English place names and their meanings

Abberley (Stourport). Dom. Edboldlege, c. 1200 Albo(l)desleye, 1275 Albedeleye. Cf. c. 1350 chart. Aberleye, prob. Lines. ' Meadow of Eadbeald ' or ' AEdbold,'' a very common O.E. name. See how one liquid, l, glides into another, r! Cf. next and Abralim, also Ablington, Bibury, c. 855 chart. Eadbaldingtune. See -ley.

Abberton (Pershore and Colchester). Pe. A. 969 chart. Eadbrigtincgtune, Dom. Edbritone, 1275 Edbriston (st. Norman), 1538 Aburton. ' Dwelling of (the sons of) Eadhriht ' or ' Eadbeorht.'' Cf. Abberley, and Dom. Salop, Etbretone, and Ebrington (Gloucester), Dom. Bristentune, c.1300 Ebricton. But Co. A.is Dom. Eadburghetun, ' dwelling of (the woman) Eadhurga.' Cf. Aberford. See-ing and-ton.

Abbey Dore (Pontrilas). Corrup. of Aber Dore, 'place at the confluence of R.Dore' and Monnow; W. aber, O.G. 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, -lege, Dom. Brunlege, c. 1400 Bromley Abbatis, Abbottes Bromley. It belonged to Burton Abbey. See Bromley.

Aberbran (Brecon). On Bran see Brancaster. In W., Ir., and O.G. hran is ' a crow.'

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

Abercarn (Newport, Mon.). ' Confluence at the cairn orm ound*; W., O. Ir., and G., cam.

Aberconway (N. Wales), c. 1188 Gir. Camh. Aberkonewe, -coneu; 1295Aberconewey. See Aberand Conway.

Abercrave (Neath). ' Confluence of R. Tawy with the brook fr. W. craf (f pron. 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 prob. 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 (Sc), Garonne, etc., and as in Cynon, see above.

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

Aberedw (Builtli). ' Confluence of the R. Edwy,' of which the Ed-maybe fr. W.eddu,' to press on,to go,'whils tthe-wy is= Wyeor' river.'

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

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

Aberffraw (W. of Anglesea). a. 1196 Gir. Camh. Aberfrau,1232 Close E. Abbefrau, c. 1350 Aber(i)frowo. Ffraw is thought by H. Bradley to represent an orig. Frama, later from (name of R. Frome in O.E. Chron. 998), which would develop on Britlipsto Frauv, and later to Ffraw. The earliestre corded form of R. Frome actually is Fraau (O.E. Chron. 875). Meaning doubtful; some think it means ' agitated, active, swift ' river.

Aberford (Leeds), a. 1200 Pipe AEdburgforth, AEdburford. Nothing to do with W. aber, ' confluence ' lady) 'Eadburh,' gen. -hurge, as in Abberton (Essex). See -ford.

Abergavenny, c. 380 Anton. Itin. Goban(n)io, a. 1196 Gir, Camh. Abergavenni. -gevenni, c. 1200 Gervase Bergevene, 1281 and often later, Bergeveny, 1610 Holland Aber- Gevenny. Local pron. Aber-venny. In W. Abergefni or Y Fenni. ' Confluence of the Gavenny; and Usk. Gobann is gen. of goihniu, ' a smith,' in Ir. a proper name=: Smith and Govan (Sc.) and Gowan. In late W. legend Gofannon is js patron god of metal-workers. The a- in aber- is rarely lost, as in many old forms here; but cf. Barmouth, Berriew, etc. c. 1377 Piers PL Abyndonn. O.E. AEbban dun. ' Ebba's hill or ' fort.' Abba or AEbba is a common Wessex name. In Yorks the Abbetune of Dom. Has become Habton. See-don.

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

Abington (Cambridge and Northants). Cam. A. Dom. Abintone, 1302 Abyntone. Nor. A. chart. Abintone, O.E. Abban tun, ' village of Abba.' Abington (Sc.) is 1459 Albintoune.

Ab-Kettleby (Melton Mow.). Dom. Chetelbi, c. 1350 chart. Abbekettelby. The dom. Form is simple, ‘dwelling of Cetel or ' Ketfel,'' a common O.E. name. The Ab- is difficult; perh. the name intended is AEfcytel. a fairly common one, of which a var. AElbcytel occurs. There is also a name Aha, seenprob. in ' Abegrave ' in Dom. of this same shire. Cf. ' Abblinton,' Lines, in Roll Rich. I., and Abload, Glouc, 1189 Pipe Abbelada; also Kettleburgh. See -by.

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

Aby (Alford). Dom. Abi. 'Dwelling, village on the stream'; O.N. a-bi. Cf. Abridge, Romford, and 1166-67 Pipe, Hants, Abrigge, Hamonis; only in this last the A- will be O.E. ea, ' river.' See -by.

Acaster Malbis (York), and A. Selby. Both in Dom. Acastra, -stre, also 'Acastra, other Acastre'; 1166-67 Pipe Acastra. Prob. N. 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, a.1300Alkerington, Akerington, c. 1350 Alcrynton; cf. Dom. Worcr. Alcrintun. This seems to be ' town, village of Ealhhere’; also spelt Alcher and Ahhere, or, of his descendants. The name is very common in O.E. See-in gand-ton.

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

Abbotsbury (Dorset). Dom. Abbodesberie, 1155 Abbedesberi, c. 1180 Bened. Peterb. Abbotesbiria. ' Burgh, of the abbot,' O.E. abbod. Cf. 1167-68 Pipe Glostr., Abotestun. A Benedictine abbey was founded here in 1044 by the steward of K. Cnut. See-bury.

Abbot's Kerswell (Newton Abbot). Dom. Carsewelle, -svelle, 1158-59 Pife Carsewell. 'Watercress well,' O.E. coerse, cerse, now ' cress,' Sw. karse. Cf. Cresswell and Keresley. For the Abbot see Newton Abbot; also cf. 940 chart., Abbodes wyll, Wilts.

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

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

Abbots Ripton (Hunts). 960 chart Riptone. Prob. not ' harvest village. O. E. rip, ‘harvest, reaping’. But, village of Rippa. 1316Rippan leab (Now Ripley, Woking), and Repton.

Abbotts Ann (Andover). Dom. 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 W. afon, ' river.' See Introd., p. 11, and Andover.

Aber (N. Wales). In W. Aber -gwyngregyn. W. 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. Cf. Aber (Sc.) at mouth of R. Endrick. Aber in G. is often pron. obair; in O.G. it is also apor. Gwyn gregyn is W. for' of the white shells,' sing, cragen.

Aberaman (Aberdare). ' Confluence of the R. Cynon with R. Aman,’ which is prob. Anunaspirated var. of afon,'river.' Cf. R. Almond (Sc.) and G. amhuinn, 'river.' There is also a R. Amman, Carmthn.

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

Aberarth (Aberystwith). 'Confluence at the height'; W. and Corn. arth.

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

Aberbargoed (Rhymney). ' Confluence of the R. Rhymney 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. O. W becc, W. bach, G. beag,’ little .

Aberbran (Brecon). On Bran see Brancaster. In W., Ir., and O.G. bran is ' a crow.'

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

Abercarn (Newport, Mon.). ' Confluence at the cairn or mound; W., O. Ir., and G., carn.

Aberconway (N. Wales), c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Aberkonewe, -coneu; 1295Aberconewey. See Aber and Conway.

Abercrave (Neath). ' Confluence of R. Tawy with the brook Craf, fr. W. craf (f pron. 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 prob. W. 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 (Sc.) Garonne, etc., and as in Cynon, see above.

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

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

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

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

Aberffraw (W. of Anglesea). a. 1196 Gir. Camb. Aberfrau,1232 Close R. Abbefrau, c. 1350 Aber(i)frowo. Ffraw is thought by H. Bradley to represent an orig. Frama, later from (name of R. Frome in O.E. Chron. 998), which would develop on Brit, lips to Frauv, and late rto Ffraw. The earliest recorded form of R. Frome actually is Fraau (O.E. Chron. 875). Meaning doubtful; some think it means ' agitated, active, swift ' river.

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

Abergavenny, c. 380 Anton. Itin. Goban(n)io, a. 1196 Gir, Camb. Abergavenni. -gevenni, c. 1200 Gervase Bergevene, 1281 and often later, Bergeveny, 1610 Holland Aber- Gevenny. Local pron. Aber-venny. In W. Abergefni or Y Fenni. ' Confluence of the Gavenny’ and Usk. Gobann is gen. of goihniu, ' a smith,' in Ir. a proper name=: Smith and Govan (Sc.) and Gowan. In late W. legend Gofannon is patron god of metalworkers. The a- in aber- is rarely lost, as in many old forms here; but cf. Barmouth, Berriew, etc.

Abergele (N. Wales). Pron. -gayly. Perh, c. 1350 chart. Abergelon. 'At the mouth of the R. Gele'; prob. W. gele, 'a leech ‘; leeches used to be common in the estuary here.

Abergwili (Carmarthen). Gwili is a rivername. Here it is prob. the same root as R. Wiley. Some derive fr. W. gwyllt, ‘wild’.'

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

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

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

Aberllefni (Merioneth). The -llefni is very doubtful. W. llefnau means ' ruins ' some think of W. 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. Cf. Leven (Sc.) and Aberllynfi, 1233 Close R. Abberlewin, Abrelenuith.

Aberlleeniog (Anglesea). c. 1205 Brut re ann. 1096, Aberlleiniawe. ' Confluence of the Lleiniog,' a mere brook. The name seems connected with W. lleinio, ' to blade,' lleiniad, ' a putting forth of blades, fr. Llafn, ' a blade.'

Aberporth (Cardigan). W. aber porth, ' confluence at the harbour.' Cf. Langport.

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

Aberteivi (Cardigansh.) Sic a. 1196 Gif. Camb.; he also has Aberteini, -theini (? mistakes, n for u); also Abertewi (? the same place). See Tivy.

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

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

Abingdon. Sic c. 1540; 699 chart. Abbendune; 1051 O.E. Chron. Abbandune, AEbbandune; c. 1180 Benedict Peterb. Abbendonia; c. 1377 Piers PL. Abyndonn. O.E. AEbban dun. ' Ebba's hill or ' fort.' Abba or AEbba is a common Wessex name. In Yorks the Abbetune of Dom. Has become Habton. See-don.

Abinger Common and Hammer (Dorking). Pron. Abenjer, c/. Birmingham. Old Abingworth, Abingerth. O.E. Abban worth, ' Abba's farm,' rather than ' Abba's yard ' or ' garth,' O.E. geard. See Hammer. Dom. Surrey has only Abinceborne. See -bourne and -ing and -worth.

Abington (Cambridge and Northants). Cam. A. Dom. Abintone, 1302 Abjoitone. Nor. A. chart. Abintone, O.E. Abban tun, ' village of Abba.' Abington (Sc.) is 1459 Albintoune.

Ab-Kettleby (Melton Mow.). Dom. Chetelbi, c. 1350 chart. Abbekettelby. The Dom. Form is simple, dwelling of Cetel or ' Ketfel,'' a common O.E. name. The Ab- is difficult; perh. the name intended is AElfcytel. a fairly common one, of which a var. AElbcyiel occurs. There is also a name Aha, seen prob. in ' Abegrave ' in Dom. of this same shire. Cf. ' Abblinton,' Lines, in Roll Rich. I., and Abload, Glouc, 1189 Pipe Abbelada; also Kettleburgh. See -by.

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

Aby (Alford). Dom. Abi. 'Dwelling, village on the stream'; O.N. a-bi. Cf. Abridge, Romford, and 1166-67 Pipe, Hants, Abrigge, Hamonis; only in this last the A- will be O.E. ea, ' river.' See -by.

Acaster Malbis (York), and A. Selby. Both in Dom. Acastra, -stre, also 'Acastra, other Acastre'; 1166-67 Pipe Acastra. Prob. N. 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, a.1300Alkerington, Akerington, c. 1350 Alcrynton; cf. Dom. Worcr. Alcrintun. This seems to be ' town, village of Ealhhere’; also spelt Alcher and Ahhere. or, of his descendants. The name is very common in O.E. See-ing and-ton.

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

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

Ackley (Kent). [789 O.E. Chron. Acleah, and Sim. Dur. ann. 851 Aclea, in Northumbria.] a. 1000 chart. Acleah, O.E.= ' oak- lea, oak-meadow.' Cf. Acle and Ockley. But Acksley (Dorset) is K.C.D. 706 Accesleah,' meadow of Acca.' Ackholt, Kent -i.e., ' oakwood '—is 1232 Close R. Achalt, -holt.

Ackworth (Pontefract). Dom. Acewrde,1204 Acworth, which is O.E. for ' oak place.' See -worth.

Acle (Norwich). Sic in Dom. A rare type of name, O.E. ac leah, oak mead’, -ey is rarely slurred into -le. But cf. Oakle, Minsterworth, old Okkele, Ocle, also cf. Ack- und Ockley.

Acomb (Hexham and York). Hex. A. old Oakham, mod. pron. Yekhm. Yor. A. Dom. Acum, Acun. This seems to have nothing to do with -combe ' valley’ but to be an old loc, O.E. aun,' at the oaks'; afterwards influenced by -ham. Cf. Acklam and Kilham.

Aconbury (Hereford). 1218 Patent R. and 1285 Close R. Acornebury. ' Burgh of ‘? Acorn, used as a personal name, not in Onom. The sb. is O.E. aecern, ' fruit of the acre,' i.e., ' un- enclosed land.' Oxf. Diec, does not give the form acorn till 1440. Very likely, however, Acorn- may be corrup. of Ecebearn or Ecgbeofn, a name found in Worc. c. 1055.

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

Acton (London, Suffolk, Nantwich, etc.). Lond. A. c. 1300 Acton; Suff. A. a. 1000 chart. Acantun; Nant. A. Dom. Actune. O.E. ac-tun, ' enclosure, village, with the oaks.' But Acan- must be the gen. of Aca or Acca, a common O.E. personal name. In S. Yorks the Actone of Dom. is now Ackton, whilst in E. Riding Dom.'s Actun has become Aughton.

Acton Burnell (Shrewsbury). Dom. Achetone, 1271 Actone Burnel. The ch in Dom. is the habitual softening of the Nor. scribes. See Acton. Sir Robt. Burnel, tutor to K. Edward I., and made by him Ld. Chancellor and Bp. of Bath and Wells, was given the manor here c.1270. Brunel is the same name.

Acton Trussell (Penkridge). 1004 Actun, Dom. 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 Nor. family.

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

Adder or Adur R. (Wilts), a. 420 Notitia Portus Adurni i.e., Aldrington on this river. Nothing to do with adders; but Kelt., Corn, dour, W. dywr, 'water.' The A- is doubtful. The So. R. Adder is prob. Aspirated fr .G.fad dobhar or dur,' longstream.' There is a R. Adur both in Sussex and Cornwall.

Adderbury (Banbury), a. 1000 K.C.D. 1290 Eadburgebyrig, Dom. Edburgberie, 1229 Close R. Eadburebir', 1230 ib. Eburbir', 1270 Abberbury. 1288 Adburbur', 1428 Addurbury. ' Burgh, town of the lady Eadburh,' gen. -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 (Mket. Drayton). Dom. Eldredelei, 1284 Close R. Addredeleye; 'Meadow of the woman Aldreda,’ in O.E. Mthelthryteh, a common name. See-ley.

Addingham (Leeds), c. 1130 Sim. Dur. Addingeham, v.r. Hatyngham,' Home of the descendants of Adda,' 'a common O.E.name. See -ing and -ham, and cf. next.

Addington (Bucks, Croydon, Maidstone, Northampton.). Croy, A. Dom. Edintone, Nor. A. chart. Adyngton(a), Dom. Edintone, whils Dom. Kent is Eddintone. ' Village of Adda or Edda,'or his descendants. Cf. above, and-ing.

Addiscombe (Croydon). Old Adscomb, Adgcomb; not in Dom. 'Adda's vale,' O.E. cumb(e). Cf. above. But Addiscott, S. Tawton, is 1228 Close R. Eilrichescot, ' cottage of Elric,' var. of the common AElfric.

Addle or Adel (Leeds). Dom. Adele, Ecton's Liber Regis Adhill. ' Hill of Ada’ 2 in the Onom. Possibly the -ele represents -hale or -hall, q.v.

Addlethorp(e) (W. Riding and Burgh, Lines). Dom. Yorks, Ardulfestorp, Lincs, Arduluetorp. 'Ardulf’ s village.' Cf. Addle- stone (Chertsey) and see -thorpe.

Adisham (Canterbury). 616 Grant Adesham, v.r. Edesham. ' Ada's ' or ' Edda's ' home. Cf. Addingham and see -ham.

Adlestrop (Stow-on-Wold). Dom. Tedestrop, Thatlestrope, 1198 Tadelesthorp, Feud. Aid; Tatlestrop. This must be orig. ' Taedald's ' or ' Taedweald's village'; one such in Onom. The name is very interesting for (1) the rare dropping of initial T, and (2) the preserving of the true O.E. form t(h)orp, very rare in Eng. names, except in this shire. Cf. Westrip, old Westrop, and Wolstrop, old Wulvesthrop. See-thorpe.

Adlingfleet (Goole). [Perh. O.E. Chron. 763 AElflet ee; ee= O.E. ige, 'isle.'] Dom. Adelingesfluet, c. 1080 Athlingfleet, 1304 Athelingflete. ' Stream of Atheling.' the O.E. aedel-ing, ' descendant of a noble family,' spelt 1337 Trevisa ' adeljyngus.' CF. Ger. adel. The -fleet is O.N.ffjjot, ' stream, river,' cognate with flljot-t ' fleet, quick.' The Adelingestorp of Dom. is now Ellinthorpe, S. Yorks.

Adlington (Chorley and Macclesfd.). Chor. A. 1184-90 Edeluinton, Adel-, Aldeventon, Adelinton, Athelmgton, 1294 Adelingtone, 1286 Edlington. Mace. A. c. 1250 Adelvinton. The name is the very common O.E. Mthelwine, in its L. form, Adelwinus; but some of the spellings were evidently influenced by the O.E. aedeling. See above, and-ton.

Admaston (Rugely and Wellington, Salop). Rug. A. a. 1200 Edmundeston, Admerdeston, a. 1300 Admundestan, Edmundestone. Wel. A. a. 1300 Ademon(e)ston. ' Town, village of Eadmund’ (or ' Eadmaer''). The forms show how both the liquids n and r can vanish.

Adstock (Winslow). Dom. Edestocha. ' Place of Ada, AEdda, or AEddi’;-stock is=Stoke. Cf. Adwick, and Adsett (Glouc), 1221 Addesete, ' Adda's settlement.'

Advent (Lanteglos, Cornwall). May be fr. Advent Sunday, day of the consecration of the Church here; or fr. St. Adwen, daughter of a W. saint and king, 4th cny.

Adwalton (Bradford). 1202 Athelwaldon; 'Town, village of AEthelweald,'' or its equally common var., ' Eadweald.'

Adwick - le - Street (Doncaster) and Adwick - on - Dearne (S. Yorks). Both Dom. Adewic, ' Dwelling of Ada.' Cf. Adstock, and see -wick. For Dearne see Wath-on-Dearne.

Adwyrclawdd (Wrexham). W. adwy r’ clawdd, ' gap, breach m the dyke ' i.e., Offa's Dyke, close by.

Aeron or Ayron R, (Cardigansh.). Possibly fr. Agriona; Kelt, goddess of war, W. aer, ' battle.' W. air is ' bright, clear,' whilst -on is contraction of afon, ' river,' Cf. Carron (Sc).

Affpiddle (Dorchester). Dom. Affapidele. Prob. ' puddle or 'puddly stream of Affa'; 2 called Affa and 2 Afa in Onom. See Piddle.

Afon Alaw (Anglesea). W.= ' river of water lilies.' Afon in W. is, of course, pron. Avon.

Afonwen (Holywell). W. afon gwen, ' very clear, bright river.'

Aigburth (Liverpool). 1190-1256 Aykeberh, 1329 Aikebergh. O.N. eik-berg, ' oak-clad hill ' or ' rock ‘; the endings have been influenced by the forms of what is now Barrow sb Oxf. Dict., O.E. beorg, 3 berhg, 4 bergh, burgh. Cf. Eakring.

Ainderby (Northallerton). Dom. Aiendrebi, Andrebi, 1208 Enderby. ' Dwelling of Andar' or AEnder,' though the only forms in Onom. Are Andhere and Andahari. Cf. Anderby and see-by.

Amsdale (Southport). Dom. Einuluesdel, 1199 Annovesdala, 1190-1206 Aynuluisdale, 1201-02 Ainolvesdale, 1206 Einonesdal. ' Valley of Einwulf,' one in Onom. Cf. Armthorpe and Eynesbury.

Ainsworth (Bolton). 1190-1216 Haineswrthe, 1244 Ainesworth, c. 1514 Aynsworth. Doubtful. It may be 'farm of Eginulf or ' Einulf,' as in Ainsdals. It prob. is 'farm of Hagena' (now Haines); or perh. 'of Egon' as in Eynsham. Ainstable, Armathwaite, Cumbld., is 1210 Einstapeleth, which may be ' Einwulf’ s market, cf. Barnstaple. See-worth.

Aintree (Liverpool). 1244-92 Eyntre, 1296 Ayntre. Perh. AEne’ s tree.' Cf. the ' Aynburg in Sim. Dur. Braintree, etc. ' But Wyl dsays, O.E. awtreow,' one tree,' one in N.dial,being ane, 5-6 ayne, ain.

Aire R. (Yorks). 959 chart. Yr., 1314 Hayr. Prob. O.N. eyri, ' tongue of land, gravelly bank.' Cf. Ayr R. (Sc), which prob. has the same origin.

Airmyn or Armyn (Goole). (? Dom. Amuine.) 1314 chart. Hayrminne, 1317 Ayremynn, a. 1400 Ayermynne. Aire -munn is 'confluence of the R. Aire' and the Ouse; fr. O.N. minni, N. munn-r. ' mouth.' Arminni is common in the Sagas for ' a confluence.' Cf. Stalmine.

Airton (W. Riding). Dom. Airtone. ' Town on R. Aire.'

Aisholt (Bridgewater). Not in Dom., but it has in Somst. Aissecote and -forde. O.E. aesc-holt, ' ash-wood.' Ash is round a. 1300 as asse, c. 1450 aish. Cf. Great Aish, South Brent. But Aisthorpe, Lines, is 1233 Close R. Austorp, prob. ' east village.' Cf. Austerfield.

Aislaby (Sleights, Yorks). Dom. Aslachesbi. ' Dwelling of Aslac. Cf. Aslachby and see -by.

Akeld (Wooler). O.N. eik-kelda, 'oak-tree spring'; cf. Little Salkeld. Possibly the name is purely O.E. Cf. O.E. ac ('an oak'), and Bapchild.

Alberbury (Shrewsbury). Dom. Alberberie. Prob. ' Ealdbeorht’s burgh ' or ' fort.' Several men of that name known in Mercia. Cf. Albur-, Alber-wyk in a charter of Edw. III, and Elberton (Glouc), 1230 Albricton. There is in 1160-61 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 Pipe, Glouc. Abbdedeston, Abbedeston, also found as Albedeston. Ealdbeald is more commonly Eadbeald, v.r. Aedbold.

Albourne (Sussex). (1 Dom. Aldingeborne.) Cf. 931 in B.C.S. II. 358 q.v. AEt aleburnanaet ham lytlan egilande [near Clare. Hants]. The Al- is doubtful. Cf. Alburgh; and see -bourne.

Albrighton (Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton). Dom. Salop, Albricstone. [823 chart. ' Aldberhtingtun in occidente Stur,' near Canterbury.] ' Town or ' village of Ealdbeorht.' Cf. Elburton, Plymouth: on the -st in Dom. Cf. p. 26.

Alburgh (Harleston) and Albury (Guildford and Bps. Stortford). Guil. A. a. 900 chart. Aldeburi, whilst Bps. S. A. is still spelt Aldboro'. O.E. eald (M.E. ald), burh, ' old burgh, fortified place.' Cf. negro ole for old, Aldborough and Aldeby; also, Bee -burgh.

Alcester (Redditch). 1166-67 Pipe Alecestr', 1178 ib. Alencestra, 1217 Patent R. Alencestre, 1538 Leland Aulcester. ‘Camp on R. Alne.' It certainly was a Rom.camp. Close by is Great Alne. See-cester.

Alconbury (Hunts). 1232 Close R. Alcmundebir', a. 1300 Alkemundebyri. ' Burgh of Alchmund. But Aconbury, Hereford, is 1218 Patent R. Acornebury, seemingly fr. a man called Acorn, O.E. aecern, ' acorn.' See -bury.

Aldborough (S.W. Essex, Norwich, and W.Riding). No. A. Dom. Aldebga, York A. 1203 Vetus Burgum, L. for O.E. eald, Mercian ald burh, ' old burgh’or ' fortified place.' A. in Yorks is, e.g. Roman (L. Isurium). Cf. next and Alburgh. For Aldborough Hatch (Ilford) see Hatch.

Alde R. and Aldeborough (Suffolk). Sic 1298, but Dom. Aldenbuee. This, unlike the above, is ' town on R. Aide,' W. allt, ' side of a hill, wooded crag,' cognate with G. allt, which in Sc. names is often Auld. In Scotland it usually means a stream, or the high banks through which a stream flows; thus=L.altus. Cf. Alt.

Aldeby (Beccles). Not in Dom. North. O.E. eald by, ' old house ' or ' hamlet.' Cf. Albury, and -by. This cannot be a Norse name, as Norse used only gamel for ' old,' positive degree.

Aldenham (Bushey). Sic 969, but 785 chart. Aeldenham, a. 1000 Ealdenham. Dom. Aldeham, 'Home of Ealda’; several so called in Onom.

Alderbury (Salisbury). Not in Dom. Prob. O.E. aler-burh, ' town of the alder-tree,' O.E. alor, aler, as early as Chaucer, alder. Cf. Alderford (Norwich) and Alderholt (Salisbury), O.E. holt, ' a forest, a wood ‘; and see next.

Alderley (Crewe, Manchester, Leek, etc.). Cr. A. Dom. Aldredelie. Le. A. 1129 Aldredeslega. ' Aldred's lea ' or ' meadow,' O.E. leah. There are many Ealdreds in Mercia in Onom. But in some cases, it may be simply ' alder-meadow ‘; cf. above. With Alderley Edge, Manchester, cf. Dom. Suffk. Ethereg. now the name Etheridge.

Aldermaston (Reading). Sic c. 1540. Dom. Eldromanestune and Heloremanesune (scribe's error), 1166-67 Pipe Alder- mannestun, 1316 Aldermanston; also, Aldremannoston. 'Village of the alderman,' O.E. ealdormann. The i has been lost through its liquidity.

Alderminster (Stratford-on-Avon). 1275 Aldremoneston, -moston. Not in Dom. Corrup. of ' alderman's town,' as in above, influenced by -minster.

Alderney (Channel Islds.). a. 380 Ant. Ilin. Riduna. Fr. Aurigny, 1218 Aurennye, 1219 Aureneye, 1224 Alnere. As it stands the name is ' alder-tree isle,' O.E. aelren-ige. Aldern is an adj. already found, 1001, as oelren. Riduna might represent a Keltic riddun,' reddish hill.' Cf. W. rhydd, rhudd,' red.'

Aldershot. Shot is a broad way or glade in a wood, through which game can dart or shoot. Cf . Shotover and Cockshutt. Similarly, Aldershaw (Lichfield), c. 1300 Alreshawe, is ' alder wood,' O.E. sceaga, M.E. schawe.

Alderton (Beckford, Chippenham, Felixstowe). Ch. A. Dom. Aldritons. Fe. A. c, 1150 Alretun. 'Alder-tree village.' Cf. Allerton.

Aldford (Chester). ' Old Ford,' O.E. eald, Mercian ald.

Aldin Grange (Durham). Prob.fr. the very common Aldhun or Aldhun ; one was bp. at Chester-le-Street, Durham, c. 990. Cf. Grange.

Aldington (Hythe and Worcester). Hy. A. a. 1124 Eadmer Ealdintune. Wor. A. 709 chart, and Dom. Aldintone. K.C.D. 61 Aldantune, ' Town, village of Alda ' or ' Ealda' gon. -an. Cf. Aldingbourne, Chichester, and Aldingha' in Dom. N. Lanes.

Aldridge (Walsall). Dom. Alrewic, a. 1200 Alrewich, Allerwych. O.E. alr wic, ' dwelling, village among the alders.' Cf. Alder- bury and Penkridge.

Aldringham (Saxmundham). Not in Dom. Perh. ' Home of the elders or parents/,’ M.E., c. 1300, eldryng. But old forms might reveal that it comes fr. some personal name. See -ing and -ham.

Aldrington (on R. Adur, Wilts), a. 1300 Aldrinton. Prob. now ' Village of the elders.' Cf. above. But orig. it came fr. the river on which it stands, q.v.

Aldwark (Easingwold). 'Old fort' or 'bulwark'; O.E. worc, an ' outwork,' a fortification. Cf. Wark.

Aldwincle (Northampton). 1137 O.E. Chron. Aldwingel; 1166- 67 Pipe Aldewincle,1298 Audewyncle. Nothing like-wingel in O.E. So this will be ' Ealdwine-geil.’ The former is a common O.E. name, cf. B.C.S. 1280 Aldwines barwe; the latter is O.N. geil, gil, ' a deep glen or ravine, a gill; not found in Eng. till and see -gill.

Aldworth (Reading), c. 1225 Audeworth, 1316 Aldeworth. 'Old farm'; O.E. eald, Merc. aid. But Aldsworth, North- leach, Dom. Aldeswrde. is ' farm of Eald ' (the old man). See -worth.

Alford (Lines and Somst.). Lin. A. Dom. Alforde, Som. A. perh. Dom. Aldedeford. These names are uncertain; perh. O.E. eald ford, ' old ford.' But Alford, Hants, is K.C.D. 1035 Aewelford—1: e., ' AEfweald, Alfwold, or Aethelweald's ford.' All these names are common in Onom.

Alfreton (Chesterfield). 1002 chart. AElfredinegtun. ' Hamlet of Alfred's descendants.' See -ing.

Alfriston (Polegate). Dom. Alvricestone, 1288 Close R. Alvericheston. ' Village of AElfric ' or ' Alfricus,' both in Onom. Cf. Alfric (Worc), said to be for Alfredeswic, and 1167-68 Pipe, Devon, Ailricheston.

Algarkirk (Boston). 810 chart. Algare. ' Church of AElfgar, v.r. Alger, a very common name. It may be fr. Earl Algar, 9th cny., a brave opponent of the Danes.

Alkborough (Doncaster). a. 1100 (in Grant of 664) Alkebarue, 1359 Alkebarowe. ' Burial mound of Alca,’ one in Onom. This is O.E. elch, M.E. alee, L. alces, ' an elk.' Cf. next and Barrow; also, Alkham, Dover.

Allan R. (Bodmin and St. David's), and Allen R. (S. Northbld. and Dorset). Keltic aluin, ' fair, lovely.' See Aln, and cf. Allerdale. The Alwyn, trib. of Coquet, is, of course, the same name.

All Cannings (Devizes) and All Stretton (Church Stretton). Prob. the all is for hall. O.E. heall; cf. Halton. See Cannington. Stretton is ' street town,' ' village on the (Roman) road.'

Aller (Somerset). 878 O.E. Chron. Alor; perh. Dom. Alra. O.E. alor, ' the alder-tree.' Cf. Coulter Allers (Sc.), also 808 chart. Alercumb, Somst.

Allerdale (Cumberland), c. 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 (Nthbld.), is 1099 Elredene, ' alder dean; sea -dean.

Allerthorpe (York). Dom. Alwarestorp. ' Ealdweard''s village.' Cf. Alverthorpe and Ellerby and see -thorpe.

Allerton (Axbridge and 3 in Yorks.). Dom. Yorks, Alreton, -tun, including Northallerton twice; Chesh., Salop, and Worc.

Alreton(e). Perh. = Alderton, ' village in the alder-trees.' But Axb. A. may be a. 1199 Roll Rich. I. Alurinton (in Somst.), where the first part may represent a man's name, it is uncertain what. And Allerston, Pickering, is Dom. Alurestan, Alvrestain, Alvestun, ' town ' or ' stone of Alfere,’ late form of the common AElfhere, fr. which also comes North- allerton. Cf. Ellerton.

Allesley (Coventry). Sic a. 1300, and Allestree (Derby). Prob. ' lea, meadow,' and ' tree of AElla' a common name. But Allestond, Pembr.’, is ol Ayllewarston, or “Aethelweard’ s of Aelfweard’ s town.

Allington (Grantham). Dom. Ellingetone. Cf. Dom. Chesh. Ale- tune. Prob. ' town of the sons of AElla.' See -ing.

Allithwaite (Grange). ' Place of Alli.'' a man found in Onom. and Alia was K. of Northumbria in 560. See -thwaite.

Allonby (Maryport). c. 1350 Alajnby. ' Dwelling of Alayn, Alio, or Allon.' There was an Alio, gen. Allonis, dux c. 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). W. allt gwen, ' bright, clear hillside or wooded crag.' Cf. Alde.

Almeley (Eardisley). c. 1200 Gervase Almelege. O.E. elm-leah, ' elm-meadow.' O.E. elm O.N. alm-r. Sw. and Dan. alm, ' elm.' No man Alm or the like in Onom.

Almondbury (Huddersfield) and Almondsbury (Bristol). Hud. A. Dom. Almaneberie, 1202 Aumundebir. Br. A. Dom. Almodesberie, 1233 Alemundebere. Nothing to do with almond or Sc. Almond; but 'burgh, town of Almund, Alemundus, or Ealhmund,'' a very common name. See-bury.

Aln R. (Northumbld.), Alne R. (Warwk.), Alne or Ellen R. (Maryport), and Alne (York). Nor. A. prob. c. 150 Ptolemy Alaunos, with Alauna,? Alnwick, c. 730 Bede Aln, Alna; War, A. B.C.S. 1227 re the year 723, AElwinnae, 1178 Alen; Yor. Alne., sic in Dom. All these names are apt to run into Allan, Allen, and, like those in Scotland and Ireland, are all Kelt.; though not always with the same meaning, for the Sc. and Ir. Allans are often fr. ailean, ' a green plain.' But the Eng. names are prob.= Sc. R. Ale, c. 1116 Alne. W. alain, alwyn, alwen, G. aluinn, ailne, ' exceeding fair, lovely, bright.' Cf. Alcester and Alnemouth.

Alnemouth (Northumbld.). Often locally pron. Alemouth. See above.

Alney (R.Severn). Prob.1016 O.E. Chron. Olanige; a.1200 Wm. Newbury Alnewich. ' Olla’ s isle'; see-ey. Cf. Olney and Alne.

Alnwick, pron. Annick. c, 1175 Fantosme Audnewic ; c. 1180 Bened. Peterb. Alnewic; c. Annewyke. ' Dwelling on the Alne. See -wick.

Alphington (Exeter). Dom. Alfintone. Prob. ' town, dwelling of AElfin'; one was bp. at Athelney in 1009.

Alresford (Colchester and Hants). Col. A. Dom. Alreforda, a. 1200 chart, AElesforda, Hants A. c. 830 chart. Alresforda, 1286 Alresford. Form a. 1200 may be a scribal error, but cf. Aylesford. Prob. ' ford of the alder-tree,' O.E. aler, air, olr, M.E. aller. Cf. Allerston.

Alrewas (Lichfield). Sic 942 and Dom. 1284 Allerwas. Pron. Allr-wass. O.E. air, alor wase, O.N. olr veisa, ' alder fen ' or marsh.' Cf. Alderbury, Broadwas, Rotherwas, Herefd., and Oxf. Dict. s.v. ooze sb 1280 Cto.se R. has ' Alrewasheles,’? in Northbld.

Alsager (Stoke-on-Trent). Pron. Al-sae'jer. Old forms needed. Cf. ' Alsiswich,' Herts, a. 1199 Roll Rich. I., Alsi is a contraction for AElfsige or Aelfswith, both very common O.E.names. This latter part is doubtful.

Alston (Stafford and Carlisle), and Alstonfield (Ashbourne). St. A. Dom. Alverdestone i.e., ‘Aefweard's town.' But another Alston (Staffs), is a. 1200 Aluredstone, where Alured is var. of Alfred; whilst Alstonfield is Dom. Aenestanfelt—i.e.,' field of Aene ‘s stone.' Note, too, that Austonley (S. Yorks) is Dom. Alstanesleie. How needful and important early forms are! Gf. Beer Alston and Athelstaneford (Sc).

Alt R. (S. Lancashire) =Alde. On it is Altcar, fr. carr sb in Oxf. Dict., ' a bog, a fen it is Norse Norw. kjaer, kjerr, ' pool, marsh, wet copse.'

Altarnun (Launceston). Pron. altar-nun, as if Eng. 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, a. 550.

Althorne (Maldon). Not in Dom. Prob. ' old (O.E. eald) thorn.' Cf. Albury. Only Altham (Lanes), is old Alvetham, Elvetham -i.e. home of AElfgeat.''

Althorpe (Doncaster). Not in Dom. a. 1100 chart. Alethorpe. Perh. 'Ale place,' 'alehouse'; O.E. alu. ealu, in 2 ale; but prob. ' village of a man Aela ' or ' Ala' both forms in Onom. Cf. Alatorp, Dom. Norfk., and Altofts, Normanton, (see -toft), in Dom. it is simply Toftes.

Alton (Dorset, Hants, etc.). Hants A. c. 880 chart. Aeweltun, Aweltun, 1166 Pipe Aultona, which looks like O.E. awel-tun, ' village shaped like an awl,' O.E. oel, eal, awel, aivul. M'Clure says = Ea-well ' i.e., 'spring-ton' or 'river-source.' Dom. ' Surrey has Aultone. Some of the others may be ' old town ' cf. Albury and Norton. But Alton or Alveton (Uttoxeter), is Dom. Elvetone, c. 1300 Alneton (n for v), which is prob. 'town, village of Aelf or Aelfa,' one each in Onom. The ' Alton ' in Dom. Yorks is now Halton.

Altrincham (Manchester). Pron. Al'tringham. Named fr. some man; there are Aldran and Aldran in Onom.; or perh.' home of the elders,' O.E. eldran, comp. of eald, ' old,' c. 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 ‘; cf. 1294 Alvedene, also in Lanes, and Alvingham. See-ley.

Alvechurch (Birmingham). 780 AElfgythe cyrce, Dom. Alvievecherche. 1108 AElfithe cyrce, a. 1200 Alviethechurch. Now pron. Allchurch. 'Church of AElfgith'' ; but Dom.'s form is influenced by Alvsva or AElvive, late forms of Aelfgifu, a very common woman's name in Onom. Cf. Alvecote (sic a. 1300), Tamworth.

Alveley (Bridgnorth). 1160 Pipe Aluielea 1231 Alwithel'. See above and -ley.

Alvermere (Worcester). K.C.D. 120. AeIferamaere, ' Aelfhere’ s lake.' But Alverthorpe (Wakefield), not in Dom. is prob. = Allerthorpe.

Alverstoke (Gosport). Dom. Alwarestoch, ' Alward's place.' Cf. next, and Dom. Essex, Alueraina; and see -stoke.

Alverstone (Sandown). Dom. Alvrestone, and Alverton (Notts and Penzance). ' Town of Alfer," late form of the common AElfhere. The two ' Alvretone ' or ' Alvretune ' in Dom. Yorks, have now become Allerton Mauleverer and North Allerton. But Notts A. is Dom. Aloretun, but c. 1190 Alvrington, Auvrington, which seems to be a patronymic. Cf., too, Ailvertune, Dom. Norfk. See -ing and -ton.

Alvescot (Bampton), Dom. Elfegescote, 1216 Elephescote, 1274- 79 Alfays-, Alfescote, 1276 Aluescot. ' Cottage, cot of Aelfheah.' Cf. Exon. Dom. Ailesvescota.

Alveston (Thornbury). c. 955 chart. AeIfes-, AeIvestun, Dom. and c. 1097 Flor. W. Alvestan. 1158-59 Pipe Alvestan 1229 Alewestan. ' Dwelling of Aelfe ' (the elf); Cf. Sim. Dur. ann. 1093 Alwestan, Elston and Olveston. See -ton, which often interchanges with -stone. But A. (Stratford-on-A.) is 985 chart. Eanulfestune, 988 ib., Dom. Alvestone, ' town of Eanwulf.' For Alweston, Sherborne, old forms are needed; perh. it is 1166-67 Pipe Alfwieteston, which may be, 'town of Aelfswith,' a common female name.

Alvingham (Louth), old forms needed, and Alvington (Lydnoy and I. of W.). Ly. A. 1221 Alwintone. 1223 Elvetim, later Elvynton. I. of W. A. Dom. Ahvinestun. Prob. all. ' home and ' town of Aelfwynn ' ; but, in last case perh., ' of Ealhwine or ' Alwinus,'' names in Onom. It should also be at least noted here, that O.E. aelf, elfen, ‘a alve is ' an elf,' and O.E. celfen, elfen, ' a female elf.' See -ing, -ham, and -ton.

Alwalton (Peterboro’) Said to be 955 chart. AEthelwoldingtune i.e., 'dwelling town of Ethelwold's descendants.' But a. 1100 chart. and 1230 Close R. Alewalton, which may be' old, walled town.' Cf. Albury and Walton.

Alwen R. (N. Wales). W. al-(g)wen, ' very white, very bright': same as Elvan Sc.c. 1170 Elwan, Alewyn. Cf. Alwin.

Alwin R. (Rothbury) =Alwen. On it is Alwinton.

Alwoodley (Leeds). 1288 Close B. R. Athewaleley ' AEhelweals ‘s meadow.' See -ley.

Ambergate. Not in Dom. Prob. 'pitcher-road'; fr. O.E. amber, omber, ' a pitcher, a bucket,' and geat, ' gate, way,' de- noting the road to a well. There are many names in Amber-; Dom. Bucks Ambretone suggests a man? Ambet; so even more does Dom. Ambresdone, now Ambrosden ; only it is prob. fr. Ambrosius. Amber Hill, Boston, will be fr. O.E. amber, fr. its shape.

Amberley (Stroud, Harden, Herefd., and Arundel). St. A. 1166 Umberleia, later Umberley. Ma. A. Dom. Amburlege, Ar. A. Dom. Ambrelie. ' Meadow of the pitcher,' see above; cf. Ombersley, Somederive fr. A man Amber or Amalbeorht. See-ley.

Amble (Acklington). Old forms needed. Perh. W. am fwl, ' round about the pool.' But cf. Ampleforth. Amblecote- Stourbridge, is Dom. Elmelecote, a. 1300 Amelecote,' cottage of Hemele,' a common O.E. name, still found as Hamil. Cf. Amblestone.

Amblerthorn (Halifax). Old forms wanted. Not in Dom. Perh. fr. a man Amalbeorht, a name in Onom.

Ambleside. Perh. ' Hemele' s seat'; cf. Amblecote and next: -side is corrup. of Icel. saeti, set. which means ' a seat in ‘modern use.

Amblestone (Pembroke). In W.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 Eng. surname; cf. Hamilton Sc. Also Dom. Surrey' Amele- brige,' and above.

Ambrosden (Bicester). Dom. Ambresdone. Prob. ' den, haunt of Ambrosius, Aurelianus, Damnonian chief, leader of the Britons against Hengist, c. 450 a.d. Cf. Amesbury, and Ambresbury Bank, Epping. In c. 800 Nennius we read of 'Ambros, British Embres guletic' vhich last. W. gwledig, means ' a leader, a general.' The Epping place is or was also called Amesbury and Ambers' Banks, and is reputed the site of Q. Boadicea's final defeat.

Amersham (Riokmansworth). 1218Patent R. Aumodesham,1231 Agmodesiiam, 1280 Close R. Agnumdesham, 1291 Amundesham. A ninteresting corrup.,' Agmimd-r'shome', cf. Amotherby.

Amerton (Stafford), c. 1300 Embricton, later Ambric-, Ambrighton. ' Town of Eanhriht ' or ' Eanbeorht.'

Amesbury (Salisbury). 995 O.E. Chron. Ambresbyri(g); Dom. Ambresberie; c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Abbesiriensis (prob. scribe's error); c. 1180 Bened. Peterh. Ambres-, Ambesbiria, 1280 Aum bresbir'. ' Fort, town, of Ambrose.'' See Ambrosden and -bury. A(l)mington (Tamworth). 889 chart. Alchmundingtuun, later Alhmundingtun. ' Abode of the descendants of Alchmund.' But Almington. Mket. Drayton, is Dom. Alrmontone, a. 1300 Alkementon, which is simply, ' town, village of Alchmund ' or ' Ealhmund.' See-ingand-ton.

Amlwch (Anglesea). c. 1451 Amlogh. W., meaning ' a circular inlet of water'; the lwch is cognatewith G.loch.

Ammanford (Caermarthen). ' Ford on the R. Am(m)an.’ See Aberaman.

Amotherby (Malton). Dom. Edmundrebi, Aimundrebi; c. 1350 Aymonderbi, ' dwelling of Agmund-r.' Cf. Osmotherley and next. Dom. says Edmund-, because Agmund-r was an unfamiliar name to the Nor. scribe. But cf. next and see -by.

Amounderness (Preston). Dom. Agemundrenesse, Sim. Dur. ann. 1123, Agmunderness; later, Ackmounderness. 'Cape, promontory of Agmund-r.' Cf. above. But in chart, dated 705 it is Hasmunderness, fr. Asmund or Osmund, well-known N. names. Cf. Osmotherley. See Ness.

Ampleforth (York); Sic c. 1505, but Dom. Ampre-, 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, Dom. Omenie, -nel, later Omenai, Ameneye, -anell. This name is a tautology, the p, as often being a late intrusion, cf. Hampton. Amen or Omen is simply O. Kelt, for 'river 'whilst the -ie or -ey is O.E. ea, ' stream.' Here stands the Early Eng. Church Santae Crucis,' of the Holy Cross."

Ampthlll (Bedford). Sic 1454, and c. 1350 Ampthull, but Dom. Ammetelle. ' Anthill, 'O. E. aemete, aemyte,3-4- amte,4-6 ampte, ' an ant or emmet.'

Amrath, -roth (Pembroke), c. 1130 Lib. Landav. Amrath, 1603 Owen Amrothe. Prob. W. am Rhath,' on the Rath, 'the river Lib. Land, calls the Radh. Cf. Cilrath and Penrath nearby, and llan am ddtyfri = Llandovery. W. rhath is ' a mound, a hill,' as prob. in Roath, Cardiff.

Amwell (Ware). Dom. Emmewelle, 1281 Amewell, later Emwell. There is in B.C.S. 801 an Ammanuuelle, but not this one. ' Well of Amma.' Cf. B.C.S. 1110 Amman broc.

Ancaster (Grantham), c. 1190 Gir. Camb. Anecastrum. This must be ' Anna's camp.' Anna is an O.E. man's name. See next and -caster; and cf. Anwick, Sleaford.

Ancroft (Beal). a. 1128 Anaeroft, later Anecroft. This must be ' Anna's croft or ' field.' Anna is a fairly common O.E. name, and croft a real O.E. word. Cf. Ancaster. We have croft also in Dom. Cornw. Croftededor.

Anderby (Alford) and Anderton (Northwich). ' Town of Andar' or 'Andhere,' names in Onom. Cf. Ainderby and ' Andrelav,' Dom. Salop and' Andrebi, 'Dom. Holderness; and see-by and -ton. But Andersfield, Somerset, is1233 Close R. Eldredesfeld, fr. the common Ealdred.

Andover (Hants). 994 O.E, Chron. To Andeferan, -faran, -efron; Dom. Andovere, c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Andovre, 1155 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 O.E. form has been interpreted as ' fare sage, ferry, over the Ande.' But the O.E. 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 fr. the old British Dover. W. dwfr, ' a stream.' In that case An- might be the Kelt, 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. Nor- folk, must be the same root; then what of t or d? Andover(s)-ford (Cheltenham) is 759 chart. Onnanford, c. 800 ib. Annanford, c. 1270 Anneford, which Baddeley derives fr. the O.E. man's name Anna. It is also 1266 Andevere, c. 1270 Andovere, where he makes the latter part =Dover, and the former he leaves doubtful. In W. on, pl.on nis' an ash-tree.' Cf. Ampney.

Anerley (Norwood). Not in Dom. ' Meadow of Aner.' Cf. B.C.S. 910 Aneres broc. See -ley.

Angarrack (Gwinnear Road). Corn, an carrack, ' the rock,' G. carraig.

Angerton (Morpeth). ' Town of Anger.' M.E. angard, ongart, ' boastful, arrogant.' There is one Angerus in Onom. Cf. the mod. name Ainger.

Angle or Nangle (Pembroke), c. 1190 Gir. Camb. Angulus, 1594 Nangle. The Eng. sb. angle is fr. Fr. There seems no W. equivalent name. It lies in an angle; but W.H.Stevenson thinks it may be O.N. ongull, ' a fjord,' fr. ang-r, O.E. eng, ' narrow.' Cf. Anglesea. Nangle is for an angle.

Anglesark (Lanes). ' Shieling, hut of the Angle ‘; argh, ark, or ergh, is a N. corrup. of G. airigh, airidh, ' shepherd's hut.' Cf. Arkud, Golcar, Grimsargh, etc. Final -gh in G. is now usually mute. The fuller form is seen in Airyholme, N. Riding, which was Ergun in Dom. The-un is sign of the loc. plur.

Anglesea. 1098 O.E. Chron. Angles ege i.e., ' isle of the Angle,’ or Englishman. But in W. ynys Fon, ' Mona's Isle,' cf. Man, and see -ey. The same name is found in Cambs, 1270 Angleseye. However, W. H. Stevenson thinks the orig. name was O.N. Ongalsey, ' isle of the fjord ' (see Angle). It is so named c. 1225 in Orkney. Saga.

Angmering (Worthing), c. 885 Alfred's Will, also in 2 charters, Angemaeringtun, Dom. Angemare. ' Place of the descendants of Angemcer.' See-ing.

Anker R. (Nuneaton). O.E. 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. Cf. Ankerwyke, Staines, where a Benedictine nunnery was founded, in 12th cny.; also Ankerdine Hill, Brom- yard, 1275 Oncredham, c. 1300 Ancredam, and -ham; prob. also fr. ancre; for its ending see -den; the O.E. would be ancran denu.

Anlaby (Hull). Dom. Umlouebi, Unl-, Umloveby. 'Dwelling of Unlaf or ' Anlaf: Cf. Anlafestun B.C.S. 1128. One Anlaf was K. of Northumbria, 941-52. See -by.

Annaitsford (Newcastle). Anait is Kelt. for ' a parent church.' Cf. Annat, Sc. Possibly Annait- is corrup. of a man's name. There is nothing in Onom. nearer than one Enefaet. It may be Annette, dimin. of Anne.

Annear or Ennor (Cornwall). Corn. =' the earth,' an being the article, and nor, ' earth.'

Annesley (Nottingham). Dom. Aneslei. ' Lea, meadow of Anna or 'Ana.'' Several of this name in Onom. One was K. of East Anglia, 636-54. Cf. Ainley and N. and S. Anston, Yorks, which in Dom. are Anele and Anestan, also Ancaster, etc.

An Ors (rock, Lizard). Corn. ='the bear, Latin Ursa, Fr. ours.

Ansley (Atherstone). Dom. Hanslei, a. 1500 Ansteley, -lay. Doubtful, but prob.' Meadow with the narrow pathway.' See next and -ley. However, Anslow (Burton-on-T.) is 1004 Ansythlege, Eansythlege. Ansideleye, c. 1300 Ansedesleye. ' Meadow of Eanswyth,' possibly a female saint. Ansdell (Lytham) is not in Dom. and doubtful too.

Anstey (Alton, Buntingford, Leicester, Tamworth), and Anstye Cross (Hayward's Heath). Alt.A.1157 Pipe Anestiga. Tam. A. Dom. Anestie, a. 1300 Anesty, Anestleye; O.E. anstiga, -ge, ' a narrow path, a pass,' lit. ' one footway.' In Dom. Yorks, we have Ainesti, Annesti Wapentac, 1179-80 Ainsti, now Amsty Wapentake.

Antrobus (Nantwich). Dom. Entrebus. Prob. Fr. entre buis, ' among of the box-trees.' Fr. autre, ' a cave’ is not recorded till 1564. Nor. names are very rare so early in this locality. Cf. Warboys and 1215 Close R. Grambus=Fr. grand bois.

Apethorpe (Stamford) and Apeton (Stafford). Dom. Abetone, a. 1300 Abbe-, Abe-, Apeton. ' Place ' and ' village of Eappa,' a common name, found also as AEbba, Ebba, and Eappa. Cf. next, Epsom and' Apetun,' chart. Hants. The ape is found in O.E. as apa, ape, but is hardly likely here. Cf. Apes Dale, Bromsgrove,1552Apedale. See-thorpe.

Apperley (Leeds). 1201 Appeltreleg i.e., ' apple-tree meadow.' A. (Tewkesbury) is 1221 Happeley, 1413 Appurley, prob. also fr. O.E. 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). We.A.1131 Aplebi,1174 Pipe Appelbi. 'Apple-town,' O.E. aeppel, aepl, O.N. epli, O. Sw. aepli, ‘an apple’, and see -by. Also, Appleby Magna (Atherstone,) ‘great Appleby; cf Ashby Magna. Etv. The “Aplebi’ of Dom. Yorks is now Eppleby in the N. Riding. The Don. A. is not found there. However. The local pron. Of this Westmorland name is Yaeppleby, which favoers a derivation fr. 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 chart. Apuldre, and -dran; whilst S. Appledore, Halberton, is ib. Suran Apuldran, Exon. Dom. Surapla,' sour apple-tree.' Bideford A. Dom. Appledore. Kent A. 893 O.E. Chron. Apulder. Dom. Apeldres, c. 1200 Gervase Apeldre, 1439 Will Apuldr. Some of these (esp. at Bideford) prob. were orig. 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; cf. Applecross (Sc), c. 1080 Aporcrosan. But very early Apuldre was thought to be simply ' apple-tree.' Cf. 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 chart. Appildore (Wilts)

Appleford (Abingdon). 892 chart. Aeppelford, Dom. Apleford. ' Ford at the apple-tree.' But cf. Appledore.

Appleshaw (Andover). ' Apple-wood,' O.E. scaga, 'a wood.' Dom. Hants has only Aplestede.

Appleton (7 in P.G.) also Appleton Wiske (Northallerton, Dom. Apletune). 1179-80 Appelton, 1202 Apelton (both in Yorks). 'Town of the apples'; O.E. oep(p)el, 2-7 appel. Wiske, not in Dom., is now the name of a little R. here, 1212 Wise, which is prob. 0. Keltic uisg, G. uisge. ' water, stream,' hence whisky cf. L. Isca,UsK ,and Kirby Wiske. But it may be E. Frisian wiske,' a small meadow,' Ger. wiese,' a meadow,’ in Eng. usage seemingly one moist and low-lyig. Cf. Whistley, in O.E. chart. Wiscelea, Wisclea.

Appletree (Derby). 1298 Writ ' Henrico de Apletrefelde.' This tree was the meeting-place of the hundred (or shire-division). Cf. Gartres, Greytree, Plumtree (Notts), and Apperley.

Appley Bridge (Wigan). Not in W. and H. Prob.O.E. oepl-laeh, ' apple-treemeadow.'

Apps Court (Surrey), a. 1000 chart. AEpse; also Abbs. O.E. aespe, oeps, ' the asp or aspen tree.' Cf. M.E. and dial, claps for clasp.

Apsley (Bedford). Dom. Aspeleia, but 969 chart, AEpslea, which is O.E. for' aspen-tree meadow', see above.Or else, meadow of Aeppa or Eppa’; cf. Epsom and Ipsley, also a. 810 Nennius ' Episford,' in our tongue 'Set thir gabail,' where gabail must surely be the same as G. gabhal, or gohhal, ' a fork.' Apsley, Tanworth, is better Aspley; but a. 1300 Apsele.

Aquilate (W. Staffd.). 1129 Pipe 'Matilda de Aquila,' a. 1300 Aquilade, a. 1400 Aquilot, a. 1600 Acquilat. Called after the Nor. family L'Aigle, L. 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,' O.E. ge lad, see Cricklade; hardly by lot, O.E. hlot, which is not applied to land till quite late; though loot mede or ' lot meadow ' is found as early as 1553.

Aran Mowddwy (mtn., Merioneth). W. 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). c. 1540 Arburfeld. Dr. Skeat informed the writer that a charter has recently been found showing that this is orig. ' Eadhurh's field,' Eadburh being a woman. Another warning against guessing!

Archenfield, Archfield, or Irchenfield (Herefordsh.). c.1130 Lib. Landav. Ergyng, and prob. c. 380 Ant. Itin. Areconium, c. 1147 Geoff. Mon. Erging. Very doubtful; perh. erging may suggest W. ergryn, ' terror, horror.'

Arddleen (Oswestry). W. ardd llion, ' height on the streams,' llion pl. of lli. Cf. Caerleon.

Arden and Ardens Grafton (Alcester, Warwk.). a.1199Arden. The first part is prob. a contraction of one of the numerous O.E. 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 Dom., and Ardington (Wantage and Surrey). Wa.A. Dom. Ardintone,1316 Ardynton. Sur. A. 1233 Eard-, Erdendon. Prob. ' meadow and town o fEardwine,'2 in Onom. Cf. the mod. Surname Harding, and Erdington; and see -ley and -ton.

Ardleigh (Colchester); also Ardley (Bicester). Dom. Ardulveslie, 1149 Ardusley, 1229 Ardolvesl,' 1259 Erdulfiey, 1316 Ardele. ' Meadow of Eardwulf' or ' Ardulf. The Colch. name may not be the same; old forms needed. Cf.1297 Writ Arderne, Essex. See -ley.

Ardsley (Barnsley, Wakefield, etc.). 1202 Ardislawe, 1208 Erdeslawe. Prob. ' Eard's lea ' or ' meadow,' Eard being short for Eardwulf, a very common O.E. 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- prob. represents some O.E. name in Aeoel-; there are many. Cf. Atherstone and Atherton. ' Arduuic Dom. Hardwick. S. Yorks is now Hardwick.

Arenig (Bala).? dimin. of W. aren., ' a kidney.'

Argoed (Tredegar). W. ar coed, ' ploughed land by the wood.' Cf. Bargoed.

Arkendale (Knaresboro'). Dom. Archedene, Arghendene; and Arkengarthdale (Richmond, Yorks). Doubtful. Prob. the Arken- is a contraction fr. some of the many names in Earcan- or Eorcon- in Onom. Possibly it might be ' valley of the arks or ' chests,' O.E. earc, arc. Cf. Dom. Herefd. Archenfeld, and Arkinholm, old name of Langholm (Sc). The O.E. dene, see -dean, has been changed by N. influence to -dale. The -garth is O.N. garo-r, O.E. geard, a. 1300 garth, ' enclosure, field, yard.'

Arkesdon (Newport, Essex). Dom. Archesdana. This Ark- or Arch- here may be contraction fr. the common Arcytel or Arkil; there is no recorded Arc. Or the name may be: ' (wooded) valley of the chest ‘; O.E. earc, arc. Cf. Arkleby and Arksey; and see -den.

Arkholme (K. Lonsdale). Dom. Ergun. ' Hut on the meadow. Norse G. argh. See Anglesark and -holm. In Dom. -un represents -am or -ham rather than -holm—indeed, is a loc, generally made afterwards into -(h)am; so Ergun will be 'at the huts.'

Arksey (Doncaster). Dom. Aicheseia. Prob. as in Arkesdon, ' isle of the chest,' or ' of Arc'. See -ey.

Arkleby (Aspatria). [Cf. c. 1215 Arkilleshow, S. Lancashire.] ' Dwelling of Earcil, Arcytel or Earcytel,'a common O.E.name. See -by.

Arklid (Cumberld.). Gaelic-N. argh, G. airigli ,airidh,' a shieling, a hut ' ; and N. hlio. ' a slope.' Cf. Anglesark and Pavey Ark; also, Golcar, Goosnargh, etc.

Arlecdon (Cumberld.). Old forms needed. Perh. hybrid= Harlech: and O.E. dun, ' a hill, a fort.'

Arlesey (Hitchin). Dom. Alriceseie. 'Isle of AElric or Aelfric/' But Arlescote (Wwk.) is 1080 Orlavescoth, Dom. 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). Bew. A. 994 Earnleie, Dom. Ernlege, a. 1300 Erlei, Arnlegh. ' Meadow of the eagle,' O.E. earn; though Duignan prefers to think of a contraction fr. one of the numerous names in Earn-, Earnbald, -grim, etc. Cf. 1179-80 Pipe Erlega (Cumbld.) and c. 1537 ' Erleghecote haythe ' (Furness) which seem to come fr. earl. See above; also, Arncliffe and Early; and Arle (Cheltenham), old Alra; i.e., O.E. aler, alder-tree.'

Arley Regis or A. Kings (Bewdley). Dom. Ernlege, c. 1275 Ernleie. See above. Regis is L. for ' of the King.' It belonged to the Crown in the Mid. Ages, having twice escheated.

Arlingham (Stonehouse). Dom. Erlingeha. ' Home of Arling ' or ' Erling ' i.e., ' the descendant of the earl.' But Arlington (Bibury and Barnstaple) is Bi. A. Dom. Aluredintune, 1221 Alwintone; Ba. A. prob. not in Dom. 'Town, dwelling of the sons of Alured.' Searle does not equate this with Alfred. See -ing, -ham, and -ton.

Armathwaite (Cumberld.). A little doubtful. It maybe' place of ' some man, with a name in Eorm-. Eormenburh, -frith, etc., and here contracted. But it maybe O.N. arm-r,' anarm,'and then, ' the spur of a valley.' Cf. Armley, Armthorpe, and Armadale (Sc); and see -thwaite.

Armitage (Rugeley). a. 1300 Hermitage; in Eng. 1290 ermitage, 5 armitage; O.Fr. hermitage. There was one here in the 13th cny. Armley (Leeds). Dom. Ermelai. Prob. ' Eorni' s meadow.' See Armathwaite, and -ley.

Armthorpe (Doncaster). Dom. 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). Dom. Arneclif, and Gerneclif. Perh. ' Cliff of the erne or eagle’ O.E. earn. But possibly Arn- represents a man's name; cf. above and Armley. Cf. Arncot (Oxon), which is K.C. D. 1279 Earnigcote, Dom. Ernicote i.e., ' cot of Earnwig ' or ' Arnwi.''

Arnesby (Leicester). 1160 Pipe Ernesbi. 'Dwelling of Ami' i.e., 'the eagle.' Cf. above, and Arnisort (Sc); and see -by.

Arnold (Nottingham). Dom. Ernehale. 1157 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. Cf. Dom. Arnodestorp, now Arnoldstoft, N.Riding. See-toft.

Arnside (Carnforth). ' Eagle-slope,' Side. O. E. side, here has the sense of ' the slope of a hill or mountain.' Cf. Ambleside.

Arrad Foot (Ulverston). Prob. W. aradiad, ' tillage,' fr. aradr, ' a plough'; L. aratrum.

Arram (Beverley). Dom. Argun. The Arg-is Norse G. argh,' hut, shieling ‘; see Anglesark. The -un is a loc.; see Arkholme. Arreton (I. of Wight). Sic1285. Not in Dom. Hants, but in Sffk. Are-, Aratona; 'town, hamlet of Ara,' or 'Are,' names in Onom. Arrington (Royston, Camb.). Dom. Erningtone, chart, AErningetune, 1270 Arington, 1307 Arnington. ' Village of the sons of Erne or AErn,' O.E. earn, oern, ' an eagle.' Armingford, also in Cambs, 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 a. 800 chart. Aro. Prob. same root as W. aru, ' to plough.' The river seems nowhere like ' an arrow,' O.E. arewe.

Arthengton (Otley). Not in Dom, 1204 Arthigton. Further old forms needed. May be ' village of Earthegn or Ertein.' The name is in Onom. Cf. Hartington, Buxton.

Arthog (Barmouth). Dimm. of W. arth, ' a height '; ' little hill.'

Arthuret (Carlisle). Wh. Stokes thought this the same as Verteris in c. 400 Notit. Dign., which is prob. of same root as W. gwerthyr, ' fortification.' But K. Arthur was a real Keltic King none the less, and his name prob. influenced the form of this. The name is first found inm Juvenal Sat. 3, 29, Artorius. This, says Rhys, is early Brythonic Artor, gen. Artoros.

Arun R. (Sussex). Perh. named fr. a neighbouring hill, W. aran, ' a peaked hill.'

Arundel (Sussex). Dom. Harundel; 1097 O.E. Chron. Arundel; c. 1175 Arandel. ' Dell dale (O.E. doel) of the Arun.' Very early the Arundel family had on their arms the swallow or hirondelle. a Fr. word found in Eng. c. 1600 as ' arrondell.' Of course, this is only heraldic etymology.

Ascot (Berks), a. 1300 Escot, also Ascote; Ascot-under-Wychwood (Oxford; see Wychwood), Ascote (Southam) a. 1300 Astanescote. Ascott (Shipston-on-Stour), no old forms. Ascot or Escot maybe eas tcot—cf. Astley; but is prob.=Ashcott, Bridgewater, 'cot, cottage made of ashwood,' O.E. caec cf. Ashford, Dom. Asford. Ascote is ' cot of Aelfstan,'' a ' faithful man ' referred to in a grant by Oswald, Bp. Of Worcester, in 991. Dom. Bucks has an ' Achecote.'

Asfordby (Melton Mowbray). No in Dom. ' Dwelling of Asford,' bailiff at Croyland. See Onom. and- by.

Asgarby (Lincolnsh.). 1154-66 charts. Asgerbi, Ansgesbia; a. 1200 Asgerebi. 'Dwelling of Asgar or Asgaer ‘; so, in Onom. Cf. Askerswell and see -by.

Ash R. (Wilts). 712 chart. AEsce, which is O.E. for ' ash-tree.' But almost all our river names are Keltic, and so this is prob =Ax or ' water.'

Ash (Aldershot, Sevenoaks, Sandwich). Prob. O.E. Aesce, ' ash- tree.' The c has remained hard in Aske, Yorks; Dom. Hasse. Ashbourne (Uttoxeter and Derbysh.). Der. A. Dom. Esseburne, 1162-65 chart. Esseburna; ' ash-tree stream,' bourne =Sg. burn; O.E. hurna, Icel. hrunn-r, 'a brook, a stream.' Ash, the tree, is given as 3 asse and 5 esche.

Ashbrittle (Wellington, Som.). Not in Dom., and old forms needed. The origin of the Eng. Brittle is doubtful; see Oxf. Dict. But prob. this has nothing to do with brittle; prob. it is ' AEscbeortht’ s hill.' Cf. B.C.S. 624. AEscbyirhtes geat, and Astle, a. 1300 Asthulle.

Ashburnham (Battle). K.C.D. 930 Ashbornham, ' home at the Ashbourne.' There is also an ' Esburneha ' in Dom. Bucks. Ashburton (S. Devon). Prob. Dom. Essebretone. ' Burton, fortified hamlet, by the ash-tree; or ' of ' a man ' AEsc ' or ' AEse,' the names are in Onom. Cf. next and Ashdown.

Asbury (Berks and Okehampton). Ber, A, c. 931 chart. AEscaesbyrie, 953 chart, Aescesburh, 960 AEscesburuh, O.E. for ' burgh, fort of Aesc,’ 'perh. he who was the son of Hengist. Aesc means ' an ash,' and Ash(e) is still a common surname. There is an ' Asseberga ' in Dom. Wore, which is prob. ' burgh of Asa,' a name common in Onom. Cf. Ashdown.

Ashby (Doncaster) and Ashby de la Zouch. Don. A. 1179-80 Essebi, Do la Z. A. c. 1300 Eccleston Esseby (the E. Anglian pron.; cf. Ashwell). ' Dwelling of AEsc ' or ' Asa,' see above, and afterwards of the Nor. Family La Zouch. See-by.

Ashby Puerorum (Horncastle).(Orob, 1292 Parva Askeby) ‘Ashby of the boys'; L. puer,' aboy.'

Ashby St. Ledgers (Rugby). See above. St. Ledger, in Fr. St. Leger, is Leodegarius, a famous Fr. saint and martyr, Bp. of Autun in France; d.678. Cf. the Doncaster St. Leger, which already, in 1567, had reached its popular corrup. ' Sellinger ' or 'Selenger’.

Ashdown (Berksh.). 673 chart. ' In Escesdune LV in loco qui vocatur Earmundeslea.' O.E. Chron. ann. 661 AEscesdune, ann. 871, AEscesdun; also sic in a. 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 ' (c. 931 chart.), this may be ' hill ' or ' fort of AeEsc’. There are 3 called Aesc and one AEsca in Onom. Cf. Ashbury.

Asheldam (Southminster). Not in Dom. Prob. ' Home of Ashild,'' a Norse female name. But Ashelworth (Glouc), Dom. Esceleuuorde,1260Asselworth, is either' farm of Aescelf,' one in Onom.; or else fr. the common Aschil, Ascil, or Ascytel. See -ham and -worth.

Ashey Down (Ryde). The only adj. in Oxf. Dict. fr. ash. the tree is ashen; yet this Ashey is prob. fr. it also. See -down.

Ashford (Kent, Laleham, etc.) and Ashford Careonel (Ludlow). Lal. A. Dom. Exeforde; also, old Echeleford, Eckleford. fr, the little R. Exe or Echel here. As. Carb. Dom. Asford. Prob. they all mean ' ford on the river.' See Ash R., and cf. Ashbourne. A Sir John Carbonell is mentioned in Norfolk, 1422, in Paston Lett.

Ashtington (Morpeth and Pulboro'). Pul. A. Dom. Essingetune {cf. 1298 'Johannes de Asshendene '). Prob. ' town, vlliage of the Askings ‘; on this family or dynasty see Bede, ii. 5, See, too, Assington.

Ashley (many). E.g. in Dom. Ascelie (Chesh.), Esselie (Cambs and Staffs). Achelei (Bucks). ' Ash-tree meadow.' Some may come fr. a man AEsca, as we have Ashley (Staffs), a. 1300 Assingelegh. Cf. Dom. Wore, Escelie. See -ing and -ley.

Ashmansworth (Huuts). a. 1200 chart. 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 Onom. Cf. Rickmansworth and see -worth.

Ashmore (Salisbury and Lichfield). Li. A. c. 1300 Esfmeresbrok, Asschmorebroke.,Aslimeresbroke. Prob. ' brook of Aescmaer.'' Cf. B.G.S. 1227 on Aescmaeres hammas. Sal. A. may be ' ash- tree moor.'

Ashorne (Warwick). 1196 Hasshorne, 1370 Asshorne. Perh. ' ash-tree nook.' O.E. aesc, M.E. asse, esse, ' an ash,' and O.E. hyrne, hern, ' nook, corner.' But -horn in Whithorn (Sc), etc., represents O.E. erne, ' house.'

Ashover (Chesterfield). Dom. Essovre. ' Ash-tree bank,' fr. O.E. obre, ofr. M.E. overe, ' border, bank of a river.' Cf. Bolsover, etc., also Asher.

Ashow (Kenilworth). Dom. Asceshot (-shot prob. error, but cf. Aldershot), a. 1300 Ascesho, Ashyho, Asshisho. ' Hoe, outstretching point of land, with the ash-tree.' See above, and Ashbury.

Ash Parva (Whitchurch). Little Ash. L. parvus, little. Cf, Ashby Magna, etc.

Ashreigney (Chulmleigh). Not in Dom. Reigney seems to be the S.W. dialect reen, reene, rhine, ' a ditch, an open drain.' prob. fr. O.E. ryne.

Ashridge (Bucks). Prob.1376Assherugge. Ridge in the N. usually takes the form rigg., O.E. hrycg, Icel. hrygg-r. Of. Askrigg.

Ashton (Northampton, etc.). c. 955 chart, Aesctune, Bristol. 963 O.E. Chron. AEsctun,? which. ' Ash-tree village.' Ashton in Dom. is sometimes Estun as well as Essetone, but that will here mean the same.

Ashurst (Southampton). (Dom. has Eisseburne.) ' Ash-tree grove,' O.E. hyrst, Sw. hurst, 'a wood.' Cf. Chiselhurst, etc.

Ahswell (Herts), a. 1300 Eccleston Assewelle (for this spelling cf. Ahsby DE LA Zouche). ' Well by the ash-tree.'

Askam (Carnforth). O.E. aesc-ham, ' dwelling, village by the ash- tree,' the hard c being retained in North. Eng. Cf Askham. The Aesc may well be a man's name here. Cf. Asbhury.

Askern (Doncaster). Not in Dom. O.E. aesc-erne, ' house built of ash-wood.' Cf. Whithorn (Sc).

Askerswell (Bridport). Not in Dom. ' Well of Asgar '; several named Asgar, Asgcer, Esgar, in Onom. Cf. Asgarby.

Askham (Penrith and Yorks). Yorks, mor than one ,Dom .Ascam, Ascha'. =Askam.

Askrigg (Bedale). North, form of Ashridge.

Askwith (Westmld. and Yorks). Dom. Yorks. Ascuid, -vid; 1201 Ascwith. O.N. ask-r vio-r (Dan. ved). ' Ash wood or forest.' Cf. Askam and Beckwith. This is, of course, the same name as Asquith.

Aslackby (Folkingham) and Aslacton (Long Stratton). Dom. Aslachesbi. ' Dwelling of Aslac '; several in Onom. Cf. next and Aislaby; and see -by.

Aslacoe (Lincoln). Dom. 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). Dom. Aslachetone. ' Aslac' s village.' See above.

Aspatria (W. Cumberland). Local pron .Spatry. 1224 Paten tR. Estpateric. Said to be fr. As- or Gos- patrick, first lord of Allendale, or fr. As or St. Patrick, predecessor of Kentigern, and patron St. of the church here. In time of K. John, we find a ford near here called Wath-Patrick-weth. Ass in O.N. means a sort of demi-god, one under the patronage of a god. usually Thor. But possibly the first syll. is the obs. Eng. este, O.E. est, O.N. 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). c. 1280 Apsedene. Feud. Aids Aspedene, O.E. aespe denu, ' aspen-tree vale.' See -den.

Aspley (Huddersfield, and 2 in Staffs; Dom. Haspeleia, 1227 Aspeleg, Eccleshall; and 2 in Warwk., both 1272 Aspeley; but one a. 1300 Apsele), and Aspley Guise (Woburn). 1232 Aspel'. ' Lea, meadow (O.E. leah) of the asps or aspens,' O.E. aespe. Cf. Apsley, and Asps, 1196 Aspes (Warwk). 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). Prob. ==' asp-hill ' or 'aspen-tree hill,' O.E. aespe, ' an aspen '; hill is found spelt 2-5 hull. Of. Aspenden and Solihull.

Asselby (Yorks). Dom. Aschilebi. 'Dwelling, village of Aschil orAscytel,'a common O.E.name. Cf. Haisthorpe; and see-by.

Assingdon or Assington (Colchester). 1016 O.E. Chron. Assandun; c. 1115 Henry Hunt. Esesdun. This placename is correctly translated by Flor. Wore. c. 1097, ' mons asini' hill of the ass, 'O.E. assa, gen. assan,' a male ass.'

Astbury (Congleton). Not in Dom. Prob. ' burgh, town of Ast,' given as ' 956 regulus Wore' in Onom. However, O.E. ast is ' an oast or kiln.' Cf. next.

Astle Hall (Macclesfield), a. 1300 Asthulle. ' Ast-hill,' O.E. ast, ' an oast or kiln ‘: hill is spelt 2-5 hull. Cf. Aspull and Solihull.

Astley (5 in P.G.). Nuneaton A .Dom. Estleia, a.1300 Est(e)ley. 1327 Astleye. Stourport A. Dom. Eslei, a. 1200 AEstlege, a. 1300 Estley, Astle, Estele. The Oxf. Dcet, gives no spelling of East as ast, yet old forms show that many names in Ast- must come fr. East. See below. So, this name is, ' East lea ' or' meadow.' See-ley.

Aston (Herts, Bucks, Staffs, Warwk., Yorks, and Nantwich). All Dom. Eston or Eastun(e) i.e., ' east-town.' It may at times be 'ash-tree-town.' Cf. Ashford, in Dom. Asford. Duignan says one Aston was in O.E. AEsctun, but does not say which.

Aston Magna (E. Worcestershire). Prob. K.C.D. 616 Eastune, 1275 Estone. ' Magna ' is ' great.'

Aston Tirrold (Wallingford). Dom. Estone i.e., ' East-town.' Cf. Aston. Tirrold? fr. Walter Tirel or Tirrold, who shot Wm. Rufus in New Forest. Tirweald was a common O.E. name; it is the same as the mod. Eng. name Thorold.

Aswarby (Folkingham). Dom. Asuuardebi. ' Dwelling of Asward.' Onom. has only one Asuert. See -by.

Atcham (Shrewsbury). Dom. Atingeham; later Attingham. ' Home of the sons of Ata,'' 2 in Onom. For the present form cf. Whittingham, now pron. Whittinjem.

Athelney (Taunton). 871 O.E. Chron. AEoeling eg or eigg i.e., ' island of the Athelings,'or princes or noble-bornmen. fr.aedel, ' noble ' and -ing, ' belonging to.' M' Clure 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). Nun inA. Dom. Aderestone, 1246 Edrideston; also Aldredestone. Stour A. Dom. Edricestone, 1248 Athericstone, 1249 Athereston. The former is either ' Eadred's' or perh. ' Ealdred's town'; it may be ' stone,' see -ton. The latter is fr. a man AEthelric or Ethric.

Atherton (Manchester). Sic 1258-59; but 1265 Aser-, Adserton, 1320 Athyrton. This must have been orig. 'town of Asser'; or, in its O.N. form, ' Atser.' Cf. Azerley.

Attenborough (Trent), Not in Dom. c. 1200 Adigburc, c. 1240 Hadinbur, 1291 Addingburg, c. 1500 Addyngborough. 'Burgh, town of the sons of Ead(d)a.' See-ing and-borough.

Attercliffe (Sheffield). Dom. 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 M.E. as atter.

Attleborough (Norfolk and Nuneaton). Nun. A. 1155 Atteleberge, a.1400 Atleborowe, Attilburgh. Nor.A. Dom. Atlebure, c. 1456 Attylburgh. Perh. ' Burgh, town of Athulf or Aethelwulf ' severalin Onom. Of that name. But there is a known Attile in Dom. Attlebridge (Norwich). Dom. Ate-, Attebruge, c. 1465 Attylbrigge. 'Bridge of Athulf; see above. O.E brycg, North. And Sc. brig,' a bridge.'

Atwick (Hull). Not in Dom. Seems to be ' at the dwelling-house,' O.E. wic. Cf. Atcombe, Atlow (Derby). 1285 Attelawe, ' at the law or ' hill,' Atworth, Melksham, not in Dom. and Attewell, now only a surname, but 1281 Close E. Ettewell, Notts. Dom. often has Adewic, but always for Adwick.

Aubourne (Lincoln). Dom. Aburne, 1208 Audeburn. Prob. ' old burn or brook' as in Audlem presumably an old channel superseded by anewerone. There is also an Auburn or Awburn near Bridlington; Dom. Eleburn, 'brook of Ealla’; a liquid sound like al easily slurs into aw. Cf. next.

Auckley (Doncaster). Dom. Alcheslei, Alceslei, Alchelie. 'Meadow of Alca.' Cf. 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,; O. E. sc(e)aga, a wood. Shaw is still common in North, dial, and Sc.

Audlem (Nantwich). Dom. Aldelime. Prob. O.E. aid elm, ' old elm-tree '; elm is found in dial, as elem. ellum; whilst old is 4-6 aulde, awld, dial, awd, aud, aad. Cf. next, and Thorp Audlin, W. Riding, not in Dom. except as Torp.

Audley (Newcastle, Staffs, and Saffron Walden). New. A. Dom. Aldidelege. 1217 Aldidelee, 1218 Aldithelee. 1223 Alvithelegh, 1280 Aldithel'. ' Meadow oi Aldgith' or ' Ealdgyth.' See -ley.

Aughton (Ormskirk and Rotherham). Orm. A. Dom. Acketun, 1285 Aghton. Roth. A. Dom. Actun. O.E. ac-tun. ' Oaks' town.' Cf. Acton.

Aust (Tockington). 691-2 chart, aet Austin, 794 ib. aet Austan, Dom. Austreclive ('cliff '), c. 1100 Augusta, 1285 Awste, Hawste, 1368 Augst. Not ' East,' as often thought, but the Roman Augusta, name also given to Caerleon by Rav. Geogr. Cf. Aosta, Piedmont and Eastburn.

Austerfield (Bawtry). 702-05 Ouestrefelda, Eostrefeld. 'East field,' O.E. easter feld; easter being compar. of eastan, ' East.' Cf. 1156 Pipe Austurcarii, and 1166 ib. Austerbi. both Lincs, But the Austrells, Aldridge. is a. 1300 Asterhull, ' hill of the hearth ' (forge or furnace), M.E. astre, O.Fr. astre, aistre, mod. Fr. atre. Cf. Aisthorpe, 1233 Austorp.

Austerson (Nantwich). Old Alstanton- i.e., ' Athelstan's town,' a curious study in liquids. Cf. Athelstaneford (Sc).

Austrey (Atherstone). 958 chart. Alduluestreow, later chart. Aldulfestreo- i.e., O.E. for ' Ealdwulf 's tree; Ealdwulf is a common name in Onom., also found as Aldwulf, Aldulf; and cf. 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). Dom. Oustewic, 1202 Austwic. dwelling,' O.E, eastan (). N.aust-r) wic. Cf. Austerfield.

Authorpe (Louth). Dom. Avetorp. Prob. ' village of Eawa' 2 in Onom. Cf.1155 Pipe Anton, Hants; and see-thorpe.

Avebury (Calne). Perh. Dom. Avereberie, 1740 (and? still) Abury. If orig. Avereberie it may be ' burgh of AElfhere,' a very common O.E. name, found once as Aelfure. More old forms needed; it may be 'burgh of AEfla or AEfle,' also a common name. Cf. Aveton. See-bury.

Aveley (Purfleet). Dom. Auileia, 1285 Alvetheley. ' Meadow of AElfgyth.''a common woman's name. One was abbess of Barkingin 11th cny. See-ley.

Avenage (Bisley, Glouc). 1337 Abbenesse. Prob. ' Abba’ s ash- tree.' Avenham (Preston), not in W. and H., may be fr. the same man, or else fr, AEfle -en. To-day Avenage is called Avon Edge. Cf. next and Ashton.

Avening (Stroud). 896 chart, to AEfeningum (dat. pl.). Dom. Aveninge,1221 Evening. On R. Avon, with-ing or-inge here as a river-ending. Cf. Twyning, etc.

Aveton Giffford (Kingsbridge). Dom. Afetone. ' Town, village of Afa' or “AEfle.' Cf. Affpiddle, Avebury, etc.

Avington (Alresford). 961 chart. Afintune; 1316 Aventon. Prob. ' Town of Afa,''2 in Onom.

Avon R. (7, 3 tribs. of R. Severn, also Afon Wrangon, S. Wales). Sev. A. Tacitus Avona,704-9 chart. Afen; 793-6 Aben, a. 1196 Gir. Camh. Aveina, Avenna; Wilts A. c. 380 Ant. Itin. Abone; c. 650 Rav. Geogr. Abona; a. 910 Asser Abon; O.E. Chron. ann. 653 Afene, Afne; also charts. Afene, Auena, Eafen, Hafene. W. afon, G. abhuinn, ' river.' The name is found in Sc. both as Avon and Almond. Cf. Ravenglass or yr afon glas.

Avonmouth (Bristol). 918 O.E. Chron. Aftena muda, 1067 ib. into Afenan mudan.

Awliscombe (Honiton). Dom. Avlescome, 1282 Haulescumbe. Prob.' Valley of Eauwulf or AEthelwulf, a very common name. Cf. Alton, c.880 AEweltun. See-combe.

Awre (Newnham). Dom. and 1223 Aure, 1160-61 Pipe Aura. Dom. Devon has Avra. W. awr means 'golden'; but this scarcely seems to satisfy. Oxf. Dict, gives awre as var. of Owhere,' anywhere.' But the Old English never made jokes with their names!

Awsworth (Nottingham). Dom. 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), c.708 Grant Axa; O.E.Chron. 755 Asca; 944 chart. Exa, 1049 O.E. Chron. Axamutha. Keltic for 'water, river' =Ex, Usk, etc. Cf. Ashford. We prob. have the same name in the Fr. R. Aisne, L. Ax -ona, the-ona being the common Kelt, ending for ' stream.'

Axholm (N. Lincoln), c. 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. O.E. Chron. 755 Axan-, Ascanmynster, Dam. Axeminstre, ' Monastery on the R. Axe '; O.E. mynster, ' a monastery,' then ' a (cathedral) church,' fr. L. monasterium.

Aycliffe (Darlington), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Heaclif i.e., O.E, heah clif, 'high cliff.' But School Aycliffe is 1183 Boldon Bk. Sculacle, -ley, and 1130 Acheleia, 1211 Aclai i.e., O.E.ac 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. Prob. 'Albert's town' or 'village'; O.E. Ealdheorht or Alberht, of whom there are many in Onom. Cf. Elberton (Thornbury), Dom. Eldbertone, 1175 Pipe Alberton, 1346 Aylberton.

Aylesbeare (Exeter). Dom. Eilesberge. ' Aegil’s wood,' O.E, bearu. See Aylesbury, and cf. Beer, Larkbeare, and next. The -berge (= Barrow) of Dom. is prob. an error for -here.

Aylesbury. O.E. Chron. ann. 571 AEgelesburh, AEglesbyrig; 1154-61 chart. Aeilesbiria. ' AEgil’s burgh ' or 'fortified place,' AEgil is the sun-archer of Teutonic mythology. See-bury, and cf. Aylesbeare and Ailsbury (Warwk.) 1272 Ayllesbury.

Aylesford (on R. Medway). O.E. Chron. 455 AEgelesford, also AEgelsthrep; c. 1120 AEglesforda, AEilesforda; Sim. Dur. ann. 1016, Eagelesford, 1160 Pipe Ailesfort, ' AEgil’s ford.' See Aylesbury.

Ayleston (Stratford, Wwk.) and Aylestone (Leicester). Str. A. Dom. Alnodeston, 1095 Elmundestone, a. 1200 Alvodestone. Either' AElfnoth’ s,' later' Alnod's town,'or' Ealhmund's town.' For Leic. A. old forms needed. Cf. Aylesbury: and on -stone, see -ton. Aylworth, Glouc, Dom. Eleurde, Baddeley would derive fr. the name AEthel.

Aylmerton (Norwich). Dom. Almartune. ' Town, village of Aylmer.'' There are several called AElfmoer or Elmer in Onom. Aylsham (N. Norfolk). 1157 Ailesham, 1443 Aylesham. ' Home, of AEgil'; see Aylesbury, and -ham.

Aylston (Hereford), c. 1030 chart. AEgilnothes stcanc i.e. ' stone of AEgilnoth or AEgil.' See Aylesbury.

Aymestrey (N. Herefordsh.). Dom. Eiminstre. Prob. ' islandminster ' or ' church.' See -ay and -minster. Cf. Menstrib (Sc.) fr. G. ‘nainistreach, ' belonging to a monastery,' in 1263 Mestreth. Aydon, Corbridge, is 1285 Close R. Eyden.

Aynho (Banbury). Dom. Aienho. ' Hoe or hill of Egon ' or ‘AEga; ; cf. B.C.S. 226 AEganstan; there is also a Bp AEine in Onom. Cf. Aslacoe and Eynsham.

Ayot St. Laurence and St. Peter (Welwyn, Hatfield). Ayot, ait, eyot is ' a small island,' prob. a dimin. of O.E. ig, ' island.' See Oxf. Dict. S.V. Ait.

Ayr, Point of (Wirral). O.N. eyri, ' tongue of land, gravelly bank ' =Aire.

Aysgarth (Bedale). Dom. Echescard, 1202 Aikeskerth. ' Garth, enclosure, court, yard of AEcce or Jecci,' names in Onom. Aythorpe Roding (Dunmow). Not in Dom. Oldforms needed. The Ay- may mean ' high ' as in Aycliffe, or it may mean ' eggplace, egg farm,' fr. O.E.oce;, M.E. ay ' an egg.' See -thorpe, and Roding.

Ayton (Cleveland. Pickering, etc.). CI. A. 1202 Haitone. Pi. A. 1208 Aton. There are several Aytons in Yorks; in Dom. all are Aton, Atun, or Atune. This is prob. ' river-town,' O.E. ea, M.E. oe, ' river,' running stream. But cf. Eyton.

Azerley (Ripon). Dom. Aserla, Asserle, 1281 Close R. Atherley, Azarlay. 'Meadow of Atser' (O.N.) or ' Asser' (O.E.), as in Atherton. Onom. has the forms Adser, Azer, Azor, all as var. of the common Atser. See -ley.

Babba- Babbicombe (Torquay). 'Valley of Babba' or ' Bebba,' several in Onom. Cf. Bablake, Coventry, 1344 Babbelak, and Bablocklithe, Oxon, which mean ' Babba's pool ' (O.E. lac, see Oxf. Dict, lake sb’ 2), and ' the landing stage ' or ' Hythe ' beside it. See Babwell and -combe.

Babcary (Somerton). Exon. Dom. Babakari, Babba cari, Dom. Babecari. Prob. ' Babba' s forts,' W. caer. pl. -rau (pron, -ray), ' a fort, a castle.' See Babbacombe, and cf. Castlecary (Sc).

Babraham (Cambridge), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. and 1166 Pipe Badburgeham, Dom. and 1286 Badburgham, 1450 Baburgham. This must be fr. a woman Badburh, gen. -urge, not in Onom. See -ham.

Babwell (Bury St. Edmunds). Dom. has only Babenberga. 1289 Contin. of Gervase, Balbewelle. ' Well of Babba.' There are 5 Babbas and one Baba in Onom. In form 1289 lb is a common scribe's error or ' trick ' for bb. Cf., too, Babthorp (Yorks); Dom. Babetorp.

Backbarrow (Ulverston). Barrow Is O.E. 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 Icel. bakki, Dan. bakke, Sw. 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 prob. above; very possibly =bach or beck as in Sandbach, Dom. Sanbec, and so, ' ford over the beck or stream.' Cf. Bacton and Backworth, (Newcastle-on-T)

Baconsthorpe (Holt, Nfk.). Dom. Baconstorp, 1346 Baconthorpe. ' Place, village of Bacon.' a name which seems not otherwise recorded in England till 1200. It is an O.Fr. accus. of a Germanic Bacco. See -thorpe.

Bacton (N. Walsham and Stowmarket). N. Wal. B.Dom.and c. 1150 Baketun(e), a. 1310 Baketon. St. B. Dom. Bachetuna. Prob. ' village, town of Bacca or Becca.' Cf. Dom. Essex, Bacsteda, and Baxby, Yorks, Dom. Backesbi. But also cf. Backford.

Bacup (Lanes). Local pron. Baykop. c. 1200 chart. Ffulebachope, c. 1470 Bacop, 1507 Bacope, 1579 Baccop. c. 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 Oxf. Dict, s.v.), is a rare var. of beck, O.E. boece, bece, O.N. bekk-r, ' brook, rivulet,' which also becomes batch, as in Comberbatch. Sandbach (Cheshire), is Dom. Sanbec. Cf. Eccup and Fulbeck; 'foul' is O.E. ful, 2-5 fule.

Badbury (Berks), chart. Baddanbyrig, and Badby (Daventry) Dom. Badebi. ' Burgh ' and ' dwelling of Bada ' or ' Badda,' a name common in Onom. See-bury and-by.

Baddesley Clinton and Ensor (Atherstone). Dom. Bedeslei, 1327Baddesleye Endeshover. ' Badda's meadow.' Cf. Badby and Badenhall, Eccleshall, Dom. Badenhale. See -ley. Ensor is contraction of Edensor. The * Ednesovre ' family owned the Warwk. manor a. 1300, Clinton is fr. the De Clintons of Coleshill.

Badgeworth (Cheltenham). 872 chart. Beganwurtha, Dom. Beiwrde, c. 1150 Begeword, and Badgeworthy (Lynmouth) local pron, Badgery. Dom. Bicheordin, 1167-68 Pipe Badewurth. The man's name is a little uncertain, but prob. Both mean' Boecga’'s farm.' Bicca is also a fairly common O.E name. and the phonetic change fr. Biche- to Badge- is exactly illustrated in Burbage, also found as Burbidge, now a personal name. The endings are in root all the same, O.E. worth, with its extended forms worthig and worthign, ' farm; see -worth and -wardine. Cf. Bageridge, Wolverhampton, 1286 Baggerugge.

Badingham (Framlingham). Dom. Badincha. Cf. 902 O. Chron. ' Baddanbyrig,' near Wimborne, and a. 1100 chart. ' Badingtun ' near Melton.] ' Home, dwelling of the sons of Badda.' Cf. Baddesley; and see-ing.

Badlesmere (Faversham). Sic1363, but Dom. And 1283 Badelesmere. ' Mere, lake of Badela.' Cf. K.C.D. 714 Badelan broc.

Badminton (Gloucester). 972 chart. Badimyncgtun, Dom. Madmintune [M an error) town, village of Beadumund or Bademund, names in Onom. It may be a patronymic; Baddeley thinks it is fr. Beaduhelm, a very rare name. See-ing.

Badsey (Evesham). 709 chart. Baddeseia, 714 ib. Baddesege,Dom. Badesei; and Badsworth (Pontefract). Dom. Badesworde. ' Isle ' and ' farm of Badda.' Cf. Baddesley; and see -ey and -worth.

Badwell Ash (Bury St. Edmunds). (709 chart. Badeswelle,? Wore). Not in Dom. Prob. ' Badda's well.' Cf. above; not likely fr. bad adj. Cf. Barkston Ash.

Bagborough (Somerset). 935 chart. Bacgingberghe, ' burgh, fortified place of Bacga.' Cf. Bagley and Bagendon, Cirencester, Dom. Benwedene, a. 1300 Bagmdon, See -burgh and -don.

Bagby (Thirsk). Dom. Bagebi. ' Hamlet, town of Bacga ‘; cf. See -by. But, Baggaby Bottom, Pocklington, not in Dom., is 1202 Bagothebi, where Bagoth seems a corrupt form of Beagnoth, a common name in Onom.; or else it is fr. Bagot, a surname prob. fr. O.Fr. Bottom. O.E. botm, is found with the meaning of ' valley, dell low-lying land,' from c. 1325.

Bagden (Reigate). Not in Dom. Prob. ' Bacga's den,' or else ' dean ' i.e., (wooded) valley. Certainly nothing to do with badger, as some imagine. Cf. Bagborough and Bagley.

Bagillt (Holywell). A difficult name; evidently a W. corrup. of some Eng. name. The oldest sure form is Bagilde. By some it is identified with the Cheshire Dom. Bachelie, later Bakley. But it is not certain that this is the same place, and the identification is phonetically difficult. Bachelie would prob. represent ' Bacga's lea,' as in next. Quite possibly the name is W., bach gallt (pl. gelltydd), ' little cliff.'

Bagley (Berks), a. 1100 chart. Bacganleah, O.E. for ‘Bacga' meadow.' Cf. Bagden and Bagworth. There is also a Bagnor (Donnington). ' Bacga's, bank or edge '; O.E. ora.

Bagnall (Stoke on T ). a. 1200 Baggenhall, a 1300 Bagenholt, Baghinholt, a 1400 Baknold. There has been a mingling here of ' Bacga's hall ' and ' B.'s holt,' O.E. holt, ' a wood ' See above and -hall.

Bagshot (Camberley). Prob. ' 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, O.E. baec sceat, ' back nook or corner.' A wood near Winkfield is called Bac-sceat in Chron. Abingdon, temp. Wm. I.

Baguley (Stockport), c. 1320 Baggulegh. ' Bago's lea' or ' meadow.' There is a Bago in Onom. See-ley.

Bagworth (Leicester). O.E. chart. Baeganwyrth, 1442 Baggeworth. ' Baega' sor Bacga's farm.' Cf. Bagleya nd Bayworth, also 1155 Pipe Bagewurda, 1160-1 Beggewurda. Somerset, and 1158-9 ib. Beggewurda, Wilts; and see -worth.

Baildon (Shipley). Dom. Beldone. Prob. O.E. bael dun, ' hill of the fire or funeral pile.' In later Eng. it is 4: -bale, 4 baile, 5 belle, 6 bele; see Oxf. Dict. s.v. bale sb. and bale-fire.

Bailey Gate (Wimborne). Bailey is found in Eng. a. 1300 as bailly. It is O.Fr. bail, wall of the outer court of a feudal castle.' Cf. the Old Bailey.

Bainbridge (Bedale). Not in Dom. Perh. ' Straight bridge,' O.N. beinn, ' straight, direct,' M.E. bayn (though not in this sense). North, dial. bane. Whitby Gloss. ' That way's the banest ' i.e., the shortest. But perh. fr. a man Baga, as in next.

Bainton (Driffield and Stamford). Dr. B. Dom. Bagentone. ' Town of Baga. Bacga, or Becga' gen. -an. Cf. Baynhurst, Cookham, and 1157 Pipe Lines, Baenburc.

Bakewell (Derbysh.). 924O. E. Chron. Badecanwylla, v.r. Badecan wiellon; 1280 Close R. Bathekewell, 1287 ib. Bauquell, 1297 Baukwelle. ' Beadeca's well,' O.E. willa, wylla, ' a fountain, a well.' There is one Beadeca in Onom. Birch says 949 chart. Badecanwell is Bucloiall cum Bagnall, Staffd. Cf. Baginton, Coventry, Dom. Badechitone.

Bala. W. bala,' ashooting-out,'bala llyn,'' the outlet of a lake.'

Balby (Doncaster). Dom. Ballesbi. Prob. ' village, hamlet of Bald, Beald, or Bealda ‘; here already seen in its more mod. form. Ball. Cf Baldon, and Balcombe, Hayward's Heath.

Baldersby (Thirsk) and Balderton (Newark). Dom. 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), a. 1200 Baudac, -oc, 1287 Baldak, Baudak. An amazing name, given as a fancy name by the Knights Templars, its founders—Ital. Baldacco, the Eng. Baghdad! Cf. Eng. baldachin, older baudekin, a fine embroidered stuff also named fr. Baghdad.

Baldon (Oxford). 1054 chart. Bealdan hama. ' Bealda's home.' Note the contraction, and cf. Balby and Beedon.

Bale (Holt, Norfolk). Not in Dom. O.E. boel, O.N. bal, ' a funeral pyre, a balefire.' Cf. Baildon.

Balking (Uffington, Berks). 948 chart. Bedalacing; 963 ib., Badalacing, Bathalacing; later Bethelking. The Onom. 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 Dom., but cf. 704-709 chart. 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 O.E. Beald or Bealda, the ' bold,' not * bald,' man. Cf. Balby and Ball's Cross, Petworth. See-don.

Balmer (Sussex). Dom. Burgemere; later, Bormer. A curious example of the easy interchange of liquids, and the result of ' Cockney pronunciations. The orig. name would mean ' mere or lake beside the burgh,' or fortified place.

Balne (Doncaster). Not in Dom. Possibly a loc. of O.E. boeL or O.N. bal. ' at the funeral pyres or bale fires.' Cf. Hoxne, formerly Hoxon, and Baildon.

Balsall Heath (Birmingham) and Balscott (Banbury). 1226 Belaessale, 1327 Hen. Hunt. Balesham. ‘Home of (Prob.) Ball.’ See Ballingdon, and -ham and ' cottage.' Cf. Bram(h)all, Cheshire, Dom. Bramale, and Balby, and see -hall.

Balsham (Cambridge). 974 chart. Bellesham, Dom. Belesham, c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Balesham. ' Home of (prob.) Ball.'' See Ballingdon, and -ham.

Balterley (Newcastle, Stafts). 1004 Balterytheleage, Dom. Baltredelege, a. 1300 Balterdeleye, Baldridele, -trydelegh. ' Meadow of Bealdthryth ‘; she of this lea is the only one in Onom.

Baltonsborough (Glastonbury). 744 chart. Baltersberghe, Dom. Baltunesberge. 1610 Balsboro'. Another case of the interchangeableness of the liquids r and n. The orig. name was ' burgh, fortified place of Baiter,' a name found in Onom. as Baltherus or Baldred or Baldhere. They are all the same name. See -borough.

Bamber Bridge (Preston). Omitted by Wyld and Hirst. Old formal needed. Cf. Baumber, Horncastle, not in Dom., and next. Bamber is also found as a surname. The -ber may be for -burgh or -bury q.v., O.E. hurg, burh, and berig, dat. berie, ' a fort, castle, or fortified town ‘; as it is in Dom. Caldeber, now Caldbergh, N. Yorks.

Bamborough (Belford). Founded O.E. Chron. ann. 547; 709 Eddi Bebbanburg; 1119 Bawmburgh. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Babbanburch; c. 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 O.E. for ' Bebba's burgh or castle '; and Bebha was perh. wife of K. Ida, its founder.

Bamford (Rochdale and Sheffield). Roch. B. sic 1228, 1282 Baumford. Bam- will either be O.E. bean, ' bean,' or beam, ' a tree.' Cf. Bampton, and next. The Shefl. B. is not in Dom.

Bamfurlong (Wigan). 1205-23 Bonghefurlong, Bonke-, 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 fr. bank. M.E. banke, Icel. bakki, ' a ridge, eminence, o rbank of a river,' first in Eng. In Ormin, c.1200; in 4 bonke, bonc. Cf. Ashfurlong, Sutton Colfield, 1242 Hasfurlong.

Bampton (Oxford, etc.). O.E. Chron. ann. 614, Beandun; 1155 Pi'pe Bentune; 1298 Bamptone. Bean-dun is O.E. for ' bean hill.' For change of n to mp, cf. Sampton, 833 ' Sandtun.' See -don and -ton.

Banbury. Dom. Banesberie; 1155-62 chart. Bannebiria; 1298 Bannebury. ' Burgh, fortified town of Bana.' Cf. B.C.S. 1219 Banan wyl. See-bury.

Bandon (Croydon). Not in Dom. Prob., like Bampton, O.E. bean-dun, ' bean hill.' Cf. Banstead and Banham, Attleborough.

Bangor. Sic 1250 Layam., but c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Banchor, Sim. Dur., ann. 1102, Bancorensis, a. 1196 Gir. Camb. Bangorensis ecclesia; also see next. There are several in Wales, two in Brittany, and more than one m Ireland. Ir. benn-chor, ' a row of points or peaks,' either a circlet of rocks or a row of hills, as Joyce has shown. W. bangor now means ' an upper row of rods’ then a coping, a battelement. W. 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. Cf. Banchory (Sc.) the same name.

Bangor Isycoed (Wrexham). Bede Bancornburg. See above. W I scoed means ‘under the wood.'

Bankyfelin (Caermarthen). Might be W.banc y Ffelin,'table of Felinor Velyn.' Cf. Stirling (Sc),orig. Ystrevelyn, and Helvellyn. But simpler is the derivation ' bank, slope of the mill,' melin. aspirated felin.

Banningham (Aylsham). ' Home of the Bannings.' ' Banningas nomen populi,'in Onom. See-ing.

Banstead (Epsom). 727 chart. Benstede; Doyn. Benestede; 1280 Banstede. O.E. bean-stede, ' bean place or store.' ' Bean ' is O.E. bean, 3-6 ben, 4-6 bene. Cf. Bampton and Bandon.

Banwell (Somerset). Chart. Banawell. Banuwille, Dom. Banwelle. Prob. O.E. bana-waeel, 'pool of the bones.' M'Clure 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, c. 450 a.d. This is very doubtful. W. ban given is ' fair, clear hill.'

Bapchild (Sittingbourne). Not in Dom. Said to be a. 716 chart. K. Withred Baccancelde, which is ' Bacca's spring '; O.N. kelda, ' a spring, a well.' See keld in Oxf. Dict. There is no likely name with a p in Onom., and that letter remains unexplained. But celde here must be genuine O.E., and not Norse, as M'Clure thinks. Cf. Dom. Bucks, Celdestane, ' stone at the well.'

Barbon and B. Fells (Kirby Lonsdale). Dom. Berebrune. Prob. O.N. barr or berr brunn-r, ' bare-looking burn or stream.' Liquid r is easily lost. Or the Bar- may be O.N. barr, O.E. bere, ' barley.' Cf. 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,' O.Fr. barre (origin unknown), occurs in Eng. as early as c. 1175. but it may not enter into any of them. Some- times Bar- may represent a man's name, a corrupt- of O.E. 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 O.E. borrr, O.N. berr, Dan. bar, ' bare.' Then sometimes it may be for O.N. bar-r, O.E. bere, ' bear or barley,' as in Barford; sometimes, too, for O.E. beor, bear, ' beer,' as in Barham. Old forms are always needed to ensure certainty.

Barbury Hill (Ringwood, Hants). Prob. O.E. Chron. ann.556, Beranbyrg; also, Byranbyrig, Berin Byrig. ' Burgh, fort, af Berin,’ perh. Berinus, in Bede, a foreign bishop who came to Wessex a.d. 635. But see also Burbury Hill; and -burgh.

Barby (Rugby). Dom. Berchebi is=Barkby. But Barden, Yorks, is Dom. Bernedan, ' valley of Bjorn,’ or ' the Bear.' See -dean.

Bardney (Lincoln). Bede Beardeneu; O.E. Chron. ann. 642, Bardanige, Bartdanig; 1230 Bardenay. ' Barda's or Bardi's isle,' O.E. ig, ige, M.E. ey, ay, ' island.' Cf. Barnstaple, also a ' Bardunig or ' Bardanig,' in chart, c. 680, and Bardsley, Ashton-under-Lyne.

Bardon (Leicester, Haltwhistle). Leic. Doyn. has only Bartone, see Barton. Perh. O.E. boer dun, ' bare hill.' ' Bare

3 bar. 4-5 baar. But Duignan says Bardon Hill, Stratford, Wwk., is 704 chart. Baddan dun, ' Badda's hill.' For intrusion of r, cf. Kidderminster.

Bardsea. Bardsey (Leeds. Ulverston). Le. B. Dom. Berdesei.' Isle of Bardi.' See Bardney. Cf. 1387 Trevisa Higden I. 'At Nemyn in North Wales a litel ilond . . . hatte Bardeseie.' which may be ' isle of the bard,' not found in Eng. till 1449. But M. B. is Dom. Berretseige, ' isle of Berred. Beorred. or Burgred.' names in Onom. See -ea, -ey. For Bardsley (Glouc), see Barnsley.

Bare and Bare Lane (Morecambe). Dom. Bare, (?) 1094 and a. 1200 Bar. Prob. W. bar, 'top': Corn, bar, bor, 'summit'; G. barr. ' a height.' It can hardly be O.E. boer. ber, ' a bier.'

Baregain (farm, Cornwall, etc.). This may simply indicate a small holding. For other conjectures, see M'Clure, p.272.

Barford (Warwick, on Tees, etc.). War. B. Dom. Bereford; Tees B. 1183 Bereford. 'The barley ford.' See Barbridge.

Bargoed (Cardiff). See Aberbargoed.

Barham (Canterbury and Linton, Cambs). Cant. B. is 805 chart. Beorahame, 809 Bereham, Dom. Berham; O.E.beor-ham,' beer- house ' or 'brewery’; O.E. beor, bear, 3-4 her, 'beer.' It is urged that Barham or Berham Court belonged to the Fitzurses, or ' sons of the bear,' O.E. hera, 2-7 here. But. of course, they come in far too late here. Camb. B. is c. 1080 Inquis. Camh. Bereham. Dom. Bercheham, 1210 Berkham, 1302 Bergham, 1346 Eerugham, O.E. beorh-ham, ' home on the hill or Barrow.' Barmoor, co. Durham, is in chart. Bejyrmor.(?)' bare moor.'

Barkby (Leicester). Dom. Barchebi, 'dwelling of Beorc or Berc'. See next, and cf. Barkhajm, Wokingham, 952 chart. Beorcham. Dom. Bercheham, which could mean ' home by the birch-tree ' but Birch, like Ash, Beech, etc., is certainly also a personal name.

Barking (Essex). 693 chart. To Bercingon, Bede Bercingas, Bercingas, Dom. Berchinges, a. 1100 Wm. Poitiers Bercingis. Patronymic, ' place of the descendants of Berc.' the modern name Birch. In Onom. the only forms found are Bercta, Beorga, Beorht. Cf. Birkin and see -ing.

Barkston (Nottingham), Barkstone (Grantham), and Baekston Ash (Yorks). Yo. B. Dom. Barcheston, ' town, village of Beorc', See Barking.

Barkway (Royston). Not in Dom. 1450 Berkewey. Prob. ' road laid with bark,’ found in Eng. a. 1300, O.N. bork-r, Dan. bark.

Barlaston (Stoke-on-Trent). 1004 Beorelfestun, Dom. Bernulvestone, c. 1200 Berlaston, Berlewston. ' Town, village of Beorn wulf or Bemulf ('brave wolf'). Barlestone, Nuneaton, is the same name, Dom. Berulvestone.

Barlboro' (Chesterfield). 1287 Barleburgh, and Barley (Selby). Dom. Bardulbi. ' Burgh, fort.' and ' dwelling of Bardolf' in O.E. Bardwulf. See-borough and-by.

Barling (Shoeburyness) and Barlings (Lincoln). B. Line. 1233 Barling. Patronymics ' place of the descendants of? See above and -ing.

Barlow (Selby, Manchester, etc.). Man. B. 1259-60 Berlawe, 1325 Barlawe, Dom. Bucks, Berlaue. 1183 Boldon Bk., Berleia, Durham. Man. B. seems bere-lawe, ' barley-covered hill.' Cf. Barton. But all the names may not be the same. See-low. Barmbough (or Barn-, Doncaster) and Barmby Moor and on the Marsh (Yorks). Don. B. Dom. Barneburg, Berneborc. Marsh and Moor B. Dom. Barnebi (this name is eleven times in Dom. Yorks). ' Burgh, fortified town,' and ' dwelling of Beam, Beorn, or Beorm." Cf. Barnby and Birmingham; and see -borough and -by.

Barming (Maidstone) and Barmingham (on Tees). 1214 Bermige- ham. Patronymics, ' place of Bearm's or Beorm's descendants.' Cf. above and Birmingham, also Bermintona in Dom. Devon; and see -ing and -ham.

Barmouth. In W. Abermaw. Eng. corrupt (adopted in 1768) of Abermawddach,' mouth of the R. Maw.' For loss of the initial a, cf. old forms of Abergavenny, also Berriew. Mawddachis fr. W. mawdd, ' that which fills or spreads out.' Colloquially the name at times gets clipped down to Bermo.'

Barnack (Stamford), a.1100 Grant of 664 Bernake. O.E. berne- ac, ' barn oak.' ' Barn ' is O.E. ber-ern, a. 1000 berne, ' barley- house.' Barnacle, Nuneaton, is Dom. Bernanger, ' barn in the hanging wood,' O.E. 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 O.E. is Beornheard. There is a Biornheardes lond ' in 808 chart (Kent).

Barnby (Beccles, etc.). Newark B. Dow. Barnebi =Barmby.

Barnes (London). Dom. Berne; also, old Bernes. ' Barns,' O.E. berne, ' a barn.' Cf. Barnack.

Barnet (N. of London). [1199 chart. Bergnet is spurious] c. 1200 chart. Barnette,1278 L aBernette,1428 Barnette. This is Nor. Fr., and a dimin. of berne od berme. ' a narrow space, a ledge, a berm,' prob. cognate with O.N. harm-r, ' brim, edge.' A very rare name for England.

Barnetby (Lines). Dom. Berned-, Bernetebi. Prob. ' dwelling of Beomheard ' or ' Bernard.'' See -by.

Barnham (Bognor, etc.). Bo. B. Dom. Berneham. ' Home of Bearn or Beom,'' though possibly ' house with the barn.' Cf. Barnack and Barnwell.

Barnoldswick (Colne). Dom. Bernulfeswic. ' Dwelling, village of Beomwulf or Barnulf,''a common O.E.name. See-wick.

Barnsbury (N. London). It is said to be Bernersbury, fr. Juliana Berners, prioress of Sopwell Nunnery, near St. Albans, c. 1400. This is for several reasons doubtful. Otherwise, it might be ' baron's burgh or fort,' fr. haron, a. 1200 harun, 6 barne.

Barnsley (Yorks and Cirencester). Yor. B. Dom. Berneslai. ' Meadow of Beom ‘; eo regularly becomes a. But Ci. B., also spelt Bardsley, is c. 802 chart. Bearmodeslea, 855 ib Beorondeslea. 855 ib. Beorondeslea, Dom. Berneleid, a 300 Bardesl otherwise Barnsley, and must be fr. Man Beornmod. Seer -ley.

Barnstaple 930 chart. Beardastapole, 1018 chart. Beardestaple, Dom. Barnestaple, c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Bardestapula, 1167-68 Pipe Berdestapl'. c. 1200 Gervase Bernestapele. As early as 1397 contracted Barum (m and n commonly interchange). The orig. name was ‘Barda’s market’. O. E. stapel, ‘a prop, a post.’ Them ‘a fixes market.’ Cf. Nardney. But in some abnormal way it was early changed into ‘Beorn’ s oft Bearn ‘s market.’ Perh. Bevause it is in the hundreds of Branton (Bearn-town)). Cf. Barmborough. There is also a ‘Berdestapla’ I’ in Dom. Essex.

Barnston (Birkenhead and Dunmow), Barnstone (Nottingham), and Barnton (Northwich). First three in Dom. Bernestone, -tuna. Perh. all mean ' Beam's or Beom's town or village.' Cf. above. But Barnton, not in Dom.,may come fr. barn. Cf. Barnham.

Barnt Green (Birmingham). ' Burnt Green,' fr. burn, O.E. hboman, bearnan, past t. 1 bearn, barn, 3 barnde, bearnde, mod. burnt. Cf. Barnhurst, Wolverhampton, a. 1400 Barnthurst. also, Burntisland (Sc).

Barnwell (Oundle and Cambridge). Om. B.a.1100 Grant of 664 Bernewell, which might be 'well beside the barn,' O.E. berne, earlier ber-ern, ' bear or barley house.' But Camb. B. is 1060 chart. Beornewell, c. 1250 Bernewell, ' well of Beorna or Beorn,'' O.E. for' warrior.'

Barras (Kirby Stephen) and Barrasford (Wark). O.Fr. barras, M.E. c. 1375, barras, ' a barrier or outwork in front of a fortress ', then ' the lists for knightly tournaments ' Cf. Barrassie (Sc).

Barr Beacon (Walsall), c. 1200 Barr(e). W. bar, bor, bur, ' top, summit '; G. barr, ' a height '; Beacon, O.E. beacn, is a common name for a commanding hill-Worcestershire Beacon, Dunkery Beacon. Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor, etc. -but Oxf. Dict.'s earliest quot. is 1597.

Barrington (Cambridge), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Barentone, 1210 Barntone, 1428 Baryngtone. ' Village of Bara, -an.'' But B. (Glostrsh.) Dom. Bernin-, Bernitone, c. 1245 Bernington, is prob. ' village of Beomwine.’ There are two others. Cf. Berringron and the surname Baring. See-ing and-ton.

Barripper (Camborne). Not in Dom. There are elsewhere in Cornwall also Bereppa, Brepper, and Borripper. which good authorities think all come fr, Fr. beau repaire, ' fine haunt or lair.' Cf. Belrepeir, Haresfield, c. 1220 Bewper, a. 1470 Beau- repaire; and see p. 64.

Barrow (nine Barrows in P.G.), also Barrowden (Stamford) and Barrowford (Nelson). Chesh. B. Dom. Bero. Wore. B. 1275 Barew. O.E. 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 N. usually it is a long, low hill e.g., Barrow near Derwentwater, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield, etc. Cf. Berrow and next, and Burrow.

Barrowby (Kirkby Overblow, Yorks, and Grantham). Yor, B. Dom. Berghebi,' dwelling by the hill,' or ‘tumulus,' See above. ' Berghebi in Dom. is often Borrowby. See -by.

Barry (Cardiff). In W. 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 Fr, history. There is also a Barry, sic 1603, in Pembk.

Barston (Birmingham). Dom. Bereestone, Bertanestone, a. 1300 Berstonestun, 1327 Berstanson. Town, village of Beohrstan or Beortht.’ See -ton.

Bartestree (Hereford). Dom. Bertoldestreu. ' Tree,' O.E. treow, ' of Beorlitweald' a very common O.E. name. Cf. Oswestry. Bartherton or Batherton, Nantwich, is 1283 Close R. Bercherton, prob. fr. a man Beorhtheard or Berehthart, names in Onom. Barthomley (Crewe). Dom. Bertemlea. ' Lea, meadow of Bertram or Beorhthelm,’ a very common O.E. name. See-ley.

Bartley (Southampton and Birmingham). ' Beorht’s meadow.' Cf. 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. Cf. too. Barham (Cambs.) See-low.

Barton (16 in P.G.). Leicetser B. Dom. Bartone; Dom. Sffk. Bertune. Barton-on-Humber is thought to be Bede. iv. iii. ad Barve, which Bede renders ' at the wood.' Barton Regis is Dom. Bertune apud Bristou; and Barton - on - the - Heath (Warwk.) is Dom. Bertone. Barton-under-Needwood is the same. But Barton le Street (Yorks) is Dom. Bartun(e), and so is Barton le Willows. Barton is O.E. here-tun, ' grange or enclosure for bear or barley or other corn, farmyard.' Cf. Barwick.

Barton Bendish (Norfolk), Barton-in-the-Clay (Ampthill). etc. There are forty-five such names compounded with Barton in P.G. Bendish is said to be for fen-ditch, but phonetically that is very unlikely. It is prob. a family name.

Barwick-in-Elmet (Leeds). Dom. Berewich. O.E. bere-wic. ' house for bere or barley' =Berwick and Barton. Elmet, sic Nennius, Bede and Dom. Elmete, a. 800 chart. Elmed saetna (' dwellers in '), was a British kingdom, now the W. Riding of Yorks. Origin unknown.

Baschurch (Shrewsbury) Dom. Bascherche, “Chruch of Bassa’. See Llywarch Hen's elegy. Bassa or Bassus, a valiant soldier of K. Edwin of Northumbria, is mentioned in Bede. (Cf., too, the mod. surname Bass, though it may be fr. Le bas.) Similar is Bascote, Southam, sic a. 1300, and the 2 Basfords, Dom. Notts, Baseford.

Basildon or Basilden (Wallingford). Dom. Bastedene; 1241-42 Bastilesden; also Basteldene. Cf. B.C.S. 565 Beatles ford. ' Dean, (wooded) valley of Boestel or Bestle.' Cf. Bisham.

Basingstoke (Hants). 871 O.E. Chron. Basingas; Dom. Basinge stoch(es), 1238 Basyng. Patronymic. ' Place (O.E. stoc—lit. ' stake '), 'of the Basings,' or 'descendants of Bass.' Cf. Bas-church. But Old Glossary Basincge, melotae, ' in goatskins.' Bessingby (Yorks), is Dom. Basingebi.

Basingwerk (Flint), sic 1277, but a. 1196 Gir. Camb. Basingeworc i.e., ' outwork, fort of the Basings.’ See above, and Baschurch. There is a' Basingewerc,'1160, in Pipe Notts and Derby.

Baslow (Chesterfield). 1156 Bassalawa. ' Bassa's hill.' See Baschurch and -low.

Bassaleg (Newport, Mon.). Thought to be c. 800 Nennius Campus Elleti (‘t common scribe's error for c), and so =the mod. W. name Maesaleg, 'plain' (W. maes) 'of AElloc’ or 'Aloc,'' names of men in Onom. Close by is maes Arthur, ' plain of Arthur.' But it is c. 1130 Lib. Landav. Ecclesia de Bassalec. Kuno Meyer derives this fr. L. basilica, Gk…, ' royal residence, court- house,' in L., after 4th eny. a.d., 'cathedral, church,' found in O. Ir. 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 O.E. Ieah, leaz, see -ley, and so the name be ' Basil's meadow.' Only, Eng. names so early as 1130 in this region are very unlikely. The present W. pron. 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 gen.). See Baschurch, and -thwaite.
Bassetlaw (a wapentake of Notts). Dom. Bernedeselawe, ' Hill of Beotnheard ' or ' Bernard,'' a common O.E. name. But 1155 Pipe Desetlawa, 1189 ib. Bersetelaw. a. 1199 Basselaw (d or t prob. omitted in error). As Mutschmann says, the orig. name prob. was, O.E. bearu-saetena-hlaw, 'mound of the forest- dwellers'; cf. Dorset and see next. In 1155 D is an error for B. See-low, -law.
Bassett (Southampton). Dom. Bessete. Difficult. Perh. ' heath of Besa, Bassa, Bass, or Basso,''all names in Onom. The ending -et is generally puzzling; but for the suggested origin here cf. the forms of Hatfield, Herts, and Hodnet. The Bassetts were Nor. lords of Drayton Bassett, Tamworth, and elsewhere, for several generations. So possibly the name is O.Fr., though not probably. Fr. basset means ' of low stature,' and gave name to a Nor. family very early in Notts.
Bassingbourn (Royston, Camb.), also Bassingham (Newark). 1202 Bassingburn; 1298 Bassingburn, -borne; a. 1300 Eccleston Bissingburne (Norfolk pron.). ' Burn or brook of Bass's descendants.' Cf. Baschurch and Basingstoke. See -bourne and -ham.
Baston (Market Deeping). Sic in chart, 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.' Cf. Haltwhistlb and Dom. Norfolk, Bastwic.
Batchworth Heath (Rickmansworth). 1007 chart. Baeecceswyrth. Prob. ' Place of Bacca or Becca,' both names in Onom. Cf. Betchworth, and Bletchley fr. Blecca. But possibly fr. batch, var. of bache, ' a river-vale.' See Oxf. Dict. It is the same root as beck, cf. Comberbach and Pulverbatch, Salop. Skeat inclines to the meaning, ' farm in the river-valley.' The sign of the gen. in the chart, is against that. See his own Pl. Names of Berks, p. 35. Cf. The Batche, Forest of Dean.
Batcombe (Bath, etc.). a. 900 chart. Batancumb. 940 chart. Batecombe. Cf. 1298 ' Thomas Botencombe.' ' Valley of Bata' a name in Onom. See-combe.
Bath. c. 380 Ant. Itin. Aquae Solis. 781 ' at Beathum; 796 chart. ' Celebri vico qui Saxonies vocatur set Badum'; 1088 O.E. Chron. (Peterb.) Badon, 1130 il. Bathe, c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Batthentona, also ' Batta quod Balneum interpretatur.' O.E. boed, ' a bath.' Bathealton (Somerset). Dom. Badeheltone, Batheaston (ib.), (?) Dom. 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 O.E. eald tun, ' old town. Cf. Eltham. But it maybe' town of Ela. Eli 'or' Ella,''all names in Onom. Cf. Elton.
Batley (Dewsbury). Dom. Bateleia, Bathelie; 1202 Battelege; 1298 Bateleie. ' Pasture lea or meadow,' fr. O.N. beit, ' pasture'; heita, 'food, bait'; or else ' Bata's lea.' Cf. Batcombe and Dom. Norfk. Bathele, Notts, Badeleie (now Bathley).
Batley Carr (Dewsbury). See above. Carr is North. O. E. carr (c. 950 in Lindisfarne Gosp.), ' a rock.' Cf. the Carr Rocks, Berwick, and Redcar.
Battersby (N.E. Yorks). Dom. Badresbi. 'Dwelling of some Norseman, prob. Beaduheard or Badherd, common in Onom. Cf. Buttermere and see -by.
Battersea (London). 693 chart. Batriceseye; Dom. 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. Cf. Padstow. Change fr. P to B is not common, and M'Clure 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. Dom. Ecclesia de labatailge (O.Fr. bataille, ' battle 1297 R. Glouc. ' Ycleped in Engelond abbay of pe batayle.'
Battyeford (Normanton). Not in Dom. Prob. fr. some man. The surname Batty is well known, and there is Beata in Onom.
Baughurst (Basingstoke). B.C.8. 624 Beaggan hyrst. ' Wood of Beagga.' See -hurst.
Bawdeswell (Dereham). Dom. Baldereswella. ' Well, spring of Bealdhere,'' 5 in Onom. The change to Bawde- is quite according to phonetic law. Cf. Bawdsey.
Bawdlands (Clitheroe), not in W. and H., and Bawdsey (Felixstowe). Old forms needed for the first; prob. fr. bawd sb.-, ' a hare.' The second is Dom." Baldereseia, Baldeseia. ' Isle of Bealdhere.' Cf. Bawdeswell and see -ey.
Bawdrip (Bridgewater). Dom. Bagetrepe. ' Drop of Baga,' or ' Boega.' There is The Drip near Stirling; the Sc. verb is dreef, ' to drop down from a height.' It occurs in M.E. as dripe, and in O.E. as drypen, but is not found in either as a sb, Cognate with drip, droop, and drop. Cf. Bawtry, Yorks, not in Dom.? ' Baga's tree.'
Baxenden (Accrington). 1332 Bakestonden; also cf. B.C.S. 917 Beaces hlaw, -and B.C.8. 906 Bacgan broc. A somewhat rare combination 'town of £eaca,' + -den, q.v. Cf. Baxby, Cox- wold par., Yorks, Dom. Bachesbi, 1201 Baxeby.
Baxterley (Atherstone). 1327 Baxterleye. A unique name. ' Meadow of the baxter,' still a common Sc. surname. O.E. boecestre, M.E. baxter, ' a baker.'
Baydon (Lambourne). Prob. O.E. Beagan dun, ' Beaga's (or Bacga's) hill,' cf. B.C.S. 882 Beagan wyl. Cf. Bayton and Bayworth. Bay='bay-coloured,' is O.Fr. hai, and is not found in Eng. till 1374. Bayford (Hereford) will have a similar origin.
Baylham (Ipswich). Dom.Beleham,1453 Beylom, 1456 Boylom. Prob. O.E. Boel-ham, 'home, house of Bael ' or 'Bayle'; cf. B.C.8. 1316 Bailies waeg. Not so prob. fr. O.E. boel, O.N. bal, 5-9 bail, ' a blazing pile, a bonfire, a funeral pyre.'
Baynards Castle (Horsham). Said to be fr. Bainiardus. Bainardus. or Baignardus, tenant of the abbot of Westminster, named in Dom. Cf. Bayswater. The final -ard in personal names, like Bernard, Reynard, etc., is usually O.E. heard, O.H.G. hard,' strong in (counsel).'
Bayston Hill (Shrewsbury). Dom. Begestan. 'Town, village of Begha or Baega,' same name as St. Bees. Cf. 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). Dom. Betune, a 1200 Bertune, 1275 Beyton, 1339 Baynton. Some confusion here, but Duignan is prob .right in making I tO.E. Boegan tun,' Baega's town.' Cf. Baydon and next.
Bayworth (Abingdon). 956 chart. Baegenweorthe; Baegan wyrthe; Dom. Baiorde; a. 1200 Hist. Abindgon Baigeuuortha. 'Farm of Baega or Begha,' same name as St. Bees. Cf. Bayston and Bagworth and see -worth.
Beachamwell (Swaffham). Dom. has Becheswella, ' well, spring of Boccaa, Beac,' or ' Beocca,'' all in Onom. Dom. also has Becham, Bicham, which is prob. ' home on the beek,' O.E.boece, bece, cf. Bacup, but may also be ' Beac's home.' This Beacham can hardly be the same as Beauchamp (pron. Beecham) Court, Wore, Dom. Bello Campo, which is Fr. and L. for ' fine field ' =Belchamp. Beachley, Tewkesbury, is old Betesle, fr. a man Beta or Betti.
Beachy Head (Sussex). Fr. beau chef, ' fine head or headland.' There is a Beauchief near Sheffield.
Beaconsfield (Bucks). Old forms needed. Cf. Baconsthorpe. Dom. has only Bechentone and Bechesdene, fr. Becca or Beco, names in Onom.
Beadlam (Helmsley). Dom. And 1202 Yorks Fines Bodlum.-lun. Older forms needed. See-ham. But Bodlum suggests corrup. of O.E. botlon, loc, ' at the dwellings.' Cf. Hallam, Kilham, etc. O.E. botl is O. Fris. bodl. Cf. Harbottle. etc.
Beadnell (Bedford). [Cf. B.C.8. 936 Beaden heal.] Prob. ' Beada's nook ' or ' hall,' as in charter cited. Cf. Bednal and Bedwin and see -hall.
Beal (Northbld.). chart. Behil, Beyl. Prob. O.E. 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 Dom. Worc. Beford. On the other hand, see Beaworthy in the same county. The ending in Beal maybe -hale (see -hall). Beall (Knottingley) is Dom. Begale, which is prob.' Bega's nook.' Cf. Baydon and Brill.
Bealings, Great and Little (Woodbridge). Dom. Belinges, and B. parva. Patronymic; ' place of the sons of Bella ' or ' Beola,’ both in Onom. Prob. =Billing.
Beane R. (Hereford), c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Beneficia. This yields a curious conundrum.
Bearsted, Bersted (Maidstone). 1005 chart. Berhamstede, and so same name orig. as Berkhamsted; or else as in Bersham, ' stead, place, farm of Ber.'
Bearley (Alcester). A changed name. Dom. Burlei, 1327 Burlege, a. 1600 Byrley. ' Burgh on the lea ‘; see -burgh and -ley.
Beaudesert (Henley-in-Arden and Cannock). Henley B. c. 1135 Beldesert, a. 1400 Beaudesert. Can. B. a. 1300 Beaudesert, a. 1400 Bellum Desertum. This is Fr. for 'beautiful wild'; desert in Eng. is often used for ' wild, mountain or forest land.' Henley B. was in Dom. Donnelie.
Beaufort (Brecon). Fr. beau fort, ' fine fortress.' Called after the Fr. Beaufort, near Angers. It belonged to the Lancaster family in the 1 1st cny. and from them the Dukes of Beaufort are descended. Beaupre House, Cowbridge, Fr. for ' fine meadow,' is on the site of a Norman fortress. See also s.v. Beaumaris.
Beaulieu (Southampton). Pron. Bewly. c. 1246 de Bello Loco Regis (i.e., John), 1289 Contin. Gervase Bellum-locum. Fr. beau lieu, ‘beautiful place’, founded by K. John for the Cistercians in 1204. Cf. Beauchief (Sheffield), Beauly (Sc), and Bewdley.
Beaumaris (Anglesea). Old forms Bumaris, Beumarish, Bywmares. The old W. 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, (O.Fr. mareis), which is Fr. for ' fine marsh ' or ' low-lying, swampy ground.' Cf. Beaudesert. In W. to-day it is pron. Bliwmaris, just as Beaufort, (Mon.) is pron. Bluefort. Maresden (Glouc.) is also fr. mareis. But Beamish, Co. Durham, is old ‘Beaumeis, 'fine dwelling,' fr. O.Fr. mes, 'a manse, a mansion.'
Beaumont (Lancs., Colchester, and Jersey). La. B. 1230 Bello Monte, 1316 Bealmont. 1494 Fabyan, ' The castell of Beawmount.' Fr. beau mont, ' fine hill =Belmont. But Bowmont Water, Cheviots, is a. 1000 Bolbend, of doubtful meaning; it cannot be fr. bend sb;.
Beausale (see Beoley).
Beaver (Ashford). Old forms needed. It maybe=Belvoir (pron. beever). Fr. for 'fine outlook' or 'view,' = beau voir. Cf. Beachy Head.
Beaworthy (N. Devon). Dom. Bicheordin. ' Farm of Bica (i =ee). The endmg is O.E. wordige, a dat.; see -warden and -worthy. Cf. Beaford(Devon),old forms needed.
Bebington (Birkenhead). (Cf. 1298 Willelmus de Bibington.] ' Town, village of Bebba,' or of his descendants. Cf. Bambrough and see -ing.
Beccles (Lowestoft). Sic Dom.1151Pipe in Becclis,1298 Bekles, 1443 Bekelys. An abnormal name. Possibly O.E. bi, be Eccles, ' by, beside the church.' Cf. Beeford, Bix, etc. But prob. one of those rare cases of a man's name in the gen. standing alone for a placename, as in Beedon, Brailes, Coven, etc., and so ' (place of) Beoccel.' Cf. B.C.S. 1117 Beocceles put. Dom. Suffk. has also Abecles, and Dom. Nfk. Breckles, Breechles.
Beckenham (Kent). O.E. chart. Beohhahamme, -hema, Dom. Bacheham, a. 1200 Text. Roff. Becceham. A little doubtful; prob.not 'Becca's home,' as in Beckbury (Shifnal),nor' enclosure on the bach or beck, as in Bacup; but prob. 'enclosure of Beohha,’ though we should have expected some sign of the gen. Cf. Dom. Essex, Bacheneia;and see-ham,' enclosure.'
Beckermet (Egremont and W. Riding). Eggremont B.1189 Pipe Bekirmet, a. 1200 Becchiremond. W. Rid. B. not in Dom. but old Beckermond; O.N. bekkjar mud-r,' mouth of the beck or brook.' Beck occurs again in Albecq. Guernsey; prob. O.N. all-bekkr, 'ed brook.' ' Mouth ' in O.N. is munn-r, mud-r. Dan. mund and N. nd regularly becomes th or t in Eng. names. Cf. Amotherby, Osmotherley, and Mite. Also cf. 1183 Boldon Bk. Becchermore,' moor of the brook,' in Durham.
Beckford (Tewkesbury). 803 chart. Beccanforda i.e., 'ford of Becca'; 1158-59 Pipe Becheford. Cf. Beckbury (Shifnal) ad Becesworde. Dom. Surrey.
Beckingham (Gainsboro' and Newark). Dom. Notts Beching(e)ham, [Lines Bechebi]; and Beckington (Bath). Dom. Bechingtone. ' Home ' and ' village of Beca's descendants.' Cf. above; and see -ing, -ham, and -ton.
Beckwithshaw (Harrogate). Dom. Becvid. It seems tautology. ' Wood on the beck or brook.' Cf. Beckermet. For -with is Icel. vith-r, ' a wood, shrubs ' (cf. Askwith); and -shaw is O.E. scaga, ' a wood ' (cf. Audenshaw).
Bedale (Northallerton). Sic in Dom. It is on R. Ure. Analogy would make this, O.E. he dal.,' by, near the dale.' Cf. Beal and Beeford. Of course, it might be ' bee dale,' O.E. beo prob. not.
Beddgelert (Carnarvon). W.='grave of Gelert,’ rhe famous and faithful dog of Prince Llewellyn, in the legend, killed by him by mistake. Some, however, say the orig. name was Bwth Cilarth or Bethcelert, and say it orig. -was ' house; booth of Celer,' patron saint of Llangeler.
Beddingham (Lewes). 810 Grant Beadyngham, ' Home of the Beadingas.' Cf. Beeding, Bedestgham, and next.
Beddington (Croydon and Hants). Croydon B. c. 905 Beddinctun, Dom. Beddmtone. Prob. patronymic like the above, and so ' town, village of the Beadingas.' Cf. 854 chart. Beaddingbroc. But both this and the above may be fr. a man Bedda.
Bedfont (Middlesex). Dom. Bedefunde, -funt. ' Beda's font,' O.E. font, 2-6 funt(e). Cf. Bedfield, Framlingham, and Chalfont.
Bedford. There is also a Bedford near Manchester. The Bedford is in W. Rhydwely, which prob. means ' ford on this torrent,' W. gweilgi. O.E. Chron. 577 Bedecanford; 1011 O.E. Chron. Bedanfordscir, 1016 ib. Beadaford scire, c. 1150 Bedefordia. ' Ford of Bedeca.' Cf. B.C.S. 1307 Bedecan lea. The Man. B. is 1296 Bedeford,' Boeda's ford.'
Bedingfield (Eye and Notts). Eye B. Dom. Bedinge-, Bedinga- fielda, Bading-. Not. B. Not in Dom., a. 1199 Bedingefeld. Prob. both patronymics like Beddingham. But Bedingham (Bungay). B.C.S. 81, Beddenham, is ' home of Bedda’,' See -ing.
Bedlengton (Northumberland). Chart. Betligtona, Bellintona, c. 1155 Bellingtonesir (-shire). 'Town, village of Bedling,’ a name found in Onom., prob. a patronymic. Cf. Bidlingtom, Sussex, a. 1100 Bedelingstone. See-ing.
Bedlinog (Glamorgan). W. 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). Dom. Betminstre, 1155 Bedmenistre. ' Beda's minster ' or ' church.' Cf. Bedfont and see -minster.
Bedmont (Herts). Not in Skeat. ' Beda's mount' or 'hill.' O.E. munt, L. mons, -tis,' a mountain.'
Bednal (Stafford). Dom. Bedehala. 1271 Beden hulle (-'hill'), a. 1300 Bedan- Baden hale. ' Bede's nook ' or ' hall =Beadnell. Cf. Bethnal Green, and 1160-01 Pipe Nthbld. Bedehal.
Bedwas (Cardiff). O.W. bed gwas, ' grave of the servant.'
Bedwin, -Bedwyn, Great and Little (Hungerford). 778 chart. Bedewind, Dom. Bedvinde,1155 Pipe Eastbedewind. As wind in O.E. simply means ' wind,' this would seem to be W. bedd gwynn, ' fair, beautiful grave.' Though it is said to be O.E. Chron. 675 Bedan- or Biedenhafod—i.e. ' Bieda's head' or ' headland.' But the two names cannot be the same.
Bedworth (Nuneaton). Dom. Bedeword. ' Beda's farm ' Cf. Bedminster, etc., and see -worth.
Beeding (Steyning). Dom. Bed(d)inges (nom. plur.). Patronymic. See Beddingham.
Beedon Hill (Newbury). Chart. Bedene, Bydene; Dom. Bedene; 1316 Budeneye; 1428 Budene, Bedene. Skeat thinks this must be simply O.E. Bedan, ' Byda's or Beda's,' 'home ' to be supplied. Cf. Biddenham. This is a rare type of name, but see Baldon, Benson, and Wigan.
Beeford (Driffield). Dom. Biworde. ' Beside the farm or estate 'O.E. bi worth; -worth and -ford often interchange. Also cf. Beal and Bideford.
Beenham or Benham (Reading). 956 chart. Bennanhamme; Dom. 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), Dom. Bere, Beer Alston, and Beer Ferris (Devon). Dom. Bere, Bera. O.E. 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). Dom. Besebi. ' Village, dwelling of Besa.'' One in Onom. See-by.
Beeston (Leeds, etc.). Leeds B. Dom. Bestone, 1202 Bestona. Notts B.-Dom. Bestune. Chester B.Dom. Buistane. Perh. Bovis in Ant. Itin. The Ches. B. looks as if fr. N. bui, ' a goblin; but the others are prob. fr. the name Begha or Bees. Cf. 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). Dom. Biedun, which may be ' Bede's hill; it is very rare ford dun to become-ham. '
Beetley (Dereham). Dom. Betellea. Doubtful, more old forms needed. Prob., as above, fr. a man Beta. But perh. ' beet- root meadow.' fr. O.E. bete; whilst Betel- might also stand for Bethild or Betweald, names in Onom.
Begelly (Pembrokshire). Old Bugeli. It is thought to be a tribal name, fr. W. bugail, G. buachail, 'a shepherd'; or perh. a man's name, Bugail; cf. Merthir ('martyr') Buceil in Lib. Land., once near Bridgend, Glam.
Beighton (Rotherham and Norwich). Rotherham B. not in Dom. Norwich B. Dom. Begetona, 1450 Beyton, Boyton. ' Begha's town.' Cf. St. Bees.
Bekesbourne (Canterbury). Not in Dom. ' Beca’s' or ' Becca's brook. See-bourne, and cf. Beckbury.
Belbroughton (Stourbridge). 817 chart. Belne, et Brocton, Dom. Bellem, Brotune. a. 1200 Beolne, 1275 Belne-Bruyn, Brocton, a. 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). Dom. Belcamp. O.Fr. hel cliamp, ' fine field or plain.' Same name as Beauchamp or Beacham. Cf. Dom. Bucks, de Belcamp, 1160 Pipe ' Belcap,' Hereford, and Beachamwell; also 1281 Close R. Belcham, Essex.
Belchford or Belshford (Horncastle). Dom. and 1281 Beltesford. Dom.and 1281 Beltesford. Prob. ‘ford of Bealda’, two in Onom. But cf. Dom Essex Belcham. Onom has one Balchi.
Belford (Northumberland), c. 1175 Fantosme Belefort; there is in B.C.S. 454 Bellan ford. Perh. O.Fr. ' bel fort, ' fine fort,' as in Belfort, Alsace. But prob. ' ford of a man Bella ‘; cf. Bellingham.
Belgrave (Leicester). Old forms needed. Not in Dom. Prob. 'Bella's grave,' O.E. graf. Cf. above. From this comes Belgravia, London.
Bellbusk (Leeds). Not in Dom. ' Bell-bush,' referring to an inn sign. ' Good wine needs no bush,' which is M.E. busk, O.N. busk-r, 3-7, and still in Nthn. dial., busk.
Belleford (Dartmoor). Old forms needed? Dom. Boleborde (b for f, or else v. and so =-worth, with which -ford often interchanges)? 'ford of Bola' two in Onom. Cf. Bolsover and Belford. All Dartmoor names in -ford are said by some to be fr. W fjord, ‘a road, a way’. This is doubtful.
Belford. All Dartmoor names in -ford are said by some to be fr. W. ffordd, ' a road, a way.' This is doubtful.
Bellerby (Bedale). Dom. Belgebi,1166-67 Pipe Beleg'ebi, Berlegerbi perhaps ' dwelling of Bealdgaer,' one in Onom. More old forms needed. The name may still survive in the surname Bellairs. See -by.
Belle Vue (Manchester). Mod. Fr. =' fine view.' Cf. Belvoir and Belvedere, Erith, which is Ital., with similar meaning
' fine to see,' or ' fine view.'
Bellingham (N. Northbld. Notts, and Kent). Notts B. sic 1230 Close R. ' Home of Belling ' or 'of the sons of Bella.'' CF. Inquis. Camb. Belincgesham, and Billingsgate. Also, Bellington (Worcestrshire.), Dom. Belintones, 1275 Belinton. See -ing and -ham and -ton.
Belmont (Bolton and Surrey). Fr.='fine hill.'
Belper (Ambergate). Not in Dom. Cf. Belrepeir, Haresfeld, c.1220 Bewper, c. 1450 Beaurepaire, which last is Fr. for' lovely haunt'; O.Fr. bel., Fr. beau, 'fine, beautiful.' Cf. Barripper.
Belsay (Newcastle). ' Bells or Bella's island. Cf. 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 hillspur or ridge. So it could be something like beacon hillspur or Bil’s ridge – take your pick.
Belstone (Okehampton). Dom. Bellestham. Here the ending has changed fr. ham to tun or -ton. The name of the man intended by the first part is a little doubtful but is prob. Bella.Cf. Belford and Dom. Beleslei, Salop. Dom-'s form may be a scribal error.
Belton (Doncaster. etc.). Prob. not ' town with the bell,' O.E. belle, but ' Bella's town.' Belthorp, Helmsley, is Dom. Balchetorp (cf. Belchford); but Belby, York, is Dom. Bellebi. Cf. Belford.
Belvoir Castle (Grantham), pron. Beever. c. 1540 Leland Beavoire, Bever. O.Fr. =' fine to see,' or 'fine view.' Cf. Bellevue and Belvedere.
Bembridge (Ryde). Old forms needed. Bern- may be O.E. beam, ‘a tree, a beam.'
Bemerton (Salisbury). Dom. Bimertone. 'Town, village of the trumpeter,' O.E. beamere, bymere.
Bempton (Flamborough). Dom. Bentone. Prob.= Bampton= i.e., O.E. bean-dun, ' bean hill.' It is 3-6 ben. See -don and -ton.
Benefield (Oundle). a. 1100 Grant of 664, Beinfelde, c. 1200 Gervase, Benigfelde. Doubtful. Possibly ' field of Beonna,' or Benna,’ a common O.E. name, in one case Latinized Benignus. It might even be O.E. bean-feld, ' bean field.'
Benenden (Staplehurst). Dom. Benindene. ' Den or dean or haunt of Benna or Beonna, gen. -an. Cf. above and Biddenden, close by.
Benfleet, N. and S. (Essex). 893 O.E. Chron. Beamfleot (c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Beamfled), which is O.E. for ' tree river,’? river lined by trees. It is Dom. Benflet, 1166-67 Pipe Bemflet. See Fleet.
Bengeo (Hertford). Dom. Belingehon, 1210 Beningeho, Benigho, 1291 Beningho. ' Hoe, hoo or high ground of the Bennings,' or 'sons of Ben(n)a'; O.E. hoh, ho, 'high ground, hill.' Cf. Bletsoe and next. As to Dom.'s form, cf. Bennington. Dom. is always confusing the liquids.
Bengeworth (Evesham). 709 chart. Benigwrthia. 714 ib. Benincgworthe, 780 ib. Benincwyrthe, Dom. Benningeorde, Bennicworte. ' Farm of the sons of Ben(n)a.' Cf. Benefield, Bengeo, and Benniworth; and see -ing and -worth.
Benhall Green (Saxmundham). Dom. Benehal(l)a. ' Benna'' or Beonna's nook.' Cf. Beenham and Benson, and Dom. Benehale,Salop. See-hall.
Benhilton (Sutton, Sussex). Not in Dom. Old Benhill Town. Prob. ' Benna's or Beonna's hill.' Cf. above.
Benington (Boston), Bennington (Stevenage), and Benniworth (Lines.). Boston B. Dom. Beninctun, Beningtone, c. 1275 Benig- ton. St. B. Dom. Belintone. ' Town and ' farm of the ' Bennings,' a patronymic. Cf. Bengeo and Benton; and see -ton and -worth. Ben Rhydding (Leeds). ' A modern coinage.' Ben is G. beinn, ' a mountain, a hill,' W. penn. W. rhydd is ' red.'
Benson, more fully Bensington (Wallingford). O.E. Chron. ann. 571 Baenesingtun, 1155 Pipe Bensentun. 'Town of the Bensings.' There is a Dan. chief Benesing in 911 O.E. Chron, For the contracted or dropped ending, cf. Baldon and Beedon; and see -ing and -ton.
Bentham (Lancaster and Badgeworth). Lancaster B. Dom. Benetain (scribe's error). ' Home among the bennet or bent grass,' O.E. beonet, c. 1325 bent. Cf. next and Chequerbent; and see -ham.
Bentley (Doncaster, Walsall, Atherstone, on Severn, Suffolk, etc.). Don. B. Dom. Benedlage, -leia, Benelei, 1298 Bentele, Wa. B. a. 1200 Benaetlea, Benetlegh. Atherstone B. Dom. Benechelie, a. 1300 Bentley. Severn B. 962 chart. Beonet leage, 1017 ib. Beonetleah. Suffolk B. 1455 Bentele. ' Meadow of the bentgrass or bennet,' see above. Cf. Bentworth, Hants. In some cases, perh. fr. Benet for Benedict. See -ley.
Benton (Newcastle). 1311 Drrham Reg. Benton, Benington. This is clearly a contracted patronymic, ' Town, village of the Bennings’; cf. Benington. Other ' Bentones ' have become Bampton or Bempton.
Benwell (Newcastle), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Bynnewalle i.e., ' within the (Roman) wall.' O.E. binnan, 2-4 binne ' within, inside of.' Cf. Binbrook, and the Sc. ' ben the house,' where ben is, says Oxf. Dict., var. of binne.
Benwick (March). Ramsey Chart. Benewick. Prob. ' Ben(n)a's or' Beonna's dwelling.' See-wick.
Beoley (Redditch). 972 chart. Beoleahe, Dom. Beolege, 1327 Beleye. ' Meadow of the bees,' O.E. beo. Cf. Beley, Beobridge, Claverley, Salop, and Beausalo, Warwk., Dom. Beoshelle or ' bees 's nook,' see -hall; also see -ley.
Berden (Bp's. Stortford). Dom. Berdane. Prob. ' barley dean or ' den ' or ' glen.' O.E. bere ' bear or barley.' Cf. Berwick; and see -den.
Berea (Haverfordwest), Fr. Acts xvii. 10. Welsh 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). O.E. beam ' wood.' L. regis ' of the king.' Cf. Beer and Lyme Regis.
Bergh Apton (Norwich). Dom. Berc, Berch. Merc, berh., O.E. beorh, beorg, ' hill, grave, barrow.' Apton is ' town, village ' of ‘Apa, Ape, Appa, Appe, or Appo’; all these forms are found in Onom. Baddeley derives La Berge, Glostrsh., fr. beorg also.
Berghholt (Colchester). Dom. B'colt, Bercoit. See above. Holt is O.E. and Icel. holt,' a wood, a grove.'
Berkeley (Sharpness). 824 chart. Beorc-, Berclea, 1088 O.E. Chron. Beorclea. c. 1097 Flor. W. Beorchelaum, a. 1142 Wm. Malmes. Bercheleia, 1297 R. Glouc. Berkele. Prob. ' meadow of the birch-trees,' O.E. beorc, byre. Cf. Dom. Wore, Berchelai. B. Herness, in same shire, Baddeley derives fr. O.E. hyme, M.E. hilrne, 'corner, district'; it is Dom. Berchelai hernesse.
Berkhamsted 1066 O.E. Chron. Beorhhamstede; 1155 Berkhamstede, a. 1200 chart. Berhamstead; 1501 Will Gret Berkehamstede. Prob. O.E. beorh-ham-sted, ' sheltered-home-place,' or fortified farm. Perh. 'home-place of Beorht,' a very common O.E.name. Cf. Berstead.
Berkshire. 931 chart. Be(a)rruc-scire; 1011 O.E. Chron. Bearrucscir; Dom. Berrochescire, Berchesira; 1297 Barcssire; c. 1325 Barkschyre (which is still the pron.). ' Box-tree-shire,' O.E. bearroc; though some, without sure evidence, would derive fr. the tribe Bihroci, Caesar B.G. v. 21 or even say it is ' bare oak shire’! Bearruc is a dimin. Of bearu, which meand simply, ‘a wood, a grove ' the meaning ' box-tree ' is a later and perhaps mistaken idea.
Berkswell (Coventry). Dom. Berchewelle; a. 1400 Bercleswelle. It seems ' well of Beorht or Berct,’ but form a. 1400 points to an earlier Begrcol. 4 in Onom.
Bermondsey (London) ? a.715Vermundsei, 'isle of Foermund or Pharamond.' But Dom. Bermmidesye c. 1180 Ben. Peterb.; Bermundsheia. ' Bermund's ' or ' Bermond’ s isle.' Cf. ' Bearmodes lea,' Worcestersh. in Grant, c. 802; and see -ey.
Berney Arms (Yarmouth).? fr. the Fr. Bernay near Evreux. Villages called after public - houses are common all over England, and not less so in Wales.
Bernwood Forest (Bucks). 921 O.E. Chron. Byxnewudu i.e., 0.E for ' Beorn's or ' Byrne's wood.' O.N. bjorn means ' ' a bear.' Berriew (Montgomery). =Aber-Rhiw, ' confluence of the R. Rhiw' with the Severn. In W.rhiw is ' a break out also ' a'; slope.' Cf. Barmouth.
Berrington (Tenbury and Shrewsbury and Glostrsh.). Tenbury and Shrewsbury B. Dom. Beritune. Te. B. 1275 Beriton. Gl. B. 1273 Byrton. Possibly =Burton; quite as likely, ' town of Boera,' -an, now become Berry. Cf. Barrington and Burbury; and see -ing.
Berrow (Burnham and Ledbury). Var.of Barrow.
Berry Brow (Huddersfield). Berry like the above, is perh. 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, O.E. bru. is found used for ' brow or edge of a hill as early as c. 1435. In North, dial, it commonly means ' a slope, an ascent,' as in Everton Brow and Shaw's Brow, two steep streets in Liverpool. Cf. Dom. Warwk. and Wore, ' Bericote.' The Yorks Dom. 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 Dom., and all is doubtful. The first part is prob. O.E. biorn, beorn, 4-5 beryn, ' a hero, a warrior.' As to -arbor, it might quite possibly be for harbour, the M.E. herberg, in 6 harbor, which means orig. ' any kind of place of shelter or sojourn.' Not so likely fr. arbour, which is fr. Fr. and first in Eng. c. 1300 herber.
Bersham (Wrexham). Old forms needed, cf. Dom. Sffk., Barsha; but prob.' Home of Ber, 'a man named in Chesh.Dom.
Bersted (Sussex). 680 chart. Beorganstede, O.E. for ' Beorgd's place ' ; 2 Beorgas in Onom.
Berwick (on Tweed, etc.). 700-15 chart. Wihtred Bereueg (Kent); 1060 chart. Uppwude cum Ravelaga berewico suo' ; Ber. On Tweed 1097 Berwick, a. 1150 Berewic, Berwich, 1187 Suthberwyc (as contrasted with North Berwick, Sc). Shrewsbury B. Dom. Berewic. O.E. berewic ' a demesne farm.' fr. here, ' barley.' and wic, ' dwelling, village.' Cf. Barton, also Berwick St. James and St. John, Salisbury.
Berwyn (Llangollen) and Berwyn Mtn. W. aher gwyn, ' clear, bright confluence.' For loss of a-cf. Abergavenny and Berriew. Beryan (Cornwall). Sic 1536. Called after Buriena, pretty daughter of Aengus, K. 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 prob. ' Besa's rock,' Anglian O.E. carr. But Bes- may represent many things. See below.
Bescot (Walsall). Dom. Bresmundescot, a.1300 Ber(e)mundescote, Bermondscote, Bermonscot, a. 1400 Berkmondescote, Berkescote. This is an extraordinarily contracted form, fr. O.E. Beorhtmundes cot.
Besthorpe (Attleborough and Newark). At .B. Dom. Besethorp, Ne. B. Bestorp. ' Besa's, village.' Cf. Beeston and Bescar, and see-thorpe. Bessingby, Yorks, wasDom. Basingebi.
Beswick (Manchester and Beverley). Manchester B. 1327 Bexwyk. 'Becc's dwelling.' But Beerley B. is Dom. Basewic, which is prob. ' Bassa's dwelling.' Cf. Baschurch and Bastwell. See -wick.
Betchley (Tiddenham). Old Bettisley, 'lea of Betti.' Cf. Beachley, Batchworth, and Betchworth, Surrey (? fr. Becca).
Bethania (B1. Festmiog), Bethel (Carnarvon), Bethesda (Bangor), and Beulah (Brecon) are all Bible names for villages called after Nonconformist chapels. Cf. Berea.
Bethnal Green (London), a. 1600 Bednall Green. Said to be ' Bathon'shall,' fr. 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). Dom. Betelege, a. 1200 Betteleg. 'Beta's lea or meadow.' O.E. bete also means 'beet root'; but this would give Beetley. Cf. Bitton.
Bettisfield (Whitchurch). Dom. Beddesfeld. 'Field of Beta, Beta, or Bettu,' all names found in Onom. Cf. Dom. Bucks, Betesden.
Bettws (8 in P.O.). W. bettws, ' a place of shelter and comfort,' ' a (prayer) house.' Common in Wales, and there are two in England, B. y Crwwyn (O.W. crewyn, ' pen. sty. hovel) Salop, and B. Newydd (' new '), Newport, Mon. It seems now agreed that W. bettws phonetically and actually represents Eng. head-house, c. 1160 bed hus, ' prayer-house, alms-house.' Bettws is said to have been first applied to a W. parish church in 1292, Taxat. of Benefices. But how is it that Wales has so many ' bead-houses ' among her placenames, and England none?
Bettws Cedewen (Montgomery). Cedewen is prob. Cedwyn, a Welsh sixth cny. saint.
Bettws Garmon (Caernarvon). ' House of St. Garmon' or Germanus, twice a visitor of Britain, and peril, the man who sent St. Patrick t Ireland. Cf. Capel Garmon and Llanarmon.
Bettws-Gwerful-Goch (Corwen). ' House of Red Gwerful,'' who must have been a W. saint. Cf. Ffynon gwerfil, ' Gwerfil's well,' a farm, Cardigansh.
Bettws-y-Coed (N. Wales). W.' house in the wood.'
Bevere(ge) (island in Severn). Chart. Beverege, a. 1100 Beverie. O.E. beofer-ige, ' beaver-isle.' The beaver was not extinct in England till c. 1 100. Ige as an ending in Eng. names has usually become -ey, q.v.
Beverley Dom. Bevreli, Beurelie; c. 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 O.E.lac.' pool.' Cf. Filey. Beverley is also the name of a brook at Wimbledon, 693 chart. Beferith, where rith is' stream.' Cf. above.
Beverstone (Tetbury), 1048 O.E. Chron. Beofres stan. i.e., ' the beaver's rock,' Dom. Beurestone.
Bewcastle (Carlisle). O.Fr. beau castel, ' fine castle.' Cf. Beaulieu pron. Bewley, and next.
Bewdley (Kidderminster). 1304 Beaulieu, c. 1440 Bewdeley. Fr. beau lieu, ' beautiful spot,' as in Beaulieu, Hants, pron. Bewly. Also cf. Bewsboro’, Kent,1228 Close B. Beausbergh.
Bewholme (Hull). Dom. Begun, 1202 Beighum. Prob. ' Begha's ham.'' or ' home.' The endings -ham and -holme, ' meadow,' q.v. often interchange. Possibly begun maybe loc. Of O.E. beg, ' at the rings.' This loc. is common in Yorks. See -ham.
Bexhill (Hastings). Dom. has only Bexelei. ' Becca's hill.' next, B.C.8. 309 Beccanford. and Dom. Bucks, Bechesdene.
Bexley (Kent). Dom. Bix; a.1200 Text. Roff. Bixle; later Bekesley; also cf. Dom. Hants, Bexeslei. ' Bicas, Bicca's, or Becca's lea or meadow.' All these names are found in Onom. Bexhill and Bix.
Beyton (Bury St. Edmund's). Dom. Begatona, 1288 Beyton, ‘ Begha's town.' Cf. Bayworth.
Bibury (Fairford, Glostr.). c. 740 chart. Beagan byrig, Dom. Beche-, Begeberie. This must be as above, ' burgh, fortified town of Begha.' See -bury.
Bicester (Oxon). Dom. 1307 Bernecestre,? 1149 Burcetur, 1216 Burnecestr', 1414-31 Burcestre, 1495 Bysseter, 1612 Bisceter, 1634 Bister, the present pron. ' Camp of Beorn,'' in N. Biorn. A fine study in the disappearance of liquids! See -cester.
Bickenhill (Birmingham). Dom. Bichehelle a.1200 Bychenhulle, Bigen-, Biken hull O.E. Bicanhyll, ' hill of Bica' 3 in Onom. Cf. Bickmarsh, Alcester, 967 chart. At Bicanmersce. It is just possible it is ' beacon-hill,' O.E. becen, becun, Wyclii bikene, S.W. dial, bick'n. This is not confirmed by Bickmarsh, Honeybourne, Dom. Bichemerse, 1608 Bickemershe.
Bicker (Boston). Dom. Bichere. Doubtful. Prob. Not M.E. biker (1297 R. Glouc), origin unknown, 'a bicker, a skirmish'; nor O.N. bikarr, ' a beaker, an open cup or goblet,' used here to describe the shape of the site ; but prob. var. of O.N. bekk-r, ' a brook.' Also cf. next.
Bickerstaffe (Ormskirk). c. 1200 Bikerstat, 1230 Bykstat, c. 1260 Berkerstat, c. 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 O.N. bekkjar, ' of the brook,' cf. Beckermet, and bjarkar, gen. of O.N. bjork, 'birch.' The ending is curious; it also wavers between O.N. stad-r, ' place,' and O.E. stoep, 'shore, river-bank this is still preserved in the personal name Bickersteth. Cf. Bickershaw. Wigan, and Bycardyke, 1189 Bikeresdic, Notts.
Bickerton (Wetherby and Cheshire). Wetherby B. Dom. Bickretone, Bichreton. Cheshire B. Dom. Bicretone. Asbicker is not found in Eng. Till 1297, prob.' brook-town.' See above and Bickerstaffe.
Bickerey (Glastonbury). 971 chart. 'In insulis ' (i.e., the lowlands often forming islands in flood-time) . . . Bekeria, which is called ' parva Ybernia,' or 'little Ireland'; fr. O. Ir. bee Eriu, ' little Erin,'Erinn being gen. of Eriu. Off Wexford is Beggary-island, really the same name; M'Clure, p. 205.
Bickington (Barnstaple and Newton Abbot). Dom. Bichentone. ' Town, village of Bic(c)a' gen. -an. See above. Cf. Bexley, and1167-8 Pipe Devon, Bichingbrige. See-ing.
Bickleigh (Tiverton) and Bickley (Kent). Both in Dom. Bichelei. ' Bicca's ' or ' Bica's. meadow.' Cf. Bickford, Penkridge, Dom. Bigeford, 1334 Bikeford, prob. fr. Bica too; also Dom. Chesh. Bichelei, and Devon Bicheford.
Bicknacre (Chelmsford). ' Field of Bica' -an. Acre is O.E. aecer, acer, ' a plain, open country ‘; L. ager, ' a field.' Cf. Bickenhill, and next.
Bicknoller (Taunton). Dom. has only Bichehalle. ' Bica' a alder'; or else perh. 'Beacon-alder-tree’. O.E. alor, aler, air, olr, ' an alder.' See above and Bickenhill. Bicknor on Wye, Dom. Bicanofre, 1298 Bykenore, is clearly ' Bica's bank.' See -or, -over.
Bickton Heath (Shrewsbury). Dom. Bichetone, also ib. Bichedone (Bucks). [Cf. 1298, 'Thomas de Bikebury.] ' Bicca's town or village.' Cf. Bexley and Bickleigh.
Biddenden (Staplehurst) and Biddenham (Bedford). Ol dBidenham, Bedenham. ' Bidda's ' or ' Byda’s wooded valley ' and ' home.' Cf. Beedon, and Bidboro', Tunbridge Wells; and see -den and -ham.
Biddestone (Chippenham). Dom. Bedestone, ' Bedda's' or ' Bidda’ s stone' or 'town.' See -ton; and cf. Bidston, Dom.
Chesh, Bedesfeld, and above.
Biddler R. (Congleton). Dom. and later Bidolf. This is an O.E. personal name, Beadulf or Beaduwulf. Such are very rarely applied to places without a suffix; but cf. Crantock, Snitter, Northbld., Tydd, etc.
Bideford. Dom. Bedeford, a. 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.'' Cf. 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 chart. Budiforde, Dom. Bedeford, a. 1600 Bidford. ' Ford of Buda' 3 in Onom., which has also 2 Bydas. Cf. above, and Bidfield, For. Of Dean, old Budefield.
Bidston (Birkenhead), and Biel. See Biddestone and Beal.
Bierton (Aylesbury). Dow. Bertone. Prob. 'bear' or 'barley -town.' O.E. here, 6-8 beer. Hardly fr. O.E. boer, ber, ' a bier for carrying a corpse.' North Bierley (Yorks), Dom. Birle, looks as if Eng.-ley had been attached to O.N.by-r,' house, hut, byre.'
Bigbury (Kingsbridge). Dom. Bicheberie. Not fr. 'big,' adj., which is unknown in Eng. till c. 1300, but ' Bica’s or Biga's, burgh,' or 'fort.' Cf. 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,' O.N. byggja, 'to dwell, to build,' already found in 1153 Newbigginghe, Oxnam, Roxbgh.; but prob. It only filtered late South into Warwick. In Kent it seems most unlikely; there biggin may be Fr. beguin, 'a child's cap,' found in Eng. fr. 1530, whose shape might easily be thought like that of the hill; or else fr. a man Biga, -an.
Biggleswade (Beds). Dom. and1132 Bicheleswade, -da.,'Ford,' lit. ' wading-place of Bichel ' or ' Beccel.' Perh. he who was servant of St. Guthlac of Croyland; -wade is O.E. weed, M.E. wath, ' a ford.'
Bighton (Alresford) Dom. Bighetone. ‘Bigha’s. Biga’s, or Begha’s town or village.
Bignall End (Staffordshire). Not in Duignan. Prob. ' Biga's' or ' Bigo's nook ' or ' hall.' Cf. Beadnell and Bednal. The n is the sign of the gen. See-hall.
Bigrigg (Carnforth). Possibly ' Big ridge'; see -rigg. Big is an adj. of unknown origin, and does not come into Eng. until Havelock, a. 1300. The big may also be O.N. bygg, ' barley,' found in Eng. and Sc. fr. c. 1450.
Bilbrough (York). In Dom. Mileburg (? fr. a man Milo). ' Burgh, fortified town of Billa' as in Bilham and Bilton also in Yorks, Dom. Bileham and Bil(l)etone. Cf. Bilsborough, Bilborough, Notts, Dom. Bileburg(h), and Dom. Essex, Bilichangra,' steepslope of Bila.' See -burgh.
Billesdon (Leicester). ' Billa's dune' or 'hill,' or 'fort.' Cf. Bilborough, and Billesley (Warwick), 704 chart. Billes laeh, Dom. Billeslei, 1157 Pipe Bileslega; and see -don.
Billing (Wigan). Patronymic. There are two Billings in Onom. It may mean ' descendant of Belin.' On ' blissful King Belyn see c. 1205 Layamon, 4290 seq. Cf. Billingford, Dereham, Billingham, Stockton, and next; also, Bealings.
Billinghay (Lincoln). 1285 ' Waltero de Billingeye' (found in Norfolk). See above; -hay is O.E. haga, Icel. hagi, ' an enclosed field,' same root as hedge.
Billingley (Yorks). Dom. Bilingeleia, 1178-80 Pipe Billingslea, and Billingsley (Bridgnorth). Perh. 1055 O.E. Chron. Bylgesleg. 'Billing's, meadow.' Cf. a. 1100 ' Belnesthorpe,' Lines. See -ley.
Billingsgate (London) and Billingshurst (Sussex). 1250 Layamon, Belynes sar. See Billing, and -hurs, a wood’, aso cf 1155 Pipe Bilingete, Hants.
Billington (Stafford), Dom. 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 O.E. hoh, ho, ' a hill, high ground.'
Bilney, East (Dereham). Dom. Bilenei, 1298 Bilneie. 'Isle of Bil(l)a.' Cf. Binley and see -ey.
Bilsborough (Preston), and Bilsby (Alford). Dom. Billesbi. =Bilbrough. ' Billa's burgh or fort,' and ' dwelling.' See -borough and -by.
Bilston 994 Bilsetnatun, -netun. Dom. Billestune, a.1300 Bilestun, -tone. ' Billa's town ' or ' village.' See Bilbrough and Billesdon. In 994 -setna is gen. pl. of soetan, ' a settler, dweller in.' Cf. Dorset, Somerset, etc.
Bilton (Knaresboro' and Rugby). Knaresboro .B. Dom. Billetone, Bileton. ' Billa's town.' See Bilbrougii. But Rugby B. is Dom. Beltone, 1236 Belton, 1327 Beultone. Duignan says this is O.E. Beolantun, ' town of Beola' only one in Onom.
Binbrook (Market Rasen). Dom. Binnebroc. Prob. ' within the brook.' O.E. binnan, M.E.byn ' within, inside.' Cf. Benwell, Binfield, etc. But Binneford (Stockleigh, English) is 739chart. Beonnan ford,' food of Beonna' perh. he who was father of St. Sativola of Exeter.
Binchester (Bp. Auckland), c. 380 Anton. Itin. Vinonia. Here the Bin- or Vin- prob. represents W. 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 Dom. Perh. corrup. of hin acre, ' within the field.' O.E. oecer, acer, L. ager, a' field.' Cf. Bicknacre, Binfield, and Bessacar.
Binfield (Bracknell). 1316 Benefeld; but earlier Benetfeld, Bentfeld. This is ' field of bent or bennet ' i.e. a coarse grass. O.E. beonet. Cf. Bentley. But by temp. Hen. VIII. it had become Bynfeld, which by analogy should mean ' within the' field.' Cf. Benwell, Binbrook, etc.
Bingham (Notts). Dom. Bingheha, Bingehamhou Wap., 1230 Close R. Bingeham. It seems hardly to be fr. O.N. bing-r, ' a heap,' found in Eng. c. 1325 as ' bing,' and though there seems no name in the Onom. which suits, form 1209 in next suggests a man Binge or Binga. Cf. Bengeworth. Mutschmann derives fr. Benning; see Bennington.
Bingley (Keighley). Dom. Bingheleia, Bingelei, 1209 Bingelege. Doubtful. See above; -ley is O.E. leah, ' meadow,' and Binge- is prob. some man's name.
Binley (Coventry). Dom. Bilnei, Bilueie, 1251 Bilney. Prob. O.E. Billanige, ' isle of Bil(l)a.' See -ey. Cf. Bilney. Change fr. ln to nl is uncommon.
Binneford. See Binbrook.
Binstead (Ryde and Sussex), and Binsted (Alton ,Hants). Sussez. B. 1280 Close R. Benested. Ryde B. Dom. Benestede, which may either be ' bean place ' or, less likely, ' prayer place,' fr. O.E. bean, 3-6 ben, 4-6 bene,' a bean, 2-4 bene,' a prayer, petition, boon, and stede, ‘farm-yad’, staeding’. Cf. Homestead. Not ft. bin or benne. O. E. binnan, ‘within’. This never seems spelt with a central e.
Binton (Stratford, Wwk.). 710chart. Bunintone, Dom. Benintone, Benitone. a. 1200 Buvintone, 1325 Bunynton. ' Town of Buna,' 3 in Onom.; but the form Bynna is much commoner. Dom. Yorks, Binneton, is now Binnington.
Bercham (King's Lynn). Dom. Brecham, 1489 Brytcham. Cf. Dom.' Bercham, 'Warwick. Prob.' house, home built of birch.' O.E. beorc, berc, byrce, birce; though the first part may be the name of a man Beorht or Berh, as in Dom. Yorks, Berceworde, now Ingbirchworth.
Birchanger (Bp's. Stortford). ' Birch-slope.' O.E. hangra, angra, once said to be ' a meadow ' but M'Clure thinks ' the slope of; a hill,' and Duignan, moree xactly,' a wood growing on a hillside.' Cf. Clayhangbe, Alderhanger (Worcestersh.), Hungerford, and Rishangles.
Birchills (Walsall), a. 1600 Birche leses, Burchelles, Byrchylles, Byrchells. ' Birch hills.' O.E. berc, beorc, 5-6 byrche.
Birchover (Matlock). Dom. Barcoure. ' Birch brink or bank,' O.E. ofr, obr, ' brink.' See Bircham, and -over.
Birdham (Chichester). Dom. Brideha, and Birdholme." (Chester- field). ' Bird home' and 'bird meadow.' See -holme. Bird may be a man's name, cf. next. Bird in O.E. is brid, Northumb. bird; and Brid is a name in Onom. Cf. Birdsall.
Birdingbury (Rugby). Pron. Birbury. 1043 chart. Burtingbury; K.C.D. 916 Birtingabyrig juxta Aven, Dom. Berdingberie, Derbingerie (blunder) a. 1300 Burdingbury. ' Burgh, fort of the sons of Beorht,' or 'Birht.' Patronymic. See -bury.
Birdlip (Gloucester). Not in Dom., 1221Bridelepe, 1262 Brudelep. Prob. ' bird's leap,' O.E. 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.' Cf. Lypiatt (Stroud), old Lypgate, Lupeyate,' gate into the enclosure.'
Birdsall (York). Dom. Briteshale, Brideshala, 1208 Brideshale. ' Nook of Brid, Briht, or Beorht,'all names on record, and prob. all the same name too. Change of r is common, as in board and broad, etc. Cf. Birkby and Birtley and see -hall.
Birkby (Co. Durham and Huddersfield). Dom. Yorks, and 1197 E. Bretebi, Durham. ' Dweling of Beorc ' or ' Beorht,' of which Bret(t) is a late rform. Cf. Birdsall; and see-by.
Birkdale (Southport). Birk is N. Eng. and Sc. for birch, O.E. beorc, byrce, birce, berc. Cf. Birkacre ('field '), Chorley.
Birkenhead. Sic 1282, but a. 1100 Byrkhed. ' Head, promontory covered with birch,’ O.E. beorc, berc, byrce, birce. The adj. birchen, North. birken, is not given in the Oxf. Dict. a. 1440; so that this name, in 1282, seems the earliest known instance of it. Birkenshaw (Leeds). ' Birch wood,' O.E. scaga, a wood; see above. Now a personal name in this district.
Birkin (Normanton). Dom. Berchinge, Berchine. A patronymic, 'Place of the descendants of Beorht.' Cf. Barking; and see -ing.
Birling (Maidstone) and Biblingham (Pershore). 972 Byrlinghamme, Dom. Berlingeham, 1275 Byrlyngham. ' Place of the descendants of the cupbearer or butler,' O.E. byr(e)le. The -ham, q.v., in this case means ' enclosure.' Cf. Burlingham.
Birmingham. Dom. Bermingeha', 1158 Brimigham, 1166 Bremingeham, 1255 Burmingeham, 1333 Burmyncham, c. 1413 Bry- mecham, c. 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 mod. pron. Brummajem cf. Whittingham, pron. Whittinjem, and ' Nottingjam ' is also heard.
Birstall (Leeds). Dom. thrice Beristade (? -ade, error for -ale) Berist- seems to be for '' Beorhtsige's' or ‘ Byrcsige's,' a very common O.E. name; and -ale is 'nook,' see -hall. Close by is Birstwith, fr. O.N. vith-r, 0. Dan. wede, Dan. ved, 'a wood.' Cf. Askwith, etc.
Birtley (Herefordsh., Chester-le-Street, and Wark.). Ch.B.1183 Britleia, Birdeia, ' Meadow of Brid,' or ' Bird,' or ' of the birds.' Transposition of r is common; cf. Birdsall and Birtwistle (see Twizel). Birts Morton, Glostersh., is a. 1350 Morton Brut,' 1407 Bruttes, -tis, fr. Walter le Bret, known as living here, 1275, or someone earlier. The name means' the Breton.'
Biscovey (Par.) Not in Dom. Might be Eng., ' Biso's cave'; the names Besa, Besi, Bisi, and Biso are all found in Onom.; whilst the O.E. for ' cove or inlet ' is cofa. But Bis- looks like Corn, bes, bis, bys, ' a finger.' Cf. Bissoe.
Bisham (Marlow). Dom. Bistesham; 1199 Bistlesham; later Bestlesham, Bustleham. ' Home of Bestel,' cf. B.C.8., i. 108, ii. 206, Bestlesford, Baestlaesford, near Bradfield, also Basilden.
Bishampton (Pershore). Dom. Bisantune, a. 1100 Bishamtone. ' The hometown or village of Bisa,' see Biscovey. The mod. -hampton may here be a corrup. of -antune.
Bishop Auckland, also North and West Auckland (Co. Durham). 1183 Boldon Bk. North Alcland and Aclet, West Aclet, Alcletshire, v.r. Aukelandschire, 1305 Auke-, Aucland. Auckland is O.E. ac land, 'oak land'; but the form Alclet is puzzling. M'Clure thinks it is O.E. halc clet, ' haugh, river-meadow rock'; but klett-r, ' a rock’, is O.N., not O.E. at all, nor even English, save late in Scotland. The -let rnay be a var. of O.E. hlith, ' a slope.’ But this is doubtful. The Bishop is, of course, the Bishop of Durham. Also cf. Auckley.
Bishop Burton (Beverley). Dom. Santriburtone, ' Bishop's burghtown’ or ' fortified village; ? fr. St. John of Beverley, Bishop of ' Hexham and York. The Santri-in Dom. Must be a corrup. of sanctuary, O.Fr. saintuarie, spelt in Eng. in 6 santuary ; but not given in Oxf. Dict, as Eng. till a. 1340.
Bishop Monkton (Ripon). Dom. Monuchetone. O.E. monuc, munuc, munec, fr. L. monachus, ' a monk.' CJ. Monkton.
Bishop's Canning (Devizes). Sim. Dur. ann. 1010 Canningamerse (cf. Mersey). Canning is a patronymic, fr. Cana or Cano, in Onom.
Bishop's Caundle or Caundle Bishop (Sherborne). Dom. Candel, -dele, -delle. Caundle is O.E. cendel, 1-4 condel, ' a candle.' Cf., too, Florio, 1611, ' Fungo . . . that firy round in a burning candle called the Bishop.'
Bishop's Cleeve (Cheltenham). Bede and c. 780 chart. Clife, Dom. Clive. Cleeve is M.E. cleve, var. of cliff, O.E. clif. Cf. Cleveland. It is called ' Bishop's' to distinguish it fr. Prior's Cleeve.
Bishop's Fonthill (Salisbury). Dom. Fontel; but chart. Funtgeall; O.E. font, fant, (L. fons, -tis), O.Fris. and in Eng. 2-6 funt, 'a font, a fountain'; but in Dicts, gealla has only the meaning of' bile' or' a gall in the skin, ‘so it maybe an error in the charter, perh. for heal, ' hall.' Cf. Fontley, Fareham.
Bishop's Hull (Taunton). Hull is west midl. for ' hill.' See Aspull.
Bishop's Itchington (Leamington). 1043 chart. Ichenton,1111ib. Yceantune, Dom. Icetone. ' Town on the R. Itchen.' It belonged formerly to the Bps. of Lichfield and Coventry.
Bishop's Lydbeard (Taunton). See Lydiard.
Bishop's Nympton (S. Molton). Dom. Nimetone, 'Town of Nima.' Onom. has onlyNuma and Nunna. On the common intrusion of p, cf. Bampton.
Bishopstoke (Southampton) ‘Bishop’ (Of Winchester’s) place’. See Stoke.
Bishopston (Stratford, Warwick, and Glam.), also Bishopstone (5 in P. G.) Str. B. 1016 chart. Biscopesdun i.e.,' bishop's hill-but c.1327 Bisshopeston. See-don and-ton.
Bishop's Stortford. Dom. Storteford. Skeat thinks the R. Stort may mean' pourer.' Cf. Dan. styrte,' to rush, to spring, cognate with start.
Bishop's Waltham (Hants). 1001 O.E. Chron. 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, Mon.). Ru. B. Dom. Bispestone, a. 1300 Bissopestune, Ti. B. 956 chart. Bispestune. ' Village of the bishop ' of Lichfield or Llandaff, O.E. biscop, though possibly fr. a man Bisp), found a. 1200. Cf. Bishport and Bispham.
Bisley (Stroud, Coventry, Woking). St. B. 896 chart, (late MS.) Bislege, Dom. Bisclege, 1156 Bisselega. Co. B. a. 1200 Bisselei. Skeat thought there must have been an O.E. bisse, 'a bush'; cf. Bushwood (Stratford, Wwk.), a. 1300 Byssewode, 1404 Biswode. But this is prob. ' mead of Bisi or ' Biso,' both in ' Onom. Cf. Dom. Wore, Biselege, and Bisham. See -ley.
Bispham (Preston). Dom. and c. 1141 Biscopham i.e., 'bishop's home.' Cf. Bishport.
Bissoe (Perranwell, Cornwall). Doubtful. Dom. Has a' Beveshoe,' which may be this, and may stand for ' how, hollow of Beffa, 2 in Onom. It may be fr. a man Bissa. Cf. Biscovey and Bengeo.
Bitterne (Southampton). Perh. c. 380 Anton. Itin. Clausentum. ' Bitta's or Bitto's house,' O.E. erne, ' a house.' Cf. next, and Whithorn (Sc).
Bitteswell (Lutterworth).? Dom. Betmeswelle. [Cf. c. above 1200 Gervase ' Bittesdene,' Northants.]? ' Bitta's well.' Cf. above.
Bitton (Kingswood, Glos.). Dom. Betone, 1158-59 Pipe Bettune. Prob. ' town, village of Beta,' 2 in Onom., or ' of Betti,' also 2 in Onom. Cf. Betley.
Bix (Henley). Dom. Bixa,1216-1307 Bixe, Bixa,1300 Buxe Jelwyni (fr. the Gelwyn family). Doubtful. Alexander compares Box, Herts, not an exact parallel, and derives fr. O.E. 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 Dom., and seems to mean ' Beca's ' or ' Bica's lea.' As likely as not Bix is bi Ex, ' by the river.' Cf. Beeford, Beal, etc., and Exe.
Blaby (Leicester). Sic 1298. O.N. bla-r bi, ' blue, blae-looking hamlet.' Cf. Bladon, and see-by.
Blackawton (Dartmouth). (Dom. has Blache-berie, -grave,-pole, etc.). Old forms needed. Perh. ' Blaca's Haughton" or ' village on the haugh or river-meadow.'
Blackboys (Uckfield). Not in Dom. Old forms needed. One may conjecture ' Blaca's boss ' or ' knoll.' Boss is found in Eng. a. 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. Cf. Blachestela, Dom. Surrey.
Blackburn. Dom. Blacheburne; also, chart. Blagborn. 'Black brook,' O.E. blaec, blac, c. 1190 blache; and see -bourne. 833 chart. ' Blakeburnham,' Kent.
Blacker (Barnsley). Old forms needed. Not in Dom. As a rule -er is contracted fr. -over, ' bank.' Cf. Ashover, Hasler, Wooler, etc. so this is prob.' black, dark bank.'
Blackheath (London, etc.). Lond. B. c. 1420 Lydgate, Blakeheth. Cf. Blachefelde, Dom. Surrey.
Blackpill (Swansea). Pill here is corrup. of Eng. pool, W. pwl. In S. Pembrokeshire pill is quite common for ' a little bay, a creek.' Cf. next.
Blackpool. Modern. Cf. B.C.S. 834 Bleeccanpol i.e., ' Blacca's pool.'
Blackrod (Chorley). 1199 Blackeroade, 1292 Blakerode. Either ' Blaca's road,' or ' dark, black road,' O.E. rod, North. Eng. and Sc. rodd. Cf. Blackburn.
Blackwall (London). 1377 Blakewale, 1480 'the wall called Black Wall,' along the bank of the Thames.
Bladney (Somerset). 'Not in Dom. Prob.c. 712 chart. Bledenithe. ' Bleda's ' or ' Bloedda's Hythe.' A hithe is ' a landing-rise.' Bladon (Woodstock, both river and village). O.E. chart Blaedene, Bladaen, Dom. Blade, 1216-1307 Bladen(e), 1272 Bladone. Cannot be ' blae hill,' because blae or blue looking is O.N. bid. But it may be contr. for ' Bloedda's hill.' Cf. K.C.D. 721 Blaeddan hlaew. See -don. Baddeley thinks that this, as a river name, must be pre-English.
Blaenau Festiniog. W.= ' highlands of Festiniog.' Cf. next.
Blaenavon (Monmouth). W. blaen afon, 'source, hill source of the river i.e., the R. Avon, Glamorgan.
Blaengarw (Glamorgan). W.= ' rough forepart/ blaen means both ' source ' and ' fore part,' whilst its plur. blaenau means ' highlands.' W. garw or geirw, ' rough,' is the same as G. garbh, so common in Sc. names; whilst in Sc. we also have Blantyre. Blaenllecha (Pontypridd). W.=' projecting rocks or stones.' Cf. Blaengarw.
Blaen-y-ffos (Pembroke). W.=-' source of the ditch' or 'little brook/ W. ffos, l. fossa.
Blagdon (Bristol and Taunton). Dom. Blachedone. O.E. blac dun, 'dark hill'; cf. Blagborn, old form of Blackburn. Blaisdon, Glostr., is 1200 Blecheclun, prob. ' hill of Bloecca,’ which may be the origin of Blagdon too.
Blaina (Monmouth). W. blaenau, 'highlands.' Cf. Blaengarw.
Blakedown (Kidderminster and Kenilworth). 'Black down' or 'hill'; O.E. bocec, blec, blac. Duignan has no authority for saying that black here means ' uncultivated, running wild.'
Blakenall (Walsall) and Blakenhall (Nantwich, Wolvermptn.). Nantwich, B. Dom. Blechenhale, Wo. B. c. 1300 Blakenhale, ' Blecca's or Blaca's nook.' Cf. next and Bletckley and see -hall.
Blakeney (Newnham, Glos., and Norfolk). Not in Dom. Ne. B. c. 1280 Blacheneia, ' Bloeca's ' or ' Blaca's isle.' Bloeca is the mod. surname Blake, which may either be fr. O.E. bloec, blac, ' black, dark man,' or fr. O.N. bleik-r, in Eng. c. 1205 blake, ' pale, wan.' Blakenham, Great (Ipswich). Sic 1298, but Dom. Blacheha. ' Blaca's or Bloeca's home,' Cf. Dom. Surrey, Blachingelei, a patronymic, and Blakesley, Towcester.
Blanchland (Corbridge). Land paid for in 'white' or silver money, Fr. blanc, blanche, ' white.' ' Blanch farm ' or ' blench ferme' is a common legal term.
Blandford. Dom. Blaneford, Bleneford. Difficult to say what the Dom. forms stand for; whilst O.E. blandis' a mixture, a blend,' and our adj. bland is quite mod. Blandsby (Pickering), Dom. Blandebi, must be' dwelling of a man Bland; Onom. has only. Blandmund and Blandwinus. More light needed for Blandford.
Blankney (Lincoln). Dom. Blachene. 'Isle of Blaca,' here nasalized Blanca, gen. -can. See -ey.
Blatghington (Brighton). Prob. Dom. Bechingetone (l omitted in error). The present name represents an O.E. Blceccan tun, ' Blaecca's town.' Cf. Bletchingley.
Blatherwyck (Kingscliffe). 1166-7 Pipe Blarewic, c. 1350 chart. Blatherwyk. ' Dwelling of Blitligoer, Blithhere, or Blithmoer.' All these names are in Onom. For omission of th in 1166-7 cf. ' Brer Babbit for ' Brother R.' See -wick.
Blawith (Ulverston). O.N. bla vith-r, 'dark blue, blae-looking wood.' Cf. Askwith.
Blaxhall (Tunstall). ' Bloecca' s nook ' or ' hall.' Cf. Blatchlngton; and see-hall.
Blaydon-on-Tyne. Prob. ' dark blue, blae-looking dune or hill,’ O.N. bla, North. Eng. and Sc. blae. Cf. next.
Bleadon (Weston-s.-m.).? 975 chart. Bledone and a. 1100 Winchr. Ann. Bleodona. Prob.' Coloured hill, ‘ O.E. Bleodun, fr. bleoh, ' hue, colour.' Cf. Blewbury, Blofield, and Dom. Bucks, Bledone.
Blean or Blee (Canterbury). Dom. Blehem, c. 1386 Chaucer Ble(e). Prob. ' Blih's home,’ one Blih in Onom. For the contraction cf. Beal, but it is rare to find the unstressed final syll. fallling quite away. See-ham.
Bleasdale (Garstang). 1228 Blesedale,1540 Blesedale. Possibly fr. a man, but seemingly ' dale, valley of the blaze or beacon- fire,' O.E. blase, blcese, 3-6 North, blese.
Blea Tarn (Westmld.). 1256 Assize B. Blaterne. 'Blae, bluish mountain lake,' O.N. bla-r; and see Tarn.
Bleddfa (Radnor). Perh. W. 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). Dom. Bladintone, 1221 Bladyntone, ' Town on R. Bladon.' See -ing, as river-ending.
Bledlow (Bucks). K.C.D. 721 Blaeddan hlauw; Dom. Bledelai,’? 1297 Scot. Chancery Roll ' Johannes de Bledelawe.' ' Bloedda's or ' Bleddas hill.' Bledisloe, Awre, Dom. Bliteslau, is prob. fr. a man Blith. See -low.
Blencow (Penrith).? W. blaen cu, ' dear source or promontory '; cf. Blaengarw and Glasgow (Sc), also 1210 Blenecarn, Cumbld.,' headland with the cairn.'
Blennerhassett (Aspatria). 1189Pipe 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. Cf. Dorset, etc. But this leaves the -hass ill-accounted for.
Bletchingley (Red Hill), Bletchington (Oxford). Dom. Blecestone, Blicestone, 1139 Bleche-, Blachedon, 1216-1307 Blecchesdon (see-don) and Bletchley. ' Meadow' and' village of Blecca,’; or his descendants. Cf. Blatchington; and see -ing and -ley.
Bletsoe (Bedford). Dom.Bleches-, Blachesou, a.1199 Blacheho. ' Blecca' mound.' Cf. Thingoe; and see-how.
Blewbury (Didcot) and Blewbury Down. 944 chart. Bleobyrig. Dom. Blitberie, a. 1450 Bleobery. One would expect this to be fr. Some man; but there is no name in Bleo-in Onom. So the first part may be as in Bleadon, ' bright borough,' lit., as Skeat puts it, ' show-borough.' Cf. Fairfield, etc.
Blickling (Norfolk), Dom.Bilkelinga,1450 Blyclyng. A patronymic ; but it is not easy to give the root. Onom. gives no help.
Blidworth (Mansfield). Dom. Blideworde, Vlidevorde. ' Bloedda's farm.' Cf. Bledington; and see-worth.
Blindley Heath (Red Hill). Old forms needed. Not in Dom. ? 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 c. 1350.
Blisland (Bodmin) and Blisworth (Northants). Dom. Blidesworde, 1158-9 Pipe Blieswurda. ' Land' and' farm of Blida’ (or Blih). See -worth.Pike o ‘Blisco, Westmld.’ Will be ‘peak of Blida’s or Blih’s wood.; -sco or -scouhj for Dhaw, cf Burscough.
Blockley, (Moreton-Henmarsh) 855 chart. Bloccanleah, Dom. Blockelei. ' Blocca's lea.' Cf. Bloxham.
Blofield (Norwich). Dom. Blafelda, 1157 Blafeld, 1452 Blofield. 'Leaden-coloured, bluish field.' M.E. c. 1250 bio, O.N. bla, ' livid,' cognate with blue and blue. Cf. Bleadon and Blowick.
Bloomsbury (London and Birmingham). Londen B. c. 1537 Lomesbury, Lomsbury. The history of this name is very obscure, and more evidence is needed. Possibly the Lome- represents Leofman, a fairly common O.E.name. See-bury.
Blore Heath (Staffs). Dom. and later Blora. Blore is an onomatopoeic word meaning ‘a violent gust or blast’, not found in Eng. a. 1440.
Blow Gill (Helmsley). 1200 Blawathgile. O.N. bla wath,' leaden- coloured, bluish ford,' in the ravine. See -gill. Cf. Langwathby.
Blowick (Southport). 'Leaden-coloured, bluish dwelling.' See Blofield and -wick, which must be Eng. here and not N., as Blowick is inland and can have no' bay.'
Bloxham (Banbury). Dom. Warwk., Lochesham (error), 1155 Pipe Blochesham, 1231 Blokesham. ' Home of Blocca.' Cf. Blockley.
Bloxwich (Walsall) and Bloxworth (Bere Regis). Dom,. Blocheswic, a. 1300 Blockeswich, Blokeswyke. ' Blocca',’ dwelling and' farm.' See-wich and-worth.
Blundell Sands (Liverpool). Perh. fr. Randulph de Blundevill, Earl of Chester in1180. Blundell has been a common Lancashire name from at least the 17th cny. Cf. next and -hall, which the -ell may represent.
Blundeston (Lowestoft). Not in Dom. ' Blunda's town or village.' The name is now Blunt, Fr. blond. Nor. Fr. blund, ' fair, flaxen.' Cf. next, and Dom. Essex, Blundeshala.
Bluntisham (Hunts). Dom. Bluntesham. 'Home of Blunti' or ' Blunt,' which last is still a common surname. Cf. Dom. Wilts, Blontesdone, K.C.D. 666 Bluntesige, and Bluntington, Wore. Blunham, Sandy, prob. represents the same name.
Blyborough (Kirton Lindsay). Dom. Bliburg. Prob., as in Blisworth, ' burgh, fort of Blida,' but it may be ' of Blih.' Cf.1157 Pipe Norfk. Bheburc. See-borough.
Blymhill (Shifnal). Dom. Brumhelle (r for l, one liquid confused in sound with the other), a. 1200 and later Blumonhull. Prob. ' hill of the blooms,' or molten masses of metal, O.E. 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) (Northumbld., Warwk., Notts, and Rotherham), Blythe Bridge (Stoke-on-T.). Roth B. c. 1097 Flor. W. Blida; Notts, B. Dom. Blide,1146 Blida, c.1180 Blya, 1298 Blythe. The Eng. blithe never refers to places; so, this may be connected with W. blythair, ' a belching,' blythach, ' a bloated person,' and blwth, ' a puff, a blast.' There are two rivers in Northbld., and one each in Staffs, Notts, and Suffk., all called Blyth(e), and nearly all Eng. rivers are Kelt, in origin, though what that was is now lost. On the Staff. Blythe are Blithbury, a. 1200 Blith(e)burie, and Blithfield, Dom. Blidevelt. In Northbld we find 1208 Snoc de Bliemus i.e., 'snout, projecting headland of Blythmouth' —1423 Blythe-snuke, a. 1800 Blyth-snook, fr. O.N. snok-r, ' a mark stretched out,' hnuk-r, ' a little mountain, a rock'; cf. 'The Snewke or Conny-warren ' in Blaeu's map of Lindisfarne.
Boarstall (Bucks). Popular etymology. See Borstal.
Bobber's Mill (Nottingham). Bobber in mid. dial, means 'a chum.'
Bobbington (Stourbridge). Dom. Bubintone, a. 1200 Bobintune; cf. 798 chart. ' Bobing-saeta,' Kent. ' Town, village of Bobba’.
(or his descendants), mentioned in a Worcester chart, of 759.
Bockhampton" (Lambourn and Dorchester). Both a. 1300 Bochamton. 'Beech-built Hampton,' or 'home-farm'; O.E. boc, O.N. bok, 'a beech.' Cf. Buckland and Great Bookham; also Dom. Norfk., Bocthorp.
Booking (Braintree). Dom. Bochinges. Patronymic, 'place of the sons of Bocca ‘; cf. 806 Bokenhale,? near Croyland. Onom. gives only Bacca and Bacco. See-ing.
Bockleton (Tenbury and Salop). Te. B. Dom. Boclintun, 1275 Boclinton, a. 1400 Bocklington, Bokelinton. Sa. B. 1321 Bochtone (an error), 1534 Bucculton. ' Town of Boccel.' Onom. gives only one Beoccel.
Bodedern (Anglesea). W. bod edyrn, 'residence of sovereignty,' or ' royal house’, but T. Morgan says; ‘abode of Edern’, son of Nudd, warrior and poet.
Bodelwyddan (Flintsh.). W. bod-el-gwyddan, 'residence of the wood-spirit ' or ' satyr,’
Bodenham (Leominster and Salisbury). Sic 1202. ' Boda's home.' O.E. boda, 2 bode, is ' a herald, a messenger,' one who ' bodes ' or forebodes. Dom. Wilts, has Bodeberie, and Dom. Nfk., Bodenham. Cf. Boddington on Chelt, Dom. Botintone.
Bodfari (Denbigh). Perh. c. 380 Ant. Itin. Varis. But now W. bod Fari,' hous of Mary, 'the m being aspirated.
Bodfford (Anglesea). W. bod ffordd, 'dwelling by the road or passage.’
Bodham (Holt, Nfk.). Dom. has both Bodha and Bodenham. ' Home of Boda' or' Boddus.' See-ham.
Bodicott (Banbury). Dom. Bodicote, 1216-1307 Bodicot. ' Boda's cottage.' Cf. above.
Bodmin. Dom. Bodmini, Exon. Dom. Bodmine; c. 1180 Ben; Peterb. Bothmenia; c. 1200 Gervase Bomine; 1216 Bodminium. 1294 Bodmin. Corn, bod or bo is ' a house,' the second half is more uncertain; it maybe' house of stones,' Corn. min, myin (cf. next), or ' on the edge,' min, or ' on the hill,' mene.
Bodvean (Pwllheli). W. bod faen, 'house of stone.' Cf. cist faen, ' a stone coffin.' As houses in Wales and Cornwall usually are of stone, the reference will prob. be to some ' Druidical erection.’
Bognor. Not in Dom., but 680 chart. Bucgan ora i.e., ' Bucga's edge ' or ' brink ' or ' shore ‘; three Bucgas in Onom. In 1166-7 Pipe it is Begenoura. See-or.
Boldon (Jarrow). 1183 Boldona. Prob. O.E. botl-dun, ' hill, dune with the dwelling on it.' Cf. Bolton and Bole.
Bole (Gainsborough). Sic 1316, but Dom. Bolun. (Dom. Lines has Bolebi, ' dwelling of Bola.') This may be O.N. bol, ' house, dwelling ' (with -un an old loc.), if not bol-r, ' bole, trunk of a tree.' Cf. Bolford, Kendal, Dom. Bodelforde, 'ford at the house '; see Bolton. Also cf. next, and Dom. Salop and1157 Pipe, Northbld. Bolebec. 1160-1 Pipe, Sussex, Bulebech, may not be the same.
Bole Hill (Wirksworth) Oxf. Dict, bole sb, ' a place where miners smelted their lead.' Not found a. 1670, and origin unknown. Bolingley (Truro). Prob. ' isle of the Bolings,' or ' descendants of Bola,' a name in Onom. We have ' Bullingbrooke ' already in the time of Wm. the Conqueror, 1166-7 Pipe, Billingeburc and Bull-, 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 W. bol, boly, ' the belly,' and so ' swollen river.’ See -ing as river-ending.
Bolney (Hayward's Heath) and Bolnhurst (St. Neot's). Not in Dom. ' Isle ' and ' wood of Bola,' -an. Of. Dom. Bucks, Bolebech (= bach, ' brook '), Devon, Bolewis, Yorks, Bolesford; also, Bollesdon (Newent), old Bolesdone, Bullesdone, whilst Dom. Yorks, Bolebi is now Boulby. See-ey and-hurst.
Bolsover (Chesterfield). Dom. Belesovre, 1166-67 Pipe Bolleshoura, 1173-74 ib. Castella de Pech et de Bolesoura, c. 1180 Bened. Peterb. Boleshoveres. ' Bola's bank or brink'; O.E. ofer, obr; M.E. overe, ' border, bank of a river.' Cf. Ashover, and see Bolney, etc.
Bolsterstone (Sheffield). Not in Dom. Not likely to be fr. Eng. and O.E. bolster, but prob. a tautology, fr. O.N. bol-stadr, ' dwelling-place ' or ' farm '; so common in Sc. names as -bister, -buster, and -bster; Scrabster, Ulbster, etc. Bolster will have been taken for a proper name, and -ton added; for the final e cf. Johnston and Johnstone, both meaning ' John's town.'
Boltby (Thirsk). Dom. Boltebi, 1209 Bolteby. 'Dwelling of Bolt,' a name not in Onom. Hardly fr. bolt sb; but perh. a tautology, fr. O.E. bold, 'house, dwelling,' and -by.
Bolton (nine in P.G.). Dom. Boletone,1208 Bollton (on Swale), Other Bolton's in Dom. Yorks and Lanes are Bodeltone. We get an interesting set of forms for the Sc. Bolton (Haddingtonsh.), c. 1200 Botheltune, Boteltune, Boweltun, 1250 Boulton, 1297 Boltone. O.E.botl-tun,' dwelling-enclosure, collection of houses, village'; influenced by O.N. bol, 'a house, a dwelling-place.' It is according to its rule for Dom. to spell Both- or Bot- as Bod-. Cf. Bootle.
Bomer(e) Heath (Shrewsbury). Earlier Bolemere. 'Mere or lake,' O.E. mere, ' of the bull,' not in O.E., but O.N. bole, boli; in Eng. c. 1200 bule, 3-5 bole. Cf. Dom. (Yorks) Bolemere, 1166-67 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'; O.E. bonda; O.N. bonde; d readily disappears. But Dom. (Yorks) Bonnebi (twice) is now Gunby. See -by.
Boncath (Pembroke). W. boncath means 'a buzzard'; but bon cath is ' tree stump of the cat.'
Bonchurch (Ventnor). Dom. Bonecerce. Bone- must be O.N. bon, ' a prayer, a boon ‘; in Eng. 2-7 bone, 3-4 bon. Cf. Bunwell. There is no man named Bona or Bonna. In Onom. The O.E.for a prayer is ben, so that, curiously, this must be a Norse name, the indication of a forgotten early N. settlement here. This is confirmed by Dom.'s ending -cerce, the hard c's having quite a N. look. Dom. nearly always has-cherche, chirche,' Alvievecherche,' ' Bascherche,' etc. Dom.'s form is also our earliest Eng. example of boon; the earlier in Oxf. Dict. Is in c. 1175 bone.
Bonington (Notts and Kent). Sic 1297-98, but Dom. Bonintone (Kent), Bonnitone (Notts),1296 Bonigtone (? where). Doubtful. It should mean ' Bona's town," but there is no such name in Onom. Cf. Bonnington (Sc).
Bonsall (Derby). Perh. Dom. Bunteshale. Prob.'nook, corner of Bunda or Bonda,' both in Onom. But cf. Dom. (Bucks) Bonestov? 'place of Bone,' still a surname. Cf. Bunny and see -hall.
Bontddu (Dolgelly). W. 'pont du, ' black bridge.'
Bontnewydd (Caernarvon). W. 'new bridge '; W. pont.
Bonvilston (Cardiff). Bonville, Fr. for 'good town,' as well as Melville, ' bad town,' occurs as a surname in Britain. In W. 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 Dom. Prob.' Brook with the cow-stall beside it '; O.N. bass; M.E. boose, ' a cow-stall.' See -beck.
Boot (Ravenglass) O.N. bud; Dan. and Sw. bod,' a hut,a dwelling. Cf. G. both or bot ‘a house.’
Boothby (Grantham). 1298 Bothebi. Prob. 'dwelling of Botha or Bota.' Booth is still a common surname. Cf. Bootham (York). See-by.
Boothroyd Lane (Dewsbury). Called after a man Boothroyd, where -royd is prob. fr. rod sb, 6 roid, ' a path, a way.'
Bootle (Liverpool, Cumbld.). Liverpool B. a. 1540 Bothul. Dom. for N. Lancs, has Bodele and Fordbodele (now washed away). O.E. botl,' a dwelling, a house.'Cf. Bolton and Newbattle (Sc).
Bobden (Sittingbourne), Not in Dom. 'Boar's den'; O.E. 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.' Cf., too, B.C.S. 739 Bordeles tun. See-ley.
Boreham (four in P.O.). Dom. (Surrey) Borham. 'Boar's home.' See Borden. Boar may here be a proper name. Cf. Borley Green (Sudbury). But Borley House (Upton-on- Severn) is Dom. 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; prob. Fleet or 'river of the boar'; O.E. bar, 3 ber, 4-7 bore. Dr. Diekin postulates an O.E. bord, ' border,' which does not exist; and bore, ' tidal wave,' is not found till 1601.
Boroughbridge (York). 1380 Ponteburg. 'Fort-bridge' or ' fortified bridge,' fr. O.E. burh, ' a fort, castle, or burgh.' Cf. Pontefract, 'or broken bridge,' and Borough Green (Cambs).
Borrodail (Cumberland). N. borg-dal-r, ' dale, valley with a fort in it.' Cf. next and Borrowstonness or Bo'ness (Sc).
Borrowash (Derby). Not in Dom. ' Burgh ash-tree.’ Cf. above and next.
Borrowby (several in Yorks). All in Dom. Berg(h)ebi. ' Fortified dwelling-place,’ fr. O.N. borg or O.E. borh, borg, burh, ' fort, burgh.' Cf. Barrowby, Borwick, and Borrodail; and see -by.
Borstal or Bostal (Rochester). Dom. Borestele, Borchetelle; a. 1200 Text. Roff. Borestella, Borgestealla. O.E. beorh-steall, ' seat, place, stall on the hillside.' Or Bor- may be O.E. borh, borg, burh, 'fort, burgh.' Cf. Pipe 1157 Burchestala, prob. in Beds.
Borth (Cardigan). W. bordd, burdd,' a board or table.'
Borwick (Carnforth). Dom. Borch and Bereuuic (second e an error) O.E. borh-wic,'fort-dwelling, fortified house.' Cf. Borrowby. Bosahan (Falmouth). Pron. Bow-sane. Corn. Bos, bos, bo,' house, dwelling,' G. both, common in Corn, names, as in Boscawen, ' house beside the elder tree,' scawen, Boslowick, Bosistow, etc. The latter half is often now uncertain, but Bosahan may be fr, sawan, ' a hole in a cliff beside the sea.' None of these in Dom.
Bosbury (Ledbury). Flor. Wore, and Sim. Dur. re ann. 1056. Bosanbyrig,' Burgh, castle of Bosa.'
Boscastle (Cornwall). Prob. ' Bosa's or Boso's castle'; names in Onom. But Corn. 605 also means ' moor.' Cf. Bosahan.
Boscombe (Bournemouth and Salisbury). Sal. B. Dom. Boscumbe. ' Bosa's valley.' See above and -combe.
Bosham (Chichester). Bede Bosanham, 1048O. E.Chron. Bosenham,1167-68 Pipe Boseham. ' Bosa's home.' Cf. Bosbuby.
Bosherston (Pembroke). Modern. Bosher is an English surname, prob. fr. Fr. boucher, 'a butcher.'
Bosley (Macclesfield). Dom. Boselega. 'Bosa's lea or meadow.' Cf. Bosham.
Boston. Not in Dom. 1090 chart. Ecclesia sancti Botulphi, a. 1200 Hoveden Sti Botulphi, c. 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 O.E. Chron. ann. 654 says, the hermit Botwulf (L. Botulphus) built the minster at Icanho, the earlier name of Boston. A similar contraction is perh. seen in Bossall (Yorks), whose church is also dedicated to St Botolph. But here Dom.'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 Onom. is one Bascic. Cf. Dom. (Hunts) Botulvesbrige.
Bothamsall (Newark). Dom. Bodmescel(d), 1180 Bodemeskil, 1278 Bodmeshill, 1302 Bothemeshull, 1428 Bothomsell. Now '' Bothelm's nook' or 'hall/ Cf. Bonsall, etc., and see -hall. But the orig. ending was either late O. E. cell,' a small monastery or nunnery.’ Med. L. cella ; or, more prob., O.N. kelda, ' a spring, a well.'
Botley (Hants and Henley-in-Arden). Han. B. Dom. Botelei. Hen. B. Dugdale Botle. Prob. ' Botta's ' or ' Botto's lea or meadow.' Possibly O.E. botl-leah, 'meadow with the hut or house on it.' Cf. Botloe (Dymock), Dom. Botelav (see -low); also Dom. (Cambs) Botestoch (O.E. stoc, ' a place ').
Bottisham (Cambridge). Dom. Bodichesham, 1210 Bodekesham, 1372 Bodkesham, 1400 Botkesham, 1428 Bottesham. ' Home of Bodeca.' See-ham.
Bottlesford (Pewsey, Wilts). Not in Dom. [c. 1190 chart. ' Botlesford,' Notts]. ? 'Ford of Botwulf or ' Botweald.' Only, in 796 chart. (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. Cf. Flushing opposite Falmouth. Botus may be=W. bettws, corrup. of Eng. head-house, 'house of prayer'; but this is uncertain, c.1175Lambeth Horn, has bode, beode, for bede, ' prayer, petition.' Cf. Bacchus (Glostrsh.), 1304 Bakkehuse,' the backhouse.'
Boughton (nine in P.O.). Dom. (Notts,Nfk.,Northants) Buchetone, Buchetuna. 1179-80 Pipe (Yorks) Bouton. Some conceivably might be ' town at the bend.’ M.E. bought, same root as bight, 'a bay.' But B., Notts. 1225 Buketon, is fr. a man Bucca. Boughton (Wore.) is 1038 chart. Bocctun, 1275 Boctone, which is certainly ' town of the beech-trees, O.E. boc'. The phonetics here are as in Broughton.
Boughto(u)n-under-Blee (Canterbury). Sic Chaucer, c. 1386. See above and Blee.
Bourne (Cambs and Lincoln). Cambs B. Dom. Brune,1171Brunne, 1210 Bume. B. Lincoln. c. 1200 Gervase Brunne. O.N. brunn-r, ' a brook O.E. burn(a), ' a spring, a well, a stream,' the Sc. ' burn.
Bournemouth. Perh. c. 1150 Gaimar, re ann. 1066 Brunemue. See above.
Bourton (seven in P.G.). Glos. B. 949 chart. Burgtune, Dom. Bortune. Rugby B. Dom. Bortone. Bath B. c. 1160 Burton; also B.C.S. i. 506 Burgton (Berks). =Burton, 'fortified town.' See-bury and-ton.
Boverton (Cowbridge) Prob. O.E. bi-ofer-tun, ' town, village, by the brink or edge.' Cf. ' Bovreford ' (Hants) in Dom.; also, Beeford, Bolsover, etc.
Bovey Tracey (S. Devon). Pron. Buvvey. Dom. Bovi. Prob. Bofa's isle ‘, see next, and -ey. On Tracey cf. Wollacombe Tracy.
Bovington (Hemel Hampstead). 1298 Bovyngton. 'Bofa's town,' or else ' Botwine's town.' This last is a common name in Onom. Cf. Dom. Bouinton,1205 Buvintone (inYorks), now Boynton; and Dom. (Wilts) Boientone. Boving may be a patronymic. See -ing.
Bow (London). Early often called ' De Arcubus,' fr. a bridge arched or ' bowed,' built here in the time of Queen Maud, the first in England.
Bowes Castle (Yorkshire.). c.1188 Gir. Camb. Beoves, Prob.fr. a man Bofa or Beofa; several Bofas in Onom. The s will be the gen.
Bowness (Cumberland), c. 1200 Bowenes. 'Ness or naze (O.N. and O.E. naes, ' cape, nose ') at the bow or bend ‘; O.E. boga. Bownhill (Stroud). Not in Dom. 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 Onom. Cf. Bolney; and see-thorpe.
Boxford (Newbury and Colchester). Newbury B. B.C.8. i. 506 Boxora, Dom. Bovsore, Bochesorne. The present form seems quite mod. Box-ora is O.E. for ' edge, riverbank lined with box- trees.' Cf. Windsor, etc. Box Hill (Surrey) was early famed for its box-trees. Closeby is Box Hurst or' boxwood.'
Boxley (Maidstone).? Dom. Bogelei,1155 Pipe Boxel',c.1188 Gir, Camb. Boxletha, 1289 Boxleya. Prob. O.E. box-hlid,' box-tree meadow.' There are no names in Onom. like Boc or Bocca; but next. The -letha might be for O.E. hm, G. 1200 hlid, ' a slope.'
Boxworth (Cambridge). Dom. Bochesuuorde, 1228 Bukeswrth, 1256 Bokesworth. ' Farm of the he-goats.' Icel. bokk-r, Sw. bock; also O.E. buc, ' a buck, a he-deer,' fr. which comes form 1228. Cf. Boxwell (Charfield),Dom. Boxewelle,1316 Bockeswelle. Boynton (Bridlington). See Bovington.
Brabourne (Kent). Dom. Bradeburne. O.E. bradburna,' broad stream.' See-bourne.
Boyton (Launceston) Dom. Boyetone, Boietone. ‘Boia’s town or village.' Several of this name in Onom. Cf. Boythorp (Yorks), Dom. Buitorp.
Braceborough (Stamford). Dom. Braseborg, and Bracebridge (Lincoln), Dom. Brachebrige, 1298 Bracebrigge. Prob. ' 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.’ Cf. next, and Bracewell (W. E-Riding), Dom. Braisuelle.
Brackley (Northampton), c. 1188 Gir. Cambr. Brakelega, Bracheleia. ' Bracca's lea or meadow.’ Cf. Brackenthwaite (Cockermouth), 1202 Brakinthweit ; see -ley and -thwaite.
Bracknell (Winkfield). 942 chart. Braccan heal. There can be little doubt this means' nook of Bracca.' There is no word like the mod. bracken in O.E.,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), Dom. Brachen, which must be ' Bracca's place.' Cf. Beedon, Coven, etc.
Bradbury (Durham), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Biydbyrig. Broad, O.E. brad, never takes the form bryd or brid, so this is prob. 'Burgh or castle of the bride'; O.E. 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). B.C.S.877 Bradanham. [Cf.c. 672 Grant' Bradanfeld' (Berks), and 1298' Thomas de Bradenston.'] ' Brada's home.' The name is common in Onom. But Skeat holds that Bradanfeld, now Bradfield, is a weak dative fr. O. E. brad,' broad.'
Bradeston (Norfolk). (Dom. has only Bradeha.) 1298 Bradenston, 1422 Breydeston, 1450 Brayston, 1451 Braydeston. ' Brada's town.' Cf. Bradenham. Form 1298 will then show a double gen.
Bradford, Dom. Bradeford; and Bradford-on-Avon (Wilts). O.E. Chron. 652 AEt Bradanforda be Afne. ' Broad ford.' Cf. Bretford, and Dom. (Yorks) Bradfortun, Bratfortone, now Brafferton.
Brading (I. of Wight). Dom. Berarding. This must be 'place of the descendants of Beorhtweard,' later Beorhward, Berard. See -ing.
Bradley (Keighley, and 7). Dom. (Yorks) several, Bradeleia; Bilston B. Dom. Bradeley; Stafford B. Dom. Bradeleia. 778 chart. Bradan leaze (? which), ' Broad lea or meadow,' or possibly ' Brada's meadow.' Cf. Bradeston.
Bradon (a district W. of Swindon). Sic O.E. Chron. 904. O.E. brad dun, ' broad hill.' Cf., too, ' Bradene,' Dom. Somerset i.e., ' broad dean ' or ' valley.'
Bradshaw (Bolton and Halifax). Not in Dom. Bol. B. 1313 Bradeshagh. O.E. bradscaga,' broad wood.’
Bradwell (5 in P.G.). Dom. Bradeuuelle (Bucks)., Braintree B. a. 1300 Bradwall i.e., ' broad well or spring.’ Cf. 1160 Pipe Bradew'h, in the same region. But Dom. Bradewell (Yorks), is Braithwell (Doncaster)
Bradyair (Cumberland), c. 1141 Bradjere. O.E. brad zeard, ' broad yard.'
Brafferton. See Bradford.
Brafield (Northampton). Dom. Bragefelde. a. 1130 Braufield? ' Field on the brae or brow or hill slope.’ O.N. bra, O.E. braew, breaw; lit. 'the eyelid.' But Dom. suggests ' field of' an unrecorded' Braga.' Onom. has only Broga.
Brailes (Banbury). Sic in Dom.and1248. A unique and puzzling name. Prob. some man ' Brail's ' (village), as in Brailsford (Derby). The name is otherwise unknown; it might be contr. fr. Breguweald, 2 in Onom. We have similar names, only with O.E. gen., in Beadon, Coven, etc.
Braintree (Essex). Dom. Branchtreu; later Branktry, Brantry. This must be' tree of Branc,' the same name as in Branksome (Bournemouth), Branxton (Coldstream), and Branxholm (Hawick); a. 1400 Brancheshelm. The ch in Dom. and in this last are due to the habitual softening of Norman scribes. Cf. Oswestry.
Braithwaite (Keswick). 1183 Boldon Bk. Braitewat, Braithewath, perh. in Durham. ' Brae-place.' See Brafield and -thwaite. But Braithwell (Doncaster) is Dom. Bradewell. See Bradwell.
Bramber (Shoreham).? Dom. Branbertei, which suggests an unrecorded ' Brandbeorht's isle.' See -ey. Old Brymmburg; also cf. Grant of 672 Brember wudu (Salisbury). The first part is doubtful. It may be O.E. brom, ' the broom,' cf. next, or breme, 3-6 brem, ' famous.' The -ber seems to be for burh, cf. Bamber, and see -bury. Cf. Kirk Bramwith (Doncaster), 1201 Bramwith, where the ending is O.N. vith-r, ' a wood.'
Bramcote (Nottingham and Nuneaton). Not. B. Dom. Broncote, Brunecote, c. 1200 Brancote. Nun. B. Dom. Brancote, a. 1300 Brom(p)cote, a. 1400 Bramkote. Duignan says, ' cot in the broom ' or ' gorse,' O.E. brom. Mutschmann thinks of brand cote, ' cot on the place cleared by burning.' Neither is certain. Cf. the other names in Bram-; also, Castle Bromwich.
Bramham (Tadcaster); sic 1202, and Bramham (S. Yorks). Dom. Bramha, Brameha. See above and next. The Bram- here is doubtful. Bramshall (Uttoxeter) is Dom. Branselle, a. 1200 Brumeshel, a. 1300 Bromsholf, Bromsulf. Both look certainly as if fr. a man Bram, Brom, or Brum. The Onom. has Brand, Bron, Brum, and Brun, the last common. For the present ending see -hall; but -sholf, and -sulf point to O.E. scylfe, 'a shelf, a shelving piece of land.'
Brampton (7 in P.(?). Nfk. and Suffk. B. Dom. Brantuna. Hants B. 1121 O.E. Chron. Bramtun, 1149 Brantona; 1238 Close E. Brampton? which. Prob. ' town of Brand or Brant.' Brand is common in Onom. Cf. B.C.S. 712 Brantes wyrth. But Branton Green (Aldborough) is 1202 Brankstona. Cf. Bampton for common intrusion of p.
Brancaster (N.W. Norfolk), a.450 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 Glam., is c. 1130 Lib. Land. Nant Baraen.
Brandeston (Wickham Market). Dom. Brantestuna. 'Town of Brand' (common in Onom.), or ' Branti.' Cf. Bransburton, (Yorks), Dom. Brantisburtune, and Branston.
Brandon (Hereford and Durham, Coventry, Salop, and on Little Ouse). May be same name as Rav. Geogr. Branogenium. Cov. B. Dom. Brandune, 1227 Brandon, 1273 Braundon. Another, a. 1200 Brandune. ' Hill of Brand,' a common O.E. name. See -don. Brancot (Stafford), is often Bromcote in the 14th cny i.e., ' cot among the broom.' See Brampton and Brancaster.
Branscombe (Axminster). Chart. Brancescumb. Dom. Branchescome. ' Branca's valley.' Cf. Brantin Green (Aldborough), 1202 Brankstona, and next. See-combe.
Branston (Burton, Grantham, Lincoln). Bur. B. 771 chart. Brantistun, 978 Brantestun, Dom. and later Brantestone. 'Town, village of Brant or Brand'; the names are the same. Cf. Brandeston. Bran(d)sby (N. Riding), has been identified with 910 O.E. Chron. Bremesbyrig. This cannot be. See rather Bromsberrow. This is Dom. Branzbi, ' dwelling of Brant.' See -by.
Brant Fell and Brant How (Bowness). O.E. brant, bront,' high, steep, sheer'; while How is O.N. haug-r, 'mound, cairn.' Cf. Great How, and Maeshow (Sc). See-fell.
Brantingham (Brough, Yorks). Dom. Brentingeha', Brentingham, Brendingham. c. 1180 Ben. Peterb. Brentingeham. ' Home of the Brentings,' or descendants of Brent. Branting, Brenting, and Brantare all in Onom. Cf.R. Brent.
Branton (Alnwick). Cf.1157 Pipe Brantona (Devon). ' Town of Brant.' See above.
Braunston (Oakham and Rugby). Not in Dom. 1298 Braunteston. Cf.B.C.S.712 Branteswyrth. ' Town of Brant or Brand.' Cf. above and Branston.
Brawby (Malton). Dom. Bragebi. 'Dwelling of?' See -by.
Brawdy (Pembroke), c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Breudi. Prob. W. brwyd, ' full of holes.' T. Morgan conjectures O.W. brawd dy, ' judgment house ' or ' court.'
Bray (Maidenhead). Dom. Brai; later Braie, Broy, Bray. Perh. =Sc. brae. See Brafield. Skeat agrees with this, and connect swith O.E. brdw; Mercian breg,' an eyebrow.'
Brayton (Carlisle and Selby). Sel. B. Dom. Bretone, Brettan. Perh. ' Brae-town.' See Bray.
Breage with Germoe (Helston). Fr. St. Breaca and her companion who landed forcibly, as missionaries from Ireland, at the mouth of the Hayle B., c. 500.
Brean Down (Weston-s.-M.). Tautology. W. bre, ' a hill, a brae '; pl. breon. The R. Breamish, Northbld., prob. contains this root, or else bryn, a' slope ' ; n so easily changes into m, and will mean ' slope, brae, with the stream ' or ' water.' Cf. G. uisge, pron. ushge, ' water.' There is also The Bream, For. of Dean, old Le Breme. Eng. Dial. Dict, gives for bream ' an elevated place exposed to wind,' which quite suits breon.
Brecknock or Brecon. 916 O.E. Chron. Brecenanmere, 1094 Brut y Ty. Brecheniauc, a. 1100 Brechennium, c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Brecheniauc, Brekemiiauc, c. 1540 Leland Brekenock, Brecknock. These last are just Eng. spellings of the orig. W. name as seen in 1094. The name comes fr. Brychan, son of Anlac i.e., ' the speckled ' or ' tartan-clad.' He was an Ir. prince who conquered all this region c. 430. The town is called both Brecknock and Brecon in 1606; but the town's W. name now is Aberhonddu, being at the confluence of Honddu and Usk. One of K. Arthur's battles in c. 800 Nennius was Cat Bregion, near the mountain Breguoin. Some hold that these are the same names as the above. The-ock prob. represents a W. dimin.
Bredon (Tewkesbury) and Bredon Forest (Wilts). Bede Briudun, 781 Breodune, Dom. Breodun, c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Briodun. Tautology, W. bre, and O.E. dun, ' hill.' But B. Forest is 905 O.E. Chron. Bradon, Braeden; which may mean ' hill with the brow or brae or cliff.' See Brafield.
Bredwardine (Hereford). 'Farm of Brid,' 2 in Onom. See -wardine.
Breedon-on-the-Hill (Ashby-de-la-Z.).a. 1100 Bredun. Atriple tautology, for W. bre, O.E. dun, and Eng. hill all mean the same.
Bremhill (Calne). 940 chart. Brembelwerna must have been quite near here, fr. O. E .bremel, brembel,' th ebramble or blackberry,' and Bremhill might be corrup. of this. Only it is prob. Dom. Breme, for which see Bramber.
Brent R. (Middlesex) and Brentford. 705 Lett. Bp. Waldhere, Breguntford; 918 O.E. Chron. Braegent forda ; 1016 ib. Brent forda. This first half is W. bre, a ' hill,' a ' brae '; the second may be gwyn, gwen, 'clear, bright'; but perh. more prob. fr, W. 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). c. 708 Grant K. Ine Mons qui dicitur Brente. O.E. brant, bront, 'high, steep, sheer"; and cnol, ' knoll, knowe, hill.' Not the same as next. But Brand or Brent Ditch (Cambs), is the same word. Rhys inclines to connect the Brents with O.W. breni,' a prow.'
Brentwood (Chelmsford). Not in Dom. Prob. 'burnt wood,' fr. burn vb, 4-6 brenne. Cf. Brandwood (Rossendale), c. 1200 Brendewod, and Burntwood.
Brepper (Cornwall). See Barripper.
Brereton (Rugeley and Sandbach). a. 1300 Breredon. 'Brier, bramble hill,' O.E. brer, braer, 3-9 brere. See -don.
Bretford (Coventry). Sic 1180, and Bretforton (Honeybourne). 709 chart. Bretferton, 714 Brotfortun, 860 Bradferdtun, Dom. 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. Cf. Brettell, sic 1614, Kingswinford. It may simply mean' Briton.' Cf. Brafferton and Britford. Brettenham (Suffolk). Dom. Bretenhame, and Bretton (Wakefield). Wa. B. Dom. Brettone. 'Home' and 'town of the Briton,' O.E. Bret. Cf. Britain.
Brewood (Stafford). Dom. Brevde, a. 1200 Breode, Brewude, a. 1300 Brewode. Hybrid; W. bre, 'a hill,' and -wood. The Sc. brae is fr. O.N. bra ' (eye) brow.'
Bridgenorth, 912 O.E. Chron. Bricge, c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Bruge; a. 1145 Orderic Brugia, all meaning 'bridge.' North prob. added c. 1090 by Robert of Bellesne, to distinguish this place from his father's castle at Quatbridge, 3 miles to S. We have c. 1350 chart. Brugenorth.
Bridgerule (Bude) ot in Dom. 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. Cf. Abbotrule, (Sc.)
Bridlington. Dom. Bretlinton (4 times); Sim. Dur. contin. ann. 1143 Brellintun; 1200 Bridlinton. Prob. named fr. a man, but his name is doubtful. Prob. O.E. Bretelan tun, ' town of Bretel,' one such in Onom. See-ton.
Bridport. 1156 Bridep't. ' Harbour on the R. Brit,' which is prob. W. brith, ' spotted, parti-coloured.' Connexion with Britain is uncertain. We get th eroot again in Little Bredy, nearby. Dom. Litelbride.
Bridston (Herefordsh.). Not in Dom. 'Town, village of St. Bridget.' See Bridgerule.
Brigg (Lincolnsh.). Not in Dom., but ' Bruge ' (Cheshire). O.E. brycg, Sc. brig, ' a bridge.’ CJ. Briggate (Leeds and Knaresboro').
Brigham (Cockermth. And E.Riding). E Riding B. Dom. Bringeha'. Prob,' home of Brine.' Cf. Briningham.
Brightlingsea (Colchester). Local pron. Bricklesy. 1223 Patent R. Brichthngese; 1521 Bryghtlyngsey. 'Isle of Beorht- ling,' not in Onom., where we have only noted B.C.S., 1282 Brihtulfing tun; whilst Dom. has Brictriceseia, fr. the common Beorhtric. The r here has changed into its kindred liquid l, and the patronymic -ing has been added, after Dom. 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 Dom. Brichelmestone, Bristelmeston (on the st see p. 26), ' Stone of Brihtelm, var. of the common Beorhthelm. There was a Brithelm, Bp. 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 c. 1230 Brithelmetun. But Breighton, (E. Riding) is Dom. Bricstune Briston, fr. Bricsi or Beorhtsige, cf. Brixton. See -ton which often inter-, changes with -stone.
Brightwalton (Lambourn). 939 chart. Beorhtwaldingtune ; 1086 Bristwoldintona ; Dom. Bristoldestone ; also Brictewalton. 'Town of the descendants of Beorhtweald,' very common in Onom. Bristwoldus, is known var. of Beorhtiweald. Cf. next. Dom. regularly writes st for a guttural.
Brightwell (Wallingford and Oxon). Ox. B. 947 chart. Beorhtan wille; also aeb Berhtanwellan,which hchart,translates' declaratam fontem ' i.e., 'clear, bright well.' O.E. beorht, berht, ' bright.' Wa. B. Dom. Bristowelle (Dom. always avoids gutturals and usually has st for gh). Later Brictewell.
Brigstock, (Thame) 11160 Pipe Brichestoc. ' Place of Brica ' one in Onom. Cf. Brixworth, and Dom. (Bucks) Bricstoch; and see -stock.
Brill (Thame). 1155-57 Pipe Bruhella, -bulla; 1231 Brehull. ' Hill,' or else ' nook' (see -hall) 'on the brow or brae '; lit. the eyelid, O.E. braew, breaw. Cf. 1158-59 Pipe Northbld. Briehellee, Dom. Essex, Bruheleia, and Beal.
Brimham Rocks (Harrogate). 'Brim's home.' Cf. B.C.S. 64 Brimes dic. Locally, brim means ' a high place exposed to weather, -" cognate with Eng. brim, first found c. 1205 brimme origin doubtful. Cf. next.
Brimpsfield (Glostrsh.) and Brimscombe (Stroud). Dom. Brimesfelde. Old Brimmescombe. ‘Field’ and ‘valley of Brim.’Cf. a. 1000 chart. Brimhirst (Leicestersh.), Brimstage (Chesh.), Boomberrow, and above. The man's name is al ittle uncertain. See -combe.
Brimpton (Reading). 944 chart. Bryningtune, Dom. Brintone, a.1300 Brimpton. ' Townofthesonsof5nm.' C/.Brington. For interchange of n and mp cf. Bampton.
Brindle (Chorley). 1227 Brimhill, 1228 Burnehull, 1254 Brunhull, 1356Burnhull,1584 Brindle. The d is thus quite late, and the name is ' hill of the burn ' or ' brook.’ O. E. bryn, var. of burna. Cf. -bourne. There is also a Brindle Heath (Salford). Brineton (Shiflfnal) is Dom. Brunitone; a. 1300 Bruneton, which is prob.' town of Brun' or' Brown.' Dom. Yorks, Brinitun and Brinnistun is now Burniston.
Brington (Hunts). Dom. Breninctun. ' Town of the sons of Brini ' or 'Brine.' Cf. Brimpton and next; and see -ing.
Briningham (Norfk.). Dom. Bruningaha. 'Home of Bruning or ‘the sons of Brun’; both namen common in Onom. which also has Brine, and Brin as var. of Beorn. Cf. Brigham; and see -ing.see -ing.
Brinkburn (on R. Coquet) and Brinkworth (Chippenham). 1150 Brink(e)burne, 1183 Brenkburna; 1065 chart. Brinkewrtha. ' Brook' and' farm, at the edge' or' brink, a N.word. See Oxf. Dict. s.v. The above are the earliest instances of it in Eng. There is no namelike Brin kin Onom., 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. Thust he above names might mean ' brook' and' farm of Brink.' However, the1183f orm Brenkleans towards O.N. brekka, ' hillside, slope/,’Dan. brink, ' steepness, precipice, declivity.' See -bourne and -worth.
Brinklow (Rugby). Cf. above, a.1200 Brinchelau, 1251 Brinck- lawe; also thought to be the' Bridelawe, 'c.1188 in Gir. Camb. 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, O. E. hloew. See -low and above.
Brinscall (Chorley), Brinscar (Lanes), 1228 Brunesgare, Brinsford (Wolvermptn. and Lutterworth); Wol. B. 994 Bruns-, Brenesford; 1227 Bruneford; 1381 Bruynesford. Lutterworth. B. old Brunesford; Brinsley (Notts); Dom. Bruneslei, and Brinsworth (Rotherham), 1202 Brinesford. Prob. all fr. men named Brun or' Brown,' a common O. E. name. One Brun was Dom. tenant of Brownsover ('bank'), Rugby. Brinscall's ending, without old forms, is uncertain, but -car is O.N. kjarr, ' copsewood, brushwood '; or N. kjoerr, kjerr, ' marsh, wetc copse.' 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). a. 1300 Brussenhulle, which is prob. ' bursten ' or ' broken hill.' O.E. berstan, 'to buist.' past tense 4-6 briste, brust, pa. pple., 4-5 brusten, brosten; dial, brossen. Cf. Burstwick. See also-hall.
Bristol. 1052 O.E. Chron. (Worc.) Bryegstow, Dom. Bristou. a. 1142 Wm. Malmesb. Bristow, c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Bristoa; c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Bristollum. Brycg-stow is O.E. 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, c. 50 b.c. Diod. Sic. ....a. d. 43. Lett, of Claudius … O.E. Chron. ann. 495 Bretene, ann.755 Bryttisc (=British). W.inis Prydain,' isle of Britain.' Prydain is the Brytlionic form of Ir. Cruithni, usual Ir. name of the Picts; but whether this is really connected with the name Britain, and what that name means, is doubtful.
Britford (Salisbury). 1065 O.E. Chron. Brytforda, Brytan forda; a. 1100 Brethevorde. 'Ford of the Briton '; the th in the latest form cited is a common Norm, softening. Cf. Bretford.
Brixton. K.C.D. 940, Brihtricestan,? which. Surrey, is Dom. B Brici-, Brixistan,' stone of Beorhtsige, a common name, found also as Byrcsige, Brehtsig, Bryxie, and Brixius. Plymouth B. Dom. 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 Dom. but see Deverill. Cf. Dom. Bricsteuuelle, near Wallingford, ' Beorhtsige's well.' In Dom. we regularly have st for guttural h or ch. Dom. Yorks Bricstune, Briston, is now Breighton.
Brixworth (Northampton). Dom. Briclesworcle. This is prob. 'farm of Beorhtel or Berhtel, or else Beorhtgils, all found in Onom. ' 1160 Pipe Northants has Brichestoc. Cf. Brigstock; and see -worth.
Broadwas (Worcester). 779 chart. Bradeuuesse, Bradewasse, K.C.D. iii. 386 Bradewasan, 1218 Bradewas. O.E.for' broad, stagnant pool.' O.E. wase, mod. ooze. Cf. Alrewas.
Broadwater (Sussex). Dom. Bradewatre. O. E. brad, 'broad.’
Broadway (Wore, and Ilminster). Wore.B.972chart. Bradwege and Bradanwege (a dat.). Dom. Bradeweia. It is on the road between London and Worcester.
Brochurst (Warwksh.) and Brockenhurst (Hants). War. B. 1327 Brochurst, Han. B. 1157 Pipe Brocheherst. ' Wood of the badger.' O.E. broc. Cf. next; and see -hurst.
Brocklesby (Lines). Dom. Brochesbi, ' dwelling of Brocwulf.' Dom. is very careless of the liquids. Cf. Broxted; and see -by.
Brockley Hill (Edgeware). O.E. Broc- lah, ' badger meadow.’ Cf. 674 grant Brocces broc and Broxburn (Sc). Similar is Brockton, Much Wenlock, Dom. Broctune, Brochetune, and three Broctons (Staffs), all Dom. Broctone. In all 3 Duignan prefers O.E. broc, ' a brook." Only the o here is long. Cf. Brockhill Dingle, Alvechurch, 1275 Brochole, Brockhampton (Glostrsh.), old Brochamtone, Brechampton (see Hampton), and Brockworth, ib. Dom. Brocowardinge, Brockwordin; see -worth and -wardine,' farm.'
Brokenborough (Malmesbury). [737 chart. To brocenan beorze.] 1298 Broukenbury, 1324 Brokeneberwe. ' Broken ' i.e., presumably ' rugged hill.' O.E. beorg. Cf. Barrow.
Bromfield (Wigton and Salop). Wigton B.c.1215 chart. Brunefeld; 1610 Brumfield. Fr. O.E. brom, ' broom, gorse,' rather than brun,' brown.' Cf. next; m and n freely interchange.
Bromley (Kent, Stafford, etc.). 862 chart. Bromleaz (near Langley). Stafford B. 1004 chart, and c. 1097 Flor. Wore, Bromleage, -lege. Dom. Brunlege. Kent B. Dom. Brunlei, Bronlei. As above, ' broom meadow ' and not ' brown meadow.' There is also King's Bromley (Lichfield), 942 chart. Bromlege, Bromli, Dom. Bromelei.
Brompton (London and Northallerton). Londen B. a. 1016 Ordinance Ethelred I. Bromdun. Northallerton. B. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Bromtun. ' Broom, gorse village,' or else ' hill.' For intrusion of p cf. Bampton and Hampton. See-don and-ton.
Bromsberrow (Ledbury). 910 O.E. Chron. Bremesbyrig; Dom. Brunmeberge; c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Brimesbirih; v.r. 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 Onom. The ending is either what is now -bury i.e. ' (fortified) town,' or O.E. beorg, ' hill,' now represented by -berrow or Barrow, Cf. Berry Brow and Bromsgrove. Brom's Ash (S. Herefd.) is 1228 Close R. Bromesheff, where heff is' accustomed pasture- ground of sheep,' same root as heft. See Oxf. Dict. s.v. heaf, where the earliest quot. is c. 1525. Bromsgrove 830 chart. Bremes grafa, 1156 Bremesgraua, Brimesgraua, 1166 Bromesgrava. ‘ Brem's grove.' O.E. graf. Cf. above and Birmingham.
Bromwich. See Castle Bromwich.
Bromyard (Worcester). Chart. Bromgeard, O.E. for 'field covered with broom.'
Brondesbury (London). 1766 6Entick Bromesbury. Prob. 'burgh, castle of Brom or Brem.' Cf. Bromsgrove. M and 31 and n often interchange. Cf. Dum- and Dunbarton, etc.; and d often intrudes.
Brongwyn (Caermarthen) W. for ‘fair, clear breast’, or ‘breastlike hill.' Cf. W. bron goch, ' Robin redbreast.' The W. for ' hill' is bryn, but both bron and bryn are used in Cornwall.
Brook (Ashford and Godalming). c. 1290 S. Eng. Legend Robert de Brok. O.E. broc, 'a rivulet.' Brookwood (Woking). 1289 contin. Gervase Brokwode.
Broomfield (Bridgwater, Salop, etc.). Salop. B. a. 1196 Gir. Camb. Brumfeld, Bridgewater B. 1297 R. Glouc. Brumefeld, ' broom-clad field.' Cf. 909 chart. Brombricge, which will be called after a man Brom. O rBrem. Cf. Bromsgrove.
Broseley (Salop). Not in Dom. Old' Burhweard's lea, 'still seen in full in Burwardsley (Chester). Cf. Burslem.
Brotherton (Ferrybridge, Yorks). Not in Dom.; but cf. Dom. (Norfk.) Brodercros, ' town of Broder or Brother,' ' brother being used as a surname.
Brotton (Yorks). Sic 1179-80; but Dom. Brotune. Prob. O.E. broc-tun, ' badger village.' Cf. Dom. Bucks Brotone.
Brougham Castle (Appleby). Thought to be c. 380 Ant. Itin. Brocavo or Brovonacae. But more old forms are needed. Prob. like Brough (Yorks), Dom. Burg, fr. O.N. borg’; O. N. burh, 'castle, fort, ' a broch,' with the common transposition of the r, and so =' castle home. Cf. Brough Ferry (Elloughton),1202 Burgum.
Broughton (14 in P.G.). Broughton Hacket (Pershore), 972 and Dom. Broctune. Edinburgh B. 1128 Broctuna. Prob. all like that inWarwk.,1285Brocton,' badger town.' O.E. broc is ' badger,' broc is ' brook.' Duignan seems certainly wrong in deriving from brook, a word never used in Sc., though we have two Sc. Broughtons as well as Broxburn and Broxmouth. Broctune occurs 14 times in Dom. Yorks and represents several Broughtons. Of course, Broc may be a man's name, now Brock. However, Broughton (Eccleshall) is Dom. Hereborgestone, plainly a contraction fr. ‘Hereburh's (gen. -burge 's) town.' Cf. K.C.D.710 and 1298 Hereburgebyrig.
Brown Willy (Camelford). Said to be Corn, bron geled, 'conspicuous hill.' Cf. Brongwyn. Perh. Willic is for Corn, gelli or celli, ' a grove.' Yet another guess is ' hill of shackles,' W. huel or hual. Names in Brown like Brownshill (Stroud, Glouc), and Brownsover (Rugby), pron. Brownsor; see -over) —will all come fr. a man Brun. Cf. Brinsford.
Broxted (Dunmow) and Broxstowe (Notts). No. B. Dom. Brocholvestou, Brochelestou, 1457 Brocholwestouwa, also Broweston. Both prob. ' place (Stead and Stow both mean that) of Brocwulf.' Cf. Brocklesby.
Broyle, Forest of the (W. Sussex). 1399 la Broile. O.Fr. bruill, broil; Mod. Fr. breuil,' an enclosed piece of brushwood or matted underwood.'
Brue R. (Somerset). ? Cognate with W.bru,' womb, belly'; as likely fr. A similar root to G. bruith,' to boil.’ Cf. Bruab (So.). For old forms see Bruton.
Bruen Stapleford (Tarvin, Cheshire). Prob. Dom. 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 Dom. Bucks.
Brundall (Norfolk). Dom. Brundala, 1460 Brundehale.? ' Brand's or ' Brond's nook." See -hall. But cf. Dom. Cheshire, Brunford, prob. ' ford over the bourne or burn,’ and Brundala may be ' dale with the bourne '—O.N. brunn-r dal-r. Horsfall Turner seems to identify all the numerous Bruntons or Brunetonas in Dom. Yorks with Bromptons. But one Brunton (Yorks) is 1166-67 Pipe Birunton, ' town of Birun ' or Byron.' The Buruns, or Biruns, held lands in Notts, Derby, and Lanes as early as Dom.
Bruton (Somerset). Dom. Breuutona, 1471 Brewton. 'Town on the R. Brue.'
Bryncoch (Neath). W. = ' red hill.' W. bryn, O.G. brun, Corn. bron, bryn, ' a hill.' Cf. Brongwyn, and Brynmor, ' hill slope by the sea.'
Bubbenhall (Kenilworth). Dom. Bubenhalle. 'Hall of Buba' or' Bubba.' See-hall.
Buckerell (Honiton). Not in Dom. 1166-67 Pipe Bucherel. More old forms needed. Perh. 'nook of Bucard,' one in Onom. The -el could be fr. hale or -hall, q.v.
Buckingham. 915 O.E. Chron. Buccingaham, 1154-61 chart. Buchingham, 1297 Bukingham. ' Home of the Buccings.' Patronymic, fr. Bucca or Bucco, both in Onom. Cf. 1179-80 Pipe Parva et Magna Bukesbi (Yorks).
Buckland (9 in P.O.). Faringclon B. B.C.S. iii. 205 Boc land, 1292 Bokeland. Devon B. Dom. Bochelanda. Betchworth B. Dom. Bochelant; also Dom. Glostr. and Bucks, Bocheland. O.E. boc-land,' book land, 'land granted by a' book' or written charter to a private owner. Cf. Bockhampton.
Buclebury (Reading). Dom. Borgedeberie, 1316 Burghldeburg, ' burgh of Burghild'; perh. 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 chart. Buggildstret, 860 ib. Buggan stret, ' road of Burghild.'
Bucknell (Oxford and Salop). Ox. B. Dom. Buchehelle, 1149 Buckenhull (=hill), 1216-1307 Bikehell, Buckehull. Sal. B. Dom. Buche -hale, -halle. O.E. Buccan hale, ' nook, corner of Buvva’ – the he-goat. Cf. Buckingham. Bucknall cum Bagnall (Staffs) is not 949 chart, Badecanwell, as Birch says, but Dom. Buchenholc, a. 1300 Bukenhale, Bokenhowe, a. 1400 Buchenhole, and so the same as above. Only here the ending varies between -hale (see -hall) and -hole, softened into -howe. O.E. hol, holh, ' a hollow.’
Bude Haven (N. Cornwall). Not Budecalech (see Butleigh). Prob. same root as W. bwth, ' a hut.’ G. both, ' a house '; Eng. booth, first found c. 1200 as bode.
Budleigh Salterton (Devonsh.). Dom. Bodehe, ' Boda's lea' or ' meadow.’ See -leigh. Cf., too, 693 Grant Budinhaam, prob. in Essex, Budbrook (Warwick), Dom. Budebroc, and Dom Essex, Budcerca. Budby (Notts), Dom. Butebi, and 1166-67 Pipe Butebroc (Essex) are fr. a man Butti, a N. name.
Budock (Falmouth). Sic 1536. Prob. a Keltic dimin. = little hut.’ Cf. Bude.
Bugsworth (Stockport). ' Bugga's farm.' Bugga is said to be a pet contraction of St. Eadburga. Cf. Bugthorp (E. Riding), Dom. Bughetorp, 1166-67 Pipe Buittorp, Buttorp, also Bugbrooke (Weedon). See-thorpe and -worth.
Builth (Llandrindod). a.1000 Buelt, c. 1100 Ir. Ninnius Boguelt, a. 1196 Gir. Camb. Bueld, a. 1600 Byellt. In W. Llanfair Ym Muallt. W. buw-allt, ' steep place, cliff (L. alius, ' high ') of the cattle.' The Nennius form will be fr. W. gallt= allt. Buelt was that part of Powys between Wye and Severn. Cf. Buildwas (O.W. gwas, ' a servant '), Abbey, Wroxeter. This abbey dates fr. 1135.
Bulkington (Nuneaton). Dom. Bochintone, 1232 Bulkintone. Doubtful but prob.' Town o fBulca.' Cf.B.C.S.225 Bulcan pyt.
Bull Gap (Derbysh.). Thought to be a tautology. Bull= W. bwlch (G. bealach), ' a gap, a pass, a broken cut.' Gap is an O.N. word, not recorded in Eng. till c. 1380, which makes the idea of a tautology decidedly doubtful. Bull How (Westmld.) is thought to be fr. a Norseman, Bol—i.e., 'The Bull'; O.N. bole, boli. How is ' mound, hill.' See -how.
Bullingdon (Oxford and Hants). Oxford. B.? c. 1097 Flor. Worc. ami. 1053 Bulendun, 1216-1307 Bulen, -Bulingden, Bolinden. Han. B.? Dom. Bolende. 'Hill of Bula.' Cf. 1233 Close R. Buleworthy (Devon) and Bulley (Glostrsh.), Dom. Buleleye. See -ing and -worthy.
Bulmer (York and Suffolk). See Bomere.
Bungay (Suffolk.). Not in Dom. 1460 Bowunggey. Prob. Skeat is right in deriving fr. Icel. bunga, ' a round hill, a bing,' and ey, ' island, peninsula.' The site supports this. Certainly, it is not Fr. bon gue, ' good ford.' 1460 might suggest derivation fr. some unknown man, perh. a nasalized form of Buga. Cf. Dom. Sussex, Bongetune. See-ay.
Bunhill (London). Old Bonhill. Doubtful. Cf. Bonchurch, Bonsall, and Bownhill.
Bunny (Nottingham). Dom. Bocei, 1228 Close R. Boneya, 1284 Boneye. Might be O.N. bon-ey, ' prayer isle.' Cf. next. But perh. fr. O.E. 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 Pipe Boueneia (Oxon), which must be ' isle of Bofa,'gen.-an, a fairly common name. See-ey.
Bunwell (Norfolk). Not in Dom .1444 Bonewell, 1477 Bonwell. ' Prayer-well '. O.E. ben, O.N. bon, 'a prayer'; in Eng. 2-7 bone, 3-4 bon. Cf. Bonchuech and above.
Burbage (Buxton, Hinckley, and Marlboro'). Hincley B. Dom. Burbece (also in Dom. Sussex). Marlboro B. 961 chart. Burhbece; O.E. for 'burgh, castle on the beck' or 'brook'; Dom. Burbetce. The more regular form would be Burbeck, still a surname but Oxf. Dict, gives beck as a name found only in those parts of England, once in Danish or Norse occupation. See-bach, -beck.
Burbury Hill (Swindon). O.E. Chron. ann. 556 Beranburh or -byrig (see Barbury Hill), which is perh. meant. Maybe fr. a man, Beorga or Berga, or Boera. But Burcote (Bromsgrove) is Dom. Bericote, 1275 Byrcote. Prob. O.E. bere-cote, ' cot or storing here or barley.' Cf. Berwick.
Burden (Durham), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Byrdene, 1197 Bireden. 'Dean, (woody) valley,' O.E. denu, 'with the house.’ O.E. bur, the mod. Eng. bower, and Sc. byre.
Burford (Oxford). O.E. Chron. ann. 752 Beorford, Beorgford; chart. Bergford; c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Bereford, 1231 Bureford. O.E. burg, burh, O.N. borg, 'a shelter-place, fort, burgh'; fr. O.E. beorgan, ' to protect.' See -burgh.
Burgh (Lincoln, Westmld., etc.). Lin. B. Dom. Burg. West B. c. 1175 Fantosme Burc, c. 1180 Bened. Peterb. Burgus. ' Castle, fortified dwelling.' See above. Cf. Dom. Surrey Berge, ? 'the Borough '; and ib. Essex, Burghstede.
Burgh Castle (Gt. Yarmouth). Bede Cnobheresburg id est, ' Cnobher' s Town.' See Burford.
Burghclere (N.Hants). B.C.S .674 Clere, and Dom. Often Clere, These may represent this place, or Highclere or Kingsclere nearby. The Eng. adj. clear is fr. Fr. and is not found till 1297. This must be W. clegr, clegyr,' a rock.'
Burgh-on-Sands (Carlisle). c. 1175 Burc; 1356 Scalacronica Burch sure le Sabloun (Fr. sablon, ' sand '). Now pron. Bruff. Thought to be Sim. Dur. ann. 792 Aynburg. Cf. Aintree. Brough (Yorks) is Dom. Burg.
Burley (Leeds, Oakham, Hereford, Ringwood). Le. B. Dom. Burghelai. Hereford B. Dom. Burlei. 'Meadow with the burgh or castle.' Sec above and -ley.
Burlingham (Norwich). Dom. B'lingaha, 1452 Byrhyngham,1454 Suth birlyngham. ' Home of the Birlings.' See Birling and-ham. Burmington (Shipston-on-Stour). Dom. Burdintone, 1413 Burmynton. Doubtful. Duignan thinks ' Burhman's town.' A burh- or burgman was one who lived in a burgh or town.
Burnham (Chiltern). Sic c. 1018 chart., Dom. Burneha, Berneha. Prob. O.E. burna-ham, ' house, home beside the spring, well,' or' stream.' See-bourne.
Burntwood (Lichfield), a. 1600 Brendwood, Brandwood. Brand, brent, etc., are M.E. pa. tense of burn. Cf. 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 syll. is prob. O.E. 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. Dom. Buretone. Done. B. (not in Dom.) might be fr. Ralph de Burun (now Byron), who had lands in Notts in Dom. In Onom. we also find the names Burwine or Beornwine, and Burro, which are all possible origins; so is Burga, gen. -an. See -ham and -ton.
Burrough (Melton Mow.). Dom. Burgo. Prob. burgh-hoe, or ' castle hill.' See -burgh and Hoe. Burrow (N. Lanes) is Dom. Borch= Barrow.
Burry Port (Carmthn.). Possibly the Eng. burgh or -bury, q.v. But it might easily be W. burgwy,' wild, frothy water'; whilst W. bur is var. of bar, ' top, summit.' Indeed, it is close to Penbre,' head of the hill.'
Burscough (Ormskirk). Sic. c. 1200, but 1189-96 Burscogh, 1292 Burskew, 1306 Burscow. ' Wood of the burh ' or ' fort '; O.N. shog-r, Dan. skov, ' a wood.' See Shaw. For ending -scough cf. Swinscoe (Ashbourne), a. 1300 Swyneskow, Swyneschoch. See -burgh.
Burslem. Dom. Barcardeslim (scribe's error), a. 1300 Burlyme, Borelyme. wardeslyme, a. 1400 Tunstall R. Borewaslym. O.E. Burhweardes hlimme, 'Burward's stream.' Cf. Burwardsley and Lyme.
Burstall (Ipswich). Cf. 1157 Pipe Burchestala (? Beds.). ' Place of the burgh ' or ' castle '; O.E. steall, steel, ' place, stall.' See -bury. Burston (Diss), Dom. Burstuna, has presumably a similar origin. Or it may be fr. a man, Burh or Burg.
Burston (Stone and Diss). St. B. a. 1200 Burweston, a. 1300 Burceston, Buregeston, Bureweston, a. 1400 Bureston. Dom. h Burouestone, almost certainly this place, though in the wrong Hundred. It must mean ' town of Burga,' one in Onom.; 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). Dom. Brostewic, Brocstewic. 'Burst or broken dwelling.' See Bristnall and-wick.
Burton (23 in P.G.) Warwk .B. Dom. Bortone, Salop. B. Dom. Burtune. Pembroke B. c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Bertune. There are 29 instances in Dom. Yorks, all Burtone, or Burtun. Also, Burton-on-Trent. c. 1180 Bened. Peterb. Burtona; monastery founded here, 1004. They are all O.E. burh-tun, ' fortified dwelling-place.' Cf. Bo'ness (Sc.) 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.' Cf. Burslem and Burwarton (Bridgnorth); and see -ley.
Burwell (Cambridge). Dom. Burewelle, 1346 Burgewelle, 1521 Bury Wells Berwill. Prob. 'burgh well'; with form 1521 cf. Bertune, old form of Burton. It prob. stands where K. Stephen afterwards built a castle; burge is gen. of O.E. burh.
Bury, also Bury St. Edmunds. 1066 O.E. Chron. Byrtune =Burton). Dom.' In Beccles villa abbatis sancti Edmundi,' also, ' burgo ht abb. sci edmundi ‘; 1450 Bury Seynt Edmond, 1480 Bury Wills Bury. Bury is O.E. burh, ' castle, burgh.' St. Edmund is Edmund the Martyr, K. of the East Angles, slain at Hoxne by the Danes in 870. Cf. Brougham.
Buscot (Lechlade). Dom. Boroardescote, c. 1540 Barwardscott. ' Cot, cottage of Burgweard.'
Bushbury (Wolverhampton). 994 Biscopesbry, Dom. Biscopesberie, (Warwk.), c. 1300 Bishbiri, Bischbury, ' Bishop's burgh,' a curiou scorruption. It is still pron. Bishbiry. See-bury.
Bushey (Middlesex). Dom. Bissei. ' Byssa's isle' or' peninsula.' Both Byssa and Bisi are found in Onom. See-ey.
Butcombe (Wrington, Somerset). Not in Dom. 1298 Butencumbe, which is O.E. for ' without the valley.' O.E. butan, M.E. buten, bute, ' without.' Cf. Binbrook. No But(t)a in Onom. See-combe.
Butleigh (Glastonbury), c. 725 chart, and c. 1130 Wm. Malmes. Budecalech, 801 Bodecanleighe, Dom. Bodech-, Boduchelie, Exon. Dom. Bodecaleia. ' Bodeca's lea or meadow.' See-leigh.
Butley (Tunstall, Suffk.). Dom. Butelea. This may be ' outside the meadow.' Cf. Butelege, Dom. Cheshire, and Butcombe.
Butterby (Durham). Butterknowle (Co. Durham, O.E. 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 fr. some Danish or N. settler. Butter or Buthar (Onom. gives only one Buterus); he may even have been sometimes a Saxon, as we have already in 931 chart and in Dom. a Butermere (Wilts). Or some of these names, if late, may come fr. M.E. bitoure, O.Fr. butor, the bird bittern, in Sc. butter, as in Butterdean (E. Berwicksh.). Buttergask (Dunkeld), however, is G. bothar gasc, ' causeway-hollow ‘; whilst Butterstone nearby is plainly fr. a man. Butterton, there are 2 in Staffs, stands in debatable ground. It is a. 1200 Buter-, Boterton, Buterdon, 1200 Buter-, Boterdon, 1223 Butterdon, Buterden, a. 1300 Botredon, a.1400Butterton. 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 prob. 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. Dom. Butruic, 1216 Butterwyck, 1274 Boterwyke, c. 1275 Boturwyk, 1410 Boterwick. Dom. Yorks Butruic, 1183 Buterwyk (Co. Durham). There is also a Butterworth (Rochdale). These all prob., though not certainly, mean ' meadow, dwelling, farm or village where they made butter." O.E. butere, 3 buttere, 4 boter(e), botter, 5 buttyr, botyr, 4 -butter. See -ley, -ton, -wick, -worth, and above. With Butterwick cf. Chiswick, and with Butterworth cf. Cheswardine.
Buttington Tump (Montgomery). 893 O.E. Chron. Buttingtun. c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Budingtun. Cf. K.C.D. 746 Bottanige. Prob. patronymic; 'town of the descendants of Botta or Butta.' Tump is W. twmp,' mound, barrow.'
Buxhall (Stowmarket). Dom. Bukessalla, a. 1200 chart. Bucysheal. Cf. Dom. Buchehalle (Salop) and Bucknall. ' Buca's nook.' See -hall.
Buxton. 1572 Buckstones. Enc. Brit says prob. Dom. 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. Prob. ' stone of the buck,' O.E. buc, bucca ; and see -ton for -stone. But more evidence is needed.
Bwlch (Breconshire). W. for 'pass, gap,' G. 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 chart. Byflcte, O.E. for' by the river.’ Cf. Beeford and Fleet.
Byland with Wass (Coxwold, Yorks). Dom. Begeland, 1156 Pipe Beland, 1199 Beilande, 1228 Close R. Begheland, 1242 ibid. Beyland. ' Land of Boega '' a marsh, a fen.' Cf. Alrewas.
Byley-cum-Yatehouse (Middlewich). Old Biveley. Doubtful. Perh.' meadow of Beoba,' 3 in Onom. Cf. Bevington, Alcester, 1316 Byvinton, a. 1400 Beovynton. Bive- suggests connexion with O.E. bifian, O.N. bifa, M.E. bive, ' to shake, to tremble.' See -ley, Yate- is Gate-. Cf. Yetholm (Sc).
Bytham Parva (Lines). Dom. Bitham, 1228 Close E. Bihamel, Byhamel, 1292 Parva Byham. Prob. ' by the home.’ O.E. ham. Cf. Byfleet,’ Beeford, etc.; also, Attewell = ' at the well.' Parva is L. for ' little.'

Cadair Idris (mtn. Central Wales). W.=' seat of Idris, 'a Welsh hero and a great astronomer. W. 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). Cr. C. Dom. Cadebirie, c. 1540 Cadburi. Win. C. Dom. Cadeberie. ' Fort, burgh of Cada, Cadda, or Ceadda'; several so named in Onom. Cf. Dom. Cadenhov (Essex) and Cadnam (Hants). See-bury.
Cadney (Brigg). O.E. Chron. 675 Cedenac (late MS.), 'Isle of Ceadda,' gen.-an, or' Chad.' See-ey.
Cae Athraw (Caernarvon). W.=' Field of themaster or doctor cae, ' a field, an enclosure.' Cf. 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. Wales). Pl. of W. caer, ' fort, castle '; O.W. also gaer, Bret, ker, G. cathair, ' a fort.' Cf. Caerleon and Carew.
Caergwrle (Fhntsh.). An old castle here, and perh. once a Rom. station. Said to be W. caer gwvr lle, ' castle, fort at the boundary place.’ Cwr or gwr, ‘a boundary;’ but the ending is decidedly doubtful.
Caerleon-on-Usk, pron. Karleen; in W. Caer Llion ar Wysc. c. 800 Nennius, ' city of Leogis ' or ' Cair Lion,' Dom. Carleion' Castell; prob. c. 1145 Geoffr. Mon. Civitas Legionum, 1167-68 Pipe Carliun, c. 1205 Layamon Kair-luine and Kair Uske, in edit. c. 1275 Ceyr-lyon, 1241 Karlyun. From early times thought to be W. 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'; W. lli, pl. llion, ' a flood, a stream.’ There is also a Caer Leon, St, David’ s. The present surname Carlyon is pron. Kar-lion. Cf. Caerdon (Sc).
Caermarthen, Carmarthen. In W. Caerfyrddin, c.150 Ptolemy.., c. 800 Nennius Cair merdin, 1158-59 Pipe Cairmerdin, c. 1188 Girald Kairmardhin, Kairmerdhin, c. 1205 Layam. Kair Merdin, 1240 Close E. Calverdin, 1242 ib. Kaermerdin, c. 1330 R. Brunne Kermerdyn. In W. llI 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 L. form Merlinus is found as early as 1148, the Mod. W. is Myrddin. The orig. name of Merlin's Bridge, S. of Haverford W., was Mawdlen's or Magdalen's Br. It is doubtful what this name meant in Ptolemy 's day; perh. ' castle by the sea.' The dun is certainly caer, and mari may be Kelt. for ' sea '; in W. mor, but in G. muir; gen. mara.
Caernarvon or Carnarvon. Also in Cumberland, Beckermet, with the same meaning. In W. Caernarfon, a. 1196 Gir. Camb. Kairnarvon, Kaerarvon; in his Itin. Camb. ' Dicitur Arvon, provinicia contra Mon ' (or Monia insula) 1307 Carnaruan, a. 1340 Kaernervan, Ltywelyn's Survey Caer yn Arvon. W. caer 'n arfon, ' fort opposite Mona ' or ' Anglesea ‘; but in the Cumbld. case the the Mona is the Island of Man.
Caer Rhun, (Carnarvonshire) W.=’fort of Rhun;, son of Maelgwynn Gwynedd, a prince of the 6th cny.
Caerwent (Chepstow), c. 380 Ant. Itin. Venta Silurum. The -went may be W. gwant,' a butt, a mark.'
Caistor (Norwich and Lincoln), Dom., both, Castre, also Castra. Li. C. c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Castrum apud Lindeseiam. The root is, of course, L. castra, neut. pl.,' a camp.' But this in Bede is always caestir, and in Mercian cester. Mr. Anscombe has shown this implies origin rather fr. late L. castra, fem. sing; the Wessex ceaster, the Merc. cester, and Northumb. caestir all coming normally from the inflected form castrae through an unrecorded caestri.
Calbourne (Isle of Wight). Pron. Kaalbourn. 826 chart. Cawle- burne, Dom. Cauborne. O.E. for ' burn, brook of the fish- baskets or creels'; O.E. caivel, cawl, 'a basket'; still used in Cornwall as cawell or cowel. Cf. Porthcawl. See -bourne.
Caldecott (Cambs) and Caldicot(e) (Newport, Mon., and 2 in Wrwksh.). Dom. Cambs., Bucks, Wrwk., and Chesh., Caldecote, which is O.E. for ' cold cot ' or ' dwelling.' Skeat says Calde- is a remnant of the dat. of O.E. cald, ceald. Dom.Yorks Caldecotes is now Coldcotes. Cf. Cauldcots (Sc), and Dom. Norfk. Caldanchota.
Calder R. (Cumbld. and Lanes). Prob. O.N. kald-r, ' cool, cold.’ Cf. Caldbergh (N. Yorks), Dom. Caldeber; see Barrow.
Caldy (Tenby). In W. Ynys Pyr. 884 Wrmonoc Insula Pyrus. c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Caldei; also a. 1196 ib. Enis Pir, Insula Pirri. This Pir must be some man. Cf. Manorbier. But Cald-ei is Norse or M.E. for ' cold island." See -ey. There is also a Caldy in Cheshire, which may be Dom. Calders, which may be connected with Calder.
Calf Heath (Cannock.). 994 chart. Calfre heie, O.E. for ' Calves' hedge.' Caldon, (Cheadle) in the same shire, is 1004 Celfdun, ' calf hill.' Cf. 940 chart. Chealfa dune (Wilts.).
Callington (Cornwall), c. 988 chart. Caellwic, Dom. Calwetone. Ex. Dom. Caluuitona, ' Town of ‘? The nearest names in Onom. are Caldewine and Calwinus. The charter form seems to mean ' dwelling of Coell.' Callerton (Nhbld.) is 1073 Calverdon, 1242 Cauveredon. See Calverton and -don.
Callingwood (Burton-on-T.) is an unique word. c. 1280 Calyngewode, Chalengwode; in L. deeds Boscum calumpniatum; a. 1600 Challengewood. O.Fr. calenge, chalenge, chalonge (fr. L. calumnia), 'a reproach, an accusation, then a challenge.' In Eng. a. 1300 Cursor Mundi, ' chalange.' Cf. Threepwood (Sc.) and in Northumbld. and Cheshire, fr. threap, 'a (scolding) contest.'
Callow Hill (Blithfield, Staffs, Chippenham, etc.). Blithfield C. a 1300 Caluwhill, Kalewhull, a. 1400 Kalughulle. O.E. cahi, calwe, L. calvus, ' bald, bare.' Cf. Caludon, Coventry, 1327 Calwedone. There are also 3 places called Callow (Wirksworth, Hereford, and Worcestrsh. (more than one).
Calne. c. 996 Calna, 1387 Calne. Doubtful. Possibly fr. W. or even calon, ' heart, centre.' Colne (Lanes) is the same. Cf. Caunton. Calsthorpe (Louth). Dom. Caletorp, 1233 Kaltorp. 'Farm, place of a man Calla or Ceolla,’ the latter a common name. See -thorpe.
Calverton (Nottingham and Stony Stratford). Dom.Notts and Bucks, Calvertone. ' Town, village of Ceoliveard.' But Mutschmann prefers O.E. calfre tun, 'calves' town.' See -ton. But Calverley (W. Riding) is Dom. Caverleia, Caverlei; it may, however, be fr. the same name; or else fr. what? Cf. Callerton, and 1160-61 Pipe Nhbld. Calualea. See-ley.
Camallan R. (Bodmin). Corn, for ' crooked Allan '; the Allan and Camallan unite to form the Hayle. Cam is ‘crooked ' in W., Corn., and G.; in W. the fem. is gam. But R. Cam is quite different. See Cambridge.
Camberwell (London). Dom. Ca'brewelle; thereafter h is rare till 17th cny; 1199 Camwell; Camerwell, Cambwell, and Kamwell are also found. Doubtful; camber, 'slightly arched’ is impossible. See Oxf. Dict. W. earn ber, 'crooked pike or spit,’ might be possible, if Kelt. names were not so very rare hereabouts. Prob. it is ' well of Coenbeorht,' a common O.E. name; and this is phonetically quite admissible. Cf. Alberbury fr. Ealdbeorht.
Cam R. and Cambridge. Possibly c. ^SO Ant. Itin. Camhorico; prob. O. Kelt, camb or, 'crooked river' (cf. Cambo and Orr, Sc.), with ic- adjectival. No doubt this Rom. name influenced scholars long after to fix the name as it now is—Cambridge. But orig. they had no connexion, c. 700 Felix Crowland Grouta flumen, Bede Grantacastir (the mod. Grantchester is 2 ½ miles fr. Cambridge); prob. a. 810 Nennius Caer Grauth (for Grant), O.E. Chron. 875 Grantebrycge, 1011 ib. Grantabrycgscir, a. 1145 Orderic Gruntebruga, 1142 Cantebruggescir, a. 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 orig. become C through Norm. mispronunciation. Granta maybe cognate with G. granda, 'ugly.' Gf. Allt Grand (Sc), also Grantown (Sc); or it may perh. be connected with W. grwnan, ' to hum, to drone.' Gf. Grantley There is also a little R. Cam, trib. of Severn, Dursley (Glostr.), 1177 Camme, 1221 Kaumne, which is Keltic cam, 'crooked'; and on it there is a Cambridge, too.
Cambo (Morpeth). 1298 Cambhou, Camou. Gf. Cambo (Sc),1327. Cambou. Keltic camb ou, ' crooked stream ‘; the ou is same root as in L. Awe (Sc), and in Eu (Normandy), c. 1110 Owe. Gf. next.
Cambois (Blyth), pron.Kamis. 1183 Boldon Bk. Camboise, Cambous, Camhus, Cammus; later Commes. This is not Fr., but G. camus, 'a bay,' as in Cambus (Sc). fr. G. cam, O.G. camb ' crooked.' Gf. above and Aldcambus, (Cockburnspath) 1212 Aldchambos, Aldecambus (ald=G. allt,' burn').
Camborne. Sic. 1536. Prob. Corn. cam bron, ' crooked hill.' Transposition of r is a common phenomenon.
Camden Town (N. London). Called, after1791, fr. 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? Perh. Staffs, to which W. Camden's father belonged.
Camel R. (Cornwall, and name of village, Somerset.) and Camelford (N. Cornwall), c. 1145 Geoffrey Mon. Cambula, c. 1205 Layamon Camelforde. Camel is perh. Kelt. for ' crooked stream,' in G. cam allt. Gf. Cambo, and Gamescleuch (Sc). But prob. fr. a Kelt. 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. Cf. Campbeltown (Sc). With Camelford cf. Galford. Near the Som. C. lay Camelot, c. 1440 Lancelot Kamalot. Here the final syll. is perh. W. lloed, ' a place." It seems first mentioned c. 1170, in Chretien de Troyes' Chevalier de la Charrette. Cf. next.
Camerton (Bath). Dom. Camelerton, 'town on the R. Camelar (sic in 961 chart.). See Camel. The -ar is quite uncertain. But the first part is almost certainly the god Camulos.
Campden (Glostr.). Dom. Campdene. 'Wooded vale with the battle site.' Camp is an early loan fr. L. campus, ' a plain.' Cf. Eynsham Cart.' To Campsetena gemaera.' See-den.
Camrose (Pembksh.). 1324 Kameros. W. cam rhos, 'crooked moor.'
Candover (Hants). Prob. 707 chart. (K.C.D. v. 40) Cendefer, 1238 Close R. Candevre. W. cefn dwfr, ' ridge by the stream.' Cf. Cenarth and Condover.
Canewdon (hill, S. Essex). 1240 Close R. Canewedon' (and Calewedon), but Dom. Carendun, which Freeman thinks must be an error. The name is prob. ' Canute’ s hill ' or dun. It lies close to the site of K. 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 Dom.) is a tautology; Kelt. and Eng.=' hillock' or' mound.' See -low. In Midl. dial, cank means 'gabble or cackle,' as of geese.
Cannington (Bridgewater). Dom. Candetona. Prob. named fr. some man, but both his name and the present name must be much corrupted. There is nothing in Onom. nearer than Coenheard.
Canning Town (Plaistow). So named from the former principal employer of labour there.
Cannock Chase (Staffs). Dom. Chenet, 1130 Chnoc, a. 1200 Canot, Chenot, Chnot, Cnot, 1238 Canoe, a. 1300 Canok, Kannock, a. 1500 Cank. Dom. regularly spells O.E. 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, G. and Ir. cnoc, gen. cnuic, ' a hill, a knoll,' so common in Sc. and Ir. names. Eng. and W. placenames in Knock- are very rare, perh. only Knockin. There are also Knook and Knucklas, but they are fr. W. cnuc rather than G. cnoc. There is no trace of u in all the many old forms of Cannock. Cf. Canklow. Chase is O.Fr. chace, ' chasing, hunting, a hunting-ground, wild parkland,' not found in Eng. in this sense till 1440. Cf. Chevy Chase.
Canterbury. [In Bede iv. 5 Rochester is also called Castellum Cantuariorum, O.E. versn. Cantwaraburhge.] a. 810 Nennius Cair Ceint [also Cantguaraland]; O.E.Chron. 754 Cantwareburh, ib. 1011 Cantwaraburh; Dom. Cantorberia, c. 1100 Anselm Cantuarberia, 1258 Kant'bur', c. 1330 R. Brunne Canterbirie, ‘Kentmens’ burgh, wara meaning, ‘dwellerin;, Cf. Lindiswara, Mersewara (dwellers in Romney Marsh) and Whitwara. See -bury. In Rom. Days it was called Durovernum (W. dwr gwern, ‘river with the alders’)
Canwell (Birmingham), a. 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. Cf. Keynsham. W. can, cain, ' beautiful, clear,' seems impossible here. But the first syll. may be O.E. canne, a ' vessel for liquids, a can.' Oxf. Dict. gives only one quot. fr. O.E., and then nothing till c. 1375, 'a vatir-cane.' The name must thus be left doubtful; prob, it is fr. 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, O.N. Fr. capele, ' chapel,' late L. cappella, orig. ' a little cloak or cape,' reappears in Capel St. Mary and St. Andrew (Suffk.). There is also a Capel (Dorking), as well as a Dom. 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). W. 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 Wales and lived 558-625. CJ. Kilmadock (Sc). 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 Onom. For a similar contraction cf. Hawarden, now pron. Harrden. See -warden.
Cardew (Dalston, Cumbld.). c. 1080 Carden. W. Caer Dewi, ' fort of David ‘; or possibly fr. Tiw, the Northern god of war.
Cardiff. 1126 Kardi, 1158-59 Pipe Cardif, a. 1150 Kardid, Cairti, a. 1196 Gir. Camb. Kaerdif, Kerdif, 1218, Kaerdif, 1298 Kerdife, dyf, c. 1450 Cayrdife. Usually said to be ' fort on R. Taff '; but early forms make this more than doubtful. In Mod. W. it is Caerdydd, pron. 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 Rom. fort. The form Caer Daf (Taff) is found only in Leland, c. 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, c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Ceredigion, Kerdigaun; Brut y Tywsy. ann. 991 Ceredigion; 1218 Kaerdigan, 1298 Writ Gardygan. Said to be fr. Caredig or Ceroticus, a Welsh prince, to whom St. Patrick wrote, denouncing him for his cruelty in Ireland.
Cardington (Church Stretton). Dom. Cardintune. 'Town, village of Carda.' Of. B.C.S. 877 Cardan hlaew.
Cardurnock (Bowness, Cumbld.). G. cathair, W. caer, ' fort,' and G. dornag, ' by the pebbly place '; a pebble being a stone easily held in the' fist,' G.dorn, gen.duirn. Cf. Dornock (Annan, Sc).
Carew (Pembroke), c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Kaereu, Kerreu. The same name is pron. Carey in Cornwall, because this is for W. caerau, pl. of caer,' castle, fort,' where the au is pron. ay.
Carham (Kelso), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Carrum, prob. O.E. loc. 'at the carrs' (O. E. carr) or 'rocks.' Cf. Harlow Car, Harrogate. But see -ham.
Carisbrooke (Newport, Isle of Wight). 1217 Patent R. Carebroc, 1218 Kaerbroc, 1224 Carrebroc, c. 1350 Caresbrok; but O.E. Chron. 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 M'Clure. In Dom. the name seems to be Bovecombe. There is in 1199 chart, a ' Carsbrok ' near Launceston i.e., ' brook of the fort.' Possibly the first syll.is Carr sb2, or Carse. O.N. kjarr,' copsewood ' then ' bog or fen,' and not Keltic caer, ' fort.'
Carleton (Pontefract and Skipton) and Carlton (22 in P.O.). K.C.D. iv. 288 Carlatun, ib. 300 Carletun. Dom. Carlentune (Cambs.), Careltune, Carentune (Notts), Cerletune (Chesh.), Cerletone (Salop), Ceorlatona (Devon); and in Yorks, 16 times, Carletun. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Carltun, Stockton,1189 Karlatun (Cumbld.). O.N. karla, or O.E. ceorla tun, ' carls', churls', serfs' village.' Cf. Cableton (Sc). Cearl or Ceorl is also a personal name.
Carlisle. c. 380 Anton. Itin. Luguvallum, Bede Lugubalia, a. 810 Nennius Caer Ligualia, Taliessin Caer Lliwelydd (so in W. still), 1092 O.E. Chron. (Peterb.) Carleol, c. 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, a. 1145 Order. Vit. and Waverley Ann. Cardeol, c. 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 prob. mod. W. for Lugu-behnos. The same name is seen in Lugdmium or Lyons. Carlisle is, of course,' castle of Leol.'
Carmel (Holywell and 2 others, Wales). Presumably all W. caer moel, ' fort on the bare, round hill.' T. Morgan gives none. 1160-61 Pipe Herefd, Cormel (o error for a) is almost certainly the same name.
Carn or Corn Cavall (mtn., Builth). W. carn Cabal,' cairn of Cabal," K. Arthur's dog.
Carnaby (Bridlington). Dom. Cherendebi. 'Dwelling of' some unknown person. The nearest in Onom. 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). Dom. Chreneford. a. 1250 Kerneford. Prob. ' ford of Crina ' or ' Crin,' names in Onom. See -ford, -forth.
Carperby (N. Yorks). Dom. Chirprebi. 'Dwelling of some Norseman unknown. His name may perh. be represented by the mod. surname Capper, the liquid r having vanished, though Prof. Weekley does not think so. Very likely the orig. name is the common Ceolbeorht, which would suit phonetically. Cf. Carnaby. See -by.
Carrington (Manchester and Nottingham). Nottingham C. Dom. Carentune, Caretune; 1179-80 Pipe Carenton. Seems to be ' village of Car or Cari; both forms in Onom. See -ing and -ton.
Carshalton (Mitcham). Pron. Casehalton, Casehorton. Dom. Aultone, c. 1200 Crossalton; also, Kresalton, Kersalton, Case Horton. Orig. ' old town,' O.E. ald tun, then ' Cross old town'; r continually gets transposed. With thi scase cf. Bean cross for Bean corse or Bean carse (Falkirk). Caese (Sc), ' lowlying land beside a river,' is found in Scotland c. 1200, but not in Eng. till much later, if really at all. Carsington (Wirksworth) c. 1460 Karsynton, must be fr. some unrecorded man, Carsa, or the like.
Carswell (Newent and Gower). Newent C. Dom. Crasowel, 1221 Karswelle, 1303 Cassewalle; plainly =Crasswell, Ceesswell, ' watercress well.' Gower C. is also spelt Caswell and is prob. The same. Dr. G. Henderson, however, thinks this name to be N., with the ending N. voll-r, ' field,' cf. Scatwell (Sc), and the former part presumably = Carse (Sc). In face of the evidence above this is doubtful. There is also Karswell (Dursley).
Carter Fell (Cheviots). Sic a. 1540. Contract, fr. G. ceartachair, ' a regulator, an adjuster,’ fit name for a lofty hill, fr. ceart, 'right, just." Prob. also the origin of the Dhu Heartach lighthouse, Colonsay. See-fell.
Cartmell (Ulverston). Sic a. 1130 Sim. Dur., 1224 Kertmel, Cart is prob. Connected with G. caraid,' a pair' (cf. Cart, Sc.) 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. If Cart- be Norse too—O.N. kart-r, ' a cart '—it may refer to a sandbank found firm enough for a cart to cross. However, Cartworth (W. Riding) is Dom. Cheterwrde, or ' farm of Kater.' Cf. Kettering and see-worth.
Cary R. (Somersetshire). 725 chart. Kari, c. 1160 Carith. Prob. W. carth, ' scouring ' river, the root which Dr. Mc. Bain suggested for R. Cart (Sc). Cf. Castle Cary.
Cassop Colliery (Coxhoe, Durham). 1183 Cazehope, ' enclosed valley of Casa'; one in Onom. See -hope. But Dom. Salop Cascop will be “Casa’s cop. O.E. cop, copp,' top, summit, crest of a hill.' 1160-61 Pipe Devon has a Cassewell, 'Casa's well.'
Casterton (Kirby Lonsdale), c. 380 Antin. Itin. Calacum; possibly Dom. hre and Cheshire Castretone. Hybrid fr. L. castra, O.E. ceaster, ' a camp.' But Casterne (Ham) is 1004 chart. Coctes thyrne, ' Coet' s thorn.'
Castle Bromwich (Birmingham). Dom. Bromwic (under Northants), a. 1200 Bramewic, Bromwich, a. 1400 Castel Brom wych; O.E. bromwic,' dwelling among the broom.' See-wich. Castle(sic) is found in Eng. as early as1137O. E. Chron. See also p. 61.
Castle Carey (Somerset), c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Castellum de Cari, c. 1160 Gest. Steph. 'Duo castella, Carith videlicet et Harpebren.' The personal names Carey and Carew, prob. derived from this, are interchangeable. In Cornwall Carew is pron. Carey; and we find in Berks a.1300 a Nicholas Carew or Cary. See Cary. The Sc. Castlecary is a tautology.
Castle Carrock (Carlisle). 1222 Patent R. Castel Kayroc. Prob. = Carrick (Sc). G. and Jr. carraig, ' a rock, a sea-cliff.' Carrick (Ayrshire.) is in Taliessin Carrawg.
Castleford (Yorks). Prob. 948 O.E. Chron. Ceasterforda. O.E. ceaster, L. castra,' a camp.' Cf. Castley (Yorks), Dom. Castelai.
Castle Rising (King's Lynn). 1224Patent R.Castra de Risingis, 1450 Rysyng. Rising sb. is not found in Oxf. Dict., with the meaning of' rising ground, hill-slope, hill, 'until1565. So, prob. this is a patronymic, like Barking or Reading, ' place of the descendants of Rhys,' a well-known British name. Cf. Risby. Its Eng. form is Rice.
Castleton (Isle of Man). Manx Balla Ghastal, which means the same thing. Ballais G. and Ir. bail, baile,' farm, village.’
Gaston (Attleborough). Dom. Cas-, 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 Onom.
Castor (Peterborough). Dom. Castre,1154-61chart. Castra. See Caistor.
Caterham (Croydon). c. 1210 Katerham, 'Home of Kater.' Still found as a surname. Cf. Kettering, and Catterton (Yorks), Dom. Cadretone.
Catshill (Bromsgrove and Walsall). Br. G. 1275 Catteshull, a. 1400 Gates-, Kateshull. Wa. G.a.1300 Cutteslowe (see-low), a.1500 Catteslowe alias Cattshill; also c. 1220 Elect. Hugo. Kateshill ' Hill of Catt, Catta, or Ceatta.' Cf. Catfoss (Yorks), Dom. Catefoss, ' ditch of Catta,' ' Cattestone,' sic c. 1200 in Norfolk, Catton and Chatham.
Cattal, Magna and Little (Yorks). Dom. Cathale, Cathala,CGatale. ' Nook of Catt.' See above and -hall. Magna is L. for ' Great.'
Catterick (Yorks). c.150 Ptolemy Katouraktonion, c. 380 Anton. Itin. Cataractone, Bede Cataracta,L .for' cataract, waterfall', ‘juxta Cataractam usque hodie cognominatur’, a 900 O. E. vers. Bede Cetrehta, Dom. Catrice, 1241 Cheteriz.
Catton (Allendale and E. Riding). E.R.G. Dom. Cattune, Caton, 1179-80 Pipe Catton. ' Village of Ceatta or Catta.' Cf. Ghat- ham, and 1238 Close R. Catteshal' (Suffolk).
Caunton (Newark). Dom. Calnestone, Carleton (an error),1166-7 Pipe Galnodeston, 1241 Close R. Calnedon. Clearly, ' town of Ceolnoth,' a fairly common name. Causton (Rugby) is Dom. Calvestone, fr. a man Ceolf. See -don and -ton.
Cavendish (Suffk,). Dom. Kauanadisc, Kavanadis. O.E. Ceofan, Cafanedisc,' park, enclosure of Cafa.' Cf. Standish.
Caversham (Reading). 1219 Caveresham,1238 Cavresham. From some unknown man. Caverswall( Stoke) is Dom. Cavreswelle, a. 1200 Chavereswelle, which seems clearly ' Coefer's well.' In O.E. we have cafer-tun, ' a hall, court, or mansion '; but this is not likely to be the origin. Cf. Caversfield (Oxon). Dom. Yorks, Caverlei is now Galverley. See-ham.
Cawood (Lanes and Selby). La.G. 1230 Cawude, 1346 Kawode. Selby C. not in Dom. (but Dom. Notts Cauorde,? ' Cawe's farm'). Doubtful; but prob. either, as in Cawthorne, 'cold, cauld wood,' or as in Cawton, 'Ceolf's wood.' Cf. 1233 Close R. ' Galwodeleg' (Devon).
Cawsand (Plymouth), more correctly Cosdon. Might be 'hill (O.E. dun) of Casa,' the only prob. name in Onom.
Cawston (Norwich) and Caxton (Cambridge). No. C. Dom. Cauestuna, Caustituna, Caustuna,1167-68 Caustona. Cambridge C. Dom. Caustone, 1238 Close R. Kaxston,1245 Caxton. The great printer's name is often spelt Causton. Difficult. Skeat conjectures, ' village of Cah,' gen. Cages. Cf. K.C.D. ii. 137 Cahing laeg. But the Nor. name at least surely comes fr. Caua (3), Cawe, or Cawo, all names in Onom. See-ton.
Cawthorne (Barnsley). Dom. Caltorne, 1202 Kalethorn, Kaldthorn. Prob. 'cold thorn tree'; O.E. cold, 'cold'; col, 'cool.’ But Cawton (Yorks) is Dom. Caluetun, which is prob. ' town of Ceolf.' Cf. K.C.D. 816, Ceolfestun. It may be fr. O.E. cealf , a calf.'
Cefn Coch (Newtown). W.= 'red ridge.' Cefn Llys (Radnor). 1246 Patent R. Keventhles (see p. 82). W.= ' ridge with the hall or mansion.'
Ceiriog R. (Oswestry). W.=' abounding in trout.'
Cemais, incorrectly Cemmaes (N. Pembroke, Machynlleth, and Anglesea). Pembroke C. 1222 Patent R. Kammeis, 1298 Kemmeys, c. 1550 Leland Kemes, 1603 Owen 'Kemes head called Pen Kemes pointe.' W. cemmaes is ' a circle for games, a circus,' said to be fr. camp, ' a feat, a game ' derivation is disputed.
Cenarth (Caermarthen). c. 1130 Lib. Land. Cenarth Maur,c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Canarth maur. O.W. can arth, ' white hill or height.'
Centurion's Copse (Brading). Corrup. of 'St. Urian's copse.' Cf. Polurrian.
Ceri (Montgomery). 1298 Kery. W. ceri, 'medlar-trees.' For other suggestions see T. Morgan.
Cerne Abbas (Dorchester). Sim. Dur. ann. 1102 Cernel, c. 1114 O.E. Chron. Cernel, c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Cernei, 1237 Cern'. Cerney or Cernel is also var. of R. Churn, c. 800 chart. Cyrnea, c. 1130 Cirnea. Doubtful. There is an O. Nor. Fr, kernel, ' an embrasure in a battlement, a battlement,' which has prob. Influenced the Cernel forms. But th eroot of Cerne Ab. is the R. Cerne, which is prob. W., as there is a R. Cerniog (Montgomerysh.) which flows into the R. Carno. W. cam is ' a cairn, a heap of stones,'but this can hardly be the root here; perh. it is pre-Kelt.
Cerridge, The (Macclesfield). W. cerrig, 'a rocky ridge. Cf. Carrick (Sc).
Cevnon (Cardiff), c. 1550 Leland Kevenon. W. cefn onn, 'ridge of the ash-tree.'
Chacombe (Banbury). Sic 1373. Not in Dom. or Alexander. Prob.' valley of Ccec, Cec ,Cecca,'a fairly common O .E. name. Cf. Checkley. See -combe. Possibly it maybe 'chalk combe/ The hard O.E. c as a rule becomes the softer ch in Southern names.
Chadderton (Oldham). 1190 Chaderton, 1278 Chadreton. There is no name in Onom. like C(h)ader, so this is perh. a case of a N. gen., Chad-r, ' of St. Chad.' Such a gen. is very rare in an Eng. placename, but in this case, it seems confirmed by Chatterley, which a. 1300 is both Chadderlegh and Chaddendelle (or 'dale'). Cf. Chadkirk. However, Catterton (Yorks) is Dom. Cadretone; so that Chader may be var. of Kater, as in Caterham and Kettering.
Chaddleworth (Wantage). 960 chart. Ceadelanwyrth, Dom. Cedeneord, 1291 Chadelew'rth. ' Ceadela'a farm.' See -worth. Cf. Chadshunt (Warwksh.), 1043 Chadeleshunte; Chadbury (Evesham) 714 chart. Chadelburi, 860 ib. Ceadweallan byrig; also, Chaddleton and Chalfont.
Chadkirk (Stockport). [Cf. Dom. 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 a. 1200 Chadeleswiz, while Chadwick (Worcstrsh.)—there are two—are both a. 1300 Chadeleswick or Chadleswick; the Bromsgrove one is Dom. Celdvic. But Chadsmoor (Cannock Chase) is fr. ' the blessed St. Chad.' Cf. Chadderton.
Chagford (Dartmoor). Dom. Chageforde, and still so pron. ' Ceagga's ford.' Cf. B.C.S. 762 Ceaggan heal.
Chale (Ventnor). Dom. Cela. Perh. 'cold place.' Cf. O.E. cele, ' cold, coldness '; 2-4 chele, mod. ' chill '; also O.E. cald, ceald, 2-4 southern cheald, ' cold.'
Chalfont (Slough). O.E. chart. Ceadeles funtan, Dom. Celfunde, 1292 Chalfount sancti Egidii (St. Giles), 1298 Chalfhunte. ' Ceadela's font, fountain, or spring ‘; l. fons, -tis. Cf. Chaddleworth and Bedfont, and next. But Chalford (Gloucestershire) is 1297 Chalkforde.
Chalgrove (Walingford). 1232 Close R. Chaugrave, 1240 ib. Chalfgrave. ' Grave,' O.E. groef, ' of Ceolf,' one in Onom. In mod. 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 prob. chalk cot. 1746 Rocque's Map of London has ' Upper Chalk House Lane.'
Challock (Ashford). 835 chart. Cealf-loca. ' Calf-enclosure ' or lock.' Cf. Porlock.
Challow, East and West (Wantage). Chart. Ceawan hlaewe, 1291 Westehaulawe, 1316 Estchaulo, c. 1540 Westchallow. ' Ceawa's mound, or burial-mound,' See-low.
Chalton (Horndean, Hants). Dom. Celtone, and perh. K.C.D. 722 Cealhtune, for O.E. 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 Oxf. Dict., s.v.
Chapmanslade (Westbury). ' Lade' or' watercourse of the chapman,’ or 'pedlar.' Cf. 1155 Pipe Hants, Chepmanneshale, 1160 -essele (see -hall), and Chepstow.
Chard (Axminster). Not in Dom. Perh. W. cardden, 'a wild place, a thicket,' fr. cardd, ' exile.' Possibly fr. a man Carda, one in Onom., but it is rare for a placename to be of this pattern. Cf. Goodrich and Tydd; also, Chardstock, a little to the S., Dom. Cerdestoche. See Stoke.
Charford (Salisbury). O.E. Chron. 508 Cerdigesford. The Saxon ealdorman, Cerdic or Ceardic came to England in 495. But Charford (Bromsgrove) is 1275 Cherleford, 1327 Chorleford. O.E. ceorla ford, ' ford of the churl ' or ' hind; whilst Charfield' (Wotton-under-Edge), Dom. Cirvelde, c. 1250 Charfelde, Baddeley derives fr. O.E. ceart, ' rough, fern-growing ground,'
Charing (Ashford). 799 chart. Ciornincge, 940 ib. Cirringe, Dom. Cheringes. This may be ' place of the sons of Ceorra, Ceorran, only likely name in Onom. Cf. Cherrington (Shipston-on-Stour), no old forms. But the earliest form suggests a river-name, formed with -ing, q.v., fr. 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 Dom. Chevringaurde, c. 1320 Chavelingworth, which Baddeley thinks maybe' farm of the sons of Ceafhere, 'an unrecorded name. Charing Cross (London), c. 1290 Q. 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. Prob. it is simply a patronymic like the above.
Charlbury (Oxford). Die Heilige Engl. Ceorlingeburh, 1197-1208 Churlebiry, 1238 Cherlebir. ' Burgh, castle of (the descendants of) Ceorl or Cearl,' a common O.E. name i.e., ' the churl '; eo regularl becomesa in mod.Eng. Cf. next.
Charlcombe (Bath). ' Valley of Cearl or Ceorl,' lit. ' of the churl, or carl, or bondman.' See -combe.
Charlcote (Stratford-on-Avon). Dom. Cerlecote; in Salop, too. ' Cot, hut of the peasant or bondman.' See above.
Charlton (15 in P.G.). O.E. chart. Ceorlatun, Dom. Cerletone (Berks), etc. 'Village of the churls or carls.' See Charlcombe, and cf. Chorlton. We also have a Dom. Bucks Cerleslai.
Charmouth (Dorset). O.E. Chron. 833 and Hen. Hunt. Carrum. R. Char is perh. the same Kelt. root as in Cauron (Sc), and so either 'rough' or 'crooked' river. 1160-61 Pipe Kent, has a' Charho.'
Charney Bassett (Wantage). B.C.S. i.506 Ceornei, Dom. Cernei, 1291 Cernee. ' Island on R. Cerne.' See -ey. The Bassets were a Norman family who owned lands hereabouts. But Charnes (Eccleshall) is Dom. Cervernest, a. 1200 Chavernesse, 1227 Chaunes, a. 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 Dom., but it has Cernelega. Prob. same as Carnwath (Sc), which is c. 1165 Charnewid, W. cam gwydd, ' cairn, cairnlike hill, covered with shrubs or woods'; influenced, too, no doubtbythe O.Dan, wede, Dan. ved, Eng. wood. No name like Camor, Cern in Onom.
Chart Sutton (Maidstone). 838 chart. Cert. Chert, a kind of quartz, is not found in Eng. a. 1679, so this name is doubtful. It seems little use to compare Chertsey. However, Chartley (Uttoxeter) is Dom. Certehe, c. 1300 Certelea, which must be ' Certe's ' or ' Ceort's, meadow.' We have in O.E. charters Certsecer, Ceortanstapol, etc., as well as Certham, now Chartham (Canterbury). Thus, the name Certe or Ceorta, though not in Onom., is well established.
Chatburn (Chitheroe). 1241-42 Chatteburn. Prob. 'brook of Ceatta ' or ' Ceatt,' as in next and in Chetham, sic 1235. But both this and Chat Moss may be fr. O.W. c(h)et, W. coed, 'a wood,' as in Chetwode.
Chatham O.E. chart. Ceattham, Dom. Ceteham, c. 1150 chart. Caetham. ' Home of Ceatta,' a Jute. Cf. Catton.
Chatteris (Cambridge), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Cateriz, Catriz, Chetriz, Dom. Cetriz, Cietriz; chart. Ceatrice, Chaterik; c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Chateric; a.1153 Lib. Eli. Chateriz. The forms in Ch and z are all Norm. Difficult. Possibly it contains the personal name Kater. Cf. Kettering. Skeat and Stevenson think not, and think it may be a Kelt, river-name, which is doubtful.
Chatterley (Newcastle, Staffs), a. 1300 Chadderlegh, Chaddendelle. This may be ' meadow ' or ' dale of St. Chad.' The -en is the O.E. gen. -an, whilst the er is a trace of the N. gen. in -r. Norse influence is common in N. Staffs. Cf. Chadkirk. Great and Little Chatwell in the same shire, a. 1200 Chattewelle, are also fr. Chad. But cf. Catterton, s.v. Chadderton.
Chawton (Alton). Not in Dom. It has a Caudevre (cf. Micheldever). Old forms needed. Perh. =CHAUS0N (Droitwich), Dom. Celvestune,1108 Chalvestone. O.E. Cealfestun, 'town of Calf, 'or' the calf.'
Cheadle (Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire), also C. Hulme and Moseley (Cheshire). St. C. Dom. Celle (error for Cedle; Dom. continually has felle for felde), 1166 Chelle (repeating Dom.'s error), 1194 Chedele, a. 1300 Chedle, Dogge-Chedile. Ches. C. 1194 Chedle. This must be N. kvidal,' fold-valley'; N. influence is common in N. Staffs. Cf. Katewell (E. Ross-shire), in G. Ciadail, the same name. For -dale slurring into -dle, cf. Rodil (Harris), and the ending of Marple; whilst for N. k becoming ch, cf. -caster and -chester.
Hulme is O.E. holm, ' a piece of low, flat land by a river.' Cf. Hume (Sc), 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), Dom. 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, O.E. nedl, whilst 3-6 nedle is also 3-7 nelde.
Cheam (Sutton). 1018 (or later) chart. Cheyham. 'Home of Ceahha,’ or some such name, Cf. B.C.S. 1230 Ceahhan mere. See -ham.
Chebsey (Eccleshall). Dom. Cebbesio (o for e), a. 1250 Chebbesey. ' Isle of Ceohha ' or ' Ceob,' 3 or 4 in Onom. Cf. Dom. Suffk. Cebbenhala. See-ey.
Checkley (Cheadle, Herefordshire, Essex, and S. Cheshire). Che. C. Dom. Cedla (error), 1227 Chekkesleye, Checkele. Ches. C. c.1190 Roll Chekelee, later Chackleigh. He. C. 1252 Chackileg. ' Meadow of Coec, Coacca, Cec ' or ' Cecce,' all forms in Onom. Cf. Checkendon (Reading), ' hill of Cecca,' and Kekewich. See -ley.
Cheddar (Somerset). Exon. Dom. Cetdre, Chart. Cedre, a. 1142- Wm. Malmesb. Ceddren; later Chedare. Kelt, cetder, W. coed dwr, ' wood on the stream.' 1158-59 Pipe Cedresfeld (Somerset) seems to imply a man Ceder, of whom we would have the patro nymic in1160-61 Pipe Gloucstr., Chedringwurda,' farm of Ceder's sons.' Cf. Chetwode.
Cheddleton (Leek). Dom. Celtetone, 1200 Chetilton, 1204 Cheteleton, a. 1400 Chetelton. Prob. not ' town of Ceadel ' or ' Ceadela,' as in Chaddleworth, but 'town of Cetel or Cytel,' a common O. E.name. Change of t to d, or vice versa, is common. Cf. Catterton (Yorks), Dom. Cadretone, Chatterley, and Chedworth (Gloucstrshire), 872 chart. Ceddanwyrde, fr. Cedda, but also 1190 Chedeleswarde, ' farm of Ceadel.' Caddel is still a surname.
Chelford (Cheshire). Dom. Celeford, also in Bucks, Celforde. ' Ford of Ceolla ' or ' Cella.' Cf. Chelsfield. Chellow (Bradford) is fr. the same name, Dom. Celeslau, ' Cella's hill.' See -low.
Chellaston (Derby). Prob. Dom. Cellasdene. Cf. 939 chart. Ceolan hyrst (Kent). Now ' town of Ceolla,; but the ending seems to have been formerly -dean, q.v.
Chelmarsh (Bridgnorth). 1179 Cheilmarsh, 1255 Cheylmerse. Prob. contract, for ' Ceolmund's marsh.' Cf. Chelmick in the same shire, 1232 Chelmimdewyk; but Cheylesmore (Coventry) is a. 1300 Chisilmore, O.E. ceosel mor, ' shingly moor.'
Chelmondiston (Ipswich). Local pron. Chimston, Not in Dom. ' Village of Chelmond or Geolmund, 'a very common O. E. name. Cf. Cholmondestone (Cheshire), Dom. Chelmundestone; also, Cholmondeley.
Chelmsford. Dom.Celmeresfort,1160 Pipe Chelmesford, 1161ib. Nord chelmeresford. ' Ford of Ceolacer ' or ' Celmar,' 3 in Onom. Liquid r easily disappears. The name of the river Chelmer is thus a back formation fr. the ford.
Chelsea. O.E. Chron. 785 Cealchype, 1465 Chalchithe, a. 1600 Chellsaye. The name has changed. Orig. it was ' chalk- hithe ' or ' landing-rise.' See Hythe. But the present form represents O.E. ceosel-ize, 'pebble-bank isle'; O.E. ceosel, ' pebble or shingle.' Cf. Ger. kiesel, and Cheselhanger (Berkeley), 1368 Chisulhanger, 'shingly wooded slope.'
Chelsfield (Chiselhurst). Possibly by dissimilation Dom. Ciresfel. 1298 Chelesfelde, ' Field of Ceolla,' a fairly common name. Cf. ' Chelesbergh ' in chart. of 935, near Shaftesbury, Dom. Surrey, Celesham, and Cheleswurda,1159-58 PipeWilts. But Chelsworth (Bildeston, Suffk.) is 962 chart. Ceorlesworth, 'farm of Ceorl'—i.e., the churl or carl —common name in Onom. See-worth. Cheltenham. 803 chart. Celtanhom, Dom. Chinteneham, 1158-59 Chilteham. ' Enclosure on R-. Chelt,' prob. a Kelt, word, possibly the same root as Celtce. The ending here is hamm, not ham. See -ham.
Chelwood (Bristol). Old forms needed. (Dom. has only Ceolflede, Celflede, fr. Ceolf or Ceolivulf.) May be ' Ceolla's wood,' or perh. ' cold wood,' fr. 4 cheld, cheald. South, form of cold, O.E. cald.
Chenies (Rickmansworth).? 1131 O. E. Chron. (Laud.) Chinni, 1297 Cheyny. Prob. O.E. cine, cyne, 3 chine, 4-6 chene, chyn, ' a fissure, a crack, a chine.' Cf. Kempton. The ending is the commonly suffixed Eng. pl. But Dom. Yorks Chenehall is now Killinghall.
Chepstow. In W. Casgwent (cas for castel). Dom. Estrighoiel, 1228 Close R. Striguill; also Straguil. The Dom. Form looks like ' dwelling, abode, W. ystre, of the Goidel or Gael.' But the present name is O.E. ceap-stow, ' marketplace, place for bar- gaining,' as in Cheapside.
Chequerbent (Bolton), c.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 fr. chequer sb. ' chess- board’ or ' chessboard pattern '; O.Fr. eschequier; in Eng. 1297 chekere. See also Bentley; and cf. Chowbent (Lanes), 1641-42 Cholbent? ' bent of Ceol.'
Cherhill (Calne). Dom. Cheurel, 1158-59 Pipe Ceriel. Doubtful; first part prob. as in next; -el is a very rare representative of -hill. It is conceivable that the root is O.E. ceafor, cefer, 4 chauer, ' a chafer, a beetle '; O.H.G. chevar.
Cheriton (4 in P.G.). Dom. Ciretona (Devon). Hardly fr. the cherry, O.E. ciris, cyrs, and then not found till c. 1350, cheri, chiry. Perh. ' village of Ceorra ' or ' Cyra,' one such of each in Onom. 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 prob. Dom. Cerewartone, fr. 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 Dom. Cf. Churston. However, Cherington (Tetbury), Dom. Cerintone, c. 1120 Cherintone, later Chederintone, Baddeley thinks is, ' ton, farm-enclosure of the Ceadrings ' or ' sons of (?) Ceadhere.'
Chertsey. Bede Cerotaesei, id est insula Ceroti, v.r. Ceoroti [grant of 675 Cherteseye]. 1084 O.E. Chron. Ceorteseye, Dom. Certesy. ' Isle of Cerot.' See -ey.
Cherwell R. (Oxford). 681 chart. Flumen quod appellatur Ceruelle. 864 ib. Cearwellan, 1005 Cearwylle, Cyrwylle. Possibly connected with O. E. cyrran' to turn,’ but prob. pre-Keltic.
Chesham (Bucks). K.C.D. 658 Cissanham. O.E. for 'home of Cissa.' Cf. Chessington, Keswick, and Dom. Essex, Cesseworda, Cishelle. The names Cis, Cisi, and Ciss also occur.
Cheshunt (Waltham Cross). Dom. Cistrehunt, a. 1300 Cesterhunt, 1402 Chesthunte, ' camp's hunt ' or ' hunting-ground.' See Chester. But Chesford (Kenilworth) is c. 1422 Chessford, of quite uncertain origin perh .O.E. ceosleg,' shingly.' We get the; personal name Chesney in Sezincote (Glouc.), Dom. Che(i)snecote, ' cot of Chaisne ' or ' Chesney,' O. Er. chesnaie, ' an oakwood.'
Cheslyn Hay (Walsall), a.1300 Hay of Chistlynn ,Chistling, Chistling, Cheslyn, Chystlyn. Duignan takes this to be a dimin. of chest, Sc. hist, O.E. cest, cist. Cf. Chestal (Dursley), 1374 Chystelay. Hay is O.E. hege, ' a fenced or hedged enclosure,' here perh. round an ancient cromlech or burial-mound.
Chessington (Surbiton). Dom. Cisendone. ' Cissa'& fort'; O.E. dun. Cf. Chichester. See-don and-ton.
Chester. Bede,' Civitas Legionum, which by th eEnglishis called Legacestir, but by the Britons more rightly Carlegion,' in c. 810 Nennius Cair Ligion (W. caer, 'fort, castle') and Urbs legionis, 894 O.E. Chron. Anre waestre castre, Dom. Cestrescire, c. 1097 Flor. Wore. ' Civitas quae Carlegion Britannice et Legeccaster dicitur Saxonice. L. castra, ‘camp’. O. E. ceaster. ‘a fortified place,’ then often a town.’ Cf. A. S. Gospels (Luke x. II). In mod. W. Caerlleon Gwr, great fort of the legion. (? The 20th). Cf. 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 O.E. feld, 3-5 feflt(e). In 1262 the liquid l has become w, as it often does, esp. in Sc., but Oxf. Dict, gives no examples under field.
Chester-le-Street. a.1130Sim.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, Staffs, and Warwickshire.). Ci. C. c. 1100 Cestretone. Warwickshire C. 1043 chart. Cestretune, Dom. Cestretone, Cestedone. O. E. ceaster-tun,'town of the fort, castle-town.' See Chester and -ton. Also cf. Dom. Bucks Cestreham.
Cheswardine (Market Drayton). Dom. Ciseworth, a. 1200Chesewurda, Cheswordyn, Chesewardyn, Chesew'rthin. ' Cheese- making farm.' O.E. cese, cyse, ' cheese,' and -worth or its var. -wardine, q.v. Similar is Cheswick (Northumberland), c. 1100 Cheseuuic, 1631 Cheswick, lit. ' cheese-house.' See -wick. Also cf. Butterwick and Chiswick.
Chetnole (Sherborne). (Dom. has Chenolle and Chenoltone and Cnolle.) Hybrid. O. Keltic chet; W. coed, ' a wood '; and O.E. cnoll, ' a rounded hillock, a knoll.' Cf. Chetwode, Knowle, and Kits Coity House, name of a cromlech, Aylesford, Kent. Jos. Colebroke, c. 1800, says Kit was an old shepherd, who fed his flocks here; and Coity must be fr. coed.
Chettle (Blandford). Dom. Ceotel (o prob. error). 1238 Close R. Chetel. O.E. cytel, cetel; O.N. cetel, 'a kettle,' hence a valley shaped like a kettle, a ' corrie.' Cf. Kettle or Kingskettle (Fife).
Chetton (Bridgnorth). 1 Dom. Catinton. ' Town of Ceatta,' 2 in Onom. Cf. Dom. Bucks, Cetendone.
Chetwode (Bucks). 949 chart. Cetwuda, Dom. Cetevde, 1248 chart. ' Forest of Chett,' 1270 ' in Bosco (wood) de Cett,' 1290 Chetwood. Hybrid tautology; O.W. coit; W. coed, ' a wood.' Cf. Chute and the personal name Chetwynd (W. coed gwvyn); also Dom. Cornw. Chilcoit (Corn, for' neck of the wood'), and Bucks, Cetedone, though this last may be fr. O.E. cete, ' cot, hut.' Cf. Datchet. Also cf. Chetnole.
Cheveley (Newmarket), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Cauelei, Chauelei, Cheuelei, Dom. Cliavelai, a. 1200 chart. Cheaflea, Caeafle, 1346 Chavele, 1426 Cheveley. ' Chaff-meadow '; O.E. ceaf, 2-4 cheue, 4 chaue, ' chaff.'' See -ley.
Chevenage (Avening). Not in Dom. 1626 Chavenedge. Prob. Cheven- is O .E .Cifan,' Cifa's’ with the usual Norm, softening. Cf. Chevening, Chevington, Chieveley, and Dom. Surrey Civentone. But it maybe fr. Cefn. -age, q.v.,is usually a late ending, and needs old forms to interpret it.
Chevet (Barnsley) Dom. Cevet; and Cheviot Hills, c. 1250 Montes chiueti, a. 1300 Mons chiuioth, c. 1500 Chevet, 1596 Cheuott. Possibly G. c(h)iahach, ' bushy place,' fr. ciahh, ' hair," which may also be the root of Chevy Chase. For-ach becoming-iot, cf. Elliot (Sc). There is also Caville (Yorks), which is Dom. Cevetle (see -ley). The name is very doubtful. Fr. chevet, 'a pillow,' seems impossible. But the Chevin (Otley) is plainly W. cefn,' a hillridge.'
Chevington (Acklington, Bury St.Edmunds, and Pershore). Bury C. Dom. Ceuentuna. Pershore C. 972 chart. Civincgtune, Dom. Civintone, 1275 Kyvintone, Chyvintone. ' Town of the sons of Cifa.' Cf. Chevenage. See-ing and-ton.
Chevy Chase (N. Northumberland). Sic c. 1650, but a. 1500 ballad. 'The hunttis of Cheuet.' See Cheviot and Cannock Chase.
Chewton Mendip (Bath). Dom. Civetune, 1230 Close R. Chiweton, 1238 ib. Chyweton. Onom. has no Ciwa, onlyone Ceawa,which may be the name here, and also in Chew Magna and Stoke (Bristol). Dom. Chiwe. There seems no likelier origin, though it is rare for a place to be called after a man alone, but cf. Goodrich, etc. Magna is L. for ' Great.'
Chichester. 891 O.E. Chron. Cisseceaster, c. 1070 Ecclesia Cicestrensis, c. 1114 Cicestre, 1167-68 Cycestr', c. 1180 Cicestria, late chart. Chichestra, 1297 B. Glouc. Chichestre. ' Camp, fort of Cissa, 'son of Ella, d.c. 520. See Keynor, and cf. Cissbury Camp (Worthing).
Chich St. Osyth (Colchester), c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Chicce, Sim. Dur. ami. 1123 Cice, 1157 Pipe Chich. Doubtful. None of the words spelt chich in Oxf. Dict, yield a likely origin, and there seems nothing helpful in O.E. Cf. Dom. Devon, Cichet. So prob. the name is Keltic, meaning some thing or place of concave or hivelike shape. Cf. W. 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 fr. Which fractious wives used to be' chided, 'stills tands at the rear of the village; O.E. cidan, to chide, pa. tense, chid, pa. pple. chidden. But for all that, this is prob. an example of popular etymology, and the real name will be O.E. Cyddan Stan, ' stone of Cydda ‘; there are 2 of this name in Kent mentioned in Onom. Cf. Kiddington (Oxon), Dom. Chidintone; but the Kent name is not in Dom.
Chieveley (Newbury). O.E. chart. Cifan lea, 1291 Chivele. ' Lea, meadow of Cifa.' Not the same name as Cheveley (Cambs). Cf. Chevington and see -ley.
Chigwell (Ongar). O.E. chart Cingwella, later Cinghewella, Chiwellia. ' King' swell,' O. E. cyning, 1-2 cyng, cing. Cf. Chingford.
Chilcott (Wells) and Chilgote (Ashby-DE-LA-Z.). Prob., as in Chilton and Chilwell, ' Cilda's cot'; the adj. chill is inadmissible in all these cases, being recent. But Dom. Cornw., Chilcoit, will be Old Keltic, or Corn, for 'neck of the wood'; with Corn. chil, cf. G. caol, ' narrow,' and caolas, ' a strait, a kyle.' The Wells name could quite easily be Corn.; it is not in Dom. Cf. Kilcot.
Childrey (Wantage). Chart. Cillan rithe. Cilia rithe, Dom. Celrea, a. 1300 Celrea, Cehy. Cilia is presumably a personal name. Cf. B.C.S. 1242 Cillan hrycg (i.e., ' ridge '); prob. Cille, sister of Hean, first abbot of Abingdon. The letter d often suffixes itself. Cf. Drummond (Sc). Rith is O.E. for ' stream,' cognate with L. rivus. Cf. Shottery. But Childerley (Cambs) is Cildra-ledh,' children's' Cildra 'lea.', children’s. (C childers’ s) la.
Child's Wickham (Broadway, Worcester). 706 chart. Chilcleswicwon, Wicwone, 972chart.Vuiguuennan. The present ame is a corruption the chart, name may contain W. gwig,' a thicket, grove, forest,' or els ethe name of the tribe Huiccii. See Worcester; also see Wikhamford. Child is O.E. cild, 'a child,' not found as child till c. 1160, so that the copy of the 706 chart. must be late. Cild is also early found as a proper name.
Chillingham (Bedford). Sic 1595, and Chillington [Kingsbridge (Sussex), Crewkerne and Brewood (Staffs)]. Ki. and Cr. C. Dom. Cilletone. Br. C. Dom. Cillentone, a. 1200 Cilderton, a. 1400 Chilinton, ' Home, village, or town of Cille.' The names Cild. Cilia, Cille, and Cilli are all in Onom. But Sus. C. is c. 1060 chart. Cillingtun (probably), or ' village of Cilling,' prob. Patronymic fr. above. See -ham, -ing, and-ton.
Chiltern. a. 800 Chilternsaetna, Dom. Cilterne (Somerset), a.1125 O.E. Chron. ann. 1009 Ciltern, c. 1200 Gervase Chiltre. Cf., too, chart Hen. I. a ' Ciltre.' Oxf. Dict. says origin unknown. The name is also applied to a kind of soil. The -ern is prob. O. E. erne,' a house.'
Chilton (5 in P.O.). C. Poldon, Bridgewater, Dom. Cildetone, Steventon C. 1015 chart. In loco ubi solicolae appellativo usu Cilda tun nominant, Dom. Cilletone, a. 1300 Chilton, Dom. Bucks Ciltone. Cilda, 1015; prob. is a man's name, as the proper gen. plu. of O.E. cild, ' child’ is cildra. But Skeat says that this, like Chilford (Cambs)means' children's.’ Yet Kilton, (Yorks), sic 1179, is Dom. Chilton, which makes Skeat's assertion doubtful, Cf. next.
Chilvers Coton (Nuneaton). Dom. Celverdestoche (see -stock), a. 1200 Chelverdcote, a. 1300 Chilverdescote, Chelverescot. 'Ceolweard’ s cottages, 'coton being an O.E.pl.of cot.
Chilwell (Nottingham). Dom. Cilleuuelle, Cidwelle, Chidewelle. Cf. Dom. ' Cildewelle ' (Cheshire). Chil- prob. represents a man Cild, Cilia, or Cille; all these forms are found in Onom. The Eng. adj. chill is not found till 1513. See, too, above, and cf. Chilworth (Romsey and Guildford), Dom. Leicr., Chilurda, and 1238 Close R. Cheleworth (Cricklade), which all must be fr. 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 Oxf. Dict, gives no quot. before 1830.
Chingford (Walthamstow). The early forms vary much Dom. Chilgelford, 1242 Chingelford, also Cingeford, Cingheford, Echingelsford. Schingelford. This seems to be ' Shingle – ford.’ N. singl, ' water-worn gravel or pebbles,' M.E. chingle; but plainly confused with 'King's ford.' CJ. Chigwell, and 1160 Pipe Chingeswuda (Kingswood,? in Surrey).
Chinnock, E. and W. (Somerset). Dom. Cinioch. Prob.Keltic. Possibly var. of Cannock, fr. W. cnwc, ' a hillock.' But also cf. G. cianog,' a small piece of arable land.'
Chinnor (Wallingford). 1234 Close R. Chynhore, Chennor. ' Bank, edge of Cina ' or ' Cyna,' gen. -an. Cf. Chinley (Stock- port). See -or.
Chippenham (Wilts, Bp’s. Cleeve, Cambs). Wi.C.878 O. E. Chron. Cippan hamm, c. 900 chart. Cippenhamme, 1158-59 Chepeham, Bp. C. c. 812 chart. Cippanhamme, Ca. C. c. 1080 Inquis. Cam. Chipenham, Dom. Chipeham. ' Enclosure,' O.E. hamm, or ' home,' O.E .ham,' of Cippa,'-an, a rare name; Cippan cannot be=Chipping. Cf. Dom. Essex, Kippedana, the 2 Chipsteads, and Chippinghurst (Oxon), chart. Cibbanhyrst,' Cibba's wood.'
Chipping Norton, Ongar, Sodbuby, etc. a. 1300 Roll Norton Mercatoria. Chipping is var. of cheaping, found c. 1200 cheping, ' a market, a marketplace,’ fr. O.E. ceap, ' barter,' cipan, ' to sell, same root as cheap, cheapen, etc. Cf. Chepstow, and see Norton, etc. The mod. 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), Dom. Chipindcn, is prob.- ' vale of Cipa ' or ' Ceapa,’ one in Onom (see -den), and Chippington (Nthbld.) old Cebbington,' town of Ceabba,' gen.-ban, one in Onom. See-ing.
Chipstead (Red Hill and Sevenoaks). Not in Dom. Prob. hHomestead of Cyppa.' Cf. Chippenham and Dom. Norfk. Chiptona. Chirbury (Salop) 913 O.E.Chron.Cyricyrig i.e.,' churchburgh’ or' town.' See the interesting article Church in Oxf. Dict. But by c. 1120 Hen. Hunt .it is Cereburih, 1236 Chirebir'. See -bury.
Chirk (Accrington and Oswestry). Accrington C. 1202 Chirche, or ' church '; but Osw. C. a. 1300 Cirice, c. 1350 Chirk, which may not represent O.E. for' church,' as in Chirbury; but, as Chirk is on the R,. Ceiriog, it may be a corrup. of it. In W. it is Eglwys y waen,' church of th emoor.'
Chiselhurst, 1160 Pipe Chiselherst, c. 1380 Chesilhurst. ' Woody place on the shingle,' O.E. ceosel. See Chelsea and -hurst; and cf. Chesil Bank, Dorset. But Chiselborough (Stoke-under-ham) is 1236 Close R. Sidelberg, prob. 'burgh of Cecil.' The original seat of the Cecils was in Monmouth, where the name is pron. Seisyl; we see the same name in Isolde or Yseult of the medieval romances and in Chisholm (Sc). See -boro'. We also have 1240 Close E. Chiselhampt'.
Chisenbury (Pewsey). Dom. Cheseberie. Cf. Dom. Surrey Cisendone. ' Burgh, town of Cisi,’ one in Onom. Cissa is much commoner. See -bury. Great Chishall (1597 Chishill), Royston, may be fr. the same name.
Chislet (Canterbury). Chart, and Dom. Cistelet. Possibly O.N. Fr. castelet, chastelet, dimin, of chastel, mod. Fr. chatelet and chateau, ' a little castle.' We have eastelet in Eng. c. 1320 and chastelet in 1494; but the early change fr. a to i is scarcely explained. Prof. Weekley is quite doubtful.
Chiswick (London). Not in Dom. c. 1230 Chesewycke. O.E .cese, cyse wic, ' dwelling, hamlet where cheese was made.' Cf. Butterwick and Cheswardine, and see -wick.
Chitterne (Wilts), a. 675 Grant Cyterene forde.? Dom. Chetre. Prob. ' Cyta's house,' O.E. erne. We find both a ' Cytan ford ' anda' Cittan den' in early charters.
Chittlehamholt (Chulmleigh) and Chittlehampton (Umberleigh), both Devon. Dom. Citrametona (though in MS. Curametone). The first part must be the common O.E. name Cytel, Chitel, or Ketel; the r in Dom. is due to the common interchange of liquids. Dom. also has Chetelescote. Holt is O.E. and Icel. for ' a wood, a grove.' See Hampton.
Cholderton (Salisbury). Dom. Celdretone, Celdrintone, 1287 Close R. Childwarton. ' Town of Ceolweard,' var. ' Kilvert.'
Chollerford, and -ton (N. Tyne). c. 410 Notit. Dign. Cilurno, a. 700 Rav. Geogr. Celunno, 1232 chart. Chelreton. Cilurno suggests W. cilwrn, 'cauldron,’ fr. the cavities in the rocky riverbed here; Sc. Rhys. But the disappearance of the n is curious. Cf. above.
Cholmondeley (Cheshire). Pron. Chumly. Dom. Calmundelei. “Calmund's or ' Ceolmund's meadow.' Cf. Chelmondiston. See -ley.
Cholsey (Berkshire). 1005 O.E. Chron. Ceolesige, Dom. Celsei, Sim. Dur. ann. 1006 Ceolesegia, c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Coleseige. ' Ceola's isle '; several Ceolas are known. See -ey.
Choppington (Morpeth), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Cebbingtun. ' Ceahba's village.' Cf. B.C.S. 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 prob. Keltic;? cognate with W. cor, 'a circle, a crib.' Of. Dom. Worcr. ' Chure.' But Chorley (Lichfield) is sic a. 1400 and a. 1600 Chorley alias Charley. ' Meadow of Ceorl,' or ' of the carl or churl.’ O.E. ceorl.
Chrishall (Royston). Not in Dom. 1298 Cristeshale i.e., ' Christ's, nook.' Cf. Dom. Worcr. Christetone, and Christon Bank (Northumbld.).
Christchurch. 1058 O.E. Chron. AEt Christes cyrcean, a. 1109 AEt Xrescircean, c. 1160 Gesta Steph. Cristiciria (sic).
Christian Malford (Chippenham). 940 chart. Cristemalford, ' Christ's Malford,’ or ' ford of the tax or impost.’ O.E. mal, seen in the Sc. mailing.
Chudleigh (2 in Devon). Not in Dom. 'Meadow of Cudd' or ' Gudda,' names in Onom. See-leigh.
Chulmleigh (Devon). Dom. Calmonleuge, Exon. Dom. 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, dat. of leah. See -ley.
Churchhill (4 in P.G.). Kidderminster C. Dom. Circehille, Oxford C. 1295 chart. Cercelle, later Cherchehulle, Dom. Bucks Cherchehelle, also Chirchefeld; in Dom. Surreyit is Cercefelde. Form 1295 is only an early spelling of ' church hill.' Cf. the forms under Christchurch. Churchdown (Gloustrshire.), now pron. Chosen, is already in Dom. Circesdune.
Churchinford (Honiton). Not in Dom. Perh. 935 chart. Chircelford. The liquids do interchange, but l rarely becomes n. The early spellings in the Oxf. Dict, do not encourage us to derive Chircel fr. circle; but there is a Mod. L. cercella, O. Fr. cercelle, ' the teal duck,’ which seems possible.
Church Minshull (Middlewich). See Minshull Vernon.
Churchover (Rubgy). Dom. Wara, 1257 Waur(e), a. 1300 Church Waver, 1327 Chirche-Wavre. The -overs of Warwk., Brown over, Cester-Over, etc., are all fr. O.E. wafre, waefre, ' the aspen poplar.' See Wavertree, etc.
Churn, R. (Cirencester). Prob. found in c. 150 Ptolemy Corinion and a. 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 O. E. cyrin,' achurn,' and is prob. pre-Keltic. There is also a Churnet, trib. of R. Dove (Staffd.), 1284 Chirnete, which might be dimin. of O.E. cyrin, cirn; but Duignan is prob. right in connecting it with the other river. Of. Cerne.
Churston Ferrers (Devon). Prob. 1167-68 Pipe Chirestona. ''TovfnoiCire,' one. Cyra in Onom. C'/. Cheriton. On Ferrers, see Beer.
Chute (Wilts) and Chute Standen (Andover). 1238 Close R. Cett, 1241 ib Cet,? which. Cf. 1248 chart. ' Forest of Chett,' 1270 in Bosco de Cett. Kelt, chet, coit, W. coed,' a wood.' See Chetwode.
Chyandour (Penzance). Corn. = ' house on the water,' ti, chi, ' a house.' The G. tigh, 'a house,' also commonly takes the ch sound. Cf. 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). W. cil is 'the back,' then 'a retreat, a place of retreat, a corner.' Cf. G. cill and cuil. The -san is thought to be O. E. segne, L.sagina, Gk….' a seine (net).'
Cindery I. (Brightlingsea). 1539 Syndry, 1674 Sinder Isle. Prob. O. E. sunderea,' isle sundered or separated' from the mainland. Cf. Sunderland; whilst Cinderford, For. of Dean, is 1281 Sinderford. See-ey.
Cirencester. Prob. c. 150 Ptolemy Corinion, a. 700 Rav. Geogr. Cironium, O.E. Chron. 628 Cirenceastre, c. 893 Asser Cirrenceastre called' Cair ceri’ in British, which is the south part of the Huiccii (see Worcester), 1155 Cirecestre, c. 1180 Ben. Peterb. Cirencestria, Cirecestria, 1298 Cicestre, which last is near the present pron., Sister, Sizeter. In W. Caergeri, really the same name. Usually said to be' Ciren's camp.' Ther eis no Ciren or Cyren in Onom., 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 Dom. ' Burgh, fort of Cissa.' See Chichester and -bury.
Claines (Worcester), a, 1100 Cleinesse, a. 1200 Claines. This is certainly an abnormal name, but it can hardly be aught else but O.E. claene, clane noes, 'clear, clean headland '; the orig. 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. Dom. Clenefelde, 1216-1307 Glanfeld, 1274-79 Clanefeld. Cf. Dom. Clanedun (Surrey) and Clandone (Bucks). All fr. O.E. cloene, clane,' clear, clean, free from dirt or weeds.' See -don. Clapham (Westmld. , London, and Beds). We. C. Dom.Clapeham; London C a. 900 chart. Cloppaham, Clappenham, Dom. 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. Dan. Mop, 'a stub, a stump,' prob. Allied to clump: so ' house in the stumpy ground.' Similarly, Clapton (Hungerford), 1316 Clopton, and Clapton (Glostrsh.) c. 1200Cloptune; whilst Dom. has a Clopcote (Berks). Cf. Clopton. Skeat does not seem to have noted the Dom, Westmld. form, which favours derivation fr. a man. Cf., too, Dom. Sffk. Cleptuna.
Clarendon (Salisbury). 1164 Hoveden Clarendonum, 1373 Claryndone. The adj. clear is not found in Eng. a. 1297, and there is only one obscure Clare in Onom., so the origin of this name is doubtful. W. clawr, 'surface, cover,' does not seem likely; ' Hill of Clare ' is more so, O.E. dun, ' a hill, a fort.' Cf. next.
Claro (Yorks), Not in Dom., though now name of a wapentake. May be ' clear, conspicuous how O.N. haug-r, or moothill of its wapentake; only, clear, 3-5 cler, is not found in Eng. a. 1297. But there is also Clareton (Yorks), Dom. Claretone, which favours derivation fr. a man Clare. Cf. Clarendon, Greenho (Norfolk), and Thingoe.
Clatford (Andover). Dom. Cladford. Doubtful. No name in Onom. like Clad. Perh. fr .O.E .elate,' bur, burdock, clivers.'
Claughton-on-Brock (Garstang). Dom.Clactune,1208 Clatton, 1241 Close E.C lexton,1288 Claghton. ' Village of Clac,'several in Onom., whilst Brock is O.E. broc, ' a brook.' Cf. Claxton, Clawton, Holsworthy, and 1160-61 Pippe Clawurda (Notts and Derby); also Dom. Yorks Clactone, now Clayton West, and Cloctone now Cloughton.
Claverdon (Stratford, Wwk.), Dom. Clavendone, 1151 Claverdon, 1326 Clardon. 'Clover hill'; O.E. Cloefre. Cf. next and see -don.
Clavering (Newport, Essex). Dom. Both Essex and Nfk. Clavelinga,1241 Close R. Cluering,1330 Claveryng. This cannot be the same as Claverley (Wolverhampton.) and Claverhoitse (So.), fr. O.E. clafre, doefre,4-7claver,' clover.’ It mus tbe, by dissimilation, fr. a man Clavel, prob. he who came over with Wm. The Conqueror- ‘place of the sons of Clavel.' See -ing.
Claxton (Stockton, Yorks, and Norfolk.). St. C. sic 1344, Yorks C. Dom. 3 times Claxtorp (see -thorpe), Nfk. C. Dom. Clakestona. ' Town of Clacc ' or ' Klahk-r,' a N. name. Cf. Clacton and Claughton.
Clay (Lincoln). Sic c. 1180 Bened. Peterb. The earliest instance of the form clay, O.E. claez, in the Oxf. Dict, is a. 1300. Clayhanger (Devon, S. Somerset, Staffs, Essex). Devon .C. Dom. Clehangre, Glostr. C. Claenhangare; Somerset C. 1300 Cleyhunger, later Cleohongre; Essez. C. 1015 O.E. Chron. Claeighangra i.e., ' clay slope.' The prob. meaning of O.E. hangra is ' slope,' fr. the ob. hang, or perh. ' wood on a slope.' See Oxf. Dict, hanger’. Cf. Birchanger, Hungerford, etc. In Glostr. it has now become dinger, 1138 Cleangra.
Clayton (8 in P.O.). More than one in Yorks Dom. Claitone. Clayton Griffith (Newcastle, Staffs) is Dom. Claitone, a. 1300 Clayton Griffyn. O.E. cloeg-tun, ' town in the clay.' But Dom. Yorks also has a Clactone=Claytcon West. See Claughton. The Griffyns were lords of the manor in the 13th cny.
Clayworth (Retford). Dom. Clauorde. 1156 Clawurda, 1202 Clawurth. ‘Clayey farm.' Cf. above and -worth. The surname Cleworth is the same name.
Cleasby (N. Riding, Yorks). Dom. Clesbi, 1202 Clasebi, 1298 Cleseby. Prob. ' Dwelling of Clea,' or some such name, not found in Onom. See -by. Hardly fr. O.E. cleof, later cleo, ' a cliff, a cleve ' (q.v. in Oxf. Dict.). This last is the origin of Clee and Cleobury.
Cleatlam (Barnard Castle). a. 1130 Sim. Dwr. Clethinga. Doubtful. The -am will be -ham, ' home.'
Cleator (Whitehaven). Old Cletergh. O.N. klett-r, 'a cliff, a crag,' and ergh, N. corrup. of G. airigh, 'a shieling, a hut.' Cf. Anglesark.
Cleddy R. (Milford Haven). 921 Clede mupan, c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Glade mouth, c. 1130 Lib. Land. Clediv and Doncledif. Prob. O.W. eled, 'warm'; perh. W. cladd, 'a trench,' Cf. Clwyd. But Owen, 1603, spells it Clydagh.
Clee Hills (Salop). Dom. Clee, Cleie. O.E. cleof, later cleo, 'a cUff, a brae,' same word as Cleveland. Cliff' in O.E. is also clif, N. klif. Cf. Dom. Lines. Cleia, and Cleetiiorpes (Grimsby), not in Dom.
Clenchwarton (K’ s Lynn). No tin Dom. 1234 Clos eR.Clenchewartun. Doubtful. Hardly fr. Eng. to clench O.E. clincan, which as sb. is late. Cf. Clench Common (Marlboro'), which may be connected with 941 chart. Clinca leage, Tisted (Hants). Possibly Kelt.,? W. clyn, ' brake, thicket,' with 2nd syll. half lost, as in Trunch. See Warton.
Clent Hills (Stourbridge). Sic Dom. Dan. and Sw. Mint, Icel. klett-r,' a hard, flinty rock,' found in Eng.as clint. 1300 and as clen ta.1400. Cf. Glentworth, and Clint (Ripley, Yorks), not in Dom. ; also Dunclent, sic in Dom., nearby.
Cleobury Mortemer (Salop). Dom. 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 Pipe. Stow, Survey, 1598, says, the Londo nplace' 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 (Eves- ham) is 888 chart. Clife, Dom. Clive. 1160-61 Pipe, Northants has a Chua. Cf. Bishop's Cleeve.
Cleveland (N. Yorks). Sim. Dur. ann. 1093 Clivelande, 1209 Cliveland, 1461 Clevland. ' Cliff-land.' See Clee. Dom. has only Clive in Yorks, but this 12 times = North and South Cliff, etc.
Clewer (Windsor and Cheddar). Windsor C. Dom. Clivore, 1291 Cliwar, Clyfwere, 1316 Clyware. Prob. O.E. clif-wara, ' home of the cliff-dwellers.' Such cliff-men are referred to in B.C.S. i. 318 (Kent). Dom. Somst. has only a Clovewrde, 'farm of ' Clofa; this can hardly be Clewer, Cheddar, but? With it cf. Clearwell (For. of Dean), old Clowerwall, fr. dower, 'sluice, milldam,' found in 1483 clowre, and still in North dial, door, but further S. usually clow. See Oxf. Dict. s.v.
Cliffe. Prob. that at Selby, c. 890 AElfred Baeda 112 Clife. O.E. clif, ' a cliff.' See also s.v. Cleveland.
Clifford (4 in P.G.). Gloucester C. 922 chart. Clifforda, Dom. Clifort. ' Cliff-ford '—i.e., ' steep ford.'
Clifton (14 in P.O.). Dom. Yorks Cliftun, 14 times, a. 1100 Hugo Candidus a ' Cliftune,' Rugby C. Dom. Cliptone (p an error). Clifton Camville (Tamworth) is Dom. Clistone, another error, but 1100 Cliftun. ' Cliff town.' See above. The Camvilles were Nor. lords of the manor, who took their name fr. Canappeville, Eure, Normandy. Their name was also spelt Campville.
Clipsham (Oakham) and Clipston (Mket. Harboro'). Dom. Clipestone, 1317 Clipston. 'Clip's home' or 'village'; one Clip in Onom. Cf. Dom. Clipesbei, now Clixby (Norfolk).
Clitheroe (Lanes). Sim. Dur. contin. ann. 1138 Clitherhou, 1175-76 Cliderhous, 1230 Cliderho, 1241 Cliderhow, 1501 Cliderowe. Fr. early dial, dithers, mod. dial, clider, for clivers, ' goose- grass, and Hoe, O.E. hoh,' a height.'
Clive (Shrewsbury). Sic 1327. O.E. clif, 2-6 cliue, really a dat., ' a cliff.'
Clopton (Glostrsh., Thrapston, Stratford, Wwk., Woodbridge [or Clapton]). Gl. C. Dom. Cloptune. Thrapston C. c. 1080 Inquis Camb. Clopetuna, 1210 Cloptune. Stratford C. 1016 Cloptune, Dom. Clotone. 'Town of Clopa' cf., Clapton, also 1179-80 Pipe Clopton (Yorks). But cf. Clapham.
Closworth (Sherborne). 'Not in Dom. 1252 chart. Cloveswurthe, 1270 Clovesuude (i.e., ' wood '). Prob. ' farm of Clovis or Clofa,' or some such name. The nearest in Onom. is Clofena. Cf. a ' Closley, 1285 in Salop, and Lowestoft; and see-worth.
Cloughton. See Claughton.
Clovelly (N. Devon). Dom. Clovelie. Doubtful; perh. Corn. clog (G. clock), ' a steep rock ' and velen, ' yellow.' There is also a Bratton Clovelly, near Okehampton.
Clun (W. Salop). Dom. Clone, Clune. Now in W. Colunwy. [Cf. 1131 O.E. Chron. ' Prior of Clunni.] W. clyn, ' a brake, a thicket.' But cf. Clunie (Sc.), amd G. cluain, ‘a meadow’, Clungunford, nearby, will be W. clyn gytvn, ' fair, clear thicket,' whilst Clunbury is Dom. Cluneberie. See-bury and Clunton is Dom. Cluton.
Clwyd R. (Denbighsh.). Dom. Cloith, Cloit. W. clwyd, 'warm,' also ' strong.' Cf. Clyde (Sc).
Clydach (Glam. and Abergavenny). Gl. C. 1207-08 Cleudach. W. clwyd, ' warm, comfortable, sheltering.' Some say, ach is ' river'; it is more prob. a suffix of place. Cf. Clarach, Aberystwith.
Clyst (Exeter and Topsham). Exeter C. 1001O.E. Chron. Glistun, v.r. Clistun, Dom. Clistone, Glustone. Also Dom. Bucks, Wore, and Dorset Clistone, Clistune. Hybrid. W. glwys, ' a hallowed place, a fair spot,' and -ton.
Coalbrookdale (Salop) and Colebrook (Plympton). Dom. Colebroche, 1298 Colebroke. O.E. col, ' cool, cold,' does not suit well phonetically, so it maybe fr. O.E. col, 2-8 cole, ' charcoal, coal’; —brook beside which charcoal was burned. Cf. Dom. Chesh. Colbourne, 1157 Pipe Northbld. Colebr'., 1107-28 Lib. Winton. Colobrochestrel (Winchester), and Coleshill. See -dale.
Coaley (Frocester). Dom. Coeleye, later Coveley, Couley. Prob. ' Cofa 's mead.’ See -ley.
Coanwood (Carlisle). ' Wood of Coen or Coena,' several in Onom. Cf. B.C.S. 313' Cohhanleah’, date 804.
Coates (Peterboro’, Cirencester). Peterbor C. Dom. Cota, Cote. O.E. cot, cott; M.E. cotes, ' cots, cottages.'
Cobden Hill (Elstree). Old Copdene; also cf. ' Coppdene ' 1314 in Sussex, later Cobden, now extinct. ' Hill at the head of the (wooded) valley,’ fr. O.E. cop, coppe, ' top, summit' (Oxf. Dict. gives no spelling of the sb. cop with a b). See -den.
Cobham. Surbiton C Grant of a. 675 Chebeham, Chabbeham, Dom. Cebeha, 1315 Cobeham. ' Home of Geabba,' one in Onom. But Gravesend C. 939 chart. Cobbahamme,' enclosure o fGobba.' Cf. Cobley (Alvechurch), a. 1200 Cobbeslee; and see -ham.
Cockermouth c. 1310 Cokermue, 1317 Cokermuth. Can this river's name come fr. O. E. cocer, M. E. koker, cokre,' a quiver’? If not, then fr. what? There is also Cockerham (Garstang), Dom. Cocreha, 1206 Cokerheim, which must be fr. a man Gocker, a surname still found. In Eng. cocker is ' a prize-fighter, a wrangler,' not found c. 1275, or ' a hay-worker,' 1st in 1393. But in our place-names Cocker- is prob. the inflected form of the N. name Kok-r. The river name must remain doubtful. Cf. next and Coker, Somst., Dom. Cocre.
Cockerton (Darlington), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Cocertune, 1183 Cokirtona. ' Town of Gocker,' a name not in Onom., but see above, and cf. 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. chart. Cochanfeld. ' Field of Cocha ' or ' Cocca.' Gf. B.G.S. 246 Coccan burh. Old forms needed for Durham C. Gf. 1157 Pipe Cochulla (? Gloster.), and Dom. Worcester. ' Cochesie.' In Pipe Rolls of Rich. I. we also have' Cokefeld' (Oxfd.) and' Cockesfeld' (Norfk.), which seem to come fr. cock. See next. Cf. Coughton.
Cockley Cley (Swaffham). Not in Dom.145 1Cokely Clay. Gf. Dom. Chesh. Code, and 1200 chart. Kokedale. ' Cock's meadow '; O.E. cocc, coc, kok, ' a barnyard cock.' Gf. next and Clay, O.E. cloez, 4-6 cley ; also Coxley. See -ley.
Cocknage (Trentham). 1194 Cokenache. Ache is not a M.E. form of oak (see Oxf. Dict, s.v.), as Duignan thinks, but is for hatch, O.E. hoea(c), gen. hoecce, 3-7 hacche, bacche, so this is ' hatch, half-door or wicket-gate of the cock,' O.E. coc; or, of a man Coc or Cocca, both forms are known. Gf. Stevenage. Cocktrup (Glostr.), 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 Wore.
Codnor (Derby) Dom. Cotenovre. ‘Bank border of Coda’ or ‘Cota’, both on record. Cf. Codbarrow (Wwksh.), a. 1300 Codbarwe, ' Coda's mound, and Dom. Kent ' Codeha.' The n is the sign of th eO. E.gen. See or, -over.
Codsall (Wolverhampton), a.1200 Coddeshal ,a. 1300 Codeshale. ' Nook of Godda ' or ' Goda.' Gf. Codnor and see -hall.
Coedpenmaen (Pontypridd). W. for' wood of the rocky headland or height.' Coed Rhath (Pembroke) 1324, Coyt rath is W. for 'wood on the mound or hill.' Coety (? Pembroke) is old Coetif, O. W. for' darkwood.’ W.dy.
Coggeshall (Essex). Dom. Cogghessala, 1298 Coggeshale, 'nook of Coga orCGogga.' See Onom. Prob. not fr. M.E. cogge, ' a small ship.' Gf. 1183 Boldon Bk. Cogesalle (Durham). See -hall.
Cogyros (Cornwall). Said to be Corn, for ' cuckoo-moor.' Lit. it is' cuckoo in the mood, W. and Corn. cog.
Colchester. (? 940 chart. B.G.8.750, Collacestr), Dom. and1160 Pipe Colecestra. The Camulodunum of Tacitus Gamulos was a Kelt, deity. An inscription shows that the Empr. Claudius founded' Colonia Victricensis' here, and so it may hav ecome to be called ' Colonia castra,' O.E. chart. Colenceaster, in W. 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 (Glostersh.). c. 955 chart, AEsctun i.e., 'ash-tree town.' Dom. Escetone. Gf. Caldicot.
Cold Coniston (Craven). Dom. Congehestone, Coningeston; 1202 Calde Cuningeston=Cold Kingston. Cf. Conisborough.
Cold Harbour (Boston, Grantham, Cambs, Glostrsh., Leith Hill). ' Coldshelter, 'an ironic name, says Leo o fHalle, in Ger. Kalteherburg. On harbour, which is lit. ' a place of shelter,' see Oxf. Dict. Cf. c. 1485 Skelton, ' some say the devil's dead and buried in Cold Harbour.'
Colesbourne (Cheltenham), c. 800 chart. Colesburna, c. 802 ib. Collesburna i.e., ' burn, brook of Colle ' or ' Cola,' a common O.E. name. Gf. Coleby (Lines), and Coseley, also Dom. Surrey Colesdone; Nfk. Colebei. Colbourn (Yorks) is inDom. Corburne by dissimilation. There is a brook Cole (Wilts). Colecombe (Sevenhampton) is fr. R. Coln.
Coleshill (Swindon, Warwksh., and Flint). Sw. C. Dom. Coleselle, 1298 Coleshulle. War. C. 799 chart. Colles hyl, Dom. Coles- hille. Fl. C. c. 1188 Gir. Gamb. 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 O.E. cawel, cawl, 4 col, ' cole, cabbage ‘; nor does O.E, col, 'cool’ suit well phonetically'-; while col, 'charcoal; does not seem likely. Cf. Coalbrookdale.
Collingbourne Ducis and Kingston (Marlborough). Dom. Colingeburne, 1298 Colyngborn. ' Bourne, burn, or brook of Colling,' a name in Onom., where also are Collanus and Collinc. It is a patronymic fr. Coll{a), a fairly common name. Cf. Dom. Yorks Colingaworde, now Cullingworth, and Coneyswick (Wstrsh.), Dom. Colingwic. Ducis is L. for' of the duke.'
Collingham (Newark). Dom. Colingeham, a. 1100 Colingham. ' Home of Colling.' See above and -ing.
CoLmworth (St. Neot's). Dom. Colmeworde, Colmehorde (6 for v). 'Farm of Colm.' Cf. Dom. Colmestan (Salop). In Scotland Colm, is short for Columba. Here it may be for Colman. See -worth.
Coln R. (Glostrsh.) and Colne R. (Herts). Glostrsh. C. [c. 740 chart. Cunugl ae, 855 ib. Cunelga, 962 ib. Cungle] old Culna, Culne, Colum; He. C. 985 chart. Colen, 893 O.E. Chron. Colne. Prob. pre-Keltic. A river would not ben amed fr .L. colonia, and W. 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 chart. Culum, it is all but certain that the Cunugl forms must have been applied to the Glo’ster river through some Saxon's error. Phonetically they are hard to identify, and Cunugl is now represented by Knoyle. Coln St. Aldwyn's, Fairford (Glostr.), corrupt chart, form, dated 681 Enneglan, prob.= Cuneglan, is fr. the hermit monk St. Ealdwine, prob. he who died 1085, and was founder of Malvern Priory. - Ealdwine was a favourite name with churchmen. See Onom.
Colne (St. Ives, Hunts, and Lanes). Hunts C. is sic in Dom., and so prob.=above. Lanes C. is 1230 Calna, 1241 Close R. Kaun, 1251 Caune, 1327 Coin, so must be=Calne. Cf. Dom. Nhants. Calme.
Colney Hatch and Heath (St. Albans). O.E. chart. Colenea i.e., ' isle on R. Colne, q.v. and -ey. Hatch means ' a wicket- gate.' See Aldborough Hatch.
Colton (Rugeley and 6 others). Dom. Coltune, Coltone, and so later. Dom. Yorks gives Coltune, Coletun, or Colletim 15 times. Uncertain, but prob. O. E. coltun,' charcoal (or coal) town.' Colwich (Rugeley), 1166 Calewich, a. 1300 Colewych, Colwych, is also ' coal-village.' Coal is O.E. col, 2-8 cole, 6- coal, but Oxf. Dict. gives no cale, and it may be an error.
Combe (Coventry and Hungerford). Coventry C. old Cumb, Combe; Hungerford C. Dom. Comba. O. E. cumb,' a bowl, a valley, a coomb.' Cf. W. cwm, ' hollow, and Coomlees (Sc), also Dom. Wore, ' Combl, or ' meadow, lea, in the valley.’ Combrooke, also in Warwk., is ' brook in the valley.' Combe Martin (N. Devon) is fr. a Martin of Tours, who received lands here fr. Wm. Rufus. We have a pl. form in Combs (Stockport and Stowmarket), the latter 1235 Cambes.
Comberbach (Northwich), Comberford (Tamworth), and Combermere (Nantwich). a.1200 Cumbreford. 1135 Cumbermere, 1240 Cumbremer. One is tempted to derive Comber- fr,. a Keltic root meaning' confluence, as in Cumbernauld (Sc.) and in Quimper o rKemper (Brittany). Cf. W. cymme and G. comar with this meaning. There is a ' Roger de Combre ' in Cheshire a. 1200, and Combere or Combre may be O.E. cumbra, gen. pl. of cumb, ' a valley '—at least in some cases. But Comberton and Comberworth almost force a derivation fr. Cumbra, a man's name, lit. ' a Welshman.' The -bach is O.E. 6 boec, O.Fr. bache, Nor. Fr. bake, M.E. bache (q.v. in Oxf. Dict.), ' the valey of a stream,' same root as beck. Cf. Batchworth, Sandbach, and Pontcymmer. Mere is Eng. and O.E. for ' lake.'
Comberton (Pershore and Cambridge). Pershore. C. 972 chart. Cumbrincgtune, Dom. Cumbri(n)tune, 1275 Cumbrintone. Ca. C. Dom. Cumbertone, 1210 Cumbretone. ' Town of Cumbra,' or 'the Welshman,' or their descendants. Cf. Cumberworth and 1157 Pipe Cumbremara (Staffd.); and see above and -ing.
Comberworth (Lincs) and Upper Cumberworth (Huddersfd.). 1236 Close R. Comberworth. Cf. Earle Chart. 447 Cumbran weord, Pershore. ' Farm of Cumbra,' or ' the Welshman.' Cf. above and Cumberland.
Combwich (Bridgwater). Dom. Comich. O. E cumb wic,' valley dwelihng or hamlet; wic regularly becomes wich in later Eng. ' Cf. Combridge (Uttoxeter), a. 1300 Combruge.
Compton (16 in P.G.). 804 chart. Cumbden, Kent (-den and -ton interchange), 962 ib. Cumtun (Glostr.), 990 ib. Cumtune (? which), c. 1020 Cumtune (Guildford or Petersfield?), Dom. Cunton, Contone (Warwk.), Contone (Wolvermpton.), Cantune (Isle of Wight); 1298 Cumpton (? wlich, a. 1400 Comptone (Wolverhampton). O.E. cumb tun, ' valley village.' Dom. has 32 manors, always with n—Contone. Cf. Combe.
Compton Beauchamp (Berks) is named fr, Guido de Bello Campo (in Fr. Beau Champ), Earl of Warwick, and Alicia his wife, who held lands here 1315-16. C. Scorpion (Shipston), Dom. 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 a. 1300 C. Wyniate, Wyndyatcs, c. 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’ fr. con, ' together’ and dhe, ' set.’ Cf. Conde, (France), in O.E. Chron. Cundoth, and Kind St., mod. name of the Roman road here. Also see Watson, Place-Names Ross, s.v. Contin. The streams Dane and Croco join here. Cf. Condovee, and Cunliffe. Congreve (Penkridge) is Dom. Comegrave, a. 1300 Cunegrave, Ciimgrave, where the Con- is uncertain, but it maybe fr. O .E. cumb,' valley,'so often in Dom.as Cotrune.
Conderton (Tewkesbury). 875 chart. Cantuaretun, 1327 Conterton. Very interesting proof of a settlement of Kentmenhere; for the name in O. E.means' Kent-dwellers'town,' as in Canterbury. But R. Conder (Lancaster), 1228 Gondouere, is, of course= Condover. W. and H. absurdl ysuggest a derivation fr. Gunnhildr!
Condicote (Stow-on-Wold). Dom. Condicote, Connicote, 1169 Cumdicote. Hybrid: cond. O. Kelt, for 'confluence,' see Condate, Fr. Conde; and O.E. cot, ' cottage.' Baddeley prefers to derive fr. a man. There is no Conda, and only one Cunda in Onom.
Condover (Shrewsbury). Dom. Conodoure, 1228 Cunedour, 1234 Cunesdour, 1238 Conedover, Cvmdover. O.W. for ' the joining of the streams.' See Condate and Dover. Candover is prob. the same name; Conder R. certainly is.
Coneysthorpe (Malton). Dom. Coningestorp. 'King's village.' O.N. konung-r, ' king,' an interesting corrup. See Coningsby and Coningsthorpe. But Coneybury and Coneyburrow Hill (Wore.) and Coneygar (Gloster.) are fr. cony, M.E. for' rabbit,'' while Coneywick or Conningswick (also in Wore.) is Dom. Colingwic, 1275 Collingwike, ' abode of Colling,' or ' the sons of Coll.' Cf. Collingham, and see-wick. Coneygar is for cony-garth. See Oxf. Dict. s.v.
Congerstone (Atherstone). 'Stone of Congar,' not in Duignan, But cf. Dom. Norfk. Congrethorp', and Congresbury; also see -ton. Congleton (E. Cheshire). Dom. Cogeltone. One would expect the first half to be the name of a man, but there is none likely in Onom. Thereisa Conall, son of Comgal, King of Dabriada 563, which names might suggest an origin; but more old forms are needed. Cf. Coln (Glostr.), 962 Cungle; also cogill, found c. 1400, now dial, coggle, ' a water-worn or cobble-stone.'
Congresbury (Weston-super-Mare). Exon. Dom. Cungresberia, O.E. chart. 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 Pipe it is Cungresbi. See -by.
Coningsby (Boston). Dom. Cuningesbi, 1298 Cunynggesby. ' Dwelling of the King.' O.N. konung-r, Dan. konge. See -by. Cf. Coningsburgh (Sc), Cnington (Cambs.), B.C.S. iii. 630 Cunningtun, Dom. Cunitone, 1210 Conintone, 1290 Conington, 1426 Conitone, Skeat thinks, may perh. be fr. a man, Cuna, gen. Cunan. Cf. Connington (Hunts), 1236 Close R. Conninton, Ounyton, and Cold Coniston. Conisburgh (Rotherham), 1240 Close B. Cunigeburg, is clearly: ==Coningsby. See-burgh.
Conisborough (Rotherham). Dom. Coningesburg, Conningesbore, c, 1145 Geoffr. Monm. ' Kaerconan, now Cunungeburg,' 1202 Kuningbere. ' King's burgh.' See above and -burgh.
Coniscliffe (Darlington), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Cingcesclife, 1202 Cuniggesclive super Teisam. The namere presented in the first half is perh. doubtful. It maybe Cynegyth or Cynesige (Kinsige) Prob. it is for King. Cf. Coningsby. On cliffe, see Clee.
Cononley (Keighley). Dom. Cutnelai. Doubtful. Perh. corrup. Of Cutan leah,' Cuta's meadow.' Cuta and Cutha are both in Onom. See-ley.
Consett (Co. Durham). 1183 Boldon Bk. Conekesheued. Interesting corruption. Heued is M.E. for O.E. heafod, ' head, height,' and this must be ' the height of ' some quite unknown man. There is one Cynech in Onom.
Constantine (Padstow). Fr. Constantinus, King and martyr-, a convert of St. Petrock. He died 590.
Conway (N. Wales). Prob. c. 380 ~Ant. Itin. Conovio, and a. 700 Rav. Geogr. Canubio (the river), a. 1196 Gir. Camb. Cunewe, Aberkonewe, Aberconeu; 1295 Aberconewey'-, still the proper name of the town. The R. in W. is Conwi, ' chief river,' fr. Keltic con, ' together,' and gwy, ' river,' referring to the mainstream being joined by tributaries. Conway" (Sc.) is not the same word.
Cookham (Maidenhead), a. 971 will Coccham, Dom. Cocheham, 1238 Cokh', 1241 Cocham, also Cucham. The chief evidence points to O.E. coc-ham, 'cook's home'; but Cocham and the like point to O.E. cocc, ' a cock,' ' cock's home.' Cookridge (Yorks) is Dom. Cucheric,? ' cook's ' or ' cock's.' Cook Hill (Inkberrow) is a. 1300 Cochulie, and Cooksey (Bromsgrove) is Dom. Cochesei, a.1300 Cokesey. The present phonetic evidence is all in favour of cook. Cf. Cuxham.
Cookley (Kidderminster). 964c chart. Culnan clif, 1066 Cullecliffe. The charter name must be ' Gulna's cliff.' The 1275 Coleclif.
corrup. to -ley, ' meadow,' is rare. We have it the other way round in Trotterscliffe.
Cooling (Rochester). 805 chart. 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 Onom. This latter personal name still exists. Cf. Cowling.
Copdock (Ipswich) . CJ. 900 in Thorpe Diplom. 145 On da coppedan ac. Copdockis' copped'—i.e., pollarded' oak'—O.E.ac, very rarely found now as ock. Oxf. Dict, gives only 3-5 ok. It also gives only O.E. quots. for this sense of copped, which is fr. cop sb., O.E. cop, copp, ' head, top; ' But Dom. Surrey has a Copedorne, which his1160-01Pipe Coppedethorn. Cf. Copythorne and the surname Braddock.
Copmanthorpe (York). Dom. Copemantorp. 'Village of Cop man,' N. for ' Chapman, merchant.' One in Onom. Cf. 1242 Close R. Copmaneford, now Coppingford (Hunts). See-thorpe.
Coppenhall (Stafford and W.Cheshire). Dom. both Copehale , and later Copenhale, Coppenhale. ' Nook of Coppa ' or ' Copa' the mod. Name Cope. Cf. Copgeove (Yorks), Dom. Copegrave; and Copnor (Portsmouth), Dom. Copenore, O.E. Copanora,' Copa's bank.' See-hall and-or.
Copplestone (Devon). Cf. Dom. Sffk. Copletuna. Prob.' Town or ' stone of Cuthbeald,' common in Onom.; cf. the surname Cupples. See-ton.
Copythorne (Southampton). Not in Dom., but cf. K.C.D. v. 240, To tdan coppedan porne; also Dom. Surrey Copedorne and Copededorne, 1160-61 Pipe Coppedethorn, 'the pollarded thorn tree.' See Copdock. But if this name be late, it will be fr. O.Fr. in 5-6 copie, copy; but in mod. Eng. coppice, ' a wood or thicket of small trees or underwood.' The earliest quot. in Oxf. Dict, is 1538, - but copy is found in 1486 in Nottingham Bee. iii. 254.
Coquet R. (Northumbld.). c. 800 Hist. St. Cuthbert Cocwuda,a.1130 Sim. Dur. Coqued. Cf. c. 1250 Matt. Paris Koket insula. Cocc-wuda is O.E. fr. ' cock's wood.'
Corbridge (Hexham), c. 380 Ant. Itin. Corstopitum, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Corebricge, 1150 Corbrig, 1157 Corebrigge. Corstopitum is prob. G. corr stobach, ' hill-spur full of stumps ' (stob), with Brythonic p for b, and t common scribal error for c. G. corr is lit.' a snout, a bill, a horn'; W. coris' a circle, a crib.'
Corby (Carlisle, Grantham, Kettering). Car. C. 1120 Chorkeby, 1222 Korkebi i.e., ' dwelling by the oat-field.' N. korki. Cf. Corkickle. But Gr. C. is Dom. Corbi, and Ke. C. Carbi, ' dwelling of Cor ' or ' Car.' One in Onom. See -by.
Corfe (Taunton) and Corfe Castle (Wareham). Corfe c. 1180 Ben. Peterb. Chorf. C. Castle, 975 E.O. Chron. Corfes Geat (gate), c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Corfli castellum, 1234 Corf, 1393 Letter Notre Chastelle de Corf. Prob. ' a cutting ' in the Purbeck hills, in which the castle stands, fr. O.E. ceorfan,’' to cut.’ Cf. Dom. Corfan (Salop), 1160 Pipe Corfha, and Gorton.
Corkickle (Whitehaven). Prob. N. korki-keld, 'oat-field well.' Of. Cockley Beck, also Cumbld. old Korkahth, O.N. hlith, ' a hillslope, 'and Corby. But there I sa Keekle beck near Whitehaven, and this raises uncertainty.
Corley (Coventry an dSalop). Coventry C. Dom. Cornelie, 1327 Cornleye, a. 1400 Corley. Sal. C. Dom. and later Cornlie. ' Corn- growing meadow.' See -ley. We have a reverse change in Cornbrough (E. Riding), Dom. Corlebroc, a form of somewhat doubtful meaning.
Cornhill (London, Sunderland, on Tweed). Lo. C. 1160-61 Pipe Cornhelle, 1167-68 ib. Cornhille, 1234 Close R. Cornhull, where all the endings=' hill.' But Snderland.C. is 1183 Cornehall, 1322 Cornhale = -hall, q.v.
Cornwall. 1047 O.E. Cliron. Cornwalon (inflected), Dom. Cornvalge, c. 1110 Orderic Cornu Britanniae, id est Cornwallia, 1189 Cornubia, c. 1205 Layam. Cornwaile, Cornwale. Cf. Cornouaille {Rom. Rose Cornewaile), Brittany. Earle says, ' Place of the Walas or strangers of Kernyw.' Cf. Wales. Others derive fr. O. Fr. corn, L. cornu,' a horn,' fr. the shape of Cornwall.
Cornwood (Ivybridge). Local pron. Kernood. Dom. Cornehude. Looks like O.E. corn wudu, ' corn wood '; but wherefore such a name? No Corn or the like in Onom. Cf. Cornworthy, ' corn farm ' (Totnes), and Corndean (Winchcombe), 1189 Corndene. But, because of a Corne and a Cornbrook, also in Glostrsh., Baddeley thinks Corn must be an old stream name, and says cf. Abercorn. But that Sc, name is in Bede AEbbercurnig.
Corringham (Stanford-le-Hope and Gainsboro'). St. C. Dom. Coringe-,1242 Curingeham. Gainsboro C. Dom. Currincham. Patronymic. ' Home of the sons of some unrecorded Curator Cora. See-ing.
Corse Lawn (Tewkesbury). 1179 Cors. W. cors, 'a fen,' and llan, 'enclosure, then church.' Cf. Carse (Sc). There seems no authority for Duignan's assertion that corse is a M.E. form of causey.
Corsley (Frome) and Corston (Bristol). 941 chart. Corsantune, Dom. Corstune, ' mead ' and ' village of Corsa. See -ley.
Corton Denham (Sherborne). Dom. Corfetone, 1235 Close R. Corfton and Cortun. See Corfe. Denham is ' home in the dean' or' (wooded) vale.'
Corwen (E. Merioneth). Possibly W. cor faen, 'circle of stone,' or, as T. Morgan says, ' stone in a circle.' But, as likely, W. cor gwen, ' white, beautiful circle,' or ' choir,' or ' church.' Cf. Bangor. There is a ' Corfan ' in Salop Dom., but this must be the Corfham of 1160 Pipe Salop.
Coseley (Bilston). 14th to 17th cny. Colseley, Coulsley, Colsley, later Cossley. Prob. ' meadow of Col and see -ley.
Cosgrove (Stony Stratford). 1238 Close R. Couesgrave, 'grave,’ O.E. groef, ' of Cufa.' Cf. Coveney. The endings -grave and -grove often interchange. But Cosby (Leicester), Cosford (Rugby), and Cosham (Hants), 1241 Cosseby, a. 1200 Cosseford, and Dom. Coseham, Cosseham, are fr. an unrecorded man, Cosa or Cosse. See -ham.
Cosheston (Pembroke). 1603 Owen Costeinston. 'Town of Constantine.' King Constantine is 926 O.E. Chron. Cosstantin. Cossington (Bridgwater). 1237 Close B. Cusinton. 'Village of Cusa,' gen. -an. 3 in Onom. Cf. Cosby. See -ing.
Cotheridge (Worcester). 963 chart. Coddan hrycce, hrycge, Dom. Codrie, a. 1300 Coderugge. ' Ridge,' O.E. hrycge, hrycce, ' of Codda ' or ' Coda.' One each in Onom. In same shire is Cotteridge, 1275 Coderugge.
Cotherstone (Darlington), a.1130 Sim. Dur. Cuthbertestun. ' St. Cuthbert' stown, ‘an interesting corrup. The great Cudberet or ' Cuthbert of Melrose flourished c. 700. Cf.a. 1110' Cotherstoke (Oundle). Bu tCotherston (N.Yorks) is Dom. Codrestune, Codreston, ' town of Codra.' Cf.B.C.S. 1282 Codranford.
Coton (Cambridge, 2 Warwk., Staffs, Shrewsbury). Cambridge C1211 and 1291 Cotes, 1272 Cotun, 1296 Coton. Warwk. C. Dom. and 1287 Cotes, 1327 Cottone. Staffs. C. Dom. Cote. Skeat thinks prob. O. E. cotum, dat.pl. of cot, 'cottage.' But coton, cotun, are regular, and cotes irregular nom. plurals. Cf. Cotton and Cotham, Notts, Dom. Cotun, Cotes.
Cotswolds Hills. 780 chart. Monte quem nominant in colae mons Hwicciorum, c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Montana de Codesuualt, 1231 Coteswold, 1300 Rolls Parlmt. Coteswalde, a. 1500 Cottasowlde, a.1553 Udall Cotssold. The present spelling maybe, as Oxf. Dict, thinks, popular etymology but the name prob. is ' Code's, Cota's, or Cotta's wood.' All 3 name sare in Onom. O.E. wald, weald, ' a wood,' is the origin of both weald and wold. Cf. next and Cutsdean, a yet older name.
Cottbred (Buntingford). Dom. Chodrei, 1236 Close R. Codreye, Coudr'. ' River, stream, brook of Coda,' O.E. rith, ' stream.' Cf. Rye, Ryde, Childrey, and Cotgrave, Notts, Dom. Godegrave.
Cottesbrooke (Northampton). ' Cotta's or Cota's brook.' Cf. above, ' Coteshala,' and ' Coteslai ' (Bucks) in Dom., and Cotttenham (Cambridge), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Cotenham, 1283 Cotenhame. This last migh tmean' cottar's home.' Dom.Yorks Cotesmore is now Kedmoor, so there will be error for c, ' moor of Coca.'

Cottingham (Hull). Prob. O.E. Chron. and Sim. Dur. re ann. 800, Cettingaham, Dom. Cotingeham, 1135 O.E. Chron. Cotingham. Patronymic. ' Home of the descendants of Gotta or Cota.' Cf, above, next, and Cottingham (Market Harborough) and Cottingley (Bingley). Cottingwith (E.R iding) is Dom. Cotewid,' Cota's wood.'
Cotton (Chesh., Derby, andS towmarket). Cheshire. C. Dom. Cotintone, St. C. 1479 Colton (a mistake), a. 1490 Cotton. Some perh. O.E. colon, loc. plur. of cot, cota, ' a cot, a cottage.'' But Dom.'s form is ' Cota's town.' See above, and cf. Coton. Dom. Yorks has Cottun 5 times, representing Cottam, Crosby Cote, etc.
Coughton (Alcester and Ross, Hereford). AI. C. Dom. Coctune, a. 1200 Cocton. Either fr. a man Cocca or Coche, see Cockfield field, or fr. O.E. cocc, coc, ' a cock.' See Cockley. For oc becoming ough, cf. Broughton, 1128 Broctuna.
Cound (Shrewsbury). Dom. Cundet, 1240 Close R. Cunitte. ' Con- fluence.' See Condate and next.
Coundon (Bp. Auckland and Coventry). Bp. Auckland 1183 Condona, Coundon. Coventry C. Dom. Condone, Condelme, 1257 Cundulme, 1327 Cundholme. Cond or cound is O. Kelt, for ' confluence of two streams.' Cf. Condate, Condover, and Cound. The -don is ' hill,' whilst -elme, -ulme, etc., represent O.E. holm, ' meadow by a river.' Cf. the early forms of Durham.
Courage (Berks). O. E. chart. Cusan riege, hricge,' Cusa's ridge'; Dom. 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 (Nhampton.). Dom. Cortenhale, Cortenhalo;1235 Close R. Cortenhal, Curtenhal. ' Nook, corner of Curda,' the only name in Onom., and it but once. See -hall. The abnormal -een- seems a pure freak. Cf. 932 chart. Cyrdan heal (Meon, Hants)
Coveney (Ely). Chart. Coveneye, Coveneie, Coueneia. Skeat is sure this is ' Isle of Cufa,' gen. Cufan. Cf. Dom. Surrey, Covenha. Only Coven (Wolverhampton) is Dom. Cove, a. 1200 Covene, which must be O.E. cofa, gen. cofan, 'a cove, cave, repository.' See -ey.
Covent Garden (London). The convent garden belonging from c. 1220 to the abbots of Westminster. Convent is always spelt covent a. 1550.
Coventry, c. 1043 chart. Cousentree, 1053 O.E. Chron. Cofantreo, 1066 ib. Couentre, Dom. Couentreu, Sim. Dur. ann. 1057 Covantreo, a. 1142 Wm. Malmes. Coventreia. Cofan treo (w)is O.E. for ' tree by the cove, cave, or chamber,' or else ' tree of Cofa. Cf. Coveney and Covenham. (Louth). The wordr convent, M. E. couent, is impossibile here. It is not found in Eng. a. 1225.
Coverdale (Yorks) Sic 1202. Cf. 1203; Courleer; or Coverley. Cover- here is difficult. The Eng. cover is fr. O. Fr., and the word is not found in Eng. till c. 1275; whilst in the sense of ' covert or shelter for hunted animals ' it is not found till 1719. There is a W. cyfair, a land measure, two-thirds of an acre, found in Eng. in 1709 as cover. Possibly Cover- represents some unidentified personal name, as in Coverham (N. Yorks), Dom. Covreha'.
Cowbeech (Hailsham, Sussex). Not in Dom. This seems the same name as Cowbach, now called Clatterbach, near Clent (Wore), where St. Kenelm's chapel was.? a. 1200 Cu-bache, c. 1305 Coubache, 1494 Cowbacch. See Oxf. Dict., s.v. bache, which means ' the vale of a stream or rivulet.' Cf. Batchworth and Comberbach. With the first syll. cf. Cowick (O.E. wic, ' dwelling, house '), Snaith (Yorks), 1241 Cuwic.
Cowbridge (Glam.). Eng. translation of W. Pontyfon, where fon is by assimilation for mon, O. W. 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), c. 1280 Cubrygge, which may be the origin of the W. place, as the same family of Williams, alias Cromwell, held lands in both places in 16th cny. See Thompson, Hist. Boston, 616. But Cowthorp (S. Yorks) is Dom. Coletorp, ' village of Cola,' and similarly Cowsdown (Upton Snodbury) is c. 1108 Colleduna, 1275 Coulesdon.
Cowes (Isle of W.). Dates only fr. 1540. It must be a pl. form of cove, O.E. cofa, coua, ' an inner chamber,' only found with the meaning ' cove, inlet,' after 1590. The form cowe is called Sc., and the meaning,' cave, den, 'Sc. And North. The name then '
is inlets.'
Cowlam (Driffield). Dom. 4 times Colnun, once Coletun. Colnun is prob. an O.E. loc. ' at the tops or summits.' Cf. O.N. koll-r, ' top, summit,' and Howsham, a loc. too.
Cowley (Gnosall and W. Drayton). Gnosall C. Dom. Covelau, a. 1200 Coule. W. Drayton C. Dom. Couelei, 'cow-meadow,' O.E. cuu, cu, a. 1300 cou. See -ley.
Cowling (Skipton and Suffolk). Skipton C. Dom. Collinghe, 1202 Collinge. Suffolk C. 1459 Cowlynge. Patronymic, like Cooling, ' place of the sons of Cola or Coll.' See -ing.
Coxley (Wells). Not in Dom. 1231 Cockesleg. 'Meadow of Cocca,' in Onom., or else ' cock's meadow.' See Cockley, and cf. Dom. Chesh. Cocheshalle. See-ley.
Crackenthorpe (Westmld.). Old Kreiginthorpe. 'Village of? There is no name in Onom. like Creaga, but in Lib. Vit. Dunelm. there is a Craca, gen. -can, also cf. Crayford. See -thorpe.
Cracow or Cracoe Hill (Craven). 1202 Craho. 'Crow how' or ' mound.' O. E. crawe,' a crow.' Cf. Crowthorne and see-how.
Craddock (Cullompton). Not in Dom. Corruption of Caradoc. Cf. Cramond (Sc.).
Cradley (Stourbridge and Herefdsh.) and Cradley Heath (Staffs) Stourbridge C. Dom. Cradeleie, a. 1200 Crad(e)lega, 1275 Cradeley. Herefdsh. C. Dom. Credleia. ' Meadow of Crada ' or ' Creda,' or ' Creoda.' The two latter only in Onom. See-ley.
Crakehall (Bedale). Dom. Crachele. Prob. 'nook of Craca.' One such is named in Liber Vitae Dunelm. See -hall (-ele is for -hele or-hale). Dom. Also has a Crachetorp in E. Riding, whilst Dom. Crecala is said to be Crakehill in Topcliffe.
Cramlington (Northumbld.). c. 1141 Cranlintune. Doubtful. Perh. O.E. cran-hlinn-tun—i.e., frequented by cranes.' Cf. Linton. Cranage (Congleton). Prob. for an O.E. cranawic, 'crane's dwelling.' Cf. Swanage, O.E. Swanawic. There is a Cranswick (Driffield), Dom. Cranzvic (z=ts), and a. 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 corrup. of Cranburh, fr. O.E. burh, burg, ' fort, castle, burgh.' Cf. Cranebrook (Lichfield), 1300 Crone brouke, Dom. Norfk. Cranaworda, and Cranham (Painswick), 1190 Pipe Cronham.
Crank (St. Helen's), Crank Hill (Wednesbury), Crank Wood (Derby). See Oxf. Dict, 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 Eng., and Cronk is prob. a nasalized form of crook sb. O.N. krok-r. See Oxf. Dict., s.v. 6 and 11.
Cransley (Kettering). 95 6chart. Cranslea. See Cranbrook.
Crantock (Newquay). Fr. St. Carantocus, a Welsh saint who lived c. 450, and who also crossed to Ireland. Cf. Cradock.
Craswall (Herefd.). 1237 Cressewell=Creswell.
Craven (Yorks) and Craven Arms (Salop). Yorks C.Dom. Cravescire (shire). 1202 Cravene. O.N. kra fen, 'nook in the fen.'
Fen is also O.E. fen and is found fr. 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 fr. O.E. crawe, ' a crow.’ CJ. Dom.Leicr., Crawsho.
Crawnon (Brecon). Perh., says Anwyl, the name of the Keltic goddess of storage.
Crayford (W. Kent). Chart. Creganford, Creacanford, Creagan-ford. ' Ford of Creaga,' a name not found inOnom. Still, as Oxf. Dict. says, this name has nothing to do with creek, and still less with crayfish! Craycomb (Fladbury), however, is 1275 Craucombe, Crowecombe, fr. O. E.crawe,' a crow." See-combe.
Crayke (Easingwold). Dom. Creie, 1197 Rolls Crech; 1236 Creek, Crek. See Creech. However, this, instead of being W. crug, 'stack heap,’ maybe G.crioch, gen. criche,' boundary, frontier, landmark.' Only, if so, it is very rare to find a Gaelic name so far south. Dom. Norfk., Kreic, must be the same.
Creditor. 905 in Eadmer Ecclesia Cridiensis; c. 1097 Flor. Wore. Cridiatunensis; c. 1540 Leland Crideton. Also found as Kyrton. ' Town on R. Creedy —739 chart. Cridia, Dom. Cridic, Credie, by some said to be fr. Crida or Creoda, grandfather of Penda, King of Mercia, or fr. Crioda, Creoda, first King of Mercia, d. 593. But it is rare toind a river called after a man. Cf. Credenhill (Hereford) and Dom. Bucks, Credendone, plainly fr. a man Creda. The river name maybe connected with W. cryd, O. W. crit, ' to shake.'
Creech (Wareham), a. 1130 chart. Crucha; also, Creech Hill (Somst). 702 chart. Crich hulle. O. W. cruc, W. crug, G. cruach 'a stack, heap, pile.' Cf. Crich, Crickhowell, Cricklade. Thus Creech Hill is a tautology. Dom. Somst. Has Crice, Cruce, and often Cruche; in Norfk., Kreic, Kreich.
Creech Michael (Somerset). Chart, of 682, 'The hill which is called in British speech Cructan, but by us (English) Crycbeorh.' Cructanis' heap, pile, hill on th e R.Tone,' while Crycbeorhis ' Stack-burgh.' 1167-68 Pipe, Norfk., has a Crichetot (=toft). Cf. Evercreech.
Creighton (Uttoxeter). 1241 Cratton, so perh. O.E. cacet, crat tun, ' cart enclosure ' or ' village.' More old forms needed.
Cressage (Much Wenlock). Dom. Cristesache, 1540 Cressege. Not 'crest ' (only found in Eng. fr. 1325), but Christ's, edge ' or ' border,' O.E. ecg, 1205 agge. It is at the foot of Wenlock Edge. Cf. 1494 Fabyan,' in the egge of Walys.'
Cresswell (Norbld., Stafford, and Mansfield). Norbld. C. 1235 Kereswell. Stafford C. Dom. Cressvale, a. 1300 Cresswalle. This ending is certainly 'well' or 'spring,' O.E. wella, often in M.E. wale; and Cress- is O.E. cerse, ' watercress.' Cf. Dom. Bucks, Cresselai,' cress-meadow,' and Craswall.
Crewe. Dom. Crev, Creuhalle (Crewe Hall). O.W. creu, crau, Mod. W. crcwyn, Corn. crow,' apen , sty, hovel.'
Crewkerne (Yeovil). Not in Dom.; perh. 1160-61 Pipe, Devon Creueq'r. O.E. cruc-erne, ' cross-house,’ house with the cross. Pipes form may refer to the Fr. family of Crevecoeur, often referred to in England. Cf. Crevequer, c. 1330 chart, Kent and Lines.
Criccieth (Portmadoc). Prob. W. cnug caeth,'narrow hill.' Cf. next.
Crich (Matlock Bath). Dom. Crice, and Crick (Rugby and Chepstow). Rugby. C. Dom. Crec. W. crug,' a heap, stack, mound, hill.' Cf. Creech and Crickhowell and Penkridge. Duignan would derive this group of words fr. G. and Ir. crioch, gen. criche, ' boundary, limit, frontier,' as in the Sc. Creich. But this is not found in W., and the evidence given under Creech Michael and Crickhowell seems practically conclusive; though cf. Crayke. There are a Crickapit and a Crickley in Cornwall.
Crickhowell (Abergavenny), c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Cruco-hel. In W. Crughywel, ' Conspicuous hill,' fr. O.W. cruc, W. 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 O.W. cruc.
Cricklade (Wilts). 905 O.E. Chron. Crecca-gelade, Cricgelad; c. 1097 Flor. Worc. Criccielad; c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Crikelade, Cricalade; c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Crichelada. Gelad is O.E. for ' passage,' same root as lead and lode: but the first half is doubtful. The Eng. creek is not found till c. 1250 crike, and Oxf. Dict, does not favour it here. M'Clure conjectures W. craig, ' a rock,' or cruc, ' a mound '; the latter is quite possible. Cf. Creech and next. There is a Craca, but no nearer man's name, in Onom. 1160-61Pipe, Surrey, has a Crichefeld.
Cricklas (Caermarthen). c. 11S8 Gir. Camb. Cruclas. O.W. cruc glas (Mod. W. crug), ' bluish or greenish mound or stack.' Cf. Creech.
Cricklewood (Middlesex). 1525 Crekyll Woddes, 1553 Crekle Woods. Doubtful; older forms needed. Prob. fr. a man Crecel, otherwise unknown. Cf. 1241 Close E. Krikeleston.
Crocken Hill and Crockham Hill (Kent). Prob.' pot-shaped hill, fr. W. crochan, O. Ir. crocan, G. crogan, O.E. crocca, -an, ' a crock, a pot, an earthenware dish.' Cf. a. 1000 ' Crocford ' in K.C.D., V. 17. The -ham may be a quite late corrup.; old forms needed. Dom. Has only Croctune.
Crockern Torr (Dartmoor), c. 1630 Crocken Torr. See Crocken Hill. Torr is a ' tower-like rock or hill,' W. tor. Corn, twr, tor. Crockerton (Warminster). Not in Dom. ' Town of th epotter'; Crocker is first found c. 1315 in Shoreham. Cf. ' Crokerbec’ Egremont, Cumberland.
Crockford Water (Lymington). a. 1000 chart. Crocford,? this one. Prob. hybrid. W. crug, O.W. cruc, 'a tumulus, a low hill'; cf. Cruckbarrow Hill (Worcester), 1275 Cruckberew, Crokeborow, a double tautology. See Barrow. I can hardly be fr. crook, O.N. krok-r, as in Le Croc du Hurte, Channel Islands.
Cromer (Norfolk) Not in Dom. 1351 Crowemere. ‘Crouw’ (O. E crawa) mere, ‘or ‘lake. Cf. Bomer Pool (near Shrewsbury) i.e. bull lake’ and Cranmer.
Cromford (Derby), Dom. Crunforde (m and n easily interchange), and Cromhall (Glouc.). Dom. Cromhal. O.E. cromb, crumb, 'bent, crooked, curved,' cognate with W. crwm, crom, G. and Ir. crom, O. G. cromb, with same meaning. Cf. Croomed Abitot, Pershore, 972 Cromb, 1275 Crombe Dabitoth, ' Crook of the D'Abitots,' found in Dom., who took their name fr. St. Jean d' Abbetot, E. of Havre. Earl's Croome, nearby, is 969 Cromban, Cromman, Dom. Crumbe. There is also a Crambe (Yorks), Dom. Crambom, Crambon, which prob. is a loc. for ' at the crooks,' fr. an unrecorded O.E. cramb, cromb, now represented by crome, cromb, 'hook, crook,' first found a. 1400.
Cromwell (Newark) and Cromwellbottom (Yorks). Ne. C. Dom. Crunwell, 1223 Crumbwell, 1298 Cromwelle, c. 1340 Crumwell. Prob.' curved or crooked well,' or' brook,' as in Cromford but; Crum may be a man's name; it is so now. Cf. Cromhall (Charfield), Dom. Cromale, Cromhal, and 1179-80 Pipe Yorks, Crumwurda. Bottom is O.E. botm, ' the lowest part of anything,' found fr. c. 1325, meaning ' low-lying land, an alluvial hollow.' Cf. Ramsbottom, etc.
Crondall (Farnham). Dom. Crundele, 1242 Crundel. See Crundale.
Cronton (Prescot). Cf. Dom. Bucks, Cronstone, ' Village of Cron,' a name not in Onom. Cronware (Pembroke) is 1603 Owen Cromewere, and in c. 1130 Lib. Land. Lann cronnguern, perh. W. llan crum wern,' church on the crooked moor.'
Crookham (Berks, Hants, and Northumberland). Berks C.O.E. chart. Croh-hamme; Dom. Crocheham; a. 1300 Crokham. ' Saffron enclosure '; croh being the O.E. form of the L. crocus, whilst the ending here is hamme, and not the commoner ham, ' home.' Cf. Cbowle. But Crooks House (Yorks) is Dom. Croches, which will be O.N. krok-r, 'a crook, a bend,' with Eng. plur. The ending -hes has afterwards got turned into -house.
Croome (three on Severn near Pershore). 969 chart. Cromman, Croman, Cromban, all datives, 972 ib. Cromb, 1038 ib. Hylcromban (now Hill Croome), Dom. and 1241 Crumbe, Hilcrumbe. O.E. cromba,' a crook,a bend,' cognate with O. G. crumbadh, as in Ancrum (Sc.) and W.crwm, crom,' crooked.'
Cropredy (Oxon). Dom. Cropelie, 1109 Cropperia? 1275 Croprithi, 1291 Cropperye, 1330 Cropperdy, 1405 Croprydy, 1460 Cropredy. Prob. ' Croppa's stream.’ O.E. rith, as in Rye and Ryde; but on Crop- cf. next.
Cropthorne (Pershore). 780 Cropponthorne, Croppethorne, 841 Croppanthorn, Dom. Cropetorn. Crop sb. Is found as meaning 'the head or top of a tree.’ a.1300. But the early charter forms show that Croppa must be a man. Cf. next. Cropwell (Notts) Dom. Crophelle, Crophille, is fr. N. kropp-r, ' a hump or bunch, a hump- shaped hill.'
Cropton (Pickering). Dom. Croptun, so also in Dom. Suffolk. ' Village of Croppa.' See above.
Crosby (5 in P.O.). Dom. Crosebi (Cheshire), 1189 Pipe Grossebi (Cumberland). Dom. Yorks has Crox(e)bi, Crocsbi, and Crochesbi, representing more than one Crosby. ' Dwelling by the cross,’ O.E cros, 3-4croiz, 4-7croce; or,at anyrate in Yorks,' dwelling of Croc(c ) ,a fairly common name. Cf. Croxby; and see -by.
Crostwight (Norfolk). Dom. Crostueit, c. 1460 Crostweyt. ' Crossplace' or 'farm with the cross.' This name gives a rare corrup. of -thwaite. Cf. Crosthwaite (Kendal), 1201 Crostweit; and see -thwaite, which is very rarely found except in the North-West. Crouch End and Hill (London). O.E. cruc, 2-3 cruche, 3-5 crouch(e), ' a cross.' R. Crouch, Essex, may not be the same.
Croughton (Brackley). Not in Dom. Curiously, this means much the same as Crostwight,' crosstown'; O. E. cruc, M. E. cruche, crouche,' across.'
Crowborough (Leek and Tunbridge W.). Neither in Dom. Lee C. a. 1300 Crowbarwe. Prob. ' crow's wood,' O.E. crawe, and beam, dat. barwe. Cf.-borough.
Crowland or Croyland (Peterborough). 806 chart. Croylandie; Sim. Dur. ann. 1075 Crulant; c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Crulande, 1238 Croiliand. Doubtful; the first syll. may be O.E. croh, ' saffron.' Cf. Crowle.
Crowle (Worcester and Doncaster). Worcester C 836 chart. Croglea, 840 ib. Crohlea, Dom. Croelai, Crohlea, 1275 Crowele, O.E. 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. O.E. croh is just L. crocus in an Eng. dress. Cf. Crookham and Croydon.
Crowthorn (Berks). Cf. K.C.D., iv. 103, 'Crawan thorn,' Hants. ' Crow's thorn, 'thorn- tree frequented by crows, and used as a boundary' mark. Cf., too, Crowmarsh, Wallingford, Dom. Cravmares (O.E. mersc, merisc, but here rather O.Fr. mareis, marais, ' a marsh '), 1242 Crawmers.
Croxby (Lincoln), c. 1180 Ben. Peterb. Croxebi. ' Crocc's dwelling; two so named in Onom. Cf. Croxall (Lichfield), 773 chart. Crokeshalle, Dom. Crocheshalle, and Crosby.
Croxton (4 in P.G.). Eccleshall C. Dom. Crochestone, Cheshire. C. Dom. Crostone, Cambridge C. Dom. Crochestone, 1302 Croxtone, Thetford C. chart. Crochestune, 1240 Croxton, 1303 Crokeston, c. 1460 Croxeston. Also 1179-80 Pipe Lanes. Crokeston. ' Village, town of Croc,' a man; 3 I nOnom. Cf. above.
Croydon (London). 809 Monasterium quod dicitur Crogedena; Dom. Croindene, 1288 Contin. Gervase Croyndona. It lies on the edge of the chalk, and so is often said to mean ' chalk hill ' cf. Oxf. Dict. s.v. Cray and crayer. Yet form 809 must mean ' dean," (wooded) valley of the' saffron,' O.E. croh. Cf. Crowle. But Croydon (Royston) is Dom. Crauuedene 1238 Craweden, 1316 Croudene, 1428 Craudene, 'Dean, wooded vale of the crow,' O.E. crawe.
Crudgington (Welhington, Salop). Dom. Crugetune. Prob. ' town, village of Gruga,’ gen. -gan, an unknown man. For dg, cf. bryg and bridge, Maggie and Madge. There is a surname Grudgings. See-ing.
Crudwell (Malmesbury) Dom. Credwelle. Perh. ‘crypt-well’, A.Fr. crudde, M.E. crowd, ' a crypt, a vault.' See Oxf. Dict., crowd sb2, not given there till 1399; so, it may be fr. a man Grud. Cf. B.C.8. 536 Crudes silba (' wood ').
Crug Mawr (Pembroke), a. 1196 Gir. Camb. ' Crug Maur i.e., Collis magnus,' ' big hill,' ' stack like hill.'
Crukeri Castle (Radnor). Older Cruk-keri. Prob. a. 810 Nennius Caer Ceri, 'Castle of Ceri.' But Cruk- must be W. crug, 'a heap, a stack.'
Crumlin (Pontypool). W. crom llyn,' crooked or concave pool.'
Crundale (R. Wye, Kent). O.E. crundel, crondel, still in South, dial., 'a cutting shaped like an open. 'V, made by a little stream, a ravine.' Cf. B.C.S. 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 Dom. ' Meadow with the cross,' O.E. cruc, 2-3 cruche. Cf. Crouch End and Croughton, and Crutch Hill (Worcestersh.), a. 1200 Cruche, 1275 Cruch, Cruce.
Cub(b)ington (Leamington). Dom. Cobintone, Cubintone, a.1300 Cobyngton, Cumbyngton. ' Village of Cuba.' See -ing. Cubberley or Cobberley (Cheltenham), Dom. Coberleie, later Cuthbrightley, is ' Cuthbert's mead.'
Cuckamsley or-Low (Berks). 1006 O. E. Chron. Cwichelmeslaewe, c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Chichelmes laue, 1297 Quichelmeslewe. ' Burial-mound ' or 'hill ' (O.E. 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 fr. vb. cuck= cacare, not found a. 1440, though we have cucking-stool in 1308; nor likely to be fr. the cuckoo, which in O.E. was geac. So. gowk, though it is found as early as c. 1240 cuccu. Analogy, as well as other reasons, points to ' field of Cuca'; cf. B.C.S. 936 Cucan healas. The 1121 spelling certainly suggests the bird; if so, it is much the earliest instance known. Cf. next. Cooksland (Stafford) is Dom. Cuchesland, which Duignan takes to be land of Cuca or' Cue' Cf. Cuxham.
Cuckney (Mansfield). Dom. Cuchenai, 1278Cuckenay; and Norton Cuckney (Yorks). 1202 Yorks Fines Cucuneia. Prob.' Cuca's isle ‘; see above and -ey. To derive fr. cuccu ' cuckoo ' is forbidden by the n, sign of the O.E. gen.; whilst to make it O.E. oet cucan eze, ' at the running stream,' cwicu, cucu, ' living, quick,’ is not in accord with analogy.
Cuddesdon (Oxford). 95 6chart. Cupenesdune; a. 1200 Codesdona. ' Cuthen's dean ' or ' wooded valley.' Cuthen seems to be a contraction of the name Cynethegn or Cytliegn; 4 in Onom. But ' Cudandene,' 958 chart., on Stour (Staffs). There are cf. several named Cudd, Cudda, or Cuddi in Onom.; also cf. Cutsdean. See-den and-don.
Cudworth (Barnsley). Not in Dom. ' Cudd’s place or farm.' Cf. Cudeley, Worcester) (974 chart. Cudinelea, Dom. Cudelei, orig. a patronymic, see -ing; also Dom. Cornw. Cudiford. Dom.Yorks Cuzeworde is Cusworth.
Culcheth (Wigan and Cmbld.). Cum. C. c. 1141 Culquith; also, Culchet. Wig. C .1200-1 Culchet, Kulchet, 1300C ulchyt, 1311 Culcheth. Farolderis 793 Mercian chart. Celchyth, which seems the same name. Prob. ' strait ' or ' passage in the wood,' W. cul, 'a strait (G. caol, a' kyle'), and coed, pl. coydd,' a wood.'
Culgaith (Penrith). This surely must be G. cul gaoith, 'at the back of the wind,' or fr. G. cuil, ' a nook’; whilst cul in W. means' a strait, a narrow place.'
Culham (Abingdon). 821 chart. Culanhom? 940 Culenhema, 1216 Culham. ' Enclosure of Cula.' Cf. Culworth; and see -ham. Cullercoats (Newcastle). First syll. doubtful. It may be 'dove cots,' O.E. culfre, ' & dove.' If a man's name it may be Ceolheard, a common O.E. name, or Ceolweard, also common, and found once as Kilvert. Cf. Killirby (Durham), sic 1183 in Boldon Bk., but 1197 Culverdebi, plainly ' Ceolweard's dwelling'; also Dom. Norfk., Culuertestuna, and c. 1200 Culdertun, Egremont, Cumberland. There is a Culkerton (Tetbury), Dom. Culcortone; if not fr. Ceolheard, then fr. some unrecorded name. The -coats is ' cots.' See Coates.
Culmstock (Cullompton) Dom. Culmestoche. ' Culm's, Cylm's or Cylma's place '; all these forms are found in Onom. See Stoke.
Culworth (Banbury). 1298 Culeworthe. ' Cula's farm.' There is only one Cula in Onom., but cf. Culham. See-worth.
Cumberland. 945 O. E. Chron. Cumbraland, c. 960 chart. Cumbras (i.e., 'men of Cumbria'), a. 142 Wm. Malmes. Cumberland, 1461 Lib. Pluscard. Cummirlandia. Now usually held to be ' land of the Cumhri ' or Cymry, med. L. Combroges, ' fellow- countrymen.'' Of course, Cymry is now the common name for the Welsh, whose Brythonic kingdom spread right away up to Strathclyde until the 10th cny. Cf. Comberbach and Dom. Worcester' Cubrinture,' Yorks Cu'brewrde, now Cumberworth.
Cumdivock: (Dalston, Cumbld.). a.1080 Combedeyfoch. Combe is, O.E. cumb, lit. ' a bowl,' ' a coomb, a valley’, cognate with or loaned fr. W. cwym, ‘hollow’, the second part, may be W. diffaith, ‘wild, uncultivated, uninhabited.’ The Sc. Divot, ‘a turf’, alwaus has t, end is not known a. 1536. But -theyfoch may well represent a man’s name, as in B.C.S. 1237 Theofevan hyl. Only there is a Devoke Water, S. of Eskdale, in this same county. Cf. Cumwhinton and ‘Cunbehop’, c. 1200 chart. Whalley.
Cumnor (Oxford). O. E. chart. Colmanora, Cumanora, Cumenoran; Dom.Comenore. ' Colman'sedge or bank,' O. E. ora the liquid l easily disappears. Cf. Cowdenknowes (Sc).
Cumwhinton and Cumwhitton (Carlisle). Old forms needed, but perh. both Kelt., with Eng. -ton. The former seems to be W. cwmgwyn,' clear, bright hollow.' However, Lawhitton (Cornwall) is ' long, white town.'
Cunliffe (Whalley, Lanes). 1278 Gundeclyf, 1283 Cundeclive, c. 1300 Conhve, 1317 Cunliffe. Doubtful. W. and H.'s derivation fr. Gunnhild-r is little less likely here than in Conder. Prob. hybrid, Kelt, conde, cunde, ' confluence,' see Condate, and O.E. clif, ' a cliff or cleve.' Cf. Cleveland, and Lilliesleaf (Sc), 1186 Lillesclif, or ' Lilla's cliff.'
Cunsdine (Durham). Sic c. 1200 chart. Prob. 'Dean (wooded) valley of Cuna '; 2 in Onom. Cf. Cunsall (Leek), Dom. Cuneshala, and Cundall (York), Dom. Cundel.
Curdworth (Birmingham). Dom. Credeworde, a. 1200 Crudworth, Croddeworth, 1327 Cruddeworth. 'Farm of Creoda'; metathesis of r is common. Cf. Kersoe (Worcestersh.), 780 Criddesho, 1275 Crydesho.
Curry Mallet and Rivel (Taunton). Dom. and1155 Curi (see North Curry). W.cyri,' a cauldron-shaped valley,' G. coire cf. Cyri, and Sc. Corrie and Currie. Mallet denotes the name of the family to which this place once belonged. Cf. Shepton Mallet, and for Rivel cf. 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 chart. and Dom. Codestune, 1275 Cotestone, a. 1500 Cotesdon, a. 1600 Cuddesdon. This, then ,I snot' Dean,’but' town of Code o rCola,' perh. The same man as gave name to the Cotswolds. Already in 730 we find B.C.8. 236, set Codeswellan.
Cuxham (Wallingford). O.E. chart. Cuceshamm. 'Enclosure of Cue' Cf. Cuckfield and Cuxwold (Lines), 1235 Cukewald; also B.C.8. 936 Cucan healas (see -hall). See -ham.
Cwmhir (Radnor), c. 1188 Gir. Camb. W. cwm hir, ' long valley or hollow." Cf. Cumdivock.
Cwm-llaw-Enog (Chirk). W.= ' valley of Enog's hand.' Enog was a W. 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). a. 1300 Cuch. W. cwch, pl. cychod,' a boat.'
Cyffdy (Llanrwst). W. for ' dark, black stump.' Cf. CyffyHiog (Ruthin), and Cuffern (Haverford W.), old Coferun.
Cynon R. (Glam.) 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 L., 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 G. coire, 'a Corrie ' (Sc.). Cf. Taliesin, ' the cauldron of Cyridwen,' and Curry.
Cytiau-'r-Gwyddelod (Holyhead). W.= 'cots of the Irish.' It is a mountain, said to be the scene of a battle, c. 600, between the Gwyddel (or Goidels, or Gaels) and the Cymri, or Welsh.

Dacre (Penrith), sic 1353, and Dacre Banks (Leeds). Bede Dacore (R. and monastery). Dom. Yorks, Dacre. Possibly med. L. (e.g., in Dom.) dicra, c. 1300 dacrum, O.Fr. dacre, dakere, M.E. dyker, mod. E. dicker, corrup. of L. decuria. This number 10 was the customary unit of exchange, esp. in hides; but was it ever applied to land measurement?
Dagenham (Barking). 693 chart. Deccan-haam; c. 1150 chart. Dechenham. ' Daecca's enclosure ' or ' pasture ‘; only one Doecca in Onom. See -ham. But Dagnall (Oxon) is a. 1400 Dagenhale. See-hall.
Daglingworth (Cirencester). Feud. Aids Dagelingworth; also 1240 a Dagehngstrete. ' Farm of the sons of Doeghild,' or ' Doegweald,' nearest names in Onom. See-worth.
Dalden or Dawden (Sunderland), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Daldene, O.E. 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.' O.E. doel, O.N. dal. 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 Dom. Dale (Pembroke) is found in 1307 as La Dale i.e.,with the Fr. art.,' the dale.'
Dalton (5 in P.G.). Furness D. Dom. Daltun. Cf. a ' Daltone in Dom. Cheshire. ' Town, village on the allotment,’ see Dalden; in northern cases,' village in the dale,' N. dal.
Danby Wiske (Northallerton). Dom. and 1202 Danebi, or' Dane's dwelling.' Cf. Tenby and Danemarche, Jersey; and see -by. On Wiske, see Appleton Wiske. But Danethorpe (Notts), Dom. Dordentorp, 1637 Dernthorp, is 'village of Deorna.' The phonetic changes are all explainable.
Dane or DAVEN R. (Chesh.); hence Davenham and Davenport (Chesh.). Dom. Deveneham and Deneport, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Devenport. Perh. W. dain, ' pure, pleasing, beautiful,' or else dwfn, ' deep.' Cf. Debenham. Duignan suggests G. 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 ib. Deorlafestun, Dom. Dorlavestone. Wednesbury D. a. 1200 Derlavestone. ' Town of Deorlaf.' Cf. Darliston (Whitchurch) and Darlton (Notts), Dom. Derluveton.
Darley (Leeds) and Darley Abbey and Dale (Derbysh.). Derbysh. D. Dom. Dereleie. Dar- is prob. from Deor or Deora, names in Onom., and phonetically possible. Darton (Yorks) is Dom. Dertune. In O. E. deor means' any wild animal, 'then' a deer,' then used as a personal name, ' a man like a deer.' See -ley.
Darlington, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Dearningtun, Dearthingtun; but 1183 Boldon Bk. Derlingtona. A name which has changed. There is no trace in Onom. of the Sim. Dur. forms, and only one Deorling or Derling. As it stands, the name is ' village of the darlings,' O.E. deorling, a dimin. of ' dear.' ' Dearthingtun may possibly represent Darrington. Cf. Derlintun in 1156 Pipe Notts, in Dom. Dallingtune and now Dalington. We have Darlingscot, Shipston-on-Stour, a. 1300 Darlingscote.
Darnall (Sheffield). O.E. derne heal, ' hidden, out of the way, dark nook.' Cf. Darnhall Pool (Cheshire), Dernford (Cambs), and Darnick (Sc); also see -hall.
Darrington (Pontefract). Dom. Darnintone, Darnitone, 1204 ' Darthingtone, 1208 Dardhintom. Town, village of Deorna’ (one in Onom.) or possibly ‘of Deorwen, or Deorwine’, see -ing.
Dartford (Kent), a. 1200 Derenteford, Darentford. 'Ford on R. Darent,' which is prob. a var. of Derwent; it is 940 chart. Daerinta. Cf. Darwen.
Dartmouth (on R. Dart). Exon. Dom. Derta, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Derte, 1250 Layam. Derte mup. Doubtful; certainly not fr. Eng. dirt. Perh. W. dorth, ' limit, covering’ or O.E. darrod, ' a dart, a spear,’ though our Eng. dart comes to us through O.Fr. dart. Dartmoor is 1228 Close R. Dertemor.
Darwen R. and town (Lanes), a.1130 Sim. Dur. Dyrwente, 1311 Derwent. W. dwr gwen, ' white, clear stream.' Cf. Darent, Derwent, and G. dobhar,' water, river.''
Dassett (2, Kineton, Warwick). Dom. Derceto, Dercetone, a. 1200 Afne Dereet, a. 1400 Chepyng and Great Derset. O.E. deor, ' deer,' and set, ' a place where animals are kept, a stall, fold.' See Avon, Chipping, Darley, and r on p. 83.
Datchet (Windsor). Dom. Daceta, 1238 Dachet. A puzzling name but all solutions fail phonetically except 'Dacca's cot,' O.E. cete, ' cot, hut.' Cf. Datchworth (Stevenage), 769 chart. Decewrthe, Dom. Daceuuorde, B.C.S. 81 Daeccanham, and Watchet. The O.E. cc normally becomes tch.
Dauntsey (Chippenham). Dom. Dantesie. Cf. 940 chart. Dauntesbourne (Wilts). ' Isle of Daunt.' See -ey.
Davenham and-port. See Dane.
Daventry (Weedon). Dom. Daventrei, a. 1124 Dauentre, c. 1200 Gervase Davintria. The present pron. is Daintry, which would suggest an O.E. Doefan treo, ' tree of Doefa ' ; cf. Oswestry. However, no Docefa or Dave is in Onom., though cf. 1179-80 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 O.E. origin, a W. origin is not altogether to be dismissed, though a W.name would be very unlikely here. It may be 'the two summits,' fr. W. dau, 'two,' and entrych, 'summit’, as D. stands on a hill, and there is another a mile away. It may be c. 380 Ant. Itin. Devnana.
Dawlish (S. Devon). O.E. chart. Doflisc, Dom. Dovles, a. 1500 Doflysch. Doubtful. The first syll. may be W. du, O.W. dub, Corn, dew, ' black,' or dwfn, ' deep.' Cf. Dewlish and Dowlais, also R. Divelish (Dorset), which is chart. Deuelisc, Deflisch, Deuulisc, Defelich, and Dom. Devon, Monlish. All these are orig. river-names. The river at Dawlish is now the Dalch. So the second syll. is prob. W. glais, ' stream, river,' rather than Illys, ' court, hall,' or glwys, ' hallowed place, a fair spot.'
Deadwater (N. Tyne) Perh. 1249 Dedy. Doubtful. We find' a standing pool or dead water’, as early as 1610 Holland’ s Pliny.
Deal. Not in Dom. 1160 Pipe Dela; later Dale, Dele, Dola. O.E. 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, O.E. dal.
Dean, E. and W. (Eastbourne). Asser Dene. O.E. denu, 'a dean, a dell, a deep, wooded vale.' See also Forest of Dean.
Debden (Saffron Walden). Dom. Deppedana, 1228 Close R. Depeden i.e., ' deep, wooded valley.’ See Dean.
Debenham (Framlingham, Suffk.). Dom. Depbenham, Depbeham. ' Home on the R. Deben, which maybe W. dwfn' deep. Cf. Davenham.
Dee R. (Cheshire), c. 150 Ptolemy Deva, 1480 Dee; but a. 1196 Gir. Camb. Deverdoen Deverdoe, which is just the mod. W. name Dwfr Dwy. W dwfr or dwr (O.W. deifr), is' river, stream’ and dwy is ' two’ feminine. But Dee (Sc), also R. Divie, trib. of Findhorn, Moraysh.
Deerhurst (Tewkesbury). 804 Grant Deor-hyrst(e); Dom. Derehest, a. 1200 Walter Map Durherst. Deor, dior in O.E. means ' any kind of beast; ' hyrst is ' forest.' See -hurst.
Deganwy, Diganwy, or Dwyganwy (N.Wales), a.1145 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, Anglesea, and Ireland. In the Patent R. c. 1245 it is often Gannok, which suggests a similar origin to Cannock.
Deighton. See Ditton.
Delph (Yorks, Rochdale, N. Staffs) and the Delves (Wednesbury) A ' digging ' (for iron ore or the like). O.E. doelfan, deljan, ' to dig, delve.' Cf. Dilhorne.
Denary Main (Rotherham). Dom. Degenebi, Denegebi, dwelling of’, it is uncertain who, perh. Degb or Thegb- i.e. thane, lord, names in Onom. Cf. Dagenham; and see -by. Main meaning ' main' or' chief vein of mineral, 'seems a quite recent usage.
Denbigh, c. 1350 charts. Denbiegh, Dynbiegh, Denbeigh, 1485 Dynbigh. W. Dinbych. In W. din bych would mean, 'hill or fort of the wretched being.' This would be absurd. Prob. it is, as pron. In Eng. Den-by,' dwelling of the Dane'; we have Denbymore than once in Yorks, Dom. Denebi, fr. O.E. 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 W. din bach, ' little hill,' which it is. This certainly accounts better for the final guttural -gh or -ch.
Denchworth (Wantage). O.E. chart. Dences wyrthe, Deneces wurthe, Denices wurth Dom. Denchesworde. ' Farm of Dence,’; a name otherwise unknown; though Onom. has Denisc, or 'the Dane.’ See -worth.
Denham (Uxbridge and Eye, Suffk.). Ux. D. Dom. Daneha. Eye D. Dom. Denham. Prob. ' home of the Dane.' Cf. Denton and Den-mark.
Denny Bottom (Tunbridge Wells). Cf. Denny (Sc.) 1510 Dany, and Dom. Bucks, Danitone. Denny is a dimin. Of den o rdean, ' a narrow, wooded valley.' See -den.
Denston(e) (Uttoxeter and Newmarket). Utt. D. Dom. Denestone, ' village of Dene,' 3 in Onom., meaning, of course, ' the Dane.’ Cf. above. But New. D. is Dom. Danardestuna, 'town of Deneheard.' Cf. B.C.S. 480 Deneheardes hegersewe.
Denton (8 in P.G.). 801 chart. Deantone (Sussex). Dom. Yorks and Lines Dentune, ' village by the Dean, or deep, wooded vale.' Cf. Denford (Berks), Dom. Daneford, where O.E. 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 cf .Denbigh, and above.
Deptford. Sic. 1521, but c. 1386 Chaucer Depford; not in Dom. 'Deep (O.E. deop)) ford' on the Ravensbourne, or rather, the creek at its mouth. There is another at Sunderland. Cf. Defford (Pershore, 972 chart.), Deopford, Dom. Depeforde, also in Dom. Wilts.
Derby. 917 O.E. Chron. Deoraby, 1049 Deorby, 1598 Darbishiere. In W. Dwrgwent. ' Beasts' dwelling.' O.E. deor, dior, Icel. dyr, ' a beast '; and see -by. Derby was a Danish name; Northweordig was the O.E. one. For its ending, cf. Badgeworthy.
Dereham (Norfolk). Dom. Dereham, Derham. c. 1460 Dyram, so =Dyrham and Derby,' beasts' home.'
Dersingham (King's Lynn). Dom. Dersincham, 1234 Patent R. Dersingham ' home of the Dersings.' Cf. Sandringham.
Derwent R. (Cumbld. and Yorks), also Derwentwater, sic 1298. The two rivers get a little mixed in early records—c. 380 Ant. Itin., and c. 700 Rav. Geogr. Derventione, Bede Dorowensio, Deruuentis fluvius, c. 850 O.E. vers. Deorwenta, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Dyrwenta, 1229 Patent R. Derewent (Yorks). W. dwr, dwfr gwen, ' white, clear stream.' Cf. Darent and Darwen. For suffixing of t, cf. Leven and Levant.
Desborough (Mket. Harboro'). Dom. Deisburg, Diesburg, c. 1260 Rot. Hund. Dosteberge. Very puzzling; no name in Onom. seems to suit any of these forms; but it may be Deorswith (see Dosthill). ' Dais ' raised table in a hall, is O.Fr. deis, and not known in Eng. till 1259, so very unlikely here; but cf. Diss. See-burgh.
Deuddwr (Wales). W. daud wr,' two streams.'
Deverell—Kingston Deverill (Bath), Longbridge Deverill, and Brixton Deverill (Warminster), Dom. Devrel, 1245 Patent R. Deverel (Wilts). Prob. hybrid. Devr- will be O. Kelt, for 'stream,' W. dwfr (see Andover and Dover); whilst -el is prob. Eng. for hill, or else -hale, ' nook.' See -hall. Cf. Derridge, Kingswood, old Deveridge. Possibly Devrel is Nor. for Devereux or d'Evreux.
Devil's Water (Hexham). 1610 Speed Dovols fl. Thought to be corrup. of G. dubh glas, 'dark, peaty stream '= Douglas. This is very doubtful.
Devizes. 1157 Pipe Divisis, c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Divisa, 1228 Close R. ad Divisas. This is corrupt L., and prob. means ' place at the division or border " (? that between Saxon and Kelt).
Devon. 878 O.E. Ghron. Defenascir; Exon. Dom. Duuenant, 1189 Devonia; 1402 Devenshir, c. 1630 Risdon, 'Devonshire, now by a vulgar speech Denshire.' In O.W. Dyvnaint, which seems to be O.W. dub, W. du nant, ' dark ravine or valley^ or stream.' The Sc. Devon, c. 1210 Dovan, has a similar origin, G. dubh an, ' dark river.' But Rhys identifies both with the Damnonii, who orig. inhabited Devonshire, the m here being aspirated into mh or v. There is also a R. Devon, Notts.
Devonport. Dates from 1689. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Devenport is Davenport. See above.
Dewchurch, Little (Hereford). 1234 Close R. Deweschirch, ' Church of Deivi,' W. for St. David. Cf. Dewiston, near St. David's, Llandewi, and Dewsbury; also, Dowthorpe (Yorks), Dom. Dwetorp, 1202 Duuestorp.
Dewlish (Dorchester). Chart. Diolisc, 1230 Close R. Deuehz, 1238 Patent R. Deuelis. Must be same as Dawlish and as Dewlas R. See Dowlais.
Dewsbury (Yorks). Dom. Deusbereia, Deusberie, 1202 Deubire. ' David's burgh.' See Dewchurch and -bury.
Dickleborough (Scole, Norfk.). Dom. Dicclesburc, 1232 Close R. Dikelebury. Prob. ' burgh of Dicuil,' a Keltic name. See -borough.
Didcot (Oxford). Not in Dom. a. 1300 Doudecote, also Dudcote; and Didcote (Beckford),1177Pipe Dudicota. Cf. B.C.S. iii. 101. Dyddan hamm, ib. 486 Dydinc cotan (dat.). 'Cot, cottage of Dydda or Dudda.' Cf. Dudley and Diddington (Warwk.), 1188 Didindon.
Didmarton (Tetbury). 972 chart. Dydimeretune, Dom. Dedmertone. Feud. Aids Dudmerton. Perh. ' village of Dudemcer,' as in 1015 chart. To Dudemseres hele (' nook '), Chilton (Berks), But it may be ' mere- or lake-town of Dydda ' or ' Dudda,' the latter a very common name. Cf. Dummer.
Digbeth (Birmingham, Coventry, and Northfield, Wore). Duignan thinks this may be corrup. of dike path; dike, O.E. die, being either ' ditch ' or 'embankment.' But there are no old forms, and this is doubtful.
Dilhorne (Stoke-on-Trent). Dom. and till 1300 Dulverne. Duignan thinks, O.E. dulfern, delfern, ' place of digging or delving.' Cf. Delph. However, in Dom. Bucks we have ' Dileherst,' and Di Dilston (Hexham), a. 1300 chart. Divelin, which looks like W. ty Felyn, ' house of Velyn.' Cf. Helvellyn and Stirling (Sc.) c. 1250 Estrivelin. But—surely very improbably—Sir H. Maxwell thinks this name is D'Eyville's town ' (see Scala- cronica MS., fo. 211); whilst M'Clure thinks the Dils- is a corrup. of Douglas, ' dark stream.'
Dinas (Glamorgan). W. and Corn., a castle,’ fr. din, ' hill,’ then ' hill-fort.' CJ. Pendennis.
Dinas Emrys (small hill near Snowdon). 1190 Gir. Camb. says this means ' promontory of Ambrosius,' a celebrated bard of the 5th cny.
Dinas Powys (Cardiff). 1223 Patent E. Dinant powis. ' Hill ' or ' fort of Powys.' Cf. above.
Dinefrw Castle (Caermarthen) . c. 1196 Gir. Camb. Dynevur, 1246 Patent E. Dynavor. W. 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. Cf. St. Gerrans. Dinmore (Hereford). W. din mawr, ' big hill.' It is a village on the top of a high hill. Cf. Dunmore (Sc).
Dinnengton (Newcastle-on-T. and Rotherham). Ro. D. Dom. Dunnitone, Dunintone, ' town of Dun, Duna, or Duning,' all in Onom. See -ing.
Din-Orwig (Caernarvon). Old Dinorddwig i.e., 'fort of the Ordovices,' a tribe of central Wales. See Tacit. Agric. 18. But in charters of Edw. III. it is Dynnorbin. Rhys derives Ordovices fr. O. W. ord, W. gordd,' a hammer.'
Dinton (Aylesbury and Salisbury). Salisbury D. Duntone. 1179-80 Pipe Yorks. Dinton, ' village of Dynne or Dyne,' a common name in Onom. See -ton. But Dinsdale (N. Yorks) is Dom. Dirneshale, fr. Deorna, or perh. Deoring, Diring, names in Onom. See -hall.
Diss (Norfolk). Dom. Dice. Doubtful. ? O.Fr. deis, found in Eng. c. 1259 as deis,' a dais or high-table.' Diseworth (Derby) and Disley (Stockport) imply an unrecorded man Disa. Cf. Desborough and next.
Dissington (Northumbld.).? The Digentum in Hexham Chrons. Should be ' town of Dissa ' or the like but there is no such name in Onom. Still we have Dishforth, Thirsk, Dom. Disforde, and the places above, suggesting such a name.
Ditton (Widnes, Bridgnorth, and Surrey) and Fen Ditton (Cambs). Cambs. D. c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Dictune, Dittune. Dom. Surrey and Bucks Ditone, Ditune; also c. 1170 and 1213 charts. Dicton,? which, and c. 1005 chart. Dictune, Kent, Digneshale, ‘Town, enclosure, with the ditch. O. En, dic. Cf. Ditchford (Warwk.) Dom Dicforde. Then ames Deighton and Dighton have the same origin as Ditton. N. Yorks is Dom. Dictune, and Deightonby is Dictenebi, a somewhat rare hybrid.
Doccombe (Newton Abbot). Not in Dom. 1174 Documba, 1322 Dockumbe; also corrupted into Dockham. O.E. docce-cumbe, ' dock-valley,’ valley in which the docken weed abounded.
Dodcott (Nantwich). 1135 Dodecotte. Cf. a. 1300 ' Dodeford,’ Northants. ' The cot or cottage of Dodd, Doda, or Dodda’ a very common name in Onom. Cf. Didcot and Dodwell, Stratford (Warwk.), close to the Doddanford of 985 chart.
Dodington (Yate and Bridgwater). Ya. D. Dom. Dodintone, 1170 Duddinton; and Doddington (5 in P.O.), March D. Dom. Dodinton, 1302 Doddyngtone. ' Village of Dodda ' or ' Dudda,' gen. -an. Cf. Dom. Bucks and Salop, Dodintone. But Dodingtree (Leicester) is perh. fr. dod, ' to clip or top,’ found a. 1225 dodd; cf. 1440 Prompt. Parv., ' doddyn trees or herbys . . . decomo.' This tree was the meeting-place of the hundred. Cf. Manningtree. See -ing.
Dogsthorpe (Peterboro'). Not in Dom. c. 1100 Grant Dodesthorpe. Interesting corruption;' farm of Dodd.' See Dodcott and -thorpe. Dolebury Camp (Mendips). 'Burgh, fortified place of Dola'; one such in Onom. It is the site of a pre-Roman fort. See -bury. Dolgelly. W. dol gelli, ' meadow with the grove or copse,' gelli being var. of the commoner celli.
Dolly Meadows (Bath). W. Dol. li. dolau (pron. dola), ' a meadow.' Cf. G. dal. Thus, the name is a tautology.
Dolton (Devon). Dom. Dueltona. 1235 Patent E. Dughelton. ' Town of Dougal ' (see Duggleby), only here the h has ' eclipsed ' the g. Cf. the surname Doulton.
Don R. and Doncaster. Prob. c. 380 Ant. Itin. Dono and Bede II. xiv Campodunum, c. 850 O.E. vers. Donafeld; Nennius Cair Daun; Dom. Doncastre, 1158-59 Pipe Dane Castre, 1202 Fines Danecastre, 1206 Donecastre. Itc annot be the same as Don (Sc). Perh. W. dwn, G. donn,' brown.’ See-caster.
Donnengton (Salop, Gloucs., and Berks). Sa. D. Dom. Donitone. Gl. D. 1176 Pipe Dunnington. Be. D. 1316 Dunyngton. ' Village of the sons of Dunn.' Cf. B.C.S. iii. 601 on Dunninglande. Cf. Dunnington; and see -ing.
Donyatt (Ilminster). 1234 Patent R. Dunyed. O.E. 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. Cf. Symond's Yat.
Dorchester (Dorset), c. 380 Ant. Itin. Darno(no)varia, 939 chart, villa regalis quae dicitur Doracestria, c. 1100 Flor. Wore. Dorsetania, 1387 Dorchestre. Durno-varia is prob. Kelt, for ' fist-plays,’ there having been a Rom. amphitheatre here; W. dwrn, Ir. dorn, ' fist ‘; and Corn, gware for L. varia, ' a play.' Asser, ann. 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 isn othing which represents varia, so that it really seems to mean ' fist camp." O. E. deoc, ‘dark’. Also see Dorset.
Dordon (Tamworth). 1285 Derdon. Perh. 'hill of the deer,' O.E. deor. Cf. Dassett; and see -don.
Dore R. (S. Wales), c. 1130 Lib. Land. Door; and Dore (Hereford and Sheffield). Sheffield D. O.E. Chron. 827 Dore, ib. 942 Dor. W. dwr, ' water, stream ‘; G. dobhar. Cf. Appledore, Dour (Yorks), and Durra (Cornw.). But Plummer derives the towns fr. O. E. duru, dor,' a door,an opening.'
Dorset, a. 900 Asser Thornsseta, Dornsseta, Dom. Dorsete, c. 1097 Flor. W. Dorsetania. Dornsseta should mean ' seat, settlement among the thorns'; but cf. Dorchester; while some connect with Ptolemy's Durotriges, who dwelt about here. Cf. Somerset. Dom. Essex has a Dorseda.
Dorsington (Stratford-on-Avon). Dom. Dorsintune, and Dorstone (Hereford), a. 1300 Dorsinton. ' Village of the Dorsings,' or? ' sons of Deorsige.' Cf. Dersingham. See -ing.
Dosthill (Tamworth). Dom. Dercelai. a. 1200 Dertehulla, Derchethull, a. 1400 Dersthull, Dorsethull. The ending is clear. In Dom. -lai is fr. -ley, ' meadow,' q.v. and hull is the regular Mid. form of ' hill.' Derchet or Derst prob. represents a man Deorswith; 2 in Onom. But cf. also Dom. Bucks Dusteb'ge and Desborough.
Douglas (Isle of Man). Local pron. Doolish. Moore says, Manx dub glais, ' dark stream.' Cf. Douglas (Sc.) and Dowlais, pron. Dowlish. One of K.Arthur s battles, in Nennius, was at ' Duglas.' c. 1205 Layamon has a ' Duglas water ' too.
Dove R. (Derbv) and Dovey or Dyfi R. (S. Wales and Machynlleth). Derby D. .890 chart. Dufa ,a.1300 Duve Douve. Mach. D. 1428 Dyvi. All fr .O.W. dubr, W. dwfr, dwr,' water, stream.' Duignan thinks Dove the ' diving ' river, O.E. dufan. Its tribs. certainly, dive underground. Doverdige (Uttoxeter) is Dom. Dubrige, c. 1300Doubrig,' bridge on R. Dove.'
Dover (also near Leigh, Lanes), c. 380 Ant. Itin. Portus Dubris; a. 716 chart. Duiras, 104S O.E. Chron. Dofre, a. 1100 Wm Poit. Doueria, c. 1097 Flor. W. Doru-bernia, Doro-bernia; 1160 Doura, Dovre; c. 1205 Layam. Doure, c. 1275 Douere. The Kent Dover is on R. Douver, W. dwfr, a stream,’ still correctly pron. In Fr. Douvre(s) Cf. above, and Doverdale, Droitwich, 706 chart. Dourdale, 817 ib. Doferdael, also Dom. 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). Dom. Druurecurt (first r an error). ' Court on the river,' W. dwfr. See above. Court, O.F. cort, curt, L. cohors, -tem, ' court, poultry-yard, yard,' is not in Oxf. Dict, till 1297. It means ' a clear space enclosed by a wall,' then' a large building in a yard, a castle.'
Dowlais (Glam.). Pron. Dowlish. Disputable; perh. O.W. dau, mod. W. dou glais, ' two streams '; but prob. = Douglas. The Dewlas, trib. of Nthn. Dovey, is sic 1428 and locally pron. Diflas, clearly' dark (W. du) stream.' Dowlish Wake (llminster) should be the same. Cf. Dawlish. The Little and Great Doward Hills, lower Wye, were old Dougarth, which is O.W. for ' two garths,' or ' enclosures.'
Downham (Cambs and Norfolk). Cambs D. K.C.D. iv. 209 Dunham. Norfolk D. 1461 Dounham. O.E. dun-ham, ' hill-dwelling.' Cf. next. Downholme (Richmond, Yorks) is in Dom. Simply Dune. See -holm.
Downs, The (off Kent), a. 1460 Gregory's Chron. The Downys, 1520 The Downes. Perh. so called from the down or hill, O.E. dun, opposite the E. end of the North Downs.
Dowton (Salisbury). c. 1160 Duntuna i.e.,' hill-town' or Hilton.
Dowthorpe (Yorks). Dom. Dwetorp. Prob. 'village of Duua' or' Duha,' names in Onom. See -thorpe.
Doxey (Stafford). Dom. Dochesig, c. 1200 Dokesei, 'Isle of Docca,' or ' the duck,' O.E. docce. Cf. Duxford. In Dom. Salop there is Dehocsele or ' Docca's nook. ' See -ey and -hall.
Drakenedge (Warwksh.). 1251 Drakenegg. O.E. dracan ecg, ' devil' s or dragon' sedge' or' brink.' Cf. Drakelow (Derbysh.) and Wolverley, former 942 ' set Dracan hlawen (see -low) also Drakestone (Gloucs.).
Draughton (Skipton). Dom. Dractone. Doubtful. Possibly it is 'town of the devil,' O.E. draca. Cf. above. Possibly Drayton.
Draycott (Berks, Bleckley, Dunchurch, Stoke-on-T.). Ber. D. Dom. Draicote; Bl. D. 1275 Draycote; St. D. a. 1300 Dra- and Draycote. This must go with Drayton, an even commoner name with older ecorded forms. Draycott would seem to mean ' dry cot'; O.E. dryge, drige, 2 dreie, 4 draye, dreye, 'dry.' Possibly it is fr. O.E. draege, 'a dragnet, a dray'; but then, why so? Certainly, Skeat's derivation fr. an O.E. droeg, supposed to mean ' a place of shelter, a retreat ' (cf. mod. dray, ' a squirrel's nest '), seems rather laboured. But the matter is not yet settled. Dom. Devon has a Draheford,? ' ford for a dray.' Cf. Drig.
Drayton (9 in P.G.). Chart. Draetun, Dom. Draitone, 1210 Drayton (Cambs). 810 chart. Draiton (N. Notts), 960 chart. Draaegtun, and Dom. Draitone (Berks), a. 1100 ab. 'dry town'; but the early forms make O. E. droege' a dray,'at leasta possible origin. Skeat derives the place in Cambs and Berks fr. the O.E. droeg, referred to s.v. Draycott. The ' Cair Draithon ' of c. 800 Nennius has been identified with one of the Draytons, which is doubtful.
Driffield (Bridlington and Cricklade). Bridlington D. c. 1050 O.E. Chron. 705 Driffelda, Dom. Drifeld, Drifelt, 1202 Driffeld. Cr. D. Dom. Drifelle (common Dom. var.). 'Dry field,' O.E. drige, 3 drigge, drie, ' dry.' Duignan says Driffold (Sutton Colfield), is drift fold,' fold into which cattle were driven.' Cf. next.
Drig (W. Cumbld.). O.E. drige, ' dry '; droeg, ' a place of shelter. Cf. above.
Drighlington (Bradford). Dom. Dreslintone, Dreslingtone. The s in Dom. is to avoid the guttural gh; such Dom. hates. Prob. ' village of the descendants of Dryhtweald,'or perh.' Drycghelm (once in Onom.). Cf. Dom. Gloucs. Dricledone. See -ing.
Dringhoe (Holderness). Dom. Dringolme; and Dringhouses (York). Not in Dom. N. 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 corrup. 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 chart. In wico emptoris salis quern nos Saltwich vocamus, 888 ib. Saltwic, 1017 Sealtwic, 1049 O.E. Chron. Wic, Dom. Wich 24 times, Wic once, 1347 le Dryghtwych, 1469 Dertwyche. But D. is not Ptolemy's Salinai. Wich is simply O.E. 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 O.E. authority for saying that wic or wich has anything to do with salt. Many—even Skeat—derive this wich fr. O.N. 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 fr. vile in 716 in Worcestersh. seems simply impossible. Droit- (Fr. droit, ' right, privilege ') was prefixed by sanction of Edw. III., who gave the inhabitants the right to manufacture salt here a. 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. Cf.' The Droits of Admiralty.'
Dromonby (N. Riding). Dom. Dragmalebi, twice. A remarkable corrup. ' Dwelling of Dragmel,' one in Onomn. We here see how anyone liquid can become another, even I become n. See -by.
Dronfield (Sheffield). Not in Dom. 'Field of the drone-bees'; O.E. dran, 3-6 dron.
Droxford (Bps. Waltham). 939 chart. Drocenesforda; not in Dom. ' Ford of Drocen, not in Onom., but cf. Drakenedge.
Druid (Corwen) may be for W. derwydd, ' a Druid.' T. Morgan omits it. But Druid Heath (Warwk.) is c. 1400 Druwood, Drewood, fr. a family of Dru, or rather Druce prob. taking their name fr. Dreux, Normandy.
Drypool (Hull). Dom. Dridpol, Dritpol, Dripold, 'dirty pool,' Icel. drit, dirt.'
Dudbridge (Stroud). 1302 Dodebrygge; and Duddo (Norham); 1183 Dudehowe. Named fr. some man Dudd, Duda, or Dudda, names very commo nin O.E., esp. in Mercia. Cf. Dudley and Duddeston (Birmingham), 1100 Duddestone. The -o is -howe, ' a mound,'q.v.
Duddon (Tarporley) and Duddon R. (Cumbld.). Latte rthought to be c. 709 Eddi Regio Dunutinga, a name of uncertain origin. But Taporley Duddon may be W. du din, 'dark, black hill’, though cf. next.
Dudley. Dom. Dudelei, 1275 Duddleye, ' meadow of Dudd, Dudo, or Dodo,’? the duke in Mercia, and founder of Tewkesbury Abbey, 715. Cf. Didcot and Dudbridge; and see -ley.
Duffield (Derby). Not in Dom. c. 1180 Ben. Peterb. Dufelda, ' dove field.' O.E. ‘dufe, c. 1200 duue, c. 1300 duu. If this derivation be correct, we have here one of the earliest recorded examples of the Eng. word dove. Cf. Doveskar, Wensleydale, 1202 Duuesker, and Doveridge, Dom. Dubrige.
Duggleby (Yorks). Dom. Dighelbi, Difgelibi. 'Dwelling of Dougal,' in Ir. and G. Dubhgall, or' dark stranger,' the Ir. name for the Danes. This Danish Kelt prob. came from Ireland. There are other traces of such settlers. Cf. Dolton; and see -by.
Dullingham (Newmarket). Dom. Dullingeham; also, old Dilintonee. ' Home of the Dillings.' Cf. Dillington (Hunts) and Dilham (Norfk.) i.e., ' home of Dill,' still a personal name, of which Dilling is the patronymic.
Dulverton (Somerset). Dom. Dolvertun. The name heres eems unknown. There seems trace of a N. Tolf-r or Tolrius.
Dulwich, sic 1606. Not in Dom. (There are coins with Dulwic on them, supposed to be a man's name.) Possibly ' Dola's dwelling '; one Dola in Onom. The adj. dull is not in Eng. a. 1430. Cf. Dom. Derby, Duluestune.
Dumbleton (Evesham). Sic 1327, but 930 chart. Dumolan, Dumollan, 995 Dumbletain, Dom. Dunbentone. The forms are corrupt. Skeat suggested ' Domwulf's town,' but this is doubtful.
Dummer (Basingstoke). Dom. Dumere. Prob. ' Duda's mere' or ' lake.' Cf. Dom. Dodimere (Sussex) and Didmarton, also Cromer.
Dunchurch (Rugby). Dom. Donecerce. c. 1200D unchirch, 1444 Dunkyrke. ' Church on the hill,' O.E. dun, though possibly fr. 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 O.E. Chron. Naess i.e., 'nose, cape, naze.' Dunge- is prob. Dan. dynge, 'a heap, a pile (of dung),' mod. Icel. dyngja, ' heap, dung,' O.E. dung. Cf. Dinganess, Norway.
Dungleddy (Glamorgan), c. 1130 Lib. Land. Dou Clediv, 1603 Doyglethe,' the dark (W. du) Cleddy R.'
Dunham (6 in P.G.). Sic 1150 chart. K.C.D. iv. 209. Dom. Notts, Duneham. Norfolk D. c. 1460 Donham. O.E. dun-ham, ' hill-dwelling.'
Dunheved (Launceston). Dom. Dunhevet, c. 1140 Downehevede, Dunehevede, 1250 Dunhefd. Corn, din hafod,' hill of the summerresidence'; no doub tconfused with O.E. heafod; Dan. hoved, ' the head.'
Dunmore (Leckhampstead). Not in Dom. Chart, dunn mere, which is O.E. for ' dun-coloured, brownish lake.' Perh. Remodelled on Dunmore (Sc),' big hill.'
Dunmow (Essex). Dom. Dom(m)auua,1160 Pipe Dumawa, c. 1386 Donmowe. Perh. tautology. W. din, ' a hill,' and O.E. muga ' a heap, a mow, a pile of hay’; found 3-7mowe.
Dunnington (York). Dom. Domniton, Donniton, also Dodinton; 1202 Dunnigton. There are several men named Dunning in Onom., but the name here is doubtful. Cf. Doddington.
Dunstable. Not in Dom. 1123 O.E. Chron. Dunestaple, c. 1200 Gervase Dunstapele, 1433 Dunstaple. ' Hill of the market '; it lies at the foot of Dunstable Downs. O.E. dun-stapel. Cf. Barnstaple. Dunsley (Yorks) is Dom. Dunesle, ' meadow on the hill.'
Dunstall. Common var. of Tunstall.
Dunster (Somerset). No tin Dom. Prob. 1231 Patent R. Dintre, which looks like W. din tre, ' hill with the house.' But 1243 ib. Dunesterr, which may be an Eng. remodelling; O.E. dun steor- ra(n), ' hill of the star.' The common Sc. ending -ster, O.N. stadr,' dwelling is not very likely here.
Duntisbourne (Cirencester). Dom. Tantesbourne, 1102 Dontesborne, 1221 Duntesborne.? ' Stream of.' Baddeley gives up the implied name as hopeless. Onom. has a Dunniht and a Thront, which seem at least possible. See -bourne.
Dunton (3 in P.G.). Dom. Norfk. Dontuna. Cf. 672 chart. Duntun’? near Winchester, and Dom. Duntune, Salop. ' Town at the hill; O. E. dun, which also means ‘a fort.’
Dunwich (once in Suffolk, now submerged). Bede Domnoc, Dommoc, c. 1175 Fantosme Dunewiz. Doubtful. Some derive fr. W. dwfn, ' deep.' Cf. Dymock. See -wich.
Durdans, The (Epsom). Sic 1658. Said to be M.E. durden, 'a coppice'; but there seems no trace of this in Oxf .Dict., where the only durdan is a var. of dirdum, ' uproar, tumult,' a Sc. and North, dial. word found c. 1440 in York Myst. as durdan. This name is prob. Dom. Dordnhoes,? ' hill of Dorda '; the nearest name in Onom. is Durand. See Hoe. The plur. s often suffixes itself.
Durdar (Carlisle). Kelt, for ' stream with the thicket; G. dobhar, ' W. dwr, and G. daire; or else fr. G. darach,' an oak.' The same Dur- is seen in Durbeck or Doverbeck (Notts), 1225 Doverbec,. prob. atautology, and in Durbridge (Worcs.). Cf. Dover and Dwrbach.
Durham. Founded O.E. Chron. ann. 995, but no name is given there, c. 1070 Wm. Jumieges Castrum quod propria lingua Dunelmum nuncuparunt; 1075-1128 Dunholme ; c. 1175 Fantosme Durealme; 1295 Dwresysm; c. 14:10 Henry Dursim; 1535 Stewart Durhame. A name which has changed more than once. Dunelm or -ealme is orig. Kelt, dun ealm, 'hill of the elms,' an early loan-word. But Dunholme is O.E., meaning ' fort by the holm or river-meadow'; whilst Durham should mean 'wild-beasts' home or lair,' O.E. 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. Cf. Dereham and Dyrham.
Durlstone Head (Dorset). Not in Dom. ' Perforated rock'; O.E. thyrel, 'a hole,' same root as nos-tril. The name is perh. a translation of Tillywhim nearbv. The Head is full of holes.
Durnford (Amesbury) Dom. Darneford. O. E. derne, dyrne,' secret, hidden, obscure.’ Cf. Darnall and Darnick (Sc.)-Dornford (Wootton, Oxon) is the same; 1236 Patent R. Derneford.
Durrington (Salisbury and Worthing). Salisbury D. Dom. Derintone, Worthing D. Dom. Derentune. Prob. O.E. Deoran tun, 'town of Deora.' Onom. also has Deorwen or Denvine. Cf. Dursley (Glouc.), 1153 Duresle, also Derselega, where the name is doubtful. Durrance (Upton Warren) is prob. called after a Robt. Duran, known to be living in an adjoining manor in 1275.
Duston (Northampton). Dom. Dustone. Prob. ' Dudd's town.' Cf. Dom. Dudestan (Chesh.) and Dudley and Dummer.
Dutton (Warrington). Sic 1302, but 1102 Dotona. Perh. 'town of Dutta.' Cf. 940 chart. Duttan hamme (Wiley, Wilts). But perh. here becomes a proper name.
Duxford (Cambridge). Dom. Dochesuuorde, 1211 Dokesworth, 1284 Dukesworth, c. 1660 Fuller Dokesworth. The-ford is quite a mod. corrup. ' Farm of Due,' says Skeat, and not ' of the ducks,' O.E. duca, though Due is an unknown personal name. Cf. Doxey. See -worth. But Duxford (Berks) is Dom. Dudochesforde, ' Ford of Dudoe ‘; 10 such in Onom.
Dwrbach (Pembrokesh.). W.='little stream.' Durbeck or Dover Beck (Notts), 1225 Doverbec, might be the same name, but is more likely a tautology; W. dwr= Eng. beck, 'stream.'
Dwyfor and Dwyffach (Criccieth). Prob., says Anwyl, 'great and little goddess,' L. diva; W. mawr, 'big,' and bach, 'little,’ in both names aspirated.
Dyffryn (Merioneth), old Dyffrynt. W. dyfr-hynf, 'water' or ' river way, 'and so' vale.'
Dymchurch or Dimchurch (New Romney,Kent). Not in Dom. M'Clure compares O. E. dimhus and dimhof,' hiding or dark place.'
Dymock (Glouc). Dom. Dimoch, 1167-68 Pipe Dimoc, 1223 Dimmoc. Doubtful. It looks like an O.W. dimin. of W. din, dyn, 'hill' or 'fort'; m and n constantly interchange. Cf. Dum- or Dunbarton, and Dunwich.
Dyrham (Chippenham). Said to be O.E. Chron. 511, also 950 chart., Deorham i.e., ' wild beasts' lair or home.' Cf. Durham. But Dom. Wilts has a Dobreham, which may be the Chron. place, and so a hybrid—O. Keltic dobr; W. dwfr, 'river'; and O.E. ham, ' home.' Cf. Dover.
Dyserth (Flint). 1245 Patent E. Dissard. W. form of L. 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 Pipe Derby.
Dyvi R. (Merioneth), c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Ostium Devi. Prob. another instance of river-worship, the name prob. meaning ' goddess.' Cf. Dwyfor.

Eagle Stone (Baston Edge). Local tradition says, fr. the Saxon archer god Egil o rAEgle. Cf. Aylesbury and Eglesbourne.
Earring (Newark). Dom. Aigrun, Ec(h)eringhe, 1229 Close R. Ekering'. 1278-1428 Aykering. This seems to be O.N. eik- runn, 'runlet, little stream with the oaks.' Cf. Aigburth Oxf. Dict, gives run, sb. 9, with this meaning as North, dial., and has no quot. a. 1581. But the verb run in its earlier usages seems to have come to us chiefly through Scandinavian sources. See Dict. s.v. run vb. The later forms seem to be N. eikar eng, in M.E. 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, cf. Ilchester, Ipswich, etc., also Yarmouth. Onom. has both Gilo and Gillus; fr. either Gilling may have come. See -ing. There are also Dom. Berks Elinge, and 1161-62 Pipe Eling, Hants. These, however, are prob. patronymics fr. Ela, a man's name found in Beowulf.
Eamont or Eamot Bridge (Penrith). 926 chart. Eamotum. M'Clure says, O. E. ea-(ge)mot, in 926 in a loc.plur., meaning' river confluence' or' meet the form-mont prob. showing the influence of N. munn-r, 'a river-mouth.' Possibly the same name as Emmet.
Earby (Colne). Dom. Eurebi. Prob. ' dwelling of Eofor.' Eoformaer of Driffield is found also as Euremarus. Cf. Everley. See -by.
Eardington. See Erdington.
Eardiston (Tenbury), Eardisland, and Eardisley (Herefordsh.). Ten. E. 957 chart. Eardufestun, Dom. Ardolvestone, a. 1100 chart. Eardulfestune. ' Town, land, and meadow of Eardwulf.' See -ley and -ton.
Earith. See Erith.
Earlswood (Birmingham, etc.). Bir. E. in c. 1274 chart, is ' the Earl of Warwick's wood.'
Early (Reading). Dom. Erlei, 1316 Erie, Erlee, 1428 Arle. Skeat conjectures ' Earna's lea,' or 'meadow of the eagle,' O.E. earn, and compares Arley. Cf. Dom. Bucks Erlai, and Earnley (Sussex), B.C.S. i. 331 Earneleagh.
Earsham (Bungay). Not in Dom. 1157 Pipe Eresham. ' Home of Ere' one in Onom. Cf. Arreton.
Easington (4 in P. G.). Thame E. Dom. Essedene. Castle Eden E. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Esingtun,1183 Esyntona. ' Town, village of Ese or Esne, both very common in Onom. The-ing, q.v.,may either represent the O.E. gen. -an, or be the sign of a patronymic. Cf. Dom. Bucks Esenberge. For interchange of -den, -don, -ton, see these endings.
Easingwold (Yorks). Dom. Eisicewalt, Eisincewald ,1230 Close R. Esingewald. Prob. patronymic. ' Wold, wood of the sons of’ some man with name in Is- {cf. Eastoft). Wold is O.E. wald, iveald. O/. Easinghope (Wore), 1275 Esighope, 'valley of the sons of Is or Esi, 'and a bove. See -ing.
East Beckham (Norfolk). Dom. Becham, 1458 Estbekham. May not be ' home on the beck ' or 'brook,' see Bacup; but perh. fr. a man, as in Beckenham.
Eastbourne. Dom. Borne, 1114 O.E. Chron. Burne, c. 1450 Fortescue Borne,1730 Eastborn or Eborn. Burne or bourne is just early Eng. for' brook,' the Sc. burn. Eastburn (Driffield) is actually Augustburne in Dom. See Aust.
Eastcote (Pinner). Cf. 958 chart. ' Eostacote ' on Stour, Staffs i.e., ' east cot ' or ' cottage '; also 1179-80 Pipe Westcotun and Oustcotun (Yorks).
Easterton (Market Lavington). 'Eastern village.' Cf. Dom. Surrey Estreha and Eastry.
Eastfield (Northampton). 963 O.E. Chron. AEstfeld. East- usually is ' east '; but Eastbrook (Sutton Coldfield) is a. 1200 Essebrook, which is prob. ' ash-tree brook.' O.E. oesc, 3 asse, 5 esche; esse for ' ash ' is found in Dom. Eastington, 2 in Glouc, 1119 Estinthone, is prob. O.E. eastan tun, 'at the East village.' See -ing.
Eastoft (Goole). Prob. 1119 chart. Istofte, which looks like Dan. i -toft, ' ice ' or ' icy field.' There is one man Iso in Onom., and many names in Is-, Isgod, Ishere, Iswulf, etc., and the Is- may be a contraction of any of them. Dom. has only Esetorp, Estorp. Easton (12 in P.O.). O. E. Chron .656 AEstun, 1137 Estun (Northampton), 79 6chart. Eastun (Berks). Dom. Estune (E. Biding, Yorks), Estone (Bucks). ' East town.'
Eastrington (Brough, Yorks). Dom. Estrincton. Perh. 'town of Eastorwine,' and it may be a patronymic. See-ing.
Eastry (Dover). 788 chart. In regione Eastrgena, 805 chart- Easterege, a. 1000 Eastrege. The first half will mean' Eastern' M'Clure connects the second with the continental tribe of the Rugii. But in O.E. the ending -ige usually means ' island.' Cf. Austerfield. Eastrea, or Eastrea (Cambs), is prob. B.C.8. iii. 438, Estrey, or ' eastern isle. Cf. Westry farm, March, and -ey.
Eastwood (Nottingham). Dom. Estewic, error for -twit, 1166-7 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.’ O.E. ea, O.N. o.a. This is one of the south most instances of -thorpe, q.v. Cf. Edale, and Dom. Glouc. Aiforde.
Eaton Constantine (Shrewsbury). Dom. Etone.
Eaton Hastings (Farringdon). O. E. chart. Eatun ,c. 1300 Eton.
Eaton Socon (Bedford). 1155 Eitune, 1581 Eaton Sooken. Eaton Water and Wood (Staffs). Dom. Eitone, Etone. Eaton (Notts) Dom. Etune, Ettone, iEttune. O.E. ea-tun, 'river-town.' Socn is a district held by tenure of vocage i.e., for certain, determined service; O.E. soc, 'privilege of holding a court in a district.' There are 8 Batons in P.G. Cf. Eton.
Ebberston (Snainton, Yorks). Dom. Edbriztune, 1166-67 Pipe Edbrihteston. ' Town of Eadbeorht,' a very common O. E. name. Cf. Dom. Salop Etbretehe. But with Ebberly (Torrington) cf. Dom. Hereford, Elburgelega,' meadow of (the lady) Elburga.'
Ebbesbourne (Salisbury). 672chart. Ebblesburnon, Dom.Eblesborne. 'Elba's brook' or 'burn,' O.E. burn(e). Eabba and Eabe are common in Onom., and there is also one Ebbella. The liquid l would easily disappear. Cf. Ebley (Glouc), 1317 Ebbaleye, and Epsom.
Ebbsfleet (Thanet). O. E. Chron. 449 Eopwinesfleot, Ypwinesfleot also Wippedsfleot. Not in Dom. O.E. fleot, Icel. fljot is ' a stream ' or perh. ' 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. Cf. Ipplepen.
Ebchester (Co. Durham). Perh. a. 700 Bav. Geogr. Ebio. ' Camp of? ‘See -Chester.
Ecchinswell (Newbury). Dom. Eccleswelle. Eccles, as in next, is prob. L. ecclesia, W. eglwys, and so this name may mean ' church well.' It is a curious corrup., and shows how anyone liquid may run into another, though I very rarely become n. There is one Echun in Onom.
Eccles (Lanes, Attleborough, Maidstone) and Ecclesfield (Sheffield). Lanes. E. sic c. 1100. Sh. E. Dom. Eclesfelt, 1179 Ecclesfeld. Either L. ecclesia, W. eglwys, ' a church,' or rare case of a personal name in gen. used for a place, without suffix,' (village of) AEcel ' or 'AEcle,' a known O.E. name. Cf. 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). Dom. Ecleshelle, 1298 Eccleshale, 1459 Eggleshal. ' Nook, corner, beside the church,' or ' of Aecel (see above). See -hall. Cf. Eccleshill (S. Yorks), Dom. Egleshil, and Eccleston (Lanes), Dom. Eglestun.
Eccup (Leeds). Dom. Echope. 'Shut-in valley of Ecca.' Cf. Bacup and see -hope.
Eckington (Pershore and Sheffield). Pe. E. 972 chart. Eccynegtune, Dom. Aichmtune, a. 14.00 Ekington, Ekynton, Sheffield E.? Dom. Ecinton. 'Town of the sons of Ecca." Cf. next and Grant a. 675' Eccantrewe' in Surrey. See -ing and -ton.
Ecton (Northampton). Dom. Ecdone, 1298 Eketon. ' Ecca's town.' Ecca is a very common name in Onom.; -don and -ton commonly interchange.
Edale (N. Derbysh.). Dom. Aidele. ' Dale,’ N. dal-r, ' with the running stream.' O.E. ea, O.N. aa. Cf. Eathorpe and Edzell (Sc), 1204 Edale; and see -dale.
Eddington (Heme Bay). Dom. Eddintone. 'Town of (the sons of) Ede ' or ' Eada.' Cf. next and Dom. (Bucks) Eddingraue. See -ing.
Eddisbury (Cheshire). 914 O.E. Chron. Eadesbyrig, 'Eada's or Ede's burgh.' Cf. Dom. (Bucks) Eddinberge. See-bury.
Eddlethorp (Yorks). Dom. Eduardestorp. ' Village of Edward,' Liquid r has changed to liquid l. Cf. Eddlesborough (Dunstable)—not in Dom. However, in another place in Dom. it is Gedwalestorp prob. error.
Eddystone Lighthouse (Plymouth). 'Stone or rock of Eadda or AEddi.'
Eden R. (Cumberland and Kent). Cumberland E. prob. c. 120 Ptolemy Ituna’, a. 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 Sc. tributary of the Tweed, are seen in those of Ednam (Sc).; c. 1100 Aednaham, 1116 Edyngahum, c. 1120 Ednaham, c. 1220 Edenham. These forms are perplexing, and it is hard to come to a verdict. The first part possibly contains a Kelt, root meaning 'corn,' W. yd, Ir. etha, so perh. 'river flowing through corn-lands.' On en or an for ' river,' cf. p. 11. Cf. Itchen.
Edenhall (Langwathby) Eden.' See above and -hall.
Edensor (Bakewell). Dom. Ednesoure. As this is on the R. Derwent, it prob. 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, a. 1300 Ednesovre, 1327 Endeshover.
Edgbaston (Birmingham). Dom. Celboldstone (' Ceolbeald's town'), 1150 Egboldeston, a. 1200 Egbaldeston, Eggebaldeston. ' Ecgbeald's village.' We cannot now explain the change of name. But O.E. ecg- by rule becomes edg: e.g., edge is O.E. ecg(g).
Edgeware (London). Not in Dom. c. 1160 Eggeswere, c. 1500 Eggesware. Perh., fr. an O.E. Ecgeswer, ' at the edge of the wear,’ ecg, 2 egge, ' edge,’ and wer, woer, ' a fence, an enclosure for fish.' Dom. also uses wara for ' an outlying portion of a manor,’ which Round makes cognate with wer, ' a fence." But the first part may be fr. a man AEga, in Onom. Cf. Dom. Norfk. Egemere and Edgworth (Cirencester), Dom. Egesuuorde, Egeiswurde, ' farm of AEga ' or ' Ecg.'
Edgton (Aston-on-Clun, Salop). Cf. 1179-80 Pipe Roll Eggeton (Yorks). Either' Agra's town, 'or' village at the edge.' See above.
Edingley (Southwell). Not in Dom. but sic 1302. Cf. 1005 chart, in Dugdale, Egaeanlaea. ' Eda's lea ' or ' meadow.' Cf. Eddingthorpe and Edingale (Tamworth), Dom. Ednimghalle, a. 1200 Eadinghall, Edenynghal(e), which may be a patronymic, but is prob. derived fr. Eadhun.
E(d)dingthorpe (N. Walsham). Not in Dom. 1429 Edithorp. ' Eada's village.' Many of this name in Onom. See -thorpe.
Edington (Wilts). 957 chart. Ethandun, Dom. Edintone. [879 O. E. Chron. Ethandun, cf. Ashington.] ' Town of Eda, Eada, Etha, or Eata ‘; all these forms in Onom. See -ing. But Athelney E. is Dom. Edwinetone, 1199 Edintone.
Edlingham (Alnwick). a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Eadulfingham,Eadwulfincham. A patronymic. ' Home of the descendants of Eadwulf,' a common O.E. name. Similar is Edlington (Horncastle) Dom. Ellintone, Eilintone, c. 1275 Testa de Neville Edelington.
Effingham (Leatherhead). Not in Dom. O.E. Effingeham, patronymic; 'home of the descendants of Effa or Eafa' (f. Bede III. 24). Egerton (Ashford, Kent, and Bolton). Not in Dom. ' Eadgar's town.' Cf. Agardesley (Staffs), c. 1004 chart. Eadgares leye.
Egham (Surrey). Grant of a 675, and Dom. Egeham. 'Home of AEga.' Cf. Edgeware, and Egbrough (Yorks), Dom. Egburg, Acheburg.
Eglesbourne or Ecclesburne (Derbysh.). Not in Dom. Said to be, like Eagle Stone, fr. the archer Egil; though the first syll. Maybe for' church,' see Eccles. A man's name is prob. in Egglestone (Darlington), Dom. Eghistun (h error for l), andin1342' Eglesfeld,' (Westmrld.).
Eglingham (Alnwick), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Ecgwulfingham, 1197 ' Home of the descendants of Ecgwulf,' a common name in Onom. See -ing.
Egloshayle (The Lizard). Sic 1536. Corn, eglos hayle, ' church on the tidal river.' Eglos is in W. eglwys, G. eaglais, L. ecclesia, Gk…
Egloskerry (Launceston). Corn. eglos, 'church,' see above, and it is doubtful what; perh. the Corn, for ' fort,' W. caer, or perh. (? Corn. and) W. ceri, ' medlar trees.' In Dom. Cornw. we have Eglosberrie, prob. fr. St. Baire of Cork, friend of Brendan and Cainneach.
Eglwys Newydd (Cardiff), now usually' called Whitchurch, c. 1540 Egglis Newith, which is phonetic W. for ' new church.' The usual W. for church is llan.
Egremont (Pembroke and Whitehaven). Whitehaven E.a.1200 Egenermot, which is clearly O.N. for 'meeting-place, court of Egen,' the -er being the N. gen. Cf. Ennerdale. But it is 1218 Egremunde, 1246 Egremund, where the ending is O.N. munn-r for mund-r, 'mouth, river-mouth'; perh. influenced by O.E. munt, L. mons, -tis,' hill, mountain.'
Eirl (mountains, Caernarvonsh.). W.='rivals.'
Eldon (Bps. Auckland), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Elledun. Prob. ' AElla' ‘s or Ella's hill,' O. E. dun.
Eldwick (Bingley). Dom.H elguic, Helwic. O.E. halig wic,' holy dwelling,' holy is 3-4 heli, hely. Cf. O.N. heilag-r, Sw. helig, and Elloughton; and see-wick.
Elford (Tamworth) 1004 chart. Elleford, Dom. Eleford. ' Ford of AElla' or' Elle,' common O. E. name. Cf. Dom. Essex Elefforda. Elham (Canterbury), c. 1000 Ulaham, O.E. for 'owl village.' Not in Dom.
Elkington, South (Louth). Dom. Alchinton, 1233 Suthelkinton, 1359 Elkyngton. Prob. ' town, village of Ealhhun,’ fairly common in Onom., and found also as Alchun. Bu tit maybe ' of the sons of Elc'. Cf. next and -ing.
Elkstone (Cheltenham and Leek). Cheltenham E. Dom. Elchestane, 1177 Pipe Elkestan. Leek E. 1227 Elkesdon. Elc may be a man's name, otherwise unknown. Cf. above; Baddeley says Ealch for Ealh-, which also may be. But these are prob. ' stone ' and ' hill of the elk,' O.E. elch, elh, then not recorded till 1486 elke. See -don and -ton.
Elland (Halifax). Dom. Elant, Elont. This seem sto be a var. of island. It stands on the R. Calder, but was it ever an island? Island is O.E. inland, izland, iland, zillond, yllond, 4-5 eland. But Ellel (Lanes.) is Dom. Ellhale, prob.' Ella's nook.' See-hall.
Ellastone (Ashbourne). Dom. Edelachestone, Elachestone, a. 1200 Adelakestone, Athelaxton ,Ethelaxton,' village of Aethelac. 'There is also 1166-67 Pipe Adelacheston (Bucks and Beds). See -ton, which often interchanges with -stone.
Ellenborough (Maryport). Old Alneburg, and (prob.) Aynburg. ' Burgh, town on the R. Ellen or Alne.' But Ellenhall (Eccleshall) is Dom. Linehalle (an error), a. 1200 Ellinhale, ' nook of Elle.' Cf. Ellesham. And in O.E. charters we find both an Ellenbeorh and an Ellesbeorh. But Ellenthorp (W. Riding) is Elwinetorp and Halwidetorp (d error for n) in Dom. i. e. ‘village of Eahlwine or Aluuines, same name as Alcuin. Cf. Elvington.
Ellerby (Holderness). Dom. Aluerdebi, Alwerdebi, 1179-80 Pipe Alwardebi. 'Dwelling of Ealdweard.' Cf. Allerthoepe; and see -by.
Ellerdine (Wellington, Salop). Dom. 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). Dom. Alrecher. Prob. O. N. olr or elrir kjarr, ' alder copse.' Cf. Ellerton and Carswell, also Ellerburn (E. Riding), Dom. Elreburne.
Ellerton (on Swale). Sic 1203, but Dom. Alreton, twice, Eire ton(e), 5 times. Perh. =: Alderton, and some cases of Allerton", ' town among the alders,' O.E. alor, aler, 5 ellyr, O.N. olr, elrir. But it may as likely be fr. the common O.E. name Ealhhere, or else, AEilfhere, as in Allerston. Ellerby (Holderness), Dom. Alwerdebi, Aluerdebi, - Aluwardebi, Elworclebi, ' dwelling of Ealhweard,' must be of different origin.
Ellesham or Ailsham Priory (Lines). Dom. Elesham, 1233 Ellesham. 'Home of AElli, AElla, or Ella.' Cf. 808 chart. AElesbeorge, (Somerset).
Ellesmere (Oswestry). Sic in Dom. ' Lake of Ella ‘; see above.
Ellingham Gt. (Attleboro'). Dom. sic and Elincgham, and Ellington (Hunts and Morpeth), Hu. E. Dom. 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 Dom. Elmingheha,' home of the sons of Elm, or Elmund, or Ealhmund'; and Ellinthorpe (S. Yorks) is Dom. Adelingestorp. See Adelingfleet. Also see-ing and -thorpe.
Ellotjghton (Brough, Yorks). Dom. Elgendon, The Elgen- is doubtful, more old form sneeded. It is not impossible it may represent hallow, 'a saint,' O.E. halga, halganan, 3 Orm, plur. alhen, 4 alwes. Cf. O.N. heilag-r, Sw. helig, ' holy',' and Eldwick. See -don and -ton.
Elm (Cambridge and Frome). Cambridge E. a. 1154 O.E. Chron. 956 AElm, 1346 Elm. O.E. elm, Dan. oelm, alm, ' an elm-tree.' Cf. Ash, Poplar, etc. Elmbridge (Glostr.) is c. 1210 Elbrugge, but c. 1200 Telbrugge also Thellbruge ' bridge made of deals.' O.E. pell. The change arose through Thel- being taken as Th'el- or ' The elm ' bridge. There is a ' Thel- brycg ' (Sandford, Devon) in 930 chart. On the other hand, Elmbridge (Droitwich) is Dom. Elmerige, a .1300 Elmrugge, and Elmbrugge, which is orig.' elmbridge, 'O. E. hrycg.
Elmers End (Beckenham). Elmer is a late form of Aelfmoer,,a very common O.E. name. But Elmore (Gloster) is 1177 Pipe Elmour, 1221 Elneovere. ' Elm-tree bank.’ Cf. Hasler, etc., and see -over.
Elmett. See Babwick-in-Elmet.
Elmham (Norfolk).? 1038 chart. AElmham.? O.E. - ' house built of elm-wood.' Cf. Elmdon (Birmingham), Dom. Elmedone.
Elmsbridge (Surrey). Dom. Amelebrige, often; 1230 Close R. Emelesbrug, ' Bridge of AEmele,' perh. he was praefectus in Sussex in 772 (C.S. 208). We have a similar corrup. in Elmstone (Kent), 124t3 Patent B. Eylmerston—i.e., 'town of Aylmer,' very common in O.E. as AElfmoer.
Elmsett (Ipswich). Dom. Elmeseta, c. 1210 Jocelin Elmset. The meaning is a little doubtful. Seat, O.N. soeti, is not found in Eng. till c. 1200, and with the meaning ' place of abode ' not till c. 1275. But the ending -set or -soet, as in Somerset, is very old; and so the meaning here is prob. 'dwelling of a family called Elm.' Trees' names often became personal names. However, Elmstone Hardwick (Cheltenham) is 889 chart. Alchmundingtun, Dom. Almondeston,' dwelling of Ealhmund.' See -ing.
Elslack (Skipton). Dom. Eleslac. AElla's slack,' O.N. slakki, ' a small shallow dell or valley, a hollow or dip in the ground.' Cf. Beeslack, Penicuik (Sc).
Elston (Newark). Dom. Eluestune, c. 1190 Elvestona, 1302 Eyliston. Cf. B.C.S. 936 AElfestun. ' Town of AEIf.' Cf. Alveston and Dom. Dorset. Elfatune. O.E. oelf, O.N. alf-r is ' an elf, a fairy.'
Elstow (Bedford). Dom. Elnestou, c. 1160 Alnestowe, c. 1200 Gervase Helenstoe, 1233 Patent R. Alnestowa, 1327-1632 Elnestowe. Perh. ' St. Helen's place,' O.E. stow. Cf. 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.' Cf. Oswestry, etc. The form Eaglestree is a stupid invention.
Elswick (Preston and Newcastle). Pr. E. Dom. Edelelsuuic. Doubtful. Perh. ' AEthel’ 's dwelhng.' See -wick.
Elsworth (W. Cambs). Chart. Elesword, Dom. Elesworde, 1316 Ellesworthe. Local pron. Elser. 'Ella's farm.' Cf. Ellesham. In O.E. charters we also have ' Ellewurthie,' now the personal name Elworthy. See-worth, -worthy.
Elterburn (Nthbld.), old Eltheburn. and Elterwater (Ambleside). Doubtful. There is one-man Eltor mentioned in Dom.
Eltham (Greenwich), Sic 1511, but Dom. Ealdham, which is O.E. for' old home or house.' Another Eltham in the N. is found sic in1314. Cf. Elton.
Eltisley (St. Neots’). Not in Dom. 1251 Eltesle, 1302 Elteslee. The nearest name in Onom. is one Eltan or Elstan, a monk. Skeat conjectures Aelfgeat ‘s lea,’ but more evidence is needed.
Elton (4 in P.G.). Dom. Derby Eltune, Hants Eltetone. Stockton E. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Eltun; Nottingham E. Dom. Ailtone, c. 1190 Elletona. On analogy of Elthaini one would incline to O.E. eald tun, 'old town." But Elletona suggests derivation fr. a man Ella; whilst Mutschmann is prob. right in deriving Ailtone fr. AEgel, late var. of AEthel or Ethel, ' the noble- born.' Cf. Ellesham, etc. Elvington (York). Dom. Alvintone, ' Ealdwine's' or ' Ealhwine's town.' Cf. Ellenthorp.
Ely. Bede iv. 19 Elge, q.v., O.E. versn. Elige, Elia lond; 936 O.E. Chron. Elig, Die Heilige Engl. Eligabirig, a. 1153 Liber Eliensis Ely. Anglice id est, a copia anguillarum quae in eisdem capiuntur palludibus. O.E. el-ize, 'eel-island.' Cf. Elie (Sc). But Skeat thinks that Elge represents el-ge, ge being a very rare and early O. E. word for' region, district; Ger. Gau. See -ey.
Ember R. (Hampton Court). Prob. same root as Ember sb2, Oxf. Dict., which is fr. O.E. ymb, ' about, round,' and ryne, ' course, running.'
Emborrow (Bath). Not in Dom. Prob. a. 1142 Wm. Malmesb. Eatumberg, 1270 chart. Eteneberga, ' Barrow, mound of Eata (Eatan, Eathun),' a name common in Onom. It is an interesting corruption. Cf. Barrowby, etc.
Embsay (Skipton). Dom. Embesie, 1202 Emeseia. ' Island of Embe.' One monk of this name is found in Lib. Vit. Dunelm. See -ay.
Emlyn (Carmarthen). c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Emelin. Must surely have some connexion with W. ymlyn, emlyn, ' to follow, to adhere; or perh. 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. Cf. 1603 Owen ' Emlyn Yskych ... wherein newe Castle standeth.'
Emmer Green (Reading). Cf. Dom. Bucks Imere. Perh. O.E. ed-mere, ' lake beside the stream.' Cf. Eton and Hammer.
Emmet (Northumbld. And Yorks). Perh. 926 O. E. Chron. Eamo tum is that in Norbld.; chart. Emmet-roda (Yorks). M'Clure says Eamotum is loc. pl. of ea-(ge)mot, ' river confluence.'
Emneth (Wisbech). Not in Dom. O.E. emnet, 'a plain,' fr. emn or efn or efen, ' even, flat, level,' with denominative suffix as in thicket, etc. The present th had prob. its origin with a Norm, scribe. Cf. Granth for Grant (s.v. Cambridge), Thames for Tames, etc.
Empingham (Stamford). Sic in Chron. Petrob., 1166P ipe Empingeha. ' Home of the Empings,' an O.E. tribe. Cf. Impington (Cambs), chart. Impintun, 1210 Empintone. Empshott (Hants) is Dom. Hibesete, ' seat, dwelinng of Hiba.' ? for Himha or Hima, one in Onom. Cf. Aldershot.
Emscote (Warwick), a.1200 Edulfascote, a. 1300 Edelvecote, and Edelmescote. Two names here, ' Edidf's or Eadwulf's ' and ' Eadhelm's cottage.'
Emswell (Yorks). Dom. Hehueswelle, Elmeswell. ' Well of Helm or Helma.' Cf. Emsworth (Havant), 1231 Close R. Elmeworth. Only Roll Rich. I. Emeswelle, Enewelle (Herts) is now Amwell. Emley (Yorks) is Dom. Ameleie, Amelai, which, like Amwell, is fr. a man Amma.
Enborne (Berks), c. 1300 Enedburn, and Enford (Pewsey), Dom. and chart. Enedforde. Fr. O. E. ened, L. anas, -tis, ' a duck.' See -bourne.
Enderby (Leicester). Dom. Endrebie, 1229 Close R. Endredebi. ' Dwelling of Endred ' or 'AEndred,' a name not in Onom. See -by.
Endon (Stoke-on-T.), Dom. Enedun, a. 1300 Henedun, Enedun, and Enfield (London), Dom. Enefelde, later Enfeld, Endfield, may be 'duck's hill' and 'field' too. See above, and cf. 1161-62 Pipe (Cumbld.) Endehal,' duck's nook.' But they maybe fr. a man Aena, Aeni, Eana or Eni, all forms found in Onom. For Endmoor (Kendal) we need old forms. It might be fr. O.E. ende,' the end, 'which in O. E. 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 fr. East of the R. Elbe, where there is a Schleswig district still called Angeln. Cf. Freeman, Nor. Conq. i. 538 (3rd edit.).
Englefield (Reading). 871 O.E. Chron. Englefeld, Dom. Englefel, Inglefelle. ' Field of the Angles.' Cf. above, and Engleton (Warwksh.), sic a. 1200.
Ennerdale (W. Cumberland), a. 1200 Egenerdal, ' dale of Egen,' gen. case. Cf. Egremont and Eynsham.
Entwistle (Salford). c. 1400 Entwisell. Perh. 'confluence of Ena.' See Enfield and Twizel.
Enville (Stourbridge). Dom. Efnefeld, a. 1200 Efnefeld, Evenesfeld, Evene feld. ' Even field.' Cf., however, Evenwood, which with this, may be fr. a man, though in this case prob. not. ' Even ' in O.E. is ebn, emn, efn, efen. The -ville must be a quite mod.' Refinement.’
Enys Dodman (Land's End). 'Island of' prob. some unknown saint. Mr. H. Jenner spells it Dodnan, and would identify with Donan, perh. he after whom the Breton churches at Landonan and St. Thonan are called. This is very dubious. Cf. The Dodman, Fowey. Corn, enys is W. ynys, G. innis, ' island.' Cf. Ince.
Epping (London). Dom. and 1229 Close R. Eppinges. Patronymic. ' Place of the descendants of Eppa,' a name of which there are'
several examples in Onom. Cf. 811 chart. ' Appin(c)g lond (Kent), and Dom. Surrey Epingeha; also Epney (Glostersh.), 1252 Eppen',' Eppa's isle.'
Eppleby (Darlington). Dom. Aplebi=Appleby.
Epsom (Surrey). Dom. Ebbasham(e), 1662 Ebsham or Epsom. ' Home of Ebbe' or' AEbbe,' an abbess, early in 7 eny. Dom.'s Ebbas-must be an error for Ebbes-. Cf. Mill-om (N. of Barrow) also Ipsley.
Epworth (Doncaster). Not in Dom. c. 1444 Eppeworth. 'Farm of Eppa or Eappa.' Cf.B.C.S. 253 Eppanhrycg. See-worth.
Erdington (Birmingham). Dom. Hardintone, a.1200 Erdin(g)ton. ' Village of Harding,'once in Dom. Erding. Cf. Hardingstone and Eardington (Bridgenorth). This last might also be fr. Eardwine.
Erewash R. (Derby). Not in Dom. c. 1175 Yrewis, 1637 Arwash, Erewash. Doubtful, prob.pre-Saxon. But cf. Guash, Irwell and Wash.
Erith (London), also Earith (St. Ives, Hunts). London. E. c. 962 chart. Earhyth, Earhide, Dom. Erhede, 1486 Erith, c. 1580 Eareth. St. I. E. Ramsey Chron. Herhythe, Erethe, Erithe. Dr. Morris says, O.E. ea-rith, 'water-channel.' But Skeat is positive that it is O.E. ear-hythe, ' muddy landing-place ' or ' shore.' O.E. ear is a very rare word, Icel. aurr, ' wet clay, mud.' See Hythe. Skeat is almost certainly right.
Ernley. See Arley.
Escomb (Bps. Auckland), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Ediscum. ' Edda's or Adde's valley'; but already 1183 Boldon Bk. Escumba. See -combe.
Esgair Felyn (Ogwen). W.= ' yellow scaur or cliff.' Esgair is same root as the Sc. skerry, G. sgeir, all borrowed fr. O.N. sker, N. skjer,' a rugged, insulated searock.'
Esher (Surbiton). Dom. Aissela, Aissele, c. 1210 Ashal, 1230-31 Close R. Esser, Eyser, Eiser, c. 1240 Assere. A curious name. It is prob. 'Ascytel's' or 'Aschil's lea or meadow,' O.E. 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.' ; Cf. B.C.S. 158 Uckinge Esher.
Esk R. (S. Cumbld.). 1340 Eskheved or Eskhehead. For forms see Esk (Sc), 3 rivers there, a. 800 Esce, etc. Kelt, root for ' river, water,' as in Exe, G. uisge, etc. Wh. Stokes cannot be right in calling Esk Pictish, when we have it in S. Cumbld.; but it may well be cognate with O. Ir. esc,' a marsh, a fen,' and O.W. uisc or Usk.
Essendine or Essendean (Stamford). O.E. Chron. ann. 657 Esendic, a. 1100 Esendike. ' Ditch,' O. E. die,' of Esa, Ese, or Esi, 'all these forms are in Onom. The-dean is a later ending, q.v. Cf. Dom. 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: chart. Esingetun, Dom. Eseningetone a. 1300 Esynton, Esnyngton. ' Village of the descendants of Esne,' a common O.E. name, meaning ' servant,' or else ' of Esa, Ese, or Esi’ as above. 1160-61 Pipe Nthbld. has an Essinton.
Essex. Nennius Est saxum (inflected). O.E. Chron. 499 East Sexa, a. 1087 Essex, Dom. Exsessa, a. 1236 Rog. Wendover Est- sexia. ' Land of the East Saxons.'
Etchells (Chesh., etc.). See Nechells. But Etchilhampton (Wilts), not in Dom., is 1228 Hechelhamt, ' Homestead of? Heahhelm or Hehelm ‘; one in Onom. See Hampton.
Etchingham (Sussex). 1298 Echingham. 'Home of Ecca,' a common name in Onom., once found as Eccha. It may be a patronymic. See -ing. Dom. has only Echentone, Achintone and Achingeworde. Etchden (Kent) is 1286 Close R. Haccheden, perh.' Woody vale entered by a hatch' or half-door, or wicket; O.E. hoec, hoecce,3-7 hacche, 5 hetche ,5-6 heche; but it maybe fr. a man Eccha.
Eton. Sic 1298, but Dom. Ettone, Etone. O.E. ea-tun, ' town on the river.' Cf. 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). Dom. Attingeha, a. 1145 Orderic 'Apud Ettingesham in ecclesia Sancti Eattae confessoris,' abbot of Melrose, then Bp. of Lindisfarne {Bede iii. 26). 'Home of Eatta's people'; a patronymic. Cf. both Eteshale and Ettinghale in Dom. Cheshire, and Ettingshall (Wolverhampton), 994 Ettingeshall, Dom. Etinghale; also Eatington (Wwksh.), Dom. Etendone, and Eteloe (Awre), Dom. Eteslau,' burial mound of AEtta' or' Eatta.'
Etton (Mket. Deeping and Beverley). M. D. Ett. sic a. 1100, Bev. E. Dom. and 1202 Ettone, 1179-80 Eton. 'Town of Eatta.' Cf. above.
Euston (Thetford). Dom. Eustuna, and Eusfort, 1479 Euston. Prob. ' Eowa's town.' This accords with analogy better than to derive fr. O.E. eowu, M.E. ewe, ' an ewe.' Euston Sq. is called after the Dukes of Grafton and Earls of Euston, ground landlords here.
Euxton (Chorley). Pron. Allstn, Elestn. 1241 Euckeston, 1246 Eukeston, a.1 300Euchestona, 1311 Huxton. ' Town of Euca,’ a name unrecorded, but Hue, Hucco and Huch are in Onom.
Evenlode (Stow-on-Wold). 772 chart Euulangelade, 777 ib. Eunlade (u=v), 969 ib. Eowlangelade, Dom. Eunilade, 1327 Evenlode, 1330 Eweneload. O.E. Eowlan gelad, ' channel of Eowla,' gelad being cognate with Eng. lade and lode. Duignan translates, ' ford, ferry.' Eowla is found B.C.8. 812 as Eowel, name of a W. prince, better known to us in the form Howell. Evenwood (Bps. Auckland), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Efenwuda. ' Eafa's or Eafe's wood.' It might be fr. O.E. efen, efn, ' even, level.' Cf. Enville.
Evercreech (Bath). Exon. Dom. 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.a. 1140 Wm. Malmsbury Eburleah. Yorks. E. Dom. Eurelai, Eurelag. ' Meadow of the wild boar.' O.E. eojor, eofer, 3 eaver, 4 ever, cognate with L. aper. Cf. O. E. 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. Cf. Evringham and Evverton (Notts), Dom. Evretone. See -ley.
Eversden (Cambs). c. 1080 Inquis. Cam. Eueresdona, Dom. Auresdone, 1291 Everesdon, 1316 Everesdene; and Everthorpe (Yorks), Dom. Evertorp. 'Hill' (or 'valley'), 'enclosure,' and 'village of Eofor' or 'of the wild boar.' See Everley, -don, -dean, and -thorpe; also cf. Heversham.
Evesham. 709 chart. Homme, Eveshomme, also Cronochomme, 714 ib. Eouesham, 716 ib. Cronuchhomme, 854 ib. Ecquines hamme, 1045 O.E. Chron. (H)eofeshamme, Dom. Eovesham, c. 1097 Flor. W. Eoveshamm. ' Enclosure of Eof,' herdsman to Bp. Ecgwine, mentioned in 854 chart. Here, it is said, the Virgin appeared to Eof, and a monastery was erected on the spot. In Worcestersh. a ham means specifically ' riverside meadowland.' See -ham (2). Cf. Eaveston (Yorks), Dom. Eveston, Dom. Surrey Evesha, and 1179-80 Pipe Yorks Euesham.
Evington (Bedlington, Sussex and Leicester). Bo. E. Dom. Givingtune, 1303 Yivynton; and changes for Suss, name are similar. ' Dwelling of Gefwine.' For similar changes also see Ealing; and see -ing.
Evringham (Yorks). Dom. Evringha', 1202 Everingeham. ' Home of the Boar's sons.' Cf. Everley, and Dom. Bucks Evreham and Evringehou. See-ing.
Ewell (Epsom). 727 chart. Euuelle, 1160 Pipe Aiwella, which lookslike an O. E. ea welle, ‘river well’, well by the river. But it is Dom. Etwelle, or ' at the well.' Cf. the surname Attewell. There was a well-known well here. There is also an Ewell (Kemble) whose only old form is Ewelle. Cf. next.
Ewelme (Woodstock). Sic1450. Not in Dom., but chart. Eawylm. This last is thought to be O.E. ea, river; and wielm, walm, toylm, ' boiling, welling up.' It prob. means ' a spring.' Cf. Ewell, Gyting, and Walmsley.
Ewhurst (Battle, Sussex). 822 chart. Iu hyrst, O. E. for' yew-tree wood.' Hyrst also means' a sandy place.'
Ewyas Harold (Hereford), c. 1130 Lib. Land. Eugias, 1167-68 Pipe Euwias, mod. W. Euas. Doubtful. Nothingi n mod. W. seems to suit. Eweston (Pembroke) is in Black Bk. St. David's Oweynston.
Exbourne (Devon). Dom. Echeburne. The stream here now is the Okenent. Eche- maybe=Exe; and Oke-may be a var. of the same root, while -nent will be W. nant, ' a valley.'
Ex(e) R. and Exeter. Sic 1485, but c. 380 Ant. Itin. Isca Dumnoniorum, c. 810 Nennius Cair Legion guar Usic ('fort of the Rom. legion on the Exe '), 877 O.E. Chron. Escanceaster, 893 ib. Exanceaster, c. 893 Asser Exceastre, Dom. Exonia urbs, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Brittanice Cairwisc, Latine Civitas Aquarum, c. 1275 Excetre. ' Camp, town on the R. Ex,' in Ptolemy Ictku, L. Isca, 739 chart. Exa, Eaxa. Same as Sc. Esk, same root as is seen in usque-baugh and in whisky, also in Ax and Usk, and prob. Ox- (in Oxford), too, all being Keltic forms of the word for ' water, river.' The mod. W. name is Caerwysg. For Exe R., cf. Ashford.
Exhall (Alcester). 710 chart. Eccleshale, Dom. Ecleshalle. ' Nook of AEcel or AEcle,' or rpossibly' of the church. Cf. Eccles and see -hall. Extall (Staffs) is 1220 Hecstall, prob. ' place of the hatch ' or ' heck '; whilst Exilby (N. Yorks) is Dom. Aschilebi. ' Ascytel's ' or ' Askil's dwelling.'
Exmouth. 1001 Exanmudan. See Exe.
Exning (Newmarket), c. 1097 Flor. Wore. Yxninga, 1157 Pipe Roll Exningis, ib. 1160 Exining, 1298 Ixinynge. 'Place on the water or stream.' Cf. 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 chart. East Seaxnatune. This last is ' town of the East Saxons ' or ' Essexmen.' The others may he' town of Ecca,' a common name. Cf. Dom. Chesh. Exestan, which is prob. Estyn (Flint). More old forms needed. Dom. has Exwelle in Rutld., but no Exton there or in Somst. 1160-61 Pipe Kent has an Exfnea (cf. Eastney, Portsmouth)
Eyam (Northants and Sheffield). Not in Dom. Northants E. 1155 Pipe Hehham. ' High home.’ O.E. heali, Mh, 3-5 hey. See -ham. For Eyeford or Heyford (Stow-on-Wold), Dom. Aiforde, Baddeley prefers O.E. hege, 'hedge'; M.E. heie, which is doubtful. Eynesbury (St. Neots). Dom. Einulvesberie, c. 1130 Wm. Malmes. Einulfes biri, c. 1136 Enesbure. 'Burgh, town of Einwulf,' which is contracted into AEna, ' A Ene,' or 'Ena'; all forms are in Onom. Cf. next; and see -bury.
Eynsford (Dartford). c. 983 chart. AEnesford. 'Ford of AEne.' See above. Cf. Dom.Norfk. Ensford.
Eynsham (Oxford). O.E. Chron. 571 Egonesham, a. 1142 Wm. Malmes. Egnesham, c. 1450 Bromtun Eynesham. ' Home, house of Egon.' This is prob. the same name as Egensheim, ol dform of Ensisheim, Alsace.
Eythorne (Dover). 805 chiart. Heagyde dorne, prob. Dom. Haihorne. The first part prob. represents the name of some unknown man. O.E. gip is 'corn cockle.'
Eyton (Wellington, Salop). Dom. Aitone. Perh. 'islet' or 'ait- town.' O.E. iggath, 2 eyt, 7 ait, 8 ayte, 9 eyot, ' a little island.' Ayton. Eycote (Colesbourne), Dom. Aicote, is ' cot on the islet.' See -ay, -ey.

Faddiley (Nantwich). Prob. O.E. Chron. 584 Fethanleag. No man Fetha in Onom., so prob.' meadow of the troop,' O. E. feda. For th becoming d, cf. faddom for fathom, fader for father, etc. Cf. Fiddington (Ashchurch), Dom. Fitentune, a. 1300 Fedyntone. But Fadmoor (Kirby Moorside, Yorks) is Dom. Fademore, where Fad- is doubtful. Cf. too, Dom. Suss. Fodilant.
Faircross (a hundred of Berks). Chron. Abingdon Balliva Belle Crucis, 1428 Hundred um de Bella Cruce, of which' fair, beautiful cross' is simply the translation.
Fairfield (mtn. near Helvellyn, Cumbld.). N. ocer-fjall, 'sheep mountain or fell.' Cf. Fair Isle (Sc). Fairburn (W. Biding), Dom. Fareburn, prob. has a similar origin. But Fairfield (Bellbroughton) is 816 chart. Forfeld, ' fore, front field.'
Fakenham (Thetford). Dom. Fachnha, Fagenham. 'Home of Facca.' Cf. B.G.S. 1232, Faccan heah.
Fal R. (Cornwall), c. 1200 Gervase Fale, 1680 Vale. Prob. a Keltic root meaning ' moving, running, flowing.' Cf. G. falbh, ' to go, to walk.' But W. ffal means ' closure, or the heel of a shoe.'
Fallings Heath (Wednesbury). a. 1200 Olde Falinge. Duignan thinks this refers to a falling or felling or clearing of timber. Oxf. Dict, gives no quots. illustrating such a usage, and yet it may well be. Falloden (Alnwick) is ' fallow valley/,’O.E. falu. fealo, ' pale brownish, or yellowish coloured.' Cf. Falfield (Thornbury), 1347 Falefield.
Falmer (Lewes). Dom. Falemere. O.E. for 'pale brownish, or reddish -yellow mere or lake ‘; O.E. falu, 4 fale, now fallow. Cf. Fowlmebe. But Falsgrave (E. Riding) is Dom. Wal(l)esgrif, ' Welshman's or foreigner's grave,' O.E. groef, O.N. grof. Falstone (Northbld.) and 1166-67 Pipe Faleslea (Nhants.) seem to imply a man's name, like Fala. Onom.has only one Fawle.
Falmouth. Sic 1478, 1231 Close R. Falem', 1234 ih. Falemuth, c. 14:50 Fortescue the Falmouthe; but till 1660 usually Smithwick or Pennycomequick. See Fal.
Farcet (Peterboro'). Not in Dom., but O. E. chart. Fearresheafod, or ' bull's head.' Cf. Fazeley and Forset (N. Riding), Dom. Forsed, which is sperh. 'head of the waterfall or force.' N. fors.
Fareham (Hants). Not in Dom. 1160Ferham. ' Fair, beautiful home.' O.E. oceger, Icel. fag-r, Dan. feir, ' fair.'
Faringdon (Swindon and Exeter). Swindon F. Dom. Ferendone, Exeter F. Dom. Ferentone. Doubtful at both ends. Feren-may represent a patronymic, ' town of the Ferrings or Farrings.' Cf. Farringford. Or it may be fr. O. E. fearn,'ferns' (only no early spelling feren is recorded here) ; or foera, -an, early M.E. fere, ' a spouse,' a comrade, ' spouse's hill ‘; and the ending may either be O.E. tun, 'village, town,' or dun, 'dune, hill, hill-fort.' See Farndon.
Farleigh or Farley (Halesowen, Cheadle, Elmore, on Medway, Surrey, Salisbury). Cheadle F. Dom. Fernlege, Elmore. F.1221 Farnlee, Medway F. Text. Roff. Fearnlega. These are all' fern-meadow.' But Su.rrey F. is chart. Fearlege, Dom. Ferlega; and Sa. F. Dom. Farlege, 1155 Pipe Ferlega. There is only one Fara in Onom., so this may be fr. O.E. foira, M.E. fere, ' spouse, comrade,' and so ' spouse's mead.' But Farewell (Lichfield) is a. 1300 Eagerwell, Fagre, Fayrwell, ' fair, clear spring,' fr. O.E. foeger, 3 fager, 4-7 far(e).
Farlington (Havant and N. Riding). Havant F. 1256 Deed Farlingetone, N. Riding F. Dom. Farhntun. ' Town, dwelling on the ferlirg,' O.E. feordling, a. 1300 ferlyng, ' fourth part,' here ' the fourth part of an acre.'
Farmington (Northleach). Dom. Tormontonc, 1182 Tormertonc, 1226 Thormerton, 1601 Farmington or Thormerton. Prob. ' village of Thurmeer.' For change of early th to,’ see Fenglesham. Cf. Fabningham.
Farnborough (Banbury, Wantage, etc.). Banbury F. Dom. Fernberge. Wantage F. 931 chart. Fearn beorg(an), Dom. Fermberge, 1291 Farnberg. 'Hill covered with ferns.' See Faringdon and Farndon; cf. Devon Dom. Ferenberga. The ending -berg(e) represents Barrow, ' mound, hill,' rather than ' burgh.' Farncote, also in Wwk., is sic a. 1300.
Farncombe (Godalming). Dom. Fernecome, 'fern valley.' See -combe.
Farndon (Newark). 924 O.E. chron .Fearndune, Farndune; Dom. Farendune; c. 1140 Wm. Malmes. Ferenduna. This is clearly ' fern hill.' Cf. Faringdon, which some hold is the place meant in these references. But Farndon (Chester) is Dom. Ferentone, which maybe' town of the Ferrings.'
Farnham (Surrey, Hants, and W. Riding). Surrrey F. 893 O. E. Chron. Fearnhamm, Dom.Ferneham, 1297 Farnham. Hants F. 80 5chart. Fernham. W. Riding F. Dom. Farneha.' 'Enclosure,' or 'home among the ferns.' See Farnley and -ham.
Farningham (Dartford). Dom. Fermingeha. ' Hom of Farman,' 2 in Onom., or else' of Farman's on'(m and n often interchange), Cf. Farmington. See -ing.
Farn Isles (Bamborough). Bede Fame. M'Clure thinks this is Keltic ferann, Ir. fearran, ' land.' It may be O.E. fearn, ' ferns.' Farnley (Leeds and Otley). Both Dom. Fernehe, c. 1200 Gervase Fernlege, 1202 Farnelai and Fernleie. ' Fern meadow.' Cf. Dom. Salop Fernelege, Farleigh, and Farnham. See -ley.
Farnsfield (Southwell, Notts). Dom. Franesfeld, Farnesfeld, 1189 Pipe Farnefeld. ' Field of Frani or Franc,' a N. name. ' Field of ferns’ is not likely.
Farrinodon (Alton, Hants). = Faringdon.
Farringford (Freshwater), a. 1400 Ferringford. Prob. 'ford of the Ferrings or Farrings. Cf. Faringdon and Ferrensby (S. Yorks),' dwelling of Ferren.'
Farsley (Leeds). Dom. Fersellai. There is no likely man's name in Onom., and connection with parsley (see Oxf. Dict.) hardly seems possible. Prob. it is 'furze meadow,' O.E. fyrs, 4c-firse. Cf. 1167-68 Pipe Devon Farling, Fairesling. See -ley.
Farthingstone (Weedon). Dom. Fordinestone, 1292 Fardingeston. Prob. ' stone of Feerthegn,' also found as Farthain and Fardein, or possibly fr. Forthwine, one in Onom. Derivation is not impossible fr.). E. feordung, 4:6 ferdyng(e), 6 farthing, which usually means ' a farthing ' in money, but also, as early as Exon. Dom. we find ferdin meaning a land-measure? a quarter acre. Cf. Ferndale. But Farthinghoe (Brackley) is Dom. and 1229 Ferning(e)ho, prob. fr. the same name as Farningham, ' height of the Farnings.' See Hoe.
Faversham. See Feversham.
Fawley (Aylston, Hereford and Lambourn). Aylson F. c. 1030 chart. Feligly. ' Meadow of one Felig,' or some such name. There is a Felaga and two anchorites called Fel(i)geld in Onom. But Lambourn F. is a. 1300 Falelegh, 1316 Fallele, which Skeat derives fr. E. Frisian falge, ' fallow land.' Northants F. 1242, Falghesr, might be either, but the -es of the gen. makes it prob. fr. a man.
Fazakerley (Liverpool). 1277 Fasakerlegh, 1376 Fasacrelegh. Looks as if O.E. fas-cecer-leah, ' border of the open-country meadow,' fr. fas, fees, ' border, fringe,' and cecer, acer, ' open plain, field,' mod. ' acre.' See -ley. There is no name in Onom. that would suggest Fazaker-.
Fazeley (Tamworth). 1300 Faresleye, a. 1400 -eslee. 'Meadow of the hill,' O.E. fearr, -es. Cf. Farcet and see -ley.
Featherstone (Wolverhampton, Pontefract, Haltwhistle). Wolverhampton F. 994 chart. Feother(e)stan, Dom. Ferdestan, 1271 Fethereston Po. F. Dom. Ferestane, Fredestan. ' Stone of Fether ' or ' ' Feader i.e., father,' which is still dialectically pron. fether. Cf. also Fearby (Yorks), Dom. Federbi.
Feckenham (Redditch). 804 chart. Feccanhom, 957 Feccanham, Dom. and 1156 Pile Roll Fecheham. 'Home of Fecca.' Cf. Dom. Surrey Feceha. See -ham, which here may either be ' home' or' enclosure.'
Felbridge (E. Grinstead). and Felbrigg (Norfolk and York) E.Grinstead not in Dom., but old Thelbrig. York F. 1206 Felebrigge. No.F.1451 Felebruge, Felbrygge. Early th not seldom becomes f, and so fel-= O.E. pel, pell, ' a deal, a board or plank.' Thus this name is' bridge (O. E. brycg) made of boards.' Cf. Fenglesham, also fill var. 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 Dom. it is Fridebi, ' dwelling of Freda.'
Felixstowe (Suffolk). Not in Dom. c. 1080 chart. 'The church of St. Felix of Walton.' Sometimes said to be ' place,' O.E. stow, of Felix, first bp. of E. Anglia, c. 640. But this does not agree with the form in 1318 Filthstowe, which might be ' filth place,' place full of dirt or foulness, O.E. fyld. This is not likely, as there is a 'To. de Fylethe ' in Kent in 1318, and a Dom. Felede, which is Fauld (Uttoxeter), a. 1300 Falede, Fauld, Felde —i.e., O.'E. fald, falced, ' a fold, a farmyard.’ Only it is not easy to see how this last could become either Filth o rFelix. The bp’s name certainly influenced the present form.
Felmingham (N. Walsham). Dom. Felmincha. A patronymic, otherwise unknown. See -ing and -ham.
Felstead (Chelmsford). 1082 chart. Felstede. O.E. for 'skin, hide-place, tannery.' O. E. fel, fell,' a skin.'
Feltham (Hampton Court). Sic 969 chart. and Dom. Possibly ' home of ' some man with a name like Felgeld or Fildas, the nearest in Onom. Prob. ' home, house in the field,' O.E. feld, 3-5 felt. The Eng. sb. felt already occurs in O.E. Felthorpe (Norwich), Dom. Felethorp, seem stobe' village of' some man. See -thorpe.
Felton (Northumbld. and Bristol). Northumbld. F. 1242 Felton. Not in Dom. May be, like Feltham, named from some man. Cf. 1305 Rougham chart.,'Robertus de Feletone,' E. Anglia. But Northumbl. F. at least may be ' town on the fell' or ' hill.' O.N. fjall found in Eng. as fell a.1300. Also cf. Felstead.
Fen Ditton and Drayton (Cambs). Cf. 1272 Fenne (Lincs.). O.E. fen, fenn, ' a marsh,' O.N. fen, ' a quagmire.' See Ditton and Drayton.
Fendrith Hill (W. Durham). Prob. W. ffaend(e)rwydd,' rock of the magician, sorcerer, or Druid.'
Fenham, Finglesham (Deal). 831 chart. Thenglesham. Not in Dom. ' Home of Thengli,' a name not in Onom. For change of early th into / cf. Farmington, Felbridge, and Finchale, and Threshfield (Yorks), Dom. Freschefelt and Treschefelt.
Fenny Compton (Warwksh.). Dom. Contone, a. 1200 Cumton, a. 1400 Fenni Cumpton. See Compton, and cf. Fenton (Stoke), Dom. Fentone.
Feock (Devoran, Cornwall).? c. 1400 Ecclesia Sancto Feoko, a saint also termed Feoca, Fyoch, Fiach ; the name is Keltic for ' raven'; but about this person little seems known. Cf. Fixby (W. Riding), Dom. Fechesbi, which must be' dwelling of one of the same name.
Ferndale (Glamorgan). M'Clure suggests that this is ferthingdeal, or ' fourth part.' Cf. Farthingstone. But old forms are needed.
Ferriby N. and S. (Yorks). Dom. Ferebi. Prob. 'dwelling of the comrade or partner'; Northum. O.E. foera, 2-9 fere. See -by. But Ferrybridge (Yorks) is Dom. Ferie i.e., ' ferry,' O.N. ferja. The Oxf. Dict, has nothing for the sb. a. 1425.
Festiniog. Fr. W. ffestinio, ' to hurry, hasten,' L. festinare, ? in allusion to the many waterfalls around.
Feversham, Faversham (Kent). 811 chart. Fefresham, 858 ibid. Febresham, Dom. Feversham, 1155 Pipe Fauresham. Some suggest from a man, or fr. L. faber, a ' smith,’ but this seems doubtful; more prob. ' home of fever.’ O.E. fefer, fefres. It is also said to be the Fauresfeld of 1154 O.E. Chron., which is doubtful.
Fewston (Harrogate). Dom. Fostune, ' Town at the waterfall '; Dan. fos, O.N. fors. To be perh. noted also is O. Nor. Fr. fiust, ' lofty trees '; but Nor. Fr. names are very rare in England.
Filby (Gt. Yarmouth). Dom. Filebey, c. 1471 Fylby. 'Dwelling of' some (Danish) man, whose name has been rubbed down into File. Cf. Filleigh and see -by. But Baddeley says Filton (Bristol), 1340 Fyltone, is ' farm in the field,’ which is doubtful.
Filey (Yorks). Dom. Fiuelac i.e., 'five pools/,’O.E. fif, 3-9 five, and lac, ' a lake, a pool.' Camden derives fr. an early Eng. ' a thin slip of land, like a small tongue thrust out,' into the sea. The Oxf. Dict, does not recognize this word file. Lac for ' pool ' is very rare in O.E., and there is perh. no other instance where it has become -ley. But we have Fishlake (Doncaster) in Dom. Fiscelac, and also Fixca-le. Cf., too, Beverley and Fyfield. We may add that North Fyling (N. Yorks) is Dom. Nortfigelinge, a patronymic, ' place of the sons of Fugel,' 2 in Onom. See -ing.
Filleigh (S. Molton). Cf. 940 chart. Fileleighe (Glastonbury).? 'meadow of File.' Cf. Filby and see -leigb. Onom. has only a Filica, seen in Filkins (Lechlade), old Fileching, ' place of Filica’s sons.' See -ing.
Fillongley (Coventry). Dom. Filunglie, Filungelie, a. 1400 Filungeye, 1475 Fylongley. Duignan cannot explain but say sc. Fillingham (Lincoln), Dom. Filingeham, Figelingeham, c. 1120 Figelgaham-Figelingaham. There is no likely name in Onom. But we have Fyling (N. Riding), Dom. Figelinge, Figlinge, which must be a patronymic. Cf. Filby. See -ing.
Finchale (on R. Weir, Durham). Thought to be Bede, iii., 27, Pegnaleth; 1298 Fynkhale, 1305 Fynkhalgh. O.E. finc-halh means ' finches' haugh ' or 'meadow by a river.' Cf. Finstall, and 1240 Close E. Finkel', 1241 ib. Finchel' (Andover). For -hale see -hall. Fincham (Downham). Not in Dom. c. 1150 Fincheham, 1451 Fyncheham. ' Home of a man Finch,'or' of the finches,' O.E. fine. Cf. above. Also Finchamstead (Berks). Dom. Finchamstede; 1316 Fynchamsted. 'Homestead, farm with the finches.'
Finchingfield (Braintree). Dom. Fincinghefelde, Fincingefelda, 1297 Fynchingfelde. Presumably ' field for finching or hawking, or ' catching finches or birds in.' Only there is no sb. ' finching in Oxf. Dict, nor any likely man's name in Onom., though Dom. Form looks like a patronymic. See next and -ing.
Finchley (London). Recorded from time of King John. Cf. above. Finch is O.E. finc, 4: finch, some sort of small bird of the sparrow order.
Finedon (Wellingborough). Prob. Dom. Tingdene, 1296 Thindon. Prob. 'hill of the thing,' or 'local parliament,’ O.N. ping, N. ting. Cf. Thingoe. On common change of early th to f see Felbridge. But Findon (Worthing) is Dom. Findune, which is prob. 'hill of Fin' or 'Finn,' names in Onom. See -don. Cf. Finningley (Notts). -Dom. Fcniglei, 1278 Finningelay. See -ing. Dom. (Nahant’s) also has Finemere, now Finmere (Buckingham)
Finghall or Fingall (Bedale, Yorks). Dom. Finegala. Perh. O.E. Chron. 788 Fingale (in Northumbria), which is prob. not =Finchale. O.E. finnig or fennig halh, loc hale, 'marshy fenn ynook' or' corner.'
Fintstall (Bromsgrove). a. 1400 Fynchale. See Finchale.
Firbank (Sedbergh). Old Frithbank. Frith is some kind of a wood. See Frith Bank. But Firby (Wistow, Yorks) is Dom. Fredebi, 1202 Fridebi, which is ' Freda's, dwelling.'
Fishguard (Pembroke), c. 1390 Fishgarth, 1535 Fisshecard. ' Fisher's garth or enclosure,’ the -guard being but a mod. spelling of O.E. geard, ' yard, court, enclosure.' In W. it is Abergwaun, ' at the mouth of the level or straight river.' Cf. Hasguard in same shire, 1307 Huscard, where the first syll. prob. represents a man's name, now uncertain.
Fiskerton (Lincoln). Sic a. 1100, but Dom. Fiscartune. ' Town, village of the fishers,' O. E. fiscere.
Fittleworth (Sussex). Not in Dom, 1167-68 Pipe Fitelwurtda. 'Farm of Fitel, Fitela,' or ' Fithele,' all forms in Onom. See -worth.
Fladbury (Pershore). 691 chart. Fledanburg, 714 ib. Fladeburi, Dom. Fledebirie. 'Town, castle of Fleda or Floeda.' Cf. Fledborough (Notts), Dom. Fladeburg. See -bury.
Flamburgh Head (Yorks). Dom. Flanebure, Flaneburg, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Flamburge, c. 1450 Fortescue Flaymborough, also Flaynburg, Flaynborght. ' Fort of Fleinn,' a Norseman. Flame (O. Fr. flambe) is not found in literary Eng. a. 1340; but doubtless it has had some influence on the present form of the name. Cf. Flensburg, (Schleswig). See -burgh.
Flavell Flyford (Pershore). 930 chart. Fleferth, 1002 ib. Fleferht, a. 1200 Flavel, a. 1400 Fleyford, a. 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). Dom. Flatesbi, and Flastun, Flaxtun. The former is prob. ' dwelling of Floeda,' one in Onom., the latter 'village among the flax,’ O.E. fleax. See -by and -ton.
Flaxley Abbey (Gloster). 1167-68 Pipe Flexlega, c. 1188 Gir. Cambr. Flexleisb. ' Flax meadow.' Cf. above; also, Flechhamstead (Coventry), 1327 Flechamstude, ' flax homestead.'
Fleam Dyke and Flendish (Cambs). Variants of same name, c. 1080 Inquis. Gamb. Flamencdic, Flamminedic, Dom. Flamingdice, Flam(m)iding, 1158 Flemedich, 1279 Flemigdich, 1284 Flemesdich. 'Fleming's ditch,' of which dyke is the older, hard form. Fleming is O. Fr. Flamenc, late L. Flamingus. This name shows the early settlement of the men of Flanders in our midst.
Flecknoe (Rugby). Dom. Flachenho, a. 1200 Fleckenho. Prob. ' Hoe, hill of Flecca,' gen.-can, not in Onom.
Fleet R. (London and 2 others), also Fleet (Hants), which is K.C.D. 688 Fleot. O.E. fleot, O.N. fljot, 'a stream, a river, also a creek or inlet.' The root is seen in O.N. fljot-r, 'quick.' Cf. Fleet (Sc). and Fleetwood (Lanes), also Dom. (Norfk.) Fletwest and Shalfleet. Fleggburgh (Gt. Yarmouth). Cf. 1442 ' Fleghalle,' manor in Norfolk? ' fort, burgh among the flags or rushes.' Flag is not found in Eng. till 1387, and is of doubtful etymology, but is spelt fleg in 5. Flag sb.2 Icel. flag, ' the spot where a turf has been cut,' O. 'N. flaga, 'a slab of stone,' still used in E. Anglia for ' a turf, a sod,' is quite a possible origin. Dom. Has East and West Flec and Fliceswella; but Onom. has no name the least likely here.
Fletching (Uckfield). Dom. Flescinge(s), 1232 Close R. Flescing. A patronyonic; the man'sname implied is unknown. See -ing.
Fletherhill (S. Wales). Sic a. 1349. A tautology; W. llethr, ' a hillside, a slope.' Cf. Shakespeare's Fluellen for Llewelyn, and p. 82. Fletton (Peterboro'). Sic a. 1100. 'Town, village on the fleet or stream,' O.E. fleot, in 6 flett. Cf. Fleet.
Flimwell-vent (Hawkhurst). Old forms needed for Flim-; not in Dom.; possibly O.E. fliema, flyma, 'a fugitive, an outlaw.' A vent or went is said to be 'a place where roads meet.' The root is O.E. wendan, ' to go, to wend.'
Flint. In W. Fflint, or Tegeingl. 1277 In castris apud le Flynt prope Basingwerk, 1277-8 Welsh R. Le Chaylon and Rothelan, where Chaylon is prob. Fr. caillou, 'pebble, flint.' O.E. flint, 'flint, rock,' fr. the rocky platform on which the castle stands. Flints are not common here. Flinton (E. Riding) is Dom. Flentun, prob. ' town of the flints.' Flintham (Notts) sic in Dom., is clearly 'flint house.' See -ham.
Flixton (Salford). c. 1200 Flyxton, Fluxton. Perh. 'town of the flitch,’ O. E. flicce, 5 flytske, 5-6 flik. There is, however, in K.C.D. mention of a Flecge, Flecges, a man otherwise unknown, and this is quite a possible origin. There is no likely name in Onom. Flockton (Wakefield). Dom. Flocheton, 1201 Floketon. 'Town of ' an unrecorded Flocca. Hardly fr. O.E. flocc, O.N. flokk-r, ' flock.' Cf. Dom. (Norfk.) Flokethorp.
Flodden (Northumbld.). 1512 Floudane. Prob. flood-dean—i.e. ' (wooded) glen with the stream,' O.E. flod, M.E. flod, 6 floud, ' a river, a flood.' See -dean.
Flookersbrook (Chester). 1340 Flokersbroke. Prob. called after some man; there is nothing in Onom. nor yet in the dictionaries wh. seems helpful. Flokk-r would be N. form of the Flocca of Flockton.
Flushing (Falmouth). Sic 1661. Named after the Dutch port at the mouth of the Scheldt.
Foggathorpe (Selby). Dom. Fulcartorp. ' Fulchar's place or village.' In Onom. there are several Folcheards, one Folcgaer, and one Fulcker. The orig. name has had eg in it, and the liquid l and r easily disappear.
Foleshill (Coventry). Dom. Focheshelle, a. 1200 Folkeshulle, 1327 Folkeshull.' O.E. folces hyll, 'people's hill,' which in Midland M.E. regularly is hull.
Folkestone, a. 716 chart. Folcanstan, 1051 O.E. Chron. Folestane, Dom. Fulchestan. ' Stone, rock of the folk or people,' or, more prob., ' of a man Folca.' The Onom. has a Folco and a Fulco, and we have Folkton (E. Riding), Dom. Fulcheton.
Fontmell Magna (Shaftesbury). 939 chart. Funtmeales, Dom. Fontemale. Perh. 'Fountain of Mail(a),' one in Onom.; O.E. jont, 2-6 funt. The order is unusual as -funt or -font usually comes last. Cf. Bedfont. But -mell may be O.E. moel, ' a mark, sign, cross, crucifix ', font at the cross.’ Fontley (Fareham), Dom. Funtelei, will be ' mead with the fountain or spring.' Magna is L. for ' Great.'
Ford (Shrewsbury, etc.). Dom. Ford. 1184 Pipe Devon, Ecclesia de Forda. Nothing is commoner in early Eng. names than to name a place after a ford, which was often a very important spot before bridges were made.
Fordham (Colchester and Soham). Colc. F. sic 1373, but c. 1080 chart. Fordam. So. F. Dom. Fordeham. ' House at the ford.' Fordington (Dorchester). Dom. Fortitone, 1156 Pipe Fordintune. Perh.' Village of Forthwine,' one in Onom. See -ing.
Forest of Dean. Dom. Dene, 1160-61 Pipe Foreste de Dena, c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Danubia; Sylva, which is supposed to mean ' forest of Denmark or of the Danes.' Dean here may be W. din, ' fort, hillfort '; but is prob. as in Dean.
Formby (Liverpool). 1203-04 Formebi, 1227 Forneby, 1269 Fornebi. ' Dwelling of Forni.' There are several called Forna or Forne in Onom. Cf. next. In Brit. names m and n are frequently found interchanging. See -by.
Fornham (Bury St. Edmunds). Sic in Dom. 'Home of Forne'. See Formby. There is a Forne in Dom. (Herefd.).
Forton (Gosport, Newport, Staffs, N. Lanes, and 3 others). Newport F. 1199 Forton, whilst for the others Dom. has Fortune, and Fordune (twice). Prob. 'town by the ford.' Of course, dune is ' hill.' Leland calls Forthampton (Tewkesbury) Fordhampton; but it is Dom. Fortemeltone, prob. ' Forthhelm's town.'
Foss Dyke (Boston). 1480 Caxton Chron. 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., L. fossa, 'a ditch,' is first found in Eng. a. 1440. There is also the Fossway, which stretched fr. Exeter to Lincoln, via Bath and Leicester. Cf. Fangfoss (N. Riding), Dom. Frangefos,? ' ditch of the Frank.'
Foston (3 in P.(?). Foston on Wolds. Dom. Fodstone. 1158-59 ' Some maybe' town on the foss (see above); but Fodstone must be fr. some unknown man. See -ton.
Fotheringhay (Northampton). Dom. Fodringeia. a. 1163 Fodrigeia, 1237 Fodringh', 1434 Fotheringhey, c. 1460 Foodryngdrc. ' Foddering-island.' O.E. fodor, O.N. fodr, Dan. foder, ' fodder, food for cattle.' The vb. O.N. foora, is not found in Eng. till a. 1300. Cf. the Pile of Fotheray in Furness, q.v.; also Featherstone. See -ay, -ey.
Foulness (Cromer). Not in Dom. 'Foul, dirty cape or ness." O.N. ful noes. Foul is also found in O.E. as ful, and this is a more likely origin than O.E. fugol, 'fowl, bird.' Cf. next and Fulford. Still Dom. nfk. Has a Fugalduna.
Foulsham (Dereham). Dom. and 1454 Folesham. Prob. not ' home of the fowls,' which is O.'E. fugol. Foolston (W. Riding), Dom. Fugelestun, is phonetically different, and even it means the man ' Fowl's town.' Foulsham will be ' home of the man Fula,' seen in B.C.S. 1052 Fulan ea. Cf. Dom. (Suss.) Folsalre, or ' Fula's alder.'
Fountains Abbey (Ripon). 1156 Pipe De Fontibus, c. 1246 de Fontanis. ' Abbey of the springs or wells.'
Fovant (Salisbury). Not in Dom., but O. E. chart. Fobbefunte i.e., 'font, spring of Fobba.' Cf. B.C.S. 862 Fobbanwyl (well), Fontmell, and Havant.
Fowey R. and town (Cornwall), c. 1200 Gewase Fawe fl. Town a. 1400 Fawi, c. 1450 Fortescue, the Ffowe; c. 1530 Foye, 1536 Fowey. Pron. Foy. The river, which names the town, is ' said to be fr. Corn, foys or foy fenton, 'walled well or fountain (which rises near Altarnun). But it looks a little like the Corn. the W. ffau. Foy (Herefd.) is c. 1130 Lib. Land. Lanntiuoi, 'church of St. Tyfai.' Cf. Lamphey.
Fowlmere (Royston). Dom. Fuglemaere, Fugelesmara, which is O.E. for ' fowls' lake or mere'; 1302 Fulmere, 1401 Foulmere. Fownhope (Hereford). Old forms needed. It seems a sort of hybrid; 'fawn's refuge'; O.Fr. foun, faon, M.E. (1369) foun, ' a fawn '; but very prob. Fown- is O.E. Fornan, ' of Forna,' a common name; and O.N. hop, ' a haven, a place of refuge.' See -hope.
Foxholes (Yorks). Bom. Foxhole, Foxohole, Foxele. 1202 Fines Foxholeforde. Cf. Foxton (Cambs)., Dom. Foxetune, and B.C.S. 750 Foxcotone. There is a Foxcote (Glos.), Dom. Fuscote.
Fox Lydiate (Redditch). 1300 Fox Huntley yates, 1377 Foxhunt Ledegate. 'Fox hunter's gate.' See Lidgate; and cf. Hyett, Henbury, 1221 Hyate, ' high gate.'
Foxt (Cheadle, Staffs). 1253 Foxiate i.e., fox-gate, or 'opening'; O.E. geat, get, 6-9 dial. Yat(t))e, (Sc.) yett. But in 1292 it is Foxwyst, which is inexplicable.
Fradley and Fradswell (Staffs). 1262 Foder(e)sleye, 1286 Frodeleye. Dom. Frodeswelle, a. 1300 Frotheswelle, Frodeswall, Frodeswell. Prob. all fr. a man Frod, which is O.E. for 'wise.' Form 1262 prob. simply illustrates the shiftiness of r. See -ley. Framingham Earl (Norwich). Dom. Framingaha. 1424 Framyngham. ' Home of the descendants of Frame, 'still a surname. Froena is common, andt there is one Fram in Onom. Cf. Fremington. See -ing.
Framlingham (Suffolk). Dom. Framlingaham, 1157 Pipe Framingeham, 1425 Fremelyngham, a. 1444 Framlyngham. ' Home of the Framlings.' These maybe' descendants of Frambeald'; 2 in Onom. See -ing.
Frampton (Boston and Dorchester). Boston F. Dom. Framantune, Do. F. Frantone. 'Town of Frama' or ''Fram'; 1 in Onom. For intrusion of p, cf. Bampton and Hampton; also cf. above. There is a Framwellgate, Durham, and a Framelle (? ' Fram's nook ') in Dom. Suss. But Frajmpton, 3 in Glos., is Dom. Framtone, 1221 Fremtone, ' town on R. Frame,' or ' Frome '; whilst Fraunton, same shire, is 1166 Freulinton, 1182 Froulinton, perh. fr. a man Freowine, Freawine.
France Lynch (Stroud) and Franche (Kidderminster). Kidderminster F. Dom. Frenesse, 1275 Frenes, Freynes. Duignan says, O.Fr. fresne, ' ash-tree,’and that the -esse in Dom. is meant for O.E. cesce, ' ash-tree,’ and so Dom.'s name a reduplication. He may be right.
Frankley (Bromsgrove) and Frankton (Rugby). Br. F. Dom. Franchlie, a. 1200 Frankle, Frankeleg. Ru. F. Dom. Franchetone. 'Meadow' and ' town of Franca' or 'the Frank.' Origin fr. O.Fr. franc, 'an enclosure,’ esp. to feed swine in"; in Eng. c. 1400 as frank, fraunke, seems just possible.
Freckenham (Ely`) ‘Home of Freac or Frecca’, both forms in Onom. Cf. chart Frecinghhyrte (? Kent) also Friockheim (Sc.). The root is O.E. free, ' ready, quick.' We have also Frickley (Yorks). Dom. Frichehale, or ' Freca's nook.' See -hall.
Freckleton (Preston). Dom. Frecheltun. ‘Frecel’s or Freculf's town.'
Freeby (Leicestersh.). Dom. Fredebi, 1230 Close E. Fretheby. ' Village ' or ' dwelling of Frith (e.) ' (one in Onom.), or of some of them any men whose names begin with Frithu. But Freethorpe (Norwich) is Dom. Frietorp, ' village of Freyja,' which wast te name of a well-know nSaxo ngoddess. Cf. Freystrop and Fritton.
Freemantle (Bournemouth and Southampton). Not in Dom. Cf. c. 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 O.Fr. mantel, ' a mantle or cloak.' But how comes this in a placename? Mantel (see Oxf. Dict., s.v.) in the sense of ' a fortification,' is not found in Eng. till 1475. Prob. this is one of the rare cases of a place called simply by a man's name, often referred to in 12th cny Pipe as Frigidum Mantellum. Goodrich, Snitter, etc.
Freiston (Boston). Sic 1274, Dom. Fristune, 1381 Frestoine also Ferry Fryston (S. Yorks). Dom. Fristone. Peril, 'town of the Frisians or Frieslanders '; possibly fr. the Saxon goddess Frea or Freyja. Fraisthorp (Bridlington) is Dom. Frestintorp, which is puzzling.
Fremington (Yorks and Devon). Yorks F. sic in Dom. 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 fr. the Frisians, but fr. O.E. fyrz, ' furze, gorse,' dial. freze, friez. Oxf. Dict, gives furse as 4-6 firse, but not with transposed r.
Freshwater (Isle of Wight). Dom. Frescewatre. Why so called is not very apparent. The usual O.E. for 'fresh' i.e., not ' salt '—is fersc. Oxf. Diet, says the fre- forms do not occur till c. 1205 Layamon, and so are most likely due to adoption fr. O.Fr. freis, fresche. But the much earlier Dom. form shows this untenable. Cf. Threshfield, Dom.Freschefelt.
Frssingfield (Harleston). Not in Dom. c. 1590 Fresingfield; and Freston (Ipswich). Dom. Frisetuna, Fresetuna. The latter is ' town of the Frisians,’ who called themselves Frise, Frese. The former is prob. ' field of the Frisians' descendants.' Frisington. See -ing.
Freystrop (Pembroke). ' Freyja's village.' She was a Norse goddess, akin to the L. Venus. Fraisthorpe (Yorks) is Dom. Frestintorp, which is puzzling; also cf. Freethorpe and Fridaythorp. See -thorpe.
Fridaythorp (Yorks). Dom. Fridarstorp, Fridagstorp, Fridaizstorp. 'Village of Friday,’ O.E. Frigedcog, O.N. Friadoeg-r, ' day of Frigg or Frig,' the Norse Venus. But Friday seems to have been used as a personal name. Cf. B.C.S. 1047 Frigedaeges treow. There is a Friday Street (Glouc). See -thorpe.
Frilford (Berks). O.E. chart. Frileford, later Frylesford. Like Frilsham (on R. Pang), Dom. Frilesham, prob. contracted fr. Frithel, Fritholf, Frithuwolf, or some such name.
Frimley Green (Farnborough). Not in Dom. 'Moist meadow,’ frim dial., O.E. freme, ' full of moisture, sappy.' See -ley.
Frindsbury (Rochester). Dom. Frandesberie. ' Burgh of Fraud,' which may be contraction of Freomund, likeliest name in Onom. prob. influenced by friend, which in Southern Eng. is 4 vrind, 5-7 frind. See -bury.
Frisington (W. Cumbld.). 'Town of the Frisings,' or 'descendants of the Frisians.' See Fressingfield and-ing.
Fritghley (Derby). Not in Dom. Cf. Dom. Nfk. Frichetuna. ' Meadow of Fricca.' Onom. has only Frecca and Freca.
Fritham (Lymington). Not in Dom. Cf. 804 chart. Fridesleah (Kent). ' Home of Frith,' or of some man with a name beginning in Frith-; there are many in Onom. Frithubeorht, Frithugeard,' etc. The O.E. fyrhde, ' a wood,' is seen in Chapel- en-le-Frith, and in Fretherne, Frocester, Dom. Fridorne, 1372 Freethorne, O.E. frith-thyme, ' thorn-bush by the wood.'
Frith Bank and Frithville (Boston). 1323 Le Frith, 1512 'The King's Frith beside Boston.' Frith is O.E. fyrhloe, 'a wood ' or ' woody pasture; -ville is always mod.
Frittenden (Staplehurst, Kent). 804 chart. Fridding-, Freddingden, and in the same chart. Fridesleah. ' Dean (wooded) valley of the descendants of Frith.' Cf. Fritham.
Fritton (Long Stratton, Norfk.). Dom. Fridetuna, Frietuna, ' Town of Frith ' or ' Fride.' Cf. Freeby.
Frocester. Origin unknown; perh. pre-Keltic. See -cester.
Frodesley (Shrewsbury) and Frodsham (Retford and Warrington). Retford F. 1240 Frodesham. 'Meadow' and 'home of Froda or Frod,' common in Onom. Cf. Frodingham (Yorks), Dom. Frotingha'. See -ham, -ing, and -ley.
Frognal (Windsor and 2 others). Old forms needed. The -al almost certainly represents -hail (cf. Birstall, Brinscall, etc.)’ and the Frogn- must be some personal name. Of course, O.E. frogga, -an is ' a frog,’ as in Frog Hall (Dunchurch), Frogham, and Frogmore (Camberley). Though there is no likely name in Onom., we have 704 chart. Frocesburna (Middlesex), which is prob. ' Froce's ' or ' Froga's brook.'
Frome (Somerset). Pron. Froom. 875 O.E. Chron. Frauu, c. 950 ib. Frome, ib. From (river); also, Frome R. (Glouc. and Hereford), whose forms are found in Frampton, Framilode, 1175-76 Pipe Fremelada (O.E. gelad, 'ferry'), and Frenchay, 1257 Fromscawe (O.E. scaga, 'wood'). The Gloucester R. is now rather called Frame. Dr. Bradley thinks this must be orig. Frama, which, on Keltic lips, would aspirate and yield Frauu or Frauv. Cf. Aberffraw and Bp's. Frome. Meaning doubtful; origin fr. W. 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 Oxf. Dict, 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 chart. Froxafelda, ' field of the frogs,' O.E. frox(a), var. of frogga, frocga; but also cf. 704 chart. Frocesburna (Middlesex). So perh. ' Field of Froca.' The name is not in Onom. But Froxmore (Crowle), 1275 Froxmere, 1327 Froxemere, is plainly ' frogs' mere or lake.'
Fulbeck (Lines) and Fulbourn (Cambs). Lines F. 1202 Fulebec. Ca. F. c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Fuleburna, Dom. Fuleberne, chart. Fuulburne. O.E. and O.N. ful, 'foul, dirty'; and see -beck and -bourne. Cf. Bacup, c.1200 Ffulebachope.
Fulford (York, Stone, and Solihull). York F. Dom. Fuleford and Foleford, Sim. Dur. ami. 1066 Fulford, Stone F. Dom. Fuleford. ' Foul, dirty ford.' See above. Cf. 1183 Boldon Bk. Durham, Fulforth.
Fulham (London). Sic 1298, but 879 O.E. Chron. Fullanhamme. This I sprob.' enclosure of Fullan.' There is one such in Onom. ' Home of fowls ' would need a g in 879. O.E. fugol, ' a fowl.' See -ham 2.
Fulney (Lincoln). Thought to be B.C.S. 1052 Fulan ea, ' isle of Fula.' Not in Dom. It has a Fulnedebi.
Furness. Not in Dom. Old Futherness, Fuderness, which is prob. ' fodder-ness or cape ' (see Fotheray) though M’Clure ventures to identify with Pict. father, ' a piece of land.’ Cf. Forteviot (Sc). Foodra Castle, on the point at Furness, was formerly called ' the Peel of Further' (Whitaker's Craven)
Fyfeld (Abingdon). Dom. Fivehide i.e., five hides of land still 1437 Fifhide, but c. 1540 Ffield. Fyfeld (Essex), is also Dom. Fifhide, while places of the same name in Hants and Wiltswere1257-1300 chart. Fifhide. There are both Five Hide and Fyfield in Glouc. Cf. Filey.
Fyling. See Fillongley.

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

Hacheston (E. Suffolk). Dom. Haces, Hecestuna. 'Town of Hacca"; 2 in Onom.
Hackness (Whitby). Bede Haconos, Hakenes; O. E.vers. Hecanos; Dom. Hagenesse. Haconos is O N.f or' Haco's ness' or' nose.' Cf. Hackthorpe (Penrith) and Haconby (Bourne). But a farm called Hackbury or Ackbury (Brewood, Staffs) is a. 1300 Herkebarewe and 1304 Erkebarwe,' burial-mound of' an unidentifiable man.
Hackney (London), c. 1250 Hackenaye, Hacquenye; temp. Edw. IV. Hackeney or Hackney. " Isle of Hacca, Hacco’ or ' Hacun ‘; several so-called in Onom. See -ey. Nothing to do with hackney, the ' horse,' which is O.Fr. haquenee, and not found in Eng. before abou t1330. Cf. Hagbourne (Wallingford), a. 900 chart. Hacca broce, Dom. Hacheborne, 1291 Hakeburn.
Haddenham (Thame and Ely). Thame H. Dom. Hadena; Ely. H. K.C.D. vi. 98 Haedanham; c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Hadenham, Haederham, Hadreham; Dom. Hadreham; 1300 Hadenham. ' Home of Hoeda ' or ' Heada.' The forms with r pro n are due to a common confusion of liquids.Cf. Haden.
Haddon Hall (Bakewell). Dom. Hadun(a), O. E. for' high hill,' hedh, ' high.' Cf. a ' Hadune ' (Notts), in Roll Rich. I.
Haden Cross (Dudley). Named fr. a family long resident here. A family of Haden is found at RowleyRegis in 1417. Cf. Haddenham.
Hadfield (Manchester). Not in W. and H. Cf. 778 chart. 'To' hadfelde zeate.' This cannot mean 'head field,' but will be ' field of Hadd, Hada, Hadde, or Headda,' names all found in Onom. Cf. Dom. Essex Hadfelda. Not the same as Hatfield.
Hadleigh (Suffolk) and Hadley (Droitwich). Suffolk H., not in Dom., a. 1200 Heddele, still the local pron. Dr. H. 1275 Hedley. Prob. ' Headda's meadow.' But Hadley (Wellington, Salop) is said to be old Haethleigh, O. E. hoeth,' a moor, a heath.' It is Dom. Hatlege, and in Dom. medial th regularly becomes d. Hadsor (Droitwich) is a. 1100 Headesofre, Dom. Hadesore, 1275 Haddesovere. ' Bank, edge of Headda,' O.E. ofr, obr, ' bank, brink, edge.' See -or.
Hadstock (Cambridge). 1494 Fabyan Hadestok. Cf.R. Rich I. Hadestache (Derby). Either ‘plce of Hadde or Headda, see Hadfield; or fr. hade sb1 Oxf. Dict. ' a strip of land left unploughed, as a boundary, etc'. Found in 1523. Stock is the same root as stake. Haggerston (London). Dom. Hergotestane. Either 'stone of Hoergod, Heregod, or Heregyth,' all in Onom.; or ' stone of the heriot,’ O.E. here-geatu, a feudal service, now commuted to a money payment on the death of a tenant. See Oxf. Dict. s.v. Heriot. But there is or was a Haggerston (Co. Durham), 1183 Agardeston, 1213 Hagardeston, which must be fr. a man Haggard, O.Fr. Agard, still a surname.
Hagley (Stourbridge). Dom. Hageleia, a. 1200 Hageleg. The first half is thought to be N., though such names are very rare in this shire. O.N. hagi, Sw. hage, ' enclosed field, pasture,’ not found in Eng.,as hag sb",until 1589. More prob. is derivation from O.E. haga, with the same meaning, cognate with O.E. hege, ' a hedge.' The -ley(q.v.) is ' meadow.' Cf. Haglow (Awre), old Hagloe. See -low. This may be fr. a man Agga, short for Agamund, a common name, as a form Aggemede is found for Hagmede, also in Glouc.
Haigh and Haighton (see Haughton).
Haikable (Westmld.). Said to be High Cop Gill or ' ravine '; fr. O.N. ha-r kopp-r, ' high top (of a hill).' See -gill.
Hailes (Glouc.) and Hales (Mkt. Drayton). Dom. Hales (?), a. 1400 Hali, Hales. Glos. H. Dom. Heile, c. 1386 Chaucer Hayles. O.E. healh, dat. heale, Mercian halh, hale, ' a nook, corner, secret-place,' with common Eng. pl. Some make it ' meadowland by a river, a haugh.' See -hall. Hale (Arreton, I. of W.) is Dom. Atehalle, ' nook of Ata,' 2 in Onom., where the personal name has fallen away. We have the simple Hale also at Liverpool, Altrincham, Glostersh., and Chingford. The pl. s is usually late.
Hailsham (Sussex). Not in Dom. 1230 Close R. Eilesham. ' Home of AEla,' 1 in Onom.
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, O.E. hean (inflected form of heah), holt, 'high wood.' As likely hen represents Dan. hegna,' a hedge, an enclosure,' O. N. hegna,' to enclose.' Dom. Essex has only Henham.
Hainton (Lincoln), Dom. Hagetone, Haintone, Haintun, and Hainworth (Yorks), Dom. Hageneworde. Prob. fr. same man as in Haunton (Tamworth), 942 Hagnatun, a. 1300 Hagheneton, and in Hanyard, 1227 Hagonegate, Hageneyate. ' Town and' farm of Hagene.' See-worth.
Haisthorpe (Yorks). Dom. Aschiltorp, Ascheltorp, Haschetorp, ' Place of AEs or Ascytel,' var. Askyl, Aschil. See Asselby and -thorpe.
Hakin (Milford Haven). Sometimes thought to be fr. the Norse King Haco(n) (? which). Such an origin would be contrary to analogy. It may be corrup. of haven. Cf. Copen-hagen, ' merchants' haven.’
Halam (see Hallam).
Hale (see Hailes).
Halesowen (Worstrsh.). Dom. Halas, 1276 Halesowayn, 1286 Halesowen. See Hailes. The Owen comes fr. David ap Owen, prince of N. Wales, who married Emma, sister of Henry II., in 1174.
Halford (Shipston and Stourbridge). Shipston H. 950 chart. Halhford, 1176 Haleford. ' Ford at the meadow-land,' or ' haugh,' O.E. 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 O.E. halig feax, ' holy (2-4 hali) locks ' or ' head of hair,' perh. referring to some picture of the head of St. John. On the strength of acomparison with Carfax (see Oxf. Dict, s.v.), it is often said to mean ' holy fork ' or ' holy roads,' converging as in a fork, L. furca. Carfax is first found in 1357 Carfuks, and not till 1527 as Carfaxe, so this origin seems quite untenable. perh. The earliest original document which names the place is a letter, c. 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 Dom. it seems to be called Feslei. Can the Fesbe feax too?
Halkin (Holywell). Dom. Alchene, a puzzling gform. But, as the village now lies at the foot of a hill called Helygen, this is prob. the origin. It means in W. ' a willow-tree.'
Hallam (Sheffield). Dom. Hallun. An old loc, 'on the slopes,' O.N. hall-r, 'a slope'; cf. La Haule, Jersey. Halam (South- well) is also in chart, set Halum, 1541 Halom. For a N. word taking on an Eng. loc. form, cf. Holme-on-the-Wolds. Hallen (Henbury), old Hel(l)en, may be fr. W. helen, ' salt '; but this is doubtful.
Halliford (Shepperton). 969 chart. Halgeford, inflected form of O. E. haligford,' holy ford,' 1316 Halgheford.
Hallikeld (Yorks). O.N. heilag-r kelda, 'holy well or. spring.' O.E. halig, 'holy.' Cf. Gunnerskeld and 1202 Fines Helghefelde.
Hallingbury (Bp's. Stortford). Dom. Halingheberia. ' Burgh, town of the sons of? ' Older forms needed to identify this patronymic? fr. Halig or Healfdene. See-ing.
Hallington (Corbridge, Northumbld.). Cf. 806 chart. Halington, in the Midlands. Prob. a patronymic, ''Haling or Hayling's town.' Cf. Hayling I.
Halloughton (see Haughton).
Hallow (Worcester). 816 chart. Heallingan, Halhegan, Halheogan, 963 ib. Hallege, Dom. Halhegan, 1275 Hallawe. A very puzzling name. It surely must be meant to represent hallow, ' a saint,’ then,' the shrine of a saint,’ O. E. halza, halze pl. 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. Prob. ' hall of Hala ' or some such name; Halga is the nearest in Onom. Were the name late it might be ' Hal's hall.' Cf. ' Halsam ' in a grant of a. 675, near Chertsey, Halstead, Halstock, and Dom. Halstune (Salop), also Halsham (Yorks), Dom. Halsam, Halsem. For the ending -all cf. Walsall, etc., and see -hall.
Halton (8 in P. G.). Leeds H. Dom. Halletun. Craven H. Dom. Haltone, Alton,1179-80 Pipe Aleton. Tring H. Dom. Haltone. ' Village with the hall or mansion.' See -hall and -ton. But Dom. Yorks, Haltun, is now Great Houghton, and 1160-61 Pipe Nhbld., Haulton, prob. has a similar origin.
Haltwhistle (Carlisle). 1178 Arbroath Chart. Haucwy - litle (scribe's error), 1220 ib. Hauetwisel; later in same chart. Hautwisil, Hauttwysill, 1553 Hawtwesjdl, a. 1600 Hartweseil. Local pron. Haw-tessel. The first syll. is doubtful. Some say, O.E. hawe, ' a look-out.’ The likeliest origin is O.E. hdwi twisla, ' bluish-grey confluence,' where Haltwhistle burn joins Tyne O.E. hawi, heawi, hoewi, 6-9 haw, ' bluish, greyish, or greenish blue,' and see Twizel. Cf. chart. ' Hocgetwisle ' (Hants), and Oswaldtwistle (Accrington).
Halvergate (Norwich). Dom. Halfriate, 1157 Halvergiata. O.N. halfr gat (O.E. geat), 'the half gate’? one which only closed the entrance half-way up.
Ham (Hungerford, Richmond, and Essex). Essex. H. 969 chart. Hamme, O.E. for ' enclosure.' See -ham. But Hambrook (Winterbourne), Dom. Hambroc, may be O.E. hean broc, ' at the high brook.'
Hamble, R. (Solent). Bede Homelea, c. 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. O.E. chart. Hamselendun, Dom. Hameledone, ' Hamela's for-t.' Also, Hambleton (Selby and Preston). Both Dom. Hamelton, fr. the same name.
Hamerton (Hunts). Dom. Hambertune, and Great Hammerton (W. Riding), Dom. Hanbretune, look as if fr. an inflected form of the common name Heahbeorht=- Hanbeorht, Hanbert, or the like. But Hammerton (Yorks), Dom. Hamereton, seems ' town of Haimhere or Haimheardus or Haimerus,’ a name still surviving as Hamar. Of. Hammersmith and -wich; also Dom. Nfk., Hameringahala.
Hammer (Haslemere and Prescot). No tin Dom. O E. heah mere, ' high pool ' or ' lake’.’Seen inflected in the name Hanmer. Cf. 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. fr. 1382. There is no such placename in England. Prob. it is ' Hamer’s smite,’; O.E. smite, a rare word, prob. meaning ' a bog, a morass.' See Smite, Dom. Smithh. It can hardly be ‘Hamers’s Mythe, or river-mouth, as there is none such here. Cf. Hamerton.
Hamose, (Anchorage, Plymouth). Home (shelter) among the ooze,’ M. E. oaze, wose, O. E. wos, ‘juice’. See -ham.
Hammerwich (Lichfield). Dom. Humerwiche, c. 1200 Hamerwich, a. 1300 Homerwich. ' Dwelling, village of Homer ' or ' Hamar.' Cf. Hamerton and Homerton (E. London).
Hampole (Doncaster). Dom. Hanepol, which is an inflected form for O.E. Man pol, ' high pool.' Cf. Hammer and Hanley.
Hampshire. O.E. Chron. 755 Hamtlinscire, c. 1097 Fhr. Wore. Hantunscire. Hamtun is O.E. for ' hometown,' which as a placename is spelt Hampton. There is a R. Hamps (N.E. Staffd.), 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 (Glouc.) is Dom. Hagenpene,' fold of Hagan.'
Hampstead (London), and Hampstead Marshall and Norris (Berks). London H. Dom. Hamestede. O.E. ham-stede, 'home- stead, home-place or farm.' Cf. Ashampstead (Pangbourn), 1307 Ashamsted, and Finchamstead (Berks), Dom. 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 fr. the Norman family of Norreys. There is also a Haimstead (Handsworth), a. 1400 Hampstede and Hamstede, and Dunhampstead (Droitwich), 804 chart. Dunhamstyde, 972 Dunhaemstede. Hampnett (Glouc.), Dom. Hantone, but Kirby's Quest. Hamptoneth, maybe for ' Hampton heath.'
Hampton and Hampton Court (London; 11 Hamptons in P.O.). 781 Synod of Brentford Homtune, Dom. Hamntune, 1402 Hampton, 1514 lease Hampton Courte, also Dom. Hantone (Chesh.), Hantuna (Essex). O. E. 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 bhabit of intruding itself where not needed. Cf. Bampton, Bromton, etc.
Hampton-Lucy (Stratford, Wwk.), c. 1062 chart. Heamtun, Dom. Hantone, and Hampton-in-Akden, Dom. Hantone, a. 1200 Hantune in Arden, are O.E. hean tun, inflected form of 'high town,’ heah, ' high.' Cf. Hanburey. H.-Lucy has been held by the Lucy family from the time of Q. Mary. Hampton Gay (Oxon.) is also Heantun in 958.
Hamstall Ridware (Rugeley). 1004 Rideware, Dom. Riduare, a. 1300 Rydewar Ham(p)stal. O.E. hamsteall, ' homestead.' Cf. c. 1200 chart. Whalley Abbey Hamstalesclogh. Ridware Duignan is prob. right in thinking to be Ridwara, 'dwellers on the rhyd ‘; only that in W. means ' ford ' not ' river.' Canterbury, etc.
Hanbury (Droitwich, Bromsgrove, Burton-on-T., and Oxfordsh.). Droitwhich. H. 691 chart. Heanburg, 757 ib. Heanburh, Hanbiri, 796 ib. Heanbyrig. Bromgrove. H. 836 chart. Heanbvrg, Dom. Hambyrie. Burton. H. a. 1300 Hamburi, Hambury, a. 1400 Hanbury, 1430 Hambury. Ofordsh.. H. Dom. Haneberge, 1495 Hanburye. O.E. hean byrg is ' high burgh,' even as Hampton is often ' high town.' But in both cases ham may be ' home '; prob. not. Henbury (Bristol), 691 chart. Heanburg, Dom. Henberie, is, of course= Hanbury. Cf. next and Henfield. See -bury.
Hanchurch (Trentham). Dom. Hancese (-cese for -circe), 1296 Hanchurch. O.E. hean circe, ' high church.'
Handborough or Hanborough (Woodstock). Dom. Haneberge, prob. O.E. hean beorge, ' high hill '; beorg is ' a mountain, a hill, a mound,' and heah is ' high,' gen. hean. It may be ' cocks' hill,’ O.E. hana, ' a cock,' han-cred, ' cockcrow.'
Handforth (Manchester). Some think this is 'ford (q.v.) with a handrail across it.' But Handsworth (Sheffield) is Dom. Handeswrde, fr. a man Hand, while Handsworth (Birmingham) is Dom. Honeswrde, a. 1200 Honesworth, Hunesworth, a. 1300 Hunnesworth, ' farm of Hona ' or ' Hunna.' See -worth.
Hanging Grove (Hanley Child), Hanging Heaton (Dewsbury), and Hanging Houghton (Nthmptn.). Dewsbury H. Dom. Etun, Nor. H. not in Dom. 1230 Close R. Hangadehout. Hanging is corrup. of O.E. hangra, ' a wood on a sloping hill.' Cf. Birchanger, etc. The -dehout in 1230 seems to mean ' of Hout,' an unrecorded name. Houghton is always a difficult name. See, too, Heaton, and cf. Hangerbury Hill (Glouc).
Hankham (Hastings). 947 chart. Hanecanham, prob. this place, Dom.Henecha'. ' Home of Haneca.' Cf. Dom.Bucks, Hanechedene. 947 cannot be, as some think, Hanham Abbots (Winterbourne), Dom. Hanun, Hanon, c. 1170 Hanum, which seems to be the old loc. common in Yorks, ' at Hana's.' See -ham. But Hankerton (Malmsbury) is 1282 Haneketon. fr. the same name as Hankham. Dom. Hardintone. Two Hardings in Onom. Cf. Ardington and Hardington (Lamington, Sc). See -ton and its inter- change with -stone.
Hanley (3 in Wore, and Staffs). Dom. Hanlege, Hanlie (Upton-on- Severn), 817 Heanley (Tenbury), Bom. Hanlege, 1275 Childrehanle (Hanley Child), 1332 Hanley (Potteries). Perh. all O.E. hean lege, ' high meadow.’ Cf. Hanbury. Childre- is gen. pl. of child. But it is to benoted thatt here are 2called Hana in Onom. (cf. Honley); whilst Hanney (Berks) is 956 chart. Hannige, Dom. Hannei, ' isle of the cock,’ O.E. hana. Cf. Dom. Salop, Hanelev.
Hanwell (Ealing). Dom. Hanewelle. All these names in Han- are doubtful as to the first syll. Hanwell must be interpreted as Hanley is, and cf. Hanbury. But, to show how uncertain the ground is, Hanyard (Stafford) is 1227 Hagonegate, Hagene- yate, with which cf. Haunton (Tarnworth), 942 chart. Hagnatun, a. 1300 Hagheneton, Hanneton, ' Hagene's gate ' and ' town.'
Happisburgh (Norwich). Dom. Hapesiburc, 1450 Happysborough. Local pron. 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 Onom. See -burgh.
Harberton (see Market Harborough).
Harbledown (Canterbury). Not in Dom. 1360 (letter of a Fr. chaplain) Helbadonne. 'Hill, down, O.E. dun, of Harble,' which is prob. the O.E. Heardbeald, 1 such in Onom.
Harborne (Birmingham). Dom. Horeborne, c. 1300 Horeburn, a. 1400 Horbourne; -bourne (q.v.) is 'brook.' O.E. har, M.E. hor(e) is ' hoar, hoary, grey, old,' but har or hare often also means ' boundary,' and this place is on the border between Staffs. And Worcestersh. Cf. Harome and Hoar Cross; also Harridge ' (Redmarley), 1275Horerugge,' ridge on the boundary between Worcester and Hereford.
Harborough, Great and Little (Rugby). 1004 chart. Hereburgebyrrig, Dom. Herdeberge, a. 1300 Herdebergh, Herdeberwe, Herburburi. ' Hereburh's town.' See -borough. But Harbury (Leamington) is Dom. Edburberie, Erbur(ge)berie i.e., ' Eadburh's burgh ' (see -borough) whilst Harburston (Pembroke) is 1307 Herbraundyston, fr. Herbrand, an early Flemish settler. Harby (Notts) is Dom. Herdebi, cf. Hardwick.
Harbottle (Rothbury). Sic 1595. O.E. har boil, 'hoary, grey house.' Cf. O.N. har-r, and Newbattle (Sc).
Harden (Walsall), a. 1400 Haworthyn, Hawerthyn, Hawardyne, 1648 Harden. O.E. heah worthyn, ' high farm.' See -wardine. It has now the same pron., but has not quite the same meaning, as Hawarden. Harden (Yorks) is Dom. Heldetone, or ' town on the slope,' O.E. hylde, helde.
Hardingstone St. Edmunds (Northampton). Dom. Hardingestone, but c. 1123 Hardingestroona. Thought to be a corrup. of '' Harding's, thorn.' Also, Hardington-Mandeville (Yeovil), Dom. Hardinctone. Two Hardings in Onom. Cf. Ardington and Hardington (Lamington, Sc) See -ton ant its interchange with -stone.
Hardwick(e). There are said to be 26 in England. Cambs. H. c. 1080 Inquis Cam. and K.C.D. iv. 245 Hardwic, 1171 Herdwice, Dom. Glonc., Herdeimic; Bucks, Harduich, Harduic; Yorks, Hardwic and Arduuic; Durham H. 1183 Herdewyk, 1197 Herdewich; Lines. H. Dom. Harduic, 1204 Herduic. Also K.C.D. iv. 288 Hcordewica, perh. in Northants. Usually derived fr. 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 O.E. becomes a in our time. This is indisputable. There is also a word herdwick (see Oxf. Dict, s.v.) Dom. 'iii. hardvices,’? c. 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 Northumbld., herd is never pron. hard; and according to Oxf. Dict, neither O.E. 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 O.E. 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 Warwk. Hardwicks. He, however, gives a. 1300 Hordewyke for Hardwick (Eldersfield, Worstrsh.). See -wick.
Harewood (Leeds), a. 1142 Wm. Malmesb. Harewode. O.E. hara-wudu, ' hares' wood.' Cf. Harwell. But Haresfield (Glouc.), Dom. Hersefeld, 1179 Harsefelde, is ' field of Hersa,' though Onom. has only Heorstan.
Harkstead (Ipswich). Dom. Herchestede. 'Stead, steading, or dwelling-place o fHeore' or' Hark,' still as urname. Onom.has only one Hercus.
Harlaston (Tamworth) and Harleston (Bungay). Tamworth H. 1004 ehart. Heorlfestun, c. 1100 ib. Heorlaveston, Dom. Horulvestune, a. 1200 (H)erlaveston(e), a. 1300 Horlaveston. Bungay. H. K.C.D. 1298 Heorulfestun, Dom. Heroluestuna. ' Heoruwulf's or ' Heorelf's town '; 2 in Onom.
Harlech (Barmouth) W. 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. Dom. Harlege. Prob. North. O.E. for 'higher meadow,' O.E. heah, hiera, Angl. hera, in 5 har, her. See -ley.
Harlington (Hounslow and Dunstable). Hounslow H. Dom. Herdington, but Dustable H. Dom. Herlingdone. ' Town of Harding.' See Hardingstone. There is no name like Harding in Onom., but cf. Harlton and the N. Erling.
Harlow Heath and Car (Harrogate). Prob.' grey, hoary-look- ing hill,’ O.E. Mr, O.N. har-r, and see -low. Car is either O.E. carr, ' a rock,’ or N. kjarr, ' copse, brush wood.' Cf. Dom. Essex, Herlaua.
Harlton (Cambridge), c. 1080 Inquis. Gamb. Harletona, Herletona, 1339 Harleton. "Prob. ' Herla'n village.' Cf. Harlaston and Harston, also Harlsey, E. and W. (N. Riding), Dom. Herelsaie, Herlesege, Herselaige, ' isle of Herla.' See -ey.
Harnhell (Cirencester). Dom. Harehille, c. 1300 Harenhull. Prob. ' grey hill,' O.E. hiar, -an, ' grey, hoary.' Cf. Harridge in same shire.
Harold (Beds), old hare weald, and Harold Wood (Romford). Prob. both O.E. hara weald, ' hare wood ' or ' forest region.' Dom. Beds has only Hareuuelle, and it is not in Dom. Essex.
Harome (Nawton, Yorks). Dom. Harem, Harun, which last must be a loc. 'at the boundaries,' O.E. har. Cf. Hallam, Harborne, etc.
Harpenden (Herts). 1250 Harpendene, 1298 Harpeden, and cf. 966 in B.C.S. iii. 435 Of] paere graezan hane and lang hearpdene. ' Dean, woody vale of the harp,' O. E. hearpe. Skeat, however, prefers to derive fr. a man Herp. Cf. B.C.S.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), Dom. Harpein, where the ending is prob. a corrupt loc. as in Hallam, etc., and Harpley (Worcstrsh.), 1275 Arpeley, Harpele.
Harperley (Co. Durham). 1183 Harperleia. The 'meadow of the harper, 'O. E. hearpere, O. N. harpari. See -ley.
Harringay (N. London), a. 1300 Haringee, of which Hornsey is a corruption. As in Harrington (Cumbld. And Northants) and Harringworth (Kettering), Harring must be, surely, a man's name, possibly a patronymic. There is one Hoering in Onom., and Herring is still an Eng. surname. See -ing. The -gee in a. 1300 is perh. the rare O.E. ge, 'region,' which Skeat thought to be found in Ely, Bede's El-ge. But see also -ay. Cf. Herringby.
Harrogate. The original name, a. 1600, was Haywra or Heywray, ' hedged-in corner or landmark,' O. N. hagi (O.E. liege),' a hedge,' and lorda, ' corner, turn, landmark.' Cf. Wrawby. Hay and haw are very near of kin, and bot hmean' hedge, 'and haw-wvra could easily refine into Harro-; while-gate is O .N. gata,' a way, a road,' not the same as the common Eng. gate, ' a door.' Possibly the first syll. is O.E. heah, 3-5 hei, hey, ' high.' Cf. Haverah and Wray.
Harrow-on-the-Hill. Perh. 767 chart. Gumeninga hergae. Dom. Herges, later Hareways, 1616 Visscher Haroue on the hill. Possibly O.E. hoerg, hearg, ' a heathen temple.’ Cf. Pepperharrow, 1147 Peper Harow. The sb. harrow is not found in Eng. till a. 1300, as haru, harwe, and so cannot be thought of here.
Harston (Cambridge and Grantham). Not in Dom. Cambridge H. 1291 Hardeleston, 1298 Hardlistone, 1316 Hardlestone. Prob. ' 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). Dom. Ersewelle. More old forms needed. Perh. fr. a man Erra, 1 in Onom. Perh. fr. O. E. har,' a boundary.' Cf. Harome. Hardly = Harwell.
Hartington (Buxton). Not in Dom. “c. 1150 Grant ‘Hertedona in Pecco (Peak).’ The central r prob. represents a gen., ‘harts’ hill.’ O. E. herot, Heorot, ‘a hart, a stag. The endings -don and -ton often interchange (q. v).
Hartlebury (Kidderminster). 817 and 980 chart. Heortlabyrig, 985 ib. Heortlanbyrig, Dom. Huertberie, a. 1200 Hertlebery, ' Burgh of Heortla,' otherwise unknown but cf. Harford (North-leach), which is 779 chart. lorotlaford, not in Dom.; also Irthlingborough.
Hartlepool. Bede Heruteu, id est, Insula Cervi; O.E. vsn., c. 850 Herotea. Herot, herut, or heorut is O.E. 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). Prob. Dom. Hardelie (? fr. a man Heard), and prob. Grant of a. 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 c. 1250 chart. Hertlepe, ' hart's leap.' Cf. Birdlip.
Harton (Yorks and S.' Shields). Yorks H. Dom. Heretun. Cf. Dom. Haretone (Cheshire). Doubtful. O.E. here is 'an army'; but cf. Harwell. Hartpury (Glouc., 1221 Hardpirie, Baddeley thinks' pear-tree,' O. E. pirige,' of' some unknown man. Could it not be simply fr. hard, as almost all its old forms seem to indicate?
Hartshill (Atherstone). Dom. Ardreshille, a. 1200 Hardredeshulle, Hardreshulle. ' Heardred's hill,' regularly in Midland M.E. hull(e). This is a name to bid one beware! But Hartshead (Liversedge) is Dom. Horteseve, for O.E. heortes heafod, ' hart's head ' or ' height,' while Harthill (Sheffield) is Dom. Hertil. With this last cf. Hartell or Hartle (Belbroughton).1275 Herthulle,' hart hill.'
Harvington (Chaddesley Corbett). 1275 Herewinton, 1340 Herwynton. ' Hereivine's town.’ But H., Evesham, is 709 chart. Herefordtune, 963 ib. Herefordtun juxta Avene, Dom. Herferthun, 1275 Herrfortune. Here-ford-tune is of course, ' town of the ford of the arm.’ The corruption is very remarkable.
Harwell (Steventon). O.E. chart. Haranwylle, Dom. Harwelle, Harowelle. Skeat says the man ' Hare or Hara's well,’ O.E. hara means ' a hare'; but the sign of the gen. suggests a personal name. Harewell or Harwell (Notts) is Dom. Herewelle, prob. fr. O.E. here, 'an army.'
Harwich. Not in Dom. a. 1300 Herewica, Herewyck. O.E. here-wic,' army-dwelling, camp.' See-wich.
Hasbury (Halesowen), a. 1300 Haselburi. O.E. hasel byrig or beorh, ' hazel town or ' hill.' Cf. Hasler, and Hascombe ' (Godalming), not in Dom. But Hasfield (Glouc.). Dom. Hasfelde, Hesfelde, is prob. fr. O.E. hasu, haso, 'grey,’ though c. 1300 we have Hersfelde. Cf. Dom. Wilts, Haseberie. See -bury.
Haselor (Alcester), Haselour (Tamworth), and Hasler (Solent). Al. H. Dom. Haselove, a. 1300 Haselovere, Ta. H. a. 1300 Hazeloure, a. 1400 Haselovere. O.E. haesel, haesl ofer, 'hazel bank ' or ' border.' Cf. Haseley (Wwk.), Dom. Haseleia, and Asher; also Hasilden (Glouc.), Dom. Hasedene, 1274 Hasilton. See -over.
Haslingfield (Cambridge). Dom. Haslingefeld, 1284 Haselingfeld. Patronymic, ' field of the Hoeslings ' or ' sons of Hazel,' still a personal name. O.E. hoesel, hoesl, 'the hazel-tree.' Cf. Haslingden (Lanes), Haslington (Chesh.), and Heslington (Yorks), Dom. Haslington.
Hassocks (Sussex). O.E. hassuc, ' a clump of matted vegetation,' then ' a clump of bushes or low trees.' Cf. (K.C.D. 655) 986 chart. On one hassuc upp an hrofan hricge.
Hastings. 1011 O. E. Chron. Haestingas, 1191 chart. Barones de Hastingiis. Patronymic: at first a shire distinct from Sussex, prob. called after the E. Saxon viking, Hasten (g), who landed at the mouth of the Thames, O. E. Chron. ann. 893. Cf. Croix Hastain, Jersey.
Hatch Beauchamp (Taunton), Dom. Hache, and Hatch End (Middlesex). Cf. Dom. Nfk. and Salop, Hach(e). O.E. hoec 3-7 hacche, 4 hach,' a hatch' i.e.,' a half-door, gate, or wicket, then, anys mall gate or wicket.' Cf. Colney Hatch.
Hatcham (S. London) = Atcham. Hatfield (Worcstr., Herts, Doncaster, Holderness). Worcstr. H. 1275 Hathfeld, Herts H. Dom. Hetfelle, later Hethfeld, Doncaster H. Bede Hethfeld, c. 850 O.E. hoep felda. Haepfelda, Holderness H. Dom. Hedfeld. O.E. hoep felda, ' heath field, open field.' But Great Hatfield (Hull) is Dom. Haiefeld, Haifeld or -felt—i.e., ' hay field,' O.E. hiez, hez„ 2-4 hei, 3-7 hey(e), O.N. hey, ' hay.' Cf. Heathfield.
Hatford (Berks). Dom. Hevaford (meant for Hevadford), a 1300 Havedford, 1420 Hautford. O.E. heafod-ford, ' head-ford, chief ford.’
Hatherleigh (Devon), Exon. Dom. Hadreleia, and Hatherley (Glouc.), 1022 chart. Hegberle (? fr. O.E. heaz burh, ' high castle lea'), Dom. Athelai, 1150 Haiderleia, 1177 Hedrelega, 1221 Hathirlege. All except 1022 clearly ' heather meadow.' This is interesting, as Oxf. Dict.'s earliest form is 1335 hathir, and it thinks it must be quite Northern, while postulating an orig. hoedder, hoeddre. Cf. Uttoxeter. But Hatherop (Fairford), Dom. Etherope, 1148 Haethrop, 1275 Hatrope, 1294 Haythorp, Baddeley makes ' hedged village,' O.E. hege, M.E. heie, ' a hedge.' See next, -leigh and -thorpe.
Hatherton (Nantwich and Cannock). Cannnock H. 996 chart. Hagenthorndun i.e., ' hawthorn hill ' Dom. Hargedone, a. 1300 Hatherdone, Hatherdene, Hetherdon. An instructive list! See above.
Hatley St. George (Sandy). K.C.D. iv. 300 Hsettanlea, Dom. Hatelai, Atelai, 1284 Hattele. Cf. Dom. Hatlege (Salop). ' Hoetta's lea.' See -ley.
Hatton (4 in P. G.). Duignan says, all Midland Hattons are O. E. hoeth-tun,' town on the heath.' Cf. Hatfield. None in Dom.
Haughton (Stafford), Dom. Haltone, a. 1200 Halecton, a. 1300 Halechtone, Haluchtone, Halegtone; Haughton Green (Manchester), 1314 Halghton; Haughton-le-Skerne (Darlington), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Halhtun, 1183 Halctona, later Halughton. This last is also the spelling of a place in Leicester, chart. Edw. III. Thus Halloughton (Kingsbury) is the same name, a. 1400 Halghton, Halughton, Haluton; the Notts one is1291Halton. O.E. healh, halh, 2-3 halech, 4-7 hawgh, 5-haugh, 'a flat meadow by a riverside.' Cf. Haigh (Wigan), Halugh (Bolton), Halton and Haighton (N. Lanes), Dom. Halctun and Houghton; also see -hall and -ton. Skerne is a river. But Haughton (Notts), Dom. Hoctun, 1278 Hockton, Mutschmami derives fr. a man Hoc.
Haunton. See Hanwell.
Hauxley-on-Coquet, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Hafodscalfe, which is prob. O.E. heafodes scelfe (O.N. skjalf-r), 'head, of the shelf or ledge of rock.' The corruption is curious.
Hauxton (Cambridge), c. 1060 Hauekstune, Dom. Havochestun, 1316 Haukestone. ' Village of Hafoc i.e., the Hawk,' still a personal name. Cf. Hawkesbury (Coventry), Hawksworth and Hauxwell (Yorks), Dom. Hauocswelle.
Havant (Portsmouth). O.E. chart. Hamanfunta, 'fountain, font, well of Rama,' 4 in Onom. The present form is simply a phonetic wearing down of the O.E. name. Dom. is Havehunte, where the h is prob. error for f. Cf. Chalfont and Fovant.
Haverah Park. See Harrogate.
Haverford West (Pembroke), c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Itin. Haverfordia; c. 1200 Gervase Haverforde, 1603 Harford. In W. Hwlffordd or Caeralun. ' Oats-fjord,’/O.N. hafre, pl, hafrar, Dan. havre, 'oats'; for -ford=N. fjord, cf. Waterford opposite, and Milford. The W. Hwl- must be a corrup. (? of hywl, while ffordd in W. means ' a road, a passage.' The full form Haverfordwest is found as early as 1603 Owen.
Havering (Romford). Dom. Haveringas, 1160 Pipe Hauering. Prob. patronymic, 'place of the sons of Haver' or ' Haward.' See Haversgate, and -ing.
Haversgate Island (Orford). Not in Dom. This is prob. ' Haward's road or way," O.E. geat. Five Hawards in Onom. But Haverthwaite (Ulverston), 1201 Haverthuayt, will be ' oat-place ' or ' farm.' See Haverford, and -thwaite.
Hawarden (Flintsh.). Pron. Harrden. Cf. Garden. Dom. Havrdin, Inquis.p.m. Hauwerthyn. ' Hedged farm, Eng. haw, O. E. haga,' a hedge,' and see-warden. Cf. Harden, which is, N.B., ' high farm.' The Mod. W. is Pennar Lag or ' high enclosure by the lake,' more correctly, pen arth leg.
Hawes (Kirkby Stephen). O.E. and O.N. hals, ' the neck, a col,' common in Northern placenames for ' the connecting ridge between two heights.' See Oxf. Dict. s.v. hause.
Hawksworth (W Ridge. and Notts). W.Ridge, H. Dom.Hauoc(h)esorde. Not. Dom. Hochesuorde, c. 1190 Houkeswrthe. 'Hawk's place or farm,' O.E. heafoc, hafoc, 3-5 hauk(e), ' a hawk.' See -worth. Cf. Hawkridge (Berks). O.-E'. chart. Heafoc hrycg, and 940 chart. Hafuc cnollum (Pewsey, Wilts); also Hawkbach, a. 1400 Haukebache, ' hawk valley ' (see Comberbach) . Wherever you have the -s of the gen. Hawk will be a man's name. Hauxton, Hawkswick (W. Riding), Dom. Hocheswic, and Hawksbury (Foleshill), a. 1400 Haukesbury, Hawkesbury (Wickwar.), Dom. Havochesberie, also Dom. Kent, Havochesten.
Hawnby (Holmsley Yorks). Dom. Halmebi, 1201 Fines Halmiby, 1298 Hainleghe. 'Meadow' or 'dwelling' of Helm or Helma,' 2 such in Onom. Al easily becomes aw, and m often changes into its kindred liquid n. Cf. Hawton (Notts), Dom. Holtone, 'dwelling in the holt' or' wood.' See -by and -leigh.
Hawstead (Bury St. Edmunds). 1298 Haustede. 'Place (Sc. ' steading') with a hedge or fence, 'O. E. haga ,4-9 haw(e). Haw, O.E. haga, and hay, O.E. hege, are, of course, cognate, and both mean' hedge, 'but they are not the same words.
Haxby (York). Dom. Haxebi. ' Dwelling of Hacca,' 2i n Onom. Cf. Haxey, Doncaster; (see -ey). See -by.
Hay (N.E. of Brecon), c. 1188 Gir. Camb. Itin. Haia, Haya. O. E .hege, 4-9 hay(e),' a hedge, a fence,' cognate with haw, and hedge. Cf. above and Oxhey. In W. it is Tregeili, ' house among the woods.’ Haywood, Great (Rugeley)is Dom.Haiwode. Haydock (St. Helen's). 1168-69 Hedoc, 1170-01 Heddock, 1280 Haydok, 1321 Heydok, 1565 Heghdoyk. Seems to be O.E. hege-docce,' hedge of dock or docken.' Cf. Doccombe and Hay. Dock fors hips is a late word. W. and H. are quite uncertain, and suggest a man's name,unknown, for the first part, and O.E. ac, ‘oak,' for the second. Hayden (Glouc.), 1220 Heidun, 1222 Heydunn, certainly seems fr. O.E. hege, M.E. heie, 'hedge,' whilst Hayton (Notts), 1154-89 Haythona, may be fr. O.E. hoep ' a heath.'
Hayes (Uxbridge). 793 chart. Haese, Dom. Hesa, later Hease, Heyse, Hays. Doubtful; perh. for O.E. hasu, heasu, 'grey or tawny looking.' Possibly fr. O.E. 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). Dom. Halingei. Prob. a patronymic, ' isle of the Halings,' though there is no such name in Onom. Cf. Hallington, and -ey.
Hazlehurst (Cobham). Grant of c. 675 Hasulhurst, c. 1200 Gervase Heselherste. ' Hazel-tree wood,' O.E. hoesel, and see -hurst. Cf. Haslewood (W. Riding), Dom. Heselewode.
Headless Cross (Redditch). Curious corrup. 1675 Hedley's Cross. We find a Wm. de Hedley in this district in 1275.
Healaugh (Tadcaster). Dom. Hailaga, Helage, O.E. heah hah, ' high meadow '; -laugh is a rare form of -leigh or -ley (q.v.). Cf. next and Headon (Notts), Dom. Hedune.
Healey (Masham and Rochdale), and Healeyfield (Co. Durham). Durham H. 1183 Boldon Bk. Heleie, Heleey. O.E. heah leah, ' high meadow.' High is 4-6 hee, he, hie. Cf. above and Heaton; and see -ley.
Heapham (Gainsborough). Not in Dom. Cf. 1200 chart. Hepedale. Prob. ' home of Heppo,' several in Onom. Perh. fr. O.E. heope, ' the fruit of the wild rose,' a hip, 4-5 hepe 5 heepe. Cf. Hepworth.
Heathfield (Sussex and Newton Abbot). Sussex H. not in Dom., local pron. Hefful. Newton H. Dom. Hetfeld, Hetfelle- i.e., ' heath field.' See Hatfield and cf.? c. 1150 Grant Hethcote, Peak District.
Heaton (7 in P. G.). Dom. Hetun, Etun (Yorks), Hetune (Salop). O.E. heah, 4-6 hee, he, hie, ' high.' Similarly, Headon and Hedon (Hull) are ' high hill.' Cf. Healey; and see -ton.
Hebburn (Jarrow) and Hebburn Bell (hill, Belford). a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Heabyrn and Hybberndune. Heabyrn is certainly Early Eng. for ' high burn or brook,' O.E. heah, hea. Hybbern- looks more like ' hip-burn,' brook along which the hips grow, 4-6 heppe, 6-7 hep. Cf. above. The personal name is usually spelt Hepburn. See Hepborne. Bell, of course, refers to the shape of the dune or hill; Oxf. Dict, gives no instances of such a usage.
Heckfield (Basingstoke). 'Field of Heca’; one was Bp. in Sussex, 1047. Cf. 836 chart. ' Heccaham.' Dom. has only Heceford. We get the patronymic in Heckington (Lines). Cf. Dom. Nfk. Hechincham.
Heddington (Calne) ‘Town of Headda’ or ‘Hedde’ a common O.E. name. CJ. 1158-59 Pipe Hedendon (Oxfd.), and Dom. Essex Hidingeforda. Perh. patronymic. See -ing.
Hednesford (Cannock), a. 1400 Hedenesford, Edenesford. 'Ford of Eeoden.' Cf. B.C.S. 544 Hednesdene, and Henshaw, Haltwhistle, old Hedneshalgh. See Haughton.
Hedworth (Jarrow). a.1130 Sim. Dur. Heathewurthe. ' Heath- place.' The d ending for heath is seen also in the Ger. and Du. heide, O.N. heid-r. See -worth.
Heeley (Sheffield). 'High lea or meadow'; O.E. heah, 4-6 hee, he, hie. Cf. Healey; also, Heigley Gas. (Staffs). Dom. Heolle, a. 1300 Helegh, Helley. Duignan makes this a hybrid fr. W. heol,' a road, a way.' See-ley.
Heigham Potter (Norfolk). Dom. Hecham, 1444 Heigham Porter and Heigham Potter. ' High home,' O.E. heah ham, 4-6 heigh, as still in Sc. Cf. Heighton (Sussex), and Higham. Potter is a corrup. 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 O. E. beginning with Heel-o rHeal-. There are several such. Possibly fr. the Scandinavian ogress Hel, the Northern Proserpine; hence the Eng. hell. Dom. has only Helesham. Cf. Helston; and see -den and -don.
Hellifield (Skipton). Dom. Helgefeld, Haelgefeld. Either ' Helgi's or Helga's field'; or fr. O.E. halig, haleg, 3-4 heli, ' holy.' Cf. Helbeck (Aysgarth, N. Riding), 1230 Close B. Helebec. See -beck, and Hellaby (S. Yorks), Dom. Elgebi.
Helmdon (Brackley).? Dom. Elmedene {Oxf. Dict, has no spelling of elm, with h). Prob. O.E. helm-dun, ' top of the hill,' fr. helm, ' top, summit, then, helmet.' Cf. ' Helm o' the. Hill ' (S. of Felton), and next.
Helmingham (Stowmarket). Sic in Dom. Cf. 838 chart. Helmanhyrst. ' Home of the sons of Helma' or' Helm.' Cf. next, and Dom. Yorks Helmeswelle, now Emswell; and see -ing.
Helmington (Bps. Auckland), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Helme, Healme, which is O. E. for' top, summit'; taken later for a proper name, and-ington added. Cf. above.
Helmsley (N. Yorks). Dom. Elmeslac (3 times), Hamclsec (4 times) Almeslai (once). The last form is the present name, the man ' Helm's meadow.’ Cf. above. But the other forms look like ' Helm's ' or else ' Hamel's oak,’ O.E.ac. See -ley.
Helperby (York). Sic 1441, but Dom. Hilprebi, Ilprebi. 'Dwell- ing of Helpric or Hclpericus,' names in Onom. To make it ' dwelling of the helper ' (a word in Eng. a. 1300) would be contrary to analogy. Cf. Helperthorpe (Yorks), Dom.Elpetorp, and next. See-by.
Helpringham (Sleaford). Dom. Helpericha, Helperincham. ' Home of the sons of Helperic' Cf. Helperby, and see -ing.
Helpston (Mket. Deeping), a. 1100 chart. Helpeston. ' Dwelling, village of Helpo,' 2 in Onom. Cf. the mod. name Helps, and Dom. Bucks Helpeswrth.
Helston (Falmouth). Sic 1432, 1200 Helleston. Possibly hybrid, fr. Corn, hellas, ' a marsh.' But cf. Hellesden.
Helstry Kingsley (Cheshire). It prob. is the goddess ' Hel's tree.' Cf. Hellesdon, Oswestry, and Helsby (Cheshire), Dom. Helesbe.
Helvellyn ((Mtn., Cumberld.). Prob. Kelt, for 'yellow-looking slope,' hel felyn, Corn, velen, ' yellow." But hel is a somewhat doubtful Kelt. root. There are 3 places in Wales in P.O. called Velindre or' yellow house.'
Hemel Hampstead (Herts). Dom. Hamelamestecle ,Henamestede (error), 1303 Hemelhamstead. 'Homestead, home place,' O.E. ham-stede,' of Hemele,'several in Onom. Cf. Hemsworth, also Hemlington (N. Riding), Dom. Himelintun, Himeligetun, a patronymic fr. Hemel; Dom. Norfk. Hemelingetun. See -ing. Hempstead (Glouc.), Dom. Hechanestede, c. 1120-30 Heccamstede, 1230 Ehamstede, may mean ' high homestead,' O. E. heah,' high,' or maybe fr. Hecca,-an, a man. It is often found in full as Heyhamstede, etc.
Hemingburgh (Selby), Knytlinga Saga Hemingaborg, and Hemingby (Horncastle), Dom. Hamingebi. ' Fort of Heming,' and ' dwelling of Heming, '3 in Onom. See -burgh and-by.
Hempnall (Norwich). Dom. Hemenhala. Cf. c. 1490 ' Hemnales ' (Suffolk). 'Nook of Hemma,' 3 in Onom. For intrusion of p, cf. Brompton, Hampton, etc. Cf. Hempshill (Notts), Dom. Hamessel, c. 1200 Hemdeshill, Hemsby (Gt. Yarmouth), and 1166-67 Pipe Heimbia (Devon). See -hall.
Hemsworth (Wakefield). Dom. Hameleswrde, Hilmeword. ' Farm of Hamele.' Cf. Hemel Hampstead; and see -worth.
Hendon (London). O.E. chart. Hean dun (inflected form) Dom. Handune. A Keltic origin is out of the question. It is plainly ' high hill,’ as it is; or else possibly ' Hean's hill.' Cf. B.C.S. 246 Heanes pol, also Henstill (Sandford, Crediton), 930 chart, Henne stigel, where henne is either O.E. for ' hen, or inflected form of heah, ' high ' ; stigel is ' a step’, a ladder, a stile.’ Hencaster (Wstmld.), Dom. Hennecastre, must be ' high camp,’ whilst Heneacre (Glouc.), c. 1196 Heneacre, is ' high held,’ and Henbarrow (same shire),' high tumulus.
Henfield (Sussex). Dom. Hamfeld. As the liquids m and n so often interchange. Ham- is prob. O.E. hean, inflected or loc. form of hedh, ' high,' so 'high field.' Cf. Hanbury and Henknolle, 1183 in Boldon Bk., Durham.
Hengston Hill (Cornwall). O. E. Chron. 835 Hengesterdun. ' Hill of Hengest,' but not necessarily the comrade of Horsa, a.d. 449. O.E. hengest means ' a male horse, usually a gelding.' Cf. Hinksey etc. A Hengest, vassal of the Danes, is mentioned in Beowulf and other early O.E. poems. Baddeley thinks Hengaston (Berkeley) may be for O.E. hean goerstun, 'high grass-town.' Cf. Wallgaston, nearby, 1243-45 Walhamgarston.
Henham (Bps. Stortford). Sic in Dom., c. 1220 Elect. Hugo Hengham. O.E. hean ham, 'high house,' hean inflected form of heah.
Henley (R. Thames, and in Arden). Thames H. 727 chart. Henlea, Dom. Henlei; Wwk. H.a. 1200 Henlea, a. 1400 Henleyin Arde(r)n. Either O.E. hean leah, 'high meadow,' heah being inflected, or henn-leah, ' hen meadow.' There are also ' Henley ' (Ipswich) and' Henlei,' Dom. Surrey. E. and W. Hendred (Wantage). O.E. chart. Henna rith, is ' hens', waterhens' rill.' Henwood (Solihull), a. 1200 Hinewud, is more likely fr. O.E. hina, 3 hine, 5 heynd,7 hiend,' a hind, a servant'; but Henmarsh (Glouc.). 1236 Hennemerse, will be' moor-hen-marsh.'
Hensall (Whitley Br.). Dom. Ecleshale, which seems to be for ' jEdan's ' or ' Edan's nook.' See -hall. But Henshaw (Halt- whistle) is c. 1147 Hethingeshalch; also Hedneshalgh i.e., ' Heoden's haugh ' or ' river-meadow,' influenced by North. Eng. shaw, O. E. scaga,' a wood.'
Henstridge (Somerset). Dom. Hengesterich, O.E. chart. Hengestes ricg, O.E. for ' Hengest's ridge.' See Hengston.
Hepborne or Hayborne (Wooler). c. 1330 Hebhorn, 1363 Hibburne, 1366 Hebburne. 'Burn, brook with the hips,' the fruit of the wild rose, O.E. heop, hiope, 4-9 hep(e). Cf. Hebburn.
Hepworth (Huddersfield) Dom. Heppeword. ' Farm o fHeppo.' Cf. Heatham; and see -worth.
Hereford. 1048 O. E. Chron. Herefordseir, 1260 Herford. ' Fort of the army,' O.E. here. Curioulty, we get much older forms, s.v. Harvington (Bresham), which is 709 Herefordtune, etc. In 1161-62 Pipe we still read of ' Herefort in Waliis.'
Hermansole (farm, Canterbury). 'Herman's, pond or pool, O.E. sol, ' mire, a muddy place,' now only Kent. dial. sole. Cf. Maydensole (Dover)
Herne Hill (London) and Herne Bay (Kent). Cf. K.C.D., iii.279. ' Earnhylle,' O.E. hyrne, M.E. herne, him, 'a corner, nook, hiding - place.' Cf. Dom. Hants Herne, and Essex Witbrictes herna.
Herringby (Norfolk). Dom. Harringebi, c. 1456 Haryngby. ' Dwelling of Herring.' Still a surname, patronymic fr. Heara, gen. Hearan. Cf. Herringswell (Mildenhall). See -by.
Herringfleet (Suffolk). Dom. Herlingaflet, 1361 Herlyngflet. Still a suname, patronymic, fr. Heara, gen. Hearan. Cf. Herringswell (Mildenhall). See -by.
Hersham (Walton-on-Thames). Not in Dom., but cf. Dom. Norfk. 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.' O.E. 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.' O.E. heorut, 3-6 hert, ' a hart.' The mod. pron. of the placename always has the a sound. Cf. Harford (Glouc.), 743 chart. Heort ford, 802 ib. Hereforda, Dom. Hurford, 1221 Harford.
Heselton, Monk and Cold (Durham), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Heseldene. ' Dean, dem (wooded), valley with the hazels.' O.E .hoesel.
Hesketh Bank (Southport). 1283-92 Heskayth, 1292 Eskayth. Wyld says, O.N. hest skeip, ' racecourse.' It seems possibly a plural form of W. hesg, ' sedges,' Cf. Werneth, ' place of alders ‘; but the ending -ayth is against this ; also the rarity of W. names here. Heslington. See Haslingfield.
Hessle (Hull). Dom. Hasele, which must be O.E. hoesel-leah, ' hazel mead.' [Cf. Dom. Salop, Hesleie, and Hesley, Notts, 1217 Heselay.) But it seems to be 1179-80 Pipe Hessewell, Hesiwald, which corresponds with an Ashwell or Heswell, 1239 in Calend. Pap. Reg., i. 181, ' ash-tree well.' Cf. 1298 ' Gerardus de Hesebrygge.'
Hetton (Skipton). Dom. Hetune. O.E. heah tun, 'high town.’ Cf. Hewick (Yorks), Dom. 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. Prob. for he-over, or he-oure, ' high bank,' OE. heah ofr. Cf. Heeley and Wooler and see= over.
Heversham or Everham (Westmld.). Dom. Eureshaim, a. 1130 Sim, Dur. Hefresham. ' Home of Eofor i.e., the wild boar.’ See -ham.
Heworth (Felling, Durham). 1183 Ewwrth. Prob. O. E. iw worth, 'yew-tree farm'; but possibly fr. a man Eva, Eua, or Ewa. Such names are known. See -worth.
Hexham. Prob. c. 410 Notitia Axelodunum, Bede Hagulstad, c. 1097 Orderic Haugustalda, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Extoldesham, a. 1200 John Hexham Hestoldes-, Hextildesham, c. 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 O.E. name may be a corruption of this. But O.E. hagosteald is ' a young soldier, a bachelor.' Cf. B.C.S., 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 Dom. Perh. 'hatch staple,' O.E. hoec, hoece, M.E. hec, hek, ' a hatch, wicket-gate,' and stapol, ' a pole or pillar marking the boundary of an estate.' Cf. Hexton (Bewdley),1227 Hekstane. However, the names Heca, Hecca, and Hecci are common in O.E., and may well be postulated here. Cf. Hextsorp (Yorks), Dom. Hestorp, Estorp.
Heybridge (Maldon). Prob. Dom. Hobruge (cf. Hoe),? c. 1250 Visitation Churches belonging to St. Paul's Heubrege. Prob. ' highbridge, 'O. E. heah, 3-5 hey, hex; possibly fr. O. E. hecg, heg, 3-7 hey, 'hay.' Cf. Roll Rich. ' Haiscot ' (Essex). The Heydons (there are several) are prob. all ' high hill.' Cf. 1166-67 Pipe Hidon (Devon). Cf. Eyam.
Heysham (N. Lanes). Dom. Hessam, 1094 Heseym, 1216 Hesam. ' Hesa's home.' Cf. Hessle, and see -ham.
Hibaldstow (Brigg). a. 1100 Grant of 664 Hibaltestow, 1179-80 Hybaldestow, Hibolstowe. ' Place of Hihald ' or ' Hygebeald,' common in Onom. See Stow.
Hickleton (Doncaster). Dom. Chicheltone (cf. Keighley), Icheltone. ' Town of Hicel.' See next.
Hickling (Melton Mowbray). Dom. Hechelinge, Hegelinge, 1298 Hikellinge. Prob. a patronymic. Cf. B.C.S. 862, ' Hiceles wyrjje (Salisbury). ' Place of Hirers descendants.' (Cf. above.
Higham Ferrers (Northants). c. 1060 chart. Hecham, 1465 Rolls Parlmt. Heigham Feres. ' High house or home,' O.E. heah, 4-6 heigh. Cf. Heigham. Wiliam Ferrers, Earl of Derby, became lord of the manor here in 1199. But Highnam (Glouc.), old Hynehamme, is 'the enclosure of the hind=,' or ' servants.' See -ham.
Hilborough (Norfk.) [Dom. Hildoburhella] and Hillborouqh (Stratford, Wwk.). Str. H. 710 chart. Hildeburhwrthe, later Hildeborde, Hildebereurde ; a. 1200 Hilburgewrth ; 1317 Hildeboreworth. A very interesting corrup. ‘a woman, ' Hildeburh's farm.’ Cf. Hilston (Holderness), Dom. Heldovestun, Heldeweston, ? fr. Heldwulf, one in Onom. ; whilst Hilcote (Glouc.) is old Hyldecote, fr. O.E. hylde, ' a slope.'
Hilbree I. and Point (Cheshire). 1577 Hilbery. Possibly W. hel bre, 'bank on the hill or brae.' Eng. bree sb' 'eyebrow'(Oxf. Dict.) 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 Dom., and Hildenley (N. Yorks). Dom. Hildingeslei, Ildingeslei . This last is ' meadow of Hilding, 'patronymic fr. Hilda.' The first name maybe fr. the simple Hilda. Hillesley (Wickwar) is Dom. Hildeslei. See -borough and -ley.
Hildersham (Cambridge) Dom. and chart. Hildricesham. ' Home of Hilderic,' one in Onom. Cf. Hinderwell. Hilderthorpe (Yorks) is Dom. Hilgertorp, or ' Hildegar's village.'
Hilgay(Cambs). c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Hehngheie, Ramsey chron. Helingeye. Patronymic. 'Isle of the Hellings.' Cf. Hellingly (Sussex) and see -ay.
Himbleton (Droitwich). 816 chart. Hymeltun, Dom. Himeltun; and Himley (Dudley), Dom. Himelie;, a. 1200 Humihleg, Humileg; a. 1300 Humilele, Hymele. Perh. 'town ' and 'meadow of Hemele,' common in Onom. Duignan, owing to lack of all signs of the possessive, prefers to derive fr. O.E. hymele, ' the hop plant,' and refers to Hemlington and Hambleton (Yorks) which are both fr. a man Hamel or Hemel. But there is at Himbleton a stream, 956 chart, hymel broc, which does seem ' hop-plant brook,' and the early spellings also favour ' the hop- plant' origin.
Hinckley (Leicester). Dom. Hinchelie. ' Meadow of Hynca,' one in Onom. See -ley. But for Hincaster, see Hencaster, ' high camp.' Hinchwick, Condicote, 1294 Henewyk, 1307 Hynewyke, is perh. O.E. henge wie, ' steep village. Cf. Hinksford.
Hinderwell (N. Ridings). Dom. Heldrewelle, Hildrewelle, Ildrewelle; 1179-80 Pipe Hilderwalle, Hirderwalle. 'Well of Hild or Held.' The r may be the N. gen., but we also find 3 Heldreds and a Hilderic in Onom. The liquids I and n do interchange. Cf. Hildersham and Hinderskelf, now Castle Howard (Yorks), Dom. Hildreschelf, Ilderschelf of rock.' Shelf often occurs for ' ledge of rock.'
Hindlip, Hinlip (Worcester). 'Hind's leap,’ O.E. hlyp, 3 lip, ' a leap.' Cf. Birdlip.
Hingham (Norfolk). Dom. Hincham, often, 1452 Hengham. Possibly contracted fr. 'Hengest's ham' or 'home.' Older forms needed. Onom. has one Hength.
Hinksey (Oxford). O.E. chart. Hengesteseie, Hengestige; 1297 Hencsei. 'Hengest's isle.' Cf. Hengston and Hinxworth. Hinksford, Kingswinsford, is 1271 Henkeston, 1300 Hinkesford, more prob. fr. Hynca, as in Hinckley.
Hintlesham (Ipswich). Dom. and sic 1157. Puzzling. The nearest name in Onom. is Hinwald or Hinieldus. Possibly Hintel is dimin. of the known name Hunta. See -ham.
Hinton Waldrist or Waldridge (Berks; 10 Hintons besides in P.O.). Dorset H. chart, Hineton-, Hyneton; Berks. H. B.C.S., iii. 228, Heantunninga, Dom. Hentone; Cambs H. Dom. Hintone; Glouc. H. 1303Henton. The B.C.S. form means' dwellers in Heantun ' i.e., 'high town,' O.E Man, dat. of heah, 'high.' But the Hintons are not all the same, and come most of them fr. O.E. hina, gen. of hiwan, 'domestic servants, hinds,' or else fr. hind, ' a female deer.' See -ton. Waldrist is fr. O.E. Wealdric. He was King's Chancellor 1100-35. See Chron. Abing., ii. 127.
Hints (Tamworth and Ludlow). Tamworth. H. Dom. Hintes, a. 1300 Hyntes. Duignan thinks W. hynt,' a road, way,'with Eng. pl. s.
Hinxton (S. Cambs.). and Henxworth (Herts) Ramsey Chron. Hengestone, 1277 Hengeston, 1341 Hyngeston. Dom. Haingeste uuorde. ' Hengest's farm ' and ' village.' Cf. Hinxton (Essex) and Hinksey and see -ton and -worth.
Hipperholme (Halifax). Dom. Huperun. It seems hard to explain Huper or Hipper. There is nothing likely in Onom. 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 loc, which either becomes -holme, ' riverside meadow,' or -ham, q.v.
Hipswell (Richmond, Yorks). Dom. Hiplewelle, c. 1538 Leland Ipreswel. There is no name at allh likelye, so this must be ' well at the hippie,' or ' little heap,' first recorded in Oxf. Dict. in 1382 as hypil, heepil, and derived fr. O.E. ‘ hiepel, hypel, cf. Ger. haulfel.
Hirwain (Aberdare). W. hir gwaen, 'long plain' or 'meadow.' It anciently stretched for ten miles.
Hissington (Herefdsh.). Dom. Hesintune. Prob.' town of Hesa,' a name not in Onom. Cf. Dom. Bucks, Hesintone.
Histon (Cambridge), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Hestitona, Dom. Histetone, Histone, 1165 Hestona. ' Village of Hesta or Hoesta.’
Hitchin. Dom. Hiz, 1210 Hiche, 1303 Huche, 1346 Hichoyn, 1541 Hechyn. Dom.'s Hiz=Hits. The name, it would seem, can only mean Hicca's (place); a Hica and a Hicca in Onom. Had the -in been early it would prob. have represented an old loc, but it seems quite late. For similar names (which are rare), cf. Beedon, Brailes, Coven, etc. The R. on which it stands, formerly the Hitche, seems to have been rechristened Hiz after Dom. Hitcham, Ipswich and Maidenhead, ' Hicca's home,' show what the normal forms of this name would have been.
Hixon (Stafford). Dom. Hustedone, a. 1300 Huntesdun, Huhtesdon Hucstedon, Huccesdon, Huncesdon; a. 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, var. of Uhired, are the nearest in Onom. In Dom. st usually stands for guttural ch or gh.
Hoar Cross (Burton-on-T.). 124 Harecres, 1262 La Croiz, 1267 Orcross, 1268 Horecros. 'Boundary cross," O.E. har. See Harborne. This Hoar- in later spellings of placenames is often corrup. Into Whore. Cf. the Hoarstone (Bewdley), 1275 Richard o 'th 'horeston. Another in Glouc.
Hoarwithy (Ross). 1005 chart. To pam haran wipie, 'to the old withy or willow,' O.E. withig.
Hoborough (Kent). 838 chart. Holebeorh; also Holenbeorh, Holenbeorge,' hill, mound of Hola.' See Barrow.
Hoby (Leicester). Dom. Hobie. ' Dwelling on the Hoe ' or ' hill.' Cf. Huby and see -by.
Hockerill. (Herts and Wore). Herts H. c. 1250 Hokerhuka, 1491 Hokerelle. ' Hill of the hooker,' or ' thief who steals with a hook.' Not in Oxf. Dict, till 1567. So Skeat. Perh. Hockerton (Notts), Dow. Hocreton, Ocreton, may be the same, and not fr. a man Hoc with N. gen. r. All is doubtful.
Hockley (Birmingham and Essex). Birmingham H. 1327 Hockele, 1332 Hockelaye. Cf. Dom. Surrey, Hoclei. Prob. ' meadow with the hocks, hollyhocks, or mallows,' O.E. hoc. Skeat thought Hoc- a M.E. hardening of O.E. hoh, ho, 'promontory, abrupt height. Hoe,' though the Oxf. Dict. does not confirm this. Still, next is very possibly so derived; so, too, O.E. chart. Hants, Hocgetwisle. See Twizel; also cf. Dom. Leicr. and Notts, Hoches,?=' heights,' and Beds, Hocheleia, and Hocberry (=-bury), Glouc.
Hockliffe (Beds). Old Hoeclyve. Seen also in the name of the 15th cny. poet Occleve or Hoceleve. Prob.' promontory cliff, projecting cliff.' See above and Cleveland.
Hockwold (Brandon). Not in Dom. c. 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 fr. a man Hocca. Cf. Hockworthy (Wellington), see -worthy, 1160 Pipe, Hochelai (Northants) and Hucknall.
Hoddlesden (Darwen). Cf. 1297 a ' Hodleston’. Prob. 'den or Dean of Holdwulf or ' Holdulf,' one in Onom. Wyld and Hirst omit. But Hoddesdon is fr. a man Hod or Hoda, both in Onom. Cf. 940 chart. Hoddes stoc (Wilts).
Hodnet (Market Drayton). Dom. Hodenet. Prob. 'heath of Hoda,' gen. -an. Cf. Hodcot (Berks), Dom. Hodicote, 963 chart. Hodan hlaew (=-low or' hill) and 1160 Pipe Chesh. Hodeslea. For -et= heath, cf. Hatfield and Bassett. Dom. Salop has also a Humet. Hodnell (Southam), Dom. Hodenelle, Hodenhelle, is ‘Hoda's nook'; see -hall; while Hodsock (Notts), Dom. Odesach, 1302 Hodesak, is ' Hoda's oak.'
Hoe, The (Plymouth). 1590 Spenser The Western Hogh, 1602 Carew The Hawe. O.E. hoh, ho, ' a heel, a projection, a spur, a hill, high ground ‘; So. heugh. Cf. Hoo, Hockley, Dom. Devon, Ho (Totnes); 1160-61 Pipe Kent, Ho; Hoe Ford (Fareham); Morthoe, Staplow, etc. Hoe, hoo, is a common ending in Staffs and Warwk. e.g., Tysoe is Dom. Tiheshoche, a. 1300 Thysho.
Hogston or or Hoggston (N. Bucks). Dom. Hochestone. O. E. chart. 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 Dom., Hogston (Sc), and Hoxton; also Dom. Lines. Hogetune.
(La) Hogue Hatenai (Guernsey) and Hougue Bie (Jersey) . These names are all pure Scandinavian. Hogue is O.N. haug-r, 'mound, cairn.' Cf., Grenehoga, Grenehov, Dom. 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. Cf. Cape La Hogue (Cherbourg).
Holbeach (Spalding). 810 chart. Holebech, c. 1290 Holebec, 1571 Holbich. Nothing to do with beach. May be ' hole, hollow,' O.E. hol,' with the bach or beck or brook.' Hardly' beck of Hola,' a name in Onom., for, if so, we should expect Holanbech in 810. Cf. a' Holanbsecc,'on Stour (Staffs) in 958 chart. See -bach.
Holbeck (Leeds). See above.
Holburn (London), c. 1162 Holeburn, 1513 Holbome. Pron. now clipped dow nto' 'Obun.' J. R. Greensays' hollow bourne,' or burn or brook. Cf. Langbourne Ward in the City. O. E. hol, dial, 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. c. 1215 Holcumbe hevet (head). Combe is ' valley,’ q.v., but Hoi- must be interpreted according as one interprets Holburn. Cf. Holden (Yorks), Dom. Holedene; and Holford (Winchcombe), Dom. Holeforde.
Holcot (Northampton). Dom. Holecote,? c. 1220 Elect. Hugo. 'Philip de Holkotes.' This last prob. means 'hovel-like cottages,’ fr. O.E. hulu, ' a husk, a hull,’ found a. 1225 meaning 'a hut, a hovel.' Cf. Hull. But Dom.'s form points to ' cot of Hola,' a known name.
Holderness (E. Yorks). Dom. Heldrenesse, Heldernesse; c. 1097 Orderic Hildernessa; c. 1100 Holdernese; 1208 Holdernesse. Prob.' cape of the High Reeve, an officer of rank in the Danelagh, O.N. hold-r, O.E. hold. But in its earlier forms fr. Held-r, Hild-r, on which names see Hinderwell. See -ness.
Holkham (Wells, Norfk.). Dom. and 1157 Pipe Roll Holeham. Seems to be fr. O.E. holh, 'a hollow, a hole, a cave,' 'dwelling at or in the hollow.' See -ham.
Holland (S. Lincoln). Dom. Hoiland, 1216 Hoyland. The Dutch Holland is prob. ''holt-land,' woodland, see Oxf. Dict. s.v. whilst the Eng. name is usually thought to be O.E. hoi land, ' hollow or low-lying land.' But Hoiland suggests Dan. hoi, ' high,' which does not seem very applicable. Cf. Hoyland.
Hollingbourne (Maidstone) c. 1018 Holingburne. “Burn, brook of the holly-trees,' O.E. holen, holezn, 3 holin, 5 holing. Cf. K.C.D. 722 Holungaburna, prob. in Dorset; and Dom. Bucks, Holendone. We get a curious corrup. of this root in Holdfast (Upton-on-Severn), 967 chart. Holenfesten, prob.' holly fastness.’ Cf., too, Hollin, Upp. and Low. (Bewdley), 1332 Holyn.
Holloway (Feckenham, London, and Matlock Bath). London H. sic 1576, but Feckenham H. Dom. Holewei, a. 1200 Holowei; Ma. H. Dom. Holewe. Also Holloway or Holewey (For. of Dean). ' Way which is deeply excavated or depressed, lying in a hollow,' O.E. hoi, infl. hole, 4-9 holl, cognate with hollow, not found till c. 1205 Layamon holh, 3-4 holewe, 3-5 holwe. The a. 1200 form cited by Duignan is earlier for hollow than anything in Oxf. Dict.
Holme (7 in P.G.), a very common name—found, e.g., in Dom. Yorks 17 times as Holme or Holne. It is O.E. 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 Dom. Holne. The -firth is O.E. fyrhd^, 3-frith, 4 riht, ' a wood, wooded country, unused pastureland.' Holme- on-the-Wolds is Dom. Hougon, which must be a loc. ' at the hows ' or ' mounds,' O.N. haug-r. Cf. Howsham, and for a Norse word taking an Eng. loc. form, cf. Hallam. The Nor. 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). Dom. Holmetune. ' Town on the holmor river- meadow.' See above. For intrusion of p, cf. Hampton.
Holne (Ashburton, Devon). Sic in Dom. O.E. holezn, hollen, ' holly-tree.' Cf. 847 chart. AEthelwulf, To daem beorze de monhated 'aet daem holne, also Hollandbush (Sc).
Holnhurst (Glouc.). 940 chart. Holenhvrst. 'Holly-wood.' See above and -hurst.
Holsworthy (Bude). Not in Dom. Prob. 'farm of Hola.' Cf. Holbeach and see -worthy.
Holt (Norfolk and Worcester). Dom. both Holt. O.E. and N. holt,' a wood, a copse.' So also, Holton (6 in P. O.). Newark H. Dom. Holtone. ' Town by the wood.'
Holyhead. Pron. Hollyhead. a.1490 Botoner Le Holyhede. But in W. 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 c. 380, and founded this monastic establishment here.
Holy Island (Northumbld.). c. 1130 Haheland ,c. 1330 R. Brunne Holy Eland. So called because the Columban monks from lona planted the monastery of Lindisfarne here in the 7th cny. Cuthbert was its great saint.
Holywell (Flint). In W. 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. Wales in the 7th cny., but there is no mention of her doings until Robert of Shrewsbury, c. 1140.
Homer (Much Wenlock). Not in Dom., but old Holmere, which is O.E. for ' hollow lake,' lake in a hollow. Cf. Cromer and Holburn; but for Homerton (London), see Hammerwich.
Homersfield (Harleston). Dom. Humbresfelda, Red Bk. Excheq. Humeresfeld, also Humorsfeld. Doubtful. Perh. ' field of Humberht, Humbertus, or Hunbeorht,' all forms in Onom., the last most correct. Cf. Hubberstone. It might be fr. Hormoer. Cf. B.C.S. 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 (Northumbld.). c. 1230 Homeldun. 'Hill of Homel.' Cf. Homeliknow (Coldstream), 1198 Hoinelenolle. Hommel is still a personal name in Gemnany, but is not found in Onum. Cf. Humbleton.
Honeybourne (Evesham). 709 chart. Huniburne, 840 ib. Hunigburn, Dom. Huniburne, Honeyburne. ' Brook with honey-sweet water,’ O.E. huniz. Cf. next, and see -bourne. There is a Honeybrook in the same shire, 866 chart. Hunig broc; also a Honeyborough (Pembksh.),1307 Hounteborch, 1327 Honiborch. ' Burgh, castle of Hunta or Hunto,' several in Onom. See -burgh.
Honeychurch (Devon). Dom. Honecherehe. The connexion between a ' church ' and ' honey,' O.E. huniz 4-7 honi, is not very obvious, and this is prob. ' church of Huna.' Cf. Honiley (Warwk.), a. 1200 Hunilegh, plainly fr. honey, even as is Honnington (same shire), 1043 chart. Huniton, Dom. Hunitone. On Honey Child (Romney Marsh), 1227 Honi Child, see Bapchild. Honicknowle (Crown Hill, Devon). Prob. ' knoll, hill of Eonoc,' a name in Onom. Cf. Dom. Devon, Honecherde(-erde prob.= -worth, ' farm), and Knowle.
Honing (Norwich). Honingham (Norwich), and Honington (3 in P.O.). Dom. has only Honincgetoft. Honing is c. 1150 Haninges, ' place of the sons of Hana ' or ' Bona.' Cf. Dom. Kent, Honinberg. See -ing. But Honley (Huddersfield) is Dom. Haneleia, prob.' mead of Hana, '2 in Onom. Cf. Hanley.
Hoo (Rochester), c. 700 chart. Hogh, Dom. Hou, How= Hoe. Stanhoe was orig. Stanhoghia. There is also a Hoo Farm (Kidderminster), 1275 John de la Ho.
Hook (7 in P.O.). Where these are fr. hook, O.E. hoc, ' a hook,' then' an angle or bend' in a river, etc., they must be late, as Oxf. Dict, has nothing in this sense till late in 16th cny. But some of the Hooks (those in Norse regions) are prob. 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 O.E. Chron. Hocneratun, Hocceneratun; late chart. Hokenarton; c. 1115 Hen. Hunt. Hocheneretune. An interesting and puzzling corrup. Hocnera must ' surely be a gen. pl., and the name mean ' town of the Hocs or' sons of Hoc'.
Hoole (Chester). Sic 1340. O.E. hoi, 5-6 hoole, ' ‘a hole, a hollow. Cf.' Hammelle the Hoole,' s.v. Hamble R. also; cf. Much Hoole.
Hooton Pagnell and Roberts (Doncaster and Rotherham). Dom. H. Dom. Hotun, 1203 Hoton. ' Village on the Hoe ' or ' hill.' Hoton is very frequent in Dom. Yorks, usually for some Hutton.
Hope (4 in P.G.). Dom. Hope (Salop). This is hope sb2. in Oxf. Dict., ' a place of refuge/ O.E.hop, ' a piece of enclosed land, an enclosed little valley '; O.N. hop, 'a small, land-locked bay, a ninlet,' as in St.Margaret's Hope (Sc). Cf. Hopehouse (Martley), 1275 ' John de Hope.' Hope (Denbigh) is now in W. Yr Hob, ' the hope,' or Hoben, ' 2 hopes.' Hope-Mansel "(For. of Dean) is 1263 Hope Maloysell, an O. Fr. proper name.
Hopton (Mirfield and Great Yarmouth). Mirfield H. Dom. Hoptone; Yarmouth H. sic c. 1080. The plant hops is not found till c. 1440. This is prob. for hope, as above; or it may be, like Hopwood (Alvechurch), 848 chart. Hopwuda, fr. O.E. hop, 'the privet.'
Hopwas (Tamworth). a. 1100 Hopewaes, Dom. Opewas, a. 1200 Hopwas. O.E. hop wase, waes, ' valley of the swamp or marsh.' Cf. Alrewas; and see -hope.
Horbury (Wakefield). Dom. Orberie. Doubtful. There seems no likely name in Onom. It may be as next. See-bury. Horfield. (Bristol), Dom. Horefelle, Baddeley derives fr. O.E. horh, M.E. hore, ' mire.' Cf. Hormead, same shire.
Horham (Eye, Suffolk). Sic c. 1150, but Dom. Horam, Horan. Prob. like Horeham (Sussex), ' home of the whore ' or ' harlot,' O.E. hor, O.N. hora. Dom.'s Horan may be an old loc., ' at the whores.' See -ham.
Hornblotton (E. Somerset). Dom. Horblawetone, a. 1145 Wm. Malmesb. Hornblawerton,' Horn-blowertown.' Already int he Corpus Glossary, c. 725, we find horn blauwere.
Hornby (Lancaster). Dom. Hornebi, 1278 Horneby; also more than one in Yorks, Dom. Hornebi. ' Dwelling of Horn.' Cf. Horncastle, and King Horn, perh. orig. Horm, a Dan. Viking of the 9th cny., who fought for the Ir. King Cearbhall. But Hornby in Smeaton (Yorks) is Dom. Horenbodebi, Horebodebi, where the man's name is now hardly recognizable. See-by.
Horncastle (Lines). Dom. Hornecastre, 1161-62 Pipe Hornecastra. ' Camp of Horn.' See above. The ending -caster, q.v., rarely becomes -castle.
Horningsea (Cambridge), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Horningeseie. ' Isle ' and ' home of the Hornings ' or ' descendants of Horn. Cf. Hormer (Berks), B.C.S., iii. 520, Horninga maere (lake, mere), Chron. Abing. Hornigmere; also Horninglow (Burton-on-T.), sic a. 1300, See -low, ' burial-mound.' Cf., too, Dom. Essex Horminduna, and Norfk. Horninrgetoft; also Hornington (Ainsty), Dom. Horninctone, Hornintone, Hornitone. See -ing. On Horn, see above.
Horningsham (Warminster). Dom. Horningesha. ' Home of the sons of Horn.' See above, and -ing.
Hornsey (N. London), a. 1300 Haringee, with the hard g still preserved in Harringay. Hornsea is a corrup. which has arisen through softening of the g into Harnjy and then Hornsea. But Hornsea (E. Riding) is Dom. Hornesse, 'isle, peninsula of Horn.' See Hornby and -ay.
Horridge (Glouc.). Prob. 'hoar, grey ridge,' O.E. Mr,' 'hoary, grey, old,' 3-5 hor. But cf. Horton. Dom. Glouc. has only Horedone.
Horsford (Norwich) (Dom. Hosforda, also Horsha) and Hors-forth (Leeds). Leeds H. Dom. Horseforde, Hoseforde. There are coins of K. Alfred which seem to read Orsnaforda as well as Oksnaforda (Oxford). ' Horse ford.' See -forth.
Horsham (Sussex). Prob. 'home of Horsa'; perh. the Jute who came over with Hengest, 449 a.d. There is also one in Worstrsh. sic. 1275, which may be the same, or else ' horse's enclosure '; O. E. hors hamm. See-ham2, and cf. Dom. Bucks Horsedene. Dom. Sussex has only Horselie and Horstede.
Horsley (8 in P.G.). Leatherhead H. perh. 871-89 chart. Horsa leh, Dom. Horslei, ib. Derby, Glouc. And Sussex Horselei. Hather ' Horsa's ' than ' horse meadow.' See above, and -ley.
Horsmonden (Kent). Not in Dom. 1570-76 Lambarde Horsmundene. 'The Dean or (woody) vale of the ward of Horsa.' O.E. mund, ' protection.'
Horsted Keynes (E. Grinstead). Dom. Horstede. Prob. as in Horsham, ‘Horsa's, place'; O.E. stede. Keynes is the Nor. family, de Cahanges.
Horton (10 in P.G.). 972 chart. Horton (Wore.), Dom. Yorks, Salop, Worcr., Bucks, Hortone, Hortune; a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Hore tun. Doubtful. It might be' hoary, grey-looking town.' See Horridge. Duignan prefers O.E. horh tun, ' dirty, muddy town,' and says cf. Hormead (Herts), which Skeat makes ' muddy mead.'
Horwich (Bolton and Stockport). Cf. Dom. Wore. Horwich. =Horton. See-wich.
Hotham (Yorks). Dom. Holde twice, Hode 5 times. O.E. heald is only found in sense of ' holding, keeping, possessing.' Holde, 'a lair, lurking-place,' is not found recorded till c. 1205, and as ' fort, fortress ' not till a. 1300. The -ham has been added after Dom. But Dom. has once Hodhu'. With Dom.'s Hode cf. the Sc. Haud, hod for ‘hold.’
Houghton (11 in P.G.). A difficult name, with several origins. Those in the N. seem often to be fr. North. Eng. how, ' hill, hillock, tumulus, barrow'; O.N. haug-r, 'cairn, mound,' in 7 hough. E.g., Id., Heddon-on-the-Wall, is 1200 Yorks Fines Houton, while H. (E. Riding) is Dom. Houeton, Oueton. Cf., too, Hougon, a loc,' at the mounds, 'name in Dom. For Holme on the Wolds. Glass Houghton (S. Yorks), Dom. Hoctun,Houghton-le-Side, 1200 Yorks Fines Hoctona, H. (K's. Lynn) Dom. Hodtune, and the many Hohtones in Dom. Northants, are prob. fr. Hoe, ' height, promontory,’ 3-6 hogh. See Hockley. Houghton (Beds and Hants) will be the same, being both Houston(e) in Dom., st being Dom.'s regular ' avoidance ' of guttural gh. Great Houghton (Barnsley) is Dom. Halton, and so = Houghton or halhtun, 'river-meadow town'; whilst Hanging Houghton may possibly be fr. a man Hout. Old forms are always needed.
Hounslow (London). O. E. chart. Hundeshlsew, Dom. Honeslowe. ' Burial-mound of Hund ' or ' Hunda.' See -low. But Houndhill (Uttoxeter) is a. 1300 Hogenhull, a. 1400 Howenhull, as well as Hunhyle, Hounhull, suggesting origin fr. a man Hoga, -an, ' the prudent.'
Howden-le-Wear (Co. Durham). 1130 Houendena, and Howden and Howden Dyke (Yorks), Dom.Houeden, c. 1200 Hoveden, 1635 Hovenden (prob. nota. 1130 Sim. Dur. Offedene). Doubtful. Very likely fr. an uncorded Hofa. Cf. Hovingham (Yorks), sic. in Dom., giving its patronymic; only Hofa and Ofa in Onom. It might be ' wooded vale of the plant hove ' (spelt so c. 1440), O.E. 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. fr. a. 1340 (see -how), whilst Howthorp (Yorks), Dom. Holtorp, is ' village in the hollow ' or ' hole.' See -den.
Howle Hill (Ross, Hereford). W. hywel, 'conspicuous.' Cf. Crickhowell.
Howsham (E. Riding and Lincoln). E.Ridingi .H. Dom .Huson, O. E. loc. huson, ' at the houses.' Cf. Hallam and Newsham. Housen (Cotheridge) is just the M.E. pl. ' houses.' See -ham.
Howtel (N.W. of Wooler). 1525 Howtell Swyre (O.E. swira 'neck'; cf. Manor Sware, Sc). How will be O.N. haug-r, ' mound, hill the -tel must remain doubtful. Cf. Houghton.
Hoxne. (Eye, Sfk.). Dom. Hoxana, Hund. Roll Hoxene, 1473 Doubtful. O. Fris. hoxene, hoxne is ' a hamstring (see Oxf. Dict. s.v. hox sb.); but this seems unlikely. Skeat adopts the suggestion of Mx. Anscombe, that here we have an O.E. Hoxena, gen. pl. 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). Dom. Hochestone, c. 1350 Hoggeston, later Hogston, 1610 B. Jonson Hogsdon. ' Town of Hocca' (Hoga is found once). Cf. Dom. Buck sHochestone and 1179-80 Pipe Hokesgarth (Yorks).
Hoylake (Birkenhead). Dom. Hoiloch. The ' Hoyle Lake ' was formed by the ' Hoyle Bank,’ sic a. 1600, still visible at certain states of the tide. Hoyle is an inflected form of O. E. hol, hole, hollow place,’ given in Oxf. Dict, as 5-6 hoil(e), and Yorks dial. hoil. The Oxf. Dict, calls lac ' lake' early M.E., but it is found in O.E. Chron. ann. 656, and once or twice in Dom. The Sc. form loch is not recorded till Barbour, 1375.
Hoyland (Barnsley). Dom. Holland, Holant (another in Derby), 1242 Hoyland. Cf. a. 1100 chart. ' Hoylandia ' (Lines) ' Hollow, low-lying land.' See Hoylake and Holland. Hoyland Swaine (Sheffield) is Dom. Holan and Holande; but Dom. Holun and Holam is Hollym (Yorks), an O. E. loc. holun,' at the holes.'
Hubberholme (W. Riding) and Hubberstone (Milford Haven), Dom. 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 O.E. Chron. Hubba or Ubba. There is a Hubberst' recorded in Derbyshire, and a Hobrichtebi in 1167-68 Pipe Cumbld.
Huby (Leeds and Easingwold). Dom. Hobi. 'Dwelling on the Hoe ' or ' hill.' Cf. Hoby; and see -by.
Hucclecote (Glouc.). Dom. Hochihcote, 1221 Hukelingcote, later Hokelincote and Hokelcote. ' Cot of Hocel ' or his sons. Onom. has only Hicel (see Hickling); and cf. 1231-34 Close R. Hukelscot, Hucliscot (Leicester). See -ing.
Hucknall Torkard (Nottingham). Dom. Hochenale, 1160 Pipe Hochenhala, 1287 Hokenaie Torkard. O.E. Hoccanheal,' nook of Hocca.' Cf. Hockwold, and Dom. Bucks Huchdene and Hucheha. The Nor. family of Torkard is found here in 1284. See -hall. Huddersfield. Dom. Oderesfelte, Odresfeld. 'Field of Odliere' or ' Oderus,' one such, and one Northern Udardus, 12th cny., are found in Onom. Hudswell (Richmond, Yorks), Dom. Hudreswelle, is prob. fr. the same name. But Huddiknoll (Glouc.), old Hodenknole, is fr. Hoda or Hudda.
Huish Champflower (Wiveliscombe, Smst.). Huish is O. E. higwisc, hiwisc, ' a household, then, a hide of land.' Cf. K.C.D. 107. On Cotenes felde an hywysce, and Melhuish. Champflower is a Nor. name, Fr. champ fleuri, ' flowery field.' We find Richard de Hywis of Loci Hywis (Smst.), in time of King John; 1253 Hywish, 1298 Hyuhyshe.
Hulam(Hartlepool), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Holum, a loc, 'at the holes,' O.E. hoi. Cf. Hallam.
Hull (formerly Kingston-on-Hull). Name of a small river. Prob. connected with O.E. hoi, mod. dial, holl, howl(e), ' hollow, depressed, lying in a hollow.' Named Kingston-on-H. by Edw. I. 1299; in a. 1552 Leland simply Kingston.
Humber. Bede Humbra, Hymbra, c. 890 Alfred Humbre (in Lat. vsn. Abus fl.). Prob. aspirated form of cumber, ' confluence of Ouse and Trent, W. cymmer, G. comar ; the -ber is prob. the same root as in Aber. Cf. Comberbach, etc., also Cumbernauld (Sc), and Dom. Sffk. Humbresfelda. This last, with Humberstone (N. Lincs and Leicstr.), will be fr. Humbert or Hunbeorht. See Homersfield and Hubberstone.
Humbleton (Hull). Dom. Humeltone. 'Town of Humel,' var. of Homel (see Homildon). The letter b readily intrudes itself. Cf. Dom. Norfk. Humiliat (-iat= yet, ' gate ').
Huncoat (Accrington), Dom. Hunnicot, and Hundcot (Leicester). Dom. Hunecote, 1124 O.E. Chron. Hundehoge (see -how). ' Cot, dwelling of Hunda or Huna.' O.E. hund means, of course, a ‘hound." Cf.' Hunditone' (Cheshire) in Dom.
Hungerford. The oldest (14th-15th cny.) forms all have Hunger-, Hungre-, but this can have nothing todo with Eng.hunger. It is O. E. hongra, hangra,' a hanging wood on a hillside.' Cf. Clayhanger (1300 Cleyhunger), Hungerfield (Glouc.), old Hangerhill, Hunherhill, and also' Hungrewenitune' (Chesh.) in Dom.
Hungerhill (Nottingham, Henley - in - Arden, and Somerset). Nott. H. old Hongerhill. O.E. hangra, hongra, ' a wood on a hill slope.' Cf. Birchanger, Clayhanger, and above. There are also 2 Hungry Hills in Wore, and a Honger Grove (Puddleston) Hunmanby (Yorks). Dom. Hundemanebi, ' Dweling of Huneman,' one in Onom. Se -by.
Hunningham (Leamington). Dom. Huningeham, a. 1200 Honyngham. ' Home of the sons of Huna' or' Hun,'a common name in Onom. Cf. Hunnington (Halesowen), 1402 Honyngton. See -ing.
Hunsingore (Wetherby). Dom. Holsingoure. More old forms needed, but the liquids l and n not uncommonly interchange. The ending is prob. not Gore, ' triangular wedge of land,' but rather' bank,' O. E. ofr, obr, M. E. oure (see-over),' of Hunsige,' a common O.E. name.
Hunslet and Hunslet Carr (Leeds). Sic Dom., but 1202 Hunesflet. ' River of Huna.' See above and Fleet. The same man's name is seen in Hunshelf (S. Yorks), Dom. Hunescelf. Shelf in names often has the meaning ' ledge of rock.' For Carr 'rock,' cf. Redcar; also cf. Hunscotb (Wwksh.), 1327 Hunstanscote, a. 1400 Huntscote. But Hunsley (N. Yorks) is Dom. Hundeslege,' meadow of Hund' or' the Dog.'
Hunstanton (The Wash). 1038 and c. 1150 chart. Hunstanestun. Local pron. Hunston. ' Town of Hunstan.' There are 5 such in Onom.
Huntingdon (also near Chester, Dom. Hunditone.) O.E. Chron. ann. 656, Huntendune, 921 ib. Huntandune, 1011 ib. Huntadunscir, c. 1175 Huntedune. ' Hill, down, of the hunter,' O.E. hunta, 2-6 hunte. Cf. Huntington (Cannock), 1262 Huntingdon, 1300 Huntyndon, and Dom. Yorks Huntindune. Hunta and Hunting were also men's names. See -ing, -don, and -ton. Huntingtrap Common (Hadsor, Worc.), a. 1300 Hountingthrope, Huntingdrope, ' hunting village.' See -thorpe.
Hunton (Bedale and Maidstone). Bedale H. Dom. Huntone. ' Town of Huna.' See Hunslet and next. So Hunworth (Melton Constable), Dom. Huneworda. See -worth, 'farm.'
Huntspill (Highbridge). Dom. Hunespil, a. 1500 Honyspill, Honspill. ' Pool of Huna,' as above. Pill is often found in S. Wales for ' pool,' and the Dom. form here shows it is an O.E. variant, and not W. Cf. Huntsham (For. of Dean), c. 1145 Honsum, c. 1200 Hunstone, 1298 Hondsum. ' Huna's home.' See -ham.
Hurley (Atherstone and Marlow). Atherstone H. chart. Hurnlega, 1199 Hurnlege, Hurnlei. Marlow H. Dom. Herlei, 1316 Hurle. Skeat derives both fr. O. E. hyrne,' a corner, a nook.' The Marlow H. is doubtful. See -ley. Hurcot (Kidderminster) is also puzzling. Dom. Worcote (W for H), a. 1200 Hurchote, Hurcote, 1275 Horecote, a. 1600 Hurdcote. Here Duignan prefers ' cot of the herd or shepherd,' O.E. hyrde. Much more likely is O.E. horh or hore, ' dirt, filth,' 4 hoore, here used adjectivally as in Horton. Hurlingham (Putney). K.C.D. 782 Herlinga ham. 'Home of the Herlings.’? descendants of Herlewin. Cf. Roll. Rich. I. Hurlingebure (Notts).
Hurstbourne (3 in Hants). Not in Dom. Winchester H. 961 chart. Hysseburna. ' Brook of Hyse,' 3 in Onom., var. of Husa; the corrup. is unusual. Of course. Hurst is O.E. 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 Onom. See -worth.
Hustwaite (Easingwold). Not in Dom. Prob. 'farm, croft of Husa,' or ' Husi,’ names in Onom. Cf. Huthwaite (Mansfield), no old forms, and Dom. Bucks Huscott. See -thwaite.
Hutton (13 in P.O.). Dom. Somst. Hutone, Dom.Yorks Hoton, Hottune over 40 times, nearly all for some Hutton, while 1202 Yorks Fines has Hoton, Hottun, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Hotun, 1183 Hotona i.e., Hutton Henry. ' Town, village on the Hoe or projecting height.' Cf. Hooton and Sheriff Hutton. Huthwaite (Mansfield and Sheffield) prob. has the same origin; but perh. fr. a man Huti or Hutto, seen in 'Hutisted ' (Staffs.), Roll. Rich. I. The Sheffield H. is not in Dom. See -thwaite.
Huxley (Chester). Said to be chart. Hodeslea. ' Meadow of Hod or ' Hoda.' Cf. B.C.S. 1282 Hodes ac. But this is abnormal. The names Hue, Huch, or Hucco, all in Onom., seem more likely origins. See -ley.
Hyde (Cheshire, Staffs, Wwksh., and Glouc.). Hyde Heath (Bucks), and Hyde Park (London). O.E. higid, later hid, hide, hyde, an O.E. measure of land, orig. 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 Dom. The hida or' hide' is often referred to in Dom.
Hydon Heath (W. Surrey) is wrongly spelt High Down, as it is 1453 Hyddeneshethe, ' heath of? Hyddan.' Onom. has only Hidda and Hiddi. On the Heath is Hydons Ball.
Hylton (Sunderland). Prob. ' town on the slope or incline.' O.E. hylde, helde, cognate with hyll, ' a hill.''
Hythe (Kent). 1051 O. E. Chron. Hide, 1228 Close R. Heth, Heia, 1234 ib. Hee. A hithe is ' a landing-rise, a quay,' a. 700 hydde, later hyd. Cf. Rotherhithe, etc. The old forms are exactly paralleled by those of O. E. rith,' a stream.' See Rye, Ryde, etc.

Ibstone, (Wallingford) Dom. Ypestan. Prob. ' Ipa's stone.' Onom. gives Ibba, Ibe, Ipa, Ipo, Ippa. Possibly ' look-out stone, fr. O.E. yppe, ' a raised or look-out place.' Cf. Ibstock (Leicester)—see Stoke—and Ipstones. See -ton.

Ickenham (Uxbridge). Dom. Ticheham, also Tykenham. 'Home of Tica ' or ' Tican,' a name in Onom. O.E. ticcen, Ger. zieke, is ' a goat, a kid.' Cf. Titchborne. The loss of the initial t is curious; but Norm, scribes regularly softened c into ch. But Icombe (Stow-on-Wold) is 781 chart. Icancumb, ' Icca's valley.'

Ickham (Canterbury). 785 chart. loccham, Dom. Gecham. ' Home of locca,' a name not in Onom., but lea, Icea, and Ycca are. The O.E. charter name of R. Ock (Berks) is Eoccen.

Ickleford (Hitchin) and Ickleton (S. Cambs). Ramsey Chart. Icklingford, Rams. Chron. Iclesforde. B.C.S. iii. 630 Icelingtun. Dom. Hichelintone, Inchelintone, 1210 Iclintone. Patronymics. ' Ford and village of the sons of Icel.' Cf. next and Giggleswick. We get the same name in Icklesham (Winchelsea), 1160-61 Pipe Ichelesha, ' home of lcel.' Kickle (Bucks) was 1236 Close R. Ykel'. See -ham, -ing, and -ton.

Ickni(e)ld Street or Way runs fr. Icklingham (Bury St. Edmunds) to Wantage. 854 chart. Icenhilde weg, 903 ib. Iccenhilde wege, a, 1200 Ad regalem viam quae vocatur Ikenhildestrete; Stratam regiam quae appellatur Ykenild; via regia vel le Pienelde strete, a. 1300 Rikelinge strete, a. 1400 Rykenylde- strete. Also a. 100 chart. Cinges straete. Commonly said to come fr. the tribe Iceni who occupied all E. Anglia in 1^st cny. a.d. This is denie by Duignan in his full and valuable arts. s.v.. The ending -byIt, -hylde, -ild may be O.E. 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 fr. the Iceni; whilst Icklingham will be' home of the sons of Icel.' See above.

Iddesleigh (Winkleigh, Devon). Dom. Edeslege. 'Meadow of Eda ' or ' Ida,' or ' Iddi,' all in Onom. Cf. 836 chart. Iddeshale (i.e., nook), and Idbury (Oxon), Dom. Ideberie. See -bury and -leigh.

Idle R. (Notts, trib. of Trent). Bede Idla, c. 1120 Henry Hunt. Idle, 1200 chart. Yddil. There seems no likely W. root, so possibly it may be fr. O.E. idel, ' idle,' in its orig. meaning, ' empty.' Cf. Elstree. There is also an Idle (Bradford), not in Dom. Idlicote (Shipston) is actually Dom. Etelincote, or Aethelwyns’ cot. Idelsbuhy (Pinswick), a. 1125 Idelberge, is fr. a man Idel; the name is found in 1199, and Rhys thinks it may be orig. W. Ithel for Juddhael, found on one of the Llantwit stones as Juthahels. Thusthe man's name will be the same as in Giggleswick and Ickleford.

Ieithon R. (Radnorsh.). Anwyl thinks this is perh. the Keltic goddess of speech.

Iffley (Oxford). 1004 chart. Gifetelea, Dom. Givetelei, 1165 Ivittelai, 1233 Iftel', 1234 Ghyftele, 1316 Yiftele. H. Alexander says origin unknown. Certainly, it is not likely to be ' gift- meadow,' O.E. gift, gyft. Curiously there is in B.C.S. 834 an ' Yffeles leah.'

Ilam (Ashbourne). 1006 chart. Hilum, Dom. Ylum, a.1300 Hylum, Ilium. Prob. O.E. loc. Ylon, ' at the Yl,' old name of the brook Manifold, trib. of R. Dove, on which it stands. Perh. same root as R. Isla (Sc), which Whitley Stokes thought perh. cognate with Old High Ger. Hen, mod. Ger. eilen, ' to hurry.' However, Duignan thinks Ilam is O.E. hyllum, ' at, among the hills.' ' The whole manor is hill and dale.' Cf. Hallam, Hulam, etc. Oxf. Dct, gives only one reference to a spelling of hill without h, and that c. 1580; so Duignan's origin is doubt- ful. Illey (Halesowen), a. 1200 Hilleley, Yleley, 1250 Hilleleye, is prob. ' mead of Ylla,' one such known. Cf. an Illeyge or Illanley in Kentish charters, and Monks Eleigh.

Ilchester (Taunton). Perh. Ptolemy's Iskalis. Dom. and 1155 Givelcestre, c. 1097 Flor. W. Givelceastra, 1158 luelcestre. ' Camp on the R. Ivel, He, or Isle,' O.E. geafol, geafl, G. gabhal, 'a fork' (of a river). Cf. Yeovil. Contraction began early, because already in Dom. we have Ivle, and even Ile-minstre. See -Chester.

Ilford (Essex). Dom. Ilefort, 1166-67 Pipe Ileford. Prob. 'ford of Ilia, Illo,' or ' Ho,' all names in Onom. Ile= isle, O.Fr. ile, is not in Eng. till 1290. But see above; it may be ' ford at the fork.'

Ilfracombe (N. Devon). Dom. Alfreincomc, 1233 Close R Affridecumbe, Aufredecumbe,1234 ib. Alfridecumbe. ' Valley of Ealhfrith,' a common O.E. name, spelt later Alfrith and Alfrid. See -combe.

Ilkerton (Devon). Dom. Incrintona. Prob. 'village of Hgaer,’ one in Onom. The Inc- in Dom. will be due to the common interchange of liquids.

Ilketshall (Bungay). Dom. Ilchesteshala. M'Clure 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. Dom. Illicleia, Illiclei, Illeclive (i.e., 'cliff'). 'Meadow of ? ' If the name be O.E. it may be fr. Ulfach, Ullfeg, Willac or Willoc, all these are in Onom. See-ley.

Ilmington (Shipston-on-Stour). c. 1010 chart. Ylmandune, Dom. Edelmitone, Ilmedone, a. 1200 Illamedone, 1326 Ilmyndon. ' Hill, down of Eadhelm,' though some of the forms suggest AElmin, also in Onom. Endings -don and -ton often inter- change, q.v. Ilminstee, (Somerset). Dom. Ileminstre. 'Church on the lie ' or ' Isle.' See Ilchester and -minster.

Ilsington (Newton Abbot). Dom. has only Ilesham. Cf. Dom. Nfk. Ilsinghetuna. ' Town of the Ilsings,' ? ' sons of Ylla,' one in Onom. Cf. Elsing and next. See -ing.

Il(s)ton (Swansea). 1340 Iltwiteston; in W. Llanilltyd, a. 1400 Lanyltwyt, Laniltwyt. ' Town ' or ' church of St. Illtyd,' 5th cny. Cf. Llantwit. But Ilsley (Berks) is Dom. Hildeslei, ' Hild's mead,' and Ilton (N. Yorks) is Dom. Ilchetun, Hilchetun, where the man's name seems already corrupted beyond recognition.

Immingham (Grimsby). Dom. Imungeha. Patronymic. 'Home of the sons of Imma.' See -ing. The same man's name is seen in Impney (Droitwich), a. 1200 Imney, a. 1300 Ymenege, Imeneye,' Isle of Imma.' See-ey.

Ince (S. of R. Mersey). Dom. and c. 1380 Inise, a. 1200 Ynys, W. ynys,' an island';,or, as it does not seem ever to have been an island, G. innis, ' an inch,' ' a meadow by a river.' It seems to have this meaning in W. too, though not in the ordinary dictionaries. Cf. ' Ynichebeche' (For. of Dean), cited by Baddeley, s.v. Inchbrook, which has no old forms.

Ingatestone (W. Essex). The original name in Dom. is simply Ginge, Ing. It is regular for initial g to fall away (see I passim). Thus originally this must be the same as Ginge (Hendred, Berks), B.C.S. iii. 257 Gseging, later ib. iii. 173 Gainge, iii. 67 Gaineg, i. 506 Geinge, Dom. and Pipe (1155-56) Gainz, 1125 Estgeyng. Patronymic. ' Place of the sons of Goega.' Cf. Gaydon. Gate is presumably O.E. geat, ' gate.' See -ing. Inglestone (Hawkesbury) is also spelt Ingateston, and 1610 Inguston. Older forms unknown.

Ingbirchworth (Sheffield). Dom. Berceworde, which also stands for Rough Birchworth. 'Farm of Ingebiorg’ or ‘ Ingelbeorht.' Long names readily contract. See -worth.

Ingestre (Stafford). Dom. Gestreon, a. 1300 Ingestre, Yngestre, Ingestraund, Ingetrent. Prob. ' Inga's tree.’ O.E. treo, treow. Cf. Oswestry. But -straund is O.E. strand, ' shore, bank of a river, here the Trent, which accounts for Ingestrent. The Dom. form is corrupt but represents a pl. of treo.

Ingham (Lincoln and Norwich), Ingworth (Norwich). Dom. Lincoln Ingeha; Nfk., Ingewrda. 'Home' and 'farm of Inga,' 2 in Onom. See -ham and -worth. Duignan thinks Ingon (Stratford, Wwk.), 704 chart. Ingin, must be O.E. in gin, ' in the gap ' while Inghthorp ( Yorks) is Dom. Ucnetorp, or' Yeca' svillage'; the -ne represents the O.E. 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 cny. only in Sc. Ingle -is prob. for Angle, O.E. Engle, ' barrow of the Angle,' or 'English' man. Cf. next, -borough is O.E. biorg, beorh, 2 beoruh, 4 borw, burgh, 7 barrough,' hill, mound-like hill, barrow. Cf. Barrow and Whitbarrow (N. Lanes).

Ingleby Cross and Greenhow (Yorks) and Ingleton (Darlington and Kirby Lonsdale). Dom. Englebi, 1179-80 Ynglebi. Dar I. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Ingeltun. 'Abode of the Angle,' O.E. Engle, or ' Englishman.' See -by and -ton. The -how will mean 'hill.' See Houghton. Cf. Inglestone (Hawkesbury).

Inglewhite (Preston). This must surely be the same name as Dom. Yorks Ingulfvestuet, ' Ingulph's village' or -thwaite, q.v. Ingoldisthorpe (King's Lynn), a. 1300 chart. Ingoldesthorp, and Ingoldsby (Grantham). Dom. Ingoldesbi. 'Village' and ' dwelling of Ingold, 'in Onom. See -thorpe and-by.

Inkberrow (Worcester). 789 chart. Intanbeorgas, 803 ib. Intanbergum, Intanbeorgan, Intebeorgas, Dom. Inteberge, 1275 Inkbarewe. ' Barrow, mound-like hill of Inta,' 3 in Onom. Cf. Ingleborough.

Inkpen Beacon (Hungerford). 931 chart. Ingepenne, Dom. Hingepene, 1298 Ingepenne, 1316 Inkepenne. ' Inga's pen,' O.E. penn, ' a fold for cattle.' Cf. Inkford (Wore.) and Pamber.

Inlade R. (N. Kent). Bede Genlade.? W. given, gwyn Hoed, ' white, clear place.'

Inskip (Preston). Dom. Inscip. Prob. ‘Ine’s or Ini's hut,' Da. kippe, ' hut, low alehouse.' Oxf. Dict, does not give kip, ' a sharp-pointed hill,' before 1815. Possible also is ' Ine's skep or 'beehive.' O.N. skeppa, 'a basket,' is found once in O.E., and, after 1225, is common as shep, also 4-9 ski'p(pe), though not found for ' beehive ' till 1494. Cf. Minskipp.

Instow (N. Devon). Old forms needed; not in Dom. Perh. ' place,' O.E. stow, ' of Ine or Ini.' Cf. Dom. Bucks Instofald.

Ipplepen (Newton Abbot). Dom. Iplepene, 1230 Ipelepenn. Prob. ' pen, enclosure (O.E. penn) of Ipele,’ var. 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 chart. AEps leage, Dom. Epeslei, a. 1200 Ippeslei. Either ' aspen-tree (O.E.oeps) meadow'; cf. Apps Court and Apsley. Or perh. AEppa'’s mead.' Cf. Epsom.

Ipstones (Cheadle). a. 1200 Yppestan, a. 1300 Ippestanes, May be fr. a man as above. Duignan prefers ' look-out stones,' fr. O.E. yppe, ' a raised or look-out place.' Cf. Ibstone.

Ipswich. 993 O. E. Chron. Gipeswic, Dom. Gyppeswik, Guppewicus, c. 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 cf. Ilchester and Islehjm; also cf. Islip and Gibsmere (Notts), Dom. Gipesmare,1302 Gypesmere. See -wich.

Irby (Yorks, Burgh, and Birkenhead) and Ireby (Kirkby Lonsdale and Carlisle). Yorks I. Dom. Irebi, 1202 Yorhs Fines Yrebi. Kirkby. I. Dom. Irebi. ' Dwelling of Ira.' Cf. B.C.S. 1297 Yran ceaster, now Irchester (Wellingborough) and Irton (E. Riding), Dom. Iretune. See -by and -ton.

Ireleth (Askam, Lanes). Dom. Gerleuuorde. 'Farm of? The old ending is clear (see -worth), but the man's name quite doubtful. Perh. it is Girweald or Giroldus, perh. Gerl, implied in the patronymyc Gerling, of which Onom. has one case. The present ending -leth has been influenced by N. hlith, ' a slope.' Cf. Holleth, also Lanes.

Irt R and Irtling R. (Cumbld.). ? W.iarth,' a long rod, a goad.' Cf. next.

Irthlingborough (Northampton), a. 1100 chart. Irtelingburge, 1135 O.E. Chron. Hyrtlingberi. Presumably a patronymic; nothing likely in Onom. Cf. above and Hartlebury. See -borough.

Irwell R. (S. Lanes), c. 1200 Irewill. Doubtful, prob. Keltic. Perh.' vigorous river,' W.ir gwili. Cf. Abergwili and Erewash.

Isham (Kettering). Sic a. 1100, not in Dom. It is uncertain what man's name Is- will represent. The R. Isborne (Evesham) is 709 chart. Esigburn, 777 Esegburn, ' brook of Esig, Ese, or Est,’all forms are found; and Isham may come fr. this name too, as certainly does 1160-01 Pipe Sussex, Eisewrda (Dom. Isiwirde), ' farm of. Ese.' Cf Isfield, Uckfield (not in Dom.), and Essendon. Isis R., name of R. Thames above Oxford. Sic 1537 Leland, but c. 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 G. uisge. Cf. Wisbeach and the Wissey, trib. Of Ouse. Skeat thinks that Ismere House, Kidderminster, c. 757 chart. Usmere, may show the same root. H. Alexander asserts that Isis is merely a ' fanciful separation ' of the L. 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). Pron. I-zelworth. Dom. Gisleham, 1284 Isilham, 1321 Yeselham. Dom. Ghistelworde, later Yhistelworth, Istelworth, c. 1600 Thistleworth. 'Home' and 'farm of the hostage,' O.E. gisel. Islebeck (N. Yorks) ,Dom. Iselbec, is presumably' brook of the hostage too. But Islehampstead is prob. 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 mod. Prob. ' hill of Isena.' Cf. B.C.S. 144 Isenan aewylm (' spring '); and see -ing, -don, and -ton.

Islip (Oxford and Thrapston). Oxford I. a. 1100 chart. Githslep. Thrapston I. Dom. and c. 1240 Islep. ' Githa's leap,' O.E. hlyp, 3 leep, lip, 4-6 lepe. There are 4 Githa's in Onom. Cf. Birdlip.

Itchen R. (Hants and Warwick). Hants. I 961 chart. Icena; Warwick I. 998 chart, on Yasenan, 1001 ib. on Ycenan. Some identify the Hants R. with Ytene, which Flor. W., c. 1097, says is the Angles' name for the New Forest. If so, we prob. have the common scribe's error t for c; and origin fr. O.E. etan, 3rd sing. pres. ytt, ' to devour, consume,' is not to be thought of. Prob. both rivers are pre-Kelt. Cf. R. Ithon (Radnor), R. Ythan (Aberdeensh.), Ythancaestir (Essex) in Bede iii. 22, Bp's Itchington, and Icknield St. Long Itchington (Southam) is 1001 chart. Yceantune, Dom. Icentone, Itchington (Thornbury), is 967 chart. Icenantune, Dom. Icetune; whilst Itchington (Suffolk) is also fr. a R. Icenan. Cf. K.C.D., iii. 316.

Itteringham (Norfolk). Sic 1504, also Iteryngham. 'Home of Wihthering, Withering, or Witherwine,' all names in Onom. Dom. has only a Witeingeham. Cf. Withernsea. See -ing.

Ivel (or Ile) R. (Somerset, and trib. of Great Ouse). See II- chester.

Iver (Uxbridge). a. 1300 Evere, Evre. Not in Dom. Ivor is an old Brit, name found in Geoffrey of Monmouth and Giraldus Cambrensis. But here it is prob. O.E. ifig ofr, M.E. ivi-over, 'ivy bank.’ It is on a bank. Cf. Asher, Beecher, Hasler, etc.; and see -over.

Ixhull (Oakley, Bucks). Not in Dom. 1240 Close R. Yxenhull. Prob. 'hill of Ycca,’ 2 in Onom. Cf. Ixworth (Bury St. E.). Dom. Icsewurda',' Icca's farm.' Hull is regular Midland Eng. for hill.

Jackments Bottom (Kemble, Cirencester), Old Jakemans, Jacumans, called fr. a man. A Walter Jakemans is known in 1355. Bottom is O.E. botm, found with the secondary meaning, ' dell, low-lying land,' fr. c. 1325.

Jacobstow (Cornwall). 'Place (O.E. stow) of Jacob,' brother of Winwaloe. See Gunwalloe.

Jabrow, on Tyne. Bede In Gyrvum, Gyrwum; a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Girva, 1593 Southe Yaro Ave. W. garw, geirw, 'rough'; also 'a torrent.' Cf. G.garbh,' rough,' and Yarrow (Sc). But M'Clure thinks fr. Kelt, gyrwe,' fen,marsh.' Cf. Wear.

Jersey, c. 380 Anton. Itin. Caesarea, c. 1070 Wm. Jumieges Gersus, a. 1170 Wace Gersui, 1218 Patent E. Geresye, 1219 ib. Gerese, 1447 Jersey, 1454 Gersey, 1587 Iarzie. Caesarea is ' place named in honour of Caesar, the ending being L. -ea, and not N. -ey. The present form is due to N. influence and may be meant for O. N. ’gers-ey,' grass-covered isle O. Fris. gers; Dan. graes, 'grass.' But, all the same, it must be corrup. of Caesarea. Cherburg, close by, is 1237 Close R. Cesariburg; whilst Caithness i.e., Norse-blooded—lips to-day always call Jews Chews. Cf. Jerbourg, Guernsey. See -ey. '

Jervaulx or Jobeval (Yorks, N. Riding). Pron. Jarvis. 1297 Jerovalle. Fr. val, mod. pl. vaux, is ' a valley'; but Jer(o)- is doubtful. Cf. Jarrow. The Cistercian abbey was founded here in 1156. For the ending -val, cf. the name Furnivall, found fr. 13th cny., from Fournival, Normandy.

Jesmond (Newcastle). Sic a. 1270. As above, the latter half seems clear enough, Fr. mont, ' mount, hill,' but the former is quite doubtful. Cf. Richmond.

Johnston (Pembroke). Sic 1603. Founded by Flemish settlers early in the 12th cny. Cf. Jameston, Jordanston (1516 Jordanyston, W. Tref Wrdan), and Williamston, in same shire.

Jump (Barnsley). Modern. The word jump is not found in Eng. till 1511.

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

Laceby (Grimsby). Dom. Levesbi, 1234 Lesseby. 'Dwelling of Lefa ' or ' Leofa,' common in Onom. See -by.
Lackenby (Redcar). Dom. Lachenebi, Lachebi, 1202 Lackenbi, ' Dwelling of Lacen,' a name still found as Laking. See -by.
Lackford (Bury St. Edmunds). Dom. Lacforda, Lacheforda. Prob. 'ford at the pool'; O.E. lace. Cf. Mortlake, Dom. Suffk. Lacheleia, and Hants Lacherne.
Ladbroke (Southam, Wwksh.). 980 chart. Hlodbroce, Dom. 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. Cf. Dom. Chesh. Latbroc.
Ladock or Landoc (Grampound Rd., Cornwall). ' Church,’ Corn, Ian,W. llan,' of St. Gadoc'. See Caradoc and Llangadoc.
Laleham (Staines). Dom. Leleham, 1237 Estlalham. ' Home of Lela or ' Lilla.' Cf. Lawford, and Laleston (Bridgend). See -ham.
Lambeth (London). 1041 O.E. Chron. Lambhythe, 1088 Lamhytha, c. 1130 Eadmer Lambetha, -beta, 1217 Lamheye, Lamheth, 1588 Lambehith. O.E. lamb-hide, ' landing-place for lambs.' See Hythe. Derivation fr. O.E. Mm, ' loam,' is inadmissible. Cf. next and Lamcote (Notts), Dom. Lanbecote.
Lambourn (Berks). K. Alfred's Will Lamb-burna, 943 chart. Lamburna. ' Lamb's burn or brook.' See -bourne.
Lamorna Cove (Penzance). Corn. lan mornader, 'enclosure for the lampreys ' or ' pilchards '; L. murcena.
Lampeter (Cardigan). In W. Llanbedr Pont Stephan. The W. Llan bedr is ' church of Peter.' Cf. next. On llan cf. Llana- Fan. We find the Lam- very early e.g., Dom. Glouc.,' InWales 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 W. llan ffydd, ' church of faith.' But the name is ' church of St. Tyfai,' seen also in Foy (Herefd.), Lib. Land. Lanntiuoi, and in Lampha (Glam.).
Lamport (Northampton). 1158-59 Pipe Laport, Cf. Dom. Kent Lamport. The Lam- is doubtful, but is prob. O.E. lamb, as in Lambeth; and so 'lamb's gate,' L. porta, in Eng. as port, fr. c. 950. See also Oxf. Dict, port sb2, ' a town.'
Lanarth (Cornwall). 1285 Close R. Lannarth. Corn.='high enclosure.' The orig. meaning of Ian, llan, lam, lann, in all Kelt. languages is ' enclosed place.' ' Church ' is a later meaning.
Lancarf (Cornwall). Corn. = 'graveyard '; Corn, corf, L. corpus, ' a body, a corpse.'
Lancarrow (Cornwall). Corn.= ' deer park, carw, 'a hart'; L. cervus, ' a stag.' Dom. has a Lancharet.
Lancaster. Sic 1399, but Dom. 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 mod. form, ' Lancasshyre.' Till after Dom. Lancashire S. of the Ribble was in Cheshire, and Lancaster itself in Yorks.
Lancaut (Chepstow). 956 chart. Landcawet, 1221 Langcaut. The 956 form is O. Kelt for ' enclosed land,' W. llan cauad. Kelt lan, W. llan, means' enclosure,' and I scognate with Eng. land.
Lancherly (Somerset). Perh. 801 chart. Lancherpille. Lancher is 'land share'; K.C.D. 706 Brisnodes Land-share; ib. 419 Hebelmes Landschere. The ledge sat Worth Maltravers (Dorset) are also called Lanchers.
Lanchester (Durham). 1183 Boldon Bk. Langchestre, 'long camp,’ O.E. and N. Eng. lang, ' long,’ See -chester.
Lancing (Sussex). Dom. Lancinges. Named fr. Wlencing, son of Aella, O. E. Chron. 477. Cf. Keynor, and Dom. Surrey Lanchei. See -ing.
Landare (Cornwall). Dom. Lander. Corn. Lan dar,'enclosure of the oaks.' Cf. O.G. dair, ' an oak.'
Landbeach (Cambridge). Dom. 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 Oxf. Dict, till the 16th cny. Cf. Wisbech.
Landewednack (The Lizard). Dom. has Langenewit, and Lan wenehoc. Corn.= ' church of St. Devinicus,’ said to be a contemporary of St. Columba. Cf. Banchory Devenick (Sc).
Landican (Wirral). Dom. Landechene. Prob. 'church of the deacon, referring to Woodchurch nearby. W. diacon, in Eng. a.1300 dehen,' a deacon, one not in full orders.
Landicle (Cornwall). Sic in Dom. Corn.= ' Church of St. Teela.' Cf. ' Lantocal,’ B.C.S. 47. Tecla was a Roman abbess in the days of Gregory the Great. Landkey (Barnstaple) seems to be 1235 Close R. Landegeye; cf. Keverne.
Landoc. See Ladock.
Land's End. 997 O.E. Chron. Penwiht Steort; a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Penwithsteort. Welsh Triads Penbryn Penwaeth, Welsh Laws Pengwaeth or -waed, Myrv. Archaeol. Penwedic yng Ngherniw. Pen is Keltic for ' head, headland ‘; wiht, with, or waeth must be W. gwydd, Corn. gwedh,' woods,’ while steort is O. E. for' tail.' Cf. Start Point. The name Penwith is still applied to this whole district.
Landue (Cornwall). Corn, lan dew, ' black, dark church.'
Landuff (Cornwall). Corn. = ' 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,' M.E. launde, O.Fr. land, launde, ' a plain sprinkled with bush or tree,' then' a lawn.'
Langford (Oxford). 1155-58 chart. Langeford. 'Long ford.' Similarly there are 6 Langtons in P.G., Dom. Yorks Langeton and Lanton, Lines Langtone. There are also several Langdales; one in 1160-61 Pipe Notts and Derby, has the curious reduplication Langedala Dala.
Langley (Bromley). 862 chart. To langan leaze. ' Long meadow.' So Langley, Henley-in-Arden, 1150 Langelleie, a. 1200 Langeleg, a.1300 Langele. But Langley Park (Cumberland) is old Langlif erga,' shieling, dairy hut o fLanglif, 'a N. woman. For erga seeArklid. See-ley.
Langport (Central Somerset). Prob. Llywarch Hen Llongborth, 1160-01 Pipe Laport. As it stands,' Long Harbour,’ O. E. lang, long, also 4-5 lang, ' long,’ while jort is a very early loan fr. L. partus. But evidently the orig. name was Keltic, the common Ir. Longphort, ' ship's harbour,' then ' encampment,' seen about 20 times in Ireland to-day as Longford, and also, says K. Meyer, in the Sc. Luncarty, 1250 Lumphortyn. Ir. And G. long, luing is ' a ship,' also a loan fr. L. longa (navis), ' a war-ship.' The meaning in Somerset mus tbe' encampment.'
Langrigg (Aspatria). 1189 Langrug. Cf. 896 ' Langenhryege (Glouc.); this is O.E. for ' long ridge '; in North. Eng. and Sc. lang rigg. There is a Longridge (Preston).
Langthorpe (Yorks). Dom. Lambetorp, La'betorp, Lanbetorp. ' Lambi's place.' No Lambi in Onom., but m and n often interchange; cf. Kembolton. But Langthwaite (Yorks) is Dom. Langetouet, Langetouft, ' long place.' See -thwaite and Toft.
Langwathby (Cumberland). 1189 Langwadebi. 'Dwelling by the long ford.' Cf. 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. Dom. Lepelie, a. 1200 Lapelie, Lappely. 818 chart. Hlappawurthin {cf. -warden), Dom. Lapeforde,' Hlappa's lea' and' farm.' See -ley and -worth.
Larkbeare (Exeter). Dom. Laurochebere, Exon. Dom. Laurocabera, 1237 Laverk ber, ' Lark wood,' O.E. ladwerce or laferce bearu. Cf. Beer, and the personal name Conybeare; also 1160 Pipe Lauerchestoc (Essex), and Larkborough (Worcestersh.), 709 chart. Lauerkeboerge i.e., ' lark hill.' See Barrow. Larkfield (Maidstone) is Dom. Laurochesfel'. The R. Lark, Suffolk, is a back-formation fr. Lackford.
Lartington (Barnard Castle), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Lyrtingtun. Cf. B.S.C. Lortan hlaew. ' Town of some unknown man, Lurta, ' Lorta, or Larta. Very prob. a patronymic. See -ing.
Lasham (Alton, Hants). Dom. Esseham'. 'Home, house by the ash-trees.' Cf. Ashby, etc. The L. comes fr. the Fr. la, ' the,' prefixed by a Nor. scribe, 1284 L-asham. Cf. Lappal, Halesowen, 1335 Lappole,' the pool,' 1342 Thomas atte Pole, also Dom. Essex, Lassendene, where the La- prob. has the same origin. There is both an Essendine (Stamford), and an Essendon (Hatfield).
Lasket (Cumberland) and Lasket Grove (Monmouth). Perh. W. glas coed, ' green wood ‘; cf. Chetwood. But Lasboro' (Glouc.), c. 1220 Lasseberewe, is ' lesser mound ' or ' tumulus,’ O.E. laessa, M.E. lasse, ' less.'
Lastingham (Cleveland). Bede iii. 23 Lestingau, but in pref. Laestinga ea. Dom. Lestingeham. Patronymic; ' home of the Lestings '; ea is O.E. for ' river.'
Latchford (Warrington). Fr. letch sb1 Oxf. Dict. 6-9 lache. 9 latch,' a muddy ditch, a strea through a bog, a bog,'cognate with leach v., ' to water, to wet,' prob. fr. O.E. leccan, ' to water.' Cf .1138 Newminster Cart.' Appeltreleche,' and see Lechlade.
Lathom (Ormskirk). Dom. Latune, 1201-56 Lathun, 1225 Patent R. Lathum, 1535-43 Latham, Latheham. This is a corrupt. loc. 'at the barns,' O.N. hlada, loaned in O.E. Cf. Hallam, Kilham, etc., also the common and puzzling Sc. Letham, sic a. 1200, 1284 Latham. Horsfall Turner gives Latun in Dom. 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. Cf. Latton. But Lathbuby (Bucks), 1225Latebiry, is fr. a man Leot; that and Leotan are in Onom.
Latimer (Chesham). Not in Dom. a. 1440 Latemer. It would be a very unlikely thing if formed fr. the personal name Latimer, sic in Eng. c. 1205, fr. O.Fr. Latim(m)ier, ' an interpreter,' corrup. of latinier or Latiner. Thesb. Latimeris already found in Dom. It maybe' mere, lake of Leot; a man in Onom.
Latton (Swindon). Dom. Latone; cf. Dom. Essex Lattuna. It may be ' village of Leot,' one in Onom.; eo regularly becomes a. A slikely=Lathom, Dom. Latune,' at the barns.'
Laugharne (W. of Carmarthen). Pron. Larn, 1603 Talagharn. In W. Tallacharn or Talycoran, ' at the end of R. Coran,’? W. corafon, ' a rivulet.' The origin of Laugharne is doubtful. One might guess, ' the low alder tree'; see Oxf. Dict. s.v. low (early M.E. lah, 4 lagh, 5 lawghe), and am; but prob. it is corrup. fr. the W. name. There is a R. Laughern (Worcestersh.), 757 chart. Lawern(e). This is O.W. llawern, Corn, lowern, ' a fox.' Lavernock (Cardiff), old Llyrwernog, is the dimin., 'little fox.'
Laughton (Rotherham, and 3). Rotherham L. Dom. Lastone {Dom. regularly replaces a guttural by st). Prob. ' low town,' fr. O.N. lag-r ' low,' early M.E. lah, 3-4 lazh, 4 laghe, loghe, 5 lough, Sc. laigh. Cf. Dom. Hereford Lautone. Lastun in Dom. Yorks also stands for W. Layton.
Launceston. Dom. Lanscavetone, Lancauetone, 1154-89 Lanceston, 1199 Lanstaveton, 1220 Lanzavetun, 1224 Lancaveton, 1227 Lanstone (the mod. pron.; how early it was reached!), 1245 Lanstaueton, Lanceueton, 1260 Launcetton; also said to be a. 1176 chart. ' The town of St. Stephen at Lanstone.' Commonly saidto be' church (Corn. lan) of St. Stephen,'but this seems far fr. certain. Scave or Stave could with difficulty represent Stephen, a name always spelt in O.E. chron. Stephne, and prob. represents some Corn. word now lost. An older name was Dunheved. Lansdown (Glouc.) is a doubtful name; some of its old forms (Launtesdon, Lantesdon) look as if they might orig. be something similar to Launceston.
Launton (Bicester). Dom. Lantone, 1274 Langetun, 1525 Lawnton. O.E. lang tun, ' long village.'
Lavan Sands (Conway). A tautology. W. llafan, 'a strand, a sandy beach.'
Lavenham (Suffolk). Dom. Lauenham. Cf. B.C.S. 1288-89 Lauan ham. 'Village, dwelling of Lafa, Leofe, or Lawa,'all forms are known. Cf. Dom. Norfk. Lawendic, and Lavington.
Laverstock (Salisbury). Dom. Lawrecestokes and Lavertestoch, 1221 Patent R. Laverkestok. ' Place of Lawerce ' i.e., ' the lark.' See Stoke.
Laverton (Yorks and Broadway, Worcestersh.). Yorks L. Dom. Laureton, Lavretone. Broadway L. c. 1240 Lawertune. Prob. ' town of Leofgar or Leuegarus,' or 'of Leofweard,' a common name. More old forms needed. Cf. Laverhay, Wamphray (Scotland).
Lavington (Chichester). 725 chart. Lavingtune, Dom. Laventone. Patronymic. ' Town, village of the descendants of Lafa ' or ' Leofa.' Cf. Dom. Bucks Lauuendene, and Lavenham.
Lawford (Manningtree and Rugby). Manningtree L. Dom. Laleforda. Rugby L. Dom. Leileford, Lelleford, Lilleford, 1086 Ledleford, 1161 Ledesforde, 1236 Lalleford. Fine proof of the liquidity of l. of Lit ' or ' Lilla,' names in Onom. Cf. Laleham.
Lawhitton (Launceston). Dom. Longvitetone, Ex. Dom. Languite tona, which is simply’ long white town,' O. E. hwit, O. N. hvit-r, ' white.' Cf. Cumwhitton.
Lawrenny (Pembrokesh.). c. 1190 Gir. Camb. Leurenni, Leureni, 1603 Owen Lawrenny. The first syll. is W. llawr,' floor,bottom,' but Enni is unknown. Cf. Ystrad Enni on the Ithon.
Laxfield (Framlingham). Dom. Suffk. and Essex, Laxefelda. ' Field of Leaxa.' Similarly, Laxton, Howden and Newark, Dom. Yorks and Notts Laxintun, New. L. 1278 Lexington. See Lexden.
Laycock (Keighley). Dom. Lacoc, 1237 Close R. Lacok.' Prob. ' low cock ' or ' heap,' O.N. lag-r kokk-r, Norw. kok, ' a heap.' Cock in the sense of haycock, etc., is not found in Oxf. Dict. till 1598. On Lay- cf. next, Laughton, and the mod. surname Locock. Layer Marney (Essex). Dom. anda. 1300 chart. Legra, which is gen. plur. of O.E. leger, ' a lair, a camp,' in M.E. ' a place for animals to lie down in'; cf. 1573 Tusser Husband, 'Borne I was ... in Essex laier, in village faier, that Riuenhall hight.' Marney is fr. 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 cf. thoroughfare.
Layton (N. Riding). East and West. Dom. Lastun, Lattun. As Dom. regularly replaces a guttural by st, prob. ' low town, Sc. laigh toun, and so= Laughton (q.v.). But Layton (Amounderness) is Dom. Latun, and so it maybe=Lathom,' at the barns."
Lazonby (Cumberland and Northallerton). Northallerton L. Dom. Lesingebi, Leisenebi, Lesinghebi, Leisingbi, 1179-80 Pipe Lagenebi, 1203 Fines Leysingeby. ' Dwelling of the Les(s)ings,' a patronynmic; one Lesing in Onom. See -by.
Lea R. (Essex). 891 O.E. Chron. Lyga, 913 ib. Lygea(n), Ligene, c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Luye. M'Clure 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 O.E. leak, ' meadow.' P.G. has 6 places called Lea; For. of Dean L. 1195 La lega.
Leadenham (Lincoln), a. 1150 Lang ledenham. ' Home of Leda,' one such in Onom. Cf. Ledbury.
Lea Marston (Coleshill). Two hamlets, 1257 Waure Merston, 1573 Waver Merstone. The Wavers were lords of this ' marsh town,' O. E. mersctun, for a considerable time. For Lea, see -ley.
Leamington. Dom. Lunintone {mi error for em), 1242 Leminton. ' Town on R. Leam,' which may be O.E. leom(a), ' a flash, a gleam,' less likely fr. O.E. lam, ' mud,' Du. leem, Eng. loam. Leamington Priors (of Kenilworth) is Dom. Lamintone, 1327 Lemynton Prioris. Lemington (Moreton-in-Marsh), Dom. Leminingtune, Limentone, Lemintone, is ' town of (the sons of) Leofman,' common name, found shortened o Leman. See -ing.
Leatherhead (Surrey). Sic c. 1670. Dom. Lered, a puzzling form. Leather is the O.E. leder, Icel. Ledr. O. Fris. leer, Breton ler ; but it is doubtful if this is the real origin of the name. More old forms are needed. There is an O.E. Ioefer, ' a plant,' see Oxf. Dict. 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,' O.E. Icefer, leber. It may be fr. Leodthere, Leothere, a well-known name, cognate with Luther, cf. Leatherbarrow. Also cf. Letheringsett.
Leathley (Otley). Dom. Ledelai (Dom. regularly makes th into d). ' Meadow on the slope,' O.E. hlith. Cf. Leith Hill, and Kirkleatham (N. Yorks), Dom. Westlidu'.
Leaven R. See Leven.
Leavening (York). Dom. Ledlinghe, Ledinge. Dom's forms seem corrup. of ' place of Leofivine's or Leofwynn's sons.' See -ing. Lebberston (Filey). Dom. Ledlbeztun, Ledbestun, 1206 Ledbrizton, 1208 Ledbristone. ' Leodbeorht's town '; this is prob. the origin of Liberton (Midlothian). Dom. prefers to use z and st instead of a harsh guttural.
Lechlade (Glouc). 872 chart. Lecche, Dom. Lecelade, 1221 Lichelade. 'Way, path,’ O.E. geldd, ' by or over' i.e., ferry over ' the R. Leach,’ whose old forms are seen also in Eastleach, Dom. Lece, 1347 Estlecche, and Northleach, Dom. Lecce. This is prob. O.E. laece, ' a stream’, fr. lcccan, ' to water.' Cf. Latchford.
Leck (N. Lanes). Dom. Lech. Prob. N. loeck-r, 'a brook.' Cf. Leek and Lucker. It maybe Eng. Cf. Latchford.
Leckford Abbas (Stockbridge, Hants). 947 chart. Leghford, Leahtford. Prob. ' ford in the meadow,’ O.E. leah. See -leigh.
Leckham(p)stead (Berks and Bucks). Berks L. B.C.S. ii. 534 Leachamstede; Dom. Lecanestede, Lekehamstede, 1316 Leckhampsted. Dom. Bucks Lechastede. ' Homestead, Hampstead, with a kitchen-garden.' O.E. leac, 3 lee, is ' a leek,’ then, any garden herb. Cf. Leighton. Similarly, Leckhampton (Glouc.) is Dom. Lechantone. See Hampton.
Leconfield (Beverley). Dom. Lachinfeld, Lachinfelt. 'Field of ' some unknown man,? Lecca, Leccan. Laking is a personal name to-day.
Ledbury (Malvern). Dom. Liedeberge, 1235 Lidebir; cf. Dom. Salop Ledewic. ‘Leoda's burgh.' Cf. Leadenham, also Latcombe, Dom. Bucks Ledingberge, a patronymic, and ib. Surrey Ladesorde. Duignan derives Ledbury fr. the R. Leaden, 972 chart, and Dom. Ledene, on which it stands, is also does Upleadon (N.-W. Glouc.). This is doubtful, and the origin of Leaden is unknown. Perh. connected with W. lledan,' breadth,' or Iliad, ' flooding, streaming.'
Leeds. Bede Loidis, Dom. Ledes. Doubtful? W. Hoed,' aplace.' There are also Lede Chapel (Tadcaster), Dom. Lede, and a Leeds (Maidstone), 1235 Close B. Lhedes. Lede or lead=' watercourse,' is not found till 1541.
Leek (Staffs). Dom. Lee, a. 1200 Lech, 1284 Leyc. Prob. N. loeck-r, ' a brook.' Cf. Leckford. Leake (Boston), Dom. Leche, 1216 Leake, 1313 Lek, 1320 Leek, and E. and W. Leake (Notts), Dom. Lec(c)he, a. 1277 Leyk, must be the same name. It may be Eng.; see Lechlade. For Leek Duignan prefers W. 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 Oxf. Dict. s.v. lea sb1 do not encourage us to call them hardened forms of O.E. leah, ' meadow.'
Leicester, pron. Lester, a. 800 Legoracensis civitas, c. 800 Nennius Caer Lerion, 918 O.E. Chron. Legraceaster, Ligranceaster, 980 ib. Legeceasterscir (here, as in several other places, this means Cheshire, q.v.), 1120 Legrecestrie, c. 1145 Geoffr. Mon. and c. 1175 Fantosme Leircestre, 1173 Leicestria, c. 1205 Layamon Leirchestre, but c. 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 'K. Lear is even more so. In Mabinogion he is Llyr, and he is first named in Geoffr. Mon. Possible is a connexion with W. llithro, ' to slip, to glide.' See -caster.
Leigh (12 in P. G.). Dom. Lecie (prob. near Cricklade) and Lege (Salop and Worcester). O.E. leak, dat. leage, ' a piece of cultivated land, a meadow,' so common in the ending -ley, q.v.
Leighterton (Tetbury) c. 1140 Letthrinton, 1273 Lettrinthone. Perh. ' village of (the sons of) ' Leathere.' See -ing.
Leighton (Hunts, Salop, Welshpool). 956 chart. Wilmanlehtune (see Wormleighton). Hun. L. 1260 Lechton, 1291 Legheton, but men of the name Leighton lived in this barony a. 1066 too, 1154-61 chart. Lectona (Lines), and a. 1199 Lecton (Beds). O.E. leahtun, lehtune, ' a herb garden,’ fr. leac, ' a leek.' See Leckhamstead; and cf. next.
Leighton Buzzard. 917 O.E. Chron. Lygtun; later, Lygetun; a. 1700 L. Beaudezert. See above. The Norm, family Beaudesert or Bosard were influential here in 14th cny. CJ. Beaudesert (Henley-in-Arden), c. 1135 Beldesert, and in Cannock Chase.
Leintwardine (N. Hereford). Dom. Lentevrde (Salop), which is ' farm of Lenta,' an unknown man. See -wardine.
Leith Hill (S. Surrey). Tautology. O.E. hlith, 'a slope, a hill- side.' Cf. Lytham.
Lenborough (Bucks). O. E. Chron. 571 Liggeanburh, Lygeanbirg; not in Dom. Prob. the burgh or fort of some man, whose name is now unrecognizable.
Lenham, West (Maidstone). 804 chart. Westra Leanham. ' House, home given as a reward or gift,' O.E. lean.
Leominster. 1046 O.E. Chron. Leomynstre, Dom. Leominstre, 1233 Leminstr', c. 1600 Camden Lemester; in W. Llanllieni. Saidtobe' church of Leof' or' Leofric' It is doubtful who he was; perh. Tte W. Mercian earl, husband of Lady Godiva, c. 1030.
Leonard Stanley (Stonehouse, Glouc.). Not in Dom., but cf. Dom. Linor=a Leonard in Devon. Doubtful. There is a Burton Leonard in S. Yorks. St. Leonard was a confessor of the 6th cny. 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 W. llenu, ' to veil or envelope.’
Lepton (Huddersfield). Dom. Leptone. 'Town of Leppa, 3 in Onom.
Lesnewth (Camelford). ' court, hall,’ Corn. les newydh, 'new hall.’ W. llys, court, hall.’ Dom. has a Lisniwen.
Letcombe Regis and Basset (Wantage). Dom. Ledencumbe, Ledecumbe,1161-62 Pipe Ledecuba; later Letecuomb. ' Deep valley of Leoda.' Cf. Ledbury and see -combe. The Bassets were a Norman family of many possessions. Cf. Bassett.
Letheringsett (Holt, Norfk.), a. 1300 Eccleston Leveringsot. Prob.' seat, residence,' O. E.soat,' of the descendants of Leofgar.' For f or v becoming th, cf. Liverpool. See -ing. But Letterston (Pembroke), c. 1300 Letarston is prob. fr. the name Leodheard or Leothere, in Onom. However, in 1516 it is Littardiston, and was then held by a John Littard.
Letton (Hereford). Dom. Letune. Prob. 'town on the leat,' 7 let, O.E. geloet, ' an open conduit, a water channel but it may be=Lathom.
Leven (N. Yorks), Dom. Levene, Leven R. (N. Lanes), and Leaven R. (Yorks); and prob. same name, Levant R. (S. W. Sussex), as t would easily suffix itself. Cf. Darwen and Derwent, both the same root. W. llevn, 'smooth'; also cf. Leven (Sc). But Leven (Hornsea), old forms needed, is prob. an O.E. gen. Leofan ' Leofa's' place; cf. Beedon,' Leventon' (Cumberland in1189 Pipe, and Levenhull. Levens (Milnthorpe, Westmorland), Dom. Lefuenes, looks like another gen. Lefwen’s, or Leofwen’s (Place), 4 of this name in Onom.
Levenhull (Leamington). A curious name, not in Duignan. Its form suggests W. llevn hel, ' smooth bank.' But -hull in Midlands stands for hill, 2-5 hull(e); cf. Aspull and Solihull; so that this should be ' hill of Leofa,' gen. -fan ; several named Leof, Leofa, and Leofe in Onom. Cf. above.
Leverington (Wisbech). 1285 Liverington, 1302 Leveryngtone. Patronymic. ' Village of the sons of Leofere or Leofhere.' Cf. Liverpool. See-ing.
Leverton (Boston) may be fr. Leofhere or Lifere, 2 such in Onom. Leverton N. and S. (Notts) is Dom. Legretune, 1189 Leirton, c. 1200 Legherton, and Mutschmann doubtfully derives fr. Leofhere; cf. Layer and Liverpool. But Great and Little Lever (Bolton) will prob. be fr. O.E. loefer, some plant, now 'levers,' a rush, an iris, or the like. The forms are a. 1200 Leuer, 1212 Little Lefre, 1227 Leoure, 1326 Great Leure.
Leverton (Boston). Dom. Levretune. Said to be fr. Leofric, seneschal of Earl Algar the younger, who d. fighting the Danes in 870. But more prob. fr. Leofhere; cf. Liverton. Kirk
Levington (N. Riding) is Dom. Levetona, ' town of Leofa.' Cf. Dom. Devon, Levestone.
Lewan(n)ick (Launceston). ' Church (Corn. Ian) of St. Wethenoc or ' Winoch,’ brother of Winwaloe. See Gunwalloe.
Lewdown (N. Devon). Prob. Keltic leu dyn, ' lion hill,’hill like a lion, such as Arthur's Seat (Edinburgh).
Lewes. Sic Dom, O.E. chart. Loewas; a. 1200 Lib. de Hyda Leuwias; alsoLoewen, Leswas, Laquis. Perh. fr. an O. E.’hleow, M. E. 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). O. E. chart. Liofshema. “Enclosure of’ some man with a name beginning Leof- or Leofw-. There werem any such. See -ham, ' enclosure.' But Levisham (Yorks) is Dom. Lewecen, Levecen, where the ending is prob. a corrupt loc, ' at Leoveca's, a known name; cf. Hallam and -ham, also next. Lewston (Pembrokesh.) is 1324 Lewelestoun, prob.' Leofweald's town.' Lewknor (Wallingford) . Dom. Levecanol, Levechanole, 1154-89 Leo- vecachanoran (inflected), 1178 Levechenore, Leveckenore, 1224 Leuekenor. ' Shore, bank of Leofeca,' only one in Onom.; O.E. ora, 'bank, edge'; cf. Windsor, etc. The -ol(e) in Dom. is but another instance of its constant confusion of the liquids.
Lexden (Colchester). Dom. Laxendena, 1157 Pipe Lexeden(e). ' The den ' or ' dean of Leaxan.' Cf. Laxfield and O.E. chart. Leaxanoc.
Leyburn (Yorks). Dom. Leborne. c. 1330 Leyborne. Prob. ' sheltered brook,' O.E. hleo, ' protection, shelter,' 4-6 le, 7 ley, lay, our word ' lee ‘; it is not recorded as an adj. till c. 1400. Cf. Libbery (Worcestersh.), 972 chart. Hleobyri, ' refuge, shelter town.' Leyland (Preston). Dom. Lailand, 1140-49 Leilande. O. N. lag-r, early M. E.lah, 3l laih, Sc. laigh,' lowland.'
Leyton (Essex).? Dom. Leiendune. ' Town on R. Lea.' Leytonstone seems modern.
Lichfield. Bede Lyceitfeldensis, a. 900 O.E. vers. Liccetfelda, c. 800 Nennius Licitcsith, 803 chart. Liceidfeld; O.E. Chron. 731 Licetfelda, 1053 ib. Licedfelde, c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Lichfeld; perh. also a. 700 Bath Geogr. Le(c)tocetum, and c. 800 Nennius Cair Luit Coyt, mod. W. caer Ihvyd coed, ' fort in the grey wood.' This, however, was prob. near Welshpool. The popular derivation, ' churchyard,' lit. 'field of corpses,' fr. O.E. lie, 4-5 liche, fails to explain the early.’ But lic-cet-feld is O.E. for ' corpse-hut-field,' field with the mortuary, O.E. cete, ' a cot, a hut,' as in Datchet, Watchet, etc.
Lickey Hills (Birmingham). 1330 Leckheye. W .llechau, pron. leckay, plur. of llech,' a flag or flatstone.’G, leac.
Lidford or Lydford (Bridestowe, Devon). 997 O.E. Chron. Hlidaford, 1018 chart. Lidauorde, Exon. Dom. Lidefort, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Lideforda. ' Ford on R. Lid,' W. lied,' ' broad.’ There is no O. E. hlida, whilst hlid means' a lid; ' but lipe means ‘gentle,’ which is not impossible.
Lidgate (Newmarket). Not in Dom. O.E. hlidzeat, 'a postern,’ fr. hlid, ' a gate, a lid.' Cf. Ludgate and Foxlydiate. There is a Hlidgeat in 963 chart, re Wasing (Berks)
Lifton (Devon). 1157 Pipe Liftuna, 1283 Lyfton. ' Town of Leof or ' Leofa ‘; common in Onom. Dom. has only Levestone. Cf. Kirk Levington.
Lichthorne (Warwick). Dom. Listecorne (Dom. scribes hated a combination like ght), 1252 Lychtehirn, c. 1300 Liththorn, 1327 Lighttethurne, O.E. leoht thorn or thyme, ' light thorn.’? Thornbush with a lamp hung on it. But Duignan derives Lightwood (Cotheridge) fr. O.E. hlith, M.E. lith, lyth, ' a slope, a hill- side.'
Lilleshall (Newport, Salop). Dom. Linleshalle. It is difficult to say what name is represented here. There is one Lunling in Onom. But Dom. maybe in error, and the man's name be Lilla, as in next and in Liliesleaf (Sc), 1116 Lillescliva, ' Lilla' cliff.'
Lillington (Sherborne and Warwicksh.). Warwicksh.. L. Dom. Lillintone, later Liletun. ' Village of Lilla.' Cf. Laleham and 2 Lillingstones in Bucks; also Billing (Yorks), Dom. Lil(l)inge, patronymic fr. Lilla. See -ing and -ton.
Limehouse (Stepney). 1536 Limehowse Reche. Said to becorrup. of lime-oast, O.E. ast, 4-7 host, 8 oust, ' a kiln.' Older forms needed. Cf. Dom. Surrey Limevrde (=-worth).
Limen R. (Kent). Sic 893 O. E. Chron., but a.716 chart. Limming,? W. 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 Dom. 'Meadow, field of Limpa,' an unrecorded man; but cf. Dom. Norfk. Limpeho (ho =' height ') and Dom. Essex Limpwella; also see Stoke and -ley.
Lincoln, c. 150 Ptolemy Lindon; c. 380 Ant. Itin. Lindum; Bede Lindocolina civitas, a. 900 O.E. tr. Lindcylene; 942 O.E. Chron. Lindcylene, Lindcolne, 1093 ib. Lincolne; Dom. Lincolia, Lincolescire; c. 1100 Flor. Wore. Lindicolinensis; 1461 Lindecolnea. In W. 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, fr. O.E. lind, 'lime tree,’ but is prob, fr. a Keltic lind, 'water.' W. llynn, G. linne, ' a pool, a lake '; and the name will mean ' Roman settlement by the pool.’ Cf. next.
Lindisfarne or Holy Island (Northumberland). Bede Provincia Lindisfarorum, Lindisfarnenses ineolse; a. 800 chart. Lindesfarona. Doubtful. M'Clure thinks fr. Celt, lind, ' water ' (see above and next), and perh., fr. same root as Lombardic Jara, dwellers in the water.' The rivulet opposite is still called Lindor Lindis. The farne may come fr. G. 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; c. 1000 AElfric Lindesig, c. 1190 Gir. Camh. Lindeseia; c. 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,' O.E. and O.N. lind. Lindley (Huddersfield) is Dom. Lillai, prob. a corrupt form. But Lindridge (Tenbury) is Dom. Linde, 1275 Linderugge.
Linford (Stanford-le-Hope). Not in Dom., but cf. Dom. Bucks Linforde. This must go with Linton.
Linkinhorne (Callington, Cornwall). Not in Dom. Said to be corrup. Of lan tighern, Kelt. 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 P.G.). K.C.D. iii. 368 Lin tun, Dom. Yorks Linton, Devon Lintone. Prob. O.E. lin tun, ' flax-enclosure.' L. linum. Cf. Eng. linseed; also Lineord, Linehill Green, Penkridge, a. 1300 Lynhull, and Linton (Sc.)., 1127 Lintun.
Liskeard (Cornwall). Dom. Liscarret, a. 1199 Liscaret, Lischared, 1474 Leskirde, 1536 Lyscarde. Les-, Lis-, or Lys- is Kelt. for ' court, hall, enclosure ‘; the second part is doubtful, but cf. W. cariad, ' a lover, a sweetheart.’ G. caraid, ' a friend, a relation.' G. caraid is 'a pair, a couple.' The meaning quite possibly is ' lover's hall.'
Litherskew (N. Riding, Yorks). Not in Dom. Lither- is perh. Eng. adj. lither, O.E. lydre, ' bad, foul, pestilential,' while -skew is fr. O.E. sceaga or O.N. skog-r, ' a wood, a copse.' Cf. Askew, ' ash-wood,' now only a personal name, and Shaw. Lither-is as likely to be O.E. loefer, ' any sword-bladed plant.' Cf. Liverpool, etc.; v can become th.
Litlington (Royston, Herts), c. 1080 Lidlingtone, Litlingtona, Dom. Lidlintone, 1316 Luthngtone. ' Village of the Littlings,' or sons of the ' little ' (O.E. lytel) ' man.'
Little Bredy. See Bridport.
Littlebury (Saffron Walden and Notts). Saffron L. Dom. Litelbyria. Not. L. Dom. Litelburg,' Littleburgh.' See-bury.
Little Hay (Lichfield), a. 1300 Luttelhay, 'little hedge,’ or ' fence.' See Hay.
Littleport (Ely). Dom. Litelport. O.E. port is rarely fr. L. porta, ' a gate,’ generally as here fr. L. partus, ' a harbour.' The sea once came right up past here.
Little Ribston (Wetherby). Dom. Ripestain, Ripesten, c. 1505 Rybstone. ' Stone of Rippa,' one in Onom. See -ton.
Little Salkeld (Cumberland). 1167-68 Pipe Aide (Old) Salechild, 1189 Salekil. The latter part is O.N. kelda, ' a spring.' Cf. Threlkeld (Penrith); the former perh. represents some man's name in Sele- or Sal-; there are several such in Onom. But it may be O.E. seel, sal, 4-7 sale, O.N. sal-r, ' a hall, spacious chamber, castle.' Sale- could hardly represent salt.
Little Snoring. See Snoreham.
Littleton (7 in P.G.). Dom. Surrey Liteltone. ' Little village.'
Littleworth (Faringdon, Wstrsh., and Staffs), no old forms in Duignan, is presumably ' little farm.' But L. in S. Yorks is Dom. Scitelesworde, ' farm of Scytel ' or ' Sceotweald ‘; 1 in Onom. See-worth.
Litton, (Bath, Buxton, Skipton). a.1067 chart. Hlytton (?Bath), Dom. Yorks Litone. ' Town on the slope ' or ' hillside.' O.E, hlid. But Litton Cheney (Dorset) is 940 chart. Lidentune, ' town of Lida '; 1 in Onom.
Livermere Parva and Magna (Bury St. Edmunds). 'Rushy lake.' See next. Parva and Magna are L. 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 W. lllyr pwl, ' expanse orc onfluence at the pool.'Buti tis prob. Eng. meaning ' rushy pool '; fr. O.E. loefer, leber, ' any rush-like or sword- bladed plant.' See Oxf. Dict. s.v. levers. This is confirmed by Livermere, also by Larford (Stourport) in 706 chart, (of really later date) Leverford, and by Leatherhead, Dom. Lered, which gives the same contraction as W. Llerpwll, whilst in its mod. form we get a th corresponding to 1222 Litherpol (cf. Litherskew). W. and H. are confident it is ' pool of Leofhere,' which is certainly possible, and is confirmed by Leverington; prob. also by Leverton and Liverton. Cf. K.C.D. vi. 243 Leofereshagan, near the Thames. But this cannot be the same as Liversedge (Yorks), Dom. Livresec and -sech. This last must be simply (place of) ' rushy sedge,' O.E. soecg, secg, sech, seic; 1222 Patent R. has a Livredal.
Liverton (Newton Abbot) and Liverton Mines (Loftus, Yorks). Lo. L. Dom. Livreton, Liureton, 1179-80 Pipe Liuerton. ' Village of Leofhere.' Dom. Devon has only Leovricestone, somewhere in the S., fr. Leofric, but prob. not Liverton. See above, Leverton and -ton.
Lizard Pt. Dom. Lisart. Corn, lis arth, 'court, hall on the height.' CJ. W. llys, G lios; also Weston-under-Lizard.
Llanafan (Aberystwyth). W. llan Afan, 'church of St. Afan Buallt, disciple of St. Padarn, 6th cny., and himself a bp. and brother of King Dogged. W. llan, O.W. Ian, ' enclosure,'' then church.’ Corn. Lan, Ir. Land, lann, G. lann (Cf. Lahnbride Sc.) Lhanbride, Sc), is the same root as Eng. land and Bret, lann, ' a heath,’ seen also in the Fr. Landes. The earliest instance we have noted in England is in a Grant of 680 (copy later), to the Abbot of Glastonbury, B.C.S. 47 'Lantocal,’? =' church of St. Tecla.' Cf. Landicle, also Lampeter. In some W. names llan or lan is for glan,' a bank,'as in lan haddog (Kentchurch, Hereford), which is prob. lan haiddog,' bank of oats' .
Llanarmon (Ruabon) and Llanarmon-yn-Yale (Mold). W. llan Garmon, ' church of St. Germanus,' Bp. of Auxerre, sent to Britain by Pope Celestine, c. 430. Cf. Maes Garmon. The yn Yale is better yn Ial, fr. ial, 'an open space or region.' Cf. Yale.
Llanbabo (Anglesea). ' Church of St. Pabo.' Cf. M'Clure, pp. 57 and 59. Pabo Post Prydain was a great warrior, who latterly became very devout.
Llanbadarn (Aberystwith and Radnor). ' Church of St. Padarn,' a Breton, companion of St. David. Cf. 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 cny. Close by there are Llyn Peris and Llyn Padarn. Cf. Llanbadarn.
Llanbol (Anglesea). Old Llanvol. 'Church of St. Bol.' Cf. 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). c. 1145 Geoffr. Mon. epil. Lancarvan. ' Church of St. Carfan or Corbagni '; said to be corrup. of Germanus, who is said to have built the first monastery in Britain here. Cf. Llanarmon. The church is now dedicated to St. Cadoc. Llandaff. c. 1130 Lib. Land. Landavia. ' Church on the Taff.'
Llanddewi (4 in P.G.). 1346 Llandewivrevi, or L. Brefi (Cardigansh). ' Church of St. David,' Bp. of St. David's, d. 601, patron St. of Wales. Cf. Dewchurch.
Llanddogget (Denbighsh.). Founded by K. Dogged, who died c. 542. See Mabinogion, and cf. Llanafan.
Llandduw or Llanddew (Brecon), c. 1180 Gir. Camb. Landu. W.llan dim,' dark church, and not' church of St. David' or Deivi. Llandegfan (Menai Br.). Fr. St. Tegfan, of whom little seems known.
Llandeilo (Caermarthensh.). c. 1130 Lib. Land. Lanteliau Penn litgart ('head, end of the grey ridge,’ now Llwydabth). ' Church of St. Teilo,' Bp. of Llandaff in 7th cny.; also called Tiliaus; a very popular saint. Cf. Llantilio, also Llandeilo Tref y Cernyw (Lib. Land. Cerniu), where the latter part means ' house of Cornishmen."
Llandovery (Carmarthen). c. 1550 Leland Llanameueri. In W. llan ym Ddyfri,' church beyond or among the waters.'
Llandrindod Wells. W. = ' church of the Trinity.' It was dedicated in 1603.
Llandudno. 'Church of St. Tudno,' son of Seithengu; he was a W. saint early in the 6th cny.
Llandyssul (Cardigan). Lib. Communis Llandowssuld, Llamddussuld. See St. Issell's, and cf. Llandyssil (Mont.).
Llanelian (Colwyn Bay). Here also is Elian's Well. Elian Geimiad was a saint of 6th cny.
Llanelly (Carmarthen and Brecknock). Carmarthen .L. 1788 Llanelliw. From St. Elliw, granddaughter of Brychan of Brycheiniog. There is also a Llanelieu (Breck.).
Llanerchymedd (Anglesea). This has nothing to do with church, though there has long been a church here. It is W. llanerch y medd,' forest glade or clearing where they drank mead.' Cf. Lanark (Sc).
Llanfair (8 in P.G.). 'Church of Mary,' the Virgin. Such churches show the rise of Latin influence. Cf. Builth.
Llanfihangel Din Sylwy (Anglesea). The first part is' church of the Archangel' (Michael). The second seems to mean 'on the hill of the wide view,’ fr. syllu,' to gaze.'
Llanga doc (Caermarthen). 1285 Close R. Lancaddok. 'Church of St. Cadoc,' c. 500, who lived on an islet in the Bristol Channel, but died in Brittany. Cf. Caradoc.
Llangefni (Anglesea), 'Church on R. Cefni,' prob fr. W. cefn, ' a ridge.'
Llangollen. ' Church of St. Collen,' son of Gwynawc, abbot of Glastonbury, and then an austere hermit; 7th cny.
Llangovan (Monmth.). Fr. 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, bp. of Llandaff, who excommunicated Tewdwr, King of Dyfed.
Llangynidr (Crickhowell). It has an Eng. form Kenderchurch ' church of St. Gynidr,' or in O.W. Lanncinitir. The saint was of the 5th cny. Also old Lannicruc, W. llan y Crug, ' church at the heap or barrow.'
Llanillty (Glamorgan), c. 1150 chart. Landiltwit, c. 1350 ib. Launlltwyt. ' Church of St. Illtyd,' or Iltutus, orig. a Breton knight, who came over to the court of King Arthur, and nephew of St. Garmon. Cf. Ilston and Llantwit. Llantyd (Pembroke) gives the same name in a contracted form.
Llanover (Monmouth). 'Church of St. Govor ' or Gower, a W. saint, of whom little seems known.
Llanrhian (Pembroke), c. 1190 Gir. Camb. Lanrian. ' Church of St. Rhian,' who seems unknown. Can it be fr. Reathun or Hrethun, abbot of Abingdon and bp. of Leicester, who died c. 835?
Llansaintfraidd (Monmouth). 'Church of Saint Bride,’ or Bridget of Kildare, 453-523.
Llanstadwell (Pembroke). Sic 1594, but c. 1190 Gir. Camb. Lanstadhewal. W. llan ystad hywel, ' church of the conspicuous stadium or furlong,' which seems a curious name. More explanation is needed. Cf. St. Tudwall's Isle, Caernarvon.
Llanstinan (Letterston, Pembroke). Sic 1594. 'Church of St. Justinian,’ said to have come fr. Brittany to Wales in the time of St. David.
Llanthony (Abergavenny), a.1196 Gir.Camb. 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 Pipe Lantoeni, 1221 Launtoney, 1223 Lantonay, 1225 Lantoeny.
Llantilio Crossenny (Abergavenny). Prob. 1285 Close R. Lanthelyou, ' church of St. Teiliaw,’ of the 6th cny.; same as in Llandilo.
Llantrisant (Glamorgan). W.=' church of the three saints,' viz., Illtyd, Tyfodwg, and Gwynno.
Llantwit Major (Cardiff) or in W. Llanilltud Fawr. ' Church of St. Illtyd.' Fawr or mawr, ' big,' is the tr. of Major, L. for ' the greater.' There are 2 other Llantwits in Glam., as well as Llantood (Kemes), Valor. Eccl. Llantwyd. See Ilston and Llanillty.
Llanweyno (Herefordsh.). Fr. St. Beuno, contemporary of Kentigern, who founded a religious society at Clynnog Fawr, Carnarvon, c. 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. Cf. Trwyn-y-Gwyddel.
Llithfaen (Pwlllieli).? W. 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 fr. W. llw, ' an oath.'
Llwydarth (Glamorgan), c. 1130 Lib. Land. Litgart, 1603 Owen Lloydarch. W. llwyd garth,' grey ridge' or' cape.'
Lyncaws (Denbigsh.) W. = 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 perh. Gwarthan, who hepeld establish the monastery at Bangor Iscoed, 6the cny.
Llyn Cyri (Cader Idris). W. 'pool of the cauldron or Corrie'; cyri is hardly a Welsh word yet see Cyri.
Llyn-yr-afrangc (pool on R. Conway) W. = pool of the ' beaver.'
Llysfaen (Abergele). W. = ' hall, court made of stone.' W. and Corn. 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). Dom. Yorks Lochetun, Lecheton. Cf. Dom. Essex Lochintuna. ' Town, village of Loc.’ 1 in Onom. Cf. next. See -ing and -ton.
Lock's Bottom (Orpington, Kent). A bottom, O.E. botm. is 'a low-lying valley.' Cf. Ramsbottom. Lock is the O.E. name Loc, and is still a surname. Cf. above, 1158-59 Pipe Locheswella (Wilts), and Loxwood.
Lofthouse (Pateley Br. and Wakefield). Dom. Lofthuse, Loftose. Lot- and Loct -huse. ' House with an upper room or garret,' O.N. and O.E. loft. This name has also become Loftus, in the same county.
Lolworth (Cambridge). Chart. Lulleswyd, Lollesworth, Dom. Lolesuuorde, 1284 Lulleworth. ' Farm of Lull.' Cf. Lulworth (Dorset). The patronymic is seen in Lullington (Burton), and Dom. Kent Lolingestone.
Londesborough (Mket. Weighton). Dom. Lodenesburg, 'Burgh of Lothan or Lothen,' both in Onom. The o has been nasalized; whilst Dom. regularly makes medial th into d. See -burgh.
London, c. 100 Tacitus Londinium, c. 360 Amm. Marcell. Londinium vetus oppidum quod Augustam posteritas appellavit ; c. 610 E. Saxon coin Lundonia, a. 810 Nennius Cair Londein. O. E. Chron. 457 Lundenbyrig (=Londonburgh), c. 1175 Fantosme Lundres, c. 1250 Layamon Lundene, but ' Frensca Lundres heo hehten '; 1258-1450 Lunden, 1298 London, a. 1300 Mabinogion Lwndrys (q.v. p. 89, Everyman's Libry., for an early legend re the origin), c. 1460Londyn; also 1140O. E. Chron. Lundeniscefolc. Commonly derived fr. a Keltic lon din, ' marsh or pool with the fort,' W. llyn, ' pool, lake,' G. lon, ' a marsh,' and W. din, G. dun, gen. duin, ' a hill, a fort.' This is quite possible. W. J. Watson identifies it with Sc. Lundin and the commoner Lundy, G. lunndan, ' a green spot,' strictly ' green, wet place,' fr. a nasalised form of lad, ' a puddle,' which he thinks is prob. 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 pron., it has remained ever since. For this there is abundant analogy. The sound is retained in Fr. Londres. Cf. Ludgate and Lune.
Longmynd Range (Salop), c. 1285 Testa de Neville Foresta de Longe Munede. The -mynd seems W. mynydd, 'hill': the name may be a hybrid and the Long- be the common Eng. adj. O.E. lang, long. But Oxf. Dict, mentions a doubtful O. Ir. or Keltic long- in combinations, also meaning ' long.' But cf. Munet, and Mindton. Longdon (Upton-on-Severn) is 972 chart. Langdune, ' long hill.' Long Eye (Bromsgrove) is 972 chart. Longaneye (dat.), ' long island.' See -ey. Longthwaite (Cockermouth) may be translation of Longovicium in c. 400 Notit. Dignit. See -thwaite.
Longnor (Buxton, Shrewsbury, Leek, and Penkridge). Penkridge L. Dom. Longenalre, 1223 Langenalre, 1327 Longenolre. Leek L. a. 1300 Longenorle. Shrewsbury L. a. 1300 Longenholre, Langenalre, Longenolre, Longnore. O. E. langalor ,air,' long, tall alder-tree.' Longner-on-Severn is also the same. Longboro' (Moreton-in- Marsh), Dom. Langeberge, is ' long tumulus.' See Barrow whilst Longny (Gloster), 972 chart. Longanege, is' long island.'See -ey.
Longsdon (Stoke-on-T.) a. 1300 Longesdon. ' Hill of Lang ' or ' Long,' which have always been Eng. personal names. See -don. Longship (off Land's End). 1667' the rock called the Longship.'
Loppington (Shrewsbury). Dom. Lopitone. ‘Town of Loppa’, or Loppo,' both in Onom. Of. South Lopham (Thetford), 1225 Luppeham.
Lostock Gralam (Nantwich), Lostock Hall (Preston). Preston L. 1205 Lostok, 1296 Loestok, Lestok. Wyld thinks fr. an unrecorded O. E. hlos, same root as lot, O. E. hlot; and so perh.' place where lots used to be cast; ' O.E. stoc, stocc, lit. ' a block or stake stuck into the ground.' Cf. Hlosstede {B.C.S. iii. 449) and Loscombe (both Dorset). This is doubtful. In Dom. 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, c. 1080.
Lostwithiel (Cornwall). Pron. Los-withi-el. 1485 Lestwithiell, 1536 Lostuthyell. Many absurd derivations have been given. It is quite simple. Corn. lost withell, 'rump of the lion,’ referring to the shape of a hill here. Cf. Withiel.
Lothbury (London), c. 1515 Cock Lorells Bk. Lothe bery. ' Sheltered town,’ fr. O.E. hleowp, 1554 lothe, ' shelter, warmth.' Cf. L. Lothing, Lowestoft, and Louth. But, as we already have Lothingland in Dom., see Lowestoft, Loth- may well be the contracted form of a man's name.
Lothersdale and Lothersden (Graven). Dom. Lodresdene, 1202 Lodderesden. A Lotheivardus, or Lodewardus, or Hrothweard was Abp. of York c. 925-930. See -dale and -den.
Lothingland (Suffolk). Dom. Ludingalanda, 1 158-59 Pipe Loingeland, 1237 Patent R. Luddinglond, Ludingeland, 1459 Lodynglond. ' Land, territory of the sons of Luda ' or ' Loda.' See -ing.
Loughborough. Dom. Lucteburne, and Lucteburg, 1298 Luhteburge. Possibly this may be the same name as Lothbury. Or more prob. fr. a man's name, ' burgh, castle of Luhta ' or ' Luhha,' the latter a known form. See -borough.
Loughor (Glamorgan). Possibly c. 380 Anton. Itin. Leucaro. In W. Cass llywchyr. The Cas is said to be forcastell, and llwchyr a word for a lake = G. loch. There is a lakelike expanse of water here, anda R. Llwchwr or Llychwr. Certainly W .llwchis' pool.'
Lound (Lowestoft and Retford). Dom. both Lund(a). Retford L. 1302 Lound. O.N. lund-r, ' grove, wood.' But possibly, fr. phonetic reasons, same as lown or lound, ' calm, sheltered place '; also, of N. origin. See Oxf. Dict. s.v. Lund (Beverley), Dom. Lont, 1179-80 Pipe Lund, is the same name. Cf. Dom. Lines Lund.
Louth (Lines). Dom. Ludes, 1154-65 chart. Luda. Croxden Chron. re 1210 Percolude i.e., ' park of Louth,' 1225 Louth. Perh. fr. O.E. hlud 'loud,' 'noisy place.' Much more likely, O.E. hleowp, 1554 lothe, now in dial. lewth, 'shelter, warmth'; and so, 'sheltered, warm place.' The letters d and th very often interchange in old charters, through Norm. scribes.
Lowdham (Notts). Dom. Ludha, c. 1170 Ludam, 1302 Loudham. (It is near Ludcerce in Dom.). 'Home of Luda or Lude,' several in Onom.
Lowestoft. Dom. Lothuwistoft, later Lowistoft, Loistoft. 1455 Leystoft, c. 1600 Camden Lestoffenses. The curious Dom. form must represent ' toft ' or ' field of Hlothewg,' a name found as that of a port reeve in Kent, B.C.S. 1212, same name as that of the famous King of the Franks, O. Ger. Chlodwig, Ger. Ludwig, Fr. Lewis or Louis. This name exactly suits the phonetics of all the forms given above. Toft is O.N. topt, N. toft, tuft, ' a homestead, a house-site, a holding.' L. Lothing, Dom. Lothingland, beside Lowestoft, shows us a patronymic fr. Hlothewig, with its ending dropped, as often happens. Cf. Closworth.
Loweswater (Cumbld.). 1189 Laweswater. Perh. 'water, lake of Hloewa'; 1 in Onom.
Lowther R. (Westmorland). Perh. connected with O. Ir. lothur, ' canalis,' Bret. laouer, ' a trench.' Cf. Sc. Lauder and Lowther.
Lowthorpe (Driffield). Dom. Loghetorp, Logetorp, 1161-62 Pipe Leutorp, Luitorp, 1179-80 Luuetorp. Prob. fr low ad. Early M. E. lah (O. N. lag-r), 2-3 lah, laze. ' Low-lying village.’ See -thorpe. Oxf. Dict, has no example of low, a. 1150.
Loxley (Warwick, Uttoxeter, and Sheffield). Warwick L. Dom. Locheslei, 1151 Lochesle. 1151 Lochesle. Ut. L. Dom. ib., a. 1300 Lockesleye. A Warwick chart, of 985 also speaks of ' Locsetena gemaere,' ' boundary of the Loc dwellers or settlers,' here in gen. lCf. Dorset, etc. This is ' meadow of Loc.' Cf. next, and 1161-62 Pipe Locheswell (Wilts) . See -ley.
Loxwood (Billingshurst). Not in Dom., but cf. Exon. Dom. Lochesbera, where hera is ' wood.' Perh. ' wood of Loc'. There is one Loc, and there are two Lucas in Onom. Cf. Lock's Bottom and above.
Lucker (Belford). 1152 Lucre. This must simply be N. loeck-r, 'a brook,' a very rare type of name in Northumberland. Cf. 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-A. and Garthorpe). Stratford. L. c. 1000 chart. Ludintune, Dom. Luditone, a. 1100 Ludintune. Garthorpe L. Dom. Ludintone. ' Village, town of Luda.' Cf. Lutton and 947 chart. Ludanbeorh (Wilts). There are also Ludborough, Louth, and Ludham, Gt. Yarmouth, sic 1262.
Ludgarshall, Ludgershall (Andover, Aylesbury, Gloster). Andover L. a. 1200 Lutgershal. Aylesbury L. 1232 Close R. Lutegarehal, Luttegartshal. Gl. 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 prob., be O.E. hlidgeat, 6 lydyate, ' a postern, a swing-gate, a gate between meadow and ploughed land.' Lydiate Lane (Halesowen) is a. 1300 Nonemonnes Lydegate, ' no man's gate.'
But c. 1145 Geoffrey Monm., c. 1205 Layamon, and a. 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 Dom., unless it be one of the Ludes i.e., Lud's (place), there; 1223 Patent R. Ludelawe, 1497 Ludlowe. In W. Llwydlo. ' Hill of Lud.' See Ludgate and -low.
Lufwick (Northants). O.E. Chron. 675 (late MS.) Lufgeard, which is ' yard, court of Lufa,' 2 in Onom. But Dom. Luhwic, 1166-67 Pipe Luffewich, fr. O.E. wic, ' dwelling.' Cf. K.C.D. iv. 288 Lofintune, prob. Northants; and Luffenham (Stamford), 1166 Luffenha.
Lugg R. (Leominster), c. 1097 Flor. Worc. Lucge. Perh.connected with W. 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 Kelt., family. Cf. Carlisle. For Lugwardine 1233 Patent R. Lugwurthin, on this river, see -warden i.e., ' farm.'
Lundy I. (Bristol Channel). Not in Dom. Doubtful. May be same as Sc. Lundy; see London. This scarcely suits the site, so prob. Norse lund-ey, 'puffin island,' N. lunde, Icel. lundi. See -ey. For Lund see Lound.
Lune R. (Lancaster and N. Yorks). Lancaster L. prob. c. 150 Ptolemy Alona; also see Lancaster. Said to be fr. 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). Dom. Lustone. 'Town of Lusa.' Cf .940 chart. Lusebeorg (Wilts) and Lustleigh (Newton Abbott); the latter prob. fr. a man Lustwine; 3 in Onom.
Luton (Beds and Chatham). Beds L. sic a. 1199, but Dom. and 1157 Loitone, 1155 Pipe Luitune. Prob. ' village, town of Luha,' a name in Onom. But Lutley (Staffs) ,c.1300 Lutteleye, and Lutley (Halesowen), Dom. Ludeleia, is ' mead of Luda ' or ' Luta.' Lutley may be fr. O.E. lyt, 3-4 lut, 3-5 lute, ' little,' as in Luthebury, old form of Littlebury (Saffron Walden).
Lutterworth (Leicester). Dom. 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 Onom., only one Lothewardus, also a Leutherius or Hlothhere. See -ing, -ton, and -worth.
Lutton (Yorks, Oundle, and Wisbech). Dom. Yorks Ludton; not in others. ' Town of Luda ' or ' Lud.' Cf. Luddington.
Luxulyan (Lostwithiel). Sic 1536; also called Lan Sulian. Said to bec orrup. Of Corn. 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). Dom. Lideberie. Prob. ' Lida's burgh.' See Lydney and -bury. But Lydeard St. Lawrence (Taunton) seems to be fr. a man Lidgeard. Dom. Lidegar, 1285 Lydeyarde. Cf. 963 chart. 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 Dom. Glouc. Ludebroc perh. fr. a man Lydda; but Baddeley suspects the first part to be a pre-Saxon river name.
Lydd (Kent). 774 chart. Hlid; later, Lyde, Lide. O.E. 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). Dom. Lidiard, Lediart. 1224 Patent R. Lidiard is in Wilts. The name might be ' Lida’s da's yard,'or' enclosure' (O. E. geard) but is prob. O. E. lid-geard,' boat, shipyard' at least in some cases.
Lydney (on Severn). 972 chart. 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 var. of lea, 'meadow.' See -ley. Lye (Glouc.) has similar old forms.
Lyme Regis. Mentioned in 774. Dom. and 1234 Lym, 1184 Hist. Selby Luma, which last suggests a possible derivation fr. O.E. leoma, ' a ray of light, a flash, a gleam '; 4 lewme, lime, lym. But both here and in N. Staffs there is a R. Lyme, the latter a. 1200 Lima (other forms see Burslem), which seems to be simply O.E. hlimme, 'a stream, a river'; and this is quite possibly the origin of this town too. Regis is L. for 'of the King.' Lyme received a royal charter from K. Edward I. in 1316, when it was surrendered to the Crown. Cf. King's Lynn.
Lyminge (Shorncliffe). 804 chart. Limming, Dom. Leminges. Doubtful; prob. patronymic. There are two named Luning in Onom. Cf. next; and see -ing.
Lymington (Hants). Not in Dom. c. 1450 Fortescue Limyngton. The man's name here is prob. Leofman, var. Leman' and Lowman. Cf. above, and see -ing.
Lyndhurst (Hants), a. 1100 chart. Lindhyrst, which is O.E. for ' forest, wooded place with the limes or lindens.' Cf. Lyndon (Warwk.). a. 1300 Lynden, possibly fr. O.E. lin, 'flax,’ as in Lyncroft (Lichfield). See -den and -don.
Lynne or Lymne or Lympne (S. Kent). 77 Pliny Limnus, c. 150 Ptolemy Portus Lemanis; Dom. Lymne, 1392 Linne. Prob. Kelt, linn,' pool, lake'; but for Lemanis cf. Lomond (Sc.) and L. Leman or L. of Geneva. Lynn (Lichfield), however, is c. 1300 la Lynd, Lynde, O.E. lind, ' the linden ' or ' lime-tree.’
Lytham (Preston). Dom. Lidun. Prob. loc. of O.E. hlio, 'on the slopes or hillsides.' Cf. Hallam, Kilham, etc.; also Lythe (N. Yorks), Dom. Lid. The Lyth (Ombersley) is the same.

Mablethorpe (Lines). Dom. Malb'torp. 1202 Mapertorp, Maupertorp, Mautorp, 1318-1469 Malberthorpe, 1591 Mabberthorp. An interesting corrup.,' village of Malber,' or some such name. The nearest in Onom. are Marbert and Moefhelheorht or Madalbert. See -thorpe.
Macclesfield. Dom. Maclesfeld, 1297 Makelesfelde 1503 Maxfeld. Looks like' Matchless, peerlessfield,' fr. makeless, a. 1225make- lese, ' matchless,' fr. O.E. gemaca, ' a peer, equal, match, a make.' There seems no name in Onom. which would yield Makele, but Malton (Cambs) is 1282 Makelton; and so it is prob. derived from a man's name, as all analogy suggests.
Machynlleth (Aberdovey). W. ma Ghynlleth,' field of Cyn lleith,' in Geoffr. Mon. Kinhth map Neton. Cf. Mallwyd (Merioneth), field of Llywd'; Manest,' field of Nest,' etc.
Mackney (Wallingford). 957 chart. Maccanige, 1428 Mackeney. ' Island of Macca.' See -ey.
Madehurst (Sussex), not in Dom., and Madeley (Salop and Staffs). Salop M. K.C.D. iii. 123 Madan leage, Dom. Madelie. St. M. 975 chart. Madanlieg. Cf. Dom. Sussex Medelei. ' Wood ' and 'meadow of Mada'; O.E. hyrst, 'a wood'; and see -ley. Madeley Ulfac (Uttoxeter) is named fr. its Saxon possessor in Dom.
Madingley (Cambridge). Dom. Madingelei, 1284 Maddingele. ' Meadow of the descendants of Mada.' Cf. above, and Maddington (Wilts) ; and see -ley.
Madley (on Wye, Hereford), c. 1130 Lib. Landav., pp. 323, 324, Madle, q.v., W. mad lle, ' good place.' Though, of course, some will hold it must be the same as Madeley.
Madresfield (Worcester), a. 1200 Medeleffeld, 1275 Madresfelde. Skea tthinks,' Moeth-here's field '. Dom. regularly writes th as d.
Madron (Penzance). Fr. St. Maternus of Treves, in Chaucer Madryan; also Medhran, disciple of St. Piran or Kieran.
Maer (Newcastle, Staffs). Dom. and later Mere, O.E. for 'mere, lake.'
Maes Garmon (Mold). W.= ' (battle)field of St. German,' Bp. of Auxerre, France, who came to Britain in 429. We find a ‘Maisbele as early as c. 1145 Geoffr. Monm. ? =Maesbury (Oswestry). Cf. Llanarmon.
Magor (Newport, Mon.). W. magwyr, 'a wall'; also found in Cornwall as Magor and Maker, old Macuir.
Maidenhead. 1297-98 Mayden heth, c. 1350 Magdenhithe, 1538 ' Maidenhedde. Maiden's hythe or landing-place i.e., one very easy to land at, fr. O. E. hydde, later hyd,' a haven, a landing-place.' Cf. Hythe. Maiden Castle (Dorchester), not in Dom., is claimed as a Keltic name, which is quite unlikely. The Maiden Castle is Edinburgh, found c. 1150 as ' Castellum puellarum.' Dorset also has Maiden Newton.
Maidstone. Dom. Medwegestun; 1245 Patent R. Maidenestan; later Meddestane, Maydestan, which will mean ' rock ' rather than ' town on R. Medway,' though its W. name is said to be Caer Meguaid or Medwig,' fort on the Medway.' See -ton.
Malden (Kingston, Surrey). Dom. Meldone, prob.' swordhill' or 'dune,' O.E. dun; fr. O.E. meet, 'sword, mark, ornament.' This will be the root also of Maldon (Essex), 993 O.E. Chron. Maeldun, 1472 Maiden, rather than O.E. mdl, 3 male, ' tax, tribute.' But cf. Christian Malford. A man Mal, or the like, seems implied in such names as Malshanger and Malsworth. See Bebchanger and -worth.
Malham (Leeds). Dom. Malgon, Malgun. These are clearly old locatives of the common Yorks Dom. type. But there seems no O.E. 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, a. 1200 Melllinges, 1288 Contin. Gervase Suthmallinges. Patronymic. Cf. Melling.
Mallwyd (Dinas Mawddy). W. ma llwyd, ' grey plain ' or ' district.'
Malmesbury. Bede v. 18, Monasterium quod Maildulfi urbem nominant, O.E. vers. Maldulfesburh, 940 chart. Matelmesburg, 1015 O.E. Chron. Ealdelmesbyrig; but, in latest MSS., Mealdelmesbyri, where the M. prob. stands for In. Cf. Inhrypum = Ripon. Dom. Ecclesia Malmsburiensis, c. 1097 Flor. Wore. Malmesbyriensis, c. 1160 Gesta Steph. Malmesbiria. ' Burgh of Maldulf,' 7th cny. abbot and teacher here. He was succeeded by Ealdhelm; hence arose a very curious confusion.
Malpas (Chesh. And Truro). Former pron. Morpus, latter Mohpus. Same as the Fr. Mauvais pas (O.Fr. mal pas), or 'bad path,' alongside the Mer de Glace.
Maltby (Rotherham). Dom. and 1179-80 Maltebi, 1442 Mauteby. Perh. ' Malt town,' O.E. and O.N. malt, north dial., etc., maut. But more likely it is ' dwelling of Malte,' 2 in Onom. Mallt is W.for' Matilda.' See-by.
Malton (Yorks). Dom. Maltun, Contin. Sim. Dur. ann. 1138 Maaltun, 1202 Melton. Doubtful. Might be ' malt town (cf. Maltby), but prob. ' tax, tribute town,’O.E. mdl, 3 male, See Malden. However, Malton (Cambs) is 1279 Malketon, 1282 Makelton, and may come fr. the same man's name as is prob. seen in Macclesfield.
Malvern. Dom. Malferna, A7171. Worc. 1085, Major Malvernia (' Great Malvern ') fundata est per Alwium ' or Ealdwine, 1156 Pipe Maluerna, 1362 Maluerne, W.moel gwern,' hill of alders,'or ' hill of over the moor or plain.'
Mamble (Worc). 957 chart. Momela (gen. pl.). Dom. Mamele. Keltic mam, ' round, rounded,' G. mam, ' a round, breast like hill'; the ending is uncertain. Cf. Mambeg (Sc).
Mamhilad (Monmouthsh.). c. 1130 Lib. Landav. Mamheiliad. Cf., in same book, Mamilet forest (Herefordsh.), evidently the same name and also Manchester. Mam will mean ' round; rounded '; and there is a W. heledd, ' a salt-pit '; but the name seems more likely to be W. maen heiliad, ' stone, rock for the serving [of liquor],' referring to some custom now forgotten.
Man, Isle Of. J. Caesar Mona, c. 77 Pliny Monapia, c. 150 Ptolemy (former…., Nicholsn, and same as Ptolomy… , near Wiclow. Bede Mevaniae Insulae, a. 810 Nennius Eubonia, id est Manau, 1000 O.E. Chron. Mon ege (=Mona's Isle), c. 1110 Orderic Insula Man; in Manx Eilan Mhannin. Doubtful. Earle thought O. Kelt, man, ' a place.' Cf. Akemanchester, old name of Bath, Akeman Street, Aylesbury, and Manchester.
Manacles (rocks near Lizard). Corrup. of Corn. men, moen eglos, ' rocks of the church,' perh. fr. the Church of St. Keverne on the high ground behind.
Mancetter (Atherstone). 1251Mancestre. An old Rom. station, and=next. See-caster.
Manchester, c. 380 Ant. Itin. Mancunio, v.r. Mamucio; 923 O.E. Chron. Mameceaster; Dom. and on to 1421 Mamecestre. Perh. a hybrid, ' round hill camp ' (see Mamble and -chester) but it may be fr. Kelt. man, maen, ' stone.' Cf. above and Mansfield, and Maumbury Rings, Dorchester.
Manea (March). This, says Skeat, must be ' Manna's isle,' as it once was an island. Cf. Manley (Warrington) and Manton (Marlborough); and see -ey.
Mangotsfield (Bristol). Dom. Manegodes felle. ' Field of Mangod, Mangold, or Managolt,' all forms in Onom.
Manningtree. Not in Dom. ' Tree of,' Mann, Manna, Manne, Manni, Manno, Mannig, or Manning. All, except the two last, common names in Onom. Cf. Braintree, Oswestry, etc.; and see -ing. Man of War (rock, Scilly). Corrup. of Corn. men, maen an vawr, run into one word, Menavawr or Menawore,' bi grock.’ Cf. Manacles.
Manorbier (Pembrokesh.). c. 1188 Gir. Camb. says it is ' Mansio Pyrri,' manor, estate, mansion-house of a man Pyrr. Cf. Caldy. Some think the ending is the N. boe-r,’ dwelling ' (see -by), and so the name a tautology. Cf. c. 1130 Lib. Landav. Mainaur Garth Benni, and Manor Fabon,' manor of Mabon,' Cmrthnsh. Note, W. moenor, ' district," has nothing to do with Eng. manor. Mansergh (S. Westmorld.). Dom. Manzserge. ' Hut, shieling of Mann,' here a proper name. On -ergh see Anglesark. Cf. Manston.
Mansfield (Notts). Dom. Mammfelde, Mamesfelde, 1162-65 chart. Mamefellt, 1189 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 prob. 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 W. mawn, ' a bog,' or, transferred by some ignorant Saxon fr. some neighbouring hill, and so fr. mam, now only in G. mam, maim, 'a low, rounded hill, like a mamma or breast.' But it may be fr. some man, unrecorded in O.E.; cf. Mammendorf, Bavaria, Mansfeld, Saxony, and Manchester.
Manston (W. Riding and Sturminster Newton). Dom. Yorks Mainestun, Manestun. ' Town of Man, Mana, or Moena,' all in Onom. Cf. Mansbergh.
Mapledurham (Reading). 1217 Patent B. Mapeldureham. We have mapuldur as O.E. for 'maple-tree' as early as c. 725 Corpus Gloss. Cf., too, Mapleborough (Alcester), Dom. Mapelberge, 940 chart. Mapildore (Wilts), and 1282 Close E. Mapeltreham (Chesh.); also Maplebeck (Notts), Dom. Mapelbec, and Dom. Kent Mapledescam. See next, and- ham.
Mapledurwell (Basingstoke). Grant of a. 675 Mapeldure i.e., ' maple-tree.' Cf. the name Rowantree, and above.
Mappleton (Hull and Ashbourne). Hull M. Dom. Mapleton. ' Town of a man called Maple,' O. E. mapel. Men are often called after trees,Ash, Birch, Beech, etc. It may be fr. the tree alone.
Marazion (Penzance). 1250 Marhasgon, 1309 Marhasyon, 1313 Marhasion; c. 1470 Markysowe, Marchasyowe, c. 1540 Leland Markesju, 1595 Marghas-iewe (often to-day Market Jew, a curious example of popular etymology). The name is Corn. marhas Diow (fr. De Yew), ' market on Thursday.' But Diow must have had an older form Dion.
Marcham (Abingdon). B.C.S. iii. 427 Merchamme, Dom. Merceham. ' Enclosure,' O.E. hamme, ' on the march or boundary,' O.E. mere, mearc. Mabch itself is c. 1080 Merc, 1169 Merch. Gf. next. But the cognate Eng. march is O. Fr. marche, first in Eng. c. 1290 in ' The Marche of Walis,’ Cf. Mark and Markham (Notts), Dom. Marcham.
Marchington (Uttoxeter). 951 chart. Maercham, 1004 Merchamtune, Dom. Marchamtone, a. 1300 Marchynton upon Nedwode. ' Town with the house on the march ' or ' boundary,’ between Staffs and Derby. See above and -ing.
Marden (Hereford). Dom. Mawrdine, 1232 Close R. Maw-, Mauworthin. ' Farm of'? perh. Maw, one in Onom. See -warden.
Margate. 1225 Patent R. Meregate; also Mergate; prob. 'road,’ O.E. geat,' by the mere' or' lake', now draned. For e become a cf. Derby, pron. Darby. Cf. Marfleet (Hull), Dom. Mereflet, ' river by the mere.' See Fleet.
Mark (Highbridge), Mark Beech (Eden Bridge), etc. O.E. mearc, Anghan mere, 2 marc, 4- mark, ' boundary, frontier, limit, later, landmark.' Cf. 847 Grant (Dorset), on merce cumb, and Marcham. Markyate (Beds) is ' the boundary gate' between Beds and Herts.
Market Deeping (Peterboough). a. 1100 Grant of 664 Depingge, ' c. 1200 Gervase Diepinge. There seems no Eng. sb. ' deeping or ' dippimg ' which will suit Dom., 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 cny.
Market Harborough. Not in Dom. a. 1300 Haverberg, 1517 Harborow. The Oxf. Dic. says= Market Harbour (q.v., s.v.)- But a. 1300 shows this cannot be; it must be fr. Dan. havre, ' oats.' See Haverford and -burgh. Harberrow (Hagley) is a. 1200 Hardberwe, a.1300 Herdeberue, O. E. Mercianbeorge,' herds-an's barrow or burial mound '; also cf. Harberton (Totnes).
Market Weighton (Yorks). Pron. Weeton. Dom. Wiestun. 1298 Wighton, Wyhton, Wyghton. From some man; Weah, Wigheah, and With are possible names in Onom. Dom. regularly changes guttural ch or gh into st.
Markington (Leeds). Dom. Merchintone. 'Town of Mearca,' not in Onom., 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 Dom. So this name means ' Mark's paddock,' O.E. tih, teah, teag. Cf. Great Tey. Marlborough. Dom. Marleberge, 1110 O.E. Chron. Maerlebeorg, 1158 Merleb'ga. Marl, O. Fr. malie, is not found as an Eng. word till 1372, nor merle, ' blackbird,' till 1450. So this is prob. ' Barrow, tumulus of Moerle,' short form of Moerleswegen, 4 in Onom. Cf. Dom. Wore. Merleberg. Marl Cliff (Wstrsh.), c. 872 chart. Marnan Clive, later Maranclive, Mearnanclif, a. 1790 Mar Cleeve, is ' marble cliff,’ fr. O.E. marma, here perh. rather with its meaning ' stiff clay,’ which is the meaning of O. Fr. marne, marle. Marlewood (Thornbury), in its old forms, 1221 to Leland, is always Morle-, and so prob. fr. O. Fr. morele,' night- shade,’ found so spelt in Eng. fr. c. 1265.
Marley (Bingley) and Marley Hill (Swalwell, Durham). Sw. M. 1183 Merleia and Bin. M. 1202 Merlegh, which is prob. ' meadow by the mere ' or ' lake.' Cf. Marlow, etc. But Marley (W. Riding) is Dom. Mardelei, Merdelai, prob.' marten's mead,’ O.E. meard. Dom. regularly makes th into d. Cf. Martley.
Marlingford (Norwich). Dom. Merlingeforda, 1161-62 Merlingef'-, 1454 Marlynferthe, 1482 Marlyngforthe. ' Ford of Merlin,' or perh. 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 (Sc), O. W. moel rhos,' bare moor.' Marlow (Maidenhead). Dom. Merlawe. 'Hill by the lake or mere,’ O.E. mere, 2-3 moere,4 marre, 5 mer. Cf. Marley and Martin. See -low.
Marown (Isle of Man). Named fr. St. Runy or Ronan, Bp. Of Sodor A.D. 600. Ma- is the common Kelt, endearing prefix, ' my own.'
Marple (Manchester). Not in Dorn. Prob. corrup. of mercpool, or' pool, lake at the boundary.' See Marwood.
Marr (Doncaster). Dom. Marra, 4 times, Maril once (error). Perh. fr. mar sb.' a hindrauce, obstruction,' found first in Oxf. Dict, in a.1300 Cursor Mundi, fr. O. E. merran,' to mar.'
Marrick (Richmond, Yorks). Dom. Marige, Mange (n for ri). Prob. ' isle in the mere.' Cf. Margate; but -ey (q.v.) is rarely seen as -ick.
Marsham (Norwich). Dom. Marsam. Cf. B.C.8. 496 Maersaham. Perh. ' home of Moersa.' See -ham. On marsh see next. Marston Moor (Yorks) is Dom. Merstone, prob. fr. same name.
Marske (2 in Yorks). Dom. Mersc, Mersch. O. E. merisc, mersc, ' a marsh.' Seen also in Little Marsis (Yorks) Dom. Parvo Merse, and Pickering Marishes, Dom. Oudulvesmersc, etc. But Baddiley derives Marshfield (Box), Dom. Meresfelde, fr. a man Moerwine.
Marston (12 in P. O.). Warwk. M. c. 1000 Merston juxta Avonam, Dom. Mers(e)ton, two, also near Penkridge ib., 1327 Mershton. Glouc. M. Dom. Merestune. Cf. 774 chart. ' Mersetun,' (Rochester). 'Town, dwelling by the marsh'; O.E. mersc, moersc, merisc, 4 merss, 5- marsh. Cf., too, Dom. Meresberie (Salop). Duignan gives 5 Marstons in Warwksh. alone.
Martin (Lines, Dover, Salisbury). Salisbury M. (prob. 871 O.E. Chron. Meretune), Dom. Mertone, 1227 Meretone. ' Town on the mere.’ See Marlow; and c/f Merton. Martin (Notts), Dom. Martune, on the borders of Yorks, is prob. O.E. mearc tun, ' boundary town.' Mabton (7 in P.G.), Dom. 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 Pipe Yorks we have a' Mareton,' which might be fr. O.E. mare, 'a goblin' (cf. nightmare). In 1157 Pipe Cheshire we have a ' Monte Martin,' prob. fr. St. Martin of Tours, 4th cny.
Martletwy (Pembksh.). 1603 Owen Marteltwy. The first part is corrup. of W. merthyr,' am artyr,' the second doubtful.
Martley (Worcester). Dom. Mertelai. 1275 Mertelee. No likely name in Onom., nor can it be fr. mart, 'market,' or mart, ' an ox ' (see Oxf. Dic., s.v.), so prob. 'meadow of the mart,' dial, name of the marten, O.E. meard, merd. Of. foumart and Marley (W. Riding); see -ley. But Marthry (Pembk.) c. 1130 Lib. Land. Mathru, some think to be W. mai or ma thru, ' field of woe ' (tru). Prob. it is fr. Merthyr.
Marwood (Barnard Castle), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Marawude. Mara- is doubtful. It ma yrepresent a proper name clipped down. Cf. Onom. under Mar-, Marc-, Mear-, Mearh-. Prob. it is fr. O.N. mara, O.E. mare, ' a goblin.' Cf. 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, Q. Mary landed in her flight from Scotland, 1568; but till 1750 called Ellenfoot.
Masborough (Rotherham). Not in Dom. Prob. contraction of ' Moessa's ' or ' Masso's burgh ' ; both forms in Onom. Cf. next, and Maisemore (Glouc.), 1221 Meismore, later Meyesmora, which is prob.' Moeg's, moor; ' one in Donom.
Masham (Yorks). Sic 1296, but Dom. Massan. Prob. as above, ' Massa's home'; only Dom.'s form will be an irregular loc, such as Dom. Yorks is full of, ' at Massa's.' lam, etc. Cf. Hallan, etc.
Mathern (Chepstow). Addit. Lib. Land. Martharne, Martherne, later Matharn; prob. W. ma theyrn, 'field of the king or lord' (G. tighearn), and not fr. merthyr, ' martyr.'
Mathon (Gt. Malvern). Dom. Matma, 1275 Mathine, a. 1500 Mathan. O.E. madum., madm, ' a precious thing, a valuable gift '; m and n easily interchange. Cf. Medomsley.
Matlask (Norfolk). Dom. Matelasc. 1453 Matelask. Curious name; looks hlie O.E. moete, 'small, poor, bad,' and lisk, a M.E. word of prob. Scandinavian origin, a. 1200 lesske ,5-6 laske,' the flank or loi.’ Cf. next.
Matlock. Not in Dom.? O. E. moete locq, ‘s malle enclosure.’ Cf. Porlock and above. But Matford (Berkeley) is c. 1270 Mathford, whilst Matson, same shire, is c. 1121 Matesdona, 1199 Moetehhre’s'', showing that this is for' Moethhere's down."" See-don.
Mattishall (Dereham). Dom. 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). Dom. Mannebi, Mannesbi, 1202 Magnebi, 1204 Mageneby. ' Dwelling of some man with a name in Magen- or Maigen-. There are many in Onom.. Majgenfrith, Maegenheard, etc. It can hardly be fr. the simple Mann, as in Mansergh, etc. See -by.
Mayfield (4 in P.G.). Ashbourne M. Dom. Madevelde, a. 1300 Mathelefell, Matherfield, a. 1400 Mathefeld, Mayheld. Prob. O.E. moethel felda, " held of the meeting ' or ' council.' K.C.D. 1339 Metheltun. Old forms needed for the other names, not in Dom. They may be fr. may, ' the hawthorn,'' found so used a. 1548. Meaburn (E. Cumbld.) is 1120 Maiburn;? meaning.
Mayford (Woking). 955 chart. M. Maezde forda. ' Virgin's ford.' O.E. moezd or moezed,' a maid, a virgin.'
Measden, Meesden (Herts), a. 1300 Mesdune. O.E. meos dun, ' mossy hill.'
Mease R. (Derbysh. and Warwick) and Mees R. (Staffs). O.E. meos; O.N. mose, ' moss,' found in Eng. c. 1639 meese, and still in S.W. dial, meesh. So, 'mossy' river. Measham (Atherstone) is Dom. Messeham, and Mill Meese (Stone) is Dom. Mess, a. 1400 Mulneme(e)s, which gives us the old forms of both river names. Cf. too, Measden and Missenden.
Medmenham (Marlow). Dom. Medemeha. 'Home of' prob. ' Moethhelm,' one in Onom. Dom. regularly makes th into d, and H quid l easily vanishes. Cf. next.
Medomsley (Co. Durham). 1211 Madmesl'. Prob.' Meadow of the valuable gift,' see Mathon; it is found in c. 1200 Ormin. in pl. as maddmess. If a man's name bepreferred, it maybe found in Moeldomen or Meldum, var. of Mailduf, or in Moethhelm, as above. See -ley.
Medway R. a. 1000 chart. Moedwaeza, 1016 O.E. Chron. Medewaeza, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Meodewage, 1215 Hag. Chart. Medewaye. Perh. O. E., fr. moed, ‘a meadow,’ and wga, ‘deep waters (M'Clure). But some think, W. med gwy,' water, river which is extended or full.' Cf. R. Wey and Maidstone.
Meedham (Rochester). 774 chart. Maedham. 'Home on the meadow '; O.E. moed, ' a mead '; though Dom. Kent Meddestan suggests a man's name. See -ham. Meeth (Devon) may also be fr. moed but is doubtful.
Meerbrook (Leek). ' Brook on the boundary '; O.E. moere; M.E. moer, mer. Cf. 1241 Newminst. Chart. Usque ad Merethorne. But Meresbrook (Sheffield) and Dom. Meresbroc (Salop) may be fr. O.E. mere, ' a lake.' Cf. 940 chart. Maerhlinc, Wiley (Wilts), ' links at the boundary.' Meering (Notts), Dom. Meringe, is a patronymic.
Meiford (Welshpool). Prob. W. mai fod, aspirated fr. bod, ' field with the house or hut in it.'
Melbourne (Cambs, Derby, and E. Riding). Cambs. M. chart. Meldeburne, Dom. Melleburne, 1661 Fuller Meldeburn. ' Brook of Melda.' Cf. Meldreth. De. M. Dom. Mileburne (3 times), Somerset Meleburne. There are also 1157 Pipe Meleburna (Northumberland), and another in 1158 in Wilts. But M. E. Riding, is Dom. Middelburne, Midelborne, ' middle brook.' Cf. Melton. See-bourne.
Meldreth (Royston, Herts), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Meldrethe, Dom. Melrede. ' Melda's enclosure.' See Melbourne, and Shepreth nearby.
Melksham (Wilts). Dom. Melchesha, 1155 Pipe Melchesham, 1223 Melkesham. ' Home of Melc,' or the like. No such name in Onom. See-ham.
Melling (Carnforth). Dom. Mellinge. Cf. Malling. Prob. a patronymic.
Mellis (Eye, Suffolk). Dom. Melles, and Mells (Frome)? Dom. Mulle. Cf. Dom. Melas and Mele (Chesh.). W. melys,' sweet,' is not likely; prob. all are fr. O.N. 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 Oxf. Dict., s.v. meal sb5. Cf. Melford (Sc.) and Meols. Duignan thinks Melly (Halesowen), a. 1200 Melley, to be a form of mill, O.E. mylen, 1 myll ,4-6melle if so the -ey must be a dimin. Cf. Milwich.
Mellor (Blackburn and Stockport). Not in Dom. W. maelawr, a place of traffic, cf. Maelor, a hundred in Flint., is conceivable. But prob. O. O. mel-r, ‘a sandbank, or, ‘bent grass,’ The N. nominative ending r seldom survives in a name.
Melmerby (E. Cumberland and N. Yorks). Dom. Yorks Maimerby, Melmerbi 1202 Yorks Fines Melmorbi. ' Dwelling of Melmor’; one is known in the day of King Eadred, c. 950. See -by.
Melsonby (Darlington). Dom. Malsenebi. 'Dwelling of' some unknown man, perh. Merleswegen or Merleswain. See -by.
Melton (Brough. Yorks, and Woodbridge). Dom. Yorks Modeltone 'i.e., middle town.' M. Constable (King's Lynn), Dom. Meltuna, was held under the Bps. of Thetford by their hereditary constables, the de Lyons or de Meltons. Little Melton (Norwich) is Dom. Meltun parva. M. Mowbray, Dom. 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), c. 1175 Fantosme Munbrai, 1179-80 Pipe Molbrai, a. 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.' Cf. Dom. Surrey Meldone. Meltonby (E. Riding) is Dom. Meltebi,' dwelling of Melte' or' Malte'; 2 in Onom. The n is sign of the gen. Cf. Meltham (Huddersfield).
Melverley. See Milverton.
Melynllyn (Llanrwst). W. 'yellow lake'; W. felyn, 'yellow,’ unaspirated. Cf. 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 W. main gwy, ' narrow water ' or ' strait.'
Mendham (Harleston). Dom. Mendaham. Cf. 1179-80 Pipe Mendham (Lanes) This must be ' home of Menda,' an unrecorded name. See -ham.
Mendip Hills (Somerset), a. 1100 chart, in Wm. Malmesb. Mons Munidop, 1284 Close R. Munedep, 1290 chart. Menedipp. Prob. not fr. W. mynydd; Corn. menit, menyth, ' a hill.' ' Munidop prob. means, ' enclosed land in a privileged district' see Minety and -hope. Menith Wood, Lindridge (Wore), is 1718 Meneth, but a. 1300 Menhey wood, so that the mod. form must be corrupt.
Menheniot (Liskeard). 1536 Menhynyott. Corn. maen hen Neot, ' old rock of Neot,' eldest brother of K. Alfred. Cf. St. Neots.
Menston (Leeds). Dom. Mersintone. 'Town of Moersa'; gen. -san. Cf. Marsham. The liquid r has disappeared!
Mentmore (Leighton Buzzard). Dom. Mentemore. It looks Kelt. = W. mynydd mawr, Corn. menit meur or mur, 'big hill.' Cf. Mendip and Penmaenmawr. There is no name like Mente in Onom. but an origin fr. O.E. minte, 3-7 mente, 'mint,' any plant of the aromatic genus Mentha, is quite possible, and so ' mint moor.' Duignan derives Monmore (Wolverhampton) fr. W. mawn mawr, ' great bog,' but it is 1327 Monnemere, which must mean ' lake of Monne, Monna,' or ' Monn,' all fairly common names in Qnom.
Meole Brace (Shrewsbury), Meols (Wirral), and Meols Cop (Southport). Dom. Salop Melicope, Melela. Prob. not fr. W. moel, ' a conical hill,' with Eng. plur. s, but fr. O.N. 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 O. E. cop, copp,' top, summit.'
Meon R. (S. Hants) ,and Meonstoke (Bp's. Waltham). 932 chart. To Meone. Thought to contain the same root as Bede's province of the Meanuari, O.E. vers. Meanwara, ' dwellers in Mean.’ We can say no more. See Stoke. There is also Meon (Glouc.), 1164 Muna, 1221 Meen, which must be the same.
Meopham (Gravesend). 940 chart. Meapeham, Meapham; Dom. Mepeham. ' Home of Meapa.'
Mepal (Ely). 1302-1428 Mephale. 'Nook or corner of Meapa.' Cf. above and -hall.
Mere (Wilts and Knutsford). Wilts. M. Dom. Mere, Mera; 1155 Pipe Mera. O.E. moere, zemoere, ' a boundary, a landmark,' or else mere,' lake; ' these have often been drained of recent years.
Meriden (Coventry). 1398 Muridene, 1440 Meryden, c. 1550 Alspathe, alias Myredene. Prob. not ' merry vale," but fr. miry, 4-6 myry, 6-7 myrie, 6 myerry, 7 merie, fr. mire; O.N. myrr, 4-6 myr, 4 mure, muyre, 'boggy, swampy ground.' Cf. Mirfield and the name Merrylees. See -den. Merry Brook, Cropthorne (Wore), 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). Dom. Merret. [? cf. 859 chart. Meritie stret to Senfeling forde.] Perh. ' island in the lake ' or mere, fr. Ait (q.v. in Oxf. Dict.), 2-8 eyt, ' island.'
Mersea (Essex). 895O. E. Chron. Meresig; O.E.= ' isle in the mere or 'lake'; Dom. Meresai. Cf. Dom. Mersse (Salop), Merse (Bucks), and Merestone, now Merston (Isle of Wight); also Merstowa (Somerset), 1231 Patent R. See- ea.
Mersey R. a. 1100 Maerse. Doubtful. Prob. 'river of the boundary,' from O.E. (ge)moere, ' boundary, march,' and ea, e, 1-3 oe, 'river.' The Mers- may be fr. 'marsh,' O.E. mersc, merisc. Cf. Dom. Cheshire Mersham, also name of avillage near Ashford, and 1179-80 Pipje Mershon (Yorks). Cf., 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. Dom. Merstan. Prob. ' stone at the boundary '; O.E. moere (gemoere) stan; -an easily becomes -ham (q.v.).
Merthyr Tydvil or Tydfil. W. for' martyr Tydvil.' She was daughter of Brychan, Keltic chief in S.Wales in 5th cny. With her father and brother she was murdered here, and a church was erected in her memory. Cf. Merthyr Cynog (Brecon). C, son of Brychan, was murdered by the Saxon pagans. The same root is prob. found corrupted to Marthrey (Pembrk.), c. 1130 Lib. Land. Marthru, Mathru; c. 1190 Gir. Camb. Martru.
Merton (Surrey and Dolton, Devon). Surrey. M. O.E. Chron. 755 Merantun, is ' town of the mare ' ; O.E. mere, meran ; Dom. Meretoni. Other Mertons e.g., Dom. Devon Mertone,will be= Marton.
Messingham (Brigg). Sic a. 1100 chart. A patronymic, as shown by Messing (Kelvedon). There is one monk Messa, gen.-san, in Onom. Cf. Great Massingham (Kings Lynn), 1179-80 Pipe Mesington (Yorks), and K.C.D. 721 Maessan wyrth. Also cf. Missenden.
Mesty Croft (Wednesbury). Prob. 'field, little farm of Meste.' Cf. Dom. Derby Mestesford.
Methley (Leeds). Dom. Medelai. As Dom. for Middleton is Medeltone, this is prob. ' middle meadow,' the Meth. being influenced by O.N. mith-r, ' mid.' Cf. Middop (mid hope,' q.v.). Craven; Dom. Mithope; and Dom.Yorks' Mith Hundret’ i.e., Middle Hundred.' See -ley.
Mexborough (Rotherham). Dom. Mechesburg. Prob.1202 Yorks Fines Merkisburg, Morkisburg ; 1206 Merkesburgh. ' Burgh, fort of,' it is not certain what; perh. some name in Mearc- or Marc-, if the latter identification be right. But if Dom. is right, then fr. some man Mecca, Mecco, or Mecga, all names in Onom. See -boro'.
Micheldever (Winchester). Dom. Miceldevre. Looks hke O.E. micel, 'great'; Sc. muckle; and Kelt. dever, 'water, river.' Cf. Dover. There is no river nearer than the Itchen. 1322 ' le Mikeldor de Yowberg ' (Wastwater), and 1160-61 Pipe Hants Micheldene. There is another Micheldean, old Mucheldene (Forest of Dean)
Michelney or Muchelney (Somerset). Dom. Michelnin, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Micelnei, c. 1114 O.E. Chron. Myclanize. island,' O.E. great island. O. E. iz. The n is the accus. inflexion.
Mickleby (Yorks). Dom. Michelbi. Mickleham (Dorking). Dom. Michelham. Micklethwaite (W. Riding). Dom. Muceltuoit, Mucreltuit, 1202 Fines Miclethwaite, Mikelthwaite. Mickleton (Campden, Glouc). 1005 chart. Micclantun, Dom. Muceltune; whilst M. (Yorks) is Dom. Micleton. All fr. O.E. micel, micle, mycel, 'great'; in Sc. muckle. See -by, -ham, -thwaite, and -ton. Middlesborough. Si l58(5. Prob.' Maildufs town.' Cf.Malmesbury ;and see-borough. But, of course, Middleham (Yorks), Dom. Middelha', is ' middle house,' and Middlewich (Chesh.) the same, though, by a scribe's freak, Dom. spells it Mildestvie. Middlesex. 1011 O.E. Chron. Middelseaxe, 1087 ib. Middelsex. ' Land of the Middle Saxons.' Cf. Essex, Sussex, Wessex.
Middleton (21 in P. G.). Tamworth M. Dom. Mideltone, King's Lynn M. Dom. Middeltona, etc. Cf. Milton. We find Mideltun, Middeltun. 19 times in Yorks Dom., whilst Middleton (Morley) is Dom. Mildentone,' town of Milda.' Cf. Melbourne.
Midgham (Berks). K.C.D. iii. 193, 196 Mieghsema gemaera; Dom. Migeham, 1316 Migham. Cf. 1161-62 Pipe Migehal close by. ' Home of the midges '; O.E. mycg, micg. See -ham.
Midgley (Luddenfoot, Yorks). Dom. Micleie. O.E. micel, 'great ledge' and leah' meadow.'Migley (Co. Durham) 1183 Migleia, is prob. the same name. Cf. Mitcham. The dg is palatalized c, cf. Badgeworthy.
Mildenhall (Suffk. and Marlboro'). Suffolk M. Dom. Mildentune and Mitdenehalla (t for l), 1158-59 Pipe Mildehala. Marlboro. M. Dom. Mildenhalle. ' Corner of Milda,’ one such woman in Onom. See -hall.
Miles Platting (Manchester) . Miles is presumably a man's name. Platting is ' a small footbridge.' See Oxf. Dict. (s.v.).
Milford Haven, c. 1190 Girald. Milverdicus portus (harbour), c. 1425 Melyford, c. 1450 Mylford, 1593 Millford Havon. Milford is prob.= Melford (Sc), 'sandy bay' or 'fjord,' N. mel-r, 'a sand-dune ' or ' sandbank and fjord. Cf. Waterford. The -icus, c. 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)I sDom. Mileford, ' ford at the mill '; O.E. mylen and myll.
Millbank (London). Sica.1560.
Millington (Yorks). Dom. Mileton, 1206 Fines Milington. ' Town of Mile ' or ' Milo '; 4 of the latter in Onom. See -ing.
Millom (S. Cumberland). Old forms needed. Perh. mill-holm, a ' holm,’ O.E. and Dan. holm, O.N. 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 P.O.). Some of these are prob. 'mill-town,' but M. Kent or Essex is 893 O.E. Chron. Middeltun, c. 1120 Henr. Hunt. Middletune. Milton Abbey (Dorset) is also old Middletune, so is Milton (Cambs), while Milton (Abingdon) is Dom. Middeltune, 1291 Middelton, c. 1540 Milton. Milton (Cumbld.) is 1230 Muleton, which is O.E. mylen, 3-4 mnlle, 'a mill.' Milburn (Pontefract) is 1201 Milneburn, or 'mill-brook.' Cf. Middleton.
Milverton (Warwick and Somerset). Warwick M. Dom. Malvertone, a. 1200 Melvertone, Mulvertone. Somerset M. c. 1043 chart. Milferton, Dom. Milvertone. ' Village, town of Milfer.' Cf. Melverley (Salop).
Milwich (Stone). Dom. Melewiche, a. 1200 Mulewich. 'Village, dwelling with the mill.' See Milton and -wich.
Mimms (Herts). Dom. Minimise, 1278 Mymmys. This is simply ' abode of the Mimmas.' Onom. has only Minna. This is an abnormal name.
Mustard (St. German's). Corn. Min arth,' edge of the height.' Cf. Miniard (Worcs.), where the central i will be the y of the W. article. Not the same as Minard (Sc).
Minchinhampton (Stroud). Dom. Hautone, a. 1300 Munnechenhampton, Monnekenhampton, Mynchynhampton, Munchunhampton i.e., Hampton— 'hometown of the monks'; O.E. monec, munec, here gen. pl. Cf. Grant a. 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. W. mynydd ; Corn. menit, ' hill and G. druim, ' hill-ridge.' Drum'; is very common in Sc. placenames, cognate with L. dorsum, ' back.' Cf. next.
Mindton or Minton (Salop). Dom. Munetune. Prob. not hybrid, 'town beside the hill' (the Longmynds); W. mynydd; Corn. menit, ' a hill.' But, like Minety (Wilts), not in Dom. and not - in a Kelt. region, it will prob. go with Meend, a name common in Forest of Dean, 1263 Mihinde, 1281 La Munede, 1303 Miinde, now derived by Rev. A. L. Mayhew fr. an O.E. or rather Anglo- Nor. form of low L. munita, for immunitas, ' privileged district, one free from seignorial rights.' Cf. Mint (Westmld.), Dom. Munet, and Munet.
Minshull Vernon (Cheshire). Dom. Manessele, Manesshale. 'Nook, corner of Manne ' or ' Man(n)a,' a common name in Onom. This is one of the very rare cases where -hull is really -hall (q.v.).
Minskip (York). Dom. Minescip. Must be rendered like Inskip.
Minsterley (Shrewsbury). Dom. Menistrelie. ' Church meadow.' Cf. Minsterworth (Glouc.), 1221 Munstreworthe, and Dom. Notts Ministretone, now and since 1316 Misterton. See -ley, -minster, and -worth.
Minworth (Birmingham). Dom. Meneworde, a. 1200 Muneworth, a. 1400 Myneworth. No name Mene, Mine known; and O.E. mene, myne is ' a necklace, an ornament ' Manne; see Minshull. See -worth.; but there is a name Manne; see Minshull. See worth.
Mirfield (Yorks). Dom. Mirefeld, Mirefelt; 1202 Mirfeld? 1297 R. Glouc. 520. ' The churche founded in a miry place, called muryfelde'; fr. Icel. myrr, myri,' swamp, fen, a(quag) mire.'
Missenden, Great and Little (Bucks). Dom. Missedene and Missevorde. Perh. ' Vale of Missa ' or ' Messa '; one in Onom. Cf. Messingham; and see -den. However, they are on a little R. Mise, which, if not a back formation, is prob.= Mees. There is also a Misson (Bawtry), Dom. Notts Misne, 1278 Misin, which is prob. an old loc. 'at Missa's' (place). Misserden (Glouc.), old Musardere, Mursader, seems to be fr. a foreign family of Musard.
Mitcham (Surrey). Dom. Michleham, later Miecham, Micham. O. E. micelham,' large house.' Cf. Mickleham, Midgley, and Mitcheldean (Glouc.). See-dean.
Mitchell (New Quay). Old Modishole. A curious corruption: certainly nothing to do with St. Michael. Prob. 'Hole of Modred,' a Corn. name, also spelt Medraut, and name of K. Arthur's treacherous nephew. But Mitchel (Wolverhampton) is 1332 Mucheale, 'great hall ' or 'big nook.' See -hall. Much in M. E. was used for' great, large,'as in Much Wenlock.
Mite R. Prob. =Mythe.
Mitford (Morpeth). Prob. ' ford at the water's meet.' See next; and cf. Mutford and 940 chart. Mypford (Wilts).
Mitton (Blackburn, Warwick, Penkridge, Stourport, Tewkesbury). Stourport M. 841 chart. Mythun, Dom. Methune, 1275 Mutton. Tewkesbury M. 964 chart. Myttune, 965 ib. Muctone (c common error for t), 1033 Mytune. Warwick M. Dom. Mutone, a. 1300 Mutton. Penkridge M. Dom. Muitone, Moitone; also Dom. Salop Mutone. O. E. (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. Cf. Mitford, Mythe, and Myton; also see -ton.
Mixen (Leek), 1219 Mixne, and Mixenden (Halifax), not in Dom. O.E. mixen, mixne, ' a dunghill, a midden.' Cf. Mixerne (Winchcombe), 1300 Blakemixerne (O.E. em, ' house '). See -den.
Mobberley (Knutsford). Dom. Motburlege. 'Meadow of Modbeorht '; 2 in Onom. See -ley.
Mochdre (Conway). W. (and Corn.) moch, pl. of mochyn,' a sow'; dre must be for W. tre, ' house, shed,'
Modbury (Ivybridge). Cf. Dom. Devon Modlei. ' Burgh of Mod,' or some o fthe many names in Mod-. Onom.has one Moding, the patronymic.
Moddershall (Stone). Dom. Modredeshale. 'Nook of Modred,' a well-known name. See-hall.
Moelfre (Menai and Oswestry). W.= '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 fr. mo -alt; Norm. Fr. Mont haut or Monthault. The Norman Roger de Montalto is found here in 1244. L. mons altus means ' high hill.' Cf. Melton Mowbray, and Montgomery. The name prob. is a translation of the W. name Gwyddgrug, ' conspicuous hill.' Also cf. Hainault.
Mole R. (S. tributary of Thames). It is a river that burrow slike a mole; M. E. mulle, molle; M. Du.mol. Not found in Eng. till 1398. But Mole Cop, hill, N. Stafford, is prob. tautology;W. moel, 'a bare, rounded hill'; and O.E. cop, 'a summit.’ See Cassop. It maybe Dom. Melicope (Salop).
Molesworth (Hunts). Dom. Molesworde. 'Farm of Moll'; four in Onom. Cf. Dom. Essex Molesham, ib. Bucks Moleshov, ib. Yorks Molescroft; and see -worth.
Molland Botreaux (S. Molton). Exon. Dom. Mollanda. Prob. ' Land of Moll or' Mole.' See above. The lords of Bottreaux lived near Tintagel. Moleston or Molleston (Narberth), 1283 Moylhistonne, may be fr. a man of similar name. Certainly, it can have nothing to do with moles!
Mollington (Banbury and Cheshire). Ban. M. a. 1000 chart. Mollintun; Ches. M. Dom. Molintone, Mulintone; also K.C.D. 759 Mulantun. ' Town of Moll, Mollo, Mul,' or ' Mula '; several persons of these names in Onom. Cf., too, Molesworth and 1179-80 Pipe Molebi (Yorks). But Moilgrove (Pembroke) is 'for Mallt's i.e., Matilda's grove.'
Molton, South (Devon). Dom. Sudmoltone. 'Town of Moll.' Seeabove. Exon. Dom. also gives' Molacota.' Cf. Moulton.
Monks Eleigh (Bildeston, Suffk.). 958 chart. Illeyge, 972 ib. Illan lege, 990 i6. Illege. 'Mead of Ylla'; one in Onom. Illey; and see -leigh.
Monksilver (Taunton). Dom. Selvra, Selva. Curious name, prob. fr. L. silva, ' a wood.' Monk's Kirby (Lutterworth) is Dom. Chirchberye or ' Churchbury,' but, through Danish influence, changed by 1198 into Kirkebi. See -by. The monks of Angiers (Normandy) had property here.
Monkton (Jarrow). a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Munecatun. ' Town of the monks ' (of Jarrow); O.E. monec, munec, ' a monk.' Cf. Bishop Monkton and Monkwick (E. Riding), Dom.Moncwic. Oxf. Dict. does not give the contracted form monk or munc until the 13th cny. Dom.has 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. Dom. (Hereford) Monemuta. 1298 Monemuthe. 'At the mouth of the R. Monnow W. Mynwy,? myn gwy, ' kid '; river.' Cf. also W. mawn, ' a bog.' The shire only dates fr. 1536; before that it was part of the Welsh region of Gwent.
Montacute (S. of Somerset). 1160-61 Pipe Monte Acuto. Built by and called after Drogo of Montacute (' sharp hill ') in Normandy, temp. Wm. the Conqueror.
Montgomery. Dom. Castellum de Montgomeri, also Muntgumeri c. 1130 Eadmer de Monte Gummeri, c. 1145 Orderic Mons Gomerici, Rogerius de Monte Gomerici. ' Hill ' (L. mons, -tis; r. mont) ' of Gomeric,' a Norman; this name is unique as an Eng. or W. county name. In W. it is Trefaldwyn; ' house of Baldwin, ‘its Norman founder. His castle was taken byRoger Montgomery a. 1086, and thereafter called by his name.
Monton (Eccles, Lanes). 1478 Mawnton. Prob. O.E. Mawan -tun, ' town of Mawa '; 2 of that name in Onom.
Moorsholm, Great and Little (Boosbeck, Yorks). Dom. Morehusun, 1179-80 Pipe Morhuse. The Dom. form is an O. E. loc,' at the moor houses.' The -holm (q.v.), 'meadow,’ must be late. We have the simple Moor (Wore), Dom. More.
Morchard and Norchard (Forest of Dean). No old forms. Baddeley thinks the m and n relics of the O.E. article, ' at the orchard'; O.E. oet thoem ortgearde. Dom. has an Orcartone (Devon), and Exon. Dom. An Orcerdleia. But Morchard Bp. (Crediton) seems Dom. and Exon. D. Morcet(h), Morchet, which looks like Kelt. for ' big wood'; Corn. meur, mer; W. mawr, ' big'; and W.coed, pl. coydd; O.W. cet, chet,' a wood.'
Morden (Cambs, Wimbledon, and Wareham). Warenham M. K.C.D. 722 Mordun; O.E. for 'moor hill.' Cambs M. c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Mordune, 1166 Mordone, 1236 Mordene, where -dene is O.E. denu, ' valley.' Cf. Moorsholm, and Moreby (Yorks), Dom. Morebi.
Morecambe. c. 150 Ptolemy M…., which would be Keltic for ' crooked sea ' or ' bay.' Cf. Cambo (Sc.) and next. But no other early forms seem known, so this is prob. an antiquary's name.
Mobeton (10 in P.G.). Wallingford M. 962 chart. Mordun, O.E. for 'moor hill'; but Dom. Mortune, c. 1290 Morton. Dom. Surrey has Moriton, Warwick and Glouc. Mortone, while Dom. Yorks has Mortun 17 times. See -don and -ton.
Morfa Bychan, Nevin, and Waen (all N. Wales), and Morfe (Bridgnorth). Dom. Stafds Morve. W. morfa,'a marsh.' W. bych means ' a wretched being,' and gwaen, ' a plain, a meadow.' Cf. Nevern.
Morganstown (Cardiff). Morgan is Pict. Morcumi; O. Bret. mar cant, ' sea bright.' Cf. Tillymorgan. The man referred to here is Morgan Thomas, on whose land the village was built.
Morley (5 in P.O.). Leeds M. Dom. Moreleia, Morelege, Morleia, ' Moorland meadow.' Cf. Morden. See -ley.
Morningthorpe (Norfolk). Dom. 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,’ O.E. poed, but ' murder-road,' fr. O.E. mord, 4-5 morth, murth,' murder.’
Mor Ros (The Lizard). Corn.=' sea heath, or moor.'
Mort Hoe (N. Devon). Dom. Mortehov, c. 1190 Letter in Canterb. Regist. Moreth'. Prob. as above, ' murder hill.' Cf. O. Fris. morth, mord, ' murder.' Similar must be Mortham (Yorks), sic in Dom. And Mortlake. See Hoe.
Mortimer (Reading). 1258 Mortemer. Fr. 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 Dom. The' Dead Sea' origin is a myth.
Mortlake (London). Dom. Mortelega, Mortelage, c. 1130 Eadmer Murtelac. ' Murder lake.' See Morpeth. Not prob. fr. O.Fr. lac, though lace, ' pond, pool,' is found in O.E., but fr. O.E. lagu, gen. lage, 3 laze, 4-5 laye, ' a lake, a pool.' Cf. Lackford.
Morton. See Moreton.
Morville Fell (hill, Kirkby Stephen). Looks like a reduplication, ' moor (O. E. mor), ' fell.' See -fell. '
Morwinstow (Bude). 1536 Morwynstow. 'Place,' O.E. stow, ' of Morwine '; one such in Onom. Cf. Padstow.
Moseley (Birmingham and Worcester). Worcester M. 816 chart. Moseleage, 851 ib. Mosleage. Birmingham M. Dom. Museleia. O.E. mose or meos leah, ' moss ' or ' mossy lea.' Cf. Dom. Bucks Moslei, Muselai, and Mossley Hill (Liverpool).
Mostyn (Flint). Prob. 1301 chart. Moston. Can it be W. mws twyn, ' foul, stinking hillock '? T. Morgan suggests, corrup. of W. maes ddin,' field of the fortress.'
Mottingham (Eltham, Kent). O.E. chart. Modingahema and Modingehamme. ' Enclosure of Moding,' one such inOnom. or' of the sons of Mod' or' Mot.' See -ing and -ham,' enclosure.'
Mottisfont (Romsey). Dom. Mortesfunde. 'Spring or fountain.' L. fons, fontis, ' of Morta '; one in Onom. Cf. Bedfont.
Moulin Huet (Guernsey). Eng. pron. moolin whet. It is Fr. for' mill of the little grey owl 'or as likely. Huet is dimin. of Hugh, hence our name Hewett.
Moulsford (Wallingford). Chart, Mullesford. 'Ford of Mul or Mul ‘; 4 in Onom.
Moulton (8 in P. O.). Middleton Tyas M. Dom. Moltun. Northampton M. Dom. Moltone. Spalding M. 1272 Muleton. ' Village of Mula' or' Mola.' See above.
Mountain (Bradford and Pembroke). Pembroke M. is 1603 Muncton, ' monk town.' Dom. Yorks has many ' Monuchetones,' but J. H. Turner identifies all with various Monktons.
Mousehole (Penzance), c. 1600 Carew Mowgehole. If the name has ever been different from what it now is, it is hard to say what it can be corrup. of. There is nothing like mowge in Oxf. Dict., nor any spelling of mouse with g.
Mowl Cop (Cheshire). Tautological hybrid. W. moel, G. maol, ' a rounded or conical hill ‘; and O.E. co]), copp, ' head, summit, hill.'
Mowsley (Rugby). Prob.' Mula’s mead.' Cf. Mowthorp (Yorks), Dom. Muletorp; see -thorpe; and Moulton.
Moxhull (Coleshill) and Moxley (Wednesbury). a. 1300 Mukeshull, a. 1400 Mockeslowe, Mox(e)lowe. 'Hill' and 'burialmound of More.' Hull is regular in Mid. names for ' hill ‘; and see -low and -ley. But Moxby (Yorks) is Dom. Molzbi, Molscebi, 1158-59 Pipe Molesbi, 1183 Molseby, ' dwelling of ' some unrecorded ' Molsc'
Moye (Channel Isles). Common name for 'a dangerous point.' Fr. moie is lit. ' a mass of stones.'
Much Wenlock (Salop)). Dom. Wenloch, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Waneloc. ' Much ' is early M.E. muche, moche, meche, miclie, short form of muchel or michel, Sc. mickle, muckle, and is frequent in early use for ' great, large.' Cf. Much Dewchurch, Much Hoole (Preston), Much Marcle (Glouc.), ' boundary (O.E. mearc) hill,' etc. Much Wenlock in 17th cny. is also More Wenlock. ' Waneloc ' is O.E. ween (short for woezen) loca, ' waggon, wain enclosure.' Cf. Matlock.
Mucklestone (Mket. Drayton). Dom. Moclestone, 1253 Muklestone. Prob. 'big stone'; O.E. micel, mycel, 'great, large'; possibly fr. a man Mucel. Cf. Micheldever, etc. Muckley Corner (Lichfield)isa. 1600 Mucklow, which may mean' great mound.' See -low; cf. Mucklow Hill (Halesowen), 1424 Mokelowe, Moghlowe.
Mumford (S.E. Bucks). Not in Dom. The personal name Mumford is corrup. of the Norm. Montfort, but this may not be the same. Cf. Mundford.
Muncaster (Ravenglass). Old Meolcaster, 1290 Mulcaster. Good illustration how almost any of the liquids, like l and n, may interchange. The first syll. might be W. moel, ' a conical hill,' but it is prob. fr. O.N. mel-r, 'a sand dune,' a 'meal.' See Mellis, and -caster,' fort ‘, also cf. next.
Mundesley (Norfolk). Dom. Muleslai, c. 1150 Mulesle, 1444 Moneslee. An exact parallel to the above; and d readily suffixes itself. The orig. name seems to have been ' Mul's meadow.' Onom. 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 972chart, nearby. Cf., too Dom. Kent Mundingehiam. See-ley.
Mundford (Norfolk). Dom. Mundeford. Prob. ' protected ford,’fr. O.E. mund, ' protection.' But Mumfords and Mundesley. Mundham (Norfolk). Chart. Mundan ham, 'home of Munda.' Cf. B.C.S. 1282 Mundes den, and above.
Munet (Clun, Salop). Dom. Munete. Perh. Corn. menit, W. mynydd, 'hill.' Cf. Mynyd Eidden, O.W. for Edinburgh; but more prob. it is fr. Munita, as in Mindton. Mynytho (Carnvnsh.) is corrup. of W. mynyddoed, ' mountains.'
Muston (Filey and Nottingham). Filey M. Dom. Mustone, 4 times. No. M. not in Dom. Prob. ' town of Mus,' 1 in Onom. But N. and S. Muskham (Newark), Dom. Musclia, 1314 Suthe Muskham, must be fr. a man Musca, or the like. Onom. has only Mocca ; but cf. Muschenheim, old Muscanheim, Hesse.
Muswell Hill (N. London). Old Mustwell, O. E. must, L mustum, ' new wine.' There is one Mus in Onom. But Musters (Co. Durham) is 1130 de Monasteriis i.e., ' monasteries.'
Mutford (Beccles). Dom. Mitteforda, c. 1460 Motford. Mitford, ' ford at the waters' meet '; O.E. (ge)mythe. Cf. Mitton.
Myddle (Shrewsbury). Not in Dom. Perh. W. midd dol, 'enclosed place in the meadow.' W. also has midlan, ' enclosed place, lists,' and middi,' a pit in a river.'
Mythe, The (Tewkesbury). Not in Dom. Prob. O.E. (ge)mypa, ' place where 2 rivers meet,' here the Avon and Severn. M'Clure prefers to derive fr. O.E. muth, dat. mythe, cognate with O.N. munn-r, Dan. inund, ' mouth, river-mouth.' The R. Mite (Eskdale, Cumbld.) is prob. the same word. Cf. Mitford and Mitton, Myton-on-Swale is Dom. Mitune, O.E. mythan (see Mitton); and Myton (Hull), Dom. Mitune, will prob. be the same, though some derive fr. O.N. my, ' a midge,' so ' tiny town.'

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

Nacton (Ipswich). Dom. Nachetuna, 1455 Nakton. Doubtful. No very likely name in Onom., so perh. 'town at the neck'; O.E. hnecca, in 4 nak, O.N. hnakki. Da. nakke, mid. Du. nac, ' neck.' ' Neck of land ' is not found till 1555. See Necton for possibility of being fr. an unrecorded man Nece.

Nafferton (Driffield). Dom. Naffarton. Nadfar must represent some unrecorded man' s name. Onom. has a Nothfrith and a Nothbeorht, which are conceivable as origins.

Nailbourne (Canterbury). B.C.S. ii. 172 Naeglesbvirna, c. 1480 Warkworth Naylborne. ' Nail's brook/ the sb. 7iail, O.E. noegel, here being used as a personal name, as in Naelesbroc and Naeglescumb, in B.C.S. Cf. Nailslea (Bristol), 740 chart. Neglesleah, Nailstone (Nuneaton), and Nailsworth (Stroud). See-ea and -worth; also Eylebourn in Oxf. Dict., where a 'Nailbourne' is interpreted in several quotations as a sort of intermittent spring or stream.

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

Nantyffin (Crickhowell). W.=' brook of the boundary'; L. finis. See above. It is close to the boundary of Wales.

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

Nantysaeson (Montgomy.). W.=' brook of the Saxon,' or Englishman. G. Sassanach.

Napton (Rugby). Dom. Neptone. ' Town on the crest of the hill' O.E. cnoep, the Bible knop, 'a knob, protuberance, button'; Icel. knapp-r, Dan. knap, knop.

Nar R. and Narborough (Swaffham). Dom. Nereburh ,c. 1150 Nereburg. ' Burgh, fort on the narrow river '; Fris. nar, O.E. neara, neare ,3-4 nare, var. of nearu, 'narrow.' There is alsoa Narborough (Leicester) on R. Soar; not in Dom.

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

Naseby (Rugby). Dom. Navesberie, 'Burh' or 'burgh,' now changed to' dwelling, of Hnoef, 'a known Dan. name, in Onom. See -by.

Nash (Stony Stratford, Glouc.) and Nash Mills (Hemel Hempstd.). All prob. for M. E. atten ashe,'at the ash-tree.' Cf. Prinknash, (Painswick), 1121 Prinkenesche. But Nash (Newport, Mon.), and prob. once in Glouc. too=Nass on Severn, O.E. and Dan. noes, O.N. nes, ' promontory, headland.'

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

Naze, The (N. Sussex). 14 . . . Sailing Directions The Naisse, the Nasse. It may also be Eadolfes naesse in 1049 O.E. Chron., or that may be Dungeness, called Naesse a few years later. The word is almost certainly contained in Dom. Essex Nessetocham, Nasestoca, or Ness Stoke. Oxf. Dict, derives fr. O.E. noes, nes, O.N. nes, Sw. nas, ' promontory, headland.’ related to O.E. nasu, M.E. nase,' nose.' But it is prob. fr. nasu, found 1390 nase, c. 1407 nasse. O.E. noes gives ' ness,’ which is so common in this quarter—Orford Ness, Eastness, Foulness, etc. Cf. Totness, 1297 Tottenays, Nesscliffe, and Gronez, Rouge Nez, etc., Channel Islands.

Neasham (Darlington). 1203 Nesham; cf. Dom. Salop Nessham. Prob. ' home on the ness ' or ' naze.' O.E. noes, O.N. nes, ' a promontory,' cognate with nose. Cf. above.

Neath. Perh. c. 380 Ant. Itin. Nido. In W. Nedd--i.e. ' nest L. nidus. Cf. Nedd (Sc.) and Needwood. The root idea seems to be ' place of rest, abode.'

Nechells (Birmingham and Wolvermptn.). In both cases a.1300 cle Echeles, les Echelis, c. 1500 Nechels, later ' Echells otherwise Nechells.' This seems O. Fr. echelles, 'ladders, stairs,' implying a two-storied house, ? with outside stair. The n is fr. the old art. atten, 'at the,' as Nash is atten Ash, etc. There are several other Etchells in Chesh. and elsewhere in Midlands.

Necton (Swaffham). Dom. Neketuna, 1160-61 Pipe Necheton, 1167-68 ib. Neketona, 1298 Neketon, 1472 Neyghton. Seems to be 'town at the neck or pass'; O.E. hnecca, 'neck.' Gf. Nacton. But though there is no likely name in Onom., it is prob. fr. some man. Cf. 1179-80 Pipe Neckesford and Nekesfeld (Yorks).

Needles, The (Isleof Wight), c. 1400 Anc. Pet. Les nedeles del Isle de Wight. O.E. 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.). a. 1200 Nedwode. Prob. 'wood of Nedda.' Cf. K.C.D. 624 Neddan leah. Duignan suggests W. nedd, nydd, ' a dingle, a resting-place.' Cf. Nidd (Ripon), Dom. Nit.

Neen Sollars (Cleobury Mortimer) and Neenton (Bridgnorth). Dom. Nene. Doubtful; perh. same as next. It can hardly be fr. Neavana, or Nafana, d. 1016. See O. E. Chron.

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

Nesscliffe (Shrewsbury). 'Fr. ness or Naze, 'promontory.' Such may be far inland, as in Great and Little Ness, in same shire. Cf. Dom. Nessham. In Yorks we have the simple Ness, Dom. Nesse, and also Neswick, Dom. Nessewic; see -wick. But Neston (Chesh.), Dom. Nestone, might perh. be fr. Nest, found, e.g., as name of a daughter of Gruffydd, King of Wales.

Netherton (5 in P.G.). Pershore N. 780 chart. Neotheretune. Persh. and Dudley N. Dom. Neotheretune. Pothbury N. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Nedertun. 'Lower town'; O.E. nioperra, nipera, 3 neothere, 5-6 neder,' nether.'

Netley (Southampton). O.E. Chron. 508 says called Natanleaga ('Natan's meadow'), after a British King Natanleod, slain near there in 508; Dom. Nataleie. Cf. 1161-62 Pipe Netha (Hants).

Nettlestead (Maidstone). 939 chart. Netles stede, O.E. for 'nettles' place.' Onom. gives no personal name Nettle, yet Nettleham (Lines), Nettlestone, and Nettlesworth (Chester- le-Street), also Nettleworth (Notts), c. 1300 Nettelwurd. But the plant seems plain enough in Nettlebed (Henley) and ' Netelcumb,' Dom. Devon.

Nettlestone (Ryde). Dom. Hotelstone, error for Notelstone. 'Stone,' or more prob., 'town of Nothhelm,' a name fairly common in Onom. See-ton.

Nevern R. (N. Pembrokesh.). 1603 Owen.Ysh nyver. In Bain says= Naver (Sc.), fr. Kelt, nav, snav, G. snamh, ' to flow, swim.'

Newark. 1066 chart. Newarcha, Dom. Newerche, Newerca, 1154-66 chart. Niwerca, Newerc. ' New work or fort.' Cf. bulwark, outwork, and Wark.

Newbald (Yorks), Dom. Niwebolt; Newbold (Tredington), 991 chart. Nioweboldan; and Newbold Abbey (Congleton), Dom. Newbold. There are 4 other Newbolds in Warwk. Dom Newebold, Niwebold, and several elsewhere. Newbold-on-Stour is 991 chart. Niowebolda, a. 1200 Newebolt, 1275 Newebold. Newbold (Kinoulton) is Dom. Neubold. O.E. niwe bold, ' new dwelling.' Cf. N. bol, O.E. botl, ' house,' and Newbiggin.

Newbiggin (5 in P.O.). 1183 Newbiginga (Darlington). 'New building.' Biggin is N. Eng. and Sc. for 'building'; O.N. bygging, 'a building.' Cf. Newbigging (Sc). But, as new is Eng., not Norse, all these names must have been given by Angles or Englishmen. Newbottle (Fence Houses, Durham). 1183 Newbotill. O.E. niwe botl,' new dwelling.' Cf. Harbottle (Rothbury) and Newbattle (Sc).

New Brighton (Birkenhead). It was founded c. 1845.

Newburn (Northumbld.). a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Nywe bume. 'New brook.’ Cf. Newburn (Sc). See -bourne.

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

Newcastle-on-Tyne. c. 1097 Flor. Wore. Novum Castellum, c. 1175 Fantosme Noef-Chastel-sur-Tine, a. 1200 Wm. Newbury Castellum Novum superfluvium Tinum. Sim. Dur.tells u sit was so named when built by Robert, son of Wm. the Conqueror, in 1081. In c. 410 Notit. Dignit. it is Pons AElii, and in 1073 Munechecaster or ' monks' castle.' Newcastle -under-Lyme is 1166 Novum Oppidum (= New-town), a. 1200 Novum Castrum super Limam, which is L. for the present name. Newcastle (Pembk.) 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 Pipe Mdsex. we have a Noua firma, or New Farm.

Newent (Glouc). Sic 1228 in Close R., but Dom. Noent. Doubtful. Possibly W. newydd gwent, 'new clearing '; as likely Eng. fr. new, O.E. niowe, neowe, and went, M.E. and dial, for ' path,’ fr. root wend. Cf. Nether- and Over-went.

New Forest. c. 1097 Flor. Wore. In Nova Foresta, quae lingua Anglorum Ytene nuncupatur. Freeman thought Ytene must be connected with Jutes. 1155 Pipe ' Censu Noue foreste.' 1297 R. Glouc. 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 cny. this was also the Eng. name of Havre.

New Hey (Rochdale). 'New hedge.' See Hay, and cf. 1330 'Neweheye' (Staffs).

Newington (Glouc. London, and 2 in Kent). Gloucester. N. Dom. Neweton, also ib. Yorks, Chesh., Wore, Newentune. O.E. Niwan tun, a dat. ' at the new town.' In Glouc. it also becomes Naunton, Dom. Niwetone, later Newenton, Nawenton. Cf. Newnham.

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

Newmarch (Yorks). 1161-62 Pipe de Nouomcato, 1179-80 ib. De Novo Mercato; and Newmaeket (Cambs, Louth, Stroud, Flint). Ca. N. 1219 Novus Mercatus, 1383 Newemarket. The two names are thus the same. Market is O. Nor. Fr., not found in Eng. till c. 1120, whilst march here is mod. Fr. marche, with, the same meaning. Wealsofinda. 1161-62 Pipe de Nouomcato, Hants.

Newnham (7 in P. O.). Monk’s Kirby N. Dom. Niweham, a.1300 Newnham. Cam. N. chart. Niwanham, later Newenham, 1436 Newynham. Tenbury N. 1007 chart. Neowauham, 1043 Neowenham. Severn N. Dom. Nuneham. This is an O.E. dat., ' at the new home,’ Cf. Newington, also 1160 Pipe Niweham (Hereford). N. Padox (Warwksh.) is for 'paddocks, a late addition.

Newport (10 in P.O.). N. Pagnell is Dom. Nevport, 1297 Neuport, 1571 N. Pannel. O.E. port., L. porta, lit. ' gate,’ comes to mean 'a town, a market-town.' But see Oxf. Dict. s.v. Port sb1 and3 Paguell is fr. the Norm, family of Pagenel, now Paynell. Ralf Pagenel is found in Dom. in Somerset.

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

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

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

Newton (40 in P.G.). Cambs N. chart. Neutun. Lanes and Norwich N. Dom. Neweton(a), N. Reigney (Penrith) 1189 Pipe Niweton, Dom. Yorks Neutun, Neweton, 43 times. ' New town.' Cf. Newington. Newton Abbot (S. Devon), Dom. Niueton, was given by Ld. Brewer to the abbot of Tor.

Nocton (Lincoln). 1233 Noketon. Doubtful, but it must be fr. some man named Nok or the like, though Onom. has none such. Oxf. Dict. has more than one nock sb., but none are likely here; nor does there seem anything in O.E. which would yield Noke-.

Noe R. (trib. of Derwent, Derbysh.). Perh. a. 900 Rav. Geogr. Anava. Cf. Navione, a place given as near.? some connexion with G. naomh (nuv),' holy.'

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

Norbury (E. Salop). Dom. Cheshire Nor(d)berie, a. 1300 Northbyri. 'North town'; O.E. nord. See -bury.

Nore, The (Essex). 1049 O.E. Chron. Innan Nordmudan, ' In Northmouth' of Thames. But Nore is N. nor,' a bay with a narrow entrance.' There seems to be a White Nore near Lulworth, Weymouth.

Norfolk. Dom. Nordfolc, Norf, 1160 Pipe Norfolch, 1258-1658 Northfolk 1397 Norfolk. 'Land of the north folk.' Cf. Suffolk i.e., the North and South Angles.

Norham-On-Tweed. Sic 1183, 1461 Norame. 'North home'; O. E. ham, on the Northern border of England. Cf. c. 1100 chart. Norhamscire.

Normacott (Longton, Staffs). Dom. Normanescote, 1242 Normancote. ' The Norman’s cottage.’ See next. Cf. the name Westacott.

Normanby (Doncaster, Middlesbrough, and 2 others). Sic in spurious grant of 664 (a. 1100). Middlesborough N. Dom. Normanebi, a. 1130 8im. Dur. Northmann-bi, 1179-80 Pipe Normannesbi. ' Dwelling of the Northmen ' or ' Normans,’ who in Flodoard of Rheims, died 966, are Nortmanni; but already in chart, of 963-84 (B.C.S. iii. 367) ' Into Normannes cros.'

Normanton (6 in P.G.). Yorks N. Dom. Norma'tune, Normetune. Grantham N. Dom. Norman-, -entone. ' Town of the Normans,' or the' Northmen,' the Scandinavians. See above and -ton.

Northall or Northolt (Southall). Dom. Nort hala. 'North hall or ' corner,' as opposed to " South hall.' But holt is O.E. and N. for ' a wood, a copse.' See -hall.

Northallerton. Dom. Alvretune, 1298-1538 North alverton. See Alverton.

Northampton. 1088 O.E. Chron. Nordamtune, c. 1097 Flor. W. Northamtunensis, a. 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 '; O.E. haza.

Northcote (S. Devon) and North Cotes (Lines). Dev. N. Dom. Norcote. 'North cot or cottage'; O.E. cot, cott, 'a chamber, a hut.' North Curry (Taunton). 1155 Pipe Nordcuri, 116 1ib. Norcuri. See Curry Mallet.

North Hylton (Sunderland).? a. 1000 chart. Does clifes nord hyldan. Corrup. of O.E. hylda, dan, ' a slope.'

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

Northowram (Halifax). Dom. Oure, Ufron, 1202 Northuuerum Ufron is the common Yorks O.E. loc, 'on the riverbanks '; O.E. ofer, Ger. ufer. See Over, Hallam, etc., and -ham. Northover (Somst.) is 1219 Northovre.

North Stainley (Ripon). Dom. Nordstanlaia, which is meant to be O.E. for ' north stony meadow.' Cf. Stanley. The stain is a sign of Dan. influence. See -by.

North Stoke (Wallingford). a. 1087 chart. Nord stoke; late O.E. for ' north place.' Cf. Stoke.

Northumberland. Si cc. 1175 Fantosme, but Bede Nordanhymbri, c. 890 AElfred On Norpanhymbralande, 898 O.E. Chron. Norphymbre, c. 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 N., was never so. Cf. 1065 O.E. Chron. Wore, ' In Yorkshire and in Northumberland.' Sim. Dur. ami. 883 already distinguishes Eboracum and Northimbri; and even more noteworthy is his ' Solius Northumbriae Comitatum.' c. 1097 Flor. W. has ' Suthymbria'=Deira.

Northwich. Dom. Norwich. 'North dwelling'; O.E. wic. In W. it is Yr Heledd ddu, ' the dark place for making salt.' Cf. Droitwich and Norwich.

Northwold (Stoke Ferry, Norfk.). a. 1200 Nordwolde, c. 1220 Norwolde, c. 1225 Northwaude. O.E. nord wold, ' north wood' or Norwood.

Norton (22 in P.G.). Often in Dom. Nortone. 'North town.' Eleven times in Dom. Yorks alone.

Norwich. 1004 O.E. Chron. Nordwic, Dom. Norwic, 1297 Norwiche. O.E. nord wic, 'northern dwelling' or 'village.' See -wich. Norwell (Newark) is Dom. Nortwelle.

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

Nostell (Pontefract) . a. 1114 chart. Ecclesia sancti Osuualdi, 1119 chart. Nostell, c. 1160 Nostl'. Here was the priory of Saint Oswald, so that th ecorrup. is a verye arly one. Cf. Oswestry and St. Austell's, pron. St. Ossle's. The n, of course, comes fr. the prefixed saint. Horsfall Turner identifies Nostell with Dom. Osele (p. 37b), but this seems doubtful. Noverton (Worcestrsh.) is really Overton; it also appears as Nurton (Abberley), which in 1327 is given both as Noverton and Overton.

Nosterfield (Cambs). c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Nostresfelda. Skeat derives fr. 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 prob. Kel., for ' house in the little cave'; cf. W. ty, G. tigh, 'a house,' Corn. ogo, 'a cavern,' and W. bach, O.W. becc, ' little.' Dom. Snotingeham, a. 1190 Walter Map Notingam, 1461 Snotingham. ' Home of the Snotinga,' a patronymic. Onom. gives Snoding and Snot. Snoddy is still used as a personal name. Cf. Sneinton. There are also 2 Nottinghams in Gloster. See -ing.

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

Notton (Barnsley). Dom. Notone. 'Nut town,’ O.E. hnut. Cf. Nuttles, Dom. Notele.

Nunburnholme (York). Dom. Brunha', but 1206 Brunnum, a loc. ' At the burn ' or ' bourne,’ O.N. 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 orig. locatives.

Nuneaton (Warwicksh.). a. 1200 Etone, O.E. ea-tun, 'town on the river ' Anker, where the nuns live. A Benedictine nunnery was built here in the 12th cny. Cf. Eaton. Similarly, Nun Keeling (Yorks) is in Dom. simply Chelinge, Chilinghe, ' place of the sons of Gille ' or ' Cilia.' See -ing.

Nunney (Frome). Dom. Nonin. 'Nun's isle'; L. nunna, O.E. nunne, 3-6 nonne,' a nun.' See -ey.

Nunnington (York). Dom. Nonninctune, Noningtune, Nunnigetune. Patronymic. ' Town of the sons of Nun ' or ' Nunna,' several in Onom. Cf. Altarnun. See -ing and -ton.

Nursling (Southampton). Dom. Notesselinge, later Nutshalling. A curious and unexplainable corrup. prob. patronymic fr. some; unrecorded man. See -ing.
Nurton. See Nostell.
Nutfield (Redhill). Dom. Notfelle. ' Field of nuts,’ O.E. hnut.

Nuthurst (Horsham). Cf. 704-9 chart. Hnuthyrste (Warwicksh.), O.E. for ' nut wood.' See -hurst. Nuttles (Holderness) is Dom. Notele, 'nut meadow'; see -ley. Cf. Nuttall (Notts), Dom. Nutehale; see -hall. But Notgrove (Stow-on-Wold) is 743 chart. Natangraf,' trench, ditch of Nata.'

Nymphsfield (Stonehouse). 872 chart, and 1280 Close R. Nymdesfeld, Dom. Nimdesfelde (1287 Kingesnemeton, see King's Nympton). W. and Bret, nemet, also aspirated in W. nevet, ' a wood,' then prob. ' a sacred grove,' and then ' a temple.' There are several Nymets in Devon, as well as 3 Nymphs near Tawton. It will be noted that 'p after m is almost always a mod. intrusion; cf. Bampton, Brompton, Hampton, etc.

Oaxen (Wolverhampton). Sic 1398, but Dom. Ache, a. 1300 Ake, Oce, Oken. Prob. an old loc, O.E. aeon or acum, ' at the oaks.' Cf. Hallam, etc.

Oakford (Bampton). 1174 chart. Acforde. O.E. ac,' an oak.'

Oakham. Local pron. Yekkm. 1298 Okham. This will prob. mean ' home, house built of oak.' Oakhampton (Astley, Wstrsh.) is 1275 Okhamtone.

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

Oakington (Cambridge), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Hokintona, Hocchintona, Hockingtona, Dom. 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). Roch. O. chart, of date 774 Acleag. Staffs 0. 1004 chart. Acclea, Dom. Aclei. Beds. 0. 1166 Pipe Achelai. Bp's. S. 0. 1474 Ocle Magna and Parva; 958 chart. Acleg, Aclea, on Stour, Staffd. O.E. ac leah, ' oak meadow.' Similarly Oakworth (Keighley) is Dom. Acewrde, Acurde,' oak farm.' See -worth.

Oare (Chieveley, Berks, Wilts, Faversham, N. W. Somerset). Chievely O. B.C.8 .iii. 509 Ora, 1316 Ore. O. E. ora,' bank, shore, edge,' cognate with L. ora. Gf. Bognor, etc. But Som. 0. is 1264 Ar, perh. same root as Arrow, or? N. 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 Onom. See -by.

Ock R. (Abingdon) and Ockbrook (Derby). Dom. Ochebroc. O.E. chart. Eoccen, and in late copy of chart, 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. Mon .iv .12,who tells us that' Ridoc is the British name of Oxford (W. rhyd, O.W. rit, ' a ford,' whilst oc is certainly not W. for 'ox'). Cf. 1201 ' Yockflet ' i.e., Yokefleet (Howden). There is also an Octon (E. Riding), Dom. Ocheton, which seems fr. the same root.

Ocker Hill (Tipton). Cf. Dom. ' Ocretone ' (Notts). Perh. fr. M.E. (a. 1225) oker, O.N. okr, 'increase of money, usury'; but Duignan, more prob., suggests W. ochr, ochren,'' a side, a shelving locality.' But Ockeridge Wood (Little Witley, Worcstr.), 1332 Ocrugge, is' oak-tree ridge,'O.E. ac, 3-5-ok.

Ockley (Dorking) = Oakley.

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

Odiham (Winchfield). 1116 O.E. Chron. Wudiham. ' Home in the wood,' O.E. wudu. For change of w; to o cf. Wodin and Odin, also Dom. Essex, Oddesforda, fr. the common Odda or Oda, which gives name to Oddington (Moreton-in-Marsh). Oddingley (Droitwich), 816 chart. Oddingalea, is a patronymic fr. Odda. See -ing. Cf., too, Odcombe (Somerset) 1167-68 Pipe Devon Odecuba.

Offchurch (Leamington). 1300 Ofechirche, ‘church of Offa? The K. Of Mercia in 8th cny. Offley, in the same county, is Dom. Offeleia.

Offenham (Evesham). 714 chart. Vffaham, 860 ib. Uffenham.’ Dom. Offenham. ' Home of Uffa' or' Offa.'

Offerton (Durham), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Uflfertun. Prob. 'town on the bank, ‘O.E. obr, ofr, Ger. ufer; see -over. But Offerton (Hindlip) is 972 chart. AEflaedetun,? Dom. Alcrintune, 1275 Alfverton, a. 1600 Alcrinton, now called Alfreton, a. 1800 Affreton. A most remarkable corrup, 'Town of AEfloed,' perh. she who was daughter of King Offa,757-786. Duignan suggests that r came in through similarity of AEflaed to AElfred.

Offord (Warwksh.). Dom. Offeworde, a. 1200 Offorde. This is ' Offa's farm.' Cf. Offmoor (Halesowen), 1288 Offemore, and Pampisford; and see -worth.

Ogle (Newcastle-on-Tyne). Prob. O.W. ugl, W. uchel, 'high'; same root as Ochils, Ogilvie, and Glen Ogle (Sc). Cf. Knoyle. But Oglethorp (W. Riding) is Dom. Once Ocelestorp and 4 times Oglestorp, ' village of ' some man, the nearest in Onom. seems Ugelbert; the- bert may easily have dropped. See -thorpe.

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

Okment Hill (Devon). W. uch mynydd( Corn. menit),' high hill.' Cf. Longmynd and Ochils (Sc).

Old Man of Coniston. Supposed to be W. allt maen,' cliff-like or ' high rock.' Cf. Alltwen. As curious a corrup. is Old- barrow (Henley in Arden), 709 chart. Ulenbeorge, ' hill, barrow of the owl,' O.E. ula, -an. See Barrow.

Oldswinford (Stourbridge). Dom. Suineford, 1275 Swyneford, 1340 Oldeswynesford. O. E. swinford,' swine's ford.'

Olney (Bucks and Coventry). Dom. Olnei, Bucks; Cov. O. 1349 Olneie. Cf. K.C.D. 621 Ollan eg, O.E. for ' Olla's isle.' Also 1016 O.E. Chron. Olanige, c. 1097 Flor. W. Olanege, an islet in the Severn near Deerhurst. See -ey.

Olton (Hampton-in-Arden). 1295 Oulton, c. 1450 Oulton abas Ulverton i.e., ' Ulfr's town.' Cf. Sc. oo for wool, and Oldcoates or Ulcoates (Notts), Dom. Caldecotes, but 1269 Ulcotes, 1302 Ulecotes. ' Cots of the owl,' O.E. ula. But Olveston, close to Alveston, is 1303 Olveston, 1515 Olston, and is orig. the same name, 'AElfe’s town.'

Ombersley (Droitwich). 706 chart. Ambreslege and Ombreswelle, 714 ib. Ambresleie, Dom. Ambreslege. May be fr. O.E. amber, omber, ' a pitcher.' See Ambergate and Amberley. Or perh. it is fr. a man Amber, Ambre. See Ambrosden and Amesbury. See -ley.

Omily, R. (Hereford). Prob. W. amwyll, ' shady, gloomy on all sides.'

Onecote (Leek). 1199 Anecote, 1285 Onecote i.e., ' one cottage,’ as Onehouse (Suffk.)is chart. Anhus. But Onesacre (S. Yorks) is Dom. Anesacre, ' field of Anna ' or ' Onna,' a common name in Onom.

Ongar. (Essex) or Chipping Ongar. Dom. Angra, O.E. hangra, ' a wooded, hillslope.' Cf. Clayhanger, and see Chipping.

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

Orby (Burgh, Lines). Cf. Arbury (Nuneaton), a. 1200 Ordburi, Erdbury, 1235 Orbyri, which is prob. ' Eardulf's burgh.' See -ly.

Orcheston (Devizes). Must be fr. some man. Cf.1298' Willelmus de Orkesleghe.' The nearest in Onom. is Oric, a dux I nKent, of 9th cny. There is an ore, orke, orch, ' an ogre,' but it is not found in Eng. a. 1598.

Oreton (Wolvermptn.). Dom. Overtune, a. 1300 Overton, Orton. O.E. ofer-tun, ' upper town.' Cf. Orgrave (N. Lanes), Dom. Ourgreve, prob. 'bank'; O.E. obr, ofr, 'of the grave.' See Over. Orgrave (S. Yorks) is Dom. Nortgrave.

Orford (Suffolk and Warrington). Suffolk O. not in Dom. 1166-67 Pipe Oreford, c. 1450 Fortescue Orford havyn. Like Orwell, nearby, prob. corrup. fr. N. aar fjord, ' river ' or ' river-like firth or bay.' In N. aa sounds o. Cf. Havereord, Waterford (Ireland), etc. Warrrington O, sic 1511, may be fr. a man Ord, or contracted fr. one of the many names in Ord-.

Orleton (Tenbury). Dom. Aketune, 1275 Olretone,' aldertown.' See Allerton, etc. Alder is O.E. alor, aler, 3 olr, 7 owler, ouller. The Orls (Mathon) is fr. same root. Alder is still pron. orlin S. Salop. But Ollerton (Newark), Dom. and 1190 Alretun, 1278 Alverton, is perh. fr. Aelfweard or AElfhere.

Orlingbury (Northants). c. 1190 Orlingberge. ' Town or fort of Eorlwine,' 3 in Onom. See -bury.

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

Orm's Head (Llandudno), a. 1145 Orderic Hormaheva, a N. form of Ormes heafod or Orm's Head, or Worm's Head. Orm or Orma is a common name in Onom.

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 Dom. but is referred to temp. Rich. I., d. 1199.

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

Obslow (Staffs). 1203 Horselawe, a. 1400 Orselow i.e., ' Horsa's mound.' See -low. Orsett (Grays) (-sett= ' seat ') prob. has a similar origin. Cf. Dom. Surrey, Orselei.

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

Orwell R. (Suffolk). 1015 O.E. Chron. Arwa, Arewe; Dom. Ordewelle; c. 1386 Chaucer Orewell; c. 1450 Fortescue Orwell havyn. The 1015 forms suggest, and Orford nearby confirms, that this must be a corrup. fr. N., akin to that of Kirkwall (Sc), c. 1225 Kirkiuvagr, 1438 Kirkwaw, c. 1500 Kirkwall. The Ar- will be N. a, gen. aar, ' river,' aa in mod. N. being pron. o. The wa- will be O.N. vagr, ' bay, voe,' the liquid r having early become l, or else disappeared. So the name is ' bay of the river.'

Orwell (Royston, Herts), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Oreuuella, Dom. Oreuuelle, Orduuelle (a mistake), 1210 Norwelle (for 'atten Orewelle '), 1284 Orewelle. O.E. oran wella, ' well at the edge or brink.' Cf. Orton (Tebay).

Oscott (Birmingham), a. 1300 Oscote, c. 1615 Camden Auscote, Perh. ' East cottage,' O.N. aust-r, ' east.' Cf. Austwick. But Duignan prefers some name in Os-, Osbeorn, Oswald, etc., which may well be.

Osgathorpe (Loughborough) common in Onom. See -thorpe.

Osgodbey (E. Riding and Market Rasen). E.Riding O. Dom. Ansgotesbi, Ansgotebi, Asgozbi (z = ts)
goteby. M. R. O. a. 1100 chart. Osgoteby, 1298 Osgodeby. Cf. Dom. Osgotcros, 1179-80 Pipe Osegotecros, now Osgoldcross (Wapentake), Yorks. ' Dwelling of Osgod or ' Osgot,' common names in Onom., which also has the Norm, forms Ansgod and Ans-got. Cf. next, and Ansthryth, var. 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. Nor. O. Dom. Asmundrelac, 1197 Rolls Hosmmideslea, a. 1300 Osmunderley. Instructive forms. ' Meadow of Asmund or smund, (thee protected ' or else 'the ‘mouth of the gods'). Cf. Osborne, N. Asenbjorn, ' bear of the gods or demigods.' The ending is often -low (q.v.) or -lawe, ' hill.' Cf. Aspatria, and Amotherby, and Mythe; also Osmondthorpe (Notts), 1331 Osmundthorp.

Osney (Oxford). 1155 Pipe Osineia, 1161 ib. Oseneia, c. 1200 Gervase Osneye. ' Island of Osa,' gen. ' Osan’, common name in Onom. See -ey.

Ossett (Yorks). Dom. Osleset. 'Seat, abode,’ O.N. sceti, 'of Osla,' 2 in Onom. Liquid l easily vanishes.

Ossington (Newark). Dom. Oschintone,1162-65 chart. Oschintona, 1278 Oscington, ' Town of Osecg,' a name in Onom. Mntschmann derives fr. a dubious Osketin, var. of the common Asketill. See -in and -ton.

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

Oswestry, c. 1190 Gir. Itin. Camb. Osewaldstreu, id est Oswaldi arborem, or ' tree of Oswald,' King of Northumbria, died 642. He wa sprob. slain here by Penda, King of Mercia. 1603Owentree, Osestree. In W. Croesoswallt, ' cross of Oswald.' Cf. Brentry (Glouc.), 1247 Bernestre, ' tree of Beorn.'

Otford (Sevenoaks). O.E. Chron. 774 Ottanford, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Ottaforda, 1160-61 Pipe Otteford. 'Ford of Otta' or ' Otto.' Cf. Otham (Maidstone).

Otherton (Penkridge and Worcester) and Othery (Bridgwater). Penkridge O. Dom. Orretone, a. 1200 Oderton, a. 1300 Otherton, which, like Otherton (Wrcstrsh.), is prob. ' Ohthere's or Othere's or Otre's town.' All these forms are in Onom. Othery is prob. similar, with ending -y or -ey, ' islet.' But cf. Ottery.

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

Ottery St. Mary (Exeter). 963 chart. Otheri, Dom. Otri, c. 1200 Gervase Oteri, 1460 Otryght. ' Isle,' O.E. ize, iz, ' on R. Otter,' which is prob. O.E. otr, oter, otor, ' an otter.' Cf. Otterburn (Craven and Northumbld.), Dom. Yorks and Hants, Otreburne, 1160-61 Pipe Devon has a Fenotri? Fen Ottery.

Ottringham (Hull), Otterington (N. Yorks), and Oughtrington (Warrington). Dom. Otringeha', Otrege, Otrinctune, Otrintona. Wyld and H. connect these Ottring- names with the N. Authgrimr or Oudgrim (see Orrell), which certainly seems the origin of the Warrington name, which Wyld and H. omit. But the Ottring- names prob. are patronymics fr. Othhere, Otre, or perh. Othgcer, all found in Onom. Cf. Dom. Otringeberge and Otringedene (Kent), which is by no means a specially N. region. See -ing.

Oulton (6 in P.G.). Stone 0. a. 1300 Oldeton, Oldingtor. Possibly O.E. Ealdantun, ' Ealda's town,' or else 'old town.' But Dom. 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.' Cf. Ofston and Outchester (Bamboro') 1242 Ulecestr.

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

Ouny or Onney R. (Salop and Hereford). Seen in Onibury, Dom. Aneberie, and also in Anelege. Must be Keltic for ' river.' The G. ahhuinn or amhuinn,' river, 'is in certain districts pron. own. Cf. Oundle and Avon.

Ouse Great, Ouse R. and Ouseburn (York). Gr. 0. 905 O.E. Chron. Wusa, 1010 ib. Usa, a. 1130 Use, 1330 Ouse. York Ouse Dom. Useburne, 1237 Usus. Perh. connected with O. E. 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, c. 1350 Ysa, must surely be a cognate root. See -burn.

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

Ousethorp (Howden). Dom. Owestorp, Dwestorp (Derrorforp) Not fr. R. Ouse, but ' village of Oua, Ova, or Oba,' forms all in Onom. See -thorp.

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

Ovenden (Halifax). Sic Sim. Dur. contin. ann. 1147. O.E. Ofan. Ofenu, ' den, cave of Ofa,' or possibly ' of Owen.'

Over (Glouc. Cambridge, and Winsford, Chesh.). Gloucester O. 804 chart. Of read Gleawecestre. Cambridge O Dom. Ovre, Oure; 1210 Overe. Cheshire. Dom. Ovre. O.E. ofre, dat. of ofer, ' a shore of a sea or bank of a river.' Cf. Ger. ufer; and see -over.

Overton (9 in P.G.). Dom. Ovretone, Chesh. and Worcr. ' Upper town,' O.E. ufera, 3-5 ouere, ' over.' Cf. Overbury, Tewkesbury, 875 chart. Uferebiri, Vfera birig, Dom. Oureberie, with the same meaning. See-bury.

Owersby (Market Rasen). 1233 Orresby. Prob. corrup. of ' Ordgoer's or Ordgar's dwelling.' The name is very common in Onom. See-by.

Owslebury (Winchester). Not in Dom. Cf. Ozleworth (Charfield), Dom. Osleworde, c. 1220 Hoheleswordi, later Wozelworth,

Owselworth. The man's name is uncertain. Cf. B.C.S. 764 Oslan wyrth, ' Osla's farm.’ It might be Oshelm, 4 in Onom., or Oswulf, as in Owston. Also cf. St. Austell's. See -bury and -worth.

Owsthorp (Pocklington). Dom. Ianulfestorp, 1203 Uhiestorp, a. 1400 Ulvesthorpe. Very curious corruption. ' Village of Eanwulf,' very common in Onom. In a. 1400 the Ean- has dropped away. With the present form Ows-, cf. Ooston, mod. pron. of Ulveeston; also cf. next. Owthorp (Notts), Dom. Ovetorp, c. 1190 Hustorp, is ' village of Ufi or Uvi.' See -Thorpe.

Owston Priory (Leicester) is 1233 Osulveston, ' town of Oswulf, a name common in Onom. But Owston (Doncaster), Dom. Ulsitone, 1179-80 Pipe Ouston, is prob.= Ouston (Coxwold), Dom. Ulvestone, ' town of Ulf.' Only it seems to be in Dom. also Austun and Austhu', which may be an O.E. loc, ' 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). Dom. Ostewic. Prob. 'eastern dwelling,’ just as East Riding is in Dom. Oust redene, and in the Yorks Pipe Rolls we have ' Oustcotun ' and ' Westcotun, or Eastcott and Westcott. Cf. above; and see -wick.

Oxenholme (Wostmld.). ' Oxen's meadow.' See -holm. Cf. Oxley (Wolverhampton), Dom. Oxehe. and Oxnam (Sc). Oxcliff (N. Lanes) is Dom. Oxeneclif,

Oxford, a. 900 coins of King Alfred Oksnaforda, but some read Orsnaforda, which conceivably represents a 'Horse-ford'; 912 O.E. Chron. Oxnaforda; c. 1000 chart. King AEthelred Oxonaforda; 1011 O.E. Chron. Oxenafordscire; c. 1160 Oxenefordia; 1479 Oxenford. O.E. oxena ford, ' ford for the oxen.' Cf. Grant of a.675 Oxelake(on the Thames). The regular W. name is Rhyd ychen, which also means 'ford of the oxen.' It is agreed that this W. name is very old, and that there is no recorded spelling for ' ox ' other than ych, unless it be a dial. wch. However, c. 1145 Geoffrey of Mon., iv. 12, speaks of ' Boso of Ridoc, that is Oxford.' It seems unlikely that this 12th cny. name Ridoc is meant for rhyd ychen, though rid is clearly O.W. for ' ford.' It seems more prob. that in -oc we have O. Kelt, for ' water.' See Ock. So that, while the Anglo-Saxons thought the name was their own ox, its orig. was Keltic, and cognate with Ax, Ex, Usk, and Ux- bridge. Cf., too, Isis. But for two or three centuries the Kelt. name must have been quite lost, and the Welsh would coin a new name when they began to frequent the University. Before the 14th cny. Oxford would prob. be of too little importance to the Welsh to have a W. name of its own. As to forms a. 900, curiously enough for Oxenhall (Dymock), Dom. writes Horsenehal, prob. an error; c. 1230 Oxonhale. Cf. also the curious form Tweoxn eam, s.v. Twyning, Oxhey (Watford). 1007 chart. Oxangehaege i.e., O.E. for 'oxen's enclosure' or ' hedge,’ O.E. heye. Cf. 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). Dom. Acstede, O.E. for 'oak-place' Cf. homestead, etc.

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

Oysterlow (Pembroke), c. 1200 Girald. Oisterlaph, Oisterlaf, c. 1210 Osterloyth, 1325 Oystrelof, 1541 Usterloys. This is the O.W. Esterlwyf W. Ysterlwyf, or ystre Iwyf, ' dwelling in the elm-, wood,' influenced, of course, by Eng. oyster, O.Fr. oistre, not found in Eng. till 1357. Oystermouth (Glam.), said to be old Ostremuere (prob. error for -muue, M.E. for 'mouth'), may have a similar origin, only here it will be a hybrid.

Packington (Tamworth and Ashby-de-la-Zouch). Tamworth P. Dom. Pagintone, a. 1200 Pakintone. Ashby P. 1043 chart. Pakinton, Dom. Patitone (error). Cf. Dom. Essex, Pachenduna, and Packwood (Warwk.). The nearest name in Onom. is one Poecga; so prob. ' village of Poecga.' See -ing and -ton.
Padbury (Bucks). B.C.8., ii. 377, Padde byrig, Dom. Pateberie, ' Burgh, town of Padda,' 3 in Onom. Cf. Paddington, London, (1167-68 Pipe Padinton, 1439 Paddyngton) and Warrington, and Dom. Surrey, Padendene; also Padworth.
Padstow (N. Cornwall and Devon). Cornwall P. 981 O. E. Chron. See Petrocestow, 1536 Padstowe. Devon P. Dom. 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). O.E. chart. Peadan wurth, Dom. Peteorde, c. 1280 Paddewurth. ' Farm of Peada.' See -worth.
Pagham (Bognor). a. 1130 Sim. Dur. arm. 1108 Paggaham, 1298 Pageham. ' Home of Paga, 'only only in Onom., and he at Carlisle. But Paythorne (W. Riding), Dom. Pathorme, prob. contains the name Paega or Paga also; 2 Poegas in Onom. Cf. Paganhill (Stroud), 1346 Paganhulle, and Painley.
Pailton (Rugby), a. 1300 Paylynton, Pailinton. 'Village of Pcelli,' one in Onom.
Painley (Craven). Dom. Paghenale, possibly a gen. pl. ' lea of the pagans.' Oxf. Dict. has no instance of 'pagan, a.1375; but Pagan, Paganus, and Pagen are all names in Onom. Paine and Payne are surnames fr. pagan. Painswick (Stroud) is Dom. 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,' gen. -an. If so, the ending must have changed. See -hall, -ley, -thorpe (' village '), and -wick ('dwelling ').
Palfrey Green (Walsall), a. 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 O.Fr., see Oxf. Dict.
Palgrave (Diss). 962 chart. Palegrave, Dom. Pag(g)raua, c. 1210 Jocelin Palegrava, c. 1430 Pagrave. Prob. ' Pallig's grave,' O.E. groef. A Pallig, a Danish earl, is mentioned 1001 in O.E. Chron. Pale sb. is Fr. and not in Eng. till c. 1330; pale adj. is also Fr., and not in Eng. a.1300. Cf. Orgrave (Yorks), etc.
Pallinsburn (N. Northumbld.). ' Burn, brook of Paulinus,' who prob. preached and baptized here. See Bede.
Pamborough (Glastonbury). 956 Pathenebergh. Prob. ' burgh, castle of Patta,' gen. Pattan. Cf. ' Pattnaden,' B.C.S. 1307. See -burgh. But Pamber (Hants) is 1217 Patent R. Penbere, 1225 Penber, Pember. Prob. O.E. penn beam, ' fold in the wood.' Cf. Penn and Beer, also Pamington (Ashchurch), Dom. Pamintone, fr. an unrecorded Pama.
Pampisford (Cambridge). Dom. Pampesuuorde, even as late as 1851 Pampsworth. ' Farm of Pamp,' an unknown name. Cf. Dan. dial, pamper,' a short, thick-set person.' The local pron. is Paanza, which Skeat says is ' regularly shortened from Pamp's' orth.' See- worth.
Pangbourn (Berks). 833-34 chart. Peginga-burnan, Paegeinga- burnan, 956 Pangan-burnan. Burn, brook of Poeginga i.e., son of Poega,' 2 in Onom. The river is now called simply the Pang, and nearer its source the Kimber. Cf. Penistone.
Pannal (Harrogate). Dom. Paghenhale, 1315 Pattrehall, later Panhale, 1448 Pannal. ' Hall of Paga or Poega,' gen. Pagan. Both forms in Onom.
Pantsaeson (Wales). W.== glen of the Saxon ' (G. Saisneach) or ' Englishman.'
Pantycelyn (Breconsh.). W. =glen, hollow of the holly.' Cf, Llwyncelyn.
Papcastle (Cockermouth). From a local L. inscription, c. 200, it is known that Pap- represents Abalabba, site of a Roman fort. Papworth Everard (Cambridge). Local pron. Parpor. Dom. Papeworde, Ramsey chart. Pappenwrthe, Pappeworthe. ' Place of Pappa.' Papo is the only name in Onom. See -worth.
Par (Cornwall). ?= W. pawr, ' pasture.
Parcanscalli (Cornwall). Corn.=' park, field of the bats.'
Parford (Moreton Hampstead). Prob. 1174 chart. Pirforde. Prob. fr. O.E. piriz, ' a pear-tree.' Cf. Parham (Berkeley), 1264 Perham, and Pirbright.
Parret R. (Somerset). O. E. Chron. 658 Pedrida, ib. 893 Pedrede, Pedret. W. pedryd, ' a square,’ perh. referring to the piece of land enclosed by the river bend near Pawlett.
Partney (Spilsby, Lines.). Bede Peartaneu. 'Isle of Peartan,' O.E. eu var. of iz, ize, ' island,’ see -ey. Peartan may be a personal name. Nothing like it in Onom. Perh. W. partyn, ' a smart little fellow, or perthen,' a bush,'
Passenham (Northants). 921 O.E. Chron. Passanhamm. ' Enclosure,O. E .hamm, of Passa,'only one in Onom. in Kent. But cf. next. See-ham.
Passfield (Liphook). Cf. Dom. Essex, Passefelda. 'Field of Passa,' one in Onom.
Paston (N. Walsham). a. 1150 chart. Pastun. Contraction for ' Passa's town.' See above. But Paston or Pawston (Wooler) is for Pollokston.
Patcham (Brighton) and Patching (Worthing). 947 chart. Peccinges and Pettingas (tt for cc). ' Home of Pecca, Pecga, or Pacca,' and ' place of the sons of Pecca.' Cf. Dom. Surrey, Pachesham, Paxford, Campden, sic 1275 and Paxton (Berwick) c. 1098 Paxtun. The only name in Onom. is Pecga. See -ham and -ing.
Patney (Devizes). B.C.8. iii. 354, Peatanige. O.E. for ' Isle of Peata, Peatta, or Peada,'all 3 forms are known. Peat and Pate are both still in use as surnames. Cf. Pattishall and Dom. Patintune, Salop.
Patrington (Hull). Dom. Patrictone. 'Town of Patrick’; the -ick has become -ing, because -ing is so much commoner in placenames. See -ing.
Pattingham (Wolverhampton). Pron. Pattinjem, cf. Birmingham. Dom. Patingham, a. 1200 Pattingeham, a. 1500 Patincham. ' Home of the sons of Poita ' or ' Peatta.' Cf. Patton (Salop), prob. B.C.8. 77 Peattingtun, and Dom. Essex, Patenduna. Patton (Kendal) is Dom. Patun. See -ing and -ham.
Pattishall (Towcester). 1207 Pateshill, 1236 Pateshull (cf. Aspull, etc.). ' Hall of Peata ‘; cf. Patney, Patshull (Wolverhampton) is Dom. Pecleshella, a. 1300 Petleshull, Patleshull i.e., either ' Poecgel’s or Pyttel's hill.’ Pegglesworth Cf.
Paulerspury (Towcester). ' The pury of (Robert de) Paveli,' an early owner. The name' Pury end' still survives; it is in Dom. Pirie, O. E. pirze, pirize, pirie,' a pear-tree.’ Cf. Pirbright.
Paull (Hull). Dom. Paghel, Pagele: later Pagula. Contraction for ' nook of Paga or Poega,' both in Onom. See -hall.
Pavenham (Sharnbrook, Beds.). 'Home of Paba or Peabba,’ a name not in Onom., but cf. Pebworth, Stratford-on-Avon. 848 chart. Pebeworthe, Dom. Pebevorde. See -worth,' farm.'
Pavey Ark (hill, Grasmere). Said to be 'shieling, dairy hut of Pavia.' See Arklid.
Pawlett (Bridgwater), c. 705 chart. Pouelt; later Pouholt. Perh. ' village in the holt or wood.' Pou is said to be=L. pagus, as often in Brittany. Pouelt, however, prob. represents an O. W. pwl allt, ' pool by the cliff.' But Pawton, St. Breock, Cornwall, is c. 988 chart. Polltun,' village by the pool or stream.'
Peak, The (Derbyshire), a. 800 chart. Pecsaetna (i.e., dwellers in the Peak), 924 O. E. Chron. Peac-lond; Dom. Pechesers, now' Peak's Arse '; c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. In monte vocato Pec, a. 1135 chart. dominium de Pecco, 1173-4 Pech. Oxf. Dict, says ' origin unknown, perh. British,' and not connected with the Eng. peak sb. Cf. Peckham, Pegsdon, etc. It may be the name of a demon or spirit. Cf. Puck.
Peakirk (Peterboroogh). c. 1015 chart. Pegecyrcan, a. l100 Grant Peichirche, Peychirche. ' Church of Pega or Poega,' both in Onom. This is far south to find a ' kirk '!
Peasemore (Leckhampstead). Chron. Abing. Pesimara, a. 1224 Pesemere, c. 1540 Peysmer. ' Land for growing pease,' O.E. pise. the ending is a little unsettled; O.E. mere, ' marsh, fen seems scarcely prob., yet we have Peasemarsh (Sussex), as well as Peasenhall (Saxmundham). It may be O.E. mor, ' a moor '; (Peasbrook, Broadway, Worcester), in 972 chart. Pisbroc, is also fr. O.E. pise, ' a pea.'
Peckham (London) and Peckham Bush (Tonbridge).? c. 1130 Eadmer Petteham; but Dom. Pecheha, 1278 Pecham. 'Home of Peca or Pecha,' possibly the same name as Peak, if it means a demon or sprite, or Puck. Cf. too Dom. Surrey, Pechingeorde, ' farm of the sons of Peca.'
Pedmore (Stourbridge). A name which has curiously changed. Dom. Pevemore, c. 1200 Pebbemore, 1340 Pebmore. ' Moor of Peuf or ' Peufa,' both in Onom., or rather fr. Peobba, a dimin. form of Peof or Peuf. ' Moor ' is O.E. mor.
Peel (Isle of Man) and Peele Hall (Tarvin, Cheshire). I. of M. P. 1399 chart. Pela, 1656 Peel-Town, mentioned with Castle-Town. The Eng. peel is not found till c. 1330 and meant originally ' a palisade or fence of stakes,’ then ' a castle.’ Its history is rather curious. See Oxf. Dict. 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 (Bedfordsh.), Dom. Pechesdon,' hill of Peak,’q.v.
Pegswood (Morpeth). Prob.'wood of Pecge; 'cf. 958 chart. Pecges ford, on Stour, Stafford, 740 ib. Peginhullis (Wilts), and above. Pegglesworth (Dowdeswell) Dom. Peclesurde, is prob. fr. a man Peohtgils. See -worth, ' farm.’
Pelsall (Walsall). 994 chart. Peolshale, Dom. Peleshale. a. 1400 Peoleshale. ' Nook, corner of Ptola.' Cf. Dom. Surrey, Peleforde, and see -hall.
Pelutho (Abbey Town, Cumbld.). Prob. G. polluchdaich, 'pool by the ascent.’ In any case the name is much corrupted.
Pemberton (Wigan). Sic 1323, but 1200-1 Penberton, 1202 Penbreton. Perh. hybrid, W. penn brc, ' head of the hill ' (there is a Pembrey in Wales) + -ton, q.v. But quite possibly fr. a man, as Pember, though not in Onom., is still a surname.
Pembridge (Herefordsh.). Dom. Penebruge. Prob. hybrid as above, W. penn,' head, height,"+ bridge.
Pembroke, c. 1180 Gir. Camb. Pembrochia caput maritimae sonat, 1297 R. Glouc. Penbroc, c. 1350 Pembrok, 1450 Pembroke. O.W. pen broc, mod W. penfro, head of the sealand.' O.W. and Bret, bro, O. Ir. brog, country, land (vale).' There is also Penbro, or-fro,near the Lizard; 1219 Patent P. Eglospenbroc [eglos, ' church '). Cf. Pentire (Cornwall) and Kintyre (Sc).
Penally (Pembk.). Old Pen Alun, which is perh. O.W. for ' beautiful height,' G. aluinn, ' fair, lovely.'
Penarth (Glamorgan). W. penn arth, ' head of the height,' or ' high headland.' Cf. Lanarth, and Kinnaird (Sc.)
Penberry Headland (St. David's). May be hybrid, W. penn, ' head, headland,' and -berry, = -burgh, q.v. Cf. Turnberry (Sc). But it prob. is fr. W. beri, ' a kite, a glede.' Penbuby (Gloster.) must be at least half Eng., perh. wholly so.
Pencarrow (Bodmin). Corn, pen caerau, 'height of the forts,' Corn. and W. caer, G. cathair,' a castle, a fort.'
Pencoyd (Ross, Herefd.). =Pencoed (Glam.), W. for 'head of the wood,' coed, pl. coydd.
Pendennis (Falmouth). Sic 1567. Corn, pen dinas, 'headland with the castle.'
Pendleton (Manchester). Dom. Peniltune. Prob. 'town of Pendwulf ' or ' Penweald,' both names in Onom.; older forms needed. But Pendle (sic 1612) Hill, Clitheroe, is 1344 Penhull, a tautology, W. penn, ' height,’ and hull, regular old Midl. for ' hill.' Pendle Hill is therefore a triple tautology. Cf. Penhull (Lindridge), sic c. 1300.
Pendock (Tewkesbury). 877 and Dom. Penedoc, Peonedoc, 1275 Penedoch. Prob. W. penn y dych,' height of the groan or sigh.’ Pensax (Stourport), in the same shire, will also be W., fr. W. Sais, ' a Saxon, an Englishman.' It is found c. 1400 as Pensax, Pensex.
Pendragon (Westmld.), ' head, height of the dragon,' was a castle of Wm. Rufus. Oxf. Dict., does not give dragon in Eng. till c. 1220, and says, fr. Fr. dragon, L. draco, draconem. It certainly was adopted in the Keltic tongues too.
Penenden Heath. Dom. Pinnedenna, c. 1200 Gervase Pinnindene. O.W. pinn, -penn eiddyn, ' head of the hillslope.'
Penge (Sydenham). 957 chart. ' Se wude fe hatte Pcenge, 1067 chart. '"Penceat Wood in Battersea Manor '; 1308 chart., ' Penge in parochia de Badricheseye.' M'Clure thinks this a worn-down form of Kelt. penceat,' chief wood' =Penketh.
Penistone (Sheffield). Dom. Pengston, Pangeston, 1551 Pennystone. ' Town of Panga,' or' of (nasalized) Poega,' both names in Onom.; Cf. Pangbourn and Pendeford (Wolverhampton), a. 1400 Penneford.
Penketh (Warrington). Sic 1292, but 1296 Penket; prob. as in Penge. Cf. 1166-7 Pipe, Devon, Morchet, prob. O. Kelt. for ' great wood.'
Penkhull (Stoke-on-T.). Dom. Pinchetel, a hybrid, 'height.’ W. penn,' of Cytel or Ketel,' a common O. E. name. But a.1200 Pencul, which looks like W. penncul,' slender height or' head' while the present form has been influenced by hull, W. Midl. form of hill. Cf. Penkridge.
Penkridge (Stafford), c. 380 Ant. Itin. Penno Crucis, 958 chart. Pencric, Dom. Pancriz, 1158 Pipe Peincrig, 1160 ib. Peincriz, 1297 Pencriche, Pemcriche, a. 1400 Penkrich. W. penn crych, ' wrinkled, rumpled height.' But M'Clure and Rhys connect with Creech. The R. Penk seems to be a backformation or contraction fr. Penkridge a.1300' the river of Pencriz, 'a.1400 'River Penk.' Cf. Pentrich. Duignan's art. is very full; with Penkridge he classes Penncricket Lane, Oldbury, no old forms.
Penllyn (Cowbridge). Prob. W. penn llwyn, 'head, height with the grove.'
Penn (Wolvermpton). Dom. Penne. O. E. penn,' a pen, a fold.' There is also Pen Mill (Yeovil), prob. Dom. Penne too.
Pennard, E. and W. (Somerset). Spurious chart, of 681 Pengerd. Corn, pen gerd, ' height with the hedge,’ Corn. gerd, gard, G. garradh, Eng. garth, yard.
Pennigant, Pennegant (N.W. Yorks). W. penn y gwant, ' height of the butt or mark,’ or perh.' Y gwynt' ' of the wind.' The name ' Pennine Range ' seems to have no ancient history.
Pennington (Lymington and Ulverston). Ulverston P. Dom. Pennegetun. This must be fr. O.E. penning, poenig, or penig, ' a penny, ' penny town,’ referring to some tax or impost. Cf. Penny 4 e in Oxf. Dict. Pennyland, ' land valued at Id. a year,’ is not given in Dict, till a Gloucr. chart, a. 1300, Penilond.
Pennycomequick (old name of Falmouth). Corn. pen comb ick, ' height of the narrow valley or combe,’ though others say, ' y cum cuig, ' of the valley of the cuckoo.'
Penpont (Altarnon). Dom. Penponte. Corn. = 'at the head of the bridge.' Cf. Penpont (Sc). We have the dimin. in Penpwntan (Knighton, Radnor), which means ' little mill- dam ‘; but pont, L. pons, -tis, is regular W. and Corn, for ' bridge.'
Penrith. 1166-7 Pipe Penred, 1461 Penreth. W. penn rhydd, 'red, ruddy height'; though some say, 'head of the ford,’ W. rhyd, O.W. rit. But what ford? The Eamont is a good bit away. Quite possible is an Eng. origin, fr. pen for cattle, and rith ' stream,' as in Cottered, Ryde, etc., so ' cattle-fold by the stream.' But against an Eng. origin is the parish of Penrith, sic 1603, in Pembroke, 1594 Penrythe.
Penruddock (Penrith). Prob. W. penn rhuddog, ' reddish, russet- coloured height.' There is also rhodog, ' a little circle.'
Penryn (Falmouth). Sic 1536. Corn, pen ryn, ' at the head, of the promontory or peninsula,' lit. 'nose.' Cf. Rhynns (Sc). The three places called Penrhyn in Wales are, of course, of similar origin, W. penn rhyn.
Penselwood (Gillingham). Nennian Catalogue Pensauelcoit. W. penn sawell coed. ' Wood of the height like a chimney or smoke- hole.' Nearby are the Pen pits, prob. O.E. Chron. 658 ' Mt Peonnum,' ib. 1016 Peonnan.
Pensnett (Kingswinford) . 1248 Peninak, c. 1300 Penniak, a. 1400 Pensyned, Pensned chace. Clearly W., penn sinach, ' head of the ridge ‘; it is on high land. But Pensham, Pershore, is 972 chart. Pedneshamme, ' enclosure of Peden.' See -ham.
Pent R. (Essex), and on it Pentlow, or' hill, mound on the Pent.' See -low. Bede Penta. Prob. W. pant, ' a hollow, a dingle.' On its lower reaches it is called the Blackwater.
Pentney (Swaffham). 1451 Penteney. Prob. O.E. Pendan ize, ' Penda's isle.' See -ey.
Pentreath (Cornwall). Corn. = ' at the head of the sands or strand.' Cf. Pentraeth, Menai Br. and Portreath. Treath is the G. traigh.
Pentrich or Penridge (Derby and Dorset). Derby P. Dom. Pentric; Dorset P. 958 chart. Pencric. Prob. both=Penkridge.
Pentyre (Padstow). Corn, pen or pedn tir, ' head, end of the land.’ Brythonic form of Kintyre (Sc.).
Penwortham (Preston). Sic 1343, but 1140-9 Penuerthan, 1201-2 Pelwrdham, 1204 Penwrthan, 1242 Penwirtham, 1305 Penwurtham. No likely name in Onom., so this is prob. W. penn gwrthan, ' at the head of the dell or corrie,' the -an being corrupted, very naturally, on Eng. lips into -am or -ham, q.v.
Penzance. Corn. Pen or pedn sans (L .sanctus),' holy headland.'
Peopleton (Pershore). 972 chart. Piplincgtune, Dom. Piplintune, 1275 Pyplinton. A curious and note asily explained corruption. Perh. Piplin- is a corrup. of Pippen, one in Onom., the only likely name on record. But 972 is certainly a patronymic, and points to an unrecorded Pipel, ' town of the sons of Pipel.' See -ing,
Peppard Common (Henley-on-T.). Prob. fr. some man not in Onom. Cf. Dom. Surrey, Pipereberge. We also have Pepper Ness (Sandwich), which is 1023 chart. Piperneasse, and must surely be fr. a man too, and not fr. O.E. piper, peppor, and piper, ' pepper.' Pepper Wood (Bellbroughton) is 1242 Purperode, which is perh. ' wood (O.E. wudu, of which -ode is corrup.) of Purper or Purperd.' A Robt. Pippard is found here in 1294, and Pippard may be fr. Purperd, a name otherwise unknown.
Peranzabuloe (Cornwall). Dom. Lanpiran ('church of Piran '), 1536 Vicaria sancti Perani in Zabulo, ' of St. P. on the sands,' L. sabulum or sabulo, ' coarse sand, gravel.' Peran is Bryth. form of Kieran, founder of Clonmacnoise monastery, famous Ir. saint, died 545. Cf. Perranporth and Perranuthnoe in Cornwall, and Peranwell (Sc); also Peran Towans (New Quay), temp. Hen. I. Perran Tohod, temp. Hen. III. Pyran Thohon. See Towan Hd.
Perry Barr and Hall (Staffs.). Barr P. Dom. Pirio, a. 1200 Piri, Pirie, Pirye, a. 1300 Pyrie; Hall P. a. 1300P yrye. O. E. pirige, M.E. pirie, ' a pear-tree.' Cf. 1160-1 Pipe Somst., Perretona.
Pershore (Worcester). 972 Perscoran, 1056 O.E. Chron. On Perscoran, Dom. and 1298 Persore, 1102 Eadmer Perscore. O.E. persoc ora, gen. -an, ' peach-growing bank or shore.' Cf. Keynor, Windsor, etc. Shore is prob. Du., and only found in M.E. Peterborough. Its old names were Burh = ' burgh,' and Mede- hamstede. It received its present name, in honour of St. Peter, fr. K. Edgar. See O. E. Chron. 963.
Petersham (Richmond). 727 chart. Pitericheshame, Dom. Patricesham (cf. Battersea), 1266 Petrichesham. ' Home of Patricius ' or ' Patrick,' which to this day, in Scotland, is constantly interchanged with Peter.
Petridge (Tunbridge). O.E. Pedan hrycg, ' Peda's ridge.' Cf. Petham, Canterbury and Dom. Petelie (Salop). These may be fr. Peatta. Cf. K.C.D. 949 Peattanig. There is also a Pedewrde in Dom. Salop. See next.
Pettaugh (Stowmarket). Dom. Pete haga-, Pette haga. 'Meadow, haugh of Piot ' or ' Peott,' O.E. halech, halh, which in endings is usually found in its dat. hale; see -hall. But Dom.'s form -haga is very rare, and is O.E. haga, ' fenced-in place, enclosure.'
Petworth (Sussex). 1199 Pitteworth. O.E. chart. 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, O.E. pytt, O. Fris. pet. So Petham, Canterbury, is prob. ' house beside the (gravel) pit.
Peulinion (C‘marthen)' W.=' land of Paulinus, 'the well-known missionary in Bede.
Pevensea. 1049 O.E. Chron. Pefenassee, later MSS. Peuenesea, 1088 ib. Pefensea, c. 1097 Flor. W. Pevanessa, but Dom. Pevenesel, c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Pevenesel. ' Island of Pefen,' perh. a British not an O.E. name. The -ea is O.E. iz, ize., O.N. ey, 'island'; what -el represents is not so certain. Certainly -esel cannot represent isle or island. See these words in Oxf. Dict.
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), a. 1400 Pevesey, = Pusey, ' Pefi's isle.'
Phepson or Fepston (Himbleton, Worcester). 956 chart, and Dom. Fepsetnatun(e), 1108 Fepsintune. 'Town of the dwellers in Fep,' an unknown name. Cf. ' Petsaetna,' s.v. Peak.
Pickering (E. Yorks). Dom. Pickeringa, Pickeringe. 'Home of Pichere's sons.' Cf. B.C.8. 125 Pickeresham; and Pixham Ferry, Worcester, 1275 Pykerham, Pykresham. See -ing.
Pickhill (Thirsk). Dom. Picala, Picale. ' Nook of Pice' Cf. next, and see -hall, which is rarely corrupted into -hill.
Pickton (Chester). 1340 Pykton, and Pickworth (Rutland), K.C.D. 812 Piccingawurth,"c. 1460 Pykeworth. ' Town of Pice,' and ' farm of the descendants of Pice' See -ton and -worth. Also Picton (Stockton), 1179-80 Piketon, fr. the same name. Cf. Dom. Pichetorne (Salop), 'Pice's thorn'; also Pickburn (Brodsworth, Yorks), Dom. Picheburne, 1202 Pikeburn, Picktree, Co. Durham, 1183 Piktre, and Dom. Norfk, Pichenha',
Pickwell (Devon). Exon. Dom. Pedicheswell. As Pedich is not in Onom., it may be corrup. Of Patrick. See Petersham.
Piddle R. and hamlet (Pershore), and Piddletown (Dorchester). Pershore P. 963 chart. Pidele, Dom. Pidele, Pidelet, 1275 Pydele North. Do. P. K.G.D. 522 and 656. Pyedele, Dom. Pydele. It may be cognate with the Eng. piddle and puddle, but these appear late in recorded Eng. See Oxf. Dict. There is no W. sb. like pydel. Duignan thinks it means ' a small stream.' Cf. next, Affpiddle and Tolpiddle.
Piddletrenthide (Dorchester). A difficult name needing further light thrower on it. On Piddle see above. The rest is doubtful. W. tren is ' impetuous/ and the R. Trent in W. is Trin., while W. hydo is ' sheltering, apt to cover.' But all this is groping in the dark. Possibly -trent-may represent thirteen, O. N. prettan, Dan. tretten, Sw. tretton, nasalized; and hide may be the wellknown land measure. See Hyde.
Pidley (Huntingdon). Not in Dom. Perh.' Peda' smead; the name is in Onom. But Pidsley (Devon) is 930 chart.Pidersleage, where Pider is a name hard to identify ; in Dom. it has become Pidelige.
Pierse Bridge (Darlington), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Perse brycg. Perse is not in Onom.; but it is the Fr. Piers. Cannot be connected with, pierce, which is Fr., and not in Eng. a. 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 var. of pool, and generally means ' a tidal creek ' stream.' also ' a running stream.
Pillerton Hersey (Kineton). Dom. Pilardetun, Pilardintun (e). 1176 Pilardintone, 1327 Pylardynton, 'village of Pilheard,' a rare name. Bilheard is also found. The Herce family held the manor in Nor. days.
Pilley (Lymington and S. Yorks). Yorks P. Dom. Pillei. Prob. ' isle of Pila ' or ' Pilu.' See next, and -ey.
Pilsley (Chesterfield). Cf. a. 1100 chart. ' Pilesgate,' Melton Mowbray. ' Meadow of Pilu or Pilwine.' There is a ' Pileford ' in Dom. Yorks. See -ley.
Pilton (N. Devon and Shepton Mallet). Devon P. c. 1130 Wm. Malmesb. Piltune. Shepton P. 1233 Pilton. Peel sb1 ' a palisade or fence,' is not in Eng. a. 1300; so this is prob. ' Pilu's town.' See above, also Pill. But Pilland is Pelland in Exon. Dom.
Pimlico (London). So spel tfrom 1598; first found as a plac ein 1614. Cf. 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 chart. Pimpern welle. A puzzling name. O.W. pimp, W. pump is ' five,' but W. em is ' a pledge ‘. O.E. erne is ' house,’ but there seems no O.E. name or word Pimp. Connexion with pimpernel seems impossible. See Oxf. Dict. s.v. Pinchbeck (Spalding). 810 chart. Pyncebek, Dom. Picebech. 1290 Pyncenbent (? error). O.E. pynce or pinca is ' a point but here it is quite as likely to be name of a man. Cf. Dom. Norfk, Penkesford, and Pinkneys Green; and see -beck, ' brook.'
Pinchfield (Hertford). 796 chart. Pinnelesfeld. ' Field of Pinnel,’ no other known.
Pinhoe (Exeter). 1001 O.E. Chron. Peonnho, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Penho. Tautology. Corn, pen, W. pinn, penn, ' a height,’ and O.E. hoh. Cf. Hoe. Pindrup (Gloster), old Pinthrup, may be similar,with its ending a rare var. of -thorpe,' village.'
Pinkneys Green (Maidenhead), c. 1160 Gest. Steph. Pinchenei, 1161-2 Pipe Pinchenni, 1298 Pynkeny.' Isle of Pinca,' gen.-an. Cf. B.C.S. 665 Pincan ham, 1160-1 Pipe Pinchinei (Hants), and Pinchbeck. See-ey.
Pinner (Harrow). Named in 1336 chart. Prob., like Asher, Beecher, Hasler, etc., O.E. pin-ofr, 'pine-tree bank'; cf. Wooler. The name of the rivulet Pin here will be a back formation. Pinley (Warwksh.), a. 1200 Pinelei, is also fr. O.E. pin; see -ley. We read in c. 1205 Layamon 4057, ' In Logres was King Piner ‘; but this can have no connexion here. Pinnar Pike (Yorks) will be W. pinnarth,' head of the height,' or' high headland.' Cf. Penarth and Red Pike. Baddeley derives Pinnock, Hailes, Dom. Pignocsire, later Pinnoc, (prob.) fr. pinnock sb1, found a. 1250, as name for the hedge-sparrow or some other bird. The -sire in Dom. is for ' shire.' Exon. Dom. also has a Pinnoc, prob. Kelt. for' little hill.'
Pipe (Lichfield, Hereford) and Pipe Gate (Mket. Drayton). Pipe P. a. 1200 Pype, Pipe, which is O.E. for ' pipe.' The city water has for long been conveyed by pipe from here. Hereford P. is also Dom. Pipe. Cf. Pipe Hayes (' hedges '), Erdington.
Pipewel (Kettering). Sic Dom. and 1160 Pipe Boll. ' Well with a pipe from it,’ O.E. pipe.
Pirbright (Woking). 1300-1400 Pirifrith, Pirifirith, Pirifright, Purifright. O.E. piriz fyrhoe, ' pear-tree-wood.' (Cf. Paulerspury, Pirehill, Stone, Dom. Pirehel, Pireholle, and Potterspury, also next.
Pirton (Hitchin, Worcester, and Awre). Worcester P. 766 chart. Pirigton, Pyrigtun, 972 Pyritune, Dom.Peritune. Awre P. Dom. Peritone, ' pear-tree village.' Cf. Perton or Purton (Wolverhampton), c. 1060 Pertune, Dom. Pertone.
Pitchcombe (Stroud), 1253 Pychencombe; and Pitchford (Shrewsbury). 1238 Close B. Pycheford, 1298 Redulphus de Piccheforde.’ Prob. fr. a man Pice, Pic, or 'Picco. See Onom., and Cf. Pegswood. The verb pitch, ' to throw,’ is not found in Eng. till c. 1205. See -combe, ' valley.’
Plainanguare (Cornwall). 'Plain for theatrical plays.' Plain is O.Fr., L. planus, but guare is late Corn., L. varia. Cf. Dorchester.
Plaistow (London, Sussex, Selborne). London P. old Plegstow, Selborne P. 1271 La Pleystow, now called Plestov. O.E. plegstow, 'play- place, playground.' Cf. Plestins (Warwksh.), a. 1300 Pleystowe, Pleistouwe. See Stow.
Plashetts (Northumbld). Dimin. of plash sb1, O.E. ploese, plese, ' a marsh, or marshy pool.' Plashet is also an Eng. word, found from fr. 1575, and given in Oxf. Diec, as fr. O.Fr. plassiet plaschet, dimin fr. plascq,' a damp meadow.'
Pleck (Gloster and Walsall). Gloster P. 1220, Plocke. M.E. (found c. 1315) plecche, ' a small enclosure or plot of ground.’ cognate with Du. plecke with same meaning; but there is no O.E. ploecca, as Baddeley thinks.
Plemonstall or Plemstall (Chester). 1340 Plemondstow. ' Plegmund's place.' See Stow. But -stall is O.E. steall, steel, also ' a place,' then ' a stall.'
Plumpton (Penrith, Preston, Yorks, and Lewes). Preston P. Dom. Pluntun. Yorks P. Dom. Plontone, 1206 Plumton, 1490 Plompton. Prob. ' plum village.' O.E. plume. No name like Pluma in Onom. For the intrusion of p cf. Bampton, Brompton, etc.
Plumstead (Woolwich and Norwich). Woolwich and Norwich P. Dom. Plumestede; Norwich P. 1450 Plumbsted. O.E. plume-ted, ' plum- place.' Cf. Plumptree (Notts), Dom. Pluntre.
Plymouth. Sic 1495, but 1231 Close R. Plimmue, 1234 ib. Plim muth, c. 1450 Fortescue, The Plymouthe. Plympton, Dom. Plintone, c. 1160 Plintona, 1218 Plinton. Plymstock, Dom. Plemestoch. Allon R. Plym. W. plym, L. plumbum, is' lead' but some think the roo tsimply means here' river.'
Plynlimmon Mountain (Wales). 1603 Owen Penplymon. W. Pumlumon; c. 1200 Gir. Camb. Montana de Elenit or Elennith. Pum llumon seems to be W. for ' five beacons.' O.W. pimp, W. pum pump,' five,' and llumon,' beacon.' Cf. Ben Lomond (Sc), G. Laomuinn.
Pocklington (York). Dom.Poclinton, 14 times, 1202 Pokelinton, 1298 Pokelington. Prob. ' town of Puccla,' gen. -lan, fr. O.E, pucel, ' a goblin,' prob. connected with pucJc, ' a fairy.' Cf. Pucklenchurch, and Pockley, E. Riding, Dom. Pochelac (for this ending, cf. Filey) . Possibly this last is fr. Poha, or Pohha, names in Onom. Cf. 1161-2 Pipe Pocheslea, Northants.
Poldhu (the Lizard). Corn.=' black pool.'
Polesworth (Tamworth). Old Pollesworth, Polsworth, 'farm of Pol.' Cf. Dom. Bucks, Policote, and K.C.D. 641 Polesleah.
Pollington (Wellingborough)- Cf. Grant of a. 675 ' Poddenhalem’ Winchester. O. E. Poddantun,' town of Podda,' in Onom. Podmore (Eccleshall) Dom. Podemore ('moor'), and Poden (Wore), 860 chart. Poddanho, Podenho. See Hoe.
Polurrian (the Lizard). Corn. pol yrhian, 'pool at the boundary,’ or else, 'pool of St. Urian.' Cf. Centurion's Copse. Others say fr. 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 Fr. Ponson, on record c. 1300, whilst another Punzun is named 1179-80 in Pipe, Yorks. See-by.
Po ntefract. sic 1608, c. 1097 Orderic Fractus Pons, 1120 Bull Pontefractum, c. 1160 John Hexh. Pontifractus. L. pontefracto, ' broken bridge,' a rare type of Eng. name, prob. referring to the bridge broken down by Wm. I., 1069. Remains of a Roman bridge were still visible in Leland's time. Cf. Catterick.
Pontesbury (Shrewsbury). Prob. O. E. Chron. 661 Posentesbyrg, ' Burgh, castle of Posente.' See -bury.
Pontrilas (Hereford). W. pont tri glas, 'bridge over three streams.' It is so still. Pontfadoc (Chesh.),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), c. 1540 Leland Pont Rherhesh, W.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, c. 1450 Fortescue Polle havyn. O.E. pol, Corn, pol, ' a pool.' But Pool, W. Riding, is Dom. Pouele, which may be' pool-nook.' See-hall.
Poplar (London), c. 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 Oxf. Dict.), O.Fr. poplier, L. populus.
Poppleton (York). Dom. Popletune, Popletunis, pl. for P. Upper and Nether. ' Poplar-tree town,' late O.E. popul, dial, popple. But Papplewick, Nottingham. Dom. Paplewic, is fr. O.E. papol, 'pebble.'
Por(t)chester (Fareham). c. 150 Ptolemy .. the Rom. Portus Magnus, 'great harbour c. 1170 Wace Porecester, c. 1205 Layam. Portchaaestre. L. portus, ' harbour/,’and castrum, ' camp.' See Chester, and Portsmouth. Identification with Cair Peris in Nennius is very doubtful.
Porcuil (Falmouth). Local form Perkil. Corn, porth chil, 'harbour on the neck of land,’ which it is. Chil is same as G. caol, ' narrow, a strait, a kyle.'
Poringland (Norwich). Dom. Porringelanda, Porring is an otherwise unknown patronymic.
Porlock (Somerset). 1052 O.E. Chron. Portlocan, 1275 Porlok. Port-loca is ' enclosed harbour,' loca, ' an enclosure.' Cf. Matlock. Porthcawl (Glamorgan). W. porth cawell, ' harbour of the weir '; or ' of the hampers or baskets.' Corn. dial, cawel, cowel, ' a fish creel,' O. E. cawl, ceawl,' a basket.' Cf. Calbourne.
Porth Gaverne, Isaac, Quin (Padstow). Corn, porth,' harbour,' L. portus, ' of the goat,' gavern, ' of the corn,' iz, with its adj. izick, ' of corn,' and ' white,' gwin.
Porthmear (Cornwall). Corn.=' great harbour,'Mear is cognate with Eng. more, L. major, G. mor, as well as W. mawr.
Portinscale (Keswick). Old Portingscale. Thought to be ' the harbour or ferry by' the hut,' of the viking, O.N. skali, ' a shieling, a hut.'
Portisham (Dorchester), a. 1250 Owl and Night. Porteshom. ' Home on the harbour.' See above and -ham.
Portishead (Bristol). Pron. Posset. 'Head, headland at the port or harbour.'
Portland. Sic a. 1130 Sim. Dur.; O.E. Chron. 837 Port, v.r., Portlande i.e.,' land forming a harbour or shelter.'
Port Llanw (S. Wales). Thought to be c. 150 Ptolemy Louentinon. Doubtful.
Portreath (Redruth). Corn. porth treath,' harbour on the strand or sands.' Cf. Pentreath.
Portskeweth (Chepstow). 1065 O.E. Chron. Portascihd, Dom. Porteschiwet, c. 1130 Lib. Land. Porthisceuin, a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Portascith, Gir. Camb. Itin. Eskewin. Doubtful. Perh. W. porth yscuit, ' harbour at the shoulder.' But the W. name is said to be Porthiscoed? ysgoad, ' a thrusting aside.' See M'Clure, p. 300, note.
Portsmouth. O.E. Chron. 501 refers to Port, and to a chief Port who landed here. c. 1097 Orderic Portesmude, 1203 Portesmuthe, 1213 Portesmue. Very likely it is simply L. portus, ' harbour,' but we have Portengton (Yorks) Dom. Portiton, Porinton, which must be fr. a man Fort. In 1160-1 Pipe Hants, we have Portesdon or Poetsdown.
Postwick (Norwich). 1452 Possewyk. Nothing likely in Onom. so prob. O. E. post-wic,' house, dwelling with the post.’ But Postlip (Gloster), Dom. Poteslepe, 1175 Postlepa, is prob. ' Potta'a leap.’ Cf. Birdlip.
Potton (Sandy), a. 1130 Pottona. Possibly ' pot-town,’ O.N. pott-r, ' a pot.' Perh. fr. a man Pohta or Poto, names in Onom. Cf. 1179-80 Pipe, Potton (Yorks), not in Dom., but there we have Potterton, Dom. Potertun; this is as early as, or earlier than, any quot. for potter, in Oxf. Dict. Potterspury (Stony Stratford) is, however, in 1229 simply Estpirie. See Paulerspury. Potterne (Wilts) is Dom. Poterne, where erne is certainly O.E. for ' house.'
Poulton le Fylde (Preston) and Poulton (Fairford and Birkenhead). Pr. P. Dom. Poltun, O.E. for ' village by the pool.' Fa. P. 1303 Polton.
Powick (Worcester). Chart. Poincgwic, Dom. Poiwic, 1275 Poyswyke, a. 1300 Poywick. Poineg- is clearly a patronymic, fr. 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. (Welshpool), c. 1200 Gir. Camb. Powisia, Ann. Camb. 828 Poywis, 1297 Powys. W. powys,' a state of rest.'
Poynings (Hurstpierpoint, Sussex). Dom. Poninges. A patronymic. Nothing in Onom. Poynton (Stockport) is Dom. Pontone; so evidently Pon was a man's name.
Praze (Camborne). Corn, pras, L. pratum,' a meadow.'
Prees (Whitchurch) and Preese (Lytham). Ly. P. Dom. Pres. W. prys, pres, ' copse, shrubs.' Cf. Dumfries (Sc). Peeesall (Preston) is Dom. Pressouede, where the ending is doubtful; prob. 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 Roxburghsh. Is Plenderleith, 1587 Prenderleith. A puzzling name. The first part may be for O.W. premter, found in Ir. as prenter, ' a presbyter, a priest,' and the second may be, W. gest, cest, ' a deep glen between two hills.' Fris. gaast, ' a morass,' seems also possible.
Prescot. ' The cot or cottage of the priest.' O.E. preost, O.N. prest-r.
Presteign (Radnor) and Preston (19 in P.G.). Dom. Yorks, Bucks, and Salop, Prestone, Prestun; ib.Warwk., Prestetone. All = ' priest's town.' In W. Presteign is Llanandras or ' church of St. Andrew.'
Prestwich (Manchester). 1301 Prestwyche. O.E. preost-wic, ' priest's dwelling.’ Cf. Prestwick (Sc.) and Prestwood (Stourbridge), a. 1200 Prestewude; also Prestbury (Cheltenham), Bede Preosdabyrig, Dom. Presteberie. See-bury.
Prickwillow (Ely). Called fr. a willow, used for making pricks or skewers. Cf. the' spindle-tree.'
Princethorpe or Prinsthorpe (Rugby), a.1300 Prenesthorpe. ' Village ' of Preonm i.e. the pin or ‘brooch,’ Sc. preen. Cf. Preen (Salop).
Priors Heys (Tarvin, Cheshire) An ‘extra- parochial liberty, of 1.100 acres, with houses. See Oxf. Dict. hay sb2, O. E. hege, 3 heie, 4-7 hey(e), ' a hedge.'
Privett (Alton). Prob. O.E. Chron. 755 Pryfetes floda. Prob. a personal name of unknown origin. The shrub privet is not surely known in Eng. a. 1542, and its etymology is very doubtful. Can Pryfet be for prefect, L. proefectus?
Prudhoe or Prudhow (Bywell, Northumbld). c. 1175 Fantosme Prudhame (=ham), a. 1200 Prudchou. Prob. ' Prud's height.' There is one Prud in Onom. in Cornwall, while ' proud ' (O.E. prut, prud) is not used re things till c. 1290. See Hoe.
Puckeridge (Ware), This is a name of the nightjar. See Oxf. Dict. But the placename is prob. ' Pucca's ridge.' Cf. Pouke Hill and Powke Lane (Staffs.), Puckington (Ilminster) and a ' Pokebrook,' 1274 in Lines. Old forms needed. They may all come fr. puck or pook, O. E. puca, O. N. puki,' a sprite, demon, fairy.' See Oxf. Dict., puck sb.1
Pucklechurch (Bristol). 946 O.E. Chron. Puc(e)lan cyrcan, Dom. Pulcrecerce, Sim. Dur. ann. 946, Puclecirce. O.E. for ' church of the goblin,' pucel, prob. connected with pucel, ' a fairy.' Cf. Pocklington and Pucklenash, Picklenash (Gloster), ' fairies' ash tree.' Gloster also has a Puckshole.
Pudsey (Leeds). Dom. Podechesaie, 1183 Puteaco, 1203 Pudeckshee, 1213 Picteaceo. 'Isle of Podeca' ('?= Bodeca, 1 in Onom.). See -ey. ' Poody-Crofte ' sic 1423 Coventry Leet Bk., seems to be fr. the same name. It is not in Duignan.
Pulloxhill (Beds), c. 1200 Polochessele. 'Hill of Poloc.' 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 O.E. sele, 'a hall, a house.'
Puncknoll (Dorchester). 'Knoll, hillock of Punt,' 1 in Onom., short form of Puntel. Cf. 940 chart. Punteles treow (Dorset).
Punsborne (Hatfield). Not in Dom., c. 1495 Pamsborow. It must be fr. 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, Pembk.) is 1603 Owen Pontchardston, a name not in Onom.; but Punchard is common in medieval France.
Purbeck. 1205 Purbice, 1410 Pur-brick. ' Brook of the ram, or wether lamb,’ O.E. pur found only in pur lamb; or 'of the snipe or bittern,’ also O.E. pur. Cf. Purfleet and Purton and see -beck.
Purfleet (Essex). O.E. pur-fleot, ' snipe or bittern creek or inlet.' Cf. Fleetwood.
Purleigh (Maldon) and Purley (Reading and Surrey). Reading P. Dom. Porlei, a. 1290 Purle. Ma. P. jjrob. 998 chart. Purlea. Thought by Skeat to be, like Purton, 'pear-tree meadow'; but old forms are against this, and prob. these names are to be taken as in Purbeck.
Purston (Pontefract). Dom. Prestun, and so=Preston. But Purshall, (Bromsgrove) is a. 1300 Pershull, ' hill of Piers,' Cf. ' Piers Plowman.'
Purton (Swindon and Berkeley). Swindon P. 796 chart. Perytun, Puritun, later Pyryton, pear-tree town.' O.E. pirige, ' pear- tree,’ peru, ' a pear.' Cf. Paulerspury.
Pusey (Berks), a. 900 AElfred's Will Pefesigge, later Peuesige; 1066-87 Chron. Abingdon, Pusie, Dom. Pesei, a. 1290 Pesey. O.E. Pefes -ize, ' isle of Pefi,' an unknown man. Cf. Pewsey.
Putloe (Standish). a. 1200 Puthleleye, 1274 Potteley; Putney (London) old Putton -heath; and Puttenham (Guildford). All fr. the common O.E. name Put(t)a, -an. In the first case -ley ' meadow, 'has varied with -loe or-low,' burial mound.'
Pwllheli. Pron. pool-thelly. W. for ' brine pool.' Cf. Treheli, ' house of brine,''salt-house,' in Carnarvon also.
Pwll Crochan (Fishguard), 1377 Porttraghan, Tax. Eccl. Portcrachan, and Pwlly Crochan (Colwyn Bay). Prob. not' pool of the pot ' for drawing water, or ' like a cauldron,' same as Eng. crock; but fr. W. clochan, ' a little bell ' ; the hquids l and r easily interchange. There is another Pwll Crochan, N. of Llanrian.
Pytchley (Kettering). Dom. Pihteslea, 'meadow of Piht,' or ' Peoht.' See-ley.

Quadring (Spalding), a. 1100 Quadaveringge. Seemingly a patronymic; possibly fr. Wadbeorht or Vadipert, or fr. Wadweard, names in Onom. But this is quite uncertain. See -ing.
Quantocks (Somerset) and East Quantoxhead. Chart, attrib. to 681 Cantuc-uudu ('wood'). Dom. Cantocheheve' (' head,' O.E. heafod). W. cant uch, ' upper, higher circle.' W. uch is same root as Ochils (Sc.) and G. wachdar, ' the top, upper part,' so common in Sc. placenames as Auchter-.
Quarlton (Bolton). 1292 Quelton. Prob. 'town of the quarry,’ still in north dial, quarrel, O.Fr. quarriere. See Oxf. Dict. 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,’ O.E. cweorn, cwyrn. Cf. Quarndon (Derby), ' hill like a quern,’ Quernhowe (Yorks) and Quorn. However, Baddeley thinks the Querns (Cirencester) corrup. of Crundles, sic 1286, see Crundale.
Quarrington (Coxhoe, Durham). a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Queormingtun, 1183 Querindune, Queringdona. Seemingly patronymic, fr. O.E. cweorn, ' a quern, a hand mill.'
Quatbridge (Bridgenorth). 895 O.E. Chron. Cwatbrycge; Dom. Quatford and Quatone, c. 1097 Orderic Quatfort now Quatford Castle; c. 1120 Hen. Hunt. Quadruge, Quathruge. Some think fr. O.W. coit, W. coed, ' a wood,' which is not very likely. There is an obscure quat, ' a pimple, a boil,' found fr. 1579. The Quat-is quite doubtful. Cf. Quothquhan (Sc).
Quedgeley (Gloster). c. 1142 Quedesley, c. 1155 Quedesleg; also perh. 1136 Quadresse. Prob. ' mead of (an unrecorded) Owed.' Baddeley says, cf. Quither (Tavistock), 1286 Quedre; but it is prob. Kelt. Cf. W. cwthr, ' excretory orifice, anus.'
Queensborough (Chatham), c. 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.' Cf. the Breton Quimper and Comberbach.
Quinton (Birmingham and Gloster). Birmingham Q. 840 chart. Cwentune, 1275 Quintone. Gloster Q. 848 chart. Cwentone, Dom. Quenintune. O.E. cwoen, cwen(n), tun, 'woman's' or 'queen's village.' This is the same name as Quemington, also in Gloster, Dom. Quenintone.
Quoisley Mere (Cheshire). Perh. 'meadow of the heifer or quey,' 6-9 quoy, only in North dial. fr. O.N. kviga, ' a heifer.'
Quorn (Loughborough). See Quarnford.
Quy (Cambs). c. 1080 Inquis. Cambs. Coeie, Choeie, Dom. Coeia, 1210 Cueye, 1261 Queye, 1272 Coweye, Cowye, O.E. cu -ege, ' cow island.' Cf. Sheppey, and quey (Sc.) for ' a heifer, a young cow,' O.N. kviga, also Dom. Devon, Coie. See -ey.

Raby (Cheshire and Darlington). Cheshire R. Dom. Rabie. Darlington R. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Rabi, Raby; this might be O.N. for ' dwelling made with poles or stakes,' ra ; but this last also means ' a roedee.' See -by.
Radcliffe (4 at least). Devon R. Exon. Dom. Radeliva. Manchester R. 1343 Radclive, Radecliffe. Also Dom. Bucks Radeclivo. ' Red cliff,’ O.E. read (3 roed) clif. Cf. Ratcliffe-upon-Soar, Dom. Radeclive. Radbrook (Forest of Dean), is 1204 Redebroc. Radfield (Cambs). c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Radefelde, Radesfeld, Dom. Radefelle, 1284 Radefeld, 1302 Radfeld. Prob. Roeda’s
field ; though here and in other names in Rad-, as Skeata dmits, an origin fr. O.E. read, 3 reed, ' red,’ is always possible. Cf. 1158-9 Pipe Rademora (Staffs). Radholme (Yorks), is Dom. Radun, an old loc. ' on the roads.’ O.E. rad. See -ham vwith which -holme often interchanges.
Radford (Worcestershire. and Leamington). Worcestershire R. 1275 Radeford, Leamington R. Dom. Redeford, a. 1189 Radeford. Perh. 'red, reddish ford,' O.E. read, 3 reed, 'red'; but perh., as in Radbourne, ' reedy ford '; O.E. hreod, (h) read, ' a reed.' Also cf. two ntext. Radham (Gloster) is 955 chart. Hreodham.
Radlett (Herts), No old forms. Skeat thinks, O.E. rad (ge)loet, ' road meeting-point.' But Dom. Herts has Radeuuelle, which is prob. 'well of Rada.' Cf. next; and 1161-2 Pipe Raden -heoh’? ' height of Rada,' Bucks and Beds.
Radley (Abingdon), a. 1290 Radeley, c. 1520 Raydeley, Prob. ' red meadow,' as in Radcliffe see -ley. But Skeat compares; B.C.S. iii. 85 ' Radeleage ' (Wilts), which he derives fr. Rada or Roeda, a pet form of one of the many names in Raed-; whilst Radbourne (Southam.), is 980 chart. Hreodburne or 'reedy brook.'
Radnor (Wales, and old hamlet near Congleton). Dom. Raddrenore (prob. the central r is an error). O.E. raden ora, ' edge of the road or ride '; prob. in the first case the Rom. road which ran fr. Wroxeter to Abergavenny and Caerleon, The W. name is Maesyfed or-hyfed, prob. for hyfaidd,' field of the dauntless one.'
Radstock (Bath). Looks like O.E. rad -stoc, ' place on the road.' Cf. Stoke. But it may be fr. a man, as in next. Cf. too Radway, Banbury, Dom. Radeweie, Rodeweie, which Duignan thinks ' red way,' because the soil here is reddish marl.
Radston (Northants). c. 1275 Radistone; also Rodeston, Prob. ' town of Rada or Rodo,' names in Onom. There is also a ' Radeston,’? Salop, c. 1205 in Layam. But Radwick (Gloster) is c, 955 chart. Hreodwica, ' reed-built ' or ' thatched dwelling.'
Rainford and Rainhill (St. Helens). 1189-98 Raineford, 1202 Reineford; 1190 Raynhull, 1246-56 Reynhill, 1382 Raynhull, Fr. some man with a name in Raegen- or Regen-. They are very common, see Onom. Regenbeald, Regenhild, etc. Rainors (Cumbld.) is said to have been formerly pron. Renneray, which is pure N. See -ay. Raines Brook (Warwksh.), a. 1200 Reynesbroc, is known to be fr. Rainald, the Dom. tenant of the manor.
Rainham (Chatham). 811 Roegingaham. Evidently a patronymic, fr. Ecegen or Regen, a name generally found in one of its numerous combinations, Regenburh, Regenfrith, Regenheard, etc. Rainton Thirsk, Dom. Rainincton 1183 Rayntona, will have a similar origin; only here it is a patronymic. Dom. also calls it Rainingewat, where -wat will be O.E. weed, ' ford.’ Cf. Wath.
Raisthorpe (Yorks). Dom. Redrestorp. 'Rethers's place.' There is one Regder and one Ratherus in Onom. See -thorpe.
Rake (East Liss), Rake End, and the Rakes (Staffs). O.N. rak, ' a stripe, streak,' Norw. dial, raak, ' footpath,' found in 14th cny, Eng. as rake, ' a way, a (rough) path '; still dial, and Sc.
Rampton (Cambridge), c. 1080 Inquis. Camb. Ramtune, Dom. Rantone, 1210 Ramptone. ' Village of rams,' O.E. ramm. Cf. Foxton and Shepton.
Ramsbottom (Manchester). A 'bottom,' O.E. botm, north. E. bodome, is ' a valley, a fertile valley.' Cf. Boddam (Sc.) and Starbottom. As to the Ram- cf. next and Ramsley (Salop), a. 1100 Hremesleage, Dom. Rameslege, ' Hraem's or Ram's lea.’
Ramsbury (Hungerford). c. 988 chart. Hremnesburg, c. 1097 Flor. W. Reamnesbyrig. ' Town of Ramni,' a Saxon name found also in Ramshorn (Sc). The root is O.E. hremn, ' raven.' Cf. next, and 1179-80 Pipe Rammesberia (Yorks).
Ramsden (Charlbury, Oxford). O.E. chart. Remnesdun. 'Hill of Remni,' see above. Perh. it is c. 1450 Oseney Reg. 134 Ramme dune. But Ramsden Heath, Billericay, is Dom. Ramesdana, ' Dean, valley of Ramni.' See -den.
Ramsey (Hunts). K.C.D. iv. 300 Hrames ege, Dom. Ramesy, c. 1097 Flor. W. Ramesia. c. 1130 Eadmer Rammesei, a. 1150 chart. Ramesige. Not orig. ' isle of rams,' O.E. ram(m), but ' isle of Hroem ' or ' the Raven,' O.E. hroem, var. of hroemn, hrafn, ' raven.' Cf. Hremmesden, now, says Kemble, Ramsdean (Hants).
Ramsgate. c. 1540 Ramesgate, ' Road,' O.E. geat, ' of Ram,' a fairly common name. Cf. 940 chart. Hremnes geat (Wilts), B.C.8. 356 Rames cumb, near Hallow on Severn, and Ramsden.
Ranby (Lincoln and Retford). Both Dom. Randebi, ''Rand's dwelling.' Cf. Ranworth (Norwich), O.E. chart. Randworth. See-by and-worth. But all names in Rand-, like thes eand Randwick (Stroud), 1120 Randwyke (O.E. wic 'dwelling'), may be fr. O.E. rand, rond, ' brink, bank,' O.N. rond, ' shield rim, stripe,' Sw. and Dan. rand,' rim, border,'also in Du., seen in the famous Rand (Johannesburg). Cf. Dom. Lines, Rande.
Rapes of Sussex. Dom. In Rap de Hastinges. One of six districts into which Sussex is divided. Oxf. Dict, says rape may mean ' land measured by the rope,' O.E. rap, O. N. reip; but that there is no positive proof. Yet cf. Orderic 678 c, Omnes carucatas quas Angli hidas vocant funiculo [Randolf Flambard] mensus est et descripsit. Cf. Rope.
Raskelf (Easingwold). Dom. Raschel. O.E. ra- scelfe, 'roe-deer's shelf of rock.' Rastrick (Brighouse). Dom. Rastric. O.E. rcest hryeg, O.N. rast hrygg-r, ' rest ' or ' resting ridge.'
Rathmell (Settle). Dom. Rodemele. 'Sand-dune of the rood,’ or ' cross,’ O.E. rod, with the North, a. A ' mell ' is O.N. mel-r; see Meole.
Ratley (Banbury). Dom. Rotelei, a. 1200 Rottelei, a. 1300 Rotley. 'Good, excellent meadow,’ O.E. rot; or fr. rot, 'a root, an edible root.' See -ley.
Rattlesden (Bury St. E.). 1161-2 Pipe Radleston, c. 1420 Lydgate Ratlysdene. Older forms needed. ' Wooded valley of.’? Roedweald var. Radoald, Roedwealh var. Ratuvalah, or Roedwulf var. Rathwulf or Radulf, all forms in Onom. See -den and -ton.
Raughton Head (Dalston, Cumbld.). 1189 Rachton. Doubtful; no likely name in Onom., and it is phonetically difficult to derive fr. rache, O.E. roecc, 3-6 racch, 4-5 rach, 'a hunting-dog'; so prob. named fr. some unknown man. See-ton.
Ravenglass (S. Cumbld.). Prob. W. yr afon glas,' the greenish or bluish river,' afon pron. as in Stratford on Avon. All other explanations seem to break down. But we have 1189 Pipe ' Ravenewich,' (Cumbld.), dwelling of Raven' or ' Hrafn.' See next.
Raveningham (Norwich), a. 1300 Eccleston Ravingham. A patronymic. Prob. most names in Raven-, like Ravenstone (Bucks), etc., come fr. a man, as in Hrafnsaust and Hrafnseyri (Iceland), known to be called fr. a settler. See, too, Ramsbury, Ramsey, and Renhold, and cf. 1189 Pipe 'Ravenewich' (Cumbld.).
Ravensthorpe (Dewsbury and Northampton). Dewsbury R. Dom. Rag(h)enel-torp. No. R. Grant of 664 Ragenildetorp. ' Village of Ragenald' or Regenweald, mod. Reginald. Ragh-has become Raw-and then Rav-. There is also in N.Yorks a Raventhorp, Dom. Ravenetorp, fr. a man Raven. See above, and see -thorpe.
Ravenstone (Olney and Ashby de la Z.). Olney R. Dom. Raveneston. The man ' Raven's village ' and Ravensworth (Richmond, Yorks, and Chester-Le-Street). Richmond R. Dom. Raveneswet. Ch. R., a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Raveneswurthe. The man ' Raven's farm.' See above and -worth.
Rawdon (Leeds). Dom. Rodum, Rodun. Old loc. ' at the roods' or ' crosses.' But W. and H. derive Rawcliff and -fold (Lanes), fr. O.N. raud-r, ' red.'
Rawmarsh (Rotherham). Dom. Rodemesc (for -mersc), 1206 Rumareis. Prob. ' rough mars,’ O.E. ruw, 3 ru, 3-5 rowe, now row, var. of rough. Dom.'s Rode- maybe an error; or fr. a man Roda, 2 in Onom. Marsh is O.E. mersc, moersc, but -mareis is rather the now almost obs. marish, O.F. marais, mareis, as in Beaumaris.
Rawnsley (Hednesford). Duignan says modern, and prob. named fr. Rawnpike Oak half a mile away. See Rivington Pike.
Rawtenstall (Rossendale). Sic 1585, but 1465 Rowtanstall. It was on a ' Rowtan clough,’ and so prob. means ' roaring, noisy, boisterously windy place.' It is Oxf. Dict.'s rout vb2 fr. O.N. rjota, N. ruta, ' to roar,' in Eng. 3 rute, 4 route, rowte. Cognate with rout vb3, O. N. rauta, Sw. rota,' to bellow or roar.’ 1513Douglas 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 Onom.; -stall is O.E. steall, steel, ' place, stable.' Cf. Rowten or Routen Cave (Ingleborough), and Ratten, older Routand Clough (Thieveley Pike).
Rayleigh (Essex). Perh. 'meadow on the stream.' Ray or Rea is a frequent name for' a small river,' the r coming on by ‘attraction, fr. the preceding O. E. art, om thoere ea, ‘on the river. Cf. Nechells, 1161-2 Pipe Raelega (Devon) and Rye. But Sir H. Maxwell thinks = Realees (Selkirk), O. E. ra-leah, ‘roe meadow,’ This is confirmed by Raygill, Craven, Dom. Roghil. See -gill, ‘ravine’.
Reach (Swaffham, Cambs). 1279 Reche, a 'reach' or extension of land, O.E. roecan, ' to reach.' The earliest quot. for the sb. in Oxf. Dict, is 1536, Limehowse Reche.
Reading. Pron. Redding. 871 O.E. Chron. Readingas, 1006 ib. Raedingan (late dat. Pl.), Dom. Redinges, 1254 chart. Rading. Patronymic. ' Home of the descendants of Reada,' or the Red, now found spelt as a surname Reid, or Reade.
Reculver (N. Kent), c. 410 Not. Dign. Regulbi, a. 716 chart. Raeulf, Bede Racuulfe, Raculph. O. E. Chron .679, Raculf, Reculf 811 chart. 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 O.E. culfre, culfer,' a culverdove or woodpigeon.'
Redannick (the Lizard). Corn. = ' place of ferns.' Cf. W. rhedyn Ir. raithneach, G. raineach, ' fern.' The -ick is the same ending as Ir. and G. -ach, ' place of,' or ' abounding in.' Cf. Trelissick, etc.
Redbridge (Southampton). Perh. Bede iv. 16. ' A place called Hreutford, v.r. Reodford ' i.e., 'ford -with reeds'; but cf. Retford. Redcar (Whitby). Not in Dom. 1179-80 Redkier. ' Red rock,’ O.E. carr, cognate with or derived fr. Keltic car, ' a rock.’ See Care Rocks (Sc).
Redcliffe (Bristol). Dom. Redeclive. O.E. for 'red cliff.' Cf. Cleveland. There is another' Redeclive' in Cheshire Dom.
Redditch. (843 chart, 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 O.E. as redic, 3 redich, 5 radish. Redesdale (Mid-Northumbld.). 1421 Redesdale, Rydesdale,Ridesdale, a. 1600 Risdale. On R. Rede, which may be O.E. hreut, hreod, or read, 4-5 red,' a reed.'
Redmarley d'Abitot (Newent). 963 chart. Reode maere leage, and 978 ib. Rydem-, Dom. Redmerleie, Ridmerlege, 1275 Rudmereley, Redmereligh, Rudmareligh. Prob. O. E. 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 Dom.'s time.
Redmire (Yorks). Dom. Ridemare, Rotmare. Prob.' reedy lake,' O.E. hreod, read, ' a reed,' and mere. Mire is O.N. myr-r, ' swamp, bog,' and not found in Eng. a. 1300. Cf. above.
Rednal (Bromsgrove). 730 chart. Wreodan hale, 1275 Wredinhale. ' Nook of Wreoda,' not in Onom. See -hall.
Red Pike (Wastwater). 1322 le Rede Pike. Pike, Oxd. Dict. sb2 is the North. Eng. name for a pointed or peaked hill or mountain and is chiefly found in Nthn. Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumberland, and the Sc. borders. The earliest case cited is c. 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 deriv .fr. N. or West N. dial, pik,' a pointed mountain,' piktind, ' a peaked summit.' There is one curiously corrupted example in Northbld., Wansbeck, which is orig. Wannys pike.
Redruth (Cornwall). Corn, rhe Druth, 'stream, swift current of the Druids.'
Red Swire (Nthbld.). c. 1375 Red Swyre, O. E. swira, 'neck, pass.' Cf. Manor Sware (Sc).
Reedham (Norfolk), c. 1300 Redhamme, 1424 Redeham, 1460 Redham, ' enclosure,' O.E. hamm, ' among the reeds.' See Redesdale, and -ham.
Reepham (Lincoln), a. 1100 chart, (dated 664). Refham. Perh. 'home on the rock.' O.N. rif, ' a rock, a reef.' Change fr. f to p is very rare. It may be fr. Roefen, a name 3 times in Onom.
Reeth (Richmond, Yorks). Dom. Rie. O. E. rid, ride, ‘a stream.; Cf. Rye.
Reigate. 1199 Regat, later Reygate. ' Gate, opening (O. E. geat, 2-6 gat) on the ridge,' O.E. hrycg, 4 reg, 4-5 regge, 5 ryge. Its pre-Conquest name was Cherchefelle,' church-field.'
Reighton (Bridlington). Dom. Rictone. Prob, 'town of Rica,’ one in Onom.
Remenham (Henley). Dom. Rameham, a. 1290 Remeham, 1316 Remenham. Prob. ' home of the Raven.' O.E. hroefn, late O.E. hroemn, hremn, here a man's name. Cf. Ramsbury.
Rempstone (Loughborough). Dom. Repestone, c. 1180 chart. Rempeston. Prob. fr. some unknown man. The nearest in Onom. 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, Dom. Rindcumbe, perh. contains an old river-name. See-combe.
Renhold (Bedford). Old Renhale, Ranhale (see -hall); but Abbey chart. Ravenshold, ' hold, fort of a man Raven or Hremn.' Cf. Remenham. A man Rauan or Raven is fond in Dom. at Beeston, 6 mls. to S.E.
Rennington (Alnwick), a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Reiningtim. 'Town of the descendants of? Hranig.' See Onom. and -ing.
Repton (Derby). 874 O.E. Chron. Hreopodune. Prob. fr. some unknown man, ' Hreopa's hill.' Cf. B.C.S. 216 Hroppan broc.
Restormel (Cornwall). Old Lestormel. All the liquids may interchange. Corn.=' court of Tormel.' Cf. Listewdrig, called after the king who killed St. Gwynear.
Retford. Sic 1225, but Dom. Redforde, 'red ford.' Perh. Bede iv. 16 Hreutford, Hreudford, ' reedy ford.' Cf. Redbridge.
Rettendon (Chelmsford).? 1298 Johannes de Ratingden. Prob. ' hill, fort, O. E. dun, of Reathun or Rethhun,' in Onom.
Revesby (Boston). 1156 Pipe Reuesbi, c. 1275 Righesbey, 1498 Resbie. ' Dwelling of Reive,' one in Onom. See -by.
Reynoldston (Glamorgan). Reynold is the common O. E. Regenhild. Or Reginweald. Cf. Ravensthorpe.
Rhayader (Radnor). W. rhaiadr Gwy,' waterfall on the Wye.'
Rhiwlas (Bangor and Herefordsh.). W .rhiw glas,' green slope.'
Rhos (Denbigh and Pembrksh.). Per. R. now pron. Roose. c. 1190 Gir. Camb. and 1297 Ros, 1603 Rose. W. rhos. Corn, ros, ' a dry meadow, a moor, heath.' Cf. Roose and Ross.
Rhoscrowther (Pembroke). 1324 Restrouthur, Tax. Eccl. Rostruther; also Rustruthur, Ruscrouthur, Rescorthurg, 1594 Rosgrothor. W. rhos is' moor.’ See above. The second part is doubtful. The early forms remind of Anstruthee (Sc),c. 1205 Anestrothir, 1231 Anstrother, fr. G. srathair, ' a cart-saddle, also' a swamp,a bog." The latter sense is found in Eng. dial.
Rhuddlan (Flints and Cardigan). Flint R. 1063 O.E. Chron. Rudelan. Dom. Roelent. a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Rudelant. W. rhudd llan, ' red enclosure ' or ' church '; or more prob. rhydd y llan, ' ford by the church.'
Rhyd Orddwy (Rhyl). W.=' ford of the Ordwi,' or' Ordovices,’ a tribe whose name is derived from O.W. ord, ' a hammer.' Cf. Dinorwig.
Rhyd-y-Groes (Upton-on-Severn). In Drayton Grossford. W. = ' ford of the cross,’ W. croes. It was the scene of one of Gruffydd's battles in 1039; and it still retains its old name.
Rhyfoniog (Denbigh). Ann. Cambr. 816 Roweynauc. Said to have been given to Ehufawn, son of Cunedda Wledig, for his gallantry in driving the Picts out of N. Wales. The-iog seems to be here simply as a suffix of place; whilst Rhufawn is thought to be the W. form of Romanus.
Rhyl. Either W. yr hal or haleg, ' the salt marsh,’ or yr hel(a), ' the hunting-ground' (of Rhuddlan)
Ribble R. (Preston), c. 150 Ptolemy Behsama, ' most warlike one, ‘another case of river-worship. The Beli-is of course the same root as L. bellum,' war.' Ptolomy ' sriver maybe the Mersey, c. 709 Eddi Rippel, Dom. Ribel, a.1100 Ribbel. The first part maybe W. rhe,' swift motion or current, ‘and the second is as in Bele-sama. The Eng. ripple is onomatopoeic and quite recent. Cf. Ripple.
Ribchester (Preston). Perh. Not. Dign. Bremetonaci. Dom. 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 Onom. See -ton. But Ribbesford, Bewdley, is 1023 chart. Ribbedford, a. 1100 Ribetforde, where the meaning of the first part is quite unknown. It may be a man's name.
Riccal (Selby). Dom. and c. 1097 Flor. W. Richale i.e., 'nook of Ricca.' Cf. K.C.D. 713 Rican forda; and see -hall.
Richborough (Thanet). a. 65 Lucan Rutupina litora,’ c. 100 Juvenal Rutupinus fundus, c. 150 Ptolemy… Bede, ' The city of Rutubi Portus, by the English corrupted into Reptacestir; c. 1550 Leland Itin. Ratesburgh, 1758 Thorn. Retesburgh. ' Burgh, fort or camp or harbour (portus) of Rutub,'an unknown man.
Richmond (Yorks and Surrey). Yor. R. [Dom. Hindrelache) a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Richmundia, c. 1175 Fantosme Richemunt, c. 1250 M. Paris Richemund. Ft. 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 orig. 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.). Cf. Dom. Recordine, Salop (-dine prob. =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 Onom.
Rickinghall (Diss) and Ricknall (Co. Durham). Durham R. 1183 Rikenhall. ' Hall ' ' of (the descendants of) Rica.' Cf. chart. of 679 Ricingahaam, Essex, and Riccal, See -hall. Rickeston, Pembksh., is 1324 Ricardyston,' Richard's, town.'
Rickmansworth (Herts). Dom. Ricemareworde, 1303 Rikemares-orth, ' Ricmoer's farm.' There is an ' Ikemaneswurda ' in 1167-68 Pipe Devon. See -worth.
Riddlesden (W. Riding) and Riddlesworth (Thetford). Dom. Redelesden, ' wooded vale ' and ' farm of Roedwulf or Redwulf.' Cf. Riddlecombe, Chulmleigh. See -combe, -den, and -worth.
Ridgeway or Rudgeway (Bristol, Pershore, Staffs, Sheffield). Bristol R. 950 chart. Hricweg, Pershore and St. R. O.E. chart. Hrycgweg, Ricweg, Ricweye, 1300 Reggewey. ' Way, road on the ridge,' O.E. hrycg, 3 6 rugge. The Rom. road fr. Chester to Worcester is called ' la Rugge,' but all Ridgeways are not Roman. Cf. Grant of a. 675 Ruggestrate (-street), Hants.
Riding (one of the 3 divisions of Yorks). In Dom. 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 O. E. pridding or priding, fr. O. N. pridjung-r, third part. Fr. O. E. pridda O. N. pride, third.’ There is a Riding Mill, Northbld. And a Riding burn, c. 1250 Revedeneburne,? Valley of Refa,; un unrecorded name. see -dean.
Rievaulx (Helmsley, Yorks). 1132 Rievalle, 1156 Pipe, Rieuall, 1200 Riuille, c. 1246 Ryeualle, 1394 Reival. ' Vale of the R. Rye,' fr. O.Fr. valle, Fr. val, ' a valley '; -vaulx is an old plur. form.
Rillington (York). Sic 1391, but Dom. Redlinton, Renliton. The name is very corrupt; orig. it may have been 'town of Hredle,' a name in Onom.
Rimington (Clitheroe). Dom. Renitone. More old forms needed? fr. 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 c. 1169 chart. Ad sicam (brook, syke) Polterkeved quae cadit in Ring.’ All prob. come fr. O.E. wring, O.N. wring-r, ' a ring.’ See -ley, -stead, etc. There is also a Ringburgh (Holderness). Dom. Ringheborg, Ringeburg, ' burgh, castle of Hring,' contracted form of Hringweald or Hringewulf; whilst Rangeworthy (Gloster), 1303 Ryngeworth, is prob. fr. a similar name. See -worth, ' farm.'
Ringmer (Lewes). Saga Olaf Har. Hringamara. Said to be corrup. of Regin-mere, ' lake of Regnum, or Regno,' name of Chichester in Ant. Itin., c. 380. Cf. above.
Ripley (Leeds, Derby, Woking). Leeds R. Dom. Ripeleia, 1202 Rippeleg; Woking R. K.C.D. 1361 Rippan leah, 'Meadow of Rippa. See-ley.
Ripon. Sic 1386, but c. 709 Eddi Hrypi, Bede In hrypum, c. 1050 O.E. Chron. ann. 769 Ripum, 948 ib. Rypon, Dom. Ripum. Prob. fr. L. ripa, ' bank ' it is on the bank of the Ure. hardly be fr. O.E. hropan, ' to howl or scream.' The -um and -on are loc .endings,- on the banks, of the Ure
Rippingale (Bourne). 806 chart. Repingale, Dom. Repinghale. Patronymi, ‘Nook, corner of the Repings,’ a name not in Onom. but cf. a. 1100 Hrepingas in S. Lincs. For hale, nook, see -hall.
Ripple (Tewkesbury and Deal). Tewkesbury R. 680 chart. Rippell, later Ryppel, Dom. 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 Eng. ripple is quite a recent word. Dom. Kent has only Ripe.
Ripplesmere (Windsor). Dom. Riplesmer(e), 1316 Ripplesmere, ' Lake of ' an unknown man ' Rippel.' Cf. Ripplingham (E. Riding), Dom. Riplingha', 1179-80 Pipe Ripplingeham Arches. See -ing.
Risby (York and Bury St. E.). York R. Dom. Risbi, 'Dwelling of Risa' or' Rhys,' a W. name. Cf. Reston (Sc), 1098 Ristun, next. Long Riston (Yorks), Dom. Ristun, and Princes Risboro' (Bucks), Dom. Riseberge, Risberg.
Riseley (Bedford and Reading). Cf. Dom. Bucks Riseberge, and Northants Ristone. ' Meadow of Risa.' Cf. above. See -ley. But Rise (Holderness), Dom. Risun, and Rise Carr (Darlington), seem to be fr. rise,' a hill, rising ground.' The vb. Is O. E., though the sb. is only recorde dlate. The-un in Risun is a common loc. In Yorks Dom. See Carr,' rock.'
Rishangles (Thorndon, Suffk.). Dom. Ris angra, late O.E. for ' rush-covered slope,' O.E. rise, M.E. rishe, ' a rush,' and hazra, ' hillslope.' Cf. Clayhanger. The mod. ending -les shows how easily the liquid r slides into l.
Rishton (Blackburn). 'Rush -town.’ See above, and cf. 'Risetone' in Cheshire Dom. It may bet this same place also Rissington (Gloster), Dom. Risendune,' rushen dow,’ See -don, -ing, and -ton.
Rivington Pike (Mid Lanes). Sic 1588, but a. 1290 Roinpik, a.1552 Rivenpike, 1588 Ryvenpyke, 1673 Riving Pike. The meaning seems, ' riven, cloven pike or Peak ‘; though no form of rive (vb. in Oxf. Dict.) exactly explains Roin (a. 1290). The vb. rive is O.N. rifa, found in Eng. a. 1300. Cf. Red Pike, and Rawnpike Oak (Warwksh.), which Duignan says is dial, for ' a stag-headed tree,' one with dead branches on its top, also spelt Ranpike, Rampick,
Robin Hood's Bay (Whitby), c. 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. Dom. Raweberge, also old Rougaburga. Doubtful; either 'burgh of Ruga' (see Routon), or 'rough burgh or fort' (see Rowington), and cf. Roughcastle (Falkirk), and Rowberrow (Axbridge). See -borough. Roel or Rowell (Notgrove), Dom. Rawelle, is' roedeer’s well,' O.E. rah.
Rocester (Uttoxeter). Dom. Rowecestre, a. 1200 Roffecestre, ' Hrof's ' or ' Ralph's castle,' and so = Rochester. See -cester. Rochdale. Dom. Recedam (see -ham), 1241-92 Rachedale, 1286 Rached. Must be fr. a man Rached or Reced, which may be contracted fr. Reccared or Riccared, names in Onom. The d has become merged in the -dale, hence later confusion with Hroche or Roche, who give name to Rockbeare, Roxburgh (Sc.), etc. The nouns roach and rock, M.E. roche, are both fr. Fr., and not found in Eng. a. 1250. The R. Roch on which the town stands is plainly a back-formation. Cf. Pinner, Yeovil etc. See -dale.
Rochester, c. 380 Ant. Itin. Durobrevis; Tabula Peutinger. perh. earlier than Itin., Roribis, 604 chart. Hrofibrevi, Bede Hrofescaestir, 762 chart. In civitate Hrofi; O.E. Chron. ann. 604 Hrofesceaster, Dom. Rouescestre, c. 1386 Chaucer Rowchestre. A name that has changed. Durobrev is is said to mean' fort at the bridges,' duro being perh. cognate with Eng. ' door,' and brivo is said to be O. Kelt, for ' bridge.' The Peutinger form is a scribe's corruption. How Duro- became Hrofi- we cannot tell; but already Bede believed that Hrof, Norm. Fr. Rou was a man, formerly primaries in this town. See -Chester,’ a camp.' There is a Rochester (Otterburn), and a Rochecestre, Dom. Salop, which might be fr. a Norman Roche, cf. next and Roxburgh (Sc), but more prob. fr. O. E. roh, M.E.roz, roch,' rough,’prob, same as Rugby, in Dom. Rocheberie. Cf. Rocester and Rowington.
Rochford (Essex and Tenbury). Essex R. Dom. Rochesfort. ' Ford of Roc'. Cf. Roxburgh (Sc), and Ruxford (Devon), 930 chart. Hrocesford; also Rokeby (Yorks), Dom. Rochebi.
Rockbeare (Exeter). Dom. Rochsbeie. 'Wood of Roche.' See above. O. E. beam,' a wood.' Cf. Beer and the personal name Conybeare, also Roxburgh (Sc.) and Rookwith (Yorks), Dom. Rocuid, where the ending also means' wood.'
Rockcliffe (Carlisle). 1595 Rowclif. Possibly mod. corrup. for ' cliff of Rou ' or ' Rolls.' Cf. Rochester, in Chaucer Rowchestre. As likely fr. O.E. ruh, rug, 4-6 rogh, 5-7 roche (Sc), 6 rowch (Sc), 'rough, shaggy.' Rockhampton (Thornbury), Dom. Rochemtune, later Rokampton, is thought to be ' rooks Hampton,' O.E. hroc.
Rocking (Kent). 785 chart. Hroching. Patronymic. 'Place of the descendants of Hroche.' Cf. Rockbeare and next.
Rockingham (Uppingham). Dom. and 1160 Pipe Rochingeham, 1135 O.E. Chron. 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 perh. c. 380 Ant. Itin. Rutunio. R'ton is Dom. Rodintone. Thereare 2 called Roda, gen.-an, in Onom., and R'ton might be ' town of Roda,' and Roding a patronymic. See -ing. This is unlikely for a river, and both rivers are prob. Keltic; whilst R’ton will be al village near the Roden.’ The root might be W. rhudden, ‘a red streak, a ruby,’ fr. rhudd, rhydd, ‘ red’, or these river names might be connected with W. rhwtioni, ' to produce dregs ' ; but the origin—like that of so many river names—is quite doubtful. There is a ' Gibbe Ruydinges ' found in Staffs in 1309, a name which might well be fr. rhudd or rhydd. The Essex R. gives name to quite a number of places Abbot's Roding, Leaden Roding, White Roding, etc.
Rodborough' (Stroud), c. 740 chart. Roddenbeorgh, is ' Barrow of Rodda.' Rodley, same shire, is Dom. Rodele, but 1163-64 Radelea, and often, later, Radley and Rudley; so it may either be fr. a man Rodda, or ' red lea.' See -ley. Rodmarton (Tetbury), Dom. Redmertune, is ' Roedmcor's town.' ' Cf. Redmarley.
Rolleston (Burton-on-T. and 3). Burton R. 942 chart. Rothulfeston, 1004 ib. Rolfestun, Dom. Rolvestune. ' Hrothwulf's town.' All the others may not be the same. R.(Notts) is Dom. Roldestun, Rollestone, 1346 Roldeston, ' town of Rold,' 2 in Onom.
Rolvenden (Ashford, Kent). Perh. 'den or dean or wooded valley of Roland.' The famous oland is in Eginhard,' Hruodlandus Brittanici limitis praefectus.
Roman Wall, The (R. Tyne). a. 1500 Black Bk. Hexham Munis Romanorum.
Romney Marsh (Kent). 697 chart. Rumin-ing, 1052 O. E.Chron. 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 prob. origin, Romanby (Yorks) is Dom. Romundebi, ‘dwelling of Hrothmund, or ‘Rodmund’. See -by.'
Romsey (Hants). Pron. Rumsey. a.1142 Wm. Malmesb. Rume-ium, a. 1160 Gest. Steph. Abbas Rumensis, 1298 Romeseie. ' Isle of Rum.' Cf. Rumholt and Rumney.
Roomfield (Todmorden) 1314 Romesgrene, close by- i.e. Green of Roma’ or ‘Ruma, one in Onom.
Roos(e) (Hull and Furness). Both in Dom. Rosse. As Rhos (Pembroke) is to-day pron, Roose, these are clearly the same name, W. rhos, ' a moor, heath, marsh.' There is also a Roose (Portkerry, Glam.).
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 chart. Ropleah. O.E, for ' lea, meadow, measured by a rope.' Cf. Rapes.
Rosemarket (Neyland, Pembk.), 1603 Owen Rosmarken. Rose- is W. rhos,' a moor,'and the present ending is mod. Cf. Rhosmarket, or Rhos y Farket, Nevern, same shire, old Rosavarken. The name must surely be the same as Rosemarkie (Fortrose, Sc), c. 1228 Rosmarkensis Episcopus, 1510 Rosmarky, where W. J. Watson takes the ending for G. marcnaidh, or maircnidh, old gen. of marcnach, 'place of horses.' No likely W, origin seems forthcoming; so this may be a rare Gadhelic survival.
Roser Castle (Carlisle). 1272 Rosa. Named by its builder, Bp. Manclerk, c. 1240, fr. the rose, symbol of the Blessed Virgin, The change of -a to -er denotes a ' Cockney ' pronunciation. Cf. Kidderminster.
Ross (Hereford), In W. Rhossan ar Wy. W. rhos, 'a moor, a heath,' Cf. Rhos. Ros- is common in Corn, names; we have already Roscarel in Dom. Lord de Ros is fr. Ros, Holderness, Sic. a. 1130.
Rossall (Fleetwood). Dom. Rus-hale, 1228 Roshale, Roshal, 1265 Rossale. ' Nook, enclosure of the horse,' O.N. hross, O.E. hors. See -hall.
Rossendale (N.E. Lancs). Sic c. 1230, 1294 Roscyndale, 1296 Rosendale. ' Valley of Roschil, or ' Roscytel,' nearest name in Onom. The liquids l and n interchange without much difficulty. See -dale.
Rosestt (Wrexham), a. 1700 Yr orsidd; besides the village 2 or 3 fields in this district are no wcalled Rossett. TheW. name means ' the throne’/or' high seat’ and must refer to some mounding or once in, the field. T. Morgan says it is corrup. of rhosydd, pl. of rhos, ' a moor.' Rosset (W. Riding) is Dom. Rosert, a name of doubtful meaning.
Rostherne Mere (Altrincham). Looks like' roost,' O. E. hrost,' of the hern or heron,' O. Fr. hairon, Fr. heron, in Eng. fr.1302. But it may also be fr. O. E. hyrne, M. E. heme,' a nook, a hiding-place.' Cf. Herne Hill.
Rotherham (Yorks and Surrey). Yorks R. Dom. Rodreha, 1242 Roderham. Some say, ' home on the R. Rother,' Icel. raud-r, ' red.' Others derive fr. O.E. hrider, hryder, 3- rother, 5 rodder, 'an ox.' Cf. Rutherford (Sc). But this occurrence of the name in Sussex makes it prob. that the river-name is a back formation (cf. Rochdale),and that the name of the town is' home of Hrodhere,' a known name. But Ryther (W. Riding), Dom. Ridre, must be O.E. rid ofer, 'brook bank’, cf. Ryde, Wooler, etc. Rotherfield Greys (Henley-on-Thames) is 1237 Retherefeld, 1242, Retheresfeld, prob.' ox's field.'
Rotherhithe (London). 1298 Retherhethe, 1460 Redre, 1660 juxta portum qui vocatur Etheredishythe, ' harbour of Ethered,' var. of the common O.E. Mthelred.
Rothwell (Leeds, Kettering, and Caistor, Lines.). Dom. Leeds and Kettering Rodewelle, Caistor Rodowelle. Kettering R. 1360 Pipe Rothewelle, now pron. Rowell, while Ruthwell (Dumfries) is pron. Revvel. ‘Welle of the rood’ or ‘crosse’, O. E. rod.
Rottingdean (Brighton). Old forms needed. Referred to c. 1380. It may be ' rotten,' O.N. rotinn, or ' rotting (Icel. and N. rot, vb.) valley.' The rotten has as one pretty early sense, ' of ground, soil, etc., extremely soft . . . friable.' This suits the site. But perh., as in Rawtenstall, ' routing valley ' i.e., one ' making a roaring noise, boisterously windy.' See Oxf. Dict. 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). Dom. Ruhham, c. 1280 chiart. Rucham. O.E. ruhham,' rough, shaggy-looking house.'
Routh (Beverley). Dom. Rute, Rutha. O.N. rud, ' a clearing in a wood,' a rare word.
Routon (Norfolk). Sic 1451, but 1477 Rowton; also Rowton (E. Yorks and Chester). Yorks R. Dom. Rugheton, Rugeton. All prob,' town of Ruga.' See Rowner, and cf. Roborough.
Rowington (Warwick). Dom. Rochintone, a. 1200 Rokintun, a. 1400 Rouhinton, 1378 Rochinton. Doubtful; Duignan prefers ' rough town,’ O.E. roh. See Rochester and Rugby, -ing and -ton.
Rowlands Castle (Havant) and Gill (Newcastle). Rowland or Roland is the O.Teut. Rodland or Hruodland, fr .hrod,' famous,’Cf. Rolvenden. Gill is Icel. gil, ' a gap.' Cf. fish-gill. In names it means either ' a little bay ' or ' a ravine.' Cf. Auchin Gill (Sc).
Rowley Water (N. of Hexham), a.1300 chart. Ruleystal (=O.E. steel, 'stall, place'). Perh. 'rest-meadow,' O.N. ro, Eng. c. 1200 ro, 4-5 roo, 4 rou, 5 rowe, ' rest, repose, peace.' There are other Rowleys. Cf. Dom. Bucks, Rovelai, which suggests some man's name,? what, whilst Rowley Regis (Dudley) is a. 1200 Rohele, Rueley, Roele, a. 1300 Rueleg, which is prob. 'rough lea,' O.E. ruh. See Rugby. It belonged to the King in Dom., hence Regis,' of the King.' See -ley.
Rowlston (Yorks). Dom. Roolfestone, Rolvestun. 'Town of Hrolf.' Cf. Rochester.
Rowner (Gosport). Dom. Ruenore, 1114 O.E. Chron. Rugenor. O.E. Rugan ora, ' shore of Ruga.' Cf. Windsor, etc. Also cf. B.C.S. 699 Rugan die (' dyke '), ib. ii. 516 Ruwanbeorg (Berks), ib. i. 545 Ruganbeorg, Dom. Norfk. Ruuenore. But Rownall (Cheadle) is Dom. Rugehala, a. 1300 Roughenhale, Rowenhale. These last Duignan thinks oblique cases of O.E. ruh, in its weak declension, ruwa,-an,' rough nook.' Cf. Rugby and see -hall.
Roxby (Doncaster) and Roxton (St. Neots’). Dom. Rozebi, a spelling which Dom. Yorks also gives to Rousby. Dom. Rochestone. Prob. ' dwelling ' and ' town of Roc ' or ' Rocga,' names in Onom. Cf. Roxburgh (Sc.) and Rockbeare. See -by and -ton.
Royston (Herts and Barnsley). Herts R. c. 1220 Elect. Hugo Crux Roies, 1263 Croyrois, 1298 Villa de Cruce Roisia, v.r. Rohesia, Rosia; 1428 Roystone. Said to becalled fr. 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 L. and croyis O. Fr., Mod. Fr. croix,' cross.'
Ruabon Abon (Denbigh). W. 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 O. E. ruh beorh (M. E. berg), ‘rough hill’. But cf. 947 chart. Rugan beorh (Wilts), fr. a man Ruga, as in B.C.S. 699 Rugan die. Cf. Rowner. Ruardean-on-Wye, 1281 Rowardin, later Ruworthyn, exhibits a rare var. of -worthy or -wardine, ' rough farm.’
Ruddington (Nottingham). Dom. Roddintone, Rodintmi, 1261 Rotinton, 1287 Rotyngton; also Rodington, Rutyngton. ' Town of Hroda, Rudda, or Ruta,'all names found in Onom. Cf. Hutton Rud(e)by (Yorks), Dom. Rodebi, 1179-80 Pipe Rudebi (see Hutton), and Rudeford (Glouc.), Dom. Rudeford.
Rudge (Stroud and Salop). Stroud 1179 Rugge, Salop R. Dom. Rigge i.e., ' ridge.' See Ridgeway.
Rudston (Birchington). Dom. Rodestan, 1206 Ruddestain, which is prob. not rood-stone. O. E. rod, but stone ‘or town of Roda’ or ‘Rudda' Two of each so named in Onom. See -ton.
Rufford (Ormskirk and Notts). Ormskirk R. 1318 Roughford, 1332 Rughford, which explains itself. No. R. Dom. Rugforde, 1161- 62 Pipe Rucford, 1198 Rocheforde. Thus this cannot be the same as 1160 Pipe Runfort (Notts and Derby). But it is prob. the same as Rufford (Holderness), Dom. Ruforde, and Rufforth (York), Dom. Ruford, See -forth.
Rugby. Dom. Rocheberie, a. 1300 Rokeby a.1500 Rukby. Very likely fr. a man, 'dwelling of Roc ""or Hroca,' both in Onom.; and cf. Roxburgh (Sc), also Rochford and Rockbeare, in the early forms of which we find a plain gen. But Duignan prefers here, as in Rowley, Rownall, Rugeley, and Rudgeway, O.E. ruh, hruh, 3 ruhe, 4 roh, 5 rouh, rowh (Oxf. Dict, 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 (Staffs). Dom. Rugelei, a. 1200 Ruggeley, Ruggleg, 1217 Rugeleg. ' Rough lea' (see above), or, quite possibly,' meadow of Ruga' or' Rugga,' both in Onom. Cf. Rowner and Ryton. See -ley.
Ruislip (Uxbridge). Old Ryselippe. Prob.' leap of' some man; more old forms needed to tell whom? Ruga. Cf. Hendlip.
Rumholt (Norfolk). Sic 1293. O.E. rum holt, 'roomy, spacious wood.' Cf. Rumworth (Bolton). 'Roomy farm,' 1205 Rum- worth. In either case they may come fr. a man Rum. Cf. next. Onom. gives one Ruma.
Rumney (Cardiff), c. 1330 R. Brunne Chron. 35. 'The abbey of Rumeye,’? this place. ' Isle of Ruma -gen, -an (cf. Romney), of' ‘of Rum.' Cf. Rumburgh, Halesworth, and above. See -ey.
Runctorn. 913 O.E. Chron. Rumeofan, v.r. Romicofan, a. 1200 chart. Runcofa, 1377 Runnkorn. O.E. rum cofa, gen. -an, ' roomy, spacious cave or chamber.'
Runcton Holme (Downham). Dom. Runghetuna. 'Town of Runca,' or some such unrecorded name. See Holme.
Runhall (Attleborough). Dom. Runhala. Cf. Dom. Bucks Ruenhale, which, on analogy of Rowner, Dom. Ruenore, will be ' Ruga's nook' or' corner,’ See-hall.
Runham (Yarmouth). 1285 Runham, 1475 Runnham; and Runton (Sheringham), c. 1460 Runeton. Prob. both fr. a man Run or Runa, not in Onom. Not likely fr. O.E. run, 1-4 run, ' a rune, counsel, speech.' Cf. Dom. and 1179 Runtune, now Rounton (Yorks), 1160-61 Pipe Notts and Derby, Runfort, and above. See -ham and -ton.
Runnymede (R. Thames), c. 1220 Elect. Hugo Runemad. ' Mead, ' meadow (O.E. meed, moedu) of rune i.e., counsel or speech. Here Magna Charta was signed in 1215.
Ruscombe (Twyford and Cainscross). Tw. R. c. 1520 Ruscombe; also Roscombe, Ruscamp. ' Rush valley.' See -combe and 1202 ' Risewich '= Ruswick (Bedale).
Rushall (Pewsey, Scole, Nfk., and Walsall) Pewsey R. (or another) 967 chart. Rischale, 972 ib. Hrischeale, Wa. R. Dom. Rischale, a. 1200 Ruissale, Rushale. ' Rushy nook.' O.E. hrise, risc(e), 4-7 risk, 5-rush, ' a rush.' See -hall. The Rushtons will be similar, Dom. Staffs Riseton, also Ruswick (Yorks), Dom. Risewic (see -wick) ; but Ruston Parva (N. Yorks), is in Dom,. not only Roxtun but five times Roreston, which looks as if fr. an unknown man Rora,? G. and Ir. Ruairidh or Rory. Liquid r when medial readily disappears.
Rushock (Droitwich). Dom. Russococ (mid. O an error), a.1300 Rushoke. The ending is doubtful? cock, ' a heap,' N. kok, not in Oxf. Dict, till 1398, but we have 1086 Dom. Yorks Lacoc, now Laycock, ' low heap.' On rush- see Rushall. Rushock (Herefd.) is Dom. Ruiscop, fr. O.E. cop(p), ' top, summit, covered with rushes.'
Rusholme (Manchester). 'Rushy meadow by the river.' O.E. holm, Icel. holm-r has this meaning. Cf. Holm (Sc).
Ruswarf (Whitby). Pron. Russarp. Not in Dom. Prob. ' rushy heap,' fr. O.E. geweorp, ' that which is cast or thrown up.' hence' a heap,' same root as in' warp and woof.' Cf. Salwarpe. For the Rus- see Rushail. But a man Rust(a) is seen in Rustington (Worthing) and Rustall (Tunbridge Wells). Cf. Dom. Wilts Rusteselle,' Rusta's nook.' See -hall.
Ruthin (Denbigh). 1399 Writ Ruthyn. Looks like W. rhudden, ' a red streak, a ruby,' fr. rhudd, ' red.' The prevailing soil here is red.
Rutland. As a shire later than Dom., where it is Roteland, 1156 Pipe Rotelanda, 1298 Close R. 'Vic. Northampt., Vic. Rotel.' c. 1500 Rutland. Prob. ' land full of roots,' O.N. and late O.E. rot, 3-6 rote, 4 rotte, 6 rott, 9 rut, ' a root,' though often derived fr. Icel. raudr, ' red.'
Ruyton - Eleven - Towns (Shrewsbury). Dom. Rutune. Perh. ' town of Ruta,' 3 in Onom. But it is quite possibly Rutunium, c. 380 in Ant. Itin. There are Rom. remains here. As for ' the eleven towns,’ there are still five townships in the parish. Also cf. Rotsea (Driffield) Dom. Rotesse and Ryton.
Rydal (Windermere) and Rydal, Beck. ' Rye-dale,’ O.E. ryze, 4-6 ry. Cf. 1179-80 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. Cf. Shottery. Rithe is O.E. rith(e), Firs. ryd, ride, in Eng. 8-9 ride; also in Sussex and I. of W. dialect rithe, rythe, ' a small stream, a brook,' W. rhyd, ' ford,' is phonetically inadmissible; it would never yield the mod. pron. Ryde any more than Riche; and there is no ford here. Cf. Shepreth (Cambs) in Dom. Escepride, Reeth, and Rye.
Rye (Kent) (c. 1060 Ria, 1230 Rya, later la Rie) and Rye R. (Yorks) (1132 Rie, 1200 Ri, 1394 Rei, forms taken from Rievaulx). Not fr. rye, see Rydal. The same as Ryde, fr. O.E. rithe, ' a small stream '; not cognate with ree sb., 'a stream, channel, river ' (not found till 1422), which Oxf. Dict, thinks may be O.E. ea, ' stream,' with r fr. the fem. art. as in ' on thaere ea cognate, prob. with Flem. reie, rui, N.Fris. ride, rie, ' stream- let, rill.' Cf. Reeth and Hythe; also Ryther (W. Riding), Dom. Rie, and Peckham Rye.
Ryhall (Stamford). 963 O. E. Chron. Rihala, a. 1100 chart. Rihale, 1528 Ryall. ' Nook, enclosure with the rye,' O.E. ryze. Cf. Rydal. Ryhill (Wragby, Yorks), Dom. Rihella, is exactly the same name. See -hall. But Ryall (Worcsr.) is 1275 Ruhale, and may either be the same, or fr. O.E. ruh, ' rough.'
Ryhope (Wearmouth). a. 1130 Sim. Dur. Reofhoppas, 1183 Boldon Bk. Refhope, 1197 Riefhope. Perh. ' hope ' i.e., 'piece of enclosed land,' with a roof to part of it '—O.E. hrof, 1-5 rof, ‘a roof’, Sc. 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 v.r. Resehoppe and Roshepp, which only makes confusion worse confounded.
Ryton (Co. Durham, and 2 in Warwk.). Warwick R. Dom. Rietone, a.1300 Ruyton, Rugintune, Rutune; Durham R. 1183 Ritona. As with Rugeley, ' Ruga's town,' or ' rough town ‘; but this last does not sound a prob. name. In 1183 Ritona thei is sounded as y.