), it is often said to mean ' holy fork ' or ' holy roads,' converging as in a fork, Latin furca. Carfax is first found in 1357 Carfuks, and not till 1527 as Carfaxe, so this origin seems quite untenable. perhaps The earliest original document which names the place is a letter, circa, 1190, which speaks of' ignotatae ecclesisae Haliflex,'where the l seems to be a scribe's error, and -flex must be feax. ' Holy flax ' would make no sense. In Domesday Book it seems to be called Feslei. Can the Fesbe feax too?
Halkin (Holywell). Domesday Book Alchene, a puzzling form. But, as the village now lies at the foot of a hill called Helygen, this is probably the origin. It means in Welsch ' a willow-tree.'
Hallam (Sheffield). Domesday Book Hallun. An old locative 'on the slopes,' Old Norse hall-r, 'a slope'; compare La Haule, Jersey. Halam (South- well) is also in charter set Halum, 1541 Halom. For a Norse word taking on an Eng. locative form, compare Holme-on-the-Wolds. Hallen (Henbury), old Hel(l)en, may be from Welsch helen, ' salt '; but this is doubtful.
Halliford (Shepperton). 969 charter Halgeford, inflected form of Old English haligford,' holy ford,' 1316 Halgheford.
Hallikeld (Yorks). Old Norse heilag-r kelda, 'holy well or. spring.' Old English halig, 'holy.' Compare Gunnerskeld and 1202 Fines Helghefelde.
Hallingbury (Bp's. Stortford). Domesday Book Halingheberia. ' Burgh, town of the sons of? ' Older forms needed to identify this patronymic? from Halig or Healfdene. See-ing.
Hallington (Corbridge, Northumberland). Compare 806 charter Halington, in the Midlands. Probably a patronymic, ''Haling or Hayling's town.' Compare Hayling I.
Halloughton (see Haughton).
Hallow (Worcester). 816 charter Heallingan, Halhegan, Halheogan, 963 the same Hallege, Domesday Book Halhegan, 1275 Hallawe. A very puzzling name. It surely must be meant to represent hallow, ' a saint,’ then,' the shrine of a saint,’ Old English halza, halze plural halzan, 2 halechen ; whilst Heall- Hal- does look as if it had something to do with -hall (q.v.).
Ha(l)lsall (Ormskirk). 1224 Haleshal, 1312 Halesale, 1320-46 Halsale, 1394 Halsalle. Probably ' hall of Hala ' or some such name; Halga is the nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Were the name late it might be ' Hal's hall.' Compare ' Halsam ' in a grant of before 675, near Chertsey, Halstead, Halstock, and Domesday Book Halstune (Salop), also Halsham (Yorks), Domesday Book Halsam, Halsem. For the ending -all compare Walsall, etc., and see -hall.
Halton (8 in Postal Guide). Leeds H. Domesday Book Halletun. Craven H. Domesday Book Haltone, Alton,1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Aleton. Tring H. Domesday Book Haltone. ' Village with the hall or mansion.' See -hall and -ton. But Domesday Book Yorks, Haltun, is now Great Houghton, and 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Northumberland Haulton, probably has a similar origin.
Haltwhistle (Carlisle). 1178 Arbroath Charter Haucwy - litle (scribe's error), 1220 the same Hauetwisel; later in same charter Hautwisil, Hauttwysill, 1553 Hawtwesjdl, before 1600 Hartweseil. Local pronunciation Haw-tessel. The first syllable is doubtful. Some say, Old English hawe, ' a look-out.’ The likeliest origin is Old English hdwi twisla, ' bluish-grey confluence,' where Haltwhistle burn joins Tyne Old English hawi, heawi, hoewi, 6-9 haw, ' bluish, greyish, or greenish blue,' and see Twizel. Compare charter ' Hocgetwisle ' (Hants), and Oswaldtwistle (Accrington).
Halvergate (Norwich). Domesday Book Halfriate, 1157 Halvergiata. Old Norse halfr gat (Old ENnglish geat), 'the half gate’? one which only closed the entrance half-way up.
Ham (Hungerford, Richmond, and Essex). Essex. H. 969 charter Hamme, Old English for ' enclosure.' See -ham. But Hambrook (Winterbourne), Domesday Book Hambroc, may be Old English hean broc, ' at the high brook.'
Hamble, R. (Solent). Bede Homelea, circa, 1450 Fortescue Hammelle Ryce and Hammelle the Hoole. M'Clure suggests that this may be an aspirated form of R. Camel; but the name is doubtful.
Hambledon (Godalming and Cosham). Godalming. H. Old English charter Hamselendun, Domesday Book Hameledone, ' Hamela's for-t.' Also, Hambleton (Selby and Preston). Both Domesday Book Hamelton, from the same name.
Hamerton (Hunts). Domesday Book Hambertune, and Great Hammerton (W. Riding), Domesday Book Hanbretune, look as if from an inflected form of the common name Heahbeorht=- Hanbeorht, Hanbert, or the like. But Hammerton (Yorks), Domesday Book Hamereton, seems ' town of Haimhere or Haimheardus or Haimerus,’ a name still surviving as Hamar. Compare Hammersmith and -wich; also Domesday Book Norfolk Hameringahala.
Hammer (Haslemere and Prescot). No tin Domesday Book Old English heah mere, ' high pool ' or ' lake’.’Seen inflected in the name Hanmer. Compare Abenger Hammer and Emmer; also Hampole.
Hammersmith (London). Seems to have no old forms, and no history before Chas. I. ' Hermodewode,’ mentioned in Enc. Brit., cannot be the same name. Nor can the place be called from the artisan hammersmith, found in Eng. from 1382. There is no such placename in England. Probably it is ' Hamer’s smite,’; Old English smite, a rare word, probably meaning ' a bog, a morass.' See Smite, Domesday Book Smithh. It can hardly be ‘Hamers’s Mythe, or river-mouth, as there is none such here. Compare Hamerton.
Hamose, (Anchorage, Plymouth). Home (shelter) among the ooze,’ Mittel English oaze, wose, Old English wos, ‘juice’. See -ham.
Hammerwich (Lichfield). Domesday Book Humerwiche, circa, 1200 Hamerwich, before 1300 Homerwich. ' Dwelling, village of Homer ' or ' Hamar.' Compare Hamerton and Homerton (E. London).
Hampole (Doncaster). Domesday Book Hanepol, which is an inflected form for Old English Man pol, ' high pool.' Compare Hammer and Hanley.
Hampshire. Old English Chronicum 755 Hamtlinscire, circa, 1097 Fhr. Worcester Hantunscire. Hamtun is Old English for ' hometown,' which as a placename is spelt Hampton. There is a R. Hamps (N.E. Stafford), but it seems impossible to guess its origin, though Duignan connects with the vb. hamper. It is a river so ' hampered ' that it totally disappears underground for a time. Hampen (Gloucester) is Domesday Book Hagenpene,' fold of Hagan.'
Hampstead (London), and Hampstead Marshall and Norris (Berks). London H. Domesday Book Hamestede. Old English ham-stede, 'home- stead, home-place or farm.' Compare Ashampstead (Pangbourn), 1307 Ashamsted, and Finchamstead (Berks), Domesday Book Finchamestede, ' homestead with the finches.' Hampstead Marshall was in possession of Roger le Bygod, Earl of Norfolk and Lord Marshal of England, in 1307. Norris is from the Norman family of Norreys. There is also a Haimstead (Handsworth), before 1400 Hampstede and Hamstede, and Dunhampstead (Droitwich), 804 charter Dunhamstyde, 972 Dunhaemstede. Hampnett (Gloucester), Domesday Book Hantone, but Kirby's Quest. Hamptoneth, maybe for ' Hampton heath.'
Hampton and Hampton Court (London; 11 Hamptons in Postal Guide). 781 Synod of Brentford Homtune, Domesday Book Hamntune, 1402 Hampton, 1514 lease Hampton Courte, also Domesday Book Hantone (Cheshire), Hantuna (Essex). Old English ham has as one of the earliest, if not its earliest meaning, ‘village’, so ham-tun will mean’ enclosed, fortified village;’ or else, house, home.’ The letter p has a b habit of intruding itself where not needed. Compare Bampton, Bromton, etc.
Hampton-Lucy (Stratford, Warwick), circa, 1062 charter Heamtun, Domesday Book Hantone, and Hampton-in-Akden, Domesday Book Hantone, before 1200 Hantune in Arden, are Old English hean tun, inflected form of 'high town,’ heah, ' high.' Compare Hanburey. H.-Lucy has been held by the Lucy family from the time of Queen Mary. Hampton Gay (Oxon.) is also Heantun in 958.
Hamstall Ridware (Rugeley). 1004 Rideware, Domesday Book Riduare, before 1300 Rydewar Ham(p)stal. Old English hamsteall, ' homestead.' Compare circa, 1200 charter Whalley Abbey Hamstalesclogh. Ridware Duignan is probably right in thinking to be Ridwara, 'dwellers on the rhyd ‘; only that in Welsch means ' ford ' not ' river.' Canterbury, etc.
Hanbury (Droitwich, Bromsgrove, Burton-on-T., and Oxfordshire). Droitwich. H. 691 charter Heanburg, 757 the same Heanburh, Hanbiri, 796 the same Heanbyrig. Bromsgrove. H. 836 charter Heanbvrg, Domesday Book Hambyrie. Burton. H. before 1300 Hamburi, Hambury, before 1400 Hanbury, 1430 Hambury. Ofordsh.. H. Domesday Book Haneberge, 1495 Hanburye. Old English hean byrg is ' high burgh,' even as Hampton is often ' high town.' But in both cases ham may be ' home '; probably not. Henbury (Bristol), 691 charter Heanburg, Domesday Book Henberie, is, of course= Hanbury. Compare next and Henfield. See -bury.
Hanchurch (Trentham). Domesday Book Hancese (-cese for -circe), 1296 Hanchurch. Old English hean circe, ' high church.'
Handborough or Hanborough (Woodstock). Domesday Book Haneberge, probably Old English hean beorge, ' high hill '; beorg is ' a mountain, a hill, a mound,' and heah is ' high,' genitive hean. It may be ' cocks' hill,’ Old English hana, ' a cock,' han-cred, ' cockcrow.'
Handforth (Manchester). Some think this is 'ford (q.v.) with a handrail across it.' But Handsworth (Sheffield) is Domesday Book Handeswrde, from a man Hand, while Handsworth (Birmingham) is Domesday Book Honeswrde, before 1200 Honesworth, Hunesworth, before 1300 Hunnesworth, ' farm of Hona ' or ' Hunna.' See -worth.
Hanging Grove (Hanley Child), Hanging Heaton (Dewsbury), and Hanging Houghton (Northampton). Dewsbury H. Domesday Book Etun, Normal H. not in Domesday Book 1230 Close R. Hangadehout. Hanging is corruption of Old English hangra, ' a wood on a sloping hill.' Compare Birchanger, etc. The -dehout in 1230 seems to mean ' of Hout,' an unrecorded name. Houghton is always a difficult name. See, too, Heaton, and compare Hangerbury Hill (Gloucester).
Hankham (Hastings). 947 charter Hanecanham, probably this place, Domesday BookHenecha'. ' Home of Haneca.' Compare Domesday BookBucks, Hanechedene. 947 cannot be, as some think, Hanham Abbots (Winterbourne), Domesday Book Hanun, Hanon, circa, 1170 Hanum, which seems to be the old locative common in Yorks, ' at Hana's.' See -ham. But Hankerton (Malmsbury) is 1282 Haneketon. from the same name as Hankham. Domesday Book Hardintone. Two Hardings in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ardington and Hardington (Lamington, Sc). See -ton and its inter- change with -stone.
Hanley (3 in Worcester and Staffordshire). Domesday Book Hanlege, Hanlie (Upton-on- Severn), 817 Heanley (Tenbury), Bom. Hanlege, 1275 Childrehanle (Hanley Child), 1332 Hanley (Potteries). Perhaps all Old English hean lege, ' high meadow.’ Compare Hanbury. Childre- is genitive plural of child. But it is to be noted that there are 2 called Hana in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum (compare Honley); whilst Hanney (Berks) is 956 charter Hannige, Domesday Book Hannei, ' isle of the cock,’ Old English hana. Compare Domesday Book Salop, Hanelev.
Hanwell (Ealing). Domesday Book Hanewelle. All these names in Han- are doubtful as to the first syllable Hanwell must be interpreted as Hanley is, and compare Hanbury. But, to show how uncertain the ground is, Hanyard (Stafford) is 1227 Hagonegate, Hageneyate, with which compare Haunton (Tarnworth), 942 charter Hagnatun, before 1300 Hagheneton, Hanneton, ' Hagene's gate ' and ' town.'
Happisburgh (Norwich). Domesday Book Hapesiburc, 1450 Happysborough. Local pronunciation Hazeboro'. The name is sometimes spelt Haisboro' and Hazebro'. The contractions are interesting; the z sound is rare in such a case. ' Town of Happi,’ though Heppo is the nearest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -burgh.
Harberton (see Market Harborough).
Harbledown (Canterbury). Not in Domesday Book 1360 (letter of a France chaplain) Helbadonne. 'Hill, down, OLD ENGLISH dun, of Harble,' which is probably the Old English Heardbeald, 1 such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Harborne (Birmingham). Domesday Book Horeborne, circa, 1300 Horeburn, before 1400 Horbourne; -bourne (q.v.) is 'brook.' Old English har, Mittel English hor(e) is ' hoar, hoary, grey, old,' but har or hare often also means ' boundary,' and this place is on the border between Staffordshire And Worcestershire. Compare Harome and Hoar Cross; also Harridge ' (Redmarley), 1275Horerugge,' ridge on the boundary between Worcester and Hereford.
Harborough, Great and Little (Rugby). 1004 charter Hereburgebyrrig, Domesday Book Herdeberge, before 1300 Herdebergh, Herdeberwe, Herburburi. ' Hereburh's town.' See -borough. But Harbury (Leamington) is Domesday Book Edburberie, Erbur(ge)berie i.e., ' Eadburh's burgh ' (see -borough) whilst Harburston (Pembroke) is 1307 Herbraundyston, from Herbrand, an early Flemish settler. Harby (Notts) is Domesday Book Herdebi, compare Hardwick.
Harbottle (Rothbury). Sic 1595. Old English har boil, 'hoary, grey house.' Compare Old Norse har-r, and Newbattle (Sc).
Harden (Walsall), before 1400 Haworthyn, Hawerthyn, Hawardyne, 1648 Harden. Old English heah worthyn, ' high farm.' See -wardine. It has now the same pronunciation, but has not quite the same meaning, as Hawarden. Harden (Yorks) is Domesday Book Heldetone, or ' town on the slope,' Old English hylde, helde.
Hardingstone St. Edmunds (Northampton). Domesday Book Hardingestone, but circa, 1123 Hardingestroona. Thought to be a corruption of '' Harding's, thorn.' Also, Hardington-Mandeville (Yeovil), Domesday Book Hardinctone. Two Hardings in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ardington and Hardington (Lamington, Scottish) See -ton ant its interchange with -stone.
Hardwick(e). There are said to be 26 in England. Cambridgeshire H. circa, 1080 Inquis Cambridge and Codex Diplomaticus iv. 245 Hardwic, 1171 Herdwice, Domesday Book Gloucester Herdeimic; Bucks, Harduich, Harduic; Yorks, Hardwic and Arduuic; Durham H. 1183 Herdewyk, 1197 Herdewich; Lines. H. Domesday Book Harduic, 1204 Herduic. Also Codex Diplomaticus iv. 288 Hcordewica, perhaps in Northants. Usually derived from herd, ' herd's, shepherd's dwelling.' Skeat insisted that it could be nothing else, pointing to the form Heordewica, and to the fact that by rule eo in Old English becomes a in our time. This is indisputable. There is also a word herdwick (see Oxford Dictionary, s.v.) Domesday Book 'iii. hardvices,’? circa, 1150 herdewica, 1537 herdwyk, which is explained as ' the tract of land under the charge of a herd or shepherd...as heepfarm.' But there is this difficulty, that, except occasionally in Northumberland, herd is never pronunciation hard; and according to Oxford Dictionary, neither Old English heord, hiord, 3- herd, ' a flock, a herd,’ nor hirde, hierde, ' a shepherd,' were ever spelt hard. So that the name, in some of its many occurreces, must have been thought to be Old English heard wic, ' hard, solid dwelling,' hard being given as 2-4 herd. Hardwick Priors (Southam) used to belong to the monks of Coventry. But curiously Duignan can give no early forms for either of the Warwick Hardwicks. He, however, gives before 1300 Hordewyke for Hardwick (Eldersfield, Worwestershire). See -wick.
Harewood (Leeds), before 1142 Wm. Malmsbury Harewode. Old English hara-wudu, ' hares' wood.' Compare Harwell. But Haresfield (Gloucester), Domesday Book Hersefeld, 1179 Harsefelde, is ' field of Hersa,' though Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Heorstan.
Harkstead (Ipswich). Domesday Book Herchestede. 'Stead, steading, or dwelling-place of Heore' or' Hark,' still as surname. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicumhas only one Hercus.
Harlaston (Tamworth) and Harleston (Bungay). Tamworth H. 1004 charter Heorlfestun, circa, 1100 the same Heorlaveston, Domesday Book Horulvestune, before 1200 (H)erlaveston(e), before 1300 Horlaveston. Bungay. Harleston Codex Diplomaticus 1298 Heorulfestun, Domesday Book Heroluestuna. ' Heoruwulf's or ' Heorelf's town '; 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Harlech (Barmouth) Welsch hardd llech,' beautiful rock.' So named, it is said, when Edw. I. built a castle here.
Harley (Rotherham and Much Wenlock). Rotherham H. 1179-80 Herlega. Much H. Domesday Book Harlege. Probably North. Old English for 'higher meadow,' Old English heah, hiera, Angl. hera, in 5 har, her. See -ley.
Harlington (Hounslow and Dunstable). Hounslow H. Domesday Book Herdington, but Dustable H. Domesday Book Herlingdone. ' Town of Harding.' See Hardingstone. There is no name like Harding in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but compare Harlton and the Norse Erling.
Harlow Heath and Car (Harrogate). Probably' grey, hoary-look- ing hill,’ Old English hr, Old Norse har-r, and see -low. Car is either Old English carr, ' a rock,’ or Norse kjarr, ' copse, brush wood.' Compare Domesday Book Essex, Herlaua.
Harlton (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Gamb. Harletona, Herletona, 1339 Harleton. "Probably ' Herla'n village.' Compare Harlaston and Harston, also Harlsey, E. and Welsch (N. Riding), Domesday Book Herelsaie, Herlesege, Herselaige, ' isle of Herla.' See -ey.
Harnhell (Cirencester). Domesday Book Harehille, circa, 1300 Harenhull. Probably ' grey hill,' Old English hiar, -an, ' grey, hoary.' Compare Harridge in same shire.
Harold (Beds), old hare weald, and Harold Wood (Romford). Probably both Old English hara weald, ' hare wood ' or ' forest region.' Domesday Book Beds has only Hareuuelle, and it is not in Domesday Book Essex.
Harome (Nawton, Yorks). Domesday Book Harem, Harun, which last must be a locative 'at the boundaries,' Old English har. Compare Hallam, Harborne, etc.
Harpenden (Herts). 1250 Harpendene, 1298 Harpeden, and compare 966 in Birch. Cartularium Saxanicum iii. 435 Of] paere graezan hane and lang hearpdene. ' Dean, woody vale of the harp,' Old English hearpe. Skeat, however, prefers to derive from a man Herp. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 34, Herpesford i.e., Harpford (Devon). There is also a Harpsden (Henley- on-Thames). The differing genitives, -en and -es, are against identifying all three. Note, too, Harpham (E. Riding), Domesday Book Harpein, where the ending is probably a corrupt locative as in Hallam, etc., and Harpley (Worcstrsh.), 1275 Arpeley, Harpele.
Harperley (Co. Durham). 1183 Harperleia. The 'meadow of the harper’, Old English hearpere, Old Norse harpari. See -ley.
Harringay (N. London), before 1300 Haringee, of which Hornsey is a corruption. As in Harrington (Cumberland and Northants) and Harringworth (Kettering), Harring must be, surely, a man's name, possibly a patronymic. There is one Hoering in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and Herring is still an Eng. surname. See -ing. The -gee in before 1300 is perhaps the rare Old English ge, 'region,' which Skeat thought to be found in Ely, Bede's El-ge. But see also -ay. Compare Herringby.
Harrogate. The original name, before 1600, was Haywra or Heywray, ' hedged-in corner or landmark,' Old Norse hagi (Old English liege),' a hedge,' and lorda, ' corner, turn, landmark.' Compare Wrawby. Hay and haw are very near of kin, and bot hmean' hedge, 'and haw-wvra could easily refine into Harro-; while-gate is Old Norse gata,' a way, a road,' not the same as the common Eng. gate, ' a door.' Possibly the first syllable is Old English heah, 3-5 hei, hey, ' high.' Compare Haverah and Wray.
Harrow-on-the-Hill. Perhaps 767 charter Gumeninga hergae. Domesday Book Herges, later Hareways, 1616 Visscher Haroue on the hill. Possibly Old English hoerg, hearg, ' a heathen temple.’ Compare Pepperharrow, 1147 Peper Harow. The sb. harrow is not found in Eng. till before 1300, as haru, harwe, and so cannot be thought of here.
Harston (Cambridge and Grantham). Not in Domesday Book Cambridge H. 1291 Hardeleston, 1298 Hardlistone, 1316 Hardlestone. Probably ' Hardulf or Heardivulf's village ' (Skeat)
Hastings – named for a man called Heasta, and his ‘inga’, or people. So Heastaingas, ‘the settlement of Heasta’s people’. Nearby Battle Abbey was named after the big clash of 1066.
Harswell (York). Domesday Book Ersewelle. More old forms needed. Perhaps from a man Erra, 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Perhaps from Old English har,' a boundary.' Compare Harome. Hardly = Harwell.
Hartington (Buxton). Not in Domesday Book “circa, 1150 Grant ‘Hertedona in Pecco (Peak).’ The central r probably represents a genitive, ‘harts’ hill.’ Old English herot, Heorot, ‘a hart, a stag. The endings -don and -ton often interchange (q. v).
Hartlebury (Kidderminster). 817 and 980 charter Heortlabyrig, 985 the same Heortlanbyrig, Domesday Book Huertberie, before 1200 Hertlebery, ' Burgh of Heortla,' otherwise unknown but compare Harford (North-leach), which is 779 charter lorotlaford, not in Domesday Book; also Irthlingborough.
Hartlepool. Bede Heruteu, id est, Insula Cervi; Old English ver., circa, 850 Herotea. Herot, herut, or heorut is Old English for ' hart, stag,' the ending -eu is a variant of -ey, 'island' (q.v.); whilst ea means ' a stream, water,' which points on to the later ending -pool, 1211 Hartepol, 1305 Hertelpol. The letter l not seldom intrudes itself. See p. 82.
Hartley Wintney (Winchfield). Probably Domesday Book Hardelie (? from a man Heard), and probably Grant of before 675 Hertlys, Hertlye- a spelling which must be much later than the original grant. ' Hart's meadow.' See above, and -ley. Wintney is ' Winton's isle.' See Winchester. Hartlip (Sittingbourne) is circa, 1250 charter Hertlepe, ' hart's leap.' Compare Birdlip.
Harton (Yorks and S.' Shields). Yorks H. Domesday Book Heretun. Compare Domesday Book Haretone (Cheshire). Doubtful. Old English here is 'an army'; but compare Harwell. Hartpury (Gloucester, 1221 Hardpirie, Baddeley thinks' pear-tree,' Old English pirige,' of' some unknown man. Could it not be simply from hard, as almost all its old forms seem to indicate?
Hartshill (Atherstone). Domesday Book Ardreshille, before 1200 Hardredeshulle, Hardreshulle. ' Heardred's hill,' regularly in Midland Mittel E.nglish hull(e). This is a name to bid one beware! But Hartshead (Liversedge) is Domesday Book Horteseve, for Old English heortes heafod, ' hart's head ' or ' height,' while Harthill (Sheffield) is Domesday Book Hertil. With this last compare Hartell or Hartle (Belbroughton).1275 Herthulle,' hart hill.'
Harvington (Chaddesley Corbett). 1275 Herewinton, 1340 Herwynton. ' Hereivine's town.’ But H., Evesham, is 709 charter Herefordtune, 963 the same Herefordtun juxta Avene, Domesday Book Herferthun, 1275 Herrfortune. Here-ford-tune is of course, ' town of the ford of the arm.’ The corruption is very remarkable.
Harwell (Steventon). Old English charter Haranwylle, Domesday Book Harwelle, Harowelle. Skeat says the man ' Hare or Hara's well,’ Old English hara means ' a hare'; but the sign of the genitive suggests a personal name. Harewell or Harwell (Notts) is Domesday Book Herewelle, probably from Old English here, 'an army.'
Harwich. Not in Domesday Book before 1300 Herewica, Herewyck. Old English here-wic,' army-dwelling, camp.' See-wich.
Hasbury (Halesowen), before 1300 Haselburi. Old English hasel byrig or beorh, ' hazel town or ' hill.' Compare Hasler, and Hascombe ' (Godalming), not in Domesday Book But Hasfield (Gloucester). Domesday Book Hasfelde, Hesfelde, is probably from Old English hasu, haso, 'grey,’ though c. 1300 we have Hersfelde. Compare Domesday Book Wilts, Haseberie. See -bury.
Haselor (Alcester), Haselour (Tamworth), and Hasler (Solent). Alcester H. Domesday Book Haselove, before 1300 Haselovere, Ta. H. before 1300 Hazeloure, before 1400 Haselovere. Old English haesel, haesl ofer, 'hazel bank ' or ' border.' Compare Haseley (Warwick), Domesday Book Haseleia, and Asher; also Hasilden (Gloucester), Domesday Book Hasedene, 1274 Hasilton. See -over.
Haslingfield (Cambridge). Domesday Book Haslingefeld, 1284 Haselingfeld. Patronymic, ' field of the Hoeslings ' or ' sons of Hazel,' still a personal name. Old English hoesel, hoesl, 'the hazel-tree.' Compare Haslingden (Lanes), Haslington (Cheshire), and Heslington (Yorks), Domesday Book Haslington.
Hassocks (Sussex). Old English hassuc, ' a clump of matted vegetation,' then ' a clump of bushes or low trees.' Compare (Codex Diplomaticus 655) 986 charter On one hassuc upp an hrofan hricge.
Hastings. 1011 Old English Chronicum Haestingas, 1191 charter Barones de Hastingiis. Patronymic: at first a shire distinct from Sussex, probably called after the E. Saxon viking, Hasten (g), who landed at the mouth of the Thames, Old English Chronicum ann. 893. Compare Croix Hastain, Jersey.
Hatch Beauchamp (Taunton), Domesday Book Hache, and Hatch End (Middlesex). Compare Domesday Book Norfolk and Salop, Hach(e). Old English hoec 3-7 hacche, 4 hach,' a hatch' i.e.,' a half-door, gate, or wicket, then, anys mall gate or wicket.' Compare Colney Hatch.
Hatcham (S. London) = Atcham. Hatfield (Worcester, Herts, Doncaster, Holderness). Worcester H. 1275 Hathfeld, Herts H. Domesday Book Hetfelle, later Hethfeld, Doncaster H. Bede Hethfeld, circa, 850 Old Eenglish hoep felda. Haepfelda, Holderness H. Domesday Book Hedfeld. Old English hoep felda, ' heath field, open field.' But Great Hatfield (Hull) is Domesday Book Haiefeld, Haifeld or -felt—i.e., ' hay field,' Old English hiez, hez„ 2-4 hei, 3-7 hey(e), Old Norse hey, ' hay.' Compare Heathfield.
Hatford (Berks). Domesday Book Hevaford (meant for Hevadford), a 1300 Havedford, 1420 Hautford. Old English heafod-ford, ' head-ford, chief ford.’
Hatherleigh (Devon), Exon. Domesday Book Hadreleia, and Hatherley (Gloucester), 1022 charter Hegberle (? from Old English heaz burh, ' high castle lea'), Domesday Book Athelai, 1150 Haiderleia, 1177 Hedrelega, 1221 Hathirlege. All except 1022 clearly ' heather meadow.' This is interesting, as Oxford Dictionary's earliest form is 1335 hathir, and it thinks it must be quite Northern, while postulating an originally hoedder, hoeddre. Compare Uttoxeter. But Hatherop (Fairford), Domesday Book Etherope, 1148 Haethrop, 1275 Hatrope, 1294 Haythorp, Baddeley makes ' hedged village,' Old English hege, M.E. heie, ' a hedge.' See next, -leigh and -thorpe.
Hatherton (Nantwich and Cannock). Cannock H. 996 charter Hagenthorndun i.e., ' hawthorn hill ' Domesday Book Hargedone, before 1300 Hatherdone, Hatherdene, Hetherdon. An instructive list! See above.
Hatley St. George (Sandy). Codex Diplomaticus iv. 300 Hsettanlea, Domesday Book Hatelai, Atelai, 1284 Hattele. Compare Domesday Book Hatlege (Salop). ' Hoetta's lea.' See -ley.
Hatton (4 in Postal Guide). Duignan says, all Midland Hattons are Old English hoeth-tun,' town on the heath.' Compare Hatfield. None in Domesday Book
Haughton (Stafford), Domesday Book Haltone, before 1200 Halecton, before 1300 Halechtone, Haluchtone, Halegtone; Haughton Green (Manchester), 1314 Halghton; Haughton-le-Skerne (Darlington), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Halhtun, 1183 Halctona, later Halughton. This last is also the spelling of a place in Leicester, charter Edw. III. Thus Halloughton (Kingsbury) is the same name, before 1400 Halghton, Halughton, Haluton; the Notts one is1291Halton. Old English healh, halh, 2-3 halech, 4-7 hawgh, 5-haugh, 'a flat meadow by a riverside.' Compare Haigh (Wigan), Halugh (Bolton), Halton and Haighton (N. Lanes), Domesday Book Halctun and Houghton; also see -hall and -ton. Skerne is a river. But Haughton (Notts), Domesday Book Hoctun, 1278 Hockton, Mutschmami derives from a man Hoc.
Haunton. See Hanwell.
Hauxley-on-Coquet, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Hafodscalfe, which is probably Old English heafodes scelfe (Old Norse skjalf-r), 'head, of the shelf or ledge of rock.' The corruption is curious.
Hauxton (Cambridge), circa, 1060 Hauekstune, Domesday Book Havochestun, 1316 Haukestone. ' Village of Hafoc i.e., the Hawk,' still a personal name. Compare Hawkesbury (Coventry), Hawksworth and Hauxwell (Yorks), Domesday Book Hauocswelle.
Havant (Portsmouth). Old English charter Hamanfunta, 'fountain, font, well of Rama,' 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The present form is simply a phonetic wearing down of the Old ENnglish name. Domesday Book is Havehunte, where the h is probably error for f. Compare Chalfont and Fovant.
Haverah Park. See Harrogate.
Haverford West (Pembroke), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Antoninc Itenary Haverfordia; circa, 1200 Gervase Haverforde, 1603 Harford. In Welsch Hwlffordd or Caeralun. ' Oats-fjord,’Old Norse hafre, plural hafrar, Danish havre, 'oats'; for -ford=N. fjord, compare Waterford opposite, and Milford. The Welsch Hwl- must be a corruption (? of hywl, while ffordd in Welsch means ' a road, a passage.' The full form Haverfordwest is found as early as 1603 Owen.
Havering (Romford). Domesday Book Haveringas, 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Hauering. Probably patronymic, 'place of the sons of Haver' or ' Haward.' See Haversgate, and -ing.
Haversgate Island (Orford). Not in Domesday Book This is probably ' Haward's road or way," Old English geat. Five Hawards in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But Haverthwaite (Ulverston), 1201 Haverthuayt, will be ' oat-place ' or ' farm.' See Haverford, and -thwaite.
Hawarden (Flintshire). Pronunciation Harrden. Compare Garden. Domesday Book Havrdin, Inquis.p.m. Hauwerthyn. ' Hedged farm, Eng. haw, Old English haga,' a hedge,' and see-warden. Compare Harden, which is, N.B., ' high farm.' The Modern Welsch is Pennar Lag or ' high enclosure by the lake,' more correctly, pen arth leg.
Hawes (Kirkby Stephen). Old English and Old Norse hals, ' the neck, a col,' common in Northern placenames for ' the connecting ridge between two heights.' See Oxford Dictionary s.v. hause.
Hawksworth (W. Ridge. and Notts). W. Ridge, H. Domesday Book Hauoc(h)esorde. Notts Domesday Book Hochesuorde, circa, 1190 Houkeswrthe. 'Hawk's place or farm,' Old English heafoc, hafoc, 3-5 hauk(e), ' a hawk.' See -worth. Compare Hawkridge (Berks). Old English charter Heafoc hrycg, and 940 charter Hafuc cnollum (Pewsey, Wilts); also Hawkbach, before 1400 Haukebache, ' hawk valley ' (see Comberbach). Wherever you have the -s of the genitive Hawk will be a man's name. Hauxton, Hawkswick (W. Riding), Domesday Book Hocheswic, and Hawksbury (Foleshill), before 1400 Haukesbury, Hawkesbury (Wickwar.), Domesday Book Havochesberie, also Domesday Book Kent, Havochesten.
Hawnby (Holmsley Yorks). Domesday Book Halmebi, 1201 Fines Halmiby, 1298 Hainleghe. 'Meadow' or 'dwelling' of Helm or Helma,' 2 such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Al easily becomes aw, and m often changes into its kindred liquid n. Compare Hawton (Notts), Domesday Book Holtone, 'dwelling in the holt' or' wood.' See -by and -leigh.
Hawstead (Bury St. Edmunds). 1298 Haustede. 'Place (Scottish ' steading') with a hedge or fence, 'Old English haga , 4-9 haw(e). Haw, Old English haga, and hay, Old English hege, are, of course, cognate, and both mean' hedge, 'but they are not the same words.
Haxby (York). Domesday Book Haxebi. ' Dwelling of Hacca,' 2i n Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Haxey, Doncaster; (see -ey). See -by.
Hay (N.E. of Brecon), circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Itineary Haia, Haya. Old English hege, 4-9 hay(e),' a hedge, a fence,' cognate with haw, and hedge. Compare above and Oxhey. In Welsch it is Tregeili, ' house among the woods.’ Haywood, Great (Rugeley)is Domesday Book Haiwode.
Haydock (St. Helen's). 1168-69 Hedoc, 1170-01 Heddock, 1280 Haydok, 1321 Heydok, 1565 Heghdoyk. Seems to be Old English hege-docce,' hedge of dock or docken.' Compare Doccombe and Hay. Dock fors hips is a late word. Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire are quite uncertain, and suggest a man's name, unknown, for the first part, and Old English ac, ‘oak,' for the second. Hayden (Gloucester), 1220 Heidun, 1222 Heydunn, certainly seems from Old English hege, Mittel English heie, 'hedge,' whilst Hayton (Notts), 1154-89 Haythona, may be from Old English hoep ' a heath.'
Hayes (Uxbridge). 793 charter Haese, Domesday Book Hesa, later Hease, Heyse, Hays. Doubtful; perhaps for Old English hasu, heasu, 'grey or tawny looking.' Possibly from Old English aes, 2 ese, 4 hes, ' carrion'; for ending-a or-e=' watery place,' see -ey.
Hayle, The, or Saltings R. (Bodmin). Corn, hoel,' a tidal river.’
Hayling I. (Portsmouth). Domesday Book Halingei. Probably a patronymic, ' isle of the Halings,' though there is no such name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Hallington, and -ey.
Hazlehurst (Cobham). Grant of circa, 675 Hasulhurst, circa, 1200 Gervase Heselherste. ' Hazel-tree wood,' Old English hoesel, and see -hurst. Compare Haslewood (W. Riding), Domesday Book Heselewode.
Headless Cross (Redditch). Curious corruption 1675 Hedley's Cross. We find a Wm. de Hedley in this district in 1275.
Healaugh (Tadcaster). Domesday Book Hailaga, Helage, Old English heah hah, ' high meadow '; -laugh is a rare form of -leigh or -ley (q.v.). Compare next and Headon (Notts), Domesday Book Hedune.
Healey (Masham and Rochdale), and Healeyfield (Co. Durham). Durham H. 1183 Boldon Bk. Heleie, Heleey. Old English heah leah, ' high meadow.' High is 4-6 hee, he, hie. Compare above and Heaton; and see -ley.
Heapham (Gainsborough). Not in Domesday Book Compare 1200 charter Hepedale. Probably ' home of Heppo,' several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Perhaps from Old English heope, ' the fruit of the wild rose,' a hip, 4-5 hepe 5 heepe. Compare Hepworth.
Heathfield (Sussex and Newton Abbot). Sussex H. not in Domesday Book, local pronunciation Hefful. Newton H. Domesday Book Hetfeld, Hetfelle- i.e., ' heath field.' See Hatfield and compare? circa, 1150 Grant Hethcote, Peak District.
Heaton (7 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Hetun, Etun (Yorks), Hetune (Salop). Old English heah, 4-6 hee, he, hie, ' high.' Similarly, Headon and Hedon (Hull) are ' high hill.' Compare Healey; and see -ton.
Hebburn (Jarrow) and Hebburn Bell (hill, Belford). before 1130 Sim. Dur. Heabyrn and Hybberndune. Heabyrn is certainly Early Eng. for ' high burn or brook,' Old English heah, hea. Hybbern- looks more like ' hip-burn,' brook along which the hips grow, 4-6 heppe, 6-7 hep. Compare above. The personal name is usually spelt Hepburn. See Hepborne. Bell, of course, refers to the shape of the dune or hill; Oxford Dictionary, gives no instances of such a usage.
Heckfield (Basingstoke). 'Field of Heca’; one was Bp. in Sussex, 1047. Compare 836 charter ' Heccaham.' Domesday Book has only Heceford. We get the patronymic in Heckington (Lines). Compare Domesday Book Norfolk Hechincham.
Heddington (Calne) ‘Town of Headda’ or ‘Hedde’ a common Old English name. Compare 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Hedendon (Oxford), and Domesday Book Essex Hidingeforda. Perhaps patronymic. See -ing.
Hednesford (Cannock), before 1400 Hedenesford, Edenesford. 'Ford of Eeoden.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 544 Hednesdene, and Henshaw, Haltwhistle, old Hedneshalgh. See Haughton.
Hedworth (Jarrow). before1130 Sim. Dur. Heathewurthe. ' Heath- place.' The d ending for heath is seen also in the Ger. and Du. heide, Old Norse heid-r. See -worth.
Heeley (Sheffield). 'High lea or meadow'; Old English heah, 4-6 hee, he, hie. Compare Healey; also, Heigley Gas. (Staffordshire). Domesday Book Heolle, before 1300 Helegh, Helley. Duignan makes this a hybrid from Welsch heol,' a road, a way.' See-ley.
Heigham Potter (Norfolk). Domesday Book Hecham, 1444 Heigham Porter and Heigham Potter. ' High home,' Old English heah ham, 4-6 heigh, as still in Scottish. Compare Heighton (Sussex), and Higham. Potter is a corruption of Porter through the vanishing of the liquid r.
Hellesden (Norfolk). 1450 Heylesden, Heylesdon, Haylysdon. 'The woody vale' or' the hill of' some man with a name in Old English beginning with Heel-o rHeal-. There are several such. Possibly from the Scandinavian ogress Hel, the Northern Proserpine; hence the English hell. Domesday Book has only Helesham. Compare Helston; and see -den and -don.
Hellifield (Skipton). Domesday Book Helgefeld, Haelgefeld. Either ' Helgi's or Helga's field'; or from Old English halig, haleg, 3-4 heli, ' holy.' Compare Helbeck (Aysgarth, N. Riding), 1230 Close B. Helebec. See -beck, and Hellaby (S. Yorks), Domesday Book Elgebi.
Helmdon (Brackley).? Domesday Book Elmedene {Oxford Dictionary, has no spelling of elm, with h). Probably Old English helm-dun, ' top of the hill,' from helm, ' top, summit, then, helmet.' Compare ' Helm o' the. Hill ' (S. of Felton), and next.
Helmingham (Stowmarket). Sic in Domesday Book Compare 838 charter Helmanhyrst. ' Home of the sons of Helma' or' Helm.' Compare next, and Domesday Book Yorks Helmeswelle, now Emswell; and see -ing.
Helmington (Bps. Auckland), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Helme, Healme, which is Old English for' top, summit'; taken later for a proper name, and-ington added. Compare above.
Helmsley (N. Yorks). Domesday Book Elmeslac (3 times), Hamclsec (4 times) Almeslai (once). The last form is the present name, the man ' Helm's meadow.’ Compare above. But the other forms look like ' Helm's ' or else ' Hamel's oak,’ Old English ac. See -ley.
Helperby (York). Sic 1441, but Domesday Book Hilprebi, Ilprebi. 'Dwell- ing of Helpric or Hclpericus,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum To make it ' dwelling of the helper ' (a word in English before 1300) would be contrary to analogy. Compare Helperthorpe (Yorks), Domesday Book Elpetorp, and next. See-by.
Helpringham (Sleaford). Domesday Book Helpericha, Helperincham. ' Home of the sons of Helperic' Compare Helperby and see -ing.
Helpston (Market Deeping), before 1100 charter Helpeston. ' Dwelling, village of Helpo,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare the modern name Helps, and Domesday Book Bucks Helpeswrth.
Helston (Falmouth). Sic 1432, 1200 Helleston. Possibly hybrid, from Corn, hellas, ' a marsh.' But compare Hellesden.
Helstry Kingsley (Cheshire). It probably is the goddess ' Hel's tree.' Compare Hellesdon, Oswestry, and Helsby (Cheshire), Domesday Book Helesbe.
Helvellyn ((Mtn., Cumberland). Probably Keltic for 'yellow-looking slope,' hel felyn, Corn, velen, ' yellow." But hel is a somewhat doubtful Kelt. root. There are 3 places in Welsch in Postal Guide called Velindre or' yellow house.'
Hemel Hampstead (Herts). Domesday Book Hamelamestecle, Henamestede (error), 1303 Hemelhamstead. 'Homestead, home place,' Old English ham-stede,' of Hemele,'several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Hemsworth, also Hemlington (N. Riding), Domesday Book Himelintun, Himeligetun, a patronymic from Hemel; Domesday Book Norfolk Hemelingetun. See -ing. Hempstead (Gloucester), Domesday Book Hechanestede, circa, 1120-30 Heccamstede, 1230 Ehamstede, may mean ' high homestead,' Old English heah,' high,' or maybe from Hecca, Heccan, a man. It is often found in full as Heyhamstede, etc.
Hemingburgh (Selby), Knytlinga Saga Hemingaborg, and Hemingby (Horncastle), Domesday Book Hamingebi. ' Fort of Heming,' and ' dwelling of Heming, '3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -burgh and-by.
Hempnall (Norwich). Domesday Book Hemenhala. Compare circa, 1490 ' Hemnales ' (Suffolk). 'Nook of Hemma,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum For intrusion of p, compare Brompton, Hampton, etc. Compare Hempshill (Notts), Domesday Book Hamessel, circa, 1200 Hemdeshill, Hemsby (Gt. Yarmouth), and 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Heimbia (Devon). See -hall.
Hemsworth (Wakefield). Domesday Book Hameleswrde, Hilmeword. ' Farm of Hamele.' Compare Hemel Hampstead; and see -worth.
Hendon (London). Old English charter Hean dun (inflected form) Domesday Book Handune. A Keltic origin is out of the question. It is plainly ' high hill,’ as it is; or else possibly ' Hean's hill.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 246 Heanes pol, also Henstill (Sandford, Crediton), 930 charter Henne stigel, where henne is either Old English for ' hen, or inflected form of heah, ' high ‘; stigel is ' a step’, a ladder, a stile.’ Hencaster (Westminster), Domesday Book Hennecastre, must be ' high camp,’ whilst Heneacre (Gloucester), circa, 1196 Heneacre, is ' high held,’ and Henbarrow (same shire),' high tumulus.
Henfield (Sussex). Domesday Book Hamfeld. As the liquids m and n so often interchange. Ham- is probably Old English hean, inflected or locative form of hedh, ' high,' so 'high field.' Compare Hanbury and Henknolle, 1183 in Boldon Bk., Durham.
Hengston Hill (Cornwall). Old English Chronicum 835 Hengesterdun. ' Hill of Hengest,' but not necessarily the comrade of Horsa, a.d. 449. Old English hengest means ' a male horse, usually a gelding.' Compare Hinksey etc. A Hengest, vassal of the Danes, is mentioned in Beowulf and other early Old Eenglish poems. Baddeley thinks Hengaston (Berkeley) may be for Old English hean goerstun, 'high grass-town.' Compare Wallgaston, nearby, 1243-45 Walhamgarston.
Henham (Bps. Stortford). Sic in Domesday Book, circa, 1220 Elect. Hugo Hengham. Old English hean ham, 'high house,' hean inflected form of heah.
Henley (R. Thames, and in Arden). Thames H. 727 charter Henlea, Domesday Book Henlei; Warwick H. before 1200 Henlea, before 1400 Henleyin Arde(r)n. Either Old English hean leah, 'high meadow,' heah being inflected, or henn-leah, ' hen meadow.' There are also ' Henley ' (Ipswich) and' Henlei,' Domesday Book Surrey. E. and W. Hendred (Wantage). Old English charter Henna rith, is ' hens', waterhens' rill.' Henwood (Solihull), before 1200 Hinewud, is more likely from Old English hina, 3 hine, 5 heynd,7 hiend,' a hind, a servant'; but Henmarsh (Gloucester). 1236 Hennemerse, will be' moor-hen-marsh.'
Hensall (Whitley Br.). Domesday Book Ecleshale, which seems to be for ' jEdan's ' or ' Edan's nook.' See -hall. But Henshaw (Halt- whistle) is circa, 1147 Hethingeshalch; also Hedneshalgh i.e., ' Heoden's haugh ' or ' river-meadow,' influenced by North. English shaw, Old English scaga,' a wood.'
Henstridge (Somerset). Domesday Book Hengesterich, Old English charter Hengestes ricg, Old English for ' Hengest's ridge.' See Hengston.
Hepborne or Hayborne (Wooler). circa, 1330 Hebhorn, 1363 Hibburne, 1366 Hebburne. 'Burn, brook with the hips,' the fruit of the wild rose, Old English heop, hiope, 4-9 hep(e). Compare Hebburn.
Hepworth (Huddersfield) Domesday Book Heppeword. ' Farm o fHeppo.' Compare Heatham; and see -worth.
Hereford. 1048 Old English Chronicum Herefordseir, 1260 Herford. ' Fort of the army,' Old English here. Curioulty, we get much older forms, s.v. Harvington (Bresham), which is 709 Herefordtune, etc. In 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe we still read of ' Herefort in Waliis.'
Hermansole (farm, Canterbury). 'Herman's, pond or pool, Old English sol, ' mire, a muddy place,' now only Kent. dialect sole. Compare Maydensole (Dover)
Herne Hill (London) and Herne Bay (Kent). Compare Codex Diplomaticus iii.279. ' Earnhylle,' Old English hyrne, Mittel English herne, him, 'a corner, nook, hiding - place.' Compare Domesday Book Hants Herne, and Essex Witbrictes herna.
Herringby (Norfolk). Domesday Book Harringebi, circa, 1456 Haryngby. ' Dwelling of Herring.' Still a surname, patronymic from Heara, genitive Hearan. Compare Herringswell (Mildenhall). See -by.
Herringfleet (Suffolk). Domesday Book Herlingaflet, 1361 Herlyngflet. Still a suname, patronymic, from Heara, genitive Hearan. Compare Herringswell (Mildenhall). See -by.
Hersham (Walton-on-Thames). Not in Domesday Book but compare Domesday Book Norfolk Hersam. ' Home of 'someone of them any men with names in Here-, Heremod, Heresic, Hereweald, etc.
Herstmonceux (Pevensey). ' Hurst, forest (of Anderida), belonging to the Norman family Monceaux.' Old English hyrst means ' a knoll, a hillock,' as well as' a wood.'
Hertford. Bede Herutford, 1087 Ordinance Wm.I. Hertfordscire, 1258 Hurtford. ' Ford of the hart.' Old English heorut, 3-6 hert, ' a hart.' The modern pronunciation of the placename always has the a sound. Compare Harford (Gloucester), 743 charter Heort ford, 802 the same Hereforda, Domesday Book Hurford, 1221 Harford.
Heselton, Monk and Cold (Durham), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Heseldene. ' Dean, dem (wooded), valley with the hazels.' Old English hoesel.
Hesketh Bank (Southport). 1283-92 Heskayth, 1292 Eskayth. Wyld says, Old Norse hest skeip, ' racecourse.' It seems possibly a plural form of Welsch hesg, ' sedges,' Compare Werneth, ' place of alders ‘; but the ending -ayth is against this; also the rarity of Welsch names here.
Heslington. See Haslingfield.
Hessle (Hull). Domesday Book Hasele, which must be Old English hoesel-leah, ' hazel mead.' [Compare Domesday Book Salop, Hesleie, and Hesley, Notts, 1217 Heselay.) But it seems to be 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Hessewell, Hesiwald, which corresponds with an Ashwell or Heswell, 1239 in Calend. Pap. Reg., i. 181, ' ash-tree well.' Compare 1298 ' Gerardus de Hesebrygge.'
Hetton (Skipton). Domesday Book Hetune. Old English heah tun, 'high town.’ Compare Hewick (Yorks), Domesday Book Hawie. But Hetton-le-Hole (Co. Durham) seems to be 1516-17 Durham Ace. Rolls Hett, where Hett is doubtful.
Hever (Eden Br.). Sic 1327, but 1278 Heure, also Evere. Probably for he-over, or he-oure, ' high bank,' OE. heah of Compare Heeley and Wooler and see= over.
Heversham or Everham (West Midlands). Domesday Book Eureshaim, before 1130 Sim, Dur. Hefresham. ' Home of Eofor i.e., the wild boar.’ See -ham.
Heworth (Felling, Durham). 1183 Ewwrth. Probably Old English iw worth, 'yew-tree farm'; but possibly from a man Eva, Eua, or Ewa. Such names are known. See -worth.
Hexham. Probably circa, 410 Notitia Axelodunum, Bede Hagulstad, circa, 1097 Orderic Haugustalda, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Extoldesham, before 1200 John Hexham Hestoldes-, Hextildesham, circa, 1300 Hexelesham,1421 Hexhamshire. Acurious and difficult name. The Notitia name is not certainly Hexham. If it is, Axelo-dunum is certainly Kelt, for 'high hill,' and the Old English name may be a corruption of this. But Old English hagosteald is ' a young soldier, a bachelor.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum i. 97, Haegstakles cumb (Somerset). It is often said to be' home on the Hestild.' Two brooks, said once to have been called Hextol and Halgut, now the Cockshaw and Cowgarth burns, meet here.
Hextable (Swanley). Not in Domesday Book Perhaps 'hatch staple,' Old English hoec, hoece, M.E. hec, hek, ' a hatch, wicket-gate,' and stapol, ' a pole or pillar marking the boundary of an estate.' Compare Hexton (Bewdley),1227 Hekstane. However, the names Heca, Hecca, and Hecci are common in Old English and may well be postulated here. Compare Hextsorp (Yorks), Domesday Book Hestorp, Estorp.
Heybridge (Maldon). Probably Domesday Book Hobruge (compare Hoe)? circa, 1250 Visitation Churches belonging to St. Paul's Heubrege. Probably ' highbridge, Old English heah, 3-5 hey, hex; possibly from Old English hecg, heg, 3-7 hey, 'hay.' Compare Roll Rich. ' Haiscot ' (Essex). The Heydons (there are several) are probably all ' high hill.' Compare 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Hidon (Devon). Compare Eyam.
Heysham (N. Lanes). Domesday Book Hessam, 1094 Heseym, 1216 Hesam. ' Hesa's home.' Compare Hessle and see -ham.
Hibaldstow (Brigg). before 1100 Grant of 664 Hibaltestow, 1179-80 Hybaldestow, Hibolstowe. ' Place of Hihald ' or ' Hygebeald,' common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See Stow.
Hickleton (Doncaster). Domesday Book Chicheltone (compare Keighley), Icheltone. ' Town of Hicel.' See next.
Hickling (Melton Mowbray). Domesday Book Hechelinge, Hegelinge, 1298 Hikellinge. Probably a patronymic. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 862, ' Hiceles wyrjje (Salisbury). ' Place of Hirers descendants.' (Compare above.
Higham Ferrers (Northants). circa, 1060 charter Hecham, 1465 Rolls Parlmt. Heigham Feres. ' High house or home,' Old English heah, 4-6 heigh. Compare Heigham. Wiliam Ferrers, Earl of Derby, became lord of the manor here in 1199. But Highnam (Gloucester), old Hynehamme, is 'the enclosure of the hind=,' or ' servants.' See -ham.
Hilborough (Norfolk) [Domesday Book Hildoburhella] and Hillborouqh (Stratford, Warwick). Stratford H. 710 charter Hildeburhwrthe, later Hildeborde, Hildebereurde; before 1200 Hilburgewrth ; 1317 Hildeboreworth. A very interesting corruption ‘a woman, ' Hildeburh's farm.’ Compare Hilston (Holderness), Domesday Book Heldovestun, Heldeweston,? from Heldwulf, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum ; whilst Hilcote (Gloucester) is old Hyldecote, from Old English hylde, ' a slope.'
Hilbree I. and Point (Cheshire). 1577 Hilbery. Possibly Welsch hel bre, 'bank on the hill or brae.' Eng. bree sb' 'eyebrow'(Oxford Dictionary) never seems used for ' brae ' or hillslope, though Skeat says it doubtless had also this sense. Of course, Hilbery could mean ' hillfort ' or ' burgh,' only burgh or bury very rarely becomes bree.
Hildenborough (Tonbridge), not in Domesday Book, and Hildenley (N. Yorks). Domesday Book Hildingeslei, Ildingeslei . This last is ' meadow of Hilding, 'patronymic from Hilda.' The first name maybe from the simple Hilda. Hillesley (Wickwar) is Domesday Book Hildeslei. See -borough and -ley.
Hildersham (Cambridge) Domesday Book and charter Hildricesham. ' Home of Hilderic,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Hinderwell. Hilderthorpe (Yorks) is Domesday Book Hilgertorp, or ' Hildegar's village.'
Hilgay (Cambridgeshire). circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Hehngheie, Ramsey Chronicum Helingeye. Patronymic. 'Isle of the Hellings.' Compare Hellingly (Sussex) and see -ay.
Himbleton (Droitwich). 816 charter Hymeltun, Domesday Book Himeltun; and Himley (Dudley), Domesday Book Himelie; before 1200 Humihleg, Humileg; before 1300 Humilele, Hymele. Perhaps 'town ' and 'meadow of Hemele,' common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Duignan, owing to lack of all signs of the possessive, prefers to derive from Old English hymele, ' the hop plant,' and refers to Hemlington and Hambleton (Yorks) which are both from a man Hamel or Hemel. But there is at Himbleton a stream, 956 charter hymel broc, which does seem ' hop-plant brook,' and the early spellings also favour ' the hop- plant' origin.
Hinckley (Leicester). Domesday Book Hinchelie. ' Meadow of Hynca,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ley. But for Hincaster, see Hencaster, ' high camp.' Hinchwick, Condicote, 1294 Henewyk, 1307 Hynewyke, is perhaps Old English henge wie, ' steep village. Compare Hinksford.
Hinderwell (N. Ridings). Domesday Book Heldrewelle, Hildrewelle, Ildrewelle; 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Hilderwalle, Hirderwalle. 'Well of Hild or Held.' The r may be the Norse genitive, but we also find 3 Heldreds and a Hilderic in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The liquids I and n do interchange. Compare Hildersham and Hinderskelf, now Castle Howard (Yorks), Domesday Book Hildreschelf, Ilderschelf of rock.' Shelf often occurs for ' ledge of rock.'
Hindlip, Hinlip (Worcester). 'Hind's leap,’ Old English hlyp, 3 lip, ' a leap.' Compare Birdlip.
Hingham (Norfolk). Domesday Book Hincham, often, 1452 Hengham. Possibly contracted from 'Hengest's ham' or 'home.' Older forms needed. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has one Hength.
Hinksey (Oxford). Old English charter Hengesteseie, Hengestige; 1297 Hencsei. 'Hengest's isle.' Compare Hengston and Hinxworth. Hinksford, Kingswinsford, is 1271 Henkeston, 1300 Hinkesford, more probably from Hynca, as in Hinckley.
Hintlesham (Ipswich). Domesday Book and sic 1157. Puzzling. The nearest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is Hinwald or Hinieldus. Possibly Hintel is dimin. of the known name Hunta. See -ham.
Hinton Waldrist or Waldridge (Berks; 10 Hintons besides in Postal Guide). Dorset H. charter Hineton-, Hyneton; Berks. H. Birch Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 228, Heantunninga, Domesday Book Hentone; Cambridgeshire H. Domesday Book Hintone; Gloucester H. 1303 Henton. The Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum form means' dwellers in Heantun ' i.e., 'high town,' Old English Man, dative of heah, 'high.' But the Hintons are not all the same, and come most of them from Old English hina, genitive of hiwan, 'domestic servants, hinds,' or else from hind, ' a female deer.' See -ton. Waldrist is from Old English Wealdric. He was King's Chancellor 1100-35. See Chronicum Abing., ii. 127.
Hints (Tamworth and Ludlow). Tamworth. H. Domesday Book Hintes, before 1300 Hyntes. Duignan thinks Welsch hynt,' a road, way,'with Eng. pl. s.
Hinxton (S. Cambridgeshire). and Henxworth (Herts) Ramsey Chronicum Hengestone, 1277 Hengeston, 1341 Hyngeston. Domesday Book Haingeste uuorde. ' Hengest's farm ' and ' village.' Compare Hinxton (Essex) and Hinksey and see -ton and -worth.
Hipperholme (Halifax). Domesday Book Huperun. It seems hard to explain Huper or Hipper. There is nothing likely in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum unless it be Hygebeorht or Hubert; but it may be a dissimilated form of hippie, 5 hupple, see next, and mean ' at the little heaps,' -un being an old locative which either becomes -holme, ' riverside meadow,' or -ham, q.v.
Hipswell (Richmond, Yorks). Domesday Book Hiplewelle, circa, 1538 Leland Ipreswel. There is no name at allh likelye, so this must be ' well at the hippie,' or ' little heap,' first recorded in Oxford Dictionary in 1382 as hypil, heepil, and derived from Old English ‘ hiepel, hypel, compare Germanic haulfel.
Hirwain (Aberdare). Welsch hir gwaen, 'long plain' or 'meadow.' It anciently stretched for ten miles.
Hissington (Herefdshire). Domesday Book Hesintune. Probably' town of Hesa,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Hesintone.
Histon (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Hestitona, Domesday Book Histetone, Histone, 1165 Hestona. ' Village of Hesta or Hoesta.’
Hitchin. Domesday Book Hiz, 1210 Hiche, 1303 Huche, 1346 Hichoyn, 1541 Hechyn. Domesday Book's Hiz=Hits. The name, it would seem, can only mean Hicca's (place); a Hica and a Hicca in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Had the -in been early it would probably have represented an old locative but it seems quite late. For similar names (which are rare), compare Beedon, Brailes, Coven, etc. The R. on which it stands, formerly the Hitche, seems to have been rechristened Hiz after Domesday Book Hitcham, Ipswich and Maidenhead, ' Hicca's home,' show what the normal forms of this name would have been.
Hixon (Stafford). Domesday Book Hustedone, before 1300 Huntesdun, Huhtesdon Hucstedon, Huccesdon, Huncesdon; before 1600 Hickston, Hixeton. It is on a ' hill,' and the ending is clearly -don, q.v. The proper name which comes before is a puzzle. Huch, Hucco, and Huctred, variant of Uhired, are the nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum In Domesday Book st usually stands for guttural ch or gh.
Hoar Cross (Burton-on-T.). 124 Harecres, 1262 La Croiz, 1267 Orcross, 1268 Horecros. 'Boundary cross," Old English har. See Harborne. This Hoar- in later spellings of placenames is often corruption Into Whore. Compare the Hoarstone (Bewdley), 1275 Richard o 'th 'horeston. Another in Gloucester
Hoarwithy (Ross). 1005 charter To pam haran wipie, 'to the old withy or willow,' Old English withig.
Hoborough (Kent). 838 charter Holebeorh; also Holenbeorh, Holenbeorge,' hill, mound of Hola.' See Barrow.
Hoby (Leicester). Domesday Book Hobie. ' Dwelling on the Hoe ' or ' hill.' Compare Huby and see -by.
Hockerill. (Herts and Worcester). Herts H. circa, 1250 Hokerhuka, 1491 Hokerelle. ' Hill of the hooker,' or ' thief who steals with a hook.' Not in Oxford Dictionary, till 1567. So Skeat. Perhaps Hockerton (Notts), Domeday Book Hocreton, Ocreton, may be the same, and not from a man Hoc with Norse genitive r. All is doubtful.
Hockley (Birmingham and Essex). Birmingham H. 1327 Hockele, 1332 Hockelaye. Compare Domesday Book Surrey, Hoclei. Probably ' meadow with the hocks, hollyhocks, or mallows,' Old English hoc. Skeat thought Hoc- a Mittel English hardening of Old English hoh, ho, 'promontory, abrupt height. Hoe,' though the Oxford Dictionary does not confirm this. Still, next is very possibly so derived; so, too, Old English charter Hants, Hocgetwisle. See Twizel; also compare Domesday Book Leicester and Notts, Hoches,?=' heights,' and Beds, Hocheleia, and Hocberry (=-bury), Gloucester
Hockliffe (Beds). Old Hoeclyve. Seen also in the name of the 15th century. poet Occleve or Hoceleve. Probably' promontory cliff, projecting cliff.' See above and Cleveland.
Hockwold (Brandon). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1460 Hokehold. Doubtful. It may be ' high wold ' i.e., ' wood ' or ' hilly district,' cognate with weald, or ' high hold ' i.e., ' fortress.' See Hockley. But it may be from a man Hocca. Compare Hockworthy (Wellington), see -worthy, 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe, Hochelai (Northants) and Hucknall.
Hoddlesden (Darwen). Compare 1297 a ' Hodleston’. Probably 'den or Dean of Holdwulf or ' Holdulf,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Wyld and Hirst omit. But Hoddesdon is from a man Hod or Hoda, both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 940 charter Hoddes stoc (Wilts).
Hodnet (Market Drayton). Domesday Book Hodenet. Probably 'heath of Hoda,' genitive -an. Compare Hodcot (Berks), Domesday Book Hodicote, 963 charter Hodan hlaew (=-low or' hill) and 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Cheshire Hodeslea. For -et= heath, compare Hatfield and Bassett. Domesday Book Salop has also a Humet. Hodnell (Southam), Domesday Book Hodenelle, Hodenhelle, is ‘Hoda's nook'; see -hall; while Hodsock (Notts), Domesday Book Odesach, 1302 Hodesak, is ' Hoda's oak.'
Hoe, The (Plymouth). 1590 Spenser the Western Hogh, 1602 Carew The Hawe. Old English hoh, ho, ' a heel, a projection, a spur, a hill, high ground ‘; So. heugh. Compare Hoo, Hockley, Domesday Book Devon, Ho (Totnes); 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Kent, Ho; Hoe Ford (Fareham); Morthoe, Staplow, etc. Hoe, hoo, is a common ending in Staffordshire and Warwick e.g., Tysoe is Domesday Book Tiheshoche, before 1300 Thysho.
Hogston or or Hoggston (N. Bucks). Domesday Book Hochestone. Old English charter Hoegestan, ' stone of Hocca.' Hog, ' a pig,' is not found till 1340. Hogge for Hodge or Roger is found in Chaucer. Hogsthorpe (Lines), not in Domesday Book, Hogston (Scottish), and Hoxton; also Domesday Book Lines. Hogetune.
(La) Hogue Hatenai (Guernsey) and Hougue Bie (Jersey) . These names are all pure Scandinavian. Hogue is OLD NORSE haug-r, 'mound, cairn.' Compare, Grenehoga, Grenehov, Domesday Book Norfk. See -how. Hatenai is ' isle of ' some Norseman who cannot now be surely identified. See-ay. Whilst Bie is the same as the common suffix -bie or -by, ' dwelling,' q.v. Compare Cape La Hogue (Cherbourg).
Holbeach (Spalding). 810 charter Holebech, circa, 1290 Holebec, 1571 Holbich. Nothing to do with beach. May be ' hole, hollow,' Old English hol,' with the bach or beck or brook.' Hardly' beck of Hola,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, for, if so, we should expect Holanbech in 810. Compare a' Holanbsecc,'on Stour (Staffordshire) in 958 charter See -bach.
Holbeck (Leeds). See above.
Holburn (London), circa, 1162 Holeburn, 1513 Holbome. Pronunciation now clipped dow nto' 'Obun.' J. R. Greensays' hollow bourne,' or burn or brook. Compare Langbourne Ward in the City. Old English hol, dialect holl, and 5-9 hole, 'hollow, depressed, lying in a hollow.' It may be 'Hola’ burn.'
Holcombe (Painswick and Manchester). Painswick H. 1166 Hollecumbe; Manchester H. circa, 1215 Holcumbe hevet (head). Combe is ' valley,’ q.v., but Hoi- must be interpreted according as one interprets Holburn. Compare Holden (Yorks), Domesday Book Holedene; and Holford (Winchcombe), Domesday Book Holeforde.
Holcot (Northampton). Domesday Book Holecote? circa, 1220 Elect. Hugo. 'Philip de Holkotes.' This last probably means 'hovel-like cottages,’ from Old English hulu, ' a husk, a hull,’ found before 1225 meaning 'a hut, a hovel.' Compare Hull. But Domesday Book's form points to ' cot of Hola,' a known name.
Holderness (E. Yorks). Domesday Book Heldrenesse, Heldernesse; circa, 1097 Orderic Hildernessa; circa, 1100 Holdernese; 1208 Holdernesse. Probably' cape of the High Reeve, an officer of rank in the Danelagh, Old Norse hold-r, Old English hold. But in its earlier forms from Held-r, Hild-r, on which names see Hinderwell. See -ness.
Holkham (Wells, Norfk.). Domesday Book and 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Roll Holeham. Seems to be from Old English holh, 'a hollow, a hole, a cave,' 'dwelling at or in the hollow.' See -ham.
Holland (S. Lincoln). Domesday Book Hoiland, 1216 Hoyland. The Dutch Holland is probably ''holt-land,' woodland, see Oxford Dictionary s.v. whilst the Eng. name is usually thought to be Old English hoi land, ' hollow or low-lying land.' But Hoiland suggests Dan. hoi, ' high,' which does not seem very applicable. Compare Hoyland.
Hollingbourne (Maidstone) circa, 1018 Holingburne. “Burn, brook of the holly-trees,' Old English holen, holezn, 3 holin, 5 holing. Compare Codex Diplomaticus 722 Holungaburna, probably in Dorset; and Domesday Book Bucks, Holendone. We get a curious corruption of this root in Holdfast (Upton-on-Severn), 967 charter Holenfesten, probably' holly fastness.’ Compare, too, Hollin, Upp. and Low. (Bewdley), 1332 Holyn.
Holloway (Feckenham, London, and Matlock Bath). London H. sic 1576, but Feckenham H. Domesday Book Holewei, before 1200 Holowei; Matlock H. Domesday Book Holewe. Also Holloway or Holewey (Forest of Dean). ' Way which is deeply excavated or depressed, lying in a hollow,' Old English hoi, infl. hole, 4-9 holl, cognate with hollow, not found till circa, 1205 Layamon holh, 3-4 holewe, 3-5 holwe. The before 1200 form cited by Duignan is earlier for hollow than anything in Oxford Dictionary
Holme (7 in Postal Guide), a very common name—found, e.g., in Domesday Book Yorks 17 times as Holme or Holne. It is Old English holm, ' low, flat land by a river, river-meadow.' It often interchanges as an ending with -ham, and as ending is also found as -hulme, as in Davvhulme. and as -om, in Millom (probably). Holmfirth (Huddersfield) is Domesday Book Holne. The -firth is Old English fyrhd, 3-frith, 4 riht, ' a wood, wooded country, unused pastureland.' Holme- on-the-Wolds is Domesday Book Hougon, which must be a locative ' at the hows ' or ' mounds,' Old Norse haug-r. Compare Howsham, and for a Norse word taking an Eng. locative form, compare Hallam. The Norman Family of Pierrepont or' Perpunt' is found at Holme Pierrepont (Notts) in 1302. In Channel Islands holm becomes -horn, Brecqhon, Jethon (1091 chart ' quae vulgo Keikhulm vocatur'), etc.
Holmpton (Hull). Domesday Book Holmetune. ' Town on the holmor river- meadow.' See above. For intrusion of p, compare Hampton.
Holne (Ashburton, Devon). Sic in Domesday Book Old English holezn, hollen, ' holly-tree.' Compare 847 charter AEthelwulf, To daem beorze de monhated 'aet daem holne, also Hollandbush (Scottish).
Holnhurst (Gloucester). 940 charter Holenhvrst. 'Holly-wood.' See above and -hurst.
Holsworthy (Bude). Not in Domesday Book Probably 'farm of Hola.' Compare Holbeach and see -worthy.
Holt (Norfolk and Worcester). Domesday Book both Holt. Old English and Norse holt,' a wood, a copse.' So also, Holton (6 in Postal Guide). Newark H. Domesday Book Holtone. ' Town by the wood.'
Holyhead. Pronunciation Hollyhead. before1490 Botoner Le Holyhede. But in Welsch Caergybi i.e., ' fort of St. Gybi.' The parish church occupies an elevated site where once stood a monastery dedicated to this saint. And the ' Mountain of Holyhead ' is called Pen-Caer-Gybi. Gybi or Cybi was a British saint who, after visiting Gaul and opposing Arianism, returned circa, 380, and founded this monastic establishment here.
Holy Island (Northumberland). circa, 1130 Haheland, circa, 1330 R. Brunne Holy Eland. So called because the Columban monks from Iona planted the monastery of Lindisfarne here in the 7th century. Cuthbert was its great saint.
Holywell (Flint). In Welsch Treffynon. So called from the famous well of St. Winefride, to which many R.C. pilgrims still come. Winefride is a dubious saint, reputed to have been a noble maiden whose head was cut off by Prince Caradog because she scorned his lustful advances. The head rolled down a hill, and where it stopped this spring or well gushed forth! She is said to have been daughter of Prince Teuyth of N. Welsch in the 7th century., but there is no mention of her doings until Robert of Shrewsbury, circa, 1140.
Homer (Much Wenlock). Not in Domesday Book, but old Holmere, which is Old English for ' hollow lake,' lake in a hollow. Compare Cromer and Holburn; but for Homerton (London), see Hammerwich.
Homersfield (Harleston). Domesday Book Humbresfelda, Red Bk. Excheq. Humeresfeld, also Humorsfeld. Doubtful. Perhaps ' field of Humberht, Humbertus, or Hunbeorht,' all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, the last most correct. Compare Hubberstone. It might be from Hormoer. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 622 Hormseres wudu. The liquid r could easily disappear, and a spelling Hornersfield is found. Skeat votes for a man Hunmoer, a name admittedly not on record.
Homildon (Northumberland). circa, 1230 Homeldun. 'Hill of Homel.' Compare Homeliknow (Coldstream), 1198 Hoinelenolle. Hommel is still a personal name in Germany, but is not found in Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. Compare Humbleton.
Honeybourne (Evesham). 709 charter Huniburne, 840 the same Hunigburn, Domesday Book Huniburne, Honeyburne. ' Brook with honey-sweet water,’ Old English huniz. Compare next and see -bourne. There is a Honeybrook in the same shire, 866 charter Hunig broc; also a Honeyborough (Pembrokeshire),1307 Hounteborch, 1327 Honiborch. ' Burgh, castle of Hunta or Hunto,' several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -burgh.
Honeychurch (Devon). Domesday Book Honecherehe. The connexion between a ' church ' and ' honey,' Old English huniz 4-7 honi, is not very obvious, and this is probably ' church of Huna.' Compare Honiley (Warwick), before 1200 Hunilegh, plainly from honey, even as is Honnington (same shire), 1043 charter Huniton, Domesday Book Hunitone. On Honey Child (Romney Marsh), 1227 Honi Child, see Bapchild. Honicknowle (Crown Hill, Devon). Probably ' knoll, hill of Eonoc,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Devon, Honecherde (-erde probably= -worth, ' farm), and Knowle.
Honing (Norwich). Honingham (Norwich), and Honington (3 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book has only Honincgetoft. Honing is circa, 1150 Haninges, ' place of the sons of Hana ' or ' Bona.' Compare Domesday Book Kent, Honinberg. See -ing. But Honley (Huddersfield) is Domesday Book Haneleia, probably' mead of Hana, '2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Hanley.
Hoo (Rochester), circa, 700 charter Hogh, Domesday Book Hou, How= Hoe. Stanhoe was originally Stanhoghia. There is also a Hoo Farm (Kidderminster), 1275 John de la Ho.
Hook (7 in Postal Guide). Where these are from hook, Old English hoc, ' a hook,' then' an angle or bend' in a river, etc., they must be late, as Oxford Dictionary, has nothing in this sense till late in 16th century. But some of the Hooks (those in Norse regions) are probably of the same origin as the Hog and Hough of Lines, and Hook (Goole). See Houghton. The numerous Hooks in Pembk. will have this origin. 1603 Owen,' Southhooke,'etc., and in older charts, Hoch.
Hook Norton (Banbury). 917 Old English Chronicum Hocneratun, Hocceneratun; late charter Hokenarton; circa, 1115 Hen. Hunt. Hocheneretune. An interesting and puzzling corruption Hocnera must ' surely be a genitive pl., and the name mean ' town of the Hocs or' sons of Hoc'.
Hoole (Chester). Sic 1340. Old English hoi, 5-6 hoole, ' ‘a hole, a hollow. Compare' Hammelle the Hoole,' s.v. Hamble R. also; compare Much Hoole.
Hooton Pagnell and Roberts (Doncaster and Rotherham). Domesday Book H. Domesday Book Hotun, 1203 Hoton. ' Village on the Hoe ' or ' hill.' Hoton is very frequent in Domesday Book Yorks, usually for some Hutton.
Hope (4 in Postel Guide). Domesday Book Hope (Salop). This is hope sb2. in Oxford Dictionary, ' a place of refuge.’ Old English hop, ' a piece of enclosed land, an enclosed little valley '; Old Norse hop, 'a small, land-locked bay, a ninlet,' as in St.Margaret's Hope (Scottish). Compare Hopehouse (Martley), 1275 ' John de Hope.' Hope (Denbigh) is now in Welsch Yr Hob, ' the hope,' or Hoben, ' 2 hopes.' Hope-Mansel "(Forest of Dean) is 1263 Hope Maloysell, an O. France proper name.
Hopton (Mirfield and Great Yarmouth). Mirfield H. Domesday Book Hoptone; Yarmouth H. sic circa, 1080. The plant hops is not found till circa, 1440. This is probably for hope, as above; or it may be, like Hopwood (Alvechurch), 848 charter Hopwuda, from Old English hop, 'the privet.'
Hopwas (Tamworth). before 1100 Hopewaes, Domesday Book Opewas, before 1200 Hopwas. Old English hop wase, waes, ' valley of the swamp or marsh.' Compare Alrewas; and see -hope.
Horbury (Wakefield). Domesday Book Orberie. Doubtful. There seems no likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum It may be as next. See-bury. Horfield. (Bristol), Domesday Book Horefelle, Baddeley derives from Old English horh, Mittel English hore, ' mire.' Compare Hormead, same shire.
Horham (Eye, Suffolk). Sic circa, 1150, but Domesday Book Horam, Horan. Probably like Horeham (Sussex), ' home of the whore ' or ' harlot,' Old English hor, Old Norse hora. Domesday Book's Horan may be an old locative, ' at the whores.' See -ham.
Hornblotton (E. Somerset). Domesday Book Horblawetone, before 1145 Wm. Malmesbury Hornblawerton,' Horn-blowertown.' Already int he Corpus Glossary, circa, 725, we find horn blauwere.
Hornby (Lancaster). Domesday Book Hornebi, 1278 Horneby; also more than one in Yorks, Domesday Book Hornebi. ' Dwelling of Horn.' Compare Horncastle, and King Horn, perhaps originally Horm, a Danish Viking of the 9th century., who fought for the Irish King Cearbhall. But Hornby in Smeaton (Yorks) is Domesday Book Horenbodebi, Horebodebi, where the man's name is now hardly recognizable. See-by.
Horncastle (Lines). Domesday Book Hornecastre, 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe Hornecastra. ' Camp of Horn.' See above. The ending -caster, q.v., rarely becomes -castle.
Horningsea (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Horningeseie. ' Isle ' and ' home of the Hornings ' or ' descendants of Horn. Compare Hormer (Berks), Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum, iii. 520, Horninga maere (lake, mere), Chronicum Abing. Hornigmere; also Horninglow (Burton-on-T.), sic before 1300, See -low, ' burial-mound.' Compare, too, Domesday Book Essex Horminduna, and Norfolk. Horninrgetoft; also Hornington (Ainsty), Domesday Book Horninctone, Hornintone, Hornitone. See -ing. On Horn, see above.
Horningsham (Warminster). Domesday Book Horningesha. ' Home of the sons of Horn.' See above, and -ing.
Hornsey (N. London), before 1300 Haringee, with the hard g still preserved in Harringay. Hornsea is a corruption which has arisen through softening of the g into Harnjy and then Hornsea. But Hornsea (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Hornesse, 'isle, peninsula of Horn.' See Hornby and -ay.
Horridge (Gloucester). Probably 'hoar, grey ridge,' Old English her,' 'hoary, grey, old,' 3-5 hor. But compare Horton. Domesday Book Gloucester has only Horedone.
Horsford (Norwich) (Domesday Book Hosforda, also Horsha) and Hors-forth (Leeds). Leeds H. Domesday Book Horseforde, Hoseforde. There are coins of King Alfred which seem to read Orsnaforda as well as Oksnaforda (Oxford). ' Horse ford.' See -forth.
Horsham (Sussex). Probably 'home of Horsa'; perhaps the Jute who came over with Hengest, 449 a.d. There is also one in Worcestershire sic. 1275, which may be the same, or else ' horse's enclosure '; Old English hors hamm. See-ham2 and compare Domesday Book Bucks Horsedene. Domesday Book Sussex has only Horselie and Horstede.
Horsley (8 in Postal Guide). Leatherhead H. perhaps 871-89 charter Horsa leh, Domesday Book Horslei, the same Derby, Gloucester and Sussex Horselei. Hather ' Horsa's ' than ' horse meadow.' See above, and -ley.
Horsmonden (Kent). Not in Domesday Book 1570-76 Lambarde Horsmundene. 'The Dean or (woody) vale of the ward of Horsa.' Old English mund, ' protection.'
Horsted Keynes (E. Grinstead). Domesday Book Horstede. Probably as in Horsham, ‘Horsa's, place'; Old English stede. Keynes is the Norman family, de Cahanges.
Horton (10 in Postal Guide). 972 charter Horton (Worcester), Domesday Book Yorks, Salop, Worcester, Bucks, Hortone, Hortune; before 1130 Sim. Dur. Hore tun. Doubtful. It might be' hoary, grey-looking town.' See Horridge. Duignan prefers Old English horh tun, ' dirty, muddy town,' and says compare Hormead (Herts), which Skeat makes ' muddy mead.'
Horwich (Bolton and Stockport). Compare Domesday Book Wore. Horwich. =Horton. See-wich.
Hotham (Yorks). Domesday Book Holde twice, Hode 5 times. Old English heald is only found in sense of ' holding, keeping, possessing.' Holde, 'a lair, lurking-place,' is not found recorded till circa, 1205, and as ' fort, fortress ' not till before 1300. The -ham has been added after Domesday Book. But Domesday Book has once Hodhu'. With Domesday Book's Hode compare the Scottish Haud, hod for ‘hold.’
Houghton (11 in Postal Guide). A difficult name, with several origins. Those in the N. seem often to be from North English how, ' hill, hillock, tumulus, barrow'; Old Norse haug-r, 'cairn, mound,' in 7 hough. E.g., Id., Heddon-on-the-Wall, is 1200 Yorks Fines Houton, while H. (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Houeton, Oueton. Compare, too, Hougon, a locative' at the mounds, 'name in Domesday Book for Holme on the Wolds. Glass Houghton (S. Yorks), Domesday Book Hoctun, Houghton-le-Side, 1200 Yorks Fines Hoctona, H. (Kings Lynn) Domesday Book Hodtune, and the many Hohtones in Domesday Book Northants, are probably from Hoe, ' height, promontory,’ 3-6 hogh. See Hockley. Houghton (Beds and Hants) will be the same, being both Houston(e) in Domesday Book, st being Domesday Book's regular ' avoidance ' of guttural gh. Great Houghton (Barnsley) is Domesday Book Halton, and so = Houghton or halhtun, 'river-meadow town'; whilst Hanging Houghton may possibly be from a man Hout. Old forms are always needed.
Hounslow (London). Old English charter Hundeshlsew, Domesday Book Honeslowe. ' Burial-mound of Hund ' or ' Hunda.' See -low. But Houndhill (Uttoxeter) is before 1300 Hogenhull, before 1400 Howenhull, as well as Hunhyle, Hounhull, suggesting origin from a man Hoga, -an, ' the prudent.'
Howden-le-Wear (Co. Durham). 1130 Houendena, and Howden and Howden Dyke (Yorks), Domesday Book Houeden, circa, 1200 Hoveden, 1635 Hovenden (probably nota. 1130 Sim. Dur. Offedene). Doubtful. Very likely from an uncorded Hofa. Compare Hovingham (Yorks), sic. in Domesday Book, giving its patronymic; only Hofa and Ofa in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum It might be ' wooded vale of the plant hove ' (spelt so circa, 1440), Old English hofe, which may be the violet or ground ivy. A Roll of Rich. I. has Howdensir', or Howdenshire. Of course, in North. Eng. how is ' a hill,' found in Eng. from before 1340 (see -how), whilst Howthorp (Yorks), Domesday Book Holtorp, is ' village in the hollow ' or ' hole.' See -den.
Howle Hill (Ross, Hereford). Welsch hywel, 'conspicuous.' Compare Crickhowell.
Howsham (E. Riding and Lincoln). E. Riding H. Domesday Book Huson, Old English locative huson, ' at the houses.' Compare Hallam and Newsham. Housen (Cotheridge) is just the Mittel English plural' houses.' See -ham.
Howtel (N.W. of Wooler). 1525 Howtell Swyre (Old English swira 'neck'; compare Manor Sware, Scottish). How will be Old Norse haug-r, ' mound, hill the -tel must remain doubtful. Compare Houghton.
Hoxne. (Eye, Suffolk). Domesday Book Hoxana, Hund. Roll Hoxene, 1473 Doubtful. Old Frisian hoxene, hoxne is ' a hamstring (see Oxford Dictionary s.v. hox sb.); but this seems unlikely. Skeat adopts the suggestion of Mx. Anscombe, that here we have an Old English Hoxena, genitive plural of Hoxan, possibly the name of some small tribe of settlers, just as we find mention of the tribe Wixan and the famous tribe of Seaxan or' Saxons.' The name in any case seems abnormal.
Hoxton (London). Domesday Book Hochestone, circa, 1350 Hoggeston, later Hogston, 1610 B. Jonson Hogsdon. ' Town of Hocca' (Hoga is found once). Compare Domesday Book Buc’ s Hochestone and 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Hokesgarth (Yorks).
Hoylake (Birkenhead). Domesday Book Hoiloch. The ' Hoyle Lake ' was formed by the ' Hoyle Bank,’ sic before 1600, still visible at certain states of the tide. Hoyle is an inflected form of Old English hol, hole, hollow place,’ given in Oxford Dictionary, as 5-6 hoil(e), and Yorks’s dialect hoil. The Oxford Dictionary calls lac ' lake' early Mittel English, but it is found in Old English Chronicum ann. 656, and once or twice in Domesday Book. The Scottish form loch is not recorded till Barbour, 1375.
Hoyland (Barnsley). Domesday Book Holland, Holant (another in Derby), 1242 Hoyland. Compare before 1100 charter ' Hoylandia ' (Lines) ' Hollow, low-lying land.' See Hoylake and Holland. Hoyland Swaine (Sheffield) is Domesday Book Holan and Holande; but Domesday Book Holun and Holam is Hollym (Yorks), an Old English locative holun,' at the holes.'
Hubberholme (W. Riding) and Hubberstone (Milford Haven), Domesday Book Yorks Huburgheha' (for -ham, which often interchanges with -holm). ‘River-meadow’ and ‘stone’ of Hunbeorth, Humberht, Hunburh, or Hubert,' all names on record. The Rubber in Pembroke is said to have been the Viking who with his brother Hingua led the great invasion of 866. But this can hardly be the same, for the 866 man is in Old English Chronicum Hubba or Ubba. There is a Hubberst' recorded in Derbyshire, and a Hobrichtebi in 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Cumbld.
Huby (Leeds and Easingwold). Domesday Book Hobi. 'Dwelling on the Hoe ' or ' hill.' Compare Hoby; and see -by.
Hucclecote (Gloucester). Domesday Book Hochihcote, 1221 Hukelingcote, later Hokelincote and Hokelcote. ' Cot of Hocel ' or his sons. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Hicel (see Hickling); and compare 1231-34 Close R. Hukelscot, Hucliscot (Leicester). See -ing.
Hucknall Torkard (Nottingham). Domesday Book Hochenale, 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Hochenhala, 1287 Hokenaie Torkard. Old English Hoccanheal,' nook of Hocca.' Compare Hockwold, and Domesday Book Bucks Huchdene and Hucheha. The Norman family of Torkard is found here in 1284. See -hall. Huddersfield. Domesday Book Oderesfelte, Odresfeld. 'Field of Odliere' or ' Oderus,' one such, and one Northern Udardus, 12th century., are found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Hudswell (Richmond, Yorks), Domesday Book Hudreswelle, is probably from the same name. But Huddiknoll (Gloucester), old Hodenknole, is from Hoda or Hudda.
Huish Champflower (Wiveliscombe, Smst.). Huish is Old English higwisc, hiwisc, ' a household, then, a hide of land.' Compare Codex Diplomaticus 107. On Cotenes felde an hywysce, and Melhuish. Champflower is a Norman name, France champ fleuri, ' flowery field.' We find Richard de Hywis of Loci Hywis (Smst.), in time of King John; 1253 Hywish, 1298 Hyuhyshe.
Hulam (Hartlepool), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Holum, a locative 'at the holes,' Old English hoi. Compare Hallam.
Hull (formerly Kingston-on-Hull). Name of a small river. Probably connected with Old English hoi, modern dial, holl, howl(e), ' hollow, depressed, lying in a hollow.' Named Kingston-on-H. by Edw. I. 1299; in before 1552 Leland simply Kingston.
Humber. Bede Humbra, Hymbra, circa, 890 Alfred Humbre (in Lat. vsn. Abus fl.). Probably aspirated form of cumber, ' confluence of Ouse and Trent, Welsch cymmer, Gaelic comar; the -ber is probably the same root as in Aber. Compare Comberbach, etc., also Cumbernauld (Scottish), and Domesday Book Suffolk Humbresfelda. This last, with Humberstone (N. Lines and Leicester), will be from Humbert or Hunbeorht. See Homersfield and Hubberstone.
Humbleton (Hull). Domesday Book Humeltone. 'Town of Humel,' variant of Homel (see Homildon). The letter b readily intrudes itself. Compare Domesday Book Norfk. Humiliat (-iat= yet, ' gate ').
Huncoat (Accrington), Domesday Book Hunnicot, and Hundcot (Leicester). Domesday Book Hunecote, 1124 Old English Chronicum Hundehoge (see -how). ' Cot, dwelling of Hunda or Huna.' Old English hund means, of course, a ‘hound." Compare' Hunditone' (Cheshire) in Domesday Book
Hungerford. The oldest (14th-15th century.) forms all have Hunger-, Hungre-, but this can have nothing to do with English hunger. It is Old English hongra, hangra,' a hanging wood on a hillside.' Compare Clayhanger (1300 Cleyhunger), Hungerfield (Gloucester), old Hangerhill, Hunherhill, and also' Hungrewenitune' (Cheshire) in Domesday Book
Hungerhill (Nottingham, Henley - in - Arden, and Somerset). Nottingham H. old Hongerhill. Old English hangra, hongra, ' a wood on a hill slope.' Compare Birchanger, Clayhanger, and above. There are also 2 Hungry Hills in Worcester and a Honger Grove (Puddleston).
Hunmanby (Yorks). Domesday Book Hundemanebi, ' Dweling of Huneman,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Se -by.
Hunningham (Leamington). Domesday Book Huningeham, before 1200 Honyngham. ' Home of the sons of Huna' or' Hun,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Hunnington (Halesowen), 1402 Honyngton. See -ing.
Hunsingore (Wetherby). Domesday Book Holsingoure. More old forms needed, but the liquids l and n not uncommonly interchange. The ending is probably not Gore, ' triangular wedge of land,' but rather' bank,' Old English ofr, obr, Mittel English oure (see-over),' of Hunsige,' a common Old English name.
Hunslet and Hunslet Carr (Leeds). Sic Domesday Book, but 1202 Hunesflet. ' River of Huna.' See above and Fleet. The same man's name is seen in Hunshelf (S. Yorks), Domesday Book Hunescelf. Shelf in names often has the meaning ' ledge of rock.' For Carr 'rock,' compare Redcar; also compare Hunscotb (Warwickshire), 1327 Hunstanscote, before 1400 Huntscote. But Hunsley (N. Yorks) is Domesday Book Hundeslege,' meadow of Hund' or' the Dog.'
Hunstanton (The Wash). 1038 and circa, 1150 charter Hunstanestun. Local pronunciation Hunston. ' Town of Hunstan.' There are 5 such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Huntingdon (also near Chester, Domesday Book Hunditone.) Old English Chronicum ann. 656, Huntendune, 921 the same Huntandune, 1011 the same Huntadunscir, circa, 1175 Huntedune. ' Hill, down, of the hunter,' Old English hunta, 2-6 hunte. Compare Huntington (Cannock), 1262 Huntingdon, 1300 Huntyndon, and Domesday Book Yorks Huntindune. Hunta and Hunting were also men's names. See -ing, -don, and -ton.
Huntingtrap Common (Hadsor, Worcester), before 1300 Hountingthrope, Huntingdrope, ' hunting village.' See -thorpe.
Hunton (Bedale and Maidstone). Bedale H. Domesday Book Huntone. ' Town of Huna.' See Hunslet and next. So Hunworth (Melton Constable), Domesday Book Huneworda. See -worth, 'farm.'
Huntspill (Highbridge). Domesday Book Hunespil, before 1500 Honyspill, Honspill. ' Pool of Huna,' as above. Pill is often found in S. Welsch for ' pool,' and the Domesday Book form here shows it is an Old English variant, and not Welsch. Compare Huntsham (Forest of Dean), circa, 1145 Honsum, circa, 1200 Hunstone, 1298 Hondsum. ' Huna's home.' See -ham.
Hurley (Atherstone and Marlow). Atherstone H. charter Hurnlega, 1199 Hurnlege, Hurnlei. Marlow H. Domesday Book Herlei, 1316 Hurle. Skeat derives both from Old English hyrne,' a corner, a nook.' The Marlow H. is doubtful. See -ley. Hurcot (Kidderminster) is also puzzling. Domesday Book Worcote (W for H), before 1200 Hurchote, Hurcote, 1275 Horecote, before 1600 Hurdcote. Here Duignan prefers ' cot of the herd or shepherd,' Old English hyrde. Much more likely is Old English horh or hore, ' dirt, filth,' 4 hoore, here used adjectivally as in Horton. Hurlingham (Putney). Codex DIiplomaticus 782 Herlinga ham. 'Home of the Herlings.’? descendants of Herlewin. Compare Roll. Rich. I. Hurlingebure (Notts).
Hurstbourne (3 in Hants). Not in Domesday Book Winchester H. 961 charter Hysseburna. ' Brook of Hyse,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, variant of Husa; the corruption is unusual. Of course. Hurst is Old English hyrst, ' a wood, a grove, and also a sandy place.' See -bourne.
Hurworth-on-Tees. 1183 Hurdewurd, 1344 Hurreworth. 'Farm of Hyrde ' or ' Hirde,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -worth.
Hustwaite (Easingwold). Not in Domesday Book Probably 'farm, croft of Husa,' or ' Husi,’ names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Huthwaite (Mansfield), no old forms, and Domesday Book Bucks Huscott. See -thwaite.
Hutton (13 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Somerset Hutone, Domesday Book Yorks Hoton, Hottune over 40 times, nearly all for some Hutton, while 1202 Yorks Fines has Hoton, Hottun, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Hotun, 1183 Hotona i.e., Hutton Henry. ' Town, village on the Hoe or projecting height.' Compare Hooton and Sheriff Hutton. Huthwaite (Mansfield and Sheffield) probably has the same origin; but perhaps from a man Huti or Hutto, seen in 'Hutisted ' (Staffordshire), Roll. Rich. I. The Sheffield H. is not in Domesday Book See -thwaite.
Huxley (Chester). Said to be charter Hodeslea. ' Meadow of Hod or ' Hoda.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1282 Hodes ac. But this is abnormal. The names Hue, Huch, or Hucco, all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, seem more likely origins. See -ley.
Hyde (Cheshire, Staffordshire Wwksh., and Gloucester). Hyde Heath (Bucks), and Hyde Park (London). Old English higid, later hid, hide, hyde, an Old English measure of land, originally as much as would support one family and their dependents. The spelling of the placename seems almost always Hyde, and the London H. goes back to Domesday Book The hida or' hide' is often referred to in Domesday Book
Hydon Heath (W. Surrey) is wrongly spelt High Down, as it is 1453 Hyddeneshethe, ' heath of? Hyddan.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Hidda and Hiddi. On the Heath is Hydons Ball.
Hylton (Sunderland). Probably ' town on the slope or incline.' Old English hylde, helde, cognate with hyll, ' a hill.''
Hythe (Kent). 1051 Old English Chronicum Hide, 1228 Close R. Heth, Heia, 1234 the same Hee. A hithe is ' a landing-rise, a quay,' before 700 hydde, later hyd. Compare Rotherhithe, etc. The old forms are exactly paralleled by those of Old English rith,' a stream.' See Rye, Ryde, etc.



Ibstone, (Wallingford) Domesday Book Ypestan. Probably ' Ipa's stone.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives Ibba, Ibe, Ipa, Ipo, Ippa. Possibly ' look-out stone, from Old English yppe, ' a raised or look-out place.' Compare Ibstock (Leicester)—see Stoke—and Ipstones. See -ton.
Ickenham (Uxbridge). Domesday Book Ticheham, also Tykenham. 'Home of Tica ' or ' Tican,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Old English ticcen, Ger. zieke, is ' a goat, a kid.' Compare Titchborne. The loss of the initial t is curious; but Norm, scribes regularly softened c into ch. But Icombe (Stow-on-Wold) is 781 charter Icancumb, ' Icca's valley.'
Ickham (Canterbury). 785 charter loccham, Domesday Book Gecham. ' Home of locca,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but lea, Icea, and Ycca are. The Old English charter name of R. Ock (Berks) is Eoccen.
Ickleford (Hitchin) and Ickleton (S. Cambridgeshire). Ramsey Charter Icklingford, Rams. Chronicum Iclesforde. Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 630 Icelingtun. Domesday Book Hichelintone, Inchelintone, 1210 Iclintone. Patronymics. ' Ford and village of the sons of Icel.' Compare next and Giggleswick. We get the same name in Icklesham (Winchelsea), 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Ichelesha, ' home of lcel.' Kickle (Bucks) was 1236 Close R. Ykel'. See -ham, -ing, and -ton.
Ickni(e)ld Street or Way runs from Icklingham (Bury St. Edmunds) to Wantage. 854 charter Icenhilde weg, 903 the same Iccenhilde wege, a, 1200 Ad regalem viam quae vocatur Ikenhildestrete; Stratam regiam quae appellatur Ykenild; via regia vel le Pienelde strete, before 1300 Rikelinge strete, before 1400 Rykenylde- strete. Also before 100 charter Cinges straete. Commonly said to come from the tribe Iceni who occupied all E. Anglia in 1st century. a.d. This is denie by Duignan in his full and valuable arts. s.v.. The ending -byIt, -hylde, -ild may be Old English hylde, ' tbe slope of a hill.’ The rest of the name must remain doubtful. Ickworth (Bury St. E.) will be likee Ickham (Canterbury), ' farm of Ica, not from the Iceni; whilst Icklingham will be' home of the sons of Icel.' See above.
Iddesleigh (Winkleigh, Devon). Domesday Book Edeslege. 'Meadow of Eda ' or ' Ida,' or ' Iddi,' all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 836 charter Iddeshale (i.e., nook), and Idbury (Oxon), Domesday Book Ideberie. See -bury and -leigh.
Idle R. (Notts, trib. of Trent). Bede Idla, circa, 1120 Henry Hunt. Idle, 1200 charter Yddil. There seems no likely Welsch root, so possibly it may be from Old English idel, ' idle,' in its or Gaelic meaning, ' empty.' Compare Elstree. There is also an Idle (Bradford), not in Domesday Book Idlicote (Shipston) is actually Domesday Book Etelincote, or Aethelwyns’ cot. Idelsbuhy (Pinswick), before 1125 Idelberge, is from a man Idel; the name is found in 1199, and Rhys thinks it may be oriGaelic Welsch Ithel for Juddhael, found on one of the Llantwit stones as Juthahels. Thus the man's name will be the same as in Giggleswick and Ickleford.
Ieithon R. (Radnorshire). Anwyl thinks this is perhaps the Keltic goddess of speech.
Iffley (Oxford). 1004 charter Gifetelea, Domesday Book Givetelei, 1165 Ivittelai, 1233 Iftel', 1234 Ghyftele, 1316 Yiftele. H. Alexander says origin unknown. Certainly, it is not likely to be ' gift- meadow,' Old English gift, gyft. Curiously there is in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 834 an ' Yffeles leah.'
Ilam (Ashbourne). 1006 charter Hilum, Domesday Book Ylum, before1300 Hylum, Ilium. Probably Old Eenglish locative Ylon, ' at the Yl,' old name of the brook Manifold, trib. of R. Dove, on which it stands. Perhaps same root as R. Isla (Scottish), which Whitley Stokes thought perhaps cognate with Old High Germanic Hen, modern Germanic eilen, ' to hurry.' However, Duignan thinks Ilam is Old English hyllum, ' at, among the hills.' ' The whole manor is hill and dale.' Compare Hallam, Hulam, etc. Oxford Dictionary gives only one reference to a spelling of hill without h, and that circa, 1580; so Duignan's origin is doubtful.
Illey (Halesowen), before 1200 Hilleley, Yleley, 1250 Hilleleye, is probably ' mead of Ylla,' one such known. Compare an Illeyge or Illanley in Kentish charters, and Monks Eleigh.
Ilchester (Taunton). Perhaps Ptolemy's Iskalis. Domesday Book and 1155 Givelcestre, circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Givelceastra, 1158 luelcestre. ' Camp on the R. Ivel, He, or Isle,' Old English geafol, geafl, Gaelic gabhal, 'a fork' (of a river). Compare Yeovil. Contraction began early, because already in Domesday Book we have Ivle, and even Ile-minstre. See -Chester.
Ilford (Essex). Domesday Book Ilefort, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Ileford. Probably 'ford of Ilia, Illo,' or ' Ho,' all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Ile= isle, Old France ile, is not in English Gaelic till 1290. But see above; it may be ' ford at the fork.'
Ilfracombe (N. Devon). Domesday Book Alfreincomc, 1233 Close R Affridecumbe, Aufredecumbe,1234 the same Alfridecumbe. ' Valley of Ealhfrith,' a common Old English name, spelt later Alfrith and Alfrid. See -combe.
Ilkerton (Devon). Domesday Book Incrintona. Probably 'village of Hgaer,’ one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The Inc- in Domesday Book will be due to the common interchange of liquids.
Ilketshall (Bungay). Domesday Book Ilchesteshala. McClure thinks ' Ulfketel's hall or mansion.' More old forms needed. It may be 1225 Patent R. Kilketeleshal.? Ki error for U or Wi.
Ilkley (Yorks). Thought to be Ptolemy Olicana. Domesday Book Illicleia, Illiclei, Illeclive (i.e., 'cliff'). 'Meadow of ? ' If the name be Old English it may be from Ulfach, Ullfeg, Willac or Willoc, all these are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ley.
Ilmington (Shipston-on-Stour). circa, 1010 charter Ylmandune, Domesday Book Edelmitone, Ilmedone, before 1200 Illamedone, 1326 Ilmyndon. ' Hill, down of Eadhelm,' though some of the forms suggest AElmin, also in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Endings -don and -ton often inter- change, q.v. Ilminstee, (Somerset). Domesday Book Ileminstre. 'Church on the lie ' or ' Isle.' See Ilchester and -minster.
Ilsington (Newton Abbot). Domesday Book has only Ilesham. Compare Domesday Book Norfolk Ilsinghetuna. ' Town of the Ilsings,’? ' sons of Ylla,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Elsing and next. See -in Gaelic.
Il(s)ton (Swansea). 1340 Iltwiteston; in Welsch Llanilltyd, before 1400 Lanyltwyt, Laniltwyt. ' Town ' or ' church of St. Illtyd,' 5th century. Compare Llantwit. But Ilsley (Berks) is Domesday Book Hildeslei, ' Hild's mead,' and Ilton (N. Yorks) is Domesday Book Ilchetun, Hilchetun, where the man's name seems already corrupted beyond recognition.
Immingham (Grimsby). Domesday Book Imungeha. Patronymic. 'Home of the sons of Imma.' See -in Gaelic. The same man's name is seen in Impney (Droitwich), before 1200 Imney, before 1300 Ymenege, Imeneye,' Isle of Imma.' See-ey.
Ince (S. of R. Mersey). Domesday Book and circa, 1380 Inise, before 1200 Ynys, Welsch ynys,' an island';,or, as it does not seem ever to have been an island, Gaelic innis, ' an inch,' ' a meadow by a river.' It seems to have this meaning in Welsch too, though not in the ordinary dictionaries. Compare ' Ynichebeche' (Forest of Dean), cited by Baddeley, s.v. Inchbrook, which has no old forms.
Ingatestone (W. Essex). The original name in Domesday Book is simply Ginge. In Gaelic it is regular for initial g to fall away (see I passim). Thus originally this must be the same as Ginge (Hendred, Berks), Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 257 Gseging, later the same iii. 173 Gainge, iii. 67 Gaineg, i. 506 Geinge, Domesday Book and Rolls of the great Pipe (1155-56) Gainz, 1125 Estgeyn Gaelic Patronymic. ' Place of the sons of Goega.' Compare Gaydon. Gate is presumably Old English geat, ' gate.' See -inGaelic Inglestone (Hawkesbury) is also spelt Ingateston, and 1610 Inguston. Older forms unknown.
Ingbirchworth (Sheffield). Domesday Book Berceworde, which also stands for Rough Birchworth. 'Farm of Ingebiorg’ or ‘Ingelbeorht.' Long names readily contract. See -worth.
Ingestre (Stafford). Domesday Book Gestreon, before 1300 Ingestre, Yngestre, Ingestraund, Ingetrent. Probably ' Inga's tree.’ Old English treo, treow. Compare Oswestry. But -straund is Old English strand, ' shore, bank of a river, here the Trent, which accounts for Ingestrent. The Domesday Book form is corrupt but represents a pl. of treo.
Ingham (Lincoln and Norwich), Ingworth (Norwich). Domesday Book Lincoln Ingeha; Norfolk Ingewrda. 'Home' and 'farm of Inga,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ham and -worth. Duignan thinks Ingon (Stratford, Wwk.), 704 charter Ingin, must be Old English in gin, ' in the gap ' while Inghthorp (Yorks) is Domesday Book Ucnetorp, or' Yeca' s village'; the -ne represents the Old English gen . -an, ne sounding en. See -thorpe.
Ingleborough (hill, W. Yorks). Said to be 'beacon-borrow or hill.' Only ingle, ' fire,' is not found till 1508, and in the 16th century. only in Scottish Ingle -is probably for Angle, Old English Engle, ' barrow of the Angle,' or 'English' man. Compare next, -borough is Old English biorg, beorh, 2 beoruh, 4 borw, burgh, 7 barrough,' hill, mound-like hill, barrow. Compare Barrow and Whitbarrow (N. Lanes).
Ingleby Cross and Greenhow (Yorks) and Ingleton (Darlington and Kirby Lonsdale). Domesday Book Englebi, 1179-80 Ynglebi. Dar Ingeltun before 1130 Sim. Dur. Ingeltun. 'Abode of the Angle,' Old English Engle, or ' Englishman.' See -by and -ton. The -how will mean 'hill.' See Houghton. Compare Inglestone (Hawkesbury).
Inglewhite (Preston). This must surely be the same name as Domesday Book Yorks Ingulfvestuet, ' Ingulph's village' or -thwaite, q.v. Ingoldisthorpe (King's Lynn), before 1300 charter Ingoldesthorp, and Ingoldsby (Grantham). Domesday Book Ingoldesbi. 'Village' and ' dwelling of Ingold, 'in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -thorpe and-by.
Inkberrow (Worcester). 789 charter Intanbeorgas, 803 the same Intanbergum, Intanbeorgan, Intebeorgas, Domesday Book Inteberge, 1275 Inkbarewe. ' Barrow, mound-like hill of Inta,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ingleborough.
Inkpen Beacon (Hungerford). 931 charter Ingepenne, Domesday Book Hingepene, 1298 Ingepenne, 1316 Inkepenne. ' Inga's pen,' Old English penn, ' a fold for cattle.' Compare Inkford (Worcester) and Pamber.
Inlade R. (N. Kent). Bede Genlade.? Welsch given, gwyn Hoed, ' white, clear place.'
Inskip (Preston). Domesday Book Inscip. Probably ‘Ine’s or Ini's hut,' Da. kippe, ' hut, low alehouse.' Oxford Dictionary does not give kip, ' a sharp-pointed hill,' before 1815. Possible also is ' Ine's skep or 'beehive.' Old Norse skeppa, 'a basket,' is found once in Old English and after 1225, is common as shep, also 4-9 ski'p(pe), though not found for ' beehive ' till 1494. Compare Minskipp.
Instow (N. Devon). Old forms needed; not in Domesday Book Perhaps ' place,' Old English stow, ' of Ine or Ini.' Compare Domesday Book Bucks Instofald.
Ipplepen (Newton Abbot). Domesday Book Iplepene, 1230 Ipelepenn. Probably ' pen, enclosure (Old English penn) of Ipele,’ variant of Ypwinc, the base name of Ebbsfleet, called in Life of St. Mildred Ypples fleet. The liquids l and n not seldom interchange.
Ipsley (Redditch). 963 charter AEps leage, Domesday Book Epeslei, before 1200 Ippeslei. Either ' aspen-tree (Old English Hoeps) meadow'; compare Apps Court and Apsley. Or perhaps AEppa'’s mead.' Compare Epsom.
Ipstones (Cheadle). before 1200 Yppestan, before 1300 Ippestanes, May be from a man as above. Duignan prefers ' look-out stones,' from Old English yppe, ' a raised or look-out place.' Compare Ibstone.
Ipswich. 993 Old English Chronicum Gipeswic, Domesday Book Gyppeswik, Guppewicus, circa, 1097 Orderic Gepesuicum, 1455 Yepiswiche, 1463 Ipysweche, ' Dwelling of Gipa or Gyppa.' The name of the R. Gipe or Gipping is a back-formation. For loss of initial g compare Ilchester and Islehjm; also compare Islip and Gibsmere (Notts), Domesday Book Gipesmare,1302 Gypesmere. See -wich.
Irby (Yorks, Burgh, and Birkenhead) and Ireby (Kirkby Lonsdale and Carlisle). Yorks I. Domesday Book Irebi, 1202 Yorks Fines Yrebi. Kirkby. I. Domesday Book Irebi. ' Dwelling of Ira.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1297 Yran ceaster, now Irchester (Wellingborough) and Irton (E. Riding), Domesday Book Iretune. See -by and -ton.
Ireleth (Askam, Lanes). Domesday Book Gerleuuorde. 'Farm of? The old ending is clear (see -worth), but the man's name quite doubtful. Perhaps it is Girweald or Giroldus, perhaps Gerl, implied in the patronymyc Gerling, of which Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has one case. The present ending -leth has been influenced by Norse hlith, ' a slope.' Compare Holleth, also Lanes.
Irt R and Irtling R. (Cumerland). ? Welsch iarth,' a long rod, a goad.' Compare next.
Irthlingborough (Northampton), before 1100 charter Irtelingburge, 1135 Old English Chronicum Hyrtlingberi. Presumably a patronymic; nothing likely in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare above and Hartlebury. See -borough.
Irwell R. (S. Lanes), circa, 1200 Irewill. Doubtful, probably Keltic. Perhaps' vigorous river,' Welschir gwili. Compare Abergwili and Erewash.
Isham (Kettering). Sic before 1100, not in Domesday Book It is uncertain what man's name Is- will represent. The R. Isborne (Evesham) is 709 charter Esigburn, 777 Esegburn, ' brook of Esig, Ese, or Est,’all forms are found; and Isham may come from this name too, as certainly does 1160-01 Rolls of the great Pipe Sussex, Eisewrda (Domesday Book Isiwirde), ' farm of Ese.' Compare Isfield, Uckfield (not in Domesday Book), and Essendon. Isis R., name of R. Thames above Oxford. Sic 1537 Leland, but circa, 1387 Higden Ysa, 1603 Yshnyver (see Nevern). It is almost certain that this is a Keltic name for ' river ' or ' water, as in Ouse, and Gaelic uisge. Compare Wisbeach and the Wissey, trib. Of Ouse. Skeat thinks that Ismere House, Kidderminster, circa, 757 charter Usmere, may show the same root. H. Alexander asserts that Isis is merely a ' fanciful separation ' of the Latin name for Thames —Tarnesis. This is contrary to our evidence, esp. that of Higden; and the form Esis never seems to occur.
Isleham (Soham) and Isleworth (R. Thames). Pronunciation I-zelworth. Domesday Book Gisleham, 1284 Isilham, 1321 Yeselham. Domesday Book Ghistelworde, later Yhistelworth, Istelworth, circa, 1600 Thistleworth. 'Home' and 'farm of the hostage,' Old English gisel. Islebeck (N. Yorks), Domesday Book Iselbec, is presumably' brook of the hostage too. But Islehampstead is probably 1230 Close R. Ysenhamested, ' homestead of Isen-.' There are several possible names, Isenbard, Isengrim, etc. See -worth.
Isle of Dogs (London). Formerly Stepney Marsh. 1588 Ames' Map, He of Dogges; 1593 Norden's Map,' Isle of Doges Ferme.' The origin of the name is quite unknown to history. See Thornbury and Walford's Greater London, i. 535-37. Possibly because so many dogs were drowned in the Thames here.
Islington (London). Old Isendune. The l as in island, is said to be quite modern Probably ' hill of Isena.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 144 Isenan aewylm (' spring '); and see -ing, -don, and -ton.
Islip (Oxford and Thrapston). Oxford I. before 1100 charter Githslep. Thrapston I. Domesday Book and circa, 1240 Islep. ' Githa's leap,' Old English hlyp, 3 leep, lip, 4-6 lepe. There are 4 Githa's in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Birdlip.
Itchen R. (Hants and Warwick). Hants. I 961 charter Icena; Warwick I. 998 charter on Yasenan, 1001 the same on Ycenan. Some identify the Hants R. with Ytene, which Florence of Worcester, circa, 1097, says is the Angles' name for the New Forest. If so, we probably have the common scribe's error t for c; and origin from Old English etan, 3rd in Gaelic pres. ytt, ' to devour, consume,' is not to be thought of. Probably both rivers are pre-Keltic. Compare R. Ithon (Radnor), R. Ythan (Aberdeenshire), Ythancaestir (Essex) in Bede iii. 22, Bp's Itchington, and Icknield St. Long Itchington (Southam) is 1001 charter Yceantune, Domesday Book Icentone, Itchington (Thornbury), is 967 charter Icenantune, Domesday Book Icetune; whilst Itchington (Suffolk) is also from a R. Icenan. Compare Codex Diplomaticus iii. 316.
Itteringham (Norfolk). Sic 1504, also Iteryngham. 'Home of Wihthering, Withering, or Witherwine,' all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Domesday Book has only a Witeingeham. Compare Withernsea. See -in Gaelic
Ivel (or Ile) R. (Somerset, and trib. of Great Ouse). See II- chester.
Iver (Uxbridge). before 1300 Evere, Evre. Not in Domesday Book Ivor is an old Brit, name found in Geoffrey of Monmouth and Giraldus Cambrensis. But here it is probably Old English ifig ofr, M.E. ivi-over, 'ivy bank.’ It is on a bank. Compare Asher, Beecher, Hasler, etc.; and see -over.
Ixhull (Oakley, Bucks). Not in Domesday Book 1240 Close R. Yxenhull. Probably 'hill of Ycca,’ 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ixworth (Bury St. E.). Domesday Book Icsewurda',' Icca's farm.' Hull is regular Midland and Gaelic for hill.


Jackments Bottom (Kemble, Cirencester), Old Jakemans, Jacumans, called from a man. A Walter Jakemans is known in 1355. Bottom is Old English botm, found with the secondary meaning, ' dell, low-lying land,' from circa, 1325.
Jacobstow (Cornwall). 'Place (Old English stow) of Jacob,' brother of Winwaloe. See Gunwalloe.
Jabrow, on Tyne. Bede In Gyrvum, Gyrwum; before 1130 Sim. Dur. Girva, 1593 Southe Yaro Ave. Welsch garw, geirw, 'rough'; also 'a torrent.' Compare Gaelic garbh,' rough,' and Yarrow (Sc). But McClure thinks from Kelt, gyrwe,' fen, marsh.' Compare Wear.
Jersey, circa, 380 Antoninc Itinary. Caesarea, circa, 1070 Wm. Jumieges Gersus, before 1170 Wace Gersui, 1218 Patent E. Geresye, 1219 the same Gerese, 1447 Jersey, 1454 Gersey, 1587 Iarzie. Caesarea is ' place named in honour of Caesar, the ending being Latin -ea, and not Norse -ey. The present form is due to Norse influence and may be meant for Old Norse ’gers-ey,' grass-covered isle Old Frisian gers; Danish graes, 'grass.' But all the same, it must be corruption of Caesarea. Cherburg, close by, is 1237 Close R. Cesariburg; whilst Caithness i.e., Norse-blooded—lips to-day always call Jews Chews. Compare Jerbourg, Guernsey. See -ey. '
Jervaulx or Jobeval (Yorks, N. Riding). Pronunciation Jarvis. 1297 Jerovalle. France val, modern plural vaux, is ' a valley'; but Jer(o)- is doubtful. Compare Jarrow. The Cistercian abbey was founded here in 1156. For the ending -val, compare the name Furnivall, found from 13th century, from Fournival, Normandy.
Jesmond (Newcastle). Sic before 1270. As above, the latter half seems clear enough, France mont, ' mount, hill,' but the former is quite doubtful. Compare Richmond.
Johnston (Pembroke). Sic 1603. Founded by Flemish settlers early in the 12th century. Compare Jameston, Jordanston (1516 Jordanyston, Welsch Tref Wrdan), and Williamston, in same shire.
Jump (Barnsley). Modern. The word jump is not found in English till 1511.

Kedington (Haverhill, Suffolk). Domesday Book Kidituna. Compare Domesday Book Kedington (Worcester).'Town of Cedd, Cedda, or Ceadda,'genitive -an. Compare too, Domesday Book Cedeslai (Worcester). Kedsley is still a surname. See -ing.
Keel (2 in Montgomery) and Keele (Newcastle-under-L.). Newcastle K. before 1200 Kiel. Duignan is probably right in calling all these Keltic. Gaelic cille, ' graveyard, churc,’ comes very near in sound; but Gaelic words are unknown hereabouts, so it is probably Welsch cil, ' a corner, a nook.' But Keelby (N. Lines) must be from a man, as in Kelmarsh, Kelloe, etc.; so also Nun Keeling (Yorks), Domesday Book Chelinge, plainly a patronymic from a man. Keel or Cele.
Keevil (Trowbridge). Domesday Book Chivele, 1217 Patent R. Kivele. The ending -ley, q.v., very rarely falls away to I only. But this is probably ' meadow of Cifa.' Compare Chevenage, Kiveton Park, Sheffield, etc.
Kegworth (Derby) 762 Ceagganheal, and 939 charter Cagbroc (Shaftesbury). See -worth.
Keighley (Yorks). Now pronunciation Keithly. Domesday Book Chichelai, 1300 Kighelye, 1303 Kighley. This is the same name as the well- known Abp. Chichele (circa, 1362-1443) and must be ' meadow of Cykell' (variant of Cytel or Ketel, a common name) a name found once in Sim. Dur. The present pronunciation curiously confirms the fact that Cykell is variant of Cytel. See -ley.
Kekewich or Kekewick (Runcorn). See Kenswick, and compare Checkley, and 1286 Close R. Kekaller,' Cec's alder-tree.'
Keld (Richmond, Yorks). Old Norse Icelda, 'a well, a spring.' Compare Gunnerskeld, Threlkeld, etc. also Domesday Book Worcester ‘Celdeslai,’ and the same Bucks, Celdenuella and Celdestone.
Kelfield (York). Domesday Book Chelchefeld. The name represented by Chelche -is doubtful. It maybe Ceollach or Cellah, found once in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Kellet, Over and Nether (Carnforth). Domesday Book Chellet, before 1400 Keldelith. Old Norse kelda-hlith, ' spring, well on the hillslope.' How early the name contracted, yet how late the true form lingered!
Kellington (Normanton). Domesday Book Chellinctone, Chelintune. 'Town of Celling,' a recorded name, or ' of the sons of Ceolla.' See -ing. Kelloe (Coxhoe, Durham). 1522 Kellowe. Probably ' Ceol's hill ' or ' how,' Old Norse haug-r, ' a mound, a cairn,' found in English as how before1340. See-how.
Kelmarsh (Northampton). Domesday Book Keilmersc. 'Marsh,' Old English mer(i)sc, 'of Ceol.' Compare Kelby (S. Lines), Domesday Book Chelebi, and above.
Kelston (Bath). Old forms needed. Not in Domesday Book but compare Domesday Book Bucks Celdestane i.e., ' stone at the well ' or ' spring,' Old English celde, Old Norse kelda. Compare Kilham, also Kelmstow, Halesowen, 1327 Kelmestowe, ‘place of a chapel tot St. Kenelm, or Coenhelm.
Kelvedon (Essex). 998 charter Cynlaue dyne, Domesday Book Keluenduna, 1298 Kelwendon. Probably 'hill of Cynelaf,' 6 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The change here is unusual. See -don.
Kemerton (Tewkesbury). Said to be 840 charter Cyneburgincgtun (B.G.S. 430),' dwelling of the son sof Cyneburh,' a woman. See -ing. But Domesday Book Chinmertune, Chenemertune, ' dwelling of Cynemaer.'
Kemmaes Head. See Cemmaes.
Kempley (W. Gloucester). Domesday Book Chenepelei, 1221 Kenepelege, 1239 `Kenepelega. Some think, Old English cyne-ceppel-Uah, ' royal apple- meadow,' an interesting corruption. Normandy scribes, esp. in Domesday Book, have a habit of turning c into the softer ch. But it is already 1195 Kempelee, and Baddeley may be right in making it ' Cnapa's lea.'
Kempsey (Worcester). 799 charter Kemesei, 977 the same Cymesige, Domesday Book Chemesege (Norm. spelling), 1275 Kemesey. Probably ' isle of Ceomma.' A p often intrudes, compare Bampton, Brompton, etc. See next and -ey.
Kempsford (Gloucester). Old English Chronicum 800 Cynemseresford, 1236 Kynemeresford, 1541 Kamyseford. ' Ford of Cynemcer.' But Kempston (Bedford), Domesday Book Cameston (4 times), 1242 Close E. Kemes-, Kemstun, is probably from a man Ceomma, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The letter p is a common intruder.
Kempton (Sunbury). Domesday Book Chenetone; 1222 Patent R. Kenintun; 1238 Kenniton, Kenyton, Kenet’; 1331 Kenyngton. Probably 'town of Coen or Coena,’ both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Kenchester (Hereford), circa, 380 Antonninc Itinary Magnis, Domesday Book Chenecestre. Old English cyne ceaster, ' royal camp or town.' Compare Kempley.
Kendal, before 1199 Kirkeby in Kendal, 1303 Brunne Kendale, 1575 Kirkbie Kendall. ' Dale, valley of R. Kent,' which must be the same as R. Kennet—at least so thinks Skeat. This K. is not in Domesday Book, but we have there a' Cheldale' i.e., Kendall Farm (Driffield)—on the R. Kell, trib. of the Hull. The liquids l and n occasionally interchange. Kell may be Welsch celli, -''a, wood, a grove.' See-dale and Kirkby.
Kenfig Hill (Bridgend, Glamorgan). Charter Konefeg. Welsch cefn y ffyg, ' at the head of the swamp,' now mostly buried in the sand, but once famous. Caen or Ken Wood (Hampstead) might be from cefn too; but it does not seem mentioned till 1661, which is far too late for us to be sure of anything.
Kenilworth (Warwick). Domesday Book Chinewrde, before 1199 Roll. Rich. I. Kenilleworhe, 1229 Kenillewurth, 1297 Robert of Gloucester Keningwrthe, Kiningwurthe, 1298 Kenilworthe. The true form is found only in the other and now defunct Kenilworth, near Worcester, 974 charter Cynelde weorthe, 980 the same Cinilde wyrthe. ' Farm of Cynehild,' a woman. Compare Domesday Book Salop Cheneltone. The word kennel is from Normal. France, and not found in Eng. till circa, 1350. See -worth.
Kenley (Shrewsbury and Surrey). Shrewsbury K. Domesday Book Chenelie. ' Coena's meadow.' Several of this name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ley. But Kennerley (Oswestry) and Kennersley (Wellington, Salop, and Hereford), Domesday Book Chenardelei, Oswestry, are from Coenweard. The surname Kenward is still in use.
Kennet R. (Berks) and town and R. (Newmarket); also old name of Marlboro, which is 12.23 Kenet. Berks K. is circa, 380 Ayit. Itin. Cunetio, 1006 Old English Chronicum and Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum ii. 367, Cyneta; Newmarket K. circa, 1080 Kenet, Domesday Book Chenet. Keltic root of unknown meaning. Compare Kennet (Scottish), Kent R. (Westmunsterland), Kentford (Sussex) (Chronicum Ramsey Chenetheford), and Kintbury.
Kennington (London and Berks). London K. Domesday Book Chenintone, circa, 1390 Kennyngton. Berks K. Old English charter Cenintune, Cenigtune; later Chenigtun, Chenitun; circa, 1290 Keninton. Seems to be Old English Coenantun, 'town of Coena' (3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and 1 Coen), or else ' of Coena's descendants.' Skeat prefers to derive from Keen or the Keenin’s, Old English cene, ' bold, valiant, keen.' Compare Domesday Book Devon, Chenigedone, ' Keening's hill,' and Kensworth (Beds). Kenninghall (Thetford), Domesday Book Cheninchala, Chenighehala, has probably the same origin. The -ighe- is the common -incg, sign of the patronymic. See-ing and -hall.
Kensington (London). Domesday Book Chenesitune. Probably 'town of Coensige' or' Censige' (2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum). See -ing.
Kenswick (Worcester). Domesday Book Checinwiche, before 1200 Checkingwic, before 1400 Kekingwik, Kekingewyke, Kekeswych. Probably ' dwelling of the sons of Cecca,' Compare Checkley, or;’ of Cygincg, one in Domesday Book. Compare Kekewich and Kensworth. Beds (not in Domesday Book) and see -wick.
Kent. 55 B.C. Jul. Caesar Cantium, circa, 30 e.g. Diodorus Sicul. … ? before 600 Gregory Tours Cantia, Bede Cant-uarii, before 810 Nennius Ghent, Old English Chronicum 676 Centlond, Dom,. Ghent; also c. 930 Lett, to Athelstan Gantescyre. E. Nicholson conjectured an O. Keltic root meaning ' white,' from the chalk cliffs. Compare Welsch gwyn, gwen. Possibly it means ' headland.' Compare GaelicC ceann, ' head,' and Gabrosenti, Old Keltic form of Gateshead. For R. Kent see Kendal and Kennet.
Kentchurch and Kenderchurch (Hereford) are only 1 mile apart. Not in Domesday Book Probably both are=Llangynidr.
Kentisburyford (Barnstaple). Domesday Book Ghentesberie, Exon. Domesday Book Ghentisberia. The Kenti- may represent some such Old English name as Centwine or Cintswine, a common name, or perhaps Coenstan or Chenestan. Compare Kentchurch. 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Gloucester has a Gantebohhan, which may be for ' Cantas bow ' or ' arch.' Old English 603 a has this sense. There is a Canta in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and this may be the name in Kentisbury too. Compare Kentisbbare (Cullompton), Domesday Book Chentesbere. See Beer,' a wood.’
Kentish Town (London). Old Kanteloues Town, later Kentestowne. Named from the family of Cantlow, formerly Kaunteloe, Normandy Chanteloup, or champ de hup, 'wolf's field.' Interesting example of ' popular ' etymology.
Kenton (Exeter and 2). Domesday Book Devon and Bucks Chentone, Suffolk Kenetona; 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Chenton (Devon). Older forms needed. May be from a man Coen, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Perhaps from the common name Centwine, contracted.
Keresley (Coventry). 1275 Keresleye. 'Meadow of the water- cress.’ Old English ccerse, cerse. Compare Cresswell and Abbot's Kerswell; also Kersewell (Wstrsh.), 1275 Kersewelle.
Kersey (Suffolk). Old English charter Caersige, 1342 Kersey; also 1262 ' panni cersegi,’ Kersey cloths. ' Isle of watercresses.' See above and -ey. Domesday Book has only Keresfelda and Kereshalla.
Kessingland (Lowestoft). Domesday Book Kessingaland, Kessingeland; 1225 Patent R. Cassinge-, Casingland. ' Land of the sons of Casa,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare -Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 341 Kasingburne and Chesham. See -ing.
Kesteven (E. Lines). Domesday Book Chetsteven, before 1200 charter Ketstefena, 1242 Ketsteven'. Looks like ' Cetta's stem or stoc,’ Old English stefn, stemn. But for Chet- compare also Chetwood.
Kestle Mill (St. Columb Minor, Cornwall). There is in Domesday Book Salop a Cestulle, or ' hill of Cest,' an unknown man. But it is quite uncertain if this is the same.
Keswick (Cumberland, and Taverham, Norfolk); also East Keswick, near Leeds (Domesday Book Chesuic). Taverham K. Domesday Book Kesewic, circa, 1150 Casewic, and so=Cheswardine and Chiswick,' cheese farm,' ' house where cheese is made.' See -wick. Keston (Hayes,' Kent), Domesday Book Chestan, maybe similarly' cheese stone'or ' cheese-press '; otherwise, it will be 'stone of Cis,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Ketley (Wellington, Salop). Not in Domesday Book Compare 1158-59 Chateleia, Rolls of the great Pipe Norfolk and Suffolk ' Meadow of Cetil, Chetel,' or ' Ketil '; all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The seat of the Curzons of Keddleston was before 1400 Ketilston. See -ley. But Ketford (Dymock), Domesday Book Chitiford, is from a man Cyta.
Kettering. 963 Old English Chronicum Ketering, 1125 Kateringes (plural), and Ketteringham (Norwich), 956 charter AEt Cytringan, Domesday Book Ketrincham. Patronymics. ' Abode of the sons of Kater,' still in use as a surname. See-ing and -ham (where the -an of 956, a possible locative will be found referred to).
Kettleburgh (Wickham Market). 1224 Ketelbergh. 'Burgh, castle of Cetel or Cytel'; a common name. See -burgh.
Ketton (Stamford). Not in Domesday Book Compare 1183 Boldon Bk. Kettona (Durham). Probably ' village of Cetta '; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ket- ford; see -ton.
Keverne (Cornwall). Not in Domesday Book 1536 Keweyn. Probably from St. Keymven or Kenew, daughter of Brychan of Brecknock, and aunt of St. Cadoc. Kenwyn is the name of the parish of which Truro stands. Compare St. Keyne (Cornwall), but not Keynsham.
Kew (London). Old Kayhough, Kayhoo, Keye; 1749 Kew. ' Promontory, point of land at the quay or wharf ' ; Old France kay, cai ; in English 4 keye, and see Hoe, Hoo.
Kewstoke (Weston-Super-Mare). Domesday Book Chiwestoch. Said to be ' place of St. Keio.' St. Ciwg or Cwick was patron saint of Llangwick, on R. Taff, possibly Exon. Domesday Book Lancichuc. There is also a St. Kywa or Ciwa in the Exeter Martyrology, Feb. 8. Compare Roll Rich. I.,' Kiweshope' (Hereford).
Keyham (Leicester and Devonport). Leicester K. Domesday Book Caiham and Caitorp. Compare Domesday Book Surrey and Salop Ceiha. ' Home of Keigwyn, a surname, probably Cornish, still in use. Compare Canwell.
Keymer (Hassocks, Sussex). Domesday Book Chemere. Probably ' Ceomma'n mere ' or ' lake.' Compare Cromer, etc.
Keynor (Selsea) Old English Chronicum 477 Cymenesore, ' Cymen's shore,' Domesday Book Coonore, Coonare; where the Saxon AElle and his 3 sons, Cissa, Cymen, and Wlencing, landed in 477. Compare the Cumensora near Welsch Wittering (Sussex), mentioned in a spurious charter.
Keynsham (Bristol), circa, 990 Ethelweard re 871 Coeginesham, Domesday Book Cainesham, 1223 Patent R. Keinesham. ' Home of Keigwin,’ a surname, probably Cornish, still in use. Compare Canwell.
Keynton (Dorset, Wilts, Salop). Dorsrt K. formerly Chintone, Contone, Cuntone; Wilts K. Contone; Salop K. Cantune. Old English Coenantun, ' town of Coena' (3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum).
Kibworth (Leicester). Domesday Book Chiburde. Compare 1208 Yorks Fines Kybbewordhe. 'Farm of Cybha.' Compare B.C.8. 1002 Cybban Stan. See -worth.
Kiddal. See Cheadle.
Kidderminster. Domesday Book Chideminstre, 1223 Kideminstre, before 1300 Kyderminst, Kydelminstr, circa, 1350 Kiderminestere. In a grant of 736 lands at ' Chideminstre' (Normandic scribe's spelling) are given by King AEthelbald to Earl Cyneberght on which to build a monastery (see -minster). So the name is “Monastery, monastery-church of Cydda.’ There are 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, also a Cyda, a Cydd, and a Cyddi. The r is later insertion, so McClures’ s derivation from O. Welsch cyddwfr (= cyn-dwfr) confluence of the rivers, ‘is 4 miles away. But there is a Kiddermore Green, Wolverhampton), which may have a Welsch origin. For ' cockney ' insertion of r compare Tatteeshall.
Kidlington (Oxon). Domesday Book Chedelintona, Cedelintona (also in Devon), 1149 Cudelyngton, 1214 Kedelinton, 1227-28 Cudelinton, Kedelyngton. ' Town of the sons of Cydel,' or perhaps of Ceadela.' But Kiddington (Oxon.) is Domesday Book Chidintone, ' town of Cydda.' See Kidderminster.
Kidsgrove (Stoke-on-T.). No old forms; but compare Domesday Book Northants Chidesbi. ' Grove, wood of Cydda.' Compare above.
Kidwelly (Caermarthen). before 810 Nennius and before 1130 Lib. Landav. Cetgueli; Brut y Twys. ann. 991 Cydweli; Anno Cambr. Kedweli; 1401Kedewelly. In modern Welsch Cedweli, Cadweli. A little doubtful; probably a tribal name from a chief Cadwal.
Kielder (Cheviots). Gaelic eaol dobhar (Welsch dwr). 'Narrow stream.' In Gaelic ao is pronunciation il, but on English lips varies greatly in sound; with the sound in Kielder compare Eddrachilis (Scottish) = Gaelic eadar-a- chaolais, and pronunciation by English people Eddraheelis.
Kilburn (London), circa, 1134 charter Kuneburna, Keneburna; later, Keleburn, Keeleburn, Caleburn; 1536 Kilnborne. 'Burn, brook of Cuna or Coena or Coen ‘; several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But later forms indicate some comparison with Old English ceol, ' a keel, a ship.' As we often see, any liquid may interchange with any other; hence the n becoming l. Compare Killinghall.
Kilcot (Gloucester). Domesday Book Chilecot, 1307 Kulkotte. Probably= Chilcott (Wells), and so Keltic for 'narrow wood.' It is difficult to account for the Chile- otherwise, unless it be similar to Kilham, with chile for Old English celde, 'a spring.' Compare Killpeek (Hereford), 1219 Kilpec. However, there is one Killa, or Cylla, in a Mercian charter
Kilham (Driffield). Domesday Book Chillon (6 times), 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Chillum. An old locative chillon or cyllum, ' at the sources or springs ' of R. Hull; Old English celde, Old Norse kelda, ' a spring, a well.' Compare Kelham (Notts), Domesday Book Calun, 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Kelum, and Welham. There is another near Coldstream (Scottish).
Killinghall (Harrogate). Domesday Book Chenehalle, Chilingale. 'Nook of Coena ' or ' Cilia,' with genitive -an. Domesday Book is perpetually interchanging l and n. Compare Chillingham, Kilburn, etc. See -hall.
Killingworth (Newcastle), circa, 1330 B. Brunne Kilyngworth, 1424 Kyllynworth, and Kilworth, South (Lutterworth), 1288 Close R. Suth-Kevelingwrth, 1307 Kivelingworth. The ending, of course, is ' farm.' See -worth. The prefix seems a patronymic otherwise unrecorded, perhaps from vb. kevel, Old Norse kefla, ' to bit or bridle,' and so this might be' bridling-place.' Compare above. But Kilworth is in Domesday Book Chivelesworde, which postulates a man Cifel, or the like.
Kilmington (Bath and Axminster). Domesday Book Chelmetone, Ex. Domesday Book Chilmatona. Axminster K. 1219 Patent R. Kelmeton. ' Town of Celm,’ one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, or ' of Celm's sons.' See -ing.
Kilnsea (Spurn Hd.). Domesday Book Chilnesse. Perhaps' isle, peninsula of the kiln '; Old English cyline, cyln, Old Norse kylna. Compare Kilnhurst (Rotherham). The sign of the genitive in Kilnsea suggests a man's name, but there is nothing in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum except Cylm; Cyln might be a variant. Kilnwick (Beverley) is Domesday Book Chelingewic, Chilewid, a patronymic from Cil or Cele, the name seen in Kelby (S. Lines), Domesday Book Chelebi. See -wick, 'dwelling.'
Kilsbey (Rugby). Not in Domesday Book 1155-62 charter Kylesbya. 'Dwelling of Cille or Cilia'; several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Cheleswurda, ' Cille's farm,' and Kelby (S. Lines), Domesday Book Chelebi. See -by.
Kilvington (Thirsk). Domesday Book Cheluintun, circa, 1190 Kilvingtone, 1200 Kilvintone. Probably 'town of Ceolwynn’; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Kilvegston (Notts), Domesday Book Chilvintmi, Chelvinctun. Mutschmann would make 'home of the sons of Cylfa’; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum) See -ing. Kilve (Bridgwater), not in Domesday Book, 1221 Patent E. Kelve, seems to be one of the rare cases, like Goodrich, etc., where a placename is simply a man's name, here Ceolf, short form of the common Ceolivulf.
Kimberley occurs 3 times, each a different name, and none from Kimber, name of R. Pang (Berks) near its source, Kelt, cumber, Welsch cymmer, ' a confluence.' K., Nottingham, is Domesday Book Chinemar(e)lie, ' Cynemcer's mead.' K., Warwickshire is 1311 Cynebaldeleye, ' Cynebald's mead ‘; and K. near R. Yare (Norfolk) is Domesday Book Chineburlai, 1237 Kyneburl', ' mead of Cynebeorht,' a very common Old English name. Compare Kilmersdon (Bath), 1235 Kynemerdon, and Kimsbury (Gloster), circa, 1230 Kinemeresbur.
Kimbolton (Hunts and Leominster). Hunts K. Domesday Book Chenebaltone, 1297 Kynebauton. ' Town of Cynebald ‘; m and n often inter- change. Compare Great Kimble, and Kilmeston (Southampton), Domesday Book Chenelmestune,' Kenelm's town.'
Kimpton (Andover and Welwyn). Andover K. Domesday Book Chementune. Welwyn K. Domesday Book Kamintone, 1210 Kentone, later Kymitone, Kemitone, 1346 Kumynton, Skeat is clear that this last is O.E, Cyman tun,' town of Cyma.' It is on the R. Kime, but this must be a back formation. Compare Kyme and Domesday Book Devon Chiempabera, 'perhaps from Cempa i.e., warrior.'
Kinder Scout (The Peak). Scout is Oxford Dictionary, sb1, from Old Norse skute, 'a high, overhanging rock.' Kinder is doubtful; old forms, needed. It looks like Gaelic cinn dobhair (Welsch dwr), ' at the head of the stream,' but this would be a very rare type of name for this region. So probably it is from kind, sic in Old English and Old Norse, in modern Icel. kind-r, ' sheep,' though in older usage it seems to mean only' kind, sort.'
Kineton or Kington (Warwickshire). 969 charter Cyngtune, Domesday Book Cintone. Plainly ' royal town, town of the king '; Old English cyning. Compare Domesday Book Lines Chinetorp, Old English cyne, ' royal ' village.
Kingsbury (Tamworth). Domesday Book Chinesburi, e, before 1200 Kinesburi,' 1322 Kinesbury. ' Burgh, town of Cyne i.e., the royal.' Said to have been a residence of the Mercian kings. See -bury.
Kingsclere (Newbury). See Burghclere.
Kingscliffe (Wansford, Northants). 1202Yorks Fines Cunigges clive super Teisam, must be the same name.
King's Langley (Herts). 'King's long meadow'; Old English lang leak. The land here was in royal possession from Hen. I. to Cromwell, and a house was built here by Hen. III. Kingsnorton (Birmingham), Domesday Book Nortune, also belonged to the Crown from the Conquest to Hen. III.
King's Lynn. Domesday Book Lena, circa, 1100 Lun, 1314-15 Lenne, 1450 Lynne. Old English hlynn means usually ' a torrent running over rocks,' which does not exist here. Its later meaning, ' a pool,' is not recorded till 1577-87, Hohnshed's Chronicum Cognate with Welsch llyn, Cornish lin, Gaelic linne, ' a pool '; so the origin here may be Keltic. The town's history goes back at least to 1100, probably earlier. Originally it was a fief of the Bishop of Norwich, and so-called Lynn Episcopi; but it was emancipated by Hen. VIII., and at that time received its present name, Lynn Regis or King's Lynn.
Kingsley (Cheshire and Hanley). Cheshire K. sic before 1128. Han. K. Domesday Book Chingeslei, before 1300 Kynggesley. ' King's meadow.' See -ley.
King's Nympton (Chulmleigh). 1287 Kingesnemeton. Hybrid. See Nymphsfield.
Kingsthorpe (Northampton). Domesday Book Chingestorp. 'King's village.' See -thorpe.
Kingston (13 in Postal Guide). Surrey K. 619 Cingestun, 838 Cyningestun. Cambridgeshire K. Domesday Book Chingestone, 1210 Kingestone. Notts K. Domesday Book Chinestan, 1291 Kynstan. Warwick K .1327 Kyngestone. ' King's town.' Surrey K. was the usual place for the consecration of the Saxon Kings. The Notts name is Old English cyne stan, ' royal stone.' Kingston Lisle (Wantage), 1288 Kingeston Lisle, was called after William de Insula or De L'Isle, in the time of Hen. II.
Kingstone Bagpuize (Berks). Domesday Book Chingestune in Merceham (Marcham); also in charter Kingestun, Cingestun. Called after a Norman Bachepuiz (Chronicum Abingdon, temp. Wm. II.), 1316 Bakepus, 1428 Bagepuys. Probably from Old France bache, ' a gulley, a watercourse,' compare English bach, and Old France puz, puiz, France puits, Latin puteus, ' a well.' The France place is now Bacquepuis, Eure.
Kingswinford (Dudley). 1023 charter Swinford, Domesday Book Suinesford. ' Ford of the swine '; Old English swin. It was a royal manor in Domesday Book Kingswood (5 in Postal Guide). 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Chingeswuda, Kent. Domesday Book Gloucester has only Chingescote, now Kingscote.
Kingweston (Somerset). Domesday Book Kenwardston, an interesting corruption. Cyneweard is a very common Old English name.
Kinnerley (Oswestry) and Kinnersley (W. Hereford, Severn- Stoke, and Wellington, Salop). 1223 Patent R. Kinardeseia (see -ey),? which. Wellington K. Domesday Book Chinardelei, Chinardeseie. 'Meadow of Cyneheard,' a common Old English name. Compare next and 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Oxon. Chenewardberge, ' hill of Coenweard' Kenward '; also Kingerby (Lines), 1218 Patent E. Kyngorby, probably ' dwelling of Cynegar ‘; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by and -ley.
Kinnerton (Cheshire). Domesday Book Cinbretune. ' Cynebeorht's town.' Compare above.
Kintbury (Hungerford). Domesday Book Cheneteberie, charter set Cynetan byrig,1316 Kenetbury. ' Burgh on the R. Kennet.' See-burgh.
Kinton (Hereford and Salop). Hereford K. Domesday Book Chingtune; also Kengton (Worcester). Domesday Book Chintune, 1275 Kyngton, 1340 Kynton, which Duignan renders Old English cyne tun, ' royal town.' Compare 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Sussex Cunton.
Kinver Forest (Stourbridge). 736 charter 'the wood called Cynibre,' 964 Cynefare, Domesday Book Chenefare, 1222 Kenefer, Testa de Nevill Kinefar, 1282 Kynefare. McClure thinks this may represent an early Cunobriga, ' high burgh.' The origin is quite uncertain. It is very likely Keltic? Welsch cwnybre,' height, top of the brae ' or ' slope.' Old English cyne means ' royal,' and cyne fare (or fcer) ' royal road ‘; but this may have been a Saxon corruption of a Welsch name.
Kippax (Pontefract). Domesday Book Chipesch. The local pronunciation Is Kippis. Old English ceap-cesc,'' market ash-tree.' Compare Chepstow and Borrowash.
Kirby (11 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Leicester Cherchebi. Contracted from Kirk-By, ' dwelling by the church.' Kirby Wiske (Thirsk) is 1212 Kirkeby super Wise. See Appleton Wiske.
Kirby Cross and Kirby-le-Soken (Walton-on-Naze). See above. Not in Domesday Book These are among the most southerly of names in -by. Soken is a district held by socage, in Old English socn, from soc, ' the right of holding a court in a district.' All dwellers in a soken were under the jurisdiction of the lord of the manor there.
Kirdford (Petworth). Not in Domesday Book Compare circa, 1030 ' Cyrdeslea,' Hereford. ' Ford of Cyrd,' contraction of Ceolred, a common Old English name.
Kirkbride (Carlisle). 1189 Kirkebride. 'Church of St. Bride,' or Bridget or Brigida of Kildare.
Kirkby (16 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Yorks Chirchebi or Cherchbi 35 times, and Kirkebi once, all for some Kirkby or Kirby i.e., ' dwelling by the church.' Compare Kendal; see-by.
Kirkham (N. of R. Ribble). Domesday Book Chicheham (r omitted by error), circa, 1141 Chircheham, the name as written by a Norman or Southern scribe. ' Home, house by the kirk,' N. Eng. and Scottish for church.
Kirklington (Bedale and Southwell). Bedale K. Domesday Book Cherclinton, Cherdinton, 1212 Tories Fines Kertlinton. Southwell K. Domesday BookCherhnton, Cherluintone, 1291 Kirtelyngton. These maybe same as Kirtlington; but probably they are mostly Kirk-linton, 'the Lyn-Ton by the church.' However, Kerklinton (Carlisle) is circa, 1120 Kirklevington, probably 'church of the village of Lewine' or 'Leof wine,' or his descendants. Compare Livingstone (Scottish); and see -ing.
Kirkoswald (Cumberland). 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Karcoswald. 'Church of Oswald.' Compare Oswestry.
Kirkstall Abbey (Leeds). Founded 1147-52. 1237 Close R. Kirkestal. circa, 1540 Leland Christal. ' Kirk ' or ' church place.' Old English steel.
Kirtling (Newmarket) and Kirtlington (Oxford), circa, 1080 Curtehnge, Domesday Book Chertelinge, 977 Old English Chronicum Kvrtlingtune, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Cirtling, 1230 Close R. Kurtlinton, Kertlinton, 1241 the same Curlinton. This must be a patronymic,' place of the sons of Cyrtel,' though no name like this is given in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Kirklington; and see -ing.
Kirton Lindsey (Lines). 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Chirchetune. 'Kirk or church town of the Lindsays.' Compare Kirkham. Randolph de Limesay or Lindeseye i.e., ' isle of lime-trees 'came over with the Conqueror.
Knapton (York and N. Walsham) and Knapwell (Suffolk). York K. Domesday Book Cnapetone, others not in Domesday Book, 'town of Cnapa'; whilst Suffolk K. is sic 1230, ' well of Cnapa.' Compare Knapthorpe (Caimton), Domesday Book Chenapetorp. But Knap Farm, Cold Knap Wood, etc. (Warwickshire), are from Old English cncep, Mittel English cnap, 'a hillock.' So also Knappe (Sussex), 1218 Cnappe.
Knaresborough. Domesday Book Chenaresburg (5 times). 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Chanardesburc, 1156 Canardsburc, 1158 Cnardesburc, 1179-80 Cnarreburi, circa, 1180 Ben. Peterb. Cnaresburgus. The originally name was '' burgh, castle of Kenward or ' Cyneweard.' But as it stands on a rocky slope it seems early to have been thought ' fort of the rugged rock,' Mittel English knarre, found before 1250.
Knaves Castle (Lickfield). before 1300 'a place called Cnaven castle,' now a small mound. Old English cnafa, ' a boy, a servant later,' a knave, a rogue.' Compare Knavenhill (Alderminster)
Knayton (Thirsk). Domesday Book Chenevetune, Chenivetune, Chennieton, 1235 Cneveton. 'Town of Coengifu,' a woman's name, only found here. Compare Kneveton (Notts), Domesday Book Chenivetone, circa, 1190 Chnivetun, which Mutschmann prefers to derive from Old English cniht, ' a servant,' which explains the Kn-, but not the -ev.
Knebworth (Stevenage). Domesday Book Chcnepeuorde, before 1300 Kenebbeswrth,1303 Knebbeworth. ' Cnebba's farm.’ See-worth.
Kneesworth (Royston, Herts). 1276 Knesworth, 1346 Kneesworthe. 'Farm of Knee'; Old English cneo,' a knee'; not recorded as a personal name. Compare Kneesall (Notts), Domesday Book Cheneshale, 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Cneeshala. See-hall.
Knighton (4 in Postal Guide) Leicester K. Domesday Book Cnihtetone. K.-on-Teme 957 Cnihtatune, Domesday Book Cnistetun (Domesday Book almost regularly has st for gh), 1108 Cnihtetun, 1218 Cnigheton. ' Servants' town.' On Knight see next. Compare Knightwick (Worcester), 738 charter Cnihtwic. See -wick, ' dwelling.'
Knightsbridge (London). circa, 1150 Cnihtbriga; later, Knyghtsbrigg. Old English cnihtmeantorig,' a boy, a lad, an attendant, a servant.' Its modern usage as' knight' is not recorded till Old English Chronicum 1086.
Knockin (Salop). Probably dimintive of Welsch cnwc, Gaelic cnoc, 'a hillock.' Compare Knook and Knucklas. One would like to see the old forms of Knockholt or' wood' (Sevenoaks). It is not in Domesday Book
Knoddishall (Saxmundham). Domesday Book Chenotessala, 1225 Patent R. Kenodeshal. ' Nook, corner of Cnod, Gnut,' or ' Canute.' Compare Knottengley and Knutsford. See -hall.
Knolton Bryn (Ellesmere). Tautological hybrid. 'Town on the knoll.' Old English cnoll, Dan. knold, Welsch cnol, Scottish knowe, and Welsch bron, Corn, bryn, 'a hill.' Compare Knowle and Notting Hill. But Kinoulton (Notts), Domesday Book Chineltune, 1152 Cheneldestoa, is ' Cyneweald' s town.'
Knook (Wilts), a 800 charter Nox gaga, Domesday Book Cunuche, 1236 Cnuke. Welsch cnuch, ' a junction '; or cnuwch, ' a junction, a bush.'
Knottingley (Yorks). Domesday Book Notingelai, 1202 Cnottinglai. Patronymic. 'Meadow of the sons of Cnot' or ' Cnut.' See -ley. But Knott in Cumbld. and West Midlands means ' a hill,' as in Arnside Knott, Hark Knot, Scald Knot, etc. Old English cnotta, see Oxford Dictionary, knot sb. 14.
Knowl(e) (Birmingham, Bristol, etc.). Birmingham K. Domesday Book Gnolle, before 1300 La Cnolle, before 1400 Knole. Wednesfield K. before 1300 Ic Knolle. Alvechurch K. 1275 la Cnolle. Old English cnoll, 'a round- topped hillock' or 'hill,' a knoll; Scottish knowe. Two 'Cnolle' in Domesday Book Dorset.
Knowsley (Liverpool). Domesday Book Phenulweslei (P error for C). 'Lea, meadow of Goenwulf,' a name common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ley.
Knoyle (Salisbury). 948 charter Cunugl, Cnugel, 1228 Stepel Knoel. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum i. 240 Cunugl-ae (='isle'), which Birch identifies with Colne (Gloucester), q.v. This cannot be the same as knoll, Old English cnoll, ' hill-top, hillock,' though McClure declares that the Oxford Dictionary, says this is the origin of Knoyle. Where does it say that? Nor is it likely to be Old English cnucel, ' knuckle, hill like a knuckle.' This would not have become Knoyle. Cunugl looks like Welsch cwn uchel, ' lofty height or ' hill-top,’ the Old Welsch ugl ' thus being cognate with Ogle, and Scottish Ochils, and Ogil-vie. It is only fair to add that the Gazetteers speak of no hill here, so the name may be pre-Kelt.
Knucklas (Radnor). In Welsch Cnwcglas,1246 Paten B. Cnuclays. 'Green hill,' from Welsch cnwc, 'lump, hillock,' and glas (lias),' green, blue.' Compare Knockin and Knook.
Knutsford (Cheshire). Domesday Book Cunetesford. 'Ford of King Cnut or Canuti.' Compare Knuston (Northants), Domesday Book Cnutestone, and Knoddishall.
Knutton (Newcastle, Staffordshire). Domesday Book Clotone (error), before 1300 Cnot(t)on, Knotton. ' Village on the hillock '; Old English cnotta, ' a knot,' found from 14th century. used as ' a hill.' See Knott.
Kyloe (Belford). 1272 Kilei, 1561 Kilhowe, Killowe, 1636 Kilo. Hybrid. GaelicC cill(e), ' church, church yard,' and howe, Old Norse haug-r, 'mound, cairn'; in English as how, before 1340, 'a hill, a hillock.' Compare Tysoe, etc.
Kyme (Lincoln). Sic 1136, 1233 Kima. Old English cyme vbl. sb. means ' coming.' But this seems to be the Welsch cyme, ' lovely, beautiful.' Skeat thinks that this Kyme and others must all come from a man Cyma, 5 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but this type of name is rare. Compare Kimpton. There is also a R. Kym, trib. of the Gt. Ouse.
Kynance Cove (The Lizard). Corn. Kyne sans, 'holy Kyne,' a Cornish saint who lived circa, 490. Compare Keverne and Penzance.
Kyndelyn (Wales). Probably not same word as Cunobellinus (see Kimble), though M'clure thinks so. Much more likely Welsch cwn Velyn, ' height of Velyn,' aspirated form of Melyn. Compare Helvellyn. Cwn is cognate with the Gaelic ceann, locative cinn, ' head, height,' so often found in Scottish names as Ken-, Kin-. Compare Kestver and Knoyle.
Kyre Wyre (Tenbury). Domesday Book Cuer, Chuer, 1108 Cyr, 1275 Cure Wyard. Welsch cwr, 'border, edge, limit'; it is on the border between Worcester and Hereford. The Wyards were its early Norman lords.

Laceby (Grimsby). Domesday Book Levesbi, 1234 Lesseby. 'Dwelling of Lefa ' or ' Leofa,' common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by.
Lackenby (Redcar). Domesday Book Lachenebi, Lachebi, 1202 Lackenbi, ' Dwelling of Lacen,' a name still found as Laking. See -by.
Lackford (Bury St. Edmunds). Domesday Book Lacforda, Lacheforda. Probably 'ford at the pool'; Old English lace. Compare Mortlake, Domesday Book Suffolk Lacheleia, and Hants Lacherne.
Ladbroke (Southam, Warwickshire). 980 charter Hlodbroce, Domesday Book Lodbroc, a. 1200 Lodebroc(h). Looks like 'brook of Hlod ' or Hloth but Lodbroc or Lothbroc is name of a well-known hero of the Sagas. Compare Domesday Book Chesh. Latbroc.
Ladock or Landoc (Grampound Rd., Cornwall). ' Church,’ Corn, Ian,W. llan,' of St. Gadoc'. See Caradoc and Llangadoc.
Laleham (Staines). Domesday Book Leleham, 1237 Estlalham. ' Home of Lela or ' Lilla.' Compare Lawford, and Laleston (Bridgend). See -ham.
Lambeth (London). 1041 Old English Chronicum Lambhythe, 1088 Lamhytha, circa, 1130 Eadmer Lambetha, -beta, 1217 Lamheye, Lamheth, 1588 Lambehith. Old English lamb-hide, ' landing-place for lambs.' See Hythe. Derivation from Old English lam, ' loam,' is inadmissible. Compare next and Lamcote (Notts), Domesday Book Lanbecote.
Lambourn (Berks). King Alfred's Will Lamb-burna, 943 charter Lamburna. ' Lamb's burn or brook.' See -bourne.
Lamorna Cove (Penzance). Cornish lan mornader, 'enclosure for the lampreys ' or ' pilchards '; Latin murcena.
Lampeter (Cardigan). In Welsch Llanbedr Pont Stephan. The Welsch Llan bedr is ' church of Peter.' Compare next. On llan compare Llana- Fan. We find the Lam- very early e.g., Domesday Book Gloucester,' In Welsch sunt iii hardvices (herds' farms), Lamecare (? llan y caer, ' church by the castle '), & Porteschivet (Portskewett) & Dinan.'
Lamphey (Pembroke). Old Llandyfei, 1603 Lantfey; forms Llanfaith and Llanfeth are also found, as if Welsch llan ffydd, ' church of faith.' But the name is ' church of St. Tyfai,' seen also in Foy (Hereford), Lib. Land. Lanntiuoi, and in Lampha (Glamorgan).
Lamport (Northampton). 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Laport, Compare Domesday Book Kent Lamport. The Lam- is doubtful, but is probably Old English lamb, as in Lambeth; and so 'lamb's gate,' Latin porta, in English as port, from circa, 950. See also Oxford Dictionary, port sb2, ' a town.'
Lanarth (Cornwall). 1285 Close R. Lannarth. Cornish ='high enclosure.' The originally meaning of Ian, llan, lam, lann, in all Keltic languages is ' enclosed place.' ' Church ' is a later meaning.
Lancarf (Cornwall). Cornish = 'graveyard '; Cornish corf, Latin corpus, ' a body, a corpse.'
Lancarrow (Cornwall). Cornish= ' deer park, carw, 'a hart'; Latin cervus, ' a stag.' Domesday Book has a Lancharet.
Lancaster. Sic 1399, but Domesday Book and 1198 Loncastre, 1161-62 Lancastria. ' Camp on the R. Lune.' See-caster. Lancashire is first mentioned in 1169; in 1523 we have it in its modern form, ' Lancasshyre.' Till after Domesday Book Lancashire S. of the Ribble was in Cheshire, and Lancaster itself in Yorks.
Lancaut (Chepstow). 956 charter Landcawet, 1221 Langcaut. The 956 form is Old Keltic for ' enclosed land,' Welsch llan cauad. Keltic lan, Welsch llan, means' enclosure,' and is cognate with Enlish land.
Lancherly (Somerset). Perhaps 801 charter Lancherpille. Lancher is 'land share'; Codex Diplomaticus 706 Brisnodes Land-share; the same 419 Hebelmes Landschere. The ledge sat Worth Maltravers (Dorset) are also called Lanchers.
Lanchester (Durham). 1183 Boldon Bk. Langchestre, 'long camp,’ Old English and N. English lang, ' long,’ See -chester.
Lancing (Sussex). Domesday Book Lancinges. Named from Wlencing, son of Aella, Old English Chronicum 477. Compare Keynor, and Domesday Book Surrey Lanchei. See -ing.
Landare (Cornwall). Domesday Book Lander. Corn. Lan dar,'enclosure of the oaks.' Compare Old Gaelic dair, ' an oak.'
Landbeach (Cambridge). Domesday Book Utbech i.e. a little farther away or out from the old shore of the Wash than Waterbeach 1235 Close R. Londbech'. Beach is a curious word. It must mean ' shingle ' or simply ' shore/ but is not recorded in Oxford Dictionary, till the 16th century. Compare Wisbech.
Landewednack (The Lizard). Domesday Book has Langenewit, and Lan wenehoc. Cornish= ' church of St. Devinicus,’ said to be a contemporary of St. Columba. Compare Banchory Devenick (Scottish).
Landican (Wirral). Domesday Book Landechene. Probably 'church of the deacon, referring to Woodchurch nearby. Welsch diacon, in Englich before1300 dehen,' a deacon, one not in full orders.
Landicle (Cornwall). Sic in Domesday Book Cornish= ' Church of St. Teela.' Compare ' Lantocal,’ Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 47. Tecla was a Roman abbess in the days of Gregory the Great. Landkey (Barnstaple) seems to be 1235 Close R. Landegeye; compare Keverne.
Landoc. See Ladock.
Land's End. 997 Old English Chronicum Penwiht Steort; before 1130 Sim. Dur. Penwithsteort. Welsch Triads Penbryn Penwaeth, Welsch Laws Pengwaeth or Pengwaed, Myrv. Archaeol. Penwedic yng Ngherniw. Pen is Keltic for ' head, headland ‘; wiht, with, or waeth must be Welsch gwydd, Cornish gwedh,' woods,’ while steort is Old English for' tail.' Compare Start Point. The name Penwith is still applied to this whole district.
Landue (Cornwall). Cornish lan dew, ' black, dark church.'
Landuff (Cornwall). Cornish = ' church of Ulf or 'St. Olaf,' one of the saintliest of the Norse Kings, 995-1030, patron saint of Norway.
Landywood (Walsall). No old forms. Duiguan thinks ' launde i' th' wode,' Mittel English launde, Old France land, launde, ' a plain sprinkled with bush or tree,' then' a lawn.'
Langford (Oxford). 1155-58 charter Langeford. 'Long ford.' Similarly there are 6 Langtons in Postal Guide, Domesday Book Yorks Langeton and Lanton, Lines Langtone. There are also several Langdales; one in 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Notts and Derby, has the curious reduplication Langedala Dala.
Langley (Bromley). 862 charter To langan leaze. ' Long meadow.' So Langley, Henley-in-Arden, 1150 Langelleie, before 1200 Langeleg, before1300 Langele. But Langley Park (Cumberland) is old Langlif erga,' shieling, dairy hut of Langlif, 'a Norse woman. For erga see Arklid. See-ley.
Langport (Central Somerset). Probably Llywarch Hen Llongborth, 1160-01 Rolls of the great Pipe Laport. As it stands,' Long Harbour,’ Old English lang, long, also 4-5 lang, ' long,’ while jort is a very early loan from Latin partus. But evidently the originally name was Keltic, the common Irish Longphort, ' ship's harbour,' then ' encampment,' seen about 20 times in Ireland to-day as Longford, and also, says K. Meyer, in the Scottish Luncarty, 1250 Lumphortyn. Ir. And Gaelic long, luing is ' a ship,' also a loan from Latin longa (navis), ' a warship.' The meaning in Somerset must be' encampment.'
Langrigg (Aspatria). 1189 Langrug. Compare 896 ' Langenhryege (Gloucester); this is Old English for ' long ridge '; in North. English and Scottish lang rigg. There is a Longridge (Preston).
Langthorpe (Yorks). Domesday Book Lambetorp, La'betorp, Lanbetorp. ' Lambi's place.' No Lambi in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but m and n often interchange; compare Kembolton. But Langthwaite (Yorks) is Domesday Book Langetouet, Langetouft, ' long place.' See -thwaite and Toft.
Langwathby (Cumberland). 1189 Langwadebi. 'Dwelling by the long ford.' Compare Langwith (Notts), 1291 Langwaith, and Wadeford. See -by.
Lantern Marshes (Orford). Dangerous to mariners, and so a lantern was once placed here, whilst now there are two light- houses.
Lapley (Frocester and Stafford) and Lapworth (Birmingham). Frocester L. 1315 Lappeleye. Stafford L. Domesday Book Lepelie, before 1200 Lapelie, Lappely. 818 charter Hlappawurthin (compare -warden), Domesday Book Lapeforde,' Hlappa's lea' and' farm.' See -ley and -worth.
Larkbeare (Exeter). Domesday Book Laurochebere, Exon. Domesday Book Laurocabera, 1237 Laverk ber, ' Lark wood,' Old English ladwerce or laferce bearu. Compare Beer, and the personal name Conybeare; also 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Lauerchestoc (Essex), and Larkborough (Worcestershire), 709 charter Lauerkeboerge i.e., ' lark hill.' See Barrow. Larkfield (Maidstone) is Domesday Book Laurochesfel'. The R. Lark, Suffolk, is a back-formation from Lackford.
Lartington (Barnard Castle), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Lyrtingtun. Compare B.S.C. Lortan hlaew. ' Town of some unknown man, Lurta, ' Lorta, or Larta. Very probably a patronymic. See -ing.
Lasham (Alton, Hants). Domesday Book Esseham'. 'Home, house by the ash-trees.' Compare Ashby, etc. The L. comes from the France la, ' the,' prefixed by a Norman scribe, 1284 L-asham. Compare Lappal, Halesowen, 1335 Lappole,' the pool,' 1342 Thomas atte Pole, also Domesday Book Essex, Lassendene, where the La- probably has the same origin. There is both an Essendine (Stamford), and an Essendon (Hatfield).
Lasket (Cumberland) and Lasket Grove (Monmouth). Perhaps Welsch glas coed, ' green wood ‘; compare Chetwood. But Lasboro' (Gloucester), circa, 1220 Lasseberewe, is ' lesser mound ' or ' tumulus,’ Old English laessa, Mittel English lasse, ' less.'
Lastingham (Cleveland). Bede iii. 23 Lestingau, but in pref. Laestinga ea. Domesday Book Lestingeham. Patronymic; ' home of the Lestings '; ea is Old English for ' river.'
Latchford (Warrington). France letch sb1 Oxford Dictionary 6-9 lache. 9 latch,' a muddy ditch, a strea through a bog, a bog,' cognate with leach v., ' to water, to wet,' probably from Old English leccan, ' to water.' Compare.1138 Newminster Cart.' Appeltreleche,' and see Lechlade.
Lathom (Ormskirk). Domesday Book Latune, 1201-56 Lathun, 1225 Patent R. Lathum, 1535-43 Latham, Latheham. This is a corrupt. locative 'at the barns,' Old Norse hlada, loaned in Old English. Compare Hallam, Kilham, etc., also the common and puzzling Scottish Letham, sic before 1200, 1284 Latham. Horsfall Turner gives Latun in Domesday Book for Amounderness as now Layton, Ladon in E. Riding as now Lathom, and Ladon in Cave Hundred (Yorks) as Laytham. All these names may have a similar origin to what Wyld and Hirst give above. Compare Latton. But Lathbuby (Bucks), 1225 Latebiry, is from a man Leot; that and Leotan are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Latimer (Chesham). Not in Domesday Book before 1440 Latemer. It would be a very unlikely thing if formed from the personal name Latimer, sic in Eng. circa, 1205, from O.France Latim(m)ier, ' an interpreter,' corruption of latinier or Latiner. Thesb. Latimeris already found in Domesday Book It maybe' mere, lake of Leot; a man in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Latton (Swindon). Domesday Book Latone; compare Domesday Book Essex Lattuna. It may be ' village of Leot,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; eo regularly becomes before As likely=Lathom, Domesday Book Latune,' at the barns.'
Laugharne (W. of Carmarthen). Pronunciation Larn, 1603 Talagharn. In Welsch Tallacharn or Talycoran, ' at the end of R. Coran,’? Welsch corafon, ' a rivulet.' The origin of Laugharne is doubtful. One might guess, ' the low alder tree'; see Oxford Dictionary s.v. low (early Mittel English lah, 4 lagh, 5 lawghe), and am; but probably it is corruption from the Welsch name. There is a R. Laughern (Worcestershire), 757 charter Lawern(e). This is Old Welsch llawern, Cornish lowern, ' a fox.' Lavernock (Cardiff), old Llyrwernog, is the diminitive, 'little fox.'
Laughton (Rotherham, and 3). Rotherham L. Domesday Book Lastone {Domesday Book regularly replaces a guttural by st). Probably ' low town,' from Old Norse lag-r ' low,' early Mittel English lah, 3-4 lazh, 4 laghe, loghe, 5 lough, Scottish laigh. Compare Domesday Book Hereford Lautone. Lastun in Domesday Book Yorks also stands for W. Layton.
Launceston. Domesday Book Lanscavetone, Lancauetone, 1154-89 Lanceston, 1199 Lanstaveton, 1220 Lanzavetun, 1224 Lancaveton, 1227 Lanstone (the modern pronunciation; how early it was reached!), 1245 Lanstaueton, Lanceueton, 1260 Launcetton; also said to be before 1176 charter ' The town of St. Stephen at Lanstone.' Commonly said to be' church (Cornish lan) of St. Stephen,' but this seems far from certain. Scave or Stave could with difficulty represent Stephen, a name always spelt in Old English Chronicum Stephne, and probably represents some Cornish word now lost. An older name was Dunheved. Lansdown (Gloucester) is a doubtful name; some of its old forms (Launtesdon, Lantesdon) look as if they might originally be something similar to Launceston.
Launton (Bicester). Domesday Book Lantone, 1274 Langetun, 1525 Lawnton. Old English lang tun, ' long village.'
Lavan Sands (Conway). A tautology. Welsch llafan, 'a strand, a sandy beach.'
Lavenham (Suffolk). Domesday Book Lauenham. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1288-89 Lauan ham. 'Village, dwelling of Lafa, Leofe, or Lawa,' all forms are known. Compare Domesday Book Norfk. Lawendic, and Lavington.
Laverstock (Salisbury). Domesday Book Lawrecestokes and Lavertestoch, 1221 Patent R. Laverkestok. ' Place of Lawerce ' i.e., ' the lark.' See Stoke.
Laverton (Yorks and Broadway, Worcestershire). Yorks L. Domesday Book Laureton, Lavretone. Broadway L. circa, 1240 Lawertune. Probably ' town of Leofgar or Leuegarus,' or 'of Leofweard,' a common name. More old forms needed. Compare Laverhay, Wamphray (Scotland).
Lavington (Chichester). 725 charter Lavingtune, Domesday Book Laventone. Patronymic. ' Town, village of the descendants of Lafa ' or ' Leofa.' Compare Domesday Book Bucks Lauuendene, and Lavenham.
Lawford (Manningtree and Rugby). Manningtree L. Domesday Book Laleforda. Rugby L. Domesday Book Leileford, Lelleford, Lilleford, 1086 Ledleford, 1161 Ledesforde, 1236 Lalleford. Fine proof of the liquidity of l. of Lit ' or ' Lilla,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Laleham.
Lawhitton (Launceston). Domesday Book Longvitetone, Ex. Domesday Book Languite tona, which is simply’ long white town,' Old English hwit, Old Norse hvit-r, ' white.' Compare Cumwhitton.
Lawrenny (Pembrokeshire). circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Leurenni, Leureni, 1603 Owen Lawrenny. The first syllable is Welsch llawr,' floor, bottom,' but Enni is unknown. Compare Ystrad Enni on the Ithon.
Laxfield (Framlingham). Domesday Book Suffolk and Essex, Laxefelda. ' Field of Leaxa.' Similarly, Laxton, Howden and Newark, Domesday Book Yorks and Notts Laxintun, Newark L. 1278 Lexington. See Lexden.
Laycock (Keighley). Domesday Book Lacoc, 1237 Close R. Lacok.' Probably ' low cock ' or ' heap,' Old Norse lag-r kokk-r, Norw. kok, ' a heap.' Cock in the sense of haycock, etc., is not found in Oxford Dictionary till 1598. On Lay- compare next, Laughton, and the modern surname Locock.
Layer Marney (Essex). Domesday Book anda. 1300 charter Legra, which is genitive plural of Old Emglish leger, ' a lair, a camp,' in Mittel English' a place for animals to lie down in'; compare 1573 Tusser Husband, 'Borne I was ... in Essex laier, in village faier, that Riuenhall hight.' Marney is from Marigny in Normandy. There are also Layer Breton and Layer de la Haye, near Colchester. One of these is 1217 Patent R. Lawefare, 1235 Close R. Laghefar, which must be 'low road.' See Laughton and compare thoroughfare.
Layton (N. Riding). East and West. Domesday Book Lastun, Lattun. As Domesday Book regularly replaces a guttural by st, probably ' low town, Scottish laigh toun, and so= Laughton (q.v.). But Layton (Amounderness) is Domesday Book Latun, and so it maybe=Lathom,' at the barns."
Lazonby (Cumberland and Northallerton). Northallerton L. Domesday Book Lesingebi, Leisenebi, Lesinghebi, Leisingbi, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Lagenebi, 1203 Fines Leysingeby. ' Dwelling of the Les(s)ings,' a patronynmic; one Lesing in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by.
Lea R. (Essex). 891 Old English Chronicum Lyga, 913 the same Lygea(n), Ligene, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Luye. McClure connects with the Keltic river-name Logana, but the origin is quite doubtful. Hen. Hunt. gives another R. Luye near Hereford; there is to-day a village, Lea, near Ross, but very likely this is the common Old English leak, ' meadow.' P.G. has 6 places called Lea; Forest of Dean L. 1195 La lega.
Leadenham (Lincoln), before 1150 Lang ledenham. ' Home of Leda,' one such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ledbury.
Lea Marston (Coleshill). Two hamlets, 1257 Waure Merston, 1573 Waver Merstone. The Wavers were lords of this ' marsh town,' Old English mersctun, for a considerable time. For Lea, see -ley.
Leamington. Domesday Book Lunintone {mi error for em), 1242 Leminton. ' Town on R. Leam,' which may be Old English leom(a), ' a flash, a gleam,' less likely from Old English lam, ' mud,' Du. leem, Eng. loam. Leamington Priors (of Kenilworth) is Domesday Book Lamintone, 1327 Lemynton Prioris. Lemington (Moreton-in-Marsh), Domesday Book Leminingtune, Limentone, Lemintone, is ' town of (the sons of) Leofman,' common name, found shortened o Leman. See -ing.
Leatherhead (Surrey). Sic circa, 1670. Domesday Book Lered, a puzzling form. Leather is the Old English leder, Icelandish Ledr. Old Frisian leer, Breton ler ; but it is doubtful if this is the real origin of the name. More old forms are needed. There is an Old English Ioefer, ' a plant,' see Oxford Dictionary s.v. levers; and Liverpool is 1222 Litherpool, whilst Larford (Stourport), was 706 Leverford; so the name is prob, ' head, height with the rushes or sword-bladed plants,' Old English Icefer, leber. It may be from Leodthere, Leothere, a well-known name, cognate with Luther, compare Leatherbarrow. Also compare Letheringsett.
Leathley (Otley). Domesday Book Ledelai (Domesday Book regularly makes th into d). ' Meadow on the slope,' Old English hlith. Compare Leith Hill, and Kirkleatham (N. Yorks), Domesday Book Westlidu'.
Leaven R. See Leven.
Leavening (York). Domesday Book Ledlinghe, Ledinge. Dom's forms seem corruption of ' place of Leofivine's or Leofwynn's sons.' See -ing.
Lebberston (Filey). Domesday Book Ledlbeztun, Ledbestun, 1206 Ledbrizton, 1208 Ledbristone. ' Leodbeorht's town '; this is probably the origin of Liberton (Midlothian). Domesday Book prefers to use z and st instead of a harsh guttural.
Lechlade (Gloucester). 872 charter Lecche, Domesday Book Lecelade, 1221 Lichelade. 'Way, path,’ Old English geldd, ' by or over' i.e., ferry over ' the R. Leach,’ whose old forms are seen also in Eastleach, Domesday Book Lece, 1347 Estlecche, and Northleach, Domesday Book Lecce. This is probably Old English laece, ' a stream’, from lcccan, ' to water.' Compare Latchford.
Leck (N. Lanes). Domesday Book Lech. Probably Norse loeck-r, 'a brook.' Compare Leek and Lucker. It maybe English. Compare Latchford.
Leckford Abbas (Stockbridge, Hants). 947 charter Leghford, Leahtford. Probably ' ford in the meadow,’ Old English leah. See -leigh.
Leckham(p)stead (Berks and Bucks). Berks L. Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum ii. 534 Leachamstede; Domesday Book Lecanestede, Lekehamstede, 1316 Leckhampsted. Domesday Book Bucks Lechastede. ' Homestead, Hampstead, with a kitchen-garden.' Old English leac, 3 lee, is ' a leek,’ then, any garden herb. Compare Leighton. Similarly, Leckhampton (Gloucester) is Domesday Book Lechantone. See Hampton.
Leconfield (Beverley). Domesday Book Lachinfeld, Lachinfelt. 'Field of ' some unknown man? Lecca, Leccan. Laking is a personal name to-day.
Ledbury (Malvern). Domesday Book Liedeberge, 1235 Lidebir; compare Domesday Book Salop Ledewic. ‘Leoda's burgh.' Compare Leadenham, also Latcombe, Domesday Book Bucks Ledingberge, a patronymic, and the same Surrey Ladesorde. Duignan derives Ledbury from the R. Leaden, 972 charter and Domesday Book Ledene, on which it stands, is also does Upleadon (N.-W. Gloucester). This is doubtful, and the origin of Leaden is unknown. Perhaps connected with Welsch lledan,' breadth,' or Iliad, ' flooding, streaming.'
Leeds. Bede Loidis, Domesday Book Ledes. Doubtful? Welsch Hoed,' a place.' There are also Lede Chapel (Tadcaster), Domesday Book Lede, and a Leeds (Maidstone), 1235 Close B. Lhedes. Lede or lead=' watercourse,' is not found till 1541.
Leek (Staffordshire). Domesday Book Lee, before 1200 Lech, 1284 Leyc. Probably Norse loeck-r, ' a brook.' Compare Leckford. Leake (Boston), Domesday Book Leche, 1216 Leake, 1313 Lek, 1320 Leek, and E. and W. Leake (Notts), Domesday Book Lec(c)he, before 1277 Leyk, must be the same name. It may be Eng.; see Lechlade. For Leek Duignan prefers Welsch llech, 'a flagstone.' Leek Wootton (q.v.) (Kenilworth), is 1327 Lekwottone. There is also a Lee in 1183 Boldon Bk., Durham. All these names are doubtful. The forms in Oxford Dictionary s.v. lea sb1 do not encourage us to call them hardened forms of Old English leah, ' meadow.'
Leicester, pronunciation Lester, before 800 Legoracensis civitas, circa, 800 Nennius Caer Lerion, 918 Old English Chronicum Legraceaster, Ligranceaster, 980 the same Legeceasterscir (here, as in several other places, this means Cheshire, q.v.), 1120 Legrecestrie, circa, 1145 Geoffr. Monmouthshire and circa, 1175 Fantosme Leircestre, 1173 Leicestria, circa, 1205 Layamon Leirchestre, but circa, 1275 Leycestre, 1258 Henry III. Leirchestr. 'Camp, fort on R. Leir,’ old name of R. Soar (1253 Sor). Leir may be the same as Layer, but this is quite doubtful. Connexion with 'King Lear is even more so. In Mabinogion he is Llyr, and he is first named in Geoffr. Monmouthshire Possible is a connexion with Welsch llithro, ' to slip, to glide.' See -caster.
Leigh (12 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Lecie (probably near Cricklade) and Lege (Salop and Worcester). Old English leak, dative leage, ' a piece of cultivated land, a meadow,' so common in the ending -ley, q.v.
Leighterton (Tetbury) circa, 1140 Letthrinton, 1273 Lettrinthone. Perhaps ' village of (the sons of) ' Leathere.' See -ing.
Leighton (Hunts, Salop, Welschpool). 956 charter Wilmanlehtune (see Wormleighton). Hunts L. 1260 Lechton, 1291 Legheton, but men of the name Leighton lived in this barony before 1066 too, 1154-61 charter Lectona (Lines), and before 1199 Lecton (Beds). Old English leahtun, lehtune, ' a herb garden,’ from leac, ' a leek.' See Leckhamstead; and compare next.
Leighton Buzzard. 917 Old English Chronicum Lygtun; later, Lygetun; before 1700 L. Beaudezert. See above. The Normandy family Beaudesert or Bosard were influential here in 14th century. Compare Beaudesert (Henley-in-Arden), circa, 1135 Beldesert, and in Cannock Chase.
Leintwardine (N. Hereford). Domesday Book Lentevrde (Salop), which is ' farm of Lenta,' an unknown man. See -wardine.
Leith Hill (S. Surrey). Tautology. Old English hlith, 'a slope, a hill- side.' Compare Lytham.
Lenborough (Bucks). Old English Chronicum 571 Liggeanburh, Lygeanbirg; not in Domesday Book Probably the burgh or fort of some man, whose name is now unrecognizable.
Lenham, West (Maidstone). 804 charter Westra Leanham. ' House, home given as a reward or gift,' OLD ENGLISH lean.
Leominster. 1046 Old English Chronicum Leomynstre, Domesday Book Leominstre, 1233 Leminstr', circa, 1600 Camden Lemester; in Welsch Llanllieni. Saidtobe' church of Leof' or' Leofric'. It is doubtful who he was; perhaps the Welsch Mercian earl, husband of Lady Godiva, circa, 1030.
Leonard Stanley (Stonehouse, Gloucester). Not in Domesday Book but compare Domesday Book Linor=a Leonard in Devon. Doubtful. There is a Burton Leonard in S. Yorks. St. Leonard was a confessor of the 6th century. at Corbigny (Autun, France), a reputed miracle-worker, but not otherwise famous, and not likely to be denoted in our Eng. names. These may be connected with Welsch llenu, ' to veil or envelope.’
Lepton (Huddersfield). Domesday Book Leptone. 'Town of Leppa, 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Lesnewth (Camelford). ' court, hall,’ Cornish les newydh, 'new hall.’ Welsch llys, court, hall.’ Domesday Book has a Lisniwen.
Letcombe Regis and Basset (Wantage). Domesday Book Ledencumbe, Ledecumbe,1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe Ledecuba; later Letecuomb. ' Deep valley of Leoda.' Compare Ledbury and see -combe. The Bassets were a Norman family of many possessions. Compare Bassett.
Letheringsett (Holt, Norfolk), before 1300 Eccleston Leveringsot. Probably' seat, residence,' Old Eenglish soat,' of the descendants of Leofgar.' For f or v becoming th, compare Liverpool. See -ing. But Letterston (Pembroke), circa, 1300 Letarston is probably from the name Leodheard or Leothere, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum However, in 1516 it is Littardiston, and was then held by a John Littard.
Letton (Hereford). Domesday Book Letune. Probably 'town on the leat,' 7 let, Old English geloet, ' an open conduit, a water channel but it may be=Lathom.
Leven (N. Yorks), Domesday Book Levene, Leven R. (N. Lanes), and Leaven R. (Yorks); and probably same name, Levant R. (S. W. Sussex), as t would easily suffix itself. Compare Darwen and Derwent, both the same root. Welsch llevn, 'smooth'; also compare Leven (Sc). But Leven (Hornsea), old forms needed, is probably an Old English genitive Leofan ' Leofa's' place; compare Beedon,' Leventon' (Cumberland in1189 Rolls of the great Pipe, and Levenhull. Levens (Milnthorpe, Westmorland), Domesday Book Lefuenes, looks like another genitive Lefwen’s, or Leofwen’s (Place), 4 of this name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Levenhull (Leamington). A curious name, not in Duignan. Its form suggests Welsch llevn hel, ' smooth bank.' But -hull in Midlands stands for hill, 2-5 hull(e); compare Aspull and Solihull; so that this should be ' hill of Leofa,' genitive -fan; several named Leof, Leofa, and Leofe in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare above.
Leverington (Wisbech). 1285 Liverington, 1302 Leveryngtone. Patronymic. ' Village of the sons of Leofere or Leofhere.' Compare Liverpool. See-ing.
Leverton (Boston) may be from Leofhere or Lifere, 2 such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Leverton N. and S. (Notts) is Domesday Book Legretune, 1189 Leirton, circa, 1200 Legherton, and Mutschmann doubtfully derives from Leofhere; compare Layer and Liverpool. But Great and Little Lever (Bolton) will probably be from Old English loefer, some plant, now 'levers,' a rush, an iris, or the like. The forms are before 1200 Leuer, 1212 Little Lefre, 1227 Leoure, 1326 Great Leure.
Leverton (Boston). Domesday Book Levretune. Said to be from Leofric, seneschal of Earl Algar the younger, who died fighting the Danes in 870. But more probably from Leofhere; compare Liverton. Kirk
Levington (N. Riding) is Domesday Book Levetona, ' town of Leofa.' Compare Domesday Book Devon, Levestone.
Lewan(n)ick (Launceston). ' Church (Cornish Ian) of St. Wethenoc or ' Winoch,’ brother of Winwaloe. See Gunwalloe.
Lewdown (N. Devon). Probably Keltic leu dyn, ' lion hill,’ hill like a lion, such as Arthur's Seat (Edinburgh).
Lewes. Sic Dom, Old English charter Loewas; before 1200 Lib. de Hyda Leuwias; alsoLoewen, Leswas, Laquis. Perhaps from an Old English hleow, Mittel English lewe, 'warm, sunny "; found as sb in hus-hleow, 'house-shelter.' The variants are somewhat puzzling; in the last qu will stand for w, as in old Scots.
Lewisham (Surrey). Old English charter Liofshema. “Enclosure of’ some man with a name beginning Leof- or Leofw-. There were many such. See -ham, ' enclosure.' But Levisham (Yorks) is Domesday Book Lewecen, Levecen, where the ending is probably a corrupt locative ' at Leoveca's, a known name; compare Hallam and -ham, also next. Lewston (Pembrokeshire) is 1324 Lewelestoun, probably' Leofweald's town.'
Lewknor (Wallingford). Domesday Book Levecanol, Levechanole, 1154-89 Leo- vecachanoran (inflected), 1178 Levechenore, Leveckenore, 1224 Leuekenor. ' Shore, bank of Leofeca,' only one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; Old English ora, 'bank, edge'; compare Windsor, etc. The -ol(e) in Domesday Book is but another instance of its constant confusion of the liquids.
Lexden (Colchester). Domesday Book Laxendena, 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Lexeden(e). ' The den ' or ' dean of Leaxan.' Compare Laxfield and Old English charter Leaxanoc.
Leyburn (Yorks). Domesday Book Leborne. circa, 1330 Leyborne. Probably ' sheltered brook,' Old English hleo, ' protection, shelter,' 4-6 le, 7 ley, lay, our word ' lee ‘; it is not recorded as an adjunctive till circa, 1400. Compare Libbery (Worcestershire), 972 charter Hleobyri, ' refuge, shelter town.'
Leyland (Preston). Domesday Book Lailand, 1140-49 Leilande. Old Norse lag-r, early Mittel English lah, 3l laih, Scottish laigh,' lowland.'
Leyton (Essex).? Domesday Book Leiendune. ' Town on R. Lea.' Leytonstone seems modern.
Lichfield. Bede Lyceitfeldensis, before 900 Old English vers. Liccetfelda, circa, 800 Nennius Licitcsith, 803 charter Liceidfeld; Old English Chronicum 731 Licetfelda, 1053 the same Licedfelde, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Lichfeld; perhaps also before 700 Bath Geogr. Le(c)tocetum, and circa, 800 Nennius Cair Luit Coyt, modern Welsch caer Ihvyd coed, ' fort in the grey wood.' This, however, was probably near Welschpool. The popular derivation, ' churchyard,' lit. 'field of corpses,' from Old English lie, 4-5 liche, fails to explain the early.’ But lic-cet-feld is Old English for ' corpse-hut-field,' field with the mortuary, Old English cete, ' a cot, a hut,' as in Datchet, Watchet, etc.
Lickey Hills (Birmingham). 1330 Leckheye. Welsch llechau, pronunciation leckay, plural of llech,' a flag or flatstone.’Gaelic leac.
Lidford or Lydford (Bridestowe, Devon). 997 Old English Chronicum Hlidaford, 1018 charter Lidauorde, Exon. Domesday Book Lidefort, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Lideforda. ' Ford on R. Lid,' Welsch lied,' ' broad.’ There is no Old English hlida, whilst hlid means' a lid; ' but lipe means ‘gentle,’ which is not impossible.
Lidgate (Newmarket). Not in Domesday Book. Old English hlidzeat, 'a postern,’ from hlid, ' a gate, a lid.' Compare Ludgate and Foxlydiate. There is a Hlidgeat in 963 charter Wasing (Berks)
Lifton (Devon). 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Liftuna, 1283 Lyfton. ' Town of Leof or ' Leofa ‘; common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Domesday Book has only Levestone. Compare Kirk Levington.
Lichthorne (Warwick). Domesday Book Listecorne (Domesday Book scribes hated a combination like ght), 1252 Lychtehirn, circa, 1300 Liththorn, 1327 Lighttethurne, Old English leoht thorn or thyme, ' light thorn.’? Thornbush with a lamp hung on it. But Duignan derives Lightwood (Cotheridge) from Old English hlith, Mittel English lith, lyth, ' a slope, a hill- side.'
Lilleshall (Newport, Salop). Domesday Book Linleshalle. It is difficult to say what name is represented here. There is one Lunling in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Domesday Book maybe in error, and the man's name be Lilla, as in next and in Liliesleaf (Sc), 1116 Lillescliva, ' Lilla' cliff.'
Lillington (Sherborne and Warwickshire). Warwickshire L. Domesday Book Lillintone, later Liletun. ' Village of Lilla.' Compare Laleham and 2 Lillingstones in Bucks; also Billing (Yorks), Domesday Book Lil(l)inge, patronymic from Lilla. See -ing and -ton.
Limehouse (Stepney). 1536 Limehowse Reche. Said to becorruption of lime-oast, Old English ast, 4-7 host, 8 oust, ' a kiln.' Older forms needed. Compare Domesday Book Surrey Limevrde (=-worth).
Limen R. (Kent). Sic 893 Old English Chronicum, but before716 charter Limming? Welsch llym, ' sharp, keen,' from the air there. It can hardly be llyman,' naked one.' There is also a R. Limin (Hunts), seen in Limining, old form of Lymage, where -ing (q.v.) will have its meaning, ' place on a stream ‘; -age is usually late and troublesome.
Limpley Stoke (Bath) and Limpsfield (Surrey). Not in Domesday Book 'Meadow, field of Limpa,' an unrecorded man; but compare Domesday Book Norfolk Limpeho (ho =' height ') and Domesday Book Essex Limpwella; also see Stoke and -ley.
Lincoln, circa, 150 Ptolemy Lindon; circa, 380 The antonic Itenary Lindum; Bede Lindocolina civitas, before 900 Old English tr. Lindcylene; 942 Old English Chronicum Lindcylene, Lindcolne, 1093 the same Lincolne; Domesday Book Lincolia, Lincolescire; circa, 1100 Flor. Worcester Lindicolinensis; 1461 Lindecolnea. In Welsch Caer Iwydgoed ('castle of the grey wood'). Lindum colonia, says Freeman, is a unique name for England. As Lindon is found in Ptolemy, it cannot be, as is often said, from Old English lind, 'lime tree,’ but is prob, from a Keltic lind, 'water.' Welsch llynn, Gaelic linne, ' a pool, a lake '; and the name will mean ' Roman settlement by the pool.’ Compare next.
Lindisfarne or Holy Island (Northumberland). Bede Provincia Lindisfarorum, Lindisfarnenses ineolse; before 800 charter Lindesfarona. Doubtful. McClure thinks from Celtic lind, ' water ' (see above and next), and perhaps, from same root as Lombardic Jara, dwellers in the water.' The rivulet opposite is still called Lindor Lindis. The farne may come from Gaelic fearann, ' land, estate, farm.' Lindisfarne comes from the Irish Gaelic ‘lind’ or ‘lindis’ meaning lake or stream, and ‘ferran’ meaning ‘land’. Hence ‘land by a lake or stream’, which was probably a reference to the flowing tidal waters that regularly cut Lindisfarne off from the mainland.
Lindsey (Lines). Bede Lindissi; circa, 1000 AElfric Lindesig, circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Lindeseia; circa, 1300 Lindeseye. Quite possibly this may contain the same root as Lincoln, and so be ' isle in the ‘race, family '. But here it is more likely to be ' isle of the lime-tree, or linden,' Old English and Old Norse lind. Lindley (Huddersfield) is Domesday Book Lillai, probably a corrupt form. But Lindridge (Tenbury) is Domesday Book Linde, 1275 Linderugge.
Linford (Stanford-le-Hope). Not in Domesday Book but compare Domesday Book Bucks Linforde. This must go with Linton.
Linkinhorne (Callington, Cornwall). Not in Domesday Book Said to be corruption Of lan tighern, Keltic for ' church of the King ' or ' lord ' i.e. St. Melw, son of Melyan, prince of Devon. One would like a little more proof of this.
Linton (5 in Postal Guide). Codex Diplomaticus iii. 368 Lin tun, Domesday Book Yorks Linton, Devon Lintone. Probably Old English lin tun, ' flax-enclosure.' L. linum. Compare English linseed; also Lineord, Linehill Green, Penkridge, before 1300 Lynhull, and Linton (Scottish)., 1127 Lintun.
Liskeard (Cornwall). Domesday Book Liscarret, before 1199 Liscaret, Lischared, 1474 Leskirde, 1536 Lyscarde. Les-, Lis-, or Lys- is Keltic for ' court, hall, enclosure ‘; the second part is doubtful, but compare Welsch cariad, ' a lover, a sweetheart.’ Gaelic caraid, ' a friend, a relation.' Gaelic caraid is 'a pair, a couple.' The meaning quite possibly is ' lover's hall.'
Litherskew (N. Riding, Yorks). Not in Domesday Book Lither- is perhaps Eng. adjunctive lither, Old English lydre, ' bad, foul, pestilential,' while -skew is from Old English sceaga or Old Norse skog-r, ' a wood, a copse.' Compare Askew, ' ash-wood,' now only a personal name, and Shaw. Lither-is as likely to be Old English loefer, ' any sword-bladed plant.' Compare Liverpool, etc.; v can become th.
Litlington (Royston, Herts), circa, 1080 Lidlingtone, Litlingtona, Domesday Book Lidlintone, 1316 Luthngtone. ' Village of the Littlings,' or sons of the ' little ' (Old English lytel) ' man.'
Little Bredy. See Bridport.
Littlebury (Saffron Walden and Notts). Saffron L. Domesday Book Litelbyria. Nots L. Domesday Book Litelburg,' Littleburgh.' See-bury.
Little Hay (Lichfield), before 1300 Luttelhay, 'little hedge,’ or ' fence.' See Hay.
Littleport (Ely). Domesday Book Litelport. Old English port is rarely from Latin porta, ' a gate,’ generally as here from Latin partus, ' a harbour.' The sea once came right up past here.
Little Ribston (Wetherby). Domesday Book Ripestain, Ripesten, circa, 1505 Rybstone. ' Stone of Rippa,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ton.
Little Salkeld (Cumberland). 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Aide (Old) Salechild, 1189 Salekil. The latter part is Old Norse kelda, ' a spring.' Compare Threlkeld (Penrith); the former perhaps represents some man's name in Sele- or Sal-; there are several such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But it may be Old English seel, sal, 4-7 sale, Old Norse sal-r, ' a hall, spacious chamber, castle.' Sale- could hardly represent salt.
Little Snoring. See Snoreham.
Littleton (7 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Surrey Liteltone. ' Little village.'
Littleworth (Faringdon, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire), no old forms in Duignan, is presumably ' little farm.' But L. in S. Yorks is Domesday Book Scitelesworde, ' farm of Scytel ' or ' Sceotweald ‘; 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-worth.
Litton, (Bath, Buxton, Skipton). before1067 charter Hlytton (? Bath), Domesday Book Yorks Litone. ' Town on the slope ' or ' hillside.' Old English hlid. But Litton Cheney (Dorset) is 940 charter Lidentune, ' town of Lida '; 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Livermere Parva and Magna (Bury St. Edmunds). 'Rushy lake.' See next. Parva and Magna are Latin for ' Little ' and ' Great.'
Liverpool. 1189-99 Leverpol, 1190-94 Liuerpul, 1222-26 Litherpol, 1229 Leverpul. In W. Llerpwll. Nothing to do with any imaginary bird called liver. Not impossibly Welsch lllyr pwl, ' expanse or confluence at the pool.' But it is probably English meaning ' rushy pool '; from Old English loefer, leber, ' any rush-like or sword- bladed plant.' See Oxford Dictionary s.v. levers. This is confirmed by Livermere, also by Larford (Stourport) in 706 charter (of really later date) Leverford, and by Leatherhead, Domesday Book Lered, which gives the same contraction as Welsch Llerpwll, whilst in its modern form we get a th corresponding to 1222 Litherpol (compare Litherskew). Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. are confident it is ' pool of Leofhere,' which is certainly possible, and is confirmed by Leverington; probably also by Leverton and Liverton. Compare Codex Diplomaticus vi. 243 Leofereshagan, near the Thames. But this cannot be the same as Liversedge (Yorks), Domesday Book Livresec and Livresech. This last must be simply (place of) ' rushy sedge,' Old English soecg, secg, sech, seic; 1222 Patent R. has a Livredal.
Liverton (Newton Abbot) and Liverton Mines (Loftus, Yorks). Loftus L. Domesday Book Livreton, Liureton, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Liuerton. ' Village of Leofhere.' Domesday Book Devon has only Leovricestone, somewhere in the S., from Leofric, but probably not Liverton. See above, Leverton and -ton.
Lizard Pt. Domesday Book Lisart. Cornish lis arth, 'court, hall on the height.' Compare Welsch llys, Gaelic lios; also Weston-under-Lizard.
Llanafan (Aberystwyth). Welsch llan Afan, 'church of St. Afan Buallt, disciple of St. Padarn, 6th century., and himself a bp. and brother of King Dogged. Welsch llan, Old Welsch Ian, ' enclosure,'' then church.’ Corn. Lan, Ir. Land, lann, Gaelic lann (Compare Lahnbride Scottish) Lhanbride, Scottish), is the same root as English land and Bret, lann, ' a heath,’ seen also in the France Landes. The earliest instance we have noted in England is in a Grant of 680 (copy later), to the Abbot of Glastonbury, Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 47 'Lantocal,’? =' church of St. Tecla.' Compare Landicle, also Lampeter. In some Welsch names llan or lan is for glan,' a bank,' as in lan haddog (Kentchurch, Hereford), which is probably lan haiddog,' bank of oats’.
Llanarmon (Ruabon) and Llanarmon-yn-Yale (Mold). Welsch llan Garmon, ' church of St. Germanus,' Bishop of Auxerre, sent to Britain by Pope Celestine, circa, 430. Compare Maes Garmon. The yn Yale is better yn Ial, from ial, 'an open space or region.' Compare Yale.
Llanbabo (Anglesey). ' Church of St. Pabo.' Compare McClure, pp. 57 and 59. Pabo Post Prydain was a great warrior, who latterly became very devout.
Llanbadarn (Aberystwyth and Radnor). ' Church of St. Padarn,' a Breton, companion of St. David. Compare Llanafan. L. in Radnoris L. Mawr,' the great L.’ there are at least 2 others.
Llanberis (Caernarvon). ' Church of St. Peris,' said to have been a cardinal sent as a missionary from Romein 6th century. Close by there are Llyn Peris and Llyn Padarn. Compare Llanbadarn.
Llanbol (Anglesea). Old Llanvol. 'Church of St. Bol.' Compare Cors y Bol (' marsh of Bol') and Rhos y Bol (' heath of Bol ') nearby. The Dict. Christ. Biog. records only a Bolcan, who was baptized by St. Patrick, and was one of his helpers.
Llancarfan (Cowbridge). circa, 1145 Geoffr. Monmouthshire epil. Lancarvan. ' Church of St. Carfan or Corbagni '; said to be corruption of Germanus, who is said to have built the first monastery in Britain here. Compare Llanarmon. The church is now dedicated to St. Cadoc.
Llandaff. circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Landavia. ' Church on the Taff.'
Llanddewi (4 in Postal Guide). 1346 Llandewivrevi, or L. Brefi (Cardigansh). ' Church of St. David,' Bishop of St. David's, died. 601, patron St. of Wales. Compare Dewchurch.
Llanddogget (Denbighsh.). Founded by K. Dogged, who died circa, 542. See Mabinogion and compare Llanafan.
Llandduw or Llanddew (Brecon), circa, 1180 Giraldus Cambrensis Landu. Welsch llan dim,' dark church, and not' church of St. David' or Deivi.
Llandegfan (Menai Br.). From St. Tegfan, of whom little seems known.
Llandeilo (Caermarthenshire). circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Lanteliau Penn litgart ('head, end of the grey ridge,’ now Llwydabth). ' Church of St. Teilo,' Bp. of Llandaff in 7th century.; also called Tiliaus; a very popular saint. Compare Llantilio, also Llandeilo Tref y Cernyw (Lib. Land. Cerniu), where the latter part means ' house of Cornishmen."
Llandovery (Carmarthen). circa, 1550 Leland Llanameueri. In Welsch llan ym Ddyfri,' church beyond or among the waters.'
Llandrindod Wells. Welsch = ' church of the Trinity.' It was dedicated in 1603.
Llandudno. 'Church of St. Tudno,' son of Seithengu; he was a Welsch saint early in the 6th century.
Llandyssul (Cardigan). Lib. Communis Llandowssuld, Llamddussuld. See St. Issell’s and compare Llandyssil (Mont.).
Llanelian (Colwyn Bay). Here also is Elian's Well. Elian Geimiad was a saint of 6th century.
Llanelly (Carmarthen and Brecknock). Carmarthen. L. 1788 Llanelliw. From St. Elliw, granddaughter of Brychan of Brycheiniog. There is also a Llanelieu (Breck.).
Llanerchymedd (Anglesey). This has nothing to do with church, though there has long been a church here. It is Welsch llanerch y medd,' forest glade or clearing where they drank mead.' Compare Lanark (Sc).
Llanfair (8 in Postal Guide). 'Church of Mary,' the Virgin. Such churches show the rise of Latin influence. Compare Builth.
Llanfihangel Din Sylwy (Anglesey). The first part is' church of the Archangel' (Michael). The second seems to mean 'on the hill of the wide view,’ from syllu,' to gaze.'
Llanga doc (Carmarthen). 1285 Close R. Lancaddok. 'Church of St. Cadoc,' circa, 500, who lived on an islet in the Bristol Channel, but died in Brittany. Compare Caradoc.
Llangefni (Anglesey), 'Church on R. Cefni,' prob from Welsch cefn, ' a ridge.'
Llangollen. ' Church of St. Collen,' son of Gwynawc, abbot of Glastonbury, and then an austere hermit; 7th century.
Llangovan (Monmth.). France St. Cofen of whom little seems known.
Llangrove (Ross, Herefd.). A post-office and ignorant local corruption. In all old documents,' Long grove,' which exactly describes the place as seen from a distance.
Llangrwyney (Crickhowell). 1603 Owen lion y grwyne. ' Church of Grewyn.' But who was he?? Gwrwan or Gurvan, bishop of Llandaff, who excommunicated Tewdwr, King of Dyfed.
Llangynidr (Crickhowell). It has an English form Kenderchurch ' church of St. Gynidr,' or in old Welsch Lanncinitir. The saint was of the 5th century. Also old Lannicruc, Welsch llan y Crug, ' church at the heap or barrow.'
Llanillty (Glamorgan), circa, 1150 charter Landiltwit, circa, 1350 the same Launlltwyt. ' Church of St. Illtyd,' or Iltutus, originally a Breton knight, who came over to the court of King Arthur, and nephew of St. Garmon. Compare Ilston and Llantwit. Llantyd (Pembroke) gives the same name in a contracted form.
Llanover (Monmouth). 'Church of St. Govor ' or Gower, a Welsch saint, of whom little seems known.
Llanrhian (Pembroke), circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Lanrian. ' Church of St. Rhian,' who seems unknown. Can it be from Reathun or Hrethun, abbot of Abingdon and bp. of Leicester, who died circa, 835?
Llansaintfraidd (Monmouth). 'Church of Saint Bride,’ or Bridget of Kildare, 453-523.
Llanstadwell (Pembroke). Sic 1594, but circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Lanstadhewal. Welsch llan ystad hywel, ' church of the conspicuous stadium or furlong,' which seems a curious name. More explanation is needed. Compare St. Tudwall's Isle, Caernarvon.
Llanstinan (Letterston, Pembroke). Sic 1594. 'Church of St. Justinian,’ said to have come from Brittany to Welsch in the time of St. David.
Llanthony (Abergavenny), before1196Giraldus Cambrensis Lanthotheni. He also says; ' The English corruptly call it Lanthoni, whereas it should either be called Nanthodeni i.e., the brook Hodeni or else Lanhodeni, the church upon the Hodeni,' now the Hondu, origin unknown. For change of nant to llan see Nantwich. The other old forms intermingle with those of the offshoot from this priory, at Gloucester, 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Lantoeni, 1221 Launtoney, 1223 Lantonay, 1225 Lantoeny.
Llantilio Crossenny (Abergavenny). Probably 1285 Close R. Lanthelyou, ' church of St. Teiliaw,’ of the 6th century.; same as in Llandilo.
Llantrisant (Glamorgan). Welsch=' church of the three saints,' viz., Illtyd, Tyfodwg, and Gwynno.
Llantwit Major (Cardiff) or in Welsch Llanilltud Fawr. ' Church of St. Illtyd.' Fawr or mawr, ' big,' is the tr. of Major, Latin for ' the greater.' There are 2 other Llantwits in Glamorgan, as well as Llantood (Kemes), Valor. Eccl. Llantwyd. See Ilston and Llanillty.
Llanweyno (Herefordshire). From St. Beuno, contemporary of Kentigern, who founded a religious society at Clynnog Fawr, Carnarvon, circa, 616. Eleven churches are dedicated to him.
Llan-y-Gwyddel (Holyhead). 'Church of the (Irish) Gaels.' Gwyddellit. means' dwellers in the forest, or, among the shrubs,' gwydd. Compare Trwyn-y-Gwyddel.
Llithfaen (Pwlllieli).? Welsch llithr, ' a slide or glide,' and ffaew, ' a stone.' T. Morgan says llith implies attraction, and that there is a stone near here of the nature of a loadstone.
Lliw R. (Bala and Loughor). Doubtfully derived from Welsch llw, ' an oath.'
Llwydarth (Glamorgan), circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Litgart, 1603 Owen Lloydarch. Welsch llwyd garth,' grey ridge' or' cape.'
Lyncaws (Denbigshire) Welsch = pool like cheese’, while LLwyncelyn, (Rhondda) is, ‘lake of the holly.’ Sometimes llyn becomes lllan, ‘church; as in Llangwatha or Llyn Gwaeddan in c, 1300 Liv. Land. Luin Guaidan. This is perhaps Gwarthan, who hepeld establish the monastery at Bangor Iscoed, 6the century.
Llyn Cyri (Cader Idris). Welsch 'pool of the cauldron or Corrie'; cyri is hardly a Welsch word yet see Cyri.
Llyn-yr-afrangc (pool on R. Conway) Welsch = pool of the ' beaver.'
Llysfaen (Abergele). Welsch = ' hall, court made of stone.' Welsch and Cornish maen, here aspirated;’ = v or mh.
Llys Helig (now a sandbank off Conway). 'Palace of Helig,' now submerged. He was a great Cimric lord of the Middle Ages.
Lockinton (Derby and Beverley). Domesday Book Yorks Lochetun, Lecheton. Compare Domesday Book Essex Lochintuna. ' Town, village of Locative’ 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare next. See -ing and -ton.
Lock's Bottom (Orpington, Kent). A bottom, Old English bottom is 'a low-lying valley.' Compare Ramsbottom. Lock is the Old English name Loc and is still a surname. Compare above, 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Locheswella (Wilts), and Loxwood.
Lofthouse (Pateley Br. and Wakefield). Domesday Book Lofthuse, Loftose. Lot- and Loct -huse. ' House with an upper room or garret,' Old Norse and Old English loft. This name has also become Loftus, in the same county.
Lolworth (Cambridge). Charter Lulleswyd, Lollesworth, Domesday Book Lolesuuorde, 1284 Lulleworth. ' Farm of Lull.' Compare Lulworth (Dorset). The patronymic is seen in Lullington (Burton), and Domesday Book Kent Lolingestone.
Londesborough (Market Weighton). Domesday Book Lodenesburg, 'Burgh of Lothan or Lothen,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The o has been nasalized; whilst Domesday Book regularly makes medial th into d. See -burgh.
London, circa, 100 Tacitus Londinium, circa, 360 Amm. Marcell. Londinium vetus oppidum quod Augustam posteritas appellavit ; circa, 610 E. Saxon coin Lundonia, before 810 Nennius Cair Londein. Old English Chronicum 457 Lundenbyrig (=Londonburgh), circa, 1175 Fantosme Lundres, circa, 1250 Layamon Lundene, but ' Frensca Lundres heo hehten '; 1258-1450 Lunden, 1298 London, before 1300 Mabinogion Lwndrys (q.v. p. 89, Everyman's Libry., for an early legend re the origin), circa, 1460Londyn; also 1140 Old English Chronicum Lundeniscefolc. Commonly derived from a Keltic lon din, ' marsh or pool with the fort,' Welsch llyn, ' pool, lake,' Gaelic lon, ' a marsh,' and Welsch din, Gaelic dun, genitive duin, ' a hill, a fort.' This is quite possible. W. J. Watson identifies it with Scottish Lundin and the commoner Lundy, Gaelic lunndan, ' a green spot,' strictly ' green, wet place,' from a nasalised form of lad, ' a puddle,' which he thinks is probably same root as Lutetia Parisiorum. If so, it is very remarkable that both London and Paris should originally have names practically the same. The Saxons, at any rate, early made Lon- into Lun-, which, in pronunciation, it has remained ever since. For this there is abundant analogy. The sound is retained in France Londres. Compare Ludgate and Lune.
Longmynd Range (Salop), circa, 1285 Testa de Neville Foresta de Longe Munede. The -mynd seems Welsch mynydd, 'hill': the name may be a hybrid and the Long- be the common English adjunctive Old English lang, long. But Oxford Dictionary, mentions a doubtful Old Irish or Keltic long- in combinations, also meaning ' long.' But compare Munet, and Mindton. Longdon (Upton-on-Severn) is 972 charter Langdune, ' long hill.' Long Eye (Bromsgrove) is 972 charter Longaneye (dativ), ' long island.' See -ey. Longthwaite (Cockermouth) may be translation of Longovicium in circa, 400 Notit. Dignit. See -thwaite.
Longnor (Buxton, Shrewsbury, Leek, and Penkridge). Penkridge L. Domesday Book Longenalre, 1223 Langenalre, 1327 Longenolre. Leek L. before 1300 Longenorle. Shrewsbury L. before 1300 Longenholre, Langenalre, Longenolre, Longnore. Old English langalor, air,' long, tall alder-tree.' Longner-on-Severn is also the same. Longboro' (Moreton-in- Marsh), Domesday Book Langeberge, is ' long tumulus.' See Barrow whilst Longny (Gloster), 972 charter Longanege, is' long island.'See -ey.
Longsdon (Stoke-on-T.) before 1300 Longesdon. ' Hill of Lang ' or ' Long,' which have always been English personal names. See -don.
Longship (off Land's End). 1667' the rock called the Longship.'
Loppington (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Lopitone. ‘Town of Loppa’, or Loppo,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. Compare South Lopham (Thetford), 1225 Luppeham.
Lostock Gralam (Nantwich), Lostock Hall (Preston). Preston L. 1205 Lostok, 1296 Loestok, Lestok. Wyld thinks from an unrecorded Old English hlos, same root as lot, Old English hlot; and so perhaps' place where lots used to be cast; ' Old English stoc, stocc, lit. ' a block or stake stuck into the ground.' Compare Hlosstede (Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 449) and Loscombe (both Dorset). This is doubtful. In Domesday Book Surrey we have Losele, which rather suggests' mead of' an unrecorded man ' Losa,' though it may be ' lot-nook.' See -hall. Gralam was son of Hugh de Bunchamp, circa, 1080.
Lostwithiel (Cornwall). Pronunciation Los-withi-el. 1485 Lestwithiell, 1536 Lostuthyell. Many absurd derivations have been given. It is quite simple. Cornish lost withell, 'rump of the lion,’ referring to the shape of a hill here. Compare Withiel.
Lothbury (London), circa, 1515 Cock Lorells Bk. Lothe bery. ' Sheltered town,’ from Old English hleowp, 1554 lothe, ' shelter, warmth.' Compare L. Lothing, Lowestoft, and Louth. But, as we already have Lothingland in Domesday Book, see Lowestoft, Loth- may well be the contracted form of a man's name.
Lothersdale and Lothersden (Graven). Domesday Book Lodresdene, 1202 Lodderesden. A Lotheivardus, or Lodewardus, or Hrothweard was Abp. of York circa, 925-930. See -dale and -den.
Lothingland (Suffolk). Domesday Book Ludingalanda, 1 158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Loingeland, 1237 Patent R. Luddinglond, Ludingeland, 1459 Lodynglond. ' Land, territory of the sons of Luda ' or ' Loda.' See -ing.
Loughborough. Domesday Book Lucteburne, and Lucteburg, 1298 Luhteburge. Possibly this may be the same name as Lothbury. Or more probably from a man's name, ' burgh, castle of Luhta ' or ' Luhha,' the latter a known form. See -borough.
Loughor (Glamorgan). Possibly circa, 380 Anton. Itin. Leucaro. In Welsch Cass llywchyr. The Cas is said to be forcastell, and llwchyr a word for a lake = Gaelic loch. There is a lakelike expanse of water here, anda R. Llwchwr or Llychwr. Certainly Welsch llwchis' pool.'
Lound (Lowestoft and Retford). Domesday Book both Lund(a). Retford L. 1302 Lound. Old Norse lund-r, ' grove, wood.' But possibly, from phonetic reasons, same as lown or lound, ' calm, sheltered place '; also, of Norse origin. See Oxford Dictionary s.v. Lund (Beverley), Domesday Book Lont, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Lund, is the same name. Compare Domesday Book Lines Lund.
Louth (Lines). Domesday Book Ludes, 1154-65 charter Luda. Croxden Chronicum re 1210 Percolude i.e., ' park of Louth,' 1225 Louth. Perhaps from Old English hlud 'loud,' 'noisy place.' Much more likely, Old English hleowp, 1554 lothe, now in dialect lewth, 'shelter, warmth'; and so, 'sheltered, warm place.' The letters d and th very often interchange in old charters, through Normandic scribes.
Lowdham (Notts). Domesday Book Ludha, circa, 1170 Ludam, 1302 Loudham. (It is near Ludcerce in Domesday Book). 'Home of Luda or Lude,' several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Lowestoft. Domesday Book Lothuwistoft, later Lowistoft, Loistoft. 1455 Leystoft, circa, 1600 Camden Lestoffenses. The curious Domesday Book form must represent ' toft ' or ' field of Hlothewg,' a name found as that of a port reeve in Kent, Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1212, same name as that of the famous King of the Franks, Old Germanic Chlodwig, Germanic Ludwig, From Lewis or Louis. This name exactly suits the phonetics of all the forms given above. Toft is Old Norse topt, Norse toft, tuft, ' a homestead, a house-site, a holding.' L. Lothing, Domesday Book Lothingland, beside Lowestoft, shows us a patronymic from Hlothewig, with its ending dropped, as often happens. Compare Closworth.
Loweswater (Cumbld.). 1189 Laweswater. Perhaps 'water, lake of Hloewa'; 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Lowther R. (Westmorland). Perhaps connected with Old Iish lothur, ' canalis,' Bretons laouer, ' a trench.' Compare Scottish Lauder and Lowther.
Lowthorpe (Driffield). Domesday Book Loghetorp, Logetorp, 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe Leutorp, Luitorp, 1179-80 Luuetorp. Probably fr low ad. Early Mittel English lah (Old Norse lag-r), 2-3 lah, laze. ' Low-lying village.’ See -thorpe. Oxford Dictionary has no example of low, before 1150.
Loxley (Warwick, Uttoxeter, and Sheffield). Warwick L. Domesday Book Locheslei, 1151 Lochesle. 1151 Lochesle. Uttoxer L. Domesday Book the same, before 1300 Lockesleye. A Warwick charter of 985 also speaks of ' Locsetena gemaere,' ' boundary of the Loc dwellers or settlers,' here in genitive. Compare Dorset, etc. This is ' meadow of Locative' Compare next, and 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe Locheswell (Wilts) . See -ley.
Loxwood (Billingshurst). Not in Domesday Book but compare Exon. Domesday Book Lochesbera, where hera is ' wood.' Perhaps ' wood of Loc'. There is one Loc, and there are two Lucas in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Lock's Bottom and above.
Lucker (Belford). 1152 Lucre. This must simply be Norse loeck-r, 'a brook,' a very rare type of name in Northumberland. Compare Leckford and Leek.
Ludchurch (Narberth, Pembroke). 1353 Londeschirch, 1377 Londchirch; but in Myv. Archaeol. Yr Eglwys Lwyd, ' the grey church.' The n is a common intrusion in the early spellings, due to the nasalizing of the w or u sound, a proceeding not rare. Some hold thatL lwydm eans' the adorable, the blessed one.'
Ludington (Stratford-on-Avon and Garthorpe). Stratford. L. circa, 1000 charter Ludintune, Domesday Book Luditone, before 1100 Ludintune. Garthorpe L. Domesday Book Ludintone. ' Village, town of Luda.' Compare Lutton and 947 charter Ludanbeorh (Wilts). There are also Ludborough, Louth, and Ludham, Gt. Yarmouth, sic 1262.
Ludgarshall, Ludgershall (Andover, Aylesbury, Gloster). Andover L. before 1200 Lutgershal. Aylesbury L. 1232 Close R. Lutegarehal, Luttegartshal. Gloster L. 1220 Lutegareshale, 1280 Letegareshale. ' Nook of Leodgoer, Liutger, Ludegar,' the name occurs in many forms. See -hall.
Ludgate (London). Sic1585. It may possibly, though not probably, be Old English hlidgeat, 6 lydyate, ' a postern, a swing-gate, a gate between meadow and ploughed land.' Lydiate Lane (Halesowen) is before 1300 Nonemonnes Lydegate, ' no man's gate.' But circa, 1145 Geoffrey Monm., circa, 1205 Layamon, and before 1300 The Brut tell that Lud or Lludd was a British king, brother of Cassibelaunus, and that London was called from him Caerlud; also that he was buried near this gate which now bears his name, called in the British language Porthlud, and in Saxon Ludesgate. Good authorities hold that Lludd was a Celtic deity. See, too, Mabinogion (Everyman's Libry.), p. 89.
Ludgershall, this derives from a nasty hunting technique of digging pits with sharpened stakes to impale animals. These pits were called ‘lute-gar’, from the Old English ‘lutuian’, meaning ‘to lurk’, and ‘gar’ for spear. ‘Halh’ refers to a corner or nook of land – so this means ‘the corner of land where trapping spears are located’. Ouch.
Ludlow. Not in Domesday Book, unless it be one of the Ludes i.e., Lud's (place), there; 1223 Patent R. Ludelawe, 1497 Ludlowe. In Welsch Llwydlo. ' Hill of Lud.' See Ludgate and -low.
Lufwick (Northants). Old English Chronicum 675 (late MS.) Lufgeard, which is ' yard, court of Lufa,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But Domesday Book Luhwic, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Luffewich, from Old English wic, ' dwelling.' Compare Codex Diplomaticus iv. 288 Lofintune, probably Northants; and Luffenham (Stamford), 1166 Luffenha.
Lugg R. (Leominster), circa, 1097 Flor. Worcester Lucge. Perhapsconnected with Welsch Ihwch, 'a lake, a pool.' As likely this is another case of river-worship. A god Lugus, It. Lug, seems to have been one of the ancient deities of the Keltic family. Compare Carlisle. For Lugwardine 1233 Patent R. Lugwurthin, on this river, see -warden i.e., ' farm.'
Lundy I. (Bristol Channel). Not in Domesday Book Doubtful. May be same as Scottish Lundy; see London. This scarcely suits the site, so probably Norse lund-ey, 'puffin island,' Norse lunde, Icelandic lundi. See -ey. For Lund see Lound.
Lune R. (Lancaster and N. Yorks). Lancaster L. probably circa, 150 Ptolemy Alona; also see Lancaster. Said to be from a Keltic louno, ' mud '; on Keltic Ion and lod, see London.
Luston, From the Old English ‘nunne’ for ‘nun’, or from a man called Nunna, plus ‘eg’, meaning an island of dry or raised ground. So, Nun’s island or Nunna’s island.
Luston (Leominster). Domesday Book Lustone. 'Town of Lusa.' Compare 940 charter Lusebeorg (Wilts) and Lustleigh (Newton Abbott); the latter probably from a man Lustwine; 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Luton (Beds and Chatham). Beds L. sic before 1199, but Domesday Book and 1157 Loitone, 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Luitune. Probably ' village, town of Luha,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Lutley (Staffordshire), circa, 1300 Lutteleye, and Lutley (Halesowen), Domesday Book Ludeleia, is ' mead of Luda ' or ' Luta.' Lutley may be from Old English lyt, 3-4 lut, 3-5 lute, ' little,' as in Luthebury, old form of Littlebury (Saffron Walden).
Lutterworth (Leicester). Domesday Book Lutresurde; also Lutrington (Co. Durham), 1183 Lutringtona. This must be 'farm' and ' village of Lutter ' or ' Luther,' or ' Lutter's descendants ‘; but there is no such name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, only one Lothewardus, also a Leutherius or Hlothhere. See -ing, -ton, and -worth.
Lutton (Yorks, Oundle, and Wisbech). Domesday Book Yorks Ludton; not in others. ' Town of Luda ' or ' Lud.' Compare Luddington.
Luxulyan (Lostwithiel). Sic 1536; also called Lan Sulian. Said to bec orruption Of Cornish Lan lulian,' church of St. Julian'; which of this name is doubtful. There are 115 Julians in Dict. Christ. Biogr. It is now dedicated to Julietta; hence the parish of St. Juliot, Cornwall. The story of Julitta and her child Cyric was very popular, and St. Basil wrote in praise of her.
Lydbury North (Salop). Domesday Book Lideberie. Probably ' Lida's burgh.' See Lydney and -bury. But Lydeard St. Lawrence (Taunton) seems to be from a man Lidgeard. Domesday Book Lidegar, 1285 Lydeyarde. Compare 963 charter Lidgeardes beorge, re Wasing, Berks. Only, of course Lidgeard wil litself mean 'Lid's yard or'garth.' Lydbrook-on-Wyeisa.1300 Luddebrok, andt here is a Domesday Book Gloucester Ludebroc perhaps from a man Lydda; but Baddeley suspects the first part to be a pre-Saxon river name.
Lydd (Kent). 774 charter Hlid; later, Lyde, Lide. Old English hlid, 'a cover.'
Lydford (N. Devon). See Lidford.
Lydiard. There are places of this name at Wootton Basset and Swindon (Wilts). Dom Lidiarde, Lediar, also Lydeard St. Lawrence (Somst.), and Bp.'s Lydeard (Taunton). Domesday Book Lidiard, Lediart. 1224 Patent R. Lidiard is in Wilts. The name might be ' Lida’s da's yard,'or' enclosure' (Old English geard) but is probably Old English lid-geard,' boat, shipyard' at least in some cases.
Lydney (on Severn). 972 charter Lidan ege, 1224 Lideneia, 1230 Lideneya. ' Isle on R. Leden.' See Ledbury and -ey.
Lydstep (Penally, Pembk.). 1603 Owen Ludsopp, ' Lud's place of refuge.' See Ludgate and -hope.
Lye (Cradley). Old, Lech, Lyegh, Lyghe, Lye, Lee, which show it variant of lea, 'meadow.' See -ley. Lye (Gloucester) has similar old forms.
Lyme Regis. Mentioned in 774. Domesday Book and 1234 Lym, 1184 Hist. Selby Luma, which last suggests a possible derivation from Old English leoma, ' a ray of light, a flash, a gleam '; 4 lewme, lime, lym. But both here and in N. Staffordshire there is a R. Lyme, the latter before 1200 Lima (other forms see Burslem), which seems to be simply Old English hlimme, 'a stream, a river'; and this is quite possibly the origin of this town too. Regis is Latin for 'of the King.' Lyme received a royal charter from King Edward I. in 1316, when it was surrendered to the Crown. Compare King's Lynn.
Lyminge (Shorncliffe). 804 charter Limming, Domesday Book Leminges. Doubtful; probably patronymic. There are two named Luning in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare next; and see -ing.
Lymington (Hants). Not in Domesday Book circa, 1450 Fortescue Limyngton. The man's name here is probably Leofman, variant Leman' and Lowman. Compare above and see -ing.
Lyndhurst (Hants), before 1100 charter Lindhyrst, which is Old English for ' forest, wooded place with the limes or lindens.' Compare Lyndon (Warwick). before 1300 Lynden, possibly from Old English lin, 'flax,’ as in Lyncroft (Lichfield). See -den and -don.
Lynne or Lymne or Lympne (S. Kent). 77 Pliny Limnus, circa, 150 Ptolemy Portus Lemanis; Domesday Book Lymne, 1392 Linne. Probably Keltic linn,' pool, lake'; but for Lemanis compare Lomond (Scottish) and L. Leman or L. of Geneva. Lynn (Lichfield), however, is circa, 1300 la Lynd, Lynde, Old English lind, ' the linden ' or ' lime-tree.’
Lytham (Preston). Domesday Book Lidun. Probably locative of Old English hlio, 'on the slopes or hillsides.' Compare Hallam, Kilham, etc.; also Lythe (N. Yorks), Domesday Book Lid. The Lyth (Ombersley) is the same.

Mablethorpe (Lines). Domesday Book Malb'torp. 1202 Mapertorp, Maupertorp, Mautorp, 1318-1469 Malberthorpe, 1591 Mabberthorp. An interesting corruption,' village of Malber,' or some such name. The nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum are Marbert and Moefhelheorht or Madalbert. See -thorpe.
Macclesfield. Domesday Book Maclesfeld, 1297 Makelesfelde 1503 Maxfeld. Looks like' Matchless, peerlessfield,' from makeless, before 1225make- lese, ' matchless,' from Old English gemaca, ' a peer, equal, match, a make.' There seems no name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum which would yield Makele, but Malton (Cambridgeshire) is 1282 Makelton; and so it is probably derived from a man's name, as all analogy suggests.
Machynlleth (Aberdovey). Welsch ma Ghynlleth,' field of Cyn lleith,' in Geoffr. Monmouthshire Kinhth map Neton. Compare Mallwyd (Merioneth), field of Llywd'; Manest,' field of Nest,' etc.
Mackney (Wallingford). 957 charter Maccanige, 1428 Mackeney. ' Island of Macca.' See -ey.
Madehurst (Sussex), not in Domesday Book, and Madeley (Salop and Staffordshire). Salop M. Codex Diplomaticus iii. 123 Madan leage, Domesday Book Madelie. St. M. 975 charter Madanlieg. Compare Domesday Book Sussex Medelei. ' Wood ' and 'meadow of Mada'; Old English hyrst, 'a wood'; and see -ley. Madeley Ulfac (Uttoxeter) is named from its Saxon possessor in Domesday Book
Madingley (Cambridge). Domesday Book Madingelei, 1284 Maddingele. ' Meadow of the descendants of Mada.' Compare above, and Maddington (Wilts); and see -ley.
Madley (on Wye, Hereford), circa, 1130 Lib. Landav., pp. 323, 324, Madle, q.v., Welsch mad lle, ' good place.' Though, of course, some will hold it must be the same as Madeley.
Madresfield (Worcester), before 1200 Medeleffeld, 1275 Madresfelde. Skea tthinks,' Moeth-here's field '. Domesday Book regularly writes th as d.
Madron (Penzance). From St. Maternus of Treves, in Chaucer Madryan; also Medhran, disciple of St. Piran or Kieran.
Maer (Newcastle, Staffordshire). Domesday Book and later Mere, Old English for 'mere, lake.'
Maes Garmon (Mold). Welsch= ' (battle)field of St. German,' Bp. of Auxerre, France, who came to Britain in 429. We find a ‘Maisbele as early as circa, 1145 Geoffr. Monm.? =Maesbury (Oswestry). Compare Llanarmon.
Magor (Newport, Monmouthshire). Welsch magwyr, 'a wall'; also found in Cornwall as Magor and Maker, old Macuir.
Maidenhead. 1297-98 Mayden heth, circa, 1350 Magdenhithe, 1538 ' Maidenhedde. Maiden's hythe or landing-place i.e., one very easy to land at, from Old English hydde, later hyd,' a haven, a landing-place.' Compare Hythe. Maiden Castle (Dorchester), not in Domesday Book, is claimed as a Keltic name, which is quite unlikely. The Maiden Castle is Edinburgh, found circa, 1150 as ' Castellum puellarum.' Dorset also has Maiden Newton.
Maidstone. Domesday Book Medwegestun; 1245 Patent R. Maidenestan; later Meddestane, Maydestan, which will mean ' rock ' rather than ' town on R. Medway,' though its Welsch name is said to be Caer Meguaid or Medwig,' fort on the Medway.' See -ton.
Malden (Kingston, Surrey). Domesday Book Meldone, probably' sword hill' or 'dune,' Old English dun; from Old English meet, 'sword, mark, ornament.' This will be the root also of Maldon (Essex), 993 Old English Chronicum Maeldun, 1472 Maiden, rather than Old English mdl, 3 male, ' tax, tribute.' But compare Christian Malford. A man Mal, or the like, seems implied in such names as Malshanger and Malsworth. See Bebchanger and -worth.
Malham (Leeds). Domesday Book Malgon, Malgun. These are clearly old locatives of the common Yorks Domesday Book type. But there seems no Old English word to give us malg; moele, mele, ' a cup, a basin,’ seems the nearest among the cup-shaped hollows.' But then, the g must be an error. See -ham.
Malling, South (Sussex). Sic 838, before 1200 Melllinges, 1288 Contin. Gervase Suthmallinges. Patronymic. Compare Melling.
Mallwyd (Dinas Mawddy). Welsch ma llwyd, ' grey plain ' or ' district.'
Malmesbury. Bede v. 18, Monasterium quod Maildulfi urbem nominant, Old English vers. Maldulfesburh, 940 charter Matelmesburg, 1015 Old English Chronicum Ealdelmesbyrig; but, in latest MSS., Mealdelmesbyri, where the M. probably stands for In. Compare Inhrypum = Ripon. Domesday Book Ecclesia Malmsburiensis, circa, 1097 Flor. Worcester Malmesbyriensis, circa, 1160 Gesta Steph. Malmesbiria. ' Burgh of Maldulf,' 7th century. abbot and teacher here. He was succeeded by Ealdhelm; hence arose a very curious confusion.
Malpas (Cheshire and Truro). Former pronunciation Morpus, latter Mohpus. Same as the France Mauvais pas (Old France mal pas), or 'bad path,' alongside the Mer de Glace.
Maltby (Rotherham). Domesday Book and 1179-80 Maltebi, 1442 Mauteby. Perhaps ' Malt town,' Old English and Old Norse malt, north dialect, etc., maut. But more likely it is ' dwelling of Malte,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Mallt is Welsch for' Matilda.' See-by.
Malton (Yorks). Domesday Book Maltun, Contin. Sim. Dur. anno 1138 Maaltun, 1202 Melton. Doubtful. Might be ' malt town (compare Maltby), but probably ' tax, tribute town,’ Old English mdl, 3 male, See Malden. However, Malton (Cambridgeshire) is 1279 Malketon, 1282 Makelton, and may come from the same man's name as is probably seen in Macclesfield.
Malvern. Domesday Book Malferna, A7171. Worcester 1085, Major Malvernia (' Great Malvern ') fundata est per Alwium ' or Ealdwine, 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Maluerna, 1362 Maluerne, Welsch moel gwern,' hill of alders,'or ' hill of over the moor or plain.'
Mamble (Worcester). 957 charter Momela (genitive pl.). Domesday Book Mamele. Keltic mam, ' round, rounded,' Gaelic mam, ' a round, breast like hill'; the ending is uncertain. Compare Mambeg (Scottish).
Mamhilad (Monmouthshire). circa, 1130 Lib. Landav. Mamheiliad. Compare, in same book, Mamilet forest (Herefordshire), evidently the same name and also Manchester. Mam will mean ' round; rounded '; and there is a Welsch heledd, ' a salt-pit '; but the name seems more likely to be Welsch maen heiliad, ' stone, rock for the serving [of liquor],' referring to some custom now forgotten.
Man, Isle Of. J. Caesar Mona, circa, 77 Pliny Monapia, circa, 150 Ptolemy (former…., Nicholsn, and same as Ptolomy… , near Wiclow. Bede Mevaniae Insulae, before 810 Nennius Eubonia, id est Manau, 1000 Old English Chronicum Mon ege (=Mona's Isle), circa, 1110 Orderic Insula Man; in Manx Eilan Mhannin. Doubtful. Earle thought O. Keltic man, ' a place.' Compare Akemanchester, old name of Bath, Akeman Street, Aylesbury, and Manchester.
Manacles (rocks near Lizard). Corruption of Corish. men, moen eglos, ' rocks of the church,' perhaps from the Church of St. Keverne on the high ground behind.
Mancetter (Atherstone). 1251Mancestre. An old Romanic station, and=next. See-caster.
Manchester, circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary Mancunio, various reading Mamucio; 923 Old English Chronicum Mameceaster; Domesday Book and on to 1421 Mamecestre. Perhaps a hybrid, ' round hill camp ' (see Mamble and -chester) but it may be from Kelt. man, maen, ' stone.' Compare above and Mansfield, and Maumbury Rings, Dorchester.
Manea (March). This, says Skeat, must be ' Manna's isle,' as it once was an island. Compare Manley (Warrington) and Manton (Marlborough); and see -ey.
Mangotsfield (Bristol). Domesday Book Manegodes felle. ' Field of Mangod, Mangold, or Managolt,' all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Manningtree. Not in Domesday Book ' Tree of,' Mann, Manna, Manne, Manni, Manno, Mannig, or Manning. All, except the two last, common names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Braintree, Oswestry, etc.; and see -ing. Man of War (rock, Scilly). Corruption of Cornish men, maen an vawr, run into one word, Menavawr or Menawore,' bi grock.’ Compare Manacles.
Manorbier (Pembrokeshire). circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis says it is ' Mansio Pyrri,' manor, estate, mansion-house of a man Pyrr. Compare Caldy. Some think the ending is the Norse boe-r,’ dwelling ' (see -by), and so the name a tautology. Compare circa, 1130 Lib. Landav. Mainaur Garth Benni, and Manor Fabon,' manor of Mabon,' Cmrthnsh. Note, Welsch moenor, ' district," has nothing to do with English manor.
Mansergh (S. Westmorland.. Domesday Book Manzserge. ' Hut, shieling of Mann,' here a proper name. On -ergh see Anglesark. Compare Manston.
Mansfield (Notts). Domesday Book Mammfelde, Mamesfelde, 1162-65 charter Mamefellt, 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Mamefeld, 1278 Man'efeld, Maunsfewd, 1291 Mannesfeld. Difficult. It is on R. Man or Maun, which may be a back formation, but not certainly, for we get it 1300 Mainesheued (in probably error for m), 1332 Mammesheued, ' head of R. Mam.' It may then be 'field on the Man, Maun, or Mam,' which according to all analogy will be Kelt., either Welsch mawn, ' a bog,' or, transferred by some ignorant Saxon from some neighbouring hill, and so from mam, now only in Gaelic mam, maim, 'a low, rounded hill, like a mamma or breast.' But it may be from some man, unrecorded in Old English; compare Mammendorf, Bavaria, Mansfeld, Saxony, and Manchester.
Manston (W. Riding and Sturminster Newton). Domesday Book Yorks Mainestun, Manestun. ' Town of Man, Mana, or Moena,' all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Mansbergh.
Mapledurham (Reading). 1217 Patent B. Mapeldureham. We have mapuldur as Old English for 'maple-tree' as early as circa, 725 Corpus Gloss. Compare, too, Mapleborough (Alcester), Domesday Book Mapelberge, 940 charter Mapildore (Wilts), and 1282 Close E. Mapeltreham (Cheshire); also Maplebeck (Notts), Domesday Book Mapelbec, and Domesday Book Kent Mapledescam. See next, and- ham.
Mapledurwell (Basingstoke). Grant of before 675 Mapeldure i.e., ' maple-tree.' Compare the name Rowantree, and above.
Mappleton (Hull and Ashbourne). Hull M. Domesday Book Mapleton. ' Town of a man called Maple,' Old English mapel. Men are often called after trees, Ash, Birch, Beech, etc. It may be from the tree alone.
Marazion (Penzance). 1250 Marhasgon, 1309 Marhasyon, 1313 Marhasion; circa, 1470 Markysowe, Marchasyowe, circa, 1540 Leland Markesju, 1595 Marghas-iewe (often to-day Market Jew, a curious example of popular etymology). The name is Cornish marhas Diow (from De Yew), ' market on Thursday.' But Diow must have had an older form Dion.
Marcham (Abingdon). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 427 Merchamme, Domesday Book Merceham. ' Enclosure,' Old English hamme, ' on the march or boundary,' Old English mere, mearc. Mabch itself is circa, 1080 Merc, 1169 Merch. Gf. next. But the cognate English march is Old France marche, first in English circa, 1290 in ' The Marche of Walis,’ Compare Mark and Markham (Notts), Domesday Book Marcham.
Marchington (Uttoxeter). 951 charter Maercham, 1004 Merchamtune, Domesday Book Marchamtone, before 1300 Marchynton upon Nedwode. ' Town with the house on the march ' or ' boundary,’ between Staffordshire and Derby. See above and -ing.
Marden (Hereford). Domesday Book Mawrdine, 1232 Close R. Maw-, Mauworthin. ' Farm of'? perhaps Maw, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -warden.
Margate. 1225 Patent R. Meregate; also Mergate; probably 'road,’ Old English geat,' by the mere' or' lake', now draned. For e become a compare Derby, pronunciation Darby. Compare Marfleet (Hull), Domesday Book Mereflet, ' river by the mere.' See Fleet.
Mark (Highbridge), Mark Beech (Eden Bridge), etc. Old English mearc, Anghan mere, 2 marc, 4- mark, ' boundary, frontier, limit, later, landmark.' Compare 847 Grant (Dorset), on merce cumb, and Marcham. Markyate (Beds) is ' the boundary gate' between Beds and Herts.
Market Deeping (Peterborough). before 1100 Grant of 664 Depingge, ' circa, 1200 Gervase Diepinge. There seems no Eng. sb. ' deeping or ' dippimg ' which will suit Domesday Book, now Malpas. There seems no helpful name in Onom; but see -ing as denoting a place on a stream. The ' Market ' in all names with this prefix seems a late addition, though Newmarket goes back to the 12th century.
Market Harborough. Not in Domesday Book before 1300 Haverberg, 1517 Harborow. The Oxford Dictionary says= Market Harbour (q.v., s.v.)- But before 1300 shows this cannot be; it must be from Danish havre, ' oats.' See Haverford and -burgh. Harberrow (Hagley) is before 1200 Hardberwe, before1300 Herdeberue, Old English Mercianbeorge,' herds-an's barrow or burial mound '; also compare Harberton (Totnes).
Market Weighton (Yorks). Pronunciation Weeton. Domesday Book Wiestun. 1298 Wighton, Wyhton, Wyghton. From some man, Weah, Wigheah, and With are possible names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Domesday Book regularly changes guttural ch or gh into st.
Markington (Leeds). Domesday Book Merchintone. 'Town of Mearca,' not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, or, of one of the many names in Mearc-.
Marks Tey (Colchester). J.H. Round has shown that Marks involves the name of the village of March, Pas de Calais, borne by Adelolf de Mark, owner of Marks Tey district in Domesday Book So this name means ' Mark's paddock,' Old English tih, teah, teag. Compare Great Tey.
Marlborough. Domesday Book Marleberge, 1110 Old English Chronicum Maerlebeorg, 1158 Merleb'ga. Marl, Old France malie, is not found as an English word till 1372, nor merle, ' blackbird,' till 1450. So this is probably ' Barrow, tumulus of Moerle,' short form of Moerleswegen, 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Wore. Merleberg. Marl Cliff (Warwichshire), circa, 872 charter Marnan Clive, later Maranclive, Mearnanclif, before 1790 Mar Cleeve, is ' marble cliff,’ from Old English marma, here perhaps rather with its meaning ' stiff clay,’ which is the meaning of Old France marne, marle. Marlewood (Thornbury), in its old forms, 1221 to Leland, is always Morle-, and so probably from Old France morele,' night- shade,’ found so spelt in English from circa, 1265.
Marley (Bingley) and Marley Hill (Swalwell, Durham). Swalwell M. 1183 Merleia and Bingley M. 1202 Merlegh, which is probably ' meadow by the mere ' or ' lake.' Compare Marlow, etc. But Marley (W. Riding) is Domesday Book Mardelei, Merdelai, probably' marten's mead,’ Old English meard. Domesday Book regularly makes th into d. Compare Martley.
Marlingford (Norwich). Domesday Book Merlingeforda, 1161-62 Merlingef'-, 1454 Marlynferthe, 1482 Marlyngforthe. ' Ford of Merlin,' or perhaps of his descendants. See Carmarthen and -ing. The -ferthe or -forthe for -ford (q.v.) is due to Norse influence.
Marloes (Milford Haven). Tax. Eccl. Malros, 1603 Owen Marlasse. Evidently=Melrose (Scottish) Old Welsch moel rhos,' bare moor.'
Marlow (Maidenhead). Domesday Book Merlawe. 'Hill by the lake or mere,’ Old English mere, 2-3 moere,4 marre, 5 mer. Compare Marley and Martin. See -low.
Marown (Isle of Man). Named from St. Runy or Ronan, Bishop oOf Sodor A.D. 600. Ma- is the common Keltic endearing prefix, ' my own.'
Marple (Manchester). Not in Domesday Book. Probably corruption of mercpool, or' pool, lake at the boundary.' See Marwood.
Marr (Doncaster). Domesday Book Marra, 4 times, Maril once (error). Perhaps from mar sb.' a hindrauce, obstruction,' found first in Oxford Dictionary, in before1300 Cursor Mundi, from Old English merran,' to mar.'
Marrick (Richmond, Yorks). Domesday Book Marige, Mange (n for ri). Probably ' isle in the mere.' Compare Margate; but -ey (q.v.) is rarely seen as -ick.
Marsham (Norwich). Domesday Book Marsam. Compare B.C.8. 496 Maersaham. Perhaps ' home of Moersa.' See -ham. On marsh see next. Marston Moor (Yorks) is Domesday Book Merstone, probably from same name.
Marske (2 in Yorks). Domesday Book Mersc, Mersch. Old English merisc, mersc, ' a marsh.' Seen also in Little Marsis (Yorks) Domesday Book Parvo Merse, and Pickering Marishes, Domesday Book Oudulvesmersc, etc. But Baddiley derives Marshfield (Box), Domesday Book Meresfelde, from a man Moerwine.
Marston (12 in Postal Guide). Warwick M. circa, 1000 Merston juxta Avonam, Domesday Book Mers(e)ton, two, also near Penkridge the same, 1327 Mershton. Gloucester M. Domesday Book Merestune. Compare 774 charter ' Mersetun,' (Rochester). 'Town, dwelling by the marsh'; Old Emglish mersc, moersc, merisc, 4 merss, 5- marsh. Compare, too, Domesday Book Meresberie (Salop). Duignan gives 5 Marstons in Warwkshire. alone.
Martin (Lines, Dover, Salisbury). Salisbury M. (probably 871 Old English Chronicum Meretune), Domesday Book Mertone, 1227 Meretone. ' Town on the mere.’ See Marlow; and c/f Merton. Martin (Notts), Domesday Book Martune, on the borders of Yorks, is probably Old English mearc tun, ' boundary town.' Mabton (7 in Pstal Guide), Domesday Book Lines Martone, Yorks Martun, Martone, 21 times, Mereton 4 times, may not always be the same. That near Leamington, 1327 Merton, seems to be; but in 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Yorks we have a' Mareton,' which might be from Old English mare, 'a goblin' (compare nightmare). In 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Cheshire we have a ' Monte Martin,' probably from St. Martin of Tours, 4th century.
Martletwy (Pembksh.). 1603 Owen Marteltwy. The first part is corruption of Welsch merthyr,' a martyr,' the second doubtful.
Martley (Worcester). Domesday Book Mertelai. 1275 Mertelee. No likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, nor can it be from mart, 'market,' or mart, ' an ox ' (see Oxford Dictionary, s.v.), so probably 'meadow of the mart,' dial, name of the marten, Old English meard, merd. Of. foumart and Marley (W. Riding); see -ley. But Marthry (Pembroke) circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Mathru, some think to be Welsch mai or ma thru, ' field of woe ' (tru). Probably it is from Merthyr.
Marwood (Barnard Castle), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Marawude. Mara- is doubtful. It may represent a proper name clipped down. Compare Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum under Mar-, Marc-, Mear-, Mearh-. Probably it is from Old Norde mara, Old English mare, ' a goblin.' Compare nightmare.
Mary-le-bone (London). 1742 St. Mary at the Bourne, or brook, i.e., the Tyburn. The Cockney has caused the liquid r to vanish.
Maryport. Where, or near where, Queen Mary landed in her flight from Scotland, 1568; but till 1750 called Ellenfoot.
Masborough (Rotherham). Not in Domesday Book Probably contraction of ' Moessa's ' or ' Masso's burgh ‘; both forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare next, and Maisemore (Gloucester), 1221 Meismore, later Meyesmora, which is probably' Moeg's, moor; ' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Masham (Yorks). Sic 1296, but Domesday Book Massan. Probably as above, ' Massa's home'; only Domesday Book's form will be an irregular locative such as Domesday Book Yorks is full of, ' at Massa's.' lam, etc. Compare Hallan, etc.
Mathern (Chepstow). Addit. Lib. Land. Martharne, Martherne, later Matharn; probably Welsch ma theyrn, 'field of the king or lord' (Gaelic tighearn), and not from merthyr, ' martyr.'
Mathon (Gt. Malvern). Domesday Book Matma, 1275 Mathine, before 1500 Mathan. Old English madum., madm, ' a precious thing, a valuable gift '; m and n easily interchange. Compare Medomsley.
Matlask (Norfolk). Domesday Book Matelasc. 1453 Matelask. Curious name; looks hlie Old English moete, 'small, poor, bad,' and lisk, a Mittel English word of probably Scandinavian origin, before 1200 lesske ,5-6 laske,' the flank or loi.’ Compare next.
Matlock. Not in Domesday Book? Old English moete locq, ‘s malle enclosure.’ Compare Porlock and above. But Matford (Berkeley) is circa, 1270 Mathford, whilst Matson, same shire, is circa, 1121 Matesdona, 1199 Moetehhre’s'', showing that this is for' Moethhere's down."" See-don.
Mattishall (Dereham). Domesday Book Mateshala, 1484 Mateshal(l)e. ' Hall' or' nook of Mata.' See-hall.
Maughold Hd. (Isle of Man), St. Maughold was chief of an Irish band of robbers converted by St. Patrick and, next to St. German, patron saint of the Isle.
Maunbey (Thirsk). Domesday Book Mannebi, Mannesbi, 1202 Magnebi, 1204 Mageneby. ' Dwelling of some man with a name in Magen- or Maigen-. There are many in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. Majgenfrith, Maegenheard, etc. It can hardly be from the simple Mann, as in Mansergh, etc. See -by.
Mayfield (4 in Postal Guide). Ashbourne M. Domesday Book Madevelde, before 1300 Mathelefell, Matherfield, before 1400 Mathefeld, Mayheld. Probably Old English moethel felda, " held of the meeting ' or ' council.' Codex Diplomaticus 1339 Metheltun. Old forms needed for the other names, not in Domesday Book They may be from may, ' the hawthorn,'' found so used before 1548. Meaburn (E. Cumberland) is 1120 Maiburn? meaning.
Mayford (Woking). 955 charter M. Maezde forda. ' Virgin's ford.' Old English moezd or moezed,' a maid, a virgin.'
Measden, Meesden (Herts), before 1300 Mesdune. Old English meos dun, ' mossy hill.'
Mease R. (Derbyshire and Warwick) and Mees R. (Staffordshire). Old English meos; Old Norse mose, ' moss,' found in English circa, 1639 meese, and still in S.W. dialect meesh. So, 'mossy' river. Measham (Atherstone) is Domesday Book Messeham, and Mill Meese (Stone) is Domesday Book Mess, before 1400 Mulneme(e)s, which gives us the old forms of both river names. Compare too, Measden and Missenden.
Medmenham (Marlow). Domesday Book Medemeha. 'Home of' probably ' Moethhelm,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Domesday Book regularly makes th into d, and H quid l easily vanishes. Compare next.
Medomsley (Co. Durham). 1211 Madmesl'. Probably' Meadow of the valuable gift,' see Mathon; it is found in circa, 1200 Ormin. in plural as maddmess. If a man's name bepreferred, it maybe found in Moeldomen or Meldum, variant of Mailduf, or in Moethhelm, as above. See -ley.
Medway R. before 1000 charter Moedwaeza, 1016 Old English Chronicum Medewaeza, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Meodewage, 1215 Hag. Charter Medewaye. Perhaps Old English, from moed, ‘a meadow,’ and wga, ‘deep waters (McClure). But some think, Welsch med gwy,' water, river which is extended or full.' Compare R. Wey and Maidstone.
Meedham (Rochester). 774 charter Maedham. 'Home on the meadow '; Old English moed, ' a mead '; though Domesday Book Kent Meddestan suggests a man's name. See -ham. Meeth (Devon) may also be from moed but is doubtful.
Meerbrook (Leek). ' Brook on the boundary '; Old English moere; Mittel English moer, mer. Compare 1241 Newminster Charter Usque ad Merethorne. But Meresbrook (Sheffield) and Domesday Book Meresbroc (Salop) may be from Old English mere, ' a lake.' Compare 940 charter Maerhlinc, Wiley (Wilts), ' links at the boundary.' Meering (Notts), Domesday Book Meringe, is a patronymic.
Meiford (Welschpool). Probably Welsch mai fod, aspirated from bod, ' field with the house or hut in it.'
Melbourne (Cambridgeshire Derby, and E. Riding). Cambridgeshire M. charter Meldeburne, Domesday Book Melleburne, 1661 Fuller Meldeburn. ' Brook of Melda.' Compare Meldreth. Derby M. Domesday Book Mileburne (3 times), Somerset Meleburne. There are also 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Meleburna (Northumberland), and another in 1158 in Wilts. But M. E. Riding, is Domesday Book Middelburne, Midelborne, ' middle brook.' Compare Melton. See-bourne.
Meldreth (Royston, Herts), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Meldrethe, Domesday Book Melrede. ' Melda's enclosure.' See Melbourne, and Shepreth nearby.
Melksham (Wilts). Domesday Book Melchesha, 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Melchesham, 1223 Melkesham. ' Home of Melc,' or the like. No such name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ham.
Melling (Carnforth). Domesday Book Mellinge. Compare Malling. Probably a patronymic.
Mellis (Eye, Suffolk). Domesday Book Melles, and Mells (Frome)? Domesday Book Mulle. Compare Domesday Book Melas and Mele (Cheshire). Welsch melys,' sweet,' is not likely; probably all are from Old Norse mel-r, 'a sandbank,' also 'bent grass.' Meals or miols are the common name for 'sand-dunes' on the shores of Norfolk, Lanes, etc. See Oxford Dictionary, s.v. meal sb5. Compare Melford (Scottish) and Meols. Duignan thinks Melly (Halesowen), before 1200 Melley, to be a form of mill, Old English mylen, 1 myll ,4-6 melle if so the -ey must be a diminitive. Compare Milwich.
Mellor (Blackburn and Stockport). Not in Domesday Book Welsch maelawr, a place of traffic, compare Maelor, a hundred in Flint., is conceivable. But probably O. O. mel-r, ‘a sandbank, or ‘bent grass,’ The Norse nominative ending r seldom survives in a name.
Melmerby (E. Cumberland and N. Yorks). Domesday Book Yorks Maimerby, Melmerbi 1202 Yorks Fines Melmorbi. ' Dwelling of Melmor’; one is known in the day of King Eadred, circa, 950. See -by.
Melsonby (Darlington). Domesday Book Malsenebi. 'Dwelling of' some unknown man, perhaps Merleswegen or Merleswain. See -by.
Melton (Brough. Yorks, and Woodbridge). Domesday Book Yorks Modeltone 'i.e., middle town.' M. Constable (King's Lynn), Domesday Book Meltuna, was held under the Bishops of Thetford by their hereditary constables, the de Lyons or de Meltons. Little Melton (Norwich) is Domesday Book Meltun parva. M. Mowbray, Domesday Book Medeltun, is called after the family who once held lands here. Roger de Moribray, or Moubray, is on the Roll of Battle Abbey (1066, or later), circa, 1175 Fantosme Munbrai, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Molbrai, before 1200 Wm. Newbury Monbrai; origin doubtful. There is a Mowbray south of Silloth. Some of the Meltons e.g., in Norfolk—may possibly be as in Mellis, ' village on the sand-dune.' Compare Domesday Book Surrey Meldone. Meltonby (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Meltebi,' dwelling of Melte' or' Malte'; 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The n is sign of the genitive Compare Meltham (Huddersfield).
Melverley. See Milverton.
Melynllyn (Llanrwst). Welsch 'yellow lake'; Welsch felyn, 'yellow,’ unaspirated. Compare Dunfermline (Sc).
Menai Straits (Bangor). There is a Menei in Taliessin, but the name here seems to date only from the construction of the great bridge. It is supposed to be Welsch main gwy, ' narrow water ' or ' strait.'
Mendham (Harleston). Domesday Book Mendaham. Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Mendham (Lanes) This must be ' home of Menda,' an unrecorded name. See -ham.
Mendip Hills (Somerset), before 1100 charter in Wm. Malmesbury Mons Munidop, 1284 Close R. Munedep, 1290 charter Menedipp. Probably not from Welsch mynydd; Cornish menit, menyth, ' a hill.' ' Munidop probably means, ' enclosed land in a privileged district' see Minety and -hope. Menith Wood, Lindridge (Worcester), is 1718 Meneth, but before 1300 Menhey wood, so that the modern form must be corrupt.
Menheniot (Liskeard). 1536 Menhynyott. Corn. maen hen Neot, ' old rock of Neot,' eldest brother of King Alfred. Compare St. Neots.
Menston (Leeds). Domesday Book Mersintone. 'Town of Moersa'; genitive -san. Compare Marsham. The liquid r has disappeared!
Mentmore (Leighton Buzzard). Domesday Book Mentemore. It looks Keltic. = Welsch mynydd mawr, Cornish menit meur or mur, 'big hill.' Compare Mendip and Penmaenmawr. There is no name like Mente in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum but an origin from Old English minte, 3-7 mente, 'mint,' any plant of the aromatic genus Mentha, is quite possible, and so ' mint moor.' Duignan derives Monmore (Wolverhampton) from Welsch mawn mawr, ' great bog,' but it is 1327 Monnemere, which must mean ' lake of Monne, Monna,' or ' Monn,' all fairly common names in Domesday Book.
Meole Brace (Shrewsbury), Meols (Wirral), and Meols Cop (Southport). Domesday Book Salop Melicope, Melela. Probably not from Welsch moel, ' a conical hill,' with Eng. plural s, but from Old Norse mel-r, ' a sand dune,' a 'meal.' See Mellis. As Mielle it is common in Channel Islands Brace is a mining term for 'the mouth of a shaft,' and Cop is Old English cop, copp,' top, summit.'
Meon R. (S. Hants), and Meonstoke (Bp's. Waltham). 932 charter To Meone. Thought to contain the same root as Bede's province of the Meanuari, Old English vers. Meanwara, ' dwellers in Mean.’ We can say no more. See Stoke. There is also Meon (Gloucester), 1164 Muna, 1221 Meen, which must be the same.
Meopham (Gravesend). 940 charter Meapeham, Meapham; Domesday Book Mepeham. ' Home of Meapa.'
Mepal (Ely). 1302-1428 Mephale. 'Nook or corner of Meapa.' Compare above and -hall.
Mere (Wilts and Knutsford). Wilts. M. Domesday Book Mere, Mera; 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Mera. Old English moere, zemoere, ' a boundary, a landmark,' or else mere,' lake; ' these have often been drained of recent years.
Meriden (Coventry). 1398 Muridene, 1440 Meryden, circa, 1550 Alspathe, alias Myredene. Probably not ' merry vale," but from miry, 4-6 myry, 6-7 myrie, 6 myerry, 7 merie, from mire; Old Norse myrr, 4-6 myr, 4 mure, muyre, 'boggy, swampy ground.' Compare Mirfield and the name Merrylees. See -den. Merry Brook, Cropthorne (Worcester), may have a similar origin.
Merioneth. Named after Merion, grandson of Cunedda Wledig; the -eth or -ydd is an enclitic particle, with no very clear meaning.
Merriott (Crewkerne). Domesday Book Merret. [? compare 859 charter Meritie stret to Senfeling forde.] Perhaps ' island in the lake ' or mere, from Ait (q.v. in Oxford Dictionary), 2-8 eyt, ' island.'
Mersea (Essex). 895 Old English Chronicum Meresig; Old English = ' isle in the mere or 'lake'; Domesday Book Meresai. Compare Domesday Book Mersse (Salop), Merse (Bucks), and Merestone, now Merston (Isle of Wight); also Merstowa (Somerset), 1231 Patent R. See- ea.
Mersey R. before 1100 Maerse. Doubtful. Probably 'river of the boundary,' from Old English (ge)moere, ' boundary, march,' and ea, e, 1-3 oe, 'river.' The Mers- may be from 'marsh,' Old English mersc, merisc. Compare Domesday Book Cheshire Mersham, also name of avillage near Ashford, and 1179-80 Pipje Mershon (Yorks). Compare, too, the Mearse (Bromsgrove)? ' the boundary,' of which name there are no old forms; and see Mersea and Merstham.
Merstham (Red Hill and Ashford). Red. M. Domesday Book Merstan. Probably ' stone at the boundary '; Old English moere (gemoere) stan; -an easily becomes -ham (q.v.).
Merthyr Tydvil or Tydfil. Welsch for' martyr Tydvil.' She was daughter of Brychan, Keltic chief in S. Welsch in 5th century. With her father and brother, she was murdered here, and a church was erected in her memory. Compare Merthyr Cynog (Brecon). C, son of Brychan, was murdered by the Saxon pagans. The same root is probably found corrupted to Marthrey (Pembroke), circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Marthru, Mathru; circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Martru.
Merton (Surrey and Dolton, Devon). Surrey. M. Old English Chronicum 755 Merantun, is ' town of the mare ‘; Old English mere, meran; Domesday Book Meretoni. Other Mertons e.g., Domesday Book Devon Mertone, will be= Marton.
Messingham (Brigg). Sic before 1100 charter A patronymic, as shown by Messing (Kelvedon). There is one monk Messa, genitive-san, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Great Massingham (Kings Lynn), 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Mesington (Yorks), and Codex Diplomaticus 721 Maessan wyrth. Also compare Missenden.
Mesty Croft (Wednesbury). Probably 'field, little farm of Meste.' Compare Domesday Book Derby Mestesford.
Methley (Leeds). Domesday Book Medelai. As Domesday Book for Middleton is Medeltone, this is probably ' middle meadow,' the Meth. being influenced by Old Norse mith-r, ' mid.' Compare Middop (mid hope,' q.v.). Craven; Domesday Book Mithope; and Domesday BookYorks' Mith Hundret’ i.e., Middle Hundred.' See -ley.
Mexborough (Rotherham). Domesday Book Mechesburg. Probably1202 Yorks Fines Merkisburg, Morkisburg; 1206 Merkesburgh. ' Burgh, fort of,' it is not certain what; perhaps some name in Mearc- or Marc-, if the latter identification be right. But if Domesday Book is right, then from some man Mecca, Mecco, or Mecga, all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -boro'.
Micheldever (Winchester). Domesday Book Miceldevre. Looks like Old English micel, 'great'; Scottish muckle; and Keltic dever, 'water, river.' Compare Dover. There is no river nearer than the Itchen. 1322 ' le Mikeldor de Yowberg ' (Wastwater), and 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Hants Micheldene. There is another Micheldean, old Mucheldene (Forest of Dean)
Michelney or Muchelney (Somerset). Domesday Book Michelnin, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Micelnei, circa, 1114 Old English Chronicum Myclanize, ‘ island,' Old English great island. Old English iz. The n is the accus. inflexion.
Mickleby (Yorks). Domesday Book Michelbi. Mickleham (Dorking). Domesday Book Michelham. Micklethwaite (W. Riding). Domesday Book Muceltuoit, Mucreltuit, 1202 Fines Miclethwaite, Mikelthwaite, Mickleton (Campden, Gloucester). 1005 charter Micclantun, Domesday Book Muceltune; whilst M. (Yorks) is Domesday Book Micleton. All from Old English micel, micle, mycel, 'great'; in Scottish muckle. See -by, -ham, -thwaite, and -ton. Middlesborough. Si l58(5. Probably' Maildufs town.' Compare Malmesbury; and see-borough. But, of course, Middleham (Yorks), Domesday Book Middelha', is ' middle house,' and Middlewich (Cheshire) the same, though, by a scribe's freak, Domesday Book spells it Mildestvie.
Middlesex. 1011 Old English Chronicum Middelseaxe, 1087 the same Middelsex. ' Land of the Middle Saxons.' Compare Essex, Sussex, Wessex.
Middleton (21 in Postal Guide). Tamworth M. Domesday Book Mideltone, King's Lynn M. Domesday Book Middeltona, etc. Compare Milton. We find Mideltun, Middeltun. 19 times in Yorks Domesday Book, whilst Middleton (Morley) is Domesday Book Mildentone,' town of Milda.' Compare Melbourne.
Midgham (Berks). Codex Diplomaticus iii. 193, 196 Mieghsema gemaera; Domesday Book Migeham, 1316 Migham. Compare 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe Migehal close by. ' Home of the midges '; Old English mycg, micg. See -ham.
Midgley (Luddenfoot, Yorks). Domesday Book Micleie. Old English micel, 'great ledge' and leah' meadow.'Migley (Co. Durham) 1183 Migleia, is probably the same name. Compare Mitcham. The dg is palatalized c, compare Badgeworthy.
Mildenhall (Suffolk and Marlborough'). Suffolk M. Domesday Book Mildentune and Mitdenehalla (t for l), 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Mildehala. Marlborough M. Domesday Book Mildenhalle. ' Corner of Milda,’ one such woman in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -hall.
Miles Platting (Manchester). Miles is presumably a man's name. Platting is ' a small footbridge.' See Oxford Dictionary (s.v.).
Milford Haven, circa, 1190 Girald. Milverdicus portus (harbour), circa, 1425 Melyford, circa, 1450 Mylford, 1593 Millford Havon. Milford is probably= Melford (Scottish), 'sandy bay' or 'fjord,' Norse mel-r, 'a sand-dune ' or ' sandbank and fjord. Compare Waterford. The -icus, circa, 1190, is adjectival. There was a Rhyd y felin, or 'ford of the mill,' only a mile away, but this cannot be the origin of the present name. North Milford (Tadcaster) is Domesday Book Mileford, ' ford at the mill '; Old English mylen and myll.
Millbank (London). Sic before1560.
Millington (Yorks). Domesday Book Mileton, 1206 Fines Milington. ' Town of Mile ' or ' Milo '; 4 of the latter in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Millom (S. Cumberland). Old forms needed. Perhaps mill-holm, a ' holm,’ Old English and Dan. holm, Old Norse holm-r, is a small island in a river, and also a flat meadow near a river or the sea, easily flooded.
Milton (20 in Postal Guide). Some of these are probably 'mill-town,' but M. Kent or Essex is 893 Old Eenglish Chronicum Middeltun, circa, 1120 Henr. Hunt. Middletune. Milton Abbey (Dorset) is also old Middletune, so is Milton (Cambridgeshire), while Milton (Abingdon) is Domesday Book Middeltune, 1291 Middelton, circa, 1540 Milton. Milton (Cumberland) is 1230 Muleton, which is Old English mylen, 3-4 mnlle, 'a mill.' Milburn (Pontefract) is 1201 Milneburn, or 'mill-brook.' Compare Middleton.
Milverton (Warwick and Somerset). Warwick M. Domesday Book Malvertone, before 1200 Melvertone, Mulvertone. Somerset M. circa, 1043 charter Milferton, Domesday Book Milvertone. ' Village, town of Milfer.' Compare Melverley (Salop).
Milwich (Stone). Domesday Book Melewiche, before 1200 Mulewich. 'Village, dwelling with the mill.' See Milton and -wich.
Mimms (Herts). Domesday Book Minimise, 1278 Mymmys. This is simply ' abode of the Mimmas.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Minna. This is an abnormal name.
Mustard (St. German's). Cornish Min arth,' edge of the height.' Compare Miniard (Worcester), where the central i will be the y of the Welsch article. Not the same as Minard (Sc).
Minchinhampton (Stroud). Domesday Book Hautone, before 1300 Munnechenhampton, Monnekenhampton, Mynchynhampton, Munchunhampton i.e., Hampton— 'hometown of the monks'; Old English monec, munec, here genitive plural. Compare Grant before 675, Menechene Rude or Monk's Cross, on borders of Hants and Surrey.
Mindrum or Mundrim (N. Northumberland). Old Minethrum, 1324 Mundrum. Seems a curious hybrid and tautology. Welsch mynydd; Cornish menit, ' hill and Gaelic druim, ' hill-ridge.' Drum'; is very common in Scottish placenames, cognate with Latin dorsum, ' back.' Compare next.
Mindton or Minton (Salop). Domesday Book Munetune. Probably not hybrid, 'town beside the hill' (the Longmynds); Welsch mynydd; Cornish menit, ' a hill.' But, like Minety (Wilts), not in Domesday Book and not - in a Keltic region, it will probably go with Meend, a name common in Forest of Dean, 1263 Mihinde, 1281 La Munede, 1303 Miinde, now derived by Rev. A. L. Mayhew from an Old English or rather Anglo- Norman form of low Latin munita, for immunitas, ' privileged district, one free from seignorial rights.' Compare Mint (West Midlands), Domesday Book Munet, and Munet.
Minshull Vernon (Cheshire). Domesday Book Manessele, Manesshale. 'Nook, corner of Manne ' or ' Man(n)a,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum This is one of the very rare cases where -hull is really -hall (q.v.).
Minskip (York). Domesday Book Minescip. Must be rendered like Inskip.
Minsterley (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Menistrelie. ' Church meadow.' Compare Minsterworth (Gloucester), 1221 Munstreworthe, and Domesday Book Notts Ministretone, now and since 1316 Misterton. See -ley, -minster, and -worth.
Minworth (Birmingham). Domesday Book Meneworde, before 1200 Muneworth, before 1400 Myneworth. No name Mene, Mine known; and Old English mene, myne is ' a necklace, an ornament ' Manne; see Minshull. See -worth.; but there is a name Manne; see Minshull. See worth.
Mirfield (Yorks). Domesday Book Mirefeld, Mirefelt; 1202 Mirfeld? 1297 Robert of Gloucester 520. ' The churche founded in a miry place, called muryfelde'; from Icelandic myrr, myri,' swamp, fen, a(quag) mire.'
Missenden, Great and Little (Bucks). Domesday Book Missedene and Missevorde. Perhaps ' Vale of Missa ' or ' Messa '; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Messingham; and see -den. However, they are on a little R. Mise, which, if not a back formation, is probably= Mees. There is also a Misson (Bawtry), Domesday Book Notts Misne, 1278 Misin, which is probably an old locative 'at Missa's' (place). Misserden (Gloucester), old Musardere, Mursader, seems to be from a foreign family of Musard.
Mitcham (Surrey). Domesday Book Michleham, later Miecham, Micham. Old English micelham,' large house.' Compare Mickleham, Midgley, and Mitcheldean (Gloucester). See-dean.
Mitchell (New Quay). Old Modishole. A curious corruption: certainly nothing to do with St. Michael. Probably 'Hole of Modred,' a Cornish name, also spelt Medraut, and name of King Arthur's treacherous nephew. But Mitchel (Wolverhampton) is 1332 Mucheale, 'great hall ' or 'big nook.' See -hall. Much in Mittel English was used for' great, large,' as in Much Wenlock.
Mite R. Probably =Mythe.
Mitford (Morpeth). Probably ' ford at the water's meet.' See next; and compare Mutford and 940 charter Mypford (Wilts).
Mitton (Blackburn, Warwick, Penkridge, Stourport, Tewkesbury). Stourport M. 841 charter Mythun, Domesday Book Methune, 1275 Mutton. Tewkesbury M. 964 charter Myttune, 965 the same Muctone (c common error for t), 1033 Mytune. Warwick M. Domesday Book Mutone, before 1300 Mutton. Penkridge M. Domesday Book Muitone, Moitone; also Domesday Book Salop Mutone. Old English (ge)mythan or (ge)mythe, ' junction of streams or roads, waters' meet.' Penkridge M. is at the junction of Avon and Leam. The root is the same as (river's) mouth. Compare Mitford, Mythe, and Myton; also see -ton.
Mixen (Leek), 1219 Mixne, and Mixenden (Halifax), not in Domesday Book Old English mixen, mixne, ' a dunghill, a midden.' Compare Mixerne (Winchcombe), 1300 Blakemixerne (Old English em, ' house '). See -den.
Mobberley (Knutsford). Domesday Book Motburlege. 'Meadow of Modbeorht '; 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ley.
Mochdre (Conway). Welsch (and Cornish) moch, plural of mochyn,' a sow'; dre must be for Welsch tre, ' house, shed,'
Modbury (Ivybridge). Compare Domesday Book Devon Modlei. ' Burgh of Mod,' or some o fthe many names in Mod-. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicumhas one Moding, the patronymic.
Moddershall (Stone). Domesday Book Modredeshale. 'Nook of Modred,' a well-known name. See-hall.
Moelfre (Menai and Oswestry). Welsch= 'bald hill'; moil, 'bald,' like a bald head, hence moel, ' a conical hill.' Fre is for bre, ' a hill, a brae.'
Mold (Flint). Mold is contracted from mo -alt; Normandy France Mont haut or Monthault. The Norman Roger de Montalto is found here in 1244. Latin mons altus means ' high hill.' Compare Melton Mowbray, and Montgomery. The name probably is a translation of the Welsch name Gwyddgrug, ' conspicuous hill.' Also compare Hainault.
Mole R. (S. tributary of Thames). It is a river that burrow like a mole; Mittel English mulle, molle; Mittel Du. mol. Not found in Eng. till 1398. But Mole Cop, hill, N. Stafford, is probably tautology; Welsch moel, 'a bare, rounded hill'; and Old English cop, 'a summit.’ See Cassop. It may be Domesday Book Melicope (Salop).
Molesworth (Hunts). Domesday Book Molesworde. 'Farm of Moll'; four in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Essex Molesham, the same Bucks Moleshov, the same Yorks Molescroft; and see -worth.
Molland Botreaux (S. Molton). Exon. Domesday Book Mollanda. Probably ' Land of Moll or' Mole.' See above. The lords of Bottreaux lived near Tintagel. Moleston or Molleston (Narberth), 1283 Moylhistonne, may be from a man of similar name. Certainly, it can have nothing to do with moles!
Mollington (Banbury and Cheshire). Ban. M. before 1000 charter Mollintun; Ches. M. Domesday Book Molintone, Mulintone; also Codex Diplomaticus 759 Mulantun. ' Town of Moll, Mollo, Mul,' or ' Mula '; several persons of these names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare, too, Molesworth and 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Molebi (Yorks). But Moilgrove (Pembroke) is 'for Mallt's i.e., Matilda's grove.'
Molton, South (Devon). Domesday Book Sudmoltone. 'Town of Moll.' Seeabove. Exon. Domesday Book also gives' Molacota.' Compare Moulton.
Monks Eleigh (Bildeston, Suffolk). 958 charter Illeyge, 972 the same Illan lege, 990 i6. Illege. 'Mead of Ylla'; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Illey; and see -leigh.
Monksilver (Taunton). Domesday Book Selvra, Selva. Curious name, probably from Latin silva, ' a wood.' Monk's Kirby (Lutterworth) is Domesday Book Chirchberye or ' Churchbury,' but, through Danish influence, changed by 1198 into Kirkebi. See -by. The monks of Angiers (Normandy) had property here.
Monkton (Jarrow). before 1130 Sim. Dur. Munecatun. ' Town of the monks ' (of Jarrow); Old English monec, munec, ' a monk.' Compare Bishop Monkton and Monkwick (E. Riding), Domesday Book Moncwic. Oxford Dictionary does not give the contracted form monk or munc until the 13th century. Domesday Bookhas the full form in Monechetune or Moor Monkton (Ainsty), and Monuchetone i.e., Monkton (Barkston Ash), whilst another, spelt as last, is Nun Monkton (York).
Monmore. See Mentmore.
Monmouth. Domesday Book (Hereford) Monemuta. 1298 Monemuthe. 'At the mouth of the R. Monnow Welsch Mynwy? myn gwy, ' kid '; river.' Compare also Welsch mawn, ' a bog.' The shire only dates from 1536; before that it was part of the Welsch region of Gwent.
Montacute (S. of Somerset). 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Monte Acuto. Built by and called after Drogo of Montacute (' sharp hill ') in Normandy, temp. Wm. the Conqueror.
Montgomery. Domesday Book Castellum de Montgomeri, also Muntgumeri circa, 1130 Eadmer de Monte Gummeri, circa, 1145 Orderic Mons Gomerici, Rogerius de Monte Gomerici. ' Hill ' (Latin mons, -tmontis; r. mont) ' of Gomeric,' a Norman; this name is unique as an English or Wales county name. In Welschit is Trefaldwyn; ' house of Baldwin, ‘its Norman founder. His castle was taken byRoger Montgomery before 1086, and thereafter called by his name.
Monton (Eccles, Lanes). 1478 Mawnton. Probably Old English Mawan -tun, ' town of Mawa '; 2 of that name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Moorsholm, Great and Little (Boosbeck, Yorks). Domesday Book Morehusun, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Morhuse. The Domesday Book form is an Old English locative' at the moor houses.' The -holm (q.v.), 'meadow,’ must be late. We have the simple Moor (Worcester), Domesday Book More.
Morchard and Norchard (Forest of Dean). No old forms. Baddeley thinks the m and n relics of the Old English article, ' at the orchard'; Old English oet thoem ortgearde. Domesday Book has an Orcartone (Devon), and Exon. Domesday Book an Orcerdleia. But Morchard Bp. (Crediton) seems Domesday Book and Exon. D. Morcet(h), Morchet, which looks like Keltic for ' big wood'; Cornish meur, mer; Welsch mawr, ' big'; and Welsch coed, plural coydd; Old Welsch cet, chet,' a wood.'
Morden (Cambridgeshire Wimbledon, and Wareham). Warenham M. Codex Diplomaticus 722 Mordun; Old English for 'moor hill.' Cambridgeshire M. circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Mordune, 1166 Mordone, 1236 Mordene, where -dene is Old English denu, ' valley.' Compare Moorsholm, and Moreby (Yorks), Domesday Book Morebi.
Morecambe. circa, 150 Ptolemy M…., which would be Keltic for ' crooked sea ' or ' bay.' Compare Cambo (Scottish) and next. But no other early forms seem known, so this is probably an antiquary's name.
Mobeton (10 in Postal Guide). Wallingford M. 962 charter Mordun, Old English for 'moor hill'; but Domesday Book Mortune, circa, 1290 Morton. Domesday Book Surrey has Moriton, Warwick and Gloucester Mortone, while Domesday Book Yorks has Mortun 17 times. See -don and -ton.
Morfa Bychan, Nevin, and Waen (all N. Wales), and Morfe (Bridgnorth). Domesday Book Stafford Morve. Welsch morfa,'a marsh.' Welsch bych means ' a wretched being,' and gwaen, ' a plain, a meadow.' Compare Nevern.
Morganstown (Cardiff). Morgan is Pictish Morcumi; Old Bretons mar cant, ' sea bright.' Compare Tillymorgan. The man referred to here is Morgan Thomas, on whose land the village was built.
Morley (5 in Postal Guide). Leeds M. Domesday Book Moreleia, Morelege, Morleia, ' Moorland meadow.' Compare Morden. See -ley.
Morningthorpe (Norfolk). Domesday Book Maringathorpe. Maringa must be a patronymic. See -ing and -thorpe.
Morpeth. Contin. Sim. Dur. amn. 1138, Morth path; so not, as often said, ' moor path,’ Old English poed, but ' murder-road,' from Old English mord, 4-5 morth, murth,' murder.’
Mor Ros (The Lizard). Cornish =' sea heath, or moor.'
Mort Hoe (N. Devon). Domesday Book Mortehov, circa, 1190 Letter in Canterbury Regist. Moreth'. Probably as above, ' murder hill.' Compare Old Frisian morth, mord, ' murder.' Similar must be Mortham (Yorks), sic in Domesday Book and Mortlake. See Hoe.
Mortimer (Reading). 1258 Mortemer. France Ralph de Mortuo mari (of the Dead Sea '), or Morte mer (a castle and abbey near Rouen), who came over with Wm. the Conqueror. He is mentioned in Domesday Book The' Dead Sea' origin is a myth.
Mortlake (London). Domesday Book Mortelega, Mortelage, circa, 1130 Eadmer Murtelac. ' Murder lake.' See Morpeth. Not probably from Old France lac, though lace, ' pond, pool,' is found in Old English, but from Old English lagu, genitive lage, 3 laze, 4-5 laye, ' a lake, a pool.' Compare Lackford.
Morton. See Moreton.
Morville Fell (hill, Kirkby Stephen). Looks like a reduplication, ' moor (Old English mor), ' fell.' See -fell. '
Morwinstow (Bude). 1536 Morwynstow. 'Place,' Old English stow, ' of Morwine '; one such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Padstow.
Moseley (Birmingham and Worcester). Worcester M. 816 charter Moseleage, 851 the same Mosleage. Birmingham M. Domesday Book Museleia. Old English mose or meos leah, ' moss ' or ' mossy lea.' Compare Domesday Book Bucks Moslei, Muselai, and Mossley Hill (Liverpool).
Mostyn (Flint). Probably 1301 charter Moston. Can it be Welsch mws twyn, ' foul, stinking hillock '? T. Morgan suggests, corruption of Welsch maes ddin,' field of the fortress.'
Mottingham (Eltham, Kent). Old English charter Modingahema and Modingehamme. ' Enclosure of Moding,' one such inSearle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum or' of the sons of Mod' or' Mot.' See -ing and -ham,' enclosure.'
Mottisfont (Romsey). Domesday Book Mortesfunde. 'Spring or fountain.' Latin fons, fontis, ' of Morta '; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Bedfont.
Moulin Huet (Guernsey). English pronunciation moolin whet. It is France for' mill of the little grey owl 'or as likely. Huet is diminitive of Hugh, hence our name Hewett.
Moulsford (Wallingford). Charter Mullesford. 'Ford of Mul or Mul ‘; 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Moulton (8 in Postal Guide). Middleton Tyas M. Domesday Book Moltun. Northampton M. Domesday Book Moltone. Spalding M. 1272 Muleton. ' Village of Mula' or' Mola.' See above.
Mountain (Bradford and Pembroke). Pembroke M. is 1603 Muncton, ' monk town.' Domesday Book Yorks has many ' Monuchetones,' but J. H. Turner identifies all with various Monktons.
Mousehole (Penzance), circa, 1600 Carew Mowgehole. If the name has ever been different from what it now is, it is hard to say what it can be corruption of. There is nothing like mowge in Oxford Dictionary, nor any spelling of mouse with g.
Mowl Cop (Cheshire). Tautological hybrid. Welsch moel, Gaelic maol, ' a rounded or conical hill ‘; and Old English co]), copp, ' head, summit, hill.'
Mowsley (Rugby). Probably' Mula’s mead.' Compare Mowthorp (Yorks), Domesday Book Muletorp; see -thorpe; and Moulton.
Moxhull (Coleshill) and Moxley (Wednesbury). before 1300 Mukeshull, before 1400 Mockeslowe, Mox(e)lowe. 'Hill' and 'burial mound of More.' Hull is regular in Midland names for ' hill ‘; and see -low and -ley. But Moxby (Yorks) is Domesday Book Molzbi, Molscebi, 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Molesbi, 1183 Molseby, ' dwelling of ' some unrecorded ' Molsc'
Moye (Channel Isles). Common name for 'a dangerous point.' From moie is literair ' a mass of stones.'
Much Wenlock (Salop)). Domesday Book Wenloch, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Wanelocative ' Much ' is early Mittel English muche, moche, meche, miclie, short form of muchel or michel, Scottish mickle, muckle, and is frequent in early use for ' great, large.' Compare Much Dewchurch, Much Hoole (Preston), Much Marcle (Gloucester), ' boundary (Old English mearc) hill,' etc. Much Wenlock in 17th century. is also More Wenlock. ' Waneloc ' is Old English ween (short for woezen) loca, ' waggon, wain enclosure.' Compare Matlock.
Mucklestone (Market. Drayton). Domesday Book Moclestone, 1253 Muklestone. Probably 'big stone'; Old English micel, mycel, 'great, large'; possibly from a man Mucel. Compare Micheldever, etc. Muckley Corner (Lichfield)isa. 1600 Mucklow, which may mean' great mound.' See -low; compare Mucklow Hill (Halesowen), 1424 Mokelowe, Moghlowe.
Mumford (S.E. Bucks). Not in Domesday Book The personal name Mumford is corruption of the Normandy Montfort, but this may not be the same. Compare Mundford.
Muncaster (Ravenglass). Old Meolcaster, 1290 Mulcaster. Good illustration how almost any of the liquids, like l and n, may interchange. The first syllable might be Welsch moel, ' a conical hill,' but it is probably from Old Norse mel-r, 'a sand dune,' a 'meal.' See Mellis, and -caster,' fort ‘, also compare next.
Mundesley (Norfolk). Domesday Book Muleslai, circa, 1150 Mulesle, 1444 Moneslee. An exact parallel to the above; and d readily suffixes itself. The originally name seems to have been ' Mul's meadow.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives us 3Ion, Monn, Mouna, Mul, Mula, Mund, and Munda, any of which may have had influence here. There is a Moundesley Hall (King's Norton); no old forms; but a Mundesdene is found in 972charter nearby. Compare, too Domesday Book Kent Mundingehiam. See-ley.
Mundford (Norfolk). Domesday Book Mundeford. Probably ' protected ford,’ from Old English mund, ' protection.' But Mumfords and Mundesley. Mundham (Norfolk). Charter Mundan ham, 'home of Munda.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1282 Mundes den, and above.
Munet (Clun, Salop). Domesday Book Munete. Perhaps Cornish menit, Welsch mynydd, 'hill.' Compare Mynyd Eidden, Old Welsch for Edinburgh; but more probably it is from Munita, as in Mindton. Mynytho (Carnvnsh.) is corruption of Welsch mynyddoed, ' mountains.'
Muston (Filey and Nottingham). Filey M. Domesday Book Mustone, 4 times. No. M. not in Domesday Book Probably ' town of Mus,' 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But N. and S. Muskham (Newark), Domesday Book Musclia, 1314 Suthe Muskham, must be from a man Musca, or the like. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Mocca; but compare Muschenheim, old Muscanheim, Hesse.
Muswell Hill (N. London). Old Mustwell, Old English must, L mustum, ' new wine.' There is one Mus in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Musters (Co. Durham) is 1130 de Monasteriis i.e., ' monasteries.'
Mutford (Beccles). Domesday Book Mitteforda, circa, 1460 Motford. Mitford, ' ford at the waters' meet '; Old English (ge)mythe. Compare Mitton.
Myddle (Shrewsbury). Not in Domesday Book Perhaps Welsch midd dol, 'enclosed place in the meadow.' Welsch also has midlan, ' enclosed place, lists,' and middi,' a pit in a river.'
Mythe, The (Tewkesbury). Not in Domesday Book Probably Old English (ge)mypa, ' place where 2 rivers meet,' here the Avon and Severn. McClure prefers to derive from Old English muth, dativ mythe, cognate with Old Norse munn-r, Danish inund, ' mouth, river-mouth.' The R. Mite (Eskdale, Cumberland) is probably the same word. Compare Mitford and Mitton, Myton-on-Swale is Domesday Book Mitune, Old English mythan (see Mitton); and Myton (Hull), Domesday Book Mitune, will probably be the same, though some derive from Old Norse my, ' a midge,' so ' tiny town.'

Naburn (York). Domesday Book Naborne, 4 times. The Na- is doubtful; it seems to be Old Norse nu, ' nigh,' the nigh or near brook'; only nd is found only in comb., as nd-bui, ' neighbours,' etc. Kneeton (Yorks) is Domesday Book Naton, which also seems ' nigh town,' Old Norse nd, or rather, Old English nedh, neh, 3-4 nei, 4 neie, ' nigh, near.' See -burn.

Nacton (Ipswich). Domesday Book Nachetuna, 1455 Nakton. Doubtful. No very likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, so perhaps 'town at the neck'; Old English hnecca, in 4 nak, Old Norse hnakki. Danish nakke, mid. Du. nac, ' neck.' ' Neck of land ' is not found till 1555. See Necton for possibility of being from an unrecorded man Nece.

Nafferton (Driffield). Domesday Book Naffarton. Nadfar must represent some unrecorded man' s name. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has a Nothfrith and a Nothbeorht, which are conceivable as origins.

Nailbourne (Canterbury). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum ii. 172 Naeglesbvirna, circa, 1480 Warkworth Naylborne. ' Nail's brook, the sb. dialect, Old English noegel, here being used as a personal name, as in Naelesbroc and Naeglescumb, in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum. Compare Nailslea (Bristol), 740 charter Neglesleah, Nailstone (Nuneaton), and Nailsworth (Stroud). See-ea and -worth; also Eylebourn in Oxford Dictionary, where a 'Nailbourne' is interpreted in several quotations as a sort of intermittent spring or stream.

Nantwich. Hybrid. 'Dwelling by the stream'; Old English wic, Latin vicus, ' a village,’ and Welsch nant, ' stream, valley.' In Welschit is Yr heledd Wen., ' the clear or white place for making salt.' Compare Nene and Droitwich. In Welsch names nant often changes to llan, ' church,' as in Nanhyfer (Nevern), now Llanhyfer, Nant Carfan, now Llancarvan, Nantyan (Cornwl.), now Lantyan, etc.

Nantyffin (Crickhowell). Welsch=' brook of the boundary'; Latin finis. See above. It is close to the boundary of Welsch.

Nantymwyn (Carmarthen). Welsch=' brook of the mine.' Lead- mines abound here.

Nantysaeson (Montgomy.). Welsch=' brook of the Saxon,' or Englishman. Gaelic Sassanach.

Napton (Rugby). Domesday Book Neptone. ' Town on the crest of the hill' Old English cnoep, the Bible knop, 'a knob, protuberance, button'; Icel. knapp-r, Danish knap, knop.

Nar R. and Narborough (Swaffham). Domesday Book Nereburh, circa, 1150 Nereburg. ' Burgh, fort on the narrow river '; Fris. nar, Old English neara, neare ,3-4 nare, variant of nearu, 'narrow.' There is alsoa Narborough (Leicester) on R. Soar, not in Domesday Book

Narberth (Pembroke). 1248-49 Nerberd, but Mabinog. Arberth i.e., ' slope abounding in bushes,' Welsch perthi. The n comes from the prep, yn, ' in,' which was commonly used before the name. Compare Nangle and Nolton (' old town ') in the same shire.

Naseby (Rugby). Domesday Book Navesberie, 'Burh' or 'burgh,' now changed to' dwelling, of Hnoef, 'a known Dan. name, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by.

Nash (Stony Stratford, Gloucester) and Nash Mills (Hemel Hempstd.). All probably for Mittel English atten ashe,'at the ash-tree.' Compare Prinknash, (Painswick), 1121 Prinkenesche. But Nash (Newport, Monmouthshire), and probably once in Gloucester too=Nass on Severn, Old English and Danish noes, Old Norse nes, ' promontory, headland.'

Nawton (Helmsley). Domesday Book Naghelton, Nageltone, Nagletune,1202 Nawelton. Probably not ' Town in the centre ' or ' at the central point of the district,’ Old English nafela, 3-4 nauele, 5 nawelle, ' the navel ‘; used of the central point of a district from Wyclif's time. Probably from a man Nagel; see Nailbourne.

Naze, The (N. Sussex). 14 . . . Sailing Directions The Naisse, the Nasse. It may also be Eadolfes naesse in 1049 Old English Chronicum, or that may be Dungeness, called Naesse a few years later. The word is almost certainly contained in Domesday Book Essex Nessetocham, Nasestoca, or Ness Stoke. Oxford Dictionary, derives from Old English noes, nes, Old Norse nes, Swedish nas, ' promontory, headland.’ related to Old English nasu, Mittel English nase,' nose.' But it is probably from nasu, found 1390 nase, circa, 1407 nasse. Old English noes gives ' ness,’ which is so common in this quarter—Orford Ness, Eastness, Foulness, etc. Compare Totness, 1297 Tottenays, Nesscliffe, and Gronez, Rouge Nez, etc., Channel Islands.

Neasham (Darlington). 1203 Nesham; compare Domesday Book Salop Nessham. Probably ' home on the ness ' or ' naze.' Old English noes, Old Norse nes, ' a promontory,' cognate with nose. Compare above.

Neath. Perhaps circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary Nido. In Welsch Nedd--i.e. ' nest Latin nidus. Compare Nedd (Scottish) and Needwood. The root idea seems to be ' place of rest, abode.'

Nechells (Birmingham and Wolverhampton). In both cases before1300 cle Echeles, les Echelis, circa, 1500 Nechels, later ' Echells otherwise Nechells.' This seems Old France echelles, 'ladders, stairs,' implying a two-storied house,? with outside stair. The n is from the old article atten, 'at the,' as Nash is atten Ash, etc. There are several other Etchells in Chesh. and elsewhere in Midlands.

Necton (Swaffham). Domesday Book Neketuna, 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Necheton, 1167-68 the same Neketona, 1298 Neketon, 1472 Neyghton. Seems to be 'town at the neck or pass'; Old English hnecca, 'neck.' Compare Nacton. But though there is no likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, it is probably from some man. Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Neckesford and Nekesfeld (Yorks).

Needles, The (Isleof Wight), circa, 1400 Anc. Pet. Les nedeles del Isle de Wight. Old English noedl, nedl, ' a needle.' This is the earliest known instance of the word used for ' a sharp rock ‘; as 'a pillar or obelisk' it is found in 1387.

Needwood (Burton-on-T.). before 1200 Nedwode. Probably 'wood of Nedda.' Compare Codex Diplomaticus 624 Neddan leah. Duignan suggests Welsch nedd, nydd, ' a dingle, a resting-place.' Compare Nidd (Ripon), Domesday Book Nit.

Neen Sollars (Cleobury Mortimer) and Neenton (Bridgnorth). Domesday Book Nene. Doubtful; perhaps same as next. It can hardly be from Neavana, or Nafana, d. 1016. See Old English Chronicum

Nen(e) R. circa, 950 Nyn, Nen. Local pronunciation Nean. Also called in early times—e.g'.,'’by Leland, circa, 1542—the Avon or 'river.' It must be a form of Welsch nant, inflected nntydd, nieint, ' a ravine, dingle, or brook.’ There is also nennig,' a smal brook.'

Nesscliffe (Shrewsbury). 'From ness or Naze, 'promontory.' Such may be far inland, as in Great and Little Ness, in same shire. Compare Domesday Book Nessham. In Yorks we have the simple Ness, Domesday Book Nesse, and also Neswick, Domesday Book Nessewic; see -wick. But Neston (Cheshire), Domesday Book Nestone, might perhaps be from Nest, found, e.g., as name of a daughter of Gruffydd, King of Welsch.

Netherton (5 in Postal Guide). Pershore N. 780 charter Neotheretune. Pershore and Dudley N. Domesday Book Neotheretune. Pothbury N. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Nedertun. 'Lower town'; Old English nioperra, nipera, 3 neothere, 5-6 neder,' nether.'

Netley (Southampton). Old English Chronicum 508 says called Natanleaga ('Natan's meadow'), after a British King Natanleod, slain near there in 508; Domesday Book Nataleie. Compare 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe Netha (Hants).

Nettlestead (Maidstone). 939 charter Netles stede, Old English for 'nettles' place.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives no personal name Nettle, yet Nettleham (Lines), Nettlestone, and Nettlesworth (Chester- le-Street), also Nettleworth (Notts), circa, 1300 Nettelwurd. But the plant seems plain enough in Nettlebed (Henley) and ' Netelcumb,' Domesday Book Devon.

Nettlestone (Ryde). Domesday Book Hotelstone, error for Notelstone. 'Stone,' or more probably, 'town of Nothhelm,' a name fairly common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ton.

Nevern R. (N. Pembrokeshire). 1603 Owen.Ysh nyver. In Bain says= Naver (Scottish), from Keltic nav, snav, Gaelic snamh, ' to flow, swim.'

Newark. 1066 charter Newarcha, Domesday Book Newerche, Newerca, 1154-66 charter Niwerca, Newerc. ' New work or fort.' Compare bulwark, outwork, and Warwick.

Newbald (Yorks), Domesday Book Niwebolt; Newbold (Tredington), 991 charter Nioweboldan; and Newbold Abbey (Congleton), Domesday Book Newbold. There are 4 other Newbolds in Warwick Dom Newebold, Niwebold, and several elsewhere. Newbold-on-Stour is 991 charter Niowebolda, before 1200 Newebolt, 1275 Newebold. Newbold (Kinoulton) is Domesday Book Neubold. Old English niwe bold, ' new dwelling.' Compare Norse bol, Old English botl, ' house,' and Newbiggin.

Newbiggin (5 in Postal Guide). 1183 Newbiginga (Darlington). 'New building.' Biggin is N. Eng. and Scottish for 'building'; Old Norse bygging, 'a building.' Compare Newbigging (Scottish). But, as new is Eng., not Norse, all these names must have been given by Angles or Englishmen.

Newbottle (Fence Houses, Durham). 1183 Newbotill. Old English niwe botl,' new dwelling.' Compare Harbottle (Rothbury) and Newbattle (Scottish).

New Brighton (Birkenhead). It was founded circa, 1845.

Newburn (Northumberland). before 1130 Sim. Dur. Nywe bume. 'New brook.’ Compare Newburn (Scottish). See -bourne.

Newbury (Berks), before 1135 Chronicum Abingd. Niuuberia, 1310-11 Newburye. ' New burgh or castle.' See -bury.

Newcastle-on-Tyne. circa, 1097 Flor. Worecester Novum Castellum, circa, 1175 Fantosme Noef-Chastel-sur-Tine, before 1200 Wm. Newbury Castellum Novum superfluvium Tinum. Sim. Dur. tells it was so named when built by Robert, son of Wm. the Conqueror, in 1081. In circa, 410 Notit. Dignit. it is Pons AElii, and in 1073 Munechecaster or ' monks' castle.' Newcastle -under-Lyme is 1166 Novum Oppidum (= New-town), before 1200 Novum Castrum super Limam, which is Latin for the present name. Newcastle (Pembroke) is 1594 Newcastell.

New Cross (London). 1675 Evelyn's Diary' New Crosse.' There used to be a famous inn here called 'the Golden Cross.' In 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Mdsex. we have a Noua firma, or New Farm.

Newent (Gloucester). Sic 1228 in Close R., but Domesday Book Noent. Doubtful. Possibly Welsch newydd gwent, 'new clearing '; as likely Eng. from new, Old English niowe, neowe, and went, M.E. and dial, for ' path,’ from root wend. Compare Nether- and Over-went.

New Forest. circa, 1097 Flor. Worcester. In Nova Foresta, quae lingua Anglorum Ytene nuncupatur. Freeman thought Ytene must be connected with Jutes. 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe ' Censu Noue foreste.' 1297 Robert of Gloucester The nywe forest pat ys in Soupamtessyre. Wm. the Conqueror cleared away several hamlets to make this Forest in 1079.

Newhaven (Sussex). Sic 1563. In the 16th century. this was also the English name of Havre.

New Hey (Rochdale). 'New hedge.' See Hay and compare 1330 'Neweheye' (Staffordshire).

Newington (Gloucester London, and 2 in Kent). Gloucester. N. Domesday Book Neweton, also the same Yorks, Cheshire., Worcester, Newentune. Old English Niwan tun, a dativ ' at the new town.' In Gloucester it also becomes Naunton, Domesday Book Niwetone, later Newenton, Nawenton. Compare Newnham.

Newlyn (Penzance). Sic 1536. St. Newlyna (? Keltic for 'white cloud '), a Kelt of noble birth, went to Brittany, and is there commemorated at Noualen, the same name.

Newmarch (Yorks). 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe de Nouomcato, 1179-80 the same De Novo Mercato; and Newmaeket (Cambridgeshire Louth, Stroud, Flint). Cambridgeshire N. 1219 Novus Mercatus, 1383 Newemarket. The two names are thus the same. Market is old normal France, not found in English till circa, 1120, whilst march here is modern France marche, with, the same meaning. Wealsofinda. 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe de Nouomcato, Hants.

Newnham (7 in Postal Guide). Monk’s Kirby N. Domesday Book Niweham, before1300 Newnham. Cambridge N. charter Niwanham, later Newenham, 1436 Newynham. Tenbury N. 1007 charter Neowauham, 1043 Neowenham. Severn N. Domesday Book Nuneham. This is an Old English dativ, ' at the new home,’ Compare Newington, also 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Niweham (Hereford). N. Padox (Warwksh.) is for 'paddocks, a late addition.

Newport (10 in Pstal Guide). N. Pagnell is Domesday Book Nevport, 1297 Neuport, 1571 N. Pannel. Old English port., Latin porta, literair ' gate,’ comes to mean 'a town, a market-town.' But see Oxford Dictionary s.v. Port sb1 and3 Paguell is from the Norm, family of Pagenel, now Paynell. Ralf Pagenel is found in Domesday Book in Somerset.

New Quay (N. Cornwall) is of 19th century origin.

Newsham. At least 4 places so called. Kirby Wiske (Yorks) N. is Domesday Book Newehusu', Neuhuson, 1201 Newesum. Newe huson is a late Old English locative of the type very common in Yorks,' at the new houses.' Compare Hallam, Howsham, etc. There are also Newsham in Leckonfield and Newsham in Spofforth, both Yorks, and both Domesday Book Neuson(e), an early contraction; whilst Newsham, or Newsome, (N. Lanes) is Domesday Book Newhuse.

Newstead (Notts) is 1189 de Novo Loco, ' new place or ' dwelling.'

Newton (40 in Postal Guide). Cambridgeshire N. charter Neutun. Lanes and Norwich N. Domesday Book Neweton(a), N. Reigney (Penrith) 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Niweton, Domesday Book Yorks Neutun, Neweton, 43 times. ' New town.' Compare Newington. Newton Abbot (S. Devon), Domesday Book Niueton, was given by Ld. Brewer to the abbot of Tor.

Nocton (Lincoln). 1233 Noketon. Doubtful, but it must be from some man named Nok or the like, though Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has none such. Oxford Dictionary has more than one nock sb., but none are likely here; nor does there seem anything in Old English which would yield Noke-.

Noe R. (tribe of Derwent, Derbyshire). Perhaps before 900 Rav. Geogr. Anava. Compare Navione, a place given as near.? some connexion with Gaelic naomh (nuv),' holy.'

Norbiton (Wimbledon). Name invented circa, 1840 as a contrast to Surbiton. The parent town is Kingston.

Norbury (E. Salop). Domesday Book Cheshire Nor(d)berie, before 1300 Northbyri. 'North town'; Old English nord. See -bury.

Nore, The (Essex). 1049 Old English Chronicum Innan Nordmudan, ' In Northmouth' of Thames. But Nore is Norse nor,' a bay with a narrow entrance.' There seems to be a White Nore near Lulworth, Weymouth.

Norfolk. Domesday Book Nordfolc, Norfolk, 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Norfolch, 1258-1658 Northfolk 1397 Norfolk. 'Land of the north folk.' Compare Suffolk i.e., the North and South Angles.

Norham-On-Tweed. Sic 1183, 1461 Norame. 'North home'; Old English ham, on the Northern border of England. Compare circa, 1100 charter Norhamscire.

Normacott (Longton, Staffordshire). Domesday Book Normanescote, 1242 Normancote. ' The Norman’s cottage.’ See next. Compare the name Westacott.

Normanby (Doncaster, Middlesbrough, and 2 others). Sic in spurious grant of 664 (before 1100). Middlesborough N. Domesday Book Normanebi, before 1130 8im. Dur. Northmann-bi, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Normannesbi. ' Dwelling of the Northmen ' or ' Normans,’ who in Flodoard of Rheims, died 966, are Nortmanni; but already in charter of 963-84 (Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 367) ' Into Normannes cros.'

Normanton (6 in Postal Guide. Yorks N. Domesday Book Norma'tune, Normetune. Grantham N. Domesday Book Norman-, -entone. ' Town of the Normans,' or the' Northmen,' the Scandinavians. See above and -ton.

Northall or Northolt (Southall). Domesday Book Nort hala. 'North hall or ' corner,' as opposed to " South hall.' But holt is Old English and Norse for ' a wood, a copse.' See -hall.

Northallerton. Domesday Book Alvretune, 1298-1538 North alverton. See Alverton.

Northampton. 1088 Old English Chronicum Nordamtune, circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Northamtunensis, before 1145 Orderic Northantonia, 1373 Northamptonia. ' North hometown.' See Hampton, and ton and Northam (N. Devon and Southampton).

Northaw (Potter's Bar), also old Northall; but 1539 Northawe. ' North haw ' or ' hedge '; Old English haza.

Northcote (S. Devon) and North Cotes (Lines). Dev. N. Domesday Book Norcote. 'North cot or cottage'; Old English cot, cott, 'a chamber, a hut.'

North Curry (Taunton). 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Nordcuri, 116 1ib. Norcuri. See Curry Mallet.

North Hylton (Sunderland).? before 1000 charter Does clifes nord hyldan. Corruption of Old English hylda, dan, ' a slope.'

Northlew (Beaworthy). 1219 Patent R. Lyu. Doubtful.? = Lliw.

Northowram (Halifax). Domesday Book Oure, Ufron, 1202 Northuuerum Ufron is the common Yorks Old English locative 'on the riverbanks '; Old English ofer, Germanic ufer. See Over, Hallam, etc., and -ham. Northover (Somerset.) is 1219 Northovre.

North Stainley (Ripon). Domesday Book Nordstanlaia, which is meant to be Old English for ' north stony meadow.' Compare Stanley. The stain is a sign of Dan. influence. See -by.

North Stoke (Wallingford). before 1087 charter Nord stoke; late Old English for ' north place.' Compare Stoke.

Northumberland. Si cc. 1175 Fantosme, but Bede Nordanhymbri, circa, 890 AElfred On Norpanhymbralande, 898 Old English Chronicum Norphymbre, circa, 1000 AElfric Norbhymbralande. This name for a district far ' North of Humber ' came early into use. Deira, to the S., became largely Danish; but Bernicia, to the Norse, was never so. Compare 1065 Old English Chronicum Wore, ' In Yorkshire and in Northumberland.' Sim. Dur. ami. 883 already distinguishes Eboracum and Northimbri; and even more noteworthy is his ' Solius Northumbriae Comitatum.' circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester has ' Suthymbria'=Deira.

Northwich. Domesday Book Norwich. 'North dwelling'; Old English wic. In Welsch it is Yr Heledd ddu, ' the dark place for making salt.' Compare Droitwich and Norwich.

Northwold (Stoke Ferry, Norfolk). before 1200 Nordwolde, circa, 1220 Norwolde, circa, 1225 Northwaude. Old English nord wold, ' north wood' or Norwood.

Norton (22 in Postal Guide). Often in Domesday Book Nortone. 'North town.' Eleven times in Domesday Book Yorks alone.

Norwich. 1004 Old English Chronicum Nordwic, Domesday Book Norwic, 1297 Norwiche. Old English nord wic, 'northern dwelling' or 'village.' See -wich. Norwell (Newark) is Domesday Book Nortwelle.

Norwood (London), before 1697 Aubrey Perambltn. Surrey, 'The great wood called Norwood,' or ' north wood.' Compare Northwold.

Nostell (Pontefract). before 1114 charter Ecclesia sancti Osuualdi, 1119 charter Nostell, circa, 1160 Nostl'. Here was the priory of Saint Oswald, so that th ecorruption is a verye arly one. Compare Oswestry and St. Austell's, pronunciation St. Ossle's. The n, of course, comes from the prefixed saint. Horsfall Turner identifies Nostell with Domesday Book Osele (p. 37b), but this seems doubtful. Noverton (Worcestershire) is really Overton; it also appears as Nurton (Abberley), which in 1327 is given both as Noverton and Overton.

Nosterfield (Cambridgeshire). circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Nostresfelda. Skeat derives from a tenure by saying Paternosters, and compares the name of an Alice Paternoster, who held lands at Pusey (Berks).

Nottingham. Asser ann. 868, ' Scnotingaham quod Britannice Tigguocobauc interpretatur, Latine Speluncarum domus,' or ' house of caves.' Tigguocobauc is probably Kel., for ' house in the little cave'; compare Welsch ty, Gaelic tigh, 'a house,' Cornish ogo, 'a cavern,' and Welsch bach, old Welsch becc, ' little.' Domesday Book Snotingeham, before 1190 Walter Map Notingam, 1461 Snotingham. ' Home of the Snotinga,' a patronymic. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives Snoding and Snot. Snoddy is still used as a personal name. Compare Sneinton. There are also 2 Nottinghams in Gloster. See -ing.

Notting Hill (London) is said to have been formerly ' Knolton Barn Hill.' Compare Knolton Bryn.

Notton (Barnsley). Domesday Book Notone. 'Nut town,’ Old English hnut. Compare Nuttles, Domesday Book Notele.

Nunburnholme (York). Domesday Book Brunha', but 1206 Brunnum, a locative ' At the burn ' or ' bourne,’ Old Norse brunn-r. See -bourne and -hohne (' a meadow by a river '). -ham and -holme often interchange, and many Yorkshire places in -ham or -am are originally locatives.

Nuneaton (Warwicksh.). before 1200 Etone, Old English ea-tun, 'town on the river.' Anker, where the nuns live. A Benedictine nunnery was built here in the 12th century. Compare EatoNorse Similarly, Nun Keeling (Yorks) is in Domesday Book simply Chelinge, Chilinghe, ' place of the sons of Gille ' or ' Cilia.' See -ing.

Nunney (Frome). Domesday Book Noni Norse 'Nun's isle'; Latin nunna, Old English nunne, 3-6 nonne,' a nun' See -ey.

Nunnington (York). Domesday Book Nonninctune, Noningtune, Nunnigetune. Patronymic. ' Town of the sons of Nun ' or ' Nunna,' several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare AltarnuNorse See -ing and -toNorse

Nursling (Southampton). Domesday Book Notesselinge, later Nutshalling. A curious and unexplainable corruption probably patronymic from some; unrecorded man. See -ing.
NurtoNorse See Nostell.
Nutfield (Redhill). Domesday Book Notfelle. ' Field of nuts,’ Old English hnut.

Nuthurst (Horsham). Compare 704-9 charter Hnuthyrste (Warwickshire), Old English for ' nut wood.' See -hurst. Nuttles (Holderness) is Domesday Book Notele, 'nut meadow'; see -ley. Compare Nuttall (Notts), Domesday Book Nutehale; see -hall. But Notgrove (Stow-on-Wold) is 743 charter Natangraf,' trench, ditch of Nata.'

Nymphsfield (Stonehouse). 872 charter and 1280 Close R. Nymdesfeld, Domesday Book Nimdesfelde (1287 Kingesnemeton, see King's Nympton). Welsch and Bretons, nemet, also aspirated in Welsch nevet, ' a wood,' then probably ' a sacred grove,' and then ' a temple.' There are several Nymets in Devon, as well as 3 Nymphs near TawtoNorse It will be noted that 'p after m is almost always a modern intrusion; compare Bampton, Brompton, Hampton, etc.

Oaxen (Wolverhampton). Sic 1398, but Domesday Book Ache, before 1300 Ake, Oce, Oken. Probably an old locative Old English aeon or acum, ' at the oaks.' Compare Hallam, etc.

Oakford (Bampton). 1174 charter Acforde. Old English ac,' an oak.'

Oakham. Local pronunciation Yekkm. 1298 Okham. This will probably mean ' home, house built of oak.' Oakhampton (Astley, Warwickshire) is 1275 Okhamtone.

Oakhanger (Berkeley, Alton, and Dorset). Berkeley O. 1250 Ochungre; charter? where, Achangra (circa, 1350 Akhangre), which is Old English for ' oak-tree slope.' Compare Clayhanger. There is also 961 charter Geoc hangra (at Hurstbourne, Winchester), but this is from Old English geoc,' a yoke, ‘or' as much land as a pair of oxen can plough in a day.'

Oakington (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Hokintona, Hocchintona, Hockingtona, Domesday Book Hochintone, 1284 Hokingtone, ' Hoggitone. Patronymic. ' Village of the Hackings i.e., sons of Hoc or Hoca, both known names.

Oakley (Rochester, Bp's. Stortford, and 4 others). Rochester O. charter of date 774 Acleag. Staffordshire 0. 1004 charter Acclea, Domesday Book Aclei. Beds. 0. 1166 Rolls of the great Pipe Achelai. Bp's. S. 0. 1474 Ocle Magna and Parva; 958 charter Acleg, Aclea, on Stour, Stafford. Old English ac leah, ' oak meadow.' Similarly, Oakworth (Keighley) is Domesday Book Acewrde, Acurde,' oak farm.' See -worth.

Oare (Chieveley, Berks, Wilts, Faversham, N. W. Somerset). Chievely O. B.C. 8 .iii. 509 Ora, 1316 Ore. Old English ora,' bank, shore, edge,' cognate with Latin ora. Compare Bognor, etc. But Somerset O. is 1264 Ar, perhaps same root as Arrow, or? Norse aa-r, ' river.' It is on the East Lynn R., whilst Faversham O. is on a creek of the R. Swale.

Oby (Norfolk). 1479 Owby. ' Dwelling of Ofta, Oya, Otta,' a name common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by.

Ock R. (Abingdon) and Ockbrook (Derby). Domesday Book Ochebroc. Old English charter Eoccen, and in late copy of charter of 955 Occen. Skeat cannot suggest any meaning for the Berks River; and the Derby name is presumably the same, though some think it a tautology, making Ock Kelt. for ' water.' This last is somewhat confirmed by Geoffr. Monm .iv .12,who tells us that' Ridoc is the British name of Oxford ( Welsch rhyd, Old Welsch rit, ' a ford,' whilst oc is certainly not Welsch for 'ox'). Compare 1201 ' Yockflet ' i.e., Yokefleet (Howden). There is also an Octon (E. Riding), Domesday Book Ocheton, which seems from the same root.

Ocker Hill (Tipton). Compare Domesday Book ' Ocretone ' (Notts). Perhaps from Mittel English (before 1225) oker, Old Norse okr, 'increase of money, usury'; but Duignan, more probably, suggests Welsch ochr, ochren,'' a side, a shelving locality.' But Ockeridge Wood (Little Witley, Worcestershire), 1332 Ocrugge, is' oak-tree ridge, Old English ac, 3-5-ok.

Ockley (Dorking) = Oakley.

Odell (Sharnbrook, Beds). Said to be old Wode-hul or' wood-hill.' Not in Domesday Book, but it has Odecroft, Compare, too, 941 charter Oddenheal, ' nook of Odda,' Hants. See -hall.

Odiham (Winchfield). 1116 Old English Chronicum Wudiham. ' Home in the wood,' Old English wudu. For change of w; to o compare Wodin and Odin, also Domesday Book Essex, Oddesforda, from the common Odda or Oda, which gives name to Oddington (Moreton-in-Marsh). Oddingley (Droitwich), 816 charter Oddingalea, is a patronymic from Odda. See -ing. Compare, too, Odcombe (Somerset) 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon Odecuba.

Offchurch (Leamington). 1300 Ofechirche, ‘church of Offa? The King of Mercia in 8th century. Offley, in the same county, is Domesday Book Offeleia.

Offenham (Evesham). 714 charter Vffaham, 860 the same Uffenham.’ Domesday Book Offenham. ' Home of Uffa' or' Offa.'

Offerton (Durham), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Uflfertun. Probably 'town on the bank, ‘Old English obr, ofr, Ger. ufer; see -over. But Offerton (Hindlip) is 972 charter AEflaedetun? Domesday Book Alcrintune, 1275 Alfverton, before 1600 Alcrinton, now called Alfreton, before 1800 Affreton. A most remarkable corruption, 'Town of AEfloed,' perhaps she who was daughter of King Offa,757-786. Duignan suggests that r came in through similarity of AEflaed to AElfred.

Offord (Warwksh.). Domesday Book Offeworde, before 1200 Offorde. This is ' Offa's farm.' Compare Offmoor (Halesowen), 1288 Offemore, and Pampisford; and see -worth.

Ogle (Newcastle-on-Tyne). Probably Old Welsch ugl, Welsch uchel, 'high'; same root as Ochils, Ogilvie, and Glen Ogle (Scottish). Compare Knoyle. But Oglethorp (W. Riding) is Domesday Book Once Ocelestorp and 4 times Oglestorp, ' village of ' some man, the nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum seems Ugelbert; the- bert may easily have dropped. See -thorpe.

Ogo Dour (the Lizard). Cornish=' cave by the water.'

Okment Hill (Devon). Welsch uch mynydd (Cornish menit),' high hill.' Compare Longmynd and Ochils (Sc).

Old Man of Coniston. Supposed to be Welsch allt maen,' cliff-like or ' high rock.' Compare Alltwen. As curious a corruption is Old- barrow (Henley in Arden), 709 charter Ulenbeorge, ' hill, barrow of the owl,' Old English ula, ulan. See Barrow.

Oldswinford (Stourbridge). Domesday Book Suineford, 1275 Swyneford, 1340 Oldeswynesford. Old English swinford,' swine's ford.'

Olney (Bucks and Coventry). Domesday Book Olnei, Bucks; Coventry O. 1349 Olneie. Compare Codex Diplomaticus 621 Ollan eg, Old English for ' Olla's isle.' Also 1016 Old English Chronicum Olanige, circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Olanege, an islet in the Severn near Deerhurst. See -ey.

Olton (Hampton-in-Arden). 1295 Oulton, circa, 1450 Oulton abas Ulverton i.e., ' Ulfr's town.' Compare Scottish oo for wool, and Oldcoates or Ulcoates (Notts), Domesday Book Caldecotes, but 1269 Ulcotes, 1302 Ulecotes. ' Cots of the owl,' Old English ula. But Olveston, close to Alveston, is 1303 Olveston, 1515 Olston, and is originally the same name, 'AElfe’s town.'

Ombersley (Droitwich). 706 charter Ambreslege and Ombreswelle, 714 the same Ambresleie, Domesday Book Ambreslege. May be from Old English amber, omber, ' a pitcher.' See Ambergate and Amberley. Or perhaps it is from a man Amber, Ambre. See Ambrosden and Amesbury. See -ley.

Omily, R. (Hereford). Probably Welsch amwyll, ' shady, gloomy on all sides.'

Onecote (Leek). 1199 Anecote, 1285 Onecote i.e., ' one cottage,’ as Onehouse (Suffolk) is charter Anhus. But Onesacre (S. Yorks) is Domesday Book Anesacre, ' field of Anna ' or ' Onna,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum

Ongar. (Essex) or Chipping Ongar. Domesday Book Angra, Old English hangra, ' a wooded, hillslope.' Compare Clayhanger and see Chipping.

Onibury (Craven Arms). Domesday Book Aneberie. ' Burgh, town on R. Onney or Ouny.' See -bury. But High and Little Onn (Staffordshire), are Domesday Book Otne (error) and Anne, which Duignan derives from Welsch onn, ' ash-trees.' There is an Onneley also in Salop, Domesday Book Anelege; and an Oney Coppice (Lindridge). Compare Onecote.

Orby (Burgh, Lines). Compare Arbury (Nuneaton), before 1200 Ordburi, Erdbury, 1235 Orbyri, which is probably ' Eardulf's burgh.' See -ly.

Orcheston (Devizes). Must be from some man. Compare 1298' Willelmus de Orkesleghe.' The nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is Oric, a dux in Kent, of 9th century. There is an ore, orke, orch, ' an ogre,' but it is not found in Eng. before 1598.

Oreton (Wolverhampton). Domesday Book Overtune, before 1300 Overton, Orton. Old English ofer-tun, ' upper town.' Compare Orgrave (N. Lanes), Domesday Book Ourgreve, probably 'bank'; Old English obr, ofr, 'of the grave.' See Over. Orgrave (S. Yorks) is Domesday Book Nortgrave.

Orford (Suffolk and Warrington). Suffolk O. not in Domesday Book 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Oreford, circa, 1450 Fortescue Orford havyn. Like Orwell, nearby, probably corruption from Norse aar fjord, ' river ' or ' river-like firth or bay.' In Norse aa sounds o. Compare Havereord, Waterford (Ireland), etc. Warrrington O, sic 1511, may be from a man Ord, or contracted from one of the many names in Ord-.

Orleton (Tenbury). Domesday Book Aketune, 1275 Olretone,' aldertown.' See Allerton, etc. Alder is Old English alor, aler, 3 olr, 7 owler, ouller. The Orls (Mathon) is from same root. Alder is still pronunciation orlin S. Salop. But Ollerton (Newark), Domesday Book and 1190 Alretun, 1278 Alverton, is perhaps from Aelfweard or AElfhere.

Orlingbury (Northants). circa, 1190 Orlingberge. ' Town or fort of Eorlwine,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -bury.

Ormesby (Yorks and Gt. Yarmouth). Domesday Book both Ormesbi. ' Dwelling of Orm.' See-by.

Orm's Head (Llandudno), before 1145 Orderic Hormaheva, a Norse form of Ormes heafod or Orm's Head, or Worm's Head. Orm or Orma is a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum

Ormskirk. 1285 Ormeskirke. See above. The Orm here is not the monk who wrote the Ormulum, but a Saxon noble who gained large estates near here through marrying a Norman heiress. The place is not in Domesday Book but is referred to temp. Rich. I., d. 1199.

Orbell (Wigan). Domesday Book Olegrimale, Olringemele, 1201-02 Horhill, Horhull; 1205-06 Orhille; 1320 Orell. Even though Domesday Book is so clumsy, it gives the clue to a most interesting corruption The first part is the Norse name Authgrimr, later Udgrim. An Oudgrim is actually found in Domesday Book Notts. The second part is either -hall (q.v.) or -hill, regular W. Midi. hull.

Obslow (Staffordshire). 1203 Horselawe, before 1400 Orselow i.e., ' Horsa's mound.' See -low. Orsett (Grays) (-sett= ' seat ') probably has a similar origin. Compare Domesday Book Surrey, Orselei.

Orston (Nottingham). Domesday Book Oschintone, 1242 Orskinton, 1284 Orston. Mutschmann thinks, ' Ordric's town," as in Ordsall, Domesday Book Ordeshale. Domesday Book confuses with Ossington.

Orwell R. (Suffolk). 1015 Old English Chronicum Arwa, Arewe; Domesday Book Ordewelle; circa, 1386 Chaucer Orewell; circa, 1450 Fortescue Orwell havyn. The 1015 forms suggest, and Orford nearby confirms, that this must be a corruption from Norse, akin to that of Kirkwall (Sc), circa, 1225 Kirkiuvagr, 1438 Kirkwaw, circa, 1500 Kirkwall. The Ar- will be Norse a, genitive aar, ' river,' aa in modern Norse being pronunciation o. The wa- will be Old Norse vagr, ' bay, voe,' the liquid r having early become l, or else disappeared. So the name is ' bay of the river.'

Orwell (Royston, Herts), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Oreuuella, Domesday Book Oreuuelle, Orduuelle (a mistake), 1210 Norwelle (for 'atten Orewelle '), 1284 Orewelle. Old English oran wella, ' well at the edge or brink.' Compare Orton (Tebay).

Oscott (Birmingham), before 1300 Oscote, c. 1615 Camden Auscote. Perhaps ' East cottage,' Old Norse aust-r, ' east.' Compare Austwick. But Duignan prefers some name in Os-, Osbeorn, Oswald, etc., which may well be.

Osgathorpe (Loughborough) common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -thorpe.

Osgodbey (E. Riding and Market Rasen). E. Riding O. Domesday Book Ansgotesbi, Ansgotebi, Asgozbi (z = ts) goteby. Market Rsaing O. before 1100 charter Osgoteby, 1298 Osgodeby. Compare Domesday Book Osgotcros, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Osegotecros, now Osgoldcross (Wapentake), Yorks. ' Dwelling of Osgod or ' Osgot,' common names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, which also has the Normandy forms Ansgod and Ans-got. Compare next, and Ansthryth, variant of name Osthryth. Osgod, in N Asgod, seems to mean ' the good ' i.e., ' the property, of the gods.' See-by.

Osmotherley (Lanes and Northallerton). Lanes O. 1260-72 Osmunderlawe, 1269 Asemunderlai, 1276-79 Asmunderlauue, 1588 Estmotherhe, 1667 Osmonderley, 1670 Osmotherlow. Normal. O. Domesday Book Asmundrelac, 1197 Rolls Hosmmideslea, before 1300 Osmunderley. Instructive forms. ' Meadow of Asmund or smund, (thee protected ' or else 'the ‘mouth of the gods'). Compare Osborne, Norse Asenbjorn, ' bear of the gods or demigods.' The ending is often -low (q.v.) or -lawe, ' hill.' Compare Aspatria, and Amotherby, and Mythe; also Osmondthorpe (Notts), 1331 Osmundthorp.

Osney (Oxford). 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Osineia, 1161 the same Oseneia, circa, 1200 Gervase Osneye. ' Island of Osa,' genitive ' Osan’, common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ey.

Ossett (Yorks). Domesday Book Osleset. 'Seat, abode,’ Old Norse sceti, 'of Osla,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Liquid l easily vanishes.

Ossington (Newark). Domesday Book Oschintone,1162-65 charter Oschintona, 1278 Oscington, ' Town of Osecg,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Muntschmann derives from a dubious Osketin, variant of the common Asketill. See -in and -ton.

Oswaldtwistle (Accrington). 1241 Oswalduisil. “Oswald’s confluence.' See Twizel; and compare Birtwistle, Entwistle, Tintwistle. In E. Yorks we also have Oswaldkirk, Domesday Book Oswaldes cherca.

Oswestry, circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Osewaldstreu, id est Oswaldi arborem, or ' tree of Oswald,' King of Northumbria, died 642. He was probably slain here by Penda, King of Mercia. 1603Owentree, Osestree. In Welsch Croesoswallt, ' cross of Oswald.' Compare Brentry (Gloucester), 1247 Bernestre, ' tree of Beorn.'

Otford (Sevenoaks). Old English Chronicum 774 Ottanford, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Ottaforda, 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Otteford. 'Ford of Otta' or ' Otto.' Compare Otham (Maidstone).

Otherton (Penkridge and Worcester) and Othery (Bridgwater). Penkridge O. Domesday Book Orretone, before 1200 Oderton, before 1300 Otherton, which, like Otherton (Worcestershire), is probably ' Ohthere's or Othere's or Otre's town.' All these forms are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Othery is probably similar, with ending -y or -ey, ' islet.' But compare Ottery.

Otley (W. Riding and Ipswich). W. Riding O. Domesday Book Othelai, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Oteleisi. ' Otto's lea ' or meadow.' See above and -ley. '

Ottery St. Mary (Exeter). 963 charter Otheri, Domesday Book Otri, circa, 1200 Gervase Oteri, 1460 Otryght. ' Isle,' Old English ize, iz, ' on R. Otter,' which is probably Old English otr, oter, otor, ' an otter.' Compare Otterburn (Craven and Northumberland), Domesday Book Yorks and Hants, Otreburne, 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon has a Fenotri? Fen Ottery.

Ottringham (Hull), Otterington (N. Yorks), and Oughtrington (Warrington). Domesday Book Otringeha', Otrege, Otrinctune, Otrintona. Wyld and H. connect these Ottring- names with the Norse Authgrimr or Oudgrim (see Orrell), which certainly seems the origin of the Warrington name, which Wyld and H. omit. But the Ottring- names probably are patronymics from Othhere, Otre, or perhaps Othgoer, all found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Otringeberge and Otringedene (Kent), which is by no means a especially Norse region. See -ing.

Oulton (6 in Postal Guide). Stone O. a. 1300 Oldeton, Oldingtor. Possibly Old English Ealdantun, ' Ealda's town,' or else 'old town.' But Domesday Book Norfolk Oulstona i.e., Oulton, Aykham—will be ' Ulf's town.’ It is in 1477 Owstoonde. Possibly it is ' town of Ule '—i.e., ' the owl.' Compare Ofston and Outchester (Bamboroogh) 1242 Ullecester.

Oundle (Northampton), Bede Undalum, before 1000 Undola, before 1100 charter Undale, 1542 Leland Oundale. Thought to be a contracted form of Avon + dale, Old English doel. But the contraction seems almost too early to be found in Bede. Avon means' river,’ here the Nen. For a similar contraction, compare Dunoon (Scottish).

Ouny or Onney R. (Salop and Hereford). Seen in Onibury, Domesday Book Aneberie and also in Anelege. Must be Keltic for ' river.' The Gaelic ahhuinn or amhuinn,' river, 'is in certain districts pronunciation own. Compare Oundle and Avon.

Ouse Great, Ouse R. and Ouseburn (York). Great O. 905 Old English Chronicum Wusa, 1010 the same Usa, before 1130 Use, 1330 Ouse. York Ouse Domesday Book Useburne, 1237 Usus. Perhaps connected with Old English wase, 4-6 wose, 6 oous, ouse, ' wet mud, ooze.' The name occurs all over England—in Essex and Sussex, as well as in the cases above—and very possibly it is Keltic. See p. 12. Isis, circa, 1350 Ysa, must surely be a cognate root. See -burn.

Ousel R. (trib. of Great Ouse). Presumably Old English osle, old name of the blackbird, the ouzel; but old forms needed.

Ousethorp (Howden). Domesday Book Owestorp, Dwestorp (Derrorforp) Not from R. Ouse, but ' village of Oua, Ova, or Oba,' forms all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -thorp.

Ouston (Stamfordham, Birtley, Durham; and Coxwold, N. Riding). Stamfordham O. 1201 Yorks Fines Hulkeleston i.e., ' Hulfcytel
' Ulfcytel's village.' But Coxwold. O. Domesday Book Ulvestone, 1201 Ulveton, ' village of Ulf,' ' Ulf's town.' Now also called Oulston. But Ouston (Coleshill) is old Oustherne, Owsthirn, which is probably ' east nook.' East Riding in Domesday Book Is Oustredenc and see Herne". Compare Oulton and Owston.

Ovenden (Halifax). Sic Sim. Dur. contin. anno 1147. Old English Ofan. Ofenu, ' den, cave of Ofa,' or possibly ' of Owen.'

Over (Gloucester Cambridge, and Winsford, Cheshire.). Gloucester O. 804 charter of read Gleawecestre. Cambridge O Domesday Book Ovre, Oure; 1210 Overe. Cheshire. Domesday Book Ovre. Old English ofre, dativ of ofer, ' a shore of a sea or bank of a river.' Compare Germanic ufer; and see -over.

Overton (9 in P.G.). Domesday Book Ovretone, Cheshire and Worcester,' Upper town,' Old English ufera, 3-5 ouere, ' over.' Compare Overbury, Tewkesbury, 875 charter Uferebiri, Vfera birig, Domesday Book Oureberie, with the same meaning. See-bury.

Owersby (Market Rasen). 1233 Orresby. Probably corruption of ' Ordgoer's or Ordgar's dwelling.' The name is very common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-by.

Owslebury (Winchester). Not in Domesday Book Compare Ozleworth (Charfield), Domesday Book Osleworde, circa, 1220 Hoheleswordi, later Wozelworth,

Owselworth. The man's name is uncertain. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 764 Oslan wyrth, ' Osla's farm.’ It might be Oshelm, 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, or Oswulf, as in Owston. Also compare St. Austell's. See -bury and -worth.

Owsthorp (Pocklington). Domesday Book Ianulfestorp, 1203 Uhiestorp, before 1400 Ulvesthorpe. Very curious corruption. ' Village of Eanwulf,' very common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum In before 1400 the Ean- has dropped away. With the present form Ows-, compare Ooston, modern pronunciation of Ulveeston; also compare next. Owthorp (Notts), Domesday Book Ovetorp, circa, 1190 Hustorp, is ' village of Ufi or Uvi.' See -Thorpe.

Owston Priory (Leicester) is 1233 Osulveston, ' town of Oswulf, a name common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Owston (Doncaster), Domesday Book Ulsitone, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Ouston, is probably= Ouston (Coxwold), Domesday Book Ulvestone, ' town of Ulf.' Only it seems to be in Domesday Book also Austun and Austhu', which may be an Old English locative ' in the east places,’ oust and aust being early forms of ' east,’ and locatives in -un or -on are not uncommon; only they usually turn into -ham. See Hallam, etc. and next.

Owstwick (Hull). Domesday Book Ostewic. Probably 'eastern dwelling,’ just as East Riding is in Domesday Book Oust redene, and in the Yorks Rolls of the great Pipe Rolls we have ' Oustcotun ' and ' Westcotun, or Eastcott and Westcott. Compare above; and see -wick.

Oxenholme (Wostmld.). ' Oxen's meadow.' See -holm. Compare Oxley (Wolverhampton), Domesday Book Oxehe and Oxnam (Scottish). Oxcliff (N. Lanes) is Domesday Book Oxeneclif,

Oxford, before 900 coins of King Alfred Oksnaforda, but some read Orsnaforda, which conceivably represents a 'Horse-ford'; 912 Old English Chronicum Oxnaforda; circa, 1000 charter King AEthelred Oxonaforda; 1011 Old English Chronicum Oxenafordscire; circa, 1160 Oxenefordia; 1479 Oxenford. Old English oxena ford, ' ford for the oxen.' Compare Grant of before675 Oxelake (on the Thames). The regular Welsch name is Rhyd ychen, which also means 'ford of the oxen.' It is agreed that this Welsch name is very old, and that there is no recorded spelling for ' ox ' other than ych, unless it be a dialect wch. However, circa, 1145 Geoffrey of Monmouthshire, iv. 12, speaks of ' Boso of Ridoc, that is Oxford.' It seems unlikely that this 12th century. name Ridoc is meant for rhyd ychen, though rid is clearly Old Welsch for ' ford.' It seems more probably that in -oc we have O. Keltic for ' water.' See Ock. So that, while the Anglo-Saxons thought the name was their own ox, its originally was Keltic, and cognate with Ax, Ex, Usk, and Ux- bridge. Compare, too, Isis. But for two or three centuries the Keltic name must have been quite lost, and the Welsch would coin a new name when they began to frequent the University. Before the 14th century. Oxford would probably be of too little importance to the Welsch to have a Welsch name of its own. As to forms before 900, curiously enough for Oxenhall (Dymock), Domesday Book writes Horsenehal, probably an error; circa, 1230 Oxonhale. Compare also the curious form Tweoxn eam, s.v. Twyning.

Oxhey (Watford). 1007 charter Oxangehaege i.e., Old English for 'oxen's enclosure' or ' hedge,’ Old English heye. Compare Hay and Oxenhay (Berkeley), 1243 Oxhaye.

Oxnead (Norfolk). 1420 Oxenede. The ending is difficult. There seems nothing likely in e or n (no ede or nead or the like), so this may be ' oxen-head,’ where head is used in the sense of ' a pond or body of water dammed up." Caxton, 1480, speaks of ' fisshponde hedes,' and head is spelt 3-6 heed, 4-7 hede.

Oxsted (Reigate). Domesday Book Acstede, Old English for 'oak-place' Compare homestead, etc.

Oxton (W. Riding, Birkenhead, and Southwell, Notts). W. Riding O. Domesday Book Oxetone and Ossetone. Southwell O. Domesday Book Oxetune. ' Village of the oxen.' Compare Oxspring (Sheffield), Domesday Book Osprinc, and Oxenton (Tewkesbury), Domesday Book Oxendone.

Oysterlow (Pembroke), circa, 1200 Girald. Oisterlaph, Oisterlaf, circa, 1210 Osterloyth, 1325 Oystrelof, 1541 Usterloys. This is the Old Welsch Esterlwyf Welsch Ysterlwyf, or ystre Iwyf, ' dwelling in the elm-, wood,' influenced, of course, by Eng. oyster, Old France oistre, not found in Enlish till 1357. Oystermouth (Glamorgan), said to be old Ostremuere (probably error for -muue, Mittel English for 'mouth'), may have a similar origin, only here it will be a hybrid.

Packington (Tamworth and Ashby-de-la-Zouch). Tamworth P. Domesday Book Pagintone, before 1200 Pakintone. Ashby P. 1043 charter Pakinton, Domesday Book Patitone (error). Compare Domesday Book Essex, Pachenduna, and Packwood (Warwick). The nearest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is one Poecga; so probably ' village of Poecga.' See -ing and -ton.
Padbury (Bucks). B.C.8., ii. 377, Padde byrig, Domesday Book Pateberie, ' Burgh, town of Padda,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Paddington, London, (1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Padinton, 1439 Paddyngton) and Warrington, and Domesday Book Surrey, Padendene; also Padworth.
Padstow (N. Cornwall and Devon). Cornwall P. 981 Old English Chronicum See Petrocestow, 1536 Padstowe. Devon P. Domesday Book Petroches stow, later Petrockstow. ' Place of St. Petroc,' an interesting corruption. The ending -stow, found already in 981 in Cornwall, is an early proof of Anglo-Saxon influence there.
Padworth (Theale, Berks). Old English charter Peadan wurth, Domesday Book Peteorde, circa, 1280 Paddewurth. ' Farm of Peada.' See -worth.
Pagham (Bognor). before 1130 Sim. Dur. arm. 1108 Paggaham, 1298 Pageham. ' Home of Paga, 'only only in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and he at Carlisle. But Paythorne (W. Riding), Domesday Book Pathorme, probably contains the name Paega or Paga also; 2 Poegas in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Paganhill (Stroud), 1346 Paganhulle, and Painley.
Pailton (Rugby), before 1300 Paylynton, Pailinton. 'Village of Pcelli,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Painley (Craven). Domesday Book Paghenale, possibly a genitive plural ' lea of the pagans.' Oxford Dictionary has no instance of 'pagan, before1375; but Pagan, Paganus, and Pagen are all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Paine and Payne are surnames from pagan. Painswick (Stroud) is Domesday Book Wyke, but later Wyke Pagani, Payneswyke, called after Pain Fitzjohn, Justiciar Sheriff, who seems to have built his castle here during the wars of Stephen. Similarly, Painsthorpe (E. Riding) is in Paghenale may also stand for ' nook of Paga,' genitive -an. If so, the ending must have changed. See -hall, -ley, -thorpe (' village '), and -wick ('dwelling ').
Palfrey Green (Walsall), before 1600 Palfraye Green. A palfrey or (lady's) riding-horse was a common fine or payment to a King or superior for land. Sometimes it was an annual or periodical payment. For the word, which is Old France, see Oxford Dictionary
Palgrave (Diss). 962 charter Palegrave, Domesday Book Pag(g)raua, circa, 1210 Jocelin Palegrava, circa, 1430 Pagrave. Probably ' Pallig's grave,' Old English groef. A Pallig, a Danish earl, is mentioned 1001 in Old English Chronicum Pale sb. is France and not in English till circa, 1330; pale adjunctive is also France, and not in English before1300. Compare Orgrave (Yorks), etc.
Pallinsburn (N. Northumberland). ' Burn, brook of Paulinus,' who probably preached and baptized here. See Bede.
Pamborough (Glastonbury). 956 Pathenebergh. Probably ' burgh, castle of Patta,' genitive Pattan. Compare ' Pattnaden,' Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum. 1307. See -burgh. But Pamber (Hants) is 1217 Patent R. Penbere, 1225 Penber, Pember. Probably Old English penn beam, ' fold in the wood.' Compare Penn and Beer, also Pamington (Ashchurch), Domesday Book Pamintone, from an unrecorded Pama.
Pampisford (Cambridge). Domesday Book Pampesuuorde, even as late as 1851 Pampsworth. ' Farm of Pamp,' an unknown name. Compare Dan. dial, pamper,' a short, thick-set person.' The local pronunciation is Paanza, which Skeat says is ' regularly shortened from Pamp's' orth.' See- worth.
Pangbourn (Berks). 833-34 charter Peginga-burnan, Paegeinga- burnan, 956 Pangan-burnan. Burn, brook of Poeginga i.e., son of Poega,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The river is now called simply the Pang, and nearer its source the Kimber. Compare Penistone.
Pannal (Harrogate). Domesday Book Paghenhale, 1315 Pattrehall, later Panhale, 1448 Pannal. ' Hall of Paga or Poega,' genitive Pagan. Both forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Pantsaeson (Welsch). Welsch== glen of the Saxon ' (Gaelic Saisneach) or ' Englishman.'
Pantycelyn (Breconshire). Welsch =glen, hollow of the holly.' Compare Llwyncelyn.
Papcastle (Cockermouth). From a local Latin inscription, circa, 200, it is known that Pap- represents Abalabba, site of a Roman fort.
Papworth Everard (Cambridge). Local pronunciation Parpor. Domesday Book Papeworde, Ramsey charter Pappenwrthe, Pappeworthe. ' Place of Pappa.' Papo is the only name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -worth.
Par (Cornwall). ? = Welsch pawr, ' pasture.
Parcanscalli (Cornwall). Cornish=' park, field of the bats.'
Parford (Moreton Hampstead). Probably 1174 charter Pirforde. Probably from Old English piriz, ' a pear-tree.' Compare Parham (Berkeley), 1264 Perham, and Pirbright.
Parret R. (Somerset). Old English Chronicum 658 Pedrida, the same 893 Pedrede, Pedret. Welsch pedryd, ' a square,’ perhaps referring to the piece of land enclosed by the river bend near Pawlett.
Partney (Spilsby, Lines.). Bede Peartaneu. 'Isle of Peartan,' Old English eu variant of iz, ize, ' island,’ see -ey. Peartan may be a personal name. Nothing like it in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Perhaps Welsch partyn, ' a smart little fellow, or perthen,' a bush,'
Passenham (Northants). 921 Old English Chronicum Passanhamm. ' Enclosure, Old English hamm of Passa,' only one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum in Kent. But compare next. See-ham.
Passfield (Liphook). Compare Domesday Book Essex, Passefelda. 'Field of Passa,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Paston (N. Walsham). before 1150 charter Pastun. Contraction for ' Passa's town.' See above. But Paston or Pawston (Wooler) is for Pollokston.
Patcham (Brighton) and Patching (Worthing). 947 charter Peccinges and Pettingas (tt for cc). ' Home of Pecca, Pecga, or Pacca,' and ' place of the sons of Pecca.' Compare Domesday Book Surrey, Pachesham, Paxford, Campden, sic 1275 and Paxton (Berwick) circa, 1098 Paxtun. The only name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is Pecga. See -ham and -ing.
Patney (Devizes). Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 354, Peatanige. Old English for ' Isle of Peata, Peatta, or Peada,'all 3 forms are known. Peat and Pate are both still in use as surnames. Compare Pattishall and Domesday Book Patintune, Salop.
Patrington (Hull). Domesday Book Patrictone. 'Town of Patrick’; the -ick has become -ing, because -ing is so much commoner in placenames. See -ing.
Pattingham (Wolverhampton). Pronunciation Pattinjem, compare Birmingham. Domesday Book Patingham, before 1200 Pattingeham, before 1500 Patincham. ' Home of the sons of Poita ' or ' Peatta.' Compare Patton (Salop), probably B.C.8. 77 Peattingtun, and Domesday Book Essex, Patenduna. Patton (Kendal) is Domesday Book Patun. See -ing and -ham.
Pattishall (Towcester). 1207 Pateshill, 1236 Pateshull (compare Aspull, etc.). ' Hall of Peata ‘; compare Patney, Patshull (Wolverhampton) is Domesday Book Pecleshella, before 1300 Petleshull, Patleshull i.e., either ' Poecgel’s or Pyttel's hill.’ Pegglesworth Compare
Paulerspury (Towcester). ' The pury of (Robert de) Paveli,' an early owner. The name' Pury end' still survives; it is in Domesday Book Pirie, Old English pirze, pirize, pirie,' a pear-tree.’ Compare Pirbright.
Paull (Hull). Domesday Book Paghel, Pagele: later Pagula. Contraction for ' nook of Paga or Poega,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -hall.
Pavenham (Sharnbrook, Beds.). 'Home of Paba or Peabba,’ a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but compare Pebworth, Stratford-on-Avon. 848 charter Pebeworthe, Domesday Book Pebevorde. See -worth,' farm.'
Pavey Ark (hill, Grasmere). Said to be 'shieling, dairy hut of Pavia.' See Arklid.
Pawlett (Bridgwater), circa, 705 charter Pouelt; later Pouholt. Perhaps ' village in the holt or wood.' Pou is said to be=L. pagus, as often in Brittany. Pouelt, however, probably represents an Old Welsch pwl allt, ' pool by the cliff.' But Pawton, St. Breock, Cornwall, is circa, 988 charter Polltun,' village by the pool or stream.'
Peak, The (Derbyshire), before 800 charter Pecsaetna (i.e., dwellers in the Peak), 924 Old English Chronicum Peac-lond; Domesday Book Pechesers, now' Peak's Arse '; circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. In monte vocato Pec, before 1135 charter dominium de Pecco, 1173-4 Pech. Oxford Dictionary, says ' origin unknown, perhaps British,' and not connected with the English peak sb. Compare Peckham, Pegsdon, etc. It may be the name of a demon or spirit. Compare Puck.
Peakirk (Peterborough). circa, 1015 charter Pegecyrcan, before l100 Grant Peichirche, Peychirche. ' Church of Pega or Poega,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum This is far south to find a ' kirk '!
Peasemore (Leckhampstead). Chronicum Abing. Pesimara, before 1224 Pesemere, circa, 1540 Peysmer. ' Land for growing pease,' Old Eenglish pise. the ending is a little unsettled; Old English mere, ' marsh, fen seems scarcely probably, yet we have Peasemarsh (Sussex), as well as Peasenhall (Saxmundham). It may be Old English mor, ' a moor '; (Peasbrook, Broadway, Worcester), in 972 charter Pisbroc, is also from Old English pise, ' a pea.'
Peckham (London) and Peckham Bush (Tonbridge).? circa, 1130 Eadmer Petteham; but Domesday Book Pecheha, 1278 Pecham. 'Home of Peca or Pecha,' possibly the same name as Peak, if it means a demon or sprite, or Puck. Compare too Domesday Book Surrey, Pechingeorde, ' farm of the sons of Peca.'
Pedmore (Stourbridge). A name which has curiously changed. Domesday Book Pevemore, circa, 1200 Pebbemore, 1340 Pebmore. ' Moor of Peuf or ' Peufa,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, or rather from Peobba, a dimin. form of Peof or Peuf. ' Moor ' is Old English mor.
Peel (Isle of Man) and Peele Hall (Tarvin, Cheshire). I. of M. P. 1399 charter Pela, 1656 Peel-Town, mentioned with Castle-Town. The English peel is not found till circa, 1330 and meant originally ' a palisade or fence of stakes,’ then ' a castle.’ Its history is rather curious. See Oxford Dictionary s.v. There was formerly a moated tower at Peele Hall. But the Manx name of Peel is Port-na-hinsey, ' port of the island by a narrow breakwater with the mainland). It was also called Holmtown.
Pegsdon (Bedfordshire), Domesday Book Pechesdon,' hill of Peak,’q.v.
Pegswood (Morpeth). Probably 'wood of Pecge; 'compare 958 charter Pecges ford, on Stour, Stafford, 740 the same Peginhullis (Wilts), and above. Pegglesworth (Dowdeswell) Domesday Book Peclesurde, is probably from a man Peohtgils. See -worth, ' farm.’
Pelsall (Walsall). 994 charter Peolshale, Domesday Book Peleshale. before 1400 Peoleshale. ' Nook, corner of Ptola.' Compare Domesday Book Surrey, Peleforde, and see -hall.
Pelutho (Abbey Town, Cumberland). Probably Gaelic polluchdaich, 'pool by the ascent.’ In any case the name is much corrupted.
Pemberton (Wigan). Sic 1323, but 1200-1 Penberton, 1202 Penbreton. Perhaps hybrid, Welsch penn brc, ' head of the hill ' (there is a Pembrey in Welsch) + -ton, q.v. But quite possibly from a man, as Pember, though not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, is still a surname.
Pembridge (Herefordshire). Domesday Book Penebruge. Probably hybrid as above, Welsch penn,' head, height,"+ bridge.
Pembroke, circa, 1180 Giraldus Cambrensis Pembrochia caput maritimae sonat, 1297 Robert of Gloucester Penbroc, circa, 1350 Pembrok, 1450 Pembroke. Old Welsch pen broc, modern Welsch penfro, head of the sea land.' Old Welsch and Bretons bro, Old Irish brog, country, land (vale).' There is also Penbro, or-fro, near the Lizard; 1219 Patent P. Eglospenbroc [eglos, ' church '). Compare Pentire (Cornwall) and Kintyre (Sc).
Penally (Pembroke). Old Pen Alun, which is perhaps Old Welsch for ' beautiful height,' Gaelic aluinn, ' fair, lovely.'
Penarth (Glamorgan). Welsch penn arth, ' head of the height,' or ' high headland.' Compare Lanarth, and Kinnaird (Scottish)
Penberry Headland (St. David's). May be hybrid, Welsch penn, ' head, headland,' and -berry, = -burgh, q.v. Compare Turnberry (Scottish). But it probably is from Welsch beri, ' a kite, a glede.' Penbuby (Gloster.) must be at least half English perhaps wholly so.
Pencarrow (Bodmin). Cornish pen caerau, 'height of the forts,' Cornish and Welsch caer, Gaelic cathair,' a castle, a fort.'
Pencoyd (Ross, Hereford) =Pencoed (Glamorgan), Welsch for 'head of the wood,' coed, plural coydd.
Pendennis (Falmouth). Sic 1567. Cornish pen dinas, 'headland with the castle.'
Pendleton (Manchester). Domesday Book Peniltune. Probably 'town of Pendwulf ' or ' Penweald,' both names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; older forms needed. But Pendle (sic 1612) Hill, Clitheroe, is 1344 Penhull, a tautology, Welsch penn, ' height,’ and hull, regular old Midl. for ' hill.' Pendle Hill is therefore a triple tautology. Compare Penhull (Lindridge), sic circa, 1300.
Pendock (Tewkesbury). 877 and Domesday Book Penedoc, Peonedoc, 1275 Penedoch. Probably Welsch penn y dych,' height of the groan or sigh.’ Pensax (Stourport), in the same shire, will also be Welsch, from Welsch Sais, ' a Saxon, an Englishman.' It is found circa, 1400 as Pensax, Pensex.
Pendragon (West Midlands), ' head, height of the dragon,' was a castle of Wm. Rufus. Oxford Dictionary does not give dragon in English till circa, 1220, and says, from France dragon, Latin draco, draconem. It certainly was adopted in the Keltic tongues too.
Penenden Heath. Domesday Book Pinnedenna, circa, 1200 Gervase Pinnindene. Old Welsch pinn, -penn eiddyn, ' head of the hillslope.'
Penge (Sydenham). 957 charter ' Se wude fe hatte Pcenge, 1067 charter '"Penceat Wood in Battersea Manor '; 1308 charter, ' Penge in parochia de Badricheseye.' McClure thinks this a worn-down form of Keltic penceat,' chief wood' =Penketh.
Penistone (Sheffield). Domesday Book Pengston, Pangeston, 1551 Pennystone. ' Town of Panga,' or' of (nasalized) Poega,' both names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; Compare Pangbourn and Pendeford (Wolverhampton), before 1400 Penneford.
Penketh (Warrington). Sic 1292, but 1296 Penket; probably as in Penge. Compare 1166-7 Rolls of the great Pipe, Devon, Morchet, probably Old Keltic for ' great wood.'
Penkhull (Stoke-on-T.). Domesday Book Pinchetel, a hybrid, 'height.’ Welsch penn,' of Cytel or Ketel,' a common Old English name. But before1200 Pencul, which looks like Welsch penncul,' slender height or' head' while the present form has been influenced by hull, W. Midllands form of hill. Compare Penkridge.
Penkridge (Stafford), circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary Penno Crucis, 958 charter Pencric, Domesday Book Pancriz, 1158 Rolls of the great Pipe Peincrig, 1160 the same Peincriz, 1297 Pencriche, Pemcriche, before 1400 Penkrich. Welsch penn crych, ' wrinkled, rumpled height.' But McClure and Rhys connect with Creech. The R. Penk seems to be a backformation or contraction from Penkridge before1300' the river of Pencriz, 'before1400 'River Penk.' Compare Pentrich. Duignan's art. is very full; with Penkridge he classes Penncricket Lane, Oldbury, no old forms.
Penllyn (Cowbridge). Probably Welsch penn llwyn, 'head, height with the grove.'
Penn (Wolverhampton). Domesday Book Penne. Old English penn,' a pen, a fold.' There is also Pen Mill (Yeovil), probably Domesday Book Penne too.
Pennard, E. and W. (Somerset). Spurious charter of 681 Pengerd. Cornish pen gerd, ' height with the hedge,’ Cornish gerd, gard, Gaelic garradh, English garth, yard.
Pennigant, Pennegant (N.W. Yorks). Welsch penn y gwant, ' height of the butt or mark,’ or perhaps' Y gwynt' ' of the wind.' The name ' Pennine Range ' seems to have no ancient history.
Pennington (Lymington and Ulverston). Ulverston P. Domesday Book Pennegetun. This must be from Old English penning, poenig, or penig, ' a penny, ' penny town,’ referring to some tax or impost. Compare Penny 4 e in Oxford Dictionary Pennyland, ' land valued at Id. a year,’ is not given in Dictionary till a Gloucester charter before 1300, Penilond.
Pennycomequick (old name of Falmouth). Cornish pen comb ick, ' height of the narrow valley or combe,’ though others say, ' y cum cuig, ' of the valley of the cuckoo.'
Penpont (Altarnon). Domesday Book Penponte. Cornish = 'at the head of the bridge.' Compare Penpont (Scottish). We have the diminitive in Penpwntan (Knighton, Radnor), which means ' little mill- dam ‘; but pont, Latin pons, pontis, is regular Welsch and Cornish for ' bridge.'
Penrith. 1166-7 Rolls of the great Pipe Penred, 1461 Penreth. Welsch penn rhydd, 'red, ruddy height'; though some say, 'head of the ford,’ Welsch rhyd, Old Welsch rit. But what ford? The Eamont is a good bit away. Quite possible is an Eng. origin, from pen for cattle, and rith ' stream,' as in Cottered, Ryde, etc., so ' cattle-fold by the stream.' But against an English origin is the parish of Penrith, sic 1603, in Pembroke, 1594 Penrythe.
Penruddock (Penrith). Probably Welsch penn rhuddog, ' reddish, russet- coloured height.' There is also rhodog, ' a little circle.'
Penryn (Falmouth). Sic 1536. Cornish pen ryn, ' at the head, of the promontory or peninsula,' lit. 'nose.' Compare Rhynns (Scottish). The three places called Penrhyn in Welsch are, of course, of similar origin, Welsch penn rhyn.
Penselwood (Gillingham). Nennian Catalogue Pensauelcoit. Welsch penn sawell coed. ' Wood of the height like a chimney or smoke- hole.' Nearby are the Pen pits, probably Old English Chronicum 658 ' Mt Peonnum,' the same 1016 Peonnan.
Pensnett (Kingswinford). 1248 Peninak, circa, 1300 Penniak, before 1400 Pensyned, Pensned chace. Clearly Welsch, penn sinach, ' head of the ridge ‘; it is on high land. But Pensham, Pershore, is 972 charter Pedneshamme, ' enclosure of Peden.' See -ham.
Pent R. (Essex), and on it Pentlow, or' hill, mound on the Pent.' See -low. Bede Penta. Probably Welsch pant, ' a hollow, a dingle.' On its lower reaches it is called the Blackwater.
Pentney (Swaffham). 1451 Penteney. Probably Old English Pendan ize, ' Penda's isle.' See -ey.
Pentreath (Cornwall). Cornish = ' at the head of the sands or strand.' Compare Pentraeth, Menai Br. and Portreath. Treath is the Gaelic traigh.
Pentrich or Penridge (Derby and Dorset). Derby P. Domesday Book Pentric; Dorset P. 958 charter Pencric. Probably both=Penkridge.
Pentyre (Padstow). Cornish pen or pedn tir, ' head, end of the land.’ Brythonic form of Kintyre (Scottish).
Penwortham (Preston). Sic 1343, but 1140-9 Penuerthan, 1201-2 Pelwrdham, 1204 Penwrthan, 1242 Penwirtham, 1305 Penwurtham. No likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, so this is probably Welsch penn gwrthan, ' at the head of the dell or corrie,' the -an being corrupted, very naturally, on English lips into -am or -ham, q.v.
Penzance. Cornish Pen or pedn sans (Latin sanctus),' holy headland.'
Peopleton (Pershore). 972 charter Piplincgtune, Domesday Book Piplintune, 1275 Pyplinton. A curious and not easily explained corruption. Perhaps Piplin- is a corruption of Pippen, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, the only likely name on record. But 972 is certainly a patronymic, and points to an unrecorded Rolls of the great Pipel, ' town of the sons of Rolls of the great Pipel.' See -ing,
Peppard Common (Henley-on-T.). Probably from some man not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Surrey, Rolls of the great Pipereberge. We also have Pepper Ness (Sandwich), which is 1023 charter Rolls of the great Piperneasse, and must surely be from a man too, and not from Old English Rolls of the great Piper, peppor, and Rolls of the great Piper, ' pepper.' Pepper Wood (Bellbroughton) is 1242 Purperode, which is perhaps ' wood (Old English wudu, of which -ode is corruption) of Purper or Purperd.' A Robt. Pippard is found here in 1294, and Pippard may be from Purperd, a name otherwise unknown.
Peranzabuloe (Cornwall). Domesday Book Lanpiran ('church of Piran '), 1536 Vicaria sancti Perani in Zabulo, ' of St. P. on the sands,' Latin sabulum or sabulo, ' coarse sand, gravel.' Peran is Bryth. form of Kieran, founder of Clonmacnoise monastery, famous Irish saint, died 545. Compare Perranporth and Perranuthnoe in Cornwall, and Peranwell (Scottish); also Peran Towans (New Quay), temp. Hen. I. Perran Tohod, temp. Hen. III. Pyran Thohon. See Towan Hd.
Perry Barr and Hall (Staffordshire). Barr P. Domesday Book Pirio, before 1200 Piri, Pirie, Pirye, before 1300 Pyrie; Hall P. before 1300P yrye. Old English pirige, Mittel English pirie, ' a pear-tree.' Compare 1160-1 Rolls of the great Pipe Somerset Perretona.
Pershore (Worcester). 972 Perscoran, 1056 Old English Chronicum On Perscoran, Domesday Book and 1298 Persore, 1102 Eadmer Perscore. Old English persoc ora, genitive -an, ' peach-growing bank or shore.' Compare Keynor, Windsor, etc. Shore is probably Du., and only found in Mittel English.
Peterborough. Its old names were Burh = ' burgh,' and Mede- hamstede. It received its present name, in honour of St. Peter, from King Edgar. See Old English Chronicum 963.
Petersham (Richmond). 727 charter Pitericheshame, Domesday Book Patricesham (compare Battersea), 1266 Petrichesham. ' Home of Patricius ' or ' Patrick,' which to this day, in Scotland, is constantly interchanged with Peter.
Petridge (Tunbridge). Old English Pedan hrycg, ' Peda's ridge.' Compare Petham, Canterbury and Domesday Book Petelie (Salop). These may be from Peatta. Compare Codx Diplomaticus 949 Peattanig. There is also a Pedewrde in Domesday Book Salop. See next.
Pettaugh (Stowmarket). Domesday Book Pete haga-, Pette haga. 'Meadow, haugh of Piot ' or ' Peott,' Old English halech, halh, which in endings is usually found in its dative hale; see -hall. But Domesday Book's form -haga is very rare, and is Old English haga, ' fenced-in place, enclosure.'
Petworth (Sussex). 1199 Pitteworth. Old English charter Peartinga- wyrth is thought by Birch to be P., but more early forms are needed. The Pet- may be the same as in Petridge. But it should be noted that pet is regular Kentish for pit, Old English pytt, Old Frisian pet. So Petham, Canterbury, is probably ' house beside the (gravel) pit.
Peulinion (Carmarthen)' Welsch=' land of Paulinus, 'the well-known missionary in Bede.
Pevensea. 1049 Old English Chronicum Pefenassee, later MSS. Peuenesea, 1088 the same Pefensea, circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Pevanessa, but Domesday Book Pevenesel, circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Pevenesel. ' Island of Pefen,' perhaps a British not an Old English name. The -ea is Old English iz, ize., Old Norse ey, 'island'; what -el represents is not so certain. Certainly -esel cannot represent isle or island. See these words in Oxford Dictionary
Pevensey, In Old English ‘ea’ means river, and this bit of river probably belonged to a man called Pefan - ‘Pefan’s ea’, or Pevensey.
Pewsey (Wilts), before 1400 Pevesey, = Pusey, ' Pefi's isle.'
Phepson or Fepston (Himbleton, Worcester). 956 charter and Domesday Book Fepsetnatun(e), 1108 Fepsintune. 'Town of the dwellers in Fep,' an unknown name. Compare ' Petsaetna,' s.v. Peak.
Pickering (E. Yorks). Domesday Book Pickeringa, Pickeringe. 'Home of Pichere's sons.' Compare Cartularium Saxonicum 125 Pickeresham; and Pixham Ferry, Worcester, 1275 Pykerham, Pykresham. See -ing.
Pickhill (Thirsk). Domesday Book Picala, Picale. ' Nook of Pice' Compare next, and see -hall, which is rarely corrupted into -hill.
Pickton (Chester). 1340 Pykton, and Pickworth (Rutland), Codex Diplomaticus 812 Piccingawurth,"circa, 1460 Pykeworth. ' Town of Pice,' and ' farm of the descendants of Pice'. See -ton and -worth. Also Picton (Stockton), 1179-80 Piketon, from the same name. Compare Domesday Book.
Pichetorne (Salop), 'Pice's thorn'; also Pickburn (Brodsworth, Yorks), Domesday Book Picheburne, 1202 Pikeburn, Picktree, Co. Durham, 1183 Piktre, and Domesday Book Norfolk, Pichenha',
Pickwell (Devon). Exon. Domesday Book Pedicheswell. As Pedich is not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, it may be corruption of Patrick. See Petersham.
Piddle R. and hamlet (Pershore), and Piddletown (Dorchester). Pershore P. 963 charter Pidele, Domesday Book Pidele, Pidelet, 1275 Pydele North. Dorchester P. Codex Diplomaticus 522 and 656. Pyedele, Domesday Book Pydele. It may be cognate with the English piddle and puddle, but these appear late in recorded English. See Oxford Dictionary There is no Welsch sb. like pydel. Duignan thinks it means ' a small stream.' Compare next, Affpiddle and Tolpiddle.
Piddletrenthide (Dorchester). A difficult name needing further light thrower on it. On Piddle see above. The rest is doubtful. Welsch tren is ' impetuous/and the R. Trent in Welschis Trin., while Welsch hydo is ' sheltering, apt to cover.' But all this is groping in the dark. Possibly -trent-may represent thirteen, Old Norse prettan, Danish tretten, Swedish tretton, nasalized; and hide may be the well-known land measure. See Hyde.
Pidley (Huntingdon). Not in Domesday Book Perhaps' Peda' s mead; the name is in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But Pidsley (Devon) is 930 charter Pidersleage, where Pider is a name hard to identify; in Domesday Book it has become Pidelige.
Pierse Bridge (Darlington), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Perse brycg. Perse is not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; but it is the France Piers. Cannot be connected with, pierce, which is France, and not in Eng. before 1297.
Pilkington (Prestwich). 1301 Pylkington. A patronymic, which seems otherwise unknown.
Pill (Bristol) and West Pill (Pembroke). Pembroke P. c, 1550 Leland Pille. Pill in these cases, in E. Cornwall and S.E. Ireland, is a variant of pool, and generally means ' a tidal creek ' stream.' also ' a running stream.
Pillerton Hersey (Kineton). Domesday Book Pilardetun, Pilardintun (e). 1176 Pilardintone, 1327 Pylardynton, 'village of Pilheard,' a rare name. Bilheard is also found. The Herce family held the manor in Norman days.
Pilley (Lymington and S. Yorks). Yorks P. Domesday Book Pillei. Probably ' isle of Pila ' or ' Pilu.' See next, and -ey.
Pilsley (Chesterfield). Compare before 1100 charter ' Pilesgate,' Melton Mowbray. ' Meadow of Pilu or Pilwine.' There is a ' Pileford ' in Domesday Book Yorks. See -ley.
Pilton (N. Devon and Shepton Mallet). Devon P. circa, 1130 Wm. Malmesbury Piltune. Shepton P. 1233 Pilton. Peel sb1 ' a palisade or fence,' is not in Eng. before 1300; so this is probably ' Pilu's town.' See above, also Pill. But Pilland is Pelland in Exon. Domesday Book
Pimlico (London). So spelt from 1598; first found as a place in 1614. Compare Pymlyco or Bunne Red Cap, 1609, a pamphlet on London life. See, too, N". and Q., 21 Nov. 1908. It seems to be a personal name,' old Ben Pimlico' being referred to in1598. Pimperne (Blendford). 935 charter Pimpern welle. A puzzling name. Old Welsch pimp, Welsch pump is ' five,' but Welsch em is ' a pledge ‘. Old English erne is ' house,’ but there seems no Old English name or word Pimp. Connexion with pimpernel seems impossible. See Oxford Dictionary s.v.
Pinchbeck (Spalding). 810 charter Pyncebek, Domesday Book Picebech. 1290 Pyncenbent (? error). Old English pynce or pinca is ' a point but here it is quite as likely to be name of a man. Compare Domesday Book Norfk, Penkesford, and Pinkneys Green; and see -beck, ' brook.'
Pinchfield (Hertford). 796 charter Pinnelesfeld. ' Field of Pinnel,’ no other known.
Pinhoe (Exeter). 1001 Old English Chronicum Peonnho, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Penho. Tautology. Cornish pen, Welsch pinn, penn, ' a height,’ and Old English hoh. Compare Hoe. Pindrup (Gloster), old Pinthrup, may be similar,with its ending a rare variant of -thorpe,' village.'
Pinkneys Green (Maidenhead), circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Pinchenei, 1161-2 Rolls of the great Pipe Pinchenni, 1298 Pynkeny.' Isle of Pinca,' genitive-an. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 665 Pincan ham, 1160-1 Rolls of the great Pipe Pinchinei (Hants), and Pinchbeck. See-ey.
Pinner (Harrow). Named in 1336 charter Probably, like Asher, Beecher, Hasler, etc., Old English pin-ofr, 'pine-tree bank'; compare Wooler. The name of the rivulet Pin here will be a back formation. Pinley (Warwksh.), before 1200 Pinelei, is also from Old English pin; see -ley. We read in circa, 1205 Layamon 4057, ' In Logres was King Piner ‘; but this can have no connexion here. Pinnar Pike (Yorks) will be Welsch pinnarth,' head of the height,' or' high headland.' Compare Penarth and Red Pike. Baddeley derives Pinnock, Hailes, Domesday Book Pignocsire, later Pinnoc, (probably) from pinnock sb1, found before 1250, as name for the hedge-sparrow or some other bird. The -sire in Domesday Book is for ' shire.' Exon. Domesday Book also has a Pinnoc, probably Keltic for' little hill.'
Rolls of the great Pipe (Lichfield, Hereford) and Rolls of the great Pipe Gate (Market Drayton). Rolls of the great Pipe P. before 1200 Pype, Rolls of the great Pipe, which is Old English for ' Rolls of the great Pipe.' The city water has for long been conveyed by Rolls of the great Pipe from here. Hereford P. is also Domesday Book Rolls of the great Pipe. Compare Rolls of the great Pipe Hayes (' hedges '), Erdington.
Rolls of the great Pipewel (Kettering). Sic Domesday Book and 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Boll. ' Well with a Rolls of the great Pipe from it,’ Old English Rolls of the great Pipe.
Pirbright (Woking). 1300-1400 Pirifrith, Pirifirith, Pirifright, Purifright. Old English piriz fyrhoe, ' pear-tree-wood.' (Compare Paulerspury, Pirehill, Stone, Domesday Book Pirehel, Pireholle, and Potterspury, also next.
Pirton (Hitchin, Worcester, and Awre). Worcester P. 766 charter Pirigton, Pyrigtun, 972 Pyritune, Domesday Book Peritune. Awre P. Domesday Book Peritone, ' pear-tree village.' Compare Perton or Purton (Wolverhampton), circa, 1060 Pertune, Domesday Book Pertone.
Pitchcombe (Stroud), 1253 Pychencombe; and Pitchford (Shrewsbury). 1238 Close B. Pycheford, 1298 Redulphus de Piccheforde.’ Probably from a man Pice, Pic, or 'Picco. See Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum and Compare Pegswood. The verb pitch, ' to throw,’ is not found in Eng. till circa, 1205. See -combe, ' valley.’
Plainanguare (Cornwall). 'Plain for theatrical plays.' Plain is Old France, Latin planus, but guare is late Cornish, Latin varia. Compare Dorchester.
Plaistow (London, Sussex, Selborne). London P. old Plegstow, Selborne P. 1271 La Pleystow, now called Plestov. Old English plegstow, 'play- place, playground.' Compare Plestins (Warwickshire), before 1300 Pleystowe, Pleistouwe. See Stow.
Plashetts (Northumbld). Diminitive of plash sb1, Old English ploese, plese, ' a marsh, or marshy pool.' Plashet is also an English word, found from 1575, and given in Oxford Dictionary as from Old France plassiet plaschet, diminitive from plascq,' a damp meadow.'
Pleck (Gloster and Walsall). Gloster P. 1220, Plocke. Mittel English (found circa, 1315) plecche, ' a small enclosure or plot of ground.’ cognate with Du. plecke with same meaning; but there is no Old English ploecca, as Baddeley thinks.
Plemonstall or Plemstall (Chester). 1340 Plemondstow. ' Plegmund's place.' See Stow. But -stall is Old English steall, steel, also ' a place,' then ' a stall.'
Plumpton (Penrith, Preston, Yorks, and Lewes). Preston P. Domesday Book Pluntun. Yorks P. Domesday Book Plontone, 1206 Plumton, 1490 Plompton. Probably ' plum village.' Old English plume. No name like Pluma in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum For the intrusion of p compare Bampton, Brompton, etc.
Plumstead (Woolwich and Norwich). Woolwich and Norwich P. Domesday Book Plumestede; Norwich P. 1450 Plumbsted. Old English plume-ted, ' plum- place.' Compare Plumptree (Notts), Domesday Book Pluntre.
Plymouth. Sic 1495, but 1231 Close R. Plimmue, 1234 the same Plim muth, circa, 1450 Fortescue, The Plymouthe. Plympton, Domesday Book Plintone, circa, 1160 Plintona, 1218 Plinton. Plymstock, Domesday Book Plemestoch. Allon R. Plym. WELSCH plym, Latin plumbum, is' lead' but some think the roo tsimply means here' river.'
Plynlimmon Mountain (Wales). 1603 Owen Penplymon. Welsch Pumlumon; circa, 1200 Giraldus Cambrensis Montana de Elenit or Elennith. Pum llumon seems to be Welsch for ' five beacons.' Old Welsch pimp, Welsch pum pump,' five,' and llumon,' beacon.' Compare Ben Lomond (Scottish), Gaelic Laomuinn.
Pocklington (York). Domesday Book Poclinton, 14 times, 1202 Pokelinton, 1298 Pokelington. Probably ' town of Puccla,' genitive -lan, from O.E, pucel, ' a goblin,' probably connected with pucJc, ' a fairy.' Compare Pucklenchurch, and Pockley, E. Riding, Domesday Book Pochelac (for this ending, compare Filey) . Possibly this last is from Poha, or Pohha, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 1161-2 Rolls of the great Pipe Pocheslea, Northants.
Poldhu (the Lizard). Cornish =' black pool.'
Polesworth (Tamworth). Old Pollesworth, Polsworth, 'farm of Pol.' Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Policote, and Codex Diplomaticus 641 Polesleah.
Pollington (Wellingborough)- Compare Grant of before 675 ' Poddenhalem’ Winchester. Old English Poddantun,' town of Podda,' in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Podmore (Eccleshall) Domesday Book Podemore ('moor'), and Poden (Wore), 860 charter Poddanho, Podenho. See Hoe.
Polurrian (the Lizard). Cornish pol yrhian, 'pool at the boundary,’ or else, 'pool of St. Urian.' Compare Centurion's Corpse. Others say from St. Ruman or Ruan, whose bones were translated to Tavistock Abbey in 960. St. Kuan's, Major and Minor, are near.
Ponsonby (Whitehaven). 'Dwelling of Punzun,' in France Ponson, on record circa, 1300, whilst another Punzun is named 1179-80 in Rolls of the great Pipe, Yorks. See-by.
Po ntefract. sic 1608, circa, 1097 Orderic Fractus Pons, 1120 Bull Pontefractum, circa, 1160 John Hexh. Pontifractus. Latin pontefracto, ' broken bridge,' a rare type of English name, probably referring to the bridge broken down by Wm. I., 1069. Remains of a Roman bridge were still visible in Leland's time. Compare Catterick.
Pontesbury (Shrewsbury). Probably Old English Chronicum 661 Posentesbyrg, ' Burgh, castle of Posente.' See -bury.
Pontrilas (Hereford). Welsch pont tri glas, 'bridge over three streams.' It is so still. Pontfadoc (Cheshire.) , is for Pont Madoc, ' son of Owain Gwynedd,' who, the natives say, discovered America ! F is aspirated m.
Pontypool (Monmouth) pool,' but commonly held to be ponta ap Howel,' Powell's bridge.'
Pontypridd (Glamorgan), circa, 1540 Leland Pont Rherhesh, Welsch pont yr hesg, 'bridge of the rushes.' But renamed pont y pridd, lit. ' bridge of clay,' for pont yr hen dy pridd,' bridge of the old house of earth,' erected by Wm. Edwards, 1755.
Poole. 1234 Close R. La Pole, circa, 1450 Fortescue Polle havyn. Old English pol, Cornish pol, ' a pool.' But Pool, W. Riding, is Domesday Book Pouele, which may be' pool-nook.' See-hall.
Poplar (London), circa, 1350 Popler. There is no reason to doubt Dr. Woodward, writing in 1720, ' Popler or Poplar is so called from the multitude of poplar-trees (which love a moist soil) growing there in former times.' The Manor of Poplar belonged to Sir John de Pulteney, temp. Edw. III., which gives about the earliest mention of the name of the tree in England (see Oxford Dictionary), Old France poplier, Latin populus.
Poppleton (York). Domesday Book Popletune, Popletunis, plural for P. Upper and Nether. ' Poplar-tree town,' late Old English popul, dialect popple. But Papplewick, Nottingham. Domesday Book Paplewic, is from Old English papol, 'pebble.'
Por(t)chester (Fareham). circa, 150 Ptolemy .. the Rom. Portus Magnus, 'great harbour circa, 1170 Wace Porecester, circa, 1205 Layam. Portchaaestre. Latin portus, ' harbour,’and castrum, ' camp.' See Chester, and Portsmouth. Identification with Cair Peris in Nennius is very doubtful.
Porcuil (Falmouth). Local form Perkil. Cornish porth chil, 'harbour on the neck of land,’ which it is. Chil is same as Gaelic caol, ' narrow, a strait, a kyle.'
Poringland (Norwich). Domesday Book Porringelanda, Porring is an otherwise unknown patronymic.
Porlock (Somerset). 1052 Old English Chronicum Portlocan, 1275 Porlok. Port-loca is ' enclosed harbour,' loca, ' an enclosure.' Compare Matlock.
Porthcawl (Glamorgan). Welsch porth cawell, ' harbour of the weir '; or ' of the hampers or baskets.' Cornish dialect cawel, cowel, ' a fish creel,' Old English cawl, ceawl,' a basket.' Compare Calbourne.
Porth Gaverne, Isaac, Quin (Padstow). Cornish porth,' harbour,' Latin portus, ' of the goat,' gavern, ' of the corn,' iz, with its adjunctive izick, ' of corn,' and ' white,' gwin.
Porthmear (Cornwall). Cornish=' great harbour,' Mear is cognate with English more, Latin major, Gaelic mor, as well as Welsch mawr.
Portinscale (Keswick). Old Portingscale. Thought to be ' the harbour or ferry by' the hut,' of the viking, Old Norse skali, ' a shieling, a hut.'
Portisham (Dorchester), before 1250 Owl and Night. Porteshom. ' Home on the harbour.' See above and -ham.
Portishead (Bristol). Pronunciation Posset. 'Head, headland at the port or harbour.'
Portland. Sic before 1130 Sim. Dur.; Old English Chronicum 837 Port, various reading, Portlande i.e.,' land forming a harbour or shelter.'
Port Llanw (S. Welsch). Thought to be circa, 150 Ptolemy Louentinon. Doubtful.
Portreath (Redruth). Cornish porth treath,' harbour on the strand or sands.' Compare Pentreath.
Portskeweth (Chepstow). 1065 Old English Chronicum Portascihd, Domesday Book Porteschiwet, circa, 1130 Lib. Land. Porthisceuin, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Portascith, Giraldus Cambrensis Itin. Eskewin. Doubtful. Perhaps Welsch porth yscuit, ' harbour at the shoulder.' But the Welsch name is said to be Porthiscoed? ysgoad, ' a thrusting aside.' See McClure, p. 300, note.
Portsmouth. Old English Chronicum 501 refers to Port, and to a chief Port who landed here. circa, 1097 Orderic Portesmude, 1203 Portesmuthe, 1213 Portesmue. Very likely it is simply Latin portus, ' harbour,' but we have Portengton (Yorks) Domesday Book Portiton, Porinton, which must be from a man Fort. In 1160-1 Rolls of the great Pipe Hants, we have Portesdon or Poetsdown.
Postwick (Norwich). 1452 Possewyk. Nothing likely in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum so probably Old English post-wic,' house, dwelling with the post.’ But Postlip (Gloster), Domesday Book Poteslepe, 1175 Postlepa, is probably ' Potta'a leap.’ Compare Birdlip.
Potton (Sandy), before 1130 Pottona. Possibly ' pot-town,’ Old Norse pott-r, ' a pot.' Perhaps from a man Pohta or Poto, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe, Potton (Yorks), not in Domesday Book, but there we have Potterton, Domesday Book Potertun; this is as early as, or earlier than, any quatation for potter, in Oxford Dictionary Potterspury (Stony Stratford) is, however, in 1229 simply Estpirie. See Paulerspury. Potterne (Wilts) is Domesday Book Poterne, where erne is certainly Old English for ' house.'
Poulton le Fylde (Preston) and Poulton (Fairford and Birkenhead). Preston P. Domesday Book Poltun, Old English for ' village by the pool.' Fa. P. 1303 Polton.
Powick (Worcester). Charter Poincgwic, Domesday Book Poiwic, 1275 Poyswyke, before 1300 Poywick. Poineg- is clearly a patronymic, from Po or Poha, see -ing so this is ' dwelling-place of Poha's descendants.' See-wick.
Powys (this includes Flint, Montgomery, Merioneth), also Powys Cast. (Welschpool), c. 1200 Giraldus Cambrensis Powisia, Ann. Cambridgeshire 828 Poywis, 1297 Powys. Welsch powys,' a state of rest.'
Poynings (Hurstpierpoint, Sussex). Domesday Book Poninges. A patronymic. Nothing in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Poynton (Stockport) is Domesday Book Pontone; so evidently Pon was a man's name.
Praze (Camborne). Corn, pras, Latin pratum,' a meadow.'
Prees (Whitchurch) and Preese (Lytham). Lytham P. Domesday Book Preese Welsch prys, pres, ' copse, shrubs.' Compare Dumfries (Scottish). Peeesall (Preston) is Domesday Book Pressouede, where the ending is doubtful; probably it is for' wood, 'and so a tautology. Also see -hall.
Prendergast (Haverford W.). Sic 1603 Owen. The name is also found with same spelling in Berwicksh., 1100 Prenegest, 1451 Prendregest, also Plenderguest; whilst in Roxburghshire is Plenderleith, 1587 Prenderleith. A puzzling name. The first part may be for Old Welsch premter, found in Irish as prenter, ' a presbyter, a priest,' and the second may be, Welsch gest, cest, ' a deep glen between two hills.' Frisain gaast, ' a morass,' seems also possible.
Prescot. ' The cot or cottage of the priest.' Old English preost, Old Norse prest-r.
Presteign (Radnor) and Preston (19 in Postal Guide. Domesday Book Yorks, Bucks, and Salop, Prestone, Prestun; the same Warwick, Prestetone. All = ' priest's town.' In Welsch Presteign is Llanandras or ' church of St. Andrew.'
Prestwich (Manchester). 1301 Prestwyche. Old English preost-wic, ' priest's dwelling.’ Compare Prestwick (Scottish) and Prestwood (Stourbridge), before 1200 Prestewude; also Prestbury (Cheltenham), Bede Preosdabyrig, Domesday Book Presteberie. See-bury.
Prickwillow (Ely). Called from a willow, used for making pricks or skewers. Compare the' spindle-tree.'
Princethorpe or Prinsthorpe (Rugby), before1300 Prenesthorpe. ' Village ' of Preonm i.e. the pin or ‘brooch,’ Scottish preen. Compare Preen (Salop).
Priors Heys (Tarvin, Cheshire) An ‘extra- parochial liberty, of 1.100 acres, with houses. See Oxford Dictionary hay sb2, Old English hege, 3 heie, 4-7 hey(e), ' a hedge.'
Privett (Alton). Probably Old English Chronicum 755 Pryfetes floda. Probably a personal name of unknown origin. The shrub privet is not surely known in English before 1542, and its etymology is very doubtful. Can Pryfet be for prefect, Latin praefectus?
Prudhoe or Prudhow (Bywell, Northumberland). circa, 1175 Fantosme Prudhame (=ham), before 1200 Prudchou. Probably ' Prud's height.' There is one Prud in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum in Cornwall, while ' proud ' (Old English prut, prud) is not used re things till circa, 1290. See Hoe.
Puckeridge (Ware), This is a name of the nightjar. See Oxford Dictionary But the placename is probably ' Pucca's ridge.' Compare Pouke Hill and Powke Lane (Staffordshire), Puckington (Ilminster) and a ' Pokebrook,' 1274 in Lines. Old forms needed. They may all come from puck or pook, Old English puca, Old Norse puki,' a sprite, demon, fairy.' See Oxford Dictionary, puck sb.1
Pucklechurch (Bristol). 946 Old English Chronicum Puc(e)lan cyrcan, Domesday Book Pulcrecerce, Sim. Dur. ann. 946, Puclecirce. Old English for ' church of the goblin,' pucel, probably connected with pucel, ' a fairy.' Compare Pocklington and Pucklenash, Picklenash (Gloster), ' fairies' ash tree.' Gloster also has a Puckshole.
Pudsey (Leeds). Domesday Book Podechesaie, 1183 Puteaco, 1203 Pudeckshee, 1213 Picteaceo. 'Isle of Podeca' (‘? = Bodeca, 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum). See -ey. ' Poody-Crofte ' sic 1423 Coventry Leet Bk., seems to be from the same name. It is not in Duignan.
Pulloxhill (Beds), circa, 1200 Polochessele. 'Hill of Polocative' This can hardly be the same name as Pollock (Renfrewshire), 1158 Pollock, Pullock, though it may. The -ele may be for hale,' nook'; see -hall; or -sele may be Old English sele, 'a hall, a house.'
Puncknoll (Dorchester). 'Knoll, hillock of Punt,' 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, short form of Puntel. Compare 940 charter Punteles treow (Dorset).
Punsborne (Hatfield). Not in Domesday Book, circa, 1495 Pamsborow. It must be from the same name q,s. Panshanger, also in Herts, no old forms, ' wooded slope of Pan.' The ending -borne is-bourne,' brook,' while -borow is -burgh or -boro', q.v. Puncheston (Letterston, Pembroke) is 1603 Owen Pontchardston, a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; but Punchard is common in medieval France.
Purbeck. 1205 Purbice, 1410 Pur-brick. ' Brook of the ram, or wether lamb,’ Old English pur found only in pur lamb; or 'of the snipe or bittern,’ also Old English pur. Compare Purfleet and Purton and see -beck.
Purfleet (Essex). Old English pur-fleot, ' snipe or bittern creek or inlet.' Compare Fleetwood.
Purleigh (Maldon) and Purley (Reading and Surrey). Reading P. Domesday Book Porlei, before 1290 Purle. Maldon P. Pirob. 998 charter Purlea. Thought by Skeat to be, like Purton, 'pear-tree meadow'; but old forms are against this, and probably these names are to be taken as in Purbeck.
Purston (Pontefract). Domesday Book Prestun, and so=Preston. But Purshall, (Bromsgrove) is before 1300 Pershull, ' hill of Piers,' Compare ' Piers Plowman.'
Purton (Swindon and Berkeley). Swindon P. 796 charter Perytun, Puritun, later Pyryton, pear-tree town.' Old English pirige, ' pear- tree,’ peru, ' a pear.' Compare Paulerspury.
Pusey (Berks), before 900 AElfred's Will Pefesigge, later Peuesige; 1066-87 Chronicum Abingdon, Pusie, Domesday Book Pesei, before 1290 Pesey. Old English Pefes -ize, ' isle of Pefi,' an unknown man. Compare Pewsey.
Putloe (Standish). before 1200 Puthleleye, 1274 Potteley; Putney (London) old Putton -heath; and Puttenham (Guildford). All from the common Old English name Put(t)a, -an. In the first case -ley ' meadow, 'has varied with -loe or-low,' burial mound.'
Pwllheli. Pronunciation pool-thelly. Welsch for ' brine pool.' Compare Treheli, ' house of brine,''salt-house,' in Carnarvon also.
Pwll Crochan (Fishguard), 1377 Porttraghan, Tax. Eccl. Portcrachan, and Pwlly Crochan (Colwyn Bay). Probably not' pool of the pot ' for drawing water, or ' like a cauldron,' same as English crock; but from Welsch clochan, ' a little bell ‘; the liquids l and r easily interchange. There is another Pwll Crochan, N. of Llanrian.
Pytchley (Kettering). Domesday Book Pihteslea, 'meadow of Piht,' or ' Peoht.' See-ley.

Quadring (Spalding), before 1100 Quadaveringge. Seemingly a patronymic; possibly from Wadbeorht or Vadipert, or from Wadweard, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But this is quite uncertain. See -ing.
Quantocks (Somerset) and East Quantoxhead. Charter attrib. to 681 Cantuc-uudu ('wood'). Domesday Book Cantocheheve' (' head,' Old English heafod). Welsch cant uch, ' upper, higher circle.' Welsch uch is same root as Ochils (Scottish) and Gaelic wachdar, ' the top, upper part,' so common in Scottish placenames as Auchter-.
Quarlton (Bolton). 1292 Quelton. Probably 'town of the quarry,’ still in north dial, quarrel, Old France quarriere. See Oxford Dictionary s.v. quarrel and quarry sbs.2 We find in 1298 ' Thomas de Querle,' now Quarrel! (Kinnaird, Stirlingsh.). '
Quarnford (Buston). 1227 Querneford. ' Ford of the quern or ' hand mill,’ Old English cweorn, cwyrn. Compare Quarndon (Derby), ' hill like a quern,’ Quernhowe (Yorks) and Quorn. However, Baddeley thinks the Querns (Cirencester) corruption of Crundles, sic 1286, see Crundale.
Quarrington (Coxhoe, Durham). before 1130 Sim. Dur. Queormingtun, 1183 Querindune, Queringdona. Seemingly patronymic, from Old English cweorn, ' a quern, a hand mill.'
Quatbridge (Bridgenorth). 895 Old English Chronicum Cwatbrycge; Domesday Book Quatford and Quatone, circa, 1097 Orderic Quatfort now Quatford Castle; circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Quadruge, Quathruge. Some think from Old Welsch coit, Welsch coed, ' a wood,' which is not very likely. There is an obscure quat, ' a pimple, a boil,' found from 1579. The Quat-is quite doubtful. Compare Quothquhan (Scottish).
Quedgeley (Gloster). circa, 1142 Quedesley, circa, 1155 Quedesleg; also perhaps 1136 Quadresse. Probably ' mead of (an unrecorded) Owed.' Baddeley says, compare Quither (Tavistock), 1286 Quedre; but it is probably Keltic. Compare Welsch cwthr, ' excretory orifice, anus.'
Queensborough (Chatham), circa, 1460 Queneborow. Called after Phihppa, Queen of Edward III., who died in 1369. Edward built a castle here. See -burgh.
Queen's Camel (Cadbury, Somerset). See Camel.
Quemmerford (Calne). Thought to be Kelt, cumber, 'confluence.' Compare the Breton Quimper and Comberbach.
Quinton (Birmingham and Gloster). Birmingham Q. 840 charter Cwentune, 1275 Quintone. Gloster Q. 848 charter Cwentone, Domesday Book Quenintune. Old English cwoen, cwen(n), tun, 'woman's' or 'queen's village.' This is the same name as Quemington, also in Gloster, Domesday Book Quenintone.
Quoisley Mere (Cheshire). Perhaps 'meadow of the heifer or quey,' 6-9 quoy, only in North dialect from Old Norse kviga, ' a heifer.'
Quorn (Loughborough). See Quarnford.
Quy (Cambridgeshire). circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Coeie, Choeie, Domesday Book Coeia, 1210 Cueye, 1261 Queye, 1272 Coweye, Cowye, Old English cu -ege, ' cow island.' Compare Sheppey, and quey (Scottish) for ' a heifer, a young cow,' Old Norse kviga, also Domesday Book Devon, Coie. See -ey.

Raby (Cheshire and Darlington). Cheshire R. Domesday Book Rabie. Darlington R. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Rabi, Raby; this might be Old Norse for ' dwelling made with poles or stakes,' ra; but this last also means ' a roedee.' See -by.
Radcliffe (4 at least). Devon R. Exon. Domesday Book Radeliva. Manchester R. 1343 Radclive, Radecliffe. Also Domesday Book Bucks Radeclivo. ' Red cliff,’ Old English read (3 roed) clif. Compare Ratcliffe-upon-Soar, Domesday Book Radeclive. Radbrook (Forest of Dean), is 1204 Redebroc.
Radfield (Cambridgeshire). circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Radefelde, Radesfeld, Domesday Book Radefelle, 1284 Radefeld, 1302 Radfeld. Probably Roeda’s field; though here and in other names in Rad-, as Skeata dmits, an origin from Old English read, 3 reed, ' red,’ is always possible. Compare 1158-9 Rolls of the great Pipe Rademora (Staffordshire). Radholme (Yorks), is Domesday Book Radun, an old locative ' on the roads.’ Old English rad. See -ham vwith which -holme often interchanges.
Radford (Worcestershire. and Leamington). Worcestershire R. 1275 Radeford, Leamington R. Domesday Book Redeford, before 1189 Radeford. Perhaps 'red, reddish ford,' Old English read, 3 reed, 'red'; but perhaps, as in Radbourne, ' reedy ford '; Old English hreod, (h) read, ' a reed.' Also compare two ntext. Radham (Gloster) is 955 charter Hreodham.
Radlett (Herts), No old forms. Skeat thinks, Old English rad (ge)loet, ' road meeting-point.' But Domesday Book Herts has Radeuuelle, which is probably 'well of Rada.' Compare next; and 1161-2 Rolls of the great Pipe Raden -heoh’? ' height of Rada,' Bucks and Beds.
Radley (Abingdon), before 1290 Radeley, circa, 1520 Raydeley, probably ' red meadow,' as in Radcliffe see -ley. But Skeat compares; Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 85 ' Radeleage ' (Wilts), which he derives from Rada or Roeda, a pet form of one of the many names in Raed-; whilst Radbourne (Southam), is 980 charter Hreodburne or 'reedy brook.'
Radnor (Wales, and old hamlet near Congleton). Domesday Book Raddrenore (probably the central r is an error). Old English raden ora, ' edge of the road or ride '; probably in the first case the Romanic road which ran from Wroxeter to Abergavenny and Caerleon, The Welsch name is Maesyfed or-hyfed, probably for hyfaidd,' field of the dauntless one.'
Radstock (Bath). Looks like Old English rad -stoc, ' place on the road.' Compare Stoke. But it may be from a man, as in next. Compare too Radway, Banbury, Domesday Book Radeweie, Rodeweie, which Duignan thinks ' red way,' because the soil here is reddish marl.
Radston (Northants). circa, 1275 Radistone; also Rodeston, Probably ' town of Rada or Rodo,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum There is also a ' Radeston,’? Salop, circa, 1205 in Layam. But Radwick (Gloster) is c, 955 charter Hreodwica, ' reed-built ' or ' thatched dwelling.'
Rainford and Rainhill (St. Helens). 1189-98 Raineford, 1202 Reineford; 1190 Raynhull, 1246-56 Reynhill, 1382 Raynhull, From some man with a name in Raegen- or Regen-. They are very common, see Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Regenbeald, Regenhild, etc. Rainors (Cumberland) is said to have been formerly pronunciation Renneray, which is pure N. See -ay. Raines Brook (Warwickshire), before 1200 Reynesbroc, is known to be from Rainald, the Domesday Book tenant of the manor.
Rainham (Chatham). 811 Roegingaham. Evidently a patronymic, from Ecegen or Regen, a name generally found in one of its numerous combinations, Regenburh, Regenfrith, Regenheard, etc. Rainton Thirsk, Domesday Book Rainincton 1183 Rayntona, will have a similar origin; only here it is a patronymic. Domesday Book also calls it Rainingewat, where -wat will be Old English weed, ' ford.’ Compare Wath.
Raisthorpe (Yorks). Domesday Book Redrestorp. 'Rethers's place.' There is one Regder and one Ratherus in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -thorpe.
Rake (East Liss), Rake End, and the Rakes (Staffordshire). Old Norse rak, ' a stripe, streak,' Norwegian dialect raak, ' footpath,' found in 14th century, English as rake, ' a way, a (rough) path '; still dial, and Scottish
Rampton (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Ramtune, Domesday Book Rantone, 1210 Ramptone. ' Village of rams,' Old English ramm. Compare Foxton and Shepton.
Ramsbottom (Manchester). A 'bottom,' Old English botm, north. E. bodome, is ' a valley, a fertile valley.' Compare Boddam (Scottish) and Starbottom. As to the Ram- compare next and Ramsley (Salop), before 1100 Hremesleage, Domesday Book Rameslege, ' Hraem's or Ram's lea.’
Ramsbury (Hungerford). circa, 988 charter Hremnesburg, circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Reamnesbyrig. ' Town of Ramni,' a Saxon name found also in Ramshorn (Scottish). The root is Old English hremn, ' raven.' Compare next, and 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Rammesberia (Yorks).
Ramsden (Charlbury, Oxford). Old English charter Remnesdun. 'Hill of Remni,' see above. Perhaps it is circa, 1450 Oseney Reg. 134 Ramme dune. But Ramsden Heath, Billericay, is Domesday Book Ramesdana, ' Dean, valley of Ramni.' See -den.
Ramsey (Hunts). Codex Diplomaticus iv. 300 Hrames ege, Domesday Book Ramesy, circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Ramesia. circa, 1130 Eadmer Rammesei, before 1150 charter Ramesige. Not originally ' isle of rams,' Old English ram(m), but ' isle of Hroem ' or ' the Raven,' Old English hroem, variant of hroemn, hrafn, ' raven.' Compare Hremmesden, now, says Kemble, Ramsdean (Hants).
Ramsgate. circa, 1540 Ramesgate, ' Road,' Old English geat, ' of Ram,' a fairly common name. Compare 940 charter Hremnes geat (Wilts), B.C.8. 356 Rames cumb, near Hallow on Severn, and Ramsden.
Ranby (Lincoln and Retford). Both Domesday Book Randebi, ''Rand's dwelling.' Compare Ranworth (Norwich), Old English charter Randworth. See-by and-worth. But all names in Rand-, like thes eand Randwick (Stroud), 1120 Randwyke (Old English wic 'dwelling'), may be from Old English rand, rond, ' brink, bank,' Old Norse rond, ' shield rim, stripe,' Swedish and Danish rand,' rim, border,' also in Du., seen in the famous Rand (Johannesburg). Compare Domesday Book Lines, Rande.
Rapes of Sussex. Domesday Book In Rap de Hastinges. One of six districts into which Sussex is divided. Oxford Dictionary says rape may mean ' land measured by the rope,' Old English rap, Old Norse reip; but that there is no positive proof. Yet compare Orderic 678 c, Omnes carucatas quas Angli hidas vocant funiculo [Randolf Flambard] mensus est et descripsit. Compare Rope.
Raskelf (Easingwold). Domesday Book Raschel. Old English ra- scelfe, 'roe-deer's shelf of rock.' Rastrick (Brighouse). Domesday Book Rastric. Old English roest hryeg, Old Norse rast hrygg-r, ' rest ' or ' resting ridge.'
Rathmell (Settle). Domesday Book Rodemele. 'Sand-dune of the rood,’ or ' cross,’ Old English rod, with the North, before A ' mell ' is Old Norse mel-r; see Meole.
Ratley (Banbury). Domesday Book Rotelei, before 1200 Rottelei, before 1300 Rotley. 'Good, excellent meadow,’ Old English rot; or from rot, 'a root, an edible root.' See -ley.
Rattlesden (Bury St. E.). 1161-2 Rolls of the great Pipe Radleston, circa, 1420 Lydgate Ratlysdene. Older forms needed. ' Wooded valley of.’? Roedweald variant Radoald, Roedwealh variant Ratuvalah, or Roedwulf variant Rathwulf or Radulf, all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -den and -ton.
Raughton Head (Dalston, Cumberland). 1189 Rachton. Doubtful; no likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and it is phonetically difficult to derive from rache, Old English roecc, 3-6 racch, 4-5 rach, 'a hunting-dog'; so probably named from some unknown man. See-ton.
Ravenglass (S. Cumberland). Probably Welsch yr afon glas,' the greenish or bluish river,' afon pronunciation as in Stratford on Avon. All other explanations seem to break down. But we have 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe ' Ravenewich,' (Cumberland), dwelling of Raven' or ' Hrafn.' See next.
Raveningham (Norwich), before 1300 Eccleston Ravingham. A patronymic. Probably most names in Raven-, like Ravenstone (Bucks), etc., come from a man, as in Hrafnsaust and Hrafnseyri (Iceland), known to be called from a settler. See, too, Ramsbury, Ramsey, and Renhold, and compare 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe 'Ravenewich' (Cumberland).
Ravensthorpe (Dewsbury and Northampton). Dewsbury R. Domesday Book Rag(h)enel-torp. Northampton R. Grant of 664 Ragenildetorp. ' Village of Ragenald' or Regenweald, modern Reginald. Ragh-has become Raw-and then Rav-. There is also in N. Yorks a Raventhorp, Domesday Book Ravenetorp, from a man Raven. See above and see -thorpe.
Ravenstone (Olney and Ashby de la Z.). Olney R. Domesday Book Raveneston. The man ' Raven's village ' and Ravensworth (Richmond, Yorks, and Chester-Le-Street). Richmond R. Domesday Book Raveneswet. Ch. R., before 1130 Sim. Dur. Raveneswurthe. The man ' Raven's farm.' See above and -worth.
Rawdon (Leeds). Domesday Book Rodum, Rodun. Old locative ' at the roods' or ' crosses.' But Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. derive Rawcliff and -fold (Lanes), from Old Norse raud-r, ' red.'
Rawmarsh (Rotherham). Domesday Book Rodemesc (for -mersc), 1206 Rumareis. Probably ' rough mars,’ Old English ruw, 3 ru, 3-5 rowe, now row, variant of rough. Domesday Book's Rode- maybe an error; or from a man Roda, 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Marsh is Old English mersc, moersc, but -mareis is rather the now almost obs. marish, Old France marais, mareis, as in Beaumaris.
Rawnsley (Hednesford). Duignan says modern, and probably named from Rawnpike Oak half a mile away. See Rivington Pike.
Rawtenstall (Rossendale). Sic 1585, but 1465 Rowtanstall. It was on a ' Rowtan clough,’ and so probably means ' roaring, noisy, boisterously windy place.' It is Oxford Dictionary's rout vb2 from Old Norse rjota, Norse ruta, ' to roar,' in Eng. 3 rute, 4 route, rowte. Cognate with rout vb3, Old Norse rauta, Sw. rota,' to bellow or roar.’ 1513 Douglas speaks of' rowtand Caribdis, 'and' a haly routand well,' while Carlyle in his Reminiscences speaks of ' a rowting Brig.' It is possible, however, that the first part is the name Hrothwine or Rothin, of whom there are 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; -stall is Old English steall, steel, ' place, stable.' Compare Rowten or Routen Cave (Ingleborough), and Ratten, older Routand Clough (Thieveley Pike).
Rayleigh (Essex). Perhaps 'meadow on the stream.' Ray or Rea is a frequent name for' a small river,' the r coming on by ‘attraction, from the preceding Old English art, om thoere ea, ‘on the river. Compare Nechells, 1161-2 Rolls of the great Pipe Raelega (Devon) and Rye. But Sir H. Maxwell thinks = Realees (Selkirk), Old English ra-leah, ‘roe meadow,’ This is confirmed by Raygill, Craven, Domesday Book Roghil. See -gill, ‘ravine’.
Reach (Swaffham, Cambridgeshire). 1279 Reche, a 'reach' or extension of land, Old English roecan, ' to reach.' The earliest quatation for the sb. in Oxford Dictionary, is 1536, Limehowse Reche.
Reading. Pronunciation Redding. 871 Old English Chronicum Readingas, 1006 the same Raedingan (late dativ Pl.), Domesday Book Redinges, 1254 charter Rading. Patronymic. ' Home of the descendants of Reada,' or the Red, now found spelt as a surname Reid or Reade.
Reculver (N. Kent), circa, 410 Not. Dign. Regulbi, before 716 charter Raeulf, Bede Racuulfe, Raculph. Old English Chronicum 679, Raculf, Reculf 811 charter Reacolvensa ecclesia, 1241 Racolor; also Raculfs Cestre, where Raculf is imagined to be a man's name. The root is unknown, but the present form has been influenced by Old English culfre, culfer,' a culverdove or woodpigeon.'
Redannick (the Lizard). Corn. = ' place of ferns.' Compare Welsch rhedyn Irish raithneach, Gaelic raineach, ' fern.' The -ick is the same ending as Irish and Gaelic -ach, ' place of,' or ' abounding in.' Compare Trelissick, etc.
Redbridge (Southampton). Perhaps Bede iv. 16. ' A place called Hreutford, various reading Reodford ' i.e., 'ford -with reeds'; but compare Retford. Redcar (Whitby). Not in Domesday Book 1179-80 Redkier. ' Red rock,’ Old English carr, cognate with or derived from Keltic car, ' a rock.’ See Care Rocks (Sc).
Redcliffe (Bristol). Domesday Book Redeclive. Old English for 'red cliff.' Compare Cleveland. There is another' Redeclive' in Cheshire Domesday Book
Redditch. (843 charter in readan sloe, ' to the red slough '). 1300' Redediche,1642 Redditch, Reddiche,' red ditch; but Reddish (Stockport) is 1296-97 Radish, which is quite doubtful. The vegetable radish is found in Old English as redic, 3 redich, 5 radish.
Redesdale (Mid-Northumberland). 1421 Redesdale, Rydesdale, Ridesdale, before 1600 Risdale. On R. Rede, which may be Old English hreut, hreod, or read, 4-5 red,' a reed.'
Redmarley d'Abitot (Newent). 963 charter Reode maere leage, and 978 the same Rydem-, Domesday Book Redmerleie, Ridmerlege, 1275 Rudmereley, Redmereligh, Rudmareligh. Probably Old English hreod mere leah, ‘reedy lake meadow,’ see-ley. But it may be as in Rodmarton. Urse d'Abitot held lands here under the Bps. Of Worcester, in Domesday Book's time.
Redmire (Yorks). Domesday Book Ridemare, Rotmare. Probably' reedy lake,' Old English hreod, read, ' a reed,' and mere. Mire is Old Norse myr-r, ' swamp, bog,' and not found in English before 1300. Compare above.
Rednal (Bromsgrove). 730 charter Wreodan hale, 1275 Wredinhale. ' Nook of Wreoda,' not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -hall.
Red Pike (Wastwater). 1322 le Rede Pike. Pike, Oxford Dictionary sb2 is the North. English name for a pointed or peaked hill or mountain and is chiefly found in Northan, Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumberland, and the Scottish borders. The earliest case cited is circa, 1250 Lane. Charters, ' Ad Winterhold pike.' The furthest S. cases seem to be Thieveley Pike, Rossendale, Rivington Pike, Mid- Lanes, and Backden, Haw, and Pinnar Pikes in Yorks. The range is much the same as the kindred fell, and confirms the suggested derive from Norse or West Norse dialect pik,' a pointed mountain,' piktind, ' a peaked summit.' There is one curiously corrupted example in Northumberland, Wansbeck, which is originally Wannys pike.
Redruth (Cornwall). Cornish rhe Druth, 'stream, swift current of the Druids.'
Red Swire (Northumberland). circa, 1375 Red Swyre, Old English swira, 'neck, pass.' Compare Manor Sware (Sc).
Reedham (Norfolk), circa, 1300 Redhamme, 1424 Redeham, 1460 Redham, ' enclosure,' Old English hamm, ' among the reeds.' See Redesdale, and -ham.
Reepham (Lincoln), before 1100 charter (dated 664). Refham. Perhaps 'home on the rock.' Old Norse rif, ' a rock, a reef.' Change from f to p is very rare. It may be from Roefen, a name 3 times in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Reeth (Richmond, Yorks). Domesday Book Rie. Old English rid, ride, ‘a stream.; Compare Rye.
Reigate. 1199 Regat, later Reygate. ' Gate, opening (Old English geat, 2-6 gat) on the ridge,' Old English hrycg, 4 reg, 4-5 regge, 5 ryge. Its pre-Conquest name was Cherchefelle,' church-field.'
Reighton (Bridlington). Domesday Book Rictone. Prob, 'town of Rica,’ one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Remenham (Henley). Domesday Book Rameham, before 1290 Remeham, 1316 Remenham. Probably ' home of the Raven.' Old English hroefn, late Old English hroemn, hremn, here a man's name. Compare Ramsbury.
Rempstone (Loughborough). Domesday Book Repestone, circa, 1180 charter Rempeston. Probably from some unknown man. The nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum are Hrambertus and Hramfridus. Mutschmann prefers Hrafn or Raven, which is at least possible.
Rendlesham (Suffolk). Bede iii. 22 Rendlaesham, id est Rendili mansio, 1459 Rendelesham. ' Home of Rendil.' But Rendcomb, Cirencester, Domesday Book Rindcumbe, perhaps contains an old river-name. See-combe.
Renhold (Bedford). Old Renhale, Ranhale (see -hall); but Abbey charter Ravenshold, ' hold, fort of a man Raven or Hremn.' Compare Remenham. A man Rauan or Raven is fond in Domesday Book at Beeston, 6 mls. to S.E.
Rennington (Alnwick), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Reiningtim. 'Town of the descendants of? Hranig.' See Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum and -ing.
Repton (Derby). 874 Old English Chronicum Hreopodune. Probably from some unknown man, ' Hreopa's hill.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 216 Hroppan broc.
Restormel (Cornwall). Old Lestormel. All the liquids may interchange. Cornish=' court of Tormel.' Compare Listewdrig, called after the king who killed St. Gwynear.
Retford. Sic 1225, but Domesday Book Redforde, 'red ford.' Perhaps Bede iv. 16 Hreutford, Hreudford, ' reedy ford.' Compare Redbridge.
Rettendon (Chelmsford).? 1298 Johannes de Ratingden. Probably ' hill, fort, Old English dun, of Reathun or Rethhun,' in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Revesby (Boston). 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Reuesbi, circa, 1275 Righesbey, 1498 Resbie. ' Dwelling of Reive,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by.
Reynoldston (Glamorgan). Reynold is the common Old English Regenhild. Or Reginweald. Compare Ravensthorpe.
Rhayader (Radnor). Welsch rhaiadr Gwy,' waterfall on the Wye.'
Rhiwlas (Bangor and Herefordsh.). Welsch rhiw glas,' green slope.'
Rhos (Denbigh and Pembrokeshire). Pembrokeshire R. now pronunciation Roose. circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis and 1297 Ros, 1603 Rose. Welsch rhos. Cornish ros, ' a dry meadow, a moor, heath.' Compare Roose and Ross.
Rhoscrowther (Pembroke). 1324 Restrouthur, Tax. Eccl. Rostruther; also Rustruthur, Ruscrouthur, Rescorthurg, 1594 Rosgrothor. Welsch rhos is' moor.’ See above. The second part is doubtful. The early forms remind of Anstruthee (Scottish), circa, 1205 Anestrothir, 1231 Anstrother, from Galic srathair, ' a cart-saddle, also' a swamp, a bog." The latter sense is found in English dialect.
Rhuddlan (Flints and Cardigan). Flint R. 1063 Old English Chronicum Rudelan. Domesday Book Roelent. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Rudelant. Welsch rhudd llan, ' red enclosure ' or ' church '; or more probably rhydd y llan, ' ford by the church.'
Rhyd Orddwy (Rhyl). Welsch=' ford of the Ordwi,' or' Ordovices,’ a tribe whose name is derived from Old Welsch ord, ' a hammer.' Compare Dinorwig.
Rhyd-y-Groes (Upton-on-Severn). In Drayton Grossford. Welsch = ' ford of the cross,’ Welsch croes. It was the scene of one of Gruffydd's battles in 1039; and it still retains its old name.
Rhyfoniog (Denbigh). Ann. Cambridge 816 Roweynauc. Said to have been given to Ehufawn, son of Cunedda Wledig, for his gallantry in driving the Picts out of N. Welsch. The-iog seems to be here simply as a suffix of place; whilst Rhufawn is thought to be the Welsch form of Romanus.
Rhyl. Either Welsch yr hal or haleg, ' the salt marsh,’ or yr hel(a), ' the hunting-ground' (of Rhuddlan)
Ribble R. (Preston), circa, 150 Ptolemy Behsama, ' most warlike one, ‘another case of river-worship. The Beli-is of course the same root as Latin bellum,' war.' Ptolomy ' sriver maybe the Mersey, circa, 709 Eddi Rippel, Domesday Book Ribel, before1100 Ribbel. The first part maybe Welsch rhe,' swift motion or current, ‘and the second is as in Bele-sama. The Eng. ripple is onomatopoeic and quite recent. Compare Ripple.
Ribchester (Preston). Perhaps Not. Dign. Bremetonaci. Domesday Book Ribelcastre.' Camp on the Ribble.' See-Chester.
Ribston (Wetherby). Sic 1527, but Dom Ripestan, 1202 Ribbestain, ' Stone of Eibba,' or ' Eippa,' only the latter in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. See -ton. But Ribbesford, Bewdley, is 1023 charter Ribbedford, before 1100 Ribetforde, where the meaning of the first part is quite unknown. It may be a man's name.
Riccal (Selby). Domesday Book and circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Richale i.e., 'nook of Ricca.' Compare Codex Diplomaticus 713 Rican forda; and see -hall.
Richborough (Thanet). before 65 Lucan Rutupina litora,’ circa, 100 Juvenal Rutupinus fundus, circa, 150 Ptolemy… Bede, ' The city of Rutubi Portus, by the English corrupted into Reptacestir; circa, 1550 Leland Itin. Ratesburgh, 1758 Thorn. Retesburgh. ' Burgh, fort or camp or harbour (portus) of Rutub,' an unknown man.
Richmond (Yorks and Surrey). Yorks R. [Domesday Book Hindrelache) before 1130 Sim. Dur. Richmundia, circa, 1175 Fantosme Richemunt, circa, 1250 M. Paris Richemund. France riche mont, ' rich, fertile hill.' Named by the Breton Alan, who built a castle here on lands given him by William I. R. in Surrey was originally Shene and was changed to R. out of compliment to Hen. VII., ' Henry of Richmond, his father being Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond.
Rickerscote (Staffd.). Compare Domesday Book Recordine, Salop (-dine probably =wardine, 'farm,' q.v.). 'Cot, cottage of Ricard, Ricred, Richmond, the name of this Yorkshire town and castle comes from Old Norman for ‘riche’ and ‘mont’, meaning ‘strong hill’. Alan Rufus, Alan the Red, built a stone castle here. Reccaredus, Richere or Ricerus ‘; all these forms are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Rickinghall (Diss) and Ricknall (Co. Durham). Durham R. 1183 Rikenhall. ' Hall ' ' of (the descendants of) Rica.' Compare charter of 679 Ricingahaam, Essex, and Riccal, See -hall. Rickeston, Pembrokeshire is 1324 Ricardyston,' Richard's, town.'
Rickmansworth (Herts). Domesday Book Ricemareworde, 1303 Rikemares-orth, ' Ricmoer's farm.' There is an ' Ikemaneswurda ' in 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon. See -worth.
Riddlesden (W. Riding) and Riddlesworth (Thetford). Domesday Book Redelesden, ' wooded vale ' and ' farm of Roedwulf or Redwulf.' Compare Riddlecombe, Chulmleigh. See -combe, -den, and -worth.
Ridgeway or Rudgeway (Bristol, Pershore, Staffordshire Sheffield). Bristol R. 950 charter Hricweg, Pershore and Staffordshire R. Old English charter Hrycgweg, Ricweg, Ricweye, 1300 Reggewey. ' Way, road on the ridge,' Old English hrycg, 3 6 rugge. The Romanic road from Chester to Worcester is called ' la Rugge,' but all Ridgeways are not Roman. Compare Grant of before 675 Ruggestrate (-street), Hants.
Riding (one of the 3 divisions of Yorks). In Domesday Book we have' Est Treding and Reding,' Yorks, also ' Nort-trading, West-reding, and Sudt-reding of Lincolia, also edit. 1783, p. 375, ' Treding dicit quod non habet ibi nisi ix acras et dimid.' 1295-96 Rolls Parlt. West redyng, Est-redyng, North redyng also ' In Comitatu Ebor…. Et in Supradictis tribus Trithing. Late Old English pridding or priding, from Old Norse pridjung-r, third part. France, old English pridda Old Norse pride, third.’ There is a Riding Mill, Northumberland And a Riding burn, circa, 1250 Revedeneburne? Valley of Refa; un unrecorded name. see -dean.
Rievaulx (Helmsley, Yorks). 1132 Rievalle, 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe, Rieuall, 1200 Riuille, circa, 1246 Ryeualle, 1394 Reival. ' Vale of the R. Rye,' from Old France valle, Franceval, ' a valley '; -vaulx is an old plural form.
Rillington (York). Sic 1391, but Domesday Book Redlinton, Renliton. The name is very corrupt; originally it may have been 'town of Hredle,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Rimington (Clitheroe). Domesday Book Renitone. More old forms needed? from a man, Hrani.
Ringland (Norwich), Ringley (Manchester), Ringstead (King's Lynn), Ringway (Cheshire), Ringwood (Hants). They are on the rivers Wensum, Irwell, Nene, Bollin, and Avon, so none can be connected with the river in circa, 1169 charter Ad sicam (brook, syke) Polterkeved quae cadit in Ring.’ All probably come from Old English wring, Old Norse wring-r, ' a ring.’ See -ley, -stead, etc. There is also a Ringburgh (Holderness). Domesday Book Ringheborg, Ringeburg, ' burgh, castle of Hring,' contracted form of Hringweald or Hringewulf; whilst Rangeworthy (Gloster), 1303 Ryngeworth, is probably from a similar name. See -worth, ' farm.'
Ringmer (Lewes). Saga Olaf Har. Hringamara. Said to be corruption of Regin-mere, ' lake of Regnum, or Regno,' name of Chichester in The Antoninc Itenary, circa, 380. Compare above.
Ripley (Leeds, Derby, Woking). Leeds R. Domesday Book Ripeleia, 1202 Rippeleg; Woking R. Codex Diplomaticus 1361 Rippan leah, 'Meadow of Rippa. See-ley.
Ripon. Sic 1386, but circa, 709 Eddi Hrypi, Bede In hrypum, circa, 1050 Old English Chronicum ann. 769 Ripum, 948 the same Rypon, Domesday Book Ripum. Probably from Latin ripa, ' bank ' it is on the bank of the Ure. hardly be from Old English hropan, ' to howl or scream.' The -um and -on are loc. endings- on the banks, of the Ure.
Rippingale (Bourne). 806 charter Repingale, Domesday Book Repinghale. Patronymi, ‘Nook, corner of the Repings,’ a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum but compare before 1100 Hrepingas in S. Lincs. For hale, nook, see -hall.
Ripple (Tewkesbury and Deal). Tewkesbury R. 680 charter Rippell, later Ryppel, Domesday Book Rippel. Skeat thinks this must be a personal name, because of next; if so, this is very exceptional. Some think it = Ribble; anyway, it is on a long stream, trib. of Severn. The English ripple is quite a recent word. Domesday Book Kent has only Ripe.
Ripplesmere (Windsor). Domesday Book Riplesmer(e), 1316 Ripplesmere, ' Lake of ' an unknown man ' Rippel.' Compare Ripplingham (E. Riding), Domesday Book Riplingha', 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Ripplingeham Arches. See -ing.
Risby (York and Bury St. E.). York R. Domesday Book Risbi, 'Dwelling of Risa' or' Rhys,' a Welsch name. Compare Reston (Scottish), 1098 Ristun, next. Long Riston (Yorks), Domesday Book Ristun, and Princes Risboro' (Bucks), Domesday Book Riseberge, Risberg.
Riseley (Bedford and Reading). Compare Domesday Book Bucks Riseberge, and Northants Ristone. ' Meadow of Risa.' Compare above. See -ley. But Rise (Holderness), Domesday Book Risun, and Rise Carr (Darlington), seem to be from rise,' a hill, rising ground.' The vb. Is Old English, though the sb. is only recorded late. The-un in Risun is a common locative In Yorks Domesday Book See Carr,' rock.'
Rishangles (Thorndon, Suffolk.). Domesday Book Ris angra, late Old English for ' rush-covered slope,' Old English rise, Mittel English rishe, ' a rush,' and hazra, ' hillslope.' Compare Clayhanger. The modern ending -les shows how easily the liquid r slides into l.
Rishton (Blackburn). 'Rush -town.’ See above and compare 'Risetone' in Cheshire Domesday Book It may bet this same place also Rissington (Gloster), Domesday Book Risendune,' rushen dow,’ See -don, -ing, and -ton.
Rivington Pike (Mid Lanes). Sic 1588, but before 1290 Roinpik, before1552 Rivenpike, 1588 Ryvenpyke, 1673 Riving Pike. The meaning seems, ' riven, cloven pike or Peak ‘; though no form of rive (vb. in Oxford Dictionary) exactly explains Roin (before 1290). The vb. rive is Old Norse rifa, found in English before 1300. Compare Red Pike, and Rawnpike Oak (Warwickshire), which Duignan says is dialect for ' a stag-headed tree,' one with dead branches on its top, also spelt Ranpike, Rampick,
Robin Hood's Bay (Whitby), circa, 1550 Leland Robyn Huddes Bay. The legendary Robin Hood is first found in 1377 Piers Plowman, and his name is commemorated in cairns, crosses, caves, oaks, etc., as far S. as Somerset, and as far N. as this.
Roborough (2 in Devon). S. Torrington R. Domesday Book Raweberge, also old Rougaburga. Doubtful; either 'burgh of Ruga' (see Routon), or 'rough burgh or fort' (see Rowington), and compare Roughcastle (Falkirk), and Rowberrow (Axbridge). See -borough. Roel or Rowell (Notgrove), Domesday Book Rawelle, is' roedeer’s well,' Old English rah.
Rocester (Uttoxeter). Domesday Book Rowecestre, before 1200 Roffecestre, ' Hrof's ' or ' Ralph's castle,' and so = Rochester. See -cester. Rochdale. Domesday Book Recedam (see -ham), 1241-92 Rachedale, 1286 Rached. Must be from a man Rached or Reced, which may be contracted from Reccared or Riccared, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The d has become merged in the -dale, hence later confusion with Hroche or Roche, who give name to Rockbeare, Roxburgh (Scottish), etc. The nouns roach and rock, M.E. roche, are both from France and not found in English before 1250. The R. Roch on which the town stands is plainly a back-formation. Compare Pinner, Yeovil etc. See -dale.
Rochester, circa, 380 The antonic Itenary Durobrevis; Tabula Peutinger. perhaps earlier than Itin., Roribis, 604 charter Hrofibrevi, Bede Hrofescaestir, 762 charter In civitate Hrofi; Old English Chronicum anno 604 Hrofesceaster, Domesday Book Rouescestre, circa, 1386 Chaucer Rowchestre. A name that has changed. Durobrev is is said to mean' fort at the bridges,' duro being perhaps cognate with Eng. ' door,' and brivo is said to be Old Keltic for ' bridge.' The Peutinger form is a scribe's corruption. How Duro- became Hrofi- we cannot tell; but already Bede believed that Hrof, Normandy from Rou was a man, formerly primaries in this town. See -Chester,’ a camp.' There is a Rochester (Otterburn), and a Rochecestre, Domesday Book Salop, which might be from a Norman Roche, compare next and Roxburgh (Sc), but more probably from Old English roh, Mittel English roz, roch,' rough,’probably same as Rugby, in Domesday Book Rocheberie. Compare Rocester and Rowington.
Rochford (Essex and Tenbury). Essex R. Domesday Book Rochesfort. ' Ford of Roc'. Compare Roxburgh (Sc), and Ruxford (Devon), 930 charter Hrocesford; also Rokeby (Yorks), Domesday Book Rochebi.
Rockbeare (Exeter). Domesday Book Rochsbeie. 'Wood of Roche.' See above. Old English beam,' a wood.' Compare Beer and the personal name Conybeare, also Roxburgh (Scottish) and Rookwith (Yorks), Domesday Book Rocuid, where the ending also means' wood.'
Rockcliffe (Carlisle). 1595 Rowclif. Possibly modern corruption for ' cliff of Rou ' or ' Rolls.' Compare Rochester, in Chaucer Rowchestre. As likely from Old English ruh, rug, 4-6 rogh, 5-7 roche (Sc), 6 rowch (Sc), 'rough, shaggy.' Rockhampton (Thornbury), Domesday Book Rochemtune, later Rokampton, is thought to be ' rooks Hampton,' Old English hroc.
Rocking (Kent). 785 charter Hroching. Patronymic. 'Place of the descendants of Hroche.' Compare Rockbeare and next.
Rockingham (Uppingham). Domesday Book and 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Rochingeham, 1135 Old English Chronicum Rogingham, 1482 Rokyngham. 'Home of the Rockings,' or ' descendants of Roche.' See above, and -ham.
Rock Savage (Frodsham). A splendid mansion was erected here by Sir John Savage in 1565.
Roden R. (Wroxeter), Roding R. (central Essex), and Rodington (Shrewsbury). Roden is perhaps circa, 380 The antonic Itenary Rutunio. R'ton is Domesday Book Rodintone. Thereare 2 called Roda, genitive-an, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and R'ton might be ' town of Roda,' and Roding a patronymic. See -ing. This is unlikely for a river, and both rivers are probably Keltic; whilst R’ton will be al village near the Roden.’ The root might be Welsch rhudden, ‘a red streak, a ruby,’ from rhudd, rhydd, ‘red’, or these river names might be connected with Welsch rhwtioni, ' to produce dregs ' ; but the origin—like that of so many river names—is quite doubtful. There is a ' Gibbe Ruydinges ' found in Staffordshire in 1309, a name which might well be from rhudd or rhydd. The Essex R. gives name to quite a number of places Abbot's Roding, Leaden Roding, White Roding, etc.
Rodborough (Stroud), circa, 740 charter Roddenbeorgh, is ' Barrow of Rodda.' Rodley, same shire, is Domesday Book Rodele, but 1163-64 Radelea, and often, later, Radley and Rudley; so it may either be from a man Rodda, or ' red lea.' See -ley. Rodmarton (Tetbury), Domesday Book Redmertune, is ' Roedmcor's town.' ' Compare Redmarley.
Rolleston (Burton-on-T. and 3). Burton R. 942 charter Rothulfeston, 1004 the same Rolfestun, Domesday Book Rolvestune. ' Hrothwulf's town.' All the others may not be the same. R. (Notts) is Domesday Book Roldestun, Rollestone, 1346 Roldeston, ' town of Rold,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Rolvenden (Ashford, Kent). Perhaps 'den or dean or wooded valley of Roland.' The famous oland is in Eginhard,' Hruodlandus Brittanici limitis praefectus.
Roman Wall, The (R. Tyne). before 1500 Black Bk. Hexham Munis Romanorum.
Romney Marsh (Kent). 697 charter Rumin-ing, 1052 Old English Chronicum Rumenea, 1228 Rumenal, 1288 Contin. Gervase In marisco de Romenal. Rumin or Rumen quite possibly represents Roman, as this district is so full of connexion with Rome. The-ey, q.v., means ' island.' But form 697 seems more like a patronymic, 'place of the sons of Ruma’; and this is the most probably origin, Romanby (Yorks) is Domesday Book Romundebi, ‘dwelling of Hrothmund, or ‘Rodmund’. See -by.'
Romsey (Hants). Pronunciation Rumsey. before1142 Wm. Malmesb. Rume-ium, before 1160 Gest. Steph. Abbas Rumensis, 1298 Romeseie. ' Isle of Rum.' Compare Rumholt and Rumney.
Roomfield (Todmorden) 1314 Romesgrene, close by- i.e. Green of Roma’ or ‘Ruma, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Roos(e) (Hull and Furness). Both in Domesday Book Rosse. As Rhos (Pembroke) is to-day pron, Roose, these are clearly the same name, Welsch rhos, ' a moor, heath, marsh.' There is also a Roose (Portkerry, Glamorgan).
Rope (Nantwich). This is an old place, and prob, means; ‘a piece of land measured by a rope.' See Rapes and next.
Ropley (Alresford). 972 charter Ropleah. Old English for ' lea, meadow, measured by a rope.' Compare Rapes.
Rosemarket (Neyland, Pembk.), 1603 Owen Rosmarken. Rose- is Welsch rhos,' a moor,' and the present ending is modern Compare Rhosmarket, or Rhos y Farket, Nevern, same shire, old Rosavarken. The name must surely be the same as Rosemarkie (Fortrose, Scottish), circa, 1228 Rosmarkensis Episcopus, 1510 Rosmarky, where W. J. Watson takes the ending for Gaelic marcnaidh, or maircnidh, old genitive of marcnach, 'place of horses.' No likely Welsch origin seems forthcoming; so this may be a rare Gadhelic survival.
Roser Castle (Carlisle). 1272 Rosa. Named by its builder, Bp. Manclerk, circa, 1240, from the rose, symbol of the Blessed Virgin, The change of -a to -er denotes a ' Cockney ' pronunciation. Compare Kidderminster.
Ross (Hereford), In Welsch Rhossan ar Wy. Welsch rhos, 'a moor, a heath,' Compare Rhos. Ros- is common in Cornish names; we have already Roscarel in Domesday Book Lord de Ros is from Ros, Holderness, Sic. before 1130.
Rossall (Fleetwood). Domesday Book Rus-hale, 1228 Roshale, Roshal, 1265 Rossale. ' Nook, enclosure of the horse,' Old Norse hross, Old English hors. See -hall.
Rossendale (N.E. Lancs). Sic circa, 1230, 1294 Roscyndale, 1296 Rosendale. ' Valley of Roschil, or ' Roscytel,' nearest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The liquids l and n interchange without much difficulty. See -dale.
Rosestt (Wrexham), before 1700 Yr orsidd; besides the village 2 or 3 fields in this district are no wcalled Rossett. The WELSCH name means ' the throne’or' high seat’ and must refer to some mounding or once in, the field. T. Morgan says it is corruption of rhosydd, plural of rhos, ' a moor.' Rosset (W. Riding) is Domesday Book Rosert, a name of doubtful meaning.
Rostherne Mere (Altrincham). Looks like' roost,' Old English hrost,' of the hern or heron,' Old France hairon, France heron, in English from1302. But it may also be from Old English hyrne, Mittel English heme,' a nook, a hiding-place.' Compare Herne Hill.
Rotherham (Yorks and Surrey). Yorks R. Domesday Book Rodreha, 1242 Roderham. Some say, ' home on the R. Rother,' Icel. raud-r, ' red.' Others derive from Old English hrider, hryder, 3- rother, 5 rodder, 'an ox.' Compare Rutherford (Scottish). But this occurrence of the name in Sussex makes it probably that the river-name is a back formation (compare Rochdale), and that the name of the town is' home of Hrodhere,' a known name. But Ryther (W. Riding), Domesday Book Ridre, must be Old English rid ofer, 'brook bank’, compare Ryde, Wooler, etc. Rotherfield Greys (Henley-on-Thames) is 1237 Retherefeld, 1242, Retheresfeld, probably' ox's field.'
Rotherhithe (London). 1298 Retherhethe, 1460 Redre, 1660 juxta portum qui vocatur Etheredishythe, ' harbour of Ethered,' variant of the common Old English Mthelred.
Rothwell (Leeds, Kettering, and Caistor, Lines.). Domesday Book Leeds and Kettering Rodewelle, Caistor Rodowelle. Kettering R. 1360 Rolls of the great Pipe Rothewelle, now pronunciation Rowell, while Ruthwell (Dumfries) is pronunciation Revvel. ‘Welle of the rood’ or ‘crosse’, Old English rod.
Rottingdean (Brighton). Old forms needed. Referred to circa, 1380. It may be ' rotten,' Old Norse rotinn, or ' rotting (Icelandic and Norse rot, vb.) valley.' The rotten has as one pretty early sense, ' of ground, soil, etc., extremely soft . . . friable.' This suits the site. But perhaps, as in Rawtenstall, ' routing valley ' i.e., one ' making a roaring noise, boisterously windy.' See Oxford Dictionary s.v. rout vb2 and vb3, both of Norse origin. No spelling rotting or rot is given S.V., but we do find rote, rawt, and raut. See -dean.
Rougham (Norfolk). Domesday Book Ruhham, circa, 1280 chiart. Rucham. Old English ruhham,' rough, shaggy-looking house.'
Routh (Beverley). Domesday Book Rute, Rutha. Old Norse rud, ' a clearing in a wood,' a rare word.
Routon (Norfolk). Sic 1451, but 1477 Rowton; also Rowton (E. Yorks and Chester). Yorks R. Domesday Book Rugheton, Rugeton. All probably,' town of Ruga.' See Rowner and compare Roborough.
Rowington (Warwick). Domesday Book Rochintone, before 1200 Rokintun, before 1400 Rouhinton, 1378 Rochinton. Doubtful; Duignan prefers ' rough town,’ Old English roh. See Rochester and Rugby, -ing and -ton.
Rowlands Castle (Havant) and Gill (Newcastle). Rowland or Roland is the O.Teut. Rodland or Hruodland, from hrod,' famous,’Compare Rolvenden. Gill is Icel. gil, ' a gap.' Compare fish-gill. In names it means either ' a little bay ' or ' a ravine.' Compare Auchin Gill (Scottish).
Rowley Water (N. of Hexham), before1300 charter Ruleystal (=Old English steel, 'stall, place'). Perhaps 'rest-meadow,' Old Norse ro, English circa, 1200 ro, 4-5 roo, 4 rou, 5 rowe, ' rest, repose, peace.' There are other Rowleys. Compare Domesday Book Bucks, Rovelai, which suggests some man's name? what, whilst Rowley Regis (Dudley) is before 1200 Rohele, Rueley, Roele, before 1300 Rueleg, which is probably 'rough lea,' Old English ruh. See Rugby. It belonged to the King in Domesday Book, hence Regis,' of the King.' See -ley.
Rowlston (Yorks). Domesday Book Roolfestone, Rolvestun. 'Town of Hrolf.' Compare Rochester.
Rowner (Gosport). Domesday Book Ruenore, 1114 Old English Chronicum Rugenor. Old English Rugan ora, ' shore of Ruga.' Compare Windsor, etc. Also compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 699 Rugan die (' dyke '), the same ii. 516 Ruwanbeorg (Berks), the same, 545 Ruganbeorg, Domesday Book Norfk. Ruuenore. But Rownall (Cheadle) is Domesday Book Rugehala, before 1300 Roughenhale, Rowenhale. These last Duignan thinks oblique cases of Old English ruh, in its weak declension, ruwa, ruwwan,' rough nook.' Compare Rugby and see -hall.
Roxby (Doncaster) and Roxton (St. Neots’). Domesday Book Rozebi, a spelling which Domesday Book Yorks also gives to Rousby. Domesday Book Rochestone. Probably ' dwelling ' and ' town of Roc ' or ' Rocga,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. Compare Roxburgh (Scottish) and Rockbeare. See -by and -ton.
Royston (Herts and Barnsley). Herts R. circa, 1220 Elect. Hugo Crux Roies, 1263 Croyrois, 1298 Villa de Cruce Roisia, various reading Rohesia, Rosia; 1428 Roystone. Said to becalled from a Lady Roysia, or Roese, about whom nothing is known. A lady called Rohais is known in 1156, and there is a Roese de Lucy, temp. Hen. II. Cruxis Latin and croyis Old France, Modern France croix,' cross.'
Ruabon Abon (Denbigh). Welsch rhiw Mabon,' slope of Mabon,' 31 eclipsed by aspiration. Mabon was a saint who founded a church here.
Ruan Major and Minor (The Lizard). For this saint, see Polurrian.
Rubery Hill (King's Norton). No oldforms. Duignan says Old English ruh beorh (Mittel English berg), ‘rough hill’. But compare 947 charter Rugan beorh (Wilts), from a man Ruga, as in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 699 Rugan die. Compare Rowner. Ruardean-on-Wye, 1281 Rowardin, later Ruworthyn, exhibits a rare variant of -worthy or -wardine, ' rough farm.’
Ruddington (Nottingham). Domesday Book Roddintone, Rodintmi, 1261 Rotinton, 1287 Rotyngton; also Rodington, Rutyngton. ' Town of Hroda, Rudda, or Ruta,'all names found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Hutton Rud(e)by (Yorks), Domesday Book Rodebi, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Rudebi (see Hutton), and Rudeford (Gloucester), Domesday Book Rudeford.
Rudge (Stroud and Salop). Stroud 1179 Rugge, Salop R. Domesday Book Rigge i.e., ' ridge.' See Ridgeway.
Rudston (Birchington). Domesday Book Rodestan, 1206 Ruddestain, which is probably not rood-stone. Old English rod, but stone ‘or town of Roda’ or ‘Rudda' Two of each so named in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ton.
Rufford (Ormskirk and Notts). Ormskirk R. 1318 Roughford, 1332 Rughford, which explains itself. No. R. Domesday Book Rugforde, 1161- 62 Rolls of the great Pipe Rucford, 1198 Rocheforde. Thus this cannot be the same as 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Runfort (Notts and Derby). But it is probably the same as Rufford (Holderness), Domesday Book Ruforde, and Rufforth (York), Domesday Book Ruford, See -forth.
Rugby. Domesday Book Rocheberie, before 1300 Rokeby before1500 Rukby. Very likely from a man, 'dwelling of Roc ""or Hroca,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; and compare Roxburgh (Scottish), also Rochford and Rockbeare, in the early forms of which we find a plain genitive But Duignan prefers here, as in Rowley, Rownall, Rugeley, and Rudgeway, Old English ruh, hruh, 3 ruhe, 4 roh, 5 rouh, rowh (Oxford Dictionary, gives also many forms in -euch, -och, -uch, but calls them all Sc), also 4 rug(g), 4-6 rughe, rogh(e), 4-5 rouz, rowz, ' rough.' See -by.
Rugeley (Staffordshire). Domesday Book Rugelei, before 1200 Ruggeley, Ruggleg, 1217 Rugeleg. ' Rough lea' (see above), or, quite possibly,' meadow of Ruga' or' Rugga,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Rowner and Ryton. See -ley.
Ruislip (Uxbridge). Old Ryselippe. Probably' leap of' some man; more old forms needed to tell whom? Ruga. Compare Hendlip.
Rumholt (Norfolk). Sic 1293. Old English rum holt, 'roomy, spacious wood.' Compare Rumworth (Bolton). 'Roomy farm,' 1205 Rum- worth. In either case they may come from a man Rum. Compare next. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives one Ruma.
Rumney (Cardiff), circa, 1330 R. Brunne Chronicum 35. 'The abbey of Rumeye,’? this place. ' Isle of Ruma -genitive, -an (compare Romney), of' ‘of Rum.' Compare Rumburgh, Halesworth, and above. See -ey.
Runctorn. 913 Old English Chronicum Rumeofan, various reading Romicofan, before 1200 charter Runcofa, 1377 Runnkorn. Old English rum cofa, genitive -an, ' roomy, spacious cave or chamber.'
Runcton Holme (Downham). Domesday Book Runghetuna. 'Town of Runca,' or some such unrecorded name. See Holme.
Runhall (Attleborough). Domesday Book Runhala. Compare Domesday Book Bucks Ruenhale, which, on analogy of Rowner, Domesday Book Ruenore, will be ' Ruga's nook' or' corner,’ See-hall.
Runham (Yarmouth). 1285 Runham, 1475 Runnham; and Runton (Sheringham), circa, 1460 Runeton. Probably both from a man Run or Runa, not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Not likely from Old English run, 1-4 run, ' a rune, counsel, speech.' Compare Domesday Book and 1179 Runtune, now Rounton (Yorks), 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Notts and Derby, Runfort, and above. See -ham and -ton.
Runnymede (R. Thames), circa, 1220 Elect. Hugo Runemad. ' Mead, ' meadow (Old English meed, moedu) of rune i.e., counsel or speech. Here Magna Charta was signed in 1215.
Ruscombe (Twyford and Cainscross). Twyford R. circa, 1520 Ruscombe; also Roscombe, Ruscamp. ' Rush valley.' See -combe and 1202 ' Risewich '= Ruswick (Bedale).
Rushall (Pewsey, Scole, Norfolk, and Walsall) Pewsey R. (or another) 967 charter Rischale, 972 the same Hrischeale, Walsall R. Domesday Book Rischale, before 1200 Ruissale, Rushale. ' Rushy nook.' Old English hrise, risc(e), 4-7 risk, 5-rush, ' a rush.' See -hall. The Rushtons will be similar, Domesday Book Staffordshire Riseton, also Ruswick (Yorks), Domesday Book Risewic (see -wick); but Ruston Parva (N. Yorks), is in Dom,. not only Roxtun but five times Roreston, which looks as if from an unknown man Rora? Gaelic and Irish Ruairidh or Rory. Liquid r when medial readily disappears.
Rushock (Droitwich). Domesday Book Russococ (midst o an error), before1300 Rushoke. The ending is doubtful? cock, ' a heap,' Norse kok, not in Oxford Dictionary, till 1398, but we have 1086 Domesday Book Yorks Lacoc, now Laycock, ' low heap.' On rush- see Rushall. Rushock (Herefd.) is Domesday Book Ruiscop, from Old English cop(p), ' top, summit, covered with rushes.'
Rusholme (Manchester). 'Rushy meadow by the river.' Old English holm, Icel. holm-r has this meaning. Compare Holm (Scottish).
Ruswarf (Whitby). Pronunciation Russarp. Not in Domesday Book Probably ' rushy heap,' from Old English geweorp, ' that which is cast or thrown up.' hence' a heap,' same root as in' warp and woof.' Compare Salwarpe. For the Rus- see Rushail. But a man Rust(a) is seen in Rustington (Worthing) and Rustall (Tunbridge Wells). Compare Domesday Book Wilts Rusteselle,' Rusta's nook.' See -hall.
Ruthin (Denbigh). 1399 Writ Ruthyn. Looks like Welsch rhudden, ' a red streak, a ruby,' from rhudd, ' red.' The prevailing soil here is red.
Rutland. As a shire later than Domesday Book, where it is Roteland, 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Rotelanda, 1298 Close R. 'Vic. Northampt., Vic. Rotel.' circa, 1500 Rutland. Probably ' land full of roots,' Old Norse and late Old English rot, 3-6 rote, 4 rotte, 6 rott, 9 rut, ' a root,' though often derived from Icel. raudr, ' red.'
Ruyton - Eleven - Towns (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Rutune. Perhaps ' town of Ruta,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum But it is quite possibly Rutunium, circa, 380 in the Antoninc Itenary There are Romanic remains here. As for ' the eleven towns,’ there are still five townships in the parish. Also compare Rotsea (Driffield) Domesday Book Rotesse and Ryton.
Rydal (Windermere) and Rydal, Beck. ' Rye-dale,’ Old English ryze, 4-6 ry. Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Ridala (Yorks). For beck, ' a brook,’ see Beckermet.
Ryde. 1377 La Rye, La Riche; it was then destroyed by the French. Riche would be reach sb., ' a bay, ' the portion of a channel between two bends.' But La Riche is certainly an error for Rithe, c for t being a very common error in old MSS., they are so alike. Compare Shottery. Rithe is Old English rith(e), Firs. ryd, ride, in English 8-9 ride; also in Sussex and of Welsch dialect rithe, rythe, ' a small stream, a brook,' Welsch rhyd, ' ford,' is phonetically inadmissible; it would never yield the modern pronunciation Ryde any more than Riche; and there is no ford here. Compare Shepreth (Cambridgeshire) in Domesday Book Escepride, Reeth, and Rye.
Rye (Kent) (circa, 1060 Ria, 1230 Rya, later la Rie) and Rye R. (Yorks) (1132 Rie, 1200 Ri, 1394 Rei, forms taken from Rievaulx). Not from rye, see Rydal. The same as Ryde, from Old English rithe, ' a small stream '; not cognate with ree sb., 'a stream, channel, river ' (not found till 1422), which Oxford Dictionary, thinks may be Old English ea, ' stream,' with r from the fem. art. as in ' on thaere ea cognate, probably with Flem. reie, rui, NorseFris. ride, rie, ' stream- let, rill.' Compare Reeth and Hythe; also Ryther (W. Riding), Domesday Book Rie, and Peckham Rye.
Ryhall (Stamford). 963 Old English Chronicum Rihala, before 1100 charter Rihale, 1528 Ryall. ' Nook, enclosure with the rye,' Old English ryze. Compare Rydal. Ryhill (Wragby, Yorks), Domesday Book Rihella, is exactly the same name. See -hall. But Ryall (Worcester) is 1275 Ruhale, and may either be the same, or from Old English ruh, ' rough.'
Ryhope (Wearmouth). before 1130 Sim. Dur. Reofhoppas, 1183 Boldon Bk. Refhope, 1197 Riefhope. Perhaps ' hope ' i.e., 'piece of enclosed land,' with a roof to part of it '— Old English hrof, 1-5 rof, ‘a roof’, Scottish and see -hope. Beef, ' a rock,' is not in Eng. till 1584. But the phonetics of the first half are very unsatis- factory with the present evidence. It may represent a contracted form of some man's name in Roef-, Roefmoer, Roefwine, or the like. But Boldon Bk. also has the various reading Resehoppe and Roshepp, which only makes confusion worse confounded.
Ryton (Co. Durham, and 2 in Warwick). Warwick R. Domesday Book Rietone, before1300 Ruyton, Rugintune, Rutune; Durham R. 1183 Ritona. As with Rugeley, ' Ruga's town,' or ' rough town ‘; but this last does not sound a probably name. In 1183 Ritona thei is sounded as y.

Sacombe (Herts). Domesday Book Sueuecamp, Sueechamp, Seuechampe. An interesting name and change. ' Camp or field,’ From champs ' of Swoef,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; ox, says Skeat, ' of the Suevi,' a tribe of N.E. Germany.
Saffron Walden. ' Wooded region in which saffron (France safran) grew.' Walden is a derivative of Old English weald, ' forest.' Compare 1577 Harrison England, ' Their saffron is not so fine as that of Cambridgeshire and about Walden.'
Saighton (Chester). Perhaps Domesday Book Saltone. 'Willow' or ' saugh town,' Old English salh, north, dial, saugh, ' a willow.' Compare Sauchie and Saughton (Scottish).
Saintbury (Honeybourne). Domesday Book Svineberie, Hund. R. Seynburie, 1345 Seynesbury. Nothing to do with a saint, but, ' town of Svein ' or ' Swegen,' a Dan. name, common in old England, now Swayne. See -bury.
St. Alban’s. Domesday Book De Sco Albano, circa, 1114 Old English weald Chronicum St. Albane- stow (= place), 1148 charter Apud Sanctum Albanum. The Roman Verulamium. Alban, England's protomartyr, was beheaded here, circa, 303, and an abbey was built in his honour, circa, 796. Compare Verulam.
St. Anthony-in-Meneage and St. Anthony's Head (Falmouth), Churches were built at both these places by Normans soon after the Conquest in honour of the famous St. Anthony, Egyptian hermit, in the time of Athanasius.
St. Asaph. 1373 ' Evesque de Saint Assaphe.' A bishopric, it is said, was founded here by St. Kentigern, circa, 560, in honour of Asaph, his favourite disciple. The Welsch name is Llanelwy, ' church on R. Elwy.'
St. Austell's (Cornwall). Local pronunciation St. Ossles. The saint was a disciple of Sampson of Dol, Brittany, Austell is variant of Osweald or Oswald. Compare Nostell.
St. Breoch (Cornwall). He was a disciple of St. German of Auxerre, c, 500, Compare St. Brieux (Brittany).
St. Briavels (Gloucester). 1131 Rolls of the great Pipe St. Briavellus. Probably from St, Eberulphus, circa, 600, who also gives name to the Norm. Evroult.
St. Bride Bay (Pembroke). 1603 Bridbay. ' Bay of St. Brigada,' the famous Bridget of Kildare, a.d. 453-523.
St. Burian or Buryan (Penzance). Buriena was the pretty daughter of Aengus, King of Munster, in time of St. Patrick. Said to have lived here in 6th century.
St. David's. Dewi or David was first Bp. Of Menevia (St. David's), grandson of Ceredig, d. 601. The Welsch name is Ty Ddewi,' house of David,' Owen, 1603, calls it Mynyw.
St. Erth (Hayle, Cornwall). 1536 Ergh. St. Ere was one of the earliest saints to come over from Ireland, circa, 500. He was a disciple of Brendan and father of St. Enny.
St. Fagan's (Cardiff). He was reputed a missionary sent by Pope Eleutherus to Britain late in the 2nd century., on the urgent invitation of Lleurwg.
St. German's (Cornwall and King's Lynn). Domesday Book Devon German! S". He was Bishop of Auxerre, France, and is said to have come to Britain in 429. Compare Llanarmon and Week.
St. Gowan's Head (Pembroke). 1603 St. Govens pointe. St, Cofen, Govein, or Goven, was an early Welsch saint, wife of Tewdrig and mother of Mewrig, Kings of S. Welsch. We find her name also in Llangovan (Monmouthshire), and St. Goven's chapel (Pembroke).
St. Helier (Jersey). Named from St. Helerius or Hilary, one of the earliest Breton monk missionaries, who settled in Jersey.
St. Herbert's Isle (Derwentwater). Bede tells of a presbyter Herebeorht or Heriberct, who lived here as a hermit.
St. Ishmael's (Milford Haven), before1200 Giraldus Cambrensis Apud Sanctum Hysmaelem, Sancto Ysmaele, 1603 Owen St. Ismells. This saint was probably nephew of St. Teilo; certainly, he had nothing to do with the son of Abraham. In Lib. Land, the name is Lanyssan, where Yssan is derived from Ysfoel. In Tax. Eccl. it is Ecclesia Sancti Wynnoci,' church of St. Winnoc' or Wymocus or Winelle, as in the 2 Trewinnows (Cornwall). There are also in this shire two St. Issell's, that at Tenby in Welsch Llan Usyllt or Hussillt, ' church of St. Ussille ' or ' Usyllt,' same name as Yseult or Isolde of the medieval romances. This one is a man, father of St. Teilo. See Llandeilo and compare Llandyssul.
St. Ive (pronunciation Eve, Liskeard), St. Ive's (Cornwall and Hunts). Hunts C. circa, 1200 Gervase Seint Ive. Some derive the Corn, names from St. la, an Irish virgin and princess, martyred at Hayle A.D. 450. Others derive all from Ivo or Yvo, a Persian bp. said to have come over from Ireland, and to have died at Hunts St. I., circa, 590. They are probably all too old to be derived from Yves, Bishop of Chartres, in the time of our Henry I.
St. Just (Falmouth and Land's End). He was deacon of St. Patrick and tutor of St. Kieran, circa, 430. On the meaning of St. Just ' in Penwith' see Land's End. There are 45 saints called Justus or Just in Dic. Christ. Biogr.
St. Martin le Grand (London). 1285 Stat. London' Seint Martyn le Graunt.' This is the great Martin, Abbot of Tours, circa, 350.
St. Mawes (Falmouth). An Irish saint, who perhaps came with Ruan. See Polurrian.
St. Michael's Mount (Penzance), before 1066 charter Sanctum Michaelum qui juxtamare, 1474 The Momite. Called after Michael the archangel. Gf. Mont St. Michel (Normandy), right opposite, circa, 1205 Layam. Mihaeles munte.
St. Neot (Liskeard) and St. Neot's (Hunts). Hunts St. N. 1132 Old English weald Chronicum' Prior of St. Neod’s '1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe de sancto Neoto. He was the eldest brother of Aelfred the Great. His relics were translated from Cornwall to Hunts, and a Benedictine monastery founded for them in 974.
St. Osyth (Clacton-on-Sea). 14 . . . Sailing Directns Seint Hosies. This is probably Hosius, Bishop of Cordova, famous adviser of Emperor Constantino, and prominent figure in the Council of Nicaea, A.D. 325.
St. Pancras (London). Domesday Book Pancratius S'. Pancratius, a Roman boy of fourteen, was one of Diocletian's martyrs, Bede iii. 29. Compare Week St. Pancres.
St. Peter Port (Guernsey). 1286 Close R. St. Peter in Portu (harbour ').
Salcombe (Gloucester and Devon). Gloucester S. 1121 Salcumbe, Devon S. Old English weald charter Sealtcumb i.e., ' salt valley '; but Old Eenglish sealh, Mittel English salwe, ' willow ' is possible in the first case. See -combe.
Sale (Manchester). Probably Domesday Book Salhale i.e., ' nook among the willows,' Old English weald salh. Compare Salton, and Saul (Stonehouse), circa, 1120 Salle, probably ' willow lea.' See -hall.
Salford (Manchester). Sic in Domesday Book 1588 Sallford, 'Ford at the willows.' See above. Compare Welford. But there are also Salford (Beds) (old forms needed), and 3 in Warwick, of which Salford Abbots and Priors (Evesham) are 714 charter Saltford (Major et Minor), Domesday Book Salford, before 1300 Saltford, Salford, Sauford, ' salt ford,' from an ancient salt spring once near the ford on the Arrow there. Then Salford or Safford Br. on Tame is before 1300 Scraford, Schrafford Brugge, plainly from Old English weald scroef, ' a cave.' Compare Shrawardine.
Salisbury and Salisbury Plain. Old English weald Chronicum 552 Searobyrig, the same 1086 Searebyrig, Domesday Book Sarisberie, circa, 1110 Orderic Salesburia, 1232 Sarresbere, 1294 Saresbury, 1297 the same Gloucester. The plein of Salesbuary. circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary Sorbiodoni (=-dunum) is old Saresbury. McClure conjectures that Sorbio may be Irish soirb, ' easy ' and peril, earlier, ' level.' But the Saxons probably thought Searo or Sar was a forgotten man, and the liquid r easily becomes l. Compare Saredon (Warwickshire), Domesday Book Sardone, Seresdone, before 1300 Saredune. In Nennius S. is called Cair Caratauc. See -bury.
Salop. See Shrewsbury.
Salt (Stafford). 1004 will Halen, Domesday Book Selte, before 1300 Saut (the Scottish and local pronunciation to-day). Old Welsch halen, Old English weald sealt, ' salt.' There were saltworks two miles away; ? any nearer.
Saltash (Plymouth). 1279 Esshe i.e., ' ash-tree.' Compare Ash. But it is difficult to see the relevance of the Salt-. Probably it is a man's name, as probably in Saltney. Salt is still an Eng. surname. There is a Salt Box (Ebbworth) where perhaps Glastonbury Abbey kept a store of salt.
Salterford (Notts), Salterforth (Colne), Salterhebble (Halifax), Saltersford (Worcestershire), and Salters Br. (Alrewas). Notts. S. Domesday Book Saltreford. Arewas. S. before 1400 Saltebrugge, Salterbrugge. Compare circa, 1200 charter Whalley Saltergat, 963 charter Sealter ford. Old English sealtere, ' a salt-dealer or carrier, a (dry) salter; this part of Staffordshire is quite a salt district. On ' -forth see -ford. -Hebble seems to be variant of Abele, ' the aspen tree,' found circa, 1440 Promp. Parv. as ' Awbel or ebelle tree,' various reading 'ebeltre'; whilst 1830 Forby, East Anglian Glossary, gives ' Ebble, the asptree.'
Saltfleetby (Louth). 1229 Close B. Saltfleteby. 'Dwelling by the salt river.' See Fleet and -by.
Saltney (Chester). Compare 810 charter Salteney (Lines), which probably means ' isle of a man Salt.' Compare Saltash and -ey. Salton (York), Domesday Book Saleton, is probably ' willow town.' Compare Sale and Salwarpe. But Saltmarsh (Yorks), Domesday Book Saltemerse, is, of course, as it says.
Salwarpe E. and Village (Worcester). 770 charter Saluuerp, later Salewearpe, Domesday Book Salewarpe, which looks like Old English weald salh-gewearp, ' willow-heap.' Compare Salford and Buswarp. Salt from the earliest times always has a t, and so cannot be admitted here. Cf, too, Saltley (Birmingham), before 1300 Salughtley, Salegl', Salutely, Salua alias Salegh, plainly from Old English weald salh, sealh, M.E. salugh, salwe, ' the willow or saugh.' Similar is Salwick (Preston), Domesday Book Salcuuic. See -wick.
Sambourne (Alcester) and Sambrook (Newport, Salop). 714 Samburne (recent copy of Old English weald charter), Domesday Book Sandburne, 1327 Sombourne. These both must be 'sandy brook,' Old English weald sand; m and n often interchange. Compare Bampton, etc.; and see -bourne.
Sampford (6 in Postal Guide Devon and Somerset). Compare 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Samford (? Norfolk) and 1158 Samfort (? Staffordshire). Doubtful. Nothing likely in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Sam- in Old English weald and Mittel English is a common prefix for ‘half'— semi. But 'half ford' does not seem a very probably origin, so these too are probably for ' sandy ford.' See above. Letter p is a very common intrusion, as in Hampton, etc.
Sampson (Scilly). Called after St. Sampson., the Bishop of Dol, Brittany, in Glamorgan in 5th century., and earlier Abbot of St. Peirio's, Llantwit. Also commemorated in Guernsey.
Sancton (Yorks). Domesday Book Santune, 1202 Santona. ' Saint's town.' ' Saint ' is found in Eng. as early as circa, 1175 seint, Latin sanctus, Old France saint, seint, English 3-5 sant, 4 san, 4-8 sanat, ' holy.' Compare Santon and Bishop's Burton, originally Sanctuary Burton.
Sandal (Wakefield). Domesday Book Saudala, Saualia, Sauale, 'sandy nook.’ See -hall.
Sandbach (Cheshire). Domesday Book San bee. 'Sandy beck or brook.' Old English weald sand. See Comberbach. Sandgate (Sandbridge, Kent) is 862 charter saenget hryc, ' sandy road ridge,’ Old English weald geat, ' a way.' Saund by (Notts) is Domesday Book Sandebi. See -by.
Sandhurst (Gloucester Berks, and Kent). Gloucester S. Domesday Book Sanher, 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Sandherst. Kent S. Old English charter Sandhyrst. Compare 858 charter Ilia sylva sandhyrst nominatur. ' Sandy, woody region,' ' forest with sandy bottom.'
Sandleford Priory (S. Berks), before 1190 Rolls of the great Pipe Sandlesford, 1291 Sandellord. ' Ford of a man Sandle,' in Old English weald Sandwulf, Sandolf.
Sandon (Chelmsford, Royston, and Stone) and Sandown (Isle of W.) Stone S. Domesday Book Sandon, Scandone(error); before 1200 Sandone. Old English weald sand dun,' sandhill.'
Sandungham (King's Lymi). Domesday Book Santdersincham. Curious corruption. This is ' holy Dersingham,' as compared with the next parish, Dersingham. France saint, Latin sanctus, ' holy.'
Sandvich. 993 Old English weald Chronicum Sandwic, circa, 1300 Becket Sandwych. ' House, dwelling, Old English weald ivic, among the sand.' But quite possibly the name is Norse sand-vik,' sandy bay,'as in Sandwick (E. Ross). Sants Bay, Guernsey. 1309 Saynte, may be acorruption of this last. See -wich.
Sande. Domesday Book Sande, also in Hants. ' Sandy isle.' See -ay.
Sanford (Gloucester) (1230 Samforde, later Saunforde) and Sanford Bret (Somerset). 'Sandy ford.' Compare Cartularium Saxonicum i. 490 Sandforda, i.e., Sandford (Berks). In Scotland and Ireland, we have the name as Sanyford. Compare Domesday Book Salop Sanford. The family of Bret or '' Brto i.e., the Breton, is very old. Richard le Bret was one’ of Beckett's murderers.
Santon Bridge (Cumberland). Compare Domesday Book ' Santune ' (Cheshire). 8S charter Sandtun is Sampton (West Hythe), where, for change o into mp, compare Bampton. The meaning of Santon may either be 'sand-town,' 'village on the sand,' as above; or 'saint's town,' as in Sancton. Kirk Santon (N. Lanes) is Domesday Book Santaecherche,' holy church.' Compare Saintbridge (Gloucester), 1245 Sondebrugge, later Sendbridge, Senbridge, which must have come originally from Old English sand, sond, ' sand '; sond is found as late as 1512.
Sapote (Hinckley), perhaps like Sapey Pritchard (Bromyard), 781 charter aet Sapian, Domesday Book Sapie, from Old English scepige, ' fir, spruce fir'; - pote is ' cot, cottage.' Compare circa, 1130 Wm Malmesb. Sapwic? Norse levon. All of them may be from an unknown man Sap or the like. Salperton and Sapperton (Gloucester), the former 969 Saper(e)tune, Domesday Book Salpretune, the latter Domesday Book Sapletorne, 1221 Sapertone, are both, doubtfully, derived from Old English soep, ' sap, and so perhaps 'sapling pear enclosure.' Compare Perry.
Sark (Channel Islands). 1218 Patent R. Serk and 1219 Serck. Perhaps from its supposed shape, from Old English sere, Old Norse serk-r, ' a shirt.’ Scottish ' sark.'
Satterthwaite (Ulverston). 'Place of the soeter.' Norse for ' summerfarm, log hut used by dairy farmers then.' See -thwaite
Savernake (Marlboro'). Not in Domesday Book 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe Sauernac, 1222 Patent R. Savernac. Perhaps 1298' Bertramus de Savynaco.' More old forms needed. Possibly ' Soeffa's oak.’ Old English ac. Compare Codex Diplomaticus 550 Saefan mor. For a becoming er, compare Kidderminster. It might perhaps be ' Severn's, oak.' Severn is still found as a surname, but only recently.
Sawbridge (Daventry) and Sawbridgeworth (Herts). Daventry. S. Domesday Book Salwebrige, 1327 Salebrugge, 1598 Salbridge. ' Bridge of withies ' or ' willows,’ Old English salh. See Salwarpe. But the latter is Domesday Book Sabrixtewoode, 1166 Sabrihtesworth, 1428 Salrigeworth. ' Farm of Soebeorht,’ later ' Sabriht,' ' the sea bright.' See -worth.
Sawley (Ripon, Clitheroe, Derby). Ripon S. Domesday Book Sallaia. Probably 'willow or saugh meadow.’ Old English salh. Compare Sale, and above; and see -ley.
Sawston (Cambridge), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Salsintona, Domesday Book Salsiton, 1210 Sausintone, 1284 Sausitone; also Chronicum Rimsey Salsingetun, Selsingetona, which shows the name is originally a patronymic, ' village of the Scelsings,’ an unknown family. But we have Domesday Book Sawesberie (Salop), which suggests some name in Saw- or Saew-; there are several.
Sawtry (Peterboro'). Cart. Rames. Saltreche, ' salt reach.' See Reach.
Saxmundham. Probably ' house, home under the protection, Old English mund, of the Saxons,' Old English Seaxe. No name Seaxmund in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ham and compare Goodmanham. There is a Mundham (Norfolk), probably from a man. Compare Saxon Street (Cambridgeshire).
Saxton (Tadcaster). Domesday Book Saxtun, 1119 charter Saxtona, i.e., ' town, settlement of Saxons, Old English Seaxe, in this Anglian region. Compare Saxby (Melton Mowbray). There was also a Saxton (Wood Ditton, Cambridgeshire), Domesday Book Sextone, 1284 Saxtone, which Skeat pefers to derive from a man Saxa. Compare, too, Domesday Book Essex Saxencena, and Saxondale (Notts), Domesday Book Saxeden, 1291 Saxndal. See -den and -dale.
Scagglethorpe (Malton). Domesday Book Scachetorp, Scagertorp, Scarcheorp; 1207 Fines Scaketorp. The originally man's name must be represented by Domesday Book's Scacher- (r easily becomes its kindred liquid l) but in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum we only find Scacca or Sccecca. Compare Scackliton (Yorks), Domesday Book Scacheldene, evidently from the same name; o is Skeckling (Holderness), Domesday Book Scachelinge,' place of the sons of Scacel.' To derive from Old Norse skagi, ' low cape, ness,' accouts for neither the -le nor Domesday Book's -er.
Scalby (Yorks). Domesday Book 1178-80 Scallebi, Scalebi. 'Hut or shieling-abode,’ Old Norse skale. Compare Skelbrooke and see -by.
Scam(p)ston (Yorks). Domesday Book Scameston, 4 times, 1202 Fines Scameliston. ' Village of Scamel.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Scamma and Sceomma. Compare Scagglethorpe.
Scarborough. Not in Domesday Book 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Scardeburc, 1194 Rog. Hoveden Scardleburg, 1297 Schardeburghe, 1436 Scarborough; also Scarhburge. ' Burgh, castle on the sherd or shard,' Old English sceard—i.e., piece ' sheared off.' Scargill (N. Yorks) is in Domesday Book Scacreghill, which can hardly be from Old Norse sker, ' a rock, a scaur.' See -gill. (!)The town was founded by Danes in the 10th century, when Thorgil (also known as Skarthi, meaning ‘harelip) built a stronghold here - hence ‘Skarthi’s burh’.
Scawby (Lines). ' Dwelling on the promontory,' Old Norse skage. Compare next. But Scawsby (Brodsworth, Yorks) is Domesday Book Scalchebi, 1205 Scauceby, ' dwelling of Scealc,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Scawton (Yorks), Domesday Book Scaltun, is a little doubtful. Compare Scalby.
Scawfell and S. Pikes (Cumberland). Old Norse. skage,'a promontory,’ and fjall, Norse fjeld, ' a mountain, a hill.' Compare The Skaw (Denmark) and The Scaw of Unst. On Pike, see Red Pike.
Scilly Isles, circa, 400 Sulpicius Sev. Sylinancis (insula), circa, 1200 Gervase Insula Suilli, Sagas Syllingar, 1345 Insula de Scilly, 1592 Silley (so now pronunciation), 1603 Owen Sorlinges commonly cleped Syllie. In Modern France Les lies Sorlingues. A little difficult. The early references are to an insula, or ' island,' and may refer to the tiny islet of Scilly, in the N.W. of the group, which has given its name to the whole. The c in the name is plainly an intrusion; and the form Sorlinges plainly represents the name as known to the Romans; the liquids l and r readily interchange. What the circa, 400 ending -nancis represents it is hard to say. But probably the Syli- or Suilli is Cornish silli, selli, Bretons sili, ' a (conger) eel; so ' isle of eels.' But it might be from Cornish syll, sull, ' a ' view, a prospect.' Compare Sully (Cardiff) and see -ey. The earlier name Cassiterides, ' tin-islands,' must have included part of Cornwall. …goes back to Herodotus, circa, 450 B.C., and to Strabo.
Scorton (Garstang and Darlington). Darlington S. probably Domesday Book Scortone (Yorks). Probably 'town of Scorra' or ' Scorta,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Norfkolk Scartune. But Scoreby (Pocklington), Domesday Book Scornesbi, must be ' dwelling of ' ? Sceorfwine. See -by.
Scotby (Carlisle), circa, 1139 Scotebi, 1189 Scottebi. 'Dwelling of the Scots ‘: one cannot be quite sure who are meant. Duignan construes the Scotlands (Bushbury), as Old English sceat landes, ' corner lands.' But Scotforth (Lancaster), Domesday Book Scozford, must be ' Scots' ford ' (z= ts). See -forth.
Scotter (Lincoln), before 1100 charter Scotere. Probably ' spit of land, Icelandic eyri, inhabited by Scots.' Compare Scottow (' Scot's how ' or ' hill ') (Norwich), and Domesday Book Norfk. Scottesa.
Scotton (Yorks and Lines). Yorks S. Domesday Book Scotton, Scottune. 'Town of the Scots.' Compare above.
Scoulton (Attleborough) Domesday Book Sculetuna. ' Town of Skuli,' a Norse name.
Scrayingham (York). Domesday Book Screngha'. Probably' home of the sons of Scroewa,’ in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ing and -ham.
Scremerston (Berwick). 1197 Schermereton, later' Screm'ston. Older forms needed. Possibly ' village of Scealdamcr.' Compare Skelmersdale.
Scriven (Knaresborough). Domesday Book Scravinge. 'Place of the sons of Scrcef or' Sceorf,' only the latter in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Scarle (Notts), Domesday Book Scorvelei. See -ing and -ley.
Scruton (Bedale). Domesday Book Securetone. 'Town of Scurua' or ' Scyrua,' a monk, or perhaps of ' Scurja,' a Danish jarl in Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. Compare Sheraton and Screveton (Notts), Domesday Book Scrivetone, 1284 Scrouton. Scrooby (Notts) is Domesday Book Scrobi.
Seacourt (Oxford), circa, 957 charter Seofecan wyrthe, Domesday Book Seuacoorde, circa, 1130 Chronicum Abingd. Seovecwurde, 1401-02 Seokeworthe. A most instructive and warning corruption. ' Seofeca's farm '; whilst Seabridge (Staffordshire) is before1300 Sheperugge,' sheep ridge' See -worth.
Seacroft (Leeds and Skegness). Leeds. Domesday Book Sacroft, 1199 Secroft. Old English see, ' sea,’ was also applied to a lake like the Sea of Galilee; but there is no trace of such here. So probably ‘sedgy croft, or' farm,’ Old English soecg, secg, 5 sege, 7 sage, 9 dial, seag, ' sedge.' Compare Seagry, Seaton, and Domesday Book Northants Sewelle; also see Ancroft.
Seaford (Sussex). 1234 Close R. and circa, 1450 Fortescue Seforde. ' Ford, passage, by the sea.'
Seagry (Chippenham). Domesday Book Segrie, 1225 Patent B. Seggreye. Old English secg rithe,' sedge-grown strem.' Compare Sedgefield and Rye.
Seal (Sevenoaks) (circa, 1250 charter La Sele), and Seale (Farnham). Neither in Domesday Book Old English seel, sele,' a house, a hall.'
Seamer (Yorks) and Semer (Ipswich). Yorks S. Domesday Book Semers, Semaer, Semer. Probably Old English sem, sam(ge)omere,' half boundary.' But Sea- seems often doubtful in Eng. placenames. See above Compare Domesday Book Salop Semebre? ' half bank ' (Old English obr). There are 3 men in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum called Scenter or Semer.
Seasalter (Whitstable). Old forms needed. It may, as some think, bepartly of Brythonic originally; but this is doubtful.
Seascale (Cumberland). ' Dwelling by the sea,’ Old Norse skali, found in English before 1300 as scale, ' a hut, a shed '; same root as sheal and shieling. Compare Galashiels (Scottish) and Bowscale (W. Cumberland, which is from Norse bol skali,' hut, shedd welling.'
Seaton (9 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book and 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Setton (Yorks); also Domesday Book Seton-= Seaton Ross. 1298 ' Simon de Seyton? which. Not all are on the sea e.g., Seaton (Uppingham). So Sea-may represent some of the many Old English names in Sae- or Sea-, ' town of? ' The Scottish Seaton is called after the De Sey family. But Setton looks like seat-town, with seat in the sense of ' settlement, country ' seat, Old English soet, as in Somerset.
Seaton Carew (W. Hartlepool). Said to be before 1130 Sim. Dur. Ceattune,' town of Ceatta.' The hard Old English c very rarely becomes s. The Carew may be from Henry Carey or Carew (the names are the same), first Baron Hunsdon, who received lands in Yorks from Queen Elizabeth in 1571.
Seckington (Tamworth). Old English Chronicum 755, Secggandune, Saecandune i.e., ' hill ' or ' hillfort of Secca or Seccga '; several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Sedbergh (Yorks). Domesday Book Sedberge, 1549 Sedberg. Old English seed, 3 sed, ' sad," often in early use ' massive, solid,' also, from 1412 ' dark, deep in colour '; -bergh is a Mittel English variant of Barrow, Old English beorh, berh, ' a hill.' Compare Domesday Book Roeberg hundred, later Rugheberg, Rubergh, name of a now defunct' hundred' in Berks.
Sedgeberrow (Evesham). 771 and 964 charter Secgesbearwe, Domesday Book Seggesbarve, 1275 Seggesberrow. Probably ' Barrow, hill or tumulus of Secg.' Sedgeley (Wolverhampton.) is circa, 1006 charter Secges ' lea, Domesday Book Segleslei (l for c), before 1300 Seggesleye, clearly ' Secg's or ' Segge's lea,' though the name is not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Also compare Sedgemoor.
Sedgefield (Ferryhill). Said to be before 1130 Sim. Dur. Ceddesfeld i.e., 'Ceadda's' or 'Chad's field.' Note the corruption. Compare Shadwell. Only in 1183 Boldon Bk.it is Seggesfeld, and1197 Rolls Secchefeld, plainly from Old English secg, ' sedge, rushes '; see next. So that the identification of Sim. Dur.'s name is probably wrong.
Sedgemoor (Somerset). It cannot be Codex Diplomaticus iii. 386 Sezes mere. Old English secg, 5-sedge, is applied to various coarse, rush-like plants; mere, of course, is ' lake.' Compare above.
Sedlescombe (Battle). ' Valley of Sedel '; compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 997 Sidelesham, and Domesday Book Kent Sedlinges, the patronymic. See -combe.
Sefton (Liverpool). Domesday Book Sexton (x an error), 1236 Ceffton, 1249 Cefton, 1318 Sefton. Either from a man Sceffa (compare Domesday Book Leics. Sevesbi) or from Old Norse sef, ' sedge.'
Seighford (Stafford). Domesday Book Cesteford, before 1400 Sesteford. In Domesday Book often st= ht, as Domesday Book hates gutturals, so this is probably Old English seohtre ford, ' brook, ditch ford.'
Seint or Seoint (Carnarvon). Probably circa, 380 The antonic Itenary Segontium. Also called Caer Seoint; probably the same as Cair Segeint in list appended to Nennius. The Segontiaci were a British tribe who probably dwelt near Silchester.
Seisdon (Wolverhampton.). Domesday Book Seisdone, Saisdone, before 1300 Seisden. Duignan is puzzled here. Seis- probably is a contraction of some man's name,? Siward, Soewulf, Seulf; it might be Welsch Sais, ' a Saxon.’ See -don.
Selby. Sic 1483; not in Domesday Book before 1130 Sim. Dur. Selebi. May be ' dwelling of' a man-with one of the many Old English names in Seleforth, Seleforth, Selewig, etc. But Sel- may also be Icel. set, ' a shed at a mountain-farm, ‘a soetor, or else Old Norse scell,' happy.' See-by.
Sellacks Marsh (Ross, Herefd.). Probably 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Salceia. Probably 'isle of Seolca' or ‘Seoloce,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; -eia=-ey, q.v. Sellacks is for Seoloce's. It might be from Latin Salic(e)tum, hence the France name Saussaie. Sellatield (Whitehaven). Hybrid. Norse selja,' a dairy.'
Selly Oak (Birmingham), before 1200 Selleg', Selley.’ Doubtful. Sell- or Selle- probably represents a man's name, a contraction of one of the many in Sele-, Seleburh, Selered, etc. The ending may either be -ey or -ley, q.v.
Selsea. Bede Selaeseu, Selesei (in before 900 Old English versn. Sylesea), quod dicitur Insula vituh marini (' isle of the sea calf '). Seal- island,' Old English siol, seol; Icelandic sel-r. See -ea.
Selston (Nottingham). Domesday Book Salestune, 1284 Seliston. Perhaps same name as 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Selveston (Northants). 'Village of Selua,’ 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Also compare Domesday Book Kent Selesburne and Selinge, which postulate a man Sele, and a patronymic. See -ing.
Selwood (now Frome or Frome Selwood). 878 Old English Chronicum Sealwudu, circa, 893 Asser ' Selundu i.e., sylva magna in Latin, Coit maur in British.' Old English sel, ' good.' Compare Domesday Book Hants, Seldene.
Semer (Ipswich). See Seamer.
Semley (Shaftesbury). ' Half-meadow'; Old English sam, sem. Compare Domesday Book Bucks Senlai. See -ley.
Sem(e)pringham (Bourne). Old English Chronicum 852 Sempizaham, 1156 Shimpingeham, Shempingeham? circa, 1290 The Ermitage of Semplingham,circa, 1330 Sempyngham. A patronymic. See- ham; and compare Shimpling. Semple is still a common surname, but it is for St. Paul.
Sennen (Land's End). From Senan, b. Co. Clare, circa, 4 88, Bp. near Kilrush, and friend of St. David.
Sessay (Thirsk). Domesday Book Sezai. Doubtfiil. In Domesday Bookz2 usually =ts? ' Isle of Soegeat ' or ' Saietus,' names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ay.
Sethar (Lizard). Corn, for ' gull, sea-mew.'
Settle (Yorks). Domesday Book Setel. Old English setl, 'a seat, a resting-place.' Compare Charter Fram Setle to netles stede.’ Near Maidstone.
Settrington (Malton). Domesday Book Sendriton, circa, 1100 Seteringetun, 1179-80 Setrinton. Might be ' abode of the scetor (N.) or summer farm dwellers.' Only Domesday Book's form must then be a mistake. There is no name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum like Sender. See -ing and -ton.
Sevenoaks (Kent and Northwich). J. R. Green thought probably a sacred group of trees forming an ancient boundary-mark. Snooks is a corruption of this word. The town in Kent does not seem to go back much before1400. There is a Sevenstorp in Domesday BookYorks. Sevenhampton (Gloucester and Wilts) is Domesday Book, both, Sevenhamtone. See Hampton. Sennington, close b yth eformer, is a corrup, of the same name.
Severn R. in W. Hafren. circa, 90 Tacitus Sabrina, 893 Old English Chronicum Saifern, Domesday Book Saverna, circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Haveren, 1297 Robert of Gloucester Seuerne, circa, 1450 Saverne. Name probably pre-Keltic; change of Kelt. h to Rom. s is according to rule.
Sewerby (Bridlington). Domesday Book Siwardbi, Siwarbi. 'Dwelling of Sigeweard' or' Siward.' See-by.
Shackerston (Atherston) 1298 ‘Ricardus de Shakelstone. Probably ‘town of Soecol’ or ‘Soecolf. In Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The liquids l and r readily interchange. Compare the common surname Shackleton.
Shadforth (Durham). 1183 Shaldeford, Shadeford. Old English sceald ford, ' shallow ford.' See Shalcombe, Shalford, and -forth.
Shadwell (E. London). Said to be ' St. Chad's well.' Compare Sedge- field; but see above.
Shaftesbury, circa, 893 Asser Sceftesburg, 935 charter Scheftesburi, 982 Old English Chronicum Sceaftesbyrig, 1156 Shaftesbiria, 1228 Saftesbir.' Probably not from Old English sceaft, ' a spear, dart, pole,' but from a man so- called. Compare next and Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 629 Sceafteshangra (wooded slope), also Scaftworth (Notts), Domesday Book Scafteorde; and see -bury and -worth.
Shafton (Barnsley). Domesday Book Sceptone, Sceptun. 'Village with the sheep '; Old English sceap. Compare Shefford.
Shalbourne (Hungerford). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 404 ait Scealdeburnan Domesday Book Eseldeborne (a Norman addition of e, as they could not pronounce our sh; compare Sheffield), 1316 Shaldeburne, circa, 1540 Shalborne. Old English sceald burna, ' shallow brook or burn.' See next and Shelford.
Shalcombe (Isle of W.). Domesday Book Eseldecome (on E- see above); and Shalfleet (Isle of W.). 838 charter Scealdan fleote, Domesday Book Selde flet. ' Shallow valley,' see -combe, and ' shallow river,' see Fleet. Old English sceald, 'shallow' (in Barbour schald, same root as shoal), curiously enough is not in Old English diets. Form 838, also 939 charter Scealdan ford, Shaftesbury, suggest derivation from a man Scealda. Skeat does not favour this, but it is quite possible; compare Shalstone (Bucks), Domesday Book Scaldetone. Compare also Shadforth and next.
Shalford (Braintree and Guildford). Braintree S. Domesday Book Escaldeforde, Scaldefort. Gu. S. Domesday Book Scaldeford. Old English sceald ford, ' shallow ford.' See above.
Shanklin (Isle of W.). Domesday Book Sencliz. The z probably represents a nasalized g or ng, and so this is probably Old English sc(e)anca hlinc,' rising ground, ridge, like a man's shank ' (M.E. sanke), or ' legbone.' Compare Oxford Dictionary, shank sb. 8. Hlinc is, of course, the modern links.
Shapcombe (Devon). Domesday Book Scobacoma. ' Valley of Scoba.' There is a Scobba and a Scoppo in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Shapwick (Bridgewater) and see -combe. But Shapridge, (Forest of Dean) is 1281-82 Sheepridge; Old English sceap.
Shap Fell (Westmorld.). Probably 'hill shaped like a bushel.' Old Norse skjappa. Shap Abbey dates before1200. Compare Scawfell.
Shareshill (Wolverhampton.). Domesday Book Servesed, before 1200 Sareshulf, before 1300 Sarnesculf, Sarneshull, Sharnshull, S(h)areshull. A much-altered name. Domesday Book is probably ' Sceorf's head,' and Sareshulf or -Saresculf, ' Sceorfs shelf ' of land. Compare Shelfanger, etc. Hull is common midl. Mittel English for hill.
Sharnbrook (Beds), Domesday Book Sernebroc, and Sharnford (Hinckley). Domesday Book Scerneford. Compare 792 charter Scranaburna (belonging to St. Albans). These all seem to come from Old English scearn, Old Norse sham, Old Frisan skern, Norse Frisian sjaarn, ' dung, esp. dung of cattle,' still in dialect as sharn.
Sharpness (Berkeley, Gloucester). 956 charter on scearpan nesse. Old English for 'sharp, pointed headland'; perhaps not this one. It is 1349 Sharpenesse. The Berkeley MSS. forms—Shopenash, Shobenasse, etc.—probably refer to another place.
Shatterford (Bewdley). 996 charter Sciteresford, 1286 Sheteresford. ' Shooter's, archer's ford ‘; Old English scytere, sceotere.
Shavington (Nantwich) 1298 Shaventon. ' Town of ‘Sceafa’ in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Shaw (Melksham and Lanes). Melksham S. Domesday Book Essages (compare Shalbourne), 1291 Schawe, 1316 Shaghe. Old English scaga, ' thicket, wood.' Shaw is common in Scottish names.
Sheen (Surrey and Longnor). Surrey S. Old English charter Sceon; Longnor S. Domesday Book the same Probably Old English seine, scene, sceone, ' beautiful.' Its use as sb. seems late. There is also a Sheen Hill (Worcs).
Sheerness. Old Norse skoerr nes, or Mittel English scere noes, ' bright, clear headland.' The adjunctive sheer is very puzzling; see Oxford Dictionary The town is comparatively recent.
Sheffield. Domesday Book Scevelt, Scafeld, Escafeld; 1298 Writ Shefelde; circa, 1386 Chaucer Sheflfeld. ' Field on the R. Sheaf; Old English sceaf, ' a sheaf.' On Norm, prefixing of E- in Domesday Book, see Shalbourne. But Shefford on R. Lambourne (Berks), Domesday Book Siford, is Old English Scypford, ' sheep ford.' Cf Shafton.
Sheldon (Birmingham) and Shelfield (Henley-in-Arden). before 1200 Scheldon, 1370 Scheldone, before 1300 Scelefhull, 1322 Schelfhull. Probably both from Old English scelfe, ' shelf-hke ' or ' shelving hill,' and ' field.' Compare Shelfanger, Shelton (Staffordshire), Domesday Book Scelfitone, before 1350 Selfton, before 1400 Schelton; also Domesday Book Bucks Skeldene, and Shildon; and see -don and -ton.
Shelf (Halifax). Domesday Book Scelf. Old English scelfe, 'shelf' (of rock, etc.). Compare Domesday Book Scelves (Worcester) and Shelfield (Walsall); Domesday Book Scelfeld, before 1300 Schelfhul.
Shelfanger (Diss). 1291 Shelfangel. Old English scelfe-angra, 'shelf- like, wooded slope.' Compare Birchanger.
Shelford (Cambridge and Stoke Ferry, Notts). Cambridge. S. circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Esceldford, Sceldford; Domesday Book Escelforde, 1210 Selford; compare Codex Diplomaticus iv. 157 Scealdeforda. Old English sceald Mittel English schald, scheld, ' shallow.' Compare Shalbourne, Shalford, and Shallowford (Stone), before 1300 Schaldeford. The initial E- is a Norman euphonic prefix, and quite according to rule.
Shellingford (Faringdon). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum ii. 373, Scaringaford, but p. 372 Xalingeford (X for Sh); Domesday Book Serengeford, 1291 Schalingeford, 1316 Shallingford. Curious corruption ‘Ford of the Scarings; or sons of Scara. Compare Kent. charter Scarendene.
Shelsley Beauchamp and Walsh (R. Teme, Worcester). Domesday Book Caldeslei, 1275 Sceldeley Walleys, 1346 Sheldesleye. Probably from some man Sceld or Sceald, rather than from Old English scyld, and so ' island like a shield.' See -ey. B. and W. were former owners. 1275 Subsidy Boll says ' Quod Henricus le Waleys quondam tenuit.' Waleys, Wallace, Walsh, and Welsch are all the same name, and mean' the Welschman.'
Shenborough' and Shenington (Gloucester). Sic 1293, but Domesday Book Senendone,1263 Schenedon. ' Hill' or' town of the beautiful man' Old English seen, Ger. schon, ' fair, beautiful,' also used as a personal name, now spelt Chiene, but pronunciations heen. We get the patronymic in Shengay, Shingay (Cambridgeshire), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Sceningei, 1276 Schenegeye, ' Shening's isle.' Compare Sheen, Shenfield (Brentwood), Shenley (Barnet), Skinflats (Grangemouth), and next.
Shenstone (Lichfield and Hartlebury). Lichfield S. before 1100 Scenstan, Domesday Book Seneste, before 1200 S(h)enestan, before 1300 Schenestane; Hartlebury S. 1275 Scheneston, 1327 Shenston. Old English scene stan, 'beautiful, bright rock ' or ' stone.' Compare Sheen.
Shepley= Shipley, and Shepton= Shipton.
Shepperton (Middlesex). Domesday Book Scepertone. No likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and skipper, which is Du. or Low Ger., is not in Eng. before 1390; so probably' Ship's host or army town,' from Old English scip-here. Possibly, not probably, from Cornish sciber, Welsch ysgubor, in English 1567 skipper, ' a barn.'
Sheppey (Kent), before 716 charter Scepeis, Old English Chronicum 832 Sceapige i.e.,' sheep island' ; also 1229 Close B.S Shipweya, 1230 Shipweya. There is also a Sheppy or Sheepway near Bristol. See -ey.
Shepreth (Royston, Herts), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Scepereie Domesday Book Escepride, 1302 Scheperethe. Not ' sheep stream,' Old English rith, ride, says Skeat, because of the long i, whilst here we have only a short e. Probably from Old English wroed, wred, ' a wreath, a ring, a bandage, then a fence of twisted or wreathed hurdles.' Compare Meldreth, near by.
Shepshed (Loughborough). 1245 Shepesheved. 'Headland liket he head of a sheep ‘; Old English heafod, 2-5 heved ; Dan. hoved, ' head.' But Shepscombe (Painswick), 1263 Sebbescombe, is' valley of Sceobba.'
Sheraton (Castle Eden). 1183 Shurutona. 'Village of Scurua' or' Scyrim,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Scruton.
Sherborne. 671 Scireburnensis ecclesia, Old English Chronicum 860 Sciraburna, 905 Scireburnensis, circa, 1130 Wm. Malmesbury Schireburnensis. Old English scire burna, ' brook, burn at the shire or division.' Sherbourn (Warwick) is also Domesday Book Scireburne, the boundary between the hundreds of Barlichway and Kineton. And Sherburn (Durham) is 1183 Sirburne, prob the same root; whilst Sherborne (Gloucester), Domesday BookSareburne, is doubtful. There is an Old English scir, ' bright, pure.'
Sheringham (N. Norfolk). Domesday Book Sc(h)erninga', ' 1351 Shiryng-, circa, 1460 Sheringham.' Probably Old English Sciranham. ' Home of Scira,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Probably here a patronymic. Sherington (Newport Pagnell), Domesday Book Serintone, is probably from same name. No Sera in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ing.
Sherstone (Wilts). 1016 Old English Chronicum Sceorstan, circa, 1100 Encom. Emmae Scorastan, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Scearstan. Probably, though not certainly, from late Old English scoru; Old Norse skor, ' a notch, a tally, a score,'s ame root as shear; Old English seeran. Thus the name may mean ' stone, rock with the notch or crevice,' or ' boundary stone,'or' a standingstone with a sharp edge' (M'Clure).
Sherwood Forest (Notts). 1189 P'pe Schirewude, 1237 Shirewud, i. e. Wood at the shire or boundary.’ Compare Sherborne.
Shevington Moor (Wigan). 1200-33 Shefinton, 1268-79 Shevinton, 1322 Skeventon, ' Town, village of Sceafa,' genitive -an. Compare Scevintone, Domesday Book Salop.
Shide (Newport, Isle of W.). Domesday Book Side. Probably aspirated form of Old English side,' a side,' found in Eng. with the meaning' slope of a hill ' as early as circa, 1250. For similar aspiration compare Shareshill (Wolverhampton), Domesday Book Servesed, before 1200 Sareshulf, also, in same district, the Showells, before 1300 Sewalle, Sewale.
Shifford (Oxford). ' Sheep ford '= Shefford.
Shildon (Co. Durham). 1211 Selvedon. Probably, as in Sheldon, Old English scelfe dun, ' shelf-like hill.' See -don.
Shillingstone (Blandford), also called Shilling Ockford (compare Ockbrook). Old Ockford Eskelling, from a man Schelin of Eschelinus in Domesday Book on the E- prefixed by Domesday Book, see Shalbourne. But Shillington (Hitchin) is circa, 1080 Schitlingedone. From an unrecorded patronymic Scitling. Onom has nothing but Sceaftweald and Scilling. See – ing, -don, and -ton.
Shilston (several farms, Devon). Said to be 'shelf stone' i.e., the site of a dolmen; Old English scelfe, scylfe,' a shelf.'
Shimpling (Bury St. Edmunds). Domesday Book Sempingaham; see Sempringham. On the dropping of the -ham, compare Woking and Wokingham.
Shinfield (Reading). Domesday Book Scanesfelt, 1316 Shenyngfelde; also Senefeld, Schunnyngfeld. Skeat thinks the Domesday Book form a scribal error and says this is ' field of the Scienings ' or ' sons of Sciene.' Compare the modern name Chiene, pronunciation Sheen, and next.
Shingay (Cambridgeshire). Old Shening-ay. 'Isle of the Scienings.' See above.
Shipley (Leeds and Salop) and Shipton (10 in all). Domesday Book Warwick Sciplea (in Salop), Yorks Scipeleia. ' Sheep meadow' and ' sheep village '; from Old English sceap, seep, ' a sheep,' and so= Shepley (Huddersfield), Domesday Book Seppeleia, and the Sheptons. See also -ley and -ton. Shepton Mallet (Somerset) has added to it the name of its former owners; Malet is still a surname. Shipton- under-Wychwood (Oxford) is circa, 1450 Schiptone under Whicwode. See Wychwood; and compare Rampton.
Shippen (W. Riding), Domesday Book Scipen, and Shippon (Abingdon), circa, 1100 Chronicum Abing. Scippene, Scipena; 1316 Shupene. Old English scypen, ' a cowhouse '; dialect English shippen, shuppen.
Shipston-on-Stour. 770 charter Scepeswasce, 957 the same Scepwsesctun. Domesday Book Scepwestun. A curious contraction. ' Town of the sheepwash.' Shipton Oliff (Gloucester), Domesday Book Scip(e)tone, is ' sheep-town.' Oliff is the familyname Olive.
Shirley (Solihull, Derby, and Southampton). Solihull. S. before 1300 Schirley. Derbey S. Domesday Book Sirelei. Doubtful. There is no likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and no Old English sire. Probably Old English scir leah, ' shire meadow'; compare Sherborne and Shirbourne (Coventry) {before 1300 Shirburne), which mean 'shire' or 'boundary brook'; also Shireoaks (Notts) and Skirlaugh.
Shobdon (Herefordsh.) and Shobnall (Burton-on-T.). before 1300 Scobenhale, Shobenhale. ' Hill and ' nook of Sceoba,' genitive -an. ' See -don and -hall.
Shobrooke R. (Devon). 930 charter Sceocabroc; Old English for 'brook ' of Sceocca i.e., the devil, Satan! Compare Shuckburgh.
Shocklach (Malpas). Domesday Book Socheliche. The first syllable must be as above, and the second is a rare variant of Old English leah, ' a meadow.' Compare Skirlaugh and Stublach; and see -leigh.
Shoebury (Essex). 893 Old English Chronicum Sceoburg, 994 the same Sceobyrig, Hardly from Old English seed, ' a shoe '; probably ' burgh, fort of Sceoba ' or ' Sceobba, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Shooter's Hill (London). 1549 Latimer, Shooters hyll. Probably a resort for archery.
Shoreditch (London). Codex Diplomaticus index, a' Sordic' circa, 1360 Soerditch, 1597-98 Shorditch. Stow,1598, says he had evidence that 400 years before his day it was called Soersditch. Soer probably is the name of a man. There are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Soart and Sogor. Compare next. Shore meaning ' sewer ' is not found till 1598.
Shoreham (Sussex, Sevenoaks). Not in Domesday Book Sussex. S. 1234 Close E. Shorham, 1238 the same Sorham; but circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Cymensore, ' shore, border of Cymen,' now represented by Keynor. Thus it would seem the Cymen has been dropped, and the ending -sore treated as if it were a proper name, and the common -ham added. Shoreham (Kent) is sic before 1300, and can have nothing to do with shore either. The last is probably from Du., and not found in English till 14th century. Shore- here must be a name, as in Jane Shore, famous mistress of Edw. IV. The on lylikely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is one Scorra. Compare next, and 1231 Close R. Sorham (Suffolk).
Shorncliffe (Folkestone)? Domesday Book Soanechve (a error for r), and Shorne (Gravesend). 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Shornbefore The root seems not seem likely.
Shorwell (Newport, Isle of W.). Domesday Book Sorewellbefore 'Well of Sor(r)a ' (not recorded), or ' Scorrbefore' See Shoreham.
Shotover (Oxford). Domesday Book Scotorne (error for -ovre). Close R. 1229 Sothore, 1230 Shotor', 1231 Shotovr'. Not chateau vert but ' shot, division of land on the bank or brink ‘; Old English obr, ofer; Mittel English overe. See Aldershot and -over.
Shotswell (Kineton). 1123 Soteswalle, -welle; before 1300 S(c)hotes- well. 'Well'; Old English wella, 'of Scot' (in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum) or 'the Scot.' Compare next.
Shottery (Stratford-on-Avon). 704-09 charter Scottarith, Old English for ' stream of the Scots.' How came they here? 1016 ' on Scotrithes gemaero,' before 1400 Shoteriche, Shotrech. Compare next. On rith compare Childrey.
Shottesbrooke (Bray). Domesday Book Sotesbroc, 1189 Schottesbroch, 1316 Sotesbroke. ' Scot's brook.' Compare 958 charter Scotteshealh (haugh), and above.
Shotton (Wooler, Castle Eden, and Flint). Wooler S. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Scotadun, but circa, 1230 Schottun; Castle. S. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Sceottun, 1183 Siottona and Shotton. This name represents two, or rather three, different meanings: (1) Scots' 'down or hill,' (2) ' Scots' town,' and (3) ' town, village on which is levied a scot or tax'; Old English sc(e)ot, gesc(e)ot, same words as in ' paying your shot.' Without old forms the Flint name is uncertain.
Shotwick (Chester). 1340 Shotwyk. Prob, ‘dwelling ' (Old English wic) ' of a Scot '; but compare above.
Shrawardine (Shrewsbury). Probably Domesday Book Salevrdine (compare Salford Br.), where we have a Norman scribe making exactly the same phonetic change as Salop for Shropshire; 1318 Luytel (Little) Shrowardyn. The Shra- may either mean ' cave ' or a man's name Scrawa; see next. The ending means' farm, holding'; see -wardine. We also have a Stavrdine in Domesday Book Salop.
Shrawley (Stourport). 804 charter Scraefleh, before 1200 Escreselei (Norm, spelling), 1275 Schreweley. And Shrewley (Warwick) Domesday Book Servelei, before 1300 Screweley, Shreueley, Schreule, before 1400 Sravesle, Shreussle. Both may be ' meadow with the cave'; Old English scroef. But Duignan thinks the forms of the latter all point to a worn-down form of Old English scir gerefa, ' shire reeve, sheriff.' Also compare B.C.8. 723 Scroewanleah, near Exeter, which must represent a man's name. See -ley.
Shrewsbury, also Salop and Shropshire. 901 charter In civitate Scrobbensis, 1007 Old English Chronicum Scrobbesbyrg, 1083 charter Salopesberia, Domesday Book Sciropesberie, circa, 1097 Flor. Worcester Scrobbesbyria, before 1145 Orderic Scrobesburia, circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Solopusburia, 1271 Salopseburi, 1283 Slopesbiry, 1387 Schroysbury, 1461 Schrevisbery, 1485 Shrewsbury; also 1088 Old English Chronicum Scrobscyre. Shrewsbury is Old English scrobbes byrg, ' burgh, castle among the shrubs,' Shropshire is simply Scrobscire, whilst Salopesbury is supposed to be the nearest that the Norman could come in pronunciation to Scrobbesbury. Then the -bury was dropped, and we get Salop. No Norman could pronunciation Sc-. Shrawardine.
Shrivenham (W. Berks). Codex Diplomaticus vi. 131 Scrifenan hamm; Old English charter Scrivenanhom, Domesday Book Scrivenham, 1316 Shrivenham. Old English charter Scrivenhom, Domesday Book Scrivenham, 1316 Shrivenham, ‘Enclosure of Scrifena, an unknown man. Scrivein, i.e., scrivener is found in Eng. before 1300. Scruton; and see -ham.
Shuckburgh (Southam) and Shucknall (Hereford). Domesday Book Socheberge, before 1300 Suckeberge, Shukborow, Schuckborough. Shucknall will be Old English Scuccan heal. ' Nook ' and ' castle of the Devil ‘; Old English scucca, ' Satan, a demon, evil spirit.' Compare Shugborough (Staffordshire), before 1400 Shokkeburgh, Shukburgh, and Shobrooke. See -burgh and -hall.
Shustoke (Coleshill and Walsall). Coleshill S. Domesday Book Scotescote, 1256 Schuttestok, 1290 Schustoke. Domesday Book is ' Scot's cottage; as to ' the Scot, compare Shottery. But Stoke is ' place.'
Shuttington (Tarnworth). Domesday Book Cetitone, 1165 Sheftintone, before1300 Schetynton, 1327 Schutinton. Domesday Book’s Form is abnormal, and probably represents a deliberate change from the original Old English Sceaftingtun (as it would seem), ' village of Sceaft’s descendants.’ Shurdington (Leckhampton), 1148 Schurdentone, 1157 Scherdyntone, is thought to be from Scirgeard or Scirierd, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Sible Hedingham (Essex). Domesday Book Hedingham, but 1488 Henyngham, 1489 Hevenyngham. It is not easy to explain the change of n to d after 1489. The name is a patronymic, ' home of the sons of Hoedda' or' Headda,' avery common name. See -ing.
Sibstone (Atherstone) 'Stone of Siba' or ‘Sibba.' Compare Domesday Book Sibetune (Salop), and Sibetorp, now Sibthokpe (Notts).
Sicklinghall, (Wetherby). Domesday Book Sichingal, Sidingale (d error for cl), circa, 1150 Sieclinhale. ' Nook of the Sicklings,' an unrecorded patronymic, though we do have Suckling. It is probably ' sons of Scecol ' or ' Soecolf; 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing and -hall.
Sidcup (Kent). Old forms needed, not in Domesday Book Probably ' Sida's cop ' or ' hill Old English cop, copp, ' head, summit, hill.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 159 Sidan ham. The first syllable might be Old English seed, 3 sed, 4-5 said, ' sad,' often in early use ' massive, solid,' and also from 1412 ' dark, deep i ncolour.' Compare Sedbergh, and Siddington (Cirencester), Domesday Book Sudintone, Suditone, plainly from Syda or Sida.
Siddick (Workington). This is said to be Old English Scidwic, ' dwelling at the shedm or ‘divide.’ Old English sceadan, ' to separate.' But this is doubtful; more probably from some man Sida or Side. Compare Sidenhall (Tamworth), before 1300 Sydenhale. Sidnall (Cherbury) is originally the same. In later North. MSS. of Layamonthe Wall of Severus is Sid-wall. Side sb., Old English side, is 4-5 sid, and this quite possibly gives the origin, its root being possibly Old English sid,' ample, spacious, extensive.' Sidwic,' ample dwelling,' is avery likely name.
Sidlesham (Chichester). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 997 Sidelesham. Compare Exon. Domesday Book Sidelham. ' Home of Sidel.'
Sid R. and Sidmouth (S. E. Devon). Domesday Book Sedemude. Sidmouth may be Ptolemy's Dunion. The root of Sid may be Welsch sid,' a round, a circling.'
Silchester (Reading), circa, 1205 Layam. Selechsestre. circa, 150 Ptolemy Caleva, which may be caled-va, with caled — silva or 'wood.' Compare the name Caledonia in Tacitus Agricola. But Silchester or Silechester is also derived from Latin silex, silicis, ' flint,' and the first syllable is really quite doubtful. Quite possibly the name is ' good camp,' from Old English sel,' good.' Eng. names in -chester, q.v. almost never have a Latin word like silva or silex as the first part.
Silkmore (Stafford), Silkstone (Barnsley), and Silksworth (Sunderland). Domesday Book Selchmore, before 1400 Selkemor, Silkemor; Domesday Book Silchstone. Moor, 'town’ ,and ' farm of Seolca.' Compare Silkby (S. Lines). See -ton and -worth.
Silloth (Cumbld.). Perhaps, as Dr. Guest thinks, same word as Solway. Probably Norse sol wath, 'muddy ford'; Old English sol, 'mud,’that which' sullies.'
Silsden (Keighley). Domesday Book Siglesdene. The name is a little uncertain; more old forms needed. It may be 'Sigelac's' or ' Silac's,' or else ' Sigefugul’s dean ' or ' woody vale.' See -den. Sigglesthorne (Hull), Domesday Book Siglestorne, is from the same name.
Silton (York).? Old English Chronicum 779 Seletun, probably ' village by the hall, Old English sele. But it is Domesday Book Silftune, Silvetune, which seems to be' town of Seulf,' short form of Soewulf.
Slverdale (Carnforth), charter Siuerdale, ' Sigeweard's dale. Silver How (see -how), and Silverside (compare Ambleside), Lake District, are thought to be from Selver, genitive of the Old Norse personal name Solvr. This will do for North, names, but hardly for Silver Street, a common name for old roads in the South.
Silverley (Cambridgeshire). circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Seuerlaio, also Seiluerleia; Domesday Book Severlai, 1284 Silverle. 'Silver-like meadow.' Compare Silverdale (Newcastle, Stafford), Silverhill (St. Leonard's), Silverton (Devon); but compare above. Silverton (Devon) is Domesday Book Sulfretone. ' Silver town.' Compare Swinnerton.
Sinder-. See Sunder-.
Singleton (Chichester), Great Singleton (Preston). Preston S. Domesday Book Singletun, 1168-69 Schingeltona. Our adjuntive single is France and late, so this must be Mittel English scinch, Latin scindula, a' shingle,'or thin piece of wood used as a house-tile, seen also in Domesday Book Bucks Sincleberia. Oxford Dictionary's earliest quatation is circa, 1200.
Sinnington (Yorks). Domesday Book Sevenictun, Siuenintun, Siverinctun, Siuerintun. Perhaps ' town of the sons of Siferth,' short form of the common Sigefrith. Sifer- has become Siven- and then Sinn- liquids r and n easily interchange. Sinwell (Wotton-under- Edge) is circa, 1220 Sienewell, ' beautiful well'; see Sheen.
Sinodun, Sinodon Hill (Wallingford). Old forms unknown. But Skeat thinks there is no reason why it should not mean' synod down.' The word, in the forms sinoth, synoih, senoth, is often found in Old English Chronicum for' a council.'
Sisland (Norfolk). Domesday Book Sislanda, 1450 Cyselond. Probably ' land of Sysilt,' a Norman family, now Cecil. Compare Chisholm (Scottish) and Domesday Book Kent Siseltre. But Siston (Bristol) is Domesday Book Sistone, 1240 Sixtune, and Syston (Leicester) is old Sycheton, Syeston, which both may be' town of Sica’; 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Sittingbourne (Kent). Not in Domesday Book 1360 S'Eborne, circa, 1386 Chaucer Sydingborne. Probably ' brook, burn of Sida '; genitive -an. Compare Sydenham. It may be a patronymic. Compare Domesday Book Sethlindone (Beds) and Settintone (Leics). See -bourne.
Skeffington (Leicester).? 822 charter Sciofingden, 1298 Skeftington. The charter form is ' dean, wooded den, or ' valley of the descendants of Skiofa or Skioba '; latter name only in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Skegness (Lines) is tautological. Old Norse skagi, ' a promontor,’/ with the English later addition -ness, Old English noes. Skagi is from Old Norse skaga, ' to stand out.' Compare skegg, ' a beard.' Skegby (Notts), Domesday Book Schegebi, is from a man Skeggi, ' the bearded.' See -by.
Skelbrooke (Doncaster). Domesday Book Scalebro. ' Brook by the hut ' or ' shireling '; Old Norse skali. Compare Scalby.
Skellingthoripe (Lincoln), before 1100 charter Scaldorpe, which will mean ' village of Skald ' or ' Skealda.' But Skillington (Grantham) shows that probably both these names are patronymics, ' dwelling of the sons of Skeald.' A ' Skekelinge ' is mentioned in Lines in 1528; and Scilling is common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -thorpe.
Skelmanthorpe (Huddersfield). Domesday Book Scemeltorp, Scelmertorp. ' Village of Skelmer ' or ' Scealdamer,’ as in next. The liquids n and r often interchange. See -thorpe.
Skelmersdale (Ormskirk). Domesday Book Schelmeresdale. Compare 901-09 charter Scealdsemeres hamme. ' Scealdamer's dale.' Compare Skelmorlie (Scottish) and above.
Skelton (4 in Postal Guide). Leeds S. Domesday Book Sceltune, 1179-80 Scelton. Penrith S. 1189 Schelton. Probably ' town, village of huts or booths'; Old Norse skali. Compare Scalby and Skelbrooke.
Skerne R. (Durham). Perhaps from Old Norse Skernir, 'the Bright,' messengre of Frey, god of light, from skirr, ' clear, pure, bright.' Compare Scarning (Dereham), probably patronymic from Skernir, and Sharnbrook.
Skerton (Lancaster). Domesday Book Schertune. 'Town on the rock 'or 'scaur'; Old Norse sker; so hybrid. Escretons, Jersey, shows the same root.
Sketty (Glamorgan). For Welsch ynys Ketti, 'isle of Ketti,' which may be=Coety (see Coed). There is a Maen, or rock, Kettiona hill here.
Skiddaw (Cumbld.). Old forms needed. Perhaps Welsch ysgeth, pl. -thau, 'a spear, spears,' from its supposed shape; y would soon drop, and th easily harden into d. The mountain has 3 peaks or ' spearheads.'
Skipton. Domesday Book Scipton, Schipetune, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Scipetuna. ' Town, village with the sheep ‘; Old English seep, sceap.
Skipwith (Selby). Domesday Book Schipewic, 1200 Scippewic. This seems to be unlike Skipton, and to mean ' dwelling of Scippa though Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Sceobba and Scepius. The -with is variant of -wich, q.v., Old English wic, ' dwelling, house.' This is a very rare variant.
Skirbeck (Boston). Domesday Book Schirebec, 1216 Scirbec. ' Beck, brook at the shire' or 'dividing line'; Old English scir. Possibly from Old Norse skirr, ' clear, pure, bright.' Compare Skerne. See -beck.
Skirlaugh (Hull). Domesday Book Scirelai, Schirle, Schirelai; = Shirley. For meaning see above. With -laugh compare Shocklach. Skirlington (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Schereltun, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Sirlinton: probably from a man Scirold or Scirweald.
Skirpenbeck (York). Domesday Book Scarpenbec. 'Brook of Sceorfa’or ' Scurfa ‘; perhaps the Danish jarl in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Roll Rich. I. Scurpige, Beds. See-beck.
Skyrack (a Yorks wapentake). Domesday Book Siraches wapentac. Old English scir-ac, ' shire oak,' meeting-place of the hundred. Compare Appletree.
Slad (Stroud) and Slade (Gower). Old English sloed, sled, ' a valley, dell, forest glade,' still in use. Compare Sledmere. But Slaidburn (Clitheroe), Domesday Book Slateborne, is probably from OLD NORSE sletta, 'a flat piece of land.' Compare Sleat (Sc).
Slaithwaite (Huddersfield). Not in Domesday Book Now pronunciation Slowat. 'Sloe-covered farm' or 'field'; Old English sla(h), 3-7 slo, 6-9 slae, ' a sloe, the fruit of the blackthorn.' See -thwaite.
Slapton (Leighton Buz., Nottingham, and Kingsbridge). Nottingham S. sic 1287. Leighton S. Domesday Book Slapetone. Compare Domesday Book Devon Slapeforda. Cannot be from Eng. slap, ' an opening,' a late word, but from a man Slapa, not in Onom,
Slaughterford (Gloucester. 779 charter Sloh tranford, 1154-61 Slaforda. Interesting corrupt, Ford of the sloe-tree’; in Old English sloh-treo, genitive pl. tran. An older form of sloe is found in the Glossaries, slach-thorn i.e., sloe (or black ') thorn.' We also have an Upper and Lower Slaughter, Stow-on-Wold, Domesday Book Sclostre,1183 Sloctre,' sloe-tree'—a curious corruption!
Sleaford. Old English Chronicum 852 Sliowaforda. Probably Old English sleow, sliwea, ' tench ' or ' mullet river,' and not Old English slaw, Icel. sljo-r, ' slow.' The brook here is still called the Slea. But it is also thought to be the ' Lafford ' in Patent R. for 1217 and 1218. Initial s does sometimes disappear in Gaelic names. See Leven (Sc).
Sledmere (York). Domesday Book Slidemare. 'Mere, lake in the valley, dell, or bit of boggy ground'; Old English sloed, sled, now slade. Compare Slade.
Slindon (Eccleshall, Arundel). Ecc. S. Domesday Book Slindone, before 1300 Slyndon. Doubtful. Slim adj. is not in Eng. till 17th century. Probably from Old English slim, 'slime, ooze, soft mud'; m and n often interchange. Compare Slinpord (Sussex) and Slyne; also Slimbridge (Coaley), Domesday Book Heslinbruge (Norman scribes often prefix E-, seldom He-), 1166 Slimbergge, 1224 Slymbrugge.
Slingsby (York). Domesday Book Sehingesbi, Eslingesbi (Norman spelling), 1202 Slingebi. 'Dwelling of' a man unknown,? Selewine. See -by. Sloley (Cromer, Arley). Arley S. before 1200 Slalei, before 1300 Sloley. Cromer S. before 1300 Eccleston Sloler (the r a scribe's or Cockney's error). ' Slough-meadow '; Old English sloh. See -ley.
Slyne (Lancaster). Domesday Book and 1176 Rolls of the great Pipe Sline, 1272 and 1310 Scline. Probably Old English and Old Norse slim, ' slime, soft mud, alluvial ooze'; m and n often interchange. Compare Slindon.
Smeeton Westerby (Leicester) and Great Smeaton (Northallerton). Northallerton S. Bom. Smidetune, Smet(t)on, 1183 Smetheton, 1211 Smitheton. 'Smooth, level village'; Old English smethe. Compare Smethwick.
Smester (Worcestershire). McClure thinks that this place on the little Rr. Smestow (stow, ' place '), a trib. of the Stour, is ' sma or ' small Stour.' Icelandic sma-r, Danish smaa, Old English smoel, ' small.' In Scottishthe common ending-ster is always for Norsestad-r,' steading, farm-place.' Duignan has neither Smester nor Smestow.
Smethwick (Birmingham). Domesday Book Smedewich, before 1250 Smeythewick, Smethewyke. Old English smethe wic, ' smooth dwelling.' Compare Domesday Book Norfolk Smethedune. It is on a plain, and so may be ' village on the plain,' as there is a Smeath (Kent), the Smeath (K.'s Lynn), and Markham Smeath (Swaffham). But Oxford Dictionary gives for smethe sb. only one quatation, circa, 1440, and E. Anglican dialect See -wick.
Smite (Coventry and Droitwich). Coventry S. Domesday Book Smithh, 1251 Smite. Wo. S. 978 charter Smita, 1275 Smite. Old English smita, which probably means ' bog, morass, foul place.' There is also a R. Smite (Notts), in Leland Myte, circa, 1613 Snite.
Smithfield (London), circa, 1425 ' The Priory of seynt Bartholomew yn Smythfyld.' Referred to early? 1154, as ' the smooth field.' Old English smede, ' smooth.' Smithdown (Liverpool) is ' smooth hill.'
Snailwell (Cambridgeshire). circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Snegeluuelle, Domesday Book Snellewelle, charter Sneillewelle, 1169 Sneilwella, 1316 Sneylewelle. Old English snoegel, snoegl, snoel, Dan. snegl, ' a snail.'
Sneaton (Whitby). Domesday Book Sneton. Perhaps 'town of Snet' or ' Snat.' Compare Snettisham.
Sneinton (now part of Nottingham). Domesday Book Notintone, 1168-9 Rolls of the great Pipe Snotinton; so the first part of then ame represents the samefamily as in Nottingham. But Snainton (N. Yorks) is Domesday Book Snechintune, ' town of Snecca ' or ' Snocca '; only the latter in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Snelland (Lincoln). Thought to be Norse, ' Snel's wood'; Old Norse lund-r, ' a grove.' 3 Snels in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Snelston (Ash- bourne) and Timberland.
Snetterton (Norfolk). 1455 Snyterton. 'Town of Snoter ' or ' Snothere, 'in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Sf. Domesday Book Derby Esnotrewic (with Norman E.). We have also Snitterfield (Warwick), Domesday Book Snitefeld, 1151 Snitenesfeld, before 1300 Snitenefeld; from a man Suite or Suiter, seen also in Snitterby (Lines), and Domesday BookYorks Snitertun. The liquids u and r often interchange.
Snettisham (King's Lynn). Compare before 1199 Snetesham (Salop) and 804 charter Snattingden (Kent). ' Home of Snat, or Snet.'
Sneyd Green (Hanley). 1410 Snede. Old English snoed, Old Norse sneith, ' a small piece, a piece cut or " sned " off, an outlying portion of a manor.' Compare Halsnead (Lanes), Snead Common, Stourport and Mamble (Salop), Snaith (Yorks), Domesday Book Esneid, Esnoid. The E-is from a Norman scribe, a common prefix for him; and Snydall (Yorks), Domesday Book Snitehala. Duignan says Snead is a common Midlands name.
Snodland (Kent). 838 charter Snoddingland. 'Land of the Snodings' or' descendants of Snodda or Snodd.' All these names are in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; and Snody is still a surname. Compare Domesday Book Snodesbyrie (Worcester), now Upton Snodsbury, in 840 charter Snoddes lea; also 940 charter Snodesdelle (Dorset).
Snook. See Blyth-snook.
Snoreham (Essex) and Little Snoring (Fakenham). Dom, Snaringa,1454 Lite lSnoring. The name Snor, and the patronymic Snoring, are not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Snorri is a well-known Norse name. It has nothing to do with English snore, not found before 1330.
Snowdon. before 1145 Orderic Mons Snaudunus, circa, 1200 Snaudune, id est, Mons Nivis, before 1235 Rog. Wendover Snauduna, 1461 Snauwdon. A ' Snowdenhill ' is mentioned near Cambridge in 1447. Old English sudw dun, ' snow-capped hill.' In Welsch it is Y Wyddfa,' the tomb' or' tumulus.'
Soar R. (Leicester). Welsch Red. Bk. of Hergest Sorram, circa, 1145 Geoffr. Monm. Sore, 1253 charter Sor. Perhaps Norse saur, ' mud, swamp,' perhaps Keltic.
Sockbridge (R. Eamont).? the ' Soccabyrig ' in Old English Chronicum 780. It may be Sockburn-on-Tees. There is one Soca in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Sodbury (Yate). circa, 900 charter Soppanbyrig, Domesday Book Sopeberie, 1224 Sobbiri. ' Town of Soppa.' See -bury.
Soham (Cambridgeshire). Domesday Book Saham, before 1200 charter Saegham, Chronicum Ramsey Seham. ' Home in the hollow,' from OLD ENGLISH sigan, pa. tense sag,'' to sink down to sag'; Bavariant saig, Tyrol, sege, 'soga, ' a depression, a swamp.' There was once a large mere at Soham. Compare Domesday Book Norfk. Saha.
Soho (London). Sic1632. Said to be from the cry of the huntsmen calling off the harriers 'So-hoe!' Stow speaks of hunting in this very district in 1562.
Solent. Bede Solente. Breton sol, ' the tide.' Can the -ent be a Kelt. suffix cognate with the common Teut. end; compare Welsch entrych, entyrch, ' top, summit ‘? Thus the name might mean, ' head, end of the tide.'
Solihull (Warwicksh.). Domesday Book Ulverlei i.e., Wolverley—but before 1300 Solyhull, Sulihull. 'Muddy hill'; Old English sol, 'mud, that which sullies,' syla, ' wallowing places.' Layamon always has hull for hill, and he belongs to this region; Old English hill, hyll, 2-5 hull. Compare Aspull, Levenhull, etc.; also Soilwell, Lydney), also spelt Sully, 1281 Sollewalle,' muddy spring.'
Solway Frith, circa, 1300 Sulway, 1682 Sulloway; also Sulliva. Likewise called Tracht-Romra, from Gaelic traghadh, ' ebbing,' and Scottwade or Scottiswathe i.e., ' Scots' ford,' Norse and Danish wath. Old Norse sol-vag-r, 'muddy bay'; Old English sol, 'mud,' that which sullies.’ For vag-r becoming -way, compare Scalloway and Stornoway (Scottish). Compare Silloth, Solent and Solihull. Firth of frith is Icelandic. Fjord-r, Norse fjord, ‘bay, inlet of the sea.’ There is a R. Salwey near Kidderminster, for which old forms are needed.
Somerby (Grantham and Oakham). Grantham S. Domesday Book Sumerlede, Sumerdebi, Sumertebi. ' Dwelling of Somarled' or' Sumarlidi.' The most famous of this name was regulus of Argyll, died 1166, ancestor of the Lords of the Isles. See -by.
Somerford (Staffordshire), Somerford Keynes (Swindon), and Gt. Somerford (Chippenham). Staffordshire before1300 Somerford. ' Ford usable only in summer.' There are 37 Sumor- or Sumrefords in Domesday Book
Somerset. 878 Old English Chronicum Sumor saet, 1204 charter Sumerset, 1443 Somerset. ' Seat, dwelling of the family Sumor,' seen also in Somerton in this shire.
Sonning (Reading). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum i. 56 Sunninges, Domesday Book Soninges, circa, 1280 Sunninge, 1316 Sonnynge. ' Place of the descendants of Sunna.' Sunna, Sunno, and Suno are all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Normans wrote on for Old English un. Skeat is doubtful of connexion with sunworship. Compare Sundon and Sunninghill.
Sotwell (Wallingford). Domesday Book Sotwelle, circa, 1280 Sottewell. ' Well, ' of Sota i.e., the foolish man, the sot.' Sola, Soto, and Sotus are all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The sb. sot is in Eng. circa, 1000, but is from Old France sot, of unknown origin.
Soulbury (Leighton Bzd.) and Soulby (Kirkby Stephen). Probably ' burgh ' and ' dwelling of Sola,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -bury and -by and compare Domesday Book Bucks Solintone. But Souley End (Bed- worth), Domesday Book Soulege, is’ meadow on the R. Sow.' See -ley.
Sourby (N. Lanes). Domesday Book Sorbi=Sowebby.
Southacres (Ripley, Yorks) Domesday Book Sotesac', Sosacre. ' Acre, field of Sota,' a man in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Southall (Middlesex). Modern, after Northall, which is ancient.
Southam (Warwickshire). 980 charter Sutham, 1043 the same Southam, Suoham, Domesday Book Sucham. ' South house ' or ' home.'
Southampton. Old English Chronicum 837 Hamtun, circa, 1100 Flor. Worcester Suthamtone, Suthanenses, before 1145 Orderic Suthamptona, circa, 1175 Fantosme Suhantune. ' South Hampton ' or ' hometown ' or ' homestead.' Compare Northampton.
South Leigh (Axminster). circa, 1305 St. Kinelm Soup lez. ' South meadow.' Compare Leigh and -ley.
Southminster (Essex). before 716 charter Sudmynster i.e., 'south church.' See-minster.
Southrop (Lechlade). Compare before 1100 charter Suthorpe, in the Midlands. ' South Thorpe,’ q.v., also found in the form throp.
South Shields. ' South huts or shielings.' The root is Icelandic skjol, Old Norse skali, 'a shelter'; Icelandic skjold-r, 'a shield.' Compare Shieldhill (Scottish).
Southwark. 1023 Old English Chronicum Sudgeweorc, Domesday Book Sudwerche, 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Sutwerc, Sagas Sydvirke, circa, 1386 Chaucer Southwerk. ' Southwork' or' fort; same root as in bulwark and Wark.
Southwell (Notts). 958 charter at Suthwellan, Domesday Book Sudwelle.
Sow E, (Staffordshire and Warwick.). Warwick S. Old English charter Sowa, Sow, Domesday Book Sowa, Sou. Staffordshire S. before 1200 Sowe. Origin unknown; not Old English sugu, circa, 1150 suwa, ' a sow.'
Sowerby (2 in Yorks) and Sowerby Row (Carlisle). Yorks S. Domesday Book Sourebi, Sorebi, 1179-80 Sourebi. Carlisle S. 1189 Sourebi. ' Dwelling amid the mud ' or ' swamp ‘; Norse saur. Compare Sourby, also Sorbie and Soroba (Sc). See -by.
Sowley (now a lake near Lymington). Probably 'South meadow.’ See -ley.
Spalding. Domesday Book Spallinge, before 1100 charter Spalda, 1154 Old English Chronicum Spaldelyng. ' Place of the descendants of Spalda ‘; a patronymic. Compare next. Spaldington (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Spellinton, 4 times, so that a variant name Spalla or Spella must have existed.
Spaldwick (Hunts). Compare Domesday Book, Spaldes forde, now Spalford, Notts. ' Dwelling,' Old English wic,' of Spalda.' See above.
Sparkford (Bath). 1298 Sparkeforde. Older forms needed. Probably 'ford of Spearhafoc' or ' Sperauoc,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Probably not sparkling ford,' from Old English spoerca, spearca, ' a spark.' Sparkhill (Yardley) is from a family of Spark, known here in 1275.
Sparsholt (Winchester). 963 charter Speresholt; also charter Spseresholt, Domesday Book This is probably ' holt, wood of Spere,' a man; compare Spernal, (Alcester) Domesday Book Spernore (' bank of Spera '); but it may be' wood for spear shafts,' Old English spere,' a spear.'
Speen (Newbury). Supposed to be circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary Spinis (locative), 821 Grant Spene, Domesday Book Spone, 1316S pene. Usually said to be Latin spinae, ' thorns,’ and Newbury, the ' new burgh,' as contrasted with the old Rom. Spinae. But Skeat says the vowel sounds make this impossible, because Old English Spene would not be pronunciation Speen, but Spaine(r). He says Spene is an adjunctive from Old English spon, ' a chip, thin plank,' hence, he supposes, ' a wooden tile for roofing ‘; and so Speenham, a form also found, would be ' shingled house.' Skeat's case is not fully demonstrated but compare Singleton.
Speeton (Bridlington). Domesday Book Specton, Spetton, Spreton. 'Town of?' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has a Spieta. It may be as next.
Speke (Liverpool). Probably called after Walter L'Espec (Normal France for ' a woodpecker '), who founded Kirkham, Rievaulx, and Warden Abbeys, temp. Hen. I.
Spelsbury (Charlbury). Domesday Book Spelesberie. 'Burgh of Spila,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Spilsby; and see -bury.
Spetchley (Worcester). 816 charter Spaecleahtun, 967 the same and Domesday Book Speclea, 1275 Spechesleye. Duignan thinks ' vegetable garden of' an unrecorded' Spoec'. See Leighton, or leah tun.
Spilsby (Lines.), also Spilsbury (Mamble). 1275 Spelebury, 1327 Spellesbury. ' Dwelling ' and ' town of Spila ' or ' Spille.' See -by and -bury.
Spinney (Cambridgeshire). Probably Old France espinaye, Latin spinetum, 'place of thorns, a small wood,' from Old France espine, Latin spinu, ' a thorn.' But Spennithorne (Leyburn) is Domesday Book Spennigetorp, which must be a patronymic, from Spen, or Spens, a name still in use.
Spofforth (Harrogate). Domesday Book Spoford.? 'Ford of Spot,' a recorded name. See -forth.
Spondon (Derby). Probably Old English spon dun,' hill like as poon,' which was originally a chip of wood, Old Norse sponn. Compare Speen, Domesday Book Sponelege (Salop) and Spon End (Coventry). There is no name like Spon in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but we have 1231 Close E. Sponton, (Suffolk) as well as Spoonley (Sudeley), 1320 Sponley.
Spreyton (Bow, Devon), Domesday Book Spreitone. 'Town of Sprae,' shotrform of Spraecaling, 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. It also has Spoer, Sperri, and Sperus.
Sproatley (Hull), Domesday Book Sprotelei, and Sprotborough (Doncaster), Domesday Book Sproteburg. ' Meadow ' and ' Burgh, castle of Sprot(t), 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -burgh and -ley.
Sprowston (Norwich). 'Town, village of Sprow,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Sprostune (Cheshire), and Sprouston (Scottish), Domesday Book Yorks Sprostune is now Sproxton; and there is another Sproxton near Melton Mowbray.
Spurstow (Tarporley). Domesday Book Spurstone. Probably 'stone' or else ' stow ' (Old English for ' place ') ' of Spor or Sporri,’ one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Perhaps from Old English spura, spora, Icel. spori, ' a spur.'
Stackpole (Pembroke). 1594 Stacpoll, Stacpole, 1603 Stackpoole. Hybrid. Old Norse stak, ' a cliff, an isolated rock,’ common in N. of Scotland, andWelsch pwl, ' a pool, a small inlet of the sea.' But Stackhouse (Yorks), Domesday Book Stacuse, is probably ' house like a stack ‘; Old Norse stakk-r, Swedish stack, and Danish stak. The -house here will be Old Norse too hus. Stakesby (Whitby), Domesday Book Staxebi, and Stakes Hill (Cosham), seem to imply an otherwise unknown man. Stoecc.
Staddle Bridge (Northallerton). Compare 838 charter ' Estre Stadelham' (Limming, Kent) man not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Stadel seems to be the name of a man not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Stadment (Hereford). McClure derives -ment from O. Corn. menedh, also menit, menyth, 'a hill.' Compare Longmynd. Stad- is uncertain; it may be for Old English Street, Latin stratum, ' a (Roman) road.' Compare Stradfeld for Straefield, in Domesday Book The liquid r could easily drop out. As likely it is Welsch ystad, ' a furlong, a stadium.'
Stafford. 1016 Old English Chronicum Staefford, 1071 Staffordescir, Domesday Book Stat-ford, Stadford. Ford which needs a staff. Old English stoef. McClure thinks it here means ‘ a guiding rail’. This town is mentioned earlier on coins, as early as Eadgar (958-75) -Staeth, which is Old English for ' bank, shore, waterside ',. Compare Statham) so Staeth or Stathe may have been the originally name, and -ford a later addition.
Staindrop (Darlington) and Stainforth (Doncaster), Domesday Book Stainforde. ' Stone-built village ' and ' stoney ford.' Old Norse steinn, ' stone, rock.' See -thorpe and -forth.
Stainer Ker (Selby). Sic 1259. St. may be, as it still is, a man's name. It may be Old English stan (or rather Old Norse steinn) ofer,' stone, bank, rocky bank.' Compare Stainburn (Yorks), Domesday Book Stainburne, Stanburne, and Staikland (Halifax), Domesday Book Stanland. Ker is variant of Carr, ' a rock.' See Redcar.
Staine, Stake (Cambridgeshire), and Staines (R. Thames). Cambridgeshire Domesday Book Stanes. Thames S. 969 Stana, 993 Old English Chronicum Stane., Domesday Book and 1228 Staines. Old English stan, ' a stone, a rock.' Skeat points out that the modern spelling, Staines, not Stones, shows Scandinav. influence. Compare Icel. steinn, ' a stone.' Compare too Domesday Book Stanes (Worcester), now Stone.
Stainton (5 in Postal Guide). Rotherham S. Domesday Book Stantone, 1179-80 Steinton. 'Stone-built village'; Icelandic steinn, Danish and Swedish sten, Old English stan, 'stone, rock.' Compare Stainland (Halifax), Domesday Book Stanland, and Stenton (Sc), and above.
Staithes (Yorks). Not in Domesday Book Old English Stoep 'shore, riverbank,’ with the common plural -es. Compare Stafford, and Stath (Gloucester), 1304 Staith.
Staleybridge. 'Bridge at the stall'; Old English steel, steall, 'place, stall, stable.'
Stalisfield Green (Faversham). Local pronunciation Starchfel, an example of the common change of liquid l into r. In Domesday Book it seems to be Stanefelle, an instructive instance how all the liquids, here l, n, and r, can interchange. Thus the name originally is ' stoney field.'
Stalmine (Preston). Sic Domesday Book and 1212. Hybrid. Old English steall, ' place,' and Old Norse minni, ' meeting of two roads ' or ' rivers.' Compare Airmyn.
Stamford. Bede, Domesday Book, and Rolls of the great Pipe Stanford, 922 Old English Chronicum Steanford, Steamfordcl. Old English for ' ford with the stones '; Old English stdn. Interchange of m and n is common. Probably stone and stem are the same in root. Compare Stanford (Berks and Notts), Domesday Book Stanford. There are 7 Stanfords in Postal Guide.
Stamfordham (Newcastle-on-T.). 1201 Stanfordeham. See above and -ham.
Standish (Gloucester and Wigan). Gloucester S. 872 charter and Domesday Book Stanedis (also Stanhus i.e., 'Stone house'; compare Stenhousemuir, Scottish). Wigan S. 1177-78 Stanesdis, 1180-1206 Stanedis, 1211-13 Stanedich, 1332 Standissh. Old English stan edisc, ' enclosure, park, enclosure with the stone wall.' The -isc has become -ish just as in dish, Old English disc. Skeat derives this and Farndish (Beds), Domesday Book Fernadis, from Old English disc, ' dish, cup, hollow, concave place in a field '; but for these latter meanings Oxford Dictionary, gives nothing before 1810. Compare Cavendish.
Standon (Eccleshall). Domesday Book Stantone=Stanton; whilst Standhill (Oxon) is before 1300 Standelf, ' stone-delf ' i.e., quarry. See delf sb1, from vb. delve,' to dig.'
Stanhoe (King's Lynn). 14 . . . Liber Sharbur, Edwinus . . . vocavit Mam Stanhoghiam, quae postea vocabatur Stanhowe. ' Rocky point of land.' See Hoe.? What Edwin is referred to. Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Stangaho (Yorks).
Stanley (5 in Postal Guide). circa, 938 charter Stanleaze? which; 940 charter Stanleyghe (Wilts); Domesday Book Yorks Stanlei, 12 times; 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Stanlega (Warwick); 1369 Mem. Ripon Staynlay (Wakefield). Old English stanleaze, locative, nom. leah, 'stony meadow.' See -ley.
Stanmer (Sussex). Domesday Book Stan mere i.e., 'stony lake.' Compare the name Cranmer i.e., ' crane lake.'
Stansted (Wrotham, Kent). 810 charter Stanham stede i.e., ' stone house place.'
Stanton (20 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Stantun(e) (Yorks, Salop, Notts, and Staffordshire). ' Stone-built town ' or ' village '; Old English stan, ' stone.'
Stanway (Colchester, Toddington, and Winchcombe). Compare Domesday Book Staneweie (Salop), and 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Stanwega (Cumberland). ' Way, road paved with stone '; Old English stan. Domesday Book Yorks Stenweghe(s), Steinuege, is now Stanwick. Stein- is clearly from Old Norse steinn, not Old English Stawell (Leach and Bridgwater) is Domesday Book Gloucester Stanewell.
Stanwell (Middlesex). Domesday Book Stanwelle. 'Stone well' i.e., probably ' well surrounded by a stone wall.' Compare Stonewell.
Stapenhill (Burton-on-T. and Stourbridge). Burton S. Domesday Book Stapenhille. Stourbridge B. 1342 Stapenhull. ' Hill of Steapa, -an, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Stapleford (7 in Postal Guide) and Stapleton (4 in Postal Guide). Romford S. Domesday Book Staplefort. Cambridge S. Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 687 Stapelford, Domesday Book Stapleford (also Notts).? circa, 1150 Grant Stapelfordia, Notts. 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Stapleton (Yorks). Old English stapul, stapol, 'a stake, an upright post, a pillar'; then' a market.' Staplow, Staploe (Cambridgeshire), is Domesday Book Staplehou, 1428 Stapulho; Old English hoh, 'heel, projection.' See Hoe. Curiously, Stapleton (Yorks) is in Domesday Book both Stapletone and Staplendun, ' hill of the staple ‘; while Stapleton (N. Lanes) is in Domesday Book Stopeltierne,' market of th elord,' Gaelic tigheama. Compare Thrimby.
Starbeck (Harrogate). Old Osbern-stahbec. 'Rushy brook'; Swedish Starr, a ' rush '; Icelandic behk-r, ' a brook.' Compare Star (Scottish).
Starbottom (Skipton). Domesday Book Stamphotne (plainly an error). Probably ' rushy bottom ' or ' valley '; Old English botm. See above; and compare Ramsbottom.
Start Point (S. Devon). Old English steort, ' a tail, a promontory.' Compare Land's End, For Startforth, a corrupt form, see Stradbroke. Steort reappears in many names—Stert (Devizes, Gloucester and Somerton), Stert I. and Point (Bridgwater, perhaps 1184 Rolls of the great Pipe Sterte), Stirtloe (see-low) (Hunts), etc.; also, Stardens (Newent), 1301 Styrtesden. For Starton see Staverton.
Statham (Warrington), not in Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire., and Stathern (Melton Mombray). Probably both from Old English stoeth, 'bank, waterside, shore.' Old English erne is ' house.' Compare Staithes.
Staunton (5 in Postal Guide). 1297 Scotch Roll (Chancery) Steynton, 1302 Staimton (Notts). Old English stan tun, ' stone-built village.' Compare Stanton and Stenton (Scottish); but the u here shows Norman influence.
Staveley (Knaresborough, Kendal, and Chesterfield). Knarsborough S. is probably Domesday Book Stanleia (n for u), p. 65a. Domesday Book Has nothing else for the first two, and for Chesterfield S. Stavelie. The Stave- is doubtful; probably it is, like Stafford, which was originally not from staff, but from Old English stoeth, ' bank, shore, waterside,' modern dial, staithe, ' a river landing-place'; th has also become v in Stevenage. See -ley.
Staverton (Daventry, Cheltenham, Totnes). Daventry S.1156 Stauertun. Cheltenham S. Domesday Book Starventon, 1230 Stauerton. Compare Starton (Coventry), 1163 Stauerton, and Dorrt. Staurecote (Salop). These all may be ' town of Stanhart,' variant of Stanheard or Stanhere. But at any rate Totnes S. is before 1100 charter Stofordtune, Domesday Book S(t)overton, which looks like' Stafford town.'
Staxton (York). Domesday Book Stacstone, Stactone. No man Stac in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, so this is perhaps a tautology; ‘Old English stale, ' a clif, isolated rock,’ and Old English stan, ' stone, rock.' But see Stakesby s.v. Stackpole, and -ton.
Stechford (Birmingham). 1242 Stichesford, before 1300 Stichford, Stycchefford. Stetch is dial, for ' a ridge between two furrows perhaps cognate with stake and stick. But this Compare Stetchworth, Stivichall (Coventry), and Stewkley.
Steeple (Southminster) stepel, ' a church steeple,' same root as steep. There are six places in Postal Guide like Steeple Ashton, Steeple Claydon, etc. We already have 'Stepelknoel ' in 1228 Close R.
Steeton (Keighley). Domesday Book Stivetune, 1298 Stiveton, 'Town of Styfa.'
Stepney (London and Hull). London S. old Stebenhythe, Stibenhede, Stebunhethe, 1503 Stepney. On the analogy of Stevenage, which has much earlier attestation (there is no trace, it seems, of Stepney till 1299), almost certainly Old English oet stithan hydde,' at the stout, strong landing-stage,' or Hythe. But the name has certainly been influenced by thoughts of Stephen, a name which, however, Old English Chronicum always spells Stephne, and no spellings with b seem to occur. The form Stepney (see -ey) is quite late; so presumably is the name at Hull.
Stetchworth (Newmarket). Codex Dip lomaticus iv. 245 Steuichesworde, 269 Steuecheworde, Domesday Book Stiuicesuuorde, Stuuicesworde, 1235 Stivecheswrthe, 1383 Stewcheworthe. ' Farm of Styfec or ' Stifec' Compare Stechford and Stukeley. But Stitchbrook (Lichfield) is Domesday Book Tichebroc and before 1300 Sichelesbroc, Stichelesbroc, ' brook of Sticcele.'
Stevenage (Herts). Codex Diplomaticus iv. 176 Stichensece, Stithensece, Domesday Book Stigenace, 1199 Stivenach, before 1199 Stiphenage, circa, 1250 Stitenache, Hundred R. Stepenacth, 1303 Stivenhach. Old English cet stithan hoecce, ' at the strong hatch ' or ' gate ‘; influenced by the name Stephen or Steven, for which the first part was mistaken by Norman scribes. Compare Cocknage, Staveley, and Stepney.
Steventon (Berks, Whitchurch, and Beds, where also spelt Stevington). Domesday Book Stivetune, 1291 Stiventon, 1316 Styvington, circa, 1540 Stevynton. The name has been influenced by Stephen, but orig .it must have been Styfantun,' Stifa's village.' Compare Steeton.
Stewkley (Leighton Buz.). 974 charter Stiveclei, 1040 the same Styveclea; later Stiucle. Probably not ' Styfec's meadow' (compare Stetchworth), but' meadow in the clearing in the wood'; Old English styfec is said to mean this. Compare Stukeley.
Steyning (Sussex). Domesday Book Staninges. ' Place of the descendants of Stan ' or ' Stein.' Patronymic.
Sticklepath (Okehampton). Devon dialect stickle, ' steep.' Probably same root as in stickleback; Old English sticle, ' a prickle.' We get the sb. in Harrison Stickle, a hill near Windermere.
Stillingfleet (York). Domesday Book Steflingfled, Steflinfiet, also Steflingefeld (error). Stefiing must be a patronymic, perhaps from Stefan or its dimin. See -ing; -fleet is 'river'—see Fleet. We get the same name in Stillington (Easingwold), Domesday Book Stivelinctun.
Stilton (Helmsley and Peterborough). Helmsley S. Domesday Book Tilstun, 3 times. ' Tila's town.' Peterborough S. not in Domesday Book It seems a case of metathesis.
Stinchcombe (Dursley). 1150-60 Stintescombe,1220-89 Stinctescumb. Probably ' valley of Stinta i.e., the stinted, or stunted one.' Compare Domesday Book Norfk. Stinckai, and Stinsford (Dorset), old Styntesfford, Stinchefford.
Stirchley (Birmingham and Shifnal). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 71 Stercan lei. Compare Strickland and 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Sterchelai (Wilts). 'Meadow of Sterca ' or ' the stirks.' See -ley.
Stisted (Braintree). Domesday Book Stiesteda. This must be the same as 1231 Close R., Stisted', Tystede. It seems to be ' sty-stead or place; Old English stige, Danish sti, 'a sty, a pen.' But Tisted is ' Ticca's stead.'
Stockingford (Nuneaton). 1155 Stoccingford, before 1300 Stockeford. Duignan says stocking means ' a grubbing-up of woodland or waste and preparing it for cultivation.' Compare Stocking (Haresfeld), 1205 Stockemputte,' pit at the tree-stocks'; an Old English locative stoccan.
Stockport. 1488 Will Stopforde, before 1600 Stoppord, Stopport, and still locally pronunciation Stoppert. Probably not from Old English stoppian, ' to stop,' but ' ford of Steapa ‘; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The originally ending migh tbe -worth,' farm,' q.v. The form Stock- seems quite recent.
Stockton-on-Tees. 1183 Stoktona, 1208 Stocton. Old English stoc, stocc, means ' a stock, stem, stick, block.' The meaning here is ' fenced- in village.' Compare next. There are 7 Stocktons in Postal Guide. Stockton-on-the- Forest (York) is Domesday Book Stocthun, while St. near Harewood is Stochetun, and Stockton-on-Teme is 958 charter Stoctune.
Stockwell and Stockwellflat, or S. Green (Lambeth). 1296 Stokwelflatte. Probably ' well with the stocks or stakes around it.' Compare above and the Stockwell (Glasgow).
Stodmarsh (Canterbury). Perhaps from an unknown man Stod. Compare Domesday Book Essex Stodfelt, Norfolk. Stodeia (see -ey), and Salop Stodesdone. Most of these may be from stud. See Stoodleigh.
Stoke (many). E.g., 80 8charter Nordstoc (Somerset), Domesday Book Stoca, Stocha (St.-on-Trent). Old English stoc, 'place,’/ lit. what is stuck in or down, a stake. Domesday Book has 31 cases of Stoche (ch= k) and 32 of Stoches.
Stoke Bruern (Towcester). 1370 Stoke Brewerne i.e., ' brew house.' Compare Whithorn (Sc). Old English liwit erne.
Stoke Poges (Bucks). Sic 1612, but Domesday Book Stoches. Amica, heiress of this Stoke, married Eobt. Pogis, knight, in the 12th century.
Stokesley (Yorks). Domesday Book Stocheslage,' Meadow of the Stoke or ‘place,’ Compare Stokesby (Gr. Yarmouth); and see -ley.
Stone (Kent and Kidderminster). Kent S. 993 Old English Chronicum Stane. See McClure, p. 280. Kidd. S. Domesday Book and 1275 Stanes, 1327 Stone. See Staine. Stone (Staffordshire) is before 1300 both Stane and Stanes.
Stoneham (Winchester). Bede iv. 16, 'The place called Ad Lapidem"; Old English -vers. Mt Stane. See -ham, and compare Stonehouse (Stroud), 1229 Stanhus, and Stoneleigh (Coventry), Domesday Book Stanlei.
Stonehenge (Salisbury). Sic 1529, but circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Stanenges, circa, 1145 Geoffrey Monmouthshire Stanheng, circa, 1205 Layam. Stanhenge, 1297 Robert of Gloucester Ston heng, and -hyngel. McClure thinks of Old English Stan hange, ' sloping stones '; hange= hangra or angra. Compare Clayhanger, etc. There is an early tradition that the circle was erected at the instigation of Merlin the enchanter, in memory of 460 nobles slain by Hengist the Saxon in 472. But the Welsch bard Aneurin says it existed even before the time of Ambrosius, the opponent of Hengist.
Stonewell (Lancaster). 1418 Stanewelle, and Stoneywell (Lichfield), before 1300 Stoniwelle, before 1400 -walle. =Stanwell.
Stonnall (Walsall), before 1200 Stanhale, Stonhale. See -hall. Compare Stangil (Yorks), Domesday Book Steineshale. Probably ' stoney corner.'
Stoodleigh (Tiverton) and Studley (Warwksh. and W. Riding). Warwickshire S. Domesday Book Stodlei, before 1300 Stodelegh. W. Riding S. Domesday Book Stollai (5 times), 1202 Fines Stodlee. ' Meadow of the breeding stud'; Old English and Old Norse stod. Compare Stotfold, but also Stodmarsh. See -leigh. Duignan says the Stude, Ch. Lawford, before 1300 de la stude, is a variant of stead,' homestead'; but probablyit is from stod too.
Stopham (Pulborough). Sic 1238 Close R. Probably 'home of Steapa,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Stort R. (Essex). See Bp's. Stortford.
Stotfold (S. Yorks and Baldock). Yorks S. Domesday Book Stodfald, Stotfald. Baldock S. 1007 charter Stodfald. Old English for ' enclosure, fold for the breeding stud.’ Compare Stoodleigh, and Stodfauld burn (sic1542), near Cullen (Banffshire).
Stottesdon (Cleobury Mortimer) Sic 1160 Pipe. ' Hill of Stotta (not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum) or' Stut.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 787 Stuteshyl and see -don.
Stoulton (Worcester). 840 charter Stoltun, Domesday Book Stotune, 1275 Stoltone, 1332 Stotton. Old English stol-tun, ' stool town,’ a unique name, perhaps referring to some seat of civil or ecclesiastical authority, now forgotten. Stutton (Ipswich) maybe from Stut. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 787 Stutes hyl.
Stour R. (Kent, Dorset, Worcester, Staffordshire). Kent S. before 700 charter Sturia, 839 Stura. Worcester S. 757-985 charter Sture. Staffordshire S. 781 charter Sture, and so Domesday Book Skeat inclines to associate with English stir. Perhaps cognate with Bretons ster, steir, ' river.' There is a tiny R. Stour (Cambridgeshire), on which is Sttjr- or Stourbridge; but it must be an invented name, for we have, 1199-1200 Steresbrig, 1201-02 Steresbreg, 1418-19 Sterrebridge, ' bridge of Steer,' a personal name from Old English steor, ' steer, ox.' Compare Bull, and Stearsby (Yorks), Domesday Book Estiresbi, Stirsbi. Stourbridge (Worcester) is 1333 Sturbrugg, and Stourton is 1227 Sturton.
Stow (7 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Bucks Stov. Lichfield S. 1221 Stowe. Old English stow, ' a place, village, town.' Compare Chepstow, etc., Stowick (Henbury) is 1316 Stokewicke.
Stradbroke (Suffolk). 13 ... in Matt. Westmr. Strodbrocke. ' Brook '; Old English broc, ' on the (Roman) road or street
Compare next. Domesday Book Yorks Stradford has now become Startforth. Stroat (Tidenham) is 956 charter Straet.
Straffield or Stratfield Mortimer (Reading). Domesday Book Stradfeld; later, Stratfeld. ' Field on the street or Roman road'. Old English stroet.; Compare next, Streatley, and 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Northants Strafford.
Stramshall (Uttoxeter). Domesday Book Stagrigesholle (a bad shot!), before 1300 Strangricheshull, Strangricheshall, Strangeshull, before 1400 Strongeshull. The first part is ' Stranglic's ' or ' Stronglic's, ' (both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum)— i.e., ' the strong like's '—while the second varies between -hall, q.v., and -hill, midl. hull.
Strangeways (Manchester). 1326 Strangwas. Popular etymology! Originally Old English Strang wase, 'strong, stiff ooze' or 'mud.' Compare Alrewas, etc. Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. prefer to derive from Old English woesc, ' washing up ' of water. But none of our names in -was ever show a trace of a final c.
Stratford, Stony, on Avon, and 3 others. Avon S. 691 charter set Stretfordse, 714 the same Straetfordae. Old English Chronicum 675 Stretford (Lincs). Domesday Book Essex and Warwick Stradford. They all mean ' ford on the stratum ' or ' Roman road,' Old English Street.
Stratfield. There is a Straford in Domesday Book (Salop), and a Strafford in 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Northants; whilst Straf(f)ord or Strafforth is name of a wapentake in Domesday Book Yorks.
Strathtieldsaye and Stratfield or Straffield Mortimer (Reading). Domesday Book Stradfeld in Redinges hundred i.e., 'street- held,' or field near the Roman way. The -saye is the s of the genitive, and -ay, ' islet ' or ' watery spot." See above.
Stratton (7 in P.G.). Domesday Book Stratun (Salop), Strattone (Bude), ' Town, village on the street' road.' Probably they all stood on Roman roads. See above. Postal Guide has also 10 cases of Stretton, and there are 4 in Warwick alone, 2 in Domesday Book as Stratone, and, of course, all the same names. S.-on-Fosse and S.-under-Fosse refer to the Rom. Fossway or road from Lincoln to Exeter; Latin fossa, ' a ditch.' It is called in Old English charter Fos and Foss. Stretton (Burton-on-T.) is found so spelt as early as a charter of 942; also compare Sturton.
Streatley (Reading). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum i. 108 Staet-leah, Stretlea. Compare circa, 700 Kent charter Stretleg. ' Meadow on the street or stratum.' See Stratford, and compare Stretham (Cambridgeshire), circa, 1080 Streatham, and Strelley (Notts), Domesday Book Straleia, 1166 Rolls of the great Pipe Stratlega, and so the name as Streatley. But Streetthorp (S. Yorks) is Domesday Book Stirestorp, ' village of Stir? the major domo of Harthacnut. The same name recurs in Stearsby (Yorks), Domesday Book Stirsbi.
Strensall (N. Riding). Domesday Book Strenshale. Perhaps' nook of Streon.' See -hall. But Strensham (Pershore) is 972 charter Strengesho, ' '
' hill ' (see Hoe) ' of Streng i.e., the strong.' Strong and Strang (Scottish) are still common surnames. By 1275 it is Strengesham.
Strickland (Westmorland). Domesday Book Stercaland. ' Stirk land '; Old English styrc, styric,' a young bullock or heifer.'
Strood (Rochester). 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Stroda; and Stroud (Gloucester), 1200 La Strode. Old English strod(e), a common charter word for ' marshy land.' Compare Stretaston (Monks Kirby), before 1400 Strodaston, ' East town in the marshy land,' and Stroud Green (N. London), which has no old history.
Strumpshaw (Norfolk). Domesday Book Stromessaga, 1452 Stromsaw, 1454 Strumpeshawe. Doubtful. There is no likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, yet Strome- probably represents a man. The ending may either beshaw,' a wood' q.v., or' haw,' a hedge'; Old English haga.
Stubham (Ilkley). Domesday Book Stube (-ei=-ey, q.v.), and Stubhouse (Harewood), Domesday Book Stubhuson (a locative). Old Norse stuhh-r, stobbi, Old English styb, ' a stump, a stub.' Here? ' House made of stumps,' or ' beside the stump.' See -ham.
Stublach (Middlewich). Not in Domesday Book But there were originally two hamlets, Stubs (probably Old English styb, ' a stub ' or ' stob ' or ' stake,' Icel. stubbi, stobbi, stubbr, Dan. stub,' a stump Leche i.e., Old English leah, lea,’a ' meadow').
Studley. See Stoodleigh.
Stukeley, Great and Little (Hunts). Charter Styveclea, Stiveclea, Domesday Book Stivecle. ' Styfec's meadow.’ Compare Stetchworth. On styfec see Stewkley. See -ley.
Stuntney (Ely), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Stuntenei, 'Isle of the weak or foolish man ‘; Old English stunta, stunt. See -ey.
Sturton (2 in Lines, Retford, and Cambridge). Retford. S. Domesday Book Estretone, circa, 1200 Strattone; also Sturton Grange (Yorks). Domesday Book Stretun=Stratton. Old forms needed for the others.
Sturry (N.E. Kent). 679 charter Sturia. See Stour and -ey.
Stutton (Ipswich and Tadcaster). Tadcaster S. Domesday Book Stutone, Stouetun. ' Town of Stut, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum , contracted from Stutheard or Stuthere. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 181 Stuteshyl, and 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Somst. Stuttevill.
Suckley (Worcester). Domesday Book Suchelei, 1275 Sukkeleye. ' Meadow of Succa' or' Sucga.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1234 Succanpyt, 958 charter Sicanbyrig, on R. Stour (Stafford), and Sugworth. See-ley.
Sudbrook (Grantham, Chepstow, and Gloucester). Like next, these may all be 'south brook'; Old English sud, Old Norse sud-r, Danish syd, ‘southe. But compare Sotebroca, Domesday Book Devon, ' brook of Sota,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Sudbury (Worcester and Suffolk). Worcester S. 963 charter Suthan byrig, Suffolk S. Old English Chronicum 798 Sudberi; also Suthberi; before 1200 Sudbiri, 1471 Sudberrye. ' South burgh ' or ' fort.' Compare Sudeley (2 in Gloucester), Domesday Book Sudlege, 1250 Suthlege. See -bury.
Suffield (N. Riding, Aylsham, Cromer). York S. Domesday Book Sudfelt. ' South field.' See next.
Suffolk. Originally the southern part of East Anglia. 1016 Old English Chronicum Sudfolc, circa, 1175 Fantosme Sufolke, 1478 Suffolk. 'The South folk.' Compare Norfolk. Earlier e.g., 1010 Old English Chronicum—it was Eastengle or Engla, now East Anglia.
Sugnall (Eccleshall). Domesday Book Sotehelle (error), before 1200 Sogenhull, before 1300 Suggenhale, Suggenhille; and Sugworth (Sunningwell, Berks), Domesday Book Sogorde.' Compare 1293-94 ' Suggeden ' (Salop). 'Farm of Sucga.' See Suckley and -worth. In Sugnall the ending varies between -hall, q.v., and -hill, midl. hull, as often.
Sulham (Reading) and Sulhampstead (Berks). Skeat says not the same names. Domesday Book Soleham, circa, 1130 Chronicum Abingd. Suleham, also Soulham, which is probably ' home of Sula.' Compare Sulanbroc, Sulanford, and Sulangraf, all in Old English charters, and Domesday Book Suletune (Salop), and the same Soleberie (Bucks). But circa, 1290 Sylhamsted, 1402 Syllampstede, 1428 Silhamsted, circa, 1540 Sulhampsted Banaster (now Bannister, from a Norman’, A Robert Banistre was Norman lord of Prestatyn, Flint, in 1164), and S. Abbatis, now S. Abbots. These persistent y forms must represent an Old English u-, and not u, so this is probably' homestead in a miry place.’ Old English sylu. Compare Sowlkholme or Sookholme (Notts), 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Sulcholm, 1230 Close B. Sulgholm, ' miry meadow,' from Old English sulig, sulh, 'miry, wet'; and see -holm. Soulby (Cumbld.) is 'dwelling of Solva.' Compare Hampstead.
Sully (isle off Glamorgan), before 1300 Taxatio Sulleye, 1610 Sylye. McClure's suggested connexion with Silures seems very doubtful. More likely ' Isle of Sulf,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ey. However, it lies at the mouth of the rivulet Sili, which T. Morgan says may mean ' hissing water.' It may contain the same root as Scilly. Curiously Sulley (Lydney) is 1281 Sollewalle, ' muddy spring.' See above.
Sunbury (Hampton Court), before 962 charter set Sunnanbyrg, Domesday Book Suneberie; also Sunnabyri. 'Burgh, castle of Sunna'—i.e, ' the sun '; Old English sunne fem., Icel. sunna. Compare Sundon.
Sunderland. The originally town was Wearmouth. This ' Sunderland ' occurs first in 1183 Boldon Bk. as, presumably, land sundered from Bp's and Monk's Wearmouth, land specially privileged, from Old English sundor, 'apart, special'; sundrian, syndrian, ' to separate.' Compare Sunderlandwick (Driffield), Domesday Book Sundrelanwic (see -wick), Domesday Book Chesh. Sundreland, and perhaps Sinderhope (Allendale). But Sinderby (Thirsk), Domesday Book Senerebi, is perhaps ' dwelling of Sindbeorth, Sundbeorht,' an old Teutonic name. See -by and -hope. There was also a ' Sunderland ' found in Warwickshire charters. On it now stands Sunday's Hill (Spetchley), a curious example of popular etymology.
Sundon (Dunstable). Codex Diplomaticus 920 Sunnan dun, which may be ' hill of the sun,' but quite as likely ' fort of Sunna.' See Sunbury. Sunninghill and Sunningwell (Berks). Old Suninghull, Sunningehulle (hull=hill; compare Solihull, etc.). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum i. 506 Sunningauuille, the same iii. 108 Sunninga wylle, Domesday Book Soningeuuel, circa, 1290 Sunninge- well. ' Hill ' and ' well of the Sunnings.' See Sonning.
Surbiton. See Norbiton.
Surlingham (Norwich). Domesday Book Sutherlinga-ham, Suterlinge-ham. ' Home of the dwellers in the South '; a patronymic. See -ing. Compare Easterling,' a dweller in East Germany,' etc., and Sutherland (Sc).
Surrey. Bede iv. 6 In regione sudergeona; Old English vers. Suthrigra lande, 838 Suthreie, 1011 Old English Chronicum Suthrige, circa, 1175 Fantosme Surrei, circa, 1386 Chaucer Surrye. 'Southern kingdom'; Old English ric, rige—i.e., south of the Thames.
Surtees (Co. Durham). 1211 Super Teisam. Latin super, France sur. ' on the Tees.'
Sussex, circa, 800 Nennius Sutsaxum (inflected), Old English Chronicum 449 Sud, Sexa, 891 the same Sut Sseaxas, circa, 1330 R. Brunne Southsex. (Land of) ' the South Saxons/ Compare Essex, and Wessex, or ' the West Saxons.’
Sutterton (Boston). Sic in charter of? 810. The Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only a Sutta, so this will be ' town of the soutar' or ' tailor '; Old English sutere, Old Norse sutar.
Sutton (38 in Postal Guide). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum ii. 224 Sudtun, Domesday Book Sudtone; later Suthtun, Suttone (Berks); Domesday Book Suttone (Surrey and Cambridgeshire) 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Sutton (Kent). 'South town.' But 825 charter Suthtune has, in one case, in Worcestersh., become Sodington. Domesday Book Yorks has Sudtun or Sudtunen 23 times, and Sutun 10 times.
Sutton Coldfield. Domesday Book Sutone, before 1200 Sutton Colmesfeld, Colnes field, before 1400 Sutton in Colfield. ' South town ' (see above) ' in Colm,'s field.' Colm is short form of Columba or Colum, as in Inchcolm (Scottish); and the liquids m and n, though not so commonly as l and, r tend to disappear. Cold- is a late and ill-informed corruption.
Swaffham (Cambridge) and Swaffham Bulbeck. Codex Diplomaticus iv. 245 Suafham, Domesday Book Suafam, 1210 Swafham. ' Home of Swoef.' Compare Swavesey. Swafield (Norfolk) is circa, 1150 Suathefeld, which may be for ' Swoef's field ' too. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has nothing nearer. For a similar change compare Stevenage.
Swainsthorp (Norfolk). 1451 Sweynnynsthorp, 1458 Sweynsthorp. ' Village of Swegen ' or ' Sweyn,' or ' of the swain or herd or swineherd.' Compare Swainby (Yorks), Domesday Book Suanebi, and Swainset (N. Lanes) Domesday Book Suenesat?' seat of the swain.' Compare Somerset. See -by and -thorpe.
Swale R. (Yorks and Kent). Yorks S. Bede Sualua, Old English vers. Swalwa, 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Svaledale. Kent S. is a salt-water strait. McClure thinks connected with Old English swellan, ' to swell,' and compares the numerous Ger. Schwal-bachs. Compare Swalwell.
Swallowfield (Berks). Domesday Book Solafel, circa, 1290 Swalefeld; later Swaleewefeld. Old English swealwe, swalwe, ' a swallow.'
Swalwell (Co. Durham). 1183 Boldon Bk. Sualwels. Perhaps ' Sualo' swell,' 1 such in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum As likely from same root as Swale.
Swanage (Bournemouth). Old English Chronicum 877 Swanawic, Swanewic, Old English for ' swans' dwelling.' It might also be swana wic, ' swine- herds' dwelling.' For the phonetic changes involved in the change of -wic into -age compare the forms of Knowledge v. in Oxford Dictionary Compare, too, Cranage, 'cranes' dwelling' (Congleton). Greenwich to-day is pronunciation Greenage. But Swanboro' Tump (Pewsey, Wilts) is before 900 King Alfred's Will Swinbeorg, ' swine's mound' or' Barrow.' Thus Tump is but a tautology.
Swanland (Brough). 1298 Swanelond. Compare above.
Swansea. 1188 Sweynsei, circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Itin. Sweineshe quodet Kambrice Abertawe ('mouth of R. Tawe') vocatur; 1210 Sueinesheia, 1234 Sweinesheie, 1298 Sweynese. ' Isle of King Swegen ' or ' Sweyn,' died 1014, who thrice invaded England from Denmark. Compare Swainsthobp, and Swancote (Wore), 1275 Swanecote,' cot of the swain' or' swineherd.' See -ea.
Swardeston (Norwich). ' Town of Swearta,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, or ‘of Sweorda.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum ii. 174 Sweordestan (Gloucester).
Swarling (Kent). 805 charter Sueordhlincas. 'Links for sword- play '; Old English sweord. Compare Swerford, and 941 charter Suujrrdling (Twickenham).
Swarth (Ulverston). Domesday Book Warte; but the other Domesday Book Yorks Warte is Warter Hundred.? from Old English sweart, ' swart, swarthy, black, dark' (place), or sweard, Old Norse svord-r,' sward, turf.'
Swavesey (Cambridge). Domesday Book Svavesye, 1266 Suauiseye, 1346 Swafsey. ' Isle of Swoef,' lit. one of the tribe Suevi, now the Swabians. Compare Swaffham and Swaythorp (E. Riding), Domesday Book Suauetorp. See-ey.
Swerford (Oxford). Perhaps before 800 charter Sweord ora, Old English for ' sword hank —i.e., level bank fit for fighting with swords. Compare Swardling.
Swettenham (Congleton). 'Home of Sweta,' genitive -an, or 'of Bivet.' Sweting is also in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Norfk. Suatinga, patronymic, and Swetton (W. Riding), Domesday Book Suatune.
Swinbrook (Burford, Oxon). 'Swine's brook'; Old English swin, Old Norse svin. Compare Domesday Book Bucks Sveneborne, Sueneborne, or ' Swinburne ' see -bourne. Swindon—there are 3, Domesday Book Wilts and Gloucester Suindone—is, of course, ' Swine's hill.' Swilland (Ipswich) is circa, 1330 charter Swinnlonde.
Swine (Hull). Domesday Book Swine, Suine. 'Swine island,' with -e= -ey. Old English swin, ' swine.'
Swineshead (Boston, Hunts, Eccleshall, and Spetchley). Boston S. 786-96 charter Suinesheabde, before 1100 the same Swyneseheved. Eccleshall S. Domesday Book Sueneshed. Spetchley S. 989 charter Swinesheafod, before 1300 Swynesheved. Probably 'height of the swine'; Old English swin; but possibly from a man Sigewine, which would contract into Swine; so Duignan.
Swinford (Rugby). Compare 808 charter Swinford (Somerset), and 958 charter Swiniorda (on R. Stour, Stafford). ' Swine's ford.'
Swinnerton (Staffordshire). Domesday Book Sulvertone, 1205 Silverton, 1206 Soulverton, 1298 Swynreton, before 1300 Swinaferton, Swynefarton, before 1500 Swynerton. A name which has changed; originally ' Silver town '; Old English seolfor, siolfor, 2-7 silver, 3-4 suluer;? why so called. Compare Silverton. But its present form is from some unrecorded man with a name like Swinafer, or? from suine ford.
Swinton (3 in Yorks, and Manchester). Domesday Book Yorks, Suintun 5 times. 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Suineton (Yorks). Probably 'town of Swegen (also Suen, Svein),' a very common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum There is also Swinden (Craven), Domesday Book Suindene, probably from Old English swin,' swine.' See -den.
Sydenham (S. London and Wallingford) and S. Damarel (Tavistock). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 759 Sidanham. Old 'English for 'home of Sida.' The London S. is 1675 Evelyn Sydnam. The Tavistoch S. at first belonged to the Damarels.
Symond's Yat (Hereford). ' Opening, pass, gate ' (Old English geat) ' of Simund ' or ' Sigemund.' Compare Yatton (Bristol), and Yetholm (Scottish).
Syrescote (Tarnworth). 1100 Siricescotan, before 1200 Sirichescote, Sirescote, but Domesday Book Fricescote (F error for S). Form 1100 is Old English for ' cots, cottages of Sigeric ' or ' Siric,'—i.e., ' the victorious.' Syerston (Notts), Domesday Book Sirestune, and Syresham (Brackley), Domesday Book Sigresham, Sigreham, are from the same name. Compare Domesday Book Salop Sireton, and Syreford (Gloucester).

Tachebrook, Bishop's, and T. Mallory (Warwick). Codex Diplomaticus 751 Taecelesbroc, Domesday Book Taschebroc, Tacesbroc, before 1200 Tachelesbroc. ' Brook of Toecel.' Compare Tackley (Oxford), Domesday Book Tachelie. The Mallorys were old lords of the manor here. Sir Thos. Malory of the Morte d'Arthur probably belonged to this shire.
Tadcaster. 1066 Old English Chronicum Tat5a, Domesday Book Tatecastre. Probably 'Camp of Tada.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1152 Tadan leah—i.e., Tadley (Basingstoke), and Todwick; also Tadlow (Cambridgeshire), Domesday Book Tadelai, and Domesday Book Surrey, Tadforde. See -caster.
Tafarn Spite or Tavernspite (Whitland, Carmarthenshire); also Tafarnaubach (Tredegar). Tafarn is just the Welsch form of Latin taberna, Eng. tavern. Spite is a corruption of Latin hospitium ' hospice,' the ' hospital.' Compare Llanspyddyd (Brecon) and Yspytty Ystwyth. Tafarnau is the plural, and bach means ' a hook,' probably for attaching horses; but the meaning of the name is not very clear.
Taff R. (S. Welsch), circa, 1540 Leland Thave. Its oldest recorded form is found circa, 1130 in Landavia i.e., Llakdaff; it is very doubtful if also in the early forms of Cardiff. Probably Keltic, aspirated form of Tarn or Tame (see Tamworth), meaning ' quiet ' or perhaps ' wide ' river.
Talke (Stoke-on-T.). Domesday Book Talc, before 1300 Talk; now called more fully ' Talk o' the Hill.' As talc, ' mica,' is quite late in Eng., this last may be a tautology, like Barrhill (Scottish), from Welsch twlch, ' a height, a hill,' the Gaelic tulach, which gives us many Scottish names in Tilly- and Tullie-. Compare Talkin (Brampton), which may be a diminitive and also Talog which may be the origin here, a little river, which Duignan thinks would once be called Tan or Tone. See-worth.
Talog (Caermarthen) Welsch talawg, ' high-fronted' or ' high house,’ not a thatched cottage.
Talsarn (Lampeter). Probably ' the end of the road,’ Welsch tal, ' fore- head, front,’ and sarn, ' road.' It is at the end of Sarn Helen, an old Roman road.
Tamar R. (S. Devon), circa, 150 Ptolemy..,..circa, 988 charter Tamur, 997 Old English Chronicum Tamer. Probably same Kelt. root as Taff and Tam. See below. The -ar will be terminational.
Tamerton Foliot (Crown Hill, Devon).? Domesday Book Tanbretone. ' Townon R. Tamar.' Gilbert Foliot, Bishop of Hereford, 1149-63, was a native of this place. In Exon. Domesday Book we also find a ' Tamerlande.'
Tamworth. 840 charter Tomewordig, later charter Tamanwordig, 913 Old English Chronicum Tamaweordige, 918 the same Tamanweorde, 943 the same Tamwurth, before 1130 Sim. Bur. Tameweorde. ' Farm on R. Tame,' which is Kelt. for ' quiet, calm,' modern Welsch taw (w — as- pirated m), Gaelic tamhach, same root, and Thames. McClure derives from a man Toma or Tuma; but Eng. rivers are not called in this way after a man; and there is no Toma or Tama in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, only one Tomus and Tuma, while the place is never found with au. Connection with Old English tam, torn,' tame,' is quite conceivable. Tamhorn, near by, is Domesday Book Tamahore, before 1200 Tamenhorn, ' horn, hornlike bend of the Tame.' See -worth and -worthy.
Tanfield (Ripon). Doubtfully thought to be King Alfred's Donafelda. Domesday Book Tanefeld. It may be ' field of Teona.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 801 Teonan hyl; eo regularly becomes before, certainly nothing to do with tanning.
Tankerville (once in Warwick). 1120 Tanc'villa, 1157 Tancharuille, circa, 1175 Tankarvile. Really a Norm. name, ' town,' France ville, ' of Tancred, Tancrad, or Thancred,' a name common enough in Old English There is now no Tankerville in England, but there is a Tankeesley (Earnsley), Domesday Book Tancresleia.
Tanshelf (Pontefract). Sic in 1257 charter, but 947 Old English Chronicum Taddenes scylfe i.e., ' Tadden's shelf ' or ' ledge,' Old English scelfe, scylfe. There is a Tada, genitive -an, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but no Tadden. The form in Domesday Book, Tatessella, only puzzles us a little more. It is the same name as Tattershall.
Tansley (Matlock and Dudley) and Tanwoeth (Birmingham). These all postulate a man Tan or Tana, not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but compare Tanworth. We must not invoke Welsch tan, ' fire.' However, Duignan says, the Dudley name is rightly Tansy Hill, from the wild tansy, or potentilla. See -ley and -worth, ' farm.'
Tanton (Stokesley, Yorks). Domesday Book and 1209 Tameton. It is on a R. Thame; also see Taukton. Similarly Tanwoeth-in-Arden, before1200 Taneworth, before 1500 T(h)oneworthe, is' farm on a little river, which Duignan thinks would once be called Tan or Tone. See -worth.
Taplow (Maidenhead). Domesday Book Thapeslav. 'Burial mound of Tapa;' the h in Domesday Book is a Norman insertion. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 993 Tapan hal. See -low.
Tarannon R. (Wales). This, says Anwyl, may be the Keltic goddess of Thunder, Welsch taran.
Tardebigge (Bromsgrove). circa, 1000 charter Taerdebicga, before 1000 Terde bicg, Domesday Book Terdeberie, 1158-59 Rolls of the great Pipe Terdebigga, 1283 Tyrdebigg. There is nothing likely in Oxford Dictionary, to give origin to -bigge, though it surely must be = the Norse Biggest or ' building.' For the first half we must postulate a name Terde or Tarde; only a rare Tyrd(d)a seems known.
Tarn Wading (little lake, Hesket, Penrith.) 1089 charter Tarnwadelyn, circa, 1360 Terne Wathelyne. Old Norse tjorn, ' a tarn, a mountain lakelet.' Many Wadas in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, but nothing nearer in the way of a man's name.
Tarrant Kaines or Keynston (Blandford). 935 charter Terenta, before 1225 Ancren Riwle Tarente. Probably =Tarannon. Compare 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Tarenteford (Kent).
Tarrington (Ledbury). Not in Domesday Book Hardly from Welsch taran, ' thunder.' No likely man's name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum unless it be Tora, genitive -an.
Tarring (Worthing). 941 charter Terring. 'Place of the sons of Terr,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Tass R. (Norfolk). Probably Welsch tas,' what binds, a band.'
Tatenhill (Burton-on-T.). 771 charter Taten hyll, 'hill of Tate,’ female of Tata. See next, and compare Tattenhall (Chester), Domesday Book Tatenale, and Tatworth (Somserset). Tatham (N. Lanes). Domesday Book Tathaim, is from the same name in its male form.
Tattershall (Boston). Domesday Book Tateshale, 1161-62 Rolls of the great Pipe Tateshal, 1249 Tateshall, before 1450 Tatessall. 'Nook of Tata.' The r results from a ' Cockney ' pronunciation Compare Kidderminster. See -hall.
Tattingstone (Ipswich). 1199 Tatingetun. 'Village of the de- scendants of Tato,' a common Old English name. Compare above. See -ton. Taunton. Sic 1499, but Old English Chronicum 722 Tantun (so pronunciation still), Domesday Book Tantone. ' Town on the R. Tone,' probably same root as Tame, Thames, etc, the liquids m and n not rarely interchanging, and so ' quiet ' river. Compare Tanton. Not probably are derivations from Welsch tan, ' fire,' or tonn, ' unploughed land.' Taynton (Newent) is Domesday Book Tetinton, Tatinton, ' town of Tetta ' or ' Tata.' See above.
Taverham (Norwich). Sic in Domesday Book Taver- may stand for Tathere or Tatbeorht, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; th often becomes v. Compare Stevenage, etc. See -ham.
Tavistock. 997 Old English Chronicum Tefingestoc, Taefingstoc, Domesday Book Tauestoch, circa, 1130 Eadmer Tavestoc, circa, 1145 Wm. Malmes. Tavistokium, 1155 Tauistoche. Tefingestoc is an Old English patronymic, ' place of the Toefings,' but, as it is on R. Tavy, these will mean, ' dwellers on the Tavy, 'a Keltic root same as Tame and Thames, only aspirated. Compare Gaelic tamh, ' rest, quiet.' See Stoke and compare next; also 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Taueston (Yorks).
Taw R. (N. Devon). Sic 1068 Old English Chronicum circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Tavus, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Taui. Also Tawe R. (Swansea), circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Tawe; also said to be old Tafwy (Welsch givy, ' river '). Welsch taw, ' silent, quiet,' same root as Tame (see Tamworth), Tavy (see Tavistock), Thame, etc., the m here being aspirated.
Tawton (Devon). Domesday Book Tavvetone, 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Tautun. See above.
Taynton (Burford). = Teignton, also see Taunton.
Tean R. and hamlet (Staffordshire). Domesday Book Tene, before 1400 Teyne. Like so many river names, doubtful. Compare Teign and Tyne. Tain (Scottish) is 1223 Tene, and generally thought from Norse; but from what?
Teddington (R. Thames and Warwick). Th. T. sic 1427, but 969 charter Tudintun, 1279 Todington, Wa. T. 969 charter Tidinctune, 1016 the same Tiddingtun. ' Town of the sons of Tidda ' or ' Tuda,' genitive -an, a common Old English name. Grave scientific men in the 20th century. have actually thought it meant ' Tide-end-town ' Compare Domesday Book Tedenesvlle (for -hulle) (Salop), which is ' hill of?' Teden,' whilst Domesday Book Bucks Tedinwiche suggests a man Teda or Teoda, 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum There is also Teddesley (Penkridge). Sic before 1300. See -ley. But Teddington (Tewkesbury) is 780 charter Teottingtun, 977 the same Teodintun, Tidingctun, circa, 1046 Theotinctun, Domesday Book Teotintune. 1275 Tedinton. ' Town of the sons of Teotta ' or ' Tette ' (this is common). See -ing.
Tees R. before 1130 Sim. Dur. Tesa, 1387 Teyse. Perhaps from Welsch tesach, ' wantonness,' from tes ' heat of the sun.' The R. Test (Hants) is sometimes called Tees, and the Teise, trib. of R. Medway, will be the same name. They may all be pre-Keltic.
Teign R. Modern pronunciation Tinn. 73 9charter Teng. Domesday Book Taigne, Teigne; and Drews Teignton (S. Devon). 1001 Old English Chronicum Tegntun, Domesday Book Teinton, Taintone. Perhaps from Welsch teneu or Old English pynne, Welsch Frisian ten, tin, ' thin, slender.' The Drews comes from Drewe de Teignton, landholder temp. Hen. II. Compare Taynton (Burford), Domesday Book Tentone.
Telpen Pt. (Amroth). Welsch telpyn,' a lump.'
Teme R. (Worcester). Old English charter Temede, once Tamede. Seems the same as Thames; but it is said to be in Old Welsch Tefaidd, Tefedd (f = V, and V = aspirated m). On it was Tempsiter. Compare Tempsford.
Temple Ewing, Grafton, etc. Such names indicate lands of the Knight Templars.
Tempsford (Sandy). 921 Old English Chronicum Tameseforda, Tamesaforda, Domesday Book Tamiseford. There was another R. Thames here; the form Temps is said to come through the Norse sagas. Compare Teme.
Tenbury (Worcester). Domesday Book Tametdeberie, Tamedeberie. ' Burgh, fort on the R. Teme,' which is the same root as Tam-worth and Thames. See-bury.
Tenby. 1248-49 Tinbegh, 1325 Tyneby, 1350 charter Tynby, in Welsch Dinbychy Pysgod. See Denbigh. There are a good many traces of the Norseman hereabouts; and there is little doubt that Tenby is corruption Of Den-by,' Danes' dwelling.' Compare Danby and see -by.
Tendring (Weeley, Essex). Domesday Book Tendringa, and Tenderingae, Tonderingae (ae= 'isle,’; see -ey). A patronymic? from Tondheri, 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Tern R. (W. Staffordshire), before 1200 Time, Tyrne, Turne. Probably M.E. terne (found in Wstmld. in 1256). Danish tjern, Norse tjorn, ' a tarn, a small hill lake.' Compare Tirley.
Terrington (York, K.'s Lynn, and Wisbech). York T. Domesday Book Teurinctone, Teurintone, 1202 Yorks Fines Theverington. Doubtful. Wisbech T. Domesday Book Terintune. Patronymic? from Theodhere or Teherus or Theudor, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Tetbury (S. Gloucester). 680 charter Tettan Monasterium, circa, 1000 the same Tettanbyrig, Domesday Book Teteberie. ' Burgh of Tetta.' Compare next, Tatenhill, Tetsworth (Oxon), and Tittesworth. See -bury.
Tettenhall (Wolverhampton). Old English Chronicum 593 Teotanhealh, the same 910 Teotanheale, Domesday Book Totehala, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Totanhale, before 1300 Tetenhale. ' Nook, enclosure of Teota or Tetta.' Skeat thinks Teota a form of Old English tota, ' a spy, a look-out,’ a tout! Compare Totley and see -hall.
Tetton (Sandbach) Domesday Book Tedtune. May be Tette’s town. See above; bur perhaps ‘people’s town. Compare Thetford, a 1200 Tedford.
Tevershall (Mansfield) Domesday Book Tevreshalt, 1284 Teversalt, and Teversham (Cambridge). Domesday Book Teuresham, Teuerresham, 1210 Teuersham.’Holt, wood,’ and ‘home of Tefere, an unknown name. see too [hall.
Tewin (Welwyn) Domesday Book Teuuinge, and Theunge, 1166 Tiwinge, “Place of the sons of Tiw. He was the Teutonic Mars, or god of war. See -ing.
Tewkesbury. Domesday Book Teodechesberie, circa, 1145 Wm. Malmesb. Theochesberia, 1157 Tiochesbiria, 1201 Teokesberi, circa, 1350 Teukesbury. ' Burgh of Teodeca,' or ' Theoc,’ a Saxon hermit, settled here; soon aiter a monastery was here founded by Odo and Dodo, dukes of Mercia, 715. Compare 963 charter Teodecesleage, near Redditch, now Tidsley.
Tey R. (Essex). Charter Tiga(n). May be same as Great Tey, Old English tih, teah, teag, 'a paddock.' Compare Old English leah, 'meadow,' often found as leaz, and to-day usually -ley in names. Or from Old English tyge,' a diverting' (of a watercourse).
Teynham (Faversham). 801 charter Tenham. Probably 'home of Thegn ' or ' Degn,' the nearest forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Derivation from Old English ten,' ten,' can hardly be thought of but possibly the name is = Twynham. It is now in a marshy region, near a creek of the Swale.
Thame R. (trib. of Thames, Aylesbury, also N. Yorks, 1209 Tame) and Thames R. Latter is circa, 50 B.C. J. Caesar Tameses, c .100 Tacitus Tamesa, circa, 893 AElfred and 1297 Robert of Gloucester. Tamese; various reading in AElfred times, 1377 Langland Themese, 1503 Thamyse, 1649 Thames. Keltic root, meaning ' quiet, silent,' or perhaps ' wide river.' Welsch taw (aspirated form), ' still,' Gaelic tamh, ' rest, quiet,' tamhach, ' quiet, dull, heavy.' Same root as Tamar, Tame, Tavy, Taw, Teme, etc. Skeat, however, declares the origin quite unknown. The initial Th- is a Norm, innovation, which it is really absurd to retain. On the -eses compare Isis and Ouse; it must be Keltic for' river.'
Thanet. 80 Solinus Ad-Tanatos, 679 charter Tenid, Bede Tanet, before 810 Nennius, Tanet, 1461 Thenede. Thought to be Keltic for ' fire,' Old Irish teine, genitive tened, Welsch and Cornish tan. But tann also seems to be Keltic for' an oak.' If the former, it will probably mean ' place of beacon-fires.'
Thatcham (Berks). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 432 Thaecham, Domesday Book Taccham, Taceham. The charter name is Old English for ' thatched house,' or, more exactly, as in Scottish' a thack hoose.' Norman scribes often wrote t forth, as to them the h was mute. Compare Thaxted.
Thaxted (Dunmow). 1528 Thackstedd. Compare 1298 Thaxton. Old English thoec stede, ' thatched,' lit. ' roofed place, steading, or farm.' Compare above.
Thelwall (Warrington). 923 Old English Chronicum Delwsel i.e., 'wall, rampart made of deals, boards, or planks,' Old English pel, pell. Theale (Reading), which Skeat thinks must have meant a place where a plank was thrown over a stream; also compare Elmbridge and Felbridge, and Tilbridge (Upton-on-Severn), 1275 Teldrugge (d for b), plainly from same root.
Themelthorpe (Norfolk). Not in Domesday Book 1477 Thymbilthorpe. Probably not ' village where thimbles were made,' Old English thymel, from thuma, ‘the thumb,’ see -thorpe. It is from a man Tymbel, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, also seen in Thimbleby (Yorks), Domesday Book Timbelbi. But Great Timble (Yorks) is Domesday Book Timble, Timbe, and is perhaps ‘mound, hill like a thimble.; only Oxford Dictionary gives no form with b till 15th century.
Thenford (Banbury). Not in Domesday Book 1298 Teneford; perhaps 'ford of harm ' i.e., where some grave accident took place, Old English teona, 3-6 tene,' harm, injury.' There was in 958 chart a' Theonfanforth,' on R. Stour: (Stafford), but this cannot be the same name. Domesday Book Oxon. has Tentone, now Tayton (Burford), also Teigtone; this suggests a first syllable == Teign.
Therfield (Royston, Herts), 796 charter Thyrefeld. Probably ' Thyra's field.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 702 Thyrran mere. Thyra is still a woman's name in Denmark.
Thetford (Suffolk and Ely). Suffolk T. Old English Chronicum 870 Theodforda, 1094 the same Theotforda, Domesday Book Tetford, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Tedforde (compare note on Thatcham), 1237 Thefford. Ely T. Domesday Book Tedford, Lib. de Hydh Theedford, 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Roll Tetford. ' Ford of the ‘people,' Old English peod i.e., large, wide ford (Skeat).
Thingoe (Suffolk) Domesday Book Thingehov, Tingehv. How or mound of the thing’, or provincial assembly. The ending-oe is Old Norse haug-r,' mound, cairn, how.' See Howden.
Thirkleby (Thirsk). Domesday Book Torchilebi, Turchilebi, Turgilebi, Turgislebi, Turgisbi. ' Dwelling of Thurkill ' or ' Turchill,' contracted from Thurcytel, a common name. See -by.
Thirsk (Yorks). Domesday Book Treske, circa, 1150 Treses, 1202 Tresc, Tresch, circa, 1350 Thresk. Probably Keltic tre esk, ' house on the water (Gaelic uisge)—i.e., the Codbeck. See Esk, Usk,etc. If it be Keltic, it is a very exceptional name in these parts. Compare Threshfield.
Thixendale (New Malton, Yorks). Domesday Book Sixtendale, Sixtedale. ' The sixteen dales,' which go to form the township.' Old English syxtune, sixtyne,' 16'; there is no form in Oxford Dictionary, without t.
Tholthorpe (York). Domesday Book Turulfestorp, Turolvestorp, 'Village of Thurwulf or ' Turolf,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -thorpe.
Thoralby (Aysgarth), Domesday Book Turoldesbi, Turodes-,debi,'Dwelling of Thurweald ' or ' Turold,' several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Tharlesthorp (Yorks), Domesday Book Toruelestorp, and Thorlby (Yorks), Domesday Book Toreddereby, Torederebi, probably from Thurweard or T'oruerd also Tarleton (Preston), old Thurweald Thurtun. In Old Norse, the name is Thorvaldr; compare Trodais, Jersey, See -by.
Thormanby (Easingwold). Domesday Book Tormozbi, Turmozbi (z=ds or ts). ' Dwelling of Thurmund, Thurmod, or Thurmot,' all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; so=next. Compare Thormarton, now usually Farmington, and Thrumpton (Notts), Domesday Book Turmodestun.
Thornaby - On - Tees. Domesday Book Thormozbi (z=ds). 'Dwelling of Thurmod ' or ' Thurmund.' Compare above; and see -by.
Thornbury (Gloucester) —896 charter Thornbyrig, Domesday Book Turneberie, and Thorncombe (Chard). 1417 Thornecombe. Probably 'burgh,’but former may be from a man Thorn, still a personal name. Compare Thornton. Thornholme (Yorks) is Domesday Book Thirnon, also Tirnu', a locative ' at the thorns.' See -ham and -holme. Compare, too, Thirntoft (N. Yorks), Domesday Book Tirnetoft, ' croft, farm with the thorn-tree.'
Thorner (Leeds). Domesday Book Tornoure, Torneure. 'Thorn-tree bank,’ Old English ofr. See -over.
Thorney (Chichester and Cambridgeshire). Chichester T., 1048 Old English Chronicum Thornege, 1066 the same Thurneie. Cambridgeshire T., Domesday Book Torny, 1158 Torneya,1169Thorneia. There is also one on R. Thames near London. Old English Thorn-ege is, of course, ' thorn isle.' See -ey. circa, 1170 Wace, Roman de Rou, 1065, writes of the London T.: ' Ee est isle, Zon est espine, seit rainz, seit arbre, seit racine, Zonee co est en engleiz. Isle d'espine en franceiz.' This is another illustration how hard a Norman found it to reproduce our Eng. th.
Thorgumbald. (Hull) Domesday Book Torne. ‘Thorn-tree of Gumbeald.’ Or ‘Gundbeald’, both names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Thornham (King's Lynnn). before 1300 Eccleston Turnham (which is now the Norfolk pronunciation). Th again! See above and -ham.
Thornthorpe (Yorks). Domesday Book Torgrimestorp. ‘Thorgrim-r’s place. See -thorpe. But Thorningtom (Northumberland is said to be old Thoburnham, or ' Thorburn's or ' Thorbeorn's home.' The latter is found in Lib. Vit. Dunelm.
Thornton (15 in Postal Guide). In Domesday Book Yorks it occurs 34 times as Torneton, Tornitun, Torentun, Tornenton. Either' villagew ith the thorn-trees,' Old English thorn, or ' of Thorn,' a man. Compare Thornbury.
Thorp Arch (Boston Spa, Yorks). Domesday Book Torp. 'Village by the shieling or summer-farm,' Norse Gaelicg argh. See Anglesark and -thorpe.
Thorpe Audlin(g) (Pontefract). Old Audelin, compare Audlem, Domesday Book Aldelime; and see -thorpe, ' village, (little) farm.'
Thorpe Contstantine (Tamworth). Domesday Book Torp, before 1300 Thorp Constantin. A family so called from Constantine, Normandy.
Thrapstone (Oundle). Probably ' Thorpe on the rock.' See Thorpe. Compare Throapham (Yorks), Domesday Book Trapun, a locative? ' At the village.' See -ham.
Threlkeld (Penrith). Compare Domesday Book Trelefelt—i.e., Threlfalds (N. Lanes). The Threl- is uncertain. It may be contracted from Thorkell. Thurkleby (Yorks) is Domesday Book Turchilebi. -keld is'well, spring.' See Keld.
Threshfield (Skipton). Domesday Book Treschefelt, Freschefolt. A little doubtful. The Thresh- maybe Keltic, as in Thirsk. But the does interchange with f, as in Fenglesham, and so it may be ' fresh.’ See Freshwater.
Thrimby (Shap). Domesday Book Tiernebi. ' Dwelling of Tierne, the modern name Tierney. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has one Thrim, but nothing like Tierne, which is the almost exact phonetic representative of Gaelic tigh- earna, ' lord, Old Welsch tern; and this may be the word here. Compare Stapleford, but also Thurne. See -by.
Throckenholt (Wisbech). Old English Chronicum 657 (late MS.) Throkonholt. ' Wood for share beams or plough-heads,’ Old English throe. Compare Holt. Throckmorton (Fladbury), circa, 1200 Trochemertum, circa, 1220 Trokemertum, Trokemardtune, 1275 Throkemorton, can hardly be from the same root. The ending will be ' mere-town,’ ' moor- town’, or perhaps ' boundary-town,’ Old English (ge)maere; whilst Throe will be a personal name. Compare 939 charter Throcbryge, Hants, Throcking (Herts) (patronymic), and Throckley (Northumberland).
Throwley (Ham), T. Forstal (Faversham), and Throwleigh (Okehampton). T. Forstal before 1300 Truleg. ' Meadow of the coffin, tomb, or grave,' Old English thruh, thru(u)ch, 5 throh, throw, and still in Scottish and Norse dialect Compare Througham (Gloucester)., pronunciation Druffum, Domesday Book Troham, later Truham. See -ham and -ley.
Throop (Christchurch) and Thrupp (Mid Oxon and S. Northants) = Thorpe.
Thrybergh (Rotherham). Domesday Book Triberga, Triberge. Probably 'three barrows ' or ' mounds,' Old English pri; and see Barrow. Compare Sedbergh.
Thundersley (Rayleigh). Domesday Book Thunreslau, 'Meadow (or ' mound,' see -low) of the god Thunor' or' Thor.' See -ley.
Thurgoland (Sheffield). Domesday Book Turgesland. Probably ' land of Thurgod ' or ' Turgot,' a common Old English name. Thurgarton (Notts) is Domesday Book Turgarstune.
Thurlaston (Dunechurch and Hinckley). Dunechurch T. Domesday Book Torlavestonee, before 1300 Thurlaveston. ' Village of (an unknown) Thurlaf; but Hin. T. circa, 1190 charter Thurkeleston, ' village of Thurkill ' or ' Thurcytel.' Old forms needed for Thurlestone (Kingsbridge) and Thurlstone (Sheffield). Thurlston (S. Yorks) is Domesday Book Turulfestone, Turolveston, ' Thurwulf's ' or Turolf’s town,’ while Thurstaston (Birkenhead) is Domesday Book Turstaneton, ' Thurstan's town.' It is now pronunciation Thirsaston.
Thurlby (Bourne), before 1100 charter Thurleby. ' Dwelling of Thurkill ' or ' of Thurlac' See -by.
Thurleigh (Bedford) and Thurlow (Suffolk). 'Meadow' and ' hill of the god Thor ' or ' Thunor,' an old Scandinavian and Saxon deity. Compare Thursday; and see -leigh and -low.
Thurmaston (Leicester), circa, 1200 Turmotestona. ' Thurmod's ' or ' Thormood's town.'
Thurne (Yarmouth). 1477 Thirne. There is in Eng. circa, 1300 theme,' a girl, a maid, from Old Norse perna; but this will not suit for Thurne. Thurnham (Lancaster) is Domesday Book Tiernun. It is probably that these names come from thorn, the tree, even though it is never found with an i or u in Oxford Dictionary But ' Thorne ' is found alone as a placename in Domesday Book Yorks. Tiernun, according to all analogy, should be an old locative (see -ham),' at the thorn-trees'; and will be the same name, originally, as Thornholme (Yorks), which is in Domesday Book Thirnon and Tirnu'. Compare Thornbuby and next.
Thurnscoe (Rotherham). Domesday Book Ternusc, Terusche, which must be Keltic either for ' chief, head stream,' Old Welsch tern. Compare Tintern, or for ' vehement stream,' Welsch tern. Also see Usk, and Thirsk. But the present name, a Norse corruption, is' thorn-tree wood,' Old Norse skog-r. Compare Burscough. It is now pronunciation Thrunsker.
Thurrock (Grays). Domesday Book Thurrucca. Old English yurruc is ' the bilge of a ship,' in modern dialect ' a heap of dirt,' and ' a drain.' This place must surely have been originally one where filth and dirty water gathered. Compare West Thurrock.
Thursford (Dereham) and Thursley (Godalming). 1305 Thyrsforde. ' Ford ' and ' meadow of Thor,' the thunder god. For spelling with u, compare Domesday Book Essex, Turestapla, and Thursday; and see -ley. There is a now obs. Thursfield (Newcastle-under-L.), which was Domesday Book Turvoldes feld, before 1300 Thurfredesfeld, and Torvedeston. ' Town of Thurweald' or' Thorold.' Compare Thoresby (Notts), Domesday Book Turesbi.
Thurston (Bury St. E.). Domesday Book Turstanestuna. ' Town of Thurstan.' Compare Thurstaston (Birkenhead), pronunciation Thursiston, Domesday Book Turstaneton. There is also a Thurstonland (Huddersfield), Domesday Book Tostenland, probably a scribe's error.
Thuxton (Attleboroogh). Domesday Book Thustuna. The man's name here is uncertain. The nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is Thochi, variant of Tokig; but we have also several called Toc(c)a, a Toce, and a Tocga.
Thwaite (Eye). circa, 1150 charter Thwete. Old Norse thveit, lit. 'a piece cut off,' from thvita, ' to cut,' then ' a small bit of land.' Compare Crossthwaite, etc. Thwaite End (Irton, Cumberland) is actually said to have been corrupted into Ayners!
Thwing (Hunmanby, Yorks). Domesday Book Twenc, Tuinc, Tuenc; 1206 Twenge. Seems to be the rare Old English twing, ' a mass, a lump,' lit. what is pressed together, from twengan, ' to pinch, squeeze, twinge.' Compare Domesday Book Salop Tuange.
Tibberton (Salop, Droitwich, and Gloucester). Droitwich T., 978 charter Tidbriht, Tidingetun, Domesday Book Tibbertun, 1275 Tybrytone. Gloucester. T. Domesday Book Tebristone (on st, see p. 26), later Tybertone, Typertone. ' Town of Tidbeorht' or' Tidburh.' On 978 see -ing. Tibthorpe (Driffield). Domesday Book Tibetorp, Tipetorp. 'Village of Tiha ' or ' Tibha.' Compare Domesday Book Tibetune (Salop), and also Tipton. See -thorpe.
Tich-. See Titch-.
Tickhill (Rotherham). circa, 1097 Florence of Worcester Tyckyll, 1119 charter Tykyll, Sim. Dur. ann. 1102 Tychiil, 1194 Hoveden Tikehil. ' Hill of the tike,’ Icel. tik, ' a bitch, a cur,’ Swedish tik, ' a boor.’ But Domesday Book Tichele-vorde (Salop) must be ' farm of Ticel,' an unknown man: and Ticknall (Derby), charter Ticcenheal, is ' Tica's nook.’ Compare Domesday Book Bucks Tichesla and Ticheforde; also Titchborne and Tixall.
Tickton (Beverley). Domesday Book Tichetone. ' Town of Tica' or' Ticca'. Compare above; also 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Tichesoura (Rutld.), and 1460 Paston Tychewell.
Tidmarsh (Pangbourn). 1316 Thedmersshe, 1428 Tydemershe, circa, 1540 Tedmarsh. ' Tydda's marsh.’ 6 Tidas or Tydas in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Tidenham (on Wye), 956 charter Dyddan-hamme,' enclosure of Dydda,’ but Domesday Book Tideham, 1253 Tudenham. See -ham. Tidsley or Teddesley Wood (Pershore) is 963 charter Teodeces- leage, ' Teodec's lea.' Compare Tewkesbury.
Tidnock (Cheshire). Probably dimin. of Welsch tyddyn, ' a farm.'
Tidwelle (E. Budleigh, Devon), before 1300 Todewil, Toddville, Todevil, Tudewille, Toudeville. ' Tuda's ' or ' Todea's pool,' Old English woel, 'a whirlpool, an eddy, a fish-pool.' Compare Maxwell (Scottish). The name prefixed occurs in a great variety of forms—Tida, Toda, Tuda, Tudda, Tydda. Compare Tidmarsh.
Tilbrook (St. Neots). Probably ' Brook of Tila or Tile.’ 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Tilford, and 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe, Tillul (? 'Tila's hill') (Yorks). But some think of Welsch twll, ' a hole.' This is not probably
Tilbury. Bede Tilaburg, Domesday Book Tilleberie, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Tilaburh, circa, 1200 Westilleberie (West Tilbury), 1278 Tillebury. ' Tila's fort or burgh.' See above, and -bury.
Tilehurst (Reading). Codex Diplomaticus iv. 157, Tigelhyrste, 1316 Tyghelhurst, circa, 1540 Tylehurst. This must mean' tile wood or copse,' Old English tigel, Latin tegula, ' a tile.' They may have been made here.
Tilford (Farnham, Surrey), circa, 1160 Tileford. ' Tila's ' or ' Tile's ford.' Compare Tilbrook. Tiln(e) (Notts), Domesday Book Tilne, Tille, 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Tilnea, is ' Tila's isle.' See -ay.
Till R. (Northumberland). before 1130 Sim. Dur. Tillemuthe, Welsch twll, ' a hole,' or perhaps tyle, ' a steep, an ascent.'
Tillingham (Southminster). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 8 Tillingeham, and Tillington (Petworth and Stafford). Petworth T., Domesday Book Tellingedone and Tedlingha (d probably error). St. T. Domesday Book Tillintone. ‘Home’ and ' village of the sons of Tila.' Compare Domesday Book Bucks Telingham. See -don, -ham, -ing, and -ton.
Tilly Whim Caves (Swanage). McClure says Cornish toulen veyn, ' holes in the rocks.’ Compare Durlstone. But one may also conjecture Welsch tuellgwyn,' clear, bright covert.’
Tilmanstone (Dover). 1298 Tilmarmeston. 'Town of Tilman,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum A ' tillman ' is a ploughman or peasant, found as an English word as early as Cursor Mundi. Compare 940 charter Tilmannes dene.
Timberhanger (Bromsgrove). Domesday Book Timbrehangre; Timberand (Lincoln), 1204 Timberlun; Timberley (Cas. Bromwich), 1301 Timberweissiche (timber-way -syke, Old English sic, sice, ' rivulet, ditch'). All from Old English timber, Old Norse timbr, 'timber, wood for building purposes." -hanger is Old English hangra, ' wooded slope.' Compare Clayhakger, and -land here is Old Norse lund-r, ' grove, wood,' Compare Tosseland. Also see -ley.
Tingewick (Buckingham). Domesday Book Tedinwiche, before 1199 Tingwic. Seems to be ' dwelling of Teda, Tedan, Tigga, Tiggan, or Thegn, all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum More old forms needed. See-wick.
Tinsley (Sheffield). Domesday Book Tinestawe, Tirneslawe; also Tineslege (under Derby). 'Meadow of Tinna' (compare Roll Rich. I., ' Tinneston,'Kent); or, rather, as the liquid r has early disappeared, ' meadow of the thorn-tree,' Old English yorn. Da. and Sw. torn. Compare Thornbury. On -lawe see -low, ' mound/ which is not= -ley.
Tintagel (Camelford). circa, 1205 Layamon Tintageol, edit. circa, 1275 Tyntagel, 1536 Tyndagell; also Dundagel. Corn. dun, din diogl, ' safe fort ' or ' castle.' Tintagel In Cornish ‘din’ means fort or stronghold, and ‘tagell’ is a promontory or neck of land. Hence the name means ‘fort on a neck of land’, or it could come from the Celtic ‘dun tagell’, meaning ‘a narrow place’.
Tintern (Chepstow). Old Welsch for 'castle of the chief.' Compare above and K. Vor-tigern, and Caer Guor-thigirn, Nennius; also Gaelic tighearna,' lord,' and Thrimby.
Tipton (Staffordshire), before 1300 Tibinton, Tybeton. 'Village of Tiba.' St. Tibbe, or Tybba, was patroness of hunting and hawking. Compare Tibthorp.
Tirle Brook (Tewkesbury). 780 charter Tyrle, 785 the sameTyrl. Probably from E. Fris. tirreln, tirlen, 'to turn about quickly,' the Scottish tirl. But Tirley (Market Drayton) is Domesday Book Tireleye, Tyrlegh, 'meadow on the E, Tern,' the liquid n having disappeared; whilst Tirley (Tewkesbury), formerly Trinley, is Domesday Book Trinleie, circa, 1220 Trinlega, where the Brook name has got confused with the name of some man. Trimma and Trumwine are nearest in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ley.
Tisbury (Salisbury), before 716 charter Dyssesburg. ' Castle of Tisa or' Tiso,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -bury.
Tisted (Hants). 941 charter Ticcestede, Domesday Book Tistede. 'Homestead, farm of Ticca.' But compare Stisted.
Ti(t)chborne (Alresford), Titchfield (Fareham), Titchmarsh (Thrapston), and Titchwell (Norfolk). 909 charter Ticceburna, 1298 Tycheburn; Old English charter Ticcenesfeld; 1298 Tychemershe; 1450 Tichewill. ' Burn or brook ' field, ' marsh ' and ' well of Ticca, Tica, or Ticcea,' all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But any of them might also come from Old English ticcc(n), Ger. zieke, ' a kid.' Compare Tixall and Tickenhill (Bewdley). See -borne.
Tittensor (Stoke-on-Trent). Domesday Book Titesoure, before 1200 Titesoura, Titnesovre, before 1300 Titneshovere. ' Bank, brink, edge,' Old English obr, ofr, ofre, ova, ' of Tita,' -an, or ' Titel,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Bolsover, Edensor, Tittleshall, etc. Tittesworth (Leek) is before 1300 Tet(t)esworth, ' farm of Tette ' or ' Teta,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-worth.
Tittleshall (Swaflfham). 1425 Titeleshale, circa, 1471 Tytlyshall. ' Nook of Tyttla ' or ' Titillus,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. See -hall.
Tiverton (Chesh. and Devon). Cheshire. T. Domesday Book Tevretone. Devon T. Domesday Book Tovretone, Exon. Domesday Book Touretona, Tuuertone, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Tuuerton, later Tuyverton. Thought also to be before 900 King Alfred's Will Tuiford=Twyford and -ton, Old English twi,' double, twd, tu, ' two,' and so ' double-ford-town.' In Domesday Book re is regularly=er; and in Welsch still is pronunciation v. So the vret or vert is Old English ford, 3 vord. Compare circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Milverd -icus for Milford. The d of ford has in Tiverton become merged in the t of -ton. Compare Twerton and Tevershsall.
Tivy R. (Cardigan), circa, 800 Nennius Tivis, or Teibi; and see Aberteivi. Probably =Towey.
Tixall (Stafford). Domesday Book Ticheshale, before 1200 Tikeshale. 'Nook of Tica.' Compare Tichnall and Domesday Book Bucks Tichesla. See Titchborne and -hall.
Tockenham (Swindon) and Tockington (Gloucester). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 481 Toccanham, Domesday Book Tochintune, 1298 Tokynton. ' Home ' and ' town of Tocca.' Compare Tocketts (Yorks), Domesday Book Tocstune, also Toscotune; and Tockwith, Domesday Book Tocvi, ' Tocc's wood,' Old Norse Toki- vith-r, Danish ved. Compare Le Van Tocque, Jersey.
Todenham (Chipping Norton), circa, 804 charter Todanhom. ' Enclosure of Toda ' or ' Tuda.' Of the latter, there are many in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Bucks Todeni. There are also 3 Toddingtons, Domesday Book Todintun (Gloucester), 1314 Todinton (Lanes). See -ham and -ton.
Todmorden. ' The Morden of the tods or foxes.' Tod, common still in Sc, is from Icel. toddi, ' a bunch of wool,' referring to the fox's tale. Compare circa, 1170 Newminster Cartul. Todholes. There are 2 Mordens, at Mitcham and Wareham. This is Old English mor, denu, ' moorland valley.'
Todwick (Sheffield). Domesday Book Tatewic. ' Dwelling of Tata.' Compare Tadcaster. See-wick.
Toft (Dunchurch, Beccles, and Cambridge), Toft Hill (Bp. Auckland), Toftwood (Dereham). Cambridge T., Domesday Book Tofth, 1302 Thofte. Old Norse toyt, adopted into Old English, ' cleared space for the site of a house, 'then' homestead, (small) farm, also sometimes ' a knoll or hillock." J. H. Turner gives 5 places ending in -toft in Yorks—Altofts, Arnoldstoft, Langtoft, Thirntoft, Willitoft. In these cases, Domesday Book spells -toft or -tot. In the defunct Elestolf it inserts an l. Duignan records none from Staffordshire or Worcester. It recurs in Ametot. Jersey.
Tollesbury (Witham). Domesday Book Tollesbi. Tollerton (York), Domesday Book Tolentun, Tolletun, is also Tollantun, the n of the genitive being changed to its kindred liquid r, perhaps through Norse influence. Tolthorp (Yorks), Domesday Book Toletorp, is from the same name. Compare Tolworth (Surbiton). See -worth. Tollerton (Notts), Domesday Book Troclauestone, 1166 Rolls of the great Pipe Turlaueston, 1294 Thorlaxton, circa, 1500 Torlaston, is difficult. The forms represent either Thurlac or Thorlaf.
Tolpiddle (Dorchester). Probably ' clump of trees beside the small or puddly stream,' from toll sb,4 which Oxford Dictionary, says is now dialect from Kent to Hants. This toll, first found in 1644, is of unknown origin. See Piddletown. Tollerdine (Worcester), 1327 Tolwardyn, means, thinks Duignan, not ' toll-farm,' but ' farm free from toll or tax,' Old English toll has this meaning. See -wardine.
Tonbridge or Tunbridge. Domesday Book Ton(e)bridge, circa, 1097 Flor. Worcester Tunebrycgia. Probably' bridge of Tuna,' common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum A little stream called the Tun here joins the Medway. It may be a later back formation, or? Welsch tonn, ' land unploughed.' Compare 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 10586: ' So long he [Tumna] leuede yn that estre (place) that for hys name he hyzt (was called) Tuncestre.' This last name seems now lost.
Tong (Bradford and Shifnal). Bradford T. Domesday Book Tuinc. Tonge (Middleton, Manchester), 1227 Tonge, 1285 Toung, Tong, 1551 Tongue. Tong Park (Shipley). Old English tunge, Old Norse tunga, Dan. tunge, ' tongue, tongue of land, promontory.' Compare Domesday Book Worcester Tonge, and Tongue (Sc). Tong Fold (Bolton) is now pronunciation Tomfont.
Tooley Street (London), circa, 1650 St. Tulie's Street. Corruption of ' St. Olave's Street.' The Danes were settled here, and Olaf was patron saint of Norway. Compare tawdry, from St. Audrey's or Ethelreda's fair.
Toothill (Ongar, Alvanley, Chesh.). It may be a tautology, as toot or tote is found in Eng. for ' an isolated, conspicuous hill, a look-out hill,' from 1387. The Old English totian is found only once, meaning 'to protrude, peep out'; but the vb. tote, 'to peep out, peer, gaze,' is common from before 1225. There is also Old English tota, ' a spy, a look-out, a tout,’ often a proper name. See next. Tooter, too, is found as a sb. from Wyclif 1382, ' one who gazes, a, watchman, 'as in Tooter Hill (S. Lanes). Compare Tothill, and Cleeve Toot (Bristol). The name toot to-day seems chiefly S. Wstn.; but we have a Tote-hill, Hartington (Northumberland), and a Tuthill stairs (Newcastle).
Tooting (London). 727 charter Totinge, Domesday Book Totinges, 1228 Toting', 1229 Thotinges. Patronymic. ' Place of the sons of Tata.' Four called Tota and 2 Ttita in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum For plural ending in Domesday Book compare Barking, Woking, etc.; and see above. But Toton (Notts), Domesday Book Tolvestune, 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Turuerton, is from a man Thorolf.
Topcliffe (Thirsk). Domesday Book Topeclive, 1301 Topclive. 'Cliff of Topa, Tope, or Topp,' all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Cleveland.
Toppesfield (Halstead). 1298 Toppesfelde. 'Field of Toppa.' See above.
Topsham (S. Devon), circa, 1072 Toppeshamme, 1297-98 Topesham. ' Enclosure of Toppa or Topa.' See above. The -ham here is Old English hamm,' enclosure, place hemmed in.'
Torcross (Kingsbridge), Torpoint (Cornwall), etc. Tor or Torr must be Keltic, though already found as torr in an Old English Dorset charter of 847. As a name, it is chiefly confined to Cornwall, Devon, and Peak (Derby) district. Cornish toor, tor, ' hill, prominence ' (though this form is denied existence by Oxford Dictionary), Welsch twr, Old Welsch twrr, ' heap, pile,' as in Mynydd Twrr, old name of Holyhead Mtn., Gaelic torr, ' a heap, a pile, then, a hill, lofty or conical, a mound, a heap of ruins.'
Torksey (Lincoln). 873 Old English Chronicum Turces ig(e), Turices ige, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Torchasia. 'Isle of Turca or Turc,' but hardly of' the Turk.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 165 Turcan den. See -ey.
Torpenhow (Wigton, Cumbld.). circa, 1200 Thorphinhow. ' Mound, cairn,' Old Norse haugr, ' of Thorfinn,' a common name in Cumberland. In 12th century. Compare Brant How and Maeshow (Scottish).
Torquay. Keltic tor cau (in Welsch pronunce, kay). ' Hill by the hollow.' See Torcross. Quay is a quite recent spelling of kay or key, ' a wharf,' and the pronunciation key instead of kay is recent, too. Of course, Torquay really has nothing to do with quay.
Torrington (Devon). 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Torentun, 1219 Torintun. Perhaps ' town of Tora,'genitive -an, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Torentun in Domesday Book Yorks, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Torenton, always seems for Thornton. Compare Domesday Book Cheshire Torentune.
Torrisholme (Morccambe). Domesday Book Toredholme. ' Meadow by the sea of Thored,' a common Old English name. See -holm. Compare Tortworth (Gloucester), Domesday Book Torteuord, 1364 Tortheworth, where the name seems to be Torth or Torht, which is variant of Thored; also found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum as Thord, Thorth, and Tori.
Toseland (Hunts). Domesday Book Toleslund. 'Grove,’ Old Norse lund-r, 'of Toll,' a Norse name. Compare Timberland. But Tostock (Bury St. E.) and 1167-68 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon, Tosby, imply a man's name like Tos. See -by and Stoke.
Tothill (London). 1250 Patent R. Tothull, circa, 1590 Totehill, 1598 Stow the Tuthill, 1665 Tuttle, 1746 Toote Hill= Toothill. Wyclif, 2 Sam. v. 7, has ' the tote hill Syon.'
Totland Bay (Isle of Wight). ' Look-out land.' See Toothill.
Totley (Sheffield). Domesday Book Totele. The site is so commanding it is probably Old English totan leak, ' meadow of the spy ' or ' look-out,’ the ' tout.' Compare Tettenhall and next; also Totenhull sic before 1600, now Tutnell, Tardebigge.
Totness (Devon). 930 charter Tottaness, circa, 1205 Layam. Tottenses, 1250 Totenas, 1297 Tottenays. ' Cape of the look-out ' or ' coast guardsman/ Old English tota, -an. See Toothill and -ness.
Tottenham (London). Domesday Book Toteham, before 1124 Totenham, 1479 Totnam (the modern pronunciation). 'Home of Tota' or ‘Totta.' Compare above, and Tottno (Oundle), 1229 Close R. Toteho, ' Hoe, hill of Tota.' See -ham.
Totteridge (S. Herts). Not in Domesday Book, unless it be there Torinch? an error. 1291 Tatterigg. ' Ridge of Tata ' or ' Totta,' both names common in Onom; but compare Tothill. Ridge is Old English hrycg, Icelandic hrygg-r, Danish ryg, ' a ridge of land,’ literair ' the back.'
Tottington (Bury and Thetford). Compare Domesday Book Teotintune (Worcester). ' Village of Teta, Tetta, Tetto, Teotta,' all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Towan Head (New Quay), circa, 1130 Tohod (an error), circa, 1180 Thohon. Cornish towan, Welsch tywyn, ' seashore.' The th- in circa, 1180 will come from a Normandy scribe. Compare Towyn. Jago, in Cornw. Gloss, gives towan, towin, tewen, tuan, or tyen, as' Cornish words for a dune or heap of sand.'
Towcester (Northants). 921 Old English Chronicum Tofeceaster, Domesday Book Tovecester. ' Camp, settlement of Tofig ' or Tof or Toui, all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and Tofig very common. It now stands on the R. Tove, but this name seems to be a late back formation.
Towthorp (Yorks), Domesday Book Tovetorp, is' village of Toui.' Similar is Towton (S. Yorks), Domesday Book Touetun.
Towy R. (S. Welsch), circa, 1130 Lib. Landav. Tywi (so still in Welsch), Anno Cambr. 1095 Stra tewi. Perhaps same root as Welsch tywio, ' to spread out.' Compare Tivy.
Towyn (Abergele and Merioneth). Welsch tyioyn, Cornish towan, 'sea- shore, place of sands.' Compare Towan.
Trafford (Manchester). Sic 1292. Wyld and English conjecture ' trough-like ford.' Old English troh.
Trawsmawr (Carmarthen). Welsch traws is ' across,’ and mawr, Gaelic mdr, ' big.’ Compare Trawsfynydd (Merioneth), ' across the mountain,’ Welsch mynydd. Traws is Latin trans. But here it must be Welsch trawst, ' rafter' the big beam’? why.
Treales (Preston). Domesday Book Treueles. Seems Keltic? ' House in the field,’ Welsch and Cornish, tre, ' house,’ and Cornish gwel, gweal, ' field.' 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Hereford, Trivel, must be the same. Welsch has also tra for ' house,’ as in Rolls of the great Pipe the same, Trawent? ' Windy house,’ Welsch gwynt, ' wind.'
Tre Asser (Pembroke). Welsch tre or tref, ' house of Asser.' It was the birthplace of Asserius Menevensis, friend and biographer of Alfred the Great.
Trecastle (Brecon). 1298 Close R. Tria Castra i.e., 'three camps.' But, of course, Welsch tre is ' house, village.'
Tredington (Shipton-on-Stour, and Tewkesbury). Shipton T. 757 charter Tredingctun, 964 the same Tyrdintune, 991 the same Tredintune, Domesday Book Tredinctun. Teekesbury T., Domesday Book Trotintune, 1221 Tredigtone. ' Town of the sons of Tyrdda,' a comes or earl, its known early owner. Transposition of r is common. 1280 Close R. Tradington, now Trotton (Sussex), will rather be from Treda, given in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum as abbot in Wore, Mercia, circa, 775; so might the other place, too. But Tredworth (Gloucester), 1284 Truddeworth, is also from Tyrdda. See -ing and -worth.
Treeton (Rotherham). Domesday Book Trectone.? 'Town of Trecca,' a Yorks name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Or, as it is also Domesday Book Treton, it may simply be from tree, Old English treo. Compare Tresham (Hawkesbury), sic in 972 charter.
Tregaer (Monmouth). 1325 Tregeyr, and Tregeare (Egloskerry, Cornwall). Probably 1285 Close R. Tregear. 'House, settlement by the castle,' Old Welsch gaer, WEelsch caer, Bretons ker. Compare Trefgarn and Treflerw (Pembroke.), 'nice, delicate house.' But Tregaron (Cardingshire) is from Caron, a saint of unknown history.
Tre-Gwengn (Cornwall). Cornish== ' house, village of bees.'
Trelawne Inlet (West Looe). Cornish tre lawn, ' clear, open town- let ‘; lawn is cognate with Irish and British, lann, Welsch llan. Corn.nish lan, ' enclosure, open space among woods,' seen also in Eng. lawn, found earlier as laund.
Trelleck (Monmouth). 1347 Rolls Parlmt. Trillek. Welsch tre llech, ' house made of flags or flagstones.'
Tremaine (Launceston). Corn. tre meini, 'house of the stones,' or' of the dolmen,' maen.
Trenans (St. Austell). Cornish= ' house in the valley,' Welsch nant.
Trent R. and Trentham (Stone). Bede and Old English Chronicum 633 Treanta, 924 the same Treonta, circa, 900 Asser Terente, Domesday Book Trenta; also a R. ' Trent in Worcester, Codex Diplomaticus iii. 396. Domesday Book Trenham, 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Trentham. H. Bradley’s ingenious conjecture, that in Tacitus Ann. we should read ' Trisantonara ' pro ' castris Antonam,’ and make Trisantona the originally form of Tre(h)anta, seems far-fetched. The origin seems unknown. It cannot be the same as the famous counsel of Trent (Tyrol), which is the Latin Tridentum.
Treryn Dinas (Land's End). Cornish=' castle of the fighting- place,' treryn, now pronunciation treen. Compare 1268 Norwich Assize Rolls Treneham. There is no name like Trena in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Tresco (Scilly) and Trescowe (Marazion). Domesday Book Trescau. Cornish for ' house beside the elder tree,' still called scaw in Cornwall, Corn, scawen, as in Boscawen, Bretons scao, scav, scaven.
Tresillian R. (Truro) seems to be Cornish for ' house of eels,' silli, ' an eel; but if so the ending is unexplained. '
Tre Spiridion (The Lizard). Cornish=' house of spirits or ghosts.'
Trevine (Letterston, Pembroke). Black Bk. Carm. Trefdyn, -dun, Welsch tref ddin, ' house, village on the hill.' Trevethin (Monmouthshire) is the same name, 1285 Close F. Trevedyn, Welsch tref y din. But Trevean (Cornwall) is Domesday Book Trebihan, Corn, tre bean or vean (Welsch bian, bilian), ' little house.'
Trimdon (Co. Durham). 1183 Tremeldon. A curious contraction older forms needed. Perhaps' hill of Trumweald,' the nearest; name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Trimpley (Suffolk and Bewdley). Suffolk T. Domesday Book Tremelaia, Tremlega; Bewdley T. Domesday Book Trinpelei; 1275 Trympeleye. 'Meadow of some unknown man. There is one Trimma, a Mercian monk, in Bede. See -ley.
Tring (N. of London). Domesday Book Trevinga, Trevng, Treunge; 1211 Traynge 1313 Trehynge. ' Place of the sons of Tryg.' See -ing.; Thring is still a common surname (de Thring is found 1273), and the Th- may have been originally Norm., and so the h would then be mute.
Tritton (E. Kent? now). before 1200 Tritton. Said to be from Trithona (or Frithona) 5th Abp. of Canterbury, and first English one.
Troedyrhiw (Glamorgan). Welsch= ' base of the slope.' Compare Troedybryn.
Troon (Camborne). Welsch or Cornish trwyn =Gaelic sron,' a nose, point, cape.' Compare Troon (Scottish).
Troston (Bury St. E.). Domesday Book Trostuna. On analogy of next this may be ' Trota's, town.' Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has nothing likelier. Compare Domesday Book Chesh. Trosford.
Trotterscliffe (W. Maling). Pronunciation Trosley, which shows -cliffe to be a recent ' improvement’, so is Trotter-, the man here recorded is probably Trota, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum ' Trota's mead.'
Troutbeck (Penrith and Windermere), circa, 1080 Bek Troyte. It may be from a man Trota in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum .Trout is from France truite, and would hardly be looked for in Cumberland circa, 1080; whilst Troyte is still an English surname. Troutsdale (E. Riding) is Domesday Book Truzstal. Here also trout is doubtful; it may bo from Truthec, a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum In Domesday Book z is for ts or tcs; while -stal will be Old English steall, steel,' place.'
Trowbridge (Wilts). (Domesday Book has a Troi near here.] circa, 1160 Gest. Staph. Trobriga, 1212 Trobrigge. Unless from a man Trota, this is probably from Welsch tro, ' a turn ‘; the river on which it stands is called the Biss. But the name may be a hybrid. Trowell (Notts), Domesday Book Trowalle, Mutschmann derives from Old English treow, ' a tree.'
Trumpet (Ledbury) and Trumpington (Cambridge). Codex Diplomaticus iv. 245 Trumpintun, 1270 Trumpington, 1297 Trumpiton. The latter name is perhaps corruption of Trumbeorht's or Trumberct's town.' Any such nameas Trump or Trumping is unknown. But the former is probably Welsch ' hill-ridge with the croft or land-portion on it.' Welsch trum, Gaelic druim and peth, Pictish pit, pet, ' a portion.'
Trunch (N. Walsham). Domesday Book Trunchet, Truchet; 1426 Trunche. A rare case in this region, plainly Welsch trwyn chet, ' point ' literair ' nose of the wood,’ Old Welsch chet, cet, coit, modern Welsch coed. Compare Chetwood. Compare Troon (Scottish), and 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Yorks Trunfield, not in Domesday Book This last may be contracted from ' Trunwinc's field.' France tranchet, ' paring-knife, chisel-shank,’ seems out of the question for Domesday Book's Trunchet. The Trunch (Oakridge) seems to have as old form The Trench, here in its oldest mean- ing, ' lane through a wood.' Oxford Dictionary, gives no spelling of trench with u.
Truro. Old Treuru, Triueru, 1536 Truroo. Cornish tre vuru (plural of vor), ' three ways ‘; 3 main roads meet here.
Trusham (Chudleigh) and Trusthorpe (Mablethorpe). The man's name here is uncertain. Compare Trewsbury (Cirencester), Domesday Book Tursberie, circa, 1300 Trussebyry. W. H. "Stevenson inclines to connect this with Old English trus, ' brushwood.' Compare Domesday Book Norfk. Treus. See -bury,-ham, and -thorpe.
Trwyn-y-Gwyddel (Cardigan Bay). Welsch='cape of the Gael.' Compare Troon (Scottish) and Murian-'r- Gwyddel (Harlech), name of ancient fortifications. Welsch trwyn is same as Gaelic sron, literair ' nose.'
Trysull (Wolverhampton). Pronunciation Treezle. 984 charter and later, Tresel, Domesday Book Treslei. It means trestle. This occurs in Old France trestel, but that is from Bretons, treustel, from treust, trest, ' a beam,' found also in Welsch tresll, from trawst, so the root is Keltic, though very early in Old English e.g., Trescot nearby is 1006 Treselcote, ' hut built in trestle fashion.'
Tubney (Mareham). circa, 1290 Tubbeney, 1316 Tobbeney, circa, 1540 Tubney. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum ii. 514 Tubban ford. 'lsle of Tubba.' See-ey. Tuddenham (2 in Suffolk). 1298 Tude'ham, 1450 Tudenham, 1477 Todenham. ' Home of Tuda ' or ' Tudda,' names common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Tudhoe (Spennymoor), Tudhope and Tudworth (Yorks), Domesday Book Tudeworde.
Tugby (Leicester) and Tuggal (Alnwick), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Tuggahala and Tughala. Compare 958 charter Tigwella, on Stour (Stafford). 'Dwelling' and' nook of Tuga'; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by and -hall.
Tunbridge Wells dates from 1606. See Tonbridge.
Tunstall (Kirby Lonsdale, Yorks, Stoke-on-T., Suffolk), Kirby T. Dunstall; Yorks T. Domesday Book Tonnestale, 1179-80 Tunstale; Stoke T. 1272 Tunstall; Suffolk T. circa, 1460 Tonstale; also Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 605 ' the old Tunsteall ' i.e., Brockley Hall. Old English tun steall, ' enclosed place 'always changing into Dunstall; in Staffordshire we find it so on four occasions. Compare Domesday Book Norfolk Tonstede. See -don and-ton. Turnant Brook (S. Wales), circa, 1130 Lib. Landav. Nant tri neint i.e. valley of the three valleys.'
Turvey (Bedford). Domesday Book Toruei, Tourueie? before 1153 Lib. Eliensis Torneia. Compare Domesday Book Bucks Turvestone. ' Isle of Turf,' or ' of Turfida,' nearest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ey.
Tusmore (Oxon.). Domesday Book Toresmere, 1216 Thuresm'e, 1274-79 Tursmer. ' Lake, mere of the god Thor.' The liquid r has vanished.
Tutbury (Burton-on-T.). Domesday Book Toteberie, before 1200 Tuttebury, Stuteberie; before 1300 Tuttesbiri, Tutesbury. 'Burgh of Tota,' or lse,' look-outcastle'; the castle commands a wide prospect. Compare Toothill and Tottenham, also Tutnall Cross (Broms- grove), Domesday Book Tothehel, before 1300 Tot(t)enhull,' Tota's hill.'
Tuxford (Notts). Sic. 1350, but Domesday Book Tuxfarne (error). 1454 Tuxforthe. ' Ford of Tucca, Tuca, or Tucu,' all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ford and -forth.
Tweed R. and Tweedmouth.? before 600 Avellanau Tywi; Bede Tuidus, Twidus; before 800 Hist. St. Cuthbert. Tweoda; circa, 966 Pictish Chronicum Tede; before 1130 Tweda; before 1150 Thveda; 1211 Tydemue. Perhaps from Welsch twyad, 'a hemming in,' from twy, ' to check, to bound.'
Twerton-On-Avon (Bath). Domesday BookTwertone=Tiverton.
Twickenham. Probably 704 charter Twicanhom, and 793 charter Twit- tanham, with t for c, 948 Twiccanham, circa, 1200 Gervase Twiccenham. Probably ' home of Twica ' or ' Twicga,' in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; or from Old English twicen, ' place where two roads meet.' The derivation of McClure, p. 214, seems far-fetched. Twigworth (Gloucester), 1242 Twyggenwrthe, is plainly ' farm of Twicga.'
Twiston (Clitheroe) . Probably 1318-19 Twysdenne, which is a hybrid Welsch twys,' top, tuft, head,' and Old English denu' (wooded)valley.' Twizel (Norham),
Twizel House (Bambrough), and Twysell (N. Durham). Norham T. circa, 800 Hist. St. Cuthbert Twisle, 1183 Toisela. Durham T. 1183 Tuisill. Old English twisla, 'confluence,’ from tiuislian, ' to fork, to split.' The pronunciation to-day is Twy-zel. Compare Haltwhistle and Domesday Book Yorks Tuislebroc.
Twyford (5 in Postal Guide). Northumberland T. Bede Ad tuifyrdi quod significat ' ad duplex vadum.' [Evesham T. 714 charter Tuiforde, before 1000 Twyfyrde.] 956 charter Twyfyrd (Gloucester), Domesday Book Bucks Tveverde, the same Oxon. Tuiforde, 1298 Twyforde (probably Herts) also 1160 Rolls of the great Pipe Twiuerd (Kent). Old English twi ford, ' double ford.' Compare Tiverton and Twerton. But Twiver (Gloucester) is for ' the Weaver' river.
Twynham (Christchurch). Sic in Domesday Book Old English tweonean,' between the rivers,' Old English ea. Twynholm (Scottish), circa, 1200 Twenham, is the same name. Compare the Rom. Interamna and Domesday Book Hants Tuina.
Twinning, Twyning (Tewkesbury). 814 charter Bituinaeum, Domesday Book Tveninge, Tuninge; 1221 Tweninges. This is Old English beiwynum, be- tweonan eas, ' between streams,' ea being later supplanted by -ing with same meaning (see p. 56). Compare Twynham and 902 Old English Chronicum Tweoxneam, Tweoxnam? =Twyning.
Tyburn (London). Domesday Book Tiburne, circa, 1420 Lydgate Tyburne. Probably ' two burns ' or ' brooks,' Old English twi, ' two.' See -bourne.
Tydd or Tid St. Giles (Wisbech). 1293 Tyd. Perhaps Welsch tuedd, ' a region, a coast.' Skeat says from a personal name Tidi, and compares Tidmarsh, Tidworth, etc. But this is abnormal.
Tyddyn Wysgi (Anglesey). Welsch=' farm by the water.' Compare Tidnock and Usk, and' whisky,'
Tyldesley (Manchester). Sic circa, 1430. ' Meadow, lea of the tent,' Old English tyld, teld. Weekley suggests ' Tilda's ' or ' Matilda's lea.'
Tyne, R. etc. Bede Tinus, Tyne; a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Tina and Tynemuthe; circa, 1145 Wm. Malmesbury Tinemuthe; 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Tindala; 1178 Tyndale. Ptolemy's .... is probably the Haddington Tyne (Sc). Perhaps from Welsch tynu, 'to draw, pull,' Gaelic teanu, 'to move, stir, proceed,' or from Welsch tyno,' a green plot, a dale.'
Tysoe (Warwicksh.). Domesday Book Tiheshoche; before 1200 Tiesoch, Thiesho, Thisho, Tyeso; before 1300 T(h)ysho. ' Height of Tihha or ' Tih.' See Hoe.
Tytherington (Thornbury), Domesday Book Tidrentune, circa, 1170 Tidrington,' town of the sons of Tidhere.' See -ing and -ton.
Tywarnhaile (Cornwall) Corn. Ty war an hayle, house on the tidal river.' Compare Hayle. We get this ty or ti (Gaelic tigh) in such Domesday Book Cornwall. Names as Ticoith,' house in the wood,' Tiwarthel, etc. Compare Chyandour.


Uckfield (Sussex). Not in Domesday Book, but 1240 Close B. Quicfeld. Perhaps ' Field of Ucca ' or ' Ucco,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 158 Uckinge esher, Uckington (Gloucester), Domesday Book Hochinton, 1221 Uchintone, and Uokinghall (Worec, 1275 Hugingehale, where we get the patronymic; also Upton (Pembroke), in Giraldus Cambrensis Ucketune, Uceetuna. 1240 Quie- looks like Old English cwicu, c(w)ucu, ' moving, shifting, alive,' as in quicksand; but this sense is not in Oxford Dictionary before 1340.
Uffington (Berks). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum ii. 376 Uffentune, Domesday Book Offentone. 1291 Offingtone, Offentone; also about same date, Uffinton, ' Town, village of Uffa,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Uffnell (Pershore), and next.
Ufford (Melton). Sic before 1100. ' Ford of Ufa,’ a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare above.
Ufton (Southam and Theale, Berks). Southam U. circa, 1000 Ulfetune; Domesday Book Ulchetone (error); before 1300 Ulston, Oluston, Oulfton, Olufthon, Olughton; Theale U. 1317 Uftone. The latter may be from Ufa, as above; it is now called Ufton Newet (probably =Newent). Compare Domesday Book Somt. Vfetone. But all the other forms point to ' town of Ulf,' Norman from form of the common Wulf.
Ugborough (Ivybridge). Domesday Book Ulgeberge. 'Town, burgh of? Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has one Olfgeat or Oluiet; and compare Ugthorpe. See -borough.
Ugglebbarnby (Sleights, Yorks). Domesday Book Ugleberdsbi, 1179-80 Vgulbardebi. ' Dwelling of Ugelbert ‘; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by.
Ugthorpe (Grosmont, Yorks). Domesday Book Ugetorp, Ughetorp. Probably ' village of Huga ' or ' Hug,' both names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Ughill (Yorks), Domesday Book Ughil; and see -thorpe.
Ulceby (Alford and Lines). Domesday Book Uluesbi. ' Dwelling of Ulf.' Compare Domesday Book Bucks Vlchestone. See -by.
Uley (Dursley). Domesday Book Euulege, later Huelege. ' Yew-tree meadow,' Old English iw, eow. See -ley.
Ulgham (Morpeth). 'Home of?' Compare Domesday Book Bucks Oilgi, and Cheshire Ulchenol (? Ulca's knoll'). No Ulga in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum It may be like the next, ' home of the Owl,' nickname of some man, Old Norse ugla, Old English ule. Ulchester, or Outchester (Belford), may have a similar origin. Some identify it with before 700 Eav. Geogr. Oleiclavis.
Ullenhall (Henley-in-Arden). Domesday Book Holehale, before 1200 Hulehale, 1257 Hunhal, 1326 Ulnhale, Ulehale, Holenhale. 'Nook of the owl,' Old English ule, -an, 5-6 howle, 6 houle, 7 oole; Old NorseE ugla. And Ullswater, as well as Uldale (Cumberland), are, of course, from the same bird; probably through Norse rather than Eng. Ullett Pvd. (Liverpool) is for owlet, 1542 oulette. Compare 1211 Ulecote (? Co. Durham) and Oubrough (Yorks), Domesday Book Uleburg, Ulenburg, also Ulcombe (Maidstone), with which probably goes 940 charter Olencumb (Dorset). But Ullingwick (Gloucester), before 1200 Ollinggewike, 1212 Wyllynwyck, is ' dwelling of the sons of Willa.' See -ing and -wick.
Ulleskelf (York). Domesday Book Oleslec, Oleschel. 'Ledge of Olla' or ' Ula,' both forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Old English scelfe, scylfe, ' a shelf.' Ulley (Sheffield), Domesday Book Ollei, is from same man's name. See -ey.
Ulrome (Yorks). Domesday Book Ulfram, Ulreham. 'Home of Ulfarr.’ Norse form of the common Old English Wulfhere. See -ham.
Ulverstone. Local pronunciation Ooston. Domesday Book Vluerston, 1196 Olueston, 1202 Vlveston, 1230 Ulveston. Probably ' town of Wulfhere,’ a very common name. Compare Domesday Book Chesh. Ulvre, Bucks Vlfrestone; also Ulverley (A cock's Green), Domesday Book Uluerlie, before 1200 Hulferle. Compare Owsthorpe with Ooston; also compare Woolverstone (Ipswich). Ulmston (Northumberland) is circa, 1316 Ouston, probably from a man Ulfhehn.
Umberleigh (Devon) is variant of Amberley and Ombersley, ' pitcher meadow,' while Umberslade (Henley-in-Arden), before 1200 Ombreslade, is ' channel, watercourse,' Old English (ge)ldd, ' of the pitcher,' Old English arnber, omber. Compare Cricklade.
Uncleby (Yorks). Domesday Book Unchelsbi, Unglesbi, Unchelfsbi. Probably ' dwelling of Wundid,' one in Domesday Book, which also gives one Hunchil, or Huncytel, seen in Domesday Book Yorks Hunchilhuse. Eng. uncle is from France. See -by.
Unstone (Sheffield) (not in Domesday Book) and Unsworth (Manchester). 1522 Undesworth. There are 2 Unas but no Unda in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -stone and -worth.
Unthank (Alnham and Haltwhistle, Northumbd., and 3 in Cumberland). Common, too, in Scottish (q.v.), where found 1228 Vnthanc. Old English un-anc means' ingratitude,' and the reference may be to the barrenness of the soil. But Canon Taylor says it denotes a piece of ground on which some squatter had settled ' without leave' of the lord.
Uphill (Weston-s.-M.). Domesday Book Opopille. Doubtful. Perhaps 'hill of Oppo ' or ' Oppa,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Upleatham (Redcar). Domesday Book Upelider, 1204 Uplium. The Domesday Book is plainly Old Norse upp a hlibar, ' up on the slope or hillside.' Hlid is also Old English for 'slope,' compare Leith Hill; and 1204 is an old locative f om it, now, like all these Yorks locatives, turned into -ham (q.v.). Kirkleatham is Domesday Book Westlidu'. But Upleadon (N.W. Gloucester) is 'upon the E. Leadon.' See Ledbury.
Upminster (Romford), before 716 charter Upmynster, Domesday Book Upmonstra. ' Upper ' or ' high-up church.' Compare Upton and Upthorp (Shipston-on-Stour), 990 charter Uppsthrop.
Upper Wyche (Malvern), Old English wic, ' dwelling-place.’ Compare Domesday Book Wiche (Salop), and Droitwich.
Upsall (Thirsk). Domesday Book Upesale, Upsale, Upeshale; 1179-80 Hupsale. This is probably Old English up seel, ' upper hall,’ 4-7 sale, 5 sall. Thus the ending, unlike most old names in -ale or -all, is not -hall (q.v.). Compare Upminster.
Upton (24 in Postal Guide). 962 charter Uptun (on Severn), Domesday Book Yorks and Salop Uptune, Uptone, Berks, Gloucester, and Warwick Optone, Bucks Opetone, Suffolk Opituna. Old English up tun, ' upper, high- up village.' Oldest of all perhaps is Upton Warren (Bromsgrove), 714 charter Uptone. The Warins and Fitz-Warins owned the manor in the 13th century. Upton (Pembk.), 1603 Owen Vpton, is circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Ucketune, Uccetuna, from a man Ucca, as in Uckfield.
Upware (Cambridgeshire). 1349 Upwere. Old English up woer,' upper weir' or ' fish pool.' Compare Upwell (Wisbech).
Upwood (Huntingdon), Compare 106 0charter' Uppwude cum Ravelaga berewico suo.' ' Upper wood.' Compare above.
Ure, R. See York.
Usk R, In Welsch Wysc. circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary Isca, 1050 Old English Chronicum Wylisce (' in Welsch ') Axa, Domesday Book Huscha, circa, 1130 Lib. Landav. Huisc, circa, 1250 Layam. Uske. Keltic uisc, ' water, river,' same root as Gaelic uisge,' whisky,' Axe, Ouse, and Ux-bridge.
Usworth (Washington, Co. Durham). 1183 Useworth. 'Farm of Osa,' a common name; no Usa is recorded, Compare Ouse. See -worth.
Utley (Keighley). Domesday Book Utelai. 'Meadow of Uta.' Compare 839 charter Uhtlufe (Kent). There are 2 Utas, and also 4 Utels in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ley.
Uttoxeter, Pronunciation Uxeter. Domesday Book Wotocheshede (d for th as usual, medially, in Domesday Book); before 1200 Uttockeshedere, Uttoxeshather, Huttokeshagh, Ottokeshather; before 1400 Uttoxhather, Uttoxeshather, Uttoxatre, Uttockcestre; before 1600 Utcester, Utseter, Uttecester. The analogy of Exeter tempts one, and Chambers's Encyclopedy actually invents an Old English Uttocceaster; but the name has nothing to do with-cester or' camp,' The first half must represent an unrecorded man Wotoc (ch in Domesday Book is the usual Norm, softening), or Uuottok. Compare the modern names Whittock and Whytock. The second half, -hedere or -hather, must surely be Norse, the Old Norse heith-r,' a heath, a moor.' English heath would yield no r, and ' Wotoc's heather ' is a very unlikely name, though heather is a much earlier and wider spread Eng. word than Oxford Dictionary knows. See Hatherleigh.
Uxbridge (Middlesex). Not in Domesday Book, but it has an Exeforde near Bedfont. 1139 Oxebridge; later Woxbridge. It is on the R. Colne, so Ux- or Oxe- here may be = Use, ' river, water.' Oxford Dictionary gives no case o fox becoming ux in Eng.; but Old Norse for ' ox ' is uxe or oxe. This is to be viewed as one view Oxford.
Valle Crucis Abbey (Llangollen). Latin=' in the valley of the Cross.' Cistercian abbey founded here, circa, 1200, by Madoc ap Gruffydd. In Welsch it is Llan Egwest. Le Clos du Valle, Guernsey 1135 Wallus, however, is from Old Norse voll-r, 'a field.'
Vauxhall (Lambeth). 1363 ' Faukeshalle juxta London.' Fawhes was a powerful baron, in the reign of King John, who built' La Salle (the hall)' de Fawkes.' '
Ventnor (Isle of Wight). Ventanora must mean 'shore, edge, brink of the Venta.' Venta is common in Eng. placenames of Roman times, Venta Belgarum, Icenorum, Silurum, etc. (i.e., Winchester, Caistor near Norwich, Chepstow, etc.). McClure (pp. 32-33) shows that Venta is not Keltic but late Latin, the meaning being' market, place where things are sold,'L. vendere, venditum. Compare Wentnor.
Verulam= St. Albans. Bede ' Verulamium ' or in English ' Verlamaesestir or Vaetlinga-caestir,' various reading Vaeclinga-Caestir. In Bede's Old English vers., over 100 years later, Werlameceaster or Waeclingaceaster. circa, 1205 Layam. Verolam or Verolamestun. Verlam or Werlame seems to have been a river name, about which McClure has some conjectures, drawn from Whitley Stokes (see his p. 40). Vaetlinga reminds of Watling Street.
Verwood (Wimborne). Old forms needed. But compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Verli (Yorks), which may be ' lea, meadow of Verca ' or ' Werca.' There was one, abbess at Tynemouth. Domesday Book Wilts has a Vergroh (S.W. of Dorchester).
Vradden or Braddn (Cornwall) a bode,' and derive from Corn. vran, Irish and Gaelic bran, ' a crow, chough, Cornish crow,' is to leave the d quite unaccounted for. Braddan was a Keltic St. of the 7th century. Compare Kirk Braddan (Isle of Man).
Vyrnwy (Montgomeryshire.). Perhaps Welsch hryn (b aspirated) gwy, ' hill with the stream.' But Vreny or Breni Vawr (Pembroke), is not 'big hill' (Welsch mawr, 'big'), but probably 'big prow,' Old Welsch breni,


Waberthwaite (Millom). ' Place, farm of? Old forms needed. Perhaps from a Wyberth in a Cumbld. charter, circa, 1080, or from Wac- beorht or Weardbeorht, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Perhaps from Walbert or Wealhbeorht, as in Walberswick (Suffolk). See -thwaite.
Wadborough (Pershore). 972 charter Wadbeorh, Domesday Book Wadberge. These are just Old English for' woad-hill,' woad being a plant for dyeing blue. See -burgh.
Waddington (Lincoln), circa, 1300 Widdindune i.e., Old English Wyddan dim, 'hill of Wydda.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 960 Wyddan beorh. The name Wada is also common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and Wid and Wida are also found. For the tale of the mythic Wade and his boat, see Kemble Saxons in Englant I., 420.
Waddon (Croydon). Probably before 900 Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum ii. 196 Hwaete dun, Domesday Book Watendone, Wadone, 1287 Whatdon; and Waddon Hill (Shipston-on-Stour), charter Hwsetdune, both being Old English for ' wheat hill.' Compare Whaddon and Domesday Book Bucks Wadruge, ' wheat ridge.'
Wadeford (Chard). Tautology. Old English weed, dialect wath, Icel.andic vad, ' a ford.' Compare Langwade (Cambridgeshire), 1210 Landwath, 1284 Landwade. Compare Wath. Wassand (Yorks), Domesday Book Wadsande, is probably from the same root.
Wadenhoe (Oundle). 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Wadeho. 'Hill, height of Wada.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 50 Wadan hlaew, Waddington, and next; and see Hoe.
Wadsworth (Hebden Br.) (Domesday Book Wadeswrde) and Wadworth (Doncaster) (Domesday Book Wadewrde). 'Place, farm of Wad, Wada,' or ' Wade.' See Waddington, and compare Wadsley (Sheffield), Domesday Book Wadesleia, Wadelei; only in Domesday Book Derby it seems given as Wodnesleie, ' meadow of Woden ' (compare Wanborough) also; compare 940 charter Wadleaze (Wilts). See -worth.
Wainfleet (Lines). 1396 Waynflete. Fleet is 'river,' Wain is not the Rom. Venonio, which is High Cross; it may be Welsch gwaen, ' plain, meadow,' as in Waenfawr, ' big plain,' Carnarvon. But Wainlode-on-Severn, 1424 Waynelodus, is ' wain, wagon ferry,' Old English (ge)lad.
Wakefield. Domesday Book Wachefeld, circa, 1350 Wakefeld. Perhaps ' field of the vigil or wake ‘; Old English wacu, so Skeat. But compare 1332 Rolls Parlmt.' Le Seigneur de Wake,' which suggests' field of a man Wake.' In Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum are Wacca, Wacco, and Wach, whilst Wac is common in early Rolls.
Walbrook (London). Perhaps circa, 1140 Walebroc. See Oxford Dictionary s.v. Husting ' Brook by the (London) Wall.'
Walcot (Pershore, Alcester, Norwich), Walcote (Lutterworth), and Walcott (Lincoln). Pershore W. before 1200 Walecot, Domesday Book Warwick and Salop Walecote. ' Cot, cottage by the wall,' Old English weall though perhaps wale is dative of Old English wealh, ' stranger, foreigner, Welschman.' Compare Walsall.
Walden Stubbs (Pontefract). Perhaps 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Yorks Alanus de Stublis. Doubtful. Stubbs is probably from Scottish and Gaelic stob, ' a stake, a stump.'
Waldringfield (Suffolk). Local pronunciation Wunnerful! Waldring- probably means' the descendants of Wealdhere,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See-ing.
Welsch. 922 Old English Chronicum On Norp Wealum, Eall Norp Weallcyn as name of the country perhaps first in 1046 Old English Chronicum into Wealan Domesday Book Rex de Nort- Welsch; circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Walonia; circa, 1175 Fantosme North Welsch. In 1055 Old English Chronicum also called Brytland or ' Britons' land; whilst in Old English Chronicum the people are called Wealas, passim. Old English weal, wealh, fem., wylen, is ‘a stranger, a foreigner,’ then, ' a slave stranger,’ from the Anglo-Saxon point of view. Earle thinks we get the same root not only in the Germanic Welsch, but in Walloons, Wallachia, and canton Wallis in Switzerland. We get the older name in circa, 1145 Geoffr. Monm. ' Kambria, in their British tongue Kambri.' The modern Welsch name is Cymru or Kymru, from cym-bro,' the compatriot, then native of the country.' Welsch (Sheffield), sic Domesday Book also Walls, seems to be an inflected form of Old English weall, ' wall, rampart.' But Welschby (Newark), Domesday Book Welschbi, is from wealh. See -by.
Walford (Ross) and Walford Heath (Shrewsbury). 'Ford at the wall,' or possibly 'the well,' Old English weall or well(a). Compare Domesday Book Surrey Walforde. Walham (Berkeley) is old Waleham, probably from Old English wealh. See above.
Walk Mill (Burnley and Cannock), Walker Barn (Macclesfeld), Walkford (Christchurch). All from to ' walk,' Scottish wauk, ' to full cloth,’ Old English wealcan,' to turn about,' wealcere,' a fuller.'
Walkingham (Knaresborough). Domesday Book Walchingha', and Walkington (Beverley), Domesday Book Walchinton. ' Home' and village of the ' sons of Wealh ' or ' the foreigner.' See Welsch, and -ing. But Walkeringham (Gainsboroogh), Domesday Book Walcheringeham, is 'home of the sons of Walchere.'
Wall Heath (Dudley). 1332 Kingswallhuth (=heath). Ancient earthworks nearby. There is a for tnear Wolverhampton,' The Walls.'
Wallingford. circa, 893 charter Welinga ford, 1006 Old English Chronicum Wealinga ford, 1216 the same Walinge ford, 1298 Walinford, 1373 Walyngforde. ' Ford of the Wealings ' or ' sons of Wealh,' or ' sons of the foreigner.' See Welsch. We get a Normandic spelling in Wm. of Poitiers Guarenford. Compare Wallington (Surrey), Domesday Book Wallingeha, and Domesday Book Walitone (Salop). But Wallingwells (Notts), 1278 Wellandwell, is from Old English weallende, 'boiling, bubbling up.'
Wallsend (Newcastle). 1382 Dur. Halm. Rolls Campus de Walleshond. ' End of the (Roman) Wall,' whose other end is Bowness (Cumberland), built by Hadrian, circa, 130. Wallop (Stockbridge), Domesday Book Wallope, Wallop; 1217 Close R. Welhop, probably means ' piece of land enclosed with a wall,' Old English weall, Frisian wal. See -hope.
Walmersley (Bury). 'Meadow of Waldemar' or ‘Wealdmoer,' this only, and this but once, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare 1220-51 Cockersand Charter Waldemurfeld. Wyld and H. omit both this and Walmer Br. (Preston). See -ley.
Walmesford (Northants). Old English Chronicum 657 Welmesford. Perhaps ' Ford of? some unknown man. But both it and Walmley Ash (Sutton Coldfield), before 1300 Warmleye, are more probably from Old English walm, wielm, ' a boiling or bubbling up, a spring.' Compare Ewelm and Walmgate (York).
Walney Isle. (Barrow). 1127 Wagneia, 1189-94 Wageneia, 1227 Wagneia. ' Isle of Waga,' genitive -an. The l must be a modern intrusion. See p. 82, and -ey,
Walpole Highway and St. Andrew (Wisbech).? before 1244 Anctdeed Villa de Walepol. ' Pool at the wall,' Old English weall, ' a wall, a rampart.' There seem to have been men named Walpole in Norfolk, before 1200.
Walsall. 1004 Welsch ho (see Hoe), before 1100 Welschhale, before 1300 Welschale, Walsale. ' Nook, corner of the Welschman.' See Walcot.
Walsham, North and South. Domesday Book Welschsam, Welschha; 1373 Will Edw. Black Pr.' Robert de Walsham.' Probably' home of Wale,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See Walcot and -ham.
Walsingham (Norfolk). Codex Diplomaticus 782 Waelsinga-, Domesday Book Walsinga-, before 1340 Walsyngham. A patronymic, from Woels, a name in Beowulf. See -ing.
Waltham (9 in Postal Guide) and Walthamstow. Kent. W. 727 charter Waltham, 1001 Old English Chronicum Wealtham, Essex and Berks Domesday Book (and charter before 1067) Waltham. ' Home of Wealt ‘; Weald and Wealda are also in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum As the spelling is always with t it is not at all likely to be ' home in the weald,' Old English for ' wood,' same root as wold. Skeat, because we never find any sign of a genitive in even the earliest charters, thinks it cannot be from a man, and conjectures an Old English wealt, ' unsteady, ill-built, decayed,' comparing the known unwealt,' steady, firm,' and Icelandic valt-r,' easily upset.' See-stow.
Walton (21 in Postal Guide). Carlisle W. Bede,' The royal vill called Ad murum' ('at the Wall'); Suffolk W. 1046 charter Wealtun; Blackburn, Stone, and Epsom W. Domesday Book Waletone. Two in Warwic., Domesday Book Waltone. Peterborough W. 1147 charter Walton. ' Town with or at the wall or rampart,' Old English weall. There are probably over 50 Waltons in England; some may be from Old English weal, ' stranger, foreigner, Welschman,' dative wale. Compare Walcot. Domesday Book varies all through between Wal- and Wale-. In Domesday Book Yorks Walton, Waleton, or Waliton occur 10t imes. White Walton (Berks) is Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 762 Wealtun, whilst Bps. Walton (Hants) is (K)9 charter Wealtham. See above.
Walworth (S. London). Domesday Book Waleorde. 'Farm of Wale.' Compare above; and see -worth, regularly-orde in Domesday Book Walsworth (Gloucester). old Waleworthe, Wallesworthe, is the same name.
Wambrook (Chard). Said to be ' Woden's brook.’ Compare Wanborough. Old forms needed; it is not in Domesday Book It might be ' Wamba's brook.'
Wampool R. (N.W. Cumbld.). circa, 1080 charter Pollwathoen; also Wathanpol. Welsch pwl, Gaelic poll is our English pool, but all these words tend to mean ' a stream,’ in Scottish a pow, also. Wathan may perhaps be the same root as Welsch gwydden, Cornish gwedhen,' a tree.'
Wanborough (Swindon and Guildford). Neither will be Old English Chronicum 591 Wodnesbeorge, Woddesbeorg, from the god Woden. But Sw. W. is Domesday Book Wemberge, 1245 Wamberge, and Guil. W. is 1147 Wenebergia. This seems to be ' burgh, fort of Wana,’ 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum There is a Wodnesborough (Kent), a. 1300 Wodnesberge, but this cannot be the Old English Chronicum name either. Compare Wednesbury. But Wandale, which occurs several times in Cumbld, and Yorks, is probably from Old Norse vang-r, field i.e., valley partly cultivated.
Wandsworth (S. London). Domesday Book Wendelesorde, Wandesorde. 'Farm on the R. Wandle,' probably Welsch gwen dol, 'fair, beautiful mead.' Connexion with the Teutonic Vandals, whose homes was between Vistula and Oder, or with the Slavic Wends, who dwelt nearer Britain, in the same latitudes, is quite doubtful. Compare Codex Diplomaticus 1283 Waendlescumb, 1223 Patent R. Notts Wandleslegh, and Hutton Wandesley (Yorks), Domesday Book Wandeslage, all of which point to a man Wandel or Wanda. There is one Wandel in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Wendlebury and Windsor. See -worth.
Wansbeck R. (Northumberland). before 1700Wanny spik ewater. This, then, is a corruption of ' Wanny's peak.' There are no genuine hecks in Northumberland, they are all burs. For pike see Red Pike; but who or what is Wanny? Perhaps the same as the Scottish wannis in Bellenden's Livy, which is' scars, wens, Old English wenn.
Wansborough (N. Devon). Not in Domesday Book The associating with Woden, seeing that it fails of proper authentication in some other cases, is uncertain here also. Probably = Wanborough, though the ending may be = Barrow. Compare Wansford (Driffield and Northants). But also see next.
Wansdyke, The (Bath), before 1145 Wm. Malmes. Wodnesdic i.e., ' dyke or rampar tof Woden,'the famous Saxon god, also called Odin. But Wanswell (Berkeley), 1170-90 Weneswell, is from a man Wene.
Wantage (Berks). Old English charter Waneting, Waeneting; 1238 Waneting; circa, 1540 Wanting; so the ending -age seems quite modern. Patronymic. ' Place of the Wanetings,' an unknown family. See -age and -ing.
Wapenbury (Leamington) (Domesday Book Wapeberie, 1198 Wapenbiri), Wapley (Yate) [Domesday Book Wapelei, 1163-64 Rolls of the great Pipe Wappelai), and Wappenham (Towcester) (Domesday Book Wapeham). ' Burgh, mead, and home of Wa'p(jp)a,' an unrecorded name. Compare Waplington (Yorks), Domesday Book Waplinton, which gives an extended form. See -bury, -ham, and -ley.
Warbleton (Heathfield Tower, Sussex). Domesday Book Warblitetone. Compare Domesday Book ' Werblestun' (Cheshire). Probably corruption of 'town of Wernbeald,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Warborough (Wallingford). 913 Old English Chronicum Weardbyrig, Old English charter Weardburh. ' Guard -burgh or fort,’ Old English weard, ' a guard, a watch, a ward.'
Warboys (Hunts). Domesday Book Wardebusc. A little doubtful. It seems to be ' guard bush,' ' bush of the watch,' from Old English weard and Old Norse bush-r,' bush, wood,' not found in Oxford Dictionary till circa, 1250. Compare Danish. varde, 'a beacon, a landmark.' But the ending has certainly been influenced by France bois,' a wood,' Compare p. 64.
Warburton (Altrincham). Domesday Book Wareburgetun, before 1200 Werburton. ' Town of St. Werburga,' daughter of Wulfhere, King of Mercia, Abbess of Ely and then of Chester (died circa, 875), where a monastery was dedicated to her, circa, 1057.
Warden (Hexham), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Waredun, 1183 Wardona. Possibly ' sentry hill,' Old English waer, Danish var, ' wary, on guard,’ Or from a man Ware, one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -don.
Wardle (Nantwich). 1602 Woodhull. Compare Domesday Book Yorks Wardille, now Warthill, and Domesday Book Worcester Warthuil. ' Ward or guard hill,' which often becomes hull in this region and to the S. of it. Compare Astle, Solihull, etc. See, too, Warborough.
Ware (London), before 900 Guare, Domesday Book Waras, 1210 Wares (? 1304 Rolls Parlmt. I. 163. 1, In Villa Warr). Perhaps Old EnglishH woer, wer, ' a fence, a wear, an enclosure for fish.' However, Skeat is confident it is simply Old English waras, 'dwellers’, a very bald and curious name. Compare Canterbury; also Domesday Book Wwk. Wara, and Warton. Domesday Book uses wara for 'the outlying part of a manor,' probably from same root as ward, i.e., 'defence.'
Wareham. Old English Chronicum 876 Werham, 978 the same Waerham. ' House at the wear.' See above. But compare Warden, Warley, and Upware.
Waresley (Hartlebury). 817 charter Waeresleye, 980 the same Wereslaege, circa, 1108 Waeresley, before 1200 Wareslei. ' Meadow of Woer.' But Waresley (Sandy) is ' wether's, lea,' ' ram's meadow.'
Wargrave (Berks, on Thames). 1061-65 charter Weregravae, Domesday Book Weregrave, later Wergrave. Old English wera groef, ' grave of the men'; wer, ' a man,' and graf, grcef, ' a trench, a grave.' Compare Gargrave, etc.
Warham All Saints (Wells, Norfk.). Sic circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Either = Wareham, ' home at the wear,' or from a man Warr or Ware. Skeat derives Warfield (Berks), Domesday Book Warwelt, from Old English woer, ' a weir.' Compare Warley and Wharram.
Wark (Northumberland). 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Werch, c. 1175 Fantosme Werc, literair' work, hence fortification,’ Compare bulwark, outwork, etc., and next. '
Warkworth (Northumberland). before 1130 Sim. Dur. Werceworde. 1150 Werkewurthe, circa, 1175 Werkewde, circa, 1460 Warcorth. ' Place, manor with the work or rampart.’ Compare above, Warkleigh (N. Devon), 796 charter Wrkeleye (Wilts), and Warkwood (Redditch), 1242 Werewode (probably re for re).
Warley (Halifax) (Domesday Book Werla) and Wakley Common (Brentwood) (Domesday Book Wareleia). Doubtful. See Wareham, Warham, and -ley. Warley Wigorn (Halesowen) is Domesday Book Werwelie, before 1400 Werulege, Wereulegh, Werweleye, which Skeat thinks probably' Woerwulf's mead.' Wigornia is the common Latin for Worcester.
Warmington (Oundle and Banbury). Oundle W. 963 Old English Chronicum Wermingtun. Banbury W. Domesday Book Warmintone. A patronymic: there are no likely names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, unless it be Woermoer or Woermann. But Warsmswoth (Doncaster) is Domesday Book Wermesford, Wemesford, which implies a man Werm, or Weorm; so does Warmfield (W. Riding), Domesday Book Warnesfeld, and Warndon (Worcester), Domesday Book Wermedun, 1275 Warmdone. Compare Worm's Head. See -ing, -ton, and -worth.
Warminster (Westbury). Domesday Book Guerminstre, 1165 Rolls of the great Pipe Warmenist’, before 1228 Wermenistr'. The War- maybe as in Warham, but as Domesday Book has no dislike for initial Old English w, Guer- may be for Welsch gwerdd, gywrdd, ' green, verdant,' and so ' green-looking church'; dd easily disappears. See -minster.
Warrenton (N.E. Northumberland). Old Warndham. Doubtful. There are 2 called Woerin or Warin in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Warrenby (Redcar), not in Domesday Book, and next. John, earl of Warrenne (b. c. 1240), is 1297 ' erl of wareine,' old France warene, warenne, ' a piece of ground or preserve for breeding rabbits.'
Warrington. Domesday Book Walintune, 1175-82 W'linton, 1255 Wherinton, 1277 Werington. Originally' town of Waling,'or' the foreigner.' See Wallingford. But early the liquid l dissimilated into r, and the name became ' town of Warin,' of whom there are several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Warenberie, Domesday Book Cheshire, and th epersonal names Warren and Waring, probably from Old Norse voeringi, 'a confederate.'
Warsash (Southampton). Perhaps contracted from ' Woerstan's, ash,' the man's name is fairly common. Compare Domesday Book Hants Warschessele (= -hale or -hall, q.v.) and next, and Borrowash.
Warsop (Notts). Sic 1230, but Domesday Book Wareshope, Warsope. ' Valley of ocer' or ' Ware'; Icel. hop, ' a haven, a place of refuge.' Compare Scottish Hobkirk; also Warslow (Leek), Domesday Book Wereslie, 1300 Werselow. See -hope, -low, and -ley.
Warstock (Birmingham). Duignan says, before 1500 har stoc, ‘hoar stoke' or' boundary place,'and says Warridge (Bromsgrove) shows the same change. Old forms seem lacking.
Warter. (York). Domesday BookWartre [resoundeder). Doubtful. Compare -er. Possibly ' ward, guard, sentry bank.' Wassail Grove (Halesowen), 1275 Warselde, seems to have been similarly, ' ward- settle' or' watchtower' (Old English seld or setl, synonyms).
Warton (Carnforth, Preston, Atherstone, and Staffordshire). Atherstone W. 1285 is Wavertone (still sometimes so called) and St. W. 1272 Wavertune. ' Aspen - tree town.' See Wavertree. But Preston W. is Domesday Book and later Wartun, which points to some man War(r). Compare Ware and Wardle.
Warwick. 915 Old English Chronicum ' This year was Waerinwic built,' yet 701 charter ' in Waerincwicum,' also charter Waeringwic, Domesday Book Warwic, before 1145 Orderic Guarewicum, 1258 Warewik. ' Dwelling of the Woerings.' Waring is still a common name. Compare Warrington. There was said to be a tribe of that name on the S.W. coast of the Baltic (Shore's Origin of A.-S. Race, p. 36). However, Warwick (Carlisle) is 1120 Warthewic, 'dwelling of Wearda,' nearest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -wick.
Wash, The (Lines), and Wash or Guash R. (Rutland). Often said to be Kelt. for ' water '; but almost certainly Old English wsse, ' ooze, soft mud,' as in Washfield (Tiverton), 1166 Rolls of the great Pipe Wasfeld, Alrewas, etc. Compare Old Norse veisa, ' stagnant pool, puddle.' The Wash at low water looks like a collection of muddy sandbanks. Compare next and Wass (York). Domesday Book Wore, and Gloucester Has Waseburne, Waseborne, the latter now Washbourne (Beckford).
Washford (Somerset). Exon. Domesday Book Wasforda. Perhaps ' ford of Wassa ' or ' Wasa.' Compare next. More likely from Old English wase, ' ooze, soft mud,' Old Norse vas, ' wetness,' as above. Compare Vason, Guernsey.
Washingborough (Lincoln), before 1100 Grant of 664 Wassingburge. ' Burgh, castle of the descendants of Wassa.' Compare B.C.8. 236 Wassanburn. But Skeat says Wasing (Berks), Domesday Book Walsinge, before1290 Wawesenge, 1316 Wausynge, is ' home of the Woelsings or' sons of Woels,' a name found as early as Beowulf. Washington (Co. Durham) is 1183 Wassyngtone, 1197 Wessinton, plainly a patronymic from Wassa. See -ing.
Waskerley (Darlington). Mawer thinks this a hybrid; Norse was, ' hardship, toil, danger,' and kjoer, kjerr, ' marsh, wet copse,' so ' dangerous, marshy ground,' as it is still; and -ley (q.v.). Compare Wasdale (Cumberland).
Wasperton (Warwick). 1043 charter Waspertone, as also in Codex Diplomaticus 939. Duignan says, Old English wase- perig- tun, ' mud or fen, pear- tree town.' This looks peculiar. It is probably from some unrecorded man; at any rate Vosper is still a known Cornish surname. Compare Domesday Book Devon Wasberlege.
Watchet (Somerset). 915 Old English Chronicum Weced, 988 the same Wecedport. Domesday Book Wacet, before 1300 Wechet. Old English woecce,' a watch,' from wacan, ' to watch, wake,' and cete, ' cot, hut '; so ' watch-cot, outlook hut.' The hard Old English c normally becomes tch in modern Eng., as in Bletchley, etc. Compare Datchet.
Watchfield (Shrivenham). 931 charter Waeclesfeld, Wachenesfeld, later Uacenesfeld. ' Field of Wacol —i.e., ' the wakeful one,’ earl yconfused, says Skeat, with Old English wacen,' vigilance, keeping watch.'
Waterbeach (Cambridge) Domesday Book Bech, Bece. See Landbeach.
Waterley (Rochester). 774 charter Waeterlea, ' meadow by the water.' Waterloo (London) has perhaps the same meaning, -loo being the Flem. equivalent of Old English leah. See Oxford Dictionary, s.v. lea sb1.
Water Orton (Coleshill). before 1300 Overton. 'Upper town on the river' Tame.
Watford (Herts, Rugby, Shenstone). Herts W. 946 will Watford, charter Watforda, 1390 Wathford. Rugby W. Domesday Book Watford and Wadford. Probably ' ford of Wata or ' Wada,' both in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, the latter very common; but the absence of all trace of the genitive is not usual. Weddington (Hinckley) is Domesday Book Watitune. Compare Watton and Watnall (Notts), circa, 1200Wattenhou.
Wath-on-Dearne (Rotherham). Domesday Book Wat, Wate. Wath is a common Eng. or Scandinavian name for ' a ford.' See Wadeford, and compare Watlas (Yorks), Domesday Book Wadles (? Old Norse lest, 'a burden, a last '). The R. Dearne is from Old English derne, dyrne, O. Fris. dern,' hidden, obscure, secret.'
Watling St. (Roman road 'fram Dovere in to Chestre,' Robert of Gloucester 174). 880 charter Waetlings staset, 926 the same Waeclinga, Waexlinga straete, 1013 Old English Chronicum Waetlina Straete, various reading Wat-, Waec-, Sim. Dur. ann. 1013 Waetlinga strete, 1387 Trevisa Watlynge strete. Originally, some say, the name of the Milky Way, by which the hero-sons of Woetla were supposed to march across the sky. But it seems really to have been originally the road N. from London to Verulam or Waetling caester. Compare M'Clure (pp. 40-41), and next. For Street, compare Birchley Street (Atherstone), before 1300 Birchelei stret. In Welsch it is Hynt St. lalm, ' St. James's Way.' See Duignan, s.v., and next.
Watlington (Battle, Wallingford and Downham). Battle W. Domesday Book Wathngtone, Wallingford B. the same Watelintune, in Old English charter Waeclinctune, Hwaetliga tune, Wsetlinctune, Wsetlingtune. ' Town of the Watlings.' See above and compare Domesday Book Watelintune (Berks) and Watlingeseta (Norfolk). Who Woetla or Watla really was is quite unknown. This is evidently a patronymic. See ing.
Wattlesborough (Wroxeter). It stands on Watling Street. See -borough.
Watton (3 in Postal Guide). Yorks W. Bede Wetadun, Old English for ' wet hill,' Domesday Book Wattune, Waton. But W. Herts is Codex Diplomaticus vi. 212Wadtune, Domesday Book Watone, 1210 Wattone. ' Town of Wada ' or ' Wade,' still a common surname. Compare Watford.
Waun. See Gwaun. Wawne (Hull), not in Domesday Book, must be the same.
Wavendon (Woburn Sands). Domesday BookWauuendone. ' Hill of Waga, Wagan ' or ' Vagan,' all names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -don.
Waveney R. (S. Norfolk). As rivers are nearly all Keltic, this is probably a form of Welsch afon,' river, pronunciation as in Stratford-on-Avon, with the Eng. ending -ey. For a somewhat similar prefixing of w, compare Wemyss (Scottish), from Gaelic uamh; also Wodin and Odin, and our pronunciation of one.
Waver R. (Cumberld.). circa, 1080 Wafyr.? from Welsch gwefr, ' amber,' from its colour; but probably Old English woefre,' wandering, restless.'
Waverley (on R. Wey, Farnham). 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Wauerle. Abbey founded here 1128. Wey might be contract, of Waver (q.v.} and -ley. There is also possible Old English woeferlice, ' belonging to theatres,' though one would need evidence to vote for such an origin. More likely is the supposed Old English woefre, ' the aspen- poplar.' See Wavertree. There are also 2 Wavertons (Cheshire and Cumberland). and see Warton.
Wavertree (Liverpool). Pronunciation Wartree. Domesday Book Wauretreu (Cheshire), Old English wcefre, ' restless.' This must refer to some trembling tree like the aspen. Duignan holds that there must be an Old English woefre, ' the aspen poplar.' Compare above.
Wear R. and Wearmouth (Durham). Bede Were, circa, 800 Hist. St. Cutbhert Wirra. Possibly circa, 150 Ptolemy …. also Bede Viurae muda or Wiremuth, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Weremuthe, Giuramuthe. McClure connects with Keltic gyrwe, ' fen, marsh,' and with Jarrow. This is uncertain. In 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Northumberland is a Werewurda? ' Farm of a man called Weir.' See -worth.
Weaver R. and Weaverham (Cheshire). Domesday Book Wevre, Wivre, Wivreham. The root must be Keltic perhaps Welsch gwyf, ' that; yields, is smooth, is drawn out,' hence gwyfr, ' a wire ' possibly Welsch gwefr, ' amber,' from the colour of the water. Compare Waver and Wyre. See -ham.
Weaverthorpe (York). Domesday Book Wilfretorp, Wifretorp, 1206 Wyuertorp. ' Village of Wiferth,' variant of Wilfrith, a very common Old English name. See -thorpe.
Wedmore (Weston-s.-M.). Sic in Domesday Book, but Old English Chronicum 878 Wedmor. ' Moor of the agreement or pledge,' Old English wedd-mor. A treaty was signed here in 878. Compare wedder and wether and wadset in Scottish
Wednesbury and Wednesfield (Wolverhampton). (? Old English Chronicum 592 and 715 Wodnesbeorge, Wodnesbeorh, Wodnesbyri; compare Wanborough; Domesday Book Wadnesberie, before 1200 Wodnesbyrg, Wodnesberi, Wodenesbeorh. 994 and Domesday Book Wodnesfeld. ' Burgh, fort ' and ' field of the - god Woden ' (Germanic.) or ' Odin' (Norse). There is said to have been a temple of Woden at Wednesbury. See -bury. Weeford (Lichfield) (Domesday Book and later Weforde) and Weeton (Leeds) (Domesday Book Widetun). The Northand Scottish wee is late, and not to be thought of. Both are from Old Eenglish wid (pronunciation weed), 'wide'; the d was bound to disappear before d and t. Wideton, in Domesday Book Yorks, also represents Weighton and Wyton (E. Riding), where wid has taken on it is modern pronunciation wyde, our' wide.'
Week St. Germans and St. Pancras (Devonsh.) and St. Mary (Bude). Perhaps before 800 charter East and West Wixna (Devonsh.). Corn. gweek, from Latin vicus, ' a town, village,' Old English wic, ' a dwelling.’ See St. Germans and St. Pancras.
Weighton (E. Yorks). Little W. is Domesday Book Widetone, Old English widtun, ' wide village.' Compare Weeton. But ' Widetona ' (W. Riding) is now Widdington, and Weighton Market is Domesday Book Wicstun, ' Wicga's, or Wyga's village ‘; it is now pronunciation Weeton.
Welbourn or Welburn (Lines and Yorks). Lines W. Old English Chronicum 675 (late MS.) Waetelleburne i.e., ' burn, brook of Weatla ‘; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Watling St. But W. Yorks, Domesday Book Wellebrune, is ' brook which comes out of a spring ‘; well has this meaning. See -bourn. Compare Welbeck, (Worksop) 1189 Wellebec, 1290 Welbec.
Weldon (Kettering). 1363 charter Weldone. Old English wella-dun, ' well hill.' Similar is Welburn (Northallerton), Domesday Book Welleberge. See-bury.
Welford (on Lambourn, Bucks). 949 charter Weligforda, circa, 1540 Welleford. ' Ford at the willows,' Old English welig. Compare Salford, which also means ' willow ford.' But Welford (Stratford-on- A.) is Domesday Book Welleford, before 1200 Walleford, 1221 Welneforde; probably ' ford of the Welsch.' See Welsch.
Welham (Market Harborough', E. Retford, and New Malton). Retford and Malton. W. Domesday Book Wellon, Wellun, Old English locative ' at the wells.' But M. Har. W. Domesday Book Weleha, probably ' home of Wale or ' Wealh ‘; several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Welsch. See -ham.
Welland R. (Northants). 921 Old English Chronicum Weolud, which looks like W. gwoelod,' base, bottom.' The-ud has now been nasalized into -and. But Welland (Upton-on-Severn) is 1196 Weneland, 1297 Wenlond, 1461 Wenelond. ' Land of Wenna.' Compare Wallingwells.
Wellesbourne (Warwick). 862 charter Welesburn, Domesday Book Waleborne. Doubtful. Duignan prefers, ' brook of the stranger, serf, or Welschman,' Old English wealh, dative wale. Compare Walcot and see -bourne.
Wellingborough, Wellingore (Lincoln), and Wellington (Hereford). 1154-61 charter Wellingoura, circa, 1030 charter Weolintun. The Welling- will probably represent the same name as in Wallingford. The ending -gore or -ore may either be Old English gara, 4 goore, 4-9 gore, ' a triangular or wedge-shaped piece of land at the side of a field '(compare Kensington Gore), or from Old English ora, ' edge, brink, border.' See-borough'.
Wellow (Newark, Bath, and Yarmouth I. W.). Bath W. Domesday Book Wilege, Yarmouth W. Domesday Book Wehge, Old English welig, wilig, ' a willow-tree here probably in locative But W. (Newark) 1278 Welhagh, 1302 -hawe, is probably well-haugh. See Haughton.
Wells (Somerset and Norfolk). Somerset W. 1087 Old English Chronicum Wellensis aecclesia, 1231 Welles. Norfolk W. before 1200 Welle, 1298 Wells. Old English wella. ' a spring, a well,' with modern Eng. plural Somerset W. was founded in a.d. 704 and called from 3 springs in the garden of the bishop's palace.
Welney (Wisbech). Old English wellan ig, ' isle of the well or spring.'
Welschpool, circa, 1530 Rolls Payers, ' the Welsche poole.' On the adj. Welsch, Old English wylisc, see Welsch. It is said to have been called Welschpool to distinguish it from Poole (Dorset). The Welsch name is Trallwm, whose traditional meaning, ' the greedy swallow,' seems very doubtful.
Welton (Lincoln; 7 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Welleton, 'village by the well.' Compare Welham. Welleton occurs 10 times in Domesday Book Yorks.
Welwyn (Herts). Old English charter On Weligun—i.e., ' at the willows,' a locative Compare Hallam, Kilham, etc., and Wellow.
Wem (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Weme. Old English wenn,' a swelling, a wart, a wen'’often in 14th century. Wem- m and n readily interchange.
Wembury (Plymouth). 951 Old English Chronicum Wicgan beorge, circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt. Wienbeorhe. ' Burgh of Wicga '; several in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Codex Diplomaticus 1296 Wicgan die. There is a ' Weneberge ' in Domesday Book Surrey.
Wendlebury (Bicester), Domesday Book Wandesberie, 1216-1307 Wendebur, Wendlebur, 1274-79 Wendelbur, and Wendling (Dereham), Domesday Book Wenlinga. Said to be from the Vandals, a doubtful statement. The name Wendel, and other such as Wendelburh, are to be found in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, so that connexion with the Vandals could at most be indirect. The -ing is the sign of a patronymic. See Wandsworth, Windsor, and -bury.
Wendon or Wandon (Northumberland). circa, 1300 Egilsaga Vinheide (-heide is Old Norse hede-r, ' a heath '); also Weondun, which seems to be OLD ENGLISH Weohhan dun, ' hill of Weohha ' or ' Wehha '; 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Wendover (Bucks). Codex Diplomaticus 593 Waendofron, Domesday Book Wendovre, 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Wendoura. Compare 958 charter Windofere, near R. Stour (Stafford. Old Welsch gwen dubr, modern Welsch gwyn dwfr, ' clear river.' Compare Andover, Dover, etc., also Deveron (Scottish). Connexion with the Wends (see Windsor) is very unlikely.
Wendy (Royston, Herts.), circa, 1080 Wendeie, Domesday Book Wandei, Wandrie; 1316 Wendye. ‘Isle of Wenda.’ Compare A 1199 ‘Wend’ (Norfk.) in Roll. Rich. I. This may refer to a Wendish settler. Compare Wandsworth. See -ey.
Wenlas R. W. gwen glas, ' white ' or ' fair stream.'
Wenlock, Much and Little (Salop). Domesday Book Wenloch, before 1163 Wenlock. Welsch gwen llwch, ' clear lake ' or ' pool.' But in Welsch it is Llan Meilien, ' church of St. Milburga,’ or simply Llane. On this use of Much, see Oxford Dictionary, s.v.
Wennington (Lancaster and Rainham, Essex). Lancaster W. Domesday Book Wininctune, Rainham W. 961 charter Winintune. ' Town, village of the Winings,'or' sons of Wine.' Compare Domesday Book Sussex, Venningore, and Wencote, Wincote (Gloucester), Domesday Book Wenecote, 1175-76 Winecota, 'cot of Wine 'or' Wynna.'
Wensley (Leyburn, Blackburn, Matlock). Leyburn W. Domesday Book Wendres-aga, Wentreslage; 1204 Wandeslei. Not in Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. The name here is uncertain; it may be that of Wendretha, saint and virgin, but more old form sneeded. Compare 1223 Paten tR. Wandlesleigh (Notts), and Domesday Book Bucks Weneslai (probably from Wenna or Wenni in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum). See-ley.
Wensum R. (Yarmouth). Compare Bede Wantsumu, Thanet. McClure thinks this is a Teutonic want or went, ' a way,' common in dialect, and -sonu a qualifying adj., as in winsome, etc. Compare next.
Wentbridge (Pontefract). Went, 'a way or a ford '; see above. But Wentworth (Cambridgeshire and Rotherham) is Cambridgeshire W. Domesday Book Winteworde, 1291 Wynteworth, 'farm of Winta,' in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. But Rotherham W- is Domesday Book Wintreworde, Winteworde. ' Farm of the man Winter.' Compare Winteringham. See -worth.
Wentnor (Bp.'s Castle, Salop). Domesday Book Wantenoure. 'Bank, brink, edge,' Old English ofer, obr; Mittel English overe, ' of Want '; 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Also compare Ventnor.
Wenvoe (Cardiff). Said to be Norm, corruption of Welsch gwyn fa, 'blessed place'; gwyn, gwen originally means 'white, clear,' and Gwynfa is now popular Welsch for ' Paradise.' The -voe rather suggests Norse influence, it being Norse Eng. for ' bay '; Old Norse vag-r, Icel. vo-r. Compare Van Rouget, Jersey.
Wergs, The (Wolverhampton.). before 1300 Wytheges, before 1400 Wytheges, Withegges, Wyrges. ' Wythy hedges,' from Old English withig, ' a willow,' and hecg{e), ' a hedge.' A curious corruption. Domesday Book Hants Wergeborne is probably from a man. Compare Old English dweorg, duerg, ' dwarf.'
Werneth (Stockport and Oldham). Stockport W. Domesday Book Warnet. Old Welsch 1558-59 Wyernyth, 1572 Wyreneth. Perhaps 'place of alders'; Welsch gwern, old pl. gwernedd. Same root common in Scottish Names as Fearn.
Werrington (Peterborough and Stoke-on-T.). Probably 'village of a man Wera.' Compare Domesday Book Bucks Verendone; and see -ing and -ton. Werwick. circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary Viroviacum. Doubtful. Wer- migh tbe Welsch gwyr,' pure, fresh.’ Compare Wabwick and Winwick, and above; also Wervin (Chesh.).? Domesday Book Wiveorene, 1387 charter Wyrvyn, a puzzling name. See -wick.
Wesenham Heath (Norfk.). Domesday Book and 1245 Wesenham. 'Home of Wesa '; not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum but compare Wessington (Alfreton).
Wesham (Preston) . 1235 Westhus, 1262 Westesham, 1524 Wessom. It has varied between Old English west hus and west ham, both meaning 'west house' or 'home.' Compare Domesday Book Wesberie (Salop). There is an unidentified' Westhuse' in Domesday Book Yorks, near Maunby.
Westbury (Bucks, Gloucester and Wilts). Gloucester W. 793-96 Uuestburg, Wilts W. 794 Westbyri, 1053 Old English Chronicum Wastbyrig, Domesday Book Bucks and Wilts Westberie. ' West burgh ' or ' town.' Compare Domesday Book Wesberie (Salop).
Westcote (Chipping Norton) and Westcott (Dorking and Aylesbury). Dorking W. Domesday Book Wescote. Compare 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Westcotun (Yorks), the latter a locative ' Westcots' or' huts.'
Westerdale (Grosmont, Yorks). 1179-80 Westerdale. 'Western dale '; Icel. vestr., ' the West.' Compare Westerdale (Caithness).
Westminster. 1040 Old English Chronicum Westmynstre, Domesday Book abbas West- monasteriensis. This means the minster or abbey church West of London. See -minster.
Westmorland. 966 Old English Chronicum (MS. of? before 1200) Westmoringaland,' land of the dwellers in Westmor' (se einfra), as yet only the barony of Appleby; 1131 Rolls of the great Pipe Westmarieland, circa, 1175 Fantosme Westmari(e)lande, 1194 Hoveden Westmerilande, 1200 Westmerland (often later Westmariland), 1461 Westmurland. Probably not' westmoorland, 'but’ land on the Westborder of England,' the land to the W. of this not being English till late. Old English (ge)maere, ' boundary, border.'
Weston (33 in P.O.). In Domesday Book always Weston(e). ' West town or ' village.' Domesday Book Bucks, Westone= W. Turville.
Weston-under-Lizard (Shifnal). Domesday Book Westone, before 1400 Weston- under-Lusyerd, before 1500 Weston-subtus-Luceyord. Lizard is before 1100 Lusgerd, before 1200 Luseiard, before 1300 Lusyard. Duignan thinks this is luce-yard or ' fishpond only luce, ' a pike,' ' Old France lus, luis, is not foundi n English before 1338. Lizard, the animal, is not found till 1377, but then as lusarde, Old France lesarde, Latin lacerta. It is not likely to be the origin. It might be louse-yard, ' court- yard full of lice '! Old English lus, luus, 3 luse.
Westow (York). Not in Domesday Book Said to be Old English wif-stow,’ woman's place.' ' Wifestede,' in Domesday Book Yorks, is now Winstead.
West Thurrock (Grays), circa, 1460 Westthirrok. ' Thurrock ' is Old English thurruc, ' a small ship (?), the bottom of a ship, the bilge.' Hence it comes to mean, as it does still in several county dialects, 'a heap, esp, of mud,' In Kent it means' a covered drain.' Wetheral (Carlisle) and Wetherby (Tadcaster). circa, 1120 Wederhal, Domesday Book Wedrebi. ' Hall and ' dwelling among the wethers or rams.' Old English wether, Scottish wedder. Compare Wedderburn (Scottish). Or else Wedr may be a man's name, as in next. Skeat prefers the 'sheep' origin for Wetherley (Cambridgeshire), circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Wederlai, Wederlai; Domesday Book Wederlai; 1166 Wederleah; 1284 Wetherle. Wetheringsett (Stowmarket). Codex Diplomaticus 907, 932 Wederinge sete. Compare 1298 ' Johannes de Wethering'ton.' ' Seat, abode of the descendants of Wedr.' Compare above.
Wetwang (York). Domesday Book Wetwangham. Curious name. Old Norse voett or vett vang-r, used in Iceland for ' place of summons,' from vett-r or voetti, ' a witness,' and vang-r, ' a field.' The -ham rarely drops off; but perhaps, as ham is Old English, it never should have been on. Compare Lingwang, ' heather field,' sic in Notts charter, circa, 1160, and Goldswong Terrace, Nottingham.
Wetwood (Eccleshall, Staffordshire). 1298 Wetwude. Old English woet wudu, ' wet wood.' But Wetmoor (Burton) is before 1100 Withmere or ' withy lake.' Compare Westwood (Yorks), Domesday Book Westude.
Wey R. (Surrey), before 675 Grant Waiemude, where it joins the Thames (late MS.). Kelt. gwy, ' river,' esp. a slow flowing one. Compare Wye and Suthld. GAELIC uidh,’slow-flowing water.' Also Weybridge, before 675 Waigebrugge, 727 charter Weibrugge, Domesday Book Webruge. Compare Weymouth. This Wey may also have connexion with the waga,' deep waters' of te Old English Glosses, before 900; and the Old English and Keltic words may be cognate.
Weymouth, circa, 1450 Fortescue the Weymouthe. There is another little R. Wey here.
Whaddon (Cambridgeshire Bletchley, and Gloucester). Cambridgeshire W. circa, 1080 Inquis. Cambridgeshire Phwaddune, Domesday Book Wadone, Wadune; 1210 Waddon; 1302 Whaddone. Gloucester W. Domesday Book Wadune, 1221 Waddone. Old English hwoete dun, ' wheat hill.' Compare Waddon and Whatcomb and Whatton (Nottingham), Domesday Book Watone.
Whalley (Blackburn). Old English Chronicum 798 Hwaelleage, Hweallaeg; Domesday Book Wallei; circa, 1120 Hen. Hunt Wellehaie; before 1400 Whalleye; before 1130 Sim. Dur. Walalege. Probably ' whale island '; Old English hwoel, Old Norse hval-r, or rather' marshy region called after Whale.' But how comes such a name here? Probably ' whale ' was the name of a man, a viking. Two Hwalas in Onom; there is also a Whaley Br. (Stockport). Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. prefer to derive from Old Norse hwall, ' a hill.' But it is to be remembered that whale can certainly become whall on Northern tongues. Old Norse. hwall is a very rare word. See -ey.
Whaplode (Holbeach, Lines). 810 charter Cappelad, 1236 Quappelode, circa, 1275 Quappelade. There is one Cape, but no other name likely in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and it is hard to see how the name could be from Old English coeppe, ' cap, cope.' There is an O. Du. quappa, a toad,'' a possible origin. Aspirated c often turns to wh- in Gaelic placenames. Compare Colquhoun, Dalquharran, Dalwhinnie, etc., in Scottish The -lode is Old English lad, ' a lode, a canal, a waterway, a lead '; in Scottish ' lade.'
Wharfe R. and Wharfedale (Yorks). before 1130 Sim. Dur. Hwerf, Hwerverdale (-er shows a genitive). Probably Icel. hvarf, 'a turning, a shelter '; Old English hweorfan, ' to turn' Compare Quarff (Sc).
Wharram (York). Domesday Book Warron, Warran; 1199 Warham. Warron seems to be locative of Old English woer, ' a weir,' ' at the weirs.' Compare Warfield and Hallam; and see -ham.
Whatcomb or Watcumbe (Berks). Domesday Book Watecumbe, Old English hwcete cumb, ' wheat valley.' Compare Whatcote (Kineton), Domesday Book Quatercote (error), 1183 Quatcote, 1301 Wathcote (perhaps from a man), Whatfield (Suffolk), and Whetecombe (Dorset), also Waddon and Whaddon.
Whatley (Frome). ' Wheat meadow.' Compare Domesday Book Essex Wateleia, Whateley Hall, Gas. Bromwich, 1278 Wateley, Wheatley (Tamworth), before 1600 Whateley, and Wheatley (Doncaster and Notts), Domesday Book Watelage and Wateleia. But Wheatenhurst (Gloucester), Domesday Book Witenher(s)te, is' wood of Hwita,' genitive-an.
Wheal (common in Cornwall). Cornish huel, ' a mine,' or, at times, gwel, ' a field.' There is a ' Hvele ' in Domesday Book Salop, and R. Wheelock (Sandbach) may be the same root, or at any rate Keltic, the -lock being perhaps Welsch llwch,' a lake, a pool.'
Wheldrake (York). Domesday Book Coldrid (3 times). Domesday Book's form probably means ' cold ' or ' cool stream; Old English col rith. The th has become d also in Gottered, Ryde, etc, and it is quite in accord with rule for c to aspirate and become wh. Compare Whaplode. Wheldale (W. Riding) is Domesday Book Queldale (qu= w), from Old English ceald, cald, 'cold.' But the present ending -drake needs more old forms to explain it.
Whenby (Easingwold). Domesday Book Quennebi, 1202 Quenebi. 'The woman's house '; Old Norse kvenna, ' a woman, a quean.' See -by. Whernside (W. Yorks). Hybrid. Welsch gwern,' plain, moor.' On -side, see Ambleside.
Wherwell (Hants). 1048 Old English Chronicum to Hwerwillon (locative), circa, 1145 Wm. Malmes. Werewelle. Old English hwer-willa,' pot or cauldron well.'
Whichford (Shipton-on-Stour). 1128 Wicheford. 'Ford of the wych '; Old English wice, Mittel English wiche, probably ' the wych elm ' or ' hazel.' Compare Wichford and Wychwood. But Whichcote (Wootton Bassett) is old Wyklescote, Wikelescote, Wyghelscote. ' Cot, cottage of Wicel,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, perhaps contraction of Wichelm or Wichelinus, known forms.
Whickham (Swalwell, Durham). 1183 Quykham. France Old English cwicu, 1-3 cwic, 3-6 quik, quyk, 5 whik, whyk, literair ' living, endowed with life,' but here in sense 2, Oxford Dictionary, ' consisting of animals, livestock, as in ' quick stock, ' quick goods,’ etc., found from OLD ENGLISH on to 18the century. Old English ham must here mean ' farm.' See -ham.
Whinlatter (hill, Bassenthwaite) Welsch gwyn llethr (Gaeilic leitir), ' fair, clear slope.' Compare Dullatur (Scottish) and all the Irish names in Letterfell, Whinfell (Shap), sic in 1203 charter, is probably from the common name Wine. Whin, the rock, is late. See -fell.
Whippingham (Newport, Isle of W.). Domesday Book Wipingeham. ' Home of the descendants of Wippa '; 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Whipley in Clint, Domesday Book Wipeleie. See-ing and -ham.
Whissendine (Oakham), circa, 1230 Rob. Grossesteste Wissenden. ' The dean of ' probably ' Hwithyse,' the nearest name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and common there. The -dine or -den will be Old English denu, Mittel English dene, dane,' a valley deep and wooded.'
Whistley (Reading). Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum iii. 511 Wiscelea, circa, 1130 Chronicum Abing. Wisseleia, Wischeleia; circa, 1400 Wirselay. Skeat says Whinlatter (hill, Bassenthwaite) E. Fries, wiske, ' a small meadow ' Ger. wiese, ' a meadow’, in Eng. usage, moist or low-lying. Compare Wishford.
Whiston (Worstrsh., Penkridge, Cheadle, Prescot, Rotherham). Penkridge W. 1004 charter Witestun, Domesday Book Witestone; Worcesrtershire W. 1262 Wytstan, Wystan, before 1400 Wyston, Whiston; Che. W. Domesday Book Witestone; Prescot W. 1190-1292 Quistan, 1385 Whistane; Rotherham W. Domesday Book Widestan, Widestha'. Perhaps all Old English hwit stan, ' white stone or rock, though some may be ' town of Hwit —i.e., the '' white man—and Widestan looks like' wide, broad stone.'
Whitacre, Over and Nether (Coleshill), Domesday Book Witacre (also sic in Nthants), before 1300 Wythacre, Wytacer, before 1400 Whitacre, is either Old English withig, ' a willow or' withe.' But 1289 contin. Gervase Whetekre, probably in Hants, is ' wheat-field '; Old English hwoete. Acre is adopted of Latin ager, 'field.' Compare Birkacre (Chorley), Whatcomb, Wetmoor (Burton), before 1100 Withmere, etc.
Whitby. Domesday Book and before 1130 Sim. Dur. Witebi, 1298 Wythby. ' Dwelling of Hwita.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 724 Hwitan beorh. But in Bede Streonshalh, Streoneshalch i.e., it is said ' white (Old English hwit) field,' or ' withy field' sinus fari,' ' bay of the lighthouse.' Streonshalh suggests a Gaelic sron shealg, ‘nose, point of the hunt.; See -by.
Whitchurch (12 in Postal Guide). 1001 Old English Chronicum Hwitciricea? Hants, Domesday Book Warwick Witecerce, 1326 Whitcherche, 1166-67 Rolls of the great Pipe Devon Wicherche. In Tax. Eccl. Album Monasterium is the name of several Whitchurches. ' White church.' Compare Whitford (Surrey), Domesday Book Witford, and Whitkirk (W. Riding).
Whitehaven. Sic 1300. From Old English hoefen, Old Norse hofn, ' a haven, harbour, 'or ' sheltered inlet of the sea.' The ending is rare in Eng., and probably denotes Norse influence. Compare Milford Haven and Stonehaven Sc). The name seems sometimes to have been contracted into Whitton.
Whitewell (Dore, Sheffield). 942 Old English Chronicum Hwitan Wylles geat. The Hwita or' White' here is probably a man. Compare Whitby. There is another Whitewell Bottom (Manchester), whilst P.G. has 5 Whitwells, or' whitewells.’Domesday Book Yorks Witeuella, etc.
Whitland Abbey (Carmarthenshire). circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Alba Landa, or ' white land.' Its old Welsch name was Bangor y Ty Gwyn ar Dav or' Bangor of the White House on the R. Taff."
Whitley (S. Northumberland, 2 in York, and 2 in Warwick). Northumberland W. 1322 Whiteley; York W. Domesday Book Witelaia; Warwick W. Domesday Book Witeleia, 1376Whyteleie. ' White meadow.' See -ley.
Whitminster (Stonehouse). circa, 1188 Giraldus Cambrensis Album monasterium. ' White abbey' or' abbey church.' See-minster.
Whitmore (Newcastle-under-L.). Domesday Book Witemore, 1242 Wytemore. ' White moor'; Old English hwit mor.
Whitnash (Leamington). Dom Witenas, 1327 Whitenashe, ‘White or ‘whiten ash-tree.’ Old English hwit, in dative -an. ‘Ash’ is Old English aesc.
Whitstable, (Kent) 'Domesday Book Witenestaple. ' Market of Wita,’ or ' the wise,’ genitive pl. witena. Compare Barnstaple and Witenagemot.
Whitsunbrook (Wore). Codex Diplomaticus 570 Wixenabroc. Probably' brook of the Huiccii.' See Worcester. Wicga is a very common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum It is a curious corruption.
Whittingham (Alnwick and Preston). Preston W. Domesday Book Witingheham, Witingha; Sim. Dur. ann. 883 Hwitingaham (? that near N. Berwick); Alnwick W. 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Witingeha. 'Home of the Whitings ' or ' sons of White ' or ' Hwita i.e., the white man. There is one Hwiting, found in Kent and Wessex, in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Whittingham (Scottish) and Domesday Book Salop Witentrei, and next. Whittinge (Hartlebury), 1325 Whyteling, may mean' white heather,’ as Duignan thinks. Probably it is a patronymic from Witulf or Witbeald, or some such name. See -ing.
Whittington (8 in Postal Guide). Carnforth, Gloucester, and Oswestry W. Domesday Book Witetone; Lichfield W., 925 charter Hwitantone, Hwitantune; Stourbridge W. before 1300 Whytynton, Whitenton. 'Town of ‘White ' or ' whiten ash-tree '. Compare above and -ing.
Whitleburry (Towcester) Not in Domesday Book 1284 Close R. Wytlebery. ‘Burgh of Witla,’ See next and -bury.
Whittleseamere (now drained). Old English Chronicum 657 (late MS.) Witlesmere. ' Lake of Witla,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Codex Diplomaticus iii. 101 Insulam quae Witlesig nuncupatur, now Whittlesea (Peterborough), circa, 1080 Witleseie, Domesday Book Witesie, 1394 Witleseye. The Witla or Witol may be from Old English witol, ' wise,' or else short for Witwulf. Compare, too, Whittlesford (Cambridge), Domesday Book Witelesford.
Whitton (3 in Postal Guide). Perhaps 1156 Rolls of the great Pipe Wihtuna (Yorks) may be Whitton (Doncaster). There is one With in Onom, Butt hese names shoul dprobably all be' white town.' Compare Whitchurch, etc.
Whitwell (5 in Postal Guide). Domesday Book Norfolk Witewell, Yorks Witeuella. Old English hwit wella,' the white well.'
Whitworth (Rochdale and Co. Durham). Durham W. 1183 Whitwortha. Old English hwi tworth,' white-looking farm.'
Whixley (York). Domesday Book Crucheslaga, Cucheslaga (twice); 1281 Close E. Quixeley; circa, 1300 Quixley (qu = w). ' Meadow of ' probably 'Cuca’; one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum On aspirated c=wh, compare Whaplode; and see -ley.
Whorlton (Barnard Cas.). Domesday Book Wirveltun, 1202 Wherelton, Whor-uelton. Obscure. Perhaps from a man Wernweald or Wernwulf, names in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Wibsey (Bradford) (Domesday Book Wibetese) and Wibtoft (Lutterworth) (1004 Wibbetoft, Domesday Book Wibetot). ' Isle ' and ' farm of ' probably not Wibba but ' Wigbeorht, Wihtbeorht, or Wibert,’ all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum r readily disappears. See -ey and -toft.
Wicaugh (Malpas). Old Wichenhalgh, later Wycough. ' Haugh, river-meadow,’ Old English halech, halh, of some kind of tree, Old English wice, M. E. wiche, wyche. Compare the wych elm and hazel; or else, ' of Wicga,’ a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Wichenford (Worcester) being 1007 charter Wiceneford, confirms derivation from wice,' ford of the wych elms.'
Wichford (Ely), before 1200 Wycheford. See above. Possibly from Old English wicce, ' a witch '; but compare Whichford. Whilst Wichnor (Lichfield), before 1100 Hwiccen ofre, Domesday Book Wicenore, before 1200 Whichnore, Wytchnor, before 1300 Wychenovere, is probably ' bank, edge of the hutch,' Old English hwiccen ofr or ofer, where hutch is not the same as, but is often confused with, the Old English hwicce, Mittel English whicche, modern dial, whitch. Compare Edensor. There was also a tribe Huiccii (see Worcester), from which probably comes Wich bold (Droitwich), 692 charter Uuicbold, or ' house, royal dwelling of the Huiccii.'
Wick (Littlehampton, Pershore, Bristol, Cowbridge). Domesday BookWiche, Wicha, 'passim. Like Wyck (Rissington, Gloucester) and Wyke, probably all the English names are Old English wic, ' dwelling, village,' Latin vicus, not Norse like the ScottishWick,' a bay,' and the Jersey Vicqs. The Cow. W. is said to be originally Welsch y wig fawr, ' the great wood ' or ' thicket.' Similar is Wicwer (Denbigh). See -wick.
Wicken (Soham and Stony Stratford). Soham W. 1210 and 1284 Wykes, 1395 Wykyne. Wykes is Mittel English plural of Old English wic, ' dwelling, village,' and form 1395 is a Mittel English locative for Old English wicum, ' at the villages.' But in some cases, and in Wykin (Coventry), before 1300 Wykene, the name may be = quicken sb1 Oxford Dictionary, found from 1387, in 6 whicken, 9 wicken, wiggin, ' the rowan or mountain ash.’ Compare Rowantree (Scottish).
Wickeby (Lincoln). Compare 605 charter Wycingesmarce (? near Canterbury). ' Dwelling of Wicing,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, probably same word as viking, Old English wicing, ' a sea-rover.' Compare Wiganthone, Domesday Book Bucks Wichendone, and above,
Wickersley (Rotherham). Domesday Book Wincreslei, Wicresleia. 'Mead of Wingaer or Winegaer.' See-ley.
Wickford (Essex). Domesday Book Wicfort, later Wykeford. Either from Old English wic,' village, as next, or from a man Wicga or Wyga; probably the former, as we have Wicford in Domesday Book Salop.
Wickham (Berks, Hants, Herts, Banbury) (Berks W. Cartularium Saxonicum i. 506 and 1154-58 Wicham) and West Wickham (Cambridgeshire) (Codex Diplomaticus vi. 98 Wicham). Skeat in his Berks, but not in his Cambridgeshire says ' this name is also in charter Wichamm. Either' village enclosure or ' village home.' See -ham and -wick. Wickhambreaux (Canterbury) is charter Wichsema. Compare Domesday Book Norfk. Wichhatun and Wykeham. However, Child's Wickham is different, and Wickham Ford (Evesham), nearby, is 709 Wicwon, 792 Wigwenn; Codex Diplomaticus iii. 396 on Wicweoniga, Domesday Book Wiquene, 1275 Wike Waneford, 1332 Wykewane; a difficult name, which must go with Child's Wickham. Wickwar (Chippendale, Sodbury), Domesday Book Wichen, is' village of John La Warre,'to whom King John gave it.
Wicklewood (Wymondham, Norfolk). Compare before 1100 Wecelleburne, which cannot have been far away, and Domesday Book Surrey Wachelestede. The name Wecela or the like is not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, nor is there anything like it in the Old English Dict.
Widdington (W. Riding, Newport, Essex). Domesday Book Yorks Widetona. Compare Domesday Book Gloucester Widindone, and Surrey Wdintone. ' Town of Wida, Widda, or Widia,' all in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum It may be a patronymic. But Widdial (Herts) is Domesday Book Widihale, ' withy nook,' Old English withig, Dan. vidie,' a willow, a withe.' See -hall.
Widecombe (Ashburton, Devon). Cartularium Saxonicum. 164 Widan cumban, Wessex charter Widcumb, Old English wid cumb, ' wide valley.' But Widford (on Windrush). Domesday Book Widiforde, 1231-34 Wythiford, is ' withy ford,' Old English withig.
Widnes (Liverpool). 1241-42 Wydenes, 1256 Wydnes. Old Norse vid-r noes (Old English wid noes),' wide nose or ness or promontory.'
Wifol or Wiford (Berks). Domesday Book Wiford, which Skeat thinks probably the originally name and= Old English wic-ford,' ford by the village.' Compare Wickham. It is not easy to explain the form Wifol without further old forms, though r easily replaces l.
Wigan. 1245 Wygayn, Wigayn; before 1281 Wygan, Wigan, said commonly to be Keltic for ' battle, beating, wigging '! and to
be the only Kelt. town-name in Lanes, which is nonsense. Freeman thought the very old church of St. Mary le Wigford (Lines) was the site of a battle. But the only likely origins in Welsch are gwig, ‘a grove, a nook, a cove. The -an or -ayn (compare Gavin and Gamayne) will be terminated. To derive from Welsch gwig is more likely than to make the name Old English Wicgan, a genitive’ Wiga’s (Scottish town). This would be abnormal; but compare Beedon, Coven, etc., and the two next, also Waghen (Yorks), Domesday Book Wagene, 1179-80 Wagane. There are 2 men Wighen in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, 4 called Wagan, and 1 Wagene. More illuminating is Wiganthorpe (York), Domesday Book Wichingastorp, ' village of the Wicings.' See Wickenby. But if Lanes Wigan is for Wicing, a patronymic, it is once again quite abnormal.
Wigborough (Somerset). 1408 charter Wiggebeare, which looks like a tautology, Welsch gwig, ' a grove,' and Old English bearo, ' a wood,' as in Beer, Conybeare, etc. But if this is Old English Chronicum 851 Wicganbeorg, as it may be, then it is ' Barrow of Wicga,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum. Compare Domesday Book Essex Wicghebga, and Wigwold (Cirencester), old Wygewold, 'wold, high moor of Wicga.' See -borough'.
Wigginton (Yorks, Tamworth, Banbury, and Tring). Yorks W. Domesday Book Wichistun; Tamworth W. before 1100 Wicgintun, Domesday Book Wigetone; Tr. W. Domesday Book Wigentone, 1303 Wygentone. ' Town, village of Wicga, Wicgan,' common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, which has also 2 Wighens. Compare Wiggins Hill (Sutton Coldfield), before 1300 Wygeneshul, Wiginghul.
Wigglesworth (Long Preston). Domesday Book Wiclesforde and Winchleswrde. ' Farm of Wincel.' Compare Winchelsea. On the interchange of ending, see -worth.
Wighill (Tadcaster). Domesday Book Wicheles. Doubtful; Domesday Book's form may be for ' Wicga's nook ' i.e., from hale or -hall (q.v.) rather than -hill.
Wight, Isle. of. 77 Pliny Vectis, circa, 110 Suetonius Vectis Insula, Bede Vecta, before 810 Nennius Inis gueith, Old English Chronicum 449 Wiht, before 1200 Gueid vel Guith, quod Latine divortium dici potest, circa, 1400 And. Pet. Isle de Wight. Probably Old Welsch gueid, gueith, division’, there is also a Welsch gwth, ' rage, violence, also a channel, a conduit.' Compare Carisbrooke, Winwidfield, and Wythburn. Of course. Insula in Latin inis in Old Welsch (modern Welsch ynys), and isle in France all mean ' island.'
Wighton (Alsingham). circa, 1426 Wyghton. 'Town of Wiht,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum So Wightwick (Wolverhampton), though Domesday Book Wistewic, before 1300 Wystewyk and Wystewyk is plainly ' Wiht's village.' Domesday Book often has st for ht; it so hates gutturals Compare, e.g., Wilbrighton. Wigmore (Herefordsh.). Domesday Book Wigemore, 1283 Wygemor. Probably ' moor,’ Old English mor, ' of Wiga ' or ' Wicga or Wigga,' all common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Wigborough. But it may be Welsch gwig mawr, ' great thicket.’
Wigston (Leicestershire). Domesday Book Wichingestone. 'Town of the viking,’ Old Norse viking-r, Old English wicing.
Wigtoft (Boston). Sic 1484 Probably 'farm of Wiga'; but compare above and see -toft. Compare Wigsley (Notts), Domesday Book Wigeslei.
Wilbraham (Cambridgeshire) and Wilburton (Ely). 1156 Wilbureham, 1302 Wilburham, Codex Diplomaticus vi. 98 Wilburhton. ' Home ' or ' town of Wilburh,’ a woman. But Wilbrighton (Gnosall), Domesday Book Wilbrestone, before 1300 Wylbricton, is' Wilbriht's town.’
Wilden (Stourport and Bedford). Stourport W. 1275 Wybeldone i.e., ' hill of Wigbeald, Widbeald, Wilbeald, or Wibald,’ all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -don. But Bedford W. is Domesday Book Wildene, Old English wild denu, ' wild, waste valley.' See -den.
Wiley or Wil R. (Wilts), before 800 charter East and West Willa, circa, 893 Asser Guilou, 940 charter Wilig. This last is Old English loilig, ' willow,’ but the root is probably Welsch gweilgi, ' a torrent.' Compare Abergwtli; or possibly Old Welsch gwyll, ' a fairy,' and so this would be a haunted stream.
Willenhall (Coventry and Walsall). Walsall W. probably the circa, 732 charter Willanhalch, 996 Willanhale, Domesday Book Winehala, Winenhale, before 1200 Willenhal(e); Coventry W. before 1400 Wilnehale, Willenhale. ' Nook ' or ' meadow, haugh, of Willa.' See -hall.
Willerby (Scarborough and Hull). Domesday Book Wilgardi (for -debi), Hull. ' Dwelling of Wilgeard,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -by. Willersey (Honeybourne), circa, 850 charter Wylleressie, Domesday Book Willersei, is from the same name. See -ey.
Willesden (London). Domesday Book Wellesdone, 1561 Wilsdone. Domesday Book might be Old English welles dun, ' hill of the well ' (f. Wherwell) but Willa is a common man's name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The -den is evidently a late corruption. But there is a Wilsden (Craven), which is Domesday Book Wilsedene.
Willey (Lutterworth). Domesday Book Welie, 1129 Wilee. Probably' meadow of the willow,' Old English welig, wilig. Compare Willitoft (E. Riding), Domesday Book Wilgetot,' willow farm.'
Willingham (Cambridge and Gainsborough'). Cambridge W. Codex Diplomaticus iv. 245 Uuuilingeham, Domesday Book Wiuelingehem, 1750 Wivelingham Gainsborough W. 1301 Wyvelingham. Patronymic. ' Home of the Wifelings ' or ' sons of Wifel' a known name. Compare Wiveliscombe. See -ing.
Willington (Bedford and Durham). Bedford W. Domesday Book Welitone, Durham W. before 1130 Sim. Durham. Twilingatun, Twinlingtun. In both cases a patronymic. In the former ' town, village of the sons of Willa ' (compare above) in the latter, from some unknown man andhis sons. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum gives one Tulling at Exeter, but nothing nearer.
Willoughby (4 in Postal Guide), Rugby W. Domesday Book Wilebere (-bury), Wilebei, Wilebee, before 1300 Wilibi, 1327 Wylughbi. Also 1298 Wylgheby, 1419 Wylleby, perhaps Lines. Notts W. Domesday Book Wilgebi. Perhaps ' dwelling of Willech,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; more probably from Old English welig, wilig,' a willow.' See -by.
Wilmcote (Stratford-on-Avon) and Wilnecote (Tamworth). Stratford W. 1016 charter Wilmundigcote, Domesday Book Wilmecote, before 1200 Wilmundecote, before 1400 Wilmoncote. Ta. W. Domesday Book Wilmundecote, 1224 Wilmecote, before 1300 Wilmondecote, 1356 Wylmyncote. Both are ' Wilmund's cottage.' The -ig- in 1016 is a remnant of the patronymic -ing.
Wilmington. See Wimblington.
Wilhamstead (Bedford). 1327 Wilsamstede. ' Will's Hampstead ' or ' home-place.' Willa is common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Wilton (3 in Postal Guide). Old English Chronicum 871 Wiltun, probably near Salisbury. ' Town of the tribe Wilsoetas.' Compare next. But Wilton (Ross), like Bishop's Wilton (York), Domesday Book Wiltone, is ' town of Willa,' a name common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Wilts. 1011 Old English Chronicum Wiltunscir, 1298 Wiltesh. (sic). Wilts is a contraction of Wilscetas, ' sitters, dwellers on the R. Wil.' So says Asser.
Wimbledon. Old English Chronicum 568 Wibbandune, ' Wibba's hill,' Compare Wibsey. The b has been nasalized. But it may be from Winebeald.
Wimblington (Manch.). 1387Wilmyngton,1539Wymelington. Willmington. Patronymic. ' Town of the Wilhelmings (Skeat). Compare Wilmington (Honiton and Dartford).
Wimborne (Poole). Old English Chronicum 718 Wimburn, the same 871 Winburna mynster. Compare Domesday Book ' Wimberie ' (Cheshire). Doubtful. Perhaps ' burn, brook of the battle,' Old English (ge)winn, ' battle, strife.' But Wimpole (Cambridgeshire) is Domesday Book Winepole, 1302 Wynepol, 1346 Wympole. ' Pool of Wina,' a known name the pool is still there. Wimborne very likely has a similar origin.
Wincanton (Somerset), before 800 charter Hwinca. Probably a man's name, nasalized form of Hwicca. Compare Whixley and see -ton.
Wincham (Northwich). Domesday Book Wimundisham, later Wymincham. ' Home of Wymund.' Compare Wymondham.
Winchcombe (Gloucester). 803 charter Wincelcumba, 1053 Old English Chronicum Wincelcumbe, before 1130 Sim. Dur. Wincencomb, Wincelcumb. circa, 1305 St. Kenelm Wynchecumbe. Perhaps ' valley of Wincel (not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum) or ' Winca.' Compare Winchelsea. But Old English wincel, a corner’ is as likely. See -combe.
Winchester circa, 150 Ptolemy Venta, Bede Ventae Civitas, Old English vers. Wintancestir, Old English Chronicum 755 Wintanceastre, the same 1036 Winceastre, circa, 1100 Florence of Worcester Wintonia, circa, 1175 Wincestre, 1297 Robert of Gloucester Winchestre. In Welsch Caer Gwent i.e., ' fort, castle on the plain, clearing or open country.’ See-Chester.
Winchelsea (S.W. Kent). (Domesday Book Winchelesmere), 1288 contin. Gervase Winchelese, 1297-98 Wynchelese, Wynchilse.? ' Isle of Wynceh'. See Winchcombe and Winkleigh and -ea.
Wincle (Cheshire). Domesday Book Winescol, before 1200 Winchal. Probably ' hill of Wina,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Old English hyll, ' hill,’ regularly became hull in the Midlands from 2 on. Compare Aspull.
Wincomblee (Northumberland). Old Wynkamlea, Doubtful. Perhaps Old English Wincan leak, ' meadow of Winca,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Wincolmlee (Hull).
Windermere, before 1130 Sim. Dur. ann, 791 Wonwaldremere (a corrupt reading), 1157 Winendemere, 1196 Winendremer, 1196- 1748 Winandermere. More and better old forms needed. The first part may be Keltic and contain Welsch gwyn, ' clear, white, beautiful’; -mere is Old English mere, 'lake.' Wyld and Hirst, Place-names of Lancashire. derive from a hypothetical Norseman Vignandr, a name, they say, exactly equivalent to the known Old English Wignop'. This is ingenious, but our verdict must be' not proven.' There is a Winder (Frizington, Cumberland) which certainly looks like Welsch gwyn dwr, ' clear stream.' Winderton (Warwickshire) is 1327 Wyntertone.
Windrush R. (Oxford). 779 charter Uuenrisc, Die Heilige English Wenrisc. Probably Keltic. Compare Welsch gwyn, female gwen, ' fair, clear,' and rhysgiad, ' an overgrowing.' The ending is plainly influenced by Old English rise,' a ush.'
Windsor. [Codex Diplomaticus iv. 165 Wendles ore], Domesday Book Windesores, 1096 Old English Chronicum and Eadmer Windlesora, before 1145 Ord. Vit. Windressoris, 1297 Robert of Gloucester Windelsore; also Wyndelshore. 'Bank, border, shore,' Old English ora, ' of Wendel or Windel.' The liquids l and r easily interchange. The Old English name Wendel or Woendel, thinks Skeat, is akin to the Teutonic tribe, the Vandals. Connexion with the Wends, a Slavic race, cannot be thought of. Compare Wendlebfry and Windlesham (Camberley); also Bognor, Cumnor, etc.
Winfarthing (Diss). Domesday Book Wineferthinc, later Wjnineferthing. Probably patronymic, ' place of the sons of Winefrith.' See -ing. '
But perhaps ' the ferding (common Domesday Book term), or quarter of a hide of land, ' of Wynne,' the common OLD ENGLISH Wine. Compare Pinfarting (Amberley) Pin-? =. Old English penn, ' sheepfold.'
Winford Eagle. See Aquilate; and compare next.
Winfrith (Dorset). Charter Wenfrut. Welsch gwen ffrwdd, 'white, clear stream.’
Winkleigh (N. Devon). Domesday Book Wincheleie. Compare 1298 'Thomas de Wyncelade.’ ' Winca's meadow,’ or, as likely, ' Wincel's meadow.’ Compare Winchcombe, Winchelsea, Domesday Book Northants Winewincle, etc. See -leigh. Winksley (Yorks), Domesday Book Wichingeslei, is a patronymic,' meadow of the sons of Winca.'
Winnington (Mket. Drayton). Domesday Book Wennitone. 'Town of Wenna, Wennan, or' Wenni.'
Winslow (Bucks). Charter Uines hlau, 'Wine's hill'; Wine is common in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -low. Compare Winsley (Bradford-on- Avon), Domesday Book Wineslei (Salop), and 792 charter Uuineshauue (belonging to St. Albans), also Winson (Blbury), Domesday Book Winestune, ' Wine' stown.'
Winster R. (Derby and West Midlands). Welsch gwyn,' white clear,' and. thinks McClure, ster, common river name in Brittany, of which the many British cases of Stour may be another form.
Winterborne (14 in Dorset; also Berks, Wilts, and Gloucester). 1155 Rolls of the great Pipe Winterburne (Gloucester). Presumably,' bourne, burn,' Old English hurna,' stream, which runs only in winter,' Old English winter.
Winterhold Pike (N. Lanes). Sic circa, 1250 in charter Either ' hold for dwelling in in winter,' Old English winter, or ' Winter's hold'; the name is still a personal one. Compare Cartularium Saxonicum 761 Wintres hlsew. Hold is Old English heald, S -hold, found from circa, 1205 in the sense of' lair, den, place of refuge.' Compare Scawfell Pikes.
Winteringham (Doncaster). Domesday Book Wentrigha', Wentrigena; 1298 Wyntringham. Patronymic. ' Home of the sons of Winter or Wintar,' both fors in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare above and see -ham. Witerton (3 in Postal Guide), Domesday Book Norfolk. Wintretuna, is from the same name; so is Wentworth.
Winton (N. Yorks, Kirby Stephen, Patricroft, Bournemouth). Yorks W. Domesday Book Winetune. ' Town of Wine,' a common Old English name. But Winthorpe (Newark) is Domesday Book Wimuntorp,' village of Winemund.' See -thorpe.
Winwick (Warrington).? the Cair Guinntguic of before 810 Nennius, which will be Kelt. for' fair, clear village,' Welsch gwyn, Cornish givin, and Cornish gwek, Latin vicus, ' village.' But all analogy would lead one to say,' dwelling of Wine, 'a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -wick,
Winwidfield. Freeman thinks = Wingfield (Derbyshire). On the R. Uinuaed, says Bede iii. 24, which will be Keltic Vindo, Welsch gwyn, ' clear, white,' and? Old Welsch gueid, gueith, ' division, channel.' If so this may now ber epresented by the R. Went or Wynt, a trib. of R. Don.
Wiresworth (Derbysh.). 835 charter Wyrceswurthe. This may b the' farm of a man Weorc'. Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 1282 Weorces mere, and Domesday Book Bucks Wirecesberie. Or it may be, ' farm with the fortification or outwork or bulwark,’ Old English weorc. Compare Wark, circa, 1175 Werk and Domesday Book Wirceshel, now Worsall (N. Riding), and Wircesburg, now Worsbrough (S. Yorks). It is probably from a man's name. See -worth.
Wirral (Birkenhead). 895 Old English Chronicum Wir heala, Domesday Book Warhelle, before 1100 Wirhalas. The name has a Keltic look (compare Welsch gwyr, ' pure, fresh,' and Cornish hul, ' a moor '); but Sir E. Anwyl does not favour this. The Welsch name used to be Cilgwri, ' retreat of Gwri.' If the present name were ' Gwri's hall,' Old English heall, we should have probably, though not certainly, had a genitive sign in 895. So we must leave the name doubtful. See -hall. Wyrley (Walsall) is Domesday Book Wireleia, before 1200 Wirlege, which Duignan derives from Old English wir, ' the wild myrtle.' This may be the root of Wirral, too. Compare Worrall.
Wisbech. Old English Chronicum 657 Wisebece, Codex Diplomaticus v.4 Wisebeche, 1298 Wysebeke. ' Beach of Uui or Uvius in Onomm all East Anglians too. Compare Wisley. Beach is not found in Oxford Dictionary till circa, 1535. Compare Landbeach. Skeat derives Wis- from Old English Wis-ea, ' Ouse stream,' as the Ouse once flowed past here. The early spellings of Ouse do not support this, and the pronunciations seem always to have been distinct.
Wishaw (Tamworth). Domesday BookWitscaga, before 1200 Witteshage, before 1300 Wissawe, before 1400 Wyschawe, Wyshawe. ' Wita'swood,' Old English scaga,' a small wood, a grove.' Compare Wishaw (Lanarksh.).
Wishford (Salisbury). 'Ford on the meadow,' E. Friesian, wishe, Low. Germanic. wische, Germanic wiese; in English wisce seems to mean a small meadow, moist and low-lying. Compare Whistley, and next; also the Wysshes (Siddington).
Wiske Moor (Northallerton). Might be Keltic = Gaelic uisqe, ' water,' or whisky! More likely, 'meadow moor.' See Wishford. Compare Appleton Wiske,
Wisley (Worcester). 759 charter Uuisleag. 'Meadow of Uui.' Compare Wisbeach.
Wistanstow (Craven Arms). Compare Domesday Book Wistanestune (Chesh.). 'Place' (Old English stow) 'of Wistan' or ' Wigstan,' ' Wihstan,’ or ' Winestan’, all forms in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Wiston (Pembk. and Steyning). Old forms needed for Stey. W.? Dam. Wistanestun. Compare Wisley. Pembroke W. is old Castell Gwis, in WELSCH Cas Gwys, ' castle of Gwys ' i.e., Wiz, the Norm, knight who built it.
Witcham (Ely). Domesday Book Wiceham, 1302 Wychham. 'Home of Wica,' or 'by the witch-elm,' Old English wice. Compare Witchford, near by, Domesday Book Wiceford.
Witham (several). Somerset W. Domesday Book Witeham, circa, 1170 Witte- ham. Now pronunciation Wit-am; Old English hwit ham,' white house.' Essex W. Domesday Book Witham is pronunciation Wit-ham, and is on a R. Guith, while R. Witham (Lines) is pronunciation Widh-am. It is said to be 1115 charter Witham; but circa, 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Widhema, Die Heilige English Withma, 1240 Wima, 1281 Wyme. Leland says it takes name from the place Witham, where it rises 8 miles beyond Grantham. But very likely both these last are Keltic, ? with the root Old Welsch gueid, gueith, ' division, separation, a channel.' 941 Old English Chronicum Hwitanwyllesgeat is the mouth of R. Witham. There is a ' Wypie ' in 796 charter Wilts.
Witheridge (Devon). Domesday Book Wederige, Exon. D. Wedreriga. Perhaps before 800 charter Widerigge. ' Ridge' or ' rigg' (as in Scottish and N. Eng.) ' of Widr ' or ' Wither.' Compare Withersfield.
Withernsea (Hull) {Domesday Book Widfornessei, Wilfornes) and Withern wick (Hull) (Domesday Book Widfornewic). The Domesday Book forms seem erroneous, or f has replaced th (see Fenglesham); and both names are probably patronymics, ‘peninsula, and ‘dwelling of the sons of Withere, 2 in Onom, whilst we have Withering in Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 779, See -ea and -wick.
Withersfield (Newmarket). 'Field of Wither,' 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare before1100 Grant of 664' Wytherington,' near Peterborough'.
Withiel (Bodmin) and Withiel Florey (W. Somerset). Cornish withell, ' a lion,' from the supposed look of the place. Compare Lostwithtel.
Withington (4 in Postal Guide). Cheltenham W. 736-37 Grant Wudiandune, Domesday Book Widendime. ' Hill (Old English dun) of Widia or Wudga,’ 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Domesday Book Bucks Withungraue.
Withybrook (Brinklow) is 1198 Widebroc, which should mean ' wide brook'; but the modern pronunciation shows it is only the common Norman d for th medial, and the name really is from Old English withig, ' a willow, a withe.' So is Witcombe (Birdlip), 1330 Wydycoumbe, later Wydecombe; though Baddeley thinks it, ' wide valley.'
Witley (Godalming, Halesowen, Worcester). Halewowen W. before 1500 Whiteley. Worcester W. 964 charter Wittleage, 969 the same Witleag, Domesday Book Witlege. Compare Domesday Book Chesh. and Devon Witelei. Either Old English hwit leah, ' white mead,' or ' meadow of Wita,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, as in Witney (Oxford),' isle of Wita.'
Witson (Newport, Monmouthshire). Old forms needed. We may compare 1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Witsand, or' white sand' (Beds.),
Wittenham (Abingdon). Cartularium Saxonicum. ii. 224 Wittanhamme, circa, 1540 Whittenham Comitis ('of the count or earl') andWittenham Abbatis ('of the abbot'). 'Enclosure' (Old English hamm) 'of Witta.'
Wittersham (Peasmarsh, Sussex). ‘Home of Wither,' 3 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare B.C.8. 60 Uuidringa muth—i.e. West Wittering (Sussex), patronymic from Wither or Widr. Compare Witheridge.
Witton (7 in Postal Guide). Droitwich W. 714 charter Wittona, 1043 Hwitona; Birmingham W. Domesday Book Witone, before 1400 Wytton; Norwich W. Domesday Book Witona, 1179-80 Rolls of the great Pipe Witeton (Yorks). Probably all Old English hwit tun, ' white village ‘; but compare Witley and Wittenham.
Witton-le-Wear (Bp. Auckland), before 1130 Sim. Dur. Wudutun, Wudetun i.e., ' Wood-town.’ See Wear.
Wiveliscombe (Somerset). Compare 941 Wifeles cumbe (Sussex). ' Valley of Wifel' Compare also Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 699 and 1067 Wifeles ford and ham, Domesday Book Chesh. Wivelesde, and Yorks Wifleshale, now Wilsill (see -hall), Willingham and Worston. See -combe.
Wivenhoe (Essex), circa, 1452 Whevenho, Wevenho, Wefnow. ' Hoe, height of Wifa,' genitive -fan.
Wiveton (Norfolk). Domesday Book Wiuetona, 1482 Wyveton, Weveton. 'Village of Wifa.' Compare above. Wiverton (Notts), Domesday Book Wivretune, is from Wigferth or Wifare.
Woburn Sands (Bletchley). 969 charter Woburninga (zemaere) i.e., ' district of the dwellers on the Woburn.' 1155 Wobburne, Old English wo, wohburna,' crooked stream or bourne or burn.' Compare before 675 Grant ' Woburne brugge ' (Surrey), and 796 charter Woburne (Wilts). There are, or were, also several Womeres in England ' crooked lakes.'
Wodnesborough (Kent), before 1300 Wodnesberge. 'Burgh or Barrow of the god Wodin or Odin.' Compare Wanborough.
Woking, before 715 charter Wocchingas, Old English Chronicum Ill Wocingas, Domesday Book Wochinges. Patronymic. ' Place of the sons of Wocc,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Also Wokingham or Oakingham or Ockingham (Berks), circa, 1280 Wokingham, circa, 1540 Okyngham, 1568 Okingham. ' Home of the Woccings.' Se e-ham and -ing.
Wollaston (Stourbridge and Wellingborough). Stourbridge W. 1327 Wolars-ton, probably ‘Wulfhar’s town.’the name is common. But Wollashill in same shire is 1275 Wollaueshull, ' hill of Wulflaf' a still commoner name. Similar is Wollaton (Notts), Domesday Book Olavestune. Welling. W. seems to be Domesday Book Welschdone, ' hill of Wale,' 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Se e-don and -ton.
Wolseley (Rugby). Domesday Book Ulslei, before 1200 Wulfsiesleg, before 1300 Wulseleye. ' Meadow of Wulfsige or Wulfsie,' a very common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, and a fuller form of Wolsey (King's Lynn), 1166 Rolls of the great Pipe Wulsi i.e., ' wolf's isle,' Old English wulfes ige. See -ley and -ey.
Wolsingham (Co. Durham). Sic 1183. 'Home of Wolsin,' variant of the very common name Wulfs ige. See -ham.
Wolstanton (Stoke-on-Trent). Sic circa, 1350, but Domesday Book Wistanetone, 1198 Wulstanestone. 'Village of Wulfstan,' a common Old English name. Compare Domesday Book Salop Vlestanesmude. However, Domesday Book's form will rather represent Wigstan or Wistan, also a very common name. Wolstrop (Gloucester) is old Wulvesthrop, ' town, village of Wulf.'
Wolverhampton. 985 charter Heantune, 994 charter of Wulfrun (corrupt copy), Hamtune, Hantone, 1006 charter Heantun, Domesday Book Hautone, Haudone, Domesday Book Wore. Wrehantone, before 1200 Wulfrunehanton, Wulfrunhamtun, Wolvernehampton. Hean tune is the inflected form of Old English heah tun, 'high town,’ which not seldom gets confused with Hampton. This, then, has become ' the hampton of Wulfrun,' daughter of King Edmund. She founded a college here, and endowed the church with great possessions, in 994.
Wolverley (Kidderminster) and Wolverton (Warwick). 866 charter (late copy) Wulfferdinleh, Wulferdinlea, 1046 the same Wulfweardiglea, Domesday Book Ulwardlei, 1275 Wolffardeleye, Domesday Book Ulwarditone, 1150 Wlwarditone. ' Meadow of the sons of ' and ' town of Wulfweard (compare -ing). But Wolvershill (Nuneaton), before 1300 Wulfareshull, and Wolverton (Pershore), 977 Wulfringetune, 984 Wulfrinton, Domesday Book Ulfrinton, 1275 Wolfertone, are' hill of and ' town of the sons of Wulfhere,' a very common name. Compare 854 charter ' Of Wulfherescumbe on Wulfheres clif,' and Worsley. From Wulfhere also is Wolverton (Basingstoke), Domesday Book Ulvretune, Vluretune; whilst Wolverton (Bucks) in Domesday Book has the patronymic -ing—Wluerintone.
Wolvey (Nuneaton), before 1200 Wulfeia, 1251 Wolveye. 'Isle of 'Wulf or ' Wolf.' See -ey. But with Wolviston (Stockton- on-Tees), compare Domesday Book Suffolk Wluerthestuna, which is probably ' Wulf- heard's town.'
Wombleton (Nawton). Domesday Book Winbeltun, Wilbetun, 1235 Wimbleton. ' Town of Winebeald.'
Wombourne (Wolvermptn.). Domesday Book and later Wamburne, before 1300 Wombeburne, Wamburn. Probably ' brook in the hollow,' lit. 'womb,' Old English wambe, womb(e). Compare Wombridge (Salop) and Wombwell (Barnsley), Dom, Wanbuelle, Wanbuella. See -bourne.
Womersley (Pontefract). Domesday Book Wilmereslege. 'Meadow of Wulfmoer ' or ' Ulmar,' a very common name.
Wonersh (Guildford). Old forms needed. Won- may be for ' Wana's,' a name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; -ersh is almost certainly ersh or arrish, both forms in Oxford Dictionary, as variant of eddish (q.v.), Old English edisc, of obscure origin, ' a wheat-stubble, a cleared cornfield,' found in dialect from Devon to Sussex. Compare Cavendish.
Woodchester (Stroud). 740 charter Wuduceastre, Domesday Book Widecestre and Udecestre. ' Fort, town in the wood,’ Old English wudu. See -Chester.
Woodcote (Warwick, Bromsgrove, and Reading). Warwick W. Domesday Book Widecote, 1165 Wudcote; Bromsgrove W. -Domesday Book Udecote, 1275 Wodecote. ' Cot, cottage in the wood,' Old English wudu.
Woodcroft (Chepstow). (Compare before 1100 Grant of 664 ' Wodecrofte,' near Market Deeping.) Old English croft,' a field, a small farm.' Woodend (Shipley, Towcester, etc.)- There are 3 in Staffdsh., which mark the bounds of the Forest of Arden.
Woodhay (Kintbury, Berks). 1316 Wydehay, circa, 1540 Woodhay. ' Wood fence or hedge.’ Old English hege (also haga and hecg, but these are distinct words). Compare Oxhey.
Woodstock (Oxford). Domesday Book Wodestok, Wodestock; 1154-71 Wudestoca, circa, 1160 Gest. Steph. Wodestoc, 1163 Wdestoke. ' Place, settlement in the wood.' Compare Stoke, Hadstock (Cambridgeshire), etc.; whilst Woodmancote (3 in Gloucester) is 1230 Wdemenecote, ' woodman's cot.'
Wookey and Wookey Hole (Wells). 1231 Patent E. Woky. Probably Old Welsch gwcof, modern Welsch gweof,' a cave.'
Woolacombe Tracy (N. Devon). Domesday Book Olecube, Exon. Devon Vlacumbe; Domesday Book also has Wolnecome. Compare 941 chart Uulecumb, (Twickenham). ' Valley of Wola,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum ' Willelmus de Traci ' (sic charter 1174) lived here. He was one of the murderers of Beckett.
Woolavington (Bridgwater). Old English charter Wulflafing tun. 'Village of Wulflaf's children.' Compare Woollaston (Stafford), Domesday Book UUavestone, and Woollavington (Sussex); also Woolaston-ou- Severn, Domesday Book Odelaweston, 1218 Wolavestone, where Baddeley postulates a nunknown Wudelaf. See -ing and -ton.
Wooler (N. Northumberland). Local pronunciation Oolor. 1197 Rolls Welloure. Testa de Nevil Willore. ' Well on the bank or edge,' Old English ofer, obr, now usually -over, as in Ashover, Shotover, etc., but often contracted as in Asher, Hadsor, Hasler, etc. In more recent times the vowel sounds have been transposed, and the name now is locally suppoed to denote' a woolmarket and, indeed, W. was a great wool centre. But, as will be seen, Eng. placenames in Wool- very seldom have any connexion with wool. E.g., Wooldale (S. Yorks) is Domesday Book Ulvedel,' dale of Ulf or 'the Wolf,' etc.
Woolhampton (Berks). Domesday Book Ollavintone, circa, 1280 Wulavinton, 1428 Wolamptone. A name which has changed. Not originally the Hampton or' hometown,' but the' town, village of Wullaf for Wulfflaf o rrather' of the Wulflafings,'or' sons of Wulflaf.' Compare the Norse Olaf and Codex Diplomaticus vi. 243 Wullafingland and Woolavington.
Woolly (Wakefield). Domesday Book Wiluelai. ' Meadow of the willows,' Old English wilig, welig. Compare Willey.
Woolmer Green (Stevenage). Charter Wulfmoer. ' Boundary, district,' Old English (ge)moere,' of a man Wulf.'
Woolnoth St. Mary (parish, London). Probably from Wulfnoth, brother of King Harold (died 1066).
Woolpit (Bury St. Edmunds). Domesday Book Wifpeta. ' Wolf-pit,' Old English wulf-pyt. Compare 1148 Gloucester charter Wlpitta.
Woolstone (Shrivenham, Berks). Domesday Book Olvricestone, circa, 1280 Wulfricheston, Wulvricheston, 1316 Wolfricheston. ' Town, village of Wulfric'. See -ton. This name shows how hopeless it is to try to guess origins! Woolscott (Warwick) is equally hopeless, for it is Domesday Book Werlavescote, ' Woerlaf's cottage.' Woolston (Bp's. Cleeve) is simpler Domesday Book Olsendone, 1316 Wolsiston i.e., ' Wolsi' i. s. fuller, ' Wulfsige's town.'
Woolwich. Domesday Book Hulviz (Norman phonetics!), Text. Roffensis Welwic, before 1400 Wolwiche. The Old English form is said to be Wulewic, probably ' dwelling, house for wool,' Old English wul, wull, Icel. ull, ' wool,' and Old English wic. See -wich.
Woore (S. Chesh.). Domesday Book Waure. Compare Brownsover (Rugby), Domesday Book Gaura, before 1300 Waure, Bruneswaure, Bruneswafre, which Duignan derives from a supposed Old English woefre or wafre, ' the aspen poplar.' Compare Wavertree.
Wootton (13 in P.G.) and Wotton (2). Domesday Book Vdetune (Salop), Wodetone (Staffordshire), Wotone (Warwick), Utone (Gloucester). Woottton Rivers (Marlborough), circa, 680 charter Wdetun, Birch. Cartularium SAaxonicum i. 506 Uudetun (Berks). ' Wood-town,' ' dwelling in the wood.' Hill Wootton (Leamington) is Domesday Book Hille, 1327 Hull wottone; while Wootton Wawen (Henley-in-Arden) goes back to 723 charter Widu tun, 1043 Wagene de Wotton, circa, 1350 Wawenes and Waunes Wotton. Wawen, Old English Wahgene, was a great local proprietor before the Conquest.
Worcester. 691 charter Weogorna civitas, Bede Provincia Huicciorum, Old English vers. Hwicna Gemaere (territory), before 810 Nennius Huich, circa, 800 charter Hicca, circa, 802 the same Wegoranensis civitas, Wigornensis ecclesia, 804 the same Wigornacestre, 836 the same Weogurnacestre, circa, 897 Alfred Wiogora ceastre, circa, 1075 Wigraceastre, circa, 1100 Flor. Wore. Episcopatus Wigornensis, 1274 Wirecestre, circa, 1290 Wyricestre, 1297 B. Gloucester Wurcetre, 1666 Merrett Wostershire. Modern pronunciation Wu-ster. Some think it is the Caer Guiragon or Guveirangon of Nennius. Compare Wroxeter. ' Fort of the Huiccii ' or ' Wigorna ' i.e., probably ' the forest men,' Old Welsch guig, gwig, ' a grove.' See McClure (p. 165), and Winhford, and the Wyre Forest once in this shire. Hu- and Gu- both equal Welsch.
Word (Kent and Sussex) and Worth (Eastry, Kent, and Wareham). Old English worth,' a farm,' in Domesday Book always -word(e), -vord(e), -orde. See -worth. The people at the Kent Word always call it Worth.
Wordsley (Stourbridge), before 1200 Wuluardeslea, before 1300 Wolwardele. ' Meadow of Wulfweard.' Compare Wolverley. See -ley. Workington (W. Cumbld.). 1300 Werkenton. ' Tomi of (the sons of) Weorc,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Worksop (Retford). Domesday Book Werchesope, 1189 Rolls of the great Pipe Worcheshope, 1285 Wyrkesop, 1456 Worsop. Probably ' Hope, harbourage, or valley of Wore' Compare Worsley and Waesop; but also compare Waek. See -hope.
Worleston (Nantwich). Not in Domesday Book, but cf Domesday Book Bucks Vorlsdone, ' Town, village of Worla,' a name not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare Whorlton.
Worlingham (Suffolk), Worlington (Soham), and Worlingworth (Framlingham). All three in the same county, and yet in each the Worling- has a different origin. They are in Domesday Book Warliugaha, Werliugaha, ' home of the sons of Warl; Wirilintona, where the name is doubtful, Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has one Wernweald; and Wyrlingwortha, ' farm of the Wyrlings.' See -ing and -worth.
Wormgay (King's Lynn), circa, 1150 Wirmegeie, 1232 Wurmegaye, Red Book Wirmingai. Patronymic. ' Isle of the Wyrmings,’ or ' sons of Wyrm. ‘The Snake. Compare Worminghall (Thame). See -ay.
Wormingford (Essex). Domesday Book Widemondefort, later Withermondford, 1481-90 Howard Bks. Wyrmyngforde. ' Ford of Withermund,' an unrecorded name, but Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has Widmund and Witherwine. Withermond could easily become Wyrmyng-, and wyrm is Old English for ' worm," hence the confusion and present spelhng. Wormington (Gloucester), Domesday Book Wermetun, is simply ' town of Wyrme ' or ' Wurm.' See -ing.
Wormleighton (Southam). 956 charter Wilmanlehtune, Domesday Book Wimeresstone, menestone, before 1200 Wilmelathune (t for c), 1327 Wilmeleghtone, before 1400 Wormleytone. ' Wilman’s Leighton,' a very remarkable corruption; 2 Wilmans in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum The Domesday Book forms show how unreliable Domesday Book may be.
Worm's Head (Pembrokesh.). Low Dutch, probably Flemish form of Orm's Head. See p. 79.
Worrall (Sheffield). Domesday Book Wihala, Wihale. Possibly ' wild myrtle nook ‘; Old English wir. See Wirral and -hall.
Worsborough (Barnsley). Domesday Book Wircesburg. ' Burgh, town of Wire' or' Wore'. Compare next and see -burgh.
Worsley (Manchester and Abberley). Manchester W. 1296-97 Werkslegh, 1293 Workellegh. ' Mead of Were.' Compare above and Worksop. But Abberley W. before 1200 Wermeslai, Wervesleve, 1275 Worvesle, 1327 Werwesle, 1332 Worsley. Probably ' mead of Woerwulf.' See -ley.
Worstead Hall (Walsall), before 1560 Walstede, Walstode. 'Stead, steading, farm of Wealh i.e., the stranger.' Worston (Stafford) is circa, 1300 Wiveleston, Wyverstone, Wyfridestone, Worflestone. The name shows variations, but probably is ' town of Wifel.' Compare Birch. Cartularium Saxonicum 699 and 1067 Wifeles ford and ham, and Wiveliscombe.
Worth. See Word and -worth.
Worthing, also Worthen (Shrewsbury, perhaps circa, 1350 charter Worthyn). Probably the dative of Old English worpig, ' enclosed farm.' Compare Tamworth and Worthy (Winchester), which is the same name, 1001 Old English Chronicum Worthige. See -worth.
Wortley (2 in Yorks and Wotton-under-Edge). Yorks W. Domesday Book Wirtleie, Wirlei, Wrleia, 1298 Wurtele. Wotton W. old Wurthelye, turnip or suchlike. Worton (Yorks and Potterne), Domesday Book '
Wouldham (Rochester), circa, 970 charter Wuldaham. Probably 'home of' an unrecorded man.
Wrangle (Boston). Domesday Book Weranghe, 1276 Wrangle, 1396Wranghill, Wrangel. Probably Old English wer, waer, ' a fence, enclosure for fisch, a weir’, and angel, ‘fishhook; so, ‘weir for fishing in.’
Wrathing (Cambridgeshire and Suffolk). Cambridgeshire W. Domesday Book Waratinge, charter Wraettincge, 1167 Wreting, 1210 Wrotinge, 1302 Wrattinge. ' Home of the sons of Wroetta ' or ' the man with the wart E. Anglian wret. Domesday Book inserts an a, and makes it Warat-, to help a Norman's pronunciation. See -ing.
Wrawby (Brigg) and Wray (Lancaster and Windermere). Compare 1612-13, in Norse Riding Bee, ' A parcell of meadow called the Wraie'; Norse wraa, 'a corner, a landmark.' Compare Capernwray (Lanes),' chapman's, merchant's corner,' Haverah, and Wrae (Scottish) See -by.
Wraysbury (Staines). Not in Domesday Book, but old Wyrardisbury, ' Town, burgh of Woerheard ' or ' Werardus,' a common name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -bury.
Wrekin, The (Salop).? before 600 Llywarch Hen. Dinnle Wrecon, before 900 charter Wreocensetun. Probably same root as Wroxeter, q.v. Possibly same root as Welsch gwrechyn, gwrachin,' a crabbed fellow,' but this is doubtful.
Wrelton (Pickering). Domesday Book Wereltun. More old forms needed? from Werdwulf or Wernbeald. Compare Wressel, also E. Riding, Domesday Book Weresa. This may be the same name as Domesday Book Wore. Weredshale, interpreted by Skeat as ' Old English weoredesheale, " a place occupied by a host," wherein a set of men squatted in company.'
Wrexham. In Welsch Gwrecsam, corruption Of the Eng. name. In Saxon days it was in Mercia, not Welsch. 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Cheshire Wristlesham, 1222 charter Madoc ap Gruffith Wrechceosam, 1236 Wreccesham, Wrettesham (t common error for c), 1291 Wyrcesson, 1316-17 Wrightlesham, circa, 1620 Beaumont and Fletcher Rixum. Probably ' home of Wryhtsleof,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum; 1160 has the regular Norman st for guttural h, which the Norman could not abide. See -ham.
Wribbenhall (Bewdley). Domesday Book Gurbehale, before 1100 Wrbenhala, 1240 Wrubenhale. ' Wrobba's nook.’ See -hall.
Writtle (Chelmsford). Probably 692-93 charter Writolaburna (brook), 1234 Close R. Writel. Perhaps Keltic compare Welsch gwrthol,' backwards.' Wrihtinglgton (Bath) is Domesday Book Writelinctune,’ a patronymic, probably based on the same root. See -ing.
Wrockwardine (Wellington, Salop). 'Farm of Wrocc' Compare Wroxall and see -wardine.
Wrotham (Kent) and Wrottesley (Wolverhampton). Domesday Book Wrotolei, before 1200 Wrotelei, Wroteslea. ' Home ' and ' meadow of Wrot.' See -ham and -ley.
Wroxall (Ventnor and Warwick). Ventnor W. 1038-44 charter Wroccesheale binnan Wiht. Warwick W. before 1200 Wrocheshal(e), Wrokeshal. ' Nook of Wrocc.’' Compare Wroxhill (Beds) and Wroxton (Oxon). See-hall.
Wroxeter (Shrewsbury), circa, 150 Ptolemy Urioconio, circa, 380 The Antoninc Itenary ibid., also Virocono. Probably also before 810 Nennius Caer Guiragon or Guoricon, or Urnahc, Brut y Tywysogion Caerwrangon. Wroxeter is for Wrocn's, caster. Compare Exeter and see -caster. It may contain the same root as Wrekin. McClure thinks Virocono may contain the name of Verica, son of the Keltic King Commios.
Wychwood (W. Oxon.). Old English Chronicum 841 Huicceuudu, Domesday Book Huchewode, 1284 Whychewode, Whucchewode. ' Wood of the Huiccii.' It formerly belonged to the bishops of this tribe, who perhaps took their name from Old English wice, Mittel English wiche, ' a tree,' probably the wych elm, or hazel. See also Worcester and Wichford.
Wycliffe (Teesdale). Domesday Book Witchve i.e., ' white cliff,' Old English hwit clif; there is one here; but before 1130 Sim. Dur. Wigeclif i.e., ' cliff of Wiga,' 4 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Wycombe (Bucks). Domesday Book Wicombe, circa, 1350 Wycombe, 1387 Trevisa Wycomb malban. Modern pronunciation Wick-am. ' Valley of the Wye,' a little trib. Of R. Thames. Compare 1160-61 Rolls of the great Pipe Sussex Wicumba. See -combe.
Wye, R. Domesday Book Waia, circa, 1097 Flor. Wore. Weage, Latin Chrons. Vaga, circa, 1130 Lib. Landav. Gwy, which is Welsch for ' river, stream.' Compare Wey and Wycombe.
Wyke (Bradford) and W. Regis (Weymouth). Domesday Book Wiche. ' Dwelling.' See -wich. Regis, Latin' of the king.'
Wyken. See Wicken.
Wylam (Northumberland). 1201 Wilum; a locative as in Kilham, etc., 'at the wells'; Old English wiell (a),'a spring, a fountain.' See-ham.
Wyle Cop (Shrewsbury). McClure thinks Wyle is same as Wyla, probably genitive plural of wygel, both words in the early Old English glossaries with the meaning ' cave.’ Cop is Old English cop, coipp, ' top, summit.’ See Oxford Dictionary, cop sb2.
Wymondham (Norfk. And Oakham). Norfolk W. circa, 1150 Wimundehame. ' Home of Wimund, 'a common Old English name. Compare Domesday Book Wimundisham (Chesh.), now Wincham, and Wimuntorp (Notts), now Winthorpe. See -ham, here probably' enclosure.'
Wyre, R. (Lanes). Sic before 1300. Wyre Forest (Warwickshire). Always Wyre. There is also Wyre Piddle (Pershore), Domesday Book Pidele, 1290 Wyre Pidele. Any of these may be from Welsch gwyr, 'oblique, sloping, benching,' or gwyre, 'pure, fresh, lovely.' But all is doubtful. Compare 1235 Close R. Wirburne. Duignan cites the rivers Wyree Fawr and Fach (Welsch mawr and bach), ' great and little spread,' from Cardiganshire.
Wysall (Nottingham). Domesday Book Wisoc, 1302 Wishow, 1637 Wysshaw. Wisley. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only 1 Wizo. The present ending is quite recent. Compare Watnall.
Wytham (Oxford). Old English charter Wihtham, circa, 1130 Chronicum Abing. Uuihteham, Wictham, circa, 1540 Wightham. ' Home of Wihta ' or ' Wiht. Wythburn (Keswick) may be from the same man's name, but is probably= Wight, a Keltic root.

Yalding (Maidstone). Not in Domesday Book 1230 Close E. Ending. More evidence needed. Possibly patronymic from Gelda, 1 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ing.
Yale (Derbyshire). Welsch ial, 'open land.' Compare Llanarmon-yn- Yale (Mold).
Yanworth (Hazleton). Domesday Book Teneurde, 1221 Jeanworth, 1251 Zaneward. ' Farm of Ean,' short for Eanbeorht, or the like. See -worth.
Yapham (E. Riding). Domesday Book Iapun, 1230 Japun. Perhaps a locative 'at the gaps'; Old Norse gap, 'chasm'; Sw. gap. Da. gab, 'open mouth.' Gap is not found in English till circa, 1380. See -ham. But Yapton (Arundel), not in Domesday Book, will be from a man Geppa; 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Yar R. (Isle of Wight) and Yare R. (Great Yarmouth). Forms see Yarmouth. The Yare is perhaps circa, 150 Ptolemy Gariennos, circa, 380 Notit. Dign. Garianno, whilst the earliest sure form is Domesday Book's Gerne. McBain held that Yare is = Yarrow (Scottish), which is Gaelic garbh, 'rough). So Garianno will be Keltic for ' rough river the -enn- or -ann- or -ne representing a Keltic word for ' river,' like Gaelic abhuinn. Compare the rivers, Garonne, Guadi-ana, etc. The Yar may represent the simple Kelt. adj. for ' rough,' its earliest tknown form being Domesday Book's, Er. However, Arncliffe (Skipton) is once in Domesday Book Gerneclif, where Gerne must be Old English earn,' an erne' or' eagle.’ Yardley (Birmingham). 972 charter Gyrdleahe, Domesday Book Gerlei, 1275 Jerdeleye. Yakdley Hastings (Northants), before 1124 Jerdelai. ' Enclosed meadow,’ from Old English geard, ' a yard, a court.’ See -ley.
Yarkhill (Hereford). 811 charter Geard cylle, which is Old English for ' Yard vessel,’ a strange name for a place. Old English geard is ' yard, enclosure, dwelling." Kiln is Old English cylene, and not to be thought of here. In any case the corruption is notable. Yartledon (Gloucester), old Yarcledon, Yacledon, and Zarkley, Baddeley derives from the dial, yark, ' ragwort.""
Yarlett (Stone). Domesday Book 1300 Erlide, before 1500 Erlid, before 1600 Yerlett. Doubtful; an abnormal name. Duignan's Old English geard lyt, ' httle yard," seems out of the question. The name seems Norse; Old Norse earl- or iarl- hlith, Old English eorl-hlith, ' earl's ' or ' jarl's slope.' Th certainly could harden into t or d—medially it often does in Domesday Book—and the Eng. earl is 6-7 yerle. The Scottish -lets seem generally to have been originally -leth, as in Cromlet, Huklet, and Passelet, old form of Paisley.
Yarm (N. Riding). Domesday Book Iarun, Gerou (u error for n). larun looks like an Old English locative see- ham. But the name is probably Old English gerum, ' room, space,' or geruma, ' a place '; gerume, ' roomy.'
Yarmouth, Great. Domesday Book Gernemua, circa, 1130 Eadmer and 1167 Pixie Gernemutha, 1223 Jernemue, 1278 Magna Jernemouth, 1461 Yarmouth. Yarmouth, Little (Suffolk) is 1229 Close B. Parva Gernem'. Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) is Domesday Book Ermud, 1231 Close R. Erem'. Oxford Dictionary's earliest quatation for mouth in the sense of ' river mouth ' is before 1122.
Yarnfield (Stone and Somerset). 1266 Ernefeld, 1327-79 Ernefen, before 1600 Yernfyn, Yarnefylde. Somerset Y. Domesday Book Gernfelle (ll as often for ld), Old English gearn feld, ' yarn field,' or else ' fen.' Compare Yarnwick (N. Riding), Domesday Book Gernwic,' house for making yarn.' See wick. Yarwell (Wansford, Northants). Not in Domesday Book 1238 Jarewell. Doubtful. Possibly from Old Norse jara, poetic word for ' a fight, a combat.'
Yatesbury (Calne). Compare Domesday Book Bucks lateberie. ' Town, burgh of Geat ' or ' Geot.' See -bury. But Yate (Bristol), 778 charter Gete, Domesday Book Giate, is O E. oet Geate,' at the gate.'
Yattenden or-Yattendon (Berks). Domesday Book Etingedene, 1316 Yatindene, 1365 Yatyndene, 1428 Yatendene. ' Dene, valley (Old English denu, often confused in names with Old English dun, ' hill, down ') ' of the Geatings ' or ' sons of Geat.' Compare B.C.iS. iii. 68 Geates cumb (Cumnor), and Yatting (Kent), 1235 Close E. Jatingden.
Yaxham (Norfolk) and Yaxley (Peterborough'). 1477 Yeaxham. 940 charter Geakeslea, 1235 Close R. Jakesli. There is also one at ' Home ' and ' meadow ' of Feaca,' not in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum See -ham and -ley.
Yeadon (Leeds). Domesday Book Iadun. Probably an old locative ‘at the roads,’ or' on the way, ‘from Old Norse gata, Danish gade,' a road, a way'; the So. gate. We see t become d also in Yokefleet (N. Yorks), Domesday Book Iucufled, Iugufled. See Fleet.
Yearsley (Yorks). Domesday Book Eureslage, d English eofors leah,' wild-boar's field '=: Eversley. Compare Yevering.
Yedding or Yeading (Middlesex). 793 charter Geddingas. Patronymic, 'Home of the sons of Geddi,' one in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum Compare the modern surname Giddings.
Yelverton (Norwich and Dartmoor). Norwich Y. probably Domesday Book Ailuertun, ' town of AElfweard,' a common name. Dartmoor Y. is doubtful. Said to be Elford-town, as the Elfords once had a seat here. This is phonetically very doubtful. Perhaps it is Domesday Book Utvretone (Ut- error for Ul-), and so ' town of Ulfheard ' or ' Ulfard,' variant of the very common Wulfheard. There is an Elforde in Domesday Book Devon.
Yenlet (several at mouth of Thames). 789 charter Iaegnlaad, 808 charter Genlad (Kent), Bede Genlada, said to be Old English gegn, 'opposite, over against,' and lada (gelad), 'way, passage.' Perhaps one origin of Eng. inlet. Compare 1570-76, Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) 234,' A thing yet well known in Kent and expressed by the word yenlade or yenlet, which betokened an Indraught or Inlett of water into the land,’ Inlet is found as early as before 1300 Cursor Mundi, In-late.
Yeo R. There are 3, one in N. Devon, 2 in Somerset. The one near Crediton is 739 charter Eowe. Possibly from Iish ed, ' yewtree ' river. W. J. Watson, with hesitation,' derives the R. Ewe (Rossshire) from this root. Compare next.
Yeovil and Yeovilton. before 800 charter Gifla, Domesday Book Givele, Ivle, charter Gavylton. Though Yeovil is on R. Yeo, its originally had nothing to do with Yeo. Gifla or Gavyl seems to be Old English gafol, geafl, ‘a fork, a forked opening, cognate with Gaelic gabhal or gobhal (bh=v), 'a fork,' as in Gavell (Kilsyth). The modern name is made up of Yeo and France ville, a truly modern compound! There is also said to be a St. Ivel, from whom the town took its name. No such name appears in the Dict. Christ. Biogr. Compare Galford, Ilchester, and Yielden.
Yeverin G) (Wooler). Bede Adgefrin, before 1120 Hen. Hunt. Adgebrin. Doubtful.? containing Welsch gwefr, ' amber,' ' amber- coloured.' Yaverland (Isle of Wight) is Domesday Book Evreland, from the name Eofor, Eofer, or Ever, i.e., ' the Boar.' Compare Eversley, etc,
Yewbarrow (hill, Wastwater). 1322 Yowberg. ' Barrow mound-like hill, with the yews ‘; Old English iw.
Yielden (Beds). Domesday Book Giveldene. 'Dean, wooded vale at the forked opening '; Old English geafl. See Yeovil and -den. Yielding Tree (Broom, Worcester) may have the same root, but it is 1275 Gyldintre, which looks like ' tree of Qilda,' genitive -an. Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum has only Gildewine.
Ynys Glanach (Anglesey) before 1190 Giraldus Cambrensis Enislannach. Welsch =’island of Glanach’, or perhaps ‘isle of the landing or going ashore. Welsch glaniad. Also called Priestholme (Old English) and Dan. Holm, ‘a small low island) and Puffin Island. But T. Morgan says the Welsch name now is Ynis Seiriol, from a saint who erected his cell here in 6th century.
Yockleton (Shrewsbury). Domesday Book Loclehuile, error for Geochulle, just as Domesday Book has Locheshale for Yoxall. This seems to be ' village of the yokel,' at least, there seems no likely man's name only yokel, ' a boor, a country lout," is, so far as records go, a recent and dial, word, for which we can find nothing earlier than Jamieson's yochel, ' a big, stupid person.' Probably it is derived from yoke and meant originally 'a ploughman.' But compare Giggleswick.
York. circa, 380 The antonic Itenary Eburracum, Eboracum, Bede Ecclesia Eboracensis, circa, 780 Alcuin, a resident there, Euborica civitas, Old English Chronicum 738 Eoforwic, before 998 Richer Eurvich, circa, 1000 AEIfric Eferwic, Domesday Book Euruic, 1198 Hoveden Everwic, circa, 1205 Layam icleped Eborac, seodden Eoverwic,' 1275 the same Euerwich. Layam. 2666 says the name used to be Caer Ebrauc, from the good King Ebrauc 1298 Everwyke, 1479 Surtees Misc. York. Also Yorkshire, 1065 Old English Chronicum Eoforwicscire, circa, 1386 Chaucer Yorkshire. The name originally was the Kelt. Eburach, Eborach, which Gluck says is Irish ebrach,' muddy, from abar, Irish and Gaelic' a marsh,' with the common ending -ach, ' place of.' But the Angles may have taken it to be ' town, dwelling,' Old English wic, ' on the R. Ure or ' Eure,' which looks like Gaelic iubhar, Ir. ibar, ' a yew.' Compare the Eburones, a tribe in Belgium, Caesar B.G. 2. 4. 4, Eborius, Bp. of York, at the Council of Aries, a.d. 314, and the Eburovices, the tribe who have given name to Evreux. The modern Welsch name is Caerefrog, the descendant of Layam.'s Caer Ebrauc, ' castle of Ebrauc'. The present pronunciation York comes through the influence of the Danes, who called it Jorvik j=y.
Youlgrave (Bakewell), Domesday Book Giolgrave, and Youlton (N. Riding), Domesday Book Ioletune. Probably ' yellow grave ' and ' town Old English geolo, geolu, ‘yellow, but lole- may represent a man Oola, 2 in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum
Youlthorpe (Pocklington). Domesday Book Aiultorp. Doubtful; hardly from Old English ule, Mid High Ger. iuwel, iule, ' an owl, probably ‘village of
Howoel, Howel, Huwal, or Owel,' recorded names of British princes. But compare above. See -thorpe.
Yoxal (Burton - on -T.). Domesday Book locheshale (see Yockleton). before 1300 Yoxhal(e), Jokesal, before 1400 Yokeshale, Joxhale. No likely name in Searle’s Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum, so probably ' nook ' or ' meadow of the yoke.' Old English geoc, gioc, ioc i.e., as much as could be plowed by a yoke or pair of oxen in one day. See -hall. Similarly, Yoxford (Saxmundham) is Domesday Book Gokesford.
Yr Aran, etc. See Aran, etc. Yr or y is the Welsch article ' the yr being used bef. a vowel or h.
Yspytty (Betws y Coed) and Yspytty Ystwyth. Corruption not of Latin hospitium, ' a hospice, a hospital,' but of Latin hospes, -itis, ' a guest,' and Welsch ty, ' house,' and so, ' an inn.' Compare Tafarn Spite and Aberystwyth.
Ystalyfera (Glamorgan) Old ynys tal fera (perhaps For furiau) ' meadow at the foot of the high walls ' i.e., ' hills.' But Welsch ystal is ' a stall,' and fera or bera,' a stack of hay or corn.'
Ystrad Mynach (Cardiff). Welsch= ' monk's meadow.' Welsch ystrad is same as Gaelic srath or' strath,' but in Welsch means rather' a meadow or ' rich lowland.' However, the original name is said to have been Y-Maenarch, named after one of the Earls of Hereford.
Zennor (St. Ives). There seems to be no saint of this name. Perhaps Cornish and Welsch iender, 'cold, coldness,' Corish iein, Welsch iain, 'cold.' (Compare the personal name Jenner.
Zoy (Somerset), circa, 725 charter Soweie, Domesday Book Sowi. Old English su ize, ' sow isle.' Initial s regularly becomes z in this region. Compare Chedzoy, Bridgwater, 1257-1300 charter Chedeseye, ' Cedda's isle.' See -ey.


In the case of English placenames, a knowledge of the endings is quite half the battle; and so we now set forth the chief of these in some detail. The student will find this section well worth mastering. He should first consult the Abbreviations, p. 87.
-age is a rare and always puzzling ending, often not a true ending at all. In Wantage, e.g., it seems quite modern, whilst in Buebage the ending is really -bage, modern form of Old English hece,' brook.' These quence is -beck, -back, -bach, -batch, -baitch, -bage; and all these forms are found represented among our names and their pronunciations. In Cocknage and Stevenage the -age is Old English h) cecce,
'hatch'; whilst Swanage is Old English Swanawic, 'swan's haunt '; and Broomage, Larbert, Scotland, is 1458 Bru- minche, or 'broom, gorse links,' or 'meadow.' Cranage may be like Swanage, 'crane's abode,' but Cressage seems to be' crestedge.'

-ay, -ea, -ey, -y.—These all represent, though -y only some- times, the Old English ig, ' island ' ; ig is Wessex, the Anglian and 0. Mercian is eg, in Mittel English-ei, -ey, from Old English ea, ' stream, river, brook ' ; so that the root idea is ' watery place, not only an island, but a peninsula—as often, Selsea, Bawdsey (Hollesley Bay), etc.—or any place surrounded with brooks or streams, or even a marshy place. Most places now with this ending can never have been true islands. Berks, e.g., has nine examples; and we not only have the Isle of Anglesey (Old English Chronicum Angles ege), but also an Anglesey Priory, Cambridgeshire Places like Pevensea, Swansea, etc., are also cases in point. In the north -ey may be the Old Norse ey, Dan. oe, with the same meaning. But few English names in -ey are certainly Norse. The ending -y certainly sometimes represents ' island, as in ' Lundy Island; and Skeat gives Coveny and Wendy in Cambridgeshire, but he refused Ely, Bede's Elge, or ' district not 'island of eels;' ge being rare Old English =Germanic gau, what Bede calls 'regio.' In Marrick, Domesday Book Marige, N. Yorks, -ige has seemingly hardened into -ick; this is rare.

-hack, -beach, -heck. —Old Norse bekk-r, Swedish back, 'a brook, a stream.' Not in Northumberland, where Wansbeck is a recent corruption of Wanny spike; but we have a' Bolebec,' in1157 Rolls of the great Pipe Roll, Northumberland. It is found still, however, in Durham, in some tributaries of the Wear, where we even have a Beechburn Beck! It is common in Cumbria and Yorks—Holme Beck, Troutbeck, etc.—but perhaps not farther south than Lines. One of the most southerly is Pinchbeck, Spalding; but as that is already found in an 810 charter Pyncebek, the -beck here is probably the Old English bece or bcec, found in this same charter in Holebech or Holbeach, in the same district, with the same meaning. Bach, also bache, and -batch, is a regular dialect name for common especially in Cheshire—Bache, Combrook, Berbatch, Sandbach, etc.; whilst in Domesday Book we have here a Bachelie. The Old Norse genitive of beck—viz., bekkjar—is found in the two Beckermets, ' mouth of the brook ' whilst, as we noted above, Burbage is, in 961, Burh- bece.
borne, -bourne, -burn. — This last is now only northern, but all three are forms of Old English burna, burne, burn, Old Norse brunn-r, originally ' a spring, a fountain,' then ' a brook, a rivulet.' In Northumberland -burn is common, as in Scotland, Hartburn, Otterburn, Warkburn, etc.; in Cumberland it is rarer—Greensburn, near the Border, etc. Tributaries of the Wear vary between -burn and -beck; south thereof -burn ceases, and -borne or -bourne becomes common nearly everywhere. In old spellings in Berks, Cambridgeshire etc., we have -burnor -burne, but not now. In Mary-le-bone, London, the r of bourne has vanished.

-boro’ -borough, -burgh, -bury, all variants of Old English burz, burli, 2 bure(g)h, beriz, 3 buri, 3—4 borh, boru (for other forms ‘see Oxford Dictionary), ' an enclosed or fortified town (or village), rather than a simple fort or castle like dun, though compare circa, 820 Kent. Gloss., 'ad arcem, to burze.' The ending is very common all over, especially as -bury; -burgh, so common in Scotland, is rare in England; even in the north it is rather -borough—Bamborough, Flam- borough, Middlesborough, etc. But we have Burgh-on- Sands, on the Solway, pronunciation Bruff, and Burgh, E. Lines. The ending has come down to -ber in Bramber {compare harbour and its forms in Oxford Dictionary). The northern ending -bergh, as in Caldbergh, Sedbergh, etc., is not from -burgh, but is a variant of Barrow. But Farnborough at least three times in Domesday Book ends in -berg(e); and in Denmark to-day we have -berg, -borg, and -burg all representing our burgh. On the other hand, Crowborough, Leek, is circa, 1300, Crowbarwe, perhaps dative of Old English beam, ' a wood '; and Hillborough, Warwick, is, in 710, Hildeburhwrthe, 'farm of Hildeburga.'

-by, -bie. —North. Old English by, probably adoption of Old Norse boe-r, by-r, Sw. and Dan. by, 'dwelling, village,' from Old Norse buia, ' to dwell,' same root as in North, big, ' to build.' Mawer, Vikings, p. 124, says it indicates Danish rather than Norse settlement; but this contradicts his own statement (p. 11) that Northumbria was Norwegian; and Yorks is crammed with -bys. However, there are only four north of Tees Butterby, Durham, being one of the northmost—and there are none in Northumberland. Wegetthebce-r form in Canisbay and Duncansbay, Caithness, but not in Eng land. The ending runs as far south as Badby and Kilsby, south of Rugby. There are none in Cambridgeshire or Herts, but there are several in Norfolk and Suffolk round the mouth of the Yare, and we have Kirby Cross and Kirby-le-Soken in N.E. Essex. There is also a Laghenbia, in Domesday Book Essex? where. There are at least eight in Cheshire, but perhaps none in the west to the south of Cheshire. The ending reappears in Jersey—Hougie Bie, ' dwelling on the mound.'

-caster, -cester, -Chester.—Latin castrum, castra,' a camp, a fortification ‘; not always a proof of Roman work, though, along with -ford, -ceaster is the commonest of all the endings in our earliest historian Bede. Outside the Danelagh the c usually softened into ch, or from hard c to soft. Thus we get many -chesters even in the north Chesterfield (1165 still Cestrefelt), Manchester (1421 still Mamecestre), and even Ribchester, north-east of Preston. Yorks is full of -casters; and we even have Muncaster, in Danish Cumberland; but in Durham and Northumberland the form is always -Chester—Binchester, Ebchester, and Rochester (Northumberland). The hard -caster comes as far south as Brancaster (King's Lynn), a very Danish locality, but not farther; Warwick has none. The form -cester occurs rarely within the Danelagh, as in Leicester, and is the regular form in the more southern parts— Bicester, Cirencester, Gloucester, Worcester, etc. all these cited being much more contracted on modern lips. Old English ceaster has also become -xeter = cseter, as in Exeter and Wroxeter (this form seems late), but not Uttoxeter. Once we find the ending as -cetter, in Mancetter, Atherstone. (On the origin of the Old English forms, see Caistor.
-comb, -combe. —Common also in Cumberland as a prefix—Cum- divock, -rangan, -ranton, -whinton, etc.—or separately, as in Combe Down, Combe Florey, Combe Martin, etc. The proximate root is Old English cumb, ' a hollow thing '; hence ' a bowl,' and then' a(deep)valley' or' a hollow in the flank of a hill.' In origin it is probably Keltic, and cognate with Welsch cwm, ' a hollow.' As suffix, it is found chiefly in the south, especially in Somerset, Dorset, and Devon—in the first commonest of all. In Berks there are four, in Cambridgeshire none, in Warwick only Walcombe (no old forms), in Cheshire only Seacombe, which is at least as old as the days of Henry VI.; there is also Holcombe, near Manchester; and the suffix reappears in the north in Cumberland, Gillercombe, and Glaramara and Langdale Combes, etc.; also at least once in Durham, Escomb (Bishop Auckland). But in the north one must be careful to differentiate from coom sb2 (Oxford Dictionary),' a dome like hill,' of uncertain origin, as in Black Combe, White Combe, and Hen Comb, Cumberland, and Comb Fell and Combhill, Northumberland. Sacombe, Herts, is a corruption, being Sueuechamp in Domesday Book.

-dale. — Old English oeml, or, perhaps nearly always in old names, Old Norse dal-r, 'a dale,' the root meaning being probably 'deep, low place' (c/. Gothic dalaih, 'down.'). Found from the Scottish Border south to Derbyshire, but much commoner in the north, where Norse influence was strong, and there usually ' a river-valley between hills, a glen '—Allendale, Borrowdale, Ennerdale, etc. The southmost instances seem to be Darley Dale, Matlock, and Coalbrookdale, S. Salop. The simple Dale recurs in Pembroke, a very Norse locality; but -dales farther south, like Begdale, Cambridgeshire Skeat looked on as merely modern e.g. also Sunningdale, Berks, a recent coinage, suggested by the ancient Sunninghill nearby. A pure English southern instance is Doverdale, Droitwich, in 706 Dourdale, 817 Doferdael. Rarely -dale becomes -die, as in Cheadle; and once at least it has been corrupted from -hale, ' nook ' (see -hall) in Dinsdale, Yorks, Domesday Book Digneshale—unless Domesday Book be incorrect.

-dean, -den, -dene. —These suffixes usually stand for Old English denu, ' a valley,' same root as den{n), ' a den.' A ' dean ' now generally is a valley deep, narrow, wooded. The suffix occurs all over Great Britain; -dene is rare and southern [compare North Denes, Great Yarmouth). Old English den(n), or doen, means not only 'den, cave, lair,' but 'woodland pasture for swine,' seen in Denford, Berks, and perhaps in Forest of Dean. The suffixes -den and -dean are continually interchanging with -don or -dune, as in Basilden or Basildon, Burdon, circa, 1130 Byrdene, Croxden, 1237 Crokesdun, Eversden or Eversdon, Morden, circa, 1080 Mordune, Yattenden or -don, etc. Sometimes the -den may have an entirely different origin, and be a part of -warden, q.v., as in Garden, Hawarden, etc.

-er (see -or, -over).
-et (see Barnet, Coquet, Farcet, Hodnet, etc.).

Fell. —Old Norse fiall, Danish fjeld, ' a mountain, a hill,' also in north of England, ' a wild stretch of waste hill land, a moorland ridge.' In either case the name is found only from the Northumberland Border through Cumberland and West-morland, south to Littledale Fells, south-east of Lan- caster; perhaps not elsewhere.

-ford, -forth. —One of the commonest, widest-spread, and earliest of our suffixes, a ford being such an important point in early days, when bridges were rare or non-existent. In Bede -ford and -ceaster are the commonest of all end- ings. It is Old English ford, from the common Teutonic root far, ' to go '; it is cognate with Latin port-us, ' harbour,' and Welsch rhyd, Old Welsch rit., 'ford'; also with Old Norse fiord-r or fjord1. Probably it is to Norse influence we owe the soft form -forth so common in the north; examples in un-Scandinavian districts are rare; but note Gosforth, north of New- castle, Marlingford, Norwich, 1482 Marlyngforth, and Forth End, Chelmsford, probably all due to Norse tongues. The Postal Guide has four places simply called Ford; in Cheshire we have seven fords—five already in Domesday Book ; in Cambridgeshire eight—seven in Domesday Book ; in Berks, no less than eighteen, all dating from Saxon days, though only eight seem in Domesday Book Duignan gives twenty-six -fords in War- wick, nearly all very old, and at least fourteen as old as Domesday Book But the ending has its traps ; especially does -ford tend to replace -worth, as in Duxford and Pampisford, Cambridgeshire Beeford, Driffield, Whiteford, Bromsgrove (Domesday Book Witeurde), Offord, Warwick, etc.(see those names). Box- ford, Berks, was originally Boxore, ' box-tree bank ' or ' shore.' In Devon -ford is asserted to stand as a rule for Welsch ffordd, ' road, passage ‘; in Stirlingshire -ford, which is fairly common, never stands for what we now call' a ford.' McClure, p. 242, has a useful note on the different kinds of -ford, those whose names tell their nature—Mudford, Sandford, Stamford, etc.; those which tell what animals used them—'Oxford, Shefford ('sheep-ford'), etc.; those which tell what kind of helps you will find there—Bam- forth ('beam ford '), Stafford, etc.
Sometimes -ford directly represents fjord, as in Haverford, Milford, Orford.

-gill. —Old Norse gil, geil, ' a deep glen.' Oxford Dictionary does not class this with' fishgill,' as is often done. In later English it comes to mean' a narrow stream, a rivulet, but in names it usually signifies 'a narrow, slit-like glen or opening.' Rare in Northumberland, it is fairly common elsewhere in the north—Bullgill, Dallowgill, Ivegill, Lowgill, Ramsgill, etc.—and specially common around Grasmere. Gillis also used in the dialects of Kent and Sussex, but there gives name only to obscure places like Heron's Ghyll, Lewes, Gills lop ('leap,' Old Norse hlaup), on the N.E. Sussex border, etc. Sometimes -gill is curiously disguised, as in Aldwinkle, 1137 Aidwin gel, or ' Baldwin's gill.' This village, near Thrapston, Northants, is one of the most southerly instances. We get -gill less disguised in Winskill, the man ' Wine's ravine.'
-hall, -all, -ell. —A very important and much debated suffix. There is a genuine Old English heall, ' a palace, court, royal residence, ‘then ‘a mansion, a hall and probably a few of the many hundred names ending in -hall are derived there from. E.g., we have Croxall, Lichfield, in 773 charter Crokeshalle, Domesday Book Crocheshalle; and in Domesday Book we have Buben- halle, Brunhala, Crenhalle, Chenihalle, for Bubbenhall, Broomhall, Crewe Hall, and Killinghall respectively; and these all may be from heall. But far the most plainly come from Old English healh, ' a nook, a corner,' then ' a flat meadow by a river, a haugh,' which last is its modern representative. In charters and Domesday Book the ending is usually -hale, a Mercian dative; more rarely -heale, the ordinary Old English dative. The ending is by far the commonest in old Mercia or the Midlands. In Cheshire alone there are over 250 places with names ending in -hall or Hall (the latter often, not always, quite modern). We get the simple Hale (sic in Domesday Book), near Altrincham and Liverpool, and in the plural, as Hailes, Gloucester; whilst it is preserved as an ending in Enhale, Cambridgeshire in Old English charter Eanheale.
The h easily drops away, and so we get -all, as in Bignall, Birdsall (York), Gnosall (still 1298 Gnoddeshale), Walsall, etc.; or else we get -ell, as in Beadnell, Bracknell (the only case of hale in Berks), Bucknell; or even -el, as in Ellel, Domesday Book Ellhale; whilst the hale is even more merged in Paull, Domesday Book Pagele. The endings -hall and -hill often run into one another, not seldom in the Midland form of hill—-viz., hull—e.g., Minshull Vernon, Cheshire, is Domesday Book Manesshale or Manessele; Stramshall, Staffordshire is circa, 1300 Strangeshull and Goxhill, Hodnell, and Sugnall lend further illustration.

-ham, -am.—This very common suffix represents two distinct words, and only when we get Old English charter evidence can we be sure which word it is. (1) Old English ham(m), hom(m) in the oldest charters often haam—e.g.,692-93 Essexcharter Bed- den-haam and Deccen-haam (Degenham)—found also in all the Frisian dialects as ham(m), hem, him, ' a pasture, a meadow enclosed with a ditch 'bend of a river,' so as to connect with the human ham, which is caused by the bend of the knee. In England the meaning is' enclosed ground, generally pasture.' Sofar as we know, this by a good deal the rarer of the two suffixes— e.g., there are in Berks seventeen names ending in -ham, of which only five are clearly hamm, because we find in charters ' set Bennanhamme,' for Beenham, etc. In Cambridgeshire there are twenty-four -hams, but in no case do they clearly come from hamm, though Skeat cites abundant evidence from the eleventh century onwards. There is Chippenham, Cambridgeshire circa, 1080 Chipenham, but the place of the same name in Wilts is Old English Chronicum 878 Cippanhamme. The same rarity seems to hold true elsewhere. There are several Hams on the Severn, and a few on the Wye and Trent, fromhamm. (2) Old English ham, our' home,'whilst hamm, with its longa, represents an English hem. This is one of our very commonest endings, often clipped down into -am (compare Cheam), or more rarely into -um, as in Bilsum, Gloucester, circa, 955 Billesham ; but in the north largely replaced by the Norse -by, except in Northumberland, where -ham is common and -by non-existent. We have a fair number of northern -hams—Askham, Brigham, etc., Cumberland, Bispham, Kirkham, etc., Lanes. But the inquirer always needs to be wary, because in the north, especially in Yorks, -ham or -am frequently represents an Old English locative or dative e.g., Hallam, Domesday Book Hallum, Old English healon,' on the slopes'; Hulam, Sim. Dur. Holum, Old English holon, 'at the holes ‘; also see Ilam, Kilham, Lytham, etc. Even -holme may at times represent simply an Old English locative, as in Hipperholme, Domesday Book Huperun; -holm and -ham often tend to interchange, as in Durham, etc.
Though -ham is certainly abundant after the patronymic -ing, q.v., Isaac Taylor's statement that, in the Old English charters, ham is found united with names of families, but not with the names of individuals, is abundantly incorrect (compare Skeat, Place-Names of Cambridgeshire p. 20); see, e.g., Beckenham, Beenham, Biddenham, Boxham, etc.
hampton —i.e., ham-tun, 'hometown,' as in Bathampton, etc., is a very common suffix also. Duignan cites seventeen in Ombersley and Astley, Worcester, alone — five now vanished.
-hulm see Holme.

-hope, -op, -up. — Old English hop, 'a piece of enclosed land, generally among fens and marshes; waste land.' Also, especially in N. E. England and S. Scogtland,' as mallen closed valley, branching off a larger one, a blind valley ‘; same root as OLD NORSE hop, a 'haven, place of refuge '; but we have no seaboard names in England akin to St. Margaret's Hope, Orkney and Queensferry. In Northumberland no less than seventy-three places end in -hope, and forty in Dur- ham. We have Easthope, Hope Rowdle, and Rattlinghope as far south as S. Salop, and a Woolhope in Hereford. But as this ending comes south, it tends to become -op; - already in Dunsop and Clitheroe, also in Glossop Worksop; but Hatherop (Gloucester) is 1294 Haythorp. Even Kershope, on the Cumberland border, has become Kirsop as a personalname. Rarely we find -up, as in Bacup, Blakeup, sic 1604 (a hill on the Borders), and the personal name Kirkup='valley with the church.' There are no -hopes in Berks, Cambridgeshire or even Cheshire; but in Pembroke we have Lydstep, which stands for' Lud's or Llyd's hope.'
-how. —This is Old Norse haug-r,' mound, cairn,' a rather rar esuffix, and only in the north—Brant How, Great How, etc. It may shrink into -oe, as in Aslacoe or Thingoe (this in Suffolk); or even into -o, as in Duddo, 11 83 Dudehowe, and as perhaps, in Cargo, N. Cumberland. But Brisco, in the same shire, is, in its charter form, Birkescagh i.e., birk shaw or ' birch wood.' The same word appears again Frenchified, in the Channel Islands, as Hogue and Hougue.

-ing, in our oldest charters often -incg. This is one of the most interesting and important of all our suffixes; in its way unique, being absolutely personal in its reference, not local. The idea conveyed is one of possession, or intimate connection with hence ' son of, descendant, as in AEtheling, ' son of the ethel, the noble-born, Cerdicing, ' son of Cerdic,' etc. We even have in the Old English of Luke iii. 38, Adaming, 'son of Adam.' There are many placenames ending in -ing, like Barking, Basing, Reading, Woking, which originally meant,' the sons or descendants of Beorc, Bassa, Read, Woe, and only thereafter' place where these 'descendants dwelt.' In a name like Centingas it can never mean anything but 'men of Kent'; the suffix in Old English charters is often found as -ingas, which is nominative plural or -ingum, genitive plural, as in Bede's Berecingas (Barking), or Old English Chronicum Readingum (Reading). This patronymic -ing, though so common, is not universal, and chiefly southern; in Cheshire there are none, in Cambridgeshire only two; in Stafford and Warwick Duignan gives none, unless Watling St. be called an exception; but in Norfolk -ing is fairly common—Hickling, Horning, etc.; whilst Horsfall Turner enumerates twenty-two for Yorks— Gembling (Domesday Book Ghemelinge), Kipling (Domesday Book Chipelinge), Pickering, etc. In Yorks there are, of course, the three Ridings i.e., third-ings or third parts; only this comes from the equivalent Old Norse -ung rather than the Old English -ing, the Old Norse being thrithjung-r; in circa, 1066, Laws of Ediu. Confessor, trehingas. The same ending reappears in Holland in such a name as Appingedam. Sometimes, but very rarely, the -ing is now -inge, as in E. and W. Ginge, Berks, in Old English charters Gaeging and Gaineg, Domesday Book Gainz, 'place of the sons of Gaega.' This softening into the modern / sound (-inge = -inj), is also found in such modern pronunciations as Nottinjam, Whittinjam, etc., fairly oftenheard. Also, very rarely, the -ing maybe dropped in course of time, as in Cudeley, Worcester, in 974 Cudinclea.
If names ending in -ing are rare in some parts, names compounded with this patronymic suffix are found everywhere.
Generally, the ending is -ingham or -ington, more rarely -ingford, -ingwell, or the like. In many cases these are genuine patronjnnics, denoting the home or village of somebody's descendants—Beddingham, ' home of the Beadings ‘; Bennington, ' home of the Bennings ‘; and so on; it is needless to multiply examples. But, unless the evidence for the -ing goes back to Old English times, we can never be sure that we have before us a true patronymic. Many years ago, e.g., the writer pointed out that in Scotland, where there are a good many names in -ingham and -ington, not more than voor three are real patronymics. One needs to be hardly less wary in England, because very often the -ing is but a later softening of the Old English genitive in -an or -en, usually the masculine gender in -an, as Barrington, circa, 1080 Barentone, 'Basra's village'; or Bedingham, Old English charter Beddanham, ' Bedda's home.' Take the very first case that comes to us, Abingdon; it is 699 charter Abbendune, ' Abba's ' or ' Ebba's hill ' whilst Abington, Cambridgeshire is Domesday Book Abintone, ' Abba's town ‘; not patronymics at all. Sometimes the -ing arrives very late; Marchington, Uttoxeter, is 907 Maercham, 'home on the march or boundary'; 1004 Merchamtune, or ' March Hampton ‘; not till the thirteenth century have we Marchynton, and the -ing is later still. Some- times, too, the -ing is a pure corruption, as in Almington for 'Alchmund's town,' or Ardington for ' Eadwine's town.'
Besides, we have always to beware of names in -ing, which have nothing patronymic about them; names like Holling Hall, where Holling is but Mittel English for 'holly,' or like Stocking Lane, Staffordshire where, Duignan says. Stocking means ' grubbing up, clearing of wood or wild land ‘; whilst Stocking, Haresfield, is an Old English locative, stoccan, ' at the tree-stocks.'
Dr. H. Bradley (English Historical Review, October 1911) seems to have made out a strong case for -ing or -inge being also sometimes an ending to denote a place on a river or stream, of which Avening, Exning, Guyting, Twyning, etc., would be examples.
-leigh, -ley, -lie, -ly. —These are all modern forms of Old English leah, dativ leage, ' a bit of cultivated ground, a meadow, a lea.' This is one of our commonest endings, especially as -ley; there are fifty-three in Cheshire alone, thirteen in Berks, twelve in Cambridgeshire—these two last small counties. The form -ly is rare, ‘but we have Early, Berks, etc.; -leigh, which represents the dative, is not common except in a few parts like Devon; there are none in Berks or Cambridgeshire. But Leigh alone occurs twelve times in the Postal Guide, from Lancashire to Kent. Two or three times in Yorks we find the suffix as -laugh, Healaugh ('high meadow'), Skirlaugh, etc.; and in Cheshire it takes the form -lach, as in Shocklach. Traps in connection with this ending are few; but we have Cookley, Kidderminster, 964 Culnan clif.

-low, and, in the north, -law. — Old English hldiv, hlaw, ' a hill,' then, 'a burial-ground, barrow, tumulus.' The ending is common in the south—Challow, Hounslow, Marlow, etc. but -low is found in the north too, in Yorks at least three times—Barlow, Bierlow, and Chellow (Domesday Book Celeslau), but Barlow is Domesday Book Berlai (= lea). In the north, where the form is -law, it is usually written separately—•Collier Law, Durham; Black and Kilhope Laws, S. Northumberland etc. J. H. Turner gives no -law now in Yorks, but there were several formerly—Chellow, as we have seen, also Ardsley, and Tinsley, in Domesday Book Erdeslau, and Timeslawe or Tineslawe. We see the same tendency, -ley replacing -low, farther south, in Staffordshire where Moxley was, circa, 1400, Mockeslowe, and Muckley, circa, 1600, Mucklow.
-minster. —This and -caster form our only Latin endings. It is late Latin monasterium, later Latin monisterium, Old English mynster, originally a monastery, but, as a place-name suffix, -minster seems always to mean ' the church of a monastery,' then ' any church,' generally a large one. It is now found chiefly in the south—Axminster, Bedminster, Sturminster, Westminster, etc.; but, of course, we freely speak of York Minster, Beverley Minster, etc.; and in an inscription of 1056-1066 in Kirkdale Church, Yorks, we read of ' Scs Gregorius minster.' The Old Norse form mustari does not seem represented among our names; but in Menstrie (Alloa), Scotland, we get a Gaelicised form, from Gaelic mainistreach, 'pertaining to a monastery.' This is very like the form in Aymestrey, Hereford, Domesday Book Eiminstre. Musters, Durham, is ' de Monasteriis.'

-or, -over, also -er.—The ending -or represents two distinct words: (1) Old English ora, 'margin, bank, shore, ' cognate with Latin ora, found by itself as a name in Oare, Berks; but common as an ending too, as in Bognor, ' Bucga's shore, Cumnor, Keynor, and Windsor, whose early charter form is Wendles ore, which Skeat thinks may be ' the Vandal's bank.' But (2) -or, with -er, and its fuller form -over, represents Old English ofer, Old Frisian overa, overe, M. Eris. over, English Frisian over, ofer, Ger. ulfer, 'border, margin,' hence 'seashore,' and especially 'riverbank'; by circa, 1205 Layamon, it has become oure. We get this word as a name in Owram, Yorks, in Domesday Book Overe, Oure, and Ufrun, which are locatives singular and plural, Ufrun becoming Owram after the type described under ham (2). The full form -over is still retained in Ashover, Bolsover, etc. But it has often been shortened into -or, as in Baddesley Ensor (or Edensor), Hadsor, circa, 1100 Headesofre, and Haselor, circa, 1300 Haseiovre; and we get it as a prefix in Orgrave, N. Lanes, Domesday Book Ourgreve, 'grave on the bank.' Most names in -er also have the same root, though this has not hitherto been much recognized; especially those named from trees—Asher, ' ash-tree bank' ; Beecher, Hasler, ' hazel-bank ' ; Pinner, ' pine-tree bank ' ; and Thomer, as well as Iver, Uxbridge, which is probably ' ivy bank '; and Hever, ' high bank ' ; and even Wooler, which has nothing to do with' wool,' but is 1197 Welloure, 'well bank.'

-thorpe, -torp, -trop.—This is Old English circa, 725 throp, circa, 800 drop, later thorp, Old Norse thorp, Norse torp, Old Frisian thorp, therp, ' farm, hamlet, village.' It is very rare in Old English, and in placenames is due almost solely to Norse influence. It is found as a name simply as Thorp(e), five times in the Postal Guide, and often in combination—Thorp Arch, Thorpe Abbotts, Thorpe-le-Soken, etc.; also as Throop (Christchurch), and Thrupp, Mid Oxon and S. Northants. These last forms will be pure English, as are also the rare occurrences of the ending outside the Danelagh Adlestrop, Eastrip, Somerset; Huntingtkap, Worcester; etc. Gloucester, a purely English county, contains many remarkable variations of ifiroy—Hatherop, Pindrup, Puckrup, Westrip, Wolstrop, and even Upperup. Wilstrop, W. Riding, Domesday Book Wilestrop, is one of the very few cases of -trop in a Danish region, whilst Thorpe, Chertsey, is one of the very few cases of thorpe outside such a region. The ending -thorpe is common in Norfolk, and occurs three times in Warwick, in which cases it is certainly due to Norse influence; it does not occur at all in Cambridgeshire or Cheshhe, once each in Hunts Beds, and Herts. In Denmark to-day the ending -trup is very common.

-thwaite. —Old Norse pveit, pveiti, ' a piece of land, a paddock ' (lit. ' apiece cut off,' a piece ' thwited ' or whittled off). This suffix is found only in the north-west, chiefly in Cumberland; also, rarely, in S. Scotland. The limits seem to be Seathwaite, Broughton-in-Furness, Satterthwaite, Ulverston, Linthwaite (' flax plot '), and Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, and Hunderthwaite, N. Yorks (Domesday Book Hundredestoit, or ' bit cut off the hundred '). Modern lips have clipped Slaithwaite down to Slo-at. We have one -twight in Norfolk, Crostwight, Domesday Book Crostueit; and see Eastwood. See Toft.

-toft. See Toft.

-ton ranks with -ley as the commonest of all our suffixes. Dr. Lee estimated that about one-eighth of all the names in the first two vols, of Kemble's Codex Diplomaticus had this ending, whose root idea is ' enclosure, ' my property ' whereas singular to note, this same root is never used as a placename ending anywhere on the Continent. It is Old English circa, 725, ' tuun cors ' (-cohors, La. For ‘court’) later tun, Old Norse tun, 'enclosure, homestead, farm'; toun in Scot., town in W. Somerset, and tun in Norwegian dialects are still used for ' a single farm.' In Cornwall town and town-place are still applied to the smallest hamlet or even to a farmyard. Then, probably after the Norman Conquest, tun came to mean ' a town; long before that it meant 'a village.' The root is often said to be akin to Keltic dun,' a fort,' as in the old ending-dunum. But this is doubtful, as dun means first, ' a hill,' and then, 'the fort which so often crowned the hill.' True, the forms -don and -ton do sometimes run into one another, as in Bishopston, 1016 Biscopesdun, Farndon (Cheshire), Domesday Book Ferentone, Gamston, Larton (Cheshire), Domesday Book Lavorchedone, etc., also Dunstall and Tunstall.
One needs to be careful about the common confusion with -stone, as in Atherstone, Beeston Castle, Brighton, Brixton, etc., whilst Eikstone, Leek, was 1227 Elkesdon (compare, too, the common interchange of Johnston and Johnstone). Perhaps oftenest, in these cases, the original ending was Old English stan(e), 'stone’, but not in Johnston. An example of the reverse case is Woolstone, Berks, which is the Old English Wulfricestun. Sometimes thesis the genitive of the preceding personal name; and of course, may be added at the end of almost any old name. There are also some curious corruptions, like Austerson, Cheshire, which is Domesday Book's Alstanton, whilst Enson, Staffordshire is circa, 1300 Eneston an Enson. In rare cases, as in Cotton,Cambridgeshire the ending -on may be the old locative, 'at the cots,' the same ending which in Yorks so often becomes -un, -um, and then -am ; see -ham ; so that -ham and -ton may mean the same thing, and yet not ' dwelling ' at all In rare cases -ton is, or was, used to give a Saxon look to a Keltic name e.g., Clyst, Exeter, was 1001 Old English Chronicum Glistun, various reading Clistun, whilst we also have a ' Chstune ' in Domesday Book Worcester, all probably being originally Welsch ghvys, ' a hallowed place, a fair spot.' In Mitton, which occurs several times, the -ton is corrupted from Old English mythan.

-warden, -wardine, -worth, -worthy, are best all taken together, being in root the same. Very common is -worth, Old English worth, weorth, wurth, wtyrth, ' open space, piece of land, holding, farm, estate,' akin to our Eng. worth. In Domesday Book it is usually found as -orde, or -vrde, -worde. Examples are so numerous that they need not be cited. J. H. Turner cites thirty-one cases, past or present, of the ending, in Yorks alone. Occasionally we meet a corruption, as in Bishport for 'bishop's worth,' and, more serious, Seacourt near Oxford, which was once Seovecwurde or 'Seofeca's farm.' Who would ever guess that? In a few cases -worth has been replaced by -ford, as in Duxford and Pampisford, Cambridgeshire; Offord, Warwick, and Tudworth, Yorks, where Domesday Book has both Tudeworde and Tudeforde. We see the reverse case in Brinsworth, Rotherham, Domesday Book Brinesford, and Wigglesworth, E. Yorks, Domesday Book Wiclesforde. In either case the transition form was-vorde.

-worthy is an ending purely S. Western. It is Old English worthig, seen more fully in Worthing; root and meaning the same as worth. Seemingly it is not a diminutive but an extended form as in -warden. Examples are Badgeworthy, Holsworthy, King's Worthy, etc.
-warden, -wardine, is an ending very common in Salop, whilst a few cases occur in the surrounding counties; else- where it is unknown. It is Mercian Old English worthign, extended form of worthig and of worth; see above, and meaning, as before, 'farm, holding, place of worth.' In Domesday Book Salop we have a simple Wrdine; but instances of the ending are also abundant in that shire—Belswardine, Shrawardine, etc. In N. Hereford we have Leintwardine and Pedwardine, in Worcester Bedwardine ('the monk's table farm '), and Tollerdine, in Flint Hawarden, whilst we have contracted forms in Garden, Cheshire; and Harden, Staffordshire; as well as Ellerdine, Salop. Gloucester gives us Ruardean, circa, 1281Rowardin, and Shepherdine. It is interesting to note that Lapworth, Warwick, is in an 816 charter Hlappanwurthin and in Domesday Book Lapeforde. In Holland we have names like Leeuwarden (Dutch, leeuw, ' a lion '), where we seem to have the same ending; but there is no Dutch warden or worden in Calisch's Dutch Dictionary.

-wich, -wick. —This is Old English wic, 'dwelling, village,' borrowed from Latin vicus, 'village,' same root as Gk. .., 'house '; also borrowed in Corn, as Gweek, found in place-names there. One of the very earliest recorded instances of -wich is 'the port of Quentawic,' in Bede iv. 1, i.e., St. Quentin, Picardy. In the South wic is usually softened into -wich—Greenwich, Harwich, Sandwich, etc. In the north it remains hard, as -wick—Alnwick, Berwick, Cheswick, Withernwick, etc. But the hard -wick is also found in the south. We have both Berwick St. James and St. John near Salisbury, as well as one near Shrews- bury, and we have Chiswick near London as well as one in the far North. In Cheshire and Worcestershire -wich or -wych is popularly interpreted as indicating a brine or slat-spring (compare 716 charter, In wico…Saltwich,' Worcester). But there is no Old English authority for this, even though Nantwich is in Welsch Yr Heledd gwen, ' the white place for making salt.' Droitwich is in Old English Chronicum simply Wic. We get the hard form in Salwick, Preston, which can hardly mean ' salt bay,' Old Norse vik, but rather, ' village where salt was made.' It is doubtful if any -wick in England means ' bay ' (though compare Sandwich), whilst such are common in the north o fScotland. Skeat thought the -wick in Saltwich, Droitwich, etc., was the Norse vilk, ' a small salt creek or bay ‘; and that the change to ' brine-pit ' would be easy. But to some of us this seems very unlikely indeed, down inland at Droitwich, and so early as 716. In Yorks wic becomes Wike, Domesday Book Wic, and Heckmondwike, etc. The O.E, ending -awic sometimes becomes -age, q.v.-
with. —Old Norse vith-r, Dan. ved, 'a wood,' is common in Yorks. J. H. Turner cites eleven cases Askwith, Beckwith, Bubwith, etc., where Domesday Book spells vid, wid, uid, and vi, always avoiding th. It is doubtful if -with ever really interchanged with -wick. We do have Skipwith twice in Domesday Book as Schipewic, and again in 1200 Scippewic, also Butterwick, Yorks, in Domesday Book both Butruic and Butruid; but as a rule in such cases c will be the common scribe's error for t. Occasionally -with is found changing into -worth; whilst Langwith, Derby and Notts, and Lang- worth, Lines, all ended with -wath, ' ford,' in thirteenth- century charters.
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