THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
WILLIAM GKOKGE'S SONS LTD.
NOTES ON WILTSHIRE NAMES.
NOTES
ON
WILTSHIRE NAMES
BY
JOHN C. LONGSTAFF.
VOL. I. PLACE-NAMES.
BRADFORD-ON-AVON :
WM. DOTESIO. THE LIBRARY PRESS.
1911.
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PREFACE.
THESE Notes on Wiltshire Names set forth no new
discoveries ; they merely bring together in one volume
information which hitherto has had to be sought in
the works of a dozen different writers. Hence the
volume is little more than a compilation, not written
for scholars, who it may be assumed already possess
the information contained herein, or know where to
obtain such information should they need it. Indeed
many of them could have done the work much better
than the present writer, had they found time for such
a task.
This book then has been prepared for the ordinary
reader the man in the street, the youth of studious
disposition, the senior school-boy, who may desire
to know the origin and meaning of his own name
and of the names of his fellows, as well as the
history of the town- and village-names that meet his
eye as he looks at the map of Wilts.
Borrow in his " Wild Wales," tells us that he
frequently met those to whom it had never occurred
to find out the meaning of the name of the village
807597
iv Preface
in which they were born and bred. Surely there
are few educated people among us to-day, who are
so indifferent to these things. Men pride themselves
on " calling a spade a spade," but do they pause to
enquire why it was called a spade? If the present
volume should lead some to enquire into these matters,
it will not have been written in vain.
In the preparation of this book the following writers
have been consulted : Dr. I. Taylor, Prof. Skeat,
Mr. Duignan, John Brittain, Aubrey, Gamden, and
Dr. H. C. March, as well as editions of the Saxon
Charters by Birch, and Thorpe ; Canon Jones' edition
of the Wilts Domesday Book ; Searle's Onomasticon
Anglo Saxonicum ; Bosworth & Toller's A. 8. Diction-
ary, together with miscellaneous papers in the Wilts
Archaeological Society's Magazine, chiefly by the late
Canon Jones and the late Canon Jackson. Much
valuable information has been gathered from the
" History of Bradford-on-Avon," by Canon Jones,
revised and annotated by Dr. Beddoe. The writer
has also consulted articles on " Names " in Blackie's
and Chambers's Encyclopaedias. But more than all,
he desires to acknowledge the sympathy and generous
assistance of an anonymous friend, who has advised
on difficult points, and has kindly revised the author's
MSS. But for such invaluable assistance, these
sheets had never seen the light. They are now
issued with much diffidence, in the hope that the
Preface v
reader, while not perhaps agreeing with all the
conclusions arrived at, will find the subject as
interesting and instructive as it has proved to the
writer.
It may be well to add that the meanings set forth
herein, are such as appear satisfactory to the author.
In some cases alternative meanings are given, but in
no case is the presentation of one meaning to be held
as excluding all others.
VOLUME II
SURNAMES
will be published shortly.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY: The Keltic, Roman, Saxon, Scandinavian
and Danish Elements
CHAPTER II.
NAMES DEBITED PBOM ENCLOSURES : Ton 17
CHAPTER III.
NAMES DEBITED FROM ENCLOSURES (continued) : Hams,
Buryg, Worths and Wicks 55
CHAPTER IV.
NAMES DERIVED FROM OPEN SPACES (Land) : Leighs,
Fields, Woods, Stokes, Combs, Downs, Deans, Hills, &c. 77
CHAPTER V.
NAMES DERIVED FROM WATER : Fords, Brooks, Wells,
Founts and Lakes Ill
CHAPTER VI.
NAMES VARIOUSLY DERIVED, and not included in the
foregoing Chapters 133
ADDENDA , 151
ABBREVIATIONS.
D.B. Domesday Book.
N.V. Nomina Villarum. Sheriffs' returns made in
1316, stating what hundreds, cities, townships,
etc., were in their Bailiwicks.
B.A. Roll. Battle Abbey enshrined the names of
those who followed William from Normandy
to conquer England.
B.C.S. Birch's Edition of Saxon Charters.
T.C.S. Thorp's Edition of Saxon Charters.
K.C.D. Kemble's Edition of Saxon Charters.
L.V.D. Swete's Liber Vitffl Dunelm.
Gen. Genitive Case.
INTRODUCTORY.
THE KELTIC, ROMAN, SAXON, SCANDINAVIAN
AND DANISH ELEMENTS.
CHAPTER I.
ILTSHIEE, one of the south-western
counties of England, is an entirely inland
shire, though only separated from the
English Channel on the south by a
narrow strip of Hampshire and Dorsetshire.
The county is particularly rich in features of great
interest, though it will be scarcely necessary to speak
of them at any length here. Certainly, no other English
county contains within its limits, objects more dear to
the eyes of the Archaeologist and Historian than are
to be found within the bounds of this south-western
shire. Avebury, Stonehenge, and Silbury Hill, for long
years the wonder and admiration of learned men, tell
a tale of the far-distant past, but alas even the wisest
among us feel that they can only very imperfectly
understand the story.
2 Notes on Wiltshire Names
The Wans Dyke and Grims Dyke remind us of the
mighty gods of the old pagan days, while Marlborough
suggests associations with the Great Enchanter Merlin,
whose name it is said to bear. Then we have numerous
British trackways, camps, dykes and barrows, not to
mention remains of Eoman roads and villas.
At Old Sarum, one of the early seats of English
Christianity, William the Conqueror in 1085 gathered
together his knights and before a huge concourse of
people caused them to swear fealty to him. Clarendon
has given us its famous Constitutions which lie at the
very foundation of our English jurisprudence, and
Malmesbury and Bradford-on-Avon have associations
with one of the greatest of early churchmen and
teachers St. Aldhelm.
Salisbury Cathedral, a most striking example of
English architecture also belongs to a county which
justly boasts several fine abbeys and many stately
mansions.
Nature has divided our county into two well-defined
portions. The north-west is occupied by a lowland
division, low lying and fairly level; while the south-
east, for the most part, consists of high table-land
of chalk formation. The boundary between these two
divisions, follows a line drawn from Bishopstone in the
N.E. through Wanborough, Wroughton, Cliff Pypard,
Calne, Devizes, and thence on towards Westbury and
Maiden Bradley in the S.W. The low-lying division
of the county is well wooded, with rich meadows and
pastures, while the south-eastern portion is generally
dry and bare of trees, with soft springy turf on which
large flocks of sheep are reared. In the vales of Pew-
sey, Warminster and Wardour the chalk has been worn
Notes on Wiltshire Names
away and the " Upper Greensand " and the Gault have
been brought to the surface. The rocks in the north-
west are Oolitic. They are not porous like the chalk,
hence this part of Wilts is less dry than the great
table land. The softer beds of the rocks occupy the
lower levels while the harder beds : Coral Eag, Forest
Marble and Limestone, form ridges running from N.E.
to S.W. across the north-western corner of the county.
That Wiltshire was inhabited thousands of years
before the Eoman invasion led by Julius Caesar, admits
of no doubt whatever. Eemains of rudely chipped
flints (tools and weapons) found in the gravel beds of
Salisbury and Savernake Forest, take us back to what
is known as " The Old Stone Age," when our island
still united to the continent, was roamed over by
fearful beasts from the forests of Central Europe, and
was the abode of men perhaps scarcely less savage.
In course of time however there arrived a race who
had learnt how to make good tools and had acquired
the art of polishing them. Such tools are found in the
" long barrows " burial places of the mighty dead.
Barrows of this shape are not by any means common
in Wilts, though a good specimen may be seen at
Winterbourne Stoke and another near Silbury Hill.
This brings us to " The New Stone Age."
But not only have the barrows given up the flints,
arrow-heads, daggers, axes and hammers which they
contained, they have also furnished us with remains of
the people who actually lived in that remote period,
and the skulls which they have yielded, point to a
race of men with "long heads," dark hair and eyes,
and square foreheads and of moderate stature.
4 Notes on Wiltshire Names
Much more numerous than the long barrows, are
those that are round, and these are found all over the
Downs, both in the north and the south of the county.
These last, formed the burial places of men with round
heads and harsh bony prominent features, who lived
in what is now known as " The Bronze Age " (say
from 1600 B.C. to 600 B.C.) for then the art of mixing
copper and tin had been discovered and the stone axe
and hammer had given place to the implement of
metal.
Of the above two races of men, little is or indeed
can be certainly known. They have left no written
records, and consequently no word of their speech has,
so far as we know, come down to us in these times.
And even when the barrows shall have fully given up
the secrets that are in them and we know as much
as we can hope to learn from that source, of the men
of the two Stone Ages and the Bronze Age, our know-
ledge of them can hardly be other than meagre and
scanty.
But now we come to a race of men concerning whom
our knowledge is fuller and more exact the Kelts.
Western Europe in very early times appears to have
been subjected to two Keltic invasions an earlier and
a later one.
On the Continent these invasions are represented by
the Keltic of Gaul and Spain, as compared with the
Gallic tribes to the east of them, towards the Ehine
and the Alps. And these last, being located nearer to
the ancient home of the race, may be taken to represent
a later invasion.
The same relative positions were taken up in the
British Isles by two branches of the great Keltic
Notes on Wiltshire Names 5
family the Goidels and the Brythons. We find the
Goidelic Kelts occupying the Isle of Man, Ireland, the
Scottish Highlands, and the Western Islands ; while the
Brythons possessed Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany.
From this, it is inferred that the Brythons coming later,
and finding the Goidels already in occupation of the
land, either subdued them, or drove them out of their
hunting grounds. This, too, is supposed to have been
the case on the Continent, where the later comers the
Galli, forming a fresh horde of invaders, drove the
earlier settlers northward and westward before them, and
taking possession of the lands of their dispossessed
brethren, themselves formed another Keltic population.
During the Neolithic period and long before the first
Kelt had set foot on these shores, the British Islands
were the hunting grounds of the Ivernians or Iberians,
who are sometimes spoken of as Pre-Kelts. Unlike
the Kelts they were a non-Aryan people and it is by
no means improbable that in face of a common danger
they would make common cause with their ancient
enemies the Goidels against the invading hordes of
Brythons. These Pre-Kelts were probably small men
with dark hair and coal black eyes, while the later
invaders the Kelts must have borne a strong physical
resemblance to our own Anglo Saxon forefathers, for
they were tall well-built men, with light hair and blue
eyes.
The second or perhaps the third Century, B.C., wit-
nessed a further Keltic invasion, the newcomers being
a more civilized and progressive people than the earlier
invaders. They were the Belgae, a tribe of warlike
Gallic Kelts, who had been long settled in the territory
lying between the Seine and the Marne on the south,
and the Rhine on the north. The name Belgae,
6 Notes on Wiltshire Names
originally designated a powerful tribe in the basin of
the Seine, but later it seems to have been extended to
neighbouring tribes of kindred origin. The Belgae had
entered South Britain from Gaul before the coming of
Caesar and were settled in Kent and Sussex, having
driven the inhabitants into the interior. Spreading still
westward, they stoutly resisted the invading Eomans
for 100 years, Wiltshire at that period being included
in the Belgic kingdom. Caesar said that from all
enquiry he could make, those on the coast (the Belgae)
had passed hither from Belgium, while those in the
interior were born in the land.
THE KELTIC ELEMENT. Most of the oldest
place-names in Wiltshire are almost certainly of Keltic
origin. These have been handed down to us through
many centuries, and though Eoman and Jute, Angle,
Saxon and Dane, Norman and Fleming have come,
and in some cases gone, the Keltic names which they
found on entering Britain remain to this day ; are still
seen on every county map ; and frequently fall from
the lips of little children.
These Keltic names in most cases belong to Hills,
Eivers, Woods, Fords and Valleys, though in a few
instances they have been employed as the designations
of towns and villages.
It is a well-known rule that a conquering people
borrows from the conquered, the names of natural
features such as those just mentioned. Thus English-
men conquered India in the latter part of the 18th
Century and they rule that great empire to-day ; but
the names Himalaya, Ghats, Ganges, Indus, etc., applied
to mountains and rivers in our great eastern possession,
though etymologically sprung from the same parent
Notes on Wiltshire Names 7
stock as Anglo-Saxon, nevertheless exhibit differences
which unmistakeably point to their belonging to an
older member of "the family of languages than the
Teutonic sister, the explanation being, that when our
forefathers conquered India, they adopted the names
for the natural features above referred to, which they
found already in use among the people whom they had
brought into subjection.
And this is exactly what had happened centuries
before in these British Isles hence the justice of the
remark of a writer on the subject, that a town in this
country may be known by a Teutonic name, but the
hill that rises behind it, and the river that silently
steals beneath it probably bear names of Keltic origin.
Further, it should be remembered that the coming
of hordes of invaders into Britain, from about the
beginning of the Christian era, right onward through
several successive centuries, did not result in the anni-
hilation of the Keltic inhabitants, who probably were
not even driven out, if we may except the leaders,
chiefs, and other fighting men, who doubtless were
compelled to take refuge in the mountain recesses of
the West and North. Thus a Keltic element remained
behind, mingling with the invaders from Central and
Northern Europe, and this remnant kept alive the
ancient British tongue.
And while doubtless the invading Saxon seized
that portion of the country which in his greedy eyes
was " fair as the Garden of the Lord," yet he was
probably indifferent as to the ownership of bare hills,
wastes, swamps, marshes, &c., and these would natu-
rally remain the possessions of their former owners, so
that no change of name was called for in their case.
8 Notes on Wiltshire Names
From this it follows that districts, bleak, bare, and
unfruitful were more likely to retain their Keltic names
than other stretches of country, where the land was
more productive. Hence a rugged, mountainous county
like Cumberland would retain a greater proportion of
old names than, say, the county of Wilts.
On the other hand our county lies at no great dis-
tance from the Welsh and Cornish borders, across
which the defeated leaders of the Britons were driven,
and where the old tongue continued to form the every-
day speech of the people. Hence this proximity to
Wales and Cornwall would tend to keep alive in Wilt-
shire and the intervening counties, some elements of
the ancient tongue. This may account in some measure
for the fact that among the place-names of Wiltshire
(especially in certain districts) there exists a goodly
proportion of British or Keltic words, of which a few
examples may be given.
HILLS. The word " Pen " (Welsh Pen, a head) as
is well-known occurs in Wales, Scotland (as Ben) and
Italy (Appenine) as well as in England. We find the
word in our own county in Pen Hill now Pennell's
Hill, which is Pen (Welsh), Hull (Teutonic), Hill (Teu-
tonic), literally Hill-Hill-Hill.
Hack Pen (A.S. heag=high). Penzlewood. Ink Pen
and Tory, a high part of Bradford-on-Avon from Keltic
Tor or Twr, a high hill or tower. This word it is
supposed was borrowed by the Anglo-Saxons from the
Kelts. Clay Hill, near Warminster, is supposed to
derive its name from the Welsh Gleg, a hill.
RIVERS. It was only to be expected that our
local rivers would bear Keltic names, since it is well
known that such is the case with the rivers of the
Notes on Wiltshire Names 9
British Isles generally. We have two vons. This
word has many forms as Mteue, Afen, Afone, and Abon,
all meaning stream, running water or river, and it is a
purely Keltic word.
Ebbe or Ebel is Ab-el or Eb-el, viz. : little river.
Deverel is probably connected with Keltic dubr or dur,
and Welsh dwfr, water.
Wyly perhaps from W. gwili, winding or full of turns,
connected with gwy, a flood.
Kennet, Keltic cyn, head, and nedd (plural neth) from
W. neidr, an adder or snake.
Were, W. gwyr= crooked.
Also connected with rivers we have names derived
from Keltic dwr or dour, water. Thus Durleigh=
the watered meadow, Durnford=tiver ford or water
ford, and perhaps Durrington and Wardour.
WOODS. Connected with the Welsh coed, and
Cornish coit and cuit, wood, we have Chute, Coate,
Codford (the ford by the wood), Catley (the meadow by
the wood), Catcombe (the valley by the wood), Chittoe
(the way by the wood), Chitterne (the dwelling by the
wood) and some others.
VALLEYS. Closely allied with Welsh cwm, a
valley, we have Tidcombe, Castle Combe, Elcombe, Ac.
It may be noted that the words "ford" (Welsh fordd)
and " wick" (Keltic gwic) were common to both Keltic
and Teutonic languages, so that some of the names
which terminate in "ford" and "wick" may also be
of Keltic origin.
ROMAN OR LATIN ELEMENT. Next in
point of lime, though certainly not in importance, we
must consider the influence of the Roman conquest,
(to which passing reference has already been made)
10 Notes on Wiltshire Names
upon the place-names of Wiltshire, and it may be said
at once that although the Bomans have left us some
few traces of their 400 years' occupation, yet the
permanent influence of these invaders on the place-
names of our county or indeed of our country has
been of the slightest possible character.
Three, and probably six Eoman roads intersected
the county of Wilts, and on these, Stations were fixed,
but the latter have long since lost the names bestowed
upon them by their Koman builders.
A few names, however, survive which may be traced
to these intrepid warriors from the south of Europe.
Thus we have several Strattons, and Stratfords, all of
course on the great roads, and Foxcote, viz., Foss-cote
near the Eoman road called the Fossway. And it may
be here remarked that the Strattons and Stratfords
enable us to trace with greater certainty the old Eoman
roads, while the various places designated Cold Har-
bour (rough shelters on the Eoman roads or streets,
for the protection of soldiers on the march, or per-
haps refuges for travellers), also afford assistance in the
same direction. Thus Cold Harbour near Warminster
was probably a Military halting place; and a cottage
near Neston called Medleys is supposed to have re-
ceived its name from the Eomans by reason of its
being situate half-way between their station Verlucio
and Bath. It may be noted that there were in Eng-
land as many as 70 Cold Harbours and that these
have been described as " unroofed enclosures or car-
avansaries."
No struggle of importance took place in Wilts be-
tween the Eomans and the Britons. Indeed the
Belgae with their Sub-tribes the Ancalites arid Bibroci
Notes on Wiltshire Names 11
who lived in (modern) Berks and Wilts were treated
as tribes of no account and perhaps as a consequence,
the Eomans established no great Military centre in this
county.
THE ANGLO-SAXON ELEMENT. A glance
at the Map of Wiltshire will show that a very large
number of its place-names end in Ham, Ton, Ford,
Ley, or Leigh, Bury, or Borough, and Wick. With
the possible exception of Ford (which of course is
chiefly met with as we follow the courses of the two
Avons, and which also occurs in the Keltic language)
these may be regarded as the characteristic terminations
of names which have come down to us from our
Anglo-Saxon forefathers (the men of the Seax, a short
kind of knife, though some say the word is derived
from Sassens, settlers ; and the men of the Angol, a kind
of hook) who conquered Britain in the 5th and 6th
Centuries, drove out the Britons and gave their own
names to many natural features, as well as to the
settlements which they founded in their newly-acquired
territory.
The Saxon invasion began in the South East of the
county and spread from the neighbourhood of Salis-
bury along the river valleys which radiate from that
locality. Hence their earliest conquests and settlements
in Wilts would appear to have been effected in the
district lying around Sarum, probably on the banks of
the Wiley near Wilton. Later, Wiltshire was invaded
from the North-East by Ceawlin, who mastered all
the Upper Thames Valley; sacked and destroyed
Cirencester and Bath ; and colonized the Gloucester
and Wiltshire borders. About this time Marlborough,
Highworth, Swindon, Cricklade, and perhaps Corsham
and Chippenham fell before the invaders and were
12 Notes on Wiltshire Names
occupied by them. The Pewsey valley may not have
fallen into Saxon hands until later, though it is pro-
bable that Mere and Winklebury were now held by
them. In one portion of Wilts, however, the Britons
appear for the time to have maintained their position,
viz., along the Middle Avon Valley from the Biss to
Malmeabury, though Chippenham, Corsham, and
Lay cock would seem to have fallen at an early period,
before the invading hosts. Still, very considerable
districts were retained by the Britons in the neigh-
bourhood of Malmesbury, Calne, Bradford, Trowbridge
and Devizes. (It must be understood that the district is
here referred to and not the town which in at least one
case did not as yet exist.) With the exception of this
" Wedge " of country and perhaps one other, the
Saxona soon became masters of the whole of Wilts.
I think it will be found on examination that place-
names having the suffixes before mentioned, viz : Ley,
Bury, Ham, Ton, &c., are not only very numerous in our
county but are more in number than all the other
place-names of Wilts taken together, though many of
these last are also undoubtedly of similar origin. Hence
it will be seen that the place-names of Wilts with
their oft-recurring Tons, Hams, Leigh?, Wicks and Burys,
are not merely Anglo-Saxon in the main, but are
overwhelmingly so. The old Ehynie has it that :
" In Ford, in Ham, in Ley, in Ton,
The most of English Surnames run."
And again :
"Ing, Hurst and Wood, Wick, Sted and Field.
Full many English Surnames yield."
And what is true of English surnames is equally
true of place-names of Anglo-Saxon origin. Indeed
these affixes were attached to place-names long before
Notes on Wiltshire Names 13
they were appropriated for the more personal purpose
of a surname.
Now the lines above quoted, contain the terminations
by which names (whether of persons or places does
not matter; that are truly Anglo-Saxon in their origin
may be readily recognized, and with the exception of
Hurst and Sted which are nob frequently met with in
this county they confront us wherever we go.
Hurst is however represented by Holt and Shaw,
while Sted can hardly be much missed in a county
where Stocks and Stokes abound, and Holt, Stock and
Stoke are good Anglo-Saxon words, while Shaw = D.
skov, a wood.
It is also worthy of note that the names most fre-
quently affixed to places, by the Saxon invaders, were
words which signified enclosures or portions of land
fenced in. They are closely connected with the house or
homestead and the land adjoining, as in the numerous
Tons and Hams, and the less numerous Worths.
Every dwelling with its surrounding and protecting
stockade seems to have had its distinctive name, which
was well known in the neighbourhood, and this appell-
ation still survives after long centuries, in the name of
some town, village or hamlet sometimes, indeed, in
the name of a single farm which to-day bears the
name given to it many years before the coming of
William the Norman. Around these homesteads
stretched forest and marsh, with here and there a
woodland-clearing called a " Feld " from the " Fell-
ing " or cutting down of the trees ; or a " Lye " or
11 Leigh " because the cattle were wont to assemble
there to lie down (A.S. Liegan, to lie down). These
open spaces where the herds reposed became pastures,
and were subsequently known by the name which they
bear to-day : Leighs, Leas or Leys.
14 Notes on Wiltshire Names
Though the Saxon invaders also gave names to woods,
hills and other natural features, yet it still remains
true, that England before the Norman Conquest must
have been largely a land of enclosures, or hedges, and
it is well worthy of note that the Teutonic suffixes
that do not denote enclosures such as Gan, Dorf, Stadt
and Stein, so numerous in Germany, are not repro-
duced to any great extent in this country. From this
it has been inferred that the love of enclosures was
due to Keltic influence exerted upon the Saxons by
those Britons who remained, and were gradually ab-
sorbed by their conquerors,
It has also been suggested that where a place-name
ends in Ing, we have the original settlement of the
tribe, and where Ham or Ton has been added, it
indicates a settlement by an off-shoot or branch of the
main stock.
THE DANISH AND SCANDINAVIAN
ELEMENT. As early as 866 A.D. we find the
Danes contending with the Saxon settlers in the
neighbourhood of Chippenham, and for the next 150
years this county in common with Eastern, Southern
and Central England suffered terribly at the hands of
these ruthless invaders. But though the Danes rava-
ged England during two centuries they appear to have
made no permanent settlements in the South and
hence have left no distinctive mark upon the place-
names of Wilts.
The Danish place-names of England seem to radiate
rom the Wash, and as an illustration of the frequency
with which they occur in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and
neighbouring counties it may be mentioned that be-
tween Kipon and Thirsk, over an area of less than 10
Notes on Wiltshire Names 15
miles square the following village names are met
with: Firby, Gatenby, Crosby, Mannby, Sowerby,
Birkby, Ainderby, Kirkby, Newby, Eoxby, Sinderby,
Norby, Melmerby, Baldersby, Southerby, Leckby and
Asenby. In Lincolnshire there are about 300 place-
names of Danish or Scandinavian origin, while in
Bucks, Beds and Warwick, the number falls to about 6.
Thorp is Danish and the name occurs in Wiltshire
in the villages of Westhorp, Easthorp and Salthorp.
Grim, also of Danish origin is found in Grimsdyke and
Grimstead. Beck occurg in both the Danish and Nor-
wegian languages and we may have an example of it
in Beckhampton, though this is open to doubt, as there
is no brook there. Side (Scan) a settlement appears
in Corshamside, and Garth (Scan) an enclosure, corres-
ponding to the Saxon Worth, may also be met with.
But such Norwegian words as the following, which
are frequently encountered in connection with the
place-names of the North of England, are almost if
not wholly absent from the place-names of our own
county : Toft, a homestead ; Force, a waterfall ;
Thwaite, a field or forest clearing ; Stackr, a pillar-like
rock; Haugr, a sepulchral mound; Scar, a cliff; Skdg,
(= M.E. Shawe) a wood; and many others.
It may be mentioned that the Norwegian immigra-
tion proceeded from the neighbourhood of Morcambe
Bay on the West, so that while Norse suffixes are
found chiefly in the North-West of England (as Gill,
Garth, Haugh, Thwaite, Force, Fell, &c.) the pure
Danish forms (Thorpe, By and Toft), are found chiefly
in the eastern counties mentioned above.
The Saxon soon after his settlement in this country
became a convert to Christianity, while the Dane
16 Notes on Wiltshire Names
through long years, maintained a bitter and relentless
persecution against the former, largely on account of
his having embraced the Christian religion in place of
the idolatrous practices of his pagan forefathers. And
in this connection, a friend of the present writer's has
noted the effect of the paganism of the one compared
with the Christianity of the other as evidenced in the
construction of their respective villages. The Saxon
village had the Church for its centre, the streets
radiating therefrom, somewhat after the fashion of the
spokes of a wheel, in many directions. The Dane,
on the other hand, cared nothing for the protection
of the Church, his village was probably without
any such building, if we may except his heathen
Hof or temple of wood, and hence his houses were
arranged end to end so as to form one long street.
My friend states that having examined scores of
Yorkshire villages, he finds that those bearing Saxon
names are more or less circular in shape, while those
having such name-endings as .By or Byr, a proof of
their Danish origin, consist of a single street.
NAMES DERIVED PROM ENCLOSURES.
(i) TUN OR TON.
CHAPTER II.
I T has been already remarked that England
is the land of fences and enclosures. It
is not surprising therefore to find that
the suffixes which most frequently recur
in connection with our place-names are
those which denote something hedged in or enclosed.
Ton. Of these terminations ton is by far the com-
monest in our own county, as indeed it is throughout
England. It is a Teutonic word and signifies a place
surrounded by a hedge, or rudely fortified by a palisade,
being connected with the Old Norse Teinis and Frisian
Tne, a twig, and is also related to the A.S. tynan=
to hedge. The word Tene still survives in "the tine of a
fork," and " the tine of a stag's antlers." Wherever we
goNorth, South, East or West, this word confronts
us as a termination of some place-name, and it is neither
more nor less than our well-known English word town,
though the pronunciation should be "toon" as indeed
it still is in the North of England and in Scotland.
The question may be asked "Should a village of a
dozen or a score of houses be spoken of as a town?"
A glance at the origin of the word will at once make
18 Notes on Wiltshire Names
clear to us, that this use of the word is not only
perfectly legitimate, but is in closest agreement with
its original meaning. Ttin in Old Norse and also in
A.S. originally signified a hedge, and nothing more,
this sense of the word being still retained in the Ger-
man Zaun. Later it was applied to a hedged or fenced
plot or enclosure on which a house had been erected.
Next it came to mean a farmhouse with its surrounding
buildings, a farm-stead or home-stead, and later still
we find the name bestowed upon a single house or
dwelling, whether surrounded by a hedge or not. In
Old Norse deeds the word "tun" is of frequent occur-
rence, and each single farm is called a town, while in
our own country the enclosure where the corn rickg
stood was in early times called the Barton (A.S. Bere,
corn or bread, W. Barylls, the bread plant; and tun)
hence the tun of the Bear or crop which the land
bears.
The Ancient Scandinavians like other Teutons had
no towns as we understand the term to-day. Towns
were not founded in Norway until the eleventh Century.
Ton is not only of frequent occurrence in Teutonic
languages but is said to be widely diffused through the
whole Aryan family.
SHERSTON was in 1014 Sceorstane, in D.B. it
was Sorstain and Sorstone. It occurs in the Nomina
Villarum of 1316 as Sherston, the name which it still
bears. It is probably " the boundary town" from A.S.
scir, the share or part cut off, as in shire, ploughshare,
shears, &c. Or the latter part of the word may have
been A.S. stan, a stone. Hence "the boundary stono"
or s6ir-stun. Sherston may have been the Sceor-stane
of the Saxons. It stands to-day near the boundary of
two counties, as formerly it stood near the line dividing
Notes on Wiltshire Names 19
Mercia from Wessex. In this county we have Great
Sherston or Sherston Magna, and Sherston Parva or
Sherston Pinkney. The latter occurs in D.B. as Sore-
stone and in the N.V. (1316) as Sherston Parva.
Pinkney is probably a name derived from a former
lord of the manor. In the Battle Abbey roll occur
Pinkenie and Penkeny. Ealph de Pinckeney held a
Knight's fee here under the Barony of Castle Comb in
the reign of Henry III.
NORTON is north-tun, the north enclosure. There
are no less than 65 Nortons scattered throughout the
length and breadth of England.
NORTON BAVANT, in D.B. Nortone ; N.V.
(1316) Nortone. Bavant is a family name, derived
from the village of Bavent, four leagues from Caen in
France. The same family have given their name to
Eston Bavent in Suffolk. In 1316 Johnnes Bavent,
was lord of Norton in Wiltshire.
SUTTON is south-tun. There are in England, no
fewer than 73 villages, which bear this name.
SUTTON BENGER receives no separate mention
in D.B. but in the N.V. of 1316 it appears as Sot-tone.
The latter part of the name is probably derived from
a former lord of Sutton. At an early period Sutton was
the property of the Bengers or Berengers. One Ber-
engarius is mentioned in D.B. as the sub-tenant of
Richard, son of Earl Gislebert who held Sudtone of
the king.
SUTTON MANDEVILLE occurs in D.B. as
Sudtone and in the N.V. of 1316 as Sut-tone. A
Mandeville was lord of Sutton, hence the name.
Goisfred de Mandeville was a Domesday chief tenant in
20 Notes on Wiltshire Names
many counties. His descendants were the famous Earls
of Essex. From a younger branch of the family came
Sir John Mandeville, the celebrated traveller of the
14th Century. In charters the name sometimes appears
as de Magna Villa, and sometimes takes the form of
"de Mandeville." Galfidus de Maudeville held Sutton
under the Earl of Glare in 1270.
SUTTON VENEY has also been known as Sut-
ton Magna and Sutton Fenny. The family from which
Sutton derives the latter portion of its name has been
variously known as Veness, Venes, Venis and Venus.
These are forms of a name which was early imported
from the continent. Probably a Veney was Lord of
Sutton.
EASTON is the east-tun or the east enclosure.
There are at least 7 Eastons in Wiltshire.
EASTON GREY occurs in D.B. as Es-tone and
in the N.V. of 1316 as Estone Grey. In the latter year
the owner was Johnnes Gray from whom doubtless it
derived its name. Sir John De Grey (time of Henry III.)
was founder of the house of Grey of Wilton-on-Wye,
county Hereford.
EASTON MYSEY was at the D. survey Et-tone
and in 1316 Eton Meysy. The latter is probably
derived from the family to whom the manor belonged.
EASTON BASSETT. Like Wootton Bassett,
&c., this place probably derived its name from the
Bassett family.
EASTON PIERCE or EASTON PIERCY
belonged at an early period to the family of Peres or
Pierce whence it derived its additional denomination.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 21
EASTERTON. This appears to be merely a vari-
ation of Easton. We have also Castle Eaton, Water
Eaton, and Nun Eaton. In these cases however it is
probable that the name is derived from Ea= water.
Hence the " water town." Castle Eaton stands on the
Isis, and Water Eaton is near the Thames.
Weston does not appear as a place name in this
county though we find it just over the Wilts border.
LITTLETON occurs several times and is of
course "the little enclosure."
LITTLETON PANNEL was in 1316 simply
Lytelton, and William Paynell was lord of the manor,
hence its name. A Panell was one of the followers of
the Conqueror, and the name occurs in the R.B.A.
LITTLETON DREW appears in D.B. as Little-
tone and in the N.V. of 1316 as Littleton Drew. Its
suffix is derived from Drogo, the name of a former
lord. Both Druell and Drury were followers of Wil-
liam and doubtless both received grants of lands. In
the church is an altar tomb with recumbent effigy,
supposed to be that of a lady of the Drew family.
Eemains of a supposed Druidical Temple have been
found in a field near Littleton, and it has been sug-
gested that like Stan ton Drew (in Somerset), and
Drews Teignton (in Devon) this place derived its name
partly from the Druids. But Jackson says that the
Druids have never given their names to any parish
in England. Moreover, it was not called Littleton
Drew until it came into the possession of the family
of that name, Walter Drew being Lord of Littleton
about 1290 A.D.
GRITTLETON is not great-tun. It was Gruteling-
tone in D.B. Gretelintone the tun or enclosure of
22 Notes on Wiltshire Names
the tribe or family of one Gretel or Grutel. The ing
which signifies " sons of " and is an indication of
former tribal ownership, has now disappeared from the
name.
ALDRINGTON or ELDRINGTON was the
tun or enclosure of the Aldrings (probably the sons of
the alder tree), who also owned Aldrington in Sussex.
Mr. Kemble has enumerated nearly 200 clan names
from early English charters, besides over 600 others,
inferred from local names in England at the present
day. A man would be described among the Saxons
as Wulf the Holting, or as Creoda the Escing, &c.
Thus the ZEscings were sons of the Ash.
Earnings ,, Eagle.
,, Hartings ,, ,, Hart.
Wylfings Wolf.
,, Thornings ,, ,, Thorn.
We also find traces of the Oak at Oakington (Kent),
the Birch at Birchington (Kent), the Boar at Evington
(Yorks), the Hawke at Hawkinge (Kent), the Horse at
Horsington (Lines.), the Eaven at Eaveningham (Nor-
folk), the Sun at Sunning (Berks), and the Serpent at
Wormingford (Essex).
LUCKINGTON in D.B. Lochintone and in 1316
Lokyntone, was the enclosure of the sons of Lokr,
Loki, or Lok. Hence the enclosure of the Lockings
or Luckings, a Saxon family who took their name
from the Teutonic deity Loki, and have given it to
Locking in Somersetshire. Loki was the calumniator
and backbiter of the gods, the grand contriver of deceit
and fraud. Once the friend and associate of the gods,
like Lucifer he had fallen, and though fairer than any
of human mould his mind is evil, and in acts of per-
fidy and craft he hath no equal. The Hof or temple
Notes on Wiltshire Names 23
of the gods was found in every Teutonic settlement,
but being made of wood, as indeed were the idols
themselves, temples and divinities alike have perished.
NETTLETON was at the D. Survey Niteletone
or Neteling tun, the enclosure of the sons of one Netel
or Nitel.
EDINGTON. D.B. Eden-done; N.V. of 1316
Edyngton, was the enclosure of the Saxon tribe of
Edings who have given the same name to places in
Berkshire and Somerset. The place is also called
Ethandune from ethan, the dative defective of ethe,
desert, desolate or waste, and A.S. dun, a hill. Hence
"the desolate hill," a name not inappropriate, as those
who have looked upon the bare hill rising above the
village will agree. Ethandune was left by Alfred to
his wife (Saxon Charters ii., 178), and in 968 King
Edgar granted Edington to Eomsey Abbey. Clearly it
was in Saxon times a royal possession.
BISHOPSTON, (near Shrivenham), was in 1316
Bysshopes-ton, the enclosure of the Bishop. It belonged
to the Bishop of Sarum.
BISHOPSTONE (near Salisbury), is not separate-
ly mentioned in D.B. In the N.V. of 1316 it appears
as Bysshopes-ton, and the Bishop of Wynton was in
that year lord of the Hundred of Downton to which
Bishopstone belonged. Hence it is " the enclosure of
the bishop " in this case of Winchester.
KINGSTON is the tun or enclosure of the king.
Occasionally the word is contracted to Kington, as
Kington West, &c. Just across the border in Glouces-
tershire was an ancient forest called Kingswood, of
which the constable of Bristol Castle was keeper.
24 Notes on Wiltshire Names
KINGSTON or COLLIN GBOU RN E
KINGSTON, was at the D. Survey Coleburne, and
Collingeburne. In the N.V. of 1316 it appears as
Colyngeburne. Later it was Collingbourne Abbas, from
the fact of the estate forming part of the possesssions
of the Abbey of Hyde. It stands on the Bourne
which is only a winter stream. The name Colling-
bourne may be derived from the Collings, who according
to one authority took their surname from De Chalons
in France, and according to another are the sons of
an old Norse chief, Kollr or Cole. Canon Jones thought
that the stream may have been known at one time as
the Cole, and hence the Collings would be the settlers
on the Cole, but he also thought that the name may
have been derived from the chief referred to above.
KINGSTON DEVERILL is the enclosure of
the king on the river Deverill, which here comes to
the surface, after having run five miles underground
from Kilmington. The Eoman Road from Uphill in
Somerset to Old Sarum passed through Kingston Dev-
erill and thence over the Downs. The name Kingston
may have been bestowed on this place from the fact
that in 1316 Margareta, Queen of England, was chief
tenant of Mere Hundred, of which it formed a part.
Much has been written as to the origin of the name
Deverill. The following theories have been advanced :
(1) That it is derived from A.S. del/an, to dig; and
rill (German rille, a rill). It is the rill that digs into
the earth, runs underground five miles and then returns
to the surface, hence its name. Against this theory it
is urged that the name Deverel was in use before the
word rill had been introduced into this country. (2)
Another writer traces the word to D'Evereux (the
name borne in early times by the Earls of Salisbury),
of which it is supposed to be a corrupted form. (3)
Notes on Wiltshire Names 25
The theory that seems to find most support is that
the word comes from W. dwfr, connected with Celtic
dubr or dur, water, the final el being a diminutive.
According to this, the name Deverel signifies " the
little stream." With reference to the various statements
to the effect that the Deverill flows underground, a local
gentleman, who has made a careful geological study of
the whole district, writes to the Author: "They are
relics of an old tradition. The Deverill is a stream of
water issuing at the Deverills from the zone of Ammonites
varians and Catopygus Columbarius."
KINGTON LANGLEY or LANGLEY
FITZURSE. In D.B. it is Lange-leghe, "the long
meadow," and at one time it was Langley Fearne.
Fearne is A.S. for fern, and would indicate that fern
or bracken grew among the grass. Probably Langley
was at one time a royal manor. The name Fitzurse
is derived from the family of that name. Fitzurse
farm in the neighbourhood, once belonged to the same
family.
KINGTON ST. MICHAEL was Kington Mon-
achorm or Kington Moine. In D.B. it appears under
the name of Langhelei. The latter part of the name is
doubtless derived from the ancient Church of St.
Michael, the chancel arch of which is said to be a
fine example of Norman work. The register under date
1582 contains the following : " Here the plague began
4th May," and " Here the plague ended 6th August."
Ethelred II. gave in 987 to the monastery at Glaston-
bury forty messuages with woods and meadows at
King tone. Michael of Ambresbury, who was Abbot of
Glastonbury from 1235 to 1252, added a spire to this
church, after which be dedicated it anew to the Arch-
angel Michael.
26 Notes on Wiltshire Names
KINGTON WEST in D.B. is Chintone, and in
the N.V. of 1316, Kington. Chintone is probably from
A.S. cynn (O.H.G. chunni), race or lineage; and A.S.
cyning (O.H.G. chunning), king. At one time the
manor may have been held by the orown. (See King-
ton or Kingston above.
BRIXTON DEVERILL. This is the Deverill
that at the time of the D. Survey belonged to one
Brictric. In 1316 it was called Bryghtes-ton. Origin-
ally it was Brightrics-tone (1291), Brictrices-tun or
Brightriches-ton, viz. :--the enclosure or town of Brictric.
Three out of the five Deverills take their names from their
early owners. Ecgbrightes-stan, or the boundary stone
of Egbert has also been suggested but with less prob-
ability, as it would have been shortened (by dropping
the unaccented syllable) into Egston, or Exton and not
Brixton. (For Deverill see above).
MONKTON DEVERILL is the tun or enclosure
that belonged to the monks (A.S. monec). A Benedic-
tine Monastery was founded here some time previous
to 1086. It formed a Cell subordinate to the Abbey of
Bee in Normandy. At the time of the dissolution of
the monasteries, Monkton Deverill belonged to the
Abbey of Glastonbury.
MONKTON FARLEIGH (A.S. Fearn-leigh or
Fearnledge, the fern meadow ; though it may be Fair
ledge, the fair meadow), derives its prefix from there
having been formerly a settlement of Cluniac monks
of the Order of St. Benedict at this place, forming a
" Cell " subordinate to the Priory of St. Pancras at
Lewis. It was founded by Maude, daughter of Edward
of Salisbury about the year 1125 and endowed with an
estate called "The Buries" at Bishopstrow, near War-
Notes on Wiltshire Names 27
minster. The spring which supplied the convent is
sheltered by a little stone building with pointed stone
roof of the Early English Period called " The Monk's
Conduit." In the N.V. of 1316, Monkton Farleigh
appears as Farley Monachorum and the owner was the
Prior of Farley. A house called Monkton, near Brough-
ton Gifford is said to have been erected by the Earl
of Hertford, son of the Lord Protector Somerset, to
whom the manor of Monkton came on the suppression
of the Priory of Monkton Farleigh. Ilbertus de Chai
gave Brocton (Brotona, Broctona or Broughton Gifford)
with other possessions to this monastery. Monkton a
tithing of Broughton Gifford was formerly Broc-
tune Parva or Little Broughton. It was given by
Ilbert de Chat, or Ilbertus de Chai, its 12th Century
owner to the Prior of Monkton Farleigh. Hence its
present name.
WINTERBOURNE MONKTON is the enclo-
sure of the monks on the winter stream. In 1316 the
Abbess of Winton held lands in this same Hundred of
Selkley, and probably Monkton was similarly held. At
Avebury, about one mile to the South, a Benedictine
Monastery was founded in 1100. It formed a Cell
subordinate to the Abbey of St. George at Bocherville
in Normandy.
NUNTON is the tun or enclosure of the nuns. It
belongs to the Hundred of Downton which in 1316
was held by the Bishop of Wynton. The nearest
Nunnery would appear to be that of Wilton founded
(as a Nunnery) in 800.
BROUGHTON GIFFORD. There are no fewer
than 44 Broughtons in England, hence this is one of
our commonest village names. In D.B. it is Broc-ton
28 Notes on Wiltshire Names
and in the N.V. of 1316 it appears as Broghton. Ac-
cording to some authorities it is the tun or enclosure
by the brook (A.S. Brdc, to break forth, from which we
get our word " brook.") Others however suggest that
it derives its name from the Broc or Badger, hence the
tun of the Badger. A friend suggests Burgh-ton. A
third authority says that the name signifies a place
where bucks or goats were kept. Hence Brocket-ton,
the haunt of young stags. Probably however the name
is derived from the broc or badger. Gifford or Giffard
is doubtless a personal name derived from a former
lord of the manor. How the Giffords came to hold
Broughton is by no means clear, but this at any rate
is certain that John, Baron Gifford was the owner in
the time of Eichard I. This John Giffard was hanged
and his lands forfeited, but it would appear that they
were afterwards restored to the Giffards, for Canon
Jones in his Edition of D.B. states that from 1269 to
1322 the Lords of the Manor were members of the
Giffard family. Three Giffords are named in D.B. and
all are connected with Wilts. (1) Walter, a favourite
of William the Conqueror his third cousin, by whom he
was created Earl of Longueville in Normandy, and from
whom he received grants of land in ten counties.
(2) Berenger, who obtained Fonthill, and (3) Osberne,
the chief proprietor in Wilts at that time. He held 12
manors and was succeeded by Elias Gifford. The
name Giffard appears on the B.A. Boll.
STAVERTON is said to have been St&n-ford-ton,
i.e., the village by the stone ford. It stands close to
the Avon, on an important road from Bath to Devizes.
The name may, however, have been Staff -ford- ton, i.e.,
the village near the ford, crossed by means of staffs
(A.S. stoef=a, staff). Stafford has this latter meaning,
and Staffa signifies the island of staffs. This latter
Notes on Wiltshire Names 29
derivation receives some support from an entry in the
records of Quarter Sessions for Wilts, A.D. 1658 :
"James Bartlett of Devizes deposes that one Bay ley of
Staff erton came to him, &c."
NEWTON, A.S. Newan-tun, the new tun or enclo-
sure, is perhaps our commonest English village name,
there being at least 129 Newtons scattered over the
country, and this computation takes no account of the
many Newntons. In Wilts we have Newton, South
Newton, Newton Tony and at least two Newntons.
SOUTH NEWTON was, at the D. Survey New-
entone, and in 1316 Newe-ton.
NEWTON TONY was in the D.B., Newentone,
and in the N.V. of 1316, Nywentone. It derives its
distinctive name from Alice de Tony, Countess of War-
wick who held the manor in 1316.
NEWNTON. Long Newnton was called Newe-
tone in the D.B., while North Newnton was Newen-tone,
but later (1316) it became Newen-ton. It will be seen
that the form Newn-ton more closely approximates to
the original than the commoner Newton. The village
of Newnton between Malmesbury and Tetbury is said
to have stood in former times higher in the field, where
foundations of houses are supposed to have been
ploughed up. Tradition says that the old village was
burnt and then rebuilt on a new site, hence the name.
But this is doubtful.
CHARLTON (of which we have at least four
examples) is the tun or enclosure of the churls (A.fcf.
Ceorl, a country man ; Ice : Karl, a man ; German, kerl).
Gharlton (near Downham) is not separately mentioned
in D.B., but in the N.V. of 1316 we find it as Cherle-
30 Notes on Wiltshire Names
ton. Charlton (by Malmesbury) is met with in the
D.B. where it is Cercle-tone, and also in the N.V. of
1316 where it appears as Cherltone. The same word
occurs in place-names as Chorl-ton and Carl-ton. We
also have Charlcote Churl cottage, the dwelling of a
villan. The various Charltons were probably the
enclosures of the churls, ceorls or villans.
HINTON is often the tun of the hinds. It is
derived from A.S. hina, hine, Scot. : hyne, a person or
a servant, and is connected with Ice. : hion, a family.
When Hinton occurs in D.B. as Han-t6ne or Hen-tone
it is derived from A.S. hedn, hedh, high. Hence the
high enclosure or village. Hinton (near Steeple Ashton)
is not separately mentioned in D.B., but in the N.V.
of 1316 it occurs as Hentone. Probably it is the High-
tun rather than the Hind's tun.
HINTON PARVA (L. Parvus, small or little), or
Little Hinton appears in D.B. as Hantone. Hence it
is "the high tun or enclosure."
BROAD HINTON occurs in the D.B. as Hentone
and also as Hantone, the former spelling being repeated
in the N.V. of 1316 (see above).
STANTON is A.S. stdn, a stone, and tti,n, an enclo-
sure. It is the enclosure or tun near some well-known
stone the latter, a Druidical stone, a stone cross, or (in
most cases) a boundary stone. Indeed villages so named
often mark the position of ancient boundaries.
STANTON FITZWARREN derives its suffix
from one Fulco Fitz-waryn who held lands here in
1299. At different times it has also been known as
Stanton Fitz Herbert and Stanton Fitz Brynde. In the
reign of Henry II., Herbert Fitz Herbert made over the
Notes on Wiltshire Names 31
manors of Calston and Stanton to his son Reginald, but
later they returned to the father's hands. This manor
of Stanton was a portion of the present manor of
Stanton Fitz warren.
STANTON ST. QUENTIN. Stanton St. Quen-
tin or Lower Stanton appears in D.B. as Stan-tone.
It was held in 1316 by Herbert St. Quentin or St.
Quintin, from whom it doubtless received its suffix. A
St. Quentin was one of the followers of William the
Conqueror, and the name is found in the Roll of Battle
Abbey. By the marriage of an heiress with Lord
Dacres it was transferred to the latter.
STANTON ST. BERNARD should be Stanton
Berners or Bernard. Berners like St. Quentin was a
follower of the Conqueror who doubtless received lands
for his services. Hence the name Berners or Bernard
is derived from a former owner of Stanton. In D.B.
it was Stan-tone, and in the N.V. of 1316 it appears
simply as Staun-ton. It is said that Berners like the
place-name Berne (capital of Switzerland) signifies a
bear.
ALTON is from A.S. aid or eld, old and tiin. It is
the old enclosure. But it has also been suggested by
Canon Jones that in some cases Alton is A.S. cewel-tun,
the village by the springs, and he mentions Alton near
Devizes.
ALTON KEYNES was at the D. Survey, Eltone,
and in 1316, Aleton. Probably the suffix is derived from
the name of former lords of the manor who have given
their name to several other Wiltshire villages. Robert
de Keynes held part of the estate of Ashton Keynes at
the time of his death in 1280. The surname Keine is
found in Battle Abbey Roll. Pool Keynes appears in
32 Notes on Wiltshire Names
D.B. simply as Pole, -which name is repeated in the
N.V. of 1316. It is derived from the Welsh piul, a
pool, as in Ponty pool (in South Wales), the bridge by
the pool, or the bridge of the pool.
ALTON BARNES or BERNERS (see above).
The names Barz, Barre, and Berners, all appear in the
Eoll of Battle Abbey. The men who bore them were
followers of the Conqueror and received grants of land
for their services. From one of these, or a descendant,
this village derives its suffix. In D.B. it is simply
Aultone, but in the N.V. of 1316 it has become Aultone
Berner.
ALTON PRIORS was at the time of the D.
Survey, Awl-tone, and in 1316, Aulton. It is in the
Hundred of Elstub which in 1316 belonged to the Prior
of St. Swithin, Winchester, it having been given to the
monastery by King Egbert in 825 ; hence the addition
of Priors.
MARSTON occurs as a village name at least 26
times in England. It signifies a tun or enclosure by
the mere, marsh or ford and is derived from A.S. m&re
mere, a mere or lake. From mere we obtain the
adjectival form marsh which is A.S. merse for merise
(= mere-ish), a marsh or bog. Mere, the name of a
Hundred and also of a town in Wilts, marks the meet-
ing place of the Moot of Hundred at a spot by the
water. We have also Marsh, Marsh Lane, South
Marston, Marston (near Worton) and Marston Maisey.
Is the name Maisey due to the fact that the living is
in the gift of the Vicar of Meysey Hampton ? Perhaps
however both parishes have derived the name from the
same owner. It should be added that marshes often
served as boundaries in ancient times.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 33
NORTH MERSHTON is the tun by the marsh
or boundary.
MARTIN appears in 1316 as Mer-ton, though at an
earlier date it was Maer-tun. It is the village by the
mere, or the boundary village.
MARTON |
MARTEN J are like Martin, forms of Maer-tun or
Mer-k6n. In Asser (the Saxon Chronicler) it was Mere-
tune, in D.B. Mertone, and in 1227 Mere-tone.
COMPTON is Combe-tun from A.S. combe, W. cwm,
a hollow or valley. It is the tun, enclosure, or village
in the valley, or hollow. The same word occurs in
Castle Combe.
COMPTON BASSET is in D.B. Con-tone, and
in the N.V. of 1316, Compton. It was held in 1233
by Gilbert Basset, hence it came to be known as
Compton Basset.
COMPTON CHAMBERLAIN was also Con-
tone at the D. Survey. Chamberlain is a personal
name which originated in an office. " The estate (of
Compton) was held in the time of Eichard I. by the
Sergeantcy of being one of the King's Chamberlains."
Geoffry de Chamberlang was lord of Compton, Wilts,
in the reigns of Henry III. and Kichard I.
BARTON is A.S. here, corn ; W. barllys, the bread
plant ; Celtic bara, bread. From the same root we get
bere (grain) and barley (the bread plantj. Hence Barton
is the corn enclosure, as Berwick is the corn village.
A barton is a farm yard where corn is stored.
LAVINGTON was at the D. Survey Laventone.
Here again we have the family or tribal ing. Lavington
was the enclosure of the tribe of the Leafings, who were
34 Notes on Wiltshire Names
also found in Kent and Somerset where the name
occurs. In Wilts we have West Lavington and Market
Lavington, the latter sometimes being called East Lav-
ington, though it was formerly Lavington Forum and at
one time Steeple Lavington. Thus it has been known
successively as Laventone, (D.B.) Stupel Lavington,
(1316) Lavington Forum and Market or East Lavington.
The prefix Steeple or Stupel may be thus explained :
In olden times when the privilege of holding a market
was granted to a town or village the name Stapol, Sta-
pel, Staple or Steeple was sometimes prefixed, and it is
probable that a stapol or post was set up at the place
to indicate the exercise of the privilege. A market was
formerly held here on Wednesdays but is now discon-
tinued. West Lavington sometimes called Bishop's
Lavington was in the Hundred of Cannings, of which
the Bishop of Sarum was chief tenant in 1316.
HULLAVINGTON was in D.B. Huulavingtone
and in 1316, Hundlavyng-ton. Probably it belonged to
the tribe of Hunlaf, as Wulavington in Somerset takes
its name from a former Saxon owner Wulflaf, and
Anlaby in Yorkshire is Anlaf's by or town. Before
the Conquest the Manor of Hunlavintone belonged to
Harold, son of Earl Godwin, but at the time of the D.
Survey Ealph de Mortemer held it.
ALLINGTON. We have at least three places in
the county bearing this name. Allington, a hamlet two
miles N.W. of Chippenham is not separately mentioned
in D.B., but in the N.V. of 1316 it appears as
Alynton. Near All Cannings we have another Alling-
ton, which was Adeling-tone at the time of the D.
Survey, and Alyngetone in the N.V. of 1316. The
third Allington (near Arnesbury) appears in D.B.
as Alentone and Allentone, while in the N.V. of 1316
Notes on Wiltshire Names 35
we meet with it as Aldynton. If we regard this last
as a mis-spelling (the d being intrusive) it will be seen
that the compilers of the N.V. spell the three Ailing-
tons in practically the same way, so that the three
names are really one, as at the present day. (It may
here be mentioned that the D.B. spelling is well-known
to have been very inaccurate, the compilers probably
doing their best with the unfamiliar Saxon names which
came before them). Probably Allington derives its name
from the ^Elings, a Saxon tribe widely diffused through
Devon, Dorset, Wilts and Kent, where villages of the
same name occur. Taylor however derives the name
from " ellen " the elder tree, hence " the ton by the
elder tree." Should this be correct the d mentioned
above would not be intrusive, but the presence of the
ing points to the first solution as the correct one.
ALBERTO N. Two villages in Wilts bear this
name, one near Chippenham and the other near White-
parish. The former appears in D.B. as Aldrintone, and
Aldritone, but in 1316 it appears as Aldryntone, and
probably it is to be traced to the Saxon Aldrings, who
have also given their name to the village of Aldrington
in Sussex. Hence "the ton or enclosure of the Aldrings."
Alderton or Alderston, near Whiteparish, is not men-
tioned in D.B. but we find it in the N.V. of 1316 as
Aldreston. It is difficult to say whether it is " the ton
by the alder tree " or " the enclosure of the Aldrings,"
and it may possibly be the enclosure of a Saxon named
Aldred or Eldred, who it is known held estates here in
the time of the Conqueror. The latter explanation seems
the most probable. (See Allington above).
SEMINGTON may be derived from the Saxon
tribe of the Simmings, from whom we get Simmington
in Yorkshire ; or like Shemmington in Gloucester, it
may be traced to another Saxon tribe, the Sceanings.
36 Notes on Wiltshire Names
FIDDINGTON in the parish of Market Laving-
ton, is probably " the ton or enclosure of the sons of
Fidis," the latter being an llth Century personal name
derived from "fid," faith.
WITHERINGTON is the ton or enclosure of the
Saxon tribe of the Widerings.
CORTINGTON is derived from the Gorings, a
Saxon tribe who have given the name Corringham to
villages in Lincolnshire and Essex. In D.B. it was
Cortitone and in the N.V. of 1316 it is contracted to
Gorton.
LIDDINGTON occurs in the D.B. as Leden-tone
and in the N.V. of 1316 as Lyding-ton. It is "the ton
or enclosure of the Ledings " who were also found in
Somerset. It has however been suggested that the
name is derived from an ancient stream the Lyden,
though no stream in the neighbourhood is called by
that name to-day.
HEDDINGTON, like the village of the same name
in Essex, is " the ton or enclosure of the Heddings." In
the N.V. of 1316 it is spelled Herdyng-ton. Should
the latter be the correct form, the name would be
derived from another Saxon tribe the Heardings, from
whom also we get the well-known Wiltshire surname
Harding (see also Hardenhuish). Hedda was Bishop
of Wessex in 676, and the Heddings were the sons of
fledda, though not necessarily of the Bishop. The
Eoman road from Bath to Marlborough ran through
Heddington and for some distance followed the track
of the Wansdyke. Heddington was a Eoman settlement
known as Verlucio.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 37
YATTON KEYNELL is from A.S. geat, a door,
gap or way. The Old English yat, signifies a gate. In
D.B. it was Etone and Getone, and in 1316, Yat-ton,
hence "the ton or enclosure by the way or gate." Canon
Jones supposed Yatton to have been at one end and
Yatesbury at the other extremity of the old borderline,
between the Welsh and British races, and that these
were yats, gaps, or openings in it the one at a village
and the other at a "berie," or open pasture. In the
time of Henry II., we find that one knight's fee was
held at Yatton by Henry Kaynel, and it is probable that
the suffix is derived from this man or his family.
WEST YATTON (see above).
PARTON or PURTON was in D.B. Piri-tone,
and in the N.V. of 1316, Pury-tone. It is derived from
A.S. pirige, the pear and tun. Hence it is "the pear
town" or "the pear tree enclosure."
PRESTON, a common name for an English town
or village, is A.S. Preast, a priest and tun. It is "the
priests' tun or enclosure."
BURTON. We have two Burtons and a Burton
Hill in Wilts. It is A.S. bur-tun, a tun, enclosure or
farmyard which contained a bur or bower in Old Norse,
a "store house," and in A.S. a "chamber," "sleeping
place" or "building." In some cases, the early spelling
is burh-tun the burh being the dwelling of a more
powerful man, protected by a ditch or a bank, while in
bur-tun, it would only have a hedge for its protection.
Burton is one of our commonest English place-names.
ASHTON is the tun, enclosure, or farm yard, by the
ash trees, which were sacred to the Saxons.
38 Notes on Wiltshire Names
STEEPLE ASHTON was in D.B., Ais-tone, and
in 1316, Ashe-tone. In olden days when the privilege
of a market was ceded to a town it often had Stapol,
Staple or Steeple prefixed, and it seems probable that a
stapol or post would be erected. A market cross of
stone was erected here in 1679 and still stands. The
prefix Steeple then signifies "market," and was prob-
ably derived from the circumstance of a weekly market
having been granted by Charter in the reign of Edward
III. This privilege has however been lost by disuse.
An old deed refers to it as " Market Ashton," and
Leyland remarks : " 'Tis a praty market town." In
D.B. " Aistone " is reckoned among the possessions
of the Abbey of Eomsey in Hampshire. It may be
remarked that the late Canon Jackson at one time
referred the prefix Steeple to the Church, giving as his
reason that the name Ashton having been appended to
various sub-divisions of the Manor, it became convenient
to distinguish the principal one by the prefix "steeple,"
the parish church being situated upon it. But later he
saw reason to abandon this theory.
WEST ASHTON lies to the West of Steeple
Ashton, hence the prefix.
ROOD ASHTON derives its prefix from A. 8. rod,
the cross. A monastery (some say a chapel) was
founded at this place, so it is said, but no notice of
any such establishment occurs in the pages of Dugdale
or Tanner. The legend may however account for the
prefix " Eood." Or the name may have been derived
from some wayside "rood" or "cross" erected in the
vicinity.
ASHTON GIFFORD (see Bliston, page 42).
ASHTON KEYNES appears in the D.B. as Essi-
tone. It is A.S. cesc, G. esche, the ash ; and tun, an
Notes on Wiltshire Names 39
enclosure. Hence " the enclosure by the ash trees." The
affix is probably derived from Robert de Keynes who
died siesed of part of the estate of Ashton in 1280.
GRAFTON occurs in D.B. as Grafton and Graston,
but in 1316 it is Grafton as to-day. Probably the name
is derived from the A.S. grafan, to dig, from which
come groove,, that which is hollowed out ; gravel, that
which is dug out ; and greave, a path in the forest
cleared by the axe. It may be " the enclosure in the
hollow or in the forest clearing," or (which is less pro-
bable) " the grassy enclosure."
HILPERTON occurs in D.B. as Helprintone and
Helperintone. In the N.V. of 1316 it was Hulprington.
There was a Saxon tribe of Porings, some of whom may
have been known as the Hill-Porings. If so, this may
have been " the enclosure of the Hill-Porings," or "the
enclosure of the Porings on the hill " (A.S. hyll and
hul, a hill).
ASHLINGTON derives its name from the Saxoii
tribe of the .ZEsclings, who have given their name to
the village of Ashling in Sussex. These .ZEsclings were
sons of the ash tree (A.S. msc = the ash) which was
held as sacred among the Saxons hence the frequency
with which it occurs among our place-names. Ashling-
ton then is " the enclosure of the JEsclings " who called
themselves sons of the ash.
BRATTON is not separately mentioned in D.B.
but in the N.V. of 1316, it appears as we spell the
name to-day. It is the "broad enclosure" just as
Bradford is " the broad ford," Bradley " the broad-
meadow," and Braden, "the broad-dene or hollow."
OVERTON. There are 13 villages called Overton
in England. The name is probably derived from A.S.
40 Notes on Wiltshire Names
ofer = a shore, this being no doubt the correct
meaning in the case of the Wiltshire Overtons East,
West, and Overton Heath, standing as they do on the
River Eennet. East Overton appears in D.B. as
Gyre-tone, and in the N.V. of 1316, it is Overton as
now. Overton then is " the ton or enclosure on the
bank of the river."
WORTON is probably only Ufer-tun changed to
Uver-ttm and thence to Worton. This change was
easy enough when there was only one character for
9 and u in early writing. Uver-ton is " the upper ton
or village." In 1316, the name was Worton, as now.
CORSTON is said by some writers to be Corsan-
tun, the home of Corson, the n having disappeared.
Leo, writing many years ago believed that Corston
was originally Gressantuu (A.S. Cressa, the cress
plant). A later writer (Preb. Jones) suggests Welsh
cars, a marsh, hence " the ton in the marsh." We also
have Corsley, "the meadow by the marsh."
WOOTTON BASSETT. Wootton is undoubt-
edly wood-tun, the enclosure by or in the wood, (A.S.
loudu, wood). At the time of the Norman Conquest,
Wootton Banoett was simply Wode-tone, and about a
century later it became the property of the Bassets
of Wycombe, a branch of the noble family of Bassets
of Drayton, from whom it derived the affix Bassett.
In the N.Y. of 1316 it was as now Wootton Bassett,
but in the D.B. it was Wde-ton.
WOOTTON RIVERS appears in D.B. as Otone,
and in the N.Y. as Wot-ton. The affix is undoubtedly
derived from the Rivers family. Johannes de Ripariis
was Lord of Wot-ton in 1316, hence the addition to
the name.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 41
CHADDENTON may be Chad's-tun. Chad was
Bishop of Wessex in 676. Near is Bishop's Fowley.
CHADDINGTON may be derived like Cadding-
ton from the Saxon tribe of Caedings, hence "the
enclosure of the Caedings." Another suggestion is that
it is derived from W. Coed (= a wood). Coed it may
be mentioned easily corrupts into Cat, Chat, &c. If
tbia be the correct derivation the name would mean
"the village or enclosure by the wood."
BULKINGTON is not separately mentioned in
D.B. but in the N.V. of 1316 it appears as Bukking-
ton. It may be " the ton of the Saxon Boc-ings," or
perhaps " the ton or enclosure in the meadow
frequented by the buck."
"The fourth and now generally accepted theory"
says Clement Shorter " derives the name of Bucking-
ham from a family of Saxon chieftains called Buck or
Bock. Certainly a tribe called Buccinobantes or Bucci
dwelt on the Rhine." Bulkington doubtless is of similar
origin.
UPTON is A. 8. Up and tun, the upper town or
village.
UPTON SCUDAMORE appears in D.B. as
Ope-tone, and in the N.V. of 1316 we find it as
Up-ton. Scudamore is a personal name probably that
of a former owner of Upton. "Walter De Scudamore
was Lord of Upton, Co. Wilts, in the reign of Stephen "
(Lower). The origin of the name is uncertain, but
the O.F. Escu d' Amour has been suggested, and it
is not unlikely that the surname originated in this
way.
UPTON LOVELL is in D.B., Up-tou, and in
the N.V. of 1316, Ube-ton. Probably the name was
42 Notes on Wiltshire Names
originally Ubban-tun = the town of Ubba. Lovell (a
personal name) originated in a nick-name, from L.
Lupus, the wolf. Lovel was also a dog's name.
Collingborne (the poet) wrote of the favourites of
Eichard III. Catesby, Katcliffe, and Lovel.
" The Eatte, the Catte, and Lovell our dogge,
Eule all England under the Hogge."
SHERRINGTON was at the D. Survey, Scaren-
tone, and in 1316 it appears as Shentone. We find
Sherringham in Bucks, and Shoring in Essex, both of
which derive their names from a Saxon tribe the
Serings. Thus Sherrington in Wilts may be the ton
or enclosure of the Serings. Canon Jones suggested
however that the word was derived from the Welsh
sarn, a stepping stone or causeway, (and certainly the
Eoman Eoad from Sarum to Bath must have come
within a short distance of this place). If that be so,
the true meaning of the name would be " the town or
enclosure by the sarn." Perhaps however the former
derivation is the more probable.
STOKETON or STOCKTON would seem at
first sight to come from A.S. stocca, the stem of a
tree, whence Stoke, a stockaded place. It may be the
enclosure by the wood.
But in the D.B. we find it as Stotune, and Stot-une,
which looks a little like stot, an ox. The spelling of
1316 (probably the more reliable) is Stok-ton, and hence
the former derivation appears to rest upon a surer
foundation.
ELSTON or ELISTON is not separately
named in D.B. but in the N.V. of 1316 it appears as
Elston. It was held in the reign of Edward I. by
Elias Giffard, and from him probably received the
Notes on Wiltshire Names 43
name of Elis-ton, or Elias-ton. Probably this Elias
was descended from Osbern Gifford, the chief proprietor
of Wilts where he held 12 manors from the Conqueror.
POULTON was at the D. Survey, Pol-tone, and
we find it in the N.V. of 1316, as Pol-ton. It is
derived from Celtic and Welsh, pwl, a pool or marsh,
as in Ponty-pwl or Ponty-pool, the bridge by (or over)
the pool. Pill, a village near Bristol, bears a name of
similar origin. It is simply Pwl.
STOURTON probably derives its name from the
river Stour, hence the tun or village by the Stour. In
D.B. it is Stor-tone, and in the N.V. of 1316 Stur-ton.
The river rises at no great distance from the village.
Sar, Sor, and Sur, are supposed to come from
Sanscrit, Sar, Sri, (to move) and Sra, (to flow).
The Celts have added the t making the word Stur or
Stor. There are several rivers of this name in
England. The family of the Stourtons at an early
period possessed this and the surrounding property.
They were settled here before the Conquest, but in
1720 the estates passed into other hands. It is said
that an officer of Alfred's, named Sturton, much
distinguished himself in a battle in this neighbour-
hood, and was made Baron of Stourton, (A.D. 379).
DINTON appeared in D.B. as Domnitone, and the
manor in ancient times belonged to the Abbey of
Shaftesbury. Probably the name is derived from L.
Dominus, a Lord, and may have had reference to
its forming part of the possessions of a religious house.
In 1316 it was Donynton.
DOWNTON was in the time of the D. Survey,
Dun-tone, and we find it in the N.V. of 1316 as
Doun-ton. It is dun-tun, (A.S. dun or down, a hill, a
44 Notes on Wiltshire Names
name which the Saxons borrowed from the Celts), the
enclosure by the hill ; or the village by the downs.
Downton, a place of great antiquity, has an earth-
work of considerable dimensions, which is believed to
be British. It is an interesting feature commanding the
Avon and the valley through which it flows. Its name
The Moot, points to its having been the meeting place
of the Saxon Folk Mote (A.S. Mot, an assembly.)
Near Downton on a high hill is an entrenched area
Clerbury Camp. Cerdic the Saxon gained the battle
of Charford or Cerdic' s Ford in the meadows below
Downton, A.D. 519. The name has also been Dunk-ton
and Donke-ton.
NORRINGTON. The ing suggests a tribal name.
It may be derived from the Saxon Nollings, and so
would be their tun or enclosure. Or it may be
North-ing(meadow)-ton, = the enclosure in the north
meadow.
KNIGHTON appears in neither D.B. nor the N.V.
of 1316 ; without the name Kynserton or Kyn-ferton
refers to it in the latter document. It may however
be derived from A.S. Cniht, a youth or servant, hence
the enclosure of the servants, but this is doubtful.
WILTON is the tun or village by the Wily or
Willy. In D.B. it was Wiltune, and in 1316, Wil-ton
as to-day. Wilton is very ancient and is supposed to
have been the Caer Guilo or capital of the British prince
Caroilius, and later it was probably an important seat
of the Saxons. Asser says that Wilton stood on a hill
on the South side of the river Guilou, the British form
of the name Wily. In 871 Alfred fought the Danes
here ; in 1003, Wilton was devastated by Sweyn ; and
in 1143 it was burnt by Matilda. In Carmarthen is a
Notes on Wiltshire Names 45
river, the Gwili W. gwili, winding or full of turns, from
gwy, a flood. Hence the river-name Wye. In Hamp-
shire and Dorset we find the form Wey. Wily or Willy
is certainly connected with the above river-names.
Wiltshire is Wil-tun-schire. Wilton, it is said, was
anciently called Ellandun = the hill of Ella, but this is
improbable.
HORNINGTON is probably derived from the
Horings who were also found in Somerset at Horring-
ton It is the tun or enclosed place of the Horings.
LATTON was in D.B. La-tone, and in the N.V.
of 1316, Lat-tone. It is probably A.S. lad, a canal,
way, or course. Hence the ton by the water-course,
the way, or in the hollow. Latton is on the river
Churn. Another suggestion is that Latton comes from
Lay=summer pasturage, and Ton=enclosure.
N.B. Pastures were not generally enclosed till quite
recent times.
ELINGTON (in the parish of Wroughton) occurs
in D.B. as Elendune, but in 1316 it was Elynton.
Probably the latter is the more correct form of the
word as there does not appear to be any prominent
hill or down from which the name may have been
derived. It seems likely that in this name we have a
trace of the Saxon Ellings who have given us the
name Ellingham (the home of the Ellings) in both
Hampshire and Kent. There is a possibility however
that the name comes to us from A.S. Ellen,=ihe elder
tree. Thus it may be "Elder tree hill," or the tun
or village by the elder tree. It may be noted that
Elstub, the Hundred in which it is situated, signifies
"The Elder Stub" or "the Elder Stump."
46 Notes on Wiltshire Names
DILTON is probably ditch-town, like Ditton. Old
Ditch supposed to be an ancient British Koad, ran
from Westbury Leigh near Dilton and Knook Down
(where there are remains of British villages) to Durn-
ford on the Avon. Ditton, the name of eight villages
in England signifies the tun by the ditch or dyke.
BEMERTON was in D.B. Bimertone and Bermen-
tone, but in the N.V. of 1316, it occurs as Burmerton.
This looks like the t6n or enclosure of Beorm or Biarmer,
from whom Birmingham (Beorm-inga-ham=the home of
the sons of Beorm or Biarmer) takes its name.
CHILHAMPTON appears to be derived from
A.S. Cyli, a well, and heanttin^ihe highcun. Hence
the high ton or village by the well.
DURRINGTON. Here we seem to meet the
tribal ing, and the name is probably derived from the
Saxon tribe of the Durrings. We find Durringtons
(villages) in Suffolk, in Essex, and in France, which
would appear to indicate that these Durrings were
a numerous and powerful tribe. In D.B. the name
occurs as Derintone and Durienton, while in the N.V.
of 1316, it takes the form of Duryntone.
The situation of the village on the river Avon
suggests, however, the possibility of the name having
been derived from the Celtic dur or dour = water.
Hence Dur-en-ton would be " the tun or village on
the river."
ROLSTON or ROLLESTONE was not separat-
ely mentioned in D.B. but it is found in the N.V.
of 1316, as Abbodes-ton=the tun of the Abbot, the
village belonging at that time to the Abbot of Hyde,
who held it from the king. Its present name signifies
Notes on Wiltshire Names 47
the tun or enclosure of Rolf. The personal names
Eudolf, Eadulf, (Ealph), and Randolph, are all
connected.
BUSHTON in the parish of Cliff Pypard was not
separately mentioned in D.B. but in the N.V. of
1316 it occurs as Bishoppeston,=the tun or village of
the Bishop. The owner in 1316 was the Prior of St.
Swithin, Wynton. Hence the name.
MADDINGTON is the tun of the Saxon tribe of
the Msedings who gave their name to Medingley in
Cambs., Medingen in Germany, and Medegny in France.
In D.B. the place is called Wintreburne, but in 1316
it is Madynton.
ORECHESTON was in D.B. Orceston, and in
1316 Orcheston. It may be derived from the Gaelic,
or, oir, = border, coast, brink, edge, and British yoror.
Ore takes the forms 6r, dr, and ora, and generally
denotes secure, firm ground ; a safe point on the coast ;
or a haven. The name was also bestowed on extensive
woody flats, or a shore used for pasturage. The
second syllable appears to resemble A.S. ceosil, gravel,
pebbles, or sand. Hence it would be the tun on some
sandy or flinty flat ; or the name might have been
bestowed on account of some real or fancied resemb-
lance to a sea-beach. As bearing out the above, it
may be noted that the stream which flows down the
valley in winter forms a very broad shallow river,
which runs over a flat meadow 200 yards wide. This
is very favourable to the growth of the celebrated
orcheston grasses. The soil is light and flinty a bed
of loose pebbles with a scanty covering of mould forms
the immediate soil and this together with the frequent
winter floods explains the immense crops of grass.
48 Notes on Wiltshire Names
The distinctive names of the two villages appear to be
derived trom the Churches of St. George and St.
Mary respectively.
CHILTON FOLIATT. Ghilton would seem to
be the tun or enclosure by the spring. A. 8. cyli=,a.
well or a spring. The name Foliatt is derived from
the Foliot family into whose possession it came soon
after the Conquest. Sampson Foliat held the manor
of Chilton towards the end of the 13th Century. In
D.B it is Cille-tone and Cheltre, and in the N.V. of
1316, Chilton.
MILTON. In no less than 32 cases in England,
the name Milton has been traced through A.S. Mid-
dletun, the dropping of the middle syllable leading to
Milton or Melton.
MILTON LILBORNE does not occur in D.B.,
but in the N.V. of 1316 it appears as Middleton (see
above). The suffix is derived from a former lord of
the manor of Milton: " Willus de insula bona."
The name originally " de L'ile bonne," and sometimes
translated " de insula bona," became later Lilbonne,
whence Lilborne, the family surname.
MIDDLETON (see above Milton).
MILSTON occurs in D.B. as Brismar-tone from
Brismar, its Saxon owner. In the N.V. of 1316 it has
become Brightmersh-ton, and now it is Brig Milston or
Milston.
CHOLDERTON WEST was Celdrintone, and in
1316, Chaldrynton. This may be Celtic Cal-dwr, curv-
ing or crooked stream, and its position on the winding
Winterbourue appears to support this supposition.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 49
Hence it would be "the village on the winding stream."
Or it may be a name of tribal origin as the middle
syllable seems to suggest, in which case it would be
"the enclosure of the Eldrings."
HOMINGTON appears in D.B. as Humitone, but
in the N.V. of 1316 it is Homynton. Perhaps we owe
this word to the Saxon Hemings, who have given their
name to Hemingston in Somerset. The Hemings were
"sons of the home" (A.S. ham, home).
WROUGHTON was at the D. Survey Wer-tune
and Werve-tune. In 1316 it was Werston. Ellendune,
or the hill of Ella in A.S. Charters is supposed by some
to refer to it. The first spelling suggests A.S. Woer,
a fence or hedge (from this word we get the weir in
a river). Hence, " the fenced or hedged ton." This seems
improbable as in early times all tuns were fenced. The
second form suggests A.S. hwerf, a turning or bank.
This might refer to some embankment that turned the
course of the stream. It is asserted however that it
is Uver-ton, i.e., the upper town or village, (see Worton).
CROFTON is not separately mentioned in D.B.
but in 1316 it occurs as we spell the name to-day,
A.S. croft, a field; Dutch kroft, a hillock. Hence "the
tun in the croft or field" (perhaps a hedged field).
STAPLETON was formerly in 1316 Stapleham.
The A.S. Staple is the same as Dutch and German
Stapel, a post, prop, stocks, heap or emporium. Hence
a market. The A.S. Stapel was a prop or trestle.
Stapleton is " market town." See Steeple Ashton, Steeple
Laving ton, etc.
CROCKERTON. A crocker or croker was a maker
of pots, from A.S. croc, Welsh crochan, a narrow-necked
50 Notes on Wiltshire Names
earthen vessel. Hence the name may have some refer-
ence to the shape of the valley which at this spot is
not unlike the neck of a vessel. But the village was
from early times the home of potters or crockers.
There is a Potter's Hill and a Clay Hill in the neigh-
bourhood (though this last may be Welsh cleg = hill).
Clay is found between Warminster and Crockerton.
Between 1235 and 1260 there was a pottery and a mill
ajk Crockerton, and a recent writer says that the potters'
industry at Crockerton can be traced back to the 13th
century. The ague, which was the common complaint
there, was due mainly to the standing water of the
potters' clay pits, and partly to the sunless situation
of the valley. Hence Crockerton is " the enclosure of
the potters."
FITTLETON was in D.B. Viteletone, in 1316,
Fydelton, and in the reign of Edward III., Fytel-ton.
The owner in the days of the Confessor was one Vitel,
a name which Canon Jones suggested looks like Vitellius
" writ short," and from this the place may have derived
its name : " The tun of Vitel."
FUGGLESTONE is probably derived from A.S.
fugol or fugel, birds or fowl, from fleogan, to fly. The
name may have been suggested by the abundance of
(wild?) fowl in the neighbourhood. Hence "the town
or village of fowls."
The termination may possibly be stan, a stone. In
this case it would be similar in origin to Gladstone,
i.e., " the glede stone or the stone on which the glede
or kite sat."
HONKERTON was A.S. Hone-kyn-ton, the enclo-
sure of the sons of Hone.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 51
SHREWTON. In D.B. this is Winterbourne, and
in the Hundred Eoll, Winterbourne Sorevetone. The
N.V. of 1316 has it Sherueton. It comes from Scir-
gerefra, the shire reeve, or Sheriff, and the name is
thought to be a memorial of its Domesday owner.
TITHERINGTON or TYTHERINGTON is
probably another form of Witherington, from the
Saxon Widerings who are known to have had a
settlement in Wiltshire. The name appears to have
been variously spelled at different times. We find one
Jordan de Tyderinton in the reign of Edward I.
TITHERTON KELWAYS appears in D.B. as
Terintone, and in the N.V. of 1316 as Tuderyntone.
The owner at that time was Johnnes Kaleway, and
from him the village received its affix. Terintone looks
like During-ton and it may have belonged to the
Durings. Titherington Lucas was held under Robert
Tregoz, at one time by Adam Lucas, hence the name.
FISHERTON DELAMERE was at the D.
Survey, Fiser-tone, and in the N.V. of 1316, Pishirton.
It stands on the Wylye and is probably "the ton of
the Fishers." The Delamere family of Nunny owned
Fisherton in 1390, and it is from this family that the
suffix is derived. Leigh Delamere received its name
from the same family. Sir. John de la Mere, was
Sheriff of Wilts in the 49th year of Edward III.
Fisher is thought by some to have been derived from
Fitzurse, so that Fisherton would have been Fitzer-ton,
i.e. Fitzurse-ton. The Fitzurse family held lands in
Wilts and gave their name to Langley Fitzurse or
Kingstone Langley.
FISHERTON ANGER probably derived its
suffix from the family of Angers, one of whom was a
52 Notes on Wiltshire Names
follower of the Conqueror, as the name in the Battle
Abbey Eoll testifies. The name Angers is traced to
the town of Angers in Anjou (France), and it is derived
from the ancient tribal name, Andecavi. Anger in this
case however is said to be a corruption of Aucher,
several persons of that name holding Fisherton towards
the close of the 12th Century. Fisherton Anger is now
a suburb of b'alisbury.
CALSTONE was at the D. Survey, Calestone,
which name also occurs in the N.V. of 1316. The
name may be derived from A.S. ceald, cold, but more
probably is A.S. cealc, lime, limestone or chalk, the
latter being found in the district. Thomas Calston was
sheriff of Wilts in the 3rd year of Henry V.
CALSTONE WELLINGTON or WILING-
TON derives its affix from the family of that name
who once held it. Ealph de Wylyton was in 1254
bound to find from his estate at Kalstone the service
of one haubergeon at Devizes Castle for six weeks
during war.
THOULSTON (near Warminster) was not separ-
ately mentioned in D.B., but in the N.V. of 1316 it
appears as Northrigge Tholneston. The former a tithing
one mile S.W. of Upton Scudamore is " North ridge."
Tholneston, two miles N.W., is supposed to be "the
tun of a thane " or Saxon nobleman. In 1342 it was
Thanes-stone.
BIDDESTONE, in D.B. Bedes-tone, is in the
N.V. of 1316, Budes-tone. The writer has been informed
that a " stone " is pointed out in the village as being
the one supposed by some to be referred to in the name.
Without doubt, however, it was the tun of one Bede
or Budo. The former is a name well known in early
Notes on Wiltshire Names 53
English History and the latter occurs as early as the
8th Century. At the time of the D. Survey, it was
the property of Humphrey de L'Isle, a Norman Baron.
CHIRTON, CHURTON or CHERINGTON
was at the D. Survey, Oeritone, and in 1316, Churing-
ton. Perhaps it is the tun of the Saxon tribe of
the Cerrings, or it may be connected with W. cerrig,
a rock, but there appears to be nothing in the neigh-
bourhood to support this latter supposition.
ALVEDISTON or ALVESTONE "may derive
its name from Alwi, a brother of Brictric, who may
have held Farlege in the time of William," (Dr. Beddoe).
Alveston was once reckoned part of the Manor of
Bradford-on-Avon, of which Brictric was tenant, and a
brother of his presumably Alwi, held Farlege (Monkton
Farleigh) as his under tenant. Thus Alvestone may
have been the tun or enclosure of this same Alwi.
PITTON may be A.S. putte or pyt=& well, hole
or pit. Hence "the tun or enclosure by the well or hole."
MAN TON is probably Celtic, maen, a stone.
Hence the ton by some boundry or druidical stone.
The valley called the Devil's Den, in which huge Grey
Weathers lie scattered about, is near Manton.
SEVENHAMPTON is A.S. Seofen-ham-tun, "the
enclosure of the seven farms." The place is commonly
called Sennington.
BUPTON near Cleeve, was Bubbe-ton from
William Bubbe, who held a knight's fee at Clyve in
the 39th year of Henry III.
54 Notes on Wiltshire Names
PORTO N was thought by Canon Jones to be of
Latin origin, signifying " the village by the port or
principal entrance to Old Sarum." (L. Porfca=a door
or gate).
STRATTON derives its name from its situation on
one of the great Eoman roads : that from Cirenceeter
and Cricklade, which forks at Wanborough about three
miles S.E. of Stratton, one branch leading to Spene,
and the other proceeding almost due south to Win-
chester. The Latin is Strata, a paved way, and the
name of the place signifies a village or enclosure near
the street or Eoman Eoad. Stratton was originally
divided into three tithings : The Street, (now Lower
Stratton), The Green, and Upper Stratton. Stratton
St. Margaret derives its affix from Margaret, Queen of
England, who, in 1316, held both Strattons in dower.
NAMES DERIVED FROM ENCLOSURES
(continued).
(ii) HAMS, BURYS AND WORTHS.
CHAPTER III.
(a) HAMS.
NOTHEE common termination found in
Wiltshire place-names is Ham. In the
Anglo-Saxon, there was Ham, an enclos-
ure, meaning much the same as ton or
worth, and Ham which involved some-
thing more mystical, more sacred. It is the home,
the secret and sacred place of the Saxon family. On
the other hand, ham, which signifies an enclosure,
literally means that which is " hemmed in," hemmed
in of course by ditch, bank, and hedge. The word
would appear to be connected with the names : that
part of a horse's harness which encloses the collar.
The suffix " ham " in the Saxon Charters appears in
conjunction with the names of tribes or families
rather than those of individuals. It will often be
found in connection with the tribal "ing" or " inga,"
in which cases it means the home of the tribe men-
tioned in the former part of the word, as for example,
Birmingham, " the home of the sons (or tribe) of
56 Notes on Wiltshire Names
Beorm or Biarmer." The Gaelic Mac, the Irish 0,
the Welsh Ap, the Norman Fitz, and the Saxon Ing,
are all indications of family names. It should be
noted however that "ing" occuring as the final
syllable of a local name is often the A.S. ing = a
meadow or enclosure as Deeping, i.e. deep meadow.
Ing sometimes also means a person of the place, as
Learning, the Learn people.
In the hundred of Elstub, on the Berkshire border
and four miles south from Hungerford station, we have
the village of Ham. In D.B. it was Hame, and in
the N.V. of 1316 it occurs as Hamme. It is simply
the " home or enclosure." Another Ham is found
near Westbury station. Probably there are many
portions of towns and villages called the Ham, and it
is very likely that this is the oldest part of the village
or town.
HARTHAM was in D.B., Hertham, in the N.V.
of 1316, it also appears as Hertham. It is derived from
A.S. Heort, a deer, and is "the home of the deer."
Similarly in other parts of England we find Hart-ford,
(the ford of the deer), Hartley, (the meadow of the deer),
Hart-burn, (the stream at which the deer drink), <fec.
CORSHAM occurs in D.B. as Cosse-ham, but in
the N.V. of 1316, we find it Cor sham as to-day.
Several suggestions have been made but no explanation
that is quite satisfactory has yet appeared. Is it the
home of a man called Corsan, whose name is also
traced in Corston? A better suggestion is that the
origin is to be found in the Welsh Cors, a marsh.
Hence "the home in the marsh." This however does
not seem to fit the character of the surrounding country.
Perhaps we may find the true meaning in the Cornish
Notes on Wiltshire Names 57
Cos, a wood, a word which more closely agrees with
the D.B. spelling of the name. If this be the correct
derivation the meaning would be "the home in the
wood." After the Conquest, Corsham became the
possession of the Earls of Cornwall.
BROMHAM comes from A.S. brom, the broom-
plant. It is the home of the broom-plant, or "the
home among the broom." In the neighbourhood (near
Devizes) we have South Broom.
LYNEHAM was not separately mentioned in D.B.
and in the N.V. of 1316, it occurs as Lyneham as to-
day. Probably it is Linden-ham, A.S. Lind=tii6 lime
tree, "the home by, or among the lime trees." If
that be so it is similar to Lynd-hurst, the lime wood,
and Lind-ford, the ford by the lime trees. Lind
signifies the lime tree, not only in the A.S. but also in
the languages of Iceland, Sweden and Denmark.
Another suggestion is that the name may be derived
from A.S. li?ie, a cord or line, hence a boundary, and
it may be mentioned that the old border line between
the Welsh and British races is supposed to have
passed near Lyneham from Yatton to Yatesbury. It
is not impossible, however, that the word is of Welsh
(or British) origin, like others in the same neighbour-
hood. In this case it may be Lynn-ham, the home
by the lake, (W. Lynn, a lake.) This derivation, how-
ever, transgresses a well known law of languages.
BECKHAMPTON was in D.B. Bac-hentune, and
in 1316, Bakhampton. The middle syllable is
evidently A.S. hean, high; hence the high tun. The
former part of the word would scarcely be derived
from Danish bu:k, a brook, seeing that it is at some
distance from the Kennet, and that Wiltshire rivers
58 Notes on Wiltshire Names
are not called becks, but brooks or bournes. More
probably it was "the high tun of Becco," whose sons
the Beccings have given their name to Beachingstoke
about six miles to the south. We also have Becking-
ton just across the Somerset border.
CHIPPENHAM was in D.B., Chepeham, and
this gives us the clue to the origin of the name.
A place appointed for the sale of wares was called by
the Saxons a "chepe" from " cypan," "kauffan," to
buy. Hence a " chap," was a customer, and a
" chapman," a pedler ; " to chafler," was to haggle, and
a "couper" was a dealer. In Chippenharn the prefix
is the "chepe" or market, and "ham" the home or
town. Thus we have Chapmanslade, the glade where
the Saxon chapmen or dealers dwelt together. Similarly
we have Cheapside, East Chepe and Chepstow, all
named from their markets. As showing the relation-
ship existing between local and continental names it
may be mentioned that Copen-hagen is the market
haven, or merchants' haven. Nord-kopping is north
market, and Suder-kopping, south market. Asser in
878 gives the name Gippanham, which suggests ciepa
(gen. ciepan) = trader, though the double p might
indicate a personel name (Cippa). " The ham at
Cippan-hamme," is a legacy in Alfred's will, (Sax.
Charters, ii, 178).
PEWSHAM is the home on the Pwe, the former
name of a small stream which flows into the Avon.
GRITTENHAM is probably the home of one,
Grutel.
TOKEN HAM was in D.B., Tocheham, and in
1316, Tokkenham. It is Toccan-harn, " the home of
Tocca."
Notes on Wiltshire Names 59
INGLE SHAM is a strange name, but we must
remember that while the Saxons settled in the south
and west of England, the Angles settled in the east.
It would appear that an Angle adventurer had come
west and settling among the Saxons gave his name to
the settlement, viz. " the home of the Angle."
FOXHAM The home of the fox, as Foxhyl (fox
hill), Foxboec (the stream of the fox), Foxleah (the
meadow of the fox).
WEDHAMPTON looks like "the high tun of
Woden," and some support may be given to this idea
from the fact that the Wans Dyke (the Dyke of Woden)
crosses Wiltshire about five miles to the north of
Wedharnpton. It is also spelt Quidhampton, and
Canon Jones suggested that Wed-ham-ton was equiv-
alent to Wood-ham-ton. He said that the name
suggests three successive stages through which the
place has passed : first, Wed (A.S. wudu), the woodland;
second, Ham, the clearing for the home; and third,
the ton or town, which sprang up in the clearing.
Quidhampton is supposed to be derived from Cornish
cuid ( wood). Hence "wood-ham-ton" as above.
Quidham would be "wood town."
NEWNHAM\ A.S. niwanham, from A.S. niwe,
or Ger. neu = lately made. Hence
NEWHAM (4fche new enc i ogure or t i ie home
lately made."
HORNINGSHAM occurs in D.B. as Horningaham
and as Horningesham. In the N.V. of 1316 it appears
as Horny ngesham. The "ing" or " inga " indicates a
Saxon tribe or family, in this case the Horings. Hence
it is the home of the Horings, who have given their
name to Horrington in Somerset and Herringo in Kent.
60 Notes on Wiltshire Names
HARNHAM (East and West). West Harnham
is not separately mentioned in D.B., but in the N.V.
of 1316 we find it as West Harneham. Probably this
is from A.S. hara, the hare. Thus " harena-ham," the
home of hares.
C ADEN HAM comes from Welsh coed, caid
wood. " The dwelling by the wood."
NETHERHAMPTON is not separately mentioned
in D.B., but in the N.Y. of 1316, it appears as North-
ampton, which is plainly an error. If, as is sometimes
the case, Hampton here means hean or high town, it
is curious that Nether should have been prefixed to it.
Possibly, however, Hampton in this case is "the home
tun or enclosure."
Nether (A.S. nithera, camparative of nither) = below
or beneath. Hamptons are of course very numerous
in England.
DICHAMPTON was Dic-hoema-tun.
A die (masculine) was a dike, and a die (fern.), a
ditch. Dichampton was "the home (or high) tun near
the ditch or dyke." The dyke was the Bugan dyke,
near Wilton.
Taylor suggested " a tun or farmyard belonging to
the Dichoem."
DAMERHAM was in D.B. Dobre-ham, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Domerham. It may be derived from the
Celtic dubr = water ; Dwfr is the Welsh word for water ;
and Dover is the town above the water. Hence I take
Dobreham or Damerham to be the home on the water
(it stands on a trib. of the Avon). In D.B. there are
places called Defer or Devere, probably from the Welsh
dwfr = water.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 61
ETCHILHAMPTON was at the D. Survey
Ecesatingetone, and in 1316, Ethelhampton. The name
of this place has been spelled in every conceivable way,
and indeed in some almost inconceivable ones. It has
been Ethelmerton, Hochelhampton, Echelinton, etc., etc.
The meaning of the name, thanks to these caligraphic
variations is wrapped in mystery, and all that can be
said further is, that whatever it may mean, it is
pronounced Ashelton. Dr. Beddoe however has suggested
to the writer that the name may have been derived from
Welsh or British lichel, high ; and he refers to a high
point so named one mile south of Yes Tor. Hence it
may be "the high home ton."
BREMILHAM. Bremil is A.S. Brom, the broomf
heather or heath. Hence Bremilham is "the home o,
the broom or bramble." Bremel or Breinble comes
from the stem bram or brem, el being simply a termin-
ation, and the b an inserted letter..
SEVEN HAMPTON (see page 53).
WIDDENHAM|The first near Colerne, and the
WYTHEN HAM) second, an ancient parish men-
tioned in the N.V. of 1316, but now merged in Farley
Hungerford, may have derived their names from the
Saxon Widerings who were found at Witherington
near Downton.
LACKHAM appears in D.B. as Lac-ham, the
owner being William De Ow or Eu. The name is
derived from the Cornish iocca=a pit or well, A.S. lac
or lache, a lake. Hence it is " the home (ham) by the
lake."
62 Notes on Wiltshire Names
(b) BURY, BOROUGH, BARROW, &c.
A.S. BEOEGAN and German Bergen signified to
hide or to shelter and from them are derived borough,
bury, burgh, brough, barrow and burz. The Saxon form
of the word is Burg, the Teutonic Bergh, and the German
Berg. The Saxon Burg or Burh meant primarily an
earthwork, a tower, a mountain, or the home of a
powerful man defended by a ditch or bank as con-
trasted with a tun which was less securely defended
by means of a simple hedge or stockade. Later,
however the meaning and scope of the word was
extended so as to include a town or a city. At first
a distinction was made between A.S. beorh, (German,
berg), a hill and A.S. burh (German burg), a town,
and for some time that distinction was preserved, but
in the course of years it was lost and the words were
applied indifferently to cities, and land elevations.
Dr. Isaac Taylor, has however pointed out that
neither bury nor borough would in England be used
in the same district to indicate both towns and hills.
Thus if in a certain district we find the word ''bury"
applied to towns, we are pretty certain to find that in
the same district borough and not bury is used to
denote elevations of the land. On the other hand,
where borough is used to denote the towns in a
certain district, the word bury will be used in that
same district in connection with the hills.
Thus in Wiltshire, Salisbury, Amesbury, Heytesbury,
Westbury, Tisbury and Bamsbury are derived from
byrig, an earth-work or a fortified town, while in the
same region we have Wanborough, Eisborough,
Eodborough, from beorh, a bill. So that bury or byrig
is used for a town, and borough for a bill.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 63
Maryborough is an apparent exception. We should
naturally have expected to find it written Marlbury,
but it was originally beorh, a hill as indeed we find it
in D.B., Merle-berge : the lofty, noble or glorious hill.
Kemble thinks that the modern sense of the word
burg, viz : a fortress, was the Saxon one. In his
opinion the town grew round the fort or castle, and
from it derived its name.
BARROW is now usually applied to funeral
mounds, and we have very many instances of that
use of the word in our own county.
Canon Jones, in the Wilts Archaeological Magazine,
quotes Wishaw, who draws a distinction between
burg, bury, borough, etc., on the one hand, and berie,
beria and berry, which signify a large open field, on
the other. As instances of this use of the word,
the following are quoted: Berry-field (lit. field-field),
Hasel-bury (Hesel-beri), and Yates-bury (Etes-berie).
MARLBOROUGH occurs in D.B. as Merle-
berg, in 1098 as Moerle-beorg, and in the N.V. of
1316 as Marle-berge. The origin of the first syllable
is doubtful. Some have sought to connect it with
A.S. Marl, in consequence of the chalk "marl"
found there. Others again trace the name to the
great Enchanter, Merlin hence Merlin's hill. A
better derivation, however, is that given above, A.S.
Maerlic, noble, glorious, lofty, and beorh, a hill.
Hence the town derives its name from the noble, lofty
or glorious hill, on the slope of which it stands.
WAN BOROUGH, near Swindon, is Wem-berge
in D.B., and Wamberg in the N.V. of 1316. It is
derived from A.S. wem, a swelling, and beorh, a hill.
Hence the name of the parish is derived from the
hill.
64 Notes on Wiltshire Names
Another explanation is that the present name is a
corruption of Wodenes-burgh, but this does not seem
to be supported by the spelling of the name in 1087,
and in 1316 as given above. Some, however, have
asserted that this is the Wodensburg, where in 590
the King of Wessex was defeated by a horde of
Saxon rebels assisted by some Britons.
BROKENBORO is Bracken and beorh, a hill. The
low German Brake = brushwood. Hence the name
signifies the hill covered with bracken, or possibly with
brushwood. In D.B. it occurs as Brochen-berge,
and in 1316 it is Broken-borow. In an able paper in
the Wilts Archasological Magazine the late Canon Jones
suggested "broken barrow," as if the town had taken
its name from some funeral barrow which had been
desecrated. It does not appear that there is anything
in the neighbourhood to support this theory, and let us
hope that "body snatching" was then unknown. It
is said that the Saxon kings had a palace here called
Cairdurburgh, as early as the middle of the seventh
century. Cairdur (British), would be "the town by
the river." The river is the Avon.
WOODBOROUGH is not separately mentioned in
D.B. but in the N.V. of 1316 we find it as Wood-berge.
Consequently the name signifies "the wooded hill."
MALMESBURY in D.B. Malmes-berie, and in
the N.V. of 1316, Malmes-bury is the place where
Mailduf an Irish monk dwelt as a hermit. In 642 a
monastery and church were erected on the site of
Maildulf's cell by Eald-helm. Thus it received the
name Maildulfes-burh, but it was also called Baldelmes-
byrig, and in the charter of 675 it appears as Mealdums-
byrig, which looks like an attempt to combine the name
Notes on Wiltshire Names 65
Mailduf and Eald-helm. Thus it is Maidulfs town.
The form of the word in D.B. seems to indicate that
the spelling "berie" was not always reserved for a
field, as some have thought.
RINGBURY, near Purton, has a Eoman camp with
a double ditch, the outer one being still in a very
perfect state. Bury in this case has evidently the
original meaning of the word Burh or Burg, viz. : an
earthwork. "Eing" is probably derived from the
shape of the mound. Hence the name signifies "the
circular earthwork."
BUDBURY near Bradford-on-Avon, was anciently
Bode-berie, perhaps from A.S. bed, prayer, and burh,
a town or enclosed place. Thus "bSd-hiis" in A.S.
signifies prayer-house or oratory.
WESTBURY was in D.B. West-berie, and in 1316,
West-beric. According to a theory mentioned above,
this is beria, berie, or berry a large open field. It is
well known however, that the compilers of D.B.
spelled the names of places strange to them, as best
they could, being guided mainly by the sound. Thus
Westbury may possibly be Vfest, and byrig, a town or
earthwork, and the name may be due to its having
been one of the most important towns in the west, or
from its situation, west of some burgh (Searis-byrig) or
west of some Roman station.
YATESBURY. The precise meaning of this name
has occasioned considerable discussion. In D.B. it is
Etes-berie, but in the N.V. of 1316 we find it as to-
day, Yates-bury. To take the second syllable first,
while some have suggested that it is derived from A.S.
byrig, an earthwork, or fortified town, there is nothing
in the neighbourhood to support such an idea,
66 Notes on Wiltshire Names
certainly no traces of walls, gates or earthworks remain
to-day. It seems, then, that the more probable
derivation is A.S. berie, beria, berry, an open field.
The first syllable has proved, however, still more
difficult to deal with. Among the many suggestions
are, that it is derived from: gat (=a goat); geat or
yat (=a door, a gap, a way); yte (=outermost); or the
tribe of the Jutes. It may be geat, yeat. or yate, not
however in the sense of a gate, but rather as meaning
an approach, entrance, way, opening, or road, (leading
perhaps to Avebury three miles away). Another
suggestion of some weight is A.S. yte, outermost.
Hence the outermost berry or bury. According to this,
Yatesbury would be a sort of suburb of Avebury, to
which according to a local tradition it was at one
time joined. (See an interesting article in Wilts
Magazine by Kev. A. C. Smith.)
HAYTESBURY. In D.B. this is Hes-tre-be and
Has-tred-berie, but in the N.V. of 1316 it appears as
Hegh-tre-bury, and is the name of the Hundred as
well as of the Town. The name looks like High-tree-
bury, and probably the last syllable is A.S. byrig, an
earthwork or town, in which case the whole would
signify "the town near the high tree." It may be
noted that prominent natural objects or well known
places were generally chosen as the meeting places of
the Moot of Hundred, as for example, fords (Bradford),
hills (Thornhill), boundary stones (Kin-ward-stan),
etc. Another explanation is Hegtred's-bury, from a
personal name.
RAMSBURY was in D.B., Eames-beric, and in
the N.V. of 1316, Eames-bury. The name is perhaps
derived from A.S. hromsa, the garlic or wild onion,
and A.S. byrig, a fortified town or earthwork. The
Notes on Wiltshire Names 67
town may have been so named (the town of onions
or garlic) from the fact that wild onions (rhoms) were
plentiful in the neighbourhood. Kamsgreave and
Eamsbottom (or meadow) are similar. Canon Jones
says, and probably he is correct, that the name was
originally Hraefnes-byrig, from A.S. hroefn, the raven,
and he points to the neighbouring Crow Wood.
Should this supposition be correct, the name would
signify " the raven's town." Eamsbury was formerly
the See of a Bishop, and it was Siric, Bishop of
Eamsbury, who gave Ethelred the fatal advice to buy
off the Danes. During the 200 years (795 to 1009
A.D.) that the Bishops of Wiltshire had their See at
Eamsbury, it was called " Ecclesia Corvinensis."
The Lordship of the Hundred was given to the
Bishop by Offa, King of Mercia, who died in
794 A.D.
ALDERBURY, in D.B., Alwareberie, and in 1316,
Alwarebury, was formerly Alward-berie, " the field or
estate of Alward." At the Conquest it belonged to the
Canons of Lisieux, the larger portion being held by
Alward, a priest. Probably, in this case ihe last
syllable is properly berie, a field.
NEW-BURY is probably the new burg or town.
TISBURY was in D.B., Tisse-berie, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Tyssebury. A.S. Ticce, is the goat or
kid, and perhaps the second syllable is berie, a field,
rather than byrig, a town or earthwork. Hence it
signifies either the '* field (or the town) of the goat."
At the D. Survey " Tisse-berie " formed part of the
possessions of the Abbey of Shaftesbury.
AMESBURY appears in 995 as Ambresbyri, and
in D.B., as Ambres-berie. It was also known in
68 Notes on Wiltshire Names
early Saxon times as Amesburh, and Ambres-byrig.
To the Welsh it was known as Caer Emrys, "the
city of the Emrys." It was a fortress and capital of
Ambrosius Aurelianus, Dux Britanniarium a man of
Eoman Family who after the departure of the Eoman
legions headed the British against the advancing West
Saxons. Hence it was the fortress of Ambrosius, as
its name indicates. Ambrosius is a Greek word which
became current among the Latins at a very early
date.
SALISBURY is in D.B., Saris-berie. In Stephen's
reign it was Sere-beric. Land burnt or dried was
" sart " or "seared" from Saxon " searum, " to burn.
Hence the phrase "seared with a hot iron," and "the
sere and yellow leaf " (Byron). Sarum the old name
for Salis-bury is said to mean Sere-ham (=home),
and Salisbury was in Saxon times Searis-byrig or
Searis-bury from " searum," and byrig. The latter
which primarily meant an earthwork, or the home of
a powerful man defended by a ditch and bank, later
came to mean a town or city.
Another authority says that Sarum is the old
Sorbiodunum of the Komans (Irish /Soir6=easy, and
perhaps level,) and that the later name was arrived
at by a contraction of the older term. (Sorwiodunon
may have been the fortress beside the river Sorwios
or Sorwia, now the Avon. It is known that Britain
had a river Sarva.) It is further asserted, in the same
connection, that the Normans changed the r and I (in
Sarum) and so led the way to the modern form Salis.
Thus Sarum became Salis.
There is reason for believing Old Sarum to have
been a Stronghold of the Belgae who inhabited Hants,
Wilts and Somerset. That it was a Eoman station is
proved by the coins discovered and by the great roads
(probably six) which converge here. The See was
Notes on Wiltshire Names 69
transferred in 1217 to New Sarum, (partly in conse-
quence of Stephen having fixed a camp at Old Sarum)
and the old city decayed and finally disappeared.
In 1232 the name was Sarresbere, in 1268 Sares-
beria, in 1270 Sares-bury, and in 1294 Sares-bury
and some assert that the place was never called
Sarum in early times.
WICHBURY was in D.B. Wite-berge, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Wyche-bury. To-day it is Wich-bury,
Wych-bury, or Whits-bury. Canon Jones suggested
that the name was derived from Welsh gwig, gwic,=&
hamlet, and he argued that this suggestion was sup-
ported by the occurrence of other Celtic names in the
neighbourhood, as for example, Breamore. Perhaps
the derivation may be found in A.S. hwit= white,
especially seeing that both soil and subsoil consist
largely of chalk. The second syllable looks like " beorh "
a hill. Hence the town may have derived its name
from the " white hill," Wick Down, about a mile to
the north.
FOSBURY. Fr. Fosse. L. Fossa, to dig, may
refer to a ditch, road, or moat in the neighbour-
hood. It is near a Eoman foss or road, viz., the road
which passes through Cricklade, branches southward
at Wanborough, passes through Ogbourn, Mildenhall
and Crofton, and thence proceeds to Winchester.
OGBURY, probably from A.S. ac, the oak. Og-den
in Lancashire was formerly Oke-den or Oak-dene.
The crests of the two Ogden families contain an oak
branch. Hogs (young sheep and later swine) were so
called from being fed in a hok or pen.
Bury in this case is A.S. Byrig, an earthwork.
Hence " the camp or earthwork by the oak trees."
GODSBURY is probably derived from a personal
name, Godo or Gudo. Hence Gudo's or Godo's
70 Notes on Wiltshire Names
barrow. Canon Jones suggests Guthredes berg, or the
barrow of Guthred.
HASEL-BURY is in D.B., Hese-berie or Hase-berie,
and in the N.V. of 1316, Hasle-bury or H6sel-beri.
Probably this is A.S. Berie, Beria, or Berry, a large
open field. Hence " the field where hazels grow."
ABURY or AVEBURY was in D.B., Averi-berie
and in the N.V. of 1316, Avebury. It has also
appeared at different times as Avenburi, Avensburi,
Avebury, Anebury and Enes-buri. Many attempts
have been made to find its meaning, but hitherto
without any very satisfactory result.
(1) Aubrey thought it was Au-bury or Auld (old)
bury.
(2) It has also been suggested that the name is
Avon-bury and is derived from the Avon or from a
brook, also called the Avon, some two or three miles
away. But this is very doubtful.
(3) Canon Jones suggested Aber-bury, viz : the
town or perhaps burying-place at the mouth of tha
stream. But what stream?
(4) Other writers have endeavoured to find its
meaning in Hebrew, and other eastern languages with
results more amusing than convincing. The matter is
wrapped in mystery.
BARBURY HILL is A.S. beorh, a hill, and
either Celtic bar ( top or height) or bwr (= an
entrenchment). Hence "an enclosed or fortified hill.'
Some suppose this to be Beran-byrig, the scene of a
battle between the Britons and the Saxons in 556, in
which case it would be the hill-fort of a Saxon named
Baera (Baera).
RODBOROUGH is probably A.S. beorh, a hill,
and A.S. Redd, a reed. Hence " the reedy hill." The
Notes on Wiltshire Names 71
name may, however, refer to some stone cross or
rood which stood on this hill. (A.S. rod = the cross.)
BARROW. The name barrow, for a funeral mound
occurs very frequently in Wiltshire. This is another
word derived from A.S. Burh or Burg, which
primarily meant an earthwork. The word burrow,
which refers to the earthing of animals, is of similar
origin.
CHISENBURY DE LA FOYLE was in the
D.B. Chesige-berie, and in the N.V. of 1316,
Chysynbury. May this be the town of the sons of
Cissa? or is it derived from A.S. coesil, sand or
pebbles ? It was held in the 2nd year of Edward I.
by Eichard de la Foyle. Hence the affix " de la
Foyle."
CHISBURY was Chese-berie at the time of the
D. Survey, and in 1316, Chusse-bury. Lower remarks
that Chisbury suggests the name of Cissa. Hence
according to this it would be " the town of Cissa."
YARN BURY. Canon Jones suggested Welsh
earn (= a heap of stones), remarking that c or g are
often softened into y (c.f., German, garn, English,
yarn). To this it may be added that in Welsh the
initial letter is often varied without any corresponding
variation of the meaning of the word. Thus Nant or
Pant = a dingle ; Melin or Velin = mill ; Mawr or
Vawr = great. Or it may be the bury by the sarn
(W. sarn, a road), and some support is given to the
latter theory by the fact that it lies a little to the
north (perhaps a mile) of the old Roman Road
connecting Old Sarum with Bath.
BADBURY, I take to be similar to Budbury (see
above). This Manor formerly belonged to the
Monastery of Glastonbury.
72 Notes on Wiltshire Names
(c.) WOBTH.
The A.S. worth, wurth, or weorth, signifies a home-
stead, a fenced field or a farm. The Low German is
worthe. Sometimes the word takes the form weorthig
= worthy. It is closely allied to the A.S. geard, a
yard or garden, which was a place fenced with yerdes
(A.S. gird, a rod) or stakes, and is also connected
with the Norse garth. Prom the foregoing it will be
seen that very similar ideas were expressed by the
A.S. words : geard, worth and tiin. In each case an
enclosure was indicated, and generally a homestead or
a farm was included in the worth or tun. It has
been suggested that worth is connected with forth;
that a worth was a fenced enclosure from which the
owner went forth from time to time, and hence its
name. Whether this is anything more than bare
supposition the writer is unable to ascertain.
The word worth enters into a number of Wiltshire
place names, and one of the County Hundreds
(Highworth) was formerly simply Worth.
HIGHWORTH was Wurde and Wrde in the
D.B., and in the N.V. of 1316 it appears as
Hey worth. As explained above, Wurde or Worth
signifies a fenced field, farm or homestead. The first
syllable is derived from A.S. haga, a hedge, and
consequently it adds nothing to the meaning of the
name. Another ancient spelling is Hyworthe, so that
the town may have taken its name from the eminence
on which it stands.
SHEB WORTH is probably the sheep worth, or
the fenced field or farm devoted to sheep.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 73
BRINKWORTH occurs in D.B. as Brenche-wrthe
or Breche-orde, but in the N.V. of 1316 it has
become Brinkworth, as we have it to-day. It appears
to be similar to Brenches-borow, as the Hundred of
Branche was formerly called, and suggests a personal
name : Brench. This is supported by the frequent
occurrence in A.S. Charters of such names as
Brenches-berg and Brenches-cumb. Hence it was the
enclosure or homestead of a man named Brench.
Perhaps Branch may be derived (like the limb of a
tree) from Welsh, Braich ; Armoric, Branc ; French,
Branche, an arm ; and if the name does not signify a
wood, it may perhaps refer to some arm-like natural
feature in the neighbourhood.
AT WORTH was Atten-wrthe or Atan-wurthe in
old documents. In the N.V. of 1316 it occurs as
Atte-worth. This may be from A.S. Ata, the oat and
worth. Hence it would appear to be " the oat
village" or "the oat enclosure." The village has
sometimes been called Atford.
CADWORTH is Welsh coed, a wood, and worth.
Hence the name signifies " the farm or dwelling near
the wood." Cawdon is " the hill by the wood."
HAMPTWORTH appears to be Ham, an
enclosure or a home, and worth. Hence the two
syllables convey very much the same meaning-
Perhaps the name may be taken to be the "home
enclosure."
CHELWORTH was in D.B., Cele-wrthe, and in
the N.V. of 1316, Chele-worth. It appears to be
derived from A.S. cyl, coolness, and cyle, a well (see
Norse kel, a spring). Hence it is " the enclosure or
homestead by the well or spring."
74 Notes on Wiltshire Names
TIDWORTH appears in D.B. as Tode-worthe,
and in the N.V. of 1316 it is Tude-worth. The
former part of the name is probably derived from the
6th century personal name, Tado, Tedo or Todo.
Thus it would be "the homestead or enclosure of Todo,
Tudo, or perhaps Tidulf." (See Tylshead.)
SOPWORTH; D.B., Sop-worde; 1316, Soppe-worth
Welsh, Swp, (pronounced soop) signifies a heap; and
Sopen, a mass squeezed together. Hence Sopworth
may have been the enclosure on a heap, or small
isolated elevation. Canon Jones considered it reason-
able to look for names of Welsh origin in this part
of Wilts, seeing that in the neighbourhood we have
the Wansdyke, the old Welsh boundary.
(d) WICK OB WISH.
WICK, a very common Wiltshire village name, is
derived from A.S. wic, a village. Wish is also
similarly derived in some cases, but in others it
comes from Keltic uisge or uiske, water. Wick,
however, is not to be traced in every instance to an
A.S. source, for sometimes the word has had its
origin in the Norse vik, an inlet, a creek, a bay, or
an arm of the sea, as for example in Sandwich, the
sandy creek or bay. The Norse sea-rovers were
called Vik-ings, i.e., sons of the Vik or creek.
Consequently, we would look for wicks of Norse
origin, by the sea-shore ; while wicks of Saxon origin
would be found inland. These last were stations,
Notes on Wiltshire Names 75
abodes, or villages remote from the sea. One
exception to the foregoing must, however, be
mentioned. We have in Cheshire and Worcestershire
several towns noted for the production of salt, and
the names of these towns end with the syllable under
consideration. Their salt mines or brine springs form
a connection with the sea ; hence we need not be
surprised to find that in these cases the name is
derived not from the Saxon, but from the Norse
wick, as for example, Nantwich, Northwich, Middlewich
and Droitwich.
Wiltshire furnishes the following instances in which
the syllable wick occurs:
WADWICK is "wood wick," the village by the
wood. It is connected with Weald, Wold and Wald
(A. Sax. weald, a forest ; Ger. wald, a wood or forest ;
and A.S. wudu, a wood).
PICKWICK is A.S. pic, a peak, or pointed hill,
and wic, a village. Hence it is the village on the
peak or hill.
The name William de Pikewike appears in the
Hundred Roll of 1273, for the County of Wiltshire,
and no doubt the surname which the genius of
Dickens immortalized was derived from this village.
BARWICK BASSETT or BERWIC
BASSETT. The name Barwick comes from Keltic
bara, bread or bread corn the bere, or crop which
the land bears. The A.S. bere =. corn. Hence this
is the corn village. The suffix Bassett, a common
one in Wilts probably indicates that the village was
once the possession of the well-known Bassett family,
who held Coinpton Bassett and Wootton Bassett.
76 Notes on Wiltshire Names
BERWICK ST. JOHN. j In these cases the
BERWICK ST. JAMES. I- suffix appears to
BERWICK ST. LEONARD. ) be derived from the
Churches dedicated to St. John, St. James, and
St. Leonard respectively.
CHADDENWICK is probably the village of
Chad. In 676 Chad was Bishop of Wessex.
STANDAWICK may be A.S. stan, a stone.
Hence the village by the stone. This may refer to
some boundary stone, or it may simply be the village
by the stones.
'WICK. Several villages in the county are simply
Wick.
SOUTHWICK is the village south of Trowbridge
or perhaps Bradford.
FARLEIGH WICK.
POTTERNE WICK.
KEEVIL WICK.
KEMBLE WICK.
HEDDINGTON WICK.
These are near the
larger villages of Far-
K leigh, Potterne, Keevil,
Kemble and Hedding-
ton respectively.
NAMES DERIVED FROM OPEN SPACES :
LEIGHS, FIELDS, WOODS, STOKES, COMBS,
DEANS, HILLS, &o.
CHAPTER IV.
(i) LEIGHS.
EIGH or Legh (A.S.) is derived from
another A.S. word, liegan, to lie down,
and originally, as the word sufficiently
indicates, it signified an open place in a
forest where cattle would gather for repose (and it
may be noted that the peasantry of Wessex pronounce
the word as lye, to this day). Later, the meaning of
the word was modified somewhat, so that it came to
stand for a piece of land which afforded pasturage for
cattle. The word exists to-day in several forms, the
most common being Leigh, Lea, and Ley. Seeing
that Wiltshire was until comparatively recent times
almost entirely covered with forests, in which would
be open spaces frequented by cattle, it was only to be
expected that the word Leigh would often be met
with in connection with the place-names of this
county, and such is indeed the case. The Saxons
had several words connected with land of this char-
78 Notes on Wiltshire Names
acter, among which are the following : Feld or field
(which will be referred to later). Laesu, pasture
(Wickliff has been quoted in this connection, " A flock
of many swyn lesewynge"). Opposed to the leigh or
pasture, was the land set apart for grass-cutting or
hay-making : A.S. mawan, to mow, and A.S. maed,
that which is mown, a mead or meadow. Then the
acre, A.S. aecer from the root ager, land came in
course of time to signify land used for cultivating
grain, or corn land; fealh, the fallow; and ing and
botm, low-lying meadow ground.
The suffix ley is often found in connection with
surnames, in which cases these latter may generally be
regarded as having been derived from names of
places. But this rule has its exceptions, for in some
cases the final ley in a surname has merely the force
of a diminutive.
In Wiltshire we have several villages which are
simply Lea or Leigh, for example :
Lea, a village two miles aouth-east from
Malmesbury.
Leigh, near Bradford-on-Avon, formerly Lye.
Leigh, two miles north-east from Minety Station, and
Ley, half a mile south-west of Teffont Ewyas.
BRADLEIGH or BRADLEY, was not separately
mentioned in D.B., but in the N.V. of 1316, it was
Brade-ley. It is "the broad leigh or meadow."
ASHLEY is "the open space in the ash-wood."
There are several villages or hamlets of this name in
Wilts. Ash trees were much prized by the Saxons,
and at an early period (viz : in their old pagan days)
the ash was one of their sacred trees. In the time of
Edward IV. ash wands were in much favour with
Notes on Wiltshire Names 79
archers for the making of bows. In D.B. it was
Esselie, Ash A.S. esc. Ashley in north-west Wilts,
near the Foss Eoad, gave its name to a family who
held it : Walter de Esselegh.
FOXLEY was "the leigh or meadow frequented by
foxes." In D.B. it was Fox-lege, and belonged to the
Berkeleys, but later to the De-la-meres, from whom the
neighbouring Leigh de-la-Mere takes its name.
The proximity of the Foss-way would suggest Foss-ley.
STOCKLEY is derived from A.S. stocca, the stem
of a tree, from which we get our common village
name: Stoke. It answers to the "wood-leigh" of
the present day : the meadow by the wood.
DURLEIGH comes from Celtic dur or dour,
Welsh duyr, water. Hence it is " the watered meadow."
CATLEY is derived from Welsh coed, coat, coit=
a wood. Hence it is "the meadow by the wood."
Note that Wood-ley, Stock-ley and Catley, are
identical in meaning.
HENLEY is probably A.S. hean, heah, high: "the
high meadow." Some have suggested " the hen meadow,"
and a gentleman who has made a life-long study of
place-names, derives it from Keltic, hen=o\d. Hence
"the old meadow."
STUDLEY near Trowbridge, was in the N.V. of
1316, Stode-ley In a charter of 1351, it occurs as
Stode-leigh, and a little later it appears as Stod-leye.
It will be seen that for all practical purposes these
three forms are identical, and the name is clearly
derived from A.S. Stdd, a stud, or herd of horses.
Hence it is " the horse meadow." Similarly we have
80 Notes on Wiltshire Names
in other parts of the country Cowley (the cow meadow
or pasture), Cowlaghton (cow-leigh-ton, the town near
the cow meadow), Shipley (sheep meadow), &c.
Again one of the Wiltshire Hundreds was Stodfolde,
A.S. stdd, /aZd the fold, place, or enclosure for horses.
From A.S. Stdd we get our English word steed.
There are at least two other villages named Studley,
in Wiltshire, viz : one near Calne and the other near
Chippenham.
MONKTON FARLEIGH was in the N.V. of
1316, Farley Monachorum, and the owner was the
Prior of Farley.
It is probably A.S. /earw=fern, which may perhaps
be traced back to Sanscrit parna, a wing or feather.
Hence it is "the fern meadow."
"Fair meadow" has been suggested, and also far or
distant-leigh as opposed to the home-lea. But the A.S.
for "fair" was "foeger," consequently " fern leigh " is
more probable. For Monkton see page 26.
FARLEIGH HUNGERFORD is supposed by
one writer to take its name from the fairness of its
leas or meadows, but for reasons given above we
prefer "fern leigh," or "fern meadow." At the D.
Survey, it was "Fer-lege," and belonged to Sir. Eoger
De Curcelle to whom it had been granted by William
I. Later it fell into the hands of Sir Henry De
Montfort and in the reign of Henry III. it was
designated Farleigh Montfort to distinguish it from
Monkton Farley. In 1369 it was sold to Sir Thomas
or Lord Hungerford whose family had taken their
surname from Hungerford in Berks where they lived
in the reign of Edward II. From this family the
name became Farley Hungerford.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 81
WESTBURY LEIGH was in the N.V. of 1316,
simply Lye a form which carries us back to the
source of the word A.S. liegan, to lie down. It is
" the meadow near Westbury."
TURLEY does not appear to be mentioned in
D.B., as both Dr. Beddoe and Mr. H. P. Wyndham,
in their respective editions identify Tuder-lege with
Titherley in Hants.
Tuda, a personal name, occurs in A.S. Charters
(B.C.S., p. 1289). Hence the name may have been
Tudan leigh or Tudes leigh, viz., " the meadow
of Tude or Tuda." A friend suggests that like Tory,
the higher part of Bradford-on-Avon, about a mile
away, it may be derived from Keltic Tor or Twr =
a tower-like hill. Hence it would be "the meadow on
the hill."
WINSLEY. It is doubtful if this place is
mentioned in D.B. Certainly we find Wintres-lege, or
Wintres-lei and Wintres-leu, but the authorities above
mentioned identify these with Wintres-low, near
Salisbury. In 1316 the name was Wynes-ley. It
may signify "the cold or wintry leigh," and some
support is given to this by the fact that a tract of
ground in the parish is still called Winder Leaze or
Winter Leaze. Winter, it may be mentioned, means
the season of " wind and wet."
On the other hand the name may be derived from
Whin (= the gorse), which is of Celtic origin. The
Welsh word is "Chwyn," and signifies "weeds." Gorse
grows freely in the neighbourhood, and one can easily
imagine that in olden times the district was a
" field of gorse," as its name may imply. Many
English place names are derived from the Whin. But
Win and Winter were A.S. personal names, and it is
82 Notes on Wiltshire Names
most probable that this was Wines-ley, the field of a man
named Win (see B.C.S., pp. 761 and 426).
WOOLLEY was formerly Wlf-lege. Among the
holders of land at the time of the D. Survey was one
Vlf, who held a hide of land in Bode-berie, now
Budbury, adjoining Woolley and Bradford-on-Avon.
The place may have been named from this man.
But Ulf is an Old Norse word (A.S. wulf), which
signified a wolf. Hence the name of the person
mentioned is really Wolf, and the name Woolley
means " the meadow of Ulf (a person) or of the ulf
(the wolf)." Biddulph (surname) means "wolf of
battle." It may be mentioned that wolves frequented
the English woods down to 1680, and they existed in
Scotland till 1743.
FRANKLEIGH (in the game neighbourhood) is
supposed to have been a foreign settlement. The term
Francigena in olden times not only embraced Norman
(or Frenoh) settlers, but included Danes and perhaps
other aliens. The Franks were an old German tribe.
Hence Frankleigh " is the Meadow of the Franks,"
(though these were not necessarily Normans but aliens.)
OXEN-LEAZE is Acces-leghe (legle) or farm, from
A.S. ac, the oak. Then it becomes Oak's-leigh, and
later, Ox-ley (Dr. Beddoe). It is " the oak, farm or
meadow."
WITLEY or WHITLEY was Wit-lege (A.S. Hwit,
= white; "wheat" means "the white grain.") Hence
Witley is " the white meadow," or as some think, " the
wheat meadow."
WARLEY was Wer-leghe. It looks like A.S. waer,
a fence or hedge. Hence "the fenced leigh, or meadow."
(N.B., Land remained generally unfenced until com-
paratively recent times).
Notes on Wiltshire Names 83
But Canon Jones says that the Court Rolls of the
estate prove the existence of a stream, the Weare, and
from this the place may take its name. Hence it may
be " the meadow by the Weare."
CORSLEY was in D.B., Corse-lie and in 1316 it was
Corse-legh. The name may be derived from Welsh cors
= a marsh. Hence " the meadow by the marsh."
Probably, however, it is Corsan-legh, " the meadow of
Corsa " (B.C.S. p. 1287).
MAIDEN BRADLEY does not appear to have
received separate mention in D.B., but in the N.V. of
1316 it was simply Brade-ley. Hence it may have
been "the broad meadow " A.S. brad = broad. But
(C. 723 A.D.) it was Bradan Iseh, and hence is " the
meadow of Brada " (B.C.S. p. 877).
In 1154 (1180 ?) a hospital for leprous " maidens "
was founded here by one Manasser Biset, and it
appears that the addition of the prefix Maiden,
sometime later than 1316, is to be traced to the
Maiden Hospital for Lepers at Bradley, originated by
one whose own daughter is said to have been afflicted
with this terrible disease. Two other suggested
etymologies are perhaps worthy of notice : (a) From
W. Maen, a stone ; and (b) From the Virgin Mary, to
whom it is said some neighbouring Church is dedicated.
The latter derivation is improbable, and the former is
not supported by the presence of any well-known
standing stone in the neighbourhood.
SEMLEY was in 1316, Seme-legh. It is said to
derive its name from a stream, the Sem (German,
Seamh = gentle or placid). Henoe "the meadow by
the Sem." In the same part of Wilts we have
Sam-bourne, viz.: the Sam brook. The Sem is a
small stream in the S.W. of the County.
84 Notes on Wiltshire Names
CADLEY is probably derived from W., coed, caid,
coit, coat a wood. Hence " the meadow by the
wood." But Cada and Ceada appear as personal names
in Saxon Charters (B.C.S. 499), and hence Cadley may
be " the meadow of Cada." There are at least two
Cadleys in Wilts.
ROCKLEY was in D.B., Roche-lie, and in 1316,
Eoche-lie. It may be "the stony or rocky meadow,"
but this is by no means certain. Bock (Fr., Eoc) is
a word of Celtic origin, the Welsh form being Ceiriog
or Cerrig, whence crag. Roe (A.S. rd or rah) appears
to be excluded. Eockley is surrounded by tumuli and
other indications of Br. villages. In the neighbourhood
is a fallen cromlech. " This river runs through fields
all over which great stones like rocks rise out, whence
a village there is called Eockley" (Camden).
CASTE RLE Y is from L. Castra, a camp. It is
"the meadow by the camp."
STANLEY was in A.D. 940, Stan - leyghe,
in D.B., Stan - lege, and in 1316, Stanley, as
to-day. It is derived from A.S. stan, a stone,
and lege, lea or meadow, and signifies " the
meadow by the stone " (boundary or druidical), or
possibly " the stoney meadow."
EVERLEY or EVER-LEIGH in A.D. 704
Ebur leagh, in 804 A.D. Ebur legh, and Ebur leagh was
not separately referred to in D.B., but in the N.V.
of 1316 it is Ever - lee. Ebur comes from
A.S. eofer, eofor, the wild boar. Hence "the open
space or meadow frequented by the wild boar." This
animal became extinct in England in 1620. Searle
gives Ebur and Eofer as A.S. personal names, and
" the meadow of Ebur " seems to be the best solution.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 85
LEIGH DELAMERE was not mentioned in
D.B., but in the N.V. of 1316 it was simply
Leigh. John de la Mare de Langeley was lord of
this manor, and also held the neighbouring manor of
Langley in 1316. From this family the place derives
the affix Delamere. Some time previous to 1369 the
Delameres sold the estate. Sir John de la Mere was
Sheriff of Wilts in the 49th year of Edward III.
LANGELEY BURRELL. In D.B., it was
Langhe-lie, and in the N.V. of 1316, Lange-le. It is
A.S. lang ledh, or "long meadow." The tenant at the
time of the D. Survey was one Borel or Burrell, who
held the manor under Edward, Earl of Salisbury.
As early as 1240 it was known as Lang-legh Burel,
and the Borel or Burrel family continued to hold it
until the 14th century. A deed of agreement between
Reginald Burel, Lord of Langeleygh, and the Abbot
of Glastonbury, relative to the pasturage of cattle in
the woods of Langley Burrell, is still preserved. It
is dated 9th of Edward I.
LANGLEY FITZURSE. See Kington Langley.
DUNLEY is probably "the meadow by the hill."
The Saxons borrowed the word dun (= a hill) from
the Celts. Or it may have been " the meadow of Duna
or Dunna," personal names which occur in the Saxon
Charters (B.C.S., p. 924).
(ii) FIELDS.
FIELD is connected with two A.S. words, viz. :
feld, a place where trees have been felled, a clearing
in a wood or forest ; and fold an enclosure made of
86 Notes on Wiltshire Names
fell'd trees. It is connected with Dutch veld, Danish
felt, and German feld. The word fell, a hill, is also
related to the above. Field in its various forms
frequently occurs not only in the place-names of
England, but also in Germany (Elberfeld, etc.) and
Scandinavia (Doverfield, Hardanger Field, etc.)
Other words used by the Saxons as previously
mentioned are : A.S. land, A.S. med, that which is
mown, a mead or meadow; A.S. acer, corn land;
A.S. fealh, a fallow ; A.S. ing, a meadow on low
ground; A.S. botm, low-lying ground; and A.S. leak or
legh, an open place in the forest. All these words
enter into English village names.
Another word used in connection with land is Hide,
derived from A.S. hid, which itself is a contraction of
A.S. higid, a hide. A hide was an old measure of
land, variously estimated at 60, 80, 100, or even 120
acres. According to one authority it was the land that
could be enclosed by an ox-hide cut up into thin
strips ; according to another the land that could be
ploughed by a single team of oxen.
BEARFIELD (near Bradford-on-Avon), is also
Berfield and Berri-field. In old deeds it was Bere-
field, which would be pronounced B6re-feld. Bere =
barley or corn (A.S. bere = barley ; Celtic, bara =
bread). Therefore the name would signify "the corn
land or arable land."
WINKFIELD or WINGFIELD was formerly
Win-field. In D.B. it appears as Wine-fel ; and in the
N.V. of 1316, it occurs as Wyne-feld. It has been
suggested that it took its name from a brook (not
identified) in the neighbourhood which was then called
Swin-brook. Canon Jones suggested W. chwyn= weeds,
Notes on Wiltshire Names 87
probably the same as whins or furze. If this be
correct the meaning would be " the field of whins or
furze." The writer believes it to be the field of Wina or
Winter (see B.C.S., p. 760, for Wintres hlaew, and B.C.S.,
p. 426, for Winan beorh). In A.D. 964 it was spelled
Wunt-feld.
CHALFIELD was in D.B., Calde-felle, in 1273
Chalde-feld, and in the N.V. of 1316, Chalde-felde.
Probably the name is derived from A.S. cald, ceald, cold.
Hence it would be the cold field, a suggestion which
appears to be borne out by its exposed situation, sloping
to the north. A less probable suggestion is that the
name comes from A.S. celde, a spring ; Norse, keld, a
fountain. Hence the field containing the spring.
Some support is given to this by the presence of a
spring at Great Chalfield, where water is abundant, and
from which the neighbouring villages are supplied. It
should be noted that the Norman scribes often wrote cc
for ehe, and felle for feld.
DOWN FIELD is probably the field on the Down
(Celtic and A.S. dun, a hill) ; or of a man Dun. In
A.D. 948 it was Done-feld.
FIFIELD BAVANT was in D.B., Fif-hide,
which is repeated in the N.V. of 1316. It is a eon-
traction of " Five-hide-field." For hide see above.
Bavant is derived from Eogerus de Bavent, who held
it in 1316, under the Abbey of Wilton.
FIFIELD near Marlboro', was Fif-hide in D.B.,
and in the N.V. of 1316, Overton Fifhide, (see above).
Overton is doubtless the neighbouring parish of West
Overton to which the living of Fifield is annexed.
FIFIELD a tithing of Milton Lilborne. (See
above).
88 Notes on Wiltshire Names
COWLESFIELD or COWESFIELD is in
D.B., Coles-felde, and in 1316, Coules-feld. Perhaps
the field of Cole or Kol. It is also Cooles-tone in D.B.,
and Coole held lands in Wilts before the Conquest.
COWESFIELD ESTURMY was held by
Eichard Sturmid, at the time of the D. Survey. Hence
the affix Esturmy. Henry Sturmy was Sheriff of
Wilts in the reign of Edward III.
BRADFIELD near Hullavington was anciently a
separate parish, and at the D. Survey it was a distinct
manor belonging to the same property as Hullavington.
It is " the broad field," or the field of Brada.
BE AN -ACRE. A.S. acer = corn land. It may have
been A.S. bean^Icel, baun, the bean. Hence "the bean
land."
GOAT ACRE is supposed to be Cornish, coit,
Welsh coed, wood, and acre. Hence "the wood land."
GOOSE -AC RE is a corruption of gorse acre the
land where gorse grows freely.
CHALLYMEAD, not far from Great Chalfield,
may be the cold meadow, A.S. med, that which is
mown. July was the maed-monath, when the hay
having been got, the cattle were turned into the
meadows.
CONEGARTH. Garth corresponds with the
Saxon " worth," and is derived from Old Norse gardr,
a fence. It was an enclosure. This name is of
common occurence in the North of England. It is
probably "the field of the coney or rabbit." (O.E.
coning, Welsh owning, Manx conee rabbit).
Notes on Wiltshire Names 89
CONEYGORE. Gore is from gdra, a neck of
land stretching into a plain, from g&r, a javelin.
Coney see above.
GORE is in D.B., Gare, and in the N.V. of 1316,
Gore, (see above). Gore is the name of an old Wilts
family who held Alderton in the reign of Edward III.
HEWISH (near Pewsey) was A.S. hiwise, a hide
of land. (See Fif-hide).
HARDEN-HUISH was in A.D. 854, Heregeard-
ingc Hiwisc (B.C.S.), in D.B., Hardene-hus, and
and in the N.V. of 1316, Hardenyssh. It was the
" hiwise " or hide of land owned by one Harding or
Heregard.
TILSHEAD was in D.B., Theodulves-ide, and
Tidulf-hide. In the N.V. of 1316, it was Pysshide
(Tyss-hide?). It was the hide of one Tidulf or Theo-
dulf. A hide varied, but was about 120 acres.
TIN HE AD was not separately mentioned in D.B.,
but in the N.V. of 1316, it is Ten-hyde, which explains
the meaning. It was the " ten-hide field."
(iii) WOODS.
HOLT is not only found in the A.S., but also in
the Icelandic 'and Low German Languages. In
German, it is " holz," wood or timber. In A.S.,
" holt " signifies a grove or wood. The following lines
have been quoted in this connection :
" An huntynge wente Sir Lamfal,
To chafy in holies hore."
90 Notes on Wiltshire Names
Villages bearing this name are by no means
uncommon in England. Holt in Wiltshire was not
separately mentioned in D.B. We find it however in
the N.V. of 1316, where it occurs as Holte. It was
part of the great Braden Forest which extended
westward across Wilts to Bradford-on-Avon.
POULSHOT appears in the N.V. of 1316 as
Paules-holt a manner of spelling the name which
makes its meaning perfectly plain. It is " the holt
or wood of Pol," and it is interesting to note that to
this day the houses stand in irregular detached groups,
interspersed with trees, on the edge of an extensive
green of an oblong form, with the high road running
through the centre.
BAGSHOT, a hamlet near Shalbourne, is probably
"the holt or wood of the badger," just as Broughton
was Broc-tun, the tun of the broc or badger.
SHAW. In the county we have at least two
villages of this name, and one named Shaw Hill.
Shaw in Selkley Hundred was Essage in D.B., but in
the N.V. of 1316 it appears as Shawe. The name is
derived from A.S. scuva or scaga, a shady place, and
comes from Swedish " skog," a wood or grove.
Dr. Marsh quotes the following line from Gower :
"I woll abide under the Shawe."
WOODSHAW, near Wootton Bassett, is of
course, a re-duplication, and signifies " wood wood."
BRAMSHAW, on the Hants border, is probably
derived from A.S. broni, the broom plant, heath or
heather. The Low German equivalent is brdm, and
the Dutch brem, broom. From this stem we obtain
the A.S. bremel or brem-bel, the el being simply a
Notes on Wiltshire Names 91
termination, and the 6 an inserted or intrusive letter.
Bramshaw was in D.B., Bram-es-sage (A.S. bremele-
scaga = bramble wood), and in the N.V. of 1316,
Bremble-shawe. It is " the broom or bramble wood."
Brember wudu in an ancient charter (B.C.S., A.D. 826)
may refer to it, also Bremeles sceage (B.C.S., p. 677).
Hence it may be the wood of Brem or Bremel (a man).
BREM HILL was in A.D. 937 Broemel and
Bremel, in D.B., Breme, and in the N.V-
of 1316, Bremele. It is derived from the old
stem, brom, brem or brdm, the broom plant ; and
the village has its name from the abundance of
broom in the vicinity (see Bramshaw).
Broome, a tithing in the parish of Swindon, and
South Broom, to the east of Devizes, are names of
similar origin.
BOX probably derives its name from the box
tree. (Latin, buxus ; Greek, pyxos = the box
tree.) N.B. A box was so called because it was made
of this kind of wood. The village of Box was not
separately mentioned in D.B., but it appears in the
N.V. of 1316 as Boxe. The Wilts family of Boxe
derived their surname from this village. In 1243, we
find Henry de la Boxe, and in 1270, Sir Sampson
de la Boxe.
ASHGROVE appears to take its name from some
neighbouring wood. In the charters it IB JEscgraf
(T.S.C.), and may be the trench of MQO (a man).
HEYWOOD is derived from A.S. Haga, a hedge
or fence ; and wood. In early times it was very
unusual for woods or even fields to be enclosed. The
divisions between the latter were generally marked by
a baulk or raised bank of earth. Heywood is " the
hedged or enclosed wood."
92 Notes on Wiltshire Names
BO WOOD is not separately mentioned in the N.V.
of 1316, but in the reign of Henry III. it was
Bunewood. Probably it is derived from A.S. buan, to
dwell, whence we obtain " bur," a chamber, and the
well-known bower. Hence Bowood is " the dwelling
in or by the wood." In the neighbourhood is Bowden
Hill.
BURWOOD would appear to be of similar
derivation. A.S. bur a chamber or dwelling.
OXEN WOOD, I take to be "acces-wood" (A.S.
ac, the oak). Then it would become oak's wood,
oxwood, and finally oxen-wood. It is the " oak-wood "
(see oxen-leaze).
FAIRWOOD is probably "the fern wood" rather
than the fair or beautiful wood.
CROOKWOOD. I take this to be " Crekke-
wood" (A.S. crecca, a creek). It is the wood by the
creek or watercourse.
WESTWOOD. As in the case of most of the
above, this name takes us back to a time when there
was considerably more woodland than in these days.
It refers to a wood which existed to the west of
Bradford. In the 13th century it was West-wode,
which is identical with the word in D.B.
MELKSHAM FOREST. In the winter of
1229, Matthew Fitz Herbert, Lord of Brlestoke, had
a grant of four old and dry oak trees from the Forest
at Melksham. Matthew Fitz John, in 1287, was
granted by the king, for life, the manor of Erlestoke
and the castle and manor of Devizes, with the forests
of Chippenham and Melksham. Hence the village takes
its name from the ancient forest and the neighbouring
town.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 93
WANSTROW is Woden's tree or the tree of
Woden, a Saxon deity. A.S. treow, signifies a tree.
BISHOPSTROW was in D.B., Biscopes-trew
and in the N.V. of 1316, Bysshpes-trowe. It is the
bishop's tree (A.S. treow, a tree, and A.S. biscop, a
bishop). Canon Jones suggested that the "tree" may
have been a wooden cross (see New Testament) under
which service was held, but surely there is no need
to pass by the natural object. Another writer suggests
that the Bishop was St. Aldhelm, who may have
preached here under a tree.
CO ATE. There are at least two villages so named
in this county. Coate in the Hundred of Canning
was not separately mentioned in D.B., but in the
N.V. of 1316 it was Cotes. It is probably M.E. cotes,
plural of cote, a cottage. Hence a collection of cottages.
CHUTE appears in D.B. as Cat-urn. Probably
this is derived from Welsh coed, or Cornish cuit = a
wood. Thus Chute, may be simply " wood."
In that case Chute Forest would be a re-duplication,
amounting merely to "wood wood."
SAVERNAKE (village) was A.S., Sdfernoc. Isaac
Taylor's explanation is appended in a slightly condensed
form : Probably there is a close connection between
Savernake and Severn. The latter comes from A.S.
Saefern, and is connected with W. Hafren and Roman
Sabrina. Some scholars connect the last with Sabhrann,
a boundary, and consider that the river obtained its
name because it formed the western boundary of the
Belgic kingdom of Cumbelin (Cunobeline ?). The
Eomans would take the Celtic name and transform it
into Sabrina, while in Welsh it would become Hafren,
the s being softened into h according to phonetic law.
94 Notes on Wiltshire Names
Safernoc points to a British Sabrinacon, signifying " a
border or boundary forest." The River Lee at Cork
which divided two tribes was called Sav-er-ennus,
" the boundary river."
(iv) STOKE.
The Saxons built much with wood called beam, bam,
stoc or stocca, the last signifying the stem of a tree,
a stick or a block. Hence the various place-names
into which the words Stoke and Stock enter. The root
is that of stick (verb and nounj, the primary notion
being, that which is stuck into the ground and remains
fast. It is perhaps rather singular that the place
names of Wiltshire afford so few examples of the use
of the Saxon words Stoc and Stocca, and also that
the A.S. Bam or Beam does not appear to be
represented at all.
It is asserted by some that Side and Stow are two
distinct words meaning place or habitation, but even
if this be so, it appears to the present writer that the
root idea is the " stem " of a tree, or that which is
" stuck " into the ground. And if later, the words
signified a place, it was a " stockaded place," and was
so called for that very reason.
ERLESTOKE was formerly Stokes, from A.S.
stoc, " the stem of a tree," or, as some say, " a
place." It is supposed to have been taken from the
De Mandevilles by Henry I and bestowed upon some
Erie who has not been identified, and from this
unknown Erie it is conjectured that it obtained its
prefix. The manor would seem to have been restored
to the De Mandevilles by Henry III. In 1316 it was
Erie-stoke. Hence it is " the (stockaded) place of
the Erie."
Notes on Wiltshire Names 95
PURTON STOKE. Purton is " pear town " from
A.S. pirige=the pear, and tun. Stoke (see above). When
in the 5th year of Charles II., Braydon Forest was dis-
afforested, in lieu of the right of feeding heir cattle in
the Forest, and also of picking wood, the rent of 25
acres of land at Purton Stoke was given to the poor.
BRADEN STOKE was formerly Stoche. In
1260 A.D. it was Bradene Stoke. Probably the name
is derived from the forest of that name, which at
one time covered a large part of Wiltshire, extending
eastward from Bradford. It is the Broad dene or hollow.
A writer in the Wilts Archaeological Magazine has sug-
gested, however, that the name is derived from a clan or
tribe. It may have been the stockaded place of Brada a
man (see Bradan-ham the home of Brada, B.C.S. 877).
BIRCHINGSTOKE or BEACHINGSTOKE
was in D.B., Bichene-stoch, but in the N.V. of 1316 it
is simply Stoke, which some assert was a Saxon name for
a village. The name is probably derived from the Saxon
tribe of the Boecings, or Beccings. [Perhaps they called
themselves Beccings sons of the beech tree, A.S. bece,
which had been introduced by the Eomans ; as the
Ashlings were sons of the ash although it is possible,
however, that they were sons of the axe (Becea, an axe)].
In that case it would be " the stockaded place of the
Beccings." A.S. (Side, the stem of a tree). Or it may
simply be the beechen wood. An old Wiltshire family
bore the surname de la Beche.
LIMPLEY STOKE was once Stoke, which some
say meant a place or village though probably a
stockaded village, or a village near a wood. At one time
it was Winsley Stoke, but towards the end of the 17th
century it obtained its present name, probably to dis-
tinguish it from the neighbouring village of Winsley.
The meaning of Limpley in this connection is uncertain.
96 Notes on Wiltshire Names
STOKE FARTHING. In the Saxon Charters,
Fyrdinges-lea (see B.C.S., A.D. 932, and again in
A.D. 948). Farthing is said to be Verdoun
(corrupted, first to Vardon, and then to Farth-
ing). The name is supposed to have been derived
from one Theodore de Vardoun, who held it in 1316
under the Abbey of Wilton, but this is impossible.
Another explanation is as follows : Farthing lands are
supposed to have derived their name from the fact that
they paid a farthing scot or quit rent. Yet another
suggestion is that they were fe6rthlings, or fourth parts
of an estate in culture.
BAVERSTOCK may be the stockaded place of
Babb. Babbe and Babbing appear as personal names
in B.C.S., pp. 768 and 1289. Thus it was probably
Babbes - stoche. It may, however, be simply
the home or place of the beaver (A.S. beber, befer,
&eo/er=the beaver), from which the Beofings may have
taken their name "sons of the beaver." In D.B. it was
Babestoche, and is enumerated among the lands of the
nuns of Wilton. Baverstock is near the river Nadder.
Beverley, in Yorkshire, is " the bever's lac or lake."
'
ODSTOCK appears in D.B. as Ode-stoche, and in
the N.V. of 1316 it was Odde-stoke. It is probably
derived from a personal name, Ode cr Odo, and hence it
would be the stockaded place of Odo.
LAVERSTOCK may have been the stockaded place
of the Saxon tribe of the Loeferings. In D.B. it is
Laverte-stocke, and in the N.V. of 1316, Laver-stoke. It
has been suggested, however, by a writer in the Wilts
Magazine, that the name signifies "the place or home of
the lark " (A.S. lawerc or lauerc=the lark, O.E. lavrock
Notes on Wiltshire Names 97
or laverock). In early writing there was only one
character for u and v, hence the change from lauere to
Laverte and Laver was by no means difficult.
In a charter of A.D. 949 it is referred to as Laverstock
on the E. Laefer (see B.C.S.), which may explain the
name.
WINTERBOURNE STOKE is probably the
place or wood by the river Winterbourne. In D.B. it
was Wintreburne Stoch, and in N.V. of 1316, Wynter-
burne Stoke. The Winterbourne, as explained else-
where, is the winter stream.
(v) COMBS AND DENES.
Comb is a word which the Saxons borrowed from the
Britons. In the Welsh it is cwm, and signifies a hollow
among the hills or a narrow valley. The same word
meets us in honey-comb, i.e., the hollow to contain the
honey. As might be expected from its British origin,
this word is found as a place-name in many parts of Eng-
land, especially the S.W., and it is frequently met with in
Wales. Cumberland is supposed by some authorities to
signify " the land of combs or valleys," though it is
more probably " the land of the Kymry or Kumry," a
tribe of Kelts. Welsh, Cwm dwr = the watery comb.
Welsh, Cwm earn = the comb of the stone-heap (cairn).
Welsh, Cwm bach = the little comb ; Cwm du = the
black comb ; and Welsh, Cwm twrch = comb of the hog.
The A.S. cam appears to have some affinity with comb,
and signifies bent, curved, or crooked.
ELCOMBE was in D.B., Ele-combe, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Ele-come. It may be the comb of the
elder (A.S. ellen). But it may be Ella's comb, or Elles-
comb, the comb of Elle probably the last.
98 Notes on Wiltshire Names
CASTLE COMBE was in D.B. Come or Cumbe.
The prefix is derived from its feudal castle, built by
Walter de Dunstanville in the reign of Stephen, which
still remains. It was the head of the barony of the
Dunstanvilles, the ancestors of the Badlesmeres, who
held it in 1316, but in the reign of the Confessor the
manor of Cumbe was a royal demesne. Castle Combe, in
a deep but narrow valley, is one of the loveliest of West
Country villages.
RAINSCOMBE is probably the valley where was
the home of the tribe or family of Earn. It has been
called Eamscomb and Eammerscomb : Eames cumb
(B.C.S. p. 356), the comb of Earn.
COMBE BISSET was in 1316 simply Combe, and
its owner was Johnnes Bisset, from whom doubtless its
affix is derived.
CATCOMBE. Cat sometimes is derived from
Welsh coed, coat, or coit = a wood. Hence it is " the
combe in or by the wood." But Catta and Cetta are
personal names found in the Saxon Charters (see B.C.S.,
p. 210, Cettantreo, the tree of Cetta). Hence Catcombe
may be the Combe of Catta, or even of the cat.
ASHCOMBE is the hollow by the ash trees ash
tree hollow, or the comb of -ZEse (a man) see B.C.S. p 908.
BURCOMB appears in D.B. as Brede-cumbe, and
in the N.V. of 1316 as Brude-combe. It is said to
have been A.S. Brydan-cumb. (See B.C.S., 826 A.D.)
Hence it was the hollow of a Saxon chieftain named
Brede, Brude, Bryda, or Bryt. N.B. Britford was the
ford of Brit, and Bridlington was the tun of the sons
of Brid or Brit.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 99
TIDCOMBE occurs in D.B. as Tidi-come, and
in the N.V. of 1316 as Tyde-combe. It was the valley
of one Tid, Tode, Tude, Tedo, or Tidulf (see Tylshead).
These names, with others very similar, have been traced
to the 6th Century. Tidworth was Todeworthe (1087)
and Tudeworth (1316). " The combe of Tod the fox "
has also been suggested as an explanation. Tiddan-cumb,
the comb of Tidda occurs in Saxon Charter (see B.C.S.
p. 1002.)
WESTCOMBE is the west valley.
BOSCOMBE is A.S. JBobes-eumb, and is supposed
to be derived from a personal name probably Bub,
which is an 8th Century name. The charters have
Buban-dun (the hill of Buba), and Bubban-cumb (the
combe of Bubba).
STINCHCOMB appears in D.B. as Stote-combe.
In the N.V. of 1316 it is Scutes-combe. A stot or stott
was a young horse or ox (Swedish stut, Danish stud=o,
bull). Hence "the comb of the ox or horse." Or it may be
the comb of the stoat (Armorican, stot or stoat = the
stoat). But this is less probable. Stut and Stutta are
personal names found in the charters. Hence Stutes
combe, the combe of Stut is most probable.
WIDCOMBE was in D.B.,Wide-combe, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Wyde-combe. It is the wide combe. In
A.D. 901 it was Widan-cumb, and may have been the
comb of a man Wida (see B.C.S., pp. 164 and 870).
WINS-COMBE. Many places take their name
from (a) A.S. win-berie, the wine berry or grape. It
was the twining plant, and the name win or wine is akin
to wind and \wire ; or (b) The whin, which signifies
gorse, and is derived from Welsh chwyn = weeds. It is
probable that Wins-combe is the gorse valley. But it may
have been Wines-comb, the comb of a man called
Win, Winter or Wintar (see B.C.S. 761).
100 Notes on Wiltshire Names
BELCOMBE is the combe or valley of Bel or Belin,
a Celtic deity whose symbol was fire. He gave his name
to many places in Britain, chiefly rivers and hills. May
there not be some connection here with the ancient bail
or watch fires, which may have been a survival of the
Beltane Fire fire offered in worship to a god ? It may,
however, be the comb of Bella (see B.C.S. 454 Bellan-
ford the ford of Bella).
WEXCOMBE is not separately mentioned in D.B.,
but in the N.V. of 1316 it is Wex-combe, as to-day. It
stands near the Old Eoman Eoad from Cricklade to
Winchester, and hence it would appear to be " the comb
by the ivaeg or way" (A.S. waeg, a way ; plural, waegas).
Probably however it is Weges-oombe, the comb of Wege
(a man).
HIPPENS-COMBE may be the combe in which
the Hip or Briar Rose (A.S. hiop, heop, or heap) was
found. But more probably it is the comb of Ippa (see
Ippan beorh, B.S.C. 917). Places called Heap Fold,
Hipping Holm, and Hippings are known to be similarly
derived.
Other place-names in which we find the word under con-
sideration are Combe (near Enford), and Higher, Lower,
and Middle Combe (near Donhead St. Mary).
(vi) DEN OR DENE.
Of all the words which the invading Saxons borrowed
from the Celts whom they conquered, two of the most
important are dun and dene. The similarity of sound and
of form existing between these words has frequently led
to confusion. Like dike and ditch, they are masculine
and feminine correlatives. The land elevation is the
Notes on Wiltshire Names 101
dun ; the depression or "hollow is the dene, for Den or
Dene to the Anglo-Saxons signified a hollow or valley,
deeply wooded. But a Den or Dene often denoted a
forest district for the pasturage of swine and goats, the
number being regulated by the Court of Deans. Hence,
for example, Dean Hill would be a forest after the
surrounding country was cleared, and thus an apparent
contradiction between Dean and Hill is explained.
Wiltshire is not by any means a land of hilla and
valleys, hence such words as Comb and Dene are not of
frequent occurrence in our list of place-names. The
following instances, however, occur in the county :
CHISELDEN or CHISLEDON appears in D.B.
as Chiseldene and in the N.V. of 1316 as Chusel-dene.
The A.S. coesil signifies gravel, pebbles, or sand, and it
must be admitted that a place with both soil and sub-
soil of chalk hardly seems to meet the case, but the
name looks strikingly like Chesil-ridge. In A.D. 900 it
was Ceolsel-den, in 958 A.D. Cysel-dene, and it appears
as Ceosel-dene in B.C.S., p. 902. Thus the meaning is
clear : the sandy or pebbly dene.
GARSDEN is A.S. goers or gers, Scot. </irs =
Hence the grassy valley. Gers-dun, however, has been
suggested, and this would be the grassy hill, which
is correct, for it appears as Iserdun and Iserdon
(Garsdon or Gersdune) in B.C.S., A.D. 940.
BRAYDON was Braden, the broad dene or valley.
Braydon or Braden Forest was " the forest having broad
valleys." It was disafforested in the 5th year of Charles
II., and in lieu of the right of feeding their cattle in the
forest, and of picking wood, the rent of 25 acres of land
at Purton Stoke was given to tlie poor. Braden Forest
is supposed to have extended to Bradford-on-Avon.
102 Notes on Wiltshire Names
WEST DEAN, a parish 8 miles from Salisbury,
was Duenein Domesday Book, and Dune in the N.V. of
1316. The spelling in 1316 seems to have been confused
with dun, a hill. I take it to be "the west valley." Dean
was held at the Domesday Survey by Waleran the
Huntsman, one of whose descendants gave East Dean to
the Church at Salisbury.
MARDEN appears A.D. 758 as Mear-dene, in D.B.
as Meres-dene, and in the N.V. of 1316 it is Mere-den.
It is " the boundary valley."
WHADDON in Alwardbury Hundred was Wate-
dene in D.B., and Whad-don in the N.V. of 1316. Here
we have another instance of the confusion between dene
and dun. Canon Jones took the first syllable to be A.S.
wudu, a wood or timber, and hence he suggested " the
hill or dean by the wood." Probably it is A.S. hwa^te-
dun, the wheat hill.
(vii) HILLS AND DOWNS.
The Saxons also borrowed from the Celts the word
dun = a hill, a word which was found in the Welsh,
Irish, and Gaelic dialects. The word signified not
merely a hill, but often a hill fort. In Wales we have
Snowdon (the snow hill) ; in France, Dunkirk, the hill
by the church ; in Ireland, Dundrum, the hill ridge ;
and in Scotland, Dunkeld, the hill by the spring. It
should be remarked, however, that the British name for
Snowdon was Eryri, an eyrie or breeding place of eagles.
Eryrie also signifies a scrofulous eruption.
Dun is frequently met with in Wiltshire, not however
as the name of a town or village, but in almost every case
Notes on Wiltshire Names 103
in the form of Down, a hill or a hill ridge. Indeed, a
tract of bare (of tress) hilly, grassy land used for
pasturing sheep, is commonly called a Down in the
southern counties of England, as indeed are many of
the prominent hill ranges : North and South Downs,
Marlborough Downs, etc. Hill is A.S. hylla and hul ;
Ice., hoi = a hill. Knoll or Knoyle is A.S. cnoll = a
hill top.
MARDON is Mere-dun (A.S. mare, a lake, and
dun), the hill by the lake, or perhaps the boundary
hill.
SWINDON is A.S. Swin-dun. In the N.V. of
1316 it was Alta Swyndon (L. Altus, high). Swin or
Swyn is A.S. Swin ; German, Schwein=avfme. Hence
the hill of swine. Similarly in other parts of England
we have : Swynes-well (the well of swine), Swyn-burne
(the brook of the swine), Swyn-ford, and Swan-
legh (the swine meadow). In "Wiltshire Collections" by
Aubrey and Jackson, it is suggested that the name
Swindon may have been derived from an owner named
Sweyn, a name often met with in old Wiltshire
documents.
BAYDON does not appear in D.B., but in the
N.V. of 1316 it occurs as Be-don. This may be the
bee hill (A.S. beo = the bee), or Bel-don from Bel, a
Celtic diety whose name was often given to hills and
rivers.
BLUMSDON ST. ANDREW CLittle Blumsdon)
appears in D.B. as Blountes-done, and in the N.V. of
1316 as Bluntes-don Sci Andreae. It is derived from the
personal name Blunt, and is " the hill of Blunt." This
name occurs in the Battle Abbey Roll, and as early as
1400 we find the name of John Bluntshani, doubtless
104 Notes on Wiltshire Names
John of Bluntsham. In the H.E. of 1273 we find
Eichard le Blunt or Eichard le Blont (the blond or fair)
settled in Wilts. The name Le Blunt is supposed to
have originated in a nickname, from the first bearer's
fair complexion (le blonde) . The affix appears to have
been given given to distinguish this from the neigh-
bouring parish of the same name, and is derived from
the ancient Church of St. Andrew.
BLUMSDON ST. LEONARD (Broad Blumsdon)
was in D.B. Bluntes-done, and in 1316, Bluntes-don
Sci Leonard!, the affix being derived from the Church
(see above).
BURY BLUMSDON is so-called from an ancient
Burgh or Camp (Eoman), of which traces still appear.
HANNINGTON occurs in D.B. as Hannin-done,
and in the N.V. of 1316 as Hanyngdon. This may
be the dun or hill of the Saxon tribe of Hanings, who
were the sons of Hen = the Aged (see Chapter 2).
WHADDON (near Holt) is A.S. hwoed, little, and
A.S. dun, a hill. Hence " the little hill." " The wheat
hill " has also been suggested (see page 102).
ETHAN DUNE (now Edington) is perhaps from
ethan, the dative defective form of ethe, desert, desolate,
or waste. It may be the "desolate dun or hill," an apt
description of the hill that rises above the village. In
A.D. 468 it was Edyndon (B.C.S. iii., 495), and Ethan
dun, probably from Etha a personal name.
HAYDON looks like A.S. haga, a hedge or fence.
Hence " the fenced hill."
Notes on Wiltshire Names 105
HI N DON may be the hanging hill (A.S. henge-clif=
hanging cliff; Stonehenge = hanging stones) from henge,
hanging, and dun, a hill. Dr. Beddoe suggests h&n-dun
(Welsh), the old hill fort, or hean dun, the high hill or
fort. The hill of the hind, or female deer is not
improbable (A.S. hind).
BOWDON HILL I take to be O.N. bdl, a dwelling,
which is often corrupted into bow. If this be correct
the name would signify " the hill slope on which are
dwellings," a meaning which seems to agree with the
situation of the village. It is suggested in " Wiltshire
Collections " (Aubrey and Jackson) that the name
Bow-don may signifiy " the winding hill," and certainly
the hill winds very considerably. The name is some-
times written Bowden, and on this it may be remarked
that Den and Dene in place-names are not infrequently
confused with Dun and Don.
STAPLE HILL, on the Wilts and Somerset
border, derives its name from A.S. stapol, a post or
pillar of stone or wood in this case a boundary post.
CANE HILL or CAEN HILL is supposed to
derive its name from the Cannings, a Saxon tribe, who
have given their name to the neighbouring villages of All
Cannings and Bishop's Cannings.
DERRY HILL. Canon Jones suggested the Welsh
derw = &n oak, but Canon Jackson supposed that the
name was of French or Latin origin, and suggested
" dairy hill," saying that the monks at the neighbouring
Abbey of Stanley had a farm on the hill, which in
the deeds of that house is spoken of as their Daeria,
or dairy farm.
LARKHILL appears to need no explanation. It
is the hill where larks abound.
106 Notes on Wiltshire Names
GORSE HILL also would appear to present no
difficulty (A.S. gorst, furze). It is a hamlet adjoining
New Swindon. A tithing of Old Swindon is called
Broom.
RIDGE (near Chilmark) is derived from A.S. hrycg=
a ridge or back. The Eidge-way may have passed S.
from Lavington in this direction. At any rate a
British trackway (the " tin road ") passed near this
place from Teffont through Chicklade and by White
Sheet Hill to CornwaU.
RUDGE is A.S. hrycg., German ruckm, a ridge or
back, and of course refers to a hill. The same word is
seen in Euge-ley. It may be connected also with A.S.
ruge or rtih, rough or hoar. Probably an ancient
British trackway passed near, certainly the Wans
dyke did.
SEDGEHILL. A.S. secg, the sedge. "The sedgy
hill."
NORRIDGE is not separately mentioned in D.B.,
but in the N.V. of 1316 it was North-rygge (A.S. hrycg=
a ridge). Hence like Eudge and Eidge (see above) the
village derives its name from the hill.
EAST RIDGE (near Eamsbury) derives its name
from the neighbouring hills. In 1316 it was East-
rygge. In the H.E. of 1273 we find William De
Este-rygge, Co. Wilts.
HAWKERIDGE (near Westbury) is "the back or
ridge frequented by hawks." (A.S. Jiafoc, Icel. haukr,
a hawk). It has been suggested that this is Hayt-
ridge, perhaps " the boundary ridge." Thus it may
derive its name from the fact of the ridge being near
the boundary of Somerset and Wilts.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 107
LOCKE RIDGE appears in D.B. as Locke-rige,
and in the N.V. of 1316 as Loke-rugge (see Eidge and
Eudge above). It appears to be the ridge or back of
Lok or Loki, a Norse god or a man. The name of
this deity was adopted by a Saxon tribe, the Lockings
(= sons of Lok). From Lok or Loki we get many
surnames : Lock, Locker (A.S. Locar), Lockett, &c.
DITCHERIDGE or DITTERIDGE is 6 miles
N.E. of Bath. It probably takes its name from the
Wans-dike, a great entrenchment designed perhaps to
protect Bath from the incursions of the Welsh. It
began at the Severn and passed through Spy Park,
eastward to Heddington. Ditcheridge is " the hill
ridge or back near the Ditch or Dyke " (names often
confused.)
SAN BRIDGE (near Bromham) is the sandy ridge,
the name being derived from the sandy soil. Not far
away are Sandy Lane and Seend, having names of
similar origin.
SWALLOWCLIFT or SWALLOWCLIFFE
appears in a Charter of 940 A.D. as Swealewan Clif,
in D.B. it is Svolo-clive, and in the N.V. of 1316
Swale-clyve. Cliff or Cleeve signifies a hill or dun, and
the first part of the name may be A.S. swalewe, the
swallow. In that case the genitive would be swalewes-
clif : " the cliff of the swallow." But Swelu is an
old personal name found on a burial pyramid at
Glastonbury. And thus the name may have been
Sweluan-clif : "the cliff of Swelua." (There was no v
in A.S.)
CHAPEL KNAP (near Corsham). Knap is A.S.
cnaep, the top of a hill. I take it to be the Chapel at
he top of the hill. The use of the word Chapel as
108 Notes on Wiltshire Names
the name of a village appears to be more common in
Wales than in England, thus such names occur as :
Capel Cynon, Capel Evan, Capel Mair, Capel Sion, etc.
KNOOK appears in D.B. as Cunuche, Kunuc in
1210, and in the N.V. of 1316 as Knouk. It is the
Keltic cnoc (Gaelic and Irish, cnoc ; Welsh, cnwe = a
round hill) = a hill or mound. We have Knook Down
(literally hill-hill) and Knook Castle, an earthwork on
the brow of an eminence 2 miles north of Heytes-
bury (c=k).
CONOCK (near Chirton) appears in D.B. as Cowic,
about 1250 it is Cynnoc, and in the N.V. of 1316,
Conick. I take this to be Keltic cwoc = a hill or
mound (see above).
WEST KNOYLE was in 948 A.D. Cnugel, in
D.B. Chenuel, and in the N.V. of 1316, Knowel. It is
derived from A.S. cnoll, Welsh cnol, a hill top or
a round hillock.
EAST KNOYLE appears in D.B. as Chenuel, and
in the N.V. of 1316 as Cnowell, in which form it looks
more like the A.S. cnoll, from which the name is
derived. Originally it was Knoyle Eegis, but in 1180
it was purchased by the Bishop of Winchester and
given to the Church at Winton. After this it was
known as Knoyle Episcopi or Bishop's Knoyle. The
Bishop of Winchester is lord of the manor.
SEEND CLEEVE. Cleeve occurs in the H.E.
as Clive, and means dun, hill, or cliff. Hence Seend
Cleeve is the village on the hill. Seend village is about
mile away.
REDLYNCH. A.S. hlinc signifies a hill ridge.
Seebohm (" Village Communities ") says that the
Notes on Wiltshire Names 109
" lynches " on hill sides were due to open field strip-
culture, and especially to the method of ploughing
across one way only, the plough being unused on the
return journey. Thus the lower part of the strip was
gradually raised, and the higher part was gradually
lowered. The banks between these plough - made
terraces were called lynches or lines, and this name
was later applied to the ploughed strips themselves.
Eedlynch may be the line where was the stone
pillar (A.S. r6d, a stone pillar), but more probably it is
the line of a man called Eaed, Hrad, or Eada names
which actually occur in the Charters.
STANDLYNCH is probably the line of some
boundary or other stone (A.S. stan, a stone).
CLIFF PIPARD was held in early times by
Bigod, the Earl Marshal of England, and under him
by the family of Columbars, from whom the Pipards
held it. The latter is a Norman name found in the
counties of Somerset, Gloucester, Devon, and Oxford.
At Freshford. near Bath, it is corrupted into Pipe-
house. One Philip Pipard, of Cliff, was Eector of
Trowbridge in 1347. The affix is then derived from
the Pipard family.
CLEVANCY was Cliff Wancy, and was held
under the Earl Marshal Bigod by the family of Wancy.
William and Godfrey de Wancy held lands here under
Bigod in the reigns of Henry III. and Edward I.
EU RIDGE. I take to be Celtic, Eudan, the brow
of a hill and ridge. Thus it is a reduplication, made
up of a Celtic and a Saxon word. Euridge is an ancient
manor with two or three cottages, near Colerne, which
itself stands on the brow of a hill ridge. Or it may
be the ridge of Eudo (a man).
110 Notes on Wiltshire Names
N.B. The above are town or village-names derived
from hills. Marlborongh, Woodborough, etc., properly
belong to this section, but for the sake of convenience
they have been classified under " Bury."
NAMES DERIVED FBOM WATEB :
FORDS, BROOKS, WELLS, FOUNTS, LAKES.
CHAPTER v.
(i) FORDS.
lOBD is connected with A.S. Faran=to go,
to fare. The word occurs in connection
with both Anglo-Saxon and Norse names,
but with different meanings. To the
Saxons, Fords were passages across rivers
for men or cattle, and sometimes they were roads or
tracks through a wood. The Scandinavian fords are
passages for ships up arms of the sea, as in the fjords
of Norway and Iceland, and the firths of Scotland.
A Saxon ford was not so much a place of permanent
settlement, as a spot visited from time to time for
crossing a river on foot or by wading, or for passing
through a wood. Later, settlements were established
at these points, and they took their names from the
way or passage. The Welsh word is Ffordd=ford or
road, but their Rhyd also signifies a ford.
The Wiltshire fords are chiefly found along the
courses of the two principal rivers the Avons ; and
these fords were in actual use in some instances until
112 Notes on Wiltshire Names
comparatively recent times. Thus Canon Jones tells
us that that the ford at Bradford was used until a
comparatively modern date for all carriages, the
bridge being originally much narrower than now, and
probably only intended for foot passengers.
FORD. We have two villages called Ford, one
near North Wraxhall on the Box Brook, the other
near Laverstock on the Bourne.
BRADFORD was in the 8th Century, Bradan-
ford, in D.B. it is Brade-ford, and in the N.V. of
1316 it occurs as Brade-ford. It is the " broad-ford '
from A.S. Brad, broad. It has been suggested that
the name was originally derived from the Bray-den
(Broad-dene) Forest, which stretched from this place
over a great part of Wilts. The A.S. Chronicle repre-
sents Cenwalh as fighting a battle at Bradan fordo, be
Afne in 652.
But Brada occurs in the Charters as a personal name,
viz., Bradan-ham, " the home of Brada" (B.C.S., p. 877.)
Thus Bradan-ford may be "the ford of Brada."
AXFORD (near Eamsbury) was Ashrugge in the
N.V. of 1316 (it is not separately mentioned in D.B.)
Rugge is from A.S. hrycg, German riicker, a ridge or
back. Hence "the ridge covered with ash trees." Thus
it would appear that Axford is " the ford by the ash
trees. Axford is, however, sometimes derived like
Exe (river) from Celtic uisce, wisk, and wish = water.
Hence it is said to signify " water ford," which is
somewhat unmeaning.
BOTTLESFORD is probably derived from O.N.
BHa, to dwell, and German biittel, a dwelling, through
A.S. Bdld, Botl, that which is built, an abode. Hence
" the building, dwelling, or abode by the way or
Notes on Wiltshire Names 113
passage," but it may have been the way of Boll,
Bote, or Botta (personal names found in the Charters).
I FORD (near Bradford-on-Avon) was Ig-ford, viz :
the island ford. (A.S. ig, ea, or eg = an island).
STOFORD or STOWFORD (in the parish of S.
Newton) was Stan ford : " the stone ford." (A.S.
Stdn - a stone).
WILSFORD (near Amesbury) appears in D.B. as
Wines-ford, and in the N.V. of 1316 as Willesford. The
personal name, Wivell, is found in the Battle Abbey
Eoll, and this ford may have been the possession of the
Wivells. Or it may have been the property of the Vili
or Wilsetas, the early settlers in the district (see
Willesford).
CHRISTIAN MALFORD appears in a Charter
of A.D. 937 as Christe-male-ford. In D.B. it is
Christe-mele-ford and Christe-mal-ford, while it appears
in the N.V. of 1316 as Chrste Malleford. A.S. mael
signifies a mark, sign, or cross. Hence it is supposed
to be the ford where Christ's sign (the cross), or image
(the crucifix) was exhibited. In the village are the
steps and shaft of an old stone cross. (Britton's
"Beauties of Wilts."
But the middle syllable may be A.S. mylen, a mill ;
melew, meal, and hence it may be "the ford by Christ's
or the Church's mill." The manor of C.M. was given
to Dunstan, Abbot of Glastonbury, in 940 A.D. by King
Edmund, and in 1287 the Prior of Bradan Stoke held
a mill here for which he agreed to do homage to the
Abbot. The first explanation seems, however, the more
probable.
114 Notes on Wiltshire Names
CODFORD (ST. MARY and ST. PETER)
appears in a Saxon Charter (A.D. 901) as Codan
ford. In D.B. it was Cote ford, and in the N.V. of
1316, Coteford. It is probably the ford of Coda (a man),
though it may be the ford by the cottage (M.E. cote, a
cottage). Keltic coed, a wood, has also been suggested,
but the first explanation appears more satisfactory. The
affixes, St. Mary and St. Peter, appear to be derived
from the respective churches.
HUNGERFORD is A.S. hund, a dog, and ford.
Hence " the dog's ford." Farley Hungerford took its
affix from the Hungerford family who formerly held it.
They in their turn had originally taken their surname
from Hungerford in Berks.
SOMERFORD appears in 683 A.D. as Sraer ford,
in 935 A.D. as Summer ford, in D.B. as Sumre ford,
and in the N.V. of 1316 as Somer ford. A writer in the
Wiltshire Archaeological Magazine says that here was
no bridge until quite recent times, and that in seasons
of flood, particularly in the winter, the river often
covered a wide space of flat meadow land, so that the
ford could not well be passed except in summer.
But Somer ford may be the ford of a man whose
name (Sumar) occurs in the Saxon Charters. It was at
one time called Somerford Maltravers from the family of
that name, who held it from early times until the reign
of Edward III., when the estates of John Maltravers
were confiscated. There are three Somerfords : Great
Somerford, Little Somerford, and Somerford Keynes,
the latter (transferred to Gloucester in 1896) took its
affix from Ealph De Keynes, who had this manor pre-
sented to him on his marriage.
WISHFORD occurs in D.B. as Wiche-ford, but
in the N,V. of 1316 it is Wishford Magna. The name
Notet on Wiltshire Names 115
is supposed to be derived from Celtic wisk, uisce, or
uisge= water. Hence it is " water ford," though it
may be simply "the ford by the witch-elm." (See
Axford). There are two Wishfords Great and Little.
DEPTFORD is Depeford in D.B., and also in the
N.V. of 1316. It is " the deep ford."
ENFORD appears in D.B. as Ened-ford, and in
the N.V. of 1316 as Eu-ford. Thus it seems to be "duck
ford," (A.S. ened, a duok or moor hen,) though a writer
in the Wilts Archaeological Magazine suggests the
Welsh : " y nedd forth " = " the ford in the dingle
or hollow."
WILSFORD or WILLESFORD (near Pewsey)
appears in 892 A.D. as Wivels ford and Wifels ford, in
934 A.D. as Wifels ford, in D.B. as Wivels-ford, and in
the N.V. of 1316 as Wyvels-ford. Wivell, a personal
name, is found in the Koll of Battle Abbey. Hence
this was " the ford of the Wivells." (In A.S. =f).
Skeat says that Wivel is perhaps Yiulf or Wifle
(A.S. personal names.)
D URN FORD was in D.B. Diarne-ford, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Dern-ford. M.E. dern signifies secret,
private, known to few. Hence this was " the private
or secret ford." Durnford was a Eoman Settlement.
LANGFORD is "the long ford" (A.S. lang, long).
About 946 A.D. it appears in a Charter as Lange
forth (A.S. crossed d), and in 1270 it is Lange
ford.
STEEPLE LANGFORD was originally Stapel
Langeford and Steppul-langeford. In the reign of
Edward III., John de Steeves held Staple Langford in
return for military service. The prefix Staple some-
116 Notes on Wiltshire Names
times indicates that to a town was granted the privilege
of a market. Probably a stapol or pole was set up tc
show this to all who passed through. Or the ford
may have been protected by stakes (see also Staple-
ford).
CLATFORD, 2 miles from Marlborough, was
Clatford both in the D.B. and in the N.V. of 1316. I
think it is the ford of Clyte (Clytes-combe appears in
a Wilts Charter of A.D. 850) or of Clacc. Its near-
ness to the Wansdyke suggests the Welsh Clawdd = a
dyke, but the first explanation appears more probable.
Chat, a wood, has also been suggested.
STAPLEFORD. There are at least nine Staplefords
in England. They were fords protected by piles or
stakes (A.S. stapel, a post or prop). In D.B. and in
the N.V. of 1316 the name is Stapleford as to-day, so
that unlike many of our place-names it has undergone
no change through seven centuries.
WOODFORD. There are three villages of this
name on the Avon : Woodford, Upper Woodford, and
Lower Woodford. In A.D. 961, Wuduforda occurs in a
Charter. They were not mentioned in D.B., but
in the N.V. of 1316 we find Wodeford Magna (Great)
and Wodeford Parva (Little). The name is derived
from A.S. wudu, wood or timber. Hence " the river
passage near the wood."
MILLFORD appears in D.B. as Mele-ford, and in
the N.V. of 1316 as Mule-ford. The A.S. myll and
mylew signified a mill, and melew signified meal. Mill-
ford may be " the ford by the mill," or " the meal ford."
LANDFORD, on a branch of the Eiver Test, was
in D.B. Lange-ford, and in the N.V. of 1316 it was
Laneford. It is " the long ford." (A.S. lang = long).
Notes on Wiltshire Names 117
LONGFORD (near Britford) was in D.B. Lange-
ford, which was repeated in the N.V. of 1316 (see
above).
MANINGFORD was in D.B. Maniford or Mane-
ford, and in 1316, Manningford and Maningford. This
ford probably took its name from the powerful Saxon
tribe of the Mannings, who also named Manningham
in Norfolk, Manningtree in Essex, Mannington in Dorset
and also in Norfolk, and Manninghem in France. The
name would signify "the ford of the Mannings," or of
Mann. The form may have been Mannesford, the ford
of a man called Mann.
MANINGFORD ABBOTS in 1316 was Manning-
ford Abbatis. In the 14th century it formed part of the
possessions of the Abbot of Hyde, but at the Domes-
day Survey it had belonged to the Abbot of St. Peter,
Winchester. Hence the affix.
MANINGFORD BRUCE appears in the N.V.
of 1316 as Maningford Brewose, though in D.B. it had
simply been Maniford. At the later date it belonged
to Maria de Brewose, who held it under the King.
Bardsley believes that the name Bruce originated in
Sussex, but Lower says that it came originally from
Broase, a castle in Normandy. The name Bruce in
Maningford Bruce dates from 1275-6, when this manor
was given by Reginald Fitz Peter to William de Broase
as part consideration for his renunciation of all claim
to some disputed Welsh property.
MANINGFORD BOHUN was in 1316, Manyn-
ford Boun, and it derived its suffix from Bohun, Earl
of Hereford, who held it under the King in that year.
The surname, Bohun, occurs in the Roll of Battle
Abbey. The suffix, Bohun, dates from the time when
118 Notes on Wiltshire Names
Humphrey Bohun exchanged Weston Juxta Salisbury
for Maningford and Wilsford. Humphrey had acquired
Weston by his marriage with Matilda, the daughter of
Edward of Salisbury,
BULFORD was in D.B., Boltintone, but in the
N.V. of 1316 it is Bolt-ford. It may have been derived
from a personal name, Bolla. Hence the tribe of
Boilings or Bullings (sons of Boll or Bull), who can be
traced in Lincolnshire and Oxford. The D.B. form
gives support to this. Thus it may have been "the
enclosure of Bolla," Bollan tone, and later, "the ford
of Bolla," Bollan ford. Bolle was a Wilts landowner
in the days of Edward the Confessor. The best
explanation, however, appears to be found in A.S.
bolt, a dwelling. Thus it almost certainly was " the
ford by the house."
BRITFORD. In a Charter (B.C.S., A.D. 672) we
meet the expression, " Britfordingea land scaere " : the
share estate or boundary of the Britfordings. The name
Brut forda appears in A.D. 826. In 1065 it was
Brytanforda, in D.B., Bret-ford, and in the N.V. of
1316 it again appears as Brutford.
It would seem that the sons of an old chief Bryt
(so called because he was a Briton) formed a settle-
ment here, and were called Britfordings. Hence it is
" the ford of Brit, or perhaps of the Britons," who
are spoken of as Bryts in the Saxon Chronicle.
UGFORD (on the Nadder near Wilton) was in
A.D. 958, Ugford, and in A.D. 961, Ucing forda. It
may be "the ford of Ucca " : Uccanford, or perhaps
of Ughtred, but the former is the more probable.
CHARDFORD. Close by Britford is Chardford,
originally Cerdices-ford, " the ford of Cerdic," one of
Notes on Wiltshire Names 119
the West Saxon chiefs, who there defeated the
Britons.
PLATFORD. Plat (French, plat ; German, platt,
akin to German, platys, flat) = a plot or piece of flat
ground. Hence Platford is the river passage by the
flat ground. Thus we have land called Farthing-plat
or Penny-plat, according to the quit rent paid.
BARFORD ST. MARTIN was in D.B. Here-
ford, which is repeated in the N.V. of 1316. The name
is derived from A.S. bere = corn or bread (Welsh, bara,
bread). Barton (farmyard) is the corn enclosure, and
Barton (town) is the corn or bread town. Hence
Barford is " the ford by the corn lands, or the ford
across which corn was carried." The suffix, St.
Martin, appears to be derived from the ancient Church
of St. Martin.
It is probable, however, that the original form of
Barford was Beran ford (B.C.S. 627), in which case
it would be the ford of a man Baera.
STRATFORD is the ford or river passage on the
Eoman road to Silchester (the Ichnield St.) In old
documents the name occurs as Stret ford (A.D. 672),
Straet-ford (A.D. 948), or Stret-ford (A.D. 826). The
various Stratfords help us to trace the old Eoman
roads. In D.B. it is not separately mentioned, but in
1316 it was Stratforde, and to-day Stratford Sub
Castro. Stratforde is " the river passage on the Koman
road or street," and the phrase, " under the castle,"
refers to its situation at the foot of the hill on
which the citadel of Old Sarum, guarded by deep
fosse and bold rampart, was placed.
STRATFORD TONY (see above) was Stret ford
in A.D. 932, Stradford in D.B., and Strat ford in the
120 Notes on Wiltshire Names
N.V. of 1316. This ford was probably on the Eoman
road from Salisbury (Old Sarum) to Dorchester. The
suffix is derived from Alice de Tony, Countess of
Warwick, who held the manor in 1316.
QUEMERFORD may have been Combre-ford
the ford by the Combes. Another interpretation is
Cynemere's ford, the scene of a battle recorded in the
Saxon Chronicle, though this is not proved. Yet
another writer traces the name from " conber " (= con-
fluence), through kemper, a name often found in Keltic
districts as Cummer or Cumber.
SLAUGHTERFORD (4| miles from Corsham), on
a brook called the Wavering, was in 1316, Slagh-ter-
ford. Tayler says it is simply Sloe-tree-ford (A.S. sld,
the sloe). Whitaker imagined that the name com-
memorates a battle the battle of Ethandune between
Alfred and the Danes but I have not discovered any
foundation for this suggestion, except that at Bury
Wood the remains of a large encampment, supposed to
be Danish, have been discovered.
(ii) BROOKS.
A common name for a small stream in Wiltshire is
Bourne, which is derived from Provincial Eng. and
Scot, burn, A.S. burna, a stream. This word is found
in a slightly modified form in the languages of
Holland, Iceland, Sweden, and Germany, in which it
signifies a well or spring.
Sometimes we meet with the word Brook, derived
from A.S. br6c, a spring, from brecan, to burst forth.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 121
Perhaps it is connected with our words breach, an
opening, etc., and breeches, a article of clothing. This
word may be compared with the Dutch brock, and
the German bruch, which signify a marsh. A brook is
literally a breaking forth of water, and is equivalent to
a spring, a springing forth.
In the North of England the word Bourne takes the
form Burn, which, it will be seen, is a closer approxi-
mation to its original form than the word used with us.
Beck, probably a word of Danish importation, is
also frequently met with in the N.E. of England, but
so far as the writer knows it is not found in this
county. The Icelandic form is bekkr, and the Danish
is boek, a brook.
REDBOURNE (near Malmesbury). Bed burne,
A.D. 701, Eeodburne, A.D. 758, and Eodburne A.D. 844,
was not separately mentioned in D.B., but in the N.V.
of 1316 it was Eodbourne. It is derived from A.S.
hroed, a reed, and signifies " the reedy brook," the
brook which
" Choked with sedges
Works its weary way."
RODBOURNE CHENEY was in D.B. Eed-
borne, and in the N.V. of 1316, Eodbourne. Cheney
is a family name occurring as Cheine in the Eoll of
Battle Abbey, and persons of this name have held the
manor of Eodbourne. The Cheney family owned lands
in Wiltshire. They obtained the estates of John
Paveley, who was lord of the Hundred of Westbury,
but by her marriage Anne Cheney transferred them to
the Willoughby family. The affix has been spelled
Chanew, Chaneu, and Chancw. Hence some have
supposed that it came from the Chaneux family, and
122 Notes on Wiltshire Names
not from that of Cheney. In the reign of Edward I.,
Ralph le Chanu was lord of Eodborne, under Richard,
Earl of Cornwall.
OGBOURNE. The three Ogbournes were simply
Oche-borne in the D.B. In the N.V. of 1316 they
appear as Oke-bourne Magna, Parva, and Meysy
respectively. Og appears to have been the name of
the stream. It is probably A.S. ac, Ice. eik, the oak,
though it may have been the stream of Ocga or Occa,
or the water in which swine or hogs wallowed. St.
Andrew and St. George appear to be taken from the
respective churches. Meysy is probably the name of a
former lord of the manor. The brook is a small
tributary of the Kennet. At Ogbourn St. George an
Alien Priory was founded in 1149.
ALDBOURNE was in D.B., Aide-borne, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Ald-burne. It is A.S. aid, old. Hence
" the old brook " a tiny tributary of the Kennet.
BEVERSBROOK was in D.B., Bevers broc, and
in the N.V. of 1316, Bevers brook. It is A.S. Befer,
which is equivalent to the Dutch bever and the Danish
Bcever, the beaver, and A.S. broc, a spring or brook.
It is " the brook of the beaver," just as Beveiiey in
Yorkshire (Bever-lac) was " the lake of the beaver."
These names carry us back to a time when the beaver
was a common animal in England. (A.S. v = /.)
SMALL BROOK, between Warminster and Bishop-
strow, was in D.B., Smale-broc, " the little stream."
SHALBOURNE, on the R. Bourne, is " shallow
bourne."
WINTERBOURNE DANTSEY or DAUNT-
SEY appears in D.B. simply as Wintre-burne (Winter,
Notes on Wiltshire Names 123
and A.S. burn, a brook). This is a common name,
denoting a stream that flows only in winter. The
Winterbourne, after being dry during the summer
months, commences to flow about October in each
year.
The affix is derived from the name of a former lord
of the manor, Eichard de Dauntesey, who held it in 1316.
The family took their name from the village of Daunt-
sey, 6 miles S.B. of Marlborough. Miles de Danteseia,
Sir John Dauntesey, and John Dauntesey were Sheriffs
of Wilts in the reigns of Henry II., Edward III., and
Eichard IV., respectively.
WINTERBOURNE EARLS. In D.B. Wintre-
burne, and in the N.V. of 1316, Wintreburne Comitis
The affix, Earls, is derived from the Earls of Lan-
caster, who were formerly lords of the manor.
WINTERBOURNE GUNNER once formed
part of the estate of Gunnorda de la Mare. Hence
the affix Gunner.
WINTERBOURNE STOKE was in D.B.
Wintre-bourne Stoch, and in the N.V. of 1316, Wynter-
bourn Stoke. Stoke is A.S. Stocca, the stem of a
tree, and indicates that which is stuck or fixed in the
ground. Probably this is the stockaded place on the
Winterbourne, or perhaps the Winterbourne by the wood.
WINTERBOURNE BASSET was in D.B.
Wintrebourne, and in the N.V. of 1316, Wynterbourne
Basset. It is about 6 miles from Wootton Bassett,
which came into the possession of the Bassett family
about a century after the conquest. Probably Winter-
bourne was also held by them. Near, are Comptou
Bassett and Berwick Bassett.
124 Notes on Wiltshire Names
WINTERBOURNE MONKTON. In the 10th
century, Wynter bourne. The manor was given to the
Abbey of Glastonbury by Elfrida, Queen of Edward
the Elder. Hence the name Monkton. At Avebury,
about a mile to the south, was a Bened. Mon. founded
in 1100.
WINTERBOURNE FORD is on the Bourne
where the Eoman road leading E. from Salisbury
crosses the river. Hence its name.
COLLINGBOURNE was in A.D. 931, Collinga
burnan and Colling burnan, in D.B., Coleburne and
Collingburne, and in the N.V. of 1316 it was Colynge-
burne. The river on which Collingbourne stands is the
Bourne which is only a winter stream. The name
may be derived from the Gollings, who were the sons
of an old chief Col, Cola, Coll, or Cole. Canon Jones
thought that the stream may have been formerly called
the Cole, and that the Collings were the settlers on the
Cole. At the same time he agreed that the name may
have been derived from the chief Cole. (Such names as
Col, Cola, etc., are found in the Saxon Charters).
COLLINGBOURNE ABBAS derives its affix
from the fact that the estate once formed part of the
possessions of the Abbey of Hyde.
COLLINGBOURNE DUCIS was once part and
parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster. Hence the name.
COLLINGBOURNE SUTTON. Sutton is
South tun village or enclosure.
EBBESBOURNE WAKE. Ebbesbourne fre-
quently occurs in the Charters : Ebbles burnan A.D.
672, Ebles burnan, A.D. 806, Ebbles burna and Ebbes-
borne Wike, A.D. 902, Ebles burn, A.D. 948, and Ebbes
Notes on Wiltshire Names 125
bourne Wake, 956 A.D. It takes the first portion of
its name from the Ebele (A.S. Ab-el or Eb-el, the
little river), though Searle (the author of the standard
book on A.S. personal names) suspects that Ebbes and
Ebes are names of persons. That the suffix, Wake, was
derived from former lords of the manor is doubtful.
It was granted in the 6th year of King John to
Galfrid de Wake, and was held by several of that
name in succession, but I suspect that they derived
their name from the place. I fancy that Wike is A.S.
wic, signifying (a) a village or house, (b) a monastery
or convent, (c) a place of security for boats by the
sea or the winding bank of a river, etc. Hence Ebbes-
bourne Wake was " the village on the stream or the
place where boats were moored." (A.S. c = k and
Wike = Wice or Wic.)
WILY or WYLYE, 901 A.D. Wilig, appears in
D.B. as Wilgi and Wili. In the N.V. of 1316 it is
Wyly. Probably the town took its name from the
river on which it stands. That name is supposed by
some to be derived from Welsh gwili = winding or
full of turns, which itself comes from gwy, a flood. In
Wales we find the river Gwili (in Carmarthen), and
the Wye. In the south of England the word takes the
form Wey (a tributary of the Thames and others).
Probably the names Wilton and Wiltshire were also
derived originalled from the B. Wily. Wilton is the
" tun on the Wily," and Wiltshire is " the shire of
Wilton " (Wilsaete, Wilsaetan, Wiltun - scir). The
saetas were settlers, and A.S. scir is the share or
part cut off.
KEN NET (East and West) was in A.D. 939,
Cynete, in D.B., Chenete, and in the N.V. of 1316,
Kenete. The village name is without doubt derived
126 Notes on Wiltshire Names
from the river on which it stands. It appears to be
traceable to Celtic cyn, head or chief, and Welsh
neidr ; A.S. noeddre, an adder or snake (a term applied
to a river for obvious reasons), leading to the name
Nedd and its plural Neth. Neath (town in S. Wales)
takes its name from the E. Neth or Nedd on which it
stands. See further E. Nith (Scotland), E. Nidd (Yorks),
E. Nidda (Germany), and Welsh, nedd, a dingle.
Hence Kennet signifies "the head or chief river." It
gave its name to the Eoman station of Cunetio, 20
miles from Verlucione (Wans.)
DON HE AD ST. MARY was in A.D. 863, Dun-
heved, in D.B., Duneheve, and in 1316, Dounhead.
Donhead appears to be " dtin heafod," the head or
starting point of the Downs (Celt, and A.S. dun, a hill,
and A.S. heafod, head), or less probably of the Don,
which rises in this parish and flows through Donhead
St. Andrew to join the Nadder. The affixes appear to
be derived from the ancient churches of St. Mary and
St. Andrew respectively, the former being originally a
rude Norman structure.
UPAVON was in D.B. Opp-avrene, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Uphavene. A.S. up, upp = up, and
Avon (Celtic), a river. Avon has many forms Aune,
Inn, Afon, Aven, etc. and literally means " water
water." Upavon is the upper village on the Avon.
NETHERAVON is the lower village on the
Avon (A.S. nither, comparative of nithe, under or
downward).
AVONING was in A.D. 896, .Efeningum, which
appears to be the home of the tribe or family on the
Avon. Avon is sometimes ^Efene (see above), and ing
or inga, = sons of ; hence applied to a family or a clan.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 127
AVON, a parish 3 miles N.W. of Chippenham,
takes its name from the Avon, on which it stands.
BISS (near Upton Scudamore) takes its name from
the Biss which rises here (O.N. bisa = to strive).
SAMBOURNE may have derived its name from
that of a brook. The German seamh signifies gentle or
placid. Hence " the gentle or placid brook."
YARN BROOK. This name is not easy to explain.
It may be W. gwern, an alder or a marsh. In Welsh
the initial letter of a word is frequently varied without
changing the meaning. Hence Bach and Fach both
signify little, and Bryn and Fryn, a hill.
WOBURN is A.S. Wo-burn, from A.S. wd or wdh,
bent or crooked, and A.S. burn, a stream. Hence " the
crooked or winding stream,"
WARDOUR in A.D. 924, Weardoran and Wear-
dora, was in D.B. Werdore, and in the N.V. of 1316,
Verdure. It may have been derived from A.S. dfer or
&ra, the shore of a sea or river, which (word) appears
often as or or ore. Probably it was a " look-out
station on the bank of the river " (A.S. weard, a guard
or watch). Canon Jones derived the word from Cornish
war or var - upon or against, and Celtic dour or dur =
water. Hence "the place upon or near to the water."
(iii) WELLS, FOUNTS, LAKES.
LOCKSWELL (near Bowood) signifies the well
of Lok or Loki, a Norse deity. The site of the
ancient well from which the place takes its name has
128 Notes on Wiltshire Names
been discovered. Lockswell was also known as Drown-
font, "the font or fountain of Drogo," who was Chamber-
lain to the Empress Matilda. A monastery was founded
here in 1151 by the Empress, but three years later it
was transferred by her son, Henry II., to Stanleigh,
where a fresh grant of land had been made to the
brethren within the king'g manor of Chippenham. The
water of Lokes-well was then made to follow the
monks to their new settlement by an underground
channel.
CRUDWELL was in A.D. 854, Crodden welle
Crodde-welle and Criddan well ; in A.D. 901, Crudde
welle; in D.B., Cred velle, and in the N.V. of 1316,
Crud-well. Other ancient spellings are : Crede-well
and Credan - well. It is supposed to have been
originally Creodan-well, the well of Cridda, King of
Mercia, who was slain in the neighbourhood in A.D.
573. Well is A.S., and veil, Icelandic. Opposite the
Church are the remains of an ancient gateway, and
near it is "a fine walled spring now called Bery-well,"
which is said to quench the thirst better than other
waters.
Aubrey conjectured that the name of the village
was derived from the property said to be possessed by
this water, of turning milk into curd !
1 STOWELL, I take to be Stan-well : " the well
by the stones."
WEST WELLS needs no explanation.
LUDWELL may be Lund-well : the well by the
sacred grove, or it may be Lade-well, the well near the
water course (A.S. lad, gelad = a way or course).
Canon Jones suggested A.S. hlid, lid or cover, or hltid,
loud, noisy. Hence according to him it would be
Notes on Wiltshire Names 129
either the covered or the noisy well. Probably, how-
ever, it was the well of a man called Luda, Lude, or
-Uidegar (names of persons in B.C.S.)
ERCHFONT or URCHFONT was in D.B
lerches-fonte, and in the N.V. of 1316, Erches-fonte'
Che name is variously written Erches-font, lerches-
fonte, and Urches-font. The first syllable may be
Celtic Iwrch = the roebuck, and the latter A.8. funt
funta, a foaming or frothing fount. Hence the fount
>f the roebuck." I think it probable, however, that the
> syllable represents an A.S. personal name.
FONTMELL is A.S. Funtamel or Funtemal (A S
mykn, a mill, and melew, meal). In A.D. 863 it was
lunte mel. Fonta was an A.S. personal name found
m the Charters (see B.C.S., p. 469). Hence the name
would be Fontan-mylen, '< the mill of Fonta " (0 E
milri).
NV '
N.V^ of 1316, Font-ell. Perhaps it is A.S. Funt-geal
or Fungal (see B.C.S., A.D. 901). Canon Jones sug-
gested Funt-weal, " the spring or fount of a Welsh-
man or foreigner." But Fonta was apersonal name, and
the last syllable is probably A.S. well, a well ; wealkn,
> well up; or A.S. weall, a wall or rampart. Hence
the well, fountain, or rampart of Fonta.
FONTHILL GIFFORD. The Gifford family
held this, with U other manors in Wiltshire, soon
after the Conquest. At the time of the Domesday
Survey it was held by one Berenger Giffard. Hence
the affix. (See Broughton Gifford).
FONTHILL BISHOP or BISHOP'S
TILL is in the Hundred of Downton which
the Bishop of Wynton held from the king as far back
130 Notes on Wiltshire Names
as the year 1316. The Bishop of Winchester is still
lord of the manor of Fonthill Bishop. Hence the affix
Bishop.
CHALFONT is A.S. Ceadeks funta. "The fount of
Ceadel."
FOVANT was Fobbe funte in the Saxon Charters
(ii., 232), in D.B., Febe-fonte, and in the N.V. of
1316, Fovente. Probably it was originally A.S. Fobbes-
funt, the fountain (Fr., fontaine) of or belonging to
Fobbe. (See B.C.S., p. 469, for Fobbanwyl, the well
of Fobba). A.S. fob signified foam or froth, hence
perhaps the foaming well.
TEFFONT MAGNA was in D.B., Te-fonte, and
in the N.V. of 1316, Teffont, but in the Saxon
Charters (iii., 385) it appeared as Teofunten (A.D. 964),
Teo-funte, Te-funt, and Teffont (A.D. 860). Several
suggestions have been made as to the meaning of
this name, but all are more or less unsatisfactory.
Canon Jones suggested that the name was that of a
tribe called the Teofuntingas, but the writer has looked
in vain in the list of Saxon tribes for any name
answering to the above. He further suggested that
the stream may have been called the Teff or Tef, and
that later the name was lost. He compares it with
the Welsh river-name : Taff.
According to Prof essor Skeat, Teow and Tiw were A.S.
personal names. Consequently it is the fountain of Teow
or Tiw, and Teowes-funten or Tiwes-funte may probably
have been the original form.
TEFFONT EWYAS or EVIAS. When the
Domesday Survey was made the lordship of " Tefonte"
belonged to Alured de Merleberg, and not long after it
came into the possession of the family of Owe, Eu, or
Notes on Wiltshire Names 131
Ewias, Lords of Liddiard, another manor which had
been held by Alured. Another authority says that
Teffont Evias, like other estates belonging at D. to
Alured, were held as of the Barony of Ewyas.
MERE was in D.B., Mere, and in the N.V. of
1316, Meyre. It is the name of one of the Wiltshire
Hundreds, and was the meeting place of the Saxon
Mote at a point by the water or mere (A.S. mere, a lake
allied to moor, marsh, morass, etc.) Meres were
often used as boundaries. Hence this is the place " on
the boundary," or "by the water." It is near the
Dorset boundary.
LAYCOCK was in A.D. 854, Lacok and Lacoc ; in
D.B., Lacoc and Lacoch. In the N.V. of 1316 it is
Lacock. Cornish, lacca = a pit or well ; French, lac =
a lake. The Welsh ending og or oc (Cornish, ic or ick)
is probably diminutive. Hence " the place by the
(little) lake or lakes." Beverley, in Yorks, was Bever-
lac (the lake of the beaver).
CRICKLADE was in D.B., Criche-lade, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Crekke-lade. In A.S. crecca is a creek,
and lad or gelad, a way or course ; also a lode or water
course. The name means either a road over the creek,
or lodes or passages dug to allow the water from a
small creek or stream to enter the Thames. The town
is of great antiquity, and the A.S. Chronicle records that
in 905 ^thelwald ravaged " Mercia as far as Crecca-
gelade " (Cricklade).
BURBAGE was in A.D. 961, Burh-beche ; in D.B.,
Burberge and Burbete ; and in the N.V. of 1316, Bore-
bach. The two spellings given in D.B., berge and bete-
seem to have little in common, and hence it is not^easy
132 Notes on Wiltshire Names
to say what the name may have originally been. The
spelling of 961 seems to suggest A.S. Burh-beca (A.S.
burh, an earthwork or a town, and Teu. beck, a brook).
But this is doubtful. It may be Burh-bece (A.S. bece, a
beech tree. Hence " the enclosure or tun by the beech
tree."
MISCELLANEOUS NAMES.
CHAPTER VI.
JEVIZES. This name is of Latin origin,
and first appears as Divisae, Ad Divisas,
Diviso, or De Vies. The word seems to
indicate " that which divides," or the
boundary line. One explanation is that
the boundaries of three parishes (Eowde, Cannings,
and Potterne) meet at one point, and here Eoger,
Bishop of Salisbury, built a castle " at the boundaries "
about 1103. Another explanation is that the name
originated in a supposition that the place had been
divided between the king and the bishop. Devizes is
of great antiquity, some believing it to be of Eoman
origin, though, strange to say, its name does not appear
in D.B.
They think, however, that it was formerly called
Kanningham, which would be the ham or home of the
Kannings, and the chief town of their manor, but this
is by no means certain. William of Malmesbury seems
to refer to it as the Gastrum ad Diviaas (the castle of
the boundaries), which supports the explanation of the
name given above. In A.D. 1311 it was Devyses.
134 Notes on Wiltshire Names
CALNE appeared in D.B. as Cauna, and in the
N.V. of 1316 as Calne. Cauna is supposed by some
to have been derived from the Celtic col-aun = a current
of waters. "Whitaker, the historian of Manchester, says
that the Colnes in Lancashire and Yorkshire, as well as
the Calne in Wilts, have the above derivation. It is
supposed to take its name from the neighbouring stream
formerly the Calne, now the Harden. Other explana-
tions have been offered, but the above appears to be the
most satisfactory.
TROWBRIDGE. In D.B. it is called Straburg,
and it belonged to Brictric ; but in 1100 it is Trobregc ;
in 1316, Trowbrigg; and in 1351, Trowbridge. The
present name appears to have been derived from a
place mile west of Trowbridge, in the direction of
Bradford-on-Avon, to reach which, on leaving the
former, a bridge must be crossed : the Trowle Bridge,
and it is from this last that the present name is derived.
Trowle is variously spelt in old deeds : Trol, Tral, and
Treowle, and bridge is O.E., brig, brigge (A.S. bricy,
brycg).
WARMINSTER occurs in D.B. as Guer-minstre,
but in the N.V. of 1316 it is Were-minster. Its name
was originally A.S. Worge-mynster (about A.D. 01 ).
Some have sought to identify it with the Verlucio of
the Eomans, but this theory has little to support it.
Others, again, have sought its derivation in the A.S.
weorc, wore = work.
Probably, however, the true derivation is found in
Were (the stream), and A.S. mynster, a monastery.
Hence it is " the monastery on the Were or Worge."
BEDWYN (Great and Little) appears in the A.S.
Chronicle for the year 675 as Biedan Heafde ; in A.D.
778, Bedewinde ; in A.D. 968, Bedewinde ; in A.D. 993,
Notes on Wiltshire Names
Bedewind ; in D.B. as Bed - vinde ; and in the
N.V. of 1316 as Bede-wynd. This name presents
considerable difficulty. It is said by some that it
signifies "white grave" (Welsh, bedd-gwt/n), though
there is no large barrow or funeral mound in the
immediate neighbourhood which might lead to such a
name.
Another suggestion is that Bedwyn is Beadan-heafod
the site of a battle fought in 675. A.S. heafod signifies
head, and Beadan-heafod would be the head (town ?) of
Beda. It may be noted thai it was in Saxon times
the metropolis of Cissa, who acted as Viceroy of Wilts
and Berks under the King of Wessex.
ALL CANNINGS was in D.B., Caningi ; in the
N.V. of 1316, Alcanynges ; in 1361, Alle canyngges ;
and in 1366, Olde cannynges. The name is probably
derived from the Saxon tribe of Cennings, who have
named Kennington in Kent. It is evidently a family
name. Al beginning the name is probably A.S. ^Eld =
old. Canon Jones says the name comes from the
Can-ingas, a tribe who derived their name from some
old chief, settled here. Cane Hill is in the neigh-
bourhood, and is also supposed to be connected with
the Cannings. It has been said that in very early
British times (say three centuries prior to the arrival
Caesar) the northern part of the county was the
home of the Cangi, a class of men selected from the
principal tribes and deputed to keep their flocks and
herds. This, however, is by no means certain.
BISHOP'S CANNINGS appears in D.B. as
Cainingham (the home of the Gainings), but in 13 J 6 it
is Canynge. Bishop's Cannings is in the Hundred of
Cannings, which in 1316 was held by the Bishop of
Salisbury as chief tenant from the King. In D.B. it
136 Notes on Wiltshire Names
was rated among the lands of the Bishop of Sarum, who
had a palace here. Hence the preffix.
LYDIARD MILLICENT. In A.D. 924 this was
Lidgeard ; in D.B., Lediar and Lidiarde ; and in the N.V.
of 1316, Lyde-yerd. It may be derived from A.S. lyt, little;
geard, a yard or garden from A.S. gird, a rod. This
is a place enclosed by means of yerdes or stakes.
Hence Lydiard would be " a little place enclosed by
means of yerdes or stakes." A.S. hlidgeat, M.E.
lidyate, is a swing gate.
Another explanation connects it with Welsh Llidiard
from ctywd, literally " a hurdle opening." It is sup-
posed to have been on or near the old border line
between the Welsh and British races. Similarly Canon
Jones thought Yatton at one end of this border and
Yatesbury at the other were yats, gaps, or openings in
it, the one a village, and the other open pasture land.
It may, however, be only the enclosure of Lid or Lida,
a personal name found in the Charters (see B.C.S., p.
1282), and this is certainly more probable than the
Welsh explanation.
"Lidiart" is the name of a mountain in Anglesey
mentioned in Borrow's " Wild Wales."
"Millicent" is from a lady who held the manor
in the time of King John. " Hugh, son of William,
granted to his brother Richard the vill (town) of Lidiard
after the death of Milisent his mother." Her own
family name is lost.
LYDIARD TREGOOSE. In D.B., Lediar, and
in the N.V. of 1316, Lydeyard. It was given by William
I. to William de Ow, Eu, or Ewias, whose descendant,
Robert, in the reign of Richard I., left an only
daughter, Sybilla. She married Tregoze, and in this
way it passed into the Tregoze family, who still held
it in the reign of Edward I. Soon after, however, it
Notes on Wiltshire Names 137
passed out of the family, and eventually became the
possession of the St. Johns.
DAUNTESEY was in 850 A.D., Domeces-ige ; in
A.D. 854, Domecces-ige and Dantes-ie. In the D.B.
it is Dantes-ie, and in the N.V. of 1316, Dauntes-ey.
A.S. ig takes such forms as ea and ey, as in Angles-ea
and Angles-ey, and signifies an island. Hence Domeces-
ige is the island of Domec or Damic. The Danteseys
of Dantesey and Lavington, a well-known Wilts
family, took their surname from this place.
a
CHAPMANSLADE is probably A.S. chepe,
market, whence we get chapman, a pedlar, and A.S.
gelad or lad, a way or course. Hence the way of the
pedlars. This seems to suggest that the Saxon chap-
men Lived together as a community.
PEWSEY. In A.D. 958, Pefes-igge (/-); in
D.B., Peusie ; and in the N.V. of 1316, Peues-eye.
It is supposed to be A.S. Pevis-igge = the little island.
It stands on the Avon. More probably it is the island
of a man named Peu or Pew.
PATNEY is supposed to be A.S. Paeten-eye, the
peaty island. In Saxon Charters (iii., p. 354) it appears
as Peatan-ige (A.D. 963). O.E. bete signifies to mend
a fire, hence peat, a fuel. Icelandic ey and A.S. ig, ea
and ey = an island. It may be noted that the river
divides above the village, and re-unites below it. Also,
that while the soil and subsoil are generally clay,
chalk and greensand, some peat is found. Hence the
name, " the peaty island."
But Peatta was an A.S. personal name, and hence this
may have been the isle of Peatta, Peatten-eye (See
K.C.D., p.949).
138 Notes on Wiltshire Names
MINETY, A.S. Mintig and Minti, probably " the
mint island " (A.S. minte, mint, and ig, an island).
HATCH was not separately mentioned in D.B. In
the N.V. of 1316 it was Hacche, and signifies a gate
(A.S. hose, a grating). This is a common name in the
neighbourhood of great forests. (See West Hatch in
Somerset).
STERT. A.D. 796, la Steorte ; occurs in D.B as
Sterte, which is repeated in the N.V. of 1316. It is
A.S. Steort, a tail. Hence a spit or point of land. The
word is preserved in redstart, the bird with the red
tail. Staart ven in the Netherlands is " the fen at the
staart or spit."
ZEALS appears in D.B. as Sele and Sela ; in the
N.V. of 1316 it is Seles. It is doubtless derived from
A.S. Sela or Sele = a dwelling. A group of three or
four farmhouses in Yorkshire is called Seal Houses.
GRIMSTEAD or GRINSTEAD (East and West)
was not separately mentioned in D.B., but in the N.V.
of 1316 it was Grymstead. Probably the name Grim in
this connection was derived from the neighbouring
Grim's dykes, of which there was two : one north and
one south of Salisbury. Grima, a helmet, was one of
the titles of the god Odin or Woden, whence Grim
became a personal name. There was a peculiar
propriety in calling a dyke Odin's, Woden's, or Grim's
dyke, since he was the god of boundaries. Stead is
A.S. stede, a fixed place, as in steadfast. Hence
Grimstead was " the fixed place of (a man called)
Grim," just as Grimsby was Grim's town.
LUDGERSHALL appears in an early charter
(T.C.S., A.D. 530) as Lutegares-heal. In D.B. it was
Notes on Wiltshire Names 139
Litlegar-selle, and in 1316, Lutegar-sall. The Norman
scribes seem to have been peculiarly unfortunate with
the word hale or heak, which is the dative of A.S.
healh, and signifies nook, corner, secret place, or
retreat. The nom: appears in M.E. as haugh. Selle
gives no idea of the A.S. word. Ludgershall is then the
retreat or secret place of a man called Lutegar or
Ludger."
A legendary story tells that King Lud erected a
castle here, and that it obtained the name of Lud-
gares-Hall. This, of course, is a myth.
BROAD CHALKE in A.D. 955, Ceolc ; was in
D.B., Chelche ; and in the N.V. of 1316, Chalke. It
is not only the name of a parish and village, but also
of a Hundred. At the Domesday Survey this Hundred
was Stan-ford ("the paved or stone ford" over the Ebele).
Doubtless, the name was derived from the character of
the soil and subsoil, both being of chalk (A.S. cealc
from L. calx, lime).
BURCHALKE or BOWERCHALKE was in-
cluded in the D.B. under Chelche. In the N.V. of
1316 it was Burchalke, probably from A.S. bur, a
chamber or cottage ; Welsh bwr, an enclosure ; and A.S.
burg or burh, a town. No doubt the bur indicates that
there were dwellings, and perhaps these were defended by
ditch and bank.
IMBER was in D.B., Imemerie, and in the N.V.
of 1316, Immere. The name may have been derived
from gemaerorgemearc, i.e., the boundary. It was formerly,
and is now, I believe, parcelled between two Hundreds.
The word gemaer frequently occurs in the Saxon
Charters.
FERN DITCH or VERN DYKE. Vern may
be Pern A.S. /earn from faran = to go, on account
140 Notes on Wiltshire Names
of the magic way in which the seeds were supposed
to be dispersed. Or, less probably, it may be Welsh gwern,
a morass or an alder tree, as in the case of Whernside,
so-called from its alder trees. Ditch is A.S. die, a ditch, or
that which is dug. Fernditch is near to Grimsdyke.
Hence the name. (There was no v in A.S.)
UNDERDITCH may be Cornish woon = a down.
In D.B. it was Wond'dic. Hence the ditch on the
down.
More probably, however, it is derived from A.S. wond,
a mole hill, hence " the small dyke," though A.S. won,
steep, or wong, a field, are also possible.
WINTERSLOW (East) was Wintres-lie in D.B.,
and in the N.V. of 1316, Wynters-lewe. The last
syllable is A.S. hlaew, a hill. Hence " the cold or
wintry hill" (see Winsley). An early Charter (B.C.S.,
p. 761) has Wintres-hlaew, and Searle gives Winter as
a personnal name, according to which Winterslow
would signify " the hill or slope of a man called
Winter."
WINTERSLOW (West) was Wintres-leu in D.B.,
and Wyntres-lewe in the N.V. of 1316.
WINTERSLOW (Mid). (See above).
CHILMARK in a Charter between 929 and 940
A.D. is Child-mark and Chield-mearc. In D.B. it was
Chilmere, and in 1316 Chyl-merk. A.S. mearce, a
boundary, is connected with mere, a lake, since lakes
were often taken as boundaries.
The first syllable is evidently child (A.S. did, a
child), and Chilmark is either the child's boundary or
more probably the boundary of a man called Gild or
Child. (Gild is the name of a monk of Edward's III.'s
time).
Notes on Wiltshire Names 141
WHITE PARISH probably takes its name from
the character of the soil, as in the case of Bower
Chalk and Broad Chalk. The soil here is of chalk,
sand, and gravel, with a subsoil of chalk. Similar
instances in the County are Seend (sand), Sandridge,
and Sandy Lane.
TOLLARD ROYAL. One part of what is now
called Tollard Eoyal parish was in the days of the
Confessor held by one Toli. The name may thus
indicate the geard or enclosure of Toli Toles-geard
becoming contracted into Tollard. This place is called
Royal in consequence of John, Earl of Gloucester, after-
wards King John, having held a knight's fee here. He
also held the Chase of Cranborne, and used occasionally
to reside at Tollard.
ROWDE appeared in D.B. as Eode, and in the
N.V. of 1316 as Boudes. It has been suggested that
the name comes from reidh, to clear or rid of trees.
(This root is found in many languages). The open
spaces so made were called rods, rode?, or riddings
Thus we get such names as Grindrod (green-rod),
Ellenrod (a clearing among the alders), Oaken rode
(a clearing among the oaks), also Koyds thus : Green
Royd, Ellen Boyd, Ack Boyd or Oak Boyd, and many
others. So, too, Bode in German, as in Harzgerode
and Wernigerode. The word is of Norse origin.
Or Bowde may be A.S. rdd, the rood or cross, from
some ancient stone, which may have stood here.
ROAD HILL or ROOD HILL. (See above).
RUSH ALL, in 892 A.D., Bisc-laed ; in the 10th
Century, Bisc-lad ; in D.B., Buste-selve ; and in the
N.V. of 1316, Rustes-halle. A.S. risce, ricse ; O.E.
rishe, rusche, signify a rush. The second syllable is
142 Notes on Wiltshire Names
not so easy to deal with. The earlier spellings suggest
A.S. gelad, a watercourse, hence the reference may have
been to the rushy stream or channel (the Avon). But
the Normans often in D.B. wrote selle for A.S. heale
or hale, the dative of healh, a nook, corner, secret
place, or retreat, and this word often appears in place-
names to-day as hall. Hence the name may signify
"the rushy place, nook, or corner." Henry Bradley says
that " healh seems to mean waterside pasture." The
best authorities seem agreed that hale cannot be hall.
KEEVIL. appears in D.B. as Chi-vele, and later
as Ky-ele and Ky-vele. Canon Jones suggested Welsh
cae, Cornish chy, a house or field ; and Welsh gwely or
wely, which becomes wele or vele, and means much the
same as villa. Hence (said the Canon) " a freeholder's
farm or manor."
The writer has come across a Charter (B.C.S., p. 364,
A.D. 964) which deals with land at ^lystone (Steeple
Ashton). One place mentioned on the boundary is
Semnit (Semington), and another is " Ke-fle wirtrim,"
which appears to be Keevil. Now wirtrim or wirtruma
is A.S., and signifies the root of a plant of the wirt or
wort variety, and Cerfille, Chervil, or Chevril was the
name of this particular wort. Bos worth and Toller
(A.S. Diet.) quote : " I take three heads of this herb
which is named cerefolium, and by the other like name,
chevril, etc." In A.S. k = c = ch, and v = /. Hence
Cerfille becomes Keevil by simply dropping the r. The
M.H. German name of the plant is kervele.
CHEVEREL (Great) appears in D.B. simply as
Chevrel, and in the N.V. of 1316 as Cheyverel Magna.
It has been suggested that the first syllable is Welsh,
and the second Gaelic, the whole signifying " the
goats' cliff." The word undoubtedly is A.S. chevril
Notes on Wiltshire Names 143
(see Keevil), and signifies a plant of the wort species,
which probaby grew here in abundance.
CHEVEREL (Little) was in D.B., Chevrel, and
in the N.V. of 1316, Cheyverel Parva.
CHERHILL was not separately mentioned in the
D.B., but in the N.V. of 1316 it appears as Chiriel or
Chyriel. Cherry Hill is, of course, absurd. Another
suggestion (A.S. kerran or kirran, to turn, and A.S. hull,
a hill) has been made by a gentleman who pointed out
that Cherhill is near the old road leading to the
West of England, which must have passed here in
very early times, and which near this place makes a
considerable bend.
The writer, however, prefers to refer the name to
the plant mentioned above (see Keevil), the Chervil or
Cherfil (for there was no v in A.S.), which by dropping
the / would become Cheril, as the name was in
1316.
COLERNE was in D.B., and also in 1316, Colerne
as to-day. The last syllable is probably A.S. erne, a
dwelling, and the situation of the village lends some
support to the suggested derivation of the first syllable
from Welsh or Cornish col, a peak. Hence " the
dwelling on the peak." It may, however, be "the
cold dwelling," from A.S. cald, cold.
But Cole was a Wilts landowner in the days of
Edward the Confessor, and the name may have been
Coleserne, "the dwelling of Cole."
POTTERNE was in D.B., Poterne, as also in the
N.V. of 1316, and it presents considerable difficulty.
It may be A.S. putte or pyt = a well, and A.S. erne = a
dwelling. But the A.S. word is never pot, and at best
can be only an artificial well, a hole, or a pit. These
144 Notes on Wiltshire Names
wells were so numerous that such a pit or hole would
hardly give its name to the place.
But Searle gives Poto and Pottel as A.S. personal
names, and hence it was almost certainly Potoes-
erne, or Potes-erne, " the dwelling of Poto or of Pot."
SEEND was not separately mentioned in D.B., but
in the N.V. of 1316 it is Sende. It was so-called from
the sandy nature of its soil. ,
OARE. Gaelic or or oir signifies brink, edge, or
boundary. The A.S. ora appears often as or or ore, and
signifies the shore of a sea or river, and thus seems
inapplicable. The name Oare may have reference to
the position of the village under Hewish Hill, or to some
ancient boundary. In the D.B. it is Draicote, and in
the N.V. of 1316, Dreycote Ore. Draycote is now the
name of a farm near Hewish. Draycote Fitzpaine,
like Oare, is in the parish of Wilcot.
CHITTOE or CHIT-WEGE is supposed to
signify " the way by the wood " (Welsh coed, Cornish
cuit, a wood, and A.S. iveg, a way). The writer
suggests " the way of (or belonging to) Cett or Cetta "
(A.S. c = ch). Cettan treo, the tree of Cetta, appears
in the Saxon Chronicles (B.C.S., p. 210). (There was no
ch sound in A.S. before the Conquest, c being sounded
as k).
CHITTERN was in D.B., Cheltre and Chet-re,
and in the N.V. of 1316 it appeared as Chut-erne. The
Welsh coed, a wood, is often supposed to corrupt into
Chit and Chat. A.S. ern is a dwelling. Hence it may
be " the dwelling by the wood."
The writer, however, suggests that it was Cettan-ern,
the dwelling of Cetta (See Chittoe).
Notes on Wiltshire Names 145
SEAGRY occurs in D.B. as Segr-ie and Segr-ete.
In the N.V. of 1316 it is Segr-e. In an ancient Charter
there is Seg-mede, but it is not certain that Seagry is
intended.
The last syllable is either A.S. ey or ea, an island,
or A.S. ea = a reach of meadow land near a river.
The first syllable has been supposed to be Welsh
hesg, sedge, but the writer prefers to refer it to Sigar>
who held lands in Wilts before the Conquest, and whose
name appears in the D.B. Hence it- is " the river
meadow of Sigar," or perhaps merely the " sedgy
meadow." "Sedge ford" has been suggested, but as
the writer thinks, on mistaken grounds. (W. hesg
sedge, and rit, ford.)
OAKSEY was in D.B., Woches-ie, and in the N.V.
of 1316, Bokesey, which was evidently intended for
Wokesey. A.S. ig, ea, or ey signifies an island, and A.S.
ea is a reach of land by the river. Hence the second
syllable in the name refers to its position between the
Swill and Flagham Brooks.
The first syllable is in all probability a personal
name, Woe. Hence Wocces-ey would be the
island of Woe, and Wocces - ea would be the
river-reach owned by Woe. The Charters give Wocces
geat, viz. : the gate of Woe. Attempts have been made
to connect the name with the oak, but in that case the
form would have been Aces-ey.
Another explanation is as follows : " A Wuxi was a
wattled sheep cote (falda wixata). Fields were some-
times called Woxies, perhaps from a sheep cote on
them."
The writer considers the first explanation the most
satisfactory of the three.
The Bohuns held Oaksey in 1335.
WILCOT was in D.B., Wil-cote, and in the N.V.
of 1316, Wyl-cote. A.S. cot (masculine), cote (feminine)
146 Notes on Wiltshire Names
signified a cottage or hut. Wilcote is probably the cot
by the well (wyl, a well, frequently occurs in the
Charters). Or it may have been Willan-cot, the cottage
of Willa. Wilcot was held at the Domesday Survey by
Edward de Sarisbury, Sheriff of Wilts.
HILLCOT was in 1316, Hulcote (M.E. hull, a hill).
Hence "the cottage on (or near) the hill."
LITTLECOT. D.B., Little-coate, was in the N.V.
of 1316, Little-cote, " the little cottage."
EASTCOT was probably the cottage on the eastern
side of an estate.
WESTCOTT would be the cottage on the western
side. There are two Westcotts in Wilts.
SOUTHCOTT (near Pewsey) would be on the
southern portion of an estate.
DRAYCOTT was in D.B., Draicote, and in 1316,
Dreycote Ore. In A.S. Charters, Draycott was generally
draeg (g = y). Now draege is a drag or a drag net ;
draeg (H.D.) is a band or multitude, and is connected
with dray, a squirrel's nest, and drag, a waggon. Prof.
Skeat thinks it signifies " a drawing together, a place of
shelter or retreat," while Mr. Duignan considers that the
draege or drag, signifies not always a net, but agri-
cultural implements (harrows, sledges, etc.), which were
kept here and used in common.
DRAYCOTT CERNE derives its affix from the
Cerne family, who held it as early as the 13th Century.
Henry De Cerne, Knight, Lord of Draicot, was witness to
an ancient deed relating to the gift of land at Lange-
legh to the Abbey of Glastonbury. The same name
appears on deeds dated 1278 and 1285.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 147
DRAYCOTT FOLIOTT. Probably, like Chilton
Foliott, held soon after the Conquest by the Foliot
family, which became extinct in the male line in the
reign of Eichard I.
CHARLCOT was probably Cherlecot, the cottage
of a churl, peasant, or villan (A.S. ceorl, a countryman ;
Icelandic karl, a man).
SHERCOT or SHARCOT may have had refer-
ence to some boundary (A.S. scir, the share or part out
off), and its nearness to Oare suggests this.
SHARNCOTE or SHORNCOTE was in D.B.,
Scherne-cote, and in the N.V. of 1316, Cern-cote. This
is A.S. scearn, filth. Hence the dirty or filthy cot. The
sharn beetle was the dung beetle.
FOXCOTE was in A.D. 940, Fox-cotone and Fos
cot. It is either the fox cottages, or the cot by the
FOBS way.
HURCOT or HURDCOTT appeared in D.B. as
Hardicote, and in the N.V. of 1316 as Herdicote. It is
A.S. hirde, a herdsman or shepherd. Hence the shep-
herd's cot. The A.S. phrase would be at Hyrde-cote, " at
the cot of the shepherd."
UFFCOT was in D.B., Ulfe cot and Ufe-cote. It
is the cot of Ulf (a man).
BALL is said to be a corruption of Vail, an abbrevi-
ation of Vallum, a wall.
EWELL or EWEN (near Kemble) is Ewelme
from A.S. ^welm, a fountain.
148 Notes on Wiltshire Names
FOGHAMSHIRE was probably Focgan-scir (A.S.
scir, share or part). Hence it is probably the share
or perhaps boundary of Focgan, a personal name found
in the Saxon Chronicles. Kemble gives Focgan crundel,
viz. : the crundel of Focgan.
In 1539 it was the tithing of "Vokan or Vogham.
WULF HALL is named from its Saxon owner,
Ulf.
BLACKLAND, in 1316, Blakelonde, is probably
the land of Blaec or Blaecca. For Blaeccan pol, the
lake of Blaecca, see B.C.S., p. 834.
COULSTON in D.B., Covelestone, and in 1316,
Coulestone Chaumberlayn, is probably Coolies-ton, the
enclosure of Coolie, a Wiltshire landowner before the
Conquest. Covelestone is Coulestone or Coolleston.
There was no v in A.S. Chaumberlayn, probably
from a former owner. Humfrey the Chamberlain held
lands in Wilts at the Domesday Survey (see Compton
Chamberlain).
AN STY was in D.B., Ane-stige, and in 1316,
An-stegh. The latter part of the word is A.S. stig, stign,
or stighel, a stile. The first syllable may be a personal
name, as Ansger or Aner. The former held lands in
Wilts in 1068 A.D. Hence it is the stile of Ansger
or of Aner.
MELKSHAM. In D.B., Melches-am ; was in
1316, Melkes-ham. A.S. make, melche, melch, signifies
milk. The M.E. is melche, milche, and the Mod.E. milch,
full of milk. Another melch is applied to mellow fruit,
and milisc (sweet), to mead. Probably Melksham is the
milk enclosure. (In A.S. c and not k was generally used
before e).
Notes on Wiltshire Names 149
STERKLEY (the name of a Hundred) was in a
Charter (B.C.S., p. 71), Stercan lei, and in 1316, Sterke-
lee. It is the meadow of Sterca or Strerca, and here the
Hundred met.
WRAXHALL. North Wraxhall was in D.B.,
Weroches-halle, and in the N.V. of 1316, Wrox-hale.
South Wraxhall was included with Bradford in D.B.,
but in 1316 it was Wroxhale. Wrocces-heal occurs in
the Charters (See Searle). Wroc is a personal name, of
which the gen. is Wrocces.
Skeat denies that the last syllable in such names is
hall, a stone house, and asserts that it is A.S. heale or hale,
the dative of healh nook, corner, secret place, or retreat.
Hence Wraxhall is " the corner or secret place of
Wroc."
EASTCOURT was in 901 A.D., Bs-cote, viz. :
the cottage or hut on the eastern portion of an estate,
or perhaps the cot of a man called Esc (Pisces-dun,
the hill of Esc, see B.C.S., p. 908).
FRUSTFIELD (formerly Ferstesfield) was either
A.S.fyrst, the first in order, or A.S. fyrst, first in height.
Hence the first field or the high field.
ELLESTUBBE or ELSTUB (Hundred) is the
tree stump of a man called Elle (1316, Ellestubbe).
STODFOLD, A.S. Stdd-fald, the fold or place for
brood mares. Stdd, a stud of breeding steeds. Falda, a
fold or enclosure.
RUBERGH is A.S. ruh-berg : rough barrow or
hill. (A.S. rtih, rough or rugged.)
150 Notes on Wiltshire Names
FROXFIELD appears in neither D.B. nor the
N.V. of 1316. Doubtless it wag A.S. Froxa-feld, " the
field of frogs." (A.S. /rose, froga, a frog; gen. phi.
/roxa.)
ADDENDA.
THE Saxons took many of their personal
names from the names of natural objects.
Thus we have catt, a cat, and Catta, a
man ; deor, a deer, and Deor, a man's
name ; brdd, broad, and Brada, a man ;
bera, a bear, and Bera, a man. Now when these, and
many other similar words, find their way into the names
of place*, it is not easy to decide whether the place-
name should be explained by referring it to the man, or
to the animal. The best of recent writers have adopted
the former course (Skeat and others), and I have
appended the following notes chiefly for the purpose of
showing that many of the foregoing place-names may be
referred to persons.
SHERSTON (page 18) is the boundary stone (not
town).
NUNTON (p. 27). Nun and Nunno were A.S.
personal names, hence this may be "the ton of Nun"
(a man).
COMPTON (p. 33) was Gum-tune in A.D. 863
'see B.C.S.), and the same spelling occurs in A.D. 958.
This makes the meaning perfectly clear.
152 Notes on Wiltshire Names
BARTON (p. 33). Among the Saxons, Bsera was
a personal name. Hence the Chronicles have Baeran
ford (B.C.S., p. 627) : " the ford of Basra." Conse-
quently, Barton may have been (in some cases) " the tun
of Baara."
ALLINGTON (p. 34). Where Allington was in
early times spelled Alynton, Allen-tone, or Alen-tone,
it may have been " the tun of Alia." One Alia was a
thegn in Wilts (c. 903 A.D.), see B.C.S., p. 596, and
" the tun of Alia " would be written Allan-tun or Allen-
tone.
LIDDINGTON (p. 36). Lida was a Saxon personal
name. Hence this was almost certainly Lidan-tone,
" the tun of Lida."
PARTON or PURTON (p. 37) was in A.D. 796,
Puri-tone, and in A.D. 854, Peri-tune, " and conse-
quently the meaning is quite clear.
HILPERTON (p. 39). In an early Charter
(B.C.S., A.D. 964) I find Hulpring-mor, which cer-
tainly refers to Hilperton. Swete's L.V.D., p. 630 gives
Helpric as a Saxon personal name, of which the gen.
would be Helprices, while the gen. of Hulpring would
be Hulpringes. Hence Hulpringes-tun would be natur-
ally shortened to Hulprington (see D.B.), and Hilperton
would follow.
It is, of course, possible that Hulpring refers not to a
person, but to a point of land. It may be A.S. and
M.E. hul, a hill, and A.S. princ, a point ; thus the peak,
point, or crown of the hill (A.S. prica or pricu also
signifies a point). But it seems quite clear that
hulpric, helpric, helprinc, or hulpring became a man's
name, Helpric, and probably Hulpring.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 153
OVERTON (p. 39). Ufran tunA.D. 939, and Ofer-
tune, A.D. 949. Also Vuer-tune, A.D. 972, appears to
refer to it, though it looks more like Worton. (Note,
there was no v in A.S.)
CORSTON (p. 40) was in B.C.S., A.D. 956, Corsa-
tun, evidently Corsan-tun : the tun of a man named
Corsa (not Corson).
WOOTTON (p. 40) was in A.D. 680, Wde-tun,
and in A.D. 844, Wude-tun. There can be no doubt
about the meaning.
SHERRINGTON (p. 42) is more probably A.S.
sciran, sceoran, p. scoer, scear, pi. sco&ron, scedron, p.p.
scoren. The words mean : (a) to cut or shear (b) to
shave the hair, (c) to cut the hair, or (d) to shear
sheep. Hence it was probably "the tun or enclosure
where the sheep were sheared." W. sarn is, I chink,
quite out of the question.
POULTON (p. 43). Skeate says that pol is now
known to have been a Germanic (not Celtic) word.
DOWNTON (p. 43) is more probably Dunan-tone:
" the tun or Diina " (a Saxon personal name).
ELINGTON (p. 45) is probably the tun of Ella,
whose name occurs in the Saxon Chronicles. The Saxon
form would be Elian-tun or Elian-ton (see the 1316
spelling). Both Elle and Ella were A.S. personal names.
In the same paragraph "the stub of Elle" is prefer-
able.
BEMERTON (p. 46) was in A.D. 932, Bymera
cumbe. It was the comb of Bymera or of Beorma :
By meran-cumbe .
154 Notes on Wiltshire Names
CHILHAMPTON (p. 46). Cille and Cilia were
A.S. personal names. Hence this was probably the
home tun of Cille or Cilia (A.S. c = ch).
DURRINGTON (p. 46). The following were A.S.
personal names : Deorna, Dering, Derinc, Deorinc,
Dirinc, and Dura. The tun of Dura would be Duran-
ton, and this is most probable, though the form may
have been Derinc(g)es-ton. There is no need to seek a
Celtic meaning.
CHADDENTON or CHADDINGTON (p. 41).
The en in the first name and the ing in the second
suggest the A.S. personal name, Coda (A.S. c = ch). The
genitive Cadanton (the ton of Cada) according to modern
spelling would be Chadanton. This explains the first
name, and probably also the second. The W. coed
appears inadmissible.
ROLSTONE or ROLLESTONE (p. 46).
Abbodes-ton, the tun of the abbot or of Abbud, a Wilts
personal name given in B.C.S.
MADDINGTON (p. 47) probably Madan tun, the
tun of Mada. The old name for Maddington :
Maeden-beorgh, would not signify the hill with the
round top (Keltic), but " the hill of Mada." For
Madan leah, the meadow of Madan, see B.C.S., p.
1312.
CHILTON (p. 49) was doubtless Cilles-tone, the
ton of a man named Cille (A.S. c = ch).
FITTLETON (p. 50). Searle gives Vitel as an A.S.
name. Doubtless, it was Viteles-ton, the enclosure of
Vitel.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 155
FUGGLESTONE. Fugel (c.995 A.D.) was the lega-
tee of Wynfloed, (K.C.D., p. 1290.) Hence Fugeles-ton
would be the enclosure of Fugel.
HONKERTON was in A.D. 681 and also A.D. 901,
Hane-kyn-ton.
TITHERTON (p. 51) was doubtless the tun of
Teowdor (the name in the A.S. Charters of a subreg-
ulus of Wales), or Tudor. The name was probably
Tudor- (or Teowdor-) ington : the ton of the sons of
Tudor. Tudor signifies (a) a child, (b) race, family,
breed, etc. Titherington would be similarly explained.
BIDDESTONE (p. 52). "The tun of Bede or
Bud " (not Budo).
PITTAN (p. 53). Pitan wyrthe (B.C.S., A.D. 826)
and Pytan wyrthe (B.C.S., A.D. 948) appear to refer
to Pitton. Pita is an A.S. personal name, of which
the gen. is Pitan. Hence Pittan wyrthe was the
enclosure of Pita.
MANTON (p. 53). Mehandun (B.C.S., A.D. 901),
appears to refer to some Man ton near Cricklade. Man-
ton, near Marlborough, is probably the ton of Manna
(see B.C.S., p. 1082, for Mannon mearc, the boundary
of Manna).
CORSHAM (p. 56) was the home of Corsa (not
Corsan) : Corsan ham. Though the derivation from
W. cors was favoured by Canon Jones, the writer now
thinks it highly improbable, Corston was certainly
Corsan tun, the tun of Corsa (B.C.S., p. 1287).
BROMHAM (p. 57). Brom was also a personal
name (Duiguan). Hence Bromham may be the home
of Brom.
156 Notes on Wiltshire Names
LYNEHAM. Most probably A.S. and M.E. lin,
flax. Hence " the place where flax was grown."
TOKEN HAM (p. 58), in B.C.S., A.D. 854, Tocken-
ham, and in A.D. 940, Toccan-ham.
C ADEN HAM (p. 60), more probably from Cada, a
personal name. The gen. would be Cadan ham, " the
home of Cada." B.C.S. has Cadan hangra, the hanging
wood of Cada.
DAME RH AM (p. 60). In a Charter about 940
A.D., Domer-ham ; in 958 A.D., Domra-ham and
Domar-ham. Dcemar, Domric, and Domhere were A.S.
personal names. I think it was almost certainly the
home of Daemar or of Domhere.
BREMILHAM (p. 61). Brem, Breme, and Bremel
were also A.S. personal names (see B.C.S.) Hence
Bremilham was very probably " the home of Bremil "
(a man).
WIDDENHAM or WYTHENHAM. Widda
(B.C.S., p. 960) and Witta (B.C.S., p. 565) were A.S.
personal names. Hence in the Charters, Wyddan
beorh, " the hill of Widda," and Wittan mere, " the
boundary of "Witta." Consequently Widdenham " is
the home of Widda," and Wythenham " the home of
Witta."
WANBOROUGH (p. 63) was c. 1043, Wen-
beorgan, and in the 13th Century, Wen bergh. This
leaves the matter in some doubt. A.S. wem is a spot,
and A.S. wen, a swelling. Still, I prefer Wodnes-
beorh, "the hill of Woden."
BROKEN BORO, B.C.S., A.D.956, spelt Brokene-
beregge and Broken-berewe.
Notes on Wiltshire Names 157
WOODBOROUGH, spelt B.C.S., A.D. 778, Wad-
beorge, and 850 A.D., Wode brigge (an error).
TISBURY (p. 67). Piper's D.B. gives Tiso as a
personal name. The gen. would be Tisoes, whence
Tisoes-burg, Tysse bury, and Tisbury. Ticce and Ticca
were also personal names. Hence it is the field (or
town) of Tiso or Ticce. In A.D. 924 it was Tysse-
byrig.
CHISENBURY (in 1352, West Chesyngbury), was
doubtless the town of Gissa : Cissan-bury (A.S. c = ch).
Cis was the name of a monk at Malmesbury in 680
A.D.
CHISBURY was almost certainly "the town cf
Cis " : Cissesbury (A.S. c = ch).
BADBURY was A.D. 955, Badde-buri, the town of
Baede (see B.C.S., p. 1282, for Baedes-wel, the well of
Baede).
ATWORTH (p. 73). Ata and Atta were personal
names, of which the genitives were Atan and Attan.
Hence Atworth may be the enclosure of Ata (a man),
or Atta.
CAD WORTH is more probably the enclosure of
Cada (K.C.D. 287). Caden dun is the hill of Cada
(Skeat). The Welsh derivation on p. 73 is very
doubtful.
CHELWORTH. B.C.S., A.D. 892, has Cellan
wurd. In 901 A.D. it is Celle wird, Ceol wurthe, and
Chel-wrthe (A.S. c = ch). It is the farm of Cille, Ceol
or Celle. Such personal names as these occur in the
Charters : Ceol, Cilia, Ceola, Ceolla, Ciolla, etc.
158 Notes on Wiltshire Names
SOPWORTH (p. 74) is the farm of Sopp or Soppa,
probably the former, which would give us Soppes- worth.
Soppa yields Soppan by rig (B.C.S., p. 582).
BARWICK may be the village of Basra, a man's
name found in B.C.S., p. 627.
CHADDENWICK (p. 76) is not the village of
Chad, but of Cada. Hence Cadan wick (A.S. c = ch).
BRADLEY (p. 78), near Chiseldon, was A.D. 900,
Bradan-lsy, the meadow of a man (Brada), whose
name occurs in the A.S. Charters.
STOCKLEY (p. 79). c. 1270 A.D., Stoke-leye ; c.
1280 A.D., Stokke-leye ; and in 1282 A.D., Stoke-le.
DURLEY (p. 79) may be A.S. dern, secret. Hence
the meadow known to few, but more probably it is
Deores-leigh, the meadow of Deor.
CATLEY (p. 79) is more probably the meadow of
the wild cat, or of Catta, a man. Catta occurs in the
A.S. Chronicles as a personal name.
HINDON (p. 105). I find no mention of Hindon
in either D.B. or N.V. of 1316. It may be the hill
of the hind or female stag (A.S. hynd). Thus we have
Hind-heal : the hind's nook, retreat or corner. Or it
may be A.S. hedh, hedhne, or hedne, high. Hence the
high hill. (See p. 105.)
FIGHELDEAN was in D.B., Fisgle-dene, and in
1316, Fyghel den. Felgeld, Felgild, Felyeld, Fikil, and
Fugel were A.,S. personal names, and from one of these
names the place derived its appellation. (A.S. denu
signifies plain, valley, wood, etc.)
Notes on Wiltshire Names 159
IDMISTON was A.D. 947, Idemes-ton, and A.D.
970, Idemes-tone. The D.B. scribe made two shots at
the word, both very wide of the mark : Weniste-tone
and Euneste-tone. In 1316 it was Idemis-tone. I
suggest it was Edhelmes-ton, which would, by dropping
the I and losing the aspirate (a very common change),
easily become Idemes-ton. The Chronicles give Eadelmes
die (the dyke of Eadhelm).
BOYTON was in D.B., Boien-tone, and in the
N.V. of 1316, Boyton. Searle gives Boia as a Saxon
personal name. One Boia was a monk, and another
(B.C.S. 1130) was surety for Medesh. The gen. of
Boia would be Boian or Boien, whence Boien-ton, the
enclosure of Boia.
CHICKLADE was in D.B, Ghig-lie, and in 1316,
Chick-land. The first syllable is the A.S. personal
name Cic or Cicc, of which the gen. would be Cices
or Cicces, which answers to the later form Chickes.
Hence it is the meadow or land of Cic.
The word chick, a chicken, was unknown before
1300 A.D.
INDEX.
Name
Page
Name
Page
Abury or Ayebury . .
.. 70
Beversbrook . .
.. 122
Alton
31,32
Biddestone
52, 155
Alington or Allington
34, 152
Biss
.. 127
Aldbourne
.. 122
Bishopston
.. 23
Aldertou
.. 35
Bishop's Lavington . .
.. 34
Alderbury
.. 67
Bishopstrow
.. 93
Aldrington
.. 22
Bottlesford
.. 112
Alderston
.. 35
Blumsdon
.. 103
Alvediston
.. 53
Boscombe
.. 99
Amesbury
.. 67
Bower Chalk . .
.. 139
Ashcombe
.. 98
Bowood
.. 92
Asbgroye
.. 91
Bowden Hill . .
.. 105
Ashley
.. 78
Box
.. 91
Ashlington
.. 39
Boyton
.. 159
Ashton
36,37
Bradford
. 112
Atworth
73, 157
Bradfield
.. 88
Avening
.. 126
Bradley .. ..' ..
78, 158
Avon
.. 127
Braden
95, 101
Azford
.. 112
Bramshaw
.. 90
Badbury
71, 157
Bratton
.. 39
Barbury Hill .. ..
.. 70
Brem Hill
.. 91
Barrow
.. 71
Bremilham
61,156
Bagshot
.. 90
Britford
.. 118
Barton
33, 152
Brinkworth
.. 73
Barford
.. 119
Brixton Deverill . .
.. 26
Barwick
75, 158
Broad Chalk . .
.. 139
Baydon
.. 103
Broad Hictou
.. 30
Baverstock
.. 96
Brokenboro'
64,156
Beanacre
.. 88
Bromham
57, 155
Bearfield
.. 86
Broughton Gifford . .
.. 27
Beachingstoke
.. 95
Budbury
.. 65
Bedwyn
.. 134
Bulford
.. 118
Bcckhampton
.. 57
Bulkiugton
.. 41
Belcombe
.. 100
Bupton
.. 53
Bcmerton
46,153
Burcombe
.. 98
162
Index.
Name
Page
Name
Page
Burbage . .
.. ..131
Oholderton
. . . . 48
Burwood . .
. . . . 92
Chute
.. .. 93
Barton
. . . . 37
Clatford . .
.. ..116
Burg or Bury ..
. . . . 62
Clevanoy
.. ..109
Bushton
. . . . 47
Cliff Pipard.. ..
.. ..109
Caen Hill . .
.. ..105
Coate
. . . . 93
Oadenham . .
. . 60, 156
Codf ord . .
.. ..114
Cdley
. . . . 84
Collingbourne . .
.. ..124
Cadworth . .
. . 73, 157
Colerne
.. .,143
Calne
.. ..134
Combe Bisset
. . . . 98
Calstone
. . . . 52
Cpmpton . .
. . 33, 151
Cannings
.. ..135
Conock
.. ..108
Castle Easton . .
. . . . 21
Conegarth
. . . . 88
Castle Combe
. . . . 98
Coneygore
. . . . 89
Casterley
. . . . 84
Corston . .
. . 40, 153
Catley
. . 79, 158
Corsham
. . 56, 155
Catcombe . .
. . . . 98
Corsley
. . . . 83
Chaddenton
.. .. 41
Cowesfield
. . . . 88
Chaddenwick
. . 76, 158
Coulston . .
.. ..148
Chaddington
. . 41, 154
Crioklade
.. ..131
Chalfield . .
. . . . 87
Crockerton
. . . . 49
Challymead
. . . . 88
Crof ton
. . . . 49
Chalfont . .
.. ..130
Crookwood
. . . . 92
Chapel Knap
.. ..107
Crudwell . .
.. ..128
Chapmanslade . .
.. ..137
Damerham
. . 60, 156
Chard ford
.. ..118
Dauntsey
.. ..137
Charlcot . .
. . . . 30
Dean Hill . .
.. ..101
Charlton
. . . . 29
Den or Dene
.. ..100
Chel worth
. . 73, 157
Deptford
.. ..115
Cherhill . .
.. ..143
Derry Hill .. ..
.. ..105
Cheverill . .
.. ..142
Devizes
.. ..133
Chilhampton
. . 46, 154
Dichampton
.. .. 60
Chioklade . .
.. ..159
Dilton
: . . . 46
Chilton
. . 48, 154
Dinton
. . . . 43
Chilmark
.. ..140
Ditteridge
.. ..107
Chi ppenham
. . . . 58
Donhead
.. ..126
Chittoe . .
.. ..144
Downfield
. . . . 87
Chitterne
.. ..144
Downton
. . 43, 153
Chisbury . .
. . 71, 157
Draycott
.. ..146
Chisenbury
. . 71, 157
Dunley
. . . . 85
Chirton
. . . . 53
Durrington
. . 46, 153
Index,
163
Name
Page
Name
Durnford
.. 115
Fugglestone..
Durleigh
79, 158
Garsden
Easton
.. 20
Godsbury
Easterton
.. 21
Goatacre
Easthorp
.. 15
Gooseacre . .
Eastcourt
.. 149
Gore
Eastridge
.. 106
Gorse Hill ..
Eaton
.. 21
Graf ton
Ebbesbourne Wake . .
.. 124
Grimstead . .
Edington
.. 23
Grittleton . .
Elcombe
.. 97
Grittenham
Eldrington
.. 22
Ham
Elington
45, 153
Hamptworth
Elstub
45, 149
Harnham . .
Elston or Eliston
.. 42
Hardenhuish
Enford
.. 115
Hannington
Erchfont
.. 129
Hartham
Erlstoke
.. 94
Haselbury . .
Etchilhampton
.. 61
Hatch
Ethandune
.. 104
Hawkeridge
Euridge
.. 109
Haydon
Everleigh
.. 84
Haytesbury . .
Farleigh
.. 80
Heddington
Fairwood
.. 92
Henley
Fernditch
.. 139
Hewish
Fiddington
.. 36
Heywood
Fifield
.. 87
Hilperton . .
Figheldean
.. 158
Highworth . .
Fittleton
50,154
Hindon
Fisherton
.. 51
Hinton
Foghamshire
.. 148
Hippenscombe
Fontmell
.. 129
Holt . .
Fonthill
.. 129
Homington . .
Ford
.. Ill
Honkerton ..
Fosbury
.. 69
Horningsham
Fovant
.. 130
Hornington . .
Foxcote
.. 147
Hullavington
Fozbam
.. 59
Hungerford
Foxley
.. 79
Hurcot
Froxfield
.. 150
Idmiston
Frankleigh
.. 82
Iford . . . .
Page
50, 155
.. 101
..69
.. 88
.. 88
.. 89
.. 106
.. 39
.. 138
.. 21
.. 58
.. 56
.. 73
.. 60
.. 89
.. 104
.. 56
.. 70
.. 138
.. 106
.. 104
.. 66
.. 36
.. 79
.. 89
.. 91
39, 152
.. 72
105, 158
.. 30
.. 100
.. 89
.. 49
50, 155
.. 59
.. 45
.. 84
.. 114
.. 147
.. 169
. 113
164
Index.
Name
Page
Name
Page
Imber
.. ..139
Martin
. . . . 33
Inglesham
. . . . 59
Mardon
.. ..103
Keevil
.. ..142
Marden
.. ..102
Kemble
.. ..147
Marsden
.. ..102
Keunet
.. ..125
Marlborough
. . . . 63
Kington
23, 25, 26
Melksham
. . . . 92
Kingston
. . 23, 24
Mere
.. ..131
Knighton
. . . . 44
Mershton
. . . . 33
Knook
.. ..108
Middleton . .
. . . . 48
Knoyle
.. ..103
Milston
. . . . 48
Lacock
.. ..131
Milton
. . . . 48
Lackham
. . . . 61
Mill! ord . .
.. ..116
Landford
.. ..116
Mintey
.. ..138
Langley
. . . . 85
Monkton Parleigh
.. 26, 80
Langford
.. ..115
Monkton Deverill
. . . . 26
Lark HiU . . . .
.. ..105
Nettleton
. . . . 23
LaLton
. . . . 45
Netheravon
.. ..126
Laverstock
. . . . 96
Netherhampton . .
. . . . 60
Lavington
. . . . 33
Newnton
. . . . 29
Lea or Leigh
. . . . 77
Newton
. . . . 29
Leigh Delamere
. . . . 85
Newnham . .
. . . . 59
Liddington
. . 36, 152
Newbury
. . . . 67
Limpley Stoke . .
. . . . 95
Norton
. . . . 19
Littlecote
.. ..146
Norrington
. . . . 44
Littleton
.. .. 21
Norridge
.. ..106
Lockeridge
.. ..107
Nuneaton
. . . . 21
Lockswel)
.. ..127
Nunton
. . 27, 151
Long Newnton . .
. . . . 29
Oaksey
.. ..145
Longford
.. ..117
Oare
.. ,.. 144
Luckiugton
. . . . 22
Odstock
. . . . 96
Ludgershall
.. ..138
Ogbury
. . . . 69
Ludwell
.. ..128
Ogbourne
.. ..122
Lydiard
.. ..136
Orcheston
. . . . 47
Lyneham
. . 57, 156
Overton
. . 39, 153
Maddington
. . 47, 154
Oxen-leaze . .
. . . . 82
Maiden Bradley . .
. . . . 83
Oxenwood
. . . . 92
Malmesbury
. . . . 64
Parton
. . 37, 152
Manningford
.. ..117
Patney
.. ..137
Mauton
. . 53, 155
Pewsey
.. ..137
Marston
. . . . 32
Pewsham
. . . . 58
Marton . . , .
. . . . 33
Pickwick . .
. . . . 75
Index.
165
Name
Page
Name
Page
Pitton . .
. . 53, 155
Sharncote
.. ..147
Platford . .
.. ..119
Shebworth
. . . . 72
Porton . .
. . . . 54
Shercot . .
.. ..147
Potterne
.. ..143
Sherrington. .
. . 42, 153
Poulshot . .
. . . . 90
Sheraton
18, 19,151
Poulton
. . 43, 153
Shrewton . .
. . . . 51
Preston
. . . . 37
Slaughterford
.. ..120
Purton
. . . . 37
Smallbrook . . . .
.. ..122
Purton Stoke
. . . . 95
Sopworth . .
. . 74, 158
Quemerf ord
.. ..120
Somerf ord
'.. .. 114
Quidham
. . . . 59
South Newton . .
. . . . 29
Quidhampton
. . . . 59
Southwick
. . . . 76
Ramsbury
66
Stanton
. . 30, 31
Rainscombe
. . . . 98
Standlinch
.. ..109
Redbourne . .
.. ..121
Standawick
. . . . 76
Redlinch
.. ..108
Stanley . .
. . . . 84
Ridge . .
.. ..106
Staple Hill . .
.. ..105
Ridgway
.. ..106
Stapleton . .
. . . . 49
Rockley
. . . . 84
Stapleford . .
.. ..116
Road Hill .. ..
.. ..141
Staverton
. . . . 28
Rodbourne .. ..
.. ..121
Steeple Ashton . .
. . . . 38
Rodborough
. . . . 70
Steeple Langford
.. ..115
Rolstone
. . 46, 154
Start
.. ..133
Rowde
.. ..141
Stinchcombe
. . . . 99
Rudge
.. ..106
Stockley
. . 79, 158
Rubergh
.. ..149
Stockton
. . . . 42
Rushall . .
.. ..141
Stodfold . .
.. ..149
Salthorp
. . . . 15
Stoke Farthing . .
. . . . 96
Salisbury . .
. . . . 68
Stourton
. . . . 43
Sambourne
.. ..127
Stowford
.. ..113
Sand ridge ..
.. ..107
Stowell . .
.. ..128
Sandy Lane
.. ..107
Stratton
. . . . 54
Savernake
. . . . 93
Stratford . .
.. ..119
Seagry
.. ..145
Studley . .
. . . . 79
Sedge Hill .. ..
.. ..106
Sutton
.. 19, 20
Seend
108, 144
Swindon
.. ..103
Semley
. . . . 83
Swallowclifio
.. ..107
Semington . .
. . . . 35
Teffont . .
.. ..130
Sevenhampton . .
. . . . 53
Thoulston
. . . . 52
Shaw
.. .. 90
Tidcombe . .
. . . . 99
Shalbourne
.. ..122
Tidworth . .
. . . . 74
166
Index.
Name
Page
Name
Page
Tilshoad
89
Whitley
82
Tinhead
89
Wichbury . .
69
Tisbury
. . . . 67, 157
Wick
74
Titherton . .
. . . . 51, 155
Widcombe . .
99
Titheringfcon
.. .. 51,155
Widdenham
.. .. 61,156
Tokenham . .
. . . . 58, 156
Wily . .
125
Tollard Royal
141
Wilcot .. ..
145
Trowbridge
134
Wilsford
113, 115
Turley
81
Wiltshire
125
Ugford
118
Wilton
44
Underditch . .
140
Wingfield . .
86
Upavon
126
Winscombe . .
99
Upton
41
Winterslow . .
140
Urchfont
129
Winterbourne
27, 97, 122, 123,
Wadwick
75
[124
Waiiborough
. . . . 63, 156
Witherington
36
Wansdyke . .
36
Woburn
127
Wanstrow . .
93
Woodahaw . .
90
Wardour
127
Woodford
116
Warley '\.
82
Woodborough
. . . . 64, 157
Warminster
134
Woolley
82
Wedhampton
59
Wootton
. . . . 40, 153
Westbury
.. .. 65, 81
Worth
72
Westwood . .
93
Worton
40
Westhorp
15
Wraxhall . .
149
Westwells . .
128
Wroughton . .
49
West Dean . .
102
Wythenham
61
Westoott
146
Yatesbury . .
65
Westcombe . .
99
Yatton
37
Wexcombe . .
100
Yarnbury
71
Whaddon . .
102, 104
Yarnbrook . .
127
Whiteparish
141
Zeals . .
138
BRADFORD-ON-AVON,
A History, by the late Canon W. H. JONES, to which is
added Canon J. E. JACKSON'S History of "The Hall,"
annotated and brought up-to-date by JOHN BEDDOE,
M.D., F.R.S., LL.D. (Member of the Wiltshire, Somerset-
shire and Gloucestershire Archaeological Societies.) Contents :
General History of the Parish The Manor The Parish
Church The Parochial Charities Old Families and Worthies
"The Hall" or "Kingston House," Bradford Pedigrees
and comprehensive Index. 275 pp. Demy 8vo., 23 full-page
Illustrations, Cloth, 6/= liett and post free. 100 large paper
copies, printed on hand-made paper, imperial 8vo, 1:1:0,
of which a few copies can still be obtained. Published by
Wm. DOTESIO,
The Library Press, Bradford-on-Avon.
PRINTED BY
WM. DOTESIO, THE LIBRARY PRESS,
BEADFOED-ON- A VON .
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
Los Angeles
This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.
DEC 28 1959
Form L9-100m-9,'52(A3105)444
A 001 000 735 9
DA
670
W69L86
v.l
