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PURCHASED  FROM  THE  INCOME  OF  THE 

JOSIAH  H.  BENTON  FUND 


^ 


THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND 
AND  WALES 


TO 

Sm  JAMES  A.  H.  MURRAY 

HARDEST  OF  WORKERS 

AS  A  MEMENTO  OF  A  CONNEXION 

OF  OVER  THIRTY  YEARS 


THE.  PLACE -NAMES  OF 
ENGLAND  AND  WALES 


BY  THE  REV.  JAMES  B.  JOHNSTON,  M.A.,  B.D. 

•I 

AUTHOR  OF   '  THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  SCOTLAND  ' 


LONDON 
JOHN  MURRAY,  ALBEMARLE  STREET,  W. 

1915 


^^ 


Or 


^ 
^ 


PREFACE 


A  FEW  words  of  preface  seem  necessary,  especially  for  the  sake  of 
those  who  wish  to  make  serious  use  of  this  book.  Let  it,  then, 
be  clearly  understood  at  the  outset  that  it  makes  no  attempt  or 
pretence  at  completeness.  In  so  vast  a  subject  this  would  scarcely 
be  possible  for  any  man,  no  matter  how  accomplished  or  favourably 
situated.  Least  of  all  has  it  been  possible  for  the  writer,  a  busy 
minister  working  absolutely  single-handed  in  a  Scottish  provincial 
town,  with  the  oversight  of  a  large  congregation  which  has  had  the 
first  claim  upon  all  his  time  and  energy  and  has  always  received  it. 
Why,  then,  attempt  such  a  task  at  all  ?  Because  it  seemed  so  needful 
to  be  done.  No  proper  conspectus  of  the  whole  subject  has  appeared 
hitherto ;  and  the  writer  does  think  that  through  the  gatherings  of 
fully  twenty  years  he  has  been  able  to  do  something.  He  would 
humbly  hope  he  may  receive  a  little  thanks  for  what  he  has  done, 
rather  than  censure — all  too  easy  to  utter — ^for  what  he  has  left 
undone.  Every  student  may  at  once  discover  omissions,  perhaps 
a  good  many  mistakes  also,  though  the  writer  has  done  Ms 
best :  he  can  only  cherish,  the  hope  that  at  least  he  has  made  the 
pathway  easier  for  the  more  thorough  men  who  are  sure  to  come 
after. 

CJonsultation  of  works  only  to  be  found  in  large  libraries — 
Domesday,  the  O.E.  charters,  the  RoUs,  and  Chroniclers — ^has  all 
had  to  be  done  during  brief  and  occasional  visits  to  Edinburgh  and 
Glasgow,  where  even  the  best  libraries  are  far  from  perfect  in  this 
respect.  Still,  one  has  been  able  to  gleam  not  a  few  valuable  forms, 
especially  from  the  more  recent  issues  of  the  Close  and  Patent  Rolls 
(which  have  hardly  been  touched  by  others  yet),  and  from  several 
of  the  early  chroniclers.  Unless  it  be  in  the  notes  to  Anecdota 
Oxoniensia,  next  to  nothing  of  permanent  value  on  English  place- 
names  appeared  until  so  recently  as  1901,  when  the  lamented  Dr. 
Skeat  issued  his  brochure  on  Cambs.  The  gazetteers  and  guide- 
books, even  the  best  of  them,  are  nearly  all  useless  on  our  subject; 
generally  a  great  deal  worse  than  useless  from  a  scientific  point  of 
view:  and  we  cannot  even  exclude  the  latest  edition  of  the  Encyclo" 
pcedia  Britannica.  But  invaluable  help  has  been  received  from  the 
numerous  works  of  Dr.  Skeat,  and  from  not  a  little  private  corre- 
spondence with  him,  in  which  the  Cambridge  professor  of  Anglo- 
Saxon  showed  himself  aboundingly  generous,  up  to  within  a  fort- 
night of  his  death.  Much  is  owed  both  to  the  books  and  to  the 
private  help  of  the  late  Mr.  Duignan,  who  was  also  most  kind.    One  of 


vi  ^PREFACE 

the  best  place-name  books  yet  issued  is  Wyld  and  Hirst's  book  on 
Lancashire,  to  which  the  writer  is  very  deeply  indebted.  The  book 
is  marred  only  by  a  few  serious  omissions  (like  Bacup),  and  by  a 
rather  overfondness  for  Scandinavian,  and  an  oversuspiciousness  of 
Keltic  origins,  which  occasionally  leads  to  curious  results,  as  in  the 
case  of  CJondover.  Mr.  M'Clure's  book  has  been  found  to  contain 
much  splendid  material  with  some  weak  admixture.  Baddeley's 
Gloucester  is  a  first-rate  bit  of  work;  the  writer's  only  regret  is 
that  it  came  so  late  into  his  hands.  He  has  a  similar  regret  with 
regard  to  the  work  of  Dr.  Mutschmann.  Several  others,  containing 
valuable  information,  were  unf ortimately  issued  just  before  or  after 
his  own  MS.  was  completed  in  November,  1913;  they  will  be  found 
in  the  BibHography.  The  stern  exigencies  of  space  have  forbidden 
many  other  acknowledgments  of  indebtedness. 

The  number  of  Domesday  forms  given  is  by  no  means  complete, 
and  the  identification  in  a  few  cases  may  be  a  little  uncertain  owing 
to  lack  of  local  knowledge.  But  the  iiiformation  given  is  certainly 
fuller  than  is  available  elsewhere.  All  village  names  not  important 
enough  to  be  mentioned  in  the  Postal  Guide  have  been  passed  over, 
except  in  cases  of  special  interest.  Postal  Guide  spellings  have 
usually  been  taken  as  the  standard. 

Wales  has  been  a  great  difficulty.  Accessible  and  trustworthy 
literature  has  proved  very  scarce  (see  p.  66).  Letters  have  been 
exchanged  with  a  number  of  kindly  correspondents;  but  hardly 
anybody  has  been  found  able  and  wiUing  to  give  real  help,  except 
that  excellent  antiquary,  Mr.  Palmer  of  Wresbam,  and  Sir  Edward 
Anwyl,  whose  all  too  scanty  commimications  have  proved  of 
great  value.  As  to  Cornwall,  the  writer  worked  diligently  for 
three  weeks  in  the  Public  Library  at  Fahnouth,  and  was  fortu- 
nate in  being  able  to  supplement  his  studies  from  the  valuable 
Cornish  library  of  the  Rev.  Wilfrid  Rogers.  R.  0.  Heslop,  Esq., 
of  Newcastle,  has  given  useful  hints  about  names  in  Northumber- 
land, and  Rev.  Charles  E.  Johnston,  of  Seascale,  has  helped  with 
those  of  Cumberland.  Numerous  other  correspondents  must  be 
gratefidly  acknowledged  in  a  body.  Their  help  has  been  none 
the  less  real,  and  the  writer's  gratitude  is  just  as  hearty,  though 
it  is  impossible  to  mention  all  their  names. 

Professor  Ernest  Weekley,  of  Nottingham,  our  best  living  authority 
on  English  personal  names,  has  read  all  the  proofs  and  has  enriched 
nearly  every  page  with  some  valuable  suggestion,  though,  of  course, 
he  is  responsible  for  no  statement  in  the  book.  The  writer  tenders 
to  him  his  warmest  thanks.  Fresh  information  and  accredited 
corrections  of  any  kind  will  always  be  welcome. 

JAMES  B.  JOHNSTON. 
St.  Andrew's  Manse,  Falkirk. 
June  15,  1914. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

PEEFAOB           -               -                -                -                -                -                -                -  V 

CHAPTER 

I.    THE  USE   AND   VALUE   OF  PLACE-NAME   STUDY            -                -                -  1 

n.   BOMAN  AND   LATIN   NAMES   ......  4: 

m.   THE  KELTIC   ELEMENT             ......  7 

PROVISIONAL  LIST  OF  KELTIC  PLACE-NAMES  IN  ENGLAND                  -  18 

IV.   THE  ENGLISH  ELEMENT          -                -                -                -                -                -  23 

THE   COMMON   ELEMENT      -                -                -                -                -                -  34 

V.    THE   SCANDINAVIAN   ELEMENT              -                -                -                -                -  36 

VI.   THE   ENDINGS                .......  46 

Vn.   THE  NORMAN  ELEMENT          -                -                -                -                -                -  63 

Vin.   THE   NAMES   OF   WALES,   MONMOUTH,   AND   CORNWALL             -                -  66 
IX.   PHONETIC    NOTES     ON    THE     ALPHABET     AND     ITS     MUTATIONS    IN 

ENGLISH  PLACE-NAMES        -                -                -                -                -                -  81 

LIST  OP  THE   CHIEP  PLACE-NAMES  IN  ENGLAND   AND   WALES,  WITH 

EXPLANATIONS         -                -                -                -                -                -                -  87 

BIBLIOGRAPHY              .......  628 

INDEX  TO   PLACES   NOT  DEALT   WITH  IN   THEIR  ALPHABETIC  ORDER  529 

INDEX   OP   SUBJECTS   AND   PERSONAL  NAMES                -                -                -  631 


VU 


THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND 

AND  WALES 

INTEODUCTION 
CHAPTER  I 

THE  USE  AND  VALUE  OF  PLACE-NAME  STUDY 

To  many  this  needs  an  apologia;  it  is  such  a  useless,  dry  as - 
dust  study  this,  they  say.  And  yet  the  apologia  is  easUy  writ, 
because : — 

1.  Place-name  study  helps  to  satisfy  a  widespread  and  very 
natural  curiosity;  and  everything  which  helps  to  satisfy  a 
legitimate  and  intelligent  curiosity  is  good,  and  deserves  some 
meed  of  commendation,  not  a  frown.  But  this,  if  the  first  is 
perhaps  the  lowest  of  the  uses,  we  shall  name. 

2.  It  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  readily  available  of  our 
sidehghts  on  history.  The  history  of  the  far  past  is  as  a  rule 
dim  enough,  and  needs  every  beam  of  light,  even  the  faintest, 
which  we  can  throw  upon  it.  In  England,  it  so  happens,  we 
have  records  of  place-names  in  abundance  long  before  we 
have  regular  history  in  abundance.  Often  where  the  direct 
record  is  of  the  meagrest,  the  most  tantahzingly  scanty  sort, 
place-names  may  be  practically  the  only  definite  evidence  we 
have  on  certain  important  points.  The  early  history  of  Cum- 
berland is  a  good  case  in  point.  Moreover,  place-names  help 
much  to  indicate  the  breadth  and  depth  of  the  impact  of  the 
foreign  invader,  and  England  had  invaders  not  a  few. 

3.  Our  study  helps  not  a  little  to  reveal  and  illustrate  racial 
idiosyncrasies,  modes  of  thought,  feeling,  and  taste.  Tastes 
Keltic  were,  and  are,  very  different  from  tastes  Saxon.  Our 
names,  e.g.,  show  what  men  or  class  of  men  each  race  admired 

1 


2  THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

and  revered  most,  the  men  whose  memories  they  sought  most 
eagerly  to  perpetuate.  In  the  case  of  Angle,  Saxon,  and  Dane, 
they  tell  at  least  a  Httle,  perhaps  not  a  great  deal,  as  to  who 
were  their  favourite  heroes ;  whilst  in  the  case  of  the  Kelt  they 
show  who  were  his  favourite  saints.  The  bluff  Saxon  seldom 
troubled  himself  much  about  saints,  at  least  so  far  as  to 
enshrine  them  in  a  place-name;  though  one  or  two  instances, 
Hke  Chadkebk  or  Kewstoke,  might  be  cited  to  the  contrary. 

4.  It  gives  most  valuable  evidence  as  to  the  processes  of 
phonetic  change  and  decay,  and  the  lines  on  which  those  changes 
proceed.  The  laws,  once  found  and  firmly  estabhshed,  are 
weUnigh  as  sure  and  helpful  as  those  in  the  most  exact  of  the 
physical  sciences.  It  is  often  of  extreme  interest  to  the 
philologer  to  trace  these  sound-changes;  and  our  place-name 
records  often  afford  valuable  supplement  to  the  dictionary, 
supplying  missing  links,  and  giving,  in  a  good  many  cases, 
earlier  evidence  of  the  use  of  a  word  than  any  surviving  literary 
record.  Examples  of  this  will  be  found  passim  (see,  e.g.. 
Bishop  Burton,  Hatheeleigh,  Reach,  Rye,  etc.). 

5.  Lastly,  we  need  not  hesitate  to  add,  the  study  of  place- 
names  is  a  useful  discipline,  a  taxing  exercise  of  scholarly 
patience,  in  a  department  where  much  has  already  been  done, 
but  where  a  vast  amount  of  hard  work  still  awaits  the  doer. 
In  a  much-traversed,  much-contested  territory  like  England 
and  Wales,  the  student  needs  to  remove  each  successive  layer 
of  names  as  carefully,  and  to  scrutinize  them  as  dihgently,  as  a 
Fhnders  Petrie  when  he  is  digging  down  into  one  of  Egypt's 
ancient  cemeteries,  or  as  a  Macalister  exploring  one  of  the 
great  rubbish  mounds  at  Gezer  or  Lachish,  And  the  place- 
name  student  has  his  own  little  joys  of  discovery,^  his  own 
thrills  over  a  much-tangled  skein  at  last  unravelled,  as  weU  as 
a  Schliemann  at  Mycense,  or  a  Flinders  Petrie  at  Abydos.  He 
also  has  his  own  sure  retribution  if  he  neglect  the  laws  of  his 

1  E.g.,  Professor  Kuno  Meyer's  recent  discovery,  in  an  old  Irish 
MS.,  of  the  name  '  Ard  Echdi'  (height  of  the  horse),  the  exact  Irish 
or  Gaelic  equivalent  of  the  Epidion  akron  of  Ptolemy,  c.  a.d.  160, 
Ard  Echdi  is  said  to  be  '  in  Kintyre,'  which  confirms  the  supposition 
long  since  made,  that  Ptolemy's  name  stood  for  the  Mull  of  Kintyre. 
This  diccovery  also  confirms  our  belief  in  Ptolemy's  accuracy,  whilst  it 
shows  that,  in  his  day,  Kintyre  was  inhabited  by  Kelts  of  the  p  group, 
not  by  Kelts  of  the  c  or  1c  group,  as  all  Scottish  Kelts  are  at  this  day. 


INTRODUCTION  3 

study,  and  dogmatize  upon  unsufficient  evidence.  Bad  guesses 
are  sure  to  bring  to  him  shame  and  confusion.  But  in  this 
study  sober  conjecture  is  not  to  be  despised,  even  if  it  afterwards 
prove  wrong.  It  is  often  the  only  resource  which  lies  open. 
But  one  must  use  aU  the  evidence  available,  and  one  must  know 
and  remember  the  rules,  which  nine  out  of  every  ten  place-name 
guessers  do  not. 


CHAPTER  II 

ROMAN  AND  LATIN  NAMES 

Written  record  of  British  history  before  the  arrival  of  Julius 
Caesar's  legions  in  55  B.C.  there  is  all  but  none.  True,  the 
Cassiterides — i.e.,  '  tin  islands  ' — are  referred  to  by  Herodotus, 
the  father  of  history  himself,  as  well  as  by  Strabo ;  and  these 
Cassiterides  must  have  included  part  of  the  mainland  of 
Cornwall  as  well  as  the  Scilly  Isles.  There  is  a  Cassiter  Street 
in  Bodmin  at  this  day.  The  general  name,  Britain,^  also 
goes  back  to  Aristotle.  For  the  rest  there  yawns  a  vast 
blank. 

On  Rome  in  Britain  we  shaU  be  very  brief;  the  subject  has 
already  been  discussed  so  often,  with  such  fulness  and  care, 
by  more  competent  pens.  We  get  many  names  in  England 
in  Ptolemy's  weU- known  Geography,  written  in  Greek  c. 
A.D.  150.  So  far  as  Britain  is  concerned  it  is  not  first-hand 
knowledge,  but  a  pure  compilation,  and,  except  in  the  case 
of  a  few  rivers,  Ptolemy's  names  can  rarely  be  identified  with 
certainty  with  names  stiU  in  use.  We  get  a  large  number  of 
town  names  along  the  routes  given  in  the  Antonine  Itinerary,  a 
document  only  put  into  its  final  shape  c.  a.d.  380.  We  get 
a  good  many  more  in  the  Notitia  Dignitatum,  which  dates  about 
twenty  years  later.  All  the  evidence  afforded  by  these,  our 
three  chief  authorities  for  Roman  names  in  England,  will  be 
found  set  forth  and  discussed  in  scholarly  fashion  in  M'Clure's 
British  Place-Names.  Of  course,  we  have  a  few  names,  a 
mere  handful,  which  come  in  earUer.  Only  in  very  rare  cases 
do  these  represent  names  which  still  survive.  Caesar  gives  us 
Cantium  or  Kent,  Tameses  or  Thames,  Mona  or  Man.  Vectis 
or  Wight  goes  back  to  PHny,  a.d.  77.     His  name  for  England 

*  The  printing  of  a  name  in  capitals  always  means.  See  details  in 
the  List. 

4 


INTEODUCTION  5 

is  Albion,  possibly  '  the  white  (L.  alhus)  land,'  from  the  white 
chalk  cliffs  about  Dover.  Tacitus,  a  little  later  than  Pliny,  is 
the  first  to  mention  Londinium  or  London,  and  the  Sabrina  or 
Severn,  also  a  R.  Avona  (probable  reading),  and  that  is  about 
all— a  very  meagre  array.  The  Roman  Itineraries  cover  the 
whole  country  from  the  Scottish  Border  to  Exeter,  or  Isca 
Damnoniorum.  Rome  made  little  mark  S.  and  W.  of  that. 
But  the  Itinerary  names  are  seldom  identifiable  with  existing 
names,  and  have  given  rise  to  endless  controversy.  A  good 
many  of  them  will  be  found  discussed  in  our  List,  s.v.  Carlisle, 
Dover,  Manchester,  Worcester,  and  the  like.  But  the  names 
which  have  come  down  to  us  from  pre-Saxon  times,  though 
writ  in  Latin,  are  practically  all  Keltic,  or  pre-Keltic,  and  so 
faU,  properly,  to  be  dealt  with  in  our  next  chapter. 

Chester  or  Caistor,  as  we  find  it  alone,  -caster,  -cester,  or 
-Chester  as  we  find  it  in  combination,  is  usually  thought  to  be 
the  sure  sign  manual  of  the  Roman,  and  proof  of  the  existence 
of  a  former  castra,  camp,  or  fort.  But  numerous  though  these 
'  caster  '  names  be^  none  of  them  reaUy  go  back  as  names  to 
Roman  times.  Names  like  Alia  Castra  for  Alcester  are  spurious 
inventions.  Chester  itself  comes  in  as  a  name  quite  late,  and 
few  if  any  'casters '  are  earher  than  the  beginnings  of  the  O.E. 
Chronicle.  Gloucester  is  found  in  a  grant  of  681  as  Gleawe- 
ceasdre,  and  Worcester  is  nearly  as  early.  Thus,  -caster. 
O.E.  ceaster,  is  a  Saxon  rather  than  a  Roman  appellative. 
There  are  also  one  or  two  names  which  embody  the  L.  colonia, 
*a  settlement,'  usually  of  veteran  soldiers.  Lincoln  is  cer- 
tainly a  case  in  point,  and  Colchester,  O.E.  Colenceaster,  is 
confidently  given  as  another,  with  fair  reason  too.  But 
very  possibly  it  means  no  more  than  '  camp  on  the  R.  Colne,' 
and  this  river  name  must  be  Keltic  or  pre-Keltic.  In  either 
case  the  present  names,  Lincoln  and  Colchester,  seem  to  have 
been  of  Saxon,  not  of  Roman,  make. 

Thus,  of  real  Latin  names  in  England  there  are  almost  none. 
Skeat  wiU  not  even  admit  Speen,  Berks,  to  be  the  L.  Spinse. 
But  Catterick,  S.  Yorks,  is  known  to  be  the  L.  cataracta  or 
'waterfall,'  and  Pontefract  is  the  same  region,  though  first 
found  in  Norman  documents,  may  have  come  down  all  the 
way  from  the  Romans.  But  Centurion's  Copse,  Brading,  is  a 
siUy  modem  corruption  for  '  St.  Urian's  copse  ' ;  and  Aquilate, 


6  THE  PLACE-NAMES  OP  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

Staffs,  is  not  Aqua  lata,  but  comes  from  Aquila,  Latin  rendering 
of  the  Norman  smuame  L'Aigle.  Monkish  Latin  has  certainly 
had  to  do  with  a  few  of  om:  present  names.  Monksilver,  e.g.', 
must  be  from  silva,  '  a  wood  ' ;  Merbvalb  is  Mira  valle,  and 
Gaia Lane,  Lichfield,  is  med.  Latin  for  'jay,' Nor.  Fr.  gai,  gay; 
whilst  the  earliest  known  spelling  of  Devizes  seems  to  be 
Divisis,  which  we  venture  to  translate — the  Latin  is  barbarous 
— place  '  at  the  borders  '  or  *  divisions.'  The  history  of  Atjst 
is  also  very  interesting. 

The  great  fact  remains  that  in  Britain,  unlike  neighbouring 
Gaul  or  Spain,  no  Roman  language  has  been  spoken  for  1,500 
years.  The  Britons  kept,  and  still  keep,  their  own  mother- 
tongue.  Only  a  few  townsfolk  and  wealthier  landowners  would 
ever  speak  Latin  at  all.  Hence  it  is  that  this  chapter  so  soon 
comes  to  an  end. 


CHAPTER  ni 

THE  KELTIC  ELEMENT 

Of  all  the  problems  connected  with  the  place-names  of  England 
there  are  few  so  interesting  or  so  intricate  as  those  connected 
with  the  Keltic  element  —  how  much,  or  perhaps  we  should 
rather  say,  how  Uttle,  of  the  old  British  speech  stiU  survives 
in  Enghsh  place-names.  On  this  subject  much  nonsense  has 
been  asserted,  even  by  learned  men  who  ought  to  have  known 
better,  or  who,  at  any  rate,  should  have  been  more  careful 
about  their  facts  before  making  such  large  claims  for  the  Keltic 
element  as  they  have.  The  truth  is,  the  deeper  and  the  more 
thorough  the  investigation,  the  smaller  seems  the  sure  Keltic 
residuum,  whilst  very  small  indeed  now  is  the  group  of  names 
of  which  we  can  make  nothing  sure  at  aU,  though  convinced 
that  they  must  either  be  Keltic  or  pre-Keltic.  There  must  be 
several  pre-Keltic  names  in  Wales,  but  in  England  they  are 
confined  chiefly,  and  possibly  altogether,  to  a  handful  of  river 
names.  There  are,  e.g.,  two  or  three  names  in  Cheshire  which 
are  hard  nuts  to  crack,  rivers  like  the  Biddle,  Bollin,  Croco, 
and  Etherow ;  whilst  Kennet,  a  river  name  in  both  Berks  and 
Cambs,  is  another  of  the  rare  insolubles.  It  is  such  an  age  since 
these  long-skulled,  dark-haired,  dark-eyed  pre-Kelts  (probably 
also  pre- Aryans)  ceased  to  speak  their  own  tongue  on  British 
soil,  that  their  names,  as  weU  as  everything  else  belonging  to 
them,  except  a  few  skuUs,  have  been  practically  wiped  out; 
and  time  spent  in  speculating  on  their  language  or  their  names 
can  be  little  else  than  time  wasted. 

Not  a  great  many  centuries  before  Julius  Caesar,  the  great 
Aryan  family  of  Kelts  began  to  arrive  on  our  shores.  The 
Goidels  or  Gaels,  because  to-day  in  force  in  Northern  Scotland, 
Ireland,  and  Man,  must,  it  is  generally  supposed,  have  arrived 
first.     But  of  Goidels  in  England  we  now  know  exceedingly 

7 


8  THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

little.  Their  very  existence  there,  once  upon  a  time,  is  proved 
by  not  much  else  than  a  few  inscriptions,  commonly  called 
Ogams.  There  have  been  none  fomid  E.  of  Devon  or  Wales, 
only  one  in  Cornwall,  and  barely  fifty  altogether.  But  these 
Ogams  can  only  date  from  late  in  the  Roman  occupation,  and 
seem  to  suggest  that  the  makers  of  them  had  crossed  over  from 
the  S.  of  Ireland,  perhaps  from  about  Waterford,  to  Pembroke. 
There  was  also  an  Irish  invasion  or  immigration  into  Cornwall 
in  early  historic  times.  But  of  the  earliest  Goidels  in  England 
we  know  almost  nothing.  Next  came  the  Brythons,  the  p 
group  as  scholars  caU  them,  as  opposed  to  the  k  or  q  group,  the 
Goidels.  Comparison  of  the  abundant  remaining  skuUs  of  the 
Neohthic  Age  in  Belgium  and  in  England,  seems  to  indicate 
that  the  English  Kelts  we  know  best  came  from  the  tribe  of 
the  Belgae,  and  crossed  over  to  us  where  the  sea  was  narrowest. 
The  Belgae  were  akin  to  the  Gauls,  and  the  Gauls  were  un- 
doubtedly nearer  of  kin  to  the  Brython  than  to  the  Gael,  so 
far  as  their  very  scanty  linguistic  remains  show.  The  Picts, 
who  were  akin  to  the  Brythons,  especially  to  the  Cornish,  seem 
to  have  been  confined  to  Scotland,  though  in  Searle's  Onomasti- 
con  we  find  nine  names  of  men  compounded  with  Peoht  or 
Pict — e.g.,  Peoht-hehn,  -red,  -wine,  -wulf,  etc. 

However,  over  a  large  area  of  England  we  now  know  for 
certain  that  there  are  next  to  no  Keltic  names  at  all.  Where  a 
competent  investigator  has  been  at  work,  like  Dr.  Skeat 
among  the  names  of  Berks,  Cambs,  or  Herts,  W6  can  now  say 
confidently  that  there  are  no  surviving  Keltic  names  except 
those  of  two  or  three  rivers;  a  very  different  story  this  from 
what  was  supposed  not  so  very  long  ago.  AU  over  the  S.B. 
of  England,  and  indeed  in  the  whole  region  along  the  coast 
from  Tyne  to  Solent,  Keltic  names  are  extremely  rare.  It  is 
doubtful  if  in  that  section  there  be  thirty  such  names  all 
told.  In  Lincoln,  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Essex,  Middlesex,  Surrey, 
Sussex,  the  Keltic  element  seems  represented  by  only  five, 
three,  or  possibly  even  one  name  each ;  for  in  Middlesex,  apart 
from  London  and  Thames,  which  it  shares  with  x)ther  counties, 
what  is  there  save  Brent  ?  In  the  Midlands,  too,  Keltic 
names  are  few  and  far  between,  except  on  the  Welsh  border. 
In  Bucks,  Bedford,  Oxford,  Warwick,  there  are  next  to  none. 
And  what  is  stranger  and  more  unexpected,  even  in  the  far 


INTRODUCTION  9 

N.,  in  Westmorland  and  Durham,  hardly  a  single  true 
British  name  survives.  Of  the  original  English  Goidel  our 
place-names  preserve  scarce  one  footprint.  It  is  doubtful  if  in 
all  England,  outwith  the  borders  of  Northumberland  and 
Cumberland,  there  can  be  picked  out  a  single  clearly  Goidelic 
name,^  and,  of  course,  the  Border  names  are  probably  due  to 
the  filtering  S.  of  the  Scottish  Gael, 

On  the  other  hand,  as  is  well  known,  in  districts  where  the 
Saxon  invader  arrived  late,  in  Cornwall,  'the  horn  of  the 
Welsh,'  and  in  Monmouth,  Keltic  names  are  still  in  an  over- 
whelming majority.  In  Cornwall  there  are  perhaps  no  true 
Enghsh  names  of  any  consequence,  except  modem  upstarts 
like  New  Quay,  and  two  names  on  the  very  eastern  edge — 
Launceston  and  Saltash.  Next  to  Cornwall  and  Monmouth, 
the  region  for  Keltic  names  is,  very  naturally,  that  along  the 
Welsh  border,  and  in  what  was  the  old  Brythonic  kingdom  of 
Cumbria — i.e.,  Lancashire  and  Cumberland — also,  as  we  have 
already  noted,  all  along  the  Scottish  Border.  In  Hereford, 
Salop,  and  Cheshire,  and  in  these  three  northern  counties, 
Welsh  names  (or  Gaelic  names)  of  rivers,  of  hills  too,  and  vil- 
lages and  towns,  are  still  fairly  plentiful.  Many  river  names  in 
Devon  and  Somerset,  and  quite  a  handful  in  Stafford,  are 
Keltic ;  so  also  is  a  fairly  numerous  group  of  towns  or  villages 
in  Somerset  and  Dorset.  Whenever  we  find  such  village 
names  surviving,  it  is  pretty  clear  proof  that  extermination  or 
driving  out  of  the  Brython  at  the  hand  of  Saxon  or  Angle 
had  not  been  so  swift  or  ruthless  as  in  most  other  parts.  It 
is  curious,  however,  that  Keltic  village  names  are  so  lacking 
in  Devon. 

It  is  the  Welsh  dictionary  which  is  our  chief  aid  in  searching 
out  the  Keltic  names.  English  Keltic  names  are  certainly  for 
the  most  part  of  Brythonic  type.  But,  as  we  have  abeady 
noted,  near  the  Scots  Border  we  have  a  few  purely  Goidelic, 
interesting  as  showing  that  the  present  Border  was  once  upon 
a  time  by  no  means  the  southern  border  of  the  Gael.  There  is 
a  W.  glyn  as  well  as  a  G.  gleann ;  but  we  can  scarcely  err  in 

1  Perhaps  the  best  attempt  has  been,  to  show  the  Gr.  crioch,  cricTie, 
'  boundary,  limit,'  in  the  nimierous  names  in,  Creech  and  Crick,  and 
even  Penkridge.  But  the  evidence  which  will  be  found  s.v.  Creech, 
Crick,  Crickhowell,  etc.,  seems  conclusive  against  it. 

2 


10         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

holding  that  all  the  Glens  in  Northumberland  are  of  Gaelic 
origin.  Near  Haltwhistle  alone  we  find  three — a  Glencune, 
a  Glendhu,  and  a  Glenwhelt.  Glencune  reappears  in  Cumber- 
land, near  Ullswater,  as  Glencoin.  Both  are  clearly  derived 
from  the  G.  cumhann  or  comhann,  with  the  mh  mute  through 
'  eclipse,'  as  it  is  called.  Glencoe,  the  far-famed,  has  the  same 
origin;  it  is  spelt  Glencoyne  in  1500,  and  Glencoan  in  1623. 
Another  Glen,  with  a  very  Highland  smack  about  it,  lies  E.  of 
Keswick,  Glenderamackin,  which  is  pure  Gaehc  for  '  glen  of 
the  stream  with  the  bulbs  or  parsnips.' 

The  Kielder  Water  near  the  Northumberland  border  is  as 
clearly  G.  caol  dohhar  {bh  mute),  '  narrow-stream.'  The  G.  ao  in 
names  has  run  through  nearly  all  the  vowel  sounds.  We  have 
it  taking  on  the  long  ee  of  Kielder  away  up  in  Eddrachilis, 
W.  Sutherland,  pronounced  Eddraheelis,  G.  eadar-a-chaolais, 
'between  the  straits  or  narrows.'  Pure  Gaehc,  too,  is 
Mindrum,  Coldstream,  G.  min  druim,  '  smooth  hill  ridge.'  In 
Cumberland  such  names  are  rarer,  but  we  have  a  few  very 
interesting  samples,  like  Cardurnock,  on  the  shore  S.  of  Bow- 
ness,  G.  cathair  [th  mute)  dornaig,  '  fort  at  the  pebbly  place, ' 
the  same  word  as  Dornock  on  the  other  side  of  the  Solway, 
and  as  the  better  known  Dornoch  in  the  far  north.  Culgaith, 
Penrith,  is  unmistakable  Gaelic  too,  cul  gaoiih,  '  at  the  back  of 
the  wind,'  the  ih  being  preserved  here,  whilst  in  Gaehc  for  many 
a  generation  th  has  gone  dumb.  As  already  noted,  of  clearly 
GaeUc  names  farther  south  there  are  perhaps  none  at  all,  unless 
it  be  Cannock. 

By  far  the  most  important  group  of  Keltic  names  in  England 
are  the  names  of  rivers.  No  first-class  river  in  England,  abso- 
lutely none  in  Wales,  has  an  Enghsh  name.  One  writer 
instances  as  probably  Enghsh  these  six — Eamont,  Loxley, 
Swift,  Waveney,  Witham,  and  Wyth-burn.  The  first  three,  all 
quite  small  streams,  probably  are ;  and,  as  we  shall  see  by-and- 
by,  there  are  plenty  more.  But  the  last  three  we  may  pretty 
confidently  conclude  to  be  Keltic  (see  the  List).  Why  the 
rivers  should  be  so  tenaciously  Keltic  it  is  not  quite  easy  to  say, 
for  the  same  rule  by  no  means  holds  true  about  the  other 
unchanging  natural  features  of  the  land,  the  hills,  the  bays, 
etc.  But  a  hill  belongs  to  one  district  only,  a  river  of  any  size 
to  several.     It  would  thus  be  fairly  easy  to  change  the  name 


INTRODUCTION  11 

of  a^  hill,  but  to  change  the  name  of  a  river  would  often  have 
caused  great  confusion,  and  so  the  Saxons  kept  the  old  names 
on,  and  adapted  their  tongues  to  them  as  best  they  could. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  how  intensely  commonplace  and  un- 
imaginative the  bulk  of  our  river  names  are.    When  examined 
they  are  very  often  found  to  mean  'river  '  or  'water,'  and 
nothing    more.     Phonetics,    not    imagination,    has    lent    the 
variety.     To   take   the    commonest   first,  the    name   Avon; 
there  are  seven  Avons  in  all,  three  of  them  tributaries  of  the 
one  R.  Severn.     The  earliest  known  form,  that  of  Tacitus, 
Avona,  already  gives  us  the  spelling  of  to-day;  but  reference 
to  the  List  will  show  that  spellings  with  h  and  /  pro  v  are  early 
found  too,  clearly  showing  the  connection  between  W.  afon 
and  G.  abhuinn  or  ohhuinn,  both  meaning  '  river, '  and  nothing 
more.     In  England  Avon  is  generally  pronounced  with  d,  but 
sometimes,  as  in  Shakespeare's  Avon,  with  ce.     In  Scotland 
we  find  the  same  thing,  the  pronimciation  usually  avon,  but 
in  S.  Lanarkshire  always  sevon,  as  in  Strathseven  or  Straeven. 
This  last  pronunciation  is  also  seen  in  fair  Ravenglass,   S. 
Cumberland,  of  which  many  absurd  and  law-defying  interpre- 
tations are  current,  but  which  is  simply  W.  yr  afon  glas,  '  the 
greenish '  or  '  bluish  river.'    We  probably  get  it  again  in  the 
Norfolk  R.  Waveney,  where  a  common  EngHsh  diminutive 
ending  has  tacked  itself  on.     In  Scotland,  but  not  in  England, 
the  G.   amhuinn  or  ohhuinn  reappears  more  than  once  as 
Almond.  *In  England,  however,  we  have  various  other  forms. 
In  Salop  the  root  shows  itself  in  Ouny  or  Onney,  and  we  have 
it  again  in  the  Oun-dle  of  Northants,  Bede's  Un-dalum,  forms 
paralleled  in  old   Keltic    Gaul,   as  in  the  Garonne,   Rhone, 
Saone,  and  the  like,  whilst  with  Ouny  we  may  also  compare 
own,  the  pronunciation  of  G.  abhuinn  in  some  districts;  and 
the  form  Onn-ey  {EngHsh  diminutive  ending)  probably  has  its 
parallel  in  such  a  f  amihar  Scottish  name  as  Carr-on. 

Still  more  protean  in  its  shapes  is  that  root  for  '  water  '  or 
'river,'  variously  spelt  in  different  regions.  Axe,  Esk,  Exe, 
Usk;  the  Romans  spelt  both  Exe  and  Usk,  Isca,  and  Ux-bridge 
certainly.  Ox-ford  possibly,  represents  the  same  word.  This  is 
the  old  Keltic  uisc,  the  G.  uisge,  as  in  the  famous  usquebaugh 
or  '  eau  de  vie.'  Simeon  of  Durham  (c.  1130)  writes  of  Exeter 
as  '  Britannice  Cairuisc,  Latine  Civitas  Aquarum.'    Whitley 


12         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

Stokes  held  that  Esk  is  Pictish,  cognate  with  O.Ir.  esc,  '  marsh, 
fen.'  But  in  face  of  the  evidence,  it  seems  very  superfluous 
to  talk  of  Pictish  in  England,  even  in  S.  Cumberland  (R.  Esk 
and  Eskdale).  We  cannot  prove  that  Ox-  in  Oxford  is  the 
same  root ;  stiU  it  is  quite  likely  that  Oxford,  R.  Ock,  Berks, 
and  Ockbrook,  Derbyshire,  are  all  cognates.  The  Latin  name 
of  the  Thames  at  Oxford  is  Isis,  already  so  given  by  Leland 
c.  1550,  but  exactly  200  years  earlier  we  find  it  in  Higden's 
Polychronicon  as  Ysa.  It  seems  most  likely  that  Isis  also  is 
related  to  uisc  and  to  the  R.  Ouse.  A  plausible  O.E.  origin 
can  be  suggested  for  the  Ouse,  which  is  partly  confirmed  by 
the  forms  given  under  Great  Ouse.  But  Oxnam,  on  the 
Roxburgh  border,  though  already,  c.  1150,  Oxeneham,  stands 
upon  a  Httle  burn  called  the  Ousenan  ;  and  this  hiUy  region  can 
never  have  been  very  suitable  for  oxen,  so  that  Ox-  as  weU  as 
Ouse,  which  appears  four  times  in  England,  may  well  mean 
'  river  '  too. 

The  Cheshire  Dee,  Ptolemy's  Deva,  the  modem  W.  Dwfr 
Dwy  {'  two  rivers  '),  likewise  means  '  river,'  whilst  the  R.  Dove, 
Derby,  and  R.  Dovey  or  Dyfi,  S.  Wales,  are  both  forms  of 
this  W.  dwfr  or  dwr,  O.W.  dvhr  ;  and  the  same  root,  W.  dwr,  or 
G.  dobhar  {bh  mute),  is  also  seen  as  forming  half  of  such  stream 
names  as  Adder  or  Adur  (there  are  three  such  rivers),  J5erwent 
(three  also),  Darwen,  and  Kielder.  The  Westmorland  R. 
Lowther  is  probably  but  Keltic  for  '  canal '  or  '  trench.'  The 
R.  Aide,  Suffolk,  seems  cognate  with  the  G.  allt,  '  a  burn,'  seen 
pure  and  simple  in  the  Alt,  Lanes,  and  as  a  compound  in  many 
a  Scots  name — Aldourie,  Garvald,  etc.  Then  Wey,  a  river- 
name  both  in  Surrey  and  in  Dorset,  is  plainly  W.  gwy,  '  a  river,' 
especially  a  slow-flowing  one,  probably  seen  again  in  the  Suther- 
land G.  uidh.  And,  of  course,  we  have  the  same  root  in  the 
R.  Wye,  Domesday's  Waia,  and  in  the  Gowy,  a  httle  Cheshire 
tributary  of  the  Mersey.  Tyne,  too,  may  mean  '  river  '  and 
little  more.  All  this,  when  summed  up,  forms  a  remarkable 
mass  of  evidence  in  proof  of  the  statement  with  which  we 
began,  that  EngUsh  river  names  very  often  mean  plain  '  river  ' 
or  'stream,'  nothing  else. 

Again,  there  is  a  considerable  group  of  names  which  mean 
simply  '  quiet,  smooth,'  or,  possibly,  '  broad  river.'  The  forms 
in  the  group  vary  a  good  deal — Taff  (and  Llan-daff),  Tame 


INTRODUCTION  13 

(and  Tam-worth),  Tamar,  Tavy,  Taw,  Teme  (tributary  of 
Severn),  Thame,  Thames;'  almost  certainly  Tone  (and  Taun- 
ton) and  Tweed,  too.  A  similar  group  is  formed  by  the  three 
rivers,  Leven,  Lanes,  Leaven,  Yorks,  and  Levant,  S.W.  Sussex, 
aU  from  W.  ttev,  which  likewise  means  '  smooth  ' ;  but  these 
EngUsh  Levens  can  hardly  have  the  same  origin  as  the  many 
Levens  {q.v.)  of  Scotland.  As  for  the  rest  of  our  Keltic  river 
names,  many  of  them  are  very  hard  to  explain,  and  a  good 
many  may  remain  for  ever  insoluble,  their  history  has  been  so 
completely  lost.  Only  a  few  English  river  names — Ribblb, 
e.g. — can  confidently  be  claimed  as  evidence  of  the  certainly 
widespread  river- worship  of  our  Keltic  ancestors.  What  there 
is  to  say  will  best  be  noted  in  our  chapter  on  Wales.  Rivers 
like  the  Lug,  a  case  in  point,  are  common  to  both. 

If  the  meaning  of  our  river  names  be  often  difficult  to 
unravel,  we  are  in  a  far  worse  plight  about  many  of  the  names 
of  our  most  conspicuous  hills  and  mountains,  largely  because 
in  so  many  cases  we  have  no  early  record  of  the  spelling,  and 
sa  we  have  been  deHvered  over  to  much  guesswork,  more  or 
less  sober.  Nobody,  e.g.,  seems  to  know  where  the  name 
Pennines  came  from,  and  about  such  an  attractive  name  as 
Helvellyn  we  can  only  make  guesses.  But,  as  with  the  rivers 
so  with  the  heights,  many  of  our  Keltic  hiU  names  either  mean 
simply  'height,'  or  else  are  compoimds  including  that.  S.g-, 
the  W.  mynydd,  '  hill, '  may  crop  up  alone  in  Mint,  Westmorland, 
and  Munet,  Salop,  ^  but  it  is  surer  in  compounds,  such  as 
Long-mynd,  Ok-ment  Hill  (Devon),  and  Stad-ment  (Here- 
ford). Brean,  on  the  Somerset  coast,  is  but  the  plural  of  W. 
hre,  '  a  hiU,  a  brae  ' ;  and  the  Northumberland  Carrick,  like  its 
Scottish  and  L^ish  kindred,  means  simply  an  outstanding  rock, 
whilst  Tor  in  Torbay  and  Torquay,  Cat  Tor,  etc.,  is  another 
word  for  '  a  (tower-like)  hiU.' 

There  are  two  places  called  simply  Penn,  which  is  W.  for 
'head,  height,'  very  common  in  Cornwall  too.  This  fenn  in 
combination  recurs  in  numerous  cases  from  Cumberland  to 
Worcester  and  Somerset.  The  Chevin,  Yorks,  is  a  manifest 
corruption  of  W.  cefn,  '  a  ridge  ' ;  whilst  the  Peak  of  Derbyshire 
is  one  of  our  very  oldest  names,  and  almost  undoubtedly  British, 
though,   curiously  enough,   we  can  only  make  shots  at  its 

1  On  the  Forest  of  Dean  Meends,  see  Baddeley,  Gloucestersh.,  app.  iii. 
See  also  Mindton, 


14         THE  PLAC^-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

meaning.     The  inquirer  ought  to  consult  the  Oxford  Dictionary, 
8.V.     Names  in  England  (not  in  Scotland)  with  the  prefix  Dun- 
are  almost  always  Saxon,  not  Keltic ;  but  we  get  the  Keltic  or 
W.  form  in  Dinmore  Hill,  Hereford,  W.  din  mawr,  'big  hill,' 
whilst  Dinder,  Wilts,  is  apparently  din  dwr,  '  hill  by  the  river.' 
Moel,  the  W.  for  '  a  bold,  conical  hill,'  G.  maol,  is  very  common 
in  W.  hill  names;  but  we  probably  see  it  also  in  the  Cumber- 
land Millbreak,  '  speckled  hill,'  and  in  Malvern,  '  hill  of  alders,' 
whilst  the  Lickey  Hills  near  by  do  but  give  us  the  W.  llechau, 
pi.  of  Uech,  '  a  rock,  a  stone.'    Pure  Welsh  hill  names  have 
seldom  survived  amongst  English  shires,  but  there  is  one  con- 
spicuous exception  in  Pennygant,  a  name  of  many  modern, 
but  few  or  no  ancient,  spellings,  representing  either  penn  y 
gwant,  '  height  of  the  butt  or  mark,'  or  y  gwynt,  '  of  the  winds.' 
The  well-known  Somerset  Quantocks  yield  us  a  very  interesting 
name.     In  an  old  charter  long  before  the  Conquest  they  are 
spelt  Cantuc,  in  Dom.  Cantoche,  which  is  at  once  decipherable 
as  W.  cant  uch,  '  upper,  higher  circle.' 

As  to  valleys,  we  have  several  examples  of  the  Keltic  glen  in 
Northumberland,  and  at  least  one,  GLEisrconN",  in  Cumberland. 
Besides  it  is  now  generally  admitted  that  the  common  English 
combe  is  a  loan- word  from  the  W.  cwm,  '  a  hollow  ' ;    and  this 
last  is  still  to  be  seen  in  quite  a  group  of  names  in  Cumberland. 
Unfortunately,  in  this  former  home  of  the  Brythons,  surviving 
evidence,  dating  before  the  twelfth  century,  is  exceedingly 
scanty.    Indeed  the  only  Cumberland  Cum-  which  seems  to 
be  known  early  is  Cumdivock,  found  in  one  of  the  very  few 
early  charters,  c.   1080,   as  Combedeyfoch.     The  prefix;  here 
certainly  wears  its  English  form,  but  the  name  seems,  pure 
Keltic  none  the  less.     We  cannot  identify  deyfoch  with  any 
English  root.     Except  Cumcatch   ('vaUey  of  Caecca '),   and 
probably  Cumwhitton,  all  the  rest  of  the  Cums-  appear  Keltic — 
Cumlongan,  Cumrangan,  Cumraw,  Cum  whin- ton,  and  the  rest. 
On   our  sea-coast  the   after-coming   and  more   sea-loving 
Saxon  and  Norseman  have  allowed  the  Kelt  to  leave  little 
mark.    Of  inlets  of  any  consequence  with  Keltic  names  there  are 
very  few,  the  chief  exceptions  being  the  Humber,  which  must 
be  an  aspirated  form  of  Cumber,  W.  cymmer,  'a  confluence,' 
and  the  Solent,  another  difficult  name,  though  probably  con- 
taining the  Keltic  sol,  '  tide.'  Morecambe  Bay  is  plainly  a  repro- 


INTRODUCTION  15 

duction  of  Ptolemy's  MopiKa/x^i],  but  the  name  seems  to  have 
appeared,  or  reappeared,  quite  recently,  and  must  be  due  to 
the  antiquaries,  a  very  rare  state  of  matters  with  a  place-name. 

When  now  we  proceed  to  town  and  village  names,  we  do 
find  a  considerable  number  indisputably  Keltic,  but  not  nearly 
so  many  as  has  commonly  been  thought.  Still,  a  few  of  the 
very  greatest  names  in  England,  both  in  Church  and  State, 
are  Keltic,  not  Teutonic :  London,  to  begin  with,  and  York  and 
Carlisle,  with  Jarrow  and  Truro  a  little  less  notable;  great 
travellers'  rendezvous  also  like  Dover  and  Crewe,  as  well  as 
Carlisle  and  York,  whilst  ancient  dwelling-places  like  Dor- 
chester and  LiN-coLN  are  half  Keltic,  half  Roman  (or  Saxon). 
There  has  been  a  good  deal  of  debate  about  several  of  these 
names,  not  least  about  London,  which,  through  its  com- 
mercially commanding  site,  is  probably  the  oldest,  whilst  still 
the  greatest,  of  British  cities.  These  debatable  names  wiU 
be  found  fully  discussed  under  their  proper  headings.  York 
looks  very  English  in  its  present  shape,  but  it  is  nothing  else 
than  a  Saxon  re-spelling  of  a  Keltic  Eburach.  Lincoln  is  often 
associated  with  lindens,  but,  as  it  is  as  old  as  the  second  century 
at  least,  the  Lin-  must  be  Keltic.  Dover,  with  its  cognates 
CoNDOVER,  Salop,  and  Dovercourt,  Harwich,  is  a  very 
interesting  name,  being  simply  British  for  '  water  '  or  '  channel 
of  water, '  W.  dwfr,  G.  dobhar,  the  true  British  sound  being  still 
preserved  for  us  by  our  French  neighbours,  who  call  it 
Douvre(s). 

Apart  from  the  sporadic  names  just  cited,  Keltic  towns  and 
village  names  occur  in  any  considerable  numbers  only  in  ten 
counties :  Northumberland,  Cumberland,  Lancashire,  Cheshire, 
Salop,  Hereford,  Monmouth,  Somerset,  Dorset,  and  Cornwall; 
Durham,  York,  and  Devon  have  strangely  few,  all  things  con- 
sidered ;  whilst  several  counties,  like  Westmorland,  Rutland, 
Norfolk,  Suffolk,  Cambridge,  Huntingdon  and  Hertford,  seem 
to  have  practically  no  sure  Keltic  names  at  all.  This  is 
so  far  as  the  present  writer  has  noted.  Only,  for  present 
purposes,  he  has  seldom  found  it  possible  to  go  beyond 
the  ordinary  good  atlases  and  books  of  reference,  the  Postal 
Guide  and  Bradshaw.  Cheshire  he  has  specially  investigated, 
and  for  this  reason  probably  he  has  found  there  more  Keltic 
town  and  village  names  than  in  any  other  shire  (except,  of 


16         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OP  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

course,  Monmouth  and  Cornwall),  about  twenty-two  in  all;  not 
a  very  large  number  wherewith  to  head  the  list,  and  several  of 
these  are  too  insignificant  to  find  place  in  any  ordinary  map 
or  gazetteer.  Next  come  Cmnberland  with  eighteen,  and 
Salop  and  Hereford  with  sixteen ;  but  a  minute  investigation 
would  certainly  produce  more  in  these  last  cases.  Dorset,  it 
is  remarkable,  has  at  least  seven.  Only  on  the  Welsh  border 
and  in  Cumberland  do  we  find  names  of  the  regular  W.  or 
Keltic  tj^e — names  like  Cakdubnock  or  Penruddock,  Cimi- 
berland;  Bettws  y  Crwyn,  Gobowen,  Trefonen,  or  Buildwas  in 
p  Salop ;  and  Pontrilas  or  Rhiwlas  in  Hereford. 

But  more  interesting,  and  always  surrounded  with  some 
perplexity,  even  doubt,  are  the  solitary  names  which  occur, 
like  islets  in  the  ocean,  in  purely  English  regions — ^names  like 
Penge  (Surrey),  Wendover  (Bucks),  QuEMER-ford  (Wilts), 
or  Yale  (Derby).  It  is  difficult  to  account  for  such  isolated 
survivals  from  the  old  British  days,  except  where  the  names 
embody  a  river,  as  is  the  case  with  Wendover  and  Quemer-f  ord, 
this  last  being  W.  cymmer,  '  confluence, '  the  same  name  as  the 
well-known  Quimper  in  Bretagne.  The  number  of  stiU  remain- 
ing Keltic  names  in  Somerset  and  Dorset  indicates  a  long  and 
not  altogether  imsuccessful  struggle  of  Briton  against  Saxon. 

The  O.W.  and  G.  lann,  mod.  W.  llan,  Corn.  Ian,  cognate 
with  our  own  Eng.  land,  occurs,  as  is  well  known,  a  good  many 
times  on  the  English  side  of  the  Welsh  border.  Its  original 
meaning  is  '  a  level  spot,'  then  'an  enclosure,'  then  '  a  sacred 
enclosure,  a  church-yard,'  and  then,  as  it  usually  is  to-day,  '  a 
church';  just  as  the  common  G.  cille  or  cil,  so  frequent  in 
Scottish  and  Irish  names  in  Kil-,  means  '  graveyard  '  before 
it  means  'church,'  though  in  this  case  the  cille  comes  from 
L.  cdla,  *  a  chamber,'  and  then  '  a  (monk's)  cell.'  In  England 
this  cille  is  found  perhaps  only  in  Kyl-oe  in  the  extreme  North. 
The  earliest  recorded  EngUsh  Lan-  seems  to  be  Lantocal 
[B.C. 8.  47),  in  a  charterwhich  is  dated  680.  It  is  described  as 
near  Ferramere,  a  place  unknown.  It  may  he  the  same  name 
as  Landicle,  Cornwall,  '  church  of  St.  Tecla.'  The  only  Lan-  in 
Domesday  seems  to  be  Landican,  West  Cheshire,  which  is 
possibly  W.  llan  diacon,  'church  of  the  deacon,'  though  it  is 
not  now  a  parish  church.  Crockford's  Directory  gives  only 
Llandecwyn,  Carnarvon.     Of  the  soft  II  or  thl  there  is  no 


INTRODUCTION  17 

trace  till  long  afterwards.  But  there  are  at  least  five  regular 
Hans  in  Hereford.  Elsewhere  there  seems  only  one,  Llany- 
mynech,  Salop,  '  church  of  the  monk  '  (L.  monachus).  There 
is  also  in  Hereford  a  spurious  Llan-  (a  modern  notion,  counte- 
nanced by  His  Majesty's  Post- Office),  Llangrove,  Ross,  which 
all  old  spellings,  as  weU  as  its  present  appearance,  prove  to  be 
neither  more  nor  less  than  Long  Grove  ! 

The  names  of  our  Enghsh  counties  also  present  a  large 
pre -Saxon  element,  often  with  a  Latin  ending,  as,  e.g., 
Glou-cester,  Lan-caster,  Lei-cester,  Lin-coln,  Wor-cester,  and 
even  the  simple  Chester  or  Cheshire ;  more  rarely  with  a  Saxon 
ending,  as  in  Corn- wall  and  Dor-set,  Mon-mouth  and  War- wick. 
Not  seldom,  however,  the  shire  name  is  pure  British,  as  in  York, 
Kent,  and  Devon,  whilst  fair  claim  for  a  Keltic  origin  may  also 
be  put  in  for  Berks  and  Wilts,  as  well  as  for  both  Ox-ford 
and  CAM-bridge.  Thus,  out  of  the  forty  shires,  only  twenty- 
three  have  names  clearly  post-Keltic  in  their  ancestry,  a  very 
noteworthy  fact.  The  origin  of  several  of  our  shire  names  is 
highly  disputable;  they  will  be  found  discussed  as  far  as 
possible  under  their  proper  headings. 

Considering  that  England  and  Scotland  were  peopled  at  first 
by  the  same  two  Keltic  races,  the  Goidel  and  the  Brython,  it 
is  surprising  how  few  Keltic  place-names  are  common  to  both. 
Of  town  and  village  names  there  are  aU  but  none.  There  is  a 
Crewe  near  Granton,  Edinburgh,  but  it  seems  modern.  There  is 
a  Currie,  Midlothian,  as  well  as  a  Curry,  Somerset.  Press, 
Coldingham  (Berwickshire),  is  very  near  to  Prees,  Salop,  aitd- 
Clun,  Salop,  is  very  near  to  -the  common  Scottish  Clunie. 
There  is  a  Troon,  Camborne  (Cornwall),  in  addition  to  the  well- 
known  golfing  resort  on  the  Ayrshire  coast;  and  the  puzzling 
name  Blyth  occurs  both  N.  and  S.  of  the  border;  so  does 
Glass  (Glass  Houghton,  as  well  as  Glass,  Huntly).  But  Ross, 
while  a  town  name  in  England,  is  name  of  no  town  in  Scotland. 
Aught  else  worth  mentioning  there  appeareth  not.  With 
river  names,  of  course,  it  is  quite  different.  We  have  Adder, 
Allen,  Alt,  and  Avon,  all  common  to  both;  so,  too,  are  Dee, 
Don,  Douglas,  Eden,  Esk,  and  Leven,  and  perhaps  others ;  whilst 
the  Scots  R.  Devon  is  considered  to  have  the  same  origin  as 
that  of  the  English  shire. 


18         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 


PROVISIONAL  LIST  OF  KELTIC  PLACE-NAMES  IN 

ENGLAND. 

{Monmouth  and  Cornwall  excluded.    Names  before  the  line  in  each 
county  are  natural  features  ;  names  after  it  towns  and  villages.) 


Northumberland  . 

Allen. 

AJne. 

Alwyn. 

Amble  (?). 

Blyth  (?). 

Breamish  (?). 

Carrick, 

Carter  (Fell). 

Cheviots. 

Glen,  R. 

Glencune. 

Glendhu. 

Glenwhelt. 

Elielder. 

Kinkry  Hill. 

Lindisfame. 

Till. 

Tippalt  (Bum). 

Tweed. 

Tyne. 

Us  way -ford. 

Amble  (?). 

Cambo. 

Cambois. 

Carvoran. 

Kyl-oe. 

Mindrum. 

Ogle. 

(East)  Ord. 

Pressen. 

Cumberland. 

AIne  or  Ellen,  R. 

Croglin. 

Derwont. 

Eden. 

Esk. 


Gelt. 

Glaramara. 

Glencoin. 

Glenderamackin. 

Helvellyn. 

Irt. 

Irthing. 

Mellbreak. 

01dMan(?). 

Wampool. 

Arrad  (Foot). 

Blencow. 

Cardumock. 

Carlisle. 

Carnarvon. 

(Castle)  Carrock. 

Culgaith. 

Cumdivock. 

Cumrangan. 

Cumran-ton. 

Cumrew. 

Cum  whin-ton. 

Durdar. 

Lasket. 

Lindeth. 

Pelutho. 

Penrith  (?). 

Penruddock. 

Ravenglass. 


Westmorland. 

Lowther. 
Winster. 


Mint(?). 
Pendragon  (Castle). 


Durham. 

Fendrith  HiU. 
Tees. 


Goundou. 

Jarrow. 

Pencher. 


Lancashire. 

Alt,  R. 

Darwen. 

Douglas. 

Duddon. 

Glaze-brook  (?). 

Hesketh  (?). 

Hodder. 

Irwell. 

Leven. 

Lune. 

Morecambe  (Bay) . 

Pendle  (HiU). 

Ribble  (?). 

Wyre  (?). 


Cart-mell. 

Colne. 

Darwen. 

Manchester. 

Penketh. 

Penwortham. 

Preese. 

Roose. 

Treales. 

Wemeth. 

Wigan  (?). 


INTRODUCTION 


19 


Yorkshire. 

The  Chevin. 

Derwent. 

Don. 

Gorple  Water. 

Hodder. 

Humber. 

Ouse. 

Pennines  (?). 

Pennygent. 

Pinnar  (Pike). 

Ure. 

Whem-side. 

Alne. 

Crayke. 

Glass  (Houghton). 

Nidd. 

Rathmell. 

Roos. 

Thirsk  (?). 

York. 

Cheshiee. 

Biddle, 

Bollin. 

Cat  Tor. 

Croco. 

Dane  or  Daven. 

Dee. 

Duddon. 

Etherow. 

Gowy. 

(Knolton)  Bryn. 

Mowl  (CJop). 

Walwem, 

Weaver  (?). 

Wheelock. 

Garden. 

Carlett. 

Condate. 

Crewe. 

Daven-port. 

Duddon. 

Frith. 

Ince. 


Kerridge. 

Lach  Dennis. 

Landican. 

Leese. 

Discard. 

Macefen. 

Pettypool. 

Rowarth. 

Tallam  Green. 

Tarvin  (?). 

Tidnock.  . 

Tor-side. 

Wervin. 

Wincle  (?). 

Lincoln. 

Glen,  R. 
Witham. 

Kyme. 
Lin-coln. 

Derby. 

BuU  (Gap), 

Derwent. 

Erewash  (?). 

Noe. 

Ock  Brook. 

Winster. 

Crich. 

Pentrich. 

Yale. 

Stafford. 

Barr  (Beacon). 

Blythe  (?). 

Chumet. 

Ocker  (Hill). 

Stour. 

Tame. 

Tean. 

Trent. 

Weaver  (HHls)  (?). 

Bre-wood. 
Cannock. 


(Great)  Barr. 

Hints. 

Keele. 

Mon-more. 

Morfe. 

Onn      (High 

Little). 
Penkhull. 
Penkridge. 
Pensnett. 
Ridware. 
Talke. 
TrysuU. 

Salop. 

Caradoc. 

Ceiriog. 

Longmynd. 

Ouny. 

Roden. 

Severn. 

Teme. 

Wrekin. 


and 


Bettws-y-Crwyn. 

Buildwas  Abbey. 

Clun. 

Clungun-ford. 

Condover. 

Gobowen. 

Hints. 

Kinver  (Forest) . 

Knockin. 

Llanymynech. 

Munet  (?). 

Myddle  (?). 

Prees. 

Trefonen.   . 

Wem  (?). 

Wenlock. 


Notts. 

Devon. 

Dover-beck.  - 

Leen. 

Mann  or  Maun. 

Soar. 


20         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

Oxford. 


Leicester. 
Bar-don  HiU. 

Glen  (Magna). 

'RjJTLAKD. 

Guash  (?). 

Norfolk. 
Ant. 
Ouse. 
Tass. 
Waveney. 
Wilney  (?). 
Yare. 

Tnmch. 

Cambridge. 

Cam  or  Granta. 
Kennet. 

Tydd  (?). 

Hunts. 

northants. 
Ise,  R.  (?). 
Nen. 


Warwick. 
Alne. 
Arrow  (?). 

Coundon. 
Crick. 

Worcester. 

Dover-dale. 
Dur-bridge. 
Gladder  Brook. 
Lickey  Hills. 

Corse  Lawn  (?). 
Kyre. 


Malvern. 

Mamble. 

Mathon. 

Pencrick-et. 

Pendock. 

Pensax. 

Pinwin. 

Rhyd  y  Groes. 

Tump. 


Hereford. 

Dinmore  (Hill) . 
Howie  (Hill). 
Lugg. 
Wye. 

Dilwyn. 

Ewyas. 

Foy. 

Llancillo. 

Llanf  aino  or  -  veynoe. 

Llangarron. 

Llanwame. 

Llowes. 

Madley. 

Pencoyd. 

Pencraig. 

Pontrilas. 

Rhiwlas. 

Ross. 

Stadment. 

Trumpet. 


Suffolk. 

Aide. 
Blyth  (?). 
Deben. 


Bedford. 


Bucks. 

Chet-wode. 
Kimble  (?). 
Wendover. 


CMltems  (?). 

Isis. 

Thame. 

Thames. 

Windrush. 


Gloucester. 

Andover-ford. 

Bream. 

Car  ant. 

Cam. 

Chum. 

Doverle. 

Leaden. 

Sarn-hill. 

Dymock(?), 

Glou-cester. 

Lancaut. 

Meon. 

Newent  (?). 

Penpole. 

Tump. 

Turk-dene. 


Essex. 


Ouse. 
Pent. 
Roding. 
Writtle. 


ChichSt.  Osyth. 


Herts. 


Colne. 
Rib  (?). 
Ver  (?). 


Middlesex. 
Brent. 


London. 


INTRODUCTION 

21 

Berks. 

Hamble  (?). 

Brue. 

1*  cxn  Ti  <i4" 

Meon. 

Carey. 

ivennei/. 
Kimber. 

X       J  1            /  o\ 

Solent. 

Creech  HiU. 

Test  or  Tees. 

Frome. 

Loddon  (?). 

Ock. 

Thames. 

Wight  (Isle  of). 

Mendips. 

Yar. 

Parret. 
Quantocks. 

Andover. 

Tone. 

Bedwin(?). 

Burgh(clere). 
Cendover  (?). 

EIent. 

Chute  (Standen). 

Badcox. 

Chilcott  (?). 

Inlade. 

TTT 

Creech  (St.  Michael). 

Kent. 

Wilts. 

Curry. 

Limen. 

Adder  or  Adur. 

Dunster  ? 

Medway. 

Avon. 

(East  and   West) 

Stour. 

Wiley. 

Chinnock. 

Teise. 

•/ 

"R^TrfcTYl  A 

Thanet. 

Cable. 

"TT"                   1 

Kenn. 
Pennard. 

Knook. 

Appledore  (?). 

Knoyle. 

Wookey. 

Dover. 

Quemer-ford. 

Lynne  or  Lymne. 

Dorset. 

Devon. 

SUKREY. 

Allen.  • 

Axe. 

Wandle  (?). 

Brit. 

Creedy. 

Wey. 

Ceme. 
Divelish. 

Exe. 

-r             1 

Lewdown. 

Penge. 

Stour. 

Lid. 

Tillywhim  (Caves). 

Lundy  I. 

Sussex. 

Creech. 

Oknient(Hill). 
Plym. 

Amn. 

Dewlish. 

Tamar. 

Dove. 

Dor-chester. 

Taw. 

Levant. 

Pensel-wood. 

Teign. 

Oase. 

Pentridge. 
Pimp-eme. 
Warminster  (?). 

Torridge. 

Hants. 

Winfrith. 

Appledore  (?). 
CloveUy. 

Anton. 
Avon. 

Somerset. 

Clyst, 
Dawhsh. 

Boldre. 

Axe. 

Quither. 

Exe. 

Brean. 

Tor-quay. 

22 


THE  PLACE-NAMES  OP  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 


Possible  Pre-Keltio  Names. 


Awre. 

Croco,  R. 

Biddle,Il. 

Etherow,  R. 

Blythe. 

Itchen,  R.  (2). 

Bollin,  R. 

Ithon,  R. 

Cheviots. 

Kennet,  R. 

Cole,  R. 

Meon, 

Colne,  R. 

Severn,  R. 

Etc. 

Sow,  R.  (2). 
Stour,  R. 
Teign,  R. 
Trent,  R. 
Wrekin. 
Writtle,  R. 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  ENGLISH  ELEMEIvT 

This  is,  out  of  sight,  the  element  in  the  place-names  of  South 
Britain,  but  it  will  be  needless  to  tread  again  the  well-trod 
path  of  early  English  history.    We  only  need  to  repeat  for  the 
sake  of  the  place-name  student  a  bare  skeleton  of  facts  and 
dates  to  furnish  a  little  clearness  and  coherence  to  his  thoughts. 
As  everybody  knows,  the  Teutonic  races  of  Middle  Europe, 
who  gradually  swarmed  over  to  our  England,  were  chiefly 
three  in  number — Jutes,  Angles,  and  Saxons.     To  these  we 
must  add  a  fourth  race  closely  aUied  to  the  Saxons,   the 
Frisians  of  Holland,  all  the  way  from  the  Scheldt  to  the  Ems 
and  Weser  in  N.W.   Germany;    probably  our  own   nearest 
kinsmen  by  blood.    For,   '  Good  butter  and  good  cheese  is 
good    English    and   good    Friese.'    Herdsmen,    husbandmen, 
traders,  and  also  sea-rovers  were  these  our  special  ancestors; 
and  it  was  the  piratical  raids  of  the  Frisians  that  first  brought 
the  Teuton  to  our  shores,  which  were  just  opposite  their  own. 
It  was  in  a.d.  287.     Soon  after  their  inconvenient  attentions 
became  so  serious  that  the  Romans,  still  in  power  in  this 
island,  had  to  appoint  a  '  Count  of  the  Saxon  Shore  '  {comes 
litoris   Saxonici)    to    superintend    and   insure    their   repulse. 
None,  however,  settled  down  on  our  shores  so  early  as  that. 
When  they  first  did  so  we  do  not  know.     Skene  thought  it  was 
very  early,  probably  before  the  traditional  date,  449.   Frisians 
certainly  may  already  have  reached  Lothian  before  500.^ 

By  A.D.  410  the  last  of  the  Romans  had  left  us,  but  the 
native  Brython  was  not  allowed  long  to  enjoy  his  native  land 
to  himself.     In  449 — there  need  be  little  doubt  about  the  date 

1  For  examples  of  Frisian  names  see  Deaene,  Fawlet,  Nab,  Etde, 
TiRLE,  Whistlet,  Wiske,  etc.  Skeat  finds  clear  traces  of  a  Frisian 
settlement  in  Suffolk. 

23 


24         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OP  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

— ttie  first  Teutonic  invaders  with  any  intention  of  becoming 
settlers  appeared  off  the  coast  of  Kent — Jutes  from  Holstein 
in  the  S.  of  Denmark.  A  little  later  these  same  Jutes  also 
settled  down  in  the  Isle  of  Wight  and  part  of  Hants.  We 
cannot  tarry  over  these  dim  bands,  because  we  hardly  know 
what  exactly  their  speech  or  dialect  was,  and  we  can  point  to 
ahnost  no  definite  trace  of  their  influence.  Though  we  may 
conjecture  with  at  least  some  probability  that  one  or  two 
names,  like  Bapchtld  and  Honeychild  in  Kent,  and  Bon- 
church,  Isle  of  Wight,  may  have  had  a  Jutish  origin. 

Next  came  the  Saxons  (L.  Saxons,  Ger.  Sachsen,  the  High- 
lander's Sassenach,  or  Englishmen),  a  race  first  named  by 
Ptolemy  in  the  far  E.  of  Europe,  but  already  located  on 
either  bank  of  the  Elbe  when  they  made  their  first  spring  across 
the  North  Sea,  and  landed  in  477  on  the  shore  of  what  was 
ever  after  called  Sussex,  or  South  Saxon  land.  The  first 
arrival  of  the  third  set  of  invaders  of  our  isle,  the  Angles,  the 
men  who  succeeded  in  giving  their  own  name  to  aU  England, 
is  an  event  which  cannot  now  be  precisely  dated.  But  probably 
before  540  they  had  landed  in  East  Anglia,  sailing  over  from 
that  district  of  Holstein,  which  seems  to  have  been  called  Angul 
because  it  was  shaped  like  an  '  angle  '  or  fish-hook.  The  king- 
dom of  East  Anglia  was  afterwards  split  into  the  '  North  folk  ' 
or  '  South  folk.'  This  last  name,  however,  does  not  emerge 
till  1076,  after  the  Norman  Conquest,  whilst  the  shire  name 
Norfolk  is  first  found  in  Domesday.  But  the  great  region  of 
the  Angle  was  in  the  North,  from  Humber  right  up  to  Forth ; 
and  by  547  we  find  Ida  as  Anglian  King  of  this  Northumbria 
or  North-humber-land.  The  original  Anglian  speech  is  now 
best  represented  by  Lowland  Scots  and  by  the  burr  of  the 
Northumberland  miner.  Before  1400  the  same  tongue  was 
heard  all  the  way  from  Hull  to  Aberdeen.  But  distinctively 
Anglian  elements  cannot  be  said  to  be  prominent  anywhere  in 
our  names. 

In  577  Ceawlin,  King  of  Wessex  or  of  the  West  Saxons,  won 
the  Battle  of  Dyrham  (Gloucester),  and  so  became  master  of 
the  lower  Severn — i.e.,  of  Gloucester  and  of  part  of  Somerset 
and  Dorset.  Thus  early  was  the  much  weaker  Brython  driven 
out  of  his  home  even  so  far  West.  ^Ethelfrith  of  Northumbria, 
who  sat  his  throne  from  593-617,  defeated  the  Brythons,  or 


INTRODUCTION  25 

Welsh,  and  the  Scots  at  Chester,  and  so  added  from  Dee  to 
E-ibble  to  the  sway  of  the  Anglian  sceptre.  Then,  after  a  long 
interval,  the  great  Off  a  of  Mercia,  757-796,  makes  Shrewsbury 
an  English,  no  longer  a  Welsh,  town,  drives  the  Welsh  out  of 
the  mid-Severn  valley,  and  builds  a  dyke  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Dee  South  to  the  mouth  of  the  Wye.  This  is  the  district  of 
England  where  the  Welshman's  tongue  is  still  required  oftenest 
to  interpret  the  place-names.  Not  till  924  did  King  Edward 
the  Elder,  son  of  AKred  the  Great,  and  his  successor  as  King 
of  England,  become  '  father  and  lord '  over  Cumbria  and 
Strathclyde. 

When  the  Brython  remained  so  long  in  power  in  the  North- 
West,  we  do  not  wonder  that  true  English  names  are  few  in 
Cumberland,  and  we  do  wonder  that  he  has  left  so  few  place- 
names  in  N.  Lancashire.  Twelve  years  later  than  the  English 
lordship  over  Cumbria,  Athelstan,  King  of  Wessex  and  Mercia, 
succeeded  in  absorbing  Cornwall.  But  Knguistically  that  far 
Western  '  horn  '  was  hardly  absorbed  at  all,  and  to  this  hour 
purely  English  names  are  very  rare  in  Cornwall.  By  936,  then, 
all  modem  England  was  nominally  EngHsh,  except  Monmouth- 
shire, which  is  practically  Welsh  still.  We  may  therefore 
affirm  with  some  confidence  that  our  real  English  place-names, 
except  the  few  demonstrably  medieval  or  modem,  grew  up 
between  the  sixth  or  seventh  and  the  tenth  century. 

The  vast  majority  of  our  names  of  any  consequence  are 
as  old  as  Domesday  Book,  whilst  our  contemporary  charter 
evidence  goes  back  in  some  cases  to  the  end  of  the  seventh 
century.  Kemble,  Birch,  Napier,  and  Stevenson  have  printed 
for  us  a  great  store  of  O.E.  charters,  which  yield  us  most 
valuable,  and  often  unmutilated,  forms  for  about  the  whole  of 
the  S.E.  half  of  England,  the  N.  and  W.  limits  running 
round  by  Warwick,  Stafford,  and  Gloucester.  Pre-Domesday 
charters  N.  and  W.  thereof  are,  alas  !  more  than  rare.  Domes- 
day Book  itself  is  a  complete  survey  of  most  of  England,  its 
manors  and  villages,  made  by  order  of  WiUiam  the  Conqueror 
in  1086-87,  and  is  a  wonderful  standby.  But  it  is  very 
unfortunate  that  we  have  no  Dom.  for  Monmouth,  except  a 
scrap,  or  for  any  part  N.  of  Yorks  in  the  E.  The  S.  part  of 
Lancashire  is  given  under  Cheshire,  whilst  N.  Lancashire 
and    the    barony    of    Kendal,    Westmorland,     come    under 

3 


26         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

Yorks.  For  the  rest  Dom.  wholly  faUs.  Exon  Domesday  is 
a  special  transcript  of  the  record  for  Wilts,  Dorset,  Somerset, 
Devon,  and  Cornwall,  with  slight  variations.  Domesday  is  a 
priceless  document.  The  pity  is  that  any  proper  index  to  it 
is  still  so  inaccessible  even  in  many  of  our  best  libraries. 

Domesday,  in  some  ways,  reads  strangely  modern.  Here 
we  find,  to  a  most  surprising  extent,  the  same  names  and  land- 
marks, the  same  manors,  parishes,  and  homesteads,  as  we  do 
to-day.  The  analysis  of  Sir  Henry  Ellis,  in  his  laborious  Intro- 
duction  to  Domesday,  also  shows  that  there  were  in  William  the 
Conqueror's  time  about  1,400  tenants  in  chief,  including 
ecclesiastical  owners,  and  of  under  tenants  7,871.  Of  these 
last  a  surprisingly  large  proportion  are  Saxon,  not  Norman. 
Thus  it  is  that  we  find  so  few  names  of  Norman  lords  embedded 
in  the  names  of  our  towns  to-day.  The  vanquished  has  been 
more  enduring  than  the  victor;  the  Saxon,  like  the  Sicilian, 
absorbed  the  Norman.  Domesday  also  records  some  1,700 
churches,  whose  distribution  seems  passing  strange ;  the  record 
cannot  be  complete,. for  it  gives  364  in  Suffolk,  243  in  Norfolk, 
222  in  Lincoln,  but  only  1  in  Cambs,  and  none  in  Middlesex 
or  Lancashire,  Of  all  these  1,700  Domesday  churches  there 
is  no  proof  that  any  one  existed  in  England  before  the  English 
arrived,  unless  we  except  Landican,  which  is  just  on  the  Welsh 
border  of  Cheshire,  and  a  few  in  Cornwall. 

As  to  the  spelling  of  Domesday,  it  will  help  the  searcher  much 
to  remember  that  Domesday  has  no  j,  v,  or  t/;^  that  it  almost 
always  has  ch  for  k;  that  initial  th  is  almost  always  written  t, 
and  medial  th  always  d;  whilst  the  Domesday  scribes  hate  all 
gutturals,  h,  ch,  gh,  and  very  often  boldly  change  them  into  st^ 
a  fact  which  yields  the  clue  to  many  a  puzzle,  as  we  shall  find 
passim.  The  truth  is,  the  Norman  could  not  himself  pronounce 
gutturals,  nor  did  he  find  sh  easy  either,  and  so  he  usually 
writes  plain  s,  or  else  as  often  he  prefixes  an  e.  The  Norman 
knew  very  little  of  the  English  tongue  and  much  disliked  it, 
and  so  his  English  spelling  is  often  inaccurate.  Still  he  had 
rules  of  his  own,  as  we  have  been  trying  to  tell,  and  these  rules 
once  mastered,  much  of  the  seeming  inaccuracy  disappears. 
Thus  it  is  quite  according  to  rule  that  we  have  in  Domesday 
cherche  or  chirche,   and  not  kirk,   and  Chingeslei  instead  of 

^  In  these  cases  h.e  will  look  instead  for  ge,  i,  u,  or  w. 


mTRODUCTION  27 

Kingsley;  torp  and  not  thorpe,  Torentun  not  Thornton;  orc?e  or 
vrde  always  instead  of  the  common  ending  -worth ;  Liste-corne 
instead  of  Lighthorne  ('thorn- tree  with  the  light  hung  on 
it '),  and  Bristoldestune  for  Brightwalton  {'  Beorhtwald's 
town ') ;  Sorewell  for  Shorwell,  Escafelt  for  Sheffield,  and 
Eseldebourne  for  Shalbourne. 

The  Norman  scribe  has  his  common  errors,  too — e.g.,  the 
putting  of  U  for  Id,  especially  in  -field — Gamesfille  for  Ganfield, 
Licefelle  for  Lichfield,  etc.  More  rarely  we  have  II  for  dl, 
as  in  Celle  for  Cedle — i.e.,  Cheadle.  Other  little  peculiarities 
the  regular  student  discovers  by  degrees  for  himself.  But,  we 
must  repeat,  on  the  whole  in  Domesday  we  have  the  same  names 
as  to-day.  A  map  of  Domesday's  England  would  show  the 
parishes,  manors,  and  landmarks  much  the  same  as  we  find 
them  to-day.  How  very  different  it  would  be  were  the  map 
one  of  eleventh-century  Germany  or  France  ! 

There  is  no  Domesday  for  Durham,  but  the  lack  is  consider- 
ably alleviated  by  the  Boldon  Book,  a  survey  of  the  See  of 
Durham  made  in  1183,  which  gives  us  all  the  town  and  village 
names  of  Co.  Durham,  and  a  good  many  in  Northumberland, 
only  a  century  later  than  Domesday.  For  this  latter  county 
we  have  also  a  good  many  references  in  the  Coldingham 
(Berwickshire)  charters,  which  begin  but  a  very  few  years  after 
Domesday.  The  copious  nomenclature  of  Simeon,  monk  of 
Durham  (d.  1130),  also  does  much  to  atone  for  the  failure  of 
the  Conqueror's  Survey  to  reach  the  farthest  north.  For 
Cumberland  and  Westmorland  we  are  particularly  badly  off, 
except  for  the  Kendal  district.  Their  record  is  poorer  even  than 
that  of  most  of  the  Scottish  counties,  where  as  a  rule  we  are 
far  worse  ofi  for  early  records  than  in  England.  For  N.W. 
England  we  have  little  till  we  come  to  the  Pipe  Rolls  (enrolled 
accoimts  of  the  sheriffs,  etc.)  of  the  latter  haK  of  the  twelfth 
century,  and  they  mention  but  a  handful  of  the  place-names. 

But  once  we  get  well  into  the  twelfth  century  we  find  great 
masses  of  evidence  of  all  sorts  waiting  for  examination.  A 
good  inkling  of  the  variety  of  available  evidence  may  be  got 
by  glancing  at  such  a  laborious  and  scholarly  compendium  as 
Wyld  and  Hirst's  Place-Names  of  Lancashire.  But  a  serious 
difficulty  about  using  the  place-name  forms  found  in  our  O.E. 
charters  is  the  corrupt  and  illiterate  spelling  in  which  so  many 


28       THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

of  them  are  found,  especially  if  they  date  after  a.d.  1000,  We 
have  already  noted  that  anything  in  the  way  of  peculiarly 
Anglian  or  Northumbrian  forms  is  rare.  But  the  difference 
between  Merciaji  and  Wessex  forms  is  pretty  considerable. 
Classic  O.E.  is  the  Wessex  speech  of  the  time  of  Alfred  the 
Great,  c.  a.d.  900 — the  speech  then  spoken  all  the  way  from 
Kent  to  Devon.  It  is  according  to  this  classic  Wessex  tongue 
that  our  O.E.  dictionaries  are  arranged;  so  are  all  the  spellings 
in  Searle's  laborious  Onomasticon,  or  manual  of  O.E.  personal 
names. 

But  many  of  our  charters  are  Mercian — i.e.,  they  belong  to 
what  was  once  the  central  Saxon  kingdom  of  England,  the 
kingdom  of  Offa,  and  the  rest.  The  many  charters  quoted 
by  Duignan  in  his  valuable  books  on  Stafford,  Warwick,  and 
Worcester  are  all  Mercian.  The  Mercian  district  stretched 
from  Ribble  to  Bristol  Channel,  and  from  Humber  to  Thames ; 
Suffolk  names,  e.g.,  are  distinctly  Mercian.  Remains  of  true 
Mercian  before  the  Norman  Conquest  are  rare,  and  until 
quite  recent  years  their  idiosyncrasies  were  little  studied  or 
understood.  A  brief  but  valuable  statement  thereanent  will 
be  found  in  Skeat's  Our  English  Dialects,  1911,  chap,  viii.,  and 
a  study  of  the  parallel  lists  on  pp.  71,  72  will  be  found  helpful. 
We  there  see  in  special  that  the  Mercian  was  inclined  to  dis- 
pense with  those  diphthongs  of  which  the  West  Saxon  was  so 
fond.  He  said  eall,  the  old  Mercian  said  all,  even  as  we  do  at 
this  day.  The  Wessex  man  said  sceap,  the  Mercian  seep, 
which  we  have  softened  into  sheep.  In  Wessex  they  said  geoc, 
in  Mercia  ioc,  which  we  have  made  into  yoke.  The  Wessex 
scribe  wrote  gyrd,  the  Mercian  ierd,  we  write  yard.  Such  things 
need  to  be  borne  in  mind  when  we  are  hunting  through  the 
O.E.  dictionary  to  trace  the  meaning  of  a  Mercian  charter 
name,  and  it  will  easily  be  seen  thai  the  spelling  of  many  a  per- 
sonal name  becomes  much  shorter  than  we  find  it  in  Searle's 
classically  spelt  Onomasticon.  The  Beorhtwealds  and  Earn- 
beorns  and  Heathubeorhts  get  clipped  down  into  Berthold 
and  Arnbiorn  and  Eadbert,  and  even  into  forms  stiU  shorter 
and  less  easy  to  recognize. 

The  student  will  thus  perceive  that  the  careful  study  of 
place-names  at  least  helps,  though  not  a  great  deal,  in  the 
study  of  our  English  dialects.     Names  at  times  take  the  regular 


INTRODUCTION  29 

dialect  forms,  as  in  Zeal  Monachorum  (Devon)  or  ZoY  (Somer- 
set), where  we  have  the  regular  West  Country  z  instead  of  the 
normal  5  ;  or  as  in  the  Gloucester  Yatton,  '  town  at  the  yat ' 
(c/.  Simmon's  Yat),  called  in  the  North  yztt — i.e.,  '  town  at  the 
gate,  or  opening,  or  pass.' 

The  Kelt  had  a  long  start  of  the  Englishman,  and  had  ample 
time  and  occasion  to  give  names  to  all  the  great  natural 
features  of  the  land.  Thus,  as  we  already  know,  all  our  chief 
rivers  still  bear  Keltic  or  pre-Keltic  names.  But  minor  rivers, 
much  more  numerous  than  is  generally  supposed,  bear  purely 
English  names,  some  of  them  very  interesting.  Here  is  a 
rough  list  of  the  chief,  one  or  two  a  little  doubtful:  Anker, 
Bure,  Coquet,  Dearne  (S.  Yorks),  Eamont,  Ember,  Harris 
(Yorks),  Idle,  Irk  (S.  Lanes),  Ivel,  Lark,  Leam,  Linnet 
(Suffolk,  '  a  play  name '),  Lyme,  Manifold  (Staffs),  Mite, 
Ousel,  Ray,  Rea,  Rede,  Rye  (Yorks),  Soar,  Stort,  Swift, 
Waver,  Wythburn.  To  take  the  first  three  only  by  way  of 
illustration.  Anker  is  a  unique  name  of  its  sort,  and  com- 
memorates the  dwelling  of  ancres,  or  female  anchorites,  at 
Nun-eaton.  The  Bure  is  possibly  Frisian  in  name,  its  root 
the  same  as  O.E.  borian,  to  bore,  Sc.  bure  and  Du.  boor,  an 
auger ;  while  the  Coquet  is  the  Coc-wuda  or  '  cock  wood  '  of  the 
very  old  history  of  St.  Cuthbert.  England  has  few  mountains, 
a  good  many  hills.  As  is  but  natural,  most  of  these  have 
Keltic  names,  though  one  has  always  to  be  on  guard  against 
traps.  Inkpen  Beacon,  S.  Berks,  e.g.,  looks  very  like  a 
tautology,  with  English  beacon  (O.E.  been,  bedcen)  =W.penn. 
But  it  is  not  so,  for  Inkpen  is  '  Inga's  pen  '  or  sheep-fold,  just 
as  Inkberrow,  Worcester,  is  pure  Enghsh  for  '  Inta's  hill.' 
Beacon  we  find  again  several  times,  as  in  Worcestershire 
Beacon,  etc.  The  regular  O.E.  word  for  '  a  hill,'  and  then 
'  fort  on  a  hill ' — most  hiUs  once  had  their  forts — is  diHn;  seen 
in  '  the  Downs, '  and  in  a  good  many  names  like  Dunham, 
Dunmow,  etc.  Hill  itself,  in  the  Midlands  hull,  is  good 
English  from  the  earhest  times ;  but  the  common  endings  for 
'  hill,'  like  '  fell '  and  '  pike,'  are  generally  Norse ;  -ridge  is  half 
and  half.  Pure  English  are  such  curious  names  as  Harrison 
Stickle,  and  all  the  Barrows  and  Berrows  and  Brows,  as  in 
Berry  Brow  ;  so  likewise  the  Tippings,  Roseberry,  Blackham, 
etc..  Tipping,  in  the  E.  Riding. 


30         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

The  English  influence  on  our  nomenclature  may  perhaps 

best  be  studied  further  in  connection  with  the  common  endings, 

detailed  in  our  chapter  on  Endings  (p.  46).     We  there  learn 

how  many  of  our  names  once  described  a  lea  or  meadow  (-ley, 

-leigh),  how  many  a  meadow  by  a  river  ('  a  hohn  '),  how  many  a 

'  haugh,'  or  flat  land  by  a  river  (O.E.  Tiealh,  dative  hale,  '  a  comer, 

a  nook '),  found  in  hundreds  of  names  now  as  -haU ;  though  this 

has  nothing  to  do  with  our  modern  English  hall.     But  we  must 

beware  of  concluding  too  hastily  that  any  name  with  an 

English-looking  ending  must  be  English ;  -dale  and  -holm  look 

EngHsh  enough,  but  wiU  often,  the  former  perhaps  always,  be 

found  to  be  Norse.    Very  common  is  -mere,  '  a  lake ' — ten  times 

in  Cheshire  alone — often  now  -mer,  as  in  Cromer,  Dunmer, 

Wahner,  etc. ;  while  the  -mere  may  be   attached  to   a  non- 

Enghsh  name,  as  in  Windermere  ;  and  nowadays  in  the  south 

the  mere  has  generally  disappeared,  altogether  drained  long 

ago.    The  endings  -grave  and  -barrow  often  survive  to  tell 

of  an  old  place  of  sepulture — Belgrave,  Gargrave,  etc, — whilst 

-or  and  -over  are  also  common,  representing  two  distinct  O.E. 

words,  ora  and  ofr,  both  meaning  '  bank,  edge,  shore.'  Cumnor 

is  the  former,  e.g.,  and  Hadsor  the  latter.     The  ofr  often  gets 

clipped  down  into  -er,  as  in  Hasler,  Wooler,  etc. 

There  is  almost  no  commoner  ending  than  -ford,  showing  the 
extreme  importance  of  the  ford  in  the  early  bridgeless  days. 
Ford  and  caster  are  much  the  commonest  endings  in  Bede, 
whilst  names  in  -bridge  are  very  rare  before  the  Norman 
Conquest.  Among  the  very  few  exceptions  are  Bridgenorth 
and  Quatbridge,  (Salop),  and  Cambridge,  found  in  O.E. 
Chron.,  875,  as  Grantebrycge.  Agbrigg  (S.  Yorks),  Sawbridge 
(Daventry),  Bridgford  (Staffs),  and  Slimbridge  (Glo'ster),  are 
already  in  Domesday,  but  not  many  more.  In  shires  hke 
Berkshire  and  Cheshire  there  are  no  early  names  in  bridge 
at  aU. 

The  origin  and  boundary-making  of  the  shires  with  English 
names  has  not  yet  been  fully  worked  out ;  but  this  much  is 
clear:  that  the  five  great  Danish  boroughs — Derby,  Leicester, 
Nottingham,  Lincoln,  and  Northampton — and  the  districts 
around  themwhich  '  obeyed  '  them,  as  the  Chronicle  often  says, 
formed  the  nucleus  of  the  five  modem  counties  with  these 
names.    Similar  Danish  influence  organized  Hunts,  Cambridge, 


INTRODUCTION  31 

Bedford,  and  Herts.  '  Each  of  these  counties  had  a  jarl,  or 
earl,  whose  headquarters  were  at  the  "  borough."  '  Thus 
most  of  the  counties  in  old  Mercia  shaped  themselves  naturally 
rather  than  '  artificially,'  as  Freeman  puts  it.  In  Wessex  the 
counties  still  retain  the  names  of  the  princedoms  founded  by 
the  successors  of  Cerdic.  In  some  of  them  there  was  no  out- 
standing borough,  and  even  though  the  shire  may  contain  a 
town  of  the  same  name,  it  was  seldom  called  directly  after  that 
borough.  '  Local  divisions  in  Wessex  were  not  made,  but 
grew.' 

When  we  come  to  town  and  village  names,  by  far  the  most 
important  item  in  our  repertoire,  we  find  that  they  are  over- 
whelmingly English,  and,  for  the  most  part,  tell  us  over  and 
over  again,  with  aggravating  monotony,  how  that  an  English- 
man's house  was  and  is  his  castle.     To  understand  this  group 
of  names,  one  must  first  master  what  has  to  be  said  about 
-burgh  or  -bury,  about  the  two  -hams,  about  -ton  (always  inter- 
changing with  -don  and  -stone),  and  about  their  compound 
Hampton,  all  of  which  originally  implied  an  enclosure,  prob- 
ably always  at  first  fortified  or  capable  of  defence.     One  must 
also  learn  about  -ing  which  gives  a  tail  as  well  as  a  tale  to 
so  many  English  names,  and  is  not  by  any  means  always  a 
patronjnnic.     Thence  we  learn  that  the  overwhelming  major- 
ity of  our  place-names  teach  us  simply  that  thi.i  was  So-and- 
so's  town  or  home.     The  chances  always  are  that  the  first  part 
of  an  English  town  or  village  name  denotes  the  name  of  some 
man  or  woman,  its  founder  or  former  owner.    Wolverhamp- 
Tour  has  nothing  to  do  with  wolves,  but  with  the  Lady  Wulf- 
runa.     Chtllingham  has  nothing  to  do  with  '  chilly,'  but  with 
a  man  Cilia,  just  as  Cardington  is  from  a  man  Gar  da,  and 
SuNNiNGHiLL  is  '  hiU  of  the  Sunnings.'    A  good  many  town 
and  village  names  indicate  their  stance  upon  a  river — names 
like  Cheltenham,  '  home  on  the  Chelt ' ;  Chorley,  '  meadow  on 
the  Chor  ' ;  Crediton,  '  town  on  the  Greedy  ' — though  it  is  always 
to  be  remembered  that  the  present  names  of  rivers  and  brooks 
are  often  back  formations,  and  that  Chelt  and  Creedy  may 
have  originally  been  names  of  men.     In  like  manner,  Pin  is 
but    a    recent    back  -  formation    from    Pinner,    Rom    from 
RoMFORB,    Yeo    from    Yeovil,    as    well  as  Chehner  from 
Chelmsford. 


32         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

Our  great  business,  then,  in  connection  with  most  names, 
really  is  to  find  out  what  man's  name  is  therein  denoted  or 
included.  Here  some  such  guide  as  Searle's  Onomasticon  is 
indispensable,  to  be  used,  of  course,  after  learning  the  phonetic 
lessons  already  insisted  on.  Searle  took  enormous  pains  to 
render  his  work  as  complete  as  possible,  and  yet  the  investi- 
gator is  for  ever  finding  how  incomplete  it  still  is.  A  run 
through  any  part  of  our  list  will  soon  show  this.  To  take 
one  example,  Searle  gives  no  name  Elk  or  Elc,  and  yet 
we  find  two  Elkstones,  which  make  it  extremely  likely  that 
Elk  must  have  been  a  proper  as  well  as  a  common  noun.  Many 
cases  are  more  certain  than  this;  e.g.,  the  old  forms  of  that 
puzzling-looking  Cambs  name  B Abraham  make  it  certain  there 
must  once  have  been  a  woman  caUed  Badburh,  though  Searle 
knoweth  her  not.  He  gives  us  no  Beorc,  but  it  is  certain  that 
Birch  was  very  early  the  name  of  a  man  as  weU  as  the  name 
of  a  tree  (see  Barking  and  Barkley).  It  would  be  easy  to 
multiply  such  examples  indefinitely. 

The  way  in  which  O.E,  proper  names  have  become  dis- 
torted or  corrupted  is  very  extraordinary,  though  Dr.  Skeat 
always  insisted  that  everything  moved  and  worked  according 
to  phonetic  law ;  so  that  even  such  a  desperate  change  as  Sea- 
court,  Berks,  for  '  Seofeca's  worth, '  or  farm,  was  shown  to  be 
all  correct !  Though  names  like  that  are  indeed  a  warning 
against  all  rash  attempts  to  guess  without  evidence.  Not  far 
from  Seacourt  is  Courage,  and  Courage  is  really  '  Cusa's  ridge  '  ! 
And  who  would  ever  think  that  EUastone,  Staffs,  was  originally 
'  ^thelac's  town  ' ;  that  Shareshill  in  the  same  shire  was  once 
'  Sceorf's  hill ';  or  Stramshall  once  '  Stranglic's  hiU  ';  or  that 
Aberford,  Adderbury,  and  Harbtjry  all  embody  the  one 
protean  name  Eadburh  ?  It  has  always  to  be  borne  in  mind, 
also,  that  two  villages  with  the  same  title  to-day  may  have 
been  derived  from  two  quite  different  names  yesterday.  The 
very  first  names  in  our  List  show  us  how  wary  we  need  to 
be.  Abberley  actually  was  bom  as  'Eadbeald's  lea,'  whilst 
Abberton,  in  the  same  shire,  was  at  first  '  Eadbeorht's  town,' 
and  its  modern  twin  near  Colchester  comes  from  a  woman 
Eadburh.  Even  more  extraordinary  is  it  to  find  that  such  a 
name  as  Adbaston,  Salop,  came  originally  from  the  same  man's 
name  as  Abberley. 


INTRODUCTION  33 

But  the  disappointing  thing  is,  that  when,  after  much 
patient  labour,  we  do  find  out  the  correct  personal  name  em- 
balmed or  embodied  in  the  place-name,  that  is  nearly  always 
all  we  get  for  our  pains.  Stat  nominis  umbra.  The  Saxon, 
unlike  the  more  modest  and  poetic  Kelt,  dearly  loved  to  com- 
memorate himself,  or,  at  any  rate,  his  own  family  name,  in  a 
manor  or  farm  or  village.  But,  in  a  few  generations,  the 
history  of  the  name  is  totally  forgotten,  and  posterity  can  tell 
naught  thereof.  Only  in  a  very  few  cases  can  we  tell  the  story 
of  the  lord  or  lady,  the  abbot  or  monk,  founder  or  name-giver, 
to  the  place.  Malmesbury,  Tewkesbury,  Wolverhampton, 
are  such  cases ;  there  are  not  many  altogether.  Kingly  names, 
hke  those  of  the  great  Alfreds,  Edwards,  and  Harolds,  are, 
strange  to  say,  scarcely  represented  at  all.  It  is  interesting 
to  note,  however,  how  often  very  old  personal  names,  first 
found  in  some  out-of-the-way  place-name,  still  survive,  and  are 
in  use  to-day.  Examples  are — the  personal  name  Gammell  or 
Gemmel,  found  in  Ganthorpe,  Domesday  Gameltorp ;  Gentle 
or  Gentles,  in  Gentleshaw,  Rugeley,  where  a  Jo.  Gentyl  is 
known  in  1341;  Gilhng  in  GiUingham,  1016  Gillingaham ;  Gould 
or  Gold  in  Goldsborough,  Domesday  Goldeburg ;  and  so  on. 

Some  of  our  simple  names,  names  of  towns  and  hamlets,  not 
called  after  any  princess  or  thane  or  any  other  person,  are 
extremely  common.  Few  can  be  aware  how  common  some 
of  them  are ;  here  are  some  calculations  which  have  been  made : 
There  are  in  England,  it  is  said,  87  Newtons  (47  in  combina- 
tion, 40  alone),  not  reckoning  Newtowns;  72  Buttons  (36  in 
combination,  exactly  half) ;  63  Stokes ;  52  Westons  (also  exactly 
haK  in  combination);  47  Thorps  (26  in  combination);  Walton, 
Upton,  and  Stone  occur  over  thirty  times  each;  there  are 
21  Kirbys  and  21  Leighs;  and  Hutton,  Kingston,  and  Thornton 
are  very  common  too. 

Seebohm,  in  his  English  Village  Community  (1883),  p.  362, 
speaks  of  '  the  hasty  conclusion  that  the  Saxons  were  totem- 
ists.'  Yet  not  a  Httle  evidence  seems  at  least  to  point  that 
way.  It  is  certain  that  many  a  village  was  called  after  the 
name  of  a  beast — boar,  lamb,  ox,  sheep,  whale,  wolf,  etc.  The 
only  question  is,  Was  the  beast's  name  first  applied  to  a  man 
before  it  became  applied  to  the  village  ?  (See  such  names  as 
Everthorpe  and  Everton,  Whalley,  etc.) 


34         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

Of  modern  whimsical  names,  like  Four  Throws,  Hawkhurst, 
or  Besses  o'  th'  Barn  andlClock  Face  (Lanes),  England  has 
singularly  few — fewer  far,  in  proportion,  than  Wales. 

The  Common  Element. 

Before  we  proceed  to  the  study  of  the  second  great  Teutonic 
element  in  our  place-names,  the  Scandinavian,  it  will  be  inter- 
esting and  instructive  to  remind  ourselves  how  large  is  the 
element  common  not  only  to  our  Norse  and  purely  English 
names,  but  common  also  to  our  Continental  neighbours  in  the 
homes  of  our  ancestors.  At  least  a  few  of  our  name-endings 
may  have  originated  either  on  Saxon  or  on  Scandinavian  lips — 
e.g.,  the  common  -thorpe  and  -hope;  but  when  careful  scrutiny 
is  made,  -thorpe  will  be  found  almost  always  Danish,  and  -hope 
almost  always  pure  Enghsh.  Thorpe  is,  of  course,  the  cognate 
of  the  German  dorf,  'village,'  as  in  Diisseldorf,  Waldorf,  etc., 
found  in  Schleswig  in  the  form  Gottorp,  and  in  Dutch  as 
Apel-dorp,  Leydendorp,  etc.,  though  -dorp  is  not  nearly  so 
common  as  our  English  -thorpe;  in  S.  Africa,  however,  it  is 
common  enough — Krugersdorp,  etc.  Holm  may  come  from 
either  branch  too;  but  if  it  mean  'a  meadow,'  it  will 
probably  be  English,  whilst  if  it  mean  '  a  flat  island,'  just  as  in 
Bornholm,  Salthohn,  and  many  another  such  name  in  Denmark, 
it  will  be  Danish. 

One  of  our  commonest  endings  is  -burgh  or  -bury;  it  is  just 
as  common  both  in  Germany  and  Scandinavia.  In  Germany 
it  is  usually  -burg,  as  in  Hamburg,  Magdeburg,  and  scores  of 
other  cases.  In  Denmark  it  may  be  -burg,  as  in  Flensburg,  or 
-borg,  as  in  Viborg ;  and  -borg  is  as  common  all  over  Sweden 
and  Norway.  In  Holland  it  is  -burg,  as  in  Doesburg,  Elburg, 
etc. ;  or  else  -berg,  as  in  Geertruidenberg,  's  Heeringberg,  etc. 
In  Norse  names,  -ham,  '  home,'  is  not  so  common  as  in  Eng- 
land ;  but  we  have  weU-known  cases  like  Stal-heim  and  Trond- 
hjem.  In  Sweden  it  appears  as  Lofta-hammer,^  Sand- 
hammer,  etc.  (Icel.  heim-r,  '  village  ').  In  Germany  the  ending 
-heim  is  exceedingly  common — Hildesheim,  Mannheim,  etc. ;  in 
Holland  we  have  a  few  places  ending  as  in  England — e.g.,  Den- 
ham  (Overyssel),  as  well  as  names  like  Arn-hem,  Deutic-hem, 

*  Some  hold  that  here  hammer  means  a  square-shaped  rock. 


INTRODUCTION  35 

etc.    Names  like  Denham  suggest  a  Frisian  origin  for  our 
common  -ham. 

The  common  English  -stead  is,  of  course,  even  commoner  in 
Germany  as  -stadt,  where  it  is  one  of  the  most  frequent  endings 
for  '  town  ' ;  as  -stadt  it  is  almost  equally  prominent  in  Scan- 
dinavia and  Dutch  S.  Africa,  though  hardly  so  in  the  Dutch 
motherland.  The  specially  frequent  Enghsh  -ton  does  not 
seem  represented  on  the  Continent;  but  the  less  common  and 
often  intermingled  -stone  is  very  conspicuous  on  the  map  of 
Germany  as  -stein  —  Ehrenbreitstein,  Oberlahnstein,  etc. 
Havens  are  naturally  common  in  most  Teutonic  lands — Bre- 
merhaven,  Cuxhaven,  etc.,  in  Germany;  Kjobnhavn  (Copen- 
hagen), Frederikshavn,  etc.,  in  Denmark;  in  Sweden  it  is 
often  -hamn  (Icel.  hofn),  as  in  Slitehamn,  Soderhamn,  etc. ;  but 
in  Holland  it  occurs,  though  rarely,  as  with  ourselves — 
Brouwershaven,  etc.  Holland,  perhaps  alone,  gives  us  a 
counterpart  of  the  common  English  -wick  or  -wich,  '  dwelling,' 
as  in  Harder-wijk,  Steen-wijk,  etc. ;  but  if  -kirk  is  common  in 
N.  England,  names  like  Nijkerk  or  NeuMrch  are  common  alike 
in  Holland  and  Germany ;  whilst  the  similar  North  of  England 
-dale  is  common  everywhere  in  Scandinavia  as  -dal,  and  in 
Grermany  as  -thai,  '  valley  ' — Neanderthal,  etc.  England  has 
only  one  firth,  that  of  Solway;  but  the  common  Norse  -fjord 
reappears  in  Wales  as  Haver-ford,  Milford,  etc.  The  ending 
-by  in  England  vies  for  frequency  with  -ton;  and  it  certainly 
is  represented  abroad,  especially  in  Sweden.  In  the  one  Uttle 
island  of  Oland  there  are  five  marked  on  an  ordinary  map. 
(See  also  Chtpping,  etc.) 


CHAPTER  V 

THE  SCANDINAVIAN  ELEMENT 

In  England,  as  in  Scotland,  the  Scandinavian  element  is  not 
only  important,  but  obtrusive.  To-day  Denmark,  Sweden, 
and  Norway  are  each  separate  kingdoms,  with  separate  lan- 
guages, though  these  are  closely  akin,  and,  to  a  large  extent, 
mutually  understandable.  But  in  the  days  when  our  place- 
names  were  in  the  making,  practically  the  same  tongue  was 
spoken  all  over  Scandinavia,  in  Iceland  and  the  Faroes  too. 
The  dictionary  which  we  need  chiefly  to  consult  is  the  Icelandic, 
which  is,  to  aU  intents  and  purposes.  Old  Norse ;  though  some- 
times it  is  modem  Danish  which  yields  the  most  helpful  forms 
for  our  exegesis.  We  commonly  call  the  people  who  spake  this 
tongue  Norsemen ;  the  Old  EngUsh  chroniclers  mostly  call  them 
Danes ;  whilst,  when  they  went  away  south  and  settled  on  the 
north  coast  of  France,  or  far  away  in  Sicily,  we  generally  find 
them  called  Northmen  or  Normans.  Need, '  hunger,  lust  for 
booty  and  adventure,  and  the  scantness  of  their  arable  fields  at 
home,  combined  to  drive  these  hardy  sea-lovers  wide  and  far. 
And,  though  they  always  came  at  first  with  coat  of  mail  and 
battle-axe,  often  they  speedily  settled  down  among  us,  and 
made  admirable  colonists,  diligent  practitioners  in  the  arts 
and  crafts  of  peace. 

Into  aU  the  details  of  the  Viking's  many  invasions  of  Eng- 
land, Wales,  and  Man  we  need  not  go  again.  The  student  can 
easily  learn  what  he  wants  in  the  proper  histories.  Here,  for 
.  our  purposes,  we  need  give  but  the  barest  outline  of  facts  and 
dates.  The  first  Danish  invasion  might,  perhaps,  be  termed 
that  of  the  coming  of  the  Jutes  to  Kent  in  449.  But  it  is  at 
least  doubtful  if  these  Jutes  ever  lived  in  Jutland ;  and,  in  any 
case,  they  were,  in  blood  and  speech,  much  nearer  to  the 
Angle  and  Saxon  than  the  Norse.     When  the  first  Viking 

36 


INTEODUCTION  37 

beached  his  boat  on  English  sand  we  do  not  know;  but  men 
from  the  Hardanger  landed  near  Dorchester  in  the  reign  of 
Beorhtric  of  Wessex,  786-802;  and  the  first  dated  invasion  is 
the  sacking  of  Lindisfarne,  in  the  extreme  north,  in  793. 
Vikings  were  very  fond  of  sacking  monasteries  and  seizing 
their  sacred  spoils,  as  many  a  Columban  monk  to  his  cost  did 
find ;  and,  having  come  once,  they  oft  came  again. 

Glamorgan  saw  them  in  795,  and  rocky  little  lona  in  802; 
whilst  already  by  830  they  had  paid  visits  as  far  away  as 
Cornwall.  Before  850  they  had  overrun  East  Anglia  (Norfolk 
and  Suffolk),  whilst  in  855  Danes  first  wintered  in  Sheppey. 
Stronger  and  stronger  they  grew  in  our  midst,  as  sore-pressed 
King  Alfred  was  made  to  feel.  But  by-and-by  the  tide  turned, 
and  in  886  Alfred  made  his  weU-known  treaty  with  Guthrun, 
King  of  the  Danes.  In  it  the  boundary  between  English  and 
Danish  rule  was  agreed  to  be,  the  R.  Thames  from  its  source 
east  to  the  source  of  the  R.  Lea,  then  north-west  to  Bedford, 
and  up  the  R.  Ouse  to  the  Roman  Wathng  Street,  and  so  by  it 
probably  west  aU.  the  way  to  Chester.  All  north  of  this  fine 
was  the  Dane's,  all  south  thereof  Alfred's.  The  latter,  be  it 
noted,  held  Chester.  Had  the  Danes  held  it,  it  would  have 
been  called  Caster  to-day  (see  p.  49).  In  954  the  English  over- 
threw the  Dane's  rule  in  Deira  (Yorks),  whilst,  be  it  carefully 
noted,  Cumbria  and  Bernicia  (Northumberland  and  Durham) 
never  really  came  under  Danish  dominion  at  aU. 

It  is  weU  known  that  this  rule  revived  again  in  England 
under  King  Swegen,  who  came  from  Norway  with  a  huge  fleet 
and  army,  1013-14,  and  reigned  here  for  one  year  only. 
Then,  after  three  years  of  strife,  great  King  Cnut  was  able  to 
seat  himself  on  England's  throne  for  eighteen  years,  and 
Danish  influence  was  strong  among  us,  though  Cnut  thought  it 
wise  to  send  the  bulk  of  his  Danish  troops  back  to  the  lands 
from  whence  they  canle.  Cnut  was  succeeded  by  the  two 
brothers,  Harold  Harefoot  and  Harthacnut.  With  the  death 
of  the  latter  in  1042,  the  Danish  sceptre  passed  for  ever  from 
our  midst.  We  may  add,  St.  Clement  Danes  was  the  church  of 
a  large  Danish  settlement  in  London,  of  whom  we  are  told  by 
Ralph  de  Diceto.-^     - 

Such  are  the  bare  facts  which  the  annalist  tells:  of  battle 

^  Vol.  i.,  p.  186,  ed.  Stubbs. 


38         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

and  bloodshed  much,  but  of  the  actual  nature  of  the  Danish 
settlement  very  little.  Here  the  study  of  place-names  comes 
in  to  offer  at  least  some  help.  What  it  has  to  say  about  Wales 
will  be  found  on  pp.  71  and  72.  To  begin  with,  we  find  that 
Norse  names  are  often  strangely  rare  where  the  Norseman  was 
once  only  too  attentive,  in  the  ancient  kingdom  of  Bernicia 
e.g.,  from  Tyne  to  Forth.  In  all  Northumberland  we  can  set 
eyes  on  the  merest  handful  of  Norse  names.  Lucker  is  sure, 
Brinkbuen  and  New-biggin-by-the-Sea  are  probable.  On 
the  Borders  we  have  a  number  of  '  fells  ' — Carter,  Fairwood, 
Girdle,  and  Peel  Fells ;  but  as  a  rule  it  is  only  the  '  fell '  which 
is  Norse,  not  the  rest  of  the  name.  There  are  a  rare  -giU  or 
two,  and  a  few  dales — ^Allendale,  etc. — but  that  is  all. 

On  the  other  hand,  place-names  clearly  show  Danish  settle- 
ment where  there  never  was  Danish  rule — viz.,  in  Cumbria 
proper  (Cumberland  and  Westmorland),  which  simply  teems 
with  names  Danish  rather  than  Norse,  of  all  sorts ;  perhaps  the 
Danes  first  came  over  from  their  Uttle  kingdom  in  the  Isle  of 
Man.     In  Cumbria,  Dane  and  Gael  or  Brython  must  have  been 
in  close  contact  for  many  a  day;  and  occasionally  the  Scan- 
dinavian borrowed  a  word  from  the  Kelt.     The  best-known 
instance  is  the  G.  airigh,  '  a  shiehng,  a  shepherd's  or  herds- 
man's hut,'  which  the  incomers  shaped  into  -argh,  -ark,  or  -ergh, 
as  in  Akklid  and  Pavey  Ark,  Sizergh  (Kendal),  and  as  far 
south  as  Grimsargh,  Preston.     Final  -gh  in  Gaehc  is  now 
generally  mute,  but  it  does  at  times  become  guttural.     The 
purely  Scandinavian  endings  -beck,   -by,   -fell,   -force   {Jors, 
'  waterfall '),  -gill,  -thorpe,  -thwaite,  are  found  everywhere  in 
this  region;  it  would  be  superfluous  to  give  examples.     More- 
over, some  of  these  are  almost  or  quite  peculiar  to  it  and  to  the 
closely    neighbouring    parts — e.g.,   -beck,    -fell,    -force,    -gill, 
-thwaite.     This  would  seem  to  indicate  that  some  special  divi- 
sion of  the  Scandinavian  race  must  have  been  the  settlers  here. 
Yet  it  is  very  difficult  for  us  now  to  say  which  or  what  it  was, 
because,  as  we  have  seen.  Old  Norse  was  so  largely  a  homo- 
geneous language.     Sweden,  at  any  rate,  may  be  ruled  out. 
Runes  show  that  some  Swedes  did  settle  in  England,  but  only 
as  individuals,  never  in  force;  and,  as  for  the  rest,  medieval 
chroniclers  never  seem  to  know  any  difference  between  Dani 
and   Nordmanni.     (It   is   usually   held,    however,    that   East 


INTRODUCTION  39 

Anglia  and  the  region  of  the  five  boroughs — Derby,  Leicester, 
Lincohi,  Nottingham,  and  Northampton — were  peculiarly 
Danish). 

An  ending  like  -beck  occurs  farther  south  as  -bach  or 
even  -beach,  only  now  as  English;  and  -force,  it  may  be  said, 
is  so  rare  in  the  south,  because  waterfalls  are  so  rare  there 
too;  the  same  reason  might,  perhaps,  be  urged  as  to  -fell. 
But  why  should  an  ending  like  -gill  be  confined  almost,  though 
not  altogether,  to  the  north  ?  And,  even  more  singular,  why 
should  -thwaite — '  an  enclosed  or  cut- off  piece  of  land  ' — • 
never  seemingly  be  found  farther  south  or  east^  than  the 
neighbourhood  of  Huddersfield  ?  All  we  can  say  is,  the  many 
-thwaites  in  such  a  hiUy,  rocky  land  as  Cumberland  is  very 
fair  proof  that  the  Danish  settlers  there  as  a  rule  must  have 
been,  not  blood-thirsty  pirates,  but  peaceful  and  most  indus- 
trious peasants,  eager  to  make  the  best  of  things,  just  like  their 
Norse  kinsmen  to-day. 

Another  thing  indicated  by  our  surviving  place-names  is 
this :  that  Scandinavian  influence  in  England  remained  strong 
enough  to  give  and  establish  many  names  long  after  the  Danish 
sceptre  had  fallen  down ;  and  that  means  a  good  deal.  In  proof 
of  this,  we  point  to  such  facts  as  these :  that  in  Cheshire  to-day 
we  can  still  find  at  least  fifteen  Norse  names ;  but  of  these  only 
four  seem  to  be  foimd  in  Domesday,  compiled  1086-87.  This 
seems  to  show  that  a  good  many  of  these  fifteen  names  did  not 
come  into  being  until  a  good  while  after  the  Norman  Conquest.- 
In  Cambs,  which  has  curiously  few  Danish  names,  out  of  the 
five  given  by  Skeat,  four  are  in  Domesday ;  and,  what  is  note- 
worthy, one  of  these  four,  Staine,  has  clearly  been  renamed 
by  Danish  lips,  after  Domesday.  Duignan  has  not  worked  out 
the  Norse  influence  in  his  books  on  Stafford  and  Warwick,  and 
it  is  stronger  in  N.E.  Staffs  and  in  Warwick  than  his  readers 
might  think.  We  have  traced  eight  clear  cases  in  Staffs  and 
about  eleven  in  Warwick;  six  of  the  Staffs  cases  are  in  Domes- 
day, in  Warwick  three,  whilst  other  two  are  found  in  O.E. 
charters ;  but  Rugby  and  Monk's  Kirby  have  been  altered  by 
Danish  tongues  after  Domesday. 

On  the  other  hand,  whilst  history  distinctly  teUs  of  Viking 
visits  to  Cornwall  in  the  middle  of  the  ninth  century,  one  could 
^  But  Eastwood,  Notts,  used  to  be  Easthwaite. 


40         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OP  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

scarcely  have  guessed  it  from  the  present-day  names  of  that 
peninsula.     This  is  all  the  more  curious  seeing  that  Norse 
names  are  so  common  on  the  south  coast  of  Wales.     All  over 
the  south  coast  of  England,  however,  such  names  are  very 
rare,  until  we  come  round  east  to  Kent.     There  seems  one 
curious  exception  in  Bonchurch,  Isle  of  Wight  (Domesday, 
Bonecerce),  which  must  surely  tell  of  some  Norse  landing;  or 
can  it  be  a  real  old  Jute  name  ?     In  Kent  Norse  names  re- 
appear sparsely.    We  have  two  or  three  -giUs,  and  two  weU- 
known  -nesses,  though  it  is  possible  that  both  Dungeness  and 
Sheerness   may  be  pure   English.     Nore   is   Norse,   clear 
enough  ('  a  bay  with  a  narrow  entrance  ') ;  and  then  there  are 
the  names  in  -child,  to  which  M'Clure  has  called  pointed  atten- 
tion, especially  Bapchild,  found  in  O.E.  Chron.,  694,  as  Baccan 
celde   or    '  Bacca's   weU.'    This   is   interestinglyj    even   pro- 
vokingly,  early.     But  the  -child  of  Bapchild  must  be  the  same 
as  the  common  ending  -keld  (O.N.  kelda)  in  the  north — Salkeld 
('  salt  spring  '),  Threlkeld,  etc.     This,  strange  to  teU,  is  also 
the  root  of  St.  Eolda,  which,  as  is  now  well  known,  is  no  saint's 
name  at  aU.     In  a  Kentish  charter  of  858  we  also  find  a  Hwyte 
Celda,  or  '  white  well ' ;  and  there  is  still  in  Romney  Marsh  a 
Honeyckeld  ('  honey-sweet  well ').     Such  names  may  weU  be 
claimed  for  the  Norsemen;  and  reference  to  the  Jutes,  who 
arrived  in  Kent  in  the  fifth  century,  seems  hardly  in  place, 
because,  so  far  as  we  know,  the  Jute  speech  was  English  in 
type,  not  Norse.     So,  then,  there  were  Norse  settlers  in  Kent 
c.  694,  of  whom  we  have  no  direct  historic  record.     With  them 
we  may  venture  to  associate  the  men  who  named  the  few  sur- 
viving '  giUs  '  in  Surrey  and  Sussex — GiU's  lop.  Heron's  GhyU, 
etc. 

When  we  come  to  survey  as  a  whole  the  surviving  evidence 
of  the  presence  of  the  '  hardy  Norseman  '  in  our  midst,  we  find 
that  it  corresponds  nearly,  but  by  no  means  quite,  with  what 
we  should  expect  from  the  historic  evidence.  The  Danelagh, 
or  that  region  of  England  where  Danish  law  did  rule,  is  said  to 
have  comprised  at  its  widest  aU  the  shires  from  Yorks  south  to 
Essex,  Beds,  Herts,  and  Bucks,  and  west  to  Notts,  Derby, 
Leicester,  and  Northants.  Now,  Worsaae,  in  his  Danes  in 
England,  estimated  that  of  1,373  Danish  names  in  aU,  over 
400  are  in  Yorks,  292  in  Lincoln,  90  in  Leicester ;  in  Norfolk 


INTRODUCTION  41 

and  Northants  about  50  each.  These  are  all  Danelagh  shires.' 
But  Cumberland  and  Westmorland  have  about  150  each  too, 
and  Lancashire,  he  says,  about  50.  But  Mr.  Sephton  has, 
much  more  recently,  estimated  the  Scandinavian  names  in 
Lanes  at  about  90.  What  he  says  is,  that  of  500  Lanes  names 
on  record  before  1500,  about  80  per  cent,  are  Low  German, 
18  per  cent.  Scandinavian,  and  only  2  per  cent.  Keltic.  Wor- 
saae  estimated  that  14  other  counties  had  130  Danish  names 
between  them,  and  18  counties  none  at  all;  or,  to  put  it  other- 
wise, about  1,000  of  our  Danish  names  lie  within  the  old 
Danelagh,  and  only  about  400  outside. 

So  far  as  Yorkshire  is  concerned,  mark  and  sign  of   the 
Dane,  in  place-name  ending,  is  so  ample  that  it  would  be  a 
superfluity  to  dwell  upon  it.     The  same  is  true  of  Lincoln, 
most  Scandinavian  of  all  our  shires,  though  little  Rutland  is 
very  Danish  too.     As  we  come  south,  however,  the  mark  and 
sign  grow  less  clear,  and  in  Hunts,  Beds,  Cambs,  and  Herts 
the  trace  is  very  sUght  indeed.     The  most  useful  endings  to 
take  as  guides  or  clues  are  -bie  or  -by,  -caster,  and  -thorpe, 
and  perhaps  -toft.     The  ending  -by,    signifying  simply    '  a 
house,  dwelling,  or  little  settlement,'  is  ubiquitous.     In  Lin- 
coln alone  we  find  it  212  times;  in  Norfolk  there  is  quite  a 
cluster  round  Great  Yarmouth,  the  cluster  extending  as  far 
as  Barnaby,  south  of  Lowestoft,  in  Suffolk;  in  the  rest  of 
Suffolk  sign  of  Dane  is  rare  to  see.^    But  -by  holds  on  along  the 
coast  as  far  south  as  Kirby  Cross  and  Kirby-le-Soken,  near 
Walton-on-the-Naze,  Essex.     Then  it  seems  to  disappear,  and 
not  to  emerge  again  until  we  reach  the  many  inlets  of  Pembroke. 
Inland,  -by  ranges  south  to  Badby,  south  of  Daventry  (North- 
ants),  and  west  to  Rugby  (Warwick) — a  shire  not  reckoned  in 
the  Danelagh.     But,  common  though  the  ending  be,  there  is  not 
a  single  specimen  in  Cambs  or  in  any  of  the  southmost  counties 
of  the  Danelagh,  which  shows  how  brief  and  shallow  Danish 
influence  there  must  have  been.    At  the  Danes'  northern  limit, 
Co.  Durham,  -by  is  said  to  occur  four  times,  no  more. 

The  ending-caster  is  also  somewhat  of  a  guide  to  the  Dane's 
presence,  but  by  no  means  one  so  sure  or  serviceable  as  -by. 
Norse  tongues  alone  preserved  the  Roman  hard  c  in  castrum 
or  castra.     On  the  lips  of  the  Saxon,  aided  by  the  Norman,  the 

^  But  cf.  Thingoe,  etc. 

4 


42         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

c  has  always  softened  into  -cester  or  -Chester.  E.g.,  the  form 
is  always  -Chester  even  in  Durham  (Chester-le-Street,  etc.)  and 
Northmnberland  (the  Chesters,  Hexham,  etc.).  But  in  Cum- 
berland we  find  the  form  to  be  Mun-caster ;  in  Lancashire,  Lan- 
caster itself ;  in  Yorks,  Don-caster ;  in  Lincoln,  An-caster ;  and, 
as  far  south  as  the  north-west  corner  of  Norfolk,  we  have  one 
example  in  Bran-caster.  But,  as  showing  that  Danish  influence 
was  far  from  all-powerful,  even  in  its  own  territories,  we  have 
such  weU-known  names  as  Lei-cester,  Chester-field,  and  Man- 
chester, as  weU  as  Rib-chester,  north-east  of  Preston.  The 
ending  -thorpe  is  also  interesting  and  instructive  to  work  with. 
Many  would  say  that  thorpe  is  quite  an  English  word,  and  no 
sure  token  of  Danish  residence  at  all.  But,  as  the  Oxford  Dic- 
tionary wiU  show,  thorpe  in  any  form  is  a  very  rare  word  in  older 
English;  and,  in  any  case,  the  true  English  form  is  trop  or 
throp,  found  in  place-names  in  almost  purely  English  quarters ; 
only,  very  rarely.  We  have,  e.g.,  Adlestrop,  Chipping  Norton, 
Pindrup,  Upthrup,  Westrip,  and  Wolstrop,  all  in  Gloucester, 
and  Staindrop  ('  stone-built  village  ')  in  S.  Durham ;  also  at 
least  once  in  Yorks,  Wilstrop;  besides,  we  have  Thrupp  both 
in  mid-Oxford  and  S.  Northants;  and  we  have  a  Throope 
away  down  beside  Christchurch,  Hants.  We  have  Thorpes, 
too,  where  any  other  Danish  forms  are  very  uncommon — e.g., 
Thorpe  Thowles,  north  of  Stockton-on-Tees;  Thorpe-le-Soken, 
Essex;  Thorpe  Morieux,  Bury  St.  Edmunds;  and  plain 
Thorpe,  Leiston,  Suffolk.  But  the  only  Thorpe  in  the  Postal 
Guide,  which  is  in  a  distinctly  English  district,  is  Thorpe, 
Chertsey.  We  thus  are  pretty  safe  in  taking  -thorpe  as  a  mark 
of  the  Dane.  It  is  particularly  common  in  Yorks  and  Lines 
(there  are  sixty-three  in  all),  and  quite  common  in  Norfolk; 
but  as  an  ending  it  is  very  rare  south  thereof.  Its  other 
southern^  and  also  its  western  limit  seems  to  be  Eathorpe, 
Leamington,  another  proof  of  Danish  influence  outside  the 
Danelagh;  and  we  have  Thorpe  Constantino  near  Tamworth; 
Not  so  common  an  ending  as  -thorpe  is  -toft  ('homestead'), 
though  common  enough  in  Yorks  and  Lines.  In  five  cases  it 
stands  alone,  and  it  occurs  not  only  in  the  most  Danish  parts 

1  But  also  note,  Upthorpe,  Hunts,  which  seems  to  have  been 
Upeforde  in  Dom.  Astrope  (Herts),  '  East  Thorpe,'  gives  us  the  English, 
not  the  Scandinavian,  form. 


INTRODUCTION  43 

of  tlie  Danelagh,   but   also   in  Cambs  and   Suffolk,    and   in 
un-Danish  Durham,  in  Toft  Hill,  Bishop  Auckland. 

In  Wales  the  Viking  has  left  his  permanent  stamp  on  many  a 
bit  of  the  coast ;  not  so  in  England,  because  it  is  conspicuous  for 
its  absence  of  bays  and  fjords,  unless  it  be  in  Essex  and  Cornwall. 
To  Sheerness,  Nore,  and  Dungeness  in  the  south-east  we  have 
already  referred.  There  seems  little  else  in  the  way  of  name 
with  Danish  cast  upon  our  seashore,  until  you  reach  the  very 
Borders,  where  Solway  Fieth  is  a  doubly  Norse  name.  The 
name  Solway,  though  it  has  been  much  disputed,  is  almost 
certainly  the  O.N.  sol-vag-r  ('muddy  bay,')  the  ending  being 
often  paralleled  in  Scotland  (in  Stornoway,  Scalloway,  etc.) 
Some  of  the  many  nesses  or  headlands  between  Lincoln  and 
Kent — Skegness,  Winterton  Ness  (Norfolk),  the  Naze,  etc. — 
may  have  been  named  by  the  Vikings,  but  perhaps  not  in  a 
single  case  is  this  certain — not  even  Skegness,  which  is  a  tau- 
tology, Skeg-  being  O.N.  and  -ness  O.E.  for  '  headland.'  One 
should  perhaps  refer  here  also  to  such  a  name  as  Airmyn,  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Yorks  Ouse,  which  is  '  mouth  of  the  R.  Aire  ' 
(also  a  N.  name),  from  O.N.  munn-r,  '  mouth.'  On  the  north 
coast  of  Scotland  goe  (O.N.  gjd,  '  gap,  cleft  ')  is  very  common. 
In  smooth-shored  England  we  seem  to  have  none,  though 
inland,  near  CarHsle,  there  stands  Cargo  (?  'rock-gap  ');  but  old 
forms  are  needed  here.     It  may  weU  be  '  Carig's  hoe  '  or  '  how.' 

The  chief  mountain  ending  which  comes  to  us  from  a  Norse 
source  is  -fell,  very  common  in  the  south  of  Scotland  for  a  '  bare 
ridge,  a  stretch  of  waste  hill  land, '  and  no  less  common  on  the 
Borders  in  Northumberland,  Cumberland,  and  Westmorland, 
and  down  as  far  as  Littledale  Fell,  south-east  of  Lancaster. 
Beyond  that  fell  does  not  seem  to  go. 

Of  rivers  in  England  with  Scandinavian  names  we  have  but 
few.  River-names,  as  we  have  found,  are  usually  very  ancient, 
and  are  'sweer,'  as  the  Scots  say,  to  change  their  names. 
There  are,  or  were,  in  England,  at  least  three  rivers  called 
Fleet ;  the  London  one  has  now  disappeared.  And  Fleet  might 
be  O.N.  fijdt  as  well  as  O.E.  fiedt,  'river,  stream,'  in  either 
case  the  root  idea  being  '  fleet,  swift.'  But  probably  all  three, 
as  well  as  Fleetwood,  Lanes,  are  not  Norse;  Fleet,  Hants, 
certainly  is  not.  However,  we  do  have  a  few  clearly  Danish- 
named  streams — the  Aire,  Greta,  and  Wharf e,  in  Yorks;  the 


44         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

Mease  and  Tern,  in  Staffs;  and  there  may  be  others.  The 
names  just  mentioned  will  each  be  found  explained  s.v.  The 
old  fords  on  our  rivers  far  oftener  show  sign  of  Danish  visitors 
than  the  rivers  themselves.  When  this  is  so  the  Danish 
tongues  have  softened  ford  into  forth — a  very  common  ending 
in  Cumbria  and  Yorks — but  also  found  farther  south,  as  in 
Handforth,  N.  Cheshire,  and  even  at  Forth  End,  Chelmsford; 
whilst  Marlingford,  Norwich,  was  Marlingforth  as  late  as  1482. 

The  chief  Scandinavian  endings  not  yet  fully  commented 
on  are  -beck  and  -with,  found  together  with  another  character- 
istic ending  -shaw,  in  Beckwithshaw,  Harrogate,  a  hybrid 
name,  where  O.E.  scaga  is  =  Norse  with,  '  a  wood.'  The  Scan- 
dinavian -beck  is  very  close  to  the  English  -bach,  and  runs  into 
it  in  S.  Lines  (see  s.v.  -beck).  Becks,  or  '  brooks,'  are  common 
in  the  north-west,  whilst  in  Durham  we  have  Harwood  Beck 
and  Beechburn  Beck.  Wansbeck,  the  only  one  in  Northum- 
berland, is  a  modern  corruption.  South  of  Lincoln  they  are  not 
found.  The  ending  -with  (O.N.  vid-r,  Dan.  ved.,  '  a  wood  ') 
is  common  in  Yorks,  as  in  Askwith,  of  course  the  same  name 
as  that  of  our  present  Prime  Minister  and  of  our  peerless  arbi- 
trator; also  in  Beckwith  and  Skipwith  (which  occurs  again  in 
S.E.  Cumberland);  yet  even  in  very  Danish  Lincoln  it  now 
occurs  but  once,  though  it  may  recur  in,  or  rather,  there  may 
have  been  similar  Danish  influence  in,  Chabnwood  Forest, 
Leicester;  c.  1165  Charnewid. 

Clear  traces  of  Scandinavian  mythology  in  our  nomenclature 
are  not  frequent.  Thor,  the  brave  thunder-god,  and  Odin, 
ruler  of  heaven  and  earth,  are  commemorated  often  enough. 
But  Thor  in  our  place-names  seems  generally  found  originally 
in  its  Saxon  form  Thunor,  as  it  certainly  is  in  Thundersley, 
and  as  it  probably  is  in  all  names  in  Thur- :  Thitiileigh,  Thtjr- 
liOW,  etc.  Similarly,  Odin  is  found  in  our  names  perhaps  only 
in  his  Saxon  or  Teutonic  form  Wodin  (also  Waden,  Weden ;  in 
Simeon  of  Durham,  however,  Othan);  but  in  this  shape  it 
occurs  frequently.  Names  of  ordinary  Norsemen  crop  up 
continually,  especially  in  names  ending  in  -by  north  of  the 
Trent.  The  names  in  Butter-,  like  Buttermere,  probably 
conceal  or  reveal  a  good  many  cases  of  Norse  settlement.  We 
may  even  find  a  Norseman  in  Windermere  too,  as  well  as  in — 
to  take,  for  example,  a  group  at  the  end  of  0 Osbournby, 


INTRODUCTION  45 

Osgathorpe,  Osgodby,  Osmotherley  ('  meadow  of  Osmund-r  ' !), 
Oughtrington  ('town  of  Authgrim-r  '  !).  In  such  places  the 
Norsemen's  names  have  become  greatly  disguised  and  dis- 
torted— twisted,  indeed,  almost  out  of  recognition — by  tongues 
which  knew  not  the  men  or  the  race  which  owned  the  names. 
Gamston  and  Ganthorpe,  both  from  Gamel  ('  gamle  Norge  '!), 
are  other  interesting  cases  in  point ;  so  is  Gothersley,  for  '  Good- 
rich's lea  ' ;  and  the  subject  has  by  no  means  been  fully  worked 
out  yet. 


Rough  List  of  Scandinavian  Names  in  the  Sheres  where 

THEY  ARE   NOT  FrEQUENT. 

Cambridge. — Bourne,  Brink-ley,  Carl-ton,  Staine,  Toft. 
Cheshire. — Ayre   (Point  of),  Chad-kirk,   Frankby,  Greasby, 

Helsby,  ?  Helstry,  Irby,  Earby  West,  Ness,  Pensby,  Quoys- 

ley,  Raby,  Thing- weU,  Toft  Hall,  Whitby. 
Durham. — Butterby,  ?  Newbiggin,  (Pontop  and  West)  Pike, 

Raby,  Roker,  Tantobie,  Toft  (Hill),  Wasker-ley. 
Northumberland. — Brink-burn,  Lucker,  New-biggin-by-the- 

Sea ;  also  the  endings  -dale,  -fell,  and  -gill  in  several  names 

each. 
Stafford. — Carr,  Cheadle,  Crake-marsh,  Leek,  Tern  R.,  Thorpe 

(Constantine),  Uttoxeter,  Yarlett. 
Wi»RWiCK. — Biggin  (2),  Brinklow,  (Monk's)  Kirby,  Prinsthorpe, 

Rugby,  ?  Tardebigge,  Toft,  Wibtoft,  WiUoughby. 
Worcester. — Clent,  ?  Hag-ley,  ?  Sme-ster. 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE    ENDINGS 

In  the  case  of  English  place-names  a  knowledge  of  the  endings 
is  quite  half  the  battle ;  and  so  we  now  set  forth  the  chief  of 
these  in  some  detail.  The  student  will  find  this  section  well 
worth  mastering.  He  should  first  consult  the  Abbreviations, 
p.  87. 

-age  is  a  rare  and  always  puzzling  ending,  often  not  a  true 
ending  at  all.     In  Wantage,  e.g.,  it  seems  quite  modern, 
whilst  in  Buebage  the  ending  is  reaUy  -bage,  modern  form 
of  O.E.  bece,  '  brook.'    The  sequence  is  -beck,  -back,  -bach, 
-batch,   -baitch,  -bage;   and  aU  these  forms  are  found 
represented  among  our  names  and  their  pronunciations. 
In  CocKNAGE  and  Stevenage  the  -age  is  O.E.  h)cecce, 
'hatch';   whilst   Swan  age   is   O.E.   Swanawic,    'swan's 
haunt ';  and  Broomage,  Larbert,  Scotland,  is  1458  Bru- 
minche,  or  'broom,  gorse  links,'  or  'meadow.'    Cranage 
may  be  like  Swanage,    '  crane's  abode,'  but  Ceessage 
seems  to  be  '  crest  edge.' 
-ay,  -ea,  -ey,  -y. — These  all  represent,  though  -y  only  some- 
times, the  O.E.  ig,  '  island  ' ;  ig  is  Wessex,  the  AngHan  and 
O.  Mercian  is  eg,  in  M.E.  -ei,  -ey,  from  O.E.  ea,  '  stream, 
river,  brook  ' ;  so  that  the  root  idea  is  '  watery  place, ' 
not  only  an  island,   but  a  peninsula — as  often,   Selsea, 
Bawdsey  (HoUesley  Bay),  etc. — or  any  place  surrounded 
with  brooks  or  streams,  or  even  a  marshy  place.     Most 
places  now  with  this  ending  can  never  have  been  true 
islands.     Berks,  e.g.,  has  nine  examples;  and  we  not  only 
have  the  Isle  of  Anglesea  (O.E.  Chron.  Angles  ege),  but 
also  an  Anglesea  Priory,  Cambs.     Places  like  Pevensea, 

46 


INTRODUCTION  47 

Swansea,  etc.,  are  also  cases  in  point.  In  the  north  -ey 
may  be  the  O.N.  ey,  Dan.  oe,  with  the  same  meaning 
But  few  English  names  in  -ey  are  certainly  Norse.  The 
ending  -y  certainly  sometimes  represents  '  island, '  as  in 
Lmidy  Island;  and  Skeat  gives  Coveny  and  Wendy  in 
Cambs,  but  he  refused  Ely,  Bede's  Elge,  or  '  district ' 
not  'island  of  eels;'  ge  being  rare  O.E.  =  Ger.  gau, 
what  Bede  calls  'regio.'  In  Marrick,  Dom.  Marige, 
N.  Yorks,  -ige  has  seemingly  hardened  into  -ick;  this 
is  rare. 

-bach,  -beach,  -beck. — O.N.  bekk-r,  Sw.  hack,  'a  brook,  a  stream.' 
Not  in  Northumberland,  where  Wansbeck  is  a  recent  cor- 
ruption of  Wannys  pike;  but  we  have  a  '  Bolebec,'  in  1157 
Pipe  Roll,  Northumberland.  It  is  found  still,  however,  in 
Durham,  in  some  tributaries  of  the  Wear,  where  we  even 
have  a  Beechburn  Beck  !  It  is  common  in  Cumbria  and 
Yorks — Hokne  Beck,  Troutbeck,  etc. — but  perhaps  not 
farther  south  than  Lines.  One  of  the  most  southerly  is 
PmcHBECK,  Spalding;  but  as  that  is  already  found  in  an 
810  charter  Pyncebek,  the  -beck  here  is  probably  the  O.E. 
bece  or  bcsc,  found  in  this  same  charter  in  Holebech  or 
Holbeach,  in  the  same  district,  with  the  same  meaning. 
Bach,  also  bache,  and  -batch,  is  a  regular  dialect  name  for 
'brook,'  common  especially  in  Cheshire — Bache,  Com- 
BEEBATCH,  Sandbach,  etc. ;  whilst  in  Dom.  we  have  here 
a  Bachehe.  The  O.N.  gen.  of  beck — viz.,  bekkjar — is 
found  in  the  two  Beckermets,  '  mouth  of  the  brook  ' ; 
whilst,  as  we  noted  above,  Btjubage  is,  in  961,  Burh- 
bece. 

-borne,  -bourne,  -burn. — This  last  is  now  only  northern,  but  all 
three  are  forms  of  O.E.  burna,  burne,  burn,  O.N.  brunn-r, 
originally  '  a  spring,  a  fountain,'  then  '  a  brook,  a  rivulet.' 
In  Northumberland  -bum  is  common,  as  in  Scotland, 
Hartburn,  Otterburn,  Warkburn,  etc.;  in  Cumberland  it 
is  rarer — Greensburn,  near  the  Border,  etc.  Tributaries  of 
the  Wear  vary  between  -bum  and  -beck;  south  thereof 
-burn  ceases,  and  -borne  or  -bourne  becomes  common 
nearly  everywhere.  In  old  spellings  in  Berks,  Cambs,  etc., 
we  have  -burn  or  -burne,  but  not  now.  In  Mary-le-6one, 
London,  the  r  of  bourne  has  vanished. 


48         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

-boro\  -horotigh,  -burgh,  -hury,  all  variants  of  O.E.  hur:^,  hurh,  2^ 
bure{g)h,    ieri^,  3  huri,  3 — 4  borh,  ioru  (for  other  forms 
see  Oxford  Dictionary),   '  an  enclosed  or  fortified  town  ' 
(or   village),   rather  than  a  simple   fort    or   castle   like 
dun,  though  cf.  c.  820  Kent.  Gloss.,  '  ad  arcem,  to  bur^e.' 
The  ending  is  very  common  all  over,  especially  as  -bury; 
-burgh,  so  common  in  Scotland,  is  rare  in  England ;  even  in 
the   north   it   is   rather   -borough — Bamborough,    Flam- 
borough,  Middlesborough,  etc.     But  we  have  Burgh-on- 
Sands,  on  the  Solway,  pron.^  Bruff,  and  Burgh,  E.  Lines. 
The  ending  has  come  down  to  -ber  in  Bramber  {cf.  harbour 
and  its  forms  in  Oxford  Dictionary).     The  northern  ending 
-bergh,  as  in  Caldbergh,  Sedbergh,  etc.,  is  not  from  -burgh, 
but  is  a  variant  of  Barrow.     But  Farnborough  at  least 
three  times  in  Dom.  ends  in  -berg(e;  and  in  Denmark 
to-day  we  have  -berg,  -borg,  and  -burg  all  representing  our 
burgh.     On  the  other  hand,  Crowborough,  Leek,  is  c.  1300, 
Crowbarwe,  perhaps  dative  of  O.E.  bearu,  '  a  wood  ';  and 
Hillborough,  Warwick,  is,  in  710,  Hildeburhwrthe,  '  farm 
of  Hildeburga.' 
-by,  -bie. — North.  O.E.  by,  probably  adoption  of  O.N.  bce-r, 
by-r,  Sw.  and  Dan.  by,  'dwelling,  village,'  from  O.N.  biXa, 
'  to  dwell,'  same  root  as  in  North,  big,  '  to  build.'     Mawer, 
Vikings,  p.  124,  says  it  indicates  Dan.  rather  than  Norse 
settlement;  but  this  contradicts  his  own  statement  (p.  11) 
that  Northumbria  was  Norwegian ;  and  Yorks  is  crammed 
with  -bys.     However,  there  are  only  four  north  of  Tees — 
Butterby,    Durham,    being   one   of   the  northmost — and 
there  are  none  in  Northumberland.     We  get  the  bce-r  form 
in  Canisbay  and  Duncansbay,  Caithness,  but  not  in  Eng- 
land.    The  ending  runs  as  far  south  as  Badby  and  Kilsby, 
south  of  Rugby.     There  are  none  in  Cambs  or  Herts,  but 
there  are  several  in  Norfolk  and  Suffolk  round  the  mouth 
of  the  Yare,  and  we  have  Kirby  Cross  and  Kirby-le-Soken 
in  N.E.    Essex.      There  is   also   a  Laghenbia,   in  Dom. 
Essex,  ?  where.     There  are  at  least  eight  in  Cheshire,  but 
perhaps  none  in  the  west  to  the  south  of  Cheshire.     The 

^  The  meaning  of  tliese  figures  is   explained    at    the   end    of  the 
Abbreviations. 

2  Pronounced.      (See  Abbreviations.) 


INTRODUCTION  49 

ending  reappears  in  Jersey — Hougie  Bie,  '  dwelling  on  the 
mound.' 
-caster,  -cester,  -Chester. — L.  castrum,  castra,  '  a  camp,  a  fortifica- 
tion ' ;  not  always  a  proof  of  Roman  work,  though,  along 
with  -ford,  -ceaster  is  the  commonest  of  all  the  endings  in 
our  earliest  historian  Bede.     Outside  the  Danelagh  the  c 
usually  softened  into  ch,  or  from  hard  c  to  soft.     Thus  we 
get  many  -chesters  even  in  the  north — Chesterfield 
(1165  still  Cestrefelt),  Manchester   (1421   still  Mame- 
cestre),    and   even  Ribchbster,  north-east   of  Preston. 
Yorks  is  full  of  -casters ;  and  we  even  have  Muncaster,  in 
Danish  Cumberland ;  but  in  Durham  and  Northumberland 
the  form  is  always  -Chester — Binchester,  Ebchester,  and 
Rochester  (Northumberland).     The  hard  -caster  comes  as 
far  south  as  Brancaster  (King's  Lynn),  a  very  Danish 
locahty,  but  not  farther;  Warwick  has  none.     The  form 
-cester  occurs  rarely  within  the  Danelagh,  as  in  Leicester, 
and  is  the  regular  form  in  the  more  southern  parts — 
Bicester,  Cirencester,  Gloucester,  Worcester,  etc. — 
all  these  cited  being  much  more  contracted  on  modern  lips. 
O.E.  ceaster  has  also  become  -xeter  =  cseter,  as  in  Exeter 
and  Wroxeter  (this  form  seems  late),  but  not  Uttoxeter. 
Once  we   find    the   ending   as   -cetter,    in  Mancetter, 
Atherstone.     (On   the    origin    of    the    O.E.    forms,    see 
Caistor.  ) 
-comb,  -combe. — Common  also  in  Cumberland  as  a  prefix — Cum- 
divock,  -rangan,  -ranton,  -whinton,  etc. — ^or  separately,  as 
in  Combe  Down,  Combe  Florey,  Combe  Martin,  etc.     The 
proximate  root  is  O.E.  cumb,  '  a  hollow  thing  ';  hence  '  a 
bowl,'  and  then  '  a  (deep)  valley  '  or  '  a  hollow  in  the  flank 
of  a  hill.'    In  origin  it  is  probably  Keltic,  and  cognate  with 
W.  cwm,  '  a  hollow.'     As  suffix,  it  is  found  chiefly  in  the 
south,  especially  in  Somerset,  Dorset,  and  Devon — in  the 
first  commonest  of  all.     In  Berks  there  are  four,  in  Cambs 
none,   in  Warwick  only  Walcombe   (no   old  forms),   in 
Cheshire  only  Seacombe,  which  is  at  least  as  old  as  the 
days  of  Henry  VI.;  there  is  also  Holcombe,  near  Man- 
chester ;  and  the  suffix  reappears  in  the  north  in  Cumber- 
land, Gillercombe,  and  Glaramara  and  Langdale  Combes, 
etc. ;  also  at  least  once  in  Durham,  Escomb  (Bishop  Auck- 


60         THJ:  place-names  of  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

land).    But  in  the  north  one  must  be  careful  to  differen- 
tiate from  coom  sh^  {Oxford  Dictionary),  *  a  domelike  hill,' 
of  uncertain  origin,  as  in  Black  Combe,  White  Combe,  and 
Hen  Comb,  Cumberland,  and  Comb  Fell  and  Combhill, 
Northumberland.     Sacombe,  Herts,  is  a  corruption,  being 
Sueuechamp  in  Dom. 
-dale. — O.E.  dcel,  or,  perhaps  nearly  always  in  old  names,  O.N. 
dal-r,  '  a  dale,'  the  root  meaning  being  probably  '  deep, 
low  place'  {cf.  Gothic  dalath,  'down.').     Found  from  the 
Scottish  Border  south  to  Derbyshire,  but  much  commoner 
in  the  north,  where  Norse  influence  was  strong,  and  there 
usually  '  a  river-vaUey  between  hills,  a  glen  ' — Allendale, 
Borrowdale,   Ennerdale,   etc.     The   southmost   instances 
seem  to  be  Darley  Dale,   Matlock,   and  Coalbrookdale, 
S.  Salop.     The  simple  Dale  recurs  in  Pembroke,  a  very 
Norse  locality;  but  -dales  farther  south,   like  Begdale, 
Cambs,  Skeat  looked  on  as  merely  modern — e.g.,  also  Sun- 
ningdale,  Berks,  a  recent  coinage,  suggested  by  the  ancient 
SunninghiU  near  by.    A  pure  English  southern  instance  is 
Doverdale,  Droitwich,   in  706  Dourdale,   817  Doferdael. 
Rarely  -dale  becomes  -die,  as  in  Cheadle;  and  once  at 
least  it  has  been  corrupted  from  -hale,  '  nook  '  (see  -hall) — 
in  Dinsdale,  Yorks,  Dom.  Digneshale — unless  Dom.  be  in- 
correct. 
-dean,  -den,  -dene. — These  suffixes  usually  stand  for  O.E.  denu, 
'  a  valley,'  same  root  as  den{n),  '  a  den.'    A  '  dean  '  now 
generally  is  a  valley  deep,  narrow,  wooded.     The  suffix 
occurs  all  over  Great  Britain;  -dene  is  rare  and  southern 
{cf.  North  Denes,  Great  Yarmouth).     O.E.  den{n),  6v  dcen, 
means  not  only  '  den,  cave,  lair, '  but  '  woodland  pasture 
for  swine,'  seen  in  Denford,  Berks,  and  perhaps  in  Forest 
of  Dean.     The  suffixes  -den  and  -dean  are  continually 
interchanging  with  -don  or  -dune,  as  in  Basilden  or  -don, 
Burdon,  c.  1130  Byrdene,  Croxden,  1237  Crokesdun,  Evers- 
den  or   -don,  Morden,  c.  1080    Mordune,  Yattenden    or 
-don,  etc.     Sometimes  the  -den  may  have   an   entirely 
different  origin,  and  be  a  part  of   -warden,  q.v.,   as   in 
Garden,  Hawarden,  etc. 
-er  (see  -or,  -over), 
-et  (see  Barnet,  Coquet,  Farcet,  Hodnet,  etc.). 


INTRODUCTION  51 

-fell. — O.N.  iiall,  Dan.  fjeld,  '  a  mountain,  a  hill,'  also  in  north 
of  England,  '  a  wild  stretch  of  waste  hill  land,  a  moorland 
ridge.'  In  either  case  the  name  is  fomid  only  from  the 
Northmnberland  Border  through  Cumberland  and  West- 
morland, south  to  Littledale  Fells,  south-east  of  Lan- 
caster; perhaps  not  elsewhere. 

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

^  Sometimes  -ford  directly  represents  fjord,  as  in  Haverford,  Mil- 
ford,  Orford. 


62        THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

-gill. — O.N.  gil,  geil,  '  a  deep  glen.'  Oxford  Dictionary  does  not 
class  this  with  '  fish  gill, '  as  is  often  done.  In  later  English 
it  comes  to  mean  '  a  narrow  stream,  a  rivulet, '  but  in  names 
it  usually  signifies  'a  narrow,  slit-like  glen  or  opening.' 
Rare  in  Northumberland,  it  is  fairly  common  elsewhere  in 
the  north — Bullgill,  Dallowgill,  Ivegill,  Lowgill,  Ramsgill, 
etc. — and  especially  common  around  Grasmere.  Gill  is  also 
used  in  the  dialects  of  Kent  and  Sussex,  but  there  gives 
name  only  to  obscure  places  like  Heron's  Ghyll,  Lewes, 
Gills  lop  (leap,'  O.N.  hlaup),  on  the  N.E.  Sussex  border, 
etc.  Sometimes  -gill  is  curiously  disguised,  as  in  Ald- 
win:klb,  1137  Aldwin  gel,  or  '  Baldwin's  gill.'  This  village, 
near  Thrapston,  Northants,  is  one  of  the  most  southerly 
instances.  We  get  -gill  less  disguised  in  Winskill,  the  man 
'Wine's  ravine.' 

-hall,  -all,  -ell. — A  very  important  and  much  debated  suffix. 
There  is  a  genuine  O.E.  heall,  '  a  palace,  court,  royal  resi- 
dence, '  then  '  a  mansion,  a  hall ' ;  and  probably  a  few  of  the 
many  hundred  names  ending  in  -hall  are  derived  therefrom. 
E.g.,  we  have  Croxall,  Lichfield,  in  773  charter  Crokes- 
halle,  Dom.  Crocheshalle ;  and  in  Dom.  we  have  Buben- 
halle,  Brunhala,  Crenhalle,  Chenihalle,  for  Bubbenhall, 
Broomhall,  Crewe  Hall,  and  EaUinghall  respectively;  and 
these  all  may  be  from  heall.  But  far  the  most  plainly  come 
from  O.E.  healh,  '  a  nook,  a  corner,'  then  '  a  flat  meadow 
by  a  river,  a  haugh,'  which  last  is  its  modern  representa- 
tive. Li  charters  and  Dom.  the  ending  is  usually  -hale,  a 
Mercian  dative;  more  rarely  -heale,  the  ordinary  O.E. 
dative.  The  ending  is  by  far  the  commonest  in  old  Mercia 
or  the  Midlands.  In  Cheshire  alone  there  are  over  250 
places  with  names  ending  in  -haU  or  Hall  (the  latter  often, 
not  always,  quite  modern).  We  get  the  simple  Hale  {sic 
in  Dom.),  near  Altrincham  and  Liverpool,  and  in  the  plural, 
as  Hailes,  Gloucester;  whilst  it  is  preserved  as  an  ending 
in  Enhale,  Cambs,  in  O.E.  charter  Eanheale. 

The  h  easily  drops  away,  and  so  we  get  -all,  as  in  Bignall, 
Birdsall  (York),  Gnosall  (still  1298  Gnoddeshale),  Walsall, 
etc. ;  or  else  we  get  -ell,  as  in  Beadnell,  Bracknell  (the  only 
case  of  hale  in  Berks),  Bucknell;  or  even  -el,  as  in  Ellel, 
Dom.  EUhale ;  whilst  the  hale  is  even  more  merged  in  Paull, 


INTEODUCTION  53 

-   Dom.  Pagele.     The  endings  -hall  and  -hill  often  run  into 
one  another,  not  seldom  in  the  Midland  form  of  hill — viz., 
hull — e.g.,  Minshull  Vernon,  Cheshire,  is  Dom.  Manesshale 
or  Manessele;  Stramshall,  Staffs,  is  c.  1300  Strangeshull ; 
and  GoxHiLL,  Hodnell,  and  Sugnall  lend  further  illus- 
tration. 
-ham,  -am. — This  very  common  suffix  represents  two  distinct 
words,  and  only  when  we  get  O.E.  charter  evidence  can  we 
be  sure  which  word  it  is.     (1)  O.E.  ham{m),  hom{m)  in  the 
oldest  charters  often  haam — e.g.,  692-93  Essex  chart.    Bed- 
den-haam  and  Deccen-haam  (Degenham) — found  also  in 
all  the  Frisian  dialects  as  ham{m),  hem,  him,  '  a  pasture,  a 
meadow  enclosed  with  a  ditch  ' ;  Duignan  adds,  '  at  the 
bend  of  a  river,'  so  as  to  connect  with  the  human  ham, 
which  is  caused  by  the  bend  of  the  knee.     In  England  the 
meaning  is  '  enclosed  ground,  generally  pasture.'    So  far  as 
we  know,  this  by  a  good  deal  the  rarer  of  the  two  suffixes— 
e.g.,  there  are  in  Berks  seventeen  names  ending  in  -ham,  of 
which  only  five  are  clearly  hamm,  because  we  find  in 
charters  '  set  Bennanhamme,'  for  Beenham,  etc.    In  Cambs 
there  are  twenty-four  -hams,  but  in  no  case  do  they  clearly 
come  from  hamm,  though  Skeat  cites  abundant  evidence 
from  the  eleventh  century  onwards.  There  is  a  Chippenham, 
Cambs,  c.  1080  Chipenham,  but  the  place  of  the  same  name 
in  Wilts  is  O.E.  Chron.  878  Cippanhamme.     The  same 
rarity  seems  to  hold  true  elsewhere.     There  are  several 
Hams  on  the  Severn,  and  a  few  on  the  Wye  and  Trent, 
from  hamm.     (2)  O.E.  ham,  our  '  home,'  whilst  hamm,  with 
its  long  a,  represents  an  English  hem.     This  is  one  of  our 
very  commonest  endings,  often  clipped  down  into  -am  {cf. 
Cheam),  or  more  rarely  into  -um,  as  in  Bilsum,  Gloucester, 
c.  955  BiUesham ;  but  in  the  north  largely  replaced  by  the 
Norse  -by,    except    in  Northumberland,  where  -ham  is 
common  and  -by  non-existent.     We  have  a  fair  number  of 
northern   -hams — Askham,    Brigham,    etc.,   Cumberland, 
Bispham,  Kirkham,  etc.,  Lanes.     But  the  inquirer  always 
needs  to  be  wary,  because  in  the  north,  especially  in  Yorks, 
-ham  or  -am  frequently  represents  an  O.E.  locative  or 
dative — e.g.,  Hallam,  Dom.  Hallum,  O.E.  healon,  '  on  the 
slopes ' ;  HuLAM,  Sim.  Dur.  Holum,  O.E.  holon,  '  at  the 


54         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

holes  ' ;  also  see  Ilam,  Kilham,  Lytham,  etc.  Even  -holme 
may  at  tunes  represent  simply  an  O.E.  locative,  as  in 
HippERHOLME,  Dom.  Huperiin;  -holm  and  -ham  often  tend 
to  interchange,  as  in  Dueham,  etc. 

Though  -ham  is  certainly  abundant  after  the  patronymic 
-ing,  q.v.,  Isaac  Taylor's  statement  that,  in  the  O.E. 
charters,  ham  is  found  united  with  names  of  famihes,  but 
not  with  the  names  of  individuals,  is  abundantly  incorrect 
(c/.  Skeat,  Place-Names  of  Cambs,  p.  20) ;  see,  e.g.,  Becken- 
HAM,  Beenham,  Biddenham,  Boxham,  etc. 

-hampton — i.e.,  ham-tun — '  home  town,'  as  in  Bathampton,  etc., 
is  a  very  common  suflSx  also.  Duignan  cites  seventeen  in 
Ombersley  and  Astley,  Worcester,  alone  —  five  now 
vanished. 

-holm  see  Holme. 

-hope,  -op,  -up. — O.E.  hdp,,  '  a  piece  of  enclosed  land,  generally 
among  fens  and  marshes;  waste  land.'  Also,  especially 
in  N.E.  England  and  S.  Scotland,  '  a  small  enclosed  valley, 
branching  off  a  larger  one,  a  blind  valley  ' ;  same  root 
as  O.N.  hdp,  a  '  haven,  place  of  refuge  ';  but  we  have  no 
seaboard  names  in  England  akin  to  St.  Margaret's  Hope, 
Orkney  and  Queensferry.  In  Northumberland  no  less 
than  seventy-three  places  end  in  -hope,  and  forty  in  Dur- 
ham. We  have  Easthope,  Hope  Rowdle,  and  Rattling- 
hope  as  far  south  as  S.  Salop,  and  a  Woolhope  in  Hereford. 
But  as  this  ending  comes  south,  it  tends  to  become  -op; 
already  in  Dunsop  and  CUtheroe,  also  in  Glossop  Works- 
op; but  Hatherop  (Gloucester)  is  1294  Haythorp.  Even 
Kershope,  on  the  Cumberland  border,  has  become  Kirsop  as 
a  personal  name.  Rarely  we  find  -up,  as  in  Bacup,  Blake- 
up,  sic  1604  (a  hill  on  the  Borders),  and  the  personal 
name  Kirkup  =' valley  with  the  church.'  There  are  no 
-hopes  in  Berks,  Cambs,  or  even  Cheshire;  but  in  Pem- 
broke we  have  Lydstep,  which  stands  for  '  Lud's  or  Llyd's 
hope.' 

-how. — This  is  O.N.  haug-r,  '  mound,  cairn,'  a  rather  rare  suffix, 
and  only  in  the  north — Brant  How,  Great  How,  etc.  It 
may  shrink  into  -oe,  as  in  Aslacoe  or  Thestgoe  (this  in 
Suffolk) ;  or  even  into  -o,  as  in  Duddo,  11 83  Dudehowe,  and 
as,  perhaps,  in  Cargo,  N.  Cumberland.     But  Brisco,  in  the 


INTRODUCTION  55 

same  shire,  is,  in  its  charter  form,  Birlsescagh — i.e.,  birk 
shaw  or  '  birch  wood.'    The  same  word  appears  again 
Frenchified,  in  the  Channel  Islands,  as  Hogue  and  Hougue. 
■ing,  in  our  oldest  charters  often  -incg.     This  is  one  .of  the  most 
interesting  and  important  of  all  om:  sufiixes ;  in  its  way- 
unique,   being  absolutely  personal  in  its  reference,   not 
local.     The  idea  conveyed  is  one  of  possession,  or  intimate 
connection  with ;  hence  '  son  of,  descendant, '  as  in  ^thel- 
ing,  '  son  of  the  ethel,  the  noble-born,'  Cerdicing,  'son  of 
Cerdic,'  etc.    We  even  have  in  the  O.E.  of  Luke  iii.  38, 
Adaming,  '  son  of  Adam.'     There  are  many  place-names 
ending  in  -ing,  like  Barking,  Basing,  Reading,  Woking, 
which  originally  meant, '  the  sons  or  descendants  of  Beorc, 
Bassa,  Read,  Woe, '  and  only  thereafter  '  place  where  these 
descendants  dwelt.'     In  a  name  like  Centingas  it  can  never 
mean  anything  but  'men  of  Kent';  the  suffix  in  O.E. 
charters  is  often  found  as  -ingas,  which  is  nominative  plural 
or  -ingum,  genitive  plural,  as  in  Bede's  Berecingas  (Bark- 
ing), or  O.E.  Chron.'s  Readingum  (Reading).     This  patro- 
nymic -ing,   though  so  common,   is  not  universal,   and 
chiefly  southern;  in  Cheshire  there  are  none,  in  Cambs. 
only  two;  in  Stafford  and  Warwick  Duignan  gives  none, 
unless  Watlestg  St.  be  called  an  exception ;  but  in  Norfolk 
-ing  is  fairly  common — Hiclding,   Horning,   etc.;  whilst 
Horsfall    Turner    enumerates    twenty-two    for    Yorks — 
Gembling  [Dom.  GhemeUnge),  Kipling  {Dom.  Chipelinge), 
Pickering,  etc.     In  Yorks  there  are,  of  course,  the  three 
Ridings — i.e.,  third-ings  or  third  parts;  only  this  comes 
from  the  equivalent  O.N.  -ung  rather  than  the  O.E.  -ing, 
the  O.N.  being  thrithjung-r;  in  c.    1066,  Laws  of  Edw. 
Confessor,  trehingas.     The    same    ending    reappears    in 
Holland  in  such  a  name  as  Appingadam.     Sometimes,  but 
very  rarely,  the  -ing  is  now  -inge,  as  in  E.  and  W.  Ginge, 
Berks,  in  O.E.  charters  Gaeging  and  Gaincg,  Dom.  Gainz, 
'place  of   the  sons  of  Gsega.'    This  softening  into  the 
modern  /  sound  (-inge  =  -inj),  is  also  found  in  such  modern 
pronunciations    as    Nottinjam,    Whittinjam,    etc.,    fairly 
often  heard.     Also,  very  rarely,  the  -ing  may  be  dropped 
in  course  of  time,  as  in  Cudeley,  Worcester,  in  974  Cudinc- 
lea. 


56        THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

If  names  ending  in  -ing  are  rare  in  some  parts,  names 
compounded  with  this  patronymic  suffix  are  found  every- 
where. 

Generally  the  ending  is  -ingham  or  -ington,  more  rarely 
-ingford,  -ingwell,  or  the  like.  In  many  cases  these  are 
genuine  patronymics,  denoting  the  home  or  viUage  of 
somebody's  descendants — Beddingham,  '  home  of  the 
Beadings  ' ;  Bennington,  '  home  of  the  Bennings  ' ;  and  so 
on;  it  is  needless  to  multiply  examples.  But,  unless  the 
evidence  for  the  -ing  goes  back  to  O.E.  times,  we  can  never 
be  sure  that  we  have  before  us  a  true  patronymic.  Many 
years  ago,  e.g„  the  writer  pointed  out  that  in  Scotland, 
where  there  are  a  good  many  names  in  -ingham  and  -ington, 
not  more  than  two  or  three  are  real  patronymics.  One 
needs  to  be  hardly  less  wary  in  England,  because  very 
often  the  -ing  is  but  a  later  softening  of  the  O.E.  genitive 
in  -an  or  -en,  usually  the  masculine  gender  in  -an,  as 
Barrington,-  c.  1080  Barentone,  'Bsera's  village';  or 
Bedingham,  O.E.  charter  Beddanham,  '  Bedda's  home.* 
Take  the  very  first  case  that  comes  to  us,  Abingdon;  it 
is  699  charter  Abbendune,  '  Abba's  '  or  '  Ebba's  hill ' ; 
whilst  Abington,  Cambs,  is  Dom.  Abintone,  'Abba's 
town ' ;  not  patronymics  at  all.  Sometimes  the  -ing 
arrives  very  late ;  Marchington,  Uttoxeter,  is  907  Msercham, 
'home  on  the  march  or  boundary  ';  10Q4  Merchamtune, 
or  '  March  Hampton  ' ;  not  tiU  the  thirteenth  century 
have  we  Marchynton,  and  the  -ing  is  later  still.  Some- 
times, too,  the  -ing  is  a  pure  corruption,  as  in  Almington 
for  'Alchmund's  town,'  or  Ardington  for  'Eadwine's 
town.' 

Besides,  we  have  always  to  beware  of  names  in  -ing, 
which  have  nothing  patronymic  about  them;  names  like 
Holling  Hall,  where  HoUing  is  but  M.E.  for  'holly,'  or 
like  Stocking  Lane,  Staffs,  where,  Duignan  says,  Stocking 
means  '  grubbing  up,  clearing  of  wood  or  wild  land  ' ;  whilst 
Stocking,  Haresfield,  is  an  O.E.  locative,  stoccan,  '  at  the 
tree-stocks.' 

Dr.  H.  Bradley  {English  Historical  Review,  October, 
1911)  seems  to  have  made  out  a  strong  case  for  -ing  or 
-inge  being  also  sometimes  an  ending  to  denote  a  place  on 


INTRODUCTION  57 

a  river  or  stream,  of  which  Avening,  Exning,  Gutting, 
TwYNiNG,  etc.,  would  be  examples. 

-high,  -ley,  -lie,  -ly. — These  are  all  modern  forms  of  O.E.  Uah, 
dat.  leage,  '  a  bit  of  cultivated  ground,  a  meadow,  a  lea.' 
This  is  one  of  our  commonest  endings,  especially  as  -ley ; 
there  are  fifty-three  in  Cheshire  alone,  thirteen  in  Berks, 
twelve  in  Cambs — these  two  last  small  counties.  The 
form  -ly  is  rare,^  but  we  have  Early,  Berks,  etc. ;  -leigh, 
which  represents  the  dative,  is  not  common  except  in  a 
few  parts  like  Devon;  there  are  none  in  Berks  or  Cambs. 
But  Leigh  alone  occurs  twelve  times  in  the  Postal  Guide, 
from  Lancashire  to  Kent.  Two  or  three  times  in  Yorks 
we  find  the  suffix  as  -laugh,  Healaugh  ('high  meadow'), 
Skirlaugh,  etc. ;  and  in  Cheshire  it  takes  the  form  -lach, 
as  in  Shocklach.  Traps  in  connection  with  this  ending 
are  few;  but  we  have  Cookley,  Kjdderminster,  964  Culnan 
clif. 

-hw,  and,  in  the  north,  -law. — O.E.  hldw,  hlcew,  '  a  hill,'  then, 
'  a  burial-groimd,  barrow,  tumulus.'  The  ending  is 
common  in  the  south — Challow,  Hounslow,  Marlow,  etc. ; 
but  -low  is  found  in  the  north  too,  in  Yorks  at  least  three 
times — Barlow,  Bierlow,  and  Chellow  {Dom.  Celeslau), 
but  Barlow  is  Dom.  Berlai  ( =  lea).  Li  the  north,  where 
the  form  is  -law,  it  is  usually  written  separately — Collier 
Law,  Durham  ;  Black  and  Kilhope  Laws,  S.  North- 
umberland ;  etc.  J.  H.  Turner  gives  no  -law  now  in 
Yorks,  but  there  were  several  formerly- — Chellow,  as  we 
have  seen,  also  Ardsley,  and  Tinsley,  in  Dom.  Erdeslau, 
and  Times-  or  Tineslawe.  We  see  the  same  tendency, 
-ley  replacing  -low,  farther  south,  in  Staffs,  where  Moxley 
was,  c.  1400,  Mockeslowe,  and  Muckley,  c.  1600,  Mucklow. 

-minster. — ^This  and  -caster  form  our  only  Latin  endings.  It 
is  late  L.  monasterium,  later  L.  monisterium,  O.E.  mynster, 
originally  '  a  monastery  ' ;  but,  as  a  place-name  suffix, 
-minster  seems  always  to  mean  '  the  church  of  a  monas- 
tery, '  then  '  any  church, '  generally  a  large  one.  It  is  now 
found  chiefly  in  the  south — Axminster,  Bedminster, 
Sturminster,  Westminster,  etc. ;  but,  of  course,  we  freely 
speak  of  York  Minster,  Beverley  Minster,  etc. ;  and  in  an 

^  Also  cf.  AcLE,  etc. 


68         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

inscription  of  1056-1066  in  Kirkdale  Church,  Yorks,  we 
read  of  '  Scs  Gregorius  minster.'  The  O.N.  form  mustari 
does  not  seem  represented  among  om*  names;  but  in 
Menstrie  (Alloa),  Scotland,  we  get  a  Gaelicised  form, 
from  G.  mainistreach,  '  pertaining  to  a  monastery. '  This 
is  very  like  the  form  in  Aymestrey,  Hereford,  Dom. 
Eiminstre.    Musters,  Durham,  is  '  de  Monasteriis.' 

-or,  -over,  also  -er. — The  ending  -or  represents  two  distinct 
words:  (1)  O.E.  ora,  'margin,  bank,  shore, '  cognate  with 
L.  ora,  found  by  itself  as  a  name  in  Oare,  Berks;  but 
common  as  an  ending  too,  as  in  Bognor,  '  Bucga's  shore,' 
CuMNOR,  Keynor,  and  Windsor,  whose  early  charter 
form  is  Wendles  ore,  which  Skeat  thinks  may  be  '  the 
Vandal's  bank.'  But  (2)  -or,  with  -er,  and  its  fuller  form 
-over,  represents  O.E.  ofer,  0.  Fris.  overa,  overe,  M.  Fris. 
over,  E.  Fris.  over,  ofer,  Ger.  ufer,  'border,  margin,'  hence 
*  seashore,'  and  especially  'river-bank';  by  c.  1205 
Layamon,  it  has  become  oure.  We  get  this  word  as  a 
name  in  Owram,  Yorks,  in  Dom.  Overe,  Oure,  and  Ufrun, 
which  are  locatives  singular  and  plural,  Ufrun  becoming 
OwRAM  after  the  type  described  under  ham  (2).  The  full 
form  -over  is  still  retained  in  Ashover,  Bolsover,  etc. 
But  it  has  often  been  shortened  into  -or,  as  in  Baddesley 
Ensor  (or  Edensor),  Hadsor,  c.  1100  Headesofre,  and 
Haselor,  c.  1300  Haselovre;  and  we  get  it  as  a  prefix  in 
Orgrave,  N.  Lanes,  Dom.  Ourgreve,  '  grave  on  the  bank.' 
Most  names  in  -er  also  have  the  same  root,  though  this 
has  not  hitherto  been  much  recognized;  especially  those 
named  from  trees  —  Asher,  '  ash- tree  bank  ' ;  Beecher, 
Easier,  '  hazel-bank  ' ;  Pinner,  '  pine-tree  bank  ' ;  and 
Thomer,  as  well  as  Iver,  Uxbridge,  which  is  probably 
'  ivy  bank  ' ;  and  Hever,  '  high  bank  ' ;  and  even  Wooler, 
which  has  nothing  to  do  with  '  wool,'  but  is  1197  WeUoure, 
'  well  bank.' 

-thorpe,  -torp,  -trop. — This  is  O.E.  c.  725  throp,  c.  800  drop, 
later  thorp,  O.N.  thorp,  N.  torp,  O.Fris.  thorp,  therp,  '  farm, 
hamlet,  village.'  It  is  very  rare  in  O.E.,  and  in  place- 
names  is  due  almost  solely  to  Norse  influence.  It  is  found 
as  a  name  simply  as  Thorp  (e),  five  times  in  the  Postal 
Guide,  and  often  in  combination — Thorp  Arch,  Thorpe 


INTEODUCTION  60 

Abbotts,  Thorpe-le-Soken,  etc.;  also  as  Throop  (Christ- 
church),  and  Thrupp,  Mid  Oxon  and  S.  Northants.  These 
last  forms  will  be  pure  Eng.,  as  are  also  the  rare  occurrences 
of  the  ending  outside  the  Danelagh — ^Adlestrop,  Eastrip, 
Somerset ;  Huntingtrap,  Worcester  ;  etc.  Gloucester,  a 
purely  English  county,  contains  many  remarkable  varia- 
tions of  thwp — Hatherop,  Pindrup,  Puckrup,  Westrip, 
Wolstrop,  and  even  Upperup.  Wilstrop,  W.  Riding,  Dom. 
Wilestrop,  is  one  of  the  very  few  cases  of  -trop  in  a  Danish 
region,  whilst  Thorpe,  Chertsey,  is  one  of  the  very  few 
cases  of  thorpe  outside  such  a  region.  The  ending  -thorpe 
is  common  in  Norfolk,  and  occurs  three  times  in  Warwick, 
in  which  cases  it  is  certainly  due  to  Norse  influence;  it 
does  not  occur  at  all  in  Cambs  or  Cheshire,  once  each  in 
Hunts,  Beds,  and  Herts.  In  Denmark  to-day  the  ending 
-trup  is  very  common. 
-thwaite. — O.N.  pveit,  pveiti,  '  a  piece  of  land,  a  paddock  '  (lit. 
'  a  piece  cut  off,'  a  piece  '  thwited  '  or  whittled  off).  This 
suffix  is  found  only  in  the  north-west,  chiefly  in  Cumber- 
land; also,  rarely,  in  S.  Scotland.  The  limits  seem  to  be — 
Seathwaite,  Broughton-in-Fumess,  Satterthwaite,  Ulver- 
ston,  Linthwaite  ('  flax  plot '),  and  Slaithwaite,  Hudders- 
field,  and  Hunderthwaite,  N.  Yorks  {Dom.  Hundredestoit, 
or  '  bit  cut  off  the  hundred  ').  Modem  lips  have  clipped 
Slaithwaite  down  to  S16-at.  We  have  one  -twight  in 
Norfolk,  Crostwight,  Dom.  Crostueit;  and  see  Eastwood. 
-toft.    See  Toft. 

-ton  ranks  with  -ley  as  the  commonest  of  all  our  suffixes.  Dr. 
Lee  estimated  that  about  one-eighth  of  all  the  names  in 
the  first  two  vols,  of  Kemble's  Codex  Diplomaticus  had  this 
ending,  whose  root  idea  is  '  enclosure, '  '  my  property  ' ; 
whereas,  singular  to  note,  this  same  root  is  never  used  as 
a  place-name  ending  anywhere  on  the  Continent.  It  is 
O.E.  c.  725,  '  tuun  cors  '  (  =  cohors,  L.  for  '  court '),  later 
tiln,  O.N.  t'ijjn,  'enclosure,  homestead,  farm';  toun  in 
Scot.,  town  in  W.  Somerset,  and  tun  in  Norw.  dialects  are 
still  used  for  '  a  single  farm.'  In  Cornwall  town  and 
town-place  are  still  applied  to  the  smallest  hamlet  or 
even  to  a  farmyard.  Then,  probably  after  the  Nor. 
Conquest,   tun  came   to   mean    '  a   town ' ;   long   before 


60         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

that  it  meant  'a  village.'  The  root  is  often  said  to  be 
akin  to  Keltic  d/an,  '  a  fort,'  as  in  the  old  ending  -dunum. 
But  this  is  doubtful,  as  diA^n  means  first,  '  a  hill,'  and  then, 
'  the  fort  which  so  often  crowned  the  hill. '  True,  the 
forms  -don  and  -ton  do  sometimes  run  into  one  another, 
as  in  Bishopston,  1016  Biscopesdun,  Farndon  (Cheshire), 
Dom.  Ferentone,  Gamston,  Larton  (Cheshire),  Dom. 
Lavorchedone,  etc.,  also  Dunstall  and  TmsrsTALL. 

One  needs  to  be  careful  about  the  common  confusion 
with  -stone,  as  in  Atherstone,  Beeston  Castle,  Brigh- 
ton, Brixton,  etc.,  whilst  Elkstone,  Leek,  was  1227 
Elkesdon  (c/.,  too,  the  common  interchange  of  Johnston 
and  Johnstone).  Perhaps  oftenest,  in  these  eases,  the 
original  ending  was  O.E.  stan{e),  'stone';  but  not  in 
Johnston.  An  example  of  the  reverse  case  is  Woolstone, 
Berks,  which  is  the  O.E.  Wulfricestun.  Sometimes  the  s  is 
the  genitive  of  the  preceding  personal  name ;  and  of  course  e 
may  be  added  at  the  end  of  almost  any  old  name.  There 
are  also  some  curious  corruptions,  like  Austerson,  Cheshire, 
which  is  DoTO.'s  Alstanton,  whilst  Enson,  Staffs,  is  c.  1300 
Eneston  and  Enson.  In  rare  cases,  as  in  Cotton,  Cambs. 
the  ending  -on  may  be  the  old  locative,  '  at  the  cots, ' 
the  same  ending  which  in  Yorks  so  often  becomes  -un, 
-um,  and  then  -am;  see  -ham;  so  that  -ham  and  -ton  may 
mean  the  same  thing,  and  yet  not  '  dwelling  '  at  all ! 
In  rare  cases  -ton  is,  or  was,  used  to  give  a  Saxon  look  to 
a  Keltic  name — e.g.,  Clyst,  Exeter,  was  1001  O.E.  Chron. 
Glistun,  v.r.  Chstun,  whilst  we  also  have  a  '  Clistune  '  in 
Dom.  Worcester,  all  probably  being  originally  W.  glwys, 
'  a  hallowed  place,  a  fair  spot.'  In  Mitton,  which  occurs 
several  times,  the  -ton  is  corrupted  from  O.E.  mythan. 
-warden,  -wardine,  -worth,  -worthy,  are  best  all  taken  together, 
being  in  root  the  same.  Very  common  is  -worth,  O.E. 
worth,  weorth,  wurth,  wyrth,  '  open  space,  piece  of  land, 
holding,  farm,  estate,'  akin  to  our  Eng.  worth.  In  Dom. 
it  is  usually  found  as  -orde,  or  -vrde,  -worde.  Examples 
are  so  numerous  that  they  need  not  be  cited.  J.  H.  Turner 
cites  thirty-one  cases,  past  or  present,  of  the  ending,  in 
Yorks  alone.  Occasionally  we  meet  a  corruption,  as  in 
BiSHPORT  for  'bishop's  worth,'  and,  more  serious,  Sea- 


INTRODtJCTION  -ei 

COURT  near  Oxford,  which,  was  once  Seovecwurde  or 
'  Seofeca's  iarm.'  Who  would  ever  guess  that"?  In  a  £ew 
cases  -worth  has  been  replaced  by  -iord,  as  inDuxEOUD  and 
Pampispoed,  Cambs  ;  Offord,  Warwick,  and  Tudworth, 
Yorks  ;  where  Dom.  has  both  Tudeworde  and  Tudeforde. 
We  see  the  reverse  case  in  Brinsworth,  Rotherham, 
Dom.  Brinesford,  and  Wigglesworth,  E.  Yorks,  Dom. 
Wiclesforde.  In  either  case  the  transition  form  was  -vorde.^ 

-worthy  is  an  ending  purely  S.  Western.  It  is  O.E. 
worthig,  seen  more  fully  in  Worthing  ;  root  and  meaning 
the  same  as  -worth.  Seemingly  it  is  not  a  diminutive 
but  an  extended  form  as  in  -warden.  Examples  are 
Badgeworthy,  Holsworthy,  King's  Worthy,  etc. 

-warden,  -wardine,  is  an  ending  very  common  in  Salop, 
whilst  a  few  cases  occur  in  the  surrounding  counties ;  else- 
where it  is  unknown.  It  is  Mercian  O.E.  worthign,  ex- 
tended form  of  worthig  and  of  worth ;  see  above,  and 
meaning,  as  before,  '  farm,  holding,  place  of  worth.'  In 
Dom.  Salop  we  have  a  simple  Wrdine;  but  instances  of 
the  ending  are  also  abundant  in  that  shire — Belswardine, 
Shrawardine,  etc.  In  N.  Hereford  we  have  Leintwardine 
and  Pedwardine,  in  Worcester  Bedwardine  ('the  monk's 
table  farm  '),  and  ToUerdine,  in  Fhnt  Hawarden,  whilst 
we  have  contracted  forms  in  Garden,  Cheshire;  and 
Harden,  Staffs;  as  well  as  Ellerdine,  Salop.  Gloucester 
gives  us  Ruardean,  c.  1281  Rowardin,  and  Shepherdine.  It 
is  interesting  to  note  that  Lapworth,  Warwick,  is  in  an  816 
charter  Hlappanwurthin  and  in  Dom.  Lapeforde.  In 
Holland  we  have  names  like  Leeu warden  (Dutch,  leeuw, 
'  a  lion  '),  where  we  seem  to  have  the  same  ending;  but 
there  is  no  Dutch  warden  or  worden  in  CaUsch's  Dutch 
Dictionary. 
■wich,  -wick. — This  is  O.E.  wic,  'dwelling,  village,'  borrowed 
from  L.  vicus,  'village,'  same  root  as  Gk.  olKo<i,  'house  '; 
also  borrowed  in  Corn,  as  Gweek,  found  in  place-names 
there.  One  of  the  very  earliest  recorded  instances  of 
-wich  is  'the  port  of  Quentawic,'  in  Bede  iv.  1,  i.e., 
St.  Quentin,  Picardy.  In  the  South  wic  is  usually  softened 
into  -wich — -Greenwich,  Harwich,  Sandwich,  etc.     In  the 

^  The  natives  now  call  Deskford,  Banffshire,  Deskurd. 


62         THE  PLACE  NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

north    it    remains    hard,  as    -wick — Ahiwick,    Berwick, 
Cheswick,  Withernwick,  etc.     But  the  hard  -wick  is  also 
found  in  the  south.     We  have  both  Berwick  St.  James 
and  St.  John  near  Salisbury,  as  well  as  one  near  Shrews- 
bury, and  we  have  Chiswick  near  London  as  well  as  one 
in  the  far  North.     In  Cheshire  and  Worcestershire  -wich 
or  -wych  is  popularly  interpreted  as  indicating  a  brine 
or  salt  spring  {cf.  716  charter  '  In  wico  .  .  .  Saltwich,'  Wor- 
cester).    But  there  is  no  O.E.  authority  for  this,  even 
though  Nantwich  is  in  W.  Yr  Heledd  gwen,  '  the  white 
place  for  making  salt.'    Droitwich  is  in  O.E.  Chron.  simply 
Wic.    We  get  the  hard  form  in  Salwick,  Preston,  which 
can  hardly  mean  '  salt  bay,'  O.N.  vik,  but  rather,  '  village 
where  salt  was  made.'    It  is  doubtful  if  any  -wick  in 
England  means   '  bay '   (though  cf.   Sandwich),   whilst 
such  are  common  in  the  north  of  Scotland.     Skeat  thought 
the  -wick  in  Saltwich,  Droitwich,  etc.,  was  the  N.  vik, 
*  a  smaU  salt  creek  or  bay  ' ;  and  that  the  change  to 
'  brine-pit '  would  be  easy.     But  to  some  of  us  this  seems 
very  unlikely  indeed,  down  inland  at  Droitwich,  and  so 
early  as  716.     In  Yorks  wic  becomes  Wike,  Dom.  Wic, 
and  Heckmondwike,  etc.     The  O.E.  ending  -awic  some- 
times becomes  -age,  q.v. 
-with. — O.N.  vith-r,  Dan.  ved,  'a  wood,'  is  common  in  Yorks. 
J.  H.  Turner  cites  eleven   cases — AskwitH,   Beckwith, 
Bub  with,  etc.,  where  Dom.  spells  vid,  wid,  uid,  and  vi, 
always  avoiding  ih.     It  is  doubtful  if  -with  ever  really 
interchanged  with  -wick.    We  do  have  Skipwith  twice 
in  Dom.  as  Schipewic,  and  again  in  1200  Scippewic,  also 
Butterwick,  Yorks,  in  Dom.  both  Butruic  and  Butruid; 
but  as  a  rule  in  such  cases  c  wiU  be  the  common  scribe's 
error  for  t.     Occasionally  -with  is  found  changing  into 
-worth;  whilst  Langwith,  Derby  and  Notts,  and  Lang- 
worth,  Lines,  all  ended  with  -wath,  '  ford,'  in  thirteenth- 
century  charters. 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  NOKMAN  ELEMENT 

The  pure  Norman  period  in  England  was  but  short — from  the 
Conquest  in  1066  to  the  accession  of  the  Angevin  Henry  II. 
in  1154.  However,  from  the  marriage  of  ^thelred  to  Emma, 
the  Duke  of  Normandy's  sister,  in  1002,  Normans  began  to 
find  homes  in  our  land  and  to  influence  our  affairs,  an  influence 
which  lasted  on  till  the  accession  of  Edward  I.  in  1292,  first  of 
our  Kings  with  an  English  name  since  fatal  Senlac,  and  an 
EngUshman  out  and  out.  Hallam  has  well  pointed  out  that 
Norman  influence  in  England  has  often  been  exaggerated. 
Sir  Henry  Ellis's  enumeration  of  the  nearly  8,000  mesne  tenants 
in  Domesday  shows  how  very  large  was  the  number  of  purely 
Saxon  lords  of  the  manor  at  that  date;  whilst  it  should  be 
better  known  that  French  was  never  used  among  us  for  deed 
or  law  until  the  reign  of  Henry  III.,  1216-1272.  Still,  consider- 
ing the  wide  power  of  Norman  lords  and  landholders,  and  the 
large  use  of  French  among  all  educated  EngUshmen,  Norman 
place-names  in  England  are  wonderfully  f ew.^  Here  the  stolid 
Saxon  peasant  fairly  extinguished  the  proud  Norman  peer. 

But  there  is  one  pretty  large  group,  of  Norman  names  in 
England,  those  beginning  with  Beau — or,  before  a  vowel,  Bel- 
(feminine,  belle),  'beautiful,  lovely,'  a  common  prefix  for  a 
spot  chosen  because  of  its  fine  outlook  or  natural  beauty. 
There  are  among  us  two  Beaudeserts  or  '  lovely  wilds,'  a  Beau- 
lieu,  '  lovely  spot,'  reappearing  corrupted  in  Bewdley  and  in 
Leighton  Buzzard;  also  two  Beaumonts  and  two  Belmonts, 
'  fine  hills.'     There  are  two  Belchamps,  '  fine  plains,'  better 

1  Of  course  the  Normans  profoundly  influenced  both  the  spelling 
and  pronunciation  of  many  English  names,  both  local  and  personal. 
See  p.  26,  and  names  like  Cerne,  Osgodby,  etc. ;  but  wholly  Norman 
names  in  England  are  few.  The  whole  subject  is  carefully  worked  out 
in  Zachrisson's  Anglo-Norman  Influence  on  English  Place-Names,  1910. 

63 


64         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

known  to  us  in  the  shape  of  Beauchamp  or  Beacham ;  then  there 
is  not  only  a  modern  Belle  Vue,  '  fine  view,'  but  an  old  Belvoir, 
'  fine  to  see,'  whilst  the  Beaurepair,  '  lovely  haunt,'  of  the 
Chron.  of  Lanercost,  has  now  become  transformed  into  Beau- 
park,  Ebchester;  but  it  remains  as  Belrepeir  in  Gloucester,  and 
appears  again  in  Derby  as  Belper.  Belford,  Belgrave,  and 
a  good  many  other  names  in  Bel-,  have  an  English,  not  a 
Norman,  origin. 

Antrobus,  Nantwich,  is  of  an  almost  unique  type  for  an 
English  name ;  but  it  surely  must  be  Fr.  entre  huis,  '  among 
the   box-trees  ' ;   in   Dom.   it   is   Entrebus.     Almost  its  only 
parallel  so  early  is  Montgomery,  of  which,  and  of  other 
Norman   names,  we    shall    have   something   to   say    in    the 
chapter  on  Wales     Another   old   name   in   Mont-  we  have 
in  Montacute,  'sharp  hiU,'  brought  in  the  Conqueror's  days 
from   Normandy   to    S.    Somerset.      A    few    of    pur    abbey 
names  also  are  Norman.     It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,   so 
many  French  monks  and  clerics  swarmed  over  to  England 
with  William  I. ;  hence  Jervaulx  and  Rievatjx.     These,  how- 
ever, are  only  haH  French,  the  fijst  half  in  both  cases  being 
Enghsh;  but  vaux  or  vaulx  is  the  plural  of  Fr.  vol,  '  a  valley.' 
Bois,  Fr.  for  '  a  wood,'  has  been  preserved  in  a  few  place-names, 
Chesham  Bois,  Bucks ;  Theydon  Bois,  Epping  Forest,  etc. ;  but 
not  Cambois.     Forest,  too,  as  in  New  Forest,  Forest  of  Dean, 
etc.,  is,  of  course,  French.    Then  it  should  be  noted  that  all  our 
names  with  the  suffix  -market  are  due  to  Norman  influence — 
Newmarket  (4),  Stowmarket,  etc.     About  the  earliest  record 
of   such  names  which  we  have  found  is  in  the   Pipe    RoU 
for   1179-80,   Yorks,  De    Novo  Mercato  (Latinized    form    of 
O.Nor.  Fr.  mercat),  now  Newmarch,  which  gives  us  the  modern 
Fr.  marche,  with  the  same  meaning. 

Norman  personal  names  are  very  conmionly  appended  to 
real  old  English  names — e.g.,  Bovey  Tracey,  Hurstmonceux, 
MUton  Deverel,  Sutton  MaUet,  and  Montis,  etc.  A  run  through 
Duignan's  county  books  will  show,  however,  that  these  double- 
barrelled  names  rarely  came  into  use  until  well  on  in  the  Middle 
Ages.  More  rarely  the  Norman  name  (in  most  cases  the  pro- 
prietor's) is  prefixed,  as  in  Guyhirn,  Royston,  etc.  A  real 
Norman  name,  long  a  puzzle,  is  Barnet,  first  found  c.  1200, 
Barnette.     It  is  almost  certainly  a  diminutive  of  Fr.  heme 


INTRODUCTION  66 

or  herme,  'a  narrow  space,  a  ledge,  a  berm.'  Boulge,  Suffolk, 
is  also  worth  referring  to,  because  it  preserves  an  old  Norman 
word  for  '  a  heathery  waste.'  In  the  same  region  is  Dover- 
court,  which  goes  back  to  Dow.,  and  so  gives  us  the  word  court 
more  than  200  years  earlier  than  it  is  recorded  m  our  English 
dictionaries.  ^ 

A  church  or  ecclesiastical  building  among  us  is  usually 
denoted  by  -church  in  the  south,  -kirk  or  kir-  in  the  north, 
or  else  by  -minster.  But  Normans  have  their  share  here  too. 
The  O.Nor.  Fr.  capele,  late  L.  cappella  (Ut.  '  a  httle  cape  '),  is 
now  usually  Chapel,  which  goes  to  form  fourteen  names  in  the 
Postal  Guide — Chapel  Allerton,  Chapel  Amble,  etc.  They  may 
not  all  go  back  to  Norman  days,  but  such  a  name  as  Chapel-en- 
le-Frith  certainly  does;  so  do  the  four  Capels,  two  in  Kent 
and  near  Dorking  and  Ipswich,  whilst  there  are  ten  Capels  in 
Wales.  There  is  likewise  a  Chappel  in  Essex.  Very  few  of  our 
names  in  Castle  come  in  before  1300;  but  Castle  Holdgate, 
Salop,  occurs  as  Chastel  Hollgod  in  the  thirteenth  century,  and 
must  be  Norman. 

Three  curious  specimens  of  quasi-Norman  names  may  bring 
this  brief  chapter  to  a  close:  Lappal,  Halesowen,  is  in  1335 
Lappole,  which  "must  mean  '  the  pool ';  while  in  1342  we  read 
of  '  Thomas  atte  Pole.'  Surtees,  Co.  Durham,  is  in  1211  Super 
Teisam,  the  L.  super  having  been  changed  into  Fr.  sur  ;  and  the 
name,  of  course,  means  (place)  '  on  the  Tees, '  Beachy  Head, 
Sussex,  if  correctly  interpreted,  is  unique  in  its  way  as  an 
English  cape  name.  It  is  always  thought  to  be  the  Fr.  beau 
chef,  '  fine  head  '  or  '  headland  ' ;  and  there  is  a  Beauchief  near 
Sheffield.  The  French  article  le,  '  the,'  stiU  remains  in  a  curious 
number  of  cases — Chapel-le-Dale,  Chester-le-Street,  Newton- 
le- Willows,  etc. 


CHAPTER  Vin 

THE  NAMES  OP  WALES,  MONMOUTH,  AND  CORNWALL 

Great  progress  has  now  been  made  in  the  study  of  the  names 
of  England  and  Scotland,  still  greater  with  the  names  of 
Ireland  and  of  Man.,  As  to  the  wealth  of  Keltic  names  in 
Cornwall  much  remains  to  be  done,  largely  because  Cornish 
is  now  so  utterly  a  dead  language.  It  has  dictionaries,  but 
none  satisfactory  to  the  place-name  student;  and  perhaps 
nobody  now  aHve  knows  enough  about  it  to  do  the  subject 
justice,  imless  it  be  Mr.  Henry  Jenner.  We  have,  indeed,  a 
great  store  of  Cornish  names  in  Domesday,  including  twenty- 
eight  which  begin  with  Lan-,  or  'church.'^  But,  with  rare 
exceptions,  like  Bodmin  or  Launceston,  Domesday's  names 
are  not  those  famihar  to  most  of  us  to-day.  So,  for  lack  of 
anything  which  we  feel  worth  saying — we  confess  it  with 
regret — we  pass  on. 

With  Wales,  and  its  very  Welsh  neighbour,  Monmouth,  the 
case  is  altogether  different.  Welsh  is  a  tongue  exceedingly 
alive.  In  1911,  43-5  per  cent,  of  the  people  still  spoke  Welsh, 
though  that  showed  a  decrease  of  47,542  in  ten  years.  On 
the  other  hand,  only  14  per  cent,  of  the  people  of  Ireland  then 
spoke  Erse,  and  just  over  4|  per  cent,  of  the  people  of  Scotland 
spoke  Gaelic.  Excellent  Welsh  scholars  abound,  yet  almost 
nobody  seems  to  have  fairly  tackled  the  host  of  intricate  and 
interesting  Welsh  names  which  await  explanation.  Men  like 
Professors  Rhys  and  Anwyl  have  given  scattered  hints;  and 
one  very  solid  contribution  we  do  have — the  Cymmrodorion 
Society's  edition  of  Owen's  PembroJceshire  (1603),  edited  by 
H.  Owen,  with  huge  blocks  of  notes  in  small  print  by  himseK^ 
Mr.  Egerton  PhiUimore,  Professor  Rhys,  Mr.  W.  H.  Stevenson, 

^  Out  of  the  200  old  Cornish  parishes,  no  less  than  145  are  called  after 
Keltic  saints — Irish,  Welsh,  Breton,  or  Cornish. 

66 


INTRODUCTION  67 

etc.,  notes  which  often  display  acutest  learning  and  insight 
concerning  names  all  over  Wales,  but  arranged  with  a  terrible 
lack  of  method,  and  sadly  unhandy  for  the  busy  student. 
The  only  book  dealing  with  the  whole  subject  seems  to  be  Mr. 
Thomas  Morgan's  Place-Names  of  Wales,  second  edition,  1912. 
The  author  was  prize-winner  at  the  Newport  Eisteddfod  in 
1897  for  a  Dictionary  of  Welsh  Names  in  Monmouth,  so  it  may 
be  taken  for  granted  that  he  knows  spoken  Welsh  thoroughly, 
and  he  has  collected  a  lot  of  useful  material.  But  he  omits 
many  important  names,  even  Glamorgan,  and  he  hardly  refers 
to  any  mountain  or  hill,  not  even  Plynlimmon,  Worse  stiU, 
Mr.  Morgan  has  had  no  scientific  training,  and  so,  on  many 
points,  his  little  book  is  a  very  unsafe  guide. 

Something  might  have  been  expected  from  the  new  edition 
of  the  Encyclopcedia  Britannica,  that  wonderful  monmnent  of 
well-arranged  learning.  The  article  '  Wales '  gives  a  long  list 
of  Welsh  words  for  river,  hill,  and  dale,  with  specimen  names 
derived  from  them.  But  the  list  is  such  that  any  tyro  could 
easily  compile  it  out  of  a  dictionary  for  himself ;  and  no  attempt 
is  made  to  analyze  or  explain  a  single  one  of  the  hundreds  of 
difficult  Welsh  names.  Rarely,  an  article  like  '  Cardiff  '  makes 
some  effort  to  deal  with  the  philological  problems.  But,  from 
a  place-name  point  of  view,  many  of  the  separate  articles  are 
deplorable.  All  we  are  told — e.g.,  under  'Denbigh' — is:  'Din 
in  Dinbych  '  (the  Welsh  spelling)  means  '  a  fort.'  But,  as  we 
shall  see,  the  strong  probability  is  that  Denbigh  is  a  Danish, 
and  not  a  Welsh,  name  at  all.  Under  Wrexham,  another 
puzzling  name,  we  are  told  that  the  original  name  '  in  the 
Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle,'  is  '  Wrightesham.'  This  last  is  not 
the  original  name,  and  Wrexham  is  never  mentioned  in  that 
Chronicle  at  all,  i 

As  we  have  referred  to  Cardiff,  the  history  of  the  great 
seaport's  name  is  quite  worth  telling  before  we  proceed  further. 
The  Britannica  article  gives  a  very  imperfect  record  of  the  early 
forms  of  the  name.  But  in  all  probability  it  is  correct  in 
holding  that  the  usual  explanation  '  fort  on  the  Taff  '  must  be 
wrong.  No  early  writer  ever  calls  it  Caerdaf ,  (which  would  be 
the  proper  Welsh  spelling  if  this  were  so),  unless  we  make  ex- 
ception of  the  English  antiquary  Leland,  in  the  days  of 
Henry  VIII.,  and  he  was  only  writing  down  his  own  guess. 


68         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OP  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

The  earliest  spelling  now  known  is  of  date  1128,  Kardi;  a  little 
later  we  find  Kardid,  whilst  in  the  Pipe  Roll  for  1158-59  we 
have  Cardif.  The  modern  Welsh  is  Caerdydd,  pronounced 
Caer  deeth.  These  forms  suggest  the  meaning  '  fort,  castle  of 
Didius.'  Within  the  last  few  years  it  has  become  certain  that 
Cardiff  stands  on  the  site  of  a  Roman  fort ;  and  so  this  Didius 
will  probably  be  that  Roman  general  who,  in  a.d.  50,  fought 
against  the  Silures,  the  British  tribe  who  inhabited  this  region. 
If  this  conjecture  be  right,  Cardiff  will  take  rank  as  one  of  the 
earliest  known  Roman  stations  in  the  British  Isles. 

It  is  generally  agreed  that  Wales  was  originally  peopled  by 
a  non-Keltic  race,  almost  certainly  pre-Aryan,  and  now 
practically  wiped  out,  though  it  has  left  its  mark  in  the  skulls 
of  many  of  its  successors.  Next,  it  is  agreed,  came  the  Goidels 
or  Gaels,  Kelts  pure  enough.  They  probably  spread  over 
nearly  the  whole  of  modern  Wales,  and  a  little  farther  east, 
except  where,  near  the  Salop  border,  the  Brythonic  Ordovices 
became  firmly  fixed.  Their  leading  tribes  were  the  Silures 
in  the  south-east  and  the  Demetae  in  the  south  -  west. 
Brythons  came  in  successive  waves  after  the  Gaels ;  and  while 
the  Saxon  was  busy  driving  the  native  Briton  westwards  out 
of  England,  the  Brython  was  as  busy  in  Wales  conquering  the 
Gael,  the  conquest  being  aU  but  complete  about  a.d.  500. 
Legend  and  tradition  make  it  weU-nigh  certain  that  the  Gaels 
were  once  in  large  force  in  Wales,  and,  in  early  historic  times, 
were  aided  against  the  Brythons  by  counter  invasions  of  Gaels 
from  the  south  of  Ireland.  But,  as  they  were  completely 
conquered  before  civilization  had  made  any  great  advance, 
they  have  left  behind  only  a  few  inscriptions,  rare  and  precious, 
in  South  Wales,  especially  Caldy  Island,  Pembroke,  in  Ogam 
characters.  There  are  no  such  inscriptions  in  Mid  Wales, 
and  only  one  in  the  north.  Of  clear  trace  in  Welsh  place- 
names  the  Gael  has  left  singularly  little.  It  is  difiicult  to  say 
now  what  must  be  truly  Goidelic.  The  fact — e.g.,  that  glyn, 
our  Scottish  glen — ^seems  commoner  in  Glamorgan  than  else- 
where might  perhaps  seem  to  point  that  way.  But  the  fact 
e.g.,  that  we  have  a  Clyne  (modern  Welsh  dun,  G.  claon,  '  a 
meadow  ')  both  in  Glamorgan  and  in  Sutherland,  is  hardly 
convincing  proof  that  the  Welsh  Clyne  must  be  a  name  left 
behind  by  the  now  vanished  Gael.     But  to  one  interesting 


INTRODUCTION  69 

pair  we  may  venture  to  point — Rosemarket  and  Rhosmarket, 
both  in  Pembroke.  Their  old  forms  are  Rossmarken  and 
Rosavarken,  for  which  no  explanation  is  forthcoming  in 
modern  Welsh.  The  names  must  surely  be  the  same  as  Rose- 
markie,  Fortrose  (c.  1228,  Rosmarkensis  Episcopus),  where 
Dr.  W.  J.  Watson  takes  the  ending  to  be  G.  marcnaidh,  old 
genitive  of  marcnach,  '  place  of  horses  ' ;  and  so  the  whole  name 
is  probably  Goidelic  for  '  moor  on  which  horses  were  kept  or 
stabled.' 

About  Rome,  too,  and  the  tramp  of  her  many  legions  through 
Wales,  surviving  place-names  tell  us  sadly  little,  though  Rome 
most  certainly  was  here.  There  are  no  -casters  or  -chesters 
to  be  found;  caer-  or  car-  everywhere  takes  their  place.  For 
early  place-name  material  we  are  worse  off  in  Wales  than 
anywhere  else  in  our  British  Isles.  In  Wales — e.g.,  no  Roman 
inscriptions  have  yet  been  found,  though  they  are  found  every- 
where else,  one  or  two  even  in  Cornwall.  We  have  already 
told  how  that  Cardiff  was  probably  a  Roman  fort  soon  after 
A.D.  50.  But,  as  matter  of  fact,  no  Roman  writer  mentions 
any  place  in  Wales  tiU  we  come  to  Tacitus,  who,  in  his  Life 
of  Agricola,  c.  a.d.  90,  refers  to  Mona,  the  Welsh  Mona  or 
Anglesea,  not  Julius  Caesar's  Mona,  the  Isle  of  Man;  whilst 
in  his  Annals,  at  least  ten  years  later,  Tacitus  mentions  Mona 
again  and  also  Sabrina,  the  River  Severn.  Soon  after  Tacitus 
comes  the  famous  Geography  of  Ptolemy,  c.  150,  who  describes 
all  Britain  in  ample  detail ;  and  yet,  perhaps,  the  only  existing 
Welsh  name  identifiable  in  Ptolemy  is  Maridunum,  which  must 
be  Caermarthen.  This  last  seems,  indeed,  to  be  a  translation 
of  Maridunum,  '  fort,  castle  by  the  sea.'  In  Welsh  '  the  sea  ' 
is  mor,  but  in  G.  it  is  muir,  genitive  mara  ;  so  that  this,  too, 
may  probably  be  taken  as  a  Goidelic  name. 

The  present  name  we  find  first  in  Nennius,  c.  800.  He 
spells  it  Cair  mardin,  a  spelling  exactly  preserved  in  (perhaps) 
its  next  mention,  the  Pipe  Roll,  1158-59,  whilst  Giraldus, 
c.  1188,  has  Cairmardhin,  or  -merdhin.  In  Welsh  II  has  come 
to  have  the  soft  or  hissing  thl  sound,  and  so,  at  least  since  the 
twelfth  century,  Welshmen  have  taken  the  same  to  mean 
'fort  of  Merlin, 'the  mighty  magician  of  King  Arthur's  court. 
His  name  in  modern  Welsh  is  Myrddin;  but  already  by  1148 
we  find  it  in  its  Latin  form  Merlinus.      One  of  the  earliest 


70         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

known  instances  of  the  Welsh  II,  written  as  thl,  is  in  the  Rolls 
of  Parliament,  I.  463/1,  not  later  than  1300,  where  we  find 
a  very  familiar  name  spelt  Thlewelyn.^ 

For  a  few  other  Roman  names  in  Wales  we  can  tm-n  to  the 
Itinerary  or  Road  Book  of  Antonine  (see  p.  4).  There  were 
plenty  of  Roman  roads  in  Wales,  and  wherever  one  finds  sarn 
in  a  place-name,  one  may  hopefully  search  for  traces  of  a  Roman 
road.  But  in  the  Antonine  Itinerary  we  can  identify  only 
three  known  names  of  to-day,  and  there  is  doubt  even  among 
these — Gobannio  (certainly  Abergavenny),  Nid  (which  may 
be  Neath),  and  Leucaro,  possibly  Loughor,  Caermarthen; 
all  three  on  the  Roman  highway  from  Uriconium  (Wroxeter) 
to  Caermarthen.  In  the  Ravenna  Geographer,  a.  700,  we  can 
probably  identify  Canubio  with  R.  Conway.  That  seems 
to  exhaust  our  stock  for  the  early  centuries. 

The  Saxon  has  left  a  much  deeper  mark  on  the  surface  of 
Wales  than  his  Roman  predecessor,  but,  unfortunately  for  us, 
not  in  his  Chronicle  nor  in  his  charters.  In  the  Anglo-Saxon 
Chronicle  we  find  nothing  in  the  shape  of  a  Welsh  place-name 
before  the  Conquest,  save  Buttington,  Montgomery,  in  893, 
Brecknock  in  916,  and  Rhuddlan  in  1063.  We  have  now 
mentioned  all  our  available  documentary  evidence  up  to 
Domesday;  because  the  dates  of  the  present  text  of  Skene's 
Four  Ancient  Books  of  Wales  are  far  too  uncertain  to  found 
almost  anything  upon.  To  refer  to  Domesday  now  may  be 
to  anticipate;  but  we  may  finish  this  survey  of  our  meagre 
data  before  1100  by  saying  that  a  handful  of  place-names  in 
Flint  and  Denbigh  are  mentioned  in  the  Conqueror's  survey 
of  Cheshire,  1086-87 — Hawarden,  e.g.,  also  Bersham,  Brough- 
ton,  Halkin,  and  Rhuddlan,  here  Roelent;  but  probably  not 
Bagillt,  though  so  careful  an  antiquary  as  Mr.  A.  Palmer 
of  Wrexham  confidently  identifies  it  with  Domesday's  Bachelie. 
This  seems  as  phonetically  impossible  as  Mr.  Morgan's  Welsh 
derivation,  hu-  geillt.  The  first  syllable  has  always  been  Ba-, 
and  seems  to  represent  W.  hack,  G.  heag,  '  little  ' ;  the  second 
means  '  hiUs  '  or  '  cliffs.' 

Salop's  Domesday  contains,  perhaps,  no  Welsh  name  except 
Montgomery  just  on  its  border.   But  several  names  around 

*  But  also  c/.  Cardeol  ( =  ca^r  Lleol),  spelling  of  Caklisle  by  Ordericus 
Vitalis,  c.  1145;  and  for  an  instance  in  1246,  see  Cefn  Llts. 


INTEODUCTION  71 

Monmouth  are  in  the  Domesday  of  Hereford.  From  600 
onwards  the  Welsh  march  or  frontier  was  a  very  unfixed 
quantity — has  always  been  so,  we  may  say,  up  to  the  present 
hour.  Monmouthshire,  nominally  in  England,  is  still  Welsh 
in  nearly  everything  but  name ;  whilst  Hereford  and  Monmouth 
were  once  called  West  Wales.  The  fluctuating  frontier  is  well 
illustrated  by  the  fact,  often  referred  to  in  recent  disestablish- 
ment controversies,  that,  at  points,  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
Bishops  of  St.  Asaph  and  Llandaff  runs  right  into  England, 
whilst  something  like  four  parishes  of  the  See  of  Hereford  are 
in  Wales.  West  of  the  River  Wye  Hereford  names  are  largely 
Welsh,  whilst  east  of  it  they  are  purely  Enghsh;  and  in  that 
West-of-Wye  region,  Welsh  was  largely  spoken  not  more 
than  sixty  years  ago.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Saxons  were 
always  pushing  their  spears  into  Wales,  especially  the  redoubt- 
able OSa  who,  before  800,  finally  hunted  the  Welsh  out  of 
Pengwern  (henceforward  known  as  Shrewsbury),  and  built 
the  famous  dyke  all  the  way  along  from  the  mouth  of  the  Dee 
to  the  Wye,  so  making  this  quite  an  English  region,  even,  e.g., 
a  good  piece  of  what  is  now  Denbigh. 

Thus  it  is  only  as  one  might  expect,  that  English  place- 
names  are  to  be  found  in  considerable  numbers  over  about 
two-thirds  of  St.  David's  PrincipaUty,  historic  and  ancient 
place-names  too.  The  most  purely  Welsh  of  the  twelve 
counties  are  Cardigan,  Merioneth,  and  Caernarvon,  all  in  the 
west,  where,  curious  to  relate,  in  all  three,  perhaps  the  only 
Old  English  name  is  the  highest  mountain  in  the  land,  Snowdon, 
'  the  snow-capped  hill, '  a  name  found  as  early  as  the  Norman 
chronicler,  Ordericus  Vitalis,  who,  at  Lisieux,  c.  1140,  wrote 
of  Mons  Snaudunus.  Doubtless  the  name  goes  back  to  Saxon 
days.  The  natives  have  their  own  name,  Y  Wyddfa,.  'the 
Tomb,' or  'Tumulus.' 

Almost  as  early  in  Wales  as  the  Saxons  were  the  Norsemen. 
The  hardy  Norseman  was  always  prowling  about  the  Irish 
Sea  and  St.  George's  Channel,  from  the  beginning  of  the  ninth 
century  to  the  end  of  the  thirteenth;  and  for  long  there  were 
Norse  or  Danish  Kings  in  Dublin  and  the  Isle  of  Man.  It 
was  impossible,  therefore,  that  Wales  should  escape  their 
usually  unwelcome  attentions ;  though,  it  must  be  added,  when 
once  they  settled  down,  very  peaceful  and  industrious  settlers 


72         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

they  did  make.  So  far  as  place-names  go,  they  have  left  little 
mark  in  Wales,  save  among  the  bays  and  islands  of  Pembroke, 
which  are  so  like  their  own  much  islanded,  much  indented, 
rocky  shores.  In  Pembroke  we  have  Norse  footprints  in  abund- 
ance— Caldy  I.,  Colby,  Dale,  Pish-guard  (  =  garth  or  yard), 
Flathokn,  Gellyswick,  Hakin,  Haverford,  Milford  Haven, 
Skokholm,  Stack  Rocks,  and  Tenby,  with  quite  a  number 
more,  which  all  testify  to  Viking  visitors,  though  it  is  impossible 
in  almost  any  case  to  give  to  these  a  precise  date. 

The  French-speaking,  domineering  Norman  was  in  great 
force  along  both  north  and  south  coasts,  and  along  the  border, 
from  the  Conquest,  or  a  year  or  two  later,  right  on  to  the  days 
of  Edward  I.,  whose  little  son,  the  first  Prince  of  Wales,  was 
born  at  Caernarvon  in  1284.  Both  William  the  Conqueror 
and  his  son  Rufus  personally  led  expeditions  into  Wales,  the 
latter  no  less  than  three,  on  one  occasion  marching  as  far  as 
Snowdon.  Indeed,  only  the  rugged  north-west  was  left  un- 
touched. South,  in  Glamorgan,  we  can  still  decipher  not  a 
few  of  the  heavy  footmarks  of  the  great  Sir  Robert  Fitzhamon, 
one  of  the  Conqueror's  chief  knights,  who,  with  his  leading 
retainers,  coined  many  new  names  for  the  hamlets  in  the  Vale 
of  Glamorgan,  because  their  Norman  tongues  could  not  pro- 
nounce the  Welsh  ones.  Altogether,  these  landlords  from  France 
have  left  behind  a  very  interesting  and  somewhat  important 
little  group  of  place-names — e.g.,  the  Welshman's  Mon  has 
now  an  EngUsh  name,  Anglesea,  with  a  French  name  for  its 
capital,  Beaumaris — or  Beumarish,  as  it  is  earlier  spelt.  The 
natives  called  it  Rhosfair,  '  moor  of  Mary.'  However,  in  1293 
Edward  I.  came  hither,  built  a  castle  on  the  low-lying  land  by 
the  shore  of  the  Menai  Straits,  that  so  the  castle  might  com- 
municate with  the  sea ;  and,  because  of  the  suitability  of  the 
site,  called  the  place  Beau  marais,  or  'fine,  beautiful  marsh  !' 
Mold,  in  Flint,  is  another  remarkable  Norman  name,  well 
disguised.  The  Kelts  termed  it  Gwyddgrug,  '  conspicuous 
mount, '  from  the  great  heap  still  to  be  seen  near  the  chief  road. 
The  Normans  translated  this  into  Mont  halt  (mod.  Fr.  haut), 
'high  mount  ';  and  we  find  Roger  de  Monalto  here  in  1244. 
Mont  hault,  with  a  transition  stage  in  Moalt,  has  now  been 
squeezed  down  into  Mold,  just  as  Mowbray  was  originally 
Munbrai. 


INTEODUCTION  73 

As  interesting  is  the  name  Montgomery.  A  border  castle 
was  built  at  this  place  just  after  the  Conquest,  by  one  Baldwin; 
hence  its  present  Welsh  name  Trefaldwyn,  '  Baldwin's  house.' 
The  castle  was  soon  captured  by  Roger  de  Montgomery,  who 
had  been  made  Earl  of  Shrewsbury  in  1071;  and  ever  since  the 
spot  has  borne  his  name.  We  find  it  in  a  Latin  form  in 
Orderic,  c.  1145,  Mons  Gomerici,  '  hill  of  Gomeric,'  which  must 
have  been  the  name  of  somebody  in  Normandy,  now  lost  in 
oblivion.  Already  in  Domesday,  its  first  mention,  the  name 
is  spelt  not  only  Montgomeri,  but  also  Muntgumeri,  which, 
shows  how  early  o  was  slurred  into  u.^  Of  pure  French  is 
Beau  Pre  2  or  '  Fine  Meadow  '  House,  in  Glamorgan,  on  the  site 
of  another  Norman  castle,  whilst  Fleur  de  Lys  is  just  across 
the  border  in  Monmouth.  Beaufort,  Brecon,  seems  to  be 
modern;  but  Hay  near  by  is  true  Norman  (Fr.  haie,  '  a  hedge  '). 
We  have  already  heard  (p.  65)  that  names  in  Capel  must  be 
Norman  too ;  and  there  are  at  least  ten  chapel  sites  in  Wales 
with  this  name,  Capel  Curig,  Capel  Saron,  etc. 

When  we  come  to  examine  the  true  Welsh  names  as  a  whole, 
as  we  now  have  them,  we  find,  as  we  should  expect,  that  the 
river-names  are  all  Keltic,  or  else  pre-Keltic.  Many  of  the 
former,  as  well  as  of  the  latter,  are  difficult  to  interpret,  how- 
ever early  we  get  their  forms.  The  subject  still  requires  much 
investigation,  and  as  yet  clearly  pre-Keltic  names  seem  few. 
Some  river  names  are  easy  enough,  like  Use,  which  goes  so 
readily  with  Axe  and  Exe.  Indeed,  a  good  many  are  names 
common  to  both  England  and  Wales,  and  have  already  been 
treated — Dee,  e.g.,  and  Wye,  and  Avon  (Glam.),  where  also 
we  find  the  parallel  form  Aman,  just  as  we  have  in  Gaelic  both 
abhuinn  and  amhuinn,  the  latter  seen  in  such  a  Scottish  name 
as  Cramond,  originally  Caer  Amond.  The  River  Amman, 
Caermarthen,  though  spelt  with  two  m's,  is  more  likely  to  be 
the  same  word  than  to  come  from  ami ;  whilst  the  River 
Co]srwAY  goes  with  Wye,  being  W.  con  gwy  {con,  '  together  '), 
i.e.,  'chief  stream.'  Cynon  may  be  similar,  q.v.  Before  we 
go  farther,  it  ought  to  be  noted  that  the  Severn,  biggest  and 

*  In  Norman  Frencli  o  regularly  becomes  u,  especially  before  a  nasal. 

2  It  may  be  added  here  that  the  Beaurepair,  '  lovely  haunt,'  and 
Belper  of  England  reappear  in  Keltic  Cornwall  as  Barrepper,  Borripper 
or  Brepper. 

6 


74         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

earliest  recorded  river  of  all,  is  probably  now  insoluble.  The 
native  Welsh  name  is  Hafren,  which  the  Romans  turned  into 
Sabrina  and  the  Saxons  into  Saefren — quite  according  to  rule ; 
as,  in  like  manner,  the  Greek  e^  and  eTrrd  are  the  Latin  sex 
and  septem,  our  six  and  seven. 

We  have  also  in  Wales,  as  in  England,  a  good  many  Keltic 
names,  as  well  as  Avon,  which  mean  simply  '  water  '  or  '  river  ' 
— e.g.,  Dovey,  W.  dwfr,  seen  again  in  the  Derbyshire  Dove; 
whilst  a  common  river  ending  is  -on,  which  also  means  nothing 
but  '  stream, '  as  in  Aeron,  Cynon,  and  Avon  itself ;  also  in 
Scottish  rivers  Uke  the  Carron,  and  French  ones  like  the 
Gar-onne;  L.  Garumna,  where  the  -imina  is  clearly  the 
G.  amhuinn  and  L.  amnis — or,  rather,  a  root  akin  thereto. 
The  old  Keltic  deities  were  largely  local  or  identified  with 
places.  Thus  we  are  not  surprised  to  note  that  a  good  many 
Welsh  rivers,  in  the  view  of  scholars  like  Sir  Edward  Anwyl, 
show  in  their  names  survivals  of  river- worship — e.g.,  Dwy  ffor 
and  Dwy  £fach,  which,  says  Anwyl,  mean  '  great '  and  '  little 
goddess, '  whilst  the  Merioneth  Dyfi  probably  means  '  goddess  ' 
alone.  The  goddess  of  war  may  be  commemorated  in  the 
Aeron,  and  the  god  of  the  metal-workers  or  smiths  in  Gavenny 
(where  -j  =  gwy,  'river').  Yet  another  god  seems  to  be 
buried,  or  should  we  not  rather  say  drowned,  in  the  River 
Ltjgg. 

The  River  Tawe  is  probably  the  same  root  as  the  Enghsh 
Thame  and  Thames,  only  aspirated,  all  meaning  '  smooth, 
quiet.'  Tawy  may  be  the  same;  but  the  Towey  must  be 
another  root,  implying  '  to  spread  out  ' ;  and  the  Cardigan 
Tivy  may  have  the  same  notion  hid  within  it.  The  derivations 
of  many  of  the  Welsh  streams  given  by  Mr.  Morgan  are  pure 
guess-work.  Everything  here  needs  careful  sifting  by  a  good 
Keltic  philologist. 

The  Welsh  mountain  names  are  aU  Keltic  too,  with  the  one 
notable  exception  of  Snowdon.  Some  of  these  mountain  names 
hide  quite  a  story,  if  only  we  could  draw  it  out — Cader  Idris, 
e.g.,  'the  chair  '  of  'seat  of  Idris,'  who  is  said  to  have  been 
a  Welsh  hero  and  a  great  astronomer.  Unfortunately,  for 
early  forms  or  spellings  of  these  mountain  names,  our  best 
and  earliest  authorities  almost  entirely  fail  us ;  we  mean  Liber 
Landaviae  or  the  Book  of  Llandaff,  c.   1130,  and  the  bulky 


INTKODUCTION  75 

works  of   Giraldus  Cambrensis,   the  famous   Pembrokeshire 
Norman,  c.  1180-1200. 

But  when  we  turn  to  counties  and  coastline  we  find  a  quite 
different  state  of  matters.    It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that 
five  out  of  the  twelve  Welsh  counties  now  bear  non-Welsh 
names.     First    there    is    Anglesea,    usually    interpreted    as 
Old  English  for  'the  Isle  of  the  Angles,'  a  name  which  goes 
back  to  the  Norman  Conquest.     But  Mr.  W.  H.  Stevenson 
prefers  to  derive  from  O.N.  Ongulsey,   '  island  of  the  fjord  ' 
(the  Menai  Straits);  the  Welsh  always  call  it  Ynys  Fon — i.e., 
their  Isle  of  Man.     Then  comes  Denbigh,  a  name  over  which 
much  nonsense  has  been  talked,   largely  because,   from  its 
earliest  mention  (?  c.  1 350),  the  name  is  always  found  in  its 
Welsh  spelling,  Dinbych,  Dynbiegh,  or  the  like,  with  a  final 
guttural.     Dinbych  would  literally  mean  '  hiU  of  the  wretched 
being  ';  while  Mr.  Morgan  holds  out  for  din  bach,  '  little  hiU,' 
which  it  certainly  is.     But  Din  bach  it  is  never  called;  and 
there  can  hardly  be  any  doubt  that  the  English  pronunciation 
gives  the  true  name.  Den-by,  'Danes'  dwelling.'    The  ending 
-by  is  one  of  the  commonest  in  Great  Britain,  whilst  Dane  has 
become  Den-  just  as  in  Den-mark,     The  name  is  thus  identical 
with  Tenby  at  the  opposite  corner  of  Wales ;  d  and  t  continually 
interchange  in  Welsh  names.     Next  is  Flint,  also  debated; 
but  it  must  be  the  English  flint,  and  be  called  from  some  rocky 
peculiarity  about  the  town  or  county,  even  though  what  we 
technically  term  '  flint '  does  not  seem  at  aU  common  here. 

The    fourth   is    Montgomery,  already  dwelt  upon;    as    a 

county  name  unique  in  either  Wales  or  England,  being  called 

after  a  Norman.     Lastly,  there  is  Radnor,  as  plainly  English 

as  Flint,  though  few  people  seem  clear  about  it.    Mr.  Morgan 

'  teUs  us,  the  shire's  name  was   given  to  it  in  the  reign  of 

Henry  VIII.,  and  that  it  means  'red  district.'    The  fact  is, 

the  name,  though  not  the  shire,  is  as  old  as  Domesday,  and  is 

the  Old  English  Radan  ora,  probably  meaning,  '  at  the  edge 

of  the  road,'  presumably  the  Roman  road  which  ran  from 

Wroxeter  south  to  Abergavenny  and  Caerleon.     The  native 

Welsh  name  is  Maesyf ed  or  -hyf ed,  probably  for  maes  hyfaidd, 

'  field  of  the  dauntless  one.' 

As  to  the  seven  other  counties  with  pure  Welsh  names,  it  is 
notable  that  no  less  than  five  commemorate  a  national  hero — 


76         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

Brechyn,  Ceredig,  Merlin,  Merion,  Morgan.  This  is  greatly 
different  from  the  practice  of  the  Scottish  Kelt,  who  rarely 
puts  either  himseK  or  any  other  human  being  into  his  place- 
names.  The  two  exceptions  among  the  seven  are  Pembroke, 
which  is  corrupt  Welsh  for  '  head  of  the  sea-land  ' ;  as  Giraldus 
has  it,  '  Pembrochia  caput  maritimae  sonat ' ;  and  then 
CAEENARVOisr,  '  f  ort  opposite  Mon '  or  Anglesea.  There  is 
another  Carnarvon  in  Cumberland,  with  the  same  meaning. 
Only  in  this  case  the  Mon  (aspirated  Fon,  pron..  Von)  is  our 
Isle  of  Man. 

The  Welsh  have  been  allowed  even  less  say  in  naming  their 
own  coastline  than  in  naming  their  counties.  A  study  of  the 
map  shows  that,  except  round  Cardigan  Bay,  it  is  the  Norse- 
man or  the  Saxon  who  has  named  all  the  headlands  of  impor- 
tance. Beginning  at  the  north-east  corner  and  going  round, 
we  find — e.g.,  Point  of  Ayre,  Great  Orme's  Head,  Strumble 
Head,  St.  David's  Head,  Hook  Point,  St.  Gowan's  Head,  Scar 
Point,  Nash  Point,  Oldcastle  Head,  the  Nose  and  Worm's  Head 
{Worm  being  another  form  of  Orme,  '  the  Snake ').  The 
common  or  map  names  of  the  islands  are  almost  all  Teutonic, 
too,  though,  of  course,  the  Welsh  have  names  of  their  own — 
Anglesea,  Holy  Island,  Skerries,  South  Stack,  Puffin  Island, 
Bardsey,  Ramsey,  Skomer,  Skokholm,  Grassholm,  Caldy,  etc.; 
where,  of  course,  the  endings  -y,  -ey,  and  -hohn  are  aU  Norse 
for  'island,'  in  its  English  form  -ea.  The  bays,  too,  are  very 
largely  English  Even  in  very  Welsh  Anglesea  we  have  a 
Church  Bay  and  a  Redwharf  Bay,  whilst  farther  south  we 
have  Fishguard  Bay,  Milford  ('  sandy  fjord  ')  Haven,  Oxwich, 
and  Swansea  Bays. 

Examination  of  Welsh  town  and  hamlet  names  reveals 
several  curious  and  interesting  things.  The  Kelt  has  always 
been  a  devout  man,  and  it  is  only  what  one  would  look  for  to 
find  that  the  Church  has  had  a  large  say  in  Welsh  nomen- 
clature. Of  churches  called  after  the  Virgin  Mary  alone 
(Llanfair,  etc.)  we  have  about  150.  Of  course,  by  far  the 
commonest  prefix  here  is  llan,  '  a  church, '  originally  '  an 
enclosed  bit  of  land,'  found  once  in  Scotland  in  Lhanbryde, 
'church  of  St.  Bride.'  The  Postal  Guide  registers  less  than 
half  the  total,  and  of  its  221  Uans,  four  are  in  Hereford.  Crock- 
ford's  Clerical  Directory  enumerates  about  465  in  all,  to  which 


INTRODUCTION  77 

must  be  added  Lampeter,  '  St.  Peter's  church,'  and  Lamphey, 
formerly  Llandyf ei,  and  so,  not  as  commonly  thought,  '  church 
of  faith,'  but  'church  of  St.  Tyfai.'  Crockford  also  gives  ten 
places  named  Capel  and  sixteen  named  Bettws,  to  which  we 
shall  return.  But  meantime  we  feel  compelled  to  decline 
discussing  the  patron  saints  of  Welsh  churches.  It  would  be 
an  endless  task,  a  very  perplexing  one  too.  There  are  so  many 
saints  of  the  same  name,  whilst  about  so  many  exceedingly 
little  is  known.  It  only  remains  to  add,  that  the  student 
who  wishes  to  know  more  of  British  hagiology,  and  to  assure 
himself  who  is  the  saint  referred  to  in  Bettws  Cedewen, 
Bettws  Garmon,  etc.,  or  in  any  of  the  460  Hans,  will  do 
weU  to  consult  Smith's  well-known  Dictionary  of  Christian 
Biography,  where  he  will  find  practically  all  that  is  really 
known,  set  forth  in  compact  form.  Only,  of  course,  the 
student  always  needs  to  be  on  the  outlook  for  spurious  saints 
like  St.  Ishmael's,  or  saints  in  disguise,  like  Tyfai,  who  lies 
buried  in  the  afore-mentioned  name  Lamphey. 

We  cannot  but  note,  however,  that  modern  Nonconformity 
has  had  a  share  in  the  naming  of  villages,  which  makes  a  fair 
second  to  that  of  the  ancient  Catholic  Church.  In  the  most 
Welsh  of  shires  we  find  a  number  of  hamlets  now  styled 
Bethesda  or  Beulah,  Hebron,  Nazareth,  or  Pisgah,  after  some 
popular  Baptist  or  Methodist  chapel  in  their  midst.  It  is 
rather  humiliating  to  add  that  the  public-house  comes  close 
on  the  heels  of  the  Nonconformist  chapel  in  its  effect  on  Welsh 
place-names,  and,  little  as  one  would  expect  it,  has  had  more 
say  in  Wales  than  in  any  other  part  of  Britain.  Tavern  Spite 
marks  the  site  of  an  inn  reared  on  the  ruins  of  a  hospice  for 
pilgrims  to  the  shrine  of  St.  David's.  Spite,  W.  ysbytty,  is 
a  compound  of  the  L.  hospis,  -itis,  'a  guest,'  and  W.  ty,  'a 
house.'  This  is  unobjectionable;  but  names  like  the  Three 
Cocks,  Brecon ;  Stay  Little,  Montgomery ;  and  Tumble,  from  a 
TumbledownDick,  in  Caermarthen,  do  not  sound  very  dignified. 

But,  as  we  prom'sed,  we  are  not  yet  done  with  the  Church. 
In  addition  to  all  the  Llans,  there  are  at  least  two  or  three 
Capels,  or  Chapels,  in  almost  every  shire — Capel  Garmon,  from 
the  much  commemorated  St.  Germanus,  and  the  like.  We 
need  not  again  comment  further  on  this  Norman  prefix.  But 
to  many  a  reader  it  will  be  a  surprise  that  the  familiar  W. 


78         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

bettws  is  a  purely  English  word  with  a  Welsh  frock  on.  '  We 
come  now  to  Bettws — that  is,  a  warm,  comfortable  place.' 
So  the  word  means  in  Welsh,  or  else  simply  '  a  house,  a  place 
of  shelter.'  But  though  Mr.  Morgan  mentions  ten  different 
suggested  derivations,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  bettws  is 
nothing  other  than  the  EngHsh  bead-house,  O.E.  bedhus,  '  a 
prayer-house.'^  Phonetically  this  exactly  suits  the  case.  In 
English  a  '  bead-house  '  came  to  mean  an  almshouse,  whose 
inmates  prayed  for  the  repose  of  the  soul  of  its  founder.  But 
in  Welsh  a  bettws  seems  to  have  been  a  prayer-house  erected 
on  one  of  the  great  pilgrim  highways  for  the  use  of  devout  and 
weary  pilgrims.  It  is  scarcely  questioned  that  Bettws  y  Coed, 
and  all  places  of  like  name,  date  from  after — indeed,  probably 
a  good  deal  after — the  Norman  Conquest.  Dyserth  in  Flint, 
like  Dysart  in  Fife,  is  the  L.  desertum,  'a  desert,'  then  'a  hermit's 
cell,'  and  then,  like  Bettws,  'a  pilgrim  house.' 

As  with  the  headlands  and  islands,  so  also  the  chief  sea  towns 
have  been  named  by  Norse  or  English  lips  (except  Cardiff) 
— Swansea,  e.g.,  and  Newport,  Milford,  Fishguard,  and  Holy- 
head. Because  of  its  present  pronunciation,  some  have  thought 
that  this  last  must  be  Holly  head ;  but  it  is  found  as  '  Le  holy 
hede  '  before  1490.  The  Welsh  call  it  Caergybi,  in  honour  of 
Gybi  or  Cybi,  a  British  saint  who,  after  visiting  Gaul  and 
opposing  Arianism,  returned  c.  380,  to  found  a  monastery  on 
this  remote  isle.  Even  a  number  of  the  favourite  watering- 
places  are  non- Welsh  in  name:  Tenby,  e.g.,  and  Oystermouth 
or  Mumbles,  and  the  Cardigan  New  Quay,  which,  like  its  Cornish 
namesake,  and  like  Port  Madoc,  is  quite  a  modem  affair.  We 
must  add  Barmouth,  reaUy  a  corruption  of  Aber  Mawddach, 
'  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mawddy,'  or  '  the  broad,  expanding  river. 
But  by  the  sailors  it  was  deliberately  changed  to  its  English 
form  in  1786,  that  they  might  have  an  English  name  to  mark 
upon  their  vessels.  Aber-,  by  the  way,  is  a  very  common 
prefix  in  Wales.  It  was  much  used  by  the  Brythons  and  also 
by  the  Scottish  Picts.  But  its  Goidelic  equivalent  Inver-,  so 
common  all  over  Scotland,  and  not  rare  in  Ireland,  is  never 
found  in  Wales.  The  Postal  Guide  mentions  forty-four  Abers- 
in  Wales  and  Monmouth. 

*  Possibly  Corn,  botus,  '  a  parish,'  may  be  the  same  word;  see  Botus- 

FLEMING. 


INTKODUCTION  79 

There  are,  as  we  have  noted,  perhaps  no  original  Roman 
names  left,  but  there  are  two  Welsh  abbeys  still  with  names 
in  medieval  Latin — VaUe  Crucis,  '  the  Valley  of  the  Cross,'  and 
Strata  Florida,   'the  Flowery  Way,'  in  Cardigan,  called  the 
Westminster  Abbey  of  medieval  Wales.     The  county  for  non- 
Welsh  names  is  Pembroke,  where  the  town  and  village  names 
run  about  half  and  half.     A  rough  calculation  of  the  names 
of  any  consequence  gives  about  seventy  Welsh  and  seventy  non- 
Welsh.     Many  of  these  last  are  known  to  be  due  to  the  batch 
of  Flemings  whom  Henry  I.  imported  from  the  Netherlands 
in  1111,  and  whom  he  settled  here  to  help  to  cow  the  native 
Welsh,  who  could  ill  brook  the  iron-handed  Norman  in  their 
midst.     Johnston,  Reynoldstown  and  Rogeston,  are  cases  in 
point.     William  Rufus  had  planted  a  like  colony  in  Gower  in 
1099 ;  but  Freeman  thought  these  must  have  been  Wessex  men 
brought  over  from  Somerset.    All  place-name  study  is  full  of 
pitfalls  and  snares,  and  Wales  is  no  exception.     The  student 
therefore  must  always  be  on  his  guard  against  names  which 
are  not  what  they  seem.     There  are  many  real  English  names 
on  Welsh  ground,  but  not  a  few  masqueraders  too,  like  Valley 
in  Anglesea,  which  is  reaUy  the  Welsh  maelle,  '  place  of  trade,' 
with  the  often  aspirated  m;  whilst  Watford,  Glamorgan,  seems 
to  be  a  corruption  of  the  Welsh  Y  Bodffordd,  '  the  house  by 
the  road.' 

Of  aU  the  real  Old  English  names  in  Wales  not  yet  descanted 
upon,  perhaps  the  most  important — anyhow,  the  most  per- 
plexing— is  Wrexham,  now  in  Denbigh,  but  in  Saxon  days 
a  frontier  town  of  the  kingdom  of  Mercia.  We  have  seen 
nowhere  an  accurate  account  of  this  name ;  and  we  have  found 
that  even  prominent  and  highly  educated  dweUers  in  Wrexham 
believe  its  name  to  be  Welsh,  because  it  has  a  so-caUed  Welsh 
name,  Gwrecsam,  for  which  some  extraordinary  explanations 
have  been  given.  But  Gwrecsam  is  an  obvious  corruption  of 
the  English  name,  which,  in  its  early  spellings,  is  a  little  puzzling. 
It  occurs  first  in  the  Pipe  Roll  for  1160-61  as  Wristlesham. 
The  St  at  once  betrays  the  pen  of  a  Norman  scribe.  These 
men,  as  we  already  know  (see  p.  26),  detested  gutturals,  and 
practically  never  wrote  them  down.  When  we  hunt  in  Searle's 
monumental  Onomasticon  Anglo- Saxonicum  for  a  name  likely 
to  be  represented  by  Wristles-ham,  we  find  only  one,  Wrytsleof , 


80         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OP  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

'  dux,'  at  Crediton  in  1026.  Wryt-  will  be  for  Wryht-,  and  in 
aU  probability  the  original  name  is  '  Wryhtsleof's  home.'  The 
next  recorded  spelling  is  in  1222,  in  the  charter  of  Madoc  ap 
Griiffydd — Wrecheosam;  in  1236  it  is  Wreccesham  or  Wrette- 
sham;  whilst  in  1316-17  is  given  as  Wrightlesham,  by  far 
the  nearest  approximation  to  the  original  form.  Beaumont 
and  Fletcher,  as  is  well  known,  clipped  it  down  to  Rixum. 


CHAPTER  IX 

PHONETIC  NOTES  ON  THE  ALPHABET  AND  ITS  MUTATIONS 
IN  ENGLISH  PLACE-NAMES 

a  tends  to  become  se,  or  reversely — Abba,  ^Ebba;  Alfred, 
iElfred,  etc.  The  -an  of  the  masculine  O.E.  genitive  often 
becomes  -ing — ^Ebbandune,  now  Abingdon;  Aldantmi, 
now  Aldington,  etc.  We  see  a  reverse  process  in  ^Ifre- 
dinctmi  now  Alfreton.  Medial  eo  in  classic  O.E.  regularly 
becomes  a  in  Mod.E. — Haekstead,  '  place  of  Heorc,'  etc. 

h  may  become  its  fellow  labial  p ;  but  rarely — Abetone  is  now 
Apeton,  Ebbasham  is  now  Epsom.  It  also  intrudes  itself 
like  p,  but  much  more  rarely — Gamesf  ord  is  now  Cambles- 
f  orth,  Gamelesbi  is  Gamblesby,  Ghemeling  is  GembUng,  etc. 

c  in  Danish  regions  generally  remains  hard,  but  elsewhere 
tends  to  soften  into  ch;  cf.  -caster,  -cester,  -Chester.  Some- 
times, though  rarely,  c  softens  into  s;  cf.  Braceborough, 
and  Shad  well,  thought  to  be  '  Chad's  well,'  whilst  already 
in  1236  we  have  Ceffton  for  Sefton. 

d  interchanges  sometimes  with  its  fellow  dental  t — BeUord  is, 
c.  1175,  Belifort.  It  even  sHdes  on  into  -th;  many  of  the 
northern  -fords  are  now  -forths.  It  is  one  of  the  letters 
which  frequently  insert  themselves,  as  in  Bewdley  for 
Beaulieu,  Brindle  for  Brinhill,  Windrush  for  Wenrisc,  etc. 

e  in  M.E.  may  appear  almost  anywhere.  It  is  often  a  worn- 
down  a  as  in  Essebi  for  Ashby,  or  represents  some  other 
almost  lost  inflexion;  but  very  often,  as  an  ending,  it  has 
no  significance. 

/  in  Welsh  sounds  v — Afon  is  Avon,  etc. ;  ff  sounds  /,  though 
often  the  modern  final  -ff  is  no  true  /,  as  in  Cardiff, 
Llandaff,  etc. 

g  in  Welsh  freely  interchanges  with  c — Gaerwen  for  Caerwen, 
etc.  Sometimes  it  does  so  in  Teutonic  names  too — 
Gisburn  is,  1197,  Kiseburn,  etc.     Initial  g  tends  to  drop 

81 


82         THE  PLACE-NAMES  OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 

away,  leaving  I  or  Y,  as  in  Ipswich,  the  old  Gippeswic, 
Great  Yarmouth,  once  Gememuth,  etc. 

h  is  an  elusive  aspirate,  which  freely  prefixes  itself  all  over — 
Abbertune  is  now  Habton,  Yorks;  Addingham  was  once 
also  Hatyngham;  whilst  Aldermaston  is  found  spelt 
Heldremanestuna. 

i  and  j  are  rare  initials  in  old  names.  These  will  generally  be 
found  under  g. 

k.  In  O.E.  we  only  have  c,  in  O.N.  only  h.  Dom.  rarely  has 
k  except  in  Suffolk,  and,  more  rarely,  in  Norfolk. 

I.  This  liquid  is  always  disappearing;  indeed,  the  liquids 
I,  m,  n,  r,  above  aU  other  letters,  need  watching.  Aid- 
worth  by  1225  has  become  Audeworth,  and  Alnwick,  by 
c.  1175,  Audnewic  (Norman  speUing),  whilst  to-day  it  is 
pronounced  Annick.  I  is  also  constantly  appearing  where 
it  has  no  right  to  be,  as  in  Islington,  Scagglethorpe, 
Walney,  etc.,  or  as  in  Hartlepool  for  'hart's  pool.'  We 
even  get  Harlington  for  an  orignal  Herdington.  The  I 
may  not  seldom  be  replaced  by  its  sister  r,  as  in  Abberley 
for  '  Eadbeald's'  lea  ' ;  Barnacle  for  Bamhangre  shows 
the  reverse  process ;  whilst  it  is  the  liquid  n  instead  of  r 
in  Ecchinswell  for  Eccleswell,  and  in  Dromonby. 

II  is  a  peculiarly  Welsh  combination.  Its  soft  thl  sound  was 
reached  soon  after  1200.  The  first  instance  we  have 
noted  is  in  the  Patent' Boll  for  1246 — Keventhles,  now 
Cefn  Llys,  Radnor.  About  fifty  years  later  comes  Bolls 
Parliament,!.  463,  l,where  we  have  Thlewelyn  for  Llewelyn. 
But  up  to  at  least  Giraldus,  c.  1200,  there  is  no  trace  of 
this.  In  him  we  always  get  Ian,  e.g.,  and  no  trace  of  llan. 
We  find  c.  1620  the  interesting  form  Flanteclex  for 
Llanteglos,  with  which  compare  Fletherhill. 

m  and  n,  being  closely  kindred  liquids,  tend  to  interchange, 

as  in  several  cases  of  Dmn-  for  Dun-. 
n  is  specially  liquid,  and  tends  to  vanish.  See  Alnemouth, 
now  Alemouth,  Quarrington,  etc.  It  may  also  interchange 
with  any  of  the  other  liquids.  See  Allerdale  for  Allendale, 
Holsingoure,  now  Hunsingore;  Hildrewelle,  now  Hinder- 
weU;  and  Baltersbergh,  now  Baltonsborough.  As  curious 
a  case  as  any  is  the  name  now  Rickmansworth,  originally 
'  Ricmser's  worth.' 
p.  As  already  said,  p  interchanges  with  b,  but  rarely.     Per- 


INTRODUCTION  83 

hape  in  no  sure  case  in  aber-,  though  in  old  spellings  in 
Scotland  we  do  certainly  find  apor-.  Cf.  Dom.  Ypestan 
now  Ibstone.  The  letter  39  is  a  common  intruder;  see 
Bampton,  Hampton,  etc. 

qu  as  in  old  Scots  is  =wh,  as  Whaplode,  old  Quappelode; 
Wheldale,  old  Queldale;  Whenby,  old  Quennebi;  etc. 

r.  See  already  under  the  other  liquids  I  and  n.  Of  course,  it 
often  disappears,  as  in  '  fine  English  '  pronunciation  to-day 
— Abbey  Dore  is  really  Aberdore,  Heigham  Potter  should 
be  H.  Porter,  and  Mary-le-bone  is  properly  Mary-le- 
bourne.  It  can  intrude  itself  too,  as  in  Bajbdon",  Ulver- 
STONE,  etc.;  whilst  Derrington,  Staffs,  was  regularly 
Doddington,  or  the  like,  up  to  1318.  Note  that  re  in 
old  spellings  is  always  sounded  er.  This  often  helps  to 
unravel  a  knot. 

s.  The  O.E.  scr,  of  course,  becomes  sh-,  as  in  Shalcombe, 
Shalfleet,  Shanklin,  etc.  More  rarely  sh-  may  be  fr.  O.N. 
sh-,  as  perhaps  in  Shap  and  Sheerness.  This  sk-  usually 
remains  hard.  The  plural  5  or  es  is  often  modern.  Gj. 
Coates,  Mumbles,  Staithes,  etc. 

th,  as  we  know,  is  almost  always  (Z  as  a  final  in  Dom.  We 
find  the  same  change  in  modern  names  too,  as  in  Cottered, 
where  -red  stands  for  -rith,  'stream.'  Initially  th  is 
sometimes  a  mere  Norman  superfluity,  as  in  Thames, 
whilst  the  Th  in  Thanet  is  also  quite  late.  Dom.  usually 
writes  initial  Th  as  T.  Th-  also  makes  a  singular  and 
remarkable  change  into  /,  as  in  Fenglesham,  Deal,  which 
was  in  831  Thenglesham,  Felbridge,  old  Thelbrig,  and, 
conversely,  Dom.  Freschefelt  is  now  Threshfield,  Yorks. 

«;  is  a  genuine  element  in  very  few  English  names. 

y  is  usually  for  O.E.  ge-  or  g,  as  in  Yarmouth,  Norfolk,  for 
Gernemuth,  Yardley  for  Gyrdleahe,  Yarnfield  for  Gearn- 
feld,  Yatesbury  from  a  man  Geat,  etc.  But  Dom.  often 
has  nothing  to  show  for  the  y  sound,  as  in  Yarlett,  Dom. 
Erlid,  and  Yarmouth,  Isle  of  Wight,  Dom.  Ermu. 

z  is  South- West  English  for  5.  Zoy,  e.g.,  is  Soweie,  '  sow 
island,'  etc.  In  Dom.  it  often  replaces  5 — Cranzvic  for 
Cranswick,  Branzbi  for  Brandsby,  etc.  In  Ginge,  Berks 
Dom.  has  Gainz,  '  where  z  has  the  sound  of  ts  or  dz,  and 
only  approximately  represents  the  English  sound  of  a 
palatalised  g  (like  modern  English  j).' — Skeat. 


EXPLANATORY  LIST  OF 

THE   CHIEF   PLACE-NAMES 

OF  ENGLAND  AND  WALES 


a.,  ante,  before. 

Alii.  Itin.,  The  Antonino 
Itinerary. 

B.C.S.,  Birch,  Oartulari- 
um  Saxonicum. 

c. ,  circa,  about. 

cf.,  compare. 

chart.,  charter,  usually  in 
B.G.S,,  which  is  ar- 
ranged chronologically. 

cny.,  century. 

corrup.,  corruption. 

dat.,  dative. 

dial.,  dialect. 

Dom.,  Domesday  Book. 

Flor.  W.,  Florence  of 
Worcester. 

fr.,  from. 

gen.,  genitive. 

Gir,  Camb.y  Giraldus  Cam- 
brensis. 


ABBREVIATIONS 

G.,  Gaelic. 

ih.,  the  same. 

K.G.D.,  Kenible,  Codex 
Diplomaticus. 

L.,  Latin. 

loc,  locative. 

mod.,  modern. 

N.,  Norse. 

Nor.,  Norman. 

O.E.,  Old  English  or 
Anglo-Saxon. 

O.N.,  Old  Norse  or  Ice- 
landic. 

O.W.,  Old  Welsh. 

Onom.,  Searle's  Oiwmasti- 
con  Anglo -Saxoni- 
cum. 

orig.,  originally. 

Oxf.  Diet.,  A  New  English 
Dictionary,     Oxford, 


edited  by  Sir  J.  A.  H. 
Murray,  etc. 

P.G.,  Postal  Guide. 

perh.,  perhaps. 

Pipe,  Rolls  of  the  Great 
Pipe. 

prob.,  probably. 

pron.,  pronunciation. 

quot.,  quotation. 

R,  Rolls. 

K  Glouc.,  Robert  of  Glou- 
cester. 

Sc,  Scottish,  or,  see  Place- 
Names  of  Scotland. 

syll.,  syllable. 

v.r.,  various  reading. 

var.,  variant. 

W.,  Welsh. 

W.  and  H.,  Wyld  and 
Hirst,  Place-Names  of 
LatieasMre. 


2-4,  or  such-like  figui-es  before  an  English  word  denote  the  centuries  in  which  it  is  so 
spelt;  e.g.,  3-7  nelde  means  that  needle  is  found  so  spelt  from  the  thirteenth  to 
seventeenth  centuries. 


Abbeeley  (Stourport).  Dom.  Edboldlege,  c.  1200  Albo(l)de8leye, 
1275  Albedeleye.  Gf.  c.  1350  chart.  Aberleye,  prob.  Linos. 
'  Meadow  of  Eadbeald '  or  '  Mdhold,''  a  very  common  O.E.  name. 
See  how  one  liquid,  I,  glides  into  another,  r!  Cf.  next  and 
Abram,  also  Ablington,  Bibury,  c.  855  chart.  Eadbaldingtune. 
See  -ley. 

Abberton  (Pershore  and  Colchester).  Pe.  A.  969  chart.  Ead- 
brigtincgtune,  Dom.  Edbritone,  1275  Edbriston  {si.  Norman), 
1538  Abnrton.  '  Dwelling  of  (the  sons  of)  Eadbriht '  or  '  Ead- 
heorht.^  Cf.  Abberley,  and  Dom.  Salop,  Etbretone,  and  Ebring- 
ton  (Glouc),  Dom.  Bristentune,  c.  1300  Ebricton.  But  Co.  A.  is 
Dom.  Eadburghetun,  '  dwelling  of  (the  woman)  Eadburga.' 
Cf.  Aberford.     See  -ing  and  -ton. 

Abbey  Dore  (Pontrilas).  Corrup.  of  Aher  Dore,  '  place  at  the 
confluence  of  R.  Dore  '  and  Monnow;  W.  aher,  O.G.  aher,  abher, 
ahir,  '  confluence.'  The  other  places  in  Abbey  denote  a  former 
abbey — e.g.,  Abbey  Hulton  (Burslem),  or  '  Hill  town,'  where  a 
Cistercian  abbey  was  built  in  1223. 

Abbots  Bromley  (Rugeley).  1004  Bromleag,  -lege,  Dom.  Brun- 
lege,  c.  1400  Bromley  Abbatis,  Abbottes  Bromley.  It  belonged 
to  Burton  Abbey.    See  Bromley. 

87 


ABBOTSBUEY  88  ABEEBEEG 

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

Abbot's  Kerswell  (Newton  Abbot).  Dom.  Carsewelle,  -svelle, 
1158-59  Pipe  Cari?ewell.  'Watercress  well,'  O.E.  ccerse,  cerse, 
now  '  cress,'  Sw.  kaise.  Cf.  Cresswei.l  and  Keresley.  For 
the  Abbot  see  Newton  Abbot;  also  cf.  940  chart.,  Abbodes 
wyll,  Wilts. 

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

Abbotsley  (Hunts).  1225  Alboldesley,  c.  1256  Abboldesley,  1340 
Abbodesley.  '  EaldbeaWs, '  or  '  AlhoW^  meadow.'  Fine  lesson 
in  caution,  and  in  the  liquidity  of  I.     See  -ley. 

Abbots  Ripton  (Hunts).  960  chart  Riptone.  Prob.  not  '  harvest 
village,'  O.E.  rip,  'harvest,  reaping';  but,  '  village  of  Bippa.' 
Cf.  K.C.D.  1361,  Rippanleah  (now  Ripley, Woking),  andREPTON. 

Abbotts  Ann  (Andover).  Dom.  Anne.  It  is  on  the  R.  Anton,  of 
which  Ann  seems  to  be  a  contraction ;  though  there  is  no  early 
record  of  the  form  Anton  ;  and  Anne  may  be  a  contraction  of 
W.  afon,  '  river.'     See  Introd.,  p.  11,  and  Andover. 

Aber  (N.  Wales).  In  W.  Aber  -gwyngTegyn.  W.  aher,  'con- 
fluence,' or  '  place  at  the  mouth  of '  (here)  a  beautiful  glen. 
Nennius  speaks  of  an  Oper  linn  liuan  where  the  Llivan,  a  tribu- 
tary, joins  the  Severn;  and  Irish  Nennius  speaks  of  an  Operuisc, 
now  Caerleon.  Cf.  Aber  (Sc.)  at  mouth  of  R.  Endrick.  Aber  in 
G.  is  often  pron.  obair  ;  in  O.G.  it  is  also  apor,  Gwyn  gregyn 
is  W.  for  '  of  the  white  shells,'  sing,  cragen. 

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

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

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

Corn.  arth. 

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

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

Aberbeeg  (Pontjrpool).  ? '  Little  confluence ' ;  O.W.  becc,  W.  bach, 
G.  beag,  '  little.' 


ABERBRAN  89  ABERGAVENNY 

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

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

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

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

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

Aberdare.  '  Confluence  of  the  R.  Cynon  with  R.  Dar ' ;  Cynon 
may  mean  *  chief  brook,'  whilst  Dar  is  prob.  W.  dar,  '  an  oak.' 

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

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

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

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

Aberefan  (Merthyr).  '  Confluence  of  the  brook  Fan,,''  with  R. 
Taff.    Said  to  be  fr.  AV.  Ian,  '  high.' 

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

Aberford    (Leeds),    a.    1200    Pipe    ^Edburgforth,    .^dburford 
Nothing  to  do  with  W.  aber,  '  confluence  ' ;  but  *  ford  of '  (the 
lady)  'Eadburh,'  gen.  -burge,  as  in  Abbbrton  (Essex).   See  -ford. 

Abergavenny,  c.  380  Anton.  Itin.  Goban(n)io,  a.  1196  Gir, 
Camb.  Abergavenni,  -gevenni,  c.  1200  Gervase  Bergevene,  1281 

"  and  often  later,  Bergeveny,  1610  Holland  Aber-  Grevenny.  Local 
pron.  Aber-venny.  In  W.  Abergefni  or  Y  Fenni.  '  Confluence 
of  the  Gavenny '  and  Usk.  Gobann  is  gen.  of  goibniu,  '  a 
smith,'  in  Ir.  a  proper  name=  Smith  and  Govan  (Sc.)  and  Gowan, 
In  late  W.  legend  Gofannon  is  patron  god  of  metal-workers. 
The  a-  in  aber-  is  rarely  lost,  as  in  many  old  forms  here;  but 
c/.  Barmoxjth,  Berriew,  etc. 

7 


ABEEGELE  90  ABINGDON 

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

Abeegwili  (Carmarthen).  Gwili  is  a  river  name.  Here  it  is  prob. 
the  same  root  as  R.  Wiley.  Some  derive  fr.  W.  gwyllt, 
'wild.' 

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

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

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

Abeellefni  (Merioneth).  The  -llefni  is  very  doubtful.  W. 
llefnau  means  '  ruins ' ;  some  think  of  W.  llech  feini,  '  slate 
stones.'  Thos.  Morgan  inclines  to  the  form  Llwyfeni,  as  the 
name  is  spelt  by  I  fan  Tew  ;  this  means  '  elm-trees,'  still  found 
on  the  bank  of  the  river.  Cf.  Leven  (So.)  and  Aberllynfi,  1233 
Close  R.  Abberlewin,  Abreleniiith. 

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

Aberpoeth  (Cardigan).  W.  dber  porth,  '  confluence  at  the  har- 
bour.'    Cf.  Langpoet. 

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

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

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

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

Abengdon.  Sic  c.  1540;  699  chart.  Abbendune;  1051  O.E.  Chron. 
Abbandune,  ^Ebbandune;  c.  1180  Benedict  Peterb.  Abbendonia; 


ABINGER  91  ACKLAM 

c.  1377  Piers  PI.  Abyndoun.  O.E.  JElhan  dun,  *  Ebba's  hill ' 
or  *  fort.'  Ahha  or  Mliha  is  a  common  Wessex  name.  In  Yorks 
the  Abbetune  of  Dom.  has  become  Habton.     See  -don. 

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

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

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

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

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

Acaster  Malbis  (York),  and  A.  Selby.  Both  in  Dom.  Acastra, 
-stre,  also  'Acastra,  other  Acastre';  1166-67  Pipe  Acastra. 
Prob.  N.  d-caster,  '  camp,  fort  by  the  stream.'  See  -caster. 
The  Malbysse  family  dwelt  at  A.  Malbis  for  some  centuries  after 
the  Conquest.     It  is  on  R.  Ouse. 

AccRiNGTON.  1258  Akerynton,  1277  Acrinton,  a.  1300  Alkerington, 
Akerington,  c.  1350  Alcrynton;  cf.  Dom.  Worcr.  Alcrintun. 
This  seems  to  be  *  town,  village  of  Ealhhere ' ;  also  spelt 
Alcher  and  Ahhere,  or,  of  his  descendants.  The  name,  is  very 
common  in  O.E.     See  -ing  and  -ton. 

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


ACKLETON  92  ADBASTON 

AcKLETON  (Wolverhampton).  Old  forms  needed.  Prob.  'Aculfs 
or  Acvmlfs  town  ' ;  but  c/.  above,  and  Acle  ;  and  see  -ton. 

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

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

Acle  (Norwich).  Sic  in  Dom.  A  rare  type  of  name,  O.E.  dc  leak, 
'  oak  mead ' ;  -ley  is  rarely  slurred  into  -le.  But  cf.  Oakle,  Minster- 
worth,  old  Okkele,  Ocle;  also  cf.  Ack-  and  Ockley. 

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

AcoNBUKY  (Hereford).  1218  Patent  R.  and  1285  Close  R.  Acome- 
bury.  '  Burgh  of '  ?  Acorn,  used  as  a  personal  name,  not  in 
Onom.  The  sb.  is  O.E.  cecem,  'fruit  of  the  acre,'  i.e.,  'un- 
enclosed land.'  Oxf.  Diet,  does  not  give  the  form  acorn  till 
1440.  Very  likely,  however,  Acorn-  may  be  corrup.  of  Ecehearn 
or  Ecgbeorn,  a  name  found  in  Wore.  c.  1055. 

Acrefaib  (Ruabon).  'Acre'  or  'field  of  Mary';  W.  Fair  (/  is 
aspirated  m  in  W.). 

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

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

Acton  Trtjssell  (Penkridge).  1004  Actun,  Dom.  Actone;  and 
Acton  Turville  (Chippenham).  See  Acton.  A  Tourvile  or 
Turville  came  over  with  Wm.  the  Conqueror,  and  is  found  on 
the  roll  of  Battle  Abbey.  One  is  found  at  Normanton-Turvile, 
CO.  Leicester,  temp.  Hen.  II.  The  Trussells  were  also  a  Nor. 
family. 

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


-^^^ER  93  ADLINGFLEET 

Adder  or  Adur  R.  (Wilts),  a.  420  Nofitia  Portus  Adumi— ;.c., 
Aldrington  on  this  river.  Nothing  to  do  with  adders;  but  Kelt., 
Corn,  dour,  W.  dyior,  'water.'  The  A-  is  doubtful.  The  So.  R. 
Adder  is  prob.  aspirated[fr.  G.fad  ddhhar  or  dur,  '  long  stream.' 
There  is  a  R.  Adur  both  in  Sussex  and  Cornwall. 

Addebbury  (Banbury),  a.  1000  K.C.D.  1290  Eadburgebyrig, 
Dom.  Edburgberie,  1229  Close  R.  Eadburebir',  1230  ib. 
Eburbir',  1270  Abberbury,  1288  Adburbur',  1428  Addurbury. 
'  Burgh,  town  of  the  lady  Eadburh,^  gen.  -hurge.  To-day  it  is 
the  d,  not  the  6,  which  has  survived,  as  in  Abberton  and  Abber- 
pord.  But  we  stUl  have  the  d  in  St.  Adborough's  Ditch, 
Cotswolds.    See  -bury. 

Adderley  (Mket.  Drayton).  Dom.  Eldredelei,  1284  Close  R. 
Addredeleye;  'Meadow  of  the  woman  Aldreda,''  in  O.E.  Mthel- 
ihryth,  a  common  name.     See  -ley. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Adlingpleet  (Goole).  [Perh.  O.E.  Chron.  763  ^Iflet  ee;  ee=  O.E. 
ige,  'isle.']  Dom.  Adelingesfluet,  c.  1080  Athlingfleet,  1304 
Athelingflete.  '  Stream  of  Atheling,'  the  O.E.  ce^el-ing,  *  descen- 
dant of  a  noble  family,'  spelt  1387  Trevisa  '  adelyngus.'     Cf. 


ADLINGTON  94  AINDERBY 

Ger.  add.  The  -fleet  is  O.N.  jljot,  '  stream,  river,'  cognate  with 
flj6t-r,  '  fleet,  quick.'  The  Adelingestorp  of  Dom.  is  now 
EUinthorpe,  S.  Yorks. 

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

Admaston  (Rugely  and  Wellington,  Salop).  Rug.  A.  a.  1200 
Edmundeston,  Admerdeston,  a.  1300  Admundestan,  Edmunde- 
stone.  Wei.  A.  a.  1300  Ademon(e)ston.  '  Town,  village  of 
Eadmund^  (or  '  Eadmcer^),  The  forms  show  how  both  the 
liquids  n  and  r  can  vanish. 

Adstock  (Winslow).  Dom.  Edestocha.  'Place  of  Ada,  jEdda, 
or  j^ddi '  ;  -stock  is=  Stoke.  Cf.  Ad  wick,  and  Adsett  (Glouc), 
1221  Addesete,  '  Adda's  settlement.' 

Adub  R-.    See  Adder. 

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

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

Ad  WICK  -  LE  -  Street  (Doncaster)  and  Ad  wick  -  on  -  Dearne  (S. 
Yorks).  Both  Dom.  Adewic,  'Dwelling of  J[(Za.'  (7/. Adstock, 
and  see  -wick.    For  Dearne  see  Wath-on -Dearne. 

Adwyrclawdd  (Wrexham).  W.  adwy  r'  dawdd,  '  gap,  breach  in 
the  dyke ' — i.e.,  Off a's  Dyke,  close  by. 

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

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

Afon"  Ax  aw  (Anglesea).  W.=  ' river  of  water  lUies.'  Afon  in  W. 
is,  of  course,  pron.  Avon. 

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

Aigburth  (Liverpool).  1190-1256  Aykeberh,  1329  Aikebergh. 
O.N.  eik-herg,  '  oak-clad  hill '  or  '  rock  ' ;  the  endings  have  been 
influenced  by  the  forms  of  what  is  now  Barrow  sb^  Oxf.  Diet., 
O.E.  heorg,  3  herhg,  4t  hergh,  hurgh.    Cf.  Eakring. 

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


AINSDALE  95  ALBOURNE 

AmsDALB  (Southport).  Dom.  Einuluesdel,  1199  Annovesdala, 
1190-1206  Aynuluisdale,  1201-02  Ainolvesdale,  1206  Einonesdal. 
'  Valley  of  Einumlf,'  one  in  Onom.  Cf.  Abmthorpe  and 
Eynesbtjry. 

AiNSWORTH  (Bolton).  1190-1216  Haineswrthe,  1244  Ainesworth, 
c.  1514  Aynsworth.  Doubtful.  It  may  be  '  farm  of  Eginulf ' 
or  ' Einulf,'  as  in  Ainsdalb,  It  prob.  is  'farm  of  Hagena' 
(now  Haines) ;  or  perh.  '  of  Egon'  as  in  Eynsham.  Ainstablb, 
Armathwaite,  Cumbld.,  is  1210  Einstapeleth,  which  may  be 
'^inwulfs  market/  cf.  Barnstaple.    See  -worth. 

Aentreb  (Liverpool).  1244-92  Eyntre,  1296  Ayntre.  Perh. 
*  jEne'fi  tree.'  Cf.  the  '  Aynburg '  in  Sim.  Dur.,  Braintrbe,  etc. 
But  Wyld  says,  O.E.  an  treow,  '  one  tree,'  one  in  N.  dial,  being 
ane,  5-6  ayne,  ain. 

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

AiRMYN  or  Armyn  (Goole).  (?  Dom.  Amuine.)  1314  charl. 
HajTTminne,  1317  Ajrremynn,  a.  1400  Ayermynne.  Aire  -munn 
is  'confluence  of  the  R.  Aire'  and  the  Ouse;  fr.  O.N. minni,  N. 
munn-r,  '  mouth.'  Arminni  is  common  in  the  Sagas  for  '  a 
confluence.'     Cf.  Stalmtne. 

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

AiSHOLT  (Bridgewater).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  it  has  in  Somst.  Aisseoote 
and  -forde.  O.E.  cesc-JioU,  '  ash-wood.'  Ash  is  found  a.  1300  as 
asse,  c.  1450  aish.  Cf.  Great  Aish,  South  Brent.  But  Ais- 
THORPE,  Lines,  is  1233  Close  R.  Austorp,  prob.  '  east  village.' 

Cf.  AirSTERFIELD. 

AiSLABY  (Sleights,  Yorks).  Dom.  Aslachesbi.  '  Dwelling  of  AslacJ* 
Cf.  AsLACKBY,  and  see  -by. 

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

Alberbury  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Alberberie.  Prob.  '  Ealdheorht^s 
burgh  '  or  '  fort.'  Several  men  of  that  name  known  in  Mercia. 
Cf.  Albur-,  Alber-wyk  in  a  charter  of  Edw.  TIL,  and  Elberton 
(Glouc.;,  1230  Albricton.  There  is  in  1160-61  Pipe  N'hants, 
an  Albodeston,  or  '  Ealdheald's  town,'  which  may  be  the  same 
name  as  Albaston,  Tavistock;  old  forms  needed.  At  any  rate 
we  have  1166-67  Pipe,  Glouc,  Abbdeston,  Abbedeston,  also 
found  as  Albedeston.  Ealdbeald  is  more  commonly  Eadbeald, 
v.r.  uEdbold. 

Albourne  (Sussex).  C^.  Dom.  Aldingeborne.)  Cf.  931  in  B.C.S. 
II.  358  q.v.  Mt  aleburnan  pet  J^am  lytlan  egilande  [near 
Clare,  Hants].  The  Al-  is  doubtful.  Cf.  Alburgh;  and  see 
-bourne. 


ALBEIGHTON  96  .        ALDEKLEY 

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

Albtjbgh  (Harleston)  and  Albuby  (Guildford  and  Bps.  Stortford). 
Guil.  A.  o.  900  chart.  Aldeburi,  whilst  Bps.  S.  A.  is  still  spelt 
Aldboro'.  O.E.  eald  (M.E.  aid),  hurh,  '  old  burgh,  fortified 
place.'  Cf.  negro  ole  for  old,  Aldborotjgh  and  Aldeby;  also 
see  -burgh. 

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

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

Aldborotjgh  (S.W.  Essex,  Norwich,  and  W.  Riding).  No.  A.  Dom. 
Aldebga,  York  A.  1203  Vetus  Burgum,  L.  for  O.E.  eald,  Mercian 
aid  hurh,  '  old  burgh,'  or  '  fortified  place,'  A.  in  Yorks  is, 
e.g.  Roman  (L,  Isurium),  Cf.  next  and  Albttrgh.  For 
AiiDBOROUGH  HatcA  (Ilford)  see  Hatch. 

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

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

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

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

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


ALDERMASTON  97  ALDWINCLE 

Aldeemaston  (Reading).  Sic  c.  1540.  Dom.  Eldremanestune 
and  Heloremanestune  (scribe's  error),  1166-67  Pipe  Alder- 
mannestun,  1316  Aldermanston;  also  Aldremanneston.  'Village 
of  the  alderman,'  O.E.  ealdormann.  The  n  has  been  lost 
through  its  liquidity. 

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

Alderney  (Channel  Islds.).  a.  380  Ant.  liin.  E-iduna.  Er. 
Aurigny,  1218  Aurennye,  1219  Aureneye,  1224  Alnere.  As 
it  stands  the  name  is  '  alder- tree  isle/  O.E.  celren-ige.  Aldern 
is  an  adj.  already  found,  1001,  as  celren.  Riduna  might  repre- 
sent a  Keltic  rid  dun,  '  reddish  hill.'  Cf.  W.  rhydd,  rhudd,  '  red.' 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aldwinole  (Northampton).  1137  O.E.  Chron.  Aldwingel;  1166- 
67  Pipe  Aldewincle,  1298  Audewyncle.  Nothing  like  -wingel  in 
O.E.  So  this  will  be  '  Ealdwine-geil'  The  former  is  a  common 
O.E.  name,  cf.  B.C.S.  1280  Aldwines  barwe;  the  latter  is  O.N. 


ALD  WORTH  98  ALLERTON 

geil,  gil,  '  a  deep  glen  or  ravine,  a  gill ' ;  not  found  in  Eng.  till 
1400  '  gille.'    Of.  Winskill,  Langwathby;  and  see  -gill. 

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

Alford  (Lines  and  Somst,).  Lin.  A.  Dom.  Alforde,  Som,  A. 
perh.  Dom.  Aldedeford.  These  names  are  uncertain;  perh, 
O.E.  eald  ford,  '  old  ford.'  But  Alford,  Hants,  is  K.G.D. 
1035  .Elwelford— t.e.,  '  Mfweald,  Alfwold,  or  Mhelweald's 
ford.'    All  these  names  are  common  in  Onom. 

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

Alfriston  (Polegate),  Dom.  Alvricestone,  1288  Close  E.  Alver- 
icheston.  '  Village  of  JElfric  '  or  '  Alfricus'  both  in  Onom. 
Of.  Alfrio  (Wore),  said  to  be  for  Alfredeswic,  and  1167-68 
Pife,  Devon,  Ailricheston. 

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

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

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

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

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

Allerdale  (Cumberland),  c.  1080  AJnerdall.  '  Valley  of  the 
alder-trees  ' ;  see  above  and  Alderney.  Only,  through  it  flows 
the  R.  Alne  or  Ellen,  near  whose  mouth  is  Alneburg  or  Ellen- 
borough,  for  which  see  Allan.  The  liquids  r  and  n  easily  inter- 
change. See  -dale.  Allerden  (Nthbld.),  is  1099  Elredene, 
'  alder  dean ';  see  -dean. 

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

Allerton  (Axbridge  and  3  in  Yorks.).  Dom.  Yorks,  Alretonj 
-tun,  mcluding  Northallerton  twice;  Chesh.,  Salop,  and  Wore. 


ALLESLEY  99  ALNEMOUTH 

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

Allesley  (Coventry).  Sic  a.  1300,  and  Allestree  (Derby). 
Prob.  '  lea,  meadow,'  and  '  tree  of  ^lla'  a  common  name. 
But  Alleston,  Pembk.,  is  old  Ayllewarston,  or  '  Mthdweard'B ' 
or  jElfweard's  town." 

Allington  (Grantham).  Dom.  EUingetone.  0/.  Dom.  Chesh.  Alen- 
tune.     Prob.  '  town  of  the  sons  of  Mlla.'     See  -ing. 

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

Allonby  (Maryport).  c.  1350  Alaynby.  'Dwelling  of  Alayn, 
Alio,  or  Allon.'  There  was  an  Alio,  gen.  Allonis,  dux  c.  800; 
and  Allon  is  still  a  surname.  Of  course,  the  name  may  be, 
'  dwelling  near  the  R.  Alne  or  Ellen  ' ;  but  this  would  not  be  in 
accordance  with  analogy  in  names  ending  in  -by,  q.v. 

Alltwen  (Swansea).  W.  allt  gwen,  '  bright,  clear  hill-side  or 
wooded  crag.'     Cf.  Alde. 

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

Almington.    See  Amtngton. 

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

Aln  R.  (Northumbld.),  Alne  R.  (Warwk.),  Alne  or  Ellen  R. 
(Maryport),  and  Alne  (York).  Nor.  A.  prob.  c.  150  Ptolemy 
Alaunos,  with  Alauna,  ?  Alnwick,  c.  730  Bede  Aln,  Alna;  War. 
A.  B.C.8.  1227  re  the  year  723,  iElwinnae,  1178  Alen;  Yor. 
Alne.,  sic  in  Dom.  All  these  names  are  apt  to  run  into  Allan, 
Allen,  and,  like  those  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  are  all  Kelt.; 
though  not  always  with  the  same  meaning,  for  the  Sc.  and  Ir. 
Allans  are  often  fr.  ailean,  '  a  green  plain.'  But  the  Eng. 
names  are  prob.=  Sc.  R.  Ale,  c.  1116  Alne,  W.  alain,  alwyn, 
alwen,  G.  aluinn,  ailne,  '  exceeding  fair,  lovely,  bright.'  Cf. 
Algester  and  Alnemouth. 

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


ALNEY  100  ALTON 

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

Alnwick,  pron.  Annick.  c.  1175  Fantosme  Audnewic  ;  c.  1180 
Bened.  Peterh.  Alnewic  ;  c.  1463  Annewyke.  '  Dwelling  on  the 
R.  Alne.'     See  -wick. 

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

Alresfobd  (Colchester  and  Hants).  Col.  A.  Dom.  Alreforda,  a. 
1200  chart,  ^lesforda,  Hants  A.  c.  830  cJiart.  Alresforda,  1286 
Alresford.  Form  a.  1200  may  be  a  scribal  error;  but  cf.  Ayles- 
FORD.  Prob.  *  ford  of  the  alder-tree/  O.E.  aler,  air,  olr,  M.E. 
aller.    Of.  Alleeston. 

Alrewas  (Lichfield).  Sic  942  and  Dom.  1284  Allerwas.  Pron. 
Allr-wass.  O.E.  air,  alor  wdse,  O.N.  olr  veisa,  '  alder  fen '  or 
*  marsh.'  Cf.  Alderbuby,  Broad  was,  Rotherwas,  Herefd., 
and  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  ooze  sb^  1280  Close  R.  has  '  Alrewasheles,' 
?  in  Northbld. 

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

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

Alt  R.  (S.  Lancashire)  =Aldb.  On  it  is  Altcar,  fr,  carr  sb^  in 
Oxf. Diet.,  '  a  bog,  a  fen  ';  it  is  Norse;  Norw.  Jcjcer,  Tcjerr,  'pool, 
marsh,  wet  copse.' 

Altarnun  (Launceston).  Pron.  altar-nun,  as  if  Eng.  1294 
Ecclesia  de  Altar  Nun,  1536  Alternone,  Corn,  altar  Nan, 
'  altar  of  St.  Non,'  sister  of  Gwen  of  the  three  breasts,  and  mother 
of  St.  David,  a.  550. 

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

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

Alton  (Dorset,  Hants,  etc.).  Hants  A.  c.  880  chart.  ^Eweltun, 
Aweltuu,  1166  Pipe  Aultona,  which  looks  like  O.E.  awel-tun, 


ALTRINCHAM  101  ALVESTON 

'  village  shaped  like  an  awl,'  O.E.  eel,  eal,  awel,  awul.  M'Clure 
says  =' Ea- well ' — i.e.,  '  spring- ton  '  or  'river-source.'  Dom. 
Surrey  has  Aultone.  Some  of  the  others  may  be  '  old  town  '; 
c/.  Albury  and  Norton.  But  Alton  or  Alveton  (Uttoxeter), 
is  Dom.  Elvetone,  c.  1300  Alneton  [n  for  v),  which  is  prob. 
'town,  village  of  ^If^  or  '  Mlfa,^  one  each  in  Onom.  The 
'  Alton  '  in  Dom.  Yorks  is  now  Halton. 

Alteencham  (Manchester).  Pron.  Al'tringham.  Named  fr.  some 
man;  there  are  Aldran  and  Aldrannus  in  Onom. ;  or  perh.  '  home 
of  the  elders,'  O.E.  eldran,  comp.  of  eald,  '  old,'  c.  1440  either. 
There  is  a  personal  name,  Eltringham;  also  see  -ing. 

Alvanley  (Warrington).  Not  in  Wyld  and  Hirst.  It  may  be 
'  meadow  of  Alfa,'  or  '  of  JElfheah '  ;  cf.  1294  Alvedene,  also  in 
Lanes,  and  Alvingham.     See  -ley. 

Alvechuech  (Birmingham).  780  iElfgythe  cyrce,  Dom.  Alvieve- 
cherche,  1108  iElfithe  cyrce,  a.  1200  Alviethechurch.  Now 
pron.  AUchurch.  '  Church  of  Mlfgiih ' ;  but  Dom.'s  form  is  in- 
fluenced by  Alveva  or  Mlvive,  late  forms  of  Mlfgifu,  a  very 
common  woman's  name  in  Onom.  Cf.  Alvecote  {sic  a.  1300), 
Tarn  worth. 

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

Alvermere  (Worcester).  K.G.D.  120  ^Iferamtere,  '  Mf here's 
lake.'  But  Alverthorpe  (Wakefield),  not  in  Dom.  is  prob.  = 
Allerthorpb. 

Alverstoke  (Gosport).  i)om..  Alwarestoch,  '  ^Zti;ardl's  place.'  Cf, 
next,  and  Dom.  Essex,  Alueraina;  and  see  -stoke. 

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

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

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


ALVINGHAM  102  AMBEOSDEN 

Alvingham  (Louth),  old  forms  needed,  and  Alvington  (Lydnoy 
and  I.  of  W.).  Ly.  A.  1221  Alwintone,  1223  Elvetun,  later 
Elvynton.  I,  of  W.  A.  Dom.  Alwinestun.  Prob.  all.  '  home  ' 
and  '  town  of  Mlfwynn  '  ;  but,  in  last  case  perh.,  '  of  Ealhwine  ' 
or  '  Alioinus,''  names  in  Onom.  It  should  also  be  at  least  noted 
here,  that  O.E.  mlf,  elf,  3  alve  is  '  an  elf,'  and  O.E.  celfen,  dfen, 
'  a  female  elf.'     See  -ing,  -ham,  and  -ton. 

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

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

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

Alwoodley  (Leeds).  1288  Close  E.  Athewaleley  '  MthelweaWs 
meadow.'     See  -ley. 

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

Amberley  (Stroud,  Harden,  Herefd.,  and  Arundel).  St.  A.  1166 
Umberleia,  later  Umberley.  Ma.  A.  Dom.  Amburlege,  Ar.  A. 
Dom.  Ambrelie.  '  Meadow  of  the  pitcher,'  see  above;  cf. 
Ombersley.  Some  derive  fr.  a  man  ^?n6er  or  ^maZfteorA^.  See -ley. 

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

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

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

Amblestone  (Pembroke),  In  W.  Tre  amlod,  of  which  Amblestone 
is  a  translation,  '  house  '  or  '  town  of  Hamill,'  said  to  be  one  of 
the  vikings  who  founded  the  Norse  colony  here.  Hamil  is  still 
an  Eng.  surname;  cf.  Hamilton  Sc,  also  Dom.  Surrey  '  Amele- 
brige,'  and  above. 

Ambrosden  (Bicester).  Dom.  Ambresdone.  Prob.  '  den,  haunt 
of  Ambrosius '  Aurelianus,  Damnonian  chief,  leader  of  the 
Britons    against    Hengist,    c.    450    a.d.    Cf.  Amesbury,    and 


AMERSHAM  103  AMPTHILL 

Ambresbury  Bank,  Epping.    In  c.  800  Nennius   we   read   of 

*  Ambros,  British  Embres  guletic,'  which  last,  W.  gwledig,  means 

*  a  leader,  a  general.'  The  Eppiag  place  is  or  was  also  called 
Amesbury  and  Ambers'  Banks,  and  is  reputed  the  site  of  Q. 
Boadicea's  final  defeat. 

Amersham  (Rickmansworth).  1218  Patent  R.  Aumodesham,  1231 
Agmodesham,  1280  C^ose  72.  Agmundesham,  1291  Amundesham. 
An  interesting  corrup.,  '  Agmund-r^s  home  ' ;  cf.  Amotherby. 

Ameeton  (Stafford),  c.  1300  Embricton,  later  Ambric-,  Am- 
brighton.     '  Town  of  Eanhriht '  or  '  Eanheorht.' 

Amesbury  (Salisbury).  995  O.E.  Chron.  Ambresb3Ti(g) ;  Dom. 
Ambresberie;  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph'.  Abbesbiriensis  (prob.  scribe's 
error);  c.  1180  Bened.  Peterh.  Ambres-,  Ambesbiria,  1280  Aum- 
bresbir'.  '  Fort,  town,  of  Ambrose.^     See  Ambrosden  and  -bury. 

A(l)mington  (Tamworth).  889  chart.  Alchmundingtuun,  later 
Alhmundiagtun.  '  Abode  of  the  descendants  of  Alchmund.' 
But  Almington,  Mket.  Drayton,  is  Dom.  Almontone,  a.  1300 
Alkementon,  which  is  simply,  '  town,  village  of  Alchmund '  or 
'  Ealhmund.'     See  -ing  and  -ton. 

Amlwch  (Anglesea).  c.  1451  Amlogh.  W..  meaning  '  a  circular 
inlet  of  water  ' ;  the  Iwch  is  cognate  with  G.  loch. 

Ammanford  (Caermarthen).  '  Ford  on  the  R.  Am{m)an.'*  See 
Aberaman.     - 

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

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

Ampleforth  (York).  Sic  c.  1505,  but  i)om.  Ampre-,  Ambreforde, 
1166  A'pleford,  1202  Ampleford,  1298  Ambelforde.  'Ford  of 
the  pitcher.'  See  Ambergate  and  -forth.  The  name  is  a 
lesson  in  phonetics. 

Ampney  Crucis  (Cirencester).  The  Ampney  is  a  river,  Dom. 
Omenie,  -nel,  later  Omenai,  Ameneye,  -anell.  This  name  is 
a  tautology,  the  p,  as  often  being  a  late  intrusion,  cf.  Hampton. 
Amen  or  Omen  is  simply  O.Kelt,  for  'river '  (see  p.  11),  whilst 
the  -ie  or  -ey  is  O.E.  ea,  '  stream.'  Here  stands  the  Early  Eng. 
church  Santae  Crucis,  '  of  the  Holy  Cross." 

Ampthill  (Bedford).  Sic  1454,  and  c.  1350  AmpthuU,  but  Dom. 
Ammetelle.  '  Ant-hill,'  O.E.  cemete,  cemyte,  3-4  amte,  4-6  ampte, 
'  an  ant  or  emmet.' 


AMRATH  104  ANERLEY 

Ameath,  -both  (Pembroke),  c,  1130  Lib.  Landav.  Amrath,  1603 
Owen  Amrothe.  Prob,  W.  am  Ehath,  '  on  the  Rath,'  the  river 
Lib.  Land,  calls  the  Radh.  Cf.  Cilrath  and  Penrath  near  by, 
and  llan  am  ddyfti  =LLAJsrDOVEEY.  W.  rhath  is  '  a  mound,  a 
hill,'  as  prob.  in  Roath,  Cai'diff. 

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

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

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

Andeeby  (Alford)  and  Andeeton  (Northwich),  '  Town  of  Andar' 
or  '  Andhere,'  names  in  Onom.  Cf.  Aindeeby  and  '  Andrelav,* 
Dom.  Salop  and  '  Andrebi,'  Dom.  Holdemess ;  and  see  -by  and 
-ton.  But  Andeesfield,  Somerset,  is  1233  Close  B.  Eldredesfeld, 
fr.  the  common  Ealdred. 

Andovee  (Hants).  994  O.E.  Chron.  To  Andeferan,  -faran, 
-efron;  Dom.  Andovere,  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Andovre,  1155 
Pipe  Andieura.  Andover  is  now  on  R.  Anton,  but  no  early 
forms  of  this  name  seem  on  record;  and  the  earlier  forms  seem 
to  have  been  Ande  or  Anne  (see  Abbotts  Ann).  The  O.E. 
form  has  been  interpreted  as  '  fare '  {cf.  thoroughfare)  or  '  pas- 
sage, ferry,  over  the  Ande.'  But  the  O.E.  word  is  foer,  faru, 
inflected  fare,  not  fara  ;  the  root  being  faran,  '  to  go,  fare,  make 
one's  way ' ;  so  this  is'  doubtful.  More  likely  is  it  Ande-ofer, 
'  on  the  bank  of  the  Ande,'  -over,  q.v.,  being  a  very  common 
ending.  The  similar-looking  names  Wendovee  (Bucks),  and 
Cen-  or  Candover  (Hants),  tempt  to  a  derivation  fr.  the  old 
British  Dovee,  W.  dwfr,  '  a  stream.'  In  that  case  An- 
might  be  the  Kelt,  an  '  the.'  In  any  case  the  river-name 
Anton,  Ande,  or  Anne,  is  doubtful.  It  may  have  some  con- 
nection with  Ann'  mother  of  the  gods  among  the  Kelts — e.g., 
in  '  The  Two  Paps  of  Ana,'  Kerry.  But  the  R.  Ant,  S.  Nor- 
folk, must  be  the  same  root ;  then  what  of  the  t  ox  d?  And- 
ovee(s)-eoed  (Cheltenham)  is  759  chart.  Onnanford,  c.  800  ib. 
Annanford,  c.  1270  Anneford,  which  Baddeley  derives  fr.  the 
O.E.  man's  name  Anna.  It  is  also  1266  Andevere,  c.  1270 
Andovere,  where  he  makes  the  latter  part=Dover,  and  the 
former  he  leaves  doubtful.  In  W.  on,  pi.  onn  is  '  an  ash-tree.' 
Cf.  Ampney. 

Aneeley  (Norwood).  Not  in  Dom.  '  Meadow  of  4w^r,'  Of, 
B.C. 8.  910  Aneres  broc.     See  -ley. 


'  ANGARRACK  105  ANNESLEY 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anker  R.  (Nuneaton).  O.E.  ancra,  3-6  ancre,  4-7  anker,  *  an 
anchorite,  an  anchoress,  a  nun.'  Evidently  so  called  from  the 
Benedictine  nunnery  on  its  banks — almost  a  unique  river  name 
in  its  way.  Cf.  Ankerwyke,  Staines,  where  a  Benedictine 
nunnery  was  founded,  in  12th  cny. ;  also  Ankerdine  Hill,  Brom- 
yard, 1275  Oncredham,  c.  1300  Ancredam,  and  -ham;  prob.  also 
fr.  ancre  ;  for  its  ending  see  -den;  the  O.E.  would  be  ancran  denu. 

Anlaby  (Hull).  Dom.  Umlouebi,  Unl-,  Umloveby.  '  Dwelling  of 
Unlaf  or  '  Anlaf.'  Cf.  Anlafestun  B.C. 8.  1128.  One  Anlaf 
was  K.  of  Northumbria,  941-52.     See  -by. 

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

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

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

8 


AN  ORS  106  APPLEDOEE 

An  Ors  (rock,  Lizard).    Corn.  ='  the  bear,'  L.  ursa,  Fr.  ours. 

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

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

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

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

Apperley  (Leeds).  1201  Appeltreleg — i.e.,  '  apple-tree  meadow.' 
A.  (Tewkesbury)  is  1221  Happeley,  1413  Appurley,  prob.  also 
fr.  O.E.  oeppel,  '  apple-tree.'  But  the  common  Eadheorht  has 
once  Eappa  as  var,  so  this  may  be  '  Eadbeorhfs  meadow,'  as  in 
Abberton.    See  -ley. 

Appleby  (Westmorland  andDoncaster).  We.  A.  1131  Aplebi,  1174 
Pipe  Appelbi,  'Apple-town,'  O.E.  oeppel,  oepl,  O.N.  epli,  O.Sw. 
CBpU,  '  an  apple ' ;  and  see  -by.  Also  Appleby  Magna  (Ather- 
stone), '  great  Appleby  ';  cf.  Ashby  Magna,  etc.  The  '  Aplebi ' 
of  Dom.  Yorks  is  now  Eppleby  in  the  N.  Riding.  The  Don.  A.  is 
not  found  there.  However,  the  local  pron.  of  this  Westmorland 
name  is  Ysepplby,  which  favours  a  derivation  fr.  Hidlp,  a  name 
known  in  the  Sagas  ;  and  certainly  in  a  Danish  region  '  Hialp's 
dwelling  '  would  be  more  in  accord  with  analogy. 

Appledore  (3  in  Devon,  and  S.  Kent).  Crediton  A.  739  chart. 
Apuldre,  and  -dran;  whilst  S.  Appledore,  Halberton.is  ib.  Suran 
Apuldran,  Exon.  Dom.  Surapla.  '  sour  apple-tree.'  Bideford 
A.  Dom.  Appledore.  Kent  A.  893  O.E.  Chron.  Apulder,  Dom. 
Apeldres,  c.  1200  Gervase  Apeldre,  1439  Will  Apuldr.  Some  of 
these  (esp.  at  Bideford)  prob.  were  orig.  O.W.  apul  dur  (or 
dwT/f),  '  at  the  confluence  of  the  streams  ';  apul  being  for  apur 
or  abe,'  {q.v.);  the  liquids  I  and  r  easily  interchange;  cf.  Apple- 
cross  (Sc),  c.  1080  Aporcrosan.  But  very  early  Apuldre  was 
thought  to   be  simply  '  apple-tree.'     Cf.   Mapledtjrham  and 


APPLEFORD  107  ARBORFIELD  CROSS 

Apperley.    There  is  an  *  Appel  doueham  '  1217  in  Patent  R.; 

and  there  ia  still  an  Appledram  or  Apuldram  near  Chichester; 

c/„  too,  940  chart.  Appildore  (Wilts). 
Appleford   (Abingdon).    892  chirt.  iEppelford,   Dom.  Apleford. 

'  Ford  at  the  apple-tree.'     Bvit  c/.  Appledorb. 
Appleshaw    (Andover).     '  Apple- wood,'    O.E.    scaga,    'a    wood.' 

Dom.  Hants  has  only  Aplestede. 
Appleton  (7  in  P.O.),  also  Appleton  Wiske  (Northallerton,  Dom. 

Apletune).     1179-80  Appelton,  1202  Apelton  (both  in  Yorks). 

'Town  of  the  apples';  O.E.  ce'p{'p)el,  2-7  a'p'pel.    Wiske,  not  in 

Dom.,  is  now  the  name  of  a  little  R.  here,  1212  Wise,  which  is 

prob.  0.  Keltic  uisg,  G.  uisge,  '  water,,  stream,'  hence  whisky; 

cf.  L.  I  sea,  UsK,  and  I^jrby  Wiske.     But  it  may  be  E.  Frisian 

wiske,  '  a  small  meadow,'  Ger.  wiese,  '  a  meadow,"  in  Eng.  usage 

seemingly  one  moist  and  low-lying.     Cf.  Whistley,  in  O.E. 

chart.  Wiscelea,  Wisclea. 
Appletree  (Derby).     1298  Writ  '  Henrico  de  Apletrefelde.'     This 

tree  was  the  meeting-place  of  the  hundred  (or  shire-division). 

Cf.  Gartree,  Greytree,  Plumtree  (Notts),  and  Apperley. 

Appley  Bridge  (Wigan).    Not  in  W.  and  H.     Prob.  O.E.  cs'pl-ledh, 

'  apple-tree  meadow.' 
Apps  Court  (Surrey),    a.  1000  cAari.  ^pse;  also  Abbs.     O.^.cespe, 

ceps,  '  the  asp  or  aspen  tree.'     Cf.  M.E.  and  dial,  claps  for  clasp. 

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

Aqtjilatb  (W.  Staffd.).  1129  Pipe  '  Matilda  de  AquOa,'  a.  1300 
Aquilade,  a.  1400  Aquilot,  a.  1600  Acquilat.  Called  after  the 
Nor.  family  L'Aigle,  L.  aquila,  Eng.  eagle.  The  Matilda  of 
1129  was  widow  of  Robert  de  Mowbray,  Earl  of  Northumber- 
land, and  has  also  conferred  her  name  on  Winford  Eagle,  Dorset. 
The  ending  is  quite  doubtful.  It  may  have  been  suggested  by 
lade,  'channel,'  O.E.  geldd,see  Cricklade;  hardly  by  lot,  O.E. 
hht,  which  is  not  applied  to  land  till  quite  late;  though  lootmede 
or  '  lot  meadow  '  is  found  as  early  as  1553. 

Aran  Mowddwy  (mtn.,  Merioneth).  W.aran  mwddi,  'peaked  hill 
with  the  arch  or  vault.'  This  is  (1590)  Spenser,  Faerie  Queen^s 
'  Under  the  foot  of  Rauran  mossy  hore ' ;  Rauran  being  yr  Aran, 
'  the  peak.' 

Arborfield  Cross  (Reading),  c.  1540  Arburfeld.  Dr.  Skeat  in- 
formed the  writer  that  a  charter  has  recently  been  found  showing 
that  this  is  orig.  '  Eadhurh'a  field,'  Eadburh  being  a  woman. 
Another  warning  against  guessmg  ! 


ARCHENFIELD  108  ARKESDON 

Aeohbnfield,  Aechfield,  or  Irchenfield  (Herefordsh.).  c.  1130 
Lib.  Landav.  Erg5mg,  and  prob.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Areconium, 
c.  1147  Geoff.  Mon.  Erging.  Very  doubtful;  perh.  erging  may 
suggest  W.  ergryn,  '  terror,  horror.' 

Arddleen  (Oswestry).  W.  ardd  llion,  '  height  on  the  streams,' 
lli<m  pi.  of  Hi.    Cf.  Caerlbon. 

Arden  and  Ardens  Grafton  (Alcester,  Warwk,).  a.  1199  Arden. 
The  first  part  is  prob,  a  contraction  of  one  of  the  numerous  O.E. 
names  in  Eard-.  The  '  Forest  of  Arden '  is  an  invention  of 
Shakespeare,  in  allusion  to  the  Ardennes,  Belgium;  so  Duignan. 

Ardengley  (Hayward's  Heath),  not  in  Dom.,  and  Ardington 
(Wantage  and  Surrey).  Wa.  A.  Dom.  Ardintone,  1316  Ardyn- 
ton.  Sur.  A.  1233  Eard-,  Erdendon.  Prob.  '  meadow '  and 
'  town  of  Eardmne,'  2  in  Onom.  Cf.  the  mod.  surname  Harding, 
and  Erdington;  and  see  -ley  and  -ton. 

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

Ardsley  (Barnsley.  Wakefield,  etc.).  1202  Ardislawe,  1208  Erdes- 
lawe.  Prob.  '  Eard's  lea  '  or  '  meadow,'  Eard  being  short  for 
Eardvmlf,  a  very  common  O.E.  name.  But  -lawe  is,  of  course, 
not  '  meadow,'  but  '  hill' ;  see  -low. 

Ardwick  (Manchester).  1282  Atheriswyke,  1502  Ardewyk.  A 
case  of  dissimilation;  at  least,  as  Wyld  suggests,  Ather-  prob. 
represents  some  O.E.  name  in  ^fSel-;  there  are  many.  Cf. 
Atherstone  and  Atserton.  '  Arduuic '  Dom.  S.  Yorks  is 
now  Hardwiok. 

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

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

Cf.  B ARGOED. 

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

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


AEKHOLME  109  ARMITAGE 

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

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

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

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

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

Arlesey  (Hitchin).  Dom.  Alriceseie.  '  Isle  of  Mric  or  Mfiic' 
But  Arlescote  (Wwk.)  is  1080  Orlavescoth,  Dom.  Orlavescote, 
1123  Ordlavescot:  '  Ordlafs  cot.'  Arleston,  Salop,  is  1284 
Close  R.  Ardolfeston,  'town  of  Eardumlf,'  a  common  name. 
Three  places  in  Aries-,  and  all  different !     See  -ey. 

Arley  (Bewdley  and  Northwich).  Bew.  A.  994  Eamleie,  Dom. 
Ernlege,  a.  1300  Erlei,  Arnlegh.  '  Meadow  of  the  eagle,'  O.E. 
earn  ;  though  Duignan  prefers  to  think  of  a  contraction  fr.  one 
of  the  numerous  names  in  Earn-,  Eambald,  -grim,  etc.  Cf. 
1179-80  Fife  Erlega  (Cumbld.)  and  c.  1537  '  Erleghecote 
haythe'  (Furness)  which  seem  to  come  fr.  earl.  See  above; 
also  Arncllfee  and  Early;  and  Arle  (Cheltenham),  old  Alra 
— i.e.,  O.E.  aler,  '  alder-tree.' 

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

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

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

Armitage  (Rugeley).  a.  1300  Hermitage;  in  Eng.  1290  ermi- 
tage,  5  armitage ;  O.Fr.  hermitage.  There  was  one  here  in  the 
13th  cny. 


ARMLEY  110  ARTHURET 

Armley  (Leeds).  Dom.  Ermelai.  Prob.  '  Eorm's  meadow.'  See 
Armathwaite,  and  -ley. 

Aemthorpe  (Doncaster).  Dom.  Ernulfestorp,  1202  Arunthorp,  1212 
Ernetorp.  'Village  of  Eamwulf  ;  the  latter  unaccented  syl- 
lable often  drops  away.  See  -thorpe.  Armscott  (Shipston-on- 
Stour)  is  actually  1275  Edmundescote  ! 

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

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

Arnold  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Ernehale.  1157  Pipe  Erneshala, 
1316  Arnall,  'Nook  of  Earne'  or,  'of  the  eagle";  see  above  and 
-hall.  The  present,  quite  late  form  has  been  influenced  by  the 
common  name  Arnold.  On  the  excrescent  d  see  p.  81.  Cf. 
Dom.  Arnodestorp,  now  Arnoldstoft,  N.  Riding.     See  -toft. 

Arnsedb  (Camforth).  '  Eagle-slope,'  cf.  above.  Side,  O.E.  side, 
here  has  the  sense  of  '  the  slope  of  a  hill  or  mountain.'  Cf. 
Ambleside. 

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

Arram  (Beverley).  Dom.  Argun.  The  Arg-  is  Norse  G.  argh,  '  hut, 
shieling ' ;  see  Anglesark.    The  -un  is  a  loc. ;  see  Arkholme. 

Arreton  (I.  of  Wight).  Sic  1285.  Not  in  Dom.  Hants,  but  in  Sffk. 
Are-,  Aratona;  'town,  hamlet  of  Ara,""  or  'Are,''  names  in  Onom. 

Arrlngton  (Royston,  Camb.).  Dom.  Erningetone,  chart,  ^rninge- 
tune,  1270  Aiington,  1307  Arnington.  '  Village  of  the  sons  of 
Erne  or  Mm,^  O.E.  earn,  cern,  '  an  eagle.'  Armiagford,  also  in 
Cambs,  has  the  same  origin.  Skeat  thinks  the  change  to  Arring- 
ton  arose  through  association  with  Barrington  near  by. 

Arrow  R.  (Warwksh.),  Arrow  Brook  (Wirral,  Chesh.).  A.  River 
a.  800  chart.  Aro.  Prob.  same  root  as  W.  aru,  '  to  plough.' 
The  river  seems  nowhere  like  '  an  arrow,'  O.E.  arewe. 

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

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

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


ARUN  R.  HI  ASHBURY 

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

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

AsooT  (Berks),  a.  1300  Escot,  also  Ascote;  AscoT-under-Wychwood 
(Oxford;  see  Wychwood),  Ascote  (Southam)  a.  1300  Astanes- 
cote.  AscoTT  (Shipston-on-Stour),  no  old  forms.  Ascot  or 
Escot  may  be  east  cot — cf.  A'stley;  but  is  prob.  =  Ashcott,  Bridge- 
water,  '  cot,  cottage  made  of  ashwood,'  O.E.  cbsc — cf.  Asheobd, 
Dom.  Asford.  Ascote  is  '  cot  of  Mfstan,'  a  '  faithful  man  '  re- 
ferred to  in  a  grant  by  Oswald,  Bp.  of  Worcester,  in  991>  Dow- 
Bucks  has  an  '  Achecote.' 

AsFORDBY  (Melton  Mowbray).  Not  in  Dom.  '  Dwelling  of  Asford,' 
bailifE  at  Croyland.     See  Onom.,  and  -by. 

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

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

Ash  (Aldershot,  Sevenoaks,  Sandwich),  Prob.  O.E.  ^sce,  'ash- 
tree.'    The  c  has  remained  hard  in  Aske,  Yorks;  Dom.  Hasse. 

Ashbourne  (Uttoxeter  and  Derbysh.).  Der.  A.  Dom.  Esseburne, 
1162-65  chart.  Essebuma;  '  ash-tree  stream,'  bourne  =Sc.  hum  ; 
O.E.  buma,  Icel.  hrunn-r,  'a  brook,  a  stream.'  Ash,  the  tree, 
is  given  as  3  asse  and  5  esche. 

AsHBRiTTLE  (Wellington,  Som.).  Not  in  Dom'.,  and  old  forms 
needed.  The  origin  of  the  Eng.  brittle  is  doubtful;  see  Oxf.  Diet. 
But  prob.  this  has  nothing  to  do  with  brittle  ;  prob.  it  is  '  j^sc- 
beorht's  hill.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  624  iEscbyrhtes  geat,  and  Astle, 
a.  1300  Asthulle. 

ASHBURNHAM  (Battle).  K.C.D.  930  Ashbornham,  'home  at  the 
Ashbourne.'    There  is  also  an  '  Esburneha  '  in  Dom.  Bucks. 

AsHBURTON  (S.  Devon).  Prob.  Dom.  Essebretone.  '  Burton, 
fortified  hamlet,  by  the  ash-tree ' ;  or, '  of '  a  man  '  Msc  '  or  '  Mse '; 
the  names  are  in  Onom.    Cf.  next  and  Ashdown. 

AsHBURY  (Berks  and  Okehampton).  Ber.  A.  c.  931  chart.  ^Escses- 
byrie,  953  chart,  ^scesburh,  960  ^scesburuh.  O.E.  for  '  burgh, 
fort  of  Msc'  perh.  he  who  was  the  son  of  Hengist.  j^sc  rueans 
'  an  ash,'  and  Ash(e)  is  still  a  common  surname.  There  is  an 
'  Asseberga '  in  Dom.  Wore,  which  is  prob.  '  burgh  of  Asa,^ 
a  name  common  in  Onom.    Cf.  Ashdown. 


ASHBY  112  ASHMANSWOETH 

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

Ashby  Pueborum  (Homcastle).  [Prob.  1292  Parva  Askeby.] 
'  Ashby  of  the  boya  ' ;  L.  puer,  '  a  boy.' 

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

*  Selenger.' 

ASHDOWN  (Berksh.).  673  chart.  'In  Escesdune  LV  in  loco  qui 
vocatur  Earmundeslea.'  O.E.  Chron.  ann.  661  -.Escesdune,  ann. 
871,  .^scesdun;  also  sic  in  a.  910  Asser,  who  (or  an  interpolator) 
explains  the  name  as  mons  fraxini.  '  hill,'  or  '  hill-fort  of  the  ash- 
tree.'      But,   on  the   analogy   of  i^scses   byries   Sudgeate   or 

*  South  gate  of  Ashbury  '  (c.  931  chart.),  this  may  be  '  hill '  or 
'  fort  of  ^sc'  There  are  3  called  JEsc  and  one  jEsca  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Ashbtjby. 

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

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

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

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

ASSINGTON. 

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

Ashmansworth  (Hunts),  a.  1200  chart,  ^scmeres  weorth,  which 
is  '  farm  beside  the  mere  or  lake  of  the  ash-tree  ' ;  a  curious  cor- 
ruption. But  there  is  both  an  Asman  and  an  .Mscm^nn  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Rickmans WORTH,  and  see  -worth. 


ASHMORE  113  ASKWITH 

ASHMORE  (Salisbury  and  Lichfield).  Li.  A.  c.  1300  Estmeresbrok, 
Asschmorebroke,  Ashmeresbroke.  Prob.  '  brook  of  ^scmcer.' 
Cf.  B.C.8.  1227  on  iEscmseres  hammas.  Sal.  A.  may  be  '  ash- 
tree  moor.' 

AsHORNE  (WarWick).  1196  Hasshorne,  1370  Asshorne.  Perh. 
*  ash-tree  nook.'  O.E.  oesc,  M.E.  asse,  esse,  '  an  ash,'  and  O.E. 
hyrne,  hern,  '  nook,  comer.'  But  -horn  in  Whithorn  (Sc),  etc., 
represents  O.E.  erne,  '  house.' 

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

AsHow  (KENrLWORTH).  Dom.  Asceshot  (-shot  prob.  error,  but  cf. 
Aldershot),  a.  1300  Ascesho,  Ashyho,  Asshisho.  'Hoe,  out- 
stretching point  of  land,  with  the  ash-tree.'     See  above,  and 

ASHBTJRY. 

Ash  Parva  (Whitchurch).  '  Little  Ash,'  L.  parvus,  '  little.'  Of. 
AsHBY  Magna,  etc. 

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

AsHRiDGE  (Bucks).  Prob.  1376  Assherugge.  Ridge  in  the  N.  usually 
takes  the  form  rigg.,  O.E.  hrycg,  Icel.  hrygg-r.    Cf.  Askrtgg. 

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

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

AsHWELL  (Herts),  a.  1300  Eccleston  Assewelle  (for  this  spelling  cf. 
AsHBY  DE  LA  Zoughe).     '  Well  by  the  ash-tree.' 

AsKAM  (Camforth).  O.E.  cesc-hdm,  '  dwelling,  village  by  the  ash- 
tree,'  the  hard  c  being  retained  in  North.  Eng.  Of  Asksam. 
The  ^sc  may  well  be  a  man's  name  here.     Cf.  Ashbury. 

AsKERN  (Doncaster).    Not  in  Dom.     O.E.  cesc-erne,  '  house  built 

of  ash-wood.'    Cf.  Whithorn  (Sc). 
AsKERSWELL  (Bridport).    Not  in  Dom.     *  Well  of  Asgar ';  several 

named  Asgar,  Asgcer,  Esgar,  in  Onom.    Of.  Asgarby. 

AsKHAM  (Penrith  and  Yorks).  Yorks,  more  than  one,  Dom.  Ascam, 
Ascha'.     =AsKAM. 

AsKRiGG  (Bedale).    North,  form  of  Ashridge. 

Askwith  (Westmld.  and  Yorks).  Dom.  Yorks,  Ascuid,  -vid;  1201 
Ascwith.  O.N.  ask-r  vi'6-r  (Dan.  ved).  '  Ash  wood  or  forest.' 
Of.  Ask  AM  and  Beckwith.  This  is,  of  course,  the  same  name  as 
Asquith. 


ASLACKBY  114  ASTLEY 

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

AsLACOE  (Lincoln).  Dom.  Aslacheshou.  '  Hoe  or  how  or  moct- 
hill  of  Aslac  '  ;  see  above.  Hoe,  as  in  Morte  Hoe,  also  means 
'  an  island,'  as  this  may  once  have  been. 

ASLOCKTON  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Aslachetone.  '  Aslac'^  village.' 
See  above. 

AsPATBiA  (W.  Cumberland).  Local  pron,  Spatry.  1224  Patent  R. 
Estpateric,  Said  to  be  fr.  As-  or  Gos-  patrick,  first  lord  of 
Allendale,  or  fr.  As  or  St.  Patrick,  predecessor  of  Kentigern, 
and  patron  St.  of  the  church  here.  In  time  of  K.  John  we  find 
a  ford  near  here  called  Wath-Patrick  -weth.  Ass  in  O.N.  means 
a  sort  of  demi-god,  one  under  the  patronage  of  a  god,  usually 
Thor.  But  possibly  the  iirst  syll.  is  the  obs.  Eng.  este,  O.E. 
est,  O.N.  dst,  '  delight,  good  pleasure,  favour ' ;  so  the  name 
would  mean  'The  delight  of  St.  Patrick,'  which  is  more  in  ac- 
cord with  analogy  than  to  caU  a  place  after  a  man  alone. 

AsPENDEN  (Buntingford).  c.  1280  Apsedene,  Feud.  Aids  Aspedene, 
O.E.  oespe  denu,  '  aspen-tree  vale.'     See  -den. 

AsPLEY  (Huddersfield,  and  2  in  Staffs;  Dom.  Haspeleifi,  1227 
Aspeleg,  Eccleshall;  and  2  in  Warwk.,  both  1272  Aspeley; 
but  one  a.  1300  Apsele),  and  Aspley  Guise  (Woburn),  1232 
Aspel'.  '  Lea,  meadow  (O.E.  leak)  of  the  asps  or  aspens,'  O.E. 
cespe.  Of.  Apsley,  and  Asps,  1196  Aspes  (Warwk).  Guise 
may  or  may  not  show  connection  with  the  well-known  ducal 
family  of  Lorraine;  at  any  rate  Guises  held  property  here. 

AspULii  Moor  (Wigan).  Prob.  =' asp-hill '  or  'aspen-tree  hill,' 
O.E.  (Bspe,  '  an  aspen  ';  hill  is  found  spelt  2-5  hull.  Gf.  Aspen- 
den  and  Solihull. 

Asselby  (Yorks).  Dom.  Aschilebi.  '  Dwelling,  village  of  Aschil 
or  Ascytel,'  a  common  O.E.  name.  Gf.  HAiSTriORPE ;  and  see  -by. 

AssiNGDON  or  AssiNGTON  (Colchester).  1016  O.E.  Chron.  Assan- 
dun;  c.  1115  Henry  Hunt.  Esesdun.  This  place-name  is  cor- 
rectly translated  by  Flor.  Wore.  c.  1097,  '  mons  asini/  '  hill  of 
the  ass,'  O.E.  assa,  gen.  assan,  '  a  male  ass.' 

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

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

AsTLEY  ^5  in  P.G.).  Nimeaton  A.  Dom.  Estleia,  a.  1300  Est(e)ley. 
1327  Astleye.  Stourport  A.  Dom.  Eslei,  a.  1200  ^stlege, 
a.  1300  Estley,  Astle,  Estele.    The  Oxf.  Diet,  gives  no  spelluig 


ASTON  115  ATTLEBRIDaE 

of  East  as  ast,  yet  old  forms  show  that  many  names  m  Ast- 
must  come  fr.  East.  See  below.  So  this  name  is,  '  East  lea ' 
or  '  meadow.'  See  -ley. 
Aston  (Herts,  Bucks,  Stafis,  Warwk.,  Yorks,  and  Nantwich).  All 
Dom.  Eston  or  Eastun(e) — i.e.,  'east-town.'  It  may  at  times 
be  '  ash-tree-town.'  Of.  Ashford,  in  Dom.  Asford.  Duignan  says 
one  Aston  was  in  O.E.  jEsctun,  but  does  not  say  which. 

Aston  Magna  (E.  Worcestersh,).    Prob.    K.C.D.    616  Eastune, 

1275  Estone.     '  Magna  '  is  '  great.' 
Aston  Tibbold  (Wallingford).    Dom.  Estone — i.e.,  '  East-town.' 

Cf.  Aston.    Tirrold  ?  fr.  Walter  Tirel  or  Tirrold,  who  shot 

Wm.  Rufus  in  New  Forest.     Tirweald  was  a  common   O.E. 

name;  it  is  the  same  as  the  mod.  Eng.  name  Thorold. 
AswARBY  (Folkuigham).    Dom.  Asuuardebi.     'Dwelling    of    As- 

ward.''     Owom.  has  only  one^sweri.     See -by. 

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

Athelney  (Taunton).  871  O.E.  Chron.  .ESelinga  eg  or  eigg— i.e., 
'  island  of  the  Athelings,'  or  princes  or  noble-born  men,  fr.  ceSeZ, 
'  noble '  and  -ing,  '  belonging  to.'  M'Clure  thinks  the  name 
purely  personal,  and  meaning  '  descendants  of  some  man  called 
iEthelbeorht,  -^Ethelrsed,'  or  the  like.     See  -ey. 

Atherstone  (Nuneaton,  on-Stour,  and  Somerset).  Nun.  A.  Dom. 
Aderestone,  1246  Edrideston;  also  Aldredestone.  Stour  A.  Dom. 
Edricestone,  1248  Athericstone,  1249  Athereston.  The  former 
is  either  '  Eadred's  '  or  perh.  '  Ealdred's  town ' ;  it  may  be 
'  stone,"  see  -ton.    The  latter  is  fr.  a  man  Mthelric  or  Ethric. 

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

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

Atterclute  (Sheffield).  Dom.  Ateclive.  'Cliff  of  Ata.'  The 
letter  r  tends  to  insert  itself,  as  in  Kidderminster,  etc.  Here 
it  has  been  influenced  by  otter,  which  is  found  m  M.E.  as  atter. 

Attleborough  (Norfolk  and  Nuneaton).  Nun.  A.  1155  Attele- 
berge,  a.  1400  Atleborowe,  Attilburgh.  Nor.  A.  Dom.  Atlebure, 
c.  1456  Attylburgh.  Perh.  '  Burgh,  town  of  Athulf  or  Mthelwulf' ; 
several  in  Onom.  of  that  name.  But  there  is  a  known  AttiU  in 
Dom. 

Attlebridge  (Norwich).  Dom.  Ate-,  Attebruge,  c.  1465  Attyl- 
brigge.  'Bridge  of  Athulf  ;  see  above.  O.E  hrycg,  North, 
and  Sc.  hrig,  '  a  bridge.' 


ATWICK  116  AUSTREY 

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

AuBOUBNE  (Liucohi).  Dom.  Aburne,  1208  Audeburn.  Prob.  '  old 
burn  or  brook  '  as  in  Audlem  ;  presumably  an  old  channel  super- 
seded by  a  newer  one.  There  is  also  an  Auburn  or  Awburn 
near  Bridlington ;  Dom.  Eleburn,  '  brook  of  Ealla '  ;  a  liquid 
sound  like  al  easily  slurs  into  aw.     Cf.  next. 

Auckland.    See  Bishop  Auckland. 

AucKLEY  (Doncaster).  Dom.  Alcheslei,  Alceslei,  Alchelie. 
'  Meadow  of  Aha.'  Cf.  Awkley,  Notts,  1278  Alkelaye.  See 
Alkborough,  and  -ley. 

AuDENSHAW  (Manchester).  1190-1212  Aldenshade,  Aldensawe, 
1240-59  Aldensagh,  later  Aldwynschawe,  1523  Aldewynshaw, 
'  Wood  of  Alda  '  or  '  Ealdxi '  ;  O.E.  sc{e)aga,  '  a  wood.'  Shaw 
is  still  common  in  North,  dial,  and  Sc. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

AusTREY  (Atherstone).  958  chart.  Alduluestreow,  later  chart.  Aldul- 
festreo — i.e.,  O.E.  for  '  Ealdwulf's  tree ' ;  Ealdwulf  is  a  common 
name  m  Onom.,  also  found  as  Aldwulf,  Aldulf ;  and  cf.  Oswestry. 
A  name  like  this  shows  how  hopeless  it  often  is  to  guess,  with- 
out old  forms  to  guide.    As  late  as  1327  it  is  Aldulvestre. 


AUSTWICK  117  AWSWORTH 

AuSTWiCK  (Settle).  Dom.  Oustewic,  1202  Austwic.  '  Eastern 
dwelling,'  O.E.  eastan  (O.N.  aust-r)  mc.    Cf.  Austeefield. 

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

AvEBTjRY  (Calne).  Peril.  Dom.  Avereberie,  1740  (and  ?  still) 
Abury.  If  orig.  Avereberie  it  may  be  '  burgh  of  JSlfhere,'  a 
very  common  O.E.  name,  found  once  as  Mlfuere.  More  old 
forms  needed;  it  may  be  'burgh  of  . JS/^a '  or  '-^^e,'  also  a 
common  name.     Cf.  Aveton.     See  -bury. 

AvELEY  (Purfleet).  Dom.  Auileia,  1285  Alvetheley.  '  Meadow  of 
Mlfgyth,''  a  common  woman's  name.  One  was  abbess  of  Bark- 
ing in  11th  cny.    See  -ley. 

AvENAGE  (Bisley,  Glouc).  1337  Abbenesse.  Prob.  '  Ahla'^  ash- 
tree.'  AvENHAM  (Preston),  not  in  W.  and  H.,  may  be  fr.  the 
same  man,  or  else  fr.  JS^e,  -en.  To-day  Avenage  is  called 
Avon  Edge.    Cf.  next  and  Ashton. 

AvENiNG  (Stroud).  896  cMrt.  to  -Meningum  (dat.  pi.).  Dom. 
Aveninge,  1221  Evening.  On  R.  Avon,  with  -ing  or  -inge  here 
as  a  river-ending.     Cf.  Twyning,  etc. 

AvETON  GiFFOED  (Klingsbridge).  Dom.  Afetone.  '  Town,  village 
of  Afa  '  or  '  J5^e.'     Cf.  Affpiddle,  Avebury,  etc. 

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

Avon  R.  (7,  3  tribs.  of  R.  Severn,  also  Aeon  Wrangon,  S. 
Wales).  Sev.  A.  Tacitus  Avona,  704-9  chart.  Afen;  793-6  Al3en, 
a.  1196  Gir.  Camb.  Avenina,  Avenna;  Wilts  A.  c.  380  Ant. 
Itin.  Abone;  c.  650  Bav.  Geogr.  Abona;  a.  910  Asser  Abon; 
O.E.  Chron.  ann.  653  Afene,  Afne;  also  charts.  Afene,  Auena, 
Eafen,  Hafene.  W.  afon,  G.  ahhuinn,  'river.'  The  name  is 
found  in  Sc.  both  as  Avon  and  Almond.  Cf.  Ravenglass  or 
yr  afon  glas. 

AvoNMOUTH  (Bristol).  918  O.E.  Chron.  Aftena  muSa,  1067  ib. 
into  Afenan  mu6an. 

AwLiscoMBB  (Honiton).  Dom,.  Avlescome,  1282  Haulescumbe. 
Prob.  '  Valley  of  Eawulf '  or  '  Mthelvmlf,''  a  very  common  name. 
Cf.  Alton,  c.  880  ^weltun.    See  -combe. 

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

AwswoRTH  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Eldesvorde,  1316  Aldesworthe; 
'  farm  of  Ealda.'  The  change  is  quite  according  to  rule,  so  far 
as  phonetics  go.     See  -worth. 


AXE  R.  118  AYLSHAM 

Axe  R.  and  Axmouth  (Somerset),  c.  708  Orant  Axa;  O.E.  Chron. 
755  Asca;  944  chart.  Exa,  1049  O.E.  Chron.  Axamntha.  Keltic 
for  'water,  river' =Ex,  UsK,  etc.  Cf.  Ashford.  We  prob. 
have  the  same  name  in  the  Fr.  R.  Aisne,  L.  Ax  -ona,  the-ona 
being  the  common  Kelt,  ending  for  '  stream.' 

AxHOLM  (N.  Lincoln),  c.  1180  Bened.  Peterh.  Axiholm.  For  Ax- 
see  above;  this  was  a  very  marshy  region.  A  holm  is  properly 
'  an  island  in  or  near  a  river ' ;  see  -holm.  Possibly  it  is  '  holm  of 
Mcci,''  a  known  name. 

AxMEsrsTER.  O.E.  Chron.  755  Axan-,  Ascanmynster,  Dom.  Axe- 
minstre,  *  Monastery  on  the  R.  Axe  ' ;  O.E.  mynster,  '  a  monas- 
tery,' then  '  a  (cathedral)  church,'  fr.  L.  monasterium. 

Aycleffe  (Darlington),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Heaclif — i.e.,  O.E. 
hedh  clif,  '  high  cliff.'  But  School  Aycliffe  is  1183  Boldon  Bk. 
Sculacle,  -ley,  and  1130  Acheleia,  1211  Aclai — i.e.,  O.E.  dc  leah, 
'  oak  meadow ' ;  this  looks  as  if  there  had  been  a  transition 
form,  aik  lee,  and  the  meaning  of  aik  being  forgotten,  it  was 
'  improved  '  into  Aycliffe.  But  the  existence  of  the  double  old 
form  is  puzzling. 

Ayubhrton  (Lydney).  1224  Aylbricton,  1288  Close  R.  Albrith- 
ton.  Prob.  'Albert's  town'  or  'village';  O.E.  Ealdbeorht  or 
Alberht,  of  whom  there  are  many  in  Onom.  Cf.  Elberton 
(Thornbury),  Dom.  Eldbertone,  1175  Pijte  Alberton,  1346  Ayl- 
berton. 

Aylesbeare  (Exeter).  Dom.  Eilesberge.  '  jEgiVs  wood,'  O.E. 
team.  See  Aylesbtjby,  and  cf.  Beer,  Larkbeare,  and  next. 
The  -berge  (  =  Barrow)  of  Dom.  is  prob.  an  error  for  -here. 

Aylesbury.  O.E.  Chron.  ann.  571  iEgelesburh,  ^Eglesbyrig; 
1154-61  chart.  AeOesbiria.  '  .^Egil's  burgh  '  or  '  fortified  place.' 
Mgil  is  the  sun-archer  of  Teutonic  mythology.  See  -bury,  and 
cf.  Aylesbeare  and  Ailsbury  (Warwk.)  1272  Ayllesbury. 

Aylesford  (on  R.  Medway).  O.E.  Chron.  455  ^gelesford,  also 
iEgelsthrep  ;  c.  1120  ^glesforda,  jEUesforda;  Sim.  Dur.  ann. 
1016,  Eagelesford,  1160  Fife  Ailesfort,  '  MgiVs  ford.'  See 
Aylesbtjry. 

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

Aylmerton  (Norwich).  Dom.  Almartune.  'Town,  village  of 
Aylmer.''    There  are  several  called  Mlfmcer  or  Elmer  in  Onom. 

Aylsham  (N.  Norfolk).  1157  Ailesham,  1443  Aylesham.  '  Home, 
of  Mgil ';  see  Aylesbury,  and  -ham. 


AYLSTON  119  BAB  WELL 

Aylston  (Hereford),  c.  1030  chart.  iEgilnothes  stane— ^■.e.,  '  stone 
of  jEgilnoih  or  jEgil.''     See  Aylesbury. 

Aymestrey  (N.  Herefordsh.).  Dom.  Eiminstre.  Prob.  'island- 
minster  '  or  '  church.'  See  -ay  and  -minster.  Cf.  Mbnstrie 
(So.)  fr.  G.  mainistreach,  '  belonging  to  a  monastery,'  in  1263 
Mestreth.     Aydon,  Corbridge,  is  1285  Close  B.  Eyden. 

Aykho  (Banbury).  Dom.  Aienho.  'Hoe  or  hill  of  Egon'  or 
'  ^ga '  ;  cf.  B.G.S.  226  ^ganstan;  there  is  also  a  Bp.  ^ine  in 
Onom.    Cf.  AsLACOE  and  Eynsham. 

Ayot  St.  Laurence  and  St.  Peter  (Welwyii,  Hatfield).  Ayot,  ait, 
eyot  is  '  a  small  island,'  prob.  a  dimin.  of  O.E.  ig,  '  island.'    See 

Oxf.  Diet.  S.V.  AIT. 

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

Aysgarth  (Bedale).  Dom.  Echescard,  1202  Aikeskerth.  '  Garth, 
enclosure,  court,  yard  of  JEcce  or  ^cci.^  names  in  Onom. 

Aythorpe  Roding  (Dunmow).  Not  in  Dom.  Old  forms  needed. 
The  Ay-  may  mean  '  high  '  as  in  Aycliffe,  or  it  may  mean  '  egg- 
place,  egg  farm,'  fr.  O.E.  CB3,  M.E.  ay  '  an  egg.'  See  -thorpe, 
and  Roding. 

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

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

Babe  A-  Babbicombe  (Torquay).  '  Valley  of  Babha  '  or  '  Behha, ' 
several  in  Onom.  Cf.  Bablake,  Coventry,  1344  Babbelak,  and 
Bablocklithe,  Oxon,  which  mean  '  Babha' s  pool '  (O.E.  lac,  see 
Oxf.  Diet,  lake  s&*  2),  and  '  the  landing  stage '  or  '  Hythe  ' 
beside  it.     See  Babwell  and  -combe. 

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

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

Babwell  (Bury  St.  Edmunds).  Dom.  has  only  Babenberga. 
1289  Contin.  of  Gervase.  Balbewelle.  '  Well  of  Babba:  There 
are  5  Babbas  and  one  Baba  in  Onom.     In  form  1289  lb  h  ai 


BACKBAREOW  120  BADGEWORTH  . 

common  scribe's  error  or  '  trick '  for  hh.    Cf.,  too,  Babthorp 
(Yorks);  Dom.  Babetorp, 

Backs AREOW  (Ulverston).  Barrow  is  O.E.  heorg,  2  beoruh,  6  harow, 
'  a  mount,  a  hill,'  then,  '  a  grave  mound,  a  tumulus.'  The 
Back-,  as  in  Backford,  is  doubtful;  it  may  be  Icel.  haJcki,  Dan. 
hakke,  Sw.  backe,  '  a  hill-ridge,'  and  so  the  name  will  signify 
'  long,  ridged  hill.' 

Backtord  (Chester).  The  meaning  of  back-  here  is  uncertain. 
It  may  just  be  '  back  ' ;  less  likely  ='  hill-ridge,'  as  prob.  above; 
very  possibly  =hach  or  heck  as  in  Sandbach,  Dom.  Sanbec,  and 
so,  '  ford  over  the  beck  or  stream.'  Cf.  Bacton  and  Backworth, 
(Newcastle-on-T . ) . 

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

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

Bacup  (Lanes).  Local  pron.  Baykop.  c.  1200  chart.  Ffulebachope, 
c.  1470  Bacop,  1507  Bacope,  1579  Baccop.  c.  1200  clearly  is 
'  foul  bach  hope,'  or  '  enclosed  valley  of  the  foul,  dirty  brook  ' ; 
see  -hope.  Bacup  stands  at  the  centre  of  four  valleys  or 
'  hopes.'  Bach  or  bache  (see  Oxf.  Diet,  s.v.),  is  a  rare  var.  of 
beck,  O.E.  hcece,  bece,  O.N.  bekk-r,  '  brook,  rivulet,'  which  also 
becomes  batch,  as  in  Comberbatch.  Sandbach  (Cheshire),  is 
Dom.  Sanbec.  Cf.  Eccup  and  Fulbeck;  'foul'  is  O.E. /tiZ, 
2-5  fule. 

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

Badcox  (Erome).  Not  in  Dom.  Perh.  W.  bedd  cock,  '  red  grave  ' 
or  '  grave  mound,'  with  Eng.  plur.  s  {cs  =x). 

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

Badgeworth (Cheltenham).  S12chart. Began wurtha, Dom. Beiwrde, 
c.  1150  Begeword,  and  Badgeworthy  (Lynmouth)  local  pron. 
Badgery.  Dom.  .Bicheordin,  1167-68  Pipe  Badewurth.  The 
man's  name  is  a  little  uncertain,  but  prob.  both  mean  '  Boecga's 
farm.'     Bicca  is  also  a  fairly  common  0.^    nan^e;   and  the 


BADINGIHAM  121  BAGLEY 

phonetic  change  fr.  Biche-  to  Badge-  is  exactly  illustrated  in 
BuRBAGE,  also  found  as  Burbidge,  now  a  personal  name.  The 
endings  are  in  root  all  the  same,  O.E.  worth,  with  its  extended 
forms  worthig  and  worthign,  '  farm ' ;  see  -worth  and  -wardine. 
Cf.  Bageridge,  Wolverhampton,  1286  Baggerugge. 

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

Badlesmere  (Faversham).  Sic  1363,  but  Dom.  and  1283Badeles- 
mere.     '  Mere,  lake  of  Badela.'     Cf.  K.C.D.  714  Badelan  broc. 

Badminton  (Gloucester).  972  chart.  Badimjnacgtun,  Dom.  Mad- 
mintune  [M  an  error) ;  '  town,  village  of  Beadumund  or  Bade  - 
mund,^  names  in  Onom.  It  may  be  a  patronymic;  Baddeley 
thinks  it  is  fr.  Beaduhelm,  a  very  rare  name.     See  -ing. 

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

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

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

Bagby  (Thirsk).  Dom.  Bagebi.  '  Hamlet,  town  of  Bacga  '  ;  cf. 
above  and  B.C.S.  924,  '  Bsegan  wyrth ' ;  See  -by.  But, 
Baggaby  Bottom,  Pocklington,  not  in  Dom.,  is  1202  Bagothebi, 
where  Bagoth  seems  a  corrupt  form  of  Beagnoth,  a  common 
name  in  Onom. ;  or  else  it  is  fr.  Bagot,  a  surname  prob.  fr.  O.Fr. 
Bottom,  O.E.  botm,  is  found  with  the  meaning  of  '  valley,  dell 
low-lying  land,'  from  c.  1325. 

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

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

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

9 


BAGNALL  122  BALDOCK 

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

Bagshot  (Camber]  ey),  Prob.  '  Bacga's  shot '  or  '  glade  through  a 
wood '  See  Bagden  and  Aldershot.  The  old  forms  are 
numerous — Baggeshott,  Bagshat,  etc  ;  but  also  Bagshet,  Bake- 
shet,  Bakset,  Baggeshete,  which  Skeat  says  must  be,  O.E.  hcBC 
sceat,  '  back  nook  or  comer.'  A  wood  near  Winkfield  is  called 
Bac-sceat  in  Chron.  Abingdon,  temp.  Wm.  I. 

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

Bagworth  (Leicester).  O.E.  chart.  Baeganwyrth,  1442  Bagge- 
worth.  '  Bcega's  or  Bacga's  farm.'  Of.  Baglby  and  Bayworth, 
also  1155  Pipe  Bagewurda,  1160-1  Beggewurda,  Somerset,  and 
1158-9  ih.  Beggewurda,  Wilts;  and  see  -worth. 

Baildon  (Shipley).  Dom.  Beldone.  Prob.  O.E.  heel  dun,  '  hill  of 
the  fire  or  funeral  pile.'  In  later  Eng.  it  is  4-&aZe,  4  haile, 
5  belle,  6  bde;  see  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  baIjE  s6.^  and  bale-fire. 

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

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

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

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

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

Balby  (Doncaster).  Dom.  BaUesbi.  Prob.  '  village,  hamlet  of 
Bald,  Beald,  or  Bealda  ' ;  here  already  seen  in  its  more  mod. 
form.  Ball.     Cf  Bald  on,  and  Balcombe,  Hay  ward's  Heath. 

Baldersby  (Thirsk)  and  Balderton  (Newark).  Dom.  Baldrebi. 
The  original  Balder  was  son  of  Odin,  and  hero  of  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  myths  in  the  Norse  Edda.     See  -by  and  -ton. 

Baldogk  (Herts),  a.  1200  Baudac,  -oc,  1287  Baldak,  Baudak. 
An  amazing  name,  given  as  a  fancy  name  by  the  Knights 


BALDON  123  BAMBER  BRIDGE 

Templars,  its  founders — Ital.  Baldacco,  the  Eng.  Baghdad  ! 
Cf.  Eng.  baldachin,  older  haudekin,  a  fine  embroidered  stuff  also 
named  fr.  Baghdad. 

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

Bale  (Holt,  Norfolk),  Not  in  Dom.  O.E.  heel,  O.N.  bdl,  '  a  funeral 
pyre,  a  bale-fire.'     Cf.  Baildon. 

Balking  (UflSngton,  Berks).  948  chart.  Bedalacing;  963  ib., 
Badalacing,  Bathalacing;  later  Bethelking.  The  Onom.  has  only 
the  names  Badeca  and  Badela.  But  this  seems  to  be  a  patro- 
nymic, denoting  the  '  place  of  the  descendants  of  some  man 
Bedalac,'  or  the  like.    See  -ing. 

Ballestgdon  (Sudbury).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  cf.  704-709  chart. 
Balgan  dun,  Shottery.  This  last  is  '  hill '  or  '  hill-fort  of  Balga.' 
But  the  name  as  it  stands  means  '  hill  of  the  sons  of  Ball,^  a 
known  Eng.  name;  in  O.E.  Beald  or  Bealda,  the  'bold,'  not 
'bald,' man.    (7/.  Balby  and  Ball's  Cross,  Petworth.    See -don. 

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

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

Balsall  Heath  (Birmingham)  and  Balscott  (Banbury).  1226 
Belessale,  1327  Balesale,  Dugdale  Balshall ;  prob.  '  Ball's  nook  ' 
and  '  cottage.'  Of.  Bram(h)all,  Cheshire,  Dom.  Bramale,  and 
Balby,  and  see  -hall. 

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

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

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

B amber  Bridge  (Preston).  Omitted  by  Wyld  and  Hirst.  Old 
forms  needed.  Cf.  Baumber,  Horncastle,  not  in  Dom.,  and 
next.  Bamber  is  also  found  as  a  surname.   The  -ber  may  be  for 


BAMBOROUGH  124  BANKYFELIN 

-burgh  or  -bury  q.v.,  O.E.  hurg,  hurh,  and  herig,  dat.  herie,  '  a 
fort,  castle,  or  fortified  town ' ;  as  it  is  in  Dom.  Caldeber..  now 
Caldbergh,  N.  Yorks. 

Bamborough  (Belford).  Founded  O.E.  Ghron.  ann.  547;  709  Eddi 
Bebbanburg;  1119  Bawmburgh.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Babban- 
burch;  c.  1175  Fantosme  Banesburc;  1197  Banburc;  1213  Baen- 
burc;  1221  Bamburg;  1281  Baumburgh.  Bede,  iii.  16,  says  the 
place  was  called  '  ex  Bebbae  quondam  reginae  vocabulo.' 
Bebbanburh  is  O.E.  for  *  Bebba's  burgh  or  castle ' ;  and  Behba 
was  perh.  wife  of  K.  Ida,  its  founder. 

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

Bamfurlong  (Wigan).  1205-23  Bonghefurlong,  Bonke-,  Banc- 
furlong,  1200-20  Benfurlong,  1200-68  Benefurlong.  The  latter 
forms  are  '  bean-furlong,'  lit.  furrow-long,  properly  the  name  of 
an  unenclosed  field  of  indefinite  size.  But  the  earUer  forms 
seem  to  be  fr.  hank,,  M.E.  banke,  Icel.  bakki,  '  a  ridge,  eminence, 
or  bank  of  a  river,'  first  in  Eng.  in  Ormin,  c.  1200 ;  in  4  bonke,  bone. 
Cf.  Ashfurlong,  Sutton  Colfield,  1242  Hasfurlong. 

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

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

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

Bangor.  Sic  1250  Layam.,  but  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Banchor,  Sim. 
Dur.,  ann.  1102,  Bancorensis,  a.  1196  Gir.  Camb.  Bangorensis 
ecclesia;  also  see  next.  There  are  several  in  Wales,  two  in 
Brittany,  and  more  than  one  in  Ireland.  Ir.  benn-chor,  '  a  row 
of  points  or  peaks,'  either  a  circlet  of  rocks  or  a  row  of  hills,  as 
Joyce  has  shown.  W.  bangor  now  means  *  an  upper  row  of 
rods,'  then  '  a  coping,  a  battlement ' ;  W.  bann,  '  high  ' ;  Bret. 
ban,  '  an  eminence.'  It  so  happens  that  several  Bangors  are 
lofty  sites  of  churches  or  monasteries,  but  this  is  accidental ;  and 
the  common  derivation,  '  high  choir,'  is  now  abandoned.  Cf. 
Banchory  (Sc),  the  same  name. 

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

Bankyfelin  (Caermarthen).  Might  be  W.  banc  y  Ffelin,  'table  of 
Felin  or  Velyn.'    Cf.  Stirling  (Sc),  orig.  Ystrevelyn,  and  Hel- 


BANNINGHAM  125  BAEBY 

VELLYN.    But  simpler  is  the  derivation  '  bank,  slope  of  the  mill/ 
melin,  aspirated /elm. 

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

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

Banwell  (Somerset).  Chart.  Banawell,  Banuwille,  Dom.  Ban- 
welle.  Prob.  O.E.  bdna-wcel,  '  pool  of  the  bones.'  M'Clure 
thinks  hena-wille,  '  prayer- well.' 

Banwbn  (three  in  Glamorgan).  J.  B.  Bury  thinks  one  of  these 
represents  Bannauenta  or  Vicus  Banna vem,  the  home  of  St. 
Patrick.  See  his  Confessions,  c.  450  a.d.  This  is  very  doubtful. 
W.  ban  gwen  is  '  fair,  clear  hill.' 

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

Barbon  and  B.  Fells  (Kirby  Lonsdale).  Dom.  Berebrune.  Prob. 
O.N.  barr  or  ben  brunn-r,  '  bare-looking  bum  or  stream.'  Liquid 
r  is  easily  lost.  Or  the  Bar-  may  be  O.N.  barr,  O.E.  bere, 
'  barley,'  Cf.  Barbridge  and  Barford.  The  '  Barebones' 
Parliament,'  1653,  was  called  after  '  Praise  God  Barbon,'  a 
Fleet  Street  leather-seller,  reputed  to  have  sprung  from  this 
district. 

Barbridge  (Nantwich).  Most  of  the  names  in  Bar-  are  doubtful. 
The  sb.  '  bar,'  O.Fr.  barre  (origin  unknown),  occurs  in  Eng.  as 
early  as  c.  1175,  but  it  may  not  enter  into  any  of  them.  Some- 
times Bar-  may  represent  a  man's  name,  a  corrup-  of  O.E. 
Boerht  or  Beorn  or  Beam,  as  in  Barthorpe  Bottoms,  Yorks,  1208 
Barkesthorp;  sometimes,  especially  where  Norse  influence  is 
likely,  as  in  Barby,  it  will  be  O.E.  beer,  O.N.  berr,  Dan.  bar, 
'  bare.'  Then  sometimes  it  may  be  for  O.N.  bar-r,  O.E.  bere, 
'  bear  or  barley,'  as  in  Barford;  sometimes,  too,  for  O.E.  beor, 
bear,  '  beer,'  as  in  Barham.  Old  forms  are  always  needed  to 
ensure  certainty. 

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

Barby  (Rugby).  Dom.  Berchebi  Is^Barkby.  But  Bard  en, 
Yorks,  is  Dom.  Bernedan,  '  valley  of  Bjom,'  or  '  the  Bear.'  See 
-dean. 


BARDNEY  126  BARKING 

Bardney  (Lincoln).  Bede  Beardeneu;  O.E.  Chron.,  ann,  642, 
Bardanige,  Bart5anig;  1230  Bardenay.  '  Bardd's  or  Bardi's  isle,' 
O.E.  ig,  ige,  M.E.  ey,  ay,  'island.'  Cf.  Barnstaple,  also  a 
'  Bardunig '  or  '  Bart5anig,'  in  chart,  c.  680,  and  B  ardsley, 
Ashton-under-Lyne. 

Bard  ON  (Leicester,  Haltwhistle).  Leic.  Dom.  has  only  Bar  tone, 
see  Barton.  Perh.  O.E.  hcer  dun,  '  bare  hill.'  '  Bare '  is 
3  har,  4-5  haar.  But  Duignan  says  Bardon  Hill,  Stratford, 
Wwk.,  is  704  chart.  Baddan  dun,  '  Badda's  hill.'  For  intrusion 
of  r,  cf.  Kidderminster. 

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

Bare  and  Bare  Lane  (Morecambe).  Dom.  Bare,  (1)  1094  and 
a.  1200  Bar.  Prob.  W.  lar,  'top';  Corn,  har,  hor,  'summit'; 
G.  barr,  '  a  height.'     It  can  hardly  be  O.E.  bee?,  ber,  '  a  bier.' 

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

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

Barqoed  (Cardiff).     See  Aberbargoed. 

Barham  (Canterbury  and  Linton,  Cambs).  Cant.  B.  is  805  churt. 
Beorahame,  809  Bereham,  Dom.  Berham;  O.E.  beor-hdm,  '  beer- 
house '  or  'brewery';  O.E.  beor,  bear,  3-4  ber,  'beer.'  It  is 
urged  that  Barham  or  Berham  Court  belonged  to  the  Fitzurses, 
or  '  sons  of  the  bear,'  O.E.  bera,  2-7  bere.  But,  of  course, 
they  come  in  far  too  late  here.  Camb.  B.  is  c.  1080  Inquis. 
Camb.  Bereham,  Dom.  Bercheham,  1210  Berkham,  1302  Berg- 
ham,  1346  Berugham,  O.E.  beorh-hdm,  '  home  on  the  hill  or 
Barrow.'  Earmoor,  co.  Durham,  is  iii  chart.  Beyrmor,  (1) '  bare 
moor.' 

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

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


BAEKSTON  127  BARNBY 

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

Barkway  (Royston),  Not  m  Dom.  1450  Berkewey.  Prob. 
'road  laid  with  larh'  found  in  Eng.  a.  1300,  O.N.  hork-r,  Dan. 
harh. 

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

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

Barling  (Shoeburyness)  and  Barlings  (Lincoln).  B.  Line.  1233 
Barling.  Patronymics,  '  place  of  the  descendants  of  1 '  See 
above  and  -ing. 

Barlow  (Selby,  Manchester,  etc.).  Man.  B.  1259-60  Berlawe,  1325 
Barlawe,  Dom.  Bucks,  Berlaue,  1183  BoldonBk.,  Berleia,  Durham. 
Man.  B.  seems  here-lawe,  '  barley-covered  hill.'  Cf.  Barton. 
But  all  the  names  may  not  be  the  same.     See  -low. 

Barmbgroitgh  (or  Barn-,  Doncaster)  and  Barmby  Moor  and  on 
the  Marsh  (Yorks).  Don.  B.  Dom.  Bameburg,  Berneborc. 
Marsh  and  Moor  B.  Dom.  Barnebi  (this  name  is  eleven  times  in 
Dom.  Yorks).  '  Burgh,  fortified  town,'  and  '  dwelling  of  Beam, 
Beorn,  or  Beorm.^  Cf.  Barney  and  BirminghIam;  and  see 
-borough  and  -by. 

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

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

Barnack  (Stamford),  a.  1100  Grant  of  664  Bernake.  O.E.  heme- 
dc,  '  barn  oak.'  '  Barn  '  is  O.E.  her-ern,  a.  1000  heme,  '  barley- 
house.'  Barnacle,  Nuneaton,  is  Dom.  Bernanger,  '  barn  in  the 
hanging  wood,'  O.E.  hangre.     See  Clayhanger,  etc. 

Barnard  Castle.  1200  de  Castello  Bernardi;  1305  Villa  de  Castro 
Bernardi.  Built,  1112-32,  by  Bernard  Baliol,  ancestor  of  John 
Baliol,  King  of  Scotland .  Bernard  in  0  .E .  is  Beornheard .  There 
is  a  ■  Biornheardes  lond  '  in  808  chart  (Kent). 

Barney  (Beccles,  etc.).    Newark  B.  Dom.  Barnebi  =Barmby. 


BARNES  128  BARNWELL 

Barnes  (London).  Dom.  Berne;  also  old  Bernes.  'Bams,'  O.E. 
heme,  '  a  bam.'    Cf.  Babnace. 

Baenet  (N.  of  London).  [1199  chart.  Bergnet  is  spurious]  c,  1200 
chart.  Barnette,  1278  La  Bemette,  1428  Barnette.  This  is  Nor. 
Fr.,  and  a  dimin.  of  bez-ne  or  herme,  '  a  narrow  space,  a  ledge, 
a  berm,'  prob.  cognate  with  O.N.  harm-r,  '  brim,  edge.'  A  very 
rare  name  for  England. 

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

BabnSam  (Bognor,  etc.).  Bo.  B.  Dom.  Bemeham.  *  Home  of 
Beam  or  Beom,^  though  possibly  '  house  with  the  bam.'  O/. 
Babnack  and  Babnwell. 

Babnoldswiok  (Colne),  Dom.  Bemulfeswic.  '  Dwelling,  village  of 
Beomwulf  or  Bamulf,^  a  common  O.E.  name.     See  -wick. 

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

Babnsley  (Yorks  and  Cirencester).  Yor.  B.  Dom.  Berneslai. 
'  Meadow  of  Beorn ';  eo  regularly  becomes  a.  But  Ci.  B.,  also 
spelt  Babdsley,  is  c.  802  chart.  Bearmodeslea,  855  ib.  Beorondes- 
lea,  Dom.  Berneleis,  a.  1300  Bardesle  otherwise  Barnsley,  and 
must  be  fr.  a  man  Beommod.     See  -ley; 

Babnstaple.  930  chart.  Beardastapole,  1018  chart.  Beardestaple, 
Dom.  Barnestaple,  c.  1160  Gest.  Stefh.  Bardestapula,  1167-68 
Fife  Berdestapl',  c.  1200  Gervase  Bernestapele.  As  early  as  1397 
contracted  Barum  (m  and  n  commonly  interchange).  The  orig. 
name  was  '  Barda^s  market,'  O.E.  stapel,  '  a  prop,  a  post ' ;  then 
'  a  fixed  market.'  Cf.  Babdney.  But  in  some  abnormal  way 
it  was  early  changed  into  '  Beam's  or  Beam's  market.'  perh. 
because  it  is  in  the  hundred  of  Branton  (Beam -ton).  Cf.  Babm- 
BOBOTJGH.     There  is  also  a  '  Berdestapla '  in  Dom.  Essex. 

Baenston  (Birkenhead  and  Dunmow),  Babnstone  (Nottingham), 
and  Babnton  (Northwich).  First  three  in  Dom.  Bemestone,  -tuna. 
Perh.  all  mean  '  Beam's  or  Beorri's  town  or  village.'  Cf.  above. 
But  Bamton,  not  in  Dom.,  may  come  fr.  barn.     Cf.  BabnUam. 

Babnt  Gbeen  (Birmingham).  '  Burnt  Green,'  fr.  burn,  O.E. 
beornan,  beaman,  past  t.  1  beam,  bam,  3  bamde,  bearnde,  mod. 
burnt.    Cf.  Barnhurst,  Wolverhampton,   a.   1400  Bamthurst, 

also  BUBNTISLAND  (Sc). 

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


BAER  BEACON         129  HARTLEY 

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

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

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

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

Barrow  (nine  Barrows  in  P.G.),  also  Barrowden  (Stamford)  and 
Barrowford  (Nelson).  Chesh.  B.  Dom.  Bero.  Wore.  B.  1275 
Barew.  O.E.  biorg,  beorh,  '  a  hill ';  after  1576  harrow  is  often 
applied  also  to  a  grave-mound,  a  tumulus.  It  is  a  common 
name  of  hills  in  the  S.W. — Bull  Barrow,  Dorset,  etc.  In  the 
N.  usually  it  is  a  long,  low  hill — e.g.,  Barrow  near  Derwent- 
water,  Barrow  Hill,  Chesterfield,  etc.  Cf.  Berrow  and  next, 
and  Burrow. 

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

Barry  (Cardiff).  In  W.  Y  Barri,  '  the  Barry.'  The  island  be- 
longed to  the  family  of  Giraldus  de  Barry,  lords  of  the  island. 
The  du  Barry  family  is  well  known,  or  rather  notorious,  in  later 
Fr.  history.    There  is  also  a  Barry,  sic  1603,  in  Pembk. 

Barston  (Birmingham).  Dom.  Bereestone,  Bertanestone,  a.  1300 
Berstonestun,  1327  Berstanston.  *  Town,  village  of  Beorhtstan  ' 
or  '  Beorkt.'    See  -ton. 

Bartestree  (Hereford).  Dom.  Bertoldestreu.  '  Tree,'  O.E.  treow, 
'  oi'  Beorhtweald,'  a  very  common  O.E.  name.  Cf.  Oswestry. 
Bartherton  or  Batherton,  Nantwich,  is  1283  Close  R.  Bercher- 
ton,  prob.  fr.  a  man  Beorhtheard  or  Berehthart,  names  in  Onom. 

Barthomley  (Crewe).  Dom.  Bertemlea.  '  Lea,  meadow  of  Bert- 
ram or  Beorhthelm,'  a  very  common  O.E.  name.     See  -ley. 

Bartley  (Southampton  and  Birmiagham).  '  BeorJiVs  meadow.' 
Cf.  Bartestree.    Duignan  omits.     See  -ley. 


BARTLOW  130  BASSALEG 

Bartlow  (Cambridge).  1303  Berklawe,  1316  Berkelowe,  1428 
Berklowe,  *  Hill  of  Beorht,  Beorh,  or  Beorc,^  all  the  same  name. 
Cf.,  too,  Barham  (Cambs.)     See  -low. 

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

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

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

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

Basildon  or  -den  (Wallingford).  Dom.  Bastedene;  1241-42  Bas- 
tilesden ;  also  Basteldene.  Cf.  B.C. 8. 565  Bestles  ford.  '  Dean, 
(wooded)  valley  of  Bcestel  or  Beetle.^    Cf.  Bisham. 

Basingstoke  (Hants).  871  O.E.  Chron.  Basingas;  Dom.  Basinge 
8toch(es),  1238  Basyng.  Patronymic,  'Place  (O.E.  stoc — lit. 
*  stake  '),  'of  the  Basings,'  or  'descendants  of  Bass.'  Cf.  Bas- 
chttrch. But  Old  Glossary  Basincge,  melotae,  '  in  goat-skins.' 
Bessingby  (Yorks),  is  Dom.  Basingebi. 

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

Baslow  (Chesterfield).  1156  Bassalawa.  '  J5a55a's  hill.'  See  Bas- 
CHURCH  and  -low. 

Bassalbg  (Newport,  Mon.).  Thought  to  be  c.  800  Nennius  Campus 
Elleti  {t  common  scribe's  error  for  c),  and  so  =the  mod.  W. 
name  Maesaleg,  '  plain '  (W.  maes)  '  of  ^lloc '  or  *  Aloe,'  names 
of  men  in  Onom.  Close  by  is  maes  Arthur,  '  plain  of  Arthur.' 
But  it  is  c.  1130  Lib.  Landav.  Ecclesia  de  Bassalec.  Kuno  Meyer 
derives  this  fr.  L.  basilica,  Gk.  (Saa-tXiK-j,  '  royal  residence,  court- 


BASSENTHWAITE  131        BATCH  WORTH  HEATH 

house,'  in  L.,  after  4th  cny.  a.d.,  '  cathedral,  chiirch,'  found 
in  O.Ir,  as  haisleac.  But  there  seems  no  sure  evidence  or 
analogy  for  this,  and  it  contradicts  the  evidence  given  above. 
Moreover,  the  church  here  is  dedicated  to  St.  Basil,  and  the 
-lee  or  -leg  might  easily  represent  the  common  O.E.  leak,  Ikb^, 
see  -ley,  and  so  the  name  be  '  Basil's  meadow.'  Only,  Eng. 
names  so  early  as  1130  in  this  region  are  very  unlikely.  The 
present  W.  pron.  varies  between  Maesaleg,  Mashalyg  ('  field  of 
willows  '),  and  Maeshalog  (said  to  be  '  salt-field  '),  showing  that 
the  natives  are  all  at  sea ;  and  the  rest  of  us  are  not  much  better  ! 

Bassenthwaite  (Keswick).  '  Place  of  Bassa '  (the  -en  is  a  gen.). 
See  BASCflUKCH:,  and  -thwaite. 

Bassetlaw  (a  wapentake  of  Notts).  Dom.  Bernedeselawe,  '  Hill 
of  Beomheard  '  or  '  Bernard,'  a  common  O.E.  name.  But  1155 
Pipe  Desetlawa,  1189  ib.  Bersetelaw.  a.  1199  Basselaw  {d  or  t 
prob.  omitted  in  error).  As  Mutschmann  says,  the  orig.  name 
prob.  was,  O.E.  bearu-scetena-hldw,  'mound  of  the  forest- 
dwellers';  cf.  DoESET,  and  see  next.  In  1155  D  is  an  error 
for  B.     See  -low,  -law. 

Bassett  (Southampton).  Dom.  Bessete.  Difficult.  Perh.  '  heath 
of  Besa,  Bassa,  Bass,  or  Ba^so,'  all  names  in  Onom.  The  ending 
-et  is  generally  puzzling  ;  but  for  the  suggested  origin  here  cf. 
the  forms  of  Hatfield,  Herts,  and  Hodnet.  The  Bassetts 
were  Nor.  lords  of  Drayton  Bassett,  Tamworth,  and  elsewhere, 
for  several  generations.  So  possibly  the  name  is  O.Fr.,  though 
not  probably.  Fr.  basset  means  '  of  low  stature,'  and  gave 
name  to  a  Nor.  family  very  early  in  Notts. 

BASSiNGBOiniN  (Royston,  Camb.),  also  Bassestgham  (Newark). 
1202  Bassingbum;  1298  Bassingbum,  -borne;  a.  1300  Eccleston 
Bissingbume  (Norfolk  pron.).  '  Bum  or  brook  of  Bass's  de- 
scendants.' Cf.  Baschtjech  and  Basingstoke.  See  -bourne 
and  -ham.     , 

Baston  (Market  Deeping).  Sic  in  chart,  of  806.  'Town,  village 
of  Bass.'    See  BASCHUncfl,  etc. 

Bastwell  (Blackburn).  1288  Baddestwyssel,  1329  Battistwyssel, 
1322  Batestwysel,  1594  Bastwell.  A  remarkable  contraction — 
'  the  Twizel,'  or  '  confluence  of  Badda.'  Cf.  Haltwhistle  and 
Dom.  Norfolk,  Bastwic. 

BATCHWOETBt  Heath  (Rickmansworth).  1007  cAari.  Baecceswyrth. 
Prob.  '  Place  of  Bacca  or  Becca,'  both  names  in  Onom.  Cf. 
BetchIworth:,  and  Bletchley  fr.  Blecca.  But  possibly  fr. 
batch,  var.  of  bache,  '  a  river- vale.'  See  Oxf.  Diet.  It  is  the 
same  root  as  beck,  cf.  Comberbach  and  Plilverbatch,  Salop. 
Skeat  inclines  to  the  meaning,  '  farm  in  the  river- valley.'  The 
sign  of  the  gen.  in  the  chart,  is  against  that.  See  his  own 
PL  Names  of  Berks,  p.  35.    Cf.  The  Batche,  Forest  of  Dean. 


BATCOMBE  132  BAWDLANDS 

Batcombe  (Bath,  etc.).  a.  900  chart.  Batancumb,  940  chart.  Bate- 
combe.  Gf.  1298  '  Thomas  Botencombe.'  '  Valley  of  Bata'  a 
name  m  Onom.     See  -combe. 

Bath.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Aquse  Solis.  781  '  at  Beathum;  796  chart. 
'  Celebri  vico  qui  Saxonice  vocatur  set  BaSum';  1088  O.E. 
Chron.  (Peterb.)  Baf^on,  1130  ib.  Bathe,  c.  1160  Oest.  Steph. 
Batthentona,  also  '  Batta  quod  Bahieum  interpretatur.'  O.E. 
&£bS,  '  a  bath.' 

Batsealton  (Somerset).  Dom.  Badeheltone,  Batheaston  [ib.), 
(?)  Dom.  Estune,  'east  town,'  and  Bathwick,  'dwelling  near 
Bath.'  See  -wick.  In  all  three  cases,  of  course,  the  first  part 
is  Bath.  The  -ealton  may  be  O.E.  eald  tun,  '  old  town.'  Cf. 
Eltham.  But  it  may  be  '  town  of  Ela,  Eli,'  or  '  Ella,'  all  names 
in  Onom.    Cf.  Elton. 

Batley  (Dewsbury).  Dom.  Bateleia,  Bathelie;  1202  Battelege; 
1298  Bateleie.  '  Pasture  lea  or  meadow,'  fr.  O.N.  beit,  '  pas- 
ture ' ;  beita,  '  food,  bait ' ;  or  else  '  Bata's  lea.'  Cf.  Batcombe 
and  Dom.  Norfk.  Bathele,  Notts,  Badeleie  (now  Bathley). 

Batley  Caee.  (Dewsbury).  See  above.  Carr  is  North.  O.E.  carr 
(c.  950  in  Lindisfarne  Oosf.),  '  a  rock.'  Cf.  the  Carr  Rocks, 
Berwick,  and  Redcar. 

Battersby  (N.E.  Yorks).  Dom.  Badresbi.  '  Dwelling  of '  some 
Norseman,  prob.  Beaduheard  or  Badherd,  common  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Bttttermere,  and  see  -by. 

Battersea  (London).  693  chart.  Batriceseye;  Dom.  Patricesy; 
1308  Badricheseye.  '  St.  Patrick's  '  or  '  St.  Peter's  isle  ' ;  Peter 
and  Patrick  are  often  interchanged.  See  -ey.  It  belonged  to 
the  Abbey  of  St.  Peter  of  Westminster,  Cf.  Padstow.  Change 
fr.  P  to  jB  is  not  common,  and  M'Clure  suggests  '  Beadurich's 
isle,'  and  compares  Beadorices  Uurthe,  old  name  of  St.  Ed- 
mund's Bury  in  Ethelwerd's  Chronicle. 

Battle  Abbey  (Hastings).  Begun  1070,  four  years  after  the  battle 
of  Hastings.  Dom.  Ecclesia  de  labatailge  (O.Fr.  bataille, '  battle '). 
1297  R.  Glouc.  '  Ycleped  in  Engelond  abbay  of  ])e  batayle.' 

Battyeford  (Normanton).  Not  in  Dom,  Prob.  fr.  some  man. 
The  surname  Batty  is  well  loiown,  and  there  is  Beata  in  Onom. 

Baughtjrst  (Basingstoke).  B.C.S.  624  Beaggan  hyrst.  '  Wood 
of  Beagga.'     See  -hurst. 

Bawdeswell  (Dereham).  Dom.  Baldereswella.  '  Well,  spring  of 
Bealdhere,'  5  in  Onom.  The  change  to  Bawde-  is  quite  accord- 
ing to  phonetic  law.    Cf.  Bawdsey. 

Bawdlands  (Clitheroe),  not  in  W.  and  H.,  and  Bawdsey  (Felix- 
stowe). Old  forms  needed  for  the  first;  prob.  fr.  bawd  sb.^, 
'  a  hare.'  The  second  is  Dom.  Baldereseia,  Baldeseia.  '  Isle 
oi  Bealdhere.'    Cf.  Bawdeswell,  and  see  -ey.  •^"' 


BAWD  RIP  133  BEACHAMWELL 

Bawdrip  (Bridgewater).  Dom.  Bagetrepe.  'Drop  of  Baga,''  or 
'  BcBga.'  There  is  The  Drip  near  Stirling;  the  So,  verb  is 
dreep,  '  to  drop  down  from  a  height.'  It  occurs  in  Id.E.  as 
dripe,  and  in  O.E.  as  dry  pen,  but  is  not  found  in  either  as  a  56. 
Cognate  with  drip,  droop,  and  drop.  Cf.  Bawtry,  Yorks,  not  in 
Dom.     ?  '  Baga's  tree.' 

Baxenden  (Accrington).  1332  Bakestonden;  also  cf.  B.C. 8.  917 
Beaces  hlaw,  and  B.G.lS.  906  Bacgan  broc.  A  somewhat  rare 
combination — 'town  of  Beaca,' + -den,  q.v.  Cf.  Baxby,  Cox- 
wold  par.,  Yorks,  Dom.  Baohesbi,  1201  Baxeby. 

Baxterley  (Atherstone).  1327  Baxterleye.  A  unique  name. 
'  Meadow  of  the  baxter,^  still  a  common  Sc.  surname.  O.E. 
hcecestre,  M.E.  haxter,  '  a  baker.' 

Baydon  (Lamboume).  Prob.  O.E.  Beagan  dun,  '  Beaga's  (or 
Bacga's)  hill,'  cf.  B.C.S.  882  Beagan  wyl.  Cf.  Bayton  and 
BaywortA.  Bay  ='  bay-coloured,'  is  O.Fr.  hai,  and  is  not  found 
in  Eng.  till  1374.  Bayford  (Hereford)  will  have  a  similar 
origin. 

Baylham  (Ipswich).  Dom.  Beleham,  1453  Beylom,  1456  Boylom. 
Prob.  O.E.  Bcel'Mm,  'home,  house  of  Bsel '  or  'Bayle';  cf. 
B.C.8.  1316  BseUes  wseg.  Not  so  prob.  fr.  O.E.  heel,  O.N. 
hdl,  5-9  bail,  '  a  blaziug  pile,  a  bonfire,  a  funeral  pyre.' 

Baynards  Castle  (Horsham).  Said  to  be  fr.  Bainiardus,  Bai- 
nardus,  or  Baignardus,  tenant  of  the  abbot  of  Westminster, 
named  in  Dom.  Cf.  Bayswater.  The  final  -ard  in  personal 
names,  like  Bernard,  Reynard,  etc.,  is  usually  O.E.  heard, 
O.H.G.  hard,  '  strong  (in  counsel).' 

Bayston  Hill  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Begestan.  '  Town,  village 
of  Begha  or  Baega'  same  name  as  St.  Bees.  Cf.  Bayworth; 
-stan  i.e.,  -stone  often  interchanges  with  -ton,  q.v. 

Bayswater  (London).  1653  Grant,  '  At  Paddington,  near  to  a 
place  commonly  called  Baynard's  Watering.'  But  in  1720 
clipped  down  to  Bear's  Watering. 

Bayton  (Cleobury  Mortimer).  Dom.  Betune,  a  1200  Bertune, 
1275  Beyton,  1339  Baynton.  Some  confusion  here,  but 
Duignan  is  prob.  right  in  making  it  O.E.  Bcegan  tun,  '  Baega'e 
town.'     Cf.  Baydon  and  next. 

Bayworth  (Abingdon).  956  chart.  Beegen  weorthe;  Bsegan  wyrthe; 
Dom.  Baiorde;  a.  1200  Hist.  Abindgon  Baigeuuortha.  'Farm 
of  Baega  or  Begha,'  same  name  as  St.  Bees.  Cf.  Bayston 
and  Bagworth,  and  see  -worth. 

Beachamwell  (Swaffham).  Dom.  has  Becheswella,  '  well,  spring 
of  Bcecca,  Beac'  or  ' Beocca,"  all  in  Onom.  Dom.  also  has 
Becham,  Bicham,  which  is  prob.  '  home  on  the  beck,'  O.E. 
heSce,  bece,  cf.  Bacup,  but  may  also  be  '  Beac's  home.'    This 


BEACHY  HEAD  134  BEAUFORT 

Beacham  can  hardly  be  the  same  as  Beauchamp  (pron.  Beecham) 
Court,  Wore,  Dom.  Bello  Campo,  which  is  Fr.  and  L.  for 
'fine  field '=  Belch  AMP.  Beachley,  Tewkesbury,  is  old 
Betesle,  fr.  a  man  Beta  or  Betti. 

Beachy  Head  (Sussex).  Fr.  heau  chef,  '  fine  head  or  headland.' 
There  is  a  Beauchief  near  Sheffield. 

Beaconsfield  (Bucks).  Old  forms  needed.  Cf.  Baconsthorpe. 
Dom.  has  only  Bechentone  and  Bechesdene,  fr.  Becca  or  Beco, 
names  in  Onom. 

Beadlam  (Helmsley).  Dom.  and  1202  Yorhs  Fines  Bodlum.  -lun. 
Older  forms  needed.  See  -ham.  But  Bodlum  suggests  corrup. 
of  O.E.  hotlon,  loc,  '  at  the  dwellings.'  Cf.  Hallam,  Kilham, 
etc.     O.E.  hotl  is  O.Fris.  bodl.    Cf.  Harbottle.  etc. 

Beadnell  (Bedford).  [Cf.  B.C.S.  936  Beaden  heal.]  Prob. 
'  Beadd's  nook  '  or  '  hall,'  as  in  charter  cited.  Cf.  Bednal  and 
Bed  WIN,  and  see  -hall. 

Beal  (Northbld.).  chart.  Behil,  Beyl.  Prob.  O.E.  be,  hi.  Ml  or 
hyl,  '  by  the  hill,'  as  in  Biddick,  Durham  1183  Bedyk,  Bydyk, 
'  near  the  (Roman)  Wall,'  and  Biwere,  '  by  the  weir,'  Inquis. 
Eli.,  p.  190,  '  Hec  sunt  piscaria  monachorum  .  .  .  Vttrewere 
('outer  weir'),  *  Landwere  .  .  ,  Biwere,  Northwere,  etc'  Bea- 
ford,  Torrington,  may  also  mean  '  by  the  ford  ' ;  old  forms  are 
wanting,  but  we  have  Dom.  Wore.  Beford.  On  the  other  hand, 
see  Beaworthy  in  the  same  county.  The  ending  in  Beal  may 
be  -hale  (see  -hall).  Beall  (Knottingley)  is  Dom.  Begale, 
which  is  prob.  '  Bega's  nook.'    Cf.  Baydon  and  Brill. 

Bealings,  Great  and  Little  (Woodbridge).  Dom.  Belinges,  and 
B.  parva.  Patronjrmic;  '  place  of  the  sons  of  Bella  '  or  '  Beola,^ 
both  in  Onom.    Prob.  =  Billing. 

Beane  R.  (Hereford),  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Beneficia.  This  yields 
a  curious  conundrum. 

Bear-  Bersted  (Maidstone).  1005  chart.  Berhamstede,  and  so 
same  name  orig.  as  Berkhamsted;  or  else  as  in  Bersham, 
'  stead,  place,  farm  of  Ber.' 

Bearley  (Alcester).  A  changed  name.  Dom.  Burlei,  1327 
Burlege,  a.  1600  Byrley.  '  Burgh  on  the  lea ';  see  -burgh  and 
-ley. 

Beaudesert  (Henley -in -Arden  and  Cannock).  Hen.  B.  c.  1135 
Beldesert,  a.  1400  Beaudesert.  Can.  B.  a.  1300  Beaudesert, 
a.  1400  Bellum  Desertum.  This  is  Fr.  for  'beautiful  wild'; 
desert  in  Eng.  is  often  used  for  '  wild,  mountain  or  forest  land.' 
Henley  B.  was  in  Dom.  Donnelie. 

Beaufort  (Brecon).  Fr.  beau  fort,  '  fine  fortress.'  Called  after 
the  Fr.  Beaufort,  near  Angers.  It  belonged  to  the  Lancaster 
family  in  the  14th  cny.  and  from  them  the  Dukes  of  Beaufort  are 


BEAULIEU  135  BECKENHAM 

descended.    Beauprb  House,  Cowbridge,  Fr,  for  '  fine  meadow,' 
is  on  the  site  of  a  Norman  fortress.     See  also  s.v.  Beaumaris. 

Be AULiETJ  (Southampton).  Pron.  Bewly.  c.  1246  deBello  Loco  Regis 

.    {i.e.,  John),  1289  Contin.  Gervase  Bellum-locum.     Fr.  beau  lieu, 

'beautiful  place';  founded  by  K.  John  for  the  Cistercians 

in  1204.    Cf.  Beauchief  (Sheffield),  Beatjly  (Sc),  and  Bewdley. 

Beaumaris  (Anglesea).  Old  forms  Bumaris,  Beumarish,  Byw- 
mares.  The  old  W.  name  was  Rhosfair,  '  moor  of  Mary.'  In 
1293  Edward  I.  built  a  castle  on  the  low-lying  land  by  the  shore, 
that  so  the  castle  ditch  might  communicate  with  the  sea. 
Because  of  this  suitability  of  site  the  King  called  it  Beau  marais, 
(O.Fr,  mareis),  which  is  Fr.  for  '  fine  marsh '  or  '  low-lying, 
swampy  ground.'  Cf.  Beaudesert.  In  W.  to-day  it  is  pron. 
Bliwmaris,  just  as  Beaufort,  (Mon.)  is  pron.  Bluefort.  Maresden 
(Glouc.)  is  also  fr.  mareis.  But  Beamish,  Co.  Durham,  is  old 
Beaumeis,  'fine  dwelHng,'  fr.  O.Fr.  mes,  'a  manse,  a  mansion.' 

Beaumont  (Lanes.,  Colchester,  and  Jersey).  La.  B.  1230  Bello 
Monte,  1316  Beahnont.  1494  Fabyan,  '  The  castell  of  Beaw- 
mount.'  Fr.  beau  mont,  '  fine  hill '  =  Belmont.  But  Bowmont 
Water,  Cheviots,  is  a.  1000  Bolbend,  of  doubtful  meaning;  it 
cannot  be  fr.  bend  sb*. 

Bbausale  (see  Beoley). 

Beaver  (Ashford).  Old  forms  needed.  It  may  be  =  Belvoir  (pron. 
beever).  Fr.  for  'fine  outlook'  or  'view,'  =  6ea%  voir.  Cf. 
BeacSy  Head. 

Beaworthy  (N.  Devon).  Dom.  Bicheordin.  '  Farm  of  Bica ' 
{i=ee).  The  ending  is  O.E.  wor'Qige,  a  dat.;  see  -warden  and 
-worthy.     Cf.  Beaford  (Devon),  old  forms  needed. 

Bebington  (Birkenhead).  \Gf.  1298  Willelmus  de  Bibington.] 
'  Town,  village  of  Bebba,''  or  of  his  descendants.  Cf.  Bam- 
BOROUGH,  and  see  -ing. 

Becolbs  (Lowestoft).  Sic  Dom.  1157  Pipe  in  Becclis,  1298  Bekles, 
1443  Bekelys.  An  abnormal  name.  Possibly  O.E.  bi,  be 
EccLES,  '  by,  beside  the  church,'  Of.  Beeford,  Bix,  etc. 
But  prob.  one  of  those  rare  cases  of  a  man's  name  in  the  gen. 
standing  alone  for  a  place-name,  as  in  Beedon,  Brailes, 
Coven,  etc.,  and  so  '  (place  of)  Beoccel.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  1117 
Beocceles  put.  Dom.  Suffk.  has  also  Abecles,  and  Dom.  Nfk. 
Breckles,  Breechles. 

Beckenham  (Kent).  O.E.  chart.-  Beohhahamme,  -hema,  Dom. 
Bacheham,  a.  1200  Text.  Roff.  Becceham.  A  little  doubtful; 
prob.  not. 'Mecca's  home,'  as  in  Beckbury  (Shifnal),  nor  '  enclosure 
on  the  bach  or  beck,  as  in  Bacup;  but  prob.  'enclosure  of 
Beohha,^  though  we  should  have  expected  some  sign  of  the  gen. 
Cf.  Dom.  Essex,  Bacheneia;  and  see  -ham,  '  enclosure.' 


BECKlfiEMET  136  BEDINGFIELD 

Beckeemet  (Egremont  and  W.  Riding).  Eg.  B.  1189  Pipe  Bekir- 
met,  a.  1200  Becchiremond.  W.  Rid.  B.  not  in  Dom.,  but  old 
Beckermond;  O.N.  hekJcjar  mu'S-r,  '  mouth  of  the  beck  or  brook.' 
Beck  occurs  again  in  Albecq,  Guernsey;  prob.  O.N.  dll-bekkr, 
'ed  brook.'  '  Mouth  '  in  O.N.  is  munn-r,  mu^-r.  Dan.  mund  ; 
and  N.  nd  regularly  becomes  th  or  t  in  Eng.  names.  Cf. 
Amotherby,  Osmotherley,  and  Mite.  Also  cf.  1183  Boldon 
Bh.  Becchermore,  '  moor  of  the  brook,'  in  Durham. 

Beckeord  (Tewkesbury).  803  chart.  Beccanforda — i.e.,  'ford  of 
Becca';  1158-59  Pipe  Becheford.  Cf.  Beckbury  (Shifnal)  and 
Becesworde,  Dom.  Surrey. 

Beokestgham  (Gainsboro'  and  Newark).  Dom.  Notts  Beching(e)- 
ham,  [Liacs  Bechebi];  and  Beckestgton  (Bath).  Dom.  Beching- 
tone.  '  Home  '  and  *  village  of  Beca's,  descendants.'  Cf.  above; 
and  see  -ing,  -ham,  and  -ton. 

Beckwithshaw  (Harrogate).  Dom.  Becvid.  It  seems  a  tautology. 
'  Wood  on  the  beck  or  brook.'  Cf.  Beckermet.  For  -with  is 
Icel.  vith-r,  '  a  wood,  shrubs  '  {cf.  AskwitS);  and  -shaw  is  O.E. 
scaga,  '  a  wood  '  (cf.  Atjdenshaw). 

Bed  ALB  (Northallerton).  Sic  in  Dom.  It  is  on  R.  Ure.  Analogy 
would  make  this,  O.E.  he  dal,  '  by,  near  the  dale.'  Cf.  Beal 
and  Bbeford.  Of  course,  it  might  be  '  bee  dale,'  O.E.  beo ; 
prob.  not. 

Beddgelert  (Carnarvon).  W.=' grave  of  Gelert,''  the  famous 
and  faithful  dog  of  Prince  Llewellyn,  in  the  legend,  killed  by 
him  by  mistake.  Some,  however,  say  the  orig.  name  was 
Bwth  Cilarth  or  Bethcelert,  and  say  it  orig.  was  '  housC;  booth 
of  Celer,'  patron  saint  of  Llangeler. 

Beddingham  (Lewes).  810  Grant  Beadyngham,  '  Home  of  the 
Beadingas.'    Cf.  Beeding,  BedingSam,  and  next. 

Beddington  (Croydon  and  Hants).  Croy.  B.  c.  905  Beddrnctun, 
Dom.  Beddintone.  Prob.  patronymic  like  the  above,  and  so 
'  town,  village  of  the  Beadingas.^  Cf.  854  cMrt.  Beaddingbroc. 
But  both  this  and  the  above  may  be  fr.  a  man  Bedda. 

Bedfont  (Middlesex).  Dom.  Bedefunde,  -funt.  '  Bedd's  font,' 
O.E.  font,  2-6  funt{e).    Cf.  Bedfield,  Framlingham,  and  Chal- 

FONT. 

Bedford.  There  is  also  a  Bedford  near  Manchester.  The  Bed- 
ford is  in  W.  Rhydwely,  which  prob.  means  '  ford  on  this 
torrent,'  W.  gweilgi.  O.E.  Chron.  577  Bedecanford;  1011  O.E. 
Chron.  Bedanfordsclr,  1016  ih.  Beadaford  scire,  c.  1150 
Bedefordia.  '  Ford  of  Bedeca.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  1307  Bedecan  lea. 
The  Man.  B.  is  1296  Bedeford,  '  Bosda's  ford.' 

Bedingfield  (Eye  and  Notts).  Eye  B.  Dom.  Bedinge-,  Bedinga- 
fielda,  Bading-.    Not.  B.    Not  in  Dom.,  a.  1199  Bedingefeld. 


BEDLINGTON  137  BEER 

Prob.  both  patronymics  like  BEDDmoHAM.    But  Bedingham 
(Bungay).   B.C. 8.  81,  Beddenham,  is  '  home  of  Bedda.^    See  -ing. 

BEDLiNaTON  (Northumberland).  Chart.  Betligtona,  Bellintona, 
c.  1155  Bellingtonesir  (-shire).  'Town,  village  of  Bedling,^  a 
name  found  in  Onom.,  prob.  a  patronymic.  Cf.  Bidlingtojst, 
Sussex,  a.  1100  Bedelingstone.     See  -ing. 

Bbdlinog  (Glamorgan).  W.  hedd  llwynog,'  grave  of  the  fox'; 
but  T.  Morgan  thinks  rather,  hedw  llwynog,  '  place  with  a  grove 
of  birch -trees  ' ;  they  are  plentiful  here. 

Bedminsteb  (Bristol).  Dom.  Betminstre,  1155  Bedmenistre. 
'  Beda's  minster  '  or  '  church.^    Cf.  Bedfont,  and  see  -minster. 

Bedmont  (Herts).  Not  in  Skeat.  '  Beda's  mount '  or  '  hill.' 
O.E.  munt,  L.  mons,  -tis,  '  a  mountain.' 

Bednal  (Stafford).  Dom.  Bedehala,  1271  Beden  huUe  (  =  'hill'), 
a.  1300  Bedan-  Baden  hale.  '  Bede's  nook  '  or  '  hall '  =Bead- 
NELL.  Cf.  Bethnal  Grben,  and  1160-01  Pipe  Nthbld. 
Bedehal. 

Bed  WAS  (Cardiff).    O.W.  bed  gwas,  '  grave  of  the  servant.' 

Bed  WIN,  -WYN,  Great  and  Little  (Hungerford).  •  778  chart. 
Bedewind,  Dom.  Bedvinde,  1155  Fife  Estbedewind,  As  mnd  in 
O.E.  simply  means  '  wind,'  this  would  seem  to  be  W.  hedd 
gwynn,  '  fair,  beautiful  grave.'  Though  it  is  said  to  be  O.E. 
Chron.  675  Bedan-  or  Biedenhafod— t.e.,  ' Bieda's  head'  or 
'  headland.'     But  the  two  names  cannot  be  the  same. 

Bedwobth    (Nuneaton).    Dom.    Bedeword.     '  Beda's  farm '    Cf. 

Bedminsteii,  etc.,  and  see  -worth. 
BEEDiNQ(Steyning).    Dom.  Bed(d)inges  (nom.  plur.).    Patronymic. 
See  Beddestgham. 

Beedon  Hill  (Newbury).  Chart.  Bedene,  Bydene;  Dom.  Bedene; 
1316  Budeneye;  1428  Budene,  Bedene.  Skeat  thinks  this  must 
be  simply  O.E.  Bedan,  '  Byda's  or  Beda's,'  'home '  to  be  sup- 
plied. Cf.  Biddenham.  This  is  a  rare  type  of  name,  but  see 
Baldon,  Benson,  and  Wigan. 

Beefobd  (Driffield).    Dom.  Biworde.     '  Beside  the  farm  or  estate ' ; 

O.E.  bi  worth  ;  -worth  and  -ford  often  interchange.    Also  cf. 

Beal  and  Bidbford. 
Beenham  or  Benham  (Reading).     956  chart.  Bennanhamme;  Dom. 

Benneham,  Beneham .     '  Home  of  Benna  ' ;  see  -ham.    In  Calend. 

Inquisit.  I.  we  find  '  Benham  manerium  '  among  lands  held  by 

Adomarus  de  Valencia  or  Aymer  de  Valence;  hence  the  full 

name  B.  Valence. 

Beer  (Axminster),  Dom.  Bere,  Beer  Alston,  and  Beer  Ferris 
(Devon).  Dom.  Bere,  Bera.  O.E.  hearu,  'a  wood';  and  see 
Alston.  The  other  name  is  better  written  Bere  Ferrers.  F. 
was  a  crusader,  whose  tomb  is  in  the  church  here. 

10 


BEESBT  138  BELLBUSK 

Beesby  (Alford).  Dom.  Besebi.  'Village,  dwelling  of  Besa.'' 
One  in  Onom.    See  -by. 

Bbeston  (Leeds,  etc.).  Leeds  B."  Dom.  Bestone,  1202  Bestona. 
Notts  B.  Dom.  Bestune.  Chester  B.  Dom.  Buistane.  Perh.  Bovis 
in  Ant.  Itin.  The  Ches.  B.  looks  as  if  fr.  N.  hui, '  a  goblin ' ;  but 
the  others  are  prob.  fr,  the  name  Begha  or  Bees.     Cf.  above. 

Beetham  (Westmorland).  Dom.  Biedun,  which  may  be  '  Bede'a 
hill ' ;  it  is  very  rare  for  dun  to  become  -ham. 

Beetle Y  (Dereham).  Dom.  Betellea.  Doubtful,  mpre  old  forms 
needed.  Prob.,  as  above,  fr.  a  man  Beta.  But  perh.  '  beet- 
root meadow,'  fr.  O.E.  hete  ;  whilst  Betel-  might  also  stand  for 
Bethild  or  Betweald,  names  in  Onom. 

Begelly  (Pembksh.).  Old  Bugeli.  It  is  thought  to  be  a  tribal 
name,  fr.  W.  hugail,  G.  huachail,  '  a  shepherd ' ;  or  perh.  a 
man's  name,  Bugail ;  cf.  Merthir  ('  martyr ')  Buceil  in  Lib. 
Land.,  once  near  Bridgend,  Glam. 

Beighton  (Rotherham  and  Norwich).  Ro.  B.  not  in  Dom.  Nor. 
B.  Dom.  Begetona,  1450  Beyton,  Boyton.  '  Begha' b  town,' 
Cf.  St.  Bees. 

Bekesboubne  (Canterbury).  Not  in  Dom.  '  Beca's'  or  '  Becca'a 
brook.     See  -bourne,  and  cf.  Beckbuky. 

Belbroughton  (Stourbridge).  817  chart.  Belne,  et  Brocton^  Dom. 
BeUem,  Brotune,  a.  1200  Beolne,  1275  Belne-Bruyn,  Brocton, 
a.  1400  Belne-Brocton,  -brotton,  Bellenbrokton.  A  curious 
compound.  Bboughton  is  plain  enough ;  but  '  Belne '  seems 
at  present  insoluble. 

Belchamp  St.  Paul  and  Belchamp  Walter  (Suffolk).  Dom. 
Belcamp.  O.Fr.  bel  champ,  '  fine  field  or  plain.'  Same  name 
as  Beauchamp  or  Beacham.  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks,  de  Belcamp, 
1160  Pi'pe  '  Belcap,'  Hereford,  and  Beachamwell;  also  1281 
Close  B.  Belcham,  Essex. 

Belch-  or  Belsheobd  (Homcastle).  Dom.  and  1281  Beltesford. 
Prob.  'ford  of  Bealda,'  two  in  Onom.  But  cf.  Dom.  Essex 
Belcham.     Onom.  has  one  Balchi. 

Beley  (Glostrsh.).    972  chart.  Beoleahe,  =Beoley. 

Belfobd  (Northumberland),  c.  1175  Fantosme  Belefort;  there 
is  in  B.C.8.  454  Bellan  ford.  Perh.  O.Fr.  '  bel  fort,  '  fine  fort,' 
as  in  Belfort,  Alsace.  But  prob.  '  ford  of  a  man  Bella ' ;  cf. 
Bellingham, 

Belgrave  (Leicester).  Old  forms  needed.  Not  in  Dom.  Prob. 
*  Bella's  grave,'  O.E.  graf.  Cf.  above.  From  this  comes 
Belgbavia,  London. 

BELLBUriK  (Leeds).  Not  in  Dom.  '  Bell-bush,'  referring  to  an 
inn  sign.  '  Good  wine  needs  no  bush,'  which  is  M.E.  busk, 
O.'N.  busk-r,  3-7,  and  still  in  Nthn.  dial.,  busk. 


BELLEFOED  139  BENEFIELD 

Bellepoed  (Dartmoor).  Old  forms  needed.  ?  Dom.  Boleborde 
(b  for  /,  or  else  v,  and  so  = -worth,  with  which  -ford  often  inter- 
changes). ?  'ford  of  Bola,'  two  in  Onom.  cf.  Bolsoveb  and 
Belfobd.  All  Dartmoor  names  in  -ford  are  said  by  some 
to  be  fr.  W,  ffordd,  '  a  road,  a  way.'    This  is  doubtful. 

Bellebby  (Bedale).  Dom.  Belgebi,  1166-67  Pipe  Beleg'ebi,  Berle- 
gerbi ;  perh.  '  dwelling  of  Bealdgcer/  one  in  Onom.  More  old 
forms  needed.  The  name  may  still  survive  in  the  surname 
Bellairs.     See  -by. 

Belle  Vue  (Manchester).  Mod.  Fr.  =''fine  view.'  Cf.  Bel- 
vom  and  Belvedere,  Erith,  which  is  Ital.,  with  similar  meaning — 
'  fine  to  see,'  or  '  fine  view.' 

Bellingham  (N.  Northbld.,  Notts,  and  Kent).  Notts  B.  sic  1230 
Close  R.,  '  Home  of  Belling '  or  'of  the  sons  of  Bella.'  Cf. 
Inquis.  Camb.  Belincgesham,  and  BrLLiNGSGATE.  Also  Bel- 
LiNGTON  (Worcestrsh.),  Dom.  Belintones,  1275  Belinton.  See 
-ing  and  -ham  and  -ton. 

Belmont  (Bolton  and  Surrey).    Fr.  ='  fine  hill.' 

Belpeb  (Ambergate).  Not  in  Dom.  Cf.  Belbepeie,  Haresfeld, 
c.  1220  Bewper,  c.  1450  Beaurepaire,  which  last  is  Fr.  for  '  lovely 
haunt';  O.Fr.  bel.,  Fr.  6ea%,  'fine,  beautiful.'     Cf.  Babbipper. 

Belsay  (Newcastle).  '  BelV^  or  Bella's  island.  Cf.  Belfobd, 
and  see  -ay. 

Bei^tgne  (Okehampton).  Dom.  Bellestham.  Here  the  ending  has 
changed  fr.  ham  to  tun  or  -ton.  The  name  of  the  man  intended 
by  the  first  part  is  a  little  doubtful,  but  is  prob.  Bella.  Cf. 
Belfobd  and  Dom.  Beleslei,  Salop.  Dom.'s  form  may  be  a 
scribal  error. 

Belton  (Doncaster,  etc.).  Prob.  not  'town  with  the  bell,'  O.E. 
belle,  but  'Bella's  town.'  Belthobp,  Helmsley,  is  Dom. 
Balchetorp  {cf.  Belchfobd);  but  Belby,  York,  is  Dom.  Bellebi. 
Cf.  Belfobd. 

Belvgib  Castle  (Grantham),  pron.  Beever.  c.  1540  Leland 
Beavoire,  Bever.  O.Fr.  =' fine  to  see/  or  'fine  view.'  Cf. 
Bellevtje  and  Belvedebe. 

Bembbidge  (Ryde).  Old  forms  needed.  Bem-  may  be  O.E.  beam, 
a  tree,  a  '  beam.' 

Bemebton  (Salisbury).  Dom.  Bimertone.  'Town,  village  of  the 
trumpeter,'  O.E.  beamere,  by  mere. 

Bempton  (Flamborough).  Dom.  Bentone.  Prob.  =Bampton — 
i.e.,  O.E.  bean-dun,  '  bean  hill.'  It  is  3-6  ben.  See  -don  and  -ton. 

Benefield  (Oundle).  a.  1100  Grant  of  664,  Beinfelde,  c.  1200 
Gervase,  Benigfelde.  Doubtful.  Possibly  '  field  of  Beonna,'  or 
Benna,'  a  common  O.E.  name,  in  one  case  Latinized  Benignus. 
It  might  even  be  O.E.  bean-feld,  '  bean  field.' 


BENENDEN  140  BENTON 

Benenden  (Staplehurst).  Dom.  Benindene.  'Den  or  dean  or 
haunt  of  Benna  or  Beonna,^  gen.  -an.  Cf.  above  and  Bidden- 
DEN,  close  by. 

Benfleet,  N.  and  S.  (Essex).  893  O.E.  Chron.  Beamfleot  (c.  1120 
Hen.  Hunt.  Beamfled),  which  is  O.E.  for  '  tree  river,'  ?  river 
lined  by  trees.  It  is  Dom.  Benflet,  1166-67  Pipe  Bemflet. 
See  Fleet. 

Bengeo  (Hertford).  Dom.  Belingehon,  1210  Beningeho,  Benigho, 
1291  Beningho.  '  Hoe,  hoo  or  high  ground  of  the  Bennings,* 
or  'sons  of  Ben{n)a^;  O.E.  hoh,  ho,  'high  ground,  hill,'  Gf. 
Bletsoe  and  next.  As  to  Dom.'s  form,  cf.  Bennestgton. 
Dom.  is  always  confusing  the  liquids. 

Bengewoeth  (Evesham).  709  cMrt.  Benigwrthia.  714  ib. 
Benincgworthe,  780  ib.  Benincwyrthe,  Dom.  Benningeorde, 
Bennicworte.  '  Farm  of  the  sons  of  Ben{n)a.'  Cf.  Benefield, 
Bengeo,  and  Benniworth;  and  see  -ing  and  -worth. 

Benhall  Green  (Saxmundham).  Dom.  Benehal(l)a,  '  Benna's 
or  Beonna^a  nook.'  Cf.  Beenham  and  Benson,  and  Dom, 
Benehale,  Salop.     See  -hall. 

Benhilton  (Sutton,  Sussex).  Not  in  Dom.  Old  Benhill  Town. 
Prob.  '  Bennd's  or  Beonna^s  hill.'     Cf.  above. 

Benington  (Boston),  Bennington  (Stevenage),  and  Benniworth 
(Lines.).  Bos.  B.  Dom.  Beninctim,  Beningtone,  c.  1275  Benig- 
ton.  St.  B.  Dom.  Belintone.  '  Town '  and  '  farm  of  the 
Bennings,^  a  patronymic.  Cf.  Bengeo  and  Benton;  and  see 
-ton  and  -worth. 

Ben  Rhydding  (Leeds).  '  A  modem  coinage.'  Ben  is  G.  beinn, 
"  a  mountain,  a  hill,'  W.  penn.    W.  rhydd  is  '  red.' 

Benson,  more  fully  Bensington  (WaHingford).    O.E.  Chron.  ann. 
571    Baenesingtun,    1155    Pipe    Bensentun.     '  Town    of    the 
Bensings.'    There  is  a  Dan.  chief  Benesing  in  911  O.E.  Chron. 
For  the  contracted  or  dropped  ending,  cf.  Bald  on  and  Beedon; 
and  see  -ing  and  -ton. 

Bentham  (Lancaster  and  Badgeworth).  La.  B.  Dom.  Benetain 
(scribe's  error).  '  Home  among  the  bennet  or  bent-grass,'  O.E. 
beonet,  c.  1325  bent.  Cf.  next  and  Chequerbent;  and  see  -ham. 

Bentley  (Doncaster,  Walsall,  Atherstone,  on  Severn,  Suffolk,  etc.). 
Don.  B.  Dom.  Benedlage,  -leia,  Benelei,  1298  Bentele,  Wa,  B. 
a.  1200  Benaetlea,  Benetlegh.  Ath.  B.  Dom.  Benechelie,  a. 
1300  Bentley.  Sev.  B.  962  chart.  Beonet  laeage,  1017  ib. 
Beonetleah.  Suff.  B.  1455  Bentele.  '  Meadow  of  the  bent- 
grass  or  bennet,'  see  above.  Cf.  Bentworth,  Hants.  In  some 
cases  perh.  fr.  Benet  for  Benedict.     See  -ley. 

Benton  (Newcastle).  1311  Durham  Reg.  Benton,  Benington.  This 
is   clearly   a   contracted   patronymic,    '  Town,    village   of  the 


BENWELL  141  BERKSHIEE 

Bennings^;  cf.  Benengton.    Other  'Bentones'  have  become 
Bampton  or  Bempton. 

BEifWELL  (Newcastle),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Bynnewalle — i.e., 
'  within  the  (Roman)  wall.'  O.E.  binnan,  2-4  hinne  '  within, 
inside  of.'  Cf.  Binbeook,  and  the  So.  '  ben  the  house,'  where 
ben  iSi  says  Oxf.  Diet.,  var.  of  binne. 

Benwick  (March).  Ramsey  Chart.  Benewick.  Prob.  '  Ben{n)a''s 
or  '  Beonna'e,  dwelling.'     See  -wick. 

Beoley  (Redditch).  972  chart.  Beoleahe,  Dom.  Beolege,  1327 
Beleye,  '  Meadow  of  the  bees,'  O.E.  beo.  Cf.  Beley,  Beobridge, 
Claverley,  Salop,  and  Beausale,  Warwk.,  Dom.  Beoshelle  or 
'  bees's  nook,'  see  -hall;  also  see  -ley. 

Berden  (Bp's.  Stortford).  Dom.  Berdane.  Prob.  '  barley  dean  ' 
or  '  den '  or  '  glen.'  O.E.  bere  '  bear  or  barley.'  Cf.  Berwick; 
and  see  -den, 

Berea  (Haverfordwest).  Fr.  Acts  xvii.  10.  Welsh  Nonconformists 
love  to  name  their  chapels^  and  the  villages  around  them,  so. 
Hence  we  also  have  Bethel,  Beulah,  Horeb,  etc. 

Bereppa  (Cornwall).    See  Barripper. 

Bere  Regis  (Wareham).  O.E.  bearu  '  wood.'  L.  regis  '  of  the 
king.'    Cf.  Beer  and  Lyme  Regis. 

Bergh  Apton  (Norwich).  Dom.  Bere,  Berch.  Merc,  berh.,  O.E. 
beorh,  beorg,  '  hill,  grave,  barrow.'  Apton  is  '  town,  village  '  of 
'  Apa,  Ape,  Appa,  Appe,  or  Appo ' ;  all  these  forms  are 
found  in  Onom.  Baddeley  derives  La  Berge,  Glostrsh.,  fr. 
beorg  also. 

Berghholt  (Colchester).  Dom.  B'colt,  Bercolt.  See  above. 
Holt  is  O.E.  and  Icel.  holt,  '  a  wood,  a  grove.' 

Berkeley  (Sharpness),  824  chart.  Beorc-,  Berclea,  1088  O.E. 
Chron.  Beorclea,  c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Beorchelaum,  a.  1142  Wm. 
Malmes.  Bercheleia,  1297  R.  Glouc.  Berkele.  Prob,  '  meadow 
of  the  birch-trees,'  O.E.  beorc,  byre.  Cf.  Dom.  Wore,  Berchelai. 
B.  Herness,  in  same  shire,  Baddeley  derives  fr.  O.E. 
hyme,  M.E.  hiime,  'corner,  district';  it  is  Dom.  Berchelai 
hernesse. 

Berkhamsted.  1066  O.E.  Chron.  Beorhhamstede;  1155  Berk- 
hamstede,  a.  1200  chart.  Berhamstead;  1501  Will  Gret  Berke- 
hamstede.  Prob.  O.E.  beorh-hdm-sted,  '  sheltered-home-place,' 
or  fortified  farm.  Perh,  'home-place  of  Beorht,^  a  very 
common  O.E.  name.    Cf.  Berstead, 

Berkshire.  931  chart.  Be(a)rruc-scire;  1011  O.E.  Chron.  Bearruc- 
scir;  Dom.  Berrochescire,  Berchesira;  1297  Barcssire;  c.  1325 
Barkschyre  (which  is  still  the  pron,).  'Box-tree-shire,'  O.E. 
bearroc ;  though  some,  without  sure  evidence,  would  derive  fr. 
the  tribe  Bibroci,  Caesar  B.G.  v.  21 ;  or  even  say  it  is  '  bare  oak 


BEEKSWELL  142  BERSHAM 

shire  '  !  Bearruc  is  a  dimin.  of  hearu,  which  means  simply  '  a 
wood,  a  grove  ' ;  the  meaning  '  box-tree  '  is  a  later  and  perhaps 
mistaken  idea. 

Bekkswell  (Coventry).  Dom.  Berchewelle;  a.  1400  Bercleswelle. 
It  seems  'well  of  BeorJit  or  Beret,''  but  form  a.  1400  points  to 
an  earlier  Begrcol,  4  in  Onom. 

Bermondsey  (London).  ?  a.  715  Vermundsei,  '  isle  of  Fcermund  or 
Pharamond.'  But  Dom.  Bermundesye  ;  c,  1180  Ben.  Peterh. 
Bermundsheia.  '  Bermund's  '  or  '  Bermond^^  isle.'  Cf.  '  Bear- 
modes  lea.'  Worcestersh.  in  Grant,  c.  802;  and  see  -ey. 

Berney  Arms  (Yarmouth).  ?  fr.  the  Fr.  Bemay  near  Evreux. 
Villages  called  after  public  -  houses  are  common  all  over 
England,  and  not  less  so  in  Wales. 

Bernwood  Forest  (Bucks).  921  O.E.  Chron.  Bymewudu — 
i.e.,  O.E  for  '  Beom's  '  or  '  Byrne's  wood.'  O.N.  hjorn  means 
'  a  bear.' 

Berriew  (Montgomery).  =Aber-Rhiw,  '  confluence  of  the  R. 
Rhiw  '  with  the  Severn.  In  W.  rhiw  is  '  a  break  out ' ;  also  '  a 
slope.'    Of.  Barmouth. 

Berrington  (Tenbury  and  Shrewsbury  and  Glostrsh.).  Te.  and 
Sh.  B.  Dom.  Beritune.  Te.  B.  1275  Beriton.  Gl.  B.  1273 
Byrton.  Possibly  =BT7RT0]sr;  quite  as  likely, 'town  of  BcBra,' 
-an,  now  become  Berry.  Cf.  Barren gton  and  Burbxjry;  and 
see  -ing. 

Bbrrow  (Bumham  and  Ledbury).    Var.  of  Barrow. 

Berry  Brow  (Huddersfield).  Berry,  like  the  above,  is  perh.  a 
variant  of  Barrow,  '  a  hill,  a  mound/  M.E.  herghe,  herie. 
But  Berry  or  Btjuy  Hill,  Stone,  is  a  1300  Leburi;  see -bury. 
Brow,  O.E.  bru,  is  found  used  for  '  brow  or  edge  of  a  hill '  as  early 
as  c.  1435.  In  North,  dial,  it  commonly  means  '  a  slope,  an 
ascent,'  as  in  Everton  Brow  and  Shaw's  Bro\*-,  two  steep 
streets  in  Liverpool.  Cf.  Dom.  Warwk.  and  Wore,  '  Beri- 
cote.'  The  Yorks  Dom.  Berg  has  now  become  Baragh  and 
Barugh. 

Berrymead  Priory  (Acton,  Middlesex).  '  Mead  or  meadow  with 
the  mound  or  hillock.'     See  Berry  Brow  and  Barrow. 

BerrynIrbor  (Dfracombe).  Old  forms  needed.  Not  in  Dom., 
and  all  is  doubtful.  The  first  part  is  prob.  O.E.  biorn,  beam, 
4^5  beryn,  '  a  hero,  a  warrior.'  As  to  -arbor,  it  might  quite 
possibly  be  for  harbour,  the  M.E.  herberg,  in  6  harbor,  which 
means  orig.  '  any  kind  of  place  of  shelter  or  sojourn.'  Not  so 
likely  fr.  arbour,  which  is  fr.  Fr.  and  first  in  Eng.  c.  1300 
herber. 

Bersham  (Wrexham).  Old  forms  needed,  cf.  Dom.  Sffk.,  Barsha; 
but  prob.  '  home  of  Ber,'  a  man  named  in  Chesh.  Dom, 


BERSTED  143  BETTISFIELD 

Beested  (Sussex).  680  chart.  Beorganstede,  O.E,  for  '  Beorgd's 
place  ' ;  2  Beorgas  in  Onom. 

Berwick  (on  Tweed,  etc.).  700-15  chart.  Wihtred  Bereueg  (Kent); 
1060  chart.  Uppwude  cum  Ravelaga  berewico  suo  ' ;  Ber.  on  Tw. 
1097  Berwick,  a.  1150  Berewic,  Berwich,  1187  Suthberwyc  (as 
contrasted  with  North  Berwick,  Sc).  Shrewsbury  B.  Dom. 
Berewic.  O.E.  berewic  '  a  demesne  farm,'  fr.  here,  '  barley,'  and 
wic,  '  dwelling,  village.'  Cf.  Barton,  also  Berwick  St.  James 
and  St.  John,  Salisbury. 

Berwyn  (Llangollen)  and  Bbrwyn  Mtn.  W.  aher  gwyn,  '  clear, 
bright  confluence.'  For  loss  of  a-  cf.  Abergavenny  and  Berriew. 

Beryan  (Cornwall).  Sic  1536.  Called  after  Buriena,  pretty 
daughter  of  Aengus,  K.  of  Munster,  time  of  St.  Patrick. 

Besoar  Lane  (Southport).  Old  forms  needed.  Not  in  Wyld  and 
Hirst.  Possibly  it  is  =  Bess  agar,  Cantley,  Yorks,  1202  Besacre, 
which,  though  it  might  be  '  Bead's  acre '  or  '  field,'  is  prob. 
'  Besa'a  rock,'  Anglian  O.E.  carr.  But  Bes-  may  represent 
many  things.    See  below. 

Bescot  (Walsall) .  Dom.  Bresmundes  cot,  a.  1300  Ber  (e)mundescote, 
Bermondscote,  Bermonscot,  a.  1400  Berkmondescote,  Berkes- 
cote.  This  is  an  extraordinarily  contracted  form,  fr.  O.E. 
Beorhtmundes  cot. 

Besthorpb  (Attleborough  and  Newark).  At.  B.  Dom.  Besethorp, 
Ne.  B.  Bestorp.  *  Bead's  village.'  Cf.  Beeston  and  Bescar, 
and  see  -thorpe.     Bessingby,  Yorks,  was  Dom.  Basingebi. 

Beswick  (Manchester  and  Beverley).  Man.  B.  1327  Bexwyk, 
'  jBecc's  dwelling.'  But  Bev.  B.  is  Dom.  Basewic,  which  is  prob. 
'  Bassa^e  dwelling.'  Cf.  Baschurch  and  Bastwell.  See 
-wick. 

Betchley  (Tiddenham).  Old  Bettisley,  'lea  of  Betti.^  Cf. 
BeacbCley,  Batchworth,  and  Betchworth,  Surrey  (?  fr.  Becca). 

Bethania  (B1.  Festiniog),  BetbCel  (Carnarvon),  BetSbsda  (Bangor), 
and  Beulab:  (Brecon)  are  all  Bible  names  for  villages  called 
after  Nonconformist  chapels.    Cf.  Berea. 

BethInal  Green  (London),  a.  1600  Bednall  Green.  Said  to  be 
'  Bathon's  hall,'  fr.  the  famOy  Bathon,  who  had  lands  in  Stepney, 
temp.  Edw.  I.  But  Bednal  is  Bedanhedl  or  '  Bede's  nook  or 
haU.'    See -hall. 

Betley  (Crewe).  Dom.  Betelege,  a.  1200  Betteleg.  'Veto's 
lea  or  meadow.'  O.E,  bete  also  means  'beet  root';  but  this 
would  give  Beetley.     Cf.  Bitton. 

Bettisfield  (Whitchurch).  Dom.  Beddesfeld.  'Field  of  Beta^ 
Betti,  or  Bettu,'  all  names  found  in  Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks, 
Betesdene 


BETTWS  144  BEXLEY 

Bettws  (8  in  P.G.).  W.  hettws,  '  a  place  of  shelter  and  comfort,' 
'  a  (prayer)  house.'  Common  in  Wales,  and  there  are  two  in 
England,  B.  Y  Cbwwyn  (O.W.  crewyn,  '  pen,  sty,  hovel '),  S.W. 
Salop,  and  B.  Newydd  ('  new  '),  Newport,  Mon.  It  seems  now 
agreed  that  W.  hettws  phonetically  and  actually  represents  Eng. 
head-house,  c.  1160  hed  hus,  '  prayer-house,  almshouse.'  Bettws 
is  said  to  have  been  first  applied  to  a  W.  parish  church  in  1292, 
Taxat.  of  Benefices.  But  how  is  it  that  Wales  has  so  many 
'  bead-houses  '  among  her  place-names,  and  England  none  ? 

Bettws  Cedewen  (Montgomery).  Cedewen  is  prob.  Gedwyn,  a 
Welsh  sixth  cny.  saint. 

Bettws  Gabmon  (Caernarvon).  '  House  of  St.  Oarmon^  or  Oermanus, 
twice  a  visitor  of  Britain,  and  perh.  the  man  who  sent  St.  Patrick 
to  Ireland.    Of.  Capel  Garmon  and  Llanarmon. 

Bettws-Gwebftjl-Goch  (Corwen).  '  House  of  Red  Gwerfid'  who 
must  have  been  a  W.  saint.  Cf.  Ffynon  gwerfil,  '  Gwerfil's  well,' 
a  farm,  Cardigansh. 

Bettws-y-Coed  (N.  Wales).    W.  '  house  in  the  wood.' 

Bevere(ge)  (island  in  Severn).  Chart.  Beverege,  a.  llOOBeverie. 
O.E.  heofer-ige,  '  beavef-isle.'  The  beaver  was  not  extinct  in 
England  till  c.  1100.  Ige  as  an  ending  in  Eng.  names  has  usually 
become  -ey,  q.v. 

Beverley.  Dom.  Bevreli,  Beurelie;  c.  1180  Bened.  Peterh.  Bever- 
lacum;  1387  Trevisa,  '  Beverlay  .  .  .  the  place  or  lake  of  bevers.' 
O.E.  heofer  or  hyfere-leah, '  beaver- meadow ' ;  though  both  Bened. 
and  Trevisa  seem  to  think  the  ending  may  be  O.E.  lac,  '  pool.' 
Cf.  FtLEY.  Beverley  is  also  the  name  of  a  brook  at  Wimbledon, 
693  chart.  Beferith,  where  rith  is  '  stream.'     Cf.  above. 

Beverstone  (Tetbury),  1048  O.E.  Chron.  Beofres  stan. — i.e.,  '  the 
beaver's  rock,'  Dom.  Beurestone. 

Bewcastle  (Carlisle).  O.Fr.  heau  castel,  '  fine  castle.'  Cf.  Beau- 
lietj  pron.  Bewley,  and  next. 

Bewdley  (Eadderminster).  1304  Beaulieu,  c.  1440  Bewdeley. 
Fr.  heau  lieu,  '  beautiful  spot,'  as  in  Beaulieu.  Hants,  pron. 
Bewly.    Also  cf.  Bewsboro',  Kent,  1228  Close  R.  Beausbergh. 

BewSolme  (Hull).  Dom.  Begun,  1202  Beighum.  Prob.  '  Begha's 
ham,''  or  '  home.'  The  endings  -ham  and  -holme,  '  meadow,' 
q.v.,  often  interchange.  Possibly  hegun  may  be  loc.  of  O.E.  heg, 
'  at  the  rings.'     This  loc.  is  common  in  Yorks.     See  -ham. 

Bexhell  (Hastings).  Dom.  has  only  Bexelei.  '  Becca's  hill.'  Cf. 
next,  B.C. 8.  309  Beccanford,  and  Dom.  Bucks,  Bechesdene. 

Bexley  (Kent).  Dom.  Bix;  a.  1200  Text.  Roff.  Bixle;  later  Bekes- 
ley;  also  cf.  Dom.  Hants,  Bexeslei.  '  Bica's,  Biccd's,  or  Becca's 
lea  or  meadow.'  All  these  names  are  found  in  Onom.  Cf. 
Bexhill  and  Bix. 


BEYTON  145  BICKLEIOH 

Bbyton  (Bury  St.  Edmund's).  Dom.  Begatona,  1288  Beyton. 
'  Begha's  town.'     Cf.  Bay  worth. 

BiBURY  (Fairford,  Glostr.).  c.  740  chart.  Beagan  byrig,  Dom. 
Beche-,  Begeberie.  This  must  be  as  above,  '  burgh,  fortified 
town  of  Begha.'    See  -bury. 

Bicester  (Oxon).  Dom.  1307  Berneoestre,  ?  1149  Burcetur, 
1216  Bumecestr',  1414-31  Burcestre,  1495  Bysseter,  1612  Bisceter, 
1634  Bister,  the  present  pron.  '  Camp  of  Beorn,'  in  N.  Biom. 
A  fine  study  in  the  disappearance  of  liquids  !     See  -cester. 

BiokenHill  (Birmingham).  Dom.  Bichehelle  a.  1200  Bychen  hulle, 
Bigen-,  Biken  hull,  O.E.  Bicanhyll,  '  hill  of  Bica:  3  in  Onom. 
Of.  BiCKMARSH,  Alcester,  967  chart.  At  Bicanmersce.  It  is 
just  possible  it  is  '  beacon-hiU,'  O.E.  becen,  hecun,  Wyclii 
bikene,  S.W.  dial,  bick'n.  This  is  not  confirmed  by  BiokmarsA, 
Honeyboume,  Dom.  Bichemerse,  1608  Bickemershe. 

Bicker  (Boston).  Dom.  Bichere.  Doubtful.  Prob.  not  M.E.  biker 
(1297  R.  Glouc),  origin  unknown,  '  a  bicker,  a  skirmish';  nor 
O.N.  bikarr,  '  a  beaker,  an  open  cup  or  goblet,'  used  here  to 
describe  the  shape  of  the  site  ;  but  prob.  var.  of  O.N.  bekk-r, 
'  a  brook.'     Also  cf.  next. 

BiOKERSTAFFE    (Ormskirk).    c.    1200    Bikerstat,    1230    Bykstat, 
c.  1260  Berkerstat,  c.  1280  Bekirstat,  1292  Bykerstath.  1267 
Bikerstaff.     The  Bicker-  is  a  little  uncertain.     The  Eng.  bicker, 
'  a  quarrel,'  is  of  unknown  origin,  and  not  found  till  1297,  so  is 
unlikely  here.    The  o\d  forms  seem  to  waver  between  0.1J5, 
hekkjar,  '  of  the  brook,'  cf.  Beckermet,  and  bjarkar,  gen.  of 
O.N.  bjork,  'birch.'     The   ending   is  curious;   it   also   wavers 
between  O.N.  sta^-r,  '  place,'  and  O.E.  stcB]>,  '  shore,  river-bank ' ; 
this  is  still  preserved  in  the  personal  name  Bickersteth.     Cf. 
Bickershaw,  Wigan,  and  Bycardyke,  1189  Bikeresdic,  Notts. 

BiCKBRTON  (Wetherby  and  Cheshire).  Weth.  B.Do?n.  Bickretone, 
Bichreton.  Ches.  B.  Dom.  Bicretone.  As  bicker  is  not  found  in 
Eng.  till  1297,  prob. '  brook-town.'  See  above  and  Bickerstafee. 

BiCKERY  (Glastonbury).  971  chart.  '  In  insulis '  {i.e.,  the  low 
lands  often  forming  islands  in  flood-time)  .  .  .  Beheria,  which  is 
called  '  parva  Ybernia,'  or  'little  Ireland';  fr.  O.Ir.  bee  Eriu, 
'  little  Erin,'  Erinn  being  gen.  of  Eriu.  Off  Wexford  is  Beggary- 
island,  really  the  same  name;  M'Clure,  p.  205. 

BiCKiNGTON  (Barnstaple  and  Newton  Abbot).  Dom.  Bichentone. 
'  Town,  village  of  Bic{c)a,'  gen.  -an.  See  above.  Cf.  Bexley, 
and  1167-8  Pipe  Devon,  Bichingbrige.     See  -ing. 

BiCKLEiGH  (Tiverton)  and  Bickley  (Kent).  Both  in  Dom.  Bichelei. 
'  Bicca's  '  or  '  Bica's  meadow.'  Cf.  Bickford,  Penkridge,  Dom. 
Bigeford,  1334  Bikeford,  prob.  fr.  Bica  too;  also  Dom.  Chesh. 
Bichelei,  and  Devon  Bicheford. 


BICKNACRE  146  BIGGIN 

BiOKNACEE  (Chelmsford).  '  Field  of  Bica,''  -an.  Acre  is  O.E.  cecer, 
acer,  'a  plain,  open  country';  L.  ag&r,  'a  field.'  Gf.  BiCken- 
HliLL,  and  next. 

BiCKNOLLEB  (Taunton).  Dom.  has  only  Bichehalle.  '  Bicd's 
alder';  or  else  perh.  'Beacon-alder-tree/  O.E.  alor,  aler,  air, 
olr,  '  an  alder.'  See  above  and  Bickenhill.  Bicknok.  on 
Wye,  Dom.  Bicanofre,  1298  Bykenore,  is  clearly  '  Bica' 8  bank.' 
See  -or,  -over. 

BiOKTON  Heath  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Biqhetone,  also  ib.  Biche- 
done  (Bucks).  [Cf.  1298,  'Thomas  de  Bikebury.]  ' Bicca's 
town  or  village.'    Of.  Bexley  and  Bickleigh. 

BiDDENDEN  (Staplehurst)  and  Biddenham  (Bedford).  Old  Biden-, 
Bedenham.  '  Biddd's  '  or  '  Byda'a  wooded  valley  '  and  '  home.' 
Cf.  Beedon,  and  Bidboro',  Tunbridge  Wells;  and  see  -den  and 
-ham. 

BiDDESTONE  (Qhippenham) .  Dom.  Bedestone,  '  Bedda's'  or 
'  Bidda's  stone'  or  'town.'  See  -ton;  and  cf.  Bidston,  Dom. 
Chesh,.  Bedesfeld,  and  above. 

BiDDLE  R.  (Congleton).  Doubtful,  as  so  many  Eng.  river  names 
are.     ?  W.  bedw-dol,  '  birch-tree  meadow.' 

BrDDULPH  (Congleton).  Dom.  and  later  Bidolf.  This  is  an  O.E. 
personal  name,  Beadulf  or  Beaduwulf.  Such  are  very  rarely 
applied  to  places  without  a  suffix;  but  cf.  Cbantock,  Snitter, 
Northbld.,  Tydd,  etc. 

BrD]s;roBD.  Dom.  Bedeford,  a.  1300  Bydyford,  Budeford.  The 
form  '  Bythef ord  '  is  also  found  early ;  but  this  is  mere  '  popular 
etymology.'  The  name  is  '  ford  of  Bede,  Buda,'  or  '  Byda.' 
Cf.  BiDDESTONE  and  next.  Possibly  -ford  may  be  for  fjord,  as 
in  Haverfordwest,  Waterford,  Wexford,  etc.  The  Norsemen 
came  all  round  the  Bristol  Channel. 

Bidford  (Stratford-on-Avon).  710  cTiart.  Budiforde,  Dom.  Bede- 
ford, a.  1600  Bidford.  '  Ford  of  Buda,'  3  in  Onom.,  wjiich  has 
also  2  Bydas.  Cf.  above,  and  Bidfield,  For.  of  Dean,  old  Bude- 
field. 

Bidston  (Birkenhead),  and  Biel.    See  Biddestone  and  Beal. 

BiERTON  (Aylesbury).  Dom.  Bertone.  Prob.  '  bear  '  or  '  barley 
-town.'  O.E.  here,  6-8  beer.  Hardly  fr.  O.E.  beer,  ber,  '  a  bier 
for  carrying  a  corpse.'  North  Bierley  (Yorks),  Dom.  Birle,  looks 
as  if  Eng.  -ley  h,ad  been  attached  to  O.N.  by-r,  '  house,  hut,  byre.' 

BiGBTJRY  (Kiugsbridge).  Dom.  Bicheberie.  Notfr. '  big,'  adj.,  which 
is  unknown  in  Eng.  till  c.  1300,  but  '  Bica's  or  Biga's  burgh,' 
or  '  fort.'     Cf.  BiGSWEiB  on  Wye,  1322  Bikiswere.     See  -bury. 

Biggest  (Coventry  and  Rugby)  and  Biggest  Hill  (Westerham,  Kent). 
The  only  old  form  we  have  met  is  Cov.  B.  1 327  Buggiuge.  Biggin 
is  North,  word  for  '  building,  house,'  O.N.  byggja,  '  to  dwell,  to 


BIGGLESWADE  147  BILLINGTON 

build,'  already  found  in  1153  Newbigginghe,  Oxnam,  Roxbgh.; 
but  prob.  it  only  filtered  late  South  into  Warwick.  In  Kent  it 
seems  most  unlikely;  there  biggin  may  be  Fr.  heguin,  'a 
child's  cap,'  found  in  Eng.  fr.  1530,  whose  shape  might  easily 
be  thought  like  that  of  the  hill;  or  else  fr.  a  man  Biga,  -an. 

Biggleswade  (Beds).  Dom.  and  1132  Bicheleswade,  -da.,  'Ford,' 
lit.  '  wading-place  of  Bichel'  or  '  Beccel.^  Perh.  he  who  was 
servant  of  St.  Guthlac  of  Croyland;  -wade  is  O.E.  weed,  M.E. 
wath,  '  a  ford.' 

BiGHTON  (Alresford).  Dom.  Bighetone.  '  Bigha's,  Biga's,  or 
Begha'8  town  or  village.' 

BiGN ALL  End  (Staff ordsh.).  Not  in  Duignan.  Prob.  '  J5^Va's' or 
'  Bigo's  nook  '  or  '  hall.'  Cf.  Beadnell  and  Bednal.  The  n  is 
the  sign  of  the  gen.    See  -hall. 

BiGRiGG  (Carnforth).  Possibly  'Big  ridge';  see  -rigg.  Big  is  an 
adj.  of  unknown  origin,  and  does  not  come  into  Eng.  imtil 
Havelock,  a.  1300,  The  hig  may  also  be  O.N.  hygg,  'barley,' 
found  in  Eng,  and  Sc.  fr.  c.  1450. 

BiLBEOUGH  (York).  Ini)om.Mileburg(?fr.amanlf^7o).  'Burgh, 
fortified  town  of  Billa,^  as  in  Bilham  and  Bilton  also  in  Yorks, 
Dom.  Bileham  and  Bil(l)etone.  Cf.  BilsborougH,  Bilborough, 
Notts,  Dom.  Bileburg(h),  and  Dom.  Essex,  Bilichangra,  '  steep 
slope  of  Bila.'     See  -burgh. 

Billesdon  (Leicester).  ' Billa's  dune'  or  'hill,'  or  'fort.'  Cf. 
BiLBOROTJGH,  and  BiLLESLEY  (Warwk.),  704  chart.  Billes  Iseh, 
Dom.  Billeslei,  1157  Pipe  Bileslega;  and  see  -don. 

Billing  (Wigan).  Patronymic.  There  are  two  Billings  in  Onom. 
It  may  mean  '  descendant  of  Belin.^  On  '  bhssful  King  Belyn ' 
see  c.  1205  Layamon,  4290  seq.  Cf.  Billiagford,  Dereham,  Bil- 
lingham,  Stockton,  and  next;  also  Bealengs, 

Billinghay  (Lincoln).  1285  '  Waltero  de  Billingeye'  (found  in 
Norfolk).  See  above;  -hay  is  O.E,  haga,  Icel.  hagi,  '  an  enclosed 
field,'  same  root  as  hedge. 

BiLLiNGLEY  (Yorks).  Dom.  Bilingeleia,  1178-80  Pipe  Billingslea, 
and  BiLLiNGSLEY  (Bridgnorth).  Perh.  1055  O.E.  Chron. 
Bylgesleg.  '  Billing's  meadow.'  Cf.  a.  1100  '  Belnesthorpe,' 
Lines.     See  -ley. 

Billingsgate  (London)  and  BtLLiNGSfiuRST  (Sussex).  1250  Laya- 
mon, Belynes  jat.  See  Billing,  and  -hurst,  '  a  wood  ' ;  also  cf 
1155  Pipe  Bilingete,  Hants. 

Billington  (Stafford),  Dom.  Belintone,  and  Billington  Langho 
(Whalley).  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  798  Billmgahoth.  'Town  of  the 
Billings,'  see  Billing.  The  -both  in  Sim.  Dur.  may  represent 
the  -ho  in  Langho.  Hoe,  as  in  Plymouth  Hoe,  is  O.E.  hoh,  ho, 
'  a  hill,  high  ground.' 


BILNEY  148  BINSTEAD 

BiLNEY,  East  (Dereham).  Dom.  Bilenei,  1298  Bilneie.  'Isle  of 
BiUl)a'    Cf.  BiNLEY,  and  see  -ey. 

BiLSBOBOUGH  (Preston),  and  Belsby  (Alford).  Dom.  Billesbi. 
=Bilbe.oxjgh:.  '  Billa'a  burgh  or  fort,'  and  '  dwelling.'  See 
-borough  and  -by. 

BiLSTON.  994  Bilsetnatun,  -netun,  Dom.  Billestune,  a.  1300  Biles- 
tun,  -tone.  ' Billd's  town'  or  'village.'  See  Bilbbough  and 
BiLLESDON.  In  994  -setna  is  gen.  pi.  of  scstan,  '  a  settler, 
dweller  in.'     Cf.  Dorset,  Somerset,  etc. 

BiLTON  (Knaresboro'  and  Rugby).  Knar,  B.  Dom.  Billetone,  Bile- 
ton.  'Billa'a  town.'  See  BilbbougS.  But  Rug.  B.  is  Dom. 
Beltone,  1236  Belton,  1327  Beultone.  Duignan  says  this  is 
O.E.  Beolantun,  '  town  of  Beola,'  only  one  in  Onom. 

BmBBOOK  (Market  Rasen).  Dom.  Binnebroc.  Prob.  '  within  the 
brook.'  O.E.  binnan,  M.E.  byn, '  within,  inside.'  Cf.  Ben  well, 
BiNFiELD,  etc.  But  Binneford  (Stockleigh,  English)  is  739  chnrt. 
Beonnanford, '  food  of  Beonna'  perh.  he  who  was  father  of  St. 
Sativola  of  Exeter. 

BmcHESTEB  (Bp.  Auckland),  c.  380  Anton.  Itin.  Vinonia.  Here 
the  Bin-  or  Vin-  prob.  represents  W.  gwyn  ,' white,  clear';  in 
1183  Boldon  Bk.  it  is  Byn  cestre,  -chestre,  1197  Bincestr'.  Cf. 
Benwell.     See  -Chester,  '  camp.' 

BiNEGAB  {Shepton  Mallet).  Old  forms  needed.  Not  in  Dom. 
Perh.  corrup.  of  bin  acre,  '  within  the  field.'  O.E.  cecer,  acer, 
L.  ager,  a'  field.'     Cf.  Bicknacbe,  Binfield,  and  Bessaoab. 

BiNFiELD  (Bracknell).  1316  Benefeld;  but  earlier  Benetfeld,  Bent- 
feld.  This  is  '  field  of  bent  or  bennet ' — i.e.,  a  coarse  grass, 
O.E.  beonet.  Cf.  Bentley.  But  by  temp.  Hen.  VIII.  it  had 
become  Bynfeld,  which  by  analogy  should  mean  '  within  the 
field.'    Cf.  Benwell,  Binbeook,  etc. 

Bingham  (Notts).  Dom.  Bingheha,  Bingehamhou  Wap.,  1230 
Close  R.  Bingeham.  It  seems  hardly  to  be  fr.  O.N.  bing-r, 
*  a  heap,'  found  in  Eng.  c.  1325  as  '  bing,'  and  though  there 
seems  no  name  in  the  Onom.  which  suits,  form  1209  in  next 
suggests  a  man  Binge  or  Binga.  Cf.  Bengewoeth.  Mutsch- 
mann  derives  fr.  Benning ;  see  Bennington. 

Bn^^GLEY  (Keighley).  Dom.  Bingheleia,  Bingelei,  1209  Bingelege. 
Doubtful.  See  above;  -ley  is  O.E.  ledh,  '  meadow,'  and  Binge-  is 
prob.  some  man's  name. 

BiNLEY  (Coventry).  Dom.  Bilnei,  Bilueie,  1251  Bilney.  Prob. 
O.E.  Billan  ige,  '  isle  of  Bil{l)a.'  See  -ey.  Cf.  Bilney.  Change 
fr.  In  to  nl  is  uncommon. 

BiNNEFOBD.    See  Binbeook. 

Binstead  (Ryde  and  Sussex),  and  Binsted  (Alton,  Hants).  Suss. 
B.  1280  Close  B.  Benested.     Ryde  B.  Dom.  Benestede,   which 


BINTON  149  BIEKDALE 

may  either  be  '  bean  place  '  or,  less  likely,  '  prayer  place,'  fr. 
O.E.  bean,  3-6  hen,  4-6  bene,  '  a  bean,'  or  ben,  2-4  bene,  '  a  prayer, 
petition,  boon ' ;  and  stede,  '  farm-yard,  steading.'  Cf.  home- 
stead. Not  fr.  bin  or  binne,  O.E.  binnan,  '  within.'  This  never 
seems  spelt  with  a  central  e. 

Benton  (Stratford,  Wwk.).  710  chart.  Bunintone,  Dom.  Benintone, 
Benitone,  a.  1200  Buvintone,  1325  Bunynton.  'Town  of 
Buna,^  3  in  Onom.;  but  the  form  Bynna  is  much  commoner. 
Dom.  Yorks,  Binneton,  is  now  Binnington. 

BmCHAM  (King's  Lynn).  Dom.  Brec^am,  1489  Brytcham.  Cf. 
Dom.  '  Bercham,'  Warwick.  Prob.  '  house,  home  built  of  birch.' 
O.E.  beorc,  berc,  byrce,  birce ;  though  the  first  part  may  be  the 
name  of  a  man  Beorht  or  Berh,  as  in  Dom.  Yorks,  Berceworde, 
now  Ingbirchworth. 

BmCHANGER  (Bp's.  Stortford).  '  Birch-slope.'  O.E.  hangra,  angra, 
once  said  to  be  '  a  meadow ' ;  but  M'ClurS  thinks  '  the  slope  of 
a  hill,'  and  Duignan,  more  exactly,  '  a  wood  growing  on  a  hill- 
side.' Cf.  CiiAYHANGER,  Aldcrhanger  (Worcestersh.),  Hunger- 
roBD,  and  Rishangles. 

BmcHiLLS  (Walsall),  a.  1600  Birche  leses,  Burchelles,  Byrchylles, 
Byrchells.     '  Birch  hills.'     O.E.  berc,  beorc,  5-6  byrche. 

BniCHOVEK  (Matlock).  Dom.  Barcoure.  '  Birch  brink  or  bank,' 
O.E.  ofr,  obr,  '  brink.'     See  Bercham,  and  -over. 

BiBDfiAM  (Chichester).  Dom.  Brideha,  and  Birdholme  (Chester- 
field). '  Bird  home  '  and  '  bird  meadow.'  See  -holme.  Bird 
may  be  a  man's  name,  cf.  next.  Bird  ia  O.E.  is  brid,  Northumb. 
bird  ;  and  Brid  is  a  name  in  Onom.     Cf.  Bebdsall. 

BiEDiNGBUiiY  (Rugby).  Pron.  Birbury.  1043  chart.  Burtingbury; 
K.C.D.  916  Birtingabyrig  juxta  Aven,  Dom.  Berdingberie, 
Derbingerie  (blunder)  a.  1300  Burdingbury.  '  Burgh,  fort  of 
the  sons  of  Beorht,^  or  '  Birht."     Patronymic.     See  -bury. 

Berdlip  (Gloucester).  Not  in  Dom.,  1221  Bridelepe,  1262  Brudelep. 
Prob.  'bird's  leap,'  O.E.  hlyf{e),  3  leef,  Up,  4-6  lepe.  Cf. 
HiNDLiP  and  Islip.  Here,  again,  Bird  may  be  a  man's  name. 
W.  H.  Stevenson  points  out,  hlyp  must  sometimes  mean  not 
'  a  leap,'  but  '  an  enclosed  space.'  Cf.  Lypiatt  (Stroud),  old 
Lypgate,  Lupeyate,  '  gate  into  the  enclosure.' 

BiEDSALL  (York).  Dom.  Briteshale,  Brideshala,  1208  Brideshale. 
'  Nook  of  Brid,  Briht,  or  Beorht,'  all  names  on  record,  and  prob. 
all  the  same  name  too.  Change  of  r  is  common,  as  in  board 
and  broad,  etc.     Cf.  Bdrkby  and  Bebtley,  and  see  -hall. 

Bebkby  (Co.  Durham  and  Huddersfield).  Dom.  Yorks,  and  1197 
R.  Bretebi,  Durham.  '  Dwelling  of  Beorc '  or  '  Beorht,'  of 
which  Bret  {t)  is  a  later  form.    Cf.  Bebdsall;  and  see  -by. 

BiRKDALE   (Southport).    Birk  is  N.  Eng.  and  Sc.  for  birch,  O.E. 
beorc,  byrce,  birce,  berc.    Cf.  Birkacre  ('  field  '),  Chorley. 


BIRKENHEAD  150  BISHOP  AUCKLAND 

Birkenhead.  Sic  1282,  but  a.  1100  Byrkhed.  '  Head,  promon- 
tory covered  with  birch,'  O.E.  beorc,  here,  byrce,  birce.  The  adj. 
birchen,  JiioTth..  birken,  is  not  given  in  the  Oxf.  Diet.  a.  1440;  so 
that  this  name,  in  1282,  seems  the  earUest  known  instance  of  it. 

BiRKENSHAW  (Leeds) .  '  Birch  wood,'  O.E.  scaga,  a  wood ;  see  above. 
Now  a  personal  name  in  this  district. 

BiRKiN  (Normanton),  Dom.  Berchinge,  Berchine.  A  patronymic. 
'  Place  of  the  descendants  of  Beorht.'  Cf.  Barking  ;  and  see 
-ing. 

BiRLiNG  (Maidstone)  and  Biblingham  (Pershore).  972  Byrling- 
hamme,  Dom.  BerHngeham,  1275  Byrlyngham.  '  Place  of  the 
descendants  of  the  cup-bearer  or  butler,'  O.E.  byr{e)le.  The 
-ham,  q.v.,  in  this  case  means  '  enclosure.'    Cf.  Burlingham. 

Birmingham.  Dom.  Bermingeha',  1168  Brimigham,  1166  Breminge- 
ham,  1255  Burmingeham,  1333  Burmyncham,  c.  1413  Bry- 
mecham,  c.  1463  Bermjmgham,  1538  Bermigham,  also  Bro- 
mieham.  '  Home  of  the  Beormingas/  or  '  sons  of  Beom.' 
Duignan  makes  the  original  family  Breme,  '  illustrious,'  and 
connects  with  Bromsgrove;  see  his  full  art,  s.v.  For  the  mod. 
pron.  Brummajem  cf.  Whittingham,  pron.  Whittinjem,  and 
'  Nottingham  '  is  also  heard. 

BiRSTALL  (Leeds).  Dom.  thrice  Beristade  (?  -ade,  error  for  -ale) 
Berist-  seems  to  be  for  '  Beorhtsige's'  or  '  Byrcsige's,'  a  very 
common  O.E.  name;  and  -ale  is  'nook,'  see  -haU.  Close  by  is 
BiRSTWiTH,  fr.  O.N.  vith-r,  0.  Dan.  wede,  Dan.  ved,  '  a  wood.' 
Cf.  AsKWiTH,  etc. 

BiRTLET  (Herefordsh.,  Chester-le-Street,  and  Wark.).  Ch.  B.  1183 
Britleia,  Birdeia,  '  Meadow  of  Brid/  or  '  Bird/  or  '  of  the  birds.' 
Transposition  of  r  is  common ;  cf.  Birds  all  and  Birtwistle  (see 
TwiZEL).  BiRTS  Morton,  Glostersh.,  is  a.  1350  Morton  Brut, 
1407  Bruttes,  -tis,  fr.  Walter  le  Bret,  known  as  living  here,  1275, 
or  some  one  earlier.    The  name  means  '  the  Breton.' 

BiscovEY  (Par.)  Not  in  Dom.  Might  be  Eng.,  '  Biso's  cave ' ; 
the  names  Besa,  Besi,  Bisi,  and  Biso  are  all  found  in  Onom.  ; 
whilst  the  O.E.  for  '  cove  or  inlet '  is  cofa.  But  Bis-  looks  like 
Corn,  bes,  bis,  bys,  '  a  finger.'    Cf.  Bissoe. 

BiSHAM  (Marlow).  Dom.  Bistesham;  1199  Bistlesham;  later  Bes- 
tlesham,  Bustleham.  '  Home  of  Bestel,'  cf.  B.C.S.,  i.  108, 
ii.  206,  Bestlesford,  Bsestlsesford,  near  Bradfield,  also  Basiuden. 

BiSHAMPTON  (Pershore).  Dom.  Bisantune,  a.  1100  Bishamtone. 
'  The  home-town  or  village  of  Bisa,'  see  Biscovey.  The  mod. 
-hampton  may  here  be  a  corrup.  of  -antune. 

Bishop  Auckland,  also  North  and  West  Auckland  (Co.  Durham). 
1183  Boldon  Bk.  North  Alcland  and  Aclet,  West  Aclet,  Alclet- 
shire,  v.r.  Aukelandschire,  1305  Auke-,  Aucland.     Auckland  is 


BISHOP  BURTON  151  BISHOPSTON 

O.E.  dc  land,  'oak  land';  but  the  form  Alclet  is  puzzling. 
M'Clure  thinks  it  is  O.E.  hah  clet,  '  haugh,  river-meadow  rock'; 
but  klett-r,  '  a  rock/  is  O.N.,  not  O.E.  at  all,  nor  even  English, 
save  late  in  Scotland.  The  -let  may  be  a  var.  of  O.E.  hlith, 
'  a  slope/  c/.  Yarlett,  and  so  the  name  be '  river-meadow  slope.' 
But  this  is  doubtful.  The  Bishop  is,  of  course,  the  Bishop  of 
Durham.    Also  c/.  Atjckley. 

Bishop  Burton  (Beverley).  Dom.  Santriburtone,  '  Bishop's  burgh- 
town,'  or  '  fortified  village ' ;  ?  fr.  St.  John  of  Beverley,  Bishop  of 
Hexham  and  York.  The  Santri-  in  Dom,  must  be  a  corrup.  of 
sanctuary,  O.Fr.  saintuarie,  spelt  in  Eng.  in  6  santuary  ;  but  not 
given  in  Oxf.  Diet,  as  Eng.  till  a.  1340. 

Bishop  Monkton  (Ripon).  Dom.  Monuchetone.  O.E.  monuc, 
munuc,  munec,  fr.  L.  monachus,  '  a  monk.'    Cf.  Monkton. 

Bishop's  Canntng  (Devizes),  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1010  Canninga  merse 
{cf.  Mersey).  Canning  is  a  patronjrmic,  fr.  Cana  or  Cano,  in 
Onom. 

Bishop's  Caundle  or  Caundle  Bishop  (Sherborne).  Dom.  Candel, 
-dele,  -delle.  Caundle  is  O.E.  cendel,  1-4  condel,  '  a  candle.' 
Of.,  too,  Fhrio,  1611,  '  Fungo  .  .  .  that  firy  roimd  in  a  burning 
candle  called  the  Bishop.' 

Bishop's  Cleeve  (Cheltenham).  Bede  and  c.  780  cJiart.  CHfe, 
Dom.  CUve.  Cleeve  is  M.E.  cleve,  var.  of  cliff,  O.E.  clif.  Cf. 
Cleveland.  It  is  called  '  Bishop's'  to  distinguish  it  fr.  Prior's 
Cleeve. 

Bishop's  Fonthill  (Salisbury).  Dom.  Fontel;  but  chart.  Funt- 
geall;  O.E.  font,  fant,  (L.  fons,  -tis),  O.Fris.  and  in  Eng.  2-6 
funt,  'a  font,  a  fountain';  but  in  Diets,  gealla  has  only  the 
meaning  of  '  bile  '  or  '  a  gall  in  the  skin,'  so  it  may  be  an  error 
in  the  charter,  perh.  for  heal,  '  hall.'    Cf.  Fontley,  Fareham. 

Bishop's  Hull  (Taunton).    Hull  is  west  midl.  for   '  hill.'    See 

ASPULL. 

Bishop's  Itchington  (Learning-ton).  1043  chart.  Ichenton,  1111  ib. 
Yceantune,  Dom.  Icetone.  '  Town  on  the  R.  Itchen.'  It 
belonged  formerly  to  the  Bps.  of  Lichfield  and  Coventry. 

Bishop's  Lydeard  (Taunton).    See  Lydiard. 

Bishop's  Nympton  (S.  Molton).  Dom.  Nimetone,  'Town  of 
Nima.'  Onom.  has  only  Numa  and  Nunna.  On  the  common 
intrusion  of  jp,  cf.  Bampton. 

Bishopstoke  (Southampton).  'Bishop'  (of  Winchester's)  'place/ 
See  Stoke. 

BiSHOPSTON  (Stratford,  Warwick,  and  Glam.),  also  Bishopstone 
(5  in  P.G.) .  Str.  B.  1016  chart.  Biscopesdun— i.e., '  bishop's  hill ' 
— but  c.  1327  Bisshopeston.     See  -don  and  -ton. 


BISHOP'S  STOETFORD         152  BLABY 

Bishop's  Stortford.  Dom.  Storteford.  Skeat  thinks  the  R.  Start 
may  mean  '  pourer/  Cf.  Dan.  styrte, '  to  rush,  to  spring/  cognate 
with  start. 

Bishop's  Waltham  (Hants).  1001  O.E.  Chron.  Wealtham.  The 
Bp.  of  Winchester's  '  home  in  the  weald  or  forest.'  See 
Waltham. 

BiSHOPSwoRTH,  contracted  Bishport  (Bristol).  'Bishop's  farm.' 
See  -worth. 

BiSHTON  (Rugeley,  Tidenham,  Newport,  Mon.).  Ru.  B.  Dom. 
Bispestone,  a.  1300  Bissopestune,  Ti.  B.  956  chart.  Bispestune. 
'  Village  of  the  bishop '  of  Lichfield  or  Llandaff,  O.E.  biscop, 
though  possibly  fr.  a  man  Bisp,  found  a.  1200.  Cf.  Bishport 
and  Bispham. 

BiSLEY  (Stroud,  Coventry,  Woking).  St.  B.  896  chart,  (late  MS.) 
Bislege,  Dom.  Biselege,  1156  Bisselega.  Co.  B.  a.  1200  Bisselei. 
Skeat  thought  there  must  have  been  an  O.E.  bisse,  'a  bush'; 
cf.  Bushwood  (Stratford,  Wwk.),  a.  1300  Byssewode,  1404  Bis- 
wode.  But  this  is  prob.  '  mead  of  Bisi '  or  '  Biso,'  both  in 
Onom.    Cf.  Dom.  Wore,  Biselege,  and  Bisham.     See  -ley. 

Bispham  (Preston).  Dom.  and  c.  1141  Biscopham— ;4.e.,  'bishop's 
home.'    Cf.  Bishport.  ' 

BissoE  (Perranwell,  Cornwall).  Doubtful.  Dom.  has  a  '  Be veshoe,' 
which  may  be  this,  and  may  stand  for  '  how,  hollow  of  Beffa,* 
2  in  Onom.  It  may  be  fr.  a  man  Bissa.  Cf.  Biscovey  and 
Bengeo. 

Bitterne  (Southampton).  Perh.  c.  380  Anton.  Itin.  Clausentum. 
'  Bitta's  or  Bitto's  house,'  O.E.  erne,  '  a  house.'  Cf.  next,  and 
Whithorn  (Sc). 

Bitteswell  (Lutterworth).  ?  Dom.  Betmeswelle,  [Cf.  c.  1200 
Gervase  '  Bittesdene,'  Northants.]     ?  '  Bitta's  well.'     Cf.  above. 

BiTTON  (Kingswood,  Glos.).  Dom.  Betone,  1158-59  Pipe  Bettune. 
Prob.  '  town,  village  of  Beta/  2  in  Onom.,  or  '  of  Betti/  also 
2  in  Onom.    Cf.  Betley. 

Bix  (Henley).  Dom.  Bixa,  1216-1307  Bixe,  -a,  1300  Buxe  Jelwyni 
(fr.  the  Gelwyn  family).  Doubtful.  Alexander  compares  Box, 
Herts,  not  an  exact  parallel,  and  derives  fr.  O.E.  bixen,  byxen, 
'  (place)  of  the  box-tree ' ;  this  is  far  from  certain.  The  form 
bixen  is  very  rare,  and  for  the  56.  there  seems  only  60a;.  Nor 
does  there  seem  any  good  analogy.  Bexley  (Kent)  is  also  Bix 
in  Dom.,  and  seems  to  mean  '  Beca's  '  or  '  Bica's  lea.'  As  likely 
as  not  Bix  is  bi  Ex,  '  by  the  river.'  Cf.  Beeford,  Beal,  etc., 
and  ExE. 

Blaby  (Leicester).  Sic  1298.  O.N.  bld-r  bi,  'blue,  blae-looking 
hamlet.'    Cf.  Bladon,  and  see  -by. 


BLACKAWTON  163  BLAENLLECHA 

Blackawton"  (Dartmouth).  {Dom.  has  Blache-berie,  -grave,  -pole, 
etc.).  Old  forms  needed.  Perh.  '  Blaca'a  Haughton  ■*  or 
'  village  on  the  haugh  or  river-meadow.' 

Blackboys  (Uckfield).  Not  in  Dom.  Old  forms  needed.  One 
may  conjecture  '  Blaca's  boss '  or  '  knoll.'  Boss  is  found  in 
Eng.  a.  1300  meaning  '  a  hump/  and  in  1598  meaning  '  a  hump- 
like hill ';  whilst  it  is  spelt  in  5-6  boysis).  But  all  this  is  quite 
doubtful.    Of.  Blaehestela,  Dom.  Surrey. 

Blackburn.  Dom.  Blacheburne;  also  chart.  Blagborn.  'Black 
brook/  O.E.  blaec,  blac,  c.  1190  blache ;  and  see  -bourne.  Cf. 
833  chart.  '  Blakeburnham/  Kent. 

Blacker  (Bamsley).  Old  forms  needed.  Not  in  Dom.  As  a 
rule  -er  is  contracted  fr.  -over,  '  bank.'  Cf.  Ashover,  Hasler, 
WooLEB,  etc. ;  so  this  is  prob.  '  black,  dark  bank.' 

Blackheath  (London,  etc.).  Lend.  B.  c.  1420  Lydgate,  Blakeheth. 
Cf.  Blachefelde,  Dom.  Surrey. 

Blackpill  (Swansea).  Pill  here  is  corrup.  of  Eng.  pool,  W.  pwl. 
In  S.  Pembrokesh.  'pill  is  quite  common  for  '  a  little  bay,  a 
creek.'     Cf.  next. 

Blackpool.  Modern.  Cf.  B.C.S.  834  Blssccanpol — i.e.,  '  Blacca'a 
pool.' 

Blackrod  (Chorley).  1199  Blackeroade,  1292  Blakerode.  Either 
'  Blaca's  road,'  or  '  dark,  black  road,'  O.E.  rod,  North.  Eng.  and 
Sc.  rodd.    Cf.  Blackburn. 

Blackwall  (London).  1377  Blakewale,  1480  'the  wall  called 
Black  Wall,'  along  the  bank  of  the  Thames. 

Bladney  (Somerset).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  c.  712  chart.  Bledenithe. 
'  Bleda'a  '  or  '  Blcedda's  Hythb.'    A  hithe  is  '  a  landing-rise.' 

Bladon  (Woodstock,  both  river  and  village).  O.E.  chart  Blsedene, 
Bladaen,  Dom.  Blade,  1216-1307  Bladen(e),  1272  Bladone. 
Cannot  be  '  blae  hill,'  because  blae  or  blue-looking  is  O.N.  bid. 
But  it  may  be  contr.  for  '  Blcedda's  hill.'  Cf.  K. CD.  121  Blsed- 
dan  hlsew.  See  -don.  Baddeley  thinks  that  this,  as  a  river 
name,  must  be  pre-English. 

Blaenau  Festiniog.    W.=  '  highlands  of  Festiniog.'    Of.  next. 

Blaenavon  (Monmouth).  W.  blaen  afon,  'source,  hill  source  of 
the  river  ' — i.e.,  the  R.  Avon,  Glamorgan. 

Blaengarw  (Glamorgan).  W.=  ' rough  fore-part,'  blaen  means 
both  '  source '  and  '  fore-part,'  whilst  its  plur.  blaenau  means 
'  highlands.'  W.  garw  or  geirw,  '  rough,'  is  the  same  as  G. 
garbh,  so  common  in  Sc.  names;  whilst  in  Sc.  we  also  have 
Blantyre. 

Blaenllecha  (Pontypridd).  W.  =  ' projecting  rocks  or  stones.' 
Cf.  Blaengarw. 

11 


BLAEN-Y-FFOS  164  BLAXHALL 

Blaen-y-ffos  (Pembroke).  W.=  '  source  of  the  ditch'  or  'little 
brook/  W.  ffos,  L.  fossa. 

Blagdon  (Bristol  and  Taunton).  Dom.  Blachedone.  O.E.  hlac 
dun,  'dark  hill';  c/.  Blagborn,  old  form  of  Blackburn. 
Blaisdon,  Glostr.,  is  1200  Blechedun,  prob.  '  hill  of  BlcBcca/ 
which  may  be  the  origin  of  Blagdon  too. 

Blaina  (Monmouth).    W.  blaenau,  'highlands.'    Cf.  Blaengarw. 

Blaxedown  (Kidderminster  and  Kenilworth) .  '  Black  down  '  or 
'hill';  O.E.  blcec,  blec,  bloc.  Duignan  has  no  authority  for 
saying  that  black  here  means  '  uncultivated,  running  wild.' 

Blakenall  (Walsall)  and  Blaelenhall  (Nantwich,  Wolvermptn.). 
Nan.  B.  Dam.  Blechenhale,  Wo.  B.  c.  1300  Blakenhale, 
'  Blecca's  or  Blaca'a  nook.'  Cf.  next  and  Bletchley,  and  see 
-haU. 

'"Blakeney  (Newnham,  Glos.,  and  Norfolk).  Not  in  Dom.  Ne.  B. 
c.  1280  Blacheneia,  '  Blceca's '  or  '  Blaca's  isle.'  Blceca  is  the 
mod.  surname  Blake,  which  may  either  be  fr.  O.E.  blcec,  blac, 
'  black,  dark  man,'  or  fr.  O.N.  bleik-r,  in  Eng.  c.  1205  blake, 
'  pale,  wan.' 

Blakenham,  Great  (Ipswich).  Sic  1298,  but  Dom.  Blacheha. 
'  Blaca's  or  Blceca's  home,'  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey,  Blachingelei,  a 
patronymic,  and  Blakesley,  Towcester. 

Blanchland  (Corbridge).  Land  paid  for  in  'white'  or  silver 
money,  Fr.  blanc,  blanche,  '  white.'  '  Blanch  farm  '  or  '  blench 
ferme  '  is  a  common  legal  term. 

Blandeord.  Dom.  Blane-,  Bleneford.  Difficult  to  say  what  the 
Dom.  forms  stand  for;  whilst  O.E.  bland  is  '  a  mixture,  a  blend,' 
and  our  adj.  bla'iid  is  quite  mod.  Blandsby  (Pickering),  Dom. 
Blandebi,  must  be  '  dwelling  of  a  man  Bland ' ;  Onom.  has  only 
Blandmund  and  Blandwinus.  More  light  needed  for  Blandford. 
See  -by. 

Blankney  (Lincoln).  Dom.  Blachene.  'Isle  of  Blaca,'  here 
nasahzed  Blanca,  gen.  -can.     See  -ey. 

Blatchington  (Brighton).  Prob.  Dom.  Bechingetone  {I  omitted 
in  error).  The  present  name  represents  an  O.E.  Blceccan  tun, 
'  Blaecca's  town.'    Cf.  Bletchtngley. 

Blatherwyck  (Kingscliffe).  1166-7  Pipe  Blarewic,  c.  1350  chart. 
Blatherwyk.  '  Dwelling  of  Blithgcer,  Blithhere,  or  Blithmcer.' 
All  these  names  are  in  Onom.  For  omission  of  th  in  1166-7  cf. 
'  Brer  Babbit '  for  '  Brother  R.'     See  -wick. 

Blawith  (Ulverston).     O.N.  bid  vith-r,   'dark  blue,  blae-looking 

wood.'      Cf.  ASKWITH. 

Blaxhall  (Tunstall).  '  Blcecca's  nook  '  or  '  hall.'  Cf.  Blatching- 
ton ;  and  see  -hall. 


BLAYDON-ON-TYNE  166  BLEWBUEY 

Blaydon-on-Tyne.  Prob.  '  dark  blue,  blae-looking  dune  or  hill/ 
O.N.  bid,  North.  Eng.  and  Sc.  blue.    Cf.  next. 

Bleadon  (Weston-s.-m.).  ?  975  chart.  Bledone  and  a.  1100  WincTir. 
Ann.  Bleodona.  Prob.  '  coloured  hill/  O.E.  Bleo  dun,  fr.  bleoh, 
'  hue,  colour.'  Cf.  Blewbury,  Blofield,  and  Dom.  Bucks, 
Bledone, 

Blean  or  Blee  (Canterbury) .  Dom.  Blehem,  c.  1386  Chaucer  Ble(e) . 
Prob.  '  Blih's  home,'  one  Blih  in  Ononi.  For  the  contraction 
cf.  Beal  ;  but  it  is  rare  to  find  the  unstressed  final  syll.  f aUing 
quite  away.     See  -ham. 

Bleasdale  (Garstang).  1228  Blesedale,  1540  Blesedale.  Possibly 
fr.  a  man,  but  seemingly  '  dale,  valley  of  the  blaze  or  beacon- 
fire,'  O.E.  blase,  blcese,  3-6  North,  blese. 

Blea  tarn  (Westmld.).  1256  Assize  R.  Blaterne.  '  Blae,  bluial^ 
moimtain  lake,'  O.N.  bld-r;  and  see  Tarn. 

Bleddfa  (Radnor) .  Perh.  W.  blaiddfau,  '  wolf's  cave.'  But  the  old 
form  is  Bleddfach;  where  the  ending  is  doubtful.  Bledd  is  '  a 
plain,'  and  the  latter  part  may  be  ffag, '  what  unites  or  meets  in 
a  point.' 

Bledington  (Chipping  Norton).  Dom.  Bladintone,  1221  Bladyn- 
tone.     '  Town  on  R.  Bladon.'     See -ing,  as  river-ending. 

Bledlow  (Bucks).  K.C.D.  721  Blaeddan  hlgew;  Dom.  Bledela,^^ 
?  1297  Scot.  Chancery  Roll '  Johannes  de  Bledelawe.'  '  Bkedda'fi^ 
or  '  Bledda's  hill.'  Bledisloe,  Awre,  Dom.  BUteslau,  is  prob. 
fr.  a  man  Blith.     See  -low. 

Blencow  (Penrith) .  ?  W.  blaen  cu,  '  dear  source  or  promontory  ' ; 
cf.  Blaengarw  and  Glasgow  (Sc),  also  1210  Blenecam, 
Cumbld.,  '  headland  with  the  cairn.' 

Blennerhassett  (Aspatria).  1189  Pipe  Blendherseta,  1354  Carlisle 
will  Alan  de  Blenerhayset,  1473  Paston  Lett.  Blaundrehasset 
and  Blenerhasset  (as  a  personal  name).  This  seems  to  be 
'  seat,  dwelHng  of  Blandhere '  or  '  Blender,'  an  unknown  man. 
Cf.  Dorset,  etc.     But  this  leaves  the  -hass  ill-accounted  for. 

Bletchingley  (Red  Hill),  Bletchtngton  (Oxford).  Dom.  Bleces-, 
Bhcestone,  1139  Bleche-,  Blachedon,  1216-1307  Blecchesdon 
(see  -don) ;  and  Bletchley.  '  Meadow  '  and  '  village  of  Blecca,' 
or  his  descendants.    Cf.  Blatchington;  and  see  -ing  and  -ley. 

Bletsoe  (Bedford).  Dom.  Bleches-,  Blachesou,  a.  1199  Blacheho. 
'  Blecca's  mound.'    Cf.  Thingoe;  and  see  -how. 

Blewbury  (Didcot)  and  Blewbury  Down.  944  chart.  Bleobyrig. 
Dom.  BUtberie,  a.  1450  Bleobery.  One  would  expect  this  to 
be  fr.  some  man;  but  there  is  no  name  in  Bleo-  in  Onom.  So 
the  first  part  may  be  as  in  Bleadon,  '  bright  borough,'  lit.,  as 
Skeat  puts  it,  '  show-borough.'    Cf.  Fairfield,  etc. 


BLICKLING  156  BLUNDESTON 

Buckling  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Blikelinga,  1450  Blyclyng.  A  patro- 
nymic ;  but  it  is  not  easy  to  give  the  root.     Onom.  gives  no  help. 

Blldwoeth  (Mansfield).  Dow.  Blideworde,  -vorde.  '  Blcedda's 
farm.'     Cf.  Bledington;  and  see  --^orth. 

Bldstdley  Heath  (Red  HiU).  Old  forms  needed.  Not  in  Dom. 
?  '  bhnd  lea '  or  '  meadow ' ;  blind  being  here  used  in  its  meaning 
of  '  obscure,  dark,  concealed."  A  place  '  Blindsyke '  is  found 
in  a  Dumbartonsh,  charter  as  early  as  c.  1350. 

Blisland  (Bodmin)  and  Bliswobth  (Northants).  Dom.  Blides- 
worde,  1158-9  Pipe  BUeswurda.  '  Land '  and  '  farm  of  Blida ' 
(or  Blih').  See  -worth.  Pike  o'  Bhsco,  Westmld.,  will  be 
'  peak  of  BUda's  or  Bhh's  wood ' ;  -sco  or  -scough  for  Shaw,  cf. 

BUUSCOUGH. 

Blocjkley  (Moreton-Henmarsh).  855  cliart.  Bloccanleah,  Dom. 
Blockelei.     '  Blocca's  lea."    Cf.  Bloxham  . 

Blobield  (Norwich).  Dom.  Blafelda,  1157  Blafeld,  1452  Blofield. 
'Leaden-coloured,  bluish  field.'  M.E.  c.  1250  bio,  O.N.  bid, 
'  Hvid,'  cognate  with  blae  and  blue.     Cf.  Bleadon  and  Blowick. 

Bloomsbuby  (London  and  Birmingham).  Lo.  B.  c.  1537  Lomes-, 
Lomsbury.  The  history  of  this  name  is  very  obscure,  and  more 
evidence  is  needed.  Possibly  the  Lome-  represents  Leofman, 
a  fairly  common  O.E.  name.     See  -bury. 

Blobe  Heath  (Staffs).  Dom.  and  later  Blora.  Blore  is  an  ono- 
matopoeic word  meaning  '  a  violent  gust  or  blast ' ;  not  found  in 
Eng.  a.  1440. 

Blow  Gill  (Helmsley).  1200  Blawathgile.  O.N.  bid  wath,  '  leaden- 
coloured,   bluish  ford,'  in  the  ravine.     See  -giU.    Cf.  JjAHG- 

WATKBY. 

Blowick  (Southport) .  '  Leaden-coloured,  bluish  dwelling.'  See 
Blofield  and  -wick,  which  must  be  Eng.  here  and  not  N.,  as 
Blowick  is  inland  and  can  have  no  '  bay.' 

Bloxham  (Banbury).  Dom.  Warwk.,  Lochesham  (error),  1155 
Pipe  Blochesham,  1231  Blokesham.  '  Home  of  Blocca.'  Cf. 
Blockley. 

Bloxwich  (Walsall)  and  Bloxwobth  (Bere  Regis).  Dom.  Bloches- 
wic,  a.  1300  Blockeswich,  Blokeswyke.  '  Blocca's  dwelling ' 
and  '  farm.'    See  -wich  and  -worth. 

Blundell  Sands  (Liverpool).  Perh.  fr.  Randulph  de  Blundevill, 
Earl  of  Chester  in  1180.  Blundell  has  been  a  common  Lanca- 
shire name  from  at  least  the  17th  cny.  Cf.  next  and  -hall, 
which  the  -ell  may  represent. 

Bltjndeston  (Lowestoft).  Not  in  Dom.  ^  Blunda's  town  or 
village.'  The  name  is  now  Blunt,  Fr.  blond,  Nor.  Fr.  blund, 
*  fair,  flaxen.'     Cf.  next,  and  Dom.  Essex,  Blundeshala. 


BLUNTISHAM  157  BOCKLETON 

Bluntisham  (Hunts).  Dom.  Bluntesham.  'Home  of  BlunW  or 
'  Blunt/  which  last  is  still  a  common  surname.  Cf.  Dom.  Wilts, 
Blontesdone,  K.C.D.  666  Bluntesige,  and  Bluntington,  Wore. 
Blunham,  Sandy,  prob.  represents  the  same  name. 

Blyborotjgh  (Kirton  Lindsay).  Dom.  Bliburg.  Prob.,  as  in 
Blisworth,  '  burgh,  fort  of  Blida,'  but  it  may  be  '  of  Blih* 
Of.  1157  Pipe  Norfk.  BHeburc,     See  -borough. 

Blymhtll  (Shifnal).  Dom.  Brumhelle  {r  for  I,  one  liquid  confused 
in  sound  with  the  other),  a.  1200  and  later  Blumonhull.  Prob. 
'  hill  of  the  blooms,'  or  molten  masses  of  metal,  O.E.  hloma, 
-an,  then,  curiously,  not  found  till  1600  bloom;  but  1584-5 
blomary,  or  bloomer y,  a  forge  for  making  blooms.  One  must 
have  stood  on  this  hill,  which  is  in  an  iron-producing  district. 

Blyth(e)  (Northumbld.,  Warwk.,  Notts,  and  Rotherham),  Blythe 
Bridge  (Stoke-on-T.).  Roth  B.  c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Blida;  Notts, 
B.  Dom.  Blide,  1146  Blida,  c.  1180  Blya,  1298  Blythe.  The  Eng. 
blithe  never  refers  to  places;  so  this  may  be  connected  with 
W.  blytlmir,  '  a  belching,'  blythach,  '  a  bloated  person,'  and 
blwth,  '  a  pufE,  a  blast.'  There  are  two  rivers  in  Northbld.,  and 
one  each  in  Staffs,  Notts,  and  Suffk.,  all  called  Blyth(e),  and 
nearly  all  Eng.  rivers  are  Kelt,  in  origin;  though  what  that 
was  is  now  lost.  On  the  Staff.  Blythe  are  Blithbury,  a.  1200 
Blith(e)burie,  and  Blithfield,  Dom.  Blidevelt.  In  Northbld  we 
find  1208  Snoc  de  Bliemus — i.e.,  '  snout,  projecting  headland 
of  Blythmouth '  — 1423  Blythe-snuke,  a.  1800  Blyth-snook, 
fr.  O.N.  snoh-r,  '  a  mark  stretched  out,'  hnuTc-r,  '  a  little  moun- 
tain, a  rock  ' ;  cf.  '  The  Snewke  or  Conny-warren '  in  Blaeu's 
map  of  Lindisfarne. 

BoARSTALL  (Bucks).    Popular  etymology.    See  Borstal. 

Bobber's  Mill  (Nottingham).  Bobber  in  mid.  dial,  means  'a 
chum.' 

BoBBiNGTON  (Stourbridge).  Dom.  Bubintone,  a.  1200  Bobintune; 
cf.  798  chart.  '  Bobing-saeta,'  Kent.  '  Town,  village  of  Bobba  ' 
(or  his  descendants),  mentioned  in  a  Worcester  chart,  of  759. 

BocKHAMPTON  (Lamboum  and  Dorchester).  Both  a.  1300  Boc- 
hamton.  'Beech-built  Hampton,' or  'home-farm';  O.E.  boc, 
O.N.  bok,  '  a  beech.'  Cf.  Btjckland  and  Great  Bookham; 
also  Dom.  Norfk.,  Bocthorp. 

BocKCNG  (Braintree).  Dom.  Bochinges.  Patronymic,  'place  of 
the  sons  of  Bocca  ';  cf.  806  Bokenhale,  ?  near  Croyland.  Onom. 
gives  only  Bacca  and  Bacco.    See  -ing. 

BocKLETON  (Tenbury  and  Salop).  Te.  B.  Dom.  Boclintun,  1275 
Boclinton,  a.  1400  Bocklington,  Bokehnton.  Sa.  B.  1321 
Bochtone  (an  error),  1534  Bucculton.  '  Town  of  Boccel.'  Onom. 
gives  only  one  Beoccel. 


BODEDERN  158  BOLLINGTON 

BoDEDERN  (Anglesea).  W.  bod  edyrn,  'residence  of  sovereignty/ 
or  '  royal  house  ' ;  but  T.  Morgan  says,  '  abode  of  Edern/  son  of 
Nudd,  warrior  and  poet. 

BoDELWYDDAN  (Flintsh.).  W.  hod-el-gwyddan,  'residence  of  the 
wood-spirit '  or  '  satyr/ 

BoDENHAM  (Leominster  and  Salisbury).  Sic  1202.  '  Boda'8 
home.'  O.E.  boda,  2  bode,  is  '  a  herald,  a  messenger/  one  who 
'  bodes '  or  forebodes.  Dam.  Wilts,  has  Bodeberie,  and  Dom. 
Nfk.,  Bodenham.     Cf.  Boddington  on  Chelt,  Dom.  Botintone. 

BoDFARi  (Denbigh).  Perh.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Varis.  But  now  W. 
bod  Fari,  '  house  of  Mary,'  the  m  being  aspirated. 

BoDFFORD  (Anglesea).  W.  bod  jfordd,  '  dwelUng  by  the  road  or 
passage.' 

BODHAM  (Holt,  Nfk.).  Dom.  has  both  Bodha  and  Bodenham. 
'  Home  of  Boda  '  or  '  Boddus.'    See  -ham. 

BoDicoTT  (Banbury).  Dom.  Bodicote,  1216-1307  Bodicot.  '  Boda'& 
cottage.'    Cf.  above. 

BoDMEsr.    Dom.   Bodmini,  Exon.  Dom.   Bodmine;   c.    1180  Ben;- 
Peterb.  Bothmenia;  c.  1200  Gervase  Bomine;  1216  Bodminium. 
1294  Bodmin.    Com.  bod  or  6o  is  '  a  house,'  the  second  half  is 
more  uncertain;  it  may  be  '  house  of  stones,'  Com.  min,  myin 
{cf.  next),  or  '  on  the  edge,'  min,  or  '  on  the  hill,'  mene. 

BoDVEAJsr  (PwUheli).  W.  bod  faen,  'house  of  stone.'  Cf.  cist  faen, 
'  a  stone  coffin.'  As  houses  in  Wales  and  Cornwall  usually  are 
of  stone,  the  reference  will  prob.  be  to  some  '  Druidical '  erection. 

BoGNOR.  Not  in  Dom.,  but  680  chart.  Bucgan  ora — i.e.,  '  Bucga's 
edge  '  or  '  brink  '  or  '  shore  ' ;  three  Bucgas  in  Onom.  In  1166-7 
Pi^e  it  is  Begenoura.     See  -or. 

BoLDON  (Jarrow).  1183  Boldona.  Prob.  O.E.  botl-dun,  '  hill, 
dune  with  the  dwelling  on  it.'    Cf.  Bolton  and  Bole. 

Bole  (Gainsborough).  Sic  1316,  but  Dom.  Bolxm.  [Dom.  Lines  has 
Bolebi, '  dwelling  of  Bola.')  This  may  be  O.N.  bol, '  house,  dwell- 
ing '  (with  -un  an  old  loc),  if  not  bol-r, '  bole,  trunk  of  a  tree.'  Cf. 
BoLroBD,  Kendal,  Dom.  Bodelforde,  'ford  at  the  house  ';  see 
Bolton.  Also  cf.  next,  and  Dom.  Salop  and  1157  Pipe,  Northbld., 
Bolebec.  1160-1  Pi'pe,  Sussex,  Bulebech,  may  not  be  the  same. 

Bole  Hill  (Wirksworth) .  Oxf.  Diet,  bole  s6*, '  a  place  where  miners 
smelted  their  lead.'    Not  found  a.  1670,  and  origin  unknown. 

Bolingey  (Truro).  Prob.  *  isle  of  the  Bolings,'  or  '  descendants  of 
Bola,'  a  name  in  Onom.  We  have  '  Bulluigbrooke  '  already  in 
the  time  of  Wm.  the  Conqueror,  1166-7  Pipe,  Billingeburc  and 
Bull-,  1233  Bulingbroc,  Lines,  hence  the  name  Bolingbroke. 

BoLLiNGTON  (Macclesfield  and  Altrincham).  '  Town,  village  on  the 
Er.  Bollin,'  which  may  be  connected  with  same  root  as  W.  bol, 
boly,  '  the  belly,'  and  so  '  swollen  river.'  See  -ing  as  river-ending. 


BOLNEY  159  BONCHURCH 

BoLNEY  (Hayward's  Heath)  and  Bolnhtjest  (St.  Neot's).  Not  in 
Dom.  '  Isle '  and  '  wood  of  Bola,'  -an.  Of.  Dom.  Bucks, 
Bolebech  (=  bach,  '  brook  '),  Devon,  Bolewis,  Yorks,  Bolesford; 
also  Bollesdon  (Newent),  old  Bolesdone,  Bullesdone,  whilst 
Dom.  Yorks,  Bolebi  is  now  Boulby.     See  -ey  and  -hurst. 

BoLsovER  (Chesterfield).  Dom.  Belesovre,  1166-67  Pipe  Bolle- 
shoura,  1173-74  ih.  Castella  de  Pech  et  de  Bolesoura,  c.  1180 
Bened.  Peterb.  Boleshoveres.  '  Sola's  bank  or  brink";  O.E. 
ofer,  obr  ;  M.E.  overe,  '  border,  bank  of  a  river/  Cf.  Ashover, 
and  see  Bolney,  etc. 

Bolsterstone  (Sheffield).  Not  in  Dom.  Not  likely  to  be  fr.  Eng. 
and  O.E.  bolster,  but  prob.  a  tautology,  fr.  O.N.  bol-sta^r, 
'  dwelling-place  '  or  '  farm  ' ;  so  common  in  Sc.  names  as  -bister, 
-buster,  and  -bster ;  Scrabster,  Ulbster,  etc.  Bolster  will  have 
been  taken  for  a  proper  name,  and  -ton  added;  for  the  final  e 
cf.  Johnston  and  Johnstone,  both  meaning  '  John's  town.' 

BoLTBY  (Thirsk).  Dom.  Boltebi,  1209  Bolteby.  'Dwelling  of 
Bolt,'  a  name  not  in  Onom.  Hardly  fr.  bolt  sb^ ;  but  perh.  a 
tautology,  fr.  O.E.  bold,  'house,  dwelling,'  and  -by. 

Bolton  (nine  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Boletone,  1208  Bollton  (on  Swale). 
Other  B's  in  Dom.  Yorks  and  Lanes  are  Bodeltone.  We  get 
an  interesting  set  of  forms  for  the  Sc.  Bolton  (Haddingtonsh.), 
c.  1200  Botheltune,  Boteltune,  Boweltun,  1250  Boulton,  1297 
Boltone.  O.E.  botl-tun, '  dwelling-enclosure,  collection  of  houses, 
village';  influenced  by  O.N.  bol,  'a  house,  a  dwelling-place.' 
It  is  according  to  its  rule  for  Dom.  to  spell  Both-  or  Bot-  as  Bod-. 

Cf.  BOOTLE. 

Bomer(e)  Heath  (Shrewsbury).  Earlier  Bolemere.  *Mere  or 
lake,'  O.E.  mere,  '  of  the  bull/  not  in  O.E.,  but  O.N.  bole,  boli  ; 
in  Eng.  c.  1200  bule,  3-5  bole.  Cf.  Dom.  (Yorks)  Bolemere, 
1166-67  Pipe  Bulema,  now  Bulmer;  also  The  Bolmers,  Castle 
Bromwich,  and  the  Bullmoors  (Shenstone),  and  Boll  Bridge 
(Tamworth),  1313  Bollebrigge. 

BoKBY  (Hull) .  Either  a  man  '  Bonda  or  Bondo's  dwelling,'  or  '  dwell- 
ing of  the  peasant ' ;  O.E.  bonda  ;  O.N.  bonde;  d  readily  disappears. 
But  Dom.  (Yorks)  Bonnebi  (twice)  is  now  Gunby.    See  -by. 

BoNCATH  (Pembroke).  W.  boncath  means  'a  buzzard';  but  bon 
cath  is  '  tree  stump  of  the  cat.' 

BoNCHURCH  (Ventnor).  Dom.  Bonecerce.  Bone-  must  be  O.N. 
bon, '  a  prayer,  a  boon  ' ;  in  Eng.  2-7  bone,  3-4  bon.  Cf.  Bunwell. 
There  is  no  man  named  Bona  or  Bonna,  in  Onom.  The  O.E.  for 
a  prayer  is  ben,  so  that,  curiously,  this  must  be  a  Norse  name, 
the  indication  of  a  forgotten  early  N.  settlement  here.  This  is 
confirmed  by  Dom.'s  ending  -cerce,  the  hard  c's  having  quite 
a  N.  look.  Dom.  nearly  always  has  -cherche,  chirche,  '  Alvieve- 
cherche,'  '  Bascherche,'  etc.  Dom.'s  form  is  also  our  earhest 
Eng.  example  of  boon  ;  the  earhest  in  Oxf.  Diet,  is  c.  1175  bone. 


BONINGTON  160  BOEOUGHBRIDGE 

BoioNGTON  (Notts  and  Kent).  Sic  1297-98,  but  Dom.  Bonintone 
(Kent),  Bonnitone  (Notts),  1296  Bonigtone  (?  where).  Doubtful. 
It  should  mean  '  Bona'8  town,"  but  there  is  no  such  name  in 
Onom.     Cf.  BONNINGTON  (Sc). 

BoNSALL  (Derby).  Perh.  Dom.  Bunteshale.  Prob.  'nook,  corner 
of  Bunda  or  Bonda/  both  in  Onom.  But  cf.  Dom.  (Bucks) 
Bonestov,  ?  '  place  of  Bone/  stiU  a  surname.  Cf.  Bunny,  and 
see  -hall. 

BoNTDDtr  (Dolgelly).    W.  pont  du,  'black  bridge.' 

BoNTNEWYDD  (Caernarvon).    W.  '  new  bridge  ';  W.  pont. 

BoNviLSTON  (Cardiff).  Bonville,  Fr.  for  'good  town,""  as  well  as 
Melville,  '  bad  town,'  occurs  as  a  surname  in  Britain.  In  W.  it 
is  Tresimwn,  '  house  of  Simon  Bonville,'  chief  steward  of  the 
Norm.  Sir  Robt.  Fitzhamon.  There  is  a  Hutton  Bonville 
(Yorks).    We  find  -ville  common  in  the  Channel  Isles. 

BoosBECK  (Yorks).  NotinjDom.  Prob.  '  brook  with  the  cow-stall 
beside  it ';  O.N.  bass  ;  M.E.  boose,  '  a  cow-stall.'    See  -beck. 

Boot  (Ravenglass).  O.N.  but)  ;  Dan.  and  Sw.  bod,  '  a  hut,  a  dwel- 
ling.'   Cf.  G.  both  or  bot, '  a  house.' 

BooTHBY  (Grantham).  1298  Bothebi.  Prob.  '  dwelling  of  Botha 
or  Bota.'  Booth  is  still  a  common  surname.  Cf.  Bootham 
(York).     See  -by. 

BooTHROYD  Lane  (Dewsbury).  Called  after  a  man  Boothroyd, 
where  -royd  is  prob.  fr.  rod  56,^  6  roid,  '  a  path,  a  way.' 

BooTLB  (Liverpool,  Cumbld.).  Li.  B.  a.  1540  Bothul.  Demi,  for 
N.  Lanes,  has  Bodele  and  Fordbodele  (now  washed  away). 
O.E.  botl, '  a  dwelUng,  a  house.'  Of.  Bolton  andNEWBATTLE  (Sc). 

BoKDEN  (Sittingbourne).  Not  in  Dom.  'Boar's  den';  O.E.  bar, 
3-7  bor.  The  wild  boar  was  not  extinct  in  England  till  at  least 
the  17th  century. 

BoRDESLEY  (Birmingham).  1156  Bordeslega,  1158  -lea,  in  1275 
also  Bordeshale.  '  Borda's  lea  '  or  '  meadow.'  Cf.,  too,  B.C.S. 
739  Bordeles  tun.     See  -ley. 

BoREHAM  (four  in  P.O.).  Dom.  (Surrey)  Borham.  'Boar's 
home.'  See  Borden.  Boar  may  here  be  a  proper  name.  Cf. 
Borley  Green  (Sudbury).  But  Borley  House  (Upton-on- 
Severn)  is  Dom.  Burgeleye,  or  '  fortified  place  in  the  meadow.' 
See  next,  and  Btjrley.  Borefleet  is  the  old  name  of  Bright- 
lingsea  Creek,  earlier  found  as  Bordfliet,  Berfliet,  and  Balfleet; 
prob.  Fleet  or  'river  of  the  boar';  O.E.  bar,  3  ber,  4-7  bore. 
Dr.  Diekin  postulates  an  O.E.  bord,  '  border,'  which  does  not 
exist;  and  bore,  '  tidal  wave,'. is  not  found  till  1601. 

Borougkbridge  (York).  1380  Ponteburg.  '  Fort -bridge '  or 
'  fortified  bridge,'  fr.  O.E.-  burh,  '  a  fort,  castle,  or  burgh.'  Cf. 
Pontefract,  'or  broken  bridge,'  and  Borough  Green  (Cambs). 


BOKKODAIL  161  '       BOSTON 

BoRRODAiL  (Cumberland) .  N.  borg-dal-r,  '  dale,  valley  with  a  fort 
in  it/    Cf.  next  and  Borrowstonness  or  Bo'ness  (Sc). 

Borrow  ASH  (Derby).  Not  in  Dom.  '  Burgh  ash-tree/  Cf.  above 
and  next. 

BoRROWBY  (several  in  Yorks).  All  in  Dom.  Berg(h)ebi.  '  Fortified 
dwelling-place/  fr.  O.N.  borg  or  O.E.  borh,  borg,  burh,  '  fort, 
burgh."    Cf.  Barrowby,  Borwick,  and  Borrodail;  and  see  -by. 

Borstal  or  Bostal  (Rochester) .  Dom.  Borcstele,  Borchetelle ; 
a.  1200  Text.  Bqff.  Borestella,  Borgestealla.  O.E.  beorh-steall, 
'seat,  place,  stall  on  the  hillside.'  Or  Bor-  may  be  O.E.  borh, 
borg,  burh,  *fort,  burgh.'  Cf.  Pipe  1157  Burchestala,  prob.  in  Beds. 

BoRTH  (Cardigan).    W.  bordd,  burdd,  '  a  board  or  table.' 

BoRWiCK  (Carnf orth) .  Dom.  Borch  and  Bereuuic  (second  e  an  error) . 
O.E.  borh-wic,  '  fort-dwelling,  fortified  house.'    Cf.  Borrowby. 

BosAHAJsr  (Falmouth).  Pron.  Bow-sane.  Corn,  bod,  bos,  bo, '  house, 
dwelling,'  G.  both,  common  in  Com.  names,  as  in  Boscawen, 
'  house  beside  the  elder -tree,'  scawen,  Boslowick,  Bosistow,  etc. 
The  latter  half  is  often  now  uncertain,  but  Bosahan  may  be  fr. 
sawan,  '  a  hole  in  a  cHfE  beside  the  sea.'    None  of  these  in  Dom. 

BosBURY  (Ledbury).  Flar.  Wore,  and  Sim.  Dur.  re  ann.  1056. 
Bosanbyrig,  '  Burgh,  castle  of  Bosa.' 

BoscASTLE  (Cornwall).  Prob.  '  Bosa's  or  Boso's  castle  ';  names  in 
Onom.    But  Corn.  60s  also  means  '  moor.'    Cf.  Bosahan. 

BoscoMBE  (Bournemouth  and  Sahsbury).  Sal.  B.  Dom.  Boscumbe. 
'  Bosa's  valley.'     See  above  and  -combe. 

BosHAM  (Chichester).  Bede  Bosanham,  1048  O.E.  Chron.  Bosen- 
ham,  1167-68  Pipe  Boseham.     '  Bosa'a  home.'    Cf.  Bosbury. 

BosHERSTON  (Pembroke).  Modem.  Bosher  is  an  English  surname, 
prob.  fr.  Fr.  boucher,  'a  butcher.' 

BosLEY  (Macclesfield).  Dom.  Boselega.  'Bosa'a  lea  or  meadow.' 
Cf.  Bosh  AM. 

Boston.  Not  in  Dom.  1090  chart.  Ecclesia  sancti  Botulphi, 
a.  1200  Hoveden  Sti  Botulphi,  c.  1250  Dame  Siriz  Botolfston  in 
Lincolneschire,  Leland  Botolphstowne,  and  Boston.  Linking 
forms  seem  curiously  lacking.  The  copious  Hist,  of  Boston, 
1856,  by  Thompson,  mentions  none;  but  the  name  was,  St. 
Botolph's  in  Eng.  or  in  Latin,  rather  than  Boston,  till  after 
1400.  We  have  found  '  Boston '  first  in  1391,  Earl  Derby's 
Exp.  (Camden),  23.  Of  the  origin  there  can  be  no  doubt,  as 
O.E.  Chron.  ann.  654  says,  the  hermit  Botwulf  (L.  Botulphus) 
built  the  minster  at  Icanho,  the  earlier  name  of  Boston.  A 
similar  contraction  is  perh.  seen  in  Boss  all  (Yorks),  whose 
church  is  also  dedicated  to  St  Botolph.  But  here  Dom.'s  forms 
are  puzzling — Boscele  and  Bosciale.    The  ending  is  certainly 


BOTHAMSALL  162  BOURTON 

-hall,  q.v. ;  but  Bosc-  does  not  suggest  Botulph.  The  only  name 
near  it  in  Onom.  is  one  Bascic.  Cf.  Dom.  (Hunts)  Botulves- 
brige. 

BoTHAMSALL  (Newark).  Dom.  Bodmescel(d) ,  1180  Bodemeskil, 
1278  Bodmeshill,  1302  Bothemeshull,  1428  Bothomsell.  Now 
'Bothelm's  nook'  or  'hall/  Cf.  Bonsall,  etc.,  and  see  -hall. 
But  the  orig.  ending  was  either  late  O.E.  cell, '  a  small  monastery 
or  nunnery/  Med.  L.  cella ;  or,  more  prob.,  O.N.  kelda,  '  a  spring, 
a  well.' 

BoTLEY  (Hants  and  Henley -in- Arden) .  Han.  B.  Dom.  Botelei. 
Hen.  B.  Dugdale  Botle.  Prob.  '  Botta's '  or  '  Bottoms  lea  or 
meadow.'  Possibly  O.E.  botl-Uah,  'meadow  with  the  hut  or 
house  on  it.'  Cf.  Botlob  (Dymock),  Dom.  Botelav  (see  -low) ; 
also  Dom.  (Cambs)  Botestoch  (O.E.  stoc,  '  a  place  '). 

BoTTiSHAM  (Cambridge).  Dom.  Bodichesham,  1210  Bodekesham, 
1372  Bodkesham,  1400  Botkesham,  1428  Bottesham.  '  Home 
of  Bodeca.'    See  -ham. 

BoTTLESFORD  (Pewsey,  Wilts).  Not  in  Dom.  [c.  1190  chart. 
'  Botlesford,'  Notts.].  ?  'Ford  of  Botvmlf  or  '  Botweald.' 
Only,  in  796  chart.  (Wilts),  we  have  a  Butlesleye,  which  must 
represent  a  name  Butela,  or  the  like. 

BoTUSFLEMiNG  (Cornwall).  Corn.  =  ' parish  of  the  Flemings'  or 
men  from  Flanders.  Cf.  Flushing  opposite  Falmouth.  Botus 
may  be=W.  bettws,  corrup.  of  Eng.  bead-house,  'house  of 
prayer  ' ;  but  this  is  uncertain,  c.  1175  Lambeth  Hom.  has  bode, 
beode,  for  bede,  '  prayer,  petition.'  Cf.  Bacchus  (Glostrsh.), 
1304  Bakkehuse,  '  the  back  house.' 

SouGHTON  (nine  in  P.G.).  Dom.  (Notts,  Nfk.,  Northants)  Buche- 
tone,  -tuna.  1179-80  Pipe  (Yorks)  Bouton.  Some  conceivably 
might  be  '  town  at  the  bend,'  M.E.  bought,  same  root  as  bight, 
'  a  bay.'  But  B.,  Notts,  1225  Buketon,  is  fr.  a  man  Bucca. 
Boughton  (Wore.)  is  1038  chart.  Bocctun,  1275  Boctone, 
which  is  certainly  '  town  of  the  beech-trees,  O.E.  boc'  The 
phonetics  here  are  as  in  Broughton. 

Boughto(u)n-tjndeb-Blee  (Canterbury).  Sic  Chaucer,  c.^1386. 
See  above  and  Blee. 

Bourne  (Cambs  and  Lincoln) .  Cam.  B.  Dom.  Brune,  1171  Brunne, 
1210  Bume .  B .  Line .  c .  1 200  Gervase  Brunne .  0  .N .  brunn-r, '  a 
brook ' ;  O.E.  burn{a),  '  a  spring,  a  well,  a  stream,'  the  Sc.  '  bum.' 

Bournemouth.  Perh.  c.  1150  Gaimar,  re  ann.  1066  Brunemue. 
See  above. 

BouBTON  (seven  in  P.G.).  Glos.  B.  949  chart.  Burgtune,  Dom. 
Bortune.  Rugby  B.  Dom.  Bortone.  Bath  B.  c.  1160  Burton; 
also  B.C.S.  i.  506  Burgton  (Berks).  -Burton,  'fortified 
town.'     See  -bury  and  -ton. 


BOVERTON  163  BRACEBOROUGH 

BovERTON  (Cowbridge).  Prob.  O.E.  bi-ofer-tun,  '  town,  village,  by 
the  brink  or  edge/  Cf.  '  Bovreford  '  (Hants)  in  Dom.;  also 
Beefobd,  Bolsover,  etc. 

BovEY  Tracey  (S.  Devon).  Pron.  Buvvey.  Dom.  Bovi.  Prob. 
'  Bofa's  isle  '  ;  see  next,  and  -ey.  On  Tracey  cf.  Wollacombe 
Tracy. 

BoviNGTON  (Hemel  Hampstead).  1298  Bovyngton.  'Bofa's 
town/  or  else  '  Botwine's  town/  This  last  is  a  common  name 
in  Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  Bouinton,  1205  Buvintone  (in  YorkS),  now 
Boynton;  and  Dom.  (Wilts)  Boientone.  Boving  may  be  a 
patronymic.     See  -ing. 

Bow  (London).  Early  often  called  '  De  Arcubus,'  fr.  a  bridge 
arched  or  '  bowed,'  built  here  in  the  time  of  Q.  Maud,  the  first 
in  England. 

Bowes  Castle  (Yorksh.).  c.  1188  Gir.  Gamb.  Beoves.  Prob.  fr.  a 
man  Bofa  or  Beofa  ;  several  Bof  as  in  Onom.  The  s  will  be  the  gen. 

BowNESS  (Cumberland),  c,  1200  Bowenes.  'Ness  or  naze  (O.N. 
and  O.E.  nces,  '  cape,  nose  ')  at  the  bow  or  bend  ' ;  O.E.  boga. 

BowNHiLL  (Stroud).  Not  in  Dom.  Some  think  this  is  Bede's 
Mons  Badonicus.  But  old  forms  are  needed;  meantime  doubt- 
ful.    Baddeley  can  throw  no  Hght. 

BowTHORPE  (Menthorpe,  Yorks).  Dom.  and  1199  Boletorp.  '  Vil- 
lage of  Bola/  two  in  Onom.    Cf.  Bolney;  and  see  -thorpe. 

BoxFOBD  (Newbury  and  Colchester).  New.  B.B.C.S.i.  506  Boxora, 
Dom.  Bovsore,  Bochesome.  The  present -form  seems  quite 
mod.  Box-ora  is  O.E.  for  '  edge,  river -bank  lined  with  box- 
trees.'  Cf.  Windsor,  etc.  Box  Hill  (Surrey)  was  early  famed 
for  its  box-trees.    Close  by  is  Box  Hurst  or  '  box  wood.' 

BoxLEY  (Maidstone) .  ?  Dom.  Bogelei,  1155  Pipe BoxeF,  c.  1188  Gir, 
Gamb.  Boxletha,  1289  Boxleya.  Prob.  O.E.  box-ledh, '  box-tree 
meadow.'  There  are  no  names  in  Onom.  like  Boc  or  Bocca;  but 
cf.  next.   The  -letha  might  be  for  O.E.  hlv^,  c.  1200  li^e, '  a  slope.' 

BoxwoRTH  (Cambridge).  Dom.  Bochesuuorde,  1228  Bukeswrth, 
1256  Bokesworth.  '  Farm  of  the  he-goats.'  Icel.  bokk-r,  Sw. 
bock  ;  also  O.E.  buc,  '  a  buck,  a  he-deer,'  fr.  which  comes  form 
1228.  Cf.  BoxwELL  (Charfield),  Dom.  Boxewelle,  1316  Bockes- 
weUe. 

BoYNTON  (BridUngton).    See  Bovington". 

BoYTON  (Launceston) .  Dom.  Boye-,  Boietone.  '  Boia's  town 
or  village.'  Several  of  this  name  in  Onom.  Cf.  Boythorp 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Buitorp. 

Brabourne  (Kent).  Dom.  Bradeburne.  O.E.  brad  burna,  '  broad 
stream.'     See  -l3ourne. 

Braceborough  (Stamford).  Dom.  Braseborg,  and  Bracebridgb 
(Lincoln),  Dom.  Brachebrige,  1298  Bracebrigge.    Prob.  '  burgh. 


BRACKLEY  164  BRADSHAW 

fort/  and  '  bridge  of  Bracca,  or  Breca,  or  Brece.'  But  as  to  the 
latter  note  also  1483  Caihol.  Angl.  '  A  brace  of  a  bryge  or  of  a 
vawte,  sinus,  arcus,'= '  span/  Cf.  next,  and  Bracewell 
(W.  Riding),  JDom.  Braisuelle. 

Brackley  (Northampton),  c.  1188  Gir.  Cambr.  Brakelega, 
Bracheleia.  '  Bracca's  lea  or  meadow/  Cf.  Brackenthwaite 
(Cockermouth),  1202  Brakinthweit ;  see  -ley  and  -thwaite. 

Bracknell  (Winkfield).  942  chart.  Braccan  heal.  There  can  be 
little  doubt  this  means  '  nook  of  Bracca.'  There  is  no  word  like 
the  mod.  bracken  in  O.E.,  and  in  any  case  '  bracken  nook '  is 
not  the  Hkely  meaning  according  to  analogy,  though  it  is  sup- 
ported by  Skeat.  See  above  and -hall.  There  is  also  a  Bracken 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Brachen,  which  must  be  '  Bracca's  place.'  Cf. 
Beedon,  Coven,  etc. 

Bradbury  (Durham),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Brydbyrig.  Broad, 
O.E.  brad,  never  takes  the  form  bryd  or  brid,  so  this  is  prob. 
'Burgh  or  castle  of  the  bride';  O.E.  bryd,  3-4  bryd.  See 
-bury. 

Bradden  (Towcester).  1221  Braden  is  'Broad  valley.'  See 
Bradon,  and  -den.    But  for  Braddn  see  Vraddan  (Lizard). 

Bradenham  (Thetford  and  High  Wycombe) .  B.C.S.  877  Bradan- 
ham.  [Cf.  c.  672  Grant '  Bradanfeld  '  (Berks),  and  1298  '  Thomas 
de  Bradenston.']  '  Brada's  home.'  The  name  is  common  in 
Onom.  But  Skeat  holds  that  Bradanfeld,  now  Bradfield,  is 
a  weak  dative  fr.  O.E.  brad,  '  broad.' 

Bradeston  (Norfolk).  {Dom.  has  only  Bradeha.)  1298  Braden- 
ston, 1422  Breydeston,  1450  Brayston,  1451  Braydeston. 
'  Brada's  town.'  Cf.  Bradenham.  Form  1298  will  then  show 
a  double  gen. 

Bradford,  Dom.  Bradeford;  and  Bradford -on-A von  (Wilts). 
O.E.  Chron.  652  Mt  Bradanforda  be  Afne.  '  Broad  ford.'  Cf. 
Bretford,  and  Dom.  (Yorks)  Bradfortun,  Bratfortone,  now 
Bralferton. 

Brading  (I.  of  Wight).  Dom.  Berarding.  This  must  be  'place 
of  the  descendants  of  Beorhtweard,'  later  Beorhward,  Berard. 
See  -ing. 

Bradley  (Keighley,  and  7).  Dom.  (Yorks)  several,  Bradeleia; 
Bilston  B.  Z)om.  Bradeley;  Stafford  B.  Dom.  Bradeleia.  778 
chart.  Bradan  lea3e  (?  which),  '  Broad  lea  or  meadow,'  or  pos- 
sibly '  Brada's  meadow.'    Cf.  Bradeston, 

Bradon  (a  district  W.  of  Swindon).  Sic  O.E.  Chron.  904.  O.E. 
brad  dun,  '  broad  hill.'  Cf.,  too,  '  Bradene,'  Dom.  Somerset — 
i.e.,  '  broad  dean  '  or  '  valley.' 

Bradshaw  (Bolton  and  Halifax).  Not  in  Dom.  Bol.  B.  1313 
Bradeshagh.     O.E.  brad  scaga,  '  broad  wood.' 


BR  AD  WELL  165  BRAMHAM 

Bradwell  (5  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Bradeuuelle  (Bucks).,  Braintree  B. 
a.  1300  Bradwall — i.e.,  '  broad  well  or  spring/  Cf.  1160  Pijpe 
Bradew'h,  in  the  same  region.  But  Dom.  Bradewell  (Yorks),  is 
Braithwell  (Doncaster). 

Bradyair  (Cumberland),  c.  1141  Bradjere.  O.E.  brad  '^eard, 
'  broad  yard.' 

Brapferton.    See  Bradford. 

Br  AFIELD  (Northampton).  Dom.  Bragefelde.  a.  1130  Brau- 
field.  ?  '  Field  on  the  brae  or  brow  or  hill  slope/  O.N.  bra, 
O.E.  brdew,  breaw;  lit.  'the  eyeUd.'  But  Dom.  suggests 
'  field  of  '  an  unrecorded  '  Braga.'    Onom.  has  only  Broga. 

Brailes  (Banbury).  Sic  in  Dom.  and  1248.  A  unique  and  puzzling 
name.  Prob.  some  man  '  Brail's '  (village),  as  in  Brailsford 
(Derby).  The  name  is  otherwise  unknown;  it  might  be  contr. 
fr.  Breguweald,  2  in  Onom,  We  have  similar  names,  only  with 
O.E.  gen.,  in  Beadon,  Coven,  etc. 

Braintree  (Essex).  Dom.  Branchtreu;  later  Branktry,  Brantry. 
This  must  be  '  tree  of  Branc,'  the  same  name  as  in  Branksome 
(Bournemouth),  Branxton  (Coldstream),  and  Branxholm 
(Hawick);  a.  1400  Brancheshelm.  The  ch  in  Dom.  and  in  this 
last  are  due  to  the  habitual  softening  of  Norman  scribes.  Cf. 
Oswestry. 

Braithwaite  (Keswick).  1183  Boldon  Bk.  Braitewat,  Braithe- 
wath,  perh.  in  Durham.  '  Brae-place.'  See  Brafield  and 
-thwaite.  But  Braithwell  (Doncaster)  is  Dom.  Bradewell. 
See  Bradwell. 

Bramber  (Shoreham).  ?  Dom.  Branbertei,  which  suggests  an  un- 
recorded '  Brandbeorht's  isle.'  See  -ey.  Old  Brymmburg ;  also 
cf.  Grant  of  672  Brember  wudu  (Salisbury).  The  first  part  is 
doubtful.  It  may  be  O.E.  brom,  '  the  broom,'  cf.  next,  or 
brime,  3-6  brem,  '  famous.'  The  -ber  seems  to  be  for  burh,  cf. 
Bamber,  and  see  -bury.  Cf.  Eark  Bramwith  (Doncaster), 
1201  Bramwith,  where  the  ending  is  O.N.  vith-r,  '  a  wood.' 

Bramcote  (Nottingham  and  Nuneaton).  Not.  B.  Dom.  Bron-, 
Brunecote,  c.  1200  Brancote.  Nun.  B.  Dom.  Brancote,  a.  1300 
Brom(p)cote,  a.  1400  Bramkote.  Duignan  says  '  cot  in  the 
broom '  or  '  gorse,'  O.E.  brom.  Mutschmann  thinks  of  brand 
cote,  '  cot  on  the  place  cleared  by  burning.'  Neither  is  certain. 
Cf.  the  other  names  in  Bram-;  also  Castle  Bromwioh. 

Bramham  (Tadcaster);  sic  1202,  and  Bramham  (S.  Yorks).  Dom. 
Bramha,  Brameha.  See  above  and  next.  The  Bram-  here  is 
doubtful.  Bramshall  (Uttoxeter)  is  Dom.  Branselle,  a.  1200 
Brumeshel,  a.  1300  Bromsholf,  -sulf.  Both  look  certainly  as 
if  fr.  a  man  Bram,  Brom,  or  Brum.  The  Onom.  has  Brand, 
Bron,  Brum,  and  Brun,  the  last  common.  For  the  present 
ending  see  -hall;  but  -sholf,  and  -sulf  point  to  O.E.  scylfe,  'a 
shelf,  a  shelving  piece  of  land.' 


BRAMPTON  166  BRAWDY 

Brampton  (7  in  P.G.).  Nfk.  and  SufEk.  B.  Dom.  Brantuna.  Hants 
B.  1121  O.E.  Chron.  Bramtun,  1149  Brantona;  1238  Close  R. 
Brampton,  ?  which.  Prob.  'town  of  Brand  or  Brant.'  Brand 
is  common  in  Onom.  Cf.  B.C.S.  712  Brantes  wyrth.  But 
Branton  Green  (Aldborough)  is  1202  Brankstona.  Cf. 
Bampton  for  common  intrusion  of  p. 

Brancaster  (N.W.Norfolk),  a.  4:50  Notitia  BT&nsdnnnm.  'Castle, 
camp  of  Bran.'  Ir.  and  O.G.  bran,  'a  raven';  in  Breton  'a 
crow.'  A  chief  Bran  is  found  in  Bk.  of  Taliessin,  while  Nant 
Bran,  vale  of  Glam.,  is  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Nant  Baraen. 

Brandeston  (Wickham  Market).  Dom.  Brantestuna.  'Town  of 
Brand '  (common  in  Onom.),  or  '  Branti.'  Cf.  Bransburton, 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Brantisburtune,  and  Branston. 

Brandon  (Hereford  and  Durham,  Coventry,  Salop,  and  on  Little 
Ouse).  May  be  same  name  as  Eav.  Geogr.  Branogenium. 
Gov.  B.  Dom.  Brandune,  1227  Brandon,  1273  Braundon. 
Another,  a.  1200  Brandune.  '  Hill  of  Brand,'  a  common  O.E. 
name.  See  -don.  Brancot  (Stafford),  is  often  Bromcote  in 
the  14th  cny — i.e.,  '  cot  among  the  broom.'  See  Brampton 
and  Brancaster. 

Branscombe  (Axminster).  Chart.  Brancescumb.  Dom.  Branches- 
come.  '  Branca' s  valley.'  Cf.  Brantin  Green  (Aldborough), 
1202  Brankstona,  and  next.     See  -combe. 

Branston  (Burton,  Grantham,  Lincoln).  Bur.  B.  771  chart. 
Brantistun,  978  Brantestun,  Dom.  and  later  Brantestone. 
'  Town,  village  of  Brant  or  Brand ' ;  the  names  are  the  same. 
Cf.  Brandeston.  Bran(d)sby  (N.  Riding),  has  been  identified 
with  910  0.^.  C^ron.  Bremesbyrig.  This  cannot  be.  See  rather 
Bromsberrow.  This  is  Dom.  Branzbi, 'dwelhng  of  5raw<.'  See -by. 

Brant  Fell  and  Brant  How  (Bownegs).  O.E.  brant,  bront, '  high, 
steep,  sheer';  while  How  is  O.N.  haug-r,  'mound,  cairn.'  Cf. 
Great  How,  and  Maeshow  (Sc).     See  -fell. 

Brantin GHAM  (Brough,  Yorks).  Dom.  Brentingeha',  Brentingham, 
Brendingham.  c.  1180  Ben.  Peterb.  Brentingeham.  '  Home  of 
the  Brentings,'  or  descendants  of  Brent.  Branting,  Breniing, 
and  Brant  are  all  in  Onom.    Cf.  E,.  Brent. 

Branton  (Alnwick).  Cf.  1157  Pipe  Brantona  (Devon).  '  Town  of 
Brant.'    See  above. 

Braunston  (Oakham  and  Rugby).  Not  in  Dom.  1298  Brauntes- 
ton.  Cf.  B.C.S.  712  Branteswyrth.  '  Town  of  Brant  or  Brand.' 
Cf.  above  and  Branston. 

Brawby  (Malton).    Dom.  Bragebi.     'Dwelling  of  ?'    See  -by. 

Brawdy  (Pembroke),  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Breudi.  Prob.  W. 
brwyd,  '  full  of  holes.'  T.  Morgan  conjectures  O.W.  brawd  dy, 
'  judgment  house  '  or  '  court.'  ■ 


BRAY  167  BRENT  R. 

Bray  (Maidenhead).  Dom.  Brai;  later  Braie,  Broy,  Bray.  Perh. 
=  Sc.  brae.  See  Brafield.  Skeat  agrees  with  this,  and 
connects  with  O.E.  brdw;  Mercian  breg,  '  an  eyebrow/ 

Brayton  (Carlisle  and  Selby).  Sel.  B.  Dom.  Bretone,  Brettan. 
Perh.  '  Brae-town.'    See  Bray. 

Breage  with  Germoe  (Helston).  Fr.  St.  Breaca  and  her  com- 
panion who  landed  forcibly,  as  missionaries  from  Ireland,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Hayle  R.,  c.  500. 

Brean  Down  (Weston-s.-M.).  Tautology.  W.  bre,  '  a  hill,  a  brae  '; 
pi.  'breon.  The  R.  Breamish,  Northbld.,  prob.  contains  this 
root,  or  else  bryn,  a'  slope  ' ;  w.  so  easily  changes  into  m,  and  will 
mean  '  slope,  brae,  with  the  stream '  or  '  water.'  Cf.  G.  uisge, 
pron.  iishge, '  water.'  There  is  also  The  Bream,  For.  of  Dean, 
old  Le  Breme.  Eng.  Dial.  Diet,  gives  for  bream  '  an  elevated 
place  exposed  to  wind,'  which  quite  suits  breon. 

Brecknock  or  Brecon.  916  O.E.  Chron.  Brecenanmere,  1094 
Brut  y  Ty.  Brecheniauc,  a.  1100  Brechennium,  c.  1188  Gir. 
Camb.  Brecheniauc,  Brekenniauc,  c.  1540  Leland  Brekenock, 
Brecknock.  These  last  are  just  Eng.  spellings  of  the  orig. 
W.  name  as  seen  in  1094.  The  name  comes  fr.  Brychan,  son 
of  Anlac — i.e.,  '  the  speckled  '  or  '  tartan-clad.'  He  was  an 
Ir.  prince  who  conquered  all  this  region  c.  430.  The  town  is 
called  both  Brecknock  and  Brecon  in  1606;  but  the  town's 
W.  name  now  is  Aberhonddu,  being  at  the  confluence  of  Honddu 
and  Usk.  One  of  K.  Arthur's  battles  in  c.  800  Nennius  was 
Cat  Bregion,  near  the  mountain  Breguoin.  Some  hold  that  these 
are  the  same  names  as  the  above.  The  -ock  prob.  represents  a 
W.  dimin. 

Bredon  (Tewkesbury)  and  Bredon  Forest  (Wilts) .  Bede  Briudun, 
781  Breodune,  Dom.  Breodun,  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Briodun. 
Tautology,  W.  bre,  and  O.E.  dun,  '  hill.'  But  B.  Forest  is 
905  O.E.  Chron.  Bradon,  Braeden;  which  may  mean  '  hill  with 
the  brow  or  brae  or  cUfif.'    See  Brafield. 

Bredwardine  (Hereford).  'Farm  of  Brid,'  2  in  Onom.  See 
-war  dine. 

Breedon-on-the-Hell  (Ashby-de-la-Z.) .  a.  1100  Bredun.  A  triple 
tautology,  for  W.  bre,  O.E.  dun,  and  Eng.  hill  all  mean  the 
same. 

Bremhill  (Calne) .  940  chart.  Brembelwerna  must  have  been  quite 
near  here,  fr.  O.E.  bremel,  brembel,  '  the  bramble  or  blackberry,' 
and  Bremhill  might  be  corrup.  of  this.  Only  it  is  prob.  Dom. 
Breme,  for  which  see  Bramber. 

Brent  R.  (Middlesex)  and  Brentford.  705  Lett.  Bp.  Waldhere, 
Breguntford  ;  918  O.E.  Chron.  Braegent  forda ;  1016  ib. 
Brent  forda.  This  first  half  is  W.  bre,  a  '  hill,'  a  '  brae  ';  the 
second  may  be  gwyn,  gwen,  'clear,  bright';  but  perh.  more 


BRENT  KNOLL  168  BRIDSTON 

prob.  fr.  W.  gwantu,  '  to  sever/  or  gwant,  '  a  butt,  a  mark/ 
The  name  of  the  tribe  Brigantes,  who  dwelt  N.  of  Humber, 
looks  Hke  the  same  name. 

Brent  Knoll  (Axbridge).  c.  708  Grant  K.  Ine  Mons  qui  dicitur 
Brente.  O.E.  brant,  hront,  'high,  steep,  sheer';  and  cnol, 
'  knoll,  knowe,  hill/  Not  the  same  as  next.  But  Brand  or 
Brent  Ditch  (Cambs),  is  the  same  word.  Rhys  inclines  to 
connect  the  Brents  with  O.W.  hreni,  '  a  prow.' 

Brentwood  (Chelmsford).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  'burnt  wood,' 
fr.  burn  vb,  4-6  brenne.  Of.  Brandwood  (Rossendale),  c.  1200 
Brendewod,  and  Burntwood. 

Brepper  (Cornwall).    See  Barripper. 

Brereton  (Rugeley  and  Sandbach).  a.  1300  Breredon.  'Brier, 
bramble  hill,'  O.E.  brer,  brcer,  3-9  brere.    See  -don. 

Bretford  (Coventry).  Sic  1180,  and  Breteorton  (Honeybourne) . 
709  chart.  Bretferton,  714  Brotfortun,  860  Bradferdtun,  Dom. 
Bratfortune,  1275  Bretforton.  A  little  doubtful;  it  may  be 
=  Bradford  -ton.  But  quite  Ukely  '  Ford  of  Bret '  or  '  Briht.' 
Brett  is  still  a  common,  personal  name.  (7/.  Brettell,  sic  1614, 
Kingswinford.  It  ma^  simply  mean  '  Briton.'  C/.  Brapferton 
and  Britford. 

Brettenham  (Suffolk).  Dom.  Bretenhame,  and  Bretton  (Wake- 
field). Wa.  B.  Dom.  Brettone.  'Home'  and  'town  of  the 
Briton,'  O.E.  Bret.    Cf.  Britain. 

Brewood  (Stafford).  Dom.  Brevde,  a.  1200  Breo-,  Brewude, 
'  a.  1300  Brewode.  Hybrid:  W.  bre,  'a  hill,'  and  -wood.  The 
Sc.  brae  is  fr.  O.N.  bra  '  (eye)  brow.' 

Bridgenorth.  912  O.E.  Chron.  Bricge,  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt. 
Bruge;  a.  1145  Orderic  Brugia,  all  meaning  'bridge.'  North 
prob.  added  c.  1090  by  Robert  of  Bellesne,  to  distmguish  this 
place  from  his  father's  castle  at  Quatbridge,  3  miles  to  S. 
We  have  c.  1350  chart.  Brugenorth. 

Bridgertjle  (Bude) .  Not  in  Dom.  Old  Lan  Bridget,  or  '  church  of 
St.  Bridget,  or  Brigida,  or  Bride,'  of  Kildare,  a.d.  453-523.  It 
was  granted  at  the  Conquest  to  one  Raoul.    Cf.  Abbotrule,  (Sc.) 

Bridlington.  Dom.  Bretlinton  (4  times);  Sim.  Dur.  contin.  ann. 
1143  Brellintun;  1200  Bridlinton.  Prob.  named  fr.  a  man, 
but  his  name  is  doubtful.  Prob.  O.E.  Bretelan  tun,  '  town  of 
Bretel,'  one  such  in  Onom.    See  -ton. 

Bridport.  1156  Bridep't.  '  Harbour  on  the  R.  Brit,'  which  is 
prob.  W.  brith,  'spotted,  parti-coloured.'  Connexion  with 
Britain  is  imcertain.  We  get  the  root  again  in  Little  Bredy, 
near  by.    Dom.  Litelbride. 

Bridston  (Herefordsh.).  Not  in  Dom.  'Town,  village  of  St. 
Bridget.'    See  Bridgertjle. 


BEIGfG  169  BRIMPSPIELD 

Brigg  (Lincolnsh.).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  '  Bruge '  (Cheshire).  O.E. 
brycg,  So.  brig,  '  a  bridge.'  Cf.  Briggate  (Leeds  and  Knares- 
boro'). 

Brigham  (Cockermth.  and  E.  Eiding).  E.  Rid.  B.  Dom.  Bringeha*. 
Prob.  '  home  of  Brine.'    Cf.  Bbiningham. 

Brightlingsea  (Colchester).  Local  pron.  Bricklesey.  1223 
Patent  R.  Brichtlingese ;  1521  Bryghtlyngsey.  'Isle  of  Beorht- 
ling,'  not  in  Onom.,  where  we  have  only  noted  B.C.S.,  1282 
Brihtulfing  tun;  whilst  Dom.  has  Brictriceseia,  fr.  the  common 
Beorhtric.  The  r  here  has  changed  into  its  kindred  liquid  I,  and 
the  patronymic  -ing  has  been  added,  after  Dom.  No  less  than 
193  variants  of  the  name  are  said  to  have  been  enumerated. 
See  -ea. 

Brighton  and  Brighthampton  (Oxon)  and  Brigkhampton 
(Gloster).  All  three  practically  the  same  name  !  Brighton  is 
Dom.  Brichelmestone,  Bristelmeston  (on  the  st  see  p.  26), 
'  Stone  of  Brihtelm/  var.  of  the  common  Beorhthelm.  There  was 
a  Brithelm,  Bp.  of  Chichester,  in  956.  Called  Brighthelmstone 
as  late  as  1834,  and  Brighton  as  early  as  1660.  B.  Oxon  is 
old  Brighthelmstone,  and  B.  Gloster  is  c.  1230  Brithelmetim. 
But  Breighton,  (E.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Bricstune  Briston,  fr. 
Bricsi  or  Beorhtsige,  cf.  Brixton.  See  -ton  which  often  inter-, 
changes  with  -stone. 

Brightw ALTON  (Lamboum).  939  chart.  Beorhtwaldingtune ;  1086 
Bristwoldintona ;  Dom.  Bristoldestone ;  also  Brictewalton.  'Town 
of  the  descendants  of  Beorhiweald,'  very  common  in  Onom. 
Brisiwoldv^,  is  known  var.  of  Beorhtweald.  Cf.  next.  Dom. 
regularly  writes  st  for  a  guttural. 

Brightwell (WaUingford and  Oxon).  Ox.  B.  947  chart.  Beorhtan 
wille;  also  seb  Berhtanwellan,  which  chart,  translates  '  declara- 
tam  fontem ' — i.e.,  '  clear,  bright  weU.'  O.E.  beorht,  berht, 
'  bright.'  Wa.  B.  Dom.  Bristowelle  {Dom.  always  avoids 
gutturals  and  usually  has  st  for  gh).    Later  Brictewell. 

Brigstock  (Thrapston) .  1160  Pi^e  Brichestoc.  '  Place  of  Brica ' ; 
one  in  Onom.  Cf.  Brixworth,  and  Dom.  (Bucks)  Bricstoch; 
and  see  -stock. 

Brell  (Thame).  .  1155-57  Pipe  Bruhella,  -bulla;  1231  Brehull. 
'  Hill,'  or  else  '  nook'  (see  -hall)  'on  the  brow  or  brae  ';  lit.  the 
eyelid,  O.E.  brdew,  breaw.  Cf.  1158-59  Pipe  Northbld.  Brie- 
helle,  Dom.  Essex,  Bruheleia,  and  Beal. 

Brimham  Rooks  (Harrogate).  'Brim's  home.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  64 
Brimes  die.  Locally,  brim  means  '  a  high  place  exposed  to 
weather,'  cognate  with  Eng.  brim,  first  found  c.  1205  brimme; 
origin  doubtful.    Cf.  next. 

Brimpsfield  (Glostrsh.)  and  Bremscombe  (Stroud).  Dowi.  Brimes- 
felde.    Old  Brimmescombe.    '  Field '   and   '  valley  of  Brim.' 

12 


BEIMPTQN  170  BRINSCALL 

Cf.  a.  1000  chart.  Brimhirst  (Leicestersh.),  Brimstage  (Chesh.), 
BooMSBEREOW,  and  above.  The  man's  name  is  a  little  uncertain. 
See  -combe. 

Brimpton  (Reading).  944  chart.  Bryningtune,  Dom.  Brintone, 
a.  1300  Brimpton.  '  Town  of  the  sons  of  Brini.'  Cf.  Brington. 
For  interchange  of  n  and  m-p  cf.  Bampton. 

Brindle  (Chorley) .  1227  Brimhill,  1228  BurnehuU,  1254  Brunhull, 
1356  Burnhull,  1584  Brindle.  The  d  is  thus  quite  late,  and  the 
name  is  '  hill  of  the  bum  '  or  '  brook/  0.  E.  bryn,  var.  of  burna. 
Cf.  -bourne.  There  is  also  a  Brindle  Heath  (Salford).  Brine- 
ton  (Shiffnal)  is  Dom.  Brunitone;  a.  1300  Bruneton,  which  is 
prob.  '  town  of  Brun  '  or  '  Brown.'  Mom.  Yorks,  Brinitun  and 
Brinnistun  is  now  Burniston. 

Brington  (Hunts).  Dom.  Breninctun.  'Town  of  the  sons  of 
Brini  '  or  '  Brine,'    Cf.  Brempton  and  next ;  and  see  -ing. 

Briningham  (Norfk.).  Dom.  Bruningaha.  'Home  of  Bruning  * 
or  '  of  the  sons  of  Brun';  both  names  common  in  Onom.,  which 
also  has  Brine,  and  Brin  as  var.  of  Beorn.  Cf.  Brigham  ;  and 
see  -ing. 

Brinkburn  (on  R.  Coquet)  and  Brinkworth  (Chippenham). 
1150  Brink(e)burne,  1183Brenkbuma;  1065  chart.  Brinkewrtha. 
'  Brook '  and  '  farm/  at  the  edge  '  or  '  brink/  a  N.  word.  See 
Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  The  above  are  the  earHest  instances  of  it  in 
Eng.  There  is  no  name  hke  Brink  in  Onom.,  though  there  is  a 
Brica,  -an.  But  Brink  is  a  Du.  quasi-  personal  name,  as  in  the 
well-known  Prof.  Ten  Brink;  brink  in  Du.  has  the  same  meaning 
and  root  as  the  Eng.  word.  Thus  the  above  names  might  mean 
'  brook  '  and  '  farm  of  Brink.'  However,  the  1183  form  Brenk- 
leans  towards  O.N.  brekka,  '  hillside,  slope/  Dan.  brink, 
'  steepness,  precipice,  dechvity.'     See  -bourne  and  -worth. 

Brinklow  (RrUgby).  Cf.  above,  a.  1200  Brinchelau,  1251  Brinck- 
lawe;  also  thought  to  be  the  '  Bridelawe,'  c.  1188  in  Gir.  Camb. 
If  so  the  form  will  be  corrupt,  and  also  nasahzed  since  that  time. 
Brink  is  Norse,  and  means, '  edge,  border  of  a  steep  place  ' ;  here 
a  huge  tumulus  or  burial-mound,  O.^.hlcBW.  See -low,  and  above. 

Brestscall  (Chorley),  Brinscar  (Lanes),  1228  Brunesgare,  Brins- 
EORD  (Wolvermptn.  and  Lutterworth);  Wol.  B.  994  Bruns-, 
Brenesford;  1227  Bruneford;  1381  Bruynesford.  Lut.  B.  old 
Brunesford;  Brinsley  (Notts);  Dom.  Bruneslei,  and  Brins- 
WORTH  (Rotherham),  1202  Brinesford.  Prob.  all  fr.  men 
named  Brun  or  '  Brown,'  a  common  O.E.  name.  One  Brun 
was  Dom.  tenant  of  Brownsover  ('bank'),  Rugby.  Brins- 
caU's  ending,  without  old  forms,  is  uncertain,  but  -car  is 
O.N.  kjarr, '  copsewood,  brushwood ';  or  N.  kjcerr,  kjerr, '  marsh, 
wet  copse.'  Wyld  and  Hirst  omit  both  Brinscall  and  Brinscar, 
but  give  Brindle  in  the  same  district.  For  the  other  endings 
see  -ford,  -hall,  and  -worth  ('farm'). 


BRISTNALL  171  BROCKLESBY 

Beistnall  (Smethwick).  a.  1300  Brussenhulle,  which  is  prob. 
'  bursten '  or  '  broken  hill/  O.E.  berstan,  '.;to  burst,'  past  tense 
4-6  briste,  brust,  pa.  pple.,  4-5  brusten,  brosten;  dial,  brossen. 
Cf.  BuRSTwiCK.    See  also  -hall. 

Bristol.  1052  O.E.  Chron.  (Wore.)  Brycgstow,  Dom.  Bristou. 
a.  1142  Wm.  Malmesb.  Bristow,  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Bristoa; 
c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Bristollum.  Brycgstow  is  O.E.  for  '  bridge- 
place.^    It  is  interesting  to  see  the  -ow  change  into  the  liquid  -ol. 

Britain.  345  b.c.  Aristotle  at  (SpeTaviKol  {v.  r.  IIpeT-)  vrja-oi,  55  e.g. 
J.  Gcesar  Britannia,  c.  50  B.C.  Diod.  Sic.  BpiTxavla,  a.d.  43. 
Lett,  of  Claudius  Kara  Bperavvwv.  O.E.  Ghron.  ann.  495  Bretene, 
ann.  755  Bryttisc  (=  British).  W.  inis  Prydain,  '  isle  of  Britain.' 
Prydain  is  the  Brythonic  form  of  Ir.  Cruithni,  usual  Ir.  name  of 
the  Picts;  but  whether  this  is  really  connected  with  the  name 
Britain,  and  what  that  name  means,  is  doubtful. 

Britford  (Salisbury).  1065  O.E.  Chron.  Brytforda,  Brytan 
forda;  a.  1100  Brethevorde.  'Ford  of  the  Briton  ';  the  th  in 
the  latest  form  cited  is  a  common  Norm,  softening.  Cf.  Bret- 
ford. 

Brixton.  K.C.D.  940,  Brihtricestan,  ?  which.  Surrey,  is  Dom.  B 
Brici-,  Brixistan, '  stone  of  Beorhtsige/  a  common  name,  found 
also  as  Byrcsige,  Brehtsig,  Bryxie,  and  Brixius.  Plymouth 
B.  Dom.  Brictricestone,  Bedricestone.  '  Stone  of  Beorhiric,' 
another  common  name,  found  also  as  Brychtrich,  Brihtrig,  and 
Bricxtric.  The  endings  -stone  and  -ton,  q.v.,  often  interchange. 
Brixton  Deverill  (Warminster),  is  not  in  Dom.,  but  see 
Deverill.  Cf.  Dom.  Bricsteuuelle,  near  Wallingford,  '  Beorht- 
sige's  well.'  In  Dom.  we  regularly  have  st  for  guttural  h  or  ch. 
Dom.  Yorks  Brix5stune,  Briston,  is  now  Breighton. 

Brixworth  (Northampton).  Dom.  Briclesworde.  This  is  prob. 
'  farm  oiBeorhtel '  or  Berhtel,  or  else  Beorhtgils,  all  found  in  Onom. 
1160  Pipe  Northants  has  Brichestoc.  Cf.  Brigstock;  and 
see  -worth. 

Broadwas  (Worcester).  779  chart.  Bradeuuesse,  -wasse,  K.C.D. 
iii.  386  Bradewasan,  1218  Bradewas.  O.E.  for  '  broad,  stagnant 
pool.'    O.E.  wase,  mod.  ooze.    Cf.  Alrewas. 

Broadwater  (Sussex).    Dom.  Bradewatre.    O.E.  brad,  'broad.' 

Broadway.  (Wore,  and  Ilminster).  Wore.  B.  972  chart.  Bradwege 
and  Bradanwege  (a  dat.).  Dom.  Bradeweia.  It  is  on  the  road 
between  London  and  Worcester. 

Brochurst  (Warwksh.)  and  Brockenhurst  (Hants).  War.  B. 
1327  Brochurst,  Han.  B.  1157  Pipe  Brocheherst.  '  Wood  of 
the  badger.'     O.E.  broc.    Cf.  next;  and  see  -hurst. 

Brockxesby  (Lines).  Dom.  Brochesbi,  '  dwelling  of  Brocwulf.* 
Dom.  is  very  careless  of  the  Hquids.     Cf.  Broxted  ;  and  see  -by. 


BROCKLEY  HILL  172  BRONDESBUET 

Brookley  Hill  (Edgeware).  O.E.  Broc-  leak,  '  badger  meadow/ 
Cf.  674  grant  Brocces  broc  and  Broxburn  (Sc).  Similar  is 
Brockton,  Much  Wenlock,  Dom.  Broctune,  Brochetune,  and 
three  Broctons  (Staffs),  all  Dom.  Broctone.  In  all  3  Duignan 
prefers  O.E.  broc,  '  a  brook/  Only  the  o  here  is  long.  Cf. 
Brockhill  Dingle,  Alvechurch,  1275  Brochole,  Brockhampton 
(Glostrsh.),  old  Brochamtone,  Brechampton  (see  Hampton),  and 
Brockworth,  ib.  Dom.  Brocowardinge,  Brockwordin;  see 
-worth  and  -wardine,  '  farm/ 

Brokenborotjgh  (Malmesbury).     [737  chart.  To  brocenan  beor^e.] 
1298  Broukenbmy,  1324  Brokeneberwe.     'Broken' — i.e.,  pre 
sumably  'rugged  hill.'    O.E.  beorg.    Cf.  Barrow. 

Bromfield  (Wigton  and  Salop).  Wig.  B.  c.  1215  chart.  Brunefeld; 
1610  Brumfield.  Fr.  O.E.  brom,  '  broom,  gorse,'  rather  than 
brun,  '  brown.'    Cf.  next;  m  and  n  freely  interchange. 

Bromley  (Kent,  Stafford,  etc.) .  862  chart.  Bromlea3  (near  Langley) . 
Staf.  B.  1004  chart,  and  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore,  Bromleage,  -lege. 
Dom.  Brunlege.  Kent  B.  Dom.  Brunlei,  Bronlei.  As  above, 
'  broom  meadow '  and  not  '  brown  meadow/  There  is  also 
King's  Bromley  (Lichfield),  942  chart.  Bromlege,  Bromli, 
Dom.  Bromelei. 

Brompton  (London  and  Northallerton).  Lon.  B.  a.  1016  Ordi- 
nance Ethelred  I.  Bromdun.  Nor.  B.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Bromtun. 
'  Broom,  gorse  village,'  or  else  '  hill.'  For  intrusion  of  p  cf. 
Bampton  and  Hampton.    See  -don  and  -ton. 

Bromsberrow  (Ledbury).  910  O.E.  Chron.  Bremesbyrig;  Dom. 
Brunmeberge;  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Brimesbirih;  v.r.  Brunes- 
birih,  Brismesbirith ;  1284  Brommesberewe.  Confusion  here 
in  both  halves.  The  man's  name  in  the  first  may  either  be 
Brunman,  a  fairly  common  name,  or  Brem{e) ;  also  in  Onom . 
The  ending  is  either  what  is  now  -bury — i.e.  '  (fortified)  town,' 
or  O.E.  beorg,  '  hill,'  now  represented  by  -berrow  or  Barrow; 
Cf.  Berry  Brow  and  Bromsgrove.  Brom's  Ash  (S.  Herefd.) 
is  1228  Close  R.  Bromes  heff,  where  heff  is  '  accustomed  pasture- 
ground  of  sheep,'  same  root  as  heft.  See  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  heaf, 
where  the  earhest  quot.  is  c.  1525. 

Bromsgrove.  830  chart.  Bremes  grafa,  1156  Bremes-,  Brimes- 
graua,  1166  Bromesgrava.  '  Br  em's  grove/  O.E.  grdf.  Cf. 
above  and  Birmingham. 

Bromwich.    See  Castle  Bromwich. 

Bromyard  (Worcester).  Chart.  Bromgeard,  O.E.  for  '  field 
covered  with  broom.' 

Brondesbury  (London) .  1766  Entick  Bromesbury .  Prob. '  burgh, 
castle  of  Brom  or  Brem.'  Cf.  Bromsgrove.  M  and  n  often 
interchange.  Cf.  Dum-  and  Dunbarton,  etc.;  and  d  often 
intrudes. 


BRONGWYN  173  BROYLE 

Beongwyn  (Caermarthen) .  W.  for  '  fair,  clear  breast/  or  '  breast- 
like hill.'  Cf.  W.  hron  goch,  '  Robin  redbreast/  The  W.  for 
'  hill '  is  bryn,  but  both  hron  and  hryn  are  used  in  Cornwall. 

Beook  (Ashford  and  Godalming).  c.  1290  8.  Eng.  Legend  Robert 
de  Brok.  O.E.  broc,  'a  rivulet.'  Brookwood  (Woking). 
1289  contin.  Gervase  Brokwode. 

Beoomfield  (Bridgwater,  Salop,  etc.).  Sal.  B.  a.  1196  Gir.  Camb. 
Brumfeld,  Brid.  B.  1297  R.  Glouc.  Brumefeld,  'broom-clad 
field/  Cf.  909  chart.  Brombricge,  which  will  be  called  after  a 
man  Brom.  or  Brem.    Cf.  Bromsgrove. 

Broseley  (Salop).  Not  in  Dom.  Old  '  Burhweard's  lea,'  still  seen 
in  full  in  Burwardsley  (Chester).    Cf.  Burslem. 

Brotherton  (Ferrybridge,  Yorks).  Not  in  Dom.;  but  cf.  Dom. 
(Norfk.)  Brodercros,  '  town  of  Broder  or  Brother/  '  brother ' 
being  used  as  a  surname. 

Brotton  (Yorks).  Sic  1179-80;  but  Dom.  Brotune.  Prob.  O.E. 
broc-tun,  '  badger  village.'    Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Brotone. 

Brougham  Castle  (Appleby).  Thought  to  be  c.  380  Ant.  Itin. 
Brocavo  or  Brovonacae.  But  more  old  forms  are  needed.  Prob. 
like Brough  (Yorks), Dom.  Burg, tr.O.lS.borg;  O.^.burh,  'castle, 
fort, '  a  broch,'  with  the  common  transposition  of  the  r,  and  so 
=  '  castle  home.  Cf.  Brough  Ferry  (Elloughton),  1202  Burgum. 

Broughton  (14  in  P.G.).  Broughton  Hacket  (Pershore),  972  and 
Dom.  Broctune.  Edinburgh  B.  1128  Broctuna.  Prob.  aU 
like  that  in  Warwk.,  1285  Brocton,  '  badger  town.'  O.E.  broc 
is  '  badger,'  broc  is  '  brook.'  Duignan  seems  certainly  wrong  in 
deriving  from  brook,  a  word  never  used  in  Sc,  though  we  have 
two  Sc.  Broughtons  as  well  as  Broxburn  and  Broxmouth. 
Broctune  occurs  14  times  in  Dom.  Yorks,  and  represents  several 
Broughtons.  Of  course  Broc  may  be  a  man's  name,  now 
Brock.  However,  Broughton  (Eccleshall)  is  Dom.  Hereborge- 
stone,  plainly  a  contraction  fr.  ^  Hereburh's  (gen.  -burge's) 
town.'    Cf.  K.C.D.  710  and  1298  Hereburgebyrig. 

Brown  Willy  (Camelford) .  Said  to  be  Corn,  bron  geled,  '  con- 
spicuous hill.'  Cf.  Brongwyn.  Perh.  WiUie  is  for  Corn,  gelli 
or  celli,  '  a  grove.'  Yet  another  guess  is  '  hill  of  shackles,' 
W.  huel  or  hual.  Names  in  Brown — like  Brownshill  (Stroud, 
Glouc),  and  Brownsover  (Rugby),  pron.  Brownsor;  see  -over) 
— will  all  come  fr.  a  man  Brun.    Cf.  Brinsford. 

Broxted  (Bunmow)  and  Broxstowe  (Notts).  No.  B.  Dom. 
Brocholvestou,  Brochelestou,  1457  Brocholwestouwa,  also 
Broweston.  Both  prob.  '  place  (Stead  and  Stow  both  mean 
that)  of  Brocwulf.'    Cf.  Brocklbsby. 

Broyle,  Forest  of  the  (W.  Sussex).  1399  laBroile.  O.Fr.  bruill, 
broil ;  Mod.  Fr.  breuil, '  an  enclosed  piece  of  brushwood  or  matted 
underwood.' 


BKUE  K.  174  BTJCKNELL 

Brtte  R.  (Somerset).  ?  Cognate  with  W.  bru,  'womb,  belly";  as 
likely  fr.  a  similar  root  to  G.  bruith,  '  to  boil/  Cf.  Bruar  (Sc). 
For  old  forms  see  Bruton. 

Bruen  Stapleford  (Tarvin,  Cheshire).  Prob.  Dom.  Brunhala,  or 
'  Brun's  nook/  or  '  hall/  See  -hall.  But  said  to  be  called  after 
the  Le  Brun  family,  settled  here  in  1230.  There  is  a  '  Brunhelle  ' 
in  Dom.  Bucks. 

Brundall  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Brundala,  1460  Brundehale. 
?  '  Brand's '  or  '  Brond's  nook.'  See  -hall.  But  cf.  Dom. 
Cheshire,  Brunford,  prob.  'ford  over  the  bourne  or  burn,' 
and  Brundala  may  be  '  dale  with  the  bourne ' — O.N.  brunn-r 
dal-r.  Horsfall  Turner  seems  to  identify  all  the  numerous 
Brxhsttons  or  Brunetonas  in  Dom.  Yorks  with  Bromptons. 
But  one  Brunton  (Yorks)  is  1166-67  Pi^e  Birunton,  'town  of 
Birun  '  oi' Byron.'  The  Buruns,  or  Biruns,  held  lands  in  Notts, 
Derby,  and  Lanes  as  early  as  Dom. 

Brtjton  (Somerset).  Dom.  Breuutona,  1471  Brewton.  'Town 
on  the  R.  Brue.' 

Bryncoch  (Neath).  W.  =  '  red  hill.'  W.  bryn,  O.G.  brun.  Com. 
bron,  bryn,  '  a  hill.'  Cf.  Brongwyn,  and  Brynmor,  '  hill  slope 
by  the  sea.' 

Bubbenhall  (Kenilworth).  Dom.  Bubenhalle.  'Hall  of  Buba' 
or  '  Bubba.'    See  -hall. 

Buckerell  (Honiton).  Not  in  Dom.  1166-67  Pipe  Bucherel. 
More  old  forms  needed,  Perh.  '  nook  of  Bucard,'  one  in  Onom. 
The  -el  could  be  fr.  hale  or  -hall,  q.v. 

Buckingham.  915  O.E.  Chron.  Buccingaham,  1154-61  chart. 
Buchingham,  1297  Bukingham.  '  Home  of  the  Buccings.' 
Patronymic,  fr.  Bucca  or  Bucco,  both  in  Onom.  Cf.  1179-80  Pipe 
Parva  et  Magna  Bukesbi  (Yorks). 

BucKLAND  (9  in  P.O.).  Faringdon  B.  B.C.S.  iii.  205  Boc  land, 
1292  Bokeland.  Devon  B.  Dom.  Bochelanda.  Betchworth  B. 
Dom.  Bochelant;  also  Dom.  Glostr.  and  Bucks,  Bocheland. 
O.E.  boc-land,  '  book  land,'  land  granted  by  a  '  book  '  or  written 
charter  to  a  private  owner.     Cf.  Bockhampton. 

BucKLEBURY  (Reading).  Dom.  Borgedeberie,  1316  Burghldeburg, 
'  burgh  of  Burghild';  perh.  daughter  of  Cenwulf,  King  of  Mercia, 
796-819.  The  old  Icknield  St.,  between  Saintsbury  and  New- 
comb,  and  also  N.  of  Bidford,  is  called  now  Buckle  Street, 
709  chart.  Buggildstret,  860  ib.  Buggan  stret,  '  road  of  Burg- 
hild.' 

Bucknell  (Oxford  and  Salop).  Ox.  B.  Do7n.  Buchehelle,  1149 
Buckenhull  (=hill),  1216-1307  Bikehell,  Buckehull.  Sal.  B, 
Dom.  Buche  -hale,  -halle.  O.E.  Buccan  hale,  '  nook,  corner  of 
Bucca  ' — i.e.,  the  He -goat.    Cf.  Buckingham.    Bucknall  cum 


BUDE  HAVEN  175  BUNGAY 

Bagnall  (Staffs)  is  not  949  chart.  Badecanwell,  as  Birch  says, 
but  Dom.  Buchenhole,  a.  1300  Bukenhale,  Bokenhowe,  a.  1400 
Buchenhole,  and  so  the  same  as  above.  Only  here  the  ending 
varies  between  -hale  (see  -hall)  and  -hole,  softened  into  -howe. 
O.E.  hoi,  holh,  '  a  hollow/ 

BuDE  HAVEiiT  (N.  Cornwall).  Not  Budecaleeh  (see  Butleigh). 
Prob.  same  root  as  W.  bwth,  '  a  hut/  G.  both,  '  a  house  ';  Eng. 
booth,  first  found  c.  1200  as  bode. 

Btjdleigh  Salterton  (Devonsh.).  Dom.  Bodehe,  ^ Boda'B  lea* 
or  '  meadow/  See  -leigh.  Cf., too,  693  Grant  Budinhaam,  prob. 
in  Essex,  Budbrook  (Warwick),  Dom.  Budebroc,  and  Dom 
Essex,  Budcerca.  Btjdby  (Notts),  Dom.  Butebi,  and  1166-67 
Pipe  Butebroc  (Essex)  are  fr.  a  man  Butti,  a  N.  name. 

BuDOCK  (Falmouth).  Sic  1536.  Prob.  a  Keltic  dimin.  =' little 
hut.'    Cf.  BuDE. 

BuGSWORTH  (Stockport).  '  Bugga's  farm.'  Bugga  is  said  to  be  a 
pet  contraction  of  St.  Eadburga.  Of.  Bugthorp  (E,  Riding), 
Dom.  Bughetorp,  1166-67  Pipe  Buit-,  Buttorp,  also  Bugbrooke 
(Weedon).     See  -thorpe  and  -worth. 

BuiLTH  (Llandrindod) .  a.  1000  Buelt,  c.  1100  Ir.  Ninnius  Boguelt, 
a.  1196  Gir.  Camb.  Bueld,  a.  1600  ByeUt.  In  W.  Llanfair  Ym 
Muallt.  W.  buw-allt,  '  steep  place,  chff  (L.  altus,  '  high ')  of 
the  cattle.'  The  Nennius  form  will  be  fr.  W.  gallt=  allt.  Buelt 
was  that  part  of  Powys  between  Wye  and  Severn.  Of.  BuHiD- 
WAS  (O.W.  gwas,  '  a  servant '),  Abbey,  Wroxeter.  This  abbey 
dates  fr.  1135. 

BuLEXNGTON  (Nuucatou).  Dom.  Bochintone,  1232  Bulkintone. 
Doubtful ;  but  prob.  '  town  of  Bulca.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  225  Bulcan  pyt. 

BtTLL  Gap  (Derbysh.),  Thought  to  be  a  tautology.  Bull=  W. 
bwlch  (G.  bealach),  '  a  gap,  a  pass,  a  broken  cut.'  Gap  is  an 
O.N.  word,  not  recorded  in  Eng.  till  c.  1380,  which  makes  the 
idea  of  a  tautology  decidedly  doubtftd.  Bull  How  (Westmld.) 
is  thought  to  be  fr.  a  Norseman,  Bol—i.e.,  'The  Bull';  O.N. 
bole,  boli.    How  is  '  mound,  hill.'     See  -how. 

BuLLiNGDON  (Oxford  and  Hants).  Ox.  B.  ?  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore. 
ann.  1053  Bulendun,  1216-1307  Bulen,  -Buhngden,  Bolinden. 
Han.  B.  ?  Dom.  Bolende.  '  HiU  of  Bula.'  Cf  1233  Close 
E.  Buleworthy  (Devon)  and  Bulley  (Glostrsh.),  Dom.  Bule- 
leye.    See  -ing  and  -worthy. 

Btjlmer  (York  and  Suffk.).     See  Bomere. 

Bungay  (Suffk.).  Not  in  Dom.  1460  Bowunggey.  Prob.  Skeat 
is  right  in  deriving  fr.  Icel.  bunga,  '  a  round  hill,  a  bing,'  and 
ey,  '  island,  peninsula.'  The  site  supports  this.  Certainly  it 
is  not  Fr.  bon  gue,  '  good  ford.'  1460  might  suggest  derivation 
fr.  some  unknown  man,  perh.  a  nasaHzed  form  of  Buga.  Of. 
Dom.  Sussex,  Bongetune.    See  -ay. 


BUNHILL  176  BURLEY 

BuNHiLL   (London).    Old   Bonhill.    Doubtful.    Cf.   Bonchubch, 
-     BoNSALL,  and  BowiraiLL. 

BuKNY  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Bonei,  1228  Close  R.  Boneya,  1284 
Boneye.  Might  be  O.N.  ftdw-ey,  '  prayer  isle.'  •  Cf.  next.  But 
perh.  fr.  O.E.  bune, '  a  reed,  the  stem  of  the  cow-parsnip' ;  it 
is  only  once  given  with  an  o,  in  1388.  See  bun  sb^.  However, 
we  have  1166-67  Pipe  Boueneia  (Oxon),  which  must  be  '  isle 
of  Bofa,'  gen.  -an,  a  fairly  common  name.     See  -ey. 

Btjnwell  (Norfolk).  Not  in  Dom.  1444  Bonewell,  1477  Bonwell. 
'  Prayer-weir ;  O.E.  ben,  O.N.  bon,  'a  prayer';  in  Eng.  2-7 
bone,  3-4  bon.    Cf.  Bonchurch  and  above. 

BuBBAGE  (Buxton,  Hinckley,  and  Marlboro').  Hin.  B.  Dom. 
Burbece  (also  in  Dom.  Sussex).  Mar.  B.  961  chart.  Burhbece; 
O.E.  for  'burgh,  castle  on  the  beck'  or  'brook';  Dom.  Bur- 
betce.  The  more  regular  form  would  be  Burbeck,  still  a  surname ; 
but  Oxf.  Diet,  gives  beck  as  a  name  found  only  in  those  parts  of 
England  once  in  Danish  or  Norse  occupation.    See  -bach,  -beck. 

BxJBBUBY  Hill  (Swindon).  O.E.  Chron.  ann.  556  Beranburh  or 
-byrig  (see  Baebuby  Hill),  which  is  perh.  meant.  May  be  fr. 
a  man,  Beorga  or  Berga,  or  Boera.  But  Bxjbcote  (Bromsgrove) 
is  Dom.  Bericote,  1275  Byrcote.  Prob.  O.E.  bere-cote,  '  cot 
for  storing  here  or  barley.'    Cf.  Bebwick. 

BuBDEN  (Durham),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Byrdene,  1197  Bireden. 
'  Dean,  (woody)  valley,'  O.E.  denu,  '  with  the  house,'  O.E. 
bur,  the  mod.  Eng.  bower,  and  Sc.  byre. 

BuBEOBD  (Oxford).  O.E.  Chron.  ann.  752  Beor-,  Beorgford;  chart. 
Bergford;  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Bereford,  1231  Bureford.  O.E. 
burg,  burh,  O.N.  borg,  'a  shelter-place,  fort,  burgh';  fr.  O.E. 
beorgan,  '  to  protect.'    See  -burgh. 

BuBGH  (Lincoln,  Westmld.,  etc.).  Lin.  B.  Dom.  Burg.  West  B. 
c.  1175  Fantosme  Burc,  c.  1180  Bened.  Peterb.  Burgus.  '  Castle, 
fortified  dwelling.' ,  See  above.  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey  Berge, 
?  '  the  Borough  ';  and  ib.  Essex,  Burghstede. 

BuBGH  Castle  (Gt.  Yarmouth).  Bede  Cnobheresburg  id  est, 
'  Cnobher's  Town.'    See  Bitbfobd. 

Btjbghclebe  (N.  Hants).  B.C.8.  674  Clere,  and  Dom.  often  Clere. 
These  may  represent  this  place,  or  Highclere  or  Kingsclere  near 
by.  The  Eng.  adj.  clear  is  fr.  Fr.,  and  is  not  found  till  1297. 
This  must  be  W.  clegr,  clegyr,  '  a  rock.' 

Bubgh-on-Sands  (CarUsle).  c.  1175  Burc;  1356  Scalacronica 
Burch  sure  le  Sabloun  (Fr.  sablon,  '  sand ').  Now  pron.  BrufE. 
Thought  to  be  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  792  Aynburg.  Cf.  Aintbee. 
Brough  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Burg. 

BuBLEY  (Leeds,  Oakham,  Hereford,  Ringwood).  Le.  B.  Dom. 
Burghelai.  He.  B.  Dom.  Burlei.  'Meadow with  the  burgh  or 
castle.'    See  above  and  -ley. 


BURLINGHAM  177  BURSTON 

BuRLiNGHAM  (Norwich).  Dom.  B'lingaha,  1452  Byrhyngham,  1454 
Suth  birlyngham.  '  Home  of  the  jBirZmgrs/  SeeBiBLiNGand-ham. 

BuRMiNGTON  (Shipston-on-Stour) .  Dom.  Burdintone,  1413  Bur- 
mynton.  Doubtful.  Duignan  thinks  '  Burhman's  town.'  A 
burh-  or  burgman  was  one  who  lived  in  a  burgh  or  town. 

BuRNHAM  (Chiltern).  Sic  c.  1018  chart.,  Dom.  Burne-,  Berneha. 
Prob.  O.E.  burna-hdm,  '  house,  home  beside  the  spring,  well/ 
or  '  stream.'     See  -bourne. 

BuRNTWOOD  (Lichfield),  a.  1600  Brend-,  Brandwood.  Brand, 
brent,  etc.,  are  M.E.  pa.  tense  of  burn.  Cf.  Brentwood  and 
Barnhurst.  In  1262,  says  Duignan,  a  Forest  jury  find  '  a 
certain  heath  was  burnt  by  the  vills  of  Hammerwich  (Burnt- 
wood's  parish),  to  the  injury  of  the  King's  game.' 

BuRRAGB  Town  (Plumstead).  1355  'Bartholomew  de  Burghest,' 
1370  Burwash;  also  Burrish,  Borage.  The  first  syll.  is  prob. 
O.E.  burh,  'fort,  burgh';  but  the  ending  is  quite  uncertain. 
Earlier  forms  are  needed. 

BuRRiNGHAM  (Doucastcr)  and  Burrington  (Bristol  and  Chum- 
leigh).  Old  forms  needed.  Chu.  B.  Dom.  Buretone.  Done. 
B.  (not  in  Dom.)  might  be  fr.  Ralph  de  Burun  (now  Byron), 
who  had  lands  in  Notts  in  Dom.  In  Onom.  we  also  find  the 
names  Burwine  or  Beornwine,  and  Burro,  which  are  all  possible 
origins;  so  is  Burga,  gen.  -an.    See  -ham  and  -ton. 

BuRROUQH  (Melton  Mow.).  Dom.  Burgo.  Prob.  burgh-hoe,  or 
'  castle  hill.'  See  -burgh  and  Hoe.  Burrow  (N.  Lanes)  is 
Dom.  Borch=  Barrow. 

BuRRY  Port  (Carmthn.).  Possibly  the  Eng.  burgh  or  -bury,  q.v. 
But  it  might  easily  be  W.  bur  gwy,  '  wild,  frothy  water  ' ;  whilst 
W.  bur  is  var.  of  bar,  '  top,  summit.'  Indeed,  it  is  close  to 
Penbre,  '  head  of  the  hill.' 

BuRSCOFGH  (Ormskirk).  Sic.  c.  1200,  but  1189-96  Burscogh,  1292 
Burskew,  1306  Burscow.  '  Wood  of  the  burh  '  or  '  fort ' ;  O.N. 
shog-r,  Dan.  sJcov,  '  a  wood.'  See  Shaw.  For  ending  -scough 
cf.  Swinscoe  (Ashbourne),  a.  1300  Swyneskow,  -eschoch.  See 
-burgh. 

BuRSLEM.  Dom.  BarcardesHm  (scribe's  error),  a.  1300  Bur-,  Bore- 
wardeslyme,  a.  1400  Tunstall  R.  Borewaslym.  O.E.  Burh- 
weardes  hlimme,  'Burward's  stream.'  Cf.  Bxjrwardsley  and 
Lyme. 

BuRSTALL  (Ipswich).  Cf.  1157  Pipe  Burchestala  (?  Beds.).  '  Place 
of  the  burgh  '  or  '  castle  ';  O.E.  steall,  steel,  '  place,  stall.'  See 
-bury.  BuRSTON  (Diss),  Dom.  Burstuna,  has  presumably  a 
similar  origin.     Or  it  may  be  fr.  a  man,  Burh  or  Burg. 

BuRSTON  (Stone  and  Diss).  St.  B.  a.  1200  Burweston,  a.  1300  Bur- 
ceston,  Buregeston,  Bureweston,  a.  1400  Bureston.     Dom.  h 


BUESTWICK  178  BUTLEY 

Burouestone,  almost  certainly  this  place,  though  in  the  wrong 
Hundred.  It  must  mean  '  town  of  Burga,'  one  in  Onom.  ;  or 
Burege-,  Burwe-,  may  be  a  contraction  of  Burgweard,  or  some 
other  of  the  many  names  in  Burg-.  Old  forms  needed  for  the 
Diss  name. 

BuRSTWicK  (Hull).  Dom.  Brostewic,  Brocstewic.  'Burst  or 
broken  dwelling."    See  Beistnall  and  -wick. 

Burton  (23  in  P.G.)  Warwk.  B.  Dom.  Bortone,  Salop.  B.  Dom. 
Burtune.  Pembroke  B.  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Bertune.  There 
are  29  instances  in  Dom.  Yorks,  all  Burtone,  or  -tun.  Also 
Btjrton-on-Trent.  c.  1180  Bened.  Peterb.  Burtona;  monas- 
tery founded  here,  1004.  They  are  all  O.E.  burh-tun, 
'  fortified  dwelUng-place."  Cf.  Bo'ness  (Sc.)  and  Btjrgh. 
Burton  Agnes  (Yorks)  is  1281  Close  E.  Anneys-burton. 
However,  Burton,  Bamboro',  is  originally  Bumulfeston. 

BuRWARDSLEY  (Chester) .  1280  Close  R.  Borewardesleye, '  Meadow 
of  Burhweard.'  Cf.  Bueslem  and  Burwarton  (Bridgnorth); 
and  see  -ley. 

BuRWELL  (Cambridge).  Dom.  Burewelle,  1346  Burgewelle,  1521 
Bury  Wells  Berwill.  Prob.  'burgh  well';  with  form  1521 
cf.  Bertune,  old  form  of  Burton.  It  prob.  stands  where  K. 
Stephen  afterwards  built  a  castle;  burge  is  gen.  of  O.E.  burh. 

Bury,  also  Bury  St.  Edmunds.  1066  O.E.  Chron.  Byrtune 
(=  Burton).  Dom.  '  In  Beccles  villa  abbatis  sanctiEdmundi,' 
also,  '  burgo  ht  abb.  sci  edmundi  ';  1450  Bury  Seynt  Edmond, 
1480  Bury  Wills  Bury.  Bury  is  O.E.  burh,  '  castle,  burgh.' 
St.  Edmund  is  Edmund  the  Martyr,  K.  of  the  East  Angles,  slain 
at  Hoxne  by  the  Danes  in  870.    Cf.  Brougham. 

BuscoT  (Lechlade).  Dom.  Boroardescote,  c.  1540  Burwa,rdscott. 
'  Cot,  cottage  of  Burgweard.' 

BusHBURY  (Wolverhmptn) .  994  Biscopesbry,  Dom.  Biscopesberie, 
(Warwk.),  c.  1300  Bishbiri,  Bischbury,  '  Bishop's  burgh,'  a 
curious  corruption.    It  is  still  pron.  Bishbiry.     See  -bury. 

BusHEY  (Middlesex).  Dom.  Bissei.  '  Byssa's  isle  '  or  '  peninsula.' 
Both  Byssa  and  Bisi  are  found  in  Onom.    See  -ey. 

BuTCOMBE  (Wrington,  Somerset).  Not  in  Dom.  1298  Buten- 
cumbe,  which  is  O.E.  for  '  without  the  valley.'  O.E.  butan, 
M.E.  buten,  bute,  '  without.'  Cf.  Binbrook.  No  But{t)a  in 
Onom.    See  -combe. 

BuTLEiGH  (Glastonbury),  c.  725  chart,  and  c.  1130  Wm.  Malmes. 
Budecalech,  801  Bodecanleighe,  Dom.  Bodech-,  -uchelie,  Exon. 
Dom.  Bodecaleia.     '  Bodeca'a  lea  or  meadow.'    See  -leigh. 

BuTLEY  (Tunstall,  Suffk.).  Dom.  Butelea.  This  may  be  '  outside 
the  meadow.'    Cf.  Butelege,  Dom.  Cheshire,  and  Butcombe. 


BUTTERBY  179  BWLCH 

BuTTERBY  (Durham).  Butterknowlb  (Co.  Durham,  O.E.  cnoll- 
'  hill-top,  hillock,  knoll,'  7-9  knowle),  Buttermere  (Cocker, 
mouth),  BuTTERSHAW  (Bradford).  We  have  grouped  the 
names  in  Butter-  in  two  sets,  and  give  first  those  which  almost 
certainly  have  nothing  to  do  with  butter  sb.,  but  come  fr.  some 
Danish  or  N.  settler.  Butter  or  Buthar  {Onom.  gives  only  one 
Buterus);  he  may  even  have  been  sometimes  a  Saxon,  as  we 
have  already  in  931  chart  and  in  Dom.  a  Butermere  (Wilts). 
Or  some  of  these  names,  if  late,  may  come  fr.  M.E.  bitoure,  O.Fr. 
butor,  the  bird  bittern,  in  Sc.  butter,  as  in  Butterdean  (E. 
Berwicksh.).  Buttergask  (Dunkeld),  however,  is  G.  bothar 
gasc,  '  causeway-hollow  ' ;  whilst  Butterstone  near  by  is  plainly 
fr.  a  man.  Butterton,  there  are  2  in  StafEs,  stands  in  de- 
batable ground.  It  is  a.  1200  Buter-,  Boterton,  Buterdon, 
1200  Buter-,  Boterdon,  1223  Butterdon,  Buterden,  a.  1300 
Botredon,  a.  1400  Butterton.  The  endings  -don  and  -ton  often 
interchange,  but  it  is  more  than  likely  that  -don  is  the  original 
here.  If  so,  a  hill  would  jnuch  more  prob.  be  caUed  after  a  man 
than  after  butter.    See  -by  and  -shaw. 

BuTTERLEiGH  (Cullompton),  Butterley  (Derby),  Butterwick 
(Boston,  Penrith,  etc.) ;  also  Butterton.  See  previous  article. 
Boston  B.  Dom.  Butruic,  1216  Butterwyck,  1274  Boterwyke, 
c.  1275  Boturwyk,  1410  Boterwick.  Dom.  Yorks  Butruic,  1183 
Buterwyk  (Co.  Durham).  There  is  also  a  Bijtterworth 
(Rochdale).  These  aU  prob.,  though  not  certainly,  mean 
'  meadow,  dweUing,  farm  or  village  where  they  made  butter.' 
O.E.  butere,  3  buttere,  4  boter{e),  botter,  5  buttyr,  botyr,  4  -butter. 
See  -ley,  -ton,  -wick,  -worth,  and  above.  With  Butterwick 
c/.  Chiswick,  and  with  Butterworth  c/.  Cheswardine. 

Buttington  Tump  (Montgomery).  893  O.E.  Chron.  Buttingtiin. 
c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Budingtun.  Cf.  K.G.D.  746  Bottanige.  Prob. 
patronymic ;  '  town  of  the  descendants  of  Botta  or  Butta.' 
Tump  is  W.  turnip,  '  mound,  barrow.' 

BuxHALL  (Stowmarket) .  Dom.  Bukessalla,  a.  1200  chart.  Bucysheal. 
Cf.  Dgm.  Buchehalle  (Salop)  and  Bucknall.  '  Buca's  nook.' 
See  -hall. 

Buxton.  1572  Buckstones.  Enc.  Brit,  says  prob.  Dom.  Bee- 
tune  (3  times);  if  so.  Bee-  must  be  error  for  Buc-.  The 
Enc.  also  gives  as  old  forms  Buestanes  (where  again  Bue- 
must  be  error  for  Buc-)  and  Bawdestanes,  a  form  which 
cannot  represent  Buxton.  Prob.  '  stone  of  the  buck,'  O.E. 
buc,  bucca;  and  see  -ton  for  -stone.  But  more  evidence  is 
needed. 

BwLCH  (Breconsh.).  W.  for  'pass,  gap,'  G.  bealach  or  Balloch. 
BwLCH  GwYNT  (Pembk.)  is  '  pass  of  the  winds,'  in  old  charter 
Windy  yete,  where  yet  or  gate  also  means  '  pass,  gap.'  Bwlch-y- 
ITRIDD  (Newtown)  is  '  gap  in  the  forest.' 


BYFLEET  180  CAEELEON-ON-USK 

Byfleet  (Weybridge).  727  chart.  Byflete,  O.E.  for  '  by  the  river/ 
Cf.  Beeford  and  Fleet. 

Byland  with  Wass  (Coxwold,  Yorks) .  Dom.  Begeland,  1156  Pi-pe 
Beland,  1199  Beilande,  122^  Close  R.  Begheland,  1242  ibid.  Bey- 
land.  '  Land  of  Bcega';  cf.  Bayton,  etc.  Wass  is  O.E.  wdse, 
'  a  marsh,  a  fen.'    Cf.  Albewas. 

Byley-cxjm-Yatehguse  (Middlewich).  Old  Biveley.  Doubtful. 
Perh.  '  meadow  of  Beoba,'  3  in  Onom.  Cf.  Bevington,  Alcester, 
1316  Byvinton,  a.  1400  Beovynton.  Bive-  suggests  connexion 
with  O.E.  bifian,  O.N.  bifa,  M.E.  bive,  'to  shake,  to  tremble.' 
See  -ley.    Yate-  is  Gate-.    Cf.  Yetholm  (Sc). 

Bytham  Parva  (Lines).  Dom.  Bitham,  1228  Close  R.  Bi-,  By- 
hamel,  1292  Parva  By  ham.  Prob.  '  by  the  home/  O.E. 
7idm.  Cf.  Byfleet,  Beeford,  etc.;  also  Attewell  = '  at  the 
well.'    Parva  is  L.  for  '  little.' 

^  Cad  AIR  Idris  (mtn.,  Central  Wales) .  W.  =  *  seat  of  Idris/  a  Welsh 
hero  and  a  great  astronomer.  W.  cader,  cadair,  is  '  a  chair/ 
but  in  O.W.  and  Com.  'a  cradle,  a  framework.'  The  c  has 
become  g  in  Llyn-y-Gader  hard  by. 

Cadbury  (Crediton  and  Wincanton).  Cr.  C.  Dom.  Cadebirie,  c. 
1540  Cadburi.  Win.  C.  Dom.  Cadeberie.  '  Fort,  burgh  of  Cada, 
Cadda,  or  Ceadda';  several  so  named  in  Onom.  Cf.  Dom. 
Cadenho V  (Essex)  and  Cadnam  (Hants) .     See  -bury. 

Cadney  (Brigg).  O.E.  Chron.  675  Cedenac  (late  MS.),  '  Isle  of 
Ceadda/  gen.  -an,  or  '  Chad.'    See  -ey. 

Cae  Athraw  (Caernarvon) .  W.  =  '  Field  of  the  master  or  doctor ' ; 
cae,  '  a  field,  an  enclosure.'  Cf.  Caeglas,  and  the  curious  Cae 
Llwyn  Grydd,  Carnarvon,  which  is  '  field  of  the  bush  of  the 
red  wall,'  y  gaer  rudd,  referring  to  an  old  castle  now  in  ruins. 

Caerau  (Bridgend,  S.  Wales).  PI.  of  W.  caer,  '  fort,  castle  ';  O.W. 
also  gaer,  Bret,  ker,  G.  cathair,  '  a  fort.'  Cf.  Caerleon  and 
Carew. 

Caergwrle  (Flintsh.).  An  old  castle  here,  and  perh.  once  a  Rom. 
station.  Said  to  be  W.  caer  gwr  lie, '  castle,  fort  at  the  boundary 
place  ' ;  cwr  or  gwr,  '  a  boundary  ' ;  but  the  ending  is  decidedly 
doubtful. 

Caerleon-on-Usk,  pron.  Karleen;  in  W.  Caer  Llion  ar  Wysc.  c. 
800  Nennius,  '  city  of  Leogis  '  or  '  Cair  Lion,'  Dom.  Carleion' 
Castell;  prob.  c.  1145  Geoffr.  Mon.  Civitas  Legionum,  1167-68 
Pipe  Carliun,  c.  1205  Layamon  Kair-luine  and  Kair  Uske,  in 
edit.  c.  1275  Ceyr-lyon,  1241  Karlyim.  From  early  times 
thought  to  be  W.  caer  lleon,  '  camp  of  the  (Roman)  legions '; 
and  the  second  legion,  the  Augusta, is  said  to  have  been  stationed 
here.    But  the  true  '  city  of  legions  '  is  Chester,  which  Nennius 


CAEE-,  CAKMAETHEN  181  CALDECOTT 

calls  Cair  ligion.  So  this  name  is  'fort  on  the  streams';  W. 
lli,  pi.  llion,  '  a  flood,  a  stream/  There  is  also  a  Caer  Leon,  St. 
David's.  The  present  surname  Carlyon  is  pron.  Kar-lion.  Cf. 
Caerdon  (Sc). 

Caek-,  Caemarthen".  In  W.  Caerfyrddin,  c.  150  Ptolemy  MaptSvvov, 
c.  800  Nennius  Cair  merdin,  1158-59  Pipe  Cairmerdin,  c.  1188 
Girald  Kairmardhin,  -merdhin,  c.  1205  Layam.  Kair  MerSin, 
1240  Close  R.  Calverdin,  1242  ih.  Kaermerdin,  c.  1330  R. 
Brunne  Kermerdyn.  In  W.  II  has  the  soft  ih  sound;  hence  the 
idea  which  arose  early  that  the  name  is  '  fort  of  Merlin,'  the 
famous  wizard  at  K.  Arthur's  Court.  The  L.  form  Merlinus 
is  found  as  early  as  1148;  the  Mod.  W.  is  Myrddin.  The  orig. 
name  of  Merhn's  Bridge,  S.  of  Haverford  W.,  was  Mawdlen's 
or  Magdalen's  Br.  It  is  doubtful  what  this  name  meant  in 
Ptol.'s  day;  perh.  '  castle  by  the  sea.'  The  dun  is  certainly = 
caer,  and  mari  may  be  Kelt,  for  '  sea ';  in  W.  mor,  but  in  G. 
muir',  gen.  mara. 

Caernarvon  or  Car-.  Also  in  Cumberland,  Beckermet,  with  the 
same  meaning.  In  W.  Caernarfon,  a.  1196  Gir.  Camb.  Kair-, 
Kaerarvon;  in  his  Itin.  Camb.  '  Dicitur  Arvon,  provinicia  contra 
Mon '  (or,  Monia  insula) ;  1307  Carnaruan,  a.  1340  Kaernervan, 
Llywelyn's  Survey  Caer  yn  Arvon.  W.  caer  'n  arfon,  'fort 
opposite  Mona  '  or  '  Anglesea ' ;  but  in  the  Cumbld.  case  the 
Mona  is  the  I.  of  Man. 

Caer  Rhun  (Camar vonsh.) .  W.  = '  fort  of  Rhun,'  son  of  Maelgwyn 
Gwynedd,  a  prince  of  the  6th  cny. 

Caerwent  (Chepstow),  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Venta  Silurum.  The 
-went  may  be  W.  gwant,  '  a  butt,  a  mark.' 

Caistor  (Norwich  and  Lincoln).  Dom.,  both,  Castre,  also  Castra. 
Li.  C.  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Castrum  apud  Lindeseiam.  The  root 
is,  of  course,  L.  castra,  neut.  pi.,  '  a  camp.'  But  this  in  Bede  is 
always  caestir,  and  in  Mercian  cester.  Mr.  Anscombe  has  shown 
this  impUes  origin  rather  fr.  late  L.  castra,  fem.  sing;  the 
Wessex  ceaster,  the  Merc,  cester,  and  Northumb.  caestir  all 
coming  normally  from  the  inflected  form  castrae  through  an 
unrecorded  caestri. 

Calbournb  (I.  of  Wight).  Pron.  Kaalboum.  826  chart.  Cawle- 
burne,  Dom.  Cauborne.  O.E.  for  '  burn,  brook  of  the  fish- 
baskets  or  creels';  O.E.  cawel,  cawl,  'a  basket';  still  used  in 
Cornwall  as  cawell  or  cowel.    Cf.  Porthcawl.    See  -bourne. 

Caldecott  (Cambs)  and  Caldicot(e)  (Newport,  Mon.,  and  2  in 
Wrwksh.).  Dom.  Cambs.,  Bucks,  Wrwk.,  and  Chesh.,  Calde- 
cote,  which  is  O.E.  for  '  cold  cot '  or  '  dwelling.'  Skeat 
says  Calde-  is  a  remnant  of  the  dat.  of  O.E.  cald,  ceald. 
Dom.  Yorks  Caldecotes  is  now  Coldcotes.  Cf.  Cauldoots  (Sc), 
and  Dom.  Norfk.  Caldanchota. 


CALDER  R.  182  CAMBERWELL 

Cald.br  R.  (Chimbld.  and  Lanes).  Prob.  O.N.  kald-r,  '  cool,  cold/ 
Cf.  CAiiDBEBGH  (N.  Yorks),  Dom.  Caldeber;  see  Barrow. 

Caldy  (Tenby).  In  W.  Ynys  Pyr.  884  Wrmonoc  Insula  Pyrus. 
c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Caldei;  also  a.  1196  ih.  Enis  Pir,  Insula 
Pirri.  This  Pir  must  be  some  man.  Cf.  Manorbieb.  But 
Cald-ei  is  Norse  or  M.E.  for  '  cold  island.'  See  -ey.  There,  is 
also  a  Caldy  in  Cheshire,  which  may  be  Dom.  Calders,  which 
may  be  connected  with  Calder. 

Calf  Heath  (Cannock.).  994  chart.  CaKre  heie,  O.E.  for  '  Calves' 
hedge.'  Caldon,  (Cheadle)  in  the  same  shire,  is  1004  Celfdun, 
'  calf  hiU.'    Cf.  940  chart.  Chealfa  dune  (Wilts.). 

Callington  (Cornwall),  c.  988  chart.  Csellwic,  Dom.  Calwetone. 
Ex.  Dom.  Caluuitona.  'Town  of  ?  The  nearest  names  in 
Onom.  are  Caldewine  and  Calwinus.  The  charter  form  seems 
to  mean  '  dwelHng  of  Codl.'  Callebton  (Nhbld.)  is  1073 
Calverdon,  1242  Cauveredon.    See  Calverton  and  -don. 

Calltngwood  (Burton-on-T.)  is  an  unique  word.  c.  1280  Calynge- 
wode,  Chalengwode  ;  in  L.  deeds  Boscum  calumpniatum ;  a. 
1600  Challengewood.  O.Fr.  calenge,  chalenge,  -onge  (fr.  L. 
calumnia),  'a  reproach,  an  accusation,  then  a  challenge.'  In 
Eng.  a.  1300  Cursor  Mundi, '  chalange.'  Cf.  Threepwood  (Sc.) 
and  in  Northumbld.  and  Cheshire,  fr.  threap,  'a  (scolding)  contest.' 

Callow  Hill  (Blithfield,  Staffs,  Chippenham,  etc.).  Bli.  C.  a  1300 
Calu-,  KalewhuU,  a.  1400  KalughuUe.  O.E.  calu,  calwe,  L. 
calvus,  '  bald,  bare.'  Cf.  Caludon,  Coventry,  1327  Calwedone. 
There  are  also  3  places  called  Callow  (Wirksworth,  Hereford, 
and  Worcestrsh.  (more  than  one). 

Calne.  c.  996  Cahia,  1387  Cahie.  Doubtful.  Possibly  fr.  W. 
calen,  '  a  lump,  a  whetstone ' ;  or  even  calon,  '  heart,  centre/ 
Colne  (Lanes)  is  the  same.    Cf.  Caunton, 

Calsthorpe  (Louth).  Dom.  Caletorp,  1233  Kaltorp.  'Farm, 
place  of  a  man  Calla  or  Ceolla,'  the  latter  a  common  name. 
See  -thorpe. 

Calverton  (Nottingham  and  Stony  Stratford).  Dom.  Notts  and 
Bucks,  Calvertone.  '  Town,  village  of  Ceolweard.'  But  Mutseh- 
mann  prefers  O.E.  calfre  tun,  'calves'  town.'     See  -ton.     But 

''  Calverley  (W.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Caverleia,  -lei ;  it  may,  how- 
ever, be  fr.  the  same  name ;  or  else  f r.  what  ?  Cf.  Callerton, 
and  1160-61  Pipe  Nhbld.  Calualea.    See  -ley. 

Camallan  R.  (Bodmin).  Corn,  for  '  crooked  Allan  ';  the  Allan 
and  Camallan  unite  to  form  the  Hayle.  Cam  is  '  crooked  '  in 
W.,  Com.,  and  G. ;  in  W.  the  fem.  is  gam.  But  R.  Cam  is  quite 
different.    See  Cambridge. 

Camberwell  (London).  Dom.  Ca'brewelle;  thereafter  6  is  rare  till 
17th  cny ;  1 199  Camwell ;  Camerwell,  Cambwell,  and  Kamwell  are 


CAM  R.  183  CAMEL  R. 

also  found.  Doubtful ;  camber,  '  slightly  arched/  is  impossible. 
See  Oxf.  Diet.  W.  cam  her,  'crooked  pike  or  spit/  might  be 
possible,  if  Kelt,  names  were  not  so  very  rare  hereabouts. 
Prob.  it  is  '  well  of  Coenbeorht,'  a  common  O.E.  name;  and  this 
is  phonetically  quite  admissible.  Cf.  Alberbuey  fr.  Eald- 
beorht. 

Cam  R.  and  Cambridge.    Possibly  c.  ^SO  Ant.  Itin.  Ca,mboxico; 

prob.  0.  Kelt,  camb  or,  'crooked  river'  {cf.  Cameo  and  Orr, 

Sc),  with  ic-  adjectival.    No  doubt  this  Rom.  name  influenced 

scholars  long  after  to  fix  the  name  as  it  now  is — Cambridge. 

But  orig.  they  had  no   connexion,     c.   700  Felix  Growland 

Gronta  flumen,  Bede  Grantacastir  (the  mod.  Grantchester    is 

2|  miles  fr.  Cambridge) ;  prob.  a.  810  Nennius  Caer  Grauth  (for 

Grant),   O.E.   Chron.   875    Grantebrycge,     1011    ib.    Granta- 

brycgscir,  a.  1145  Orderic  Gruntebruga,  1142  Cantebruggescir, 

a.  1153  Hist.  Eli.  Cantebrigia,  1150-61  Cantabrigia,  1436  Can- 

brigge,  1449  Kawmbrege,  1462  Cambryge,  1586  Camden  Camus. 

Granta  is  the  old  name  for  the  stream  now  called  Cam.    The 

two  names  have  gradually  become  assimilated,  Gr  having  orig. 

become  G  through  Norm,  mispronunciation.     Granta  may  be 

cognate  with  G.  grdnda,  'ugly.'    Cf.  Allt  Grand  (Sc),  also 

Grantown  (Sc.)  ;  or  it  may  perh.  be  connected  with  W.  grwnan, 

'  to  hum,  to   drone.'    Cf.  Grantley    There  is  also  a  little 

R.  Cam,  trib.  of  Severn,  Dursley  (Glostr.),  1177  Camme,  1221 

Kaumne,  which  is  Keltic  cam,  '  crooked ' ;  and  on  it  there  is  a 

Cambridge,  too. 

Cambo  (Morpeth).  1298  Cambhou,  Camou.  Cf.  Cambo  (Sc),  1327. 
Cambou.  Keltic  camb  ou,  '  crooked  stream ' ;  the  ou  is  same 
root  as  in  L.  Awe  (Sc),  and  in  Eu  (Normandy),  c.  1110  Owe. 
Cf.  next. 

Cambois  (Blyth),  pron.  Kamis.  1183  Boldon  Bk.  Camboise,  -bous, 
Camhus,  Cammus;  later  Commes.  This  is  not  Fr.,  but  G. 
camus,  '  a  bay,'  as  in  Cambus  (Sc).  fr.  G.  cam,  O.G.  camb 
'  crooked.'  Cf.  above  and  Aldcambus,  (Cockburnspath)  1212 
Aldchambos,  Aldecambus  (ald=G.  allt,  'bum'). 

Camborne.  Sic.  1536.  Prob.  Corn,  cam  bron,  '  crooked  hill.' 
Transposition  of  r  is  a  common  phenomenon. 

Camden  Town  (N.  London).  Called,  after  1791,  fr.  Baron  Camden 
of  Camden  Place,  Chiselhurst  (Kent),  where  Wm.  Camden, 
b.  1551,  author  of  Britannia,  resided.  The  name  may  be  Keltic, 
cam  din,  '  crooked  hill ' ;  but  where  was  the  original  Camden  ? 
Perh.  Staffs,  to  which  W.  Camden's  father  belonged. 

Camel  R.  (Cornwall,  and  name  of  village,  Somerset.)  and  Camel- 
roRD  (N.  Cornwall),  c.  1145  Geoffrey  Hon.  Cambula,  c.  1205 
Layamon  Camelforde.  Camel  is  perh.  Kelt,  for  '  crooked 
stream,'  in  G.  cam  allt.  Cf.  Cambo,  and  Gamescleuch  (Sc). 
But  prob.  fr.  a  Kelt,  god,  C amnios,  a  deity  found  both  in  Gaul 


CAMERTON  184  CANNOCK  CHASE 

and  Britain,  and  giving  name  to  Camulodunum,  or  Colchestee. 
Keltic  rivers  are  much  associated  with  deities.  Cambula, 
'  crooked  river/  suggests  a  quite  possible  origin  for  the  much- 
disputed  name  Campbell.  Cf.  Campbeltown  (Sc).  With 
CameLford  cf.  Galford.  Near  the  Som.  C.  lay  Camelot,  c. 
1440  Lancelot  Kamalot.  Here  the  final  syll.  is  perh.  W.  Hoed, 
'  a  place.'  It  seems  first  mentioned  c.  1170,  in  Chretien  de 
Troyes'  Chevalier  de  la  Charrette.     Cf.  next. 

Cameeton  (Bath).  Dom.  Camelerton,  'town  on  the  R.  Camelar' 
{sic  in  961  chart).  See  Camel.  The  -ar  is  quite  uncertain. 
But  the  first  part  is  almost  certainly  the  god  Camulos. 

Campden  (Glostr.).  Dom.  Campdene.  'Wooded  vale  with  the 
battle  site.''  Camp  is  an  early  loan  fr.  L.  campus,  '  a  plain.' 
Cf.  Eynsham  Cart.  '  To  Campsetena  gemsera.'    See  -den. 

Camrose  (Pembksh.).  1324  Kameros.  W.  cam  rhos,  '  crooked 
moor.' 

Candover  (Hants).  Prob.  707  chart.  {K.C.D.  v.  40)  Cendefer, 
1238  Close  R.  Candevre.  W.  cefn  dwfr,  '  ridge  by  the  stream.' 
Cf.  Cenarth  and  Condover. 

Can^wdon  (hiU,  S.  Essex).  1240  Close  R.  Canewedon'  (and 
Calewedon),  but  Dom.  Carendun,  which  Freeman  thinks  must 
be  an  error.  The  name  is  prob.  '  Canute' &  hill '  or  dun.  It  Hes 
close  to  the  site  of  K.  Canute's  or  Cnut's  victory  at  Assandun, 
1016. 

Canklow  (Rotherham)  and  Cank  Thorn  (Cannock).  1595  Canck 
Thorne,  Cannock  Thorne.  The  Cank-  in  both  cases  must  be 
the  same,  one  would  think,  as  Cannock.  If  so,  Canklow  (not 
in  Dom.)  is  a  tautology;  Kelt,  and  Eng.=  '  hiUock  '  or  '  mound.' 
See  -low.  In  Midi.  dial,  cank  means  'gabble  or  cackle,'  as  of 
geese. 

Cannington  (Bridgewater).  Dom.  Candetona.  Prob.  named  fr. 
some  man,  but  both  his  name  and  the  present  name  must  be 
much  corrputed.  There  is  nothing  in  Onom.  nearer  than 
Coenheard. 

Canninq  Town  (Plaistow).  So  named  from  the  former  principal 
employer  of  labour  there. 

Cannock  Chase  (Staffs).  Dom.  Chenet,  1130 Chnoc,  a.  1200 Canot, 
Chenot,  Chnot,  Cnot,  1238  Canoe,  a.  1300  Canok,  Kannock, 
a.  1500  Cank.  Dom.  regularly  spells  O.E.  en  as  chen;  and  in  all 
old  MS.  c  and  t  are  constantly  confused.  So  this  must  be  that 
rarity  a  Goidelic  Eng.  place-name,  G.  and  Ir.  cnoc,  gen.  cnuic, 
*  a  hill,  a  knoll,'  so  common  in  Sc.  and  Ir.  names.  Eng.  and 
W.  place-names  in  Knock-  are  very  rare,  perh.  only  Knockin. 
There  are  also  Knock  and  Knucklas,  but  they  are  fr.  W.  cnuc 
rather  than  G.  cnoc.  There  is  no  trace  of  u  in  all  the  many  old 
forms    of    Cannock.    Cf.    Canklow x    Qhase    'm    Q.^r,    chace^ 


CANTERBURY  185  CARDIFF 

'chasing,    hunting,    a   hunting-ground,    wild   park-land/  not 
found  in  Eng.  in  this  sense  till  1440.    Of.  Chevy  Chase. 

Canterbury.  [In  Bede  iv.  5  Rochester  is  also  called  Castellum 
Cantuariorum,  O.E.  versn.  Cantwaraburhge.]  a.  810  Nennius 
Cair  Ceint  [also  Cantguaraland] ;  O.E.  Ghron.  754  Cantwareburh, 
ib.  1011  Cantwaraburh  ;  Dom.  Cantorberia,  c.  1100  Anselm 
Cantuarberia,  1258  Kant'bur',  c.  1330  B.  Brunne  Canterbirie, 
'  Kent  men's  burgh/  wara  meaning '  dweller  in.'  C/.  Lindiswara, 
Mersewara  (dweUers  in  Romney  Marsh)  and  Wihtwara.  See 
-bury.  In  Rom.  days  it  was  called  Durovernum  (W.  dwr  gwern, 
'  river  with  the  alders  '). 

Canwell  (Birmingham),  a.  1200  Canewelle;  later  Cane-,  Canwall, 
Kanewall,  -well.  The  name  may  be  '  well  of  St.  Cain '  or 
'  Keyne '  or  '  Keigwin/  There  was  a  priory  and  a  spring 
here,  the  latter  dedicated  to  St.  Modan;  but  there  is  no  note 
of  any  connexion  with  St.  Cain.  Cf.  Keynsham.  W.  can,  cain, 
'  beautiful,  clear,'  seems  impossible  here.  But  the  first  syU. 
may  be  O.E.  canne,  a  '  vessel  for  liquids,  a  can.'  Oxf.  Diet. 
gives  only  one  quot.  fr.  O.E.,  and  then  nothing  till  c.  1375, 
'a  vatir-cane.'  The  name  must  thus  be  left  doubtful;  prob. 
it  is  fr.  can. 

Capel  Curig  (Bettws  y  coed).  Chapel  dedicated  to  Curig,  son  of 
IHd  or  Juhtta;  the  mother  shares  the  dedication  with  her  son. 
The  form  Capel,  O.N.Fr.  capele,  '  chapel,'  late  L.  cappella,  orig. 
'  a  Little  cloak  or  cape,'  reappears  in  Capel  St.  Maby  and  St. 
Andrew  (Suffk.).  There  is  also  a  Capel  (Dorking),  as  well  as 
a  Dom.  Herefd.  Capel.  In  Pembk.,  1603  Owen  gives  Capell 
Castellan  and  C.  Colman  (Irish  Bp.  of  Lindisfame,  661). 

CabAdoc  or  Caer  Caradoc  (Salop) .  W.  caer  Madoc,  or  else  Cadoc 
*  fort  of  St.  Madoc/  or  '  of  St.  Cadoc'  Either  MorC  must  have 
been  lost  by  aspiration.  Madoc  or  Modoc  was  a  disciple  of  St. 
David  in  Wales,  and  Hved  558-625.  Cf.  Kilmadock  (Sc). 
Cadoc,  Cadocus,  or  Docus,  another  Keltic  saint,  Hved  some 
years  in  Central  Scotland,  and  is  also  commemorated  in  Landoc 
(Cornwall). 

Carden  (Malpas).  Old  Carwarden;  the  personal  name  Carwardine 
is  still  found.  '  Farm  of  Gar '  or  '  Cari,'  both  in  Onom.  For 
a  similar  contraction  cf.  Hawarden,  now  pron.  Harrden.  See 
-warden. 

Cardew  (Dalston,  Cumbld.).  c.  1080  CarSen.  W.  Caer  Dewi, 
'  fort  of  David  ' ;  or  possibly  fr.  Tiw,  the  Northern  god  of  war. 

Cardief.  1126  Kardi,  1158-59  Pipe  Cardif,  a.  1150  Kardid,  Cairti, 
a.  1196  Gir.  Camb.  Kaer-,  Kerdif,  1218,  Kaerdif,  1298  Kerdife, 
dyf,  c.  1450  Cayrdife.  Usually  said  to  be  '  fort  on  R.  Taef  '; 
but  early  forms  make  this  more  than  doubtful.  In  Mod.  W. 
it    is   Caerdydd,    pron.    Kaerdaeth.    This   suggests    '  fort    of 

13 


CARDIGAN  186  CARLISLE 

Didius/  general  of  the  Romans  against  the  Silures,  the  British 
tribe  of  this  region,  a.d.  50.  This  is  confirmed  by  the  fact  that 
we  now  know  Cardiff  was  a  Rom.  fort.  The  form  Caer  Daf 
(Taff)  is  found  only  in  Leland,  c.  1550,  though  Caer  Dyv  does 
occur.  However,  there  are  2  Cardeeths  in  Pembroke;  and 
the  learned  editor  of  Owen's  Pembroke  dechnes  to  suggest  any 
etymology  either  for  these  or  for  the  plainly  cognate  Cardiff. 

Cardigan,  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Ceredigion,  Kerdigaun;  Brut  y 
Tywsy.  ann.  991  Ceredigion  ;  1218  Kaerdigan,  1298  Writ 
Cardygan.  Said  to  be  fr.  Garedig  or  Ceroticus,  a  Welsh  prince, 
to  whom  St.  Patrick  wrote,  denouncing  him  for  his  cruelty  in 
Ireland. 

Caedington  (Church  Stretton).  Dom.  Cardintune.  'Town,  vil- 
lage of  Carda.'    Cf.  B.C.S.  877  Cardan  hleew. 

Cardurnock  (Bowness,  Cumbld.).  G.  cathair,  W.  caer,  '  fort,'  and 
G.  dornag,  '  by  the  pebbly  place  ' ;  a  pebble  being  a  stone  easily 
held  in  the  '  fist,'  G.  dom,  gen.  dibirn.    Cf.  Dornock  (Annan,  Sc.) . 

Carew  (Pembroke),  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Kaereu,  Kerreu.  The 
same  name  is  pron.  Carey  in  Cornwall,  because  this  is  for 
W.  caerau,  pi.  of  caer,  '  castle,  fort,'  where  the  au  is  pron.  ay. 

Carham  (Kelso),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Carrum,  prob.  O.E.  loc.  'at 
the  carrs '  (O.E.  carr)  or  'rocks.'  Cf.  Harlow  Car,  Harrogate. 
But  see  -ham. 

Carisbrooke  (Newport,  I.  of  Wight).  1217  Patent  R.  Carebroc, 
1218  Kaerbroc,  1224  Carrebroc,  c.  1350  Caresbrok;  but  O.E. 
Chron.  530  Wihtgarsesbyrg,  or  -garabyrg,  which  means  '  Wight- 
dweUers'  burgh '  or  '  castle.'  It  does  look  as  if  the  Wiht  had 
been  dropped,  and  the  rest  transformed  into  Carisbrooke ;  but 
this  is  contested  by  Stevenson  in  his  Asser,  and  by  M'Clure. 
In  Dom.  the  name  seems  to  be  Bovecombe.  There  is  in  1199 
chart,  a  '  Carsbrok  '  near  Launceston — i.e.,  '  brook  of  the  fort.' 
Possibly  the  first  syll.  is  carr  sb^,  or  carse,  O.N.  Jcjarr,  '  copse- 
wood  '  then  '  bog  or  fen,'  and  not  Keltic  caer,  '  fort.' 

Carleton  (Pontefract  and  Skipton)  and  Carlton  (22  in  P.G.). 
K.C.D.  iv.  288  Carlatun,  ib.  300  Carletun.  Dom.  Carlentune 
(Cambs.),  Careltune,  Carentune  (Notts),  Cerletune  (Chesh.), 
Cerletone  (Salop),  Ceorlatona  (Devon);  and  in  Yorks,  16  times, 
Carletun.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Carltun,  Stockton,  1189  Karlatun 
(Cumbld.).  O.N.  harla,  or  O.E.  ceorla  tun,  '  carls',  churls',  serfs' 
village.'  Cf.  Carleton  (Sc).  Cearl  or  Ceorl  is  also  a  personal 
name. 

Carlisle,  c.  380  Anton.  Itin.  Luguvallum,  Bede  Lugubalia,  a. 
810  Nennius  Caer  Ligualia,  Taliessin  Caer  LHwelydd  (so  in  W. 
still),  1092  O.E.  Chron.  (Peterb.)  Carleol,  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt. 
Carleol  quae  a  populis  Anglorum  corrupte  Luel  vocatur,  Sim. 
Dur.  ann.  1122  Lingua  Britonum  Caklel  quae  nunc  Carleol 


CARMEL  187  CARSWELL 

Anglice  appellatur,  1129  Chaerleolium,  a.  1145  Order.  Vit.  and 
Waverley  Ann.  Cardeol,  c.  1175  Fantosme  Karduil,  1330  B. 
Brunne  Carlele,  1617  CarlielL  W.  Stokes  says,  Luguvallum  is 
'  wall  of  the  god  Lugus/  See  Ltjgg.  And  Llewellyn,  of  which 
Luel  or  Leol  is  a  contraction,  is  prob.  mod.  W.  for  Lugu-belinos. 
The  same  name  is  seen  in  Lugdunum  or  Lyons.  Carlisle  is,  of 
course,  '  castle  of  Leol.' 

Caemel  (Holywell  and  2  others,  Wales).  Presumably  all  W.  caer 
moel,  'fort  on  the  bare,  round  hill."  T.  Morgan  gives  none. 
1160-61  Pijpe  Herefd,  Cormel  (o  error  for  a)  is  almost  certainly 
the  same  name. 

Garn  or  Corn  Cavall  (mtn.,  Builth).  W.  cam  Cabal,  '  cairn  of 
Cabal,'  K.  Arthur's  dog. 

Caenaby  (Bridlington).  Dom.  Cherendebi.  '  DwelKng  oi'  some 
unknown  person.  The  nearest  in  Onom.  seems  Ceolwen,  a 
widow;  eo  regularly  becomes  a,  and  liquid  I  easily  turns  into 
its  kindred  r.  Another  possible  name  is  Carthegn  or  Carthen. 
See.  -by. 

Cabnforth  (N.  Lancashire).  Dom.  Chreneford.  a.  1250  Kerne- 
ford.  Prob.  '  ford  of  Crina  '  or  '  Grin/  names  in  Onom.  See 
-ford,  -forth. 

Carperby  (N.  Yorks).  Dom.  Chirprebi.  'Dwelling  of  some 
Norse  man  unknown.  His  name  may  perh.  be  represented  by 
the  mod.  surname  Capper,  the  liquid  r  having  vanished;  though 
Prof.  Weekley  does  not  think  so.  Very  Hkely  the  orig.  name  is 
the  common  Geolheorht,  which  would  suit  phonetically.  Cf. 
Carnaby.    See  -by. 

Carrington  (Manchester  and  Nottingham).  No.  C.  Dom.  Caren- 
Caretune;  1179-80  Pijpe  Carenton.  Seems  to  be  '  village  of  Car 
or  Cari  ' ;  both  forms  in  Onom.    See  -ing  and  -ton. 

Carshalton  (Mitcham).  Pron.  Casehalton,  Casehorton.  Dom. 
Aultone,  c.  1200  Crossalton;  also  Kresalton,  Kersalton,  Case 
Horton.  Orig.  '  old  town,'  O.E.  aid  tun,  then  '  Cross  old 
town  ';  r  continually  gets  transposed.  With  this  case  c/.  Bean 
cross  for  Bean  corse  or  Bean  carse  (Falkirk).  Carse  (Sc),  '  low- 
lying  land  beside  a  river,'  is  found  in  Scotland  c.  1200,  but  not 
.  in  Eng.  till  much  later,  if  really  at  all.  Oarsington  (Wirks- 
worth)  c.  1460  Karsynton,  must  be  fr.  some  unrecorded  man, 
Carsa,  or  the  like. 

Carswell  (Newent  and  Gower).  Ne.  C.  Dom.  Crasowel,  1221 
Karswelle,  1303  Cassewalle;  plainly  =Crasswell,  Cresswell, 
'water-cress  well.'  Go.  C.  is  also  spelt  Caswell,  and  is  prob. 
the  same.  Dr.  G.  Henderson,  however,  thinks  this  name  to  be 
N.,  with  the  ending  N.  voll-r,  '  field/  cf.  Scatwell  (Sc),  and  the 
former  part  presumably=  Carse  (Sc).  In  face  of  the  evidence 
above  this  is  doubtful.    There  is  also  Karswell  (Dursley). 


CARTER  PELL  188  CASTLE  RISING 

Oaetee,  Fell  (Cheviots).  Sic  a.  1540.  Contract,  fr.  G.  cearta- 
chair,  '  a  regulator,  an  adjuster/  fit  name  for  a  lofty  hill,  fr. 
ceart,  'right,  just.'  Prob.  also  the  origin  of  the  Dhu  Heartach 
lighthouse,  Colonsay.     See  -fell. 

Cautmell  (Ulverston).  Sic  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.,  1224  Kertmel. 
Cart  is  prob.  connected  with  G.  caraid, '  a  pair  ■*  (c/.  Cart,  Sc.) — 
because  Cartmell  Fell  stands  in  the  triangle  between  the  two 
streams  which  unite  to  form  the  R.  Winster,  just  as  the  Black 
and  White  Cart  unite  to  form  the  Cart  in  Renfrewshire.  The 
-meU  is  Norse  for  a  '  sand  dune  '  or  '  sandbank.'  See  Mellis. 
If  Cart-  be  Norse  too — O.N.  kart-r,  '  a  cart ' — it  may  refer  to 
a  sandbank  found  firm  enough  for  a  cart  to  cross.  However, 
Cartworth  (W.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Cheterwrde,  or  *  farm  of 
Kater.'    Cf.  Kettering,  and  see  -worth. 

Gary  R.  (Somersetsh.).  725  chart.  Kari,  c.  1160  Carith.  Prob. 
W.  earth, '  scouring '  river,  the  root  which  Dr.  M"  Bain  suggested 
for  R.  Cart  (Sc.)  .    Of.  Castle  Gary. 

Cassop  Colliery  (Coxhoe,  Durham).  1183  Gazehope, '  enclosed 
vaUey  of  Casa';  one  in  Onom.  See  -hope.  But  Dom.  Salop 
Cascop  will  be  ^Casa'a  cop ';  O.E.  cop,  copp,  'top,  summit,  crest 
of  a  hill.'     1160-61  Pipe  Devon  has  a  Cassewell,  ^Casa's  weU.' 

Casterton  (Kirby  Lonsdale),  c.  380  Antin.  Itin.  Galacum;  pos- 
sibly Dom.  here  and  Chesh.  Castretone.  Hybrid  fr.  L.  castra, 
O.E.  ceaster,  '  a  camp.'  But  Casterne  (Ham)  is  1004  chart. 
Coetes  thyrne,  '  Coet'a  thorn.' 

Castle     Bromwich     (Birmingham).      Dom.     Bromwic     (under 
Northants),  a.  1200  Bramewic,  Bromwich,  a.  1400  Castel  Brom 
wych;  O.E.  brom  wic,  '  dwelling  among  the  broom.'    See  -wich. 
Castle  (sic)  is  found  in  Eng.  as  early  as  1137  O.E.  Chron.     (See 
also  p.  61. 

Castle  Carey  (Somerset),  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Castellum  de  Cari, 
c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  'Duo  castella,  Carith  videHcet  et  Harpebren.' 
The  personal  names  Carey  and  Carew,  prob.  derived  from  this, 
are  interchangeable.  In  Cornwall  Carew  is  pron.  Carey;  and 
we  find  in  Berks  a.  1300  a  Nicholas  Carew  or  Cary.  See  Gary. 
The  Sc.  Castlecary  is  a  tautology. 

Castle  Carrock  (CarHsle).  1222  Patent  R.  Castel  Kayroc.  Prob. 
=  Carrick  (Sc).  G.  and  Ir.  carraig,  '  a  rock,  a  sea-cliff.' 
Carrick  (Ayrsh.)  is  in  Taliessin  Carrawg. 

Castleford  (Yorks).  Prob.  948  O.E.  Chron.  Ceasterforda.  O.E. 
ceaster,  L.  castra,  '  a  camp.'    Cf.  Castley  (Yorks),  Dom.  Castelai. 

Castle  Rising  (King's  Lynn).  1224  Patent  E.  Castra  de  Risingis, 
1450  Rysyng.  Rising  sb.  is  not  found  in  Oxf.  Diet.,  with  the 
meaning  of  '  rising  ground,  hill-slope,  hill/  until  1565.  So  prob. 
this  is  a  patronymic,  like  Barking  or  Reading,  '  place  of  the 
descendants  of  Rhys,'  a  well-known  British  name.  Cf.  Risby. 
Its  Eng.  form  is  Rice. 


CASTLETON  189  CAWSAND 

Castleton  (I.  of  Man).  Manx  Balla  Chastal,  which  means  the 
same  thing.     Balla  is  G.  and  Ir.  bail,  baile,  '  farm,  village/ 

Caston  (Attleborough) .  Dom.  Cas-,  Kastetuna.  Difficult  to  say 
what  Caste-  represents,  unless  it  be  that  the  liquid  r  has  dropped, 
and  it  is  -caster,  q.v.  This  would  be  abnormal.  No  likely  name 
in  Onom. 

Castor  (Peterborough).  Dom.  Castre,  1154-61  chart.  Castra.  See 
Caistor. 

Caterham  (Croydon),  c.  1210  Katerham,  'Home  of  Kater.'  Still 
found  as  a  surname.  Cf.  Kettering,  and  Catterton  (Yorks), 
Dom.  Cadretone. 

Catshtll  (Bromsgro  ve  and  Walsall) .  Br.  C.  1275  CatteshuU,  a.  1400 
Gates-,  KateshuU.  Wa.  G.  a.  1300  Cutteslowe  (see  -low),  a.  1500 
Gatteslowe  alias  Gattshill;  also  c.  1220  Elect.  Hugo.  Kateshill 
(Bury  St.  Edmunds) .  '  Hill  of  Catt,  Gatta,  or  Ceatta.'  Cf.  Cat- 
Eoss  (Yorks),  Dom.  Catefoss,  '  ditch  of  Gatta/  '  Cattestone,'  sic 
c.  1200  in  Norfolk,  Catton  and  Chatham. 

CA^TAii,  Magna  and  Little  (Yorks).  Dom.  Cathale,  Cathala,  Catale. 
'  Nook  of  Gatt.'    See  above  and  -hall.    Magna  is  L.  for  '  Great.' 

Gatterick  (Yorks).  c.  150  Ptolemy  Katouraktonion,  c.  380  Anton. 
Itin.  Cataractone,  Bede  Cataracta,  L.  for  '  cataract,  waterfall ' — 
'  juxta  Gataractam  usque  hodie  cognominatur ' ;  a.  900  O.E. 
vers.  Bede  Cetrehta,  Dom.  Catrice,  1241  Gheteriz. 

Catton  (Allendale  and  E.  Riding).  E.R.C.  Dom.  Cattune,  Caton, 
1179-80  Pipe  Catton.  '  Village  of  Ceatta  or  Gatta.'  Cf.  Chat- 
ham, and  1238  Close R.  Catteshal'  (Suffolk). 

Gatjnton  (Newark).  Dom.  Calnestone,  Carleton  (an  error),  1166-7 
Pipe  Calnodeston,  1241  Close  R.  Calnedon.  Clearly,  'town  of 
Geolnoth/  a  fairly  common  name.  Caitston  (Rugby)  is  Dom. 
Calvestone,  fr.  a  man  Ceolf.    See  -don  and  -ton. 

Cavendish  (Suffk.).  Dom.  Kauanadisc,  Kavanadis.  O.'E.Ceofan, 
Gafan  edisc,  '  park,  enclosure  of  Gafa.'    Cf.  Standish. 

Caversham  (Reading).  1219  Gaveresham,  1238  Gavresham.  From 
some  unknown  man.  Gavbrswall  (Stoke)  is  Dom.  Cavreswelle, 
a.  1200  Chavereswelle,  which  seems  clearly  '  Ccefer's  well.'  In 
O.E.  we  have  cafer-tun,  '  a  hall,  court,  or  mansion  ';  but  this  is 
not  likely  to  be  the  origin.  Gf.  Caversfield  (Oxon).  Dom. 
Yorks,  Caverlei  is  now  GaIjVERLEy.    See  -ham. 

Cawood  (Lanes  and  Selby).  La.  C.  1230  Cawude,  1346  Kawode. 
Sel.  C.  not  in  Dom.  (but  Dom.  Notts  Cauorde,  ?  '  Cawe's  farm  '). 
Doubtful;  but  prob.  either,  as  in  Cawthorne,  'cold,  cauld 
wood,'  or  as  in  Gawton,  Ceolf's.  wood.'  Gf.  1233  Close  R. 
'Calwodeleg'  (Devon). 

Cawsand  (Plymouth),  more  correctly  Cosdon.  Might  be  'hill 
(O.E.  dun)  of  Gasa,'  the  only  prob.  name  in  Onom. 


CAWSTON  190  CHACOMBE 

Cawston  (Norwich)  and  Caxton  (Cambridge).  No.C.  Dom. 
Cauestuna,  Caustituna,  Caustuna,  1167-68  Caustona.  Cam.  C. 
Dom.  Caustone,  1238  Close  R.  Kaxston,  1245  Caxton.  The  great 
printer's  name  is  often  spelt  Canston.  Difficult.  Skeat  con- 
jectures, '  village  of  Cah,'  gen.  Cages.  Cf.  K.C.D.  ii.  137  Cahing 
ls9g.  But  the  Nor.  name  at  least  surely  comes  fr.  Caua  (3), 
Cawe,  or  Cawo,  all  names  in  Onom.    See  -ton. 

Cawthornb  (Barnsley).  Dom.  Caltorne,  1202  Kale-,  Kaldthorn. 
Prob.  'cold  thorn  tree';  O.E.  cald,  'cold';  col,  'cool.'  But 
Cawton  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Caluetun,  which  is  prob.  '  town  of 
Ceolf.'  Cf.  K.G.D.  816,  Ceolfestun.  It  may  be  fr.  O.E.  cealf, 
'  a  caK.' 

Cefn  Coch  (Newtown).  W.=  '  red  ridge.'  Cefn  Llys  (Radnor). 
1246  Patent  R.  Keventhles  (see  p.  82).  W.=  ' ridge  with  the 
hall  or  mansion.* 

Ceiriog  R.  (Oswestry).    W.=  '  abounding  in  trout.' 

Cemais,  incorrectly  Cemmaes  (N.  Pembroke,  Maehynlleth,  and 
Anglesea).  Pe.  C.  1222  Patent  R.  Kammeis,  1298  Kemmeys,  c. 
1550  Ldand  Kemes,  1603  Owen  '  Kemes  head  called  Pen  Kemes 
pointe.'  W.  cemmaes  is  '  a  circle  for  games,  a  circus,'  said  to 
be  fr.  camp, '  a  feat,  a  game  ' ;  and  maes, '  a  field.'  But  this  whole 
derivation  is  disputed. 

Cenarth  (Caermarthen).  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Cenarth  Maur,  c.  1188 
Gir.  Camb.  Canarth  maur.   O.W.  can  arth,  '  white  hill  or  height.' 

Centtjbion's  Copse  (Brading).    Corrup.  of    'St.  Urian's  copse.' 

Cf.  POLURBIAN. 

Ceri  (Montgomery).  1298  Kery.  W.  ceri,  'medlar-trees.'  For 
other  suggestions  see  T.  Morgan. 

Cerne  Abbas  (Dorchester).  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1102  Cemel,  c.  1114 
O.E.  Chron.  Cemel,  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Cemei,  1237  Cern'. 
Cerney  or  Cernel  is  also  var.  of  R.  Churn,  c.  800  chart. 
Cymea,  c.  1130  Cirnea.  Doubtful.  There  is  an  O.Nor.  Fr. 
kernel,  '  an  embrasure  in  a  battlement,  a  battlement,'  which 
has  prob .  influenced  the  Cernel  forms.  But  the  root  of  Cerne  Ab . 
is  the  R.  Cerne,  which  is  prob.  W.,  as  there  is  a  R.  Cemiog 
(Montgomerysh.)  which  flows  into  the  R.  Camo.  W.  cam  is 
'  a  cairn,  a  heap  of  stones,'  but  this  can  hardly  be  the  root  here ; 
perh.  it  is  pre-Kelt. 

Cerridge,  The  (Macclesfield).  W.  cerrig,  'a  rocky  ridge.  Cf. 
Carrick  (Sc). 

Cevnon  (Cardiff),  c.  1550  Leland  Kevenon.  W.  cefn  onn,  'ridge 
of  the  ash-tree.' 

Chacombe  (Banbury).  Sic  1373.  Not  in  Dom.  or  Alexander. 
Prob.  '  valley  of  Ccec,  Cec,  Cecca'  a  fairly  common  O.E.  name. 


CHADDEETON  191  CHALLOW 

C/.  Checkley.  See -combe.  Possibly  it  maybe 'cMZA;  combe.'  The 
hard  O.E.  c  as  a  rule  becomes  the  softer  ch  in  Southern  names. 

Chadderton  (Oldham).  1190  Chaderton,  1278  Chadreton.  There 
is  no  name  in  Oyiom.  like  C(h)ader,  so  this  is  perh.  a  case  of  a 
N.  gen.,  Chad-r,  '  of  St.  Chad.''  Such  a  gen.  is  very  rare  in  an 
Eng.  place-name,  but  in  this  case  it  seems  confirmed  by  Chat- 
TERLEY,  which  a.  1300  is  both  Chadderlegh  and  Chaddendelle 
(or  '  dale ').  Cf.  Chadkirk.  However,  Catterton  (Yorks)  is 
JDom.  Cadretone;  so  that  Chader  may  be  var.  of  Kater,  as  in 
Caterham  and  Kettering. 

Chaddleworth  (Wantage).  960  chart.  Ceadelanwyrth,  Dom. 
Cedeneord,  1291  Chadelew'rth.  '  Ceadela's  farm.'  See  -worth. 
Cf.  Chadshunt  (Warwksh.),  1043  Chadeleshunte ;  Chadbury 
(Evesham)  714  chart.  Chadelburi,  860  ib.  Ceadweallan  byrig; 
also  Chaddleton  and  Chaleont. 

Chadkirk  (Stockport).  [Cf.  Dom.  Cheshire,  '  Sco  Cedde  tenuit 
Estun.']  '  Church  of  St.  Chad,'  Bp.  of  Lichfield  (d.  672).  Kirh 
is  the  North,  form  of  church,  and  is  here  near  its  South,  limit. 
But  Chadwiok  (Birmingham)  is  a.  1200  Chadeleswi^,  while 
Chadwick  (Worcstrsh.) — there  are  two — are  both  a.  1300 
Chadeleswick  or  Chadleswick;  the  Bromsgrove  one  is  Dom. 
Celdvic.  But  Chadsmoor  (Cannock  Chase)  is  fr.  '  the  blessed 
St.  Chad.'    Cf.  Chadderton. 

Chagford  (Dartmoor).  Dom'.  Chageforde,  and  still  so  pron. 
'  Geagga's  ford.'    Cf.  B.C.S.  762  Ceaggan  heal. 

Chale  (Ventnor).  Dom.  Cela.  Perh.  '  cold  place.'  Cf.  O.E.  cele, 
'  cold,  coldness  ';  2-4  chele,  mod.  '  chill ';  also  O.E.  cald,  ceald, 
2-4  southern  cheald,  '  cold.' 

Cfalfont  (Slough).  O.E.  chart.  Ceadeles  funtan,  D(ym.  Cel- 
funde,  1292  Chalfount  sancti  Egidii  (St.  Giles),  1298  Chalfhunte. 
'  Ceadela's  font,  fountain,  or  spring ' ;  Jj.fons,  -tis.  Cf.  Chaddle- 
worth and  Bedfont,  and  next.  But  Chalford  (Gloucestersh.) 
is  1297  Chalkforde. 

Chalgrove  (WaUingford).  1232  Close  R.  Chaugrave,  1240  ib. 
Chalf grave.  '  Grave/  O.E.  groif,  '  of  Ceolf,'  one  in  Onom.  In- 
mod,  name  endings  -grove  often  supersedes  -grave. 

Chalk  Farm  (N.  London) .  Originally  '  Chalcot  farm  ' ;  and  Upper 
Chalcot  mansion  house  survived  near  here  till  recently.  Chalcot 
is  prob.  chalk  cot.  1746  Rocque's  Map  of  London  has  '  Upper 
Chalk  House  Lane.' 

Challock  (Ashford).    835  chart.  Cealf-loca.     '  Calf -enclosure  '  or 

'  lock.'      Cf.  PORLOCK. 

Challow,  East  and  West  (Wantage).  Chart.  Ceawan  hlsewe, 
1291  Westchaulawe,  1316  Estchaulo,  c.  1540  Westchallow. 
'  Ceawa'a  mound,  or  burial-mound.'     See  -low. 


CHALTON  192  CHARLTON 

Chalton  (Homdean,  Hants).  Dom.  Celtone,  and  perh.  K.C.D.  722 
Cealhtune,  for  O.E.  cealc  tun, '  chalk  town.' 

Chapel-en -le-Frith  (Stockport).  'Chapel  in  the  wood'  or 
'  forest.'  Frith  is  some  kind  of  a  wood.  See  Fbith  Bane:  and 
Oxf.  Diet.,  s.v. 

Chapmanslade  (Westbury).  '  Lade  '  or  '  watercourse  of  the  chap- 
man/ or  '  pedlar.'  Gf.  1155  Pipe  Hants,  Chepmanneshale, 
1160  -essele  (see  -hall),  and  Chepstow. 

Chard  (Axminster).  Not  in  Dom.  Perh.  W.  cardden,  '  a  wild 
place,  a  thicket,'  fr.  cardd,  '  exile.'  Possibly  fr.  a  man  Carda, 
one  in  Onom.,  but  it  is  rare  for  a  place-name  to  be  of  this  pattern. 
Gf.  Goodrich  and  Tydd;  also  Chardstock,  a  little  to  the  S., 
Dom.  Cerdestoche.    See  Stoke. 

Charford  (Salisbury).  O.E.  Chron.  508  Cerdigesford.  The  Saxon 
ealdorman,  Gerdic  or  Geardic  came  to  England  in  495.  But 
Charford  (Bromsgrove)  is  1275  Cherleford,  1327  Charleford. 
O.E.  ceorlaford, '  ford  of  the  churl '  or  '  hind ' ;  whilst  Charfield 
(Wotton-under-Edge),  Dom.  Cirvelde,  c.  1250  Charfelde,  Badde- 
ley  derives  fr.  O.E.  ceart,  '  rough,  fern-growing  ground.' 

Charing  (Ashford).  799  chart.  Ciornincge,  940  ib.  Cirringe,  Dom. 
Cheringes.  This  may  be  '  place  of  the  sons  of  Georra,  -an,  only 
likely  name  in  Onom.  Gf.  Cherrington  (Shipston-on-Stour),  no 
old  forms.  But  the  earliest  form  suggests  a  river -name,  formed 
with  -ing,  q.v.,  fr.  a  stream  called  Ciorn,  which  would  be  akin  to 
Cerne,  Chtjrn,  and  Ciren-cester  (?  any  such  name  still  here. 
Could  it  be  an  old  name  of  the  Len,  on  which  Charing  stands  ?). 
We  also  have  940  chart.  Cyrfringhyrst  (Kent).  Charingworth 
(Ebrington)  is  Dom.  Chevringaurde,  c.  1320  Chavelingworth, 
which  Baddeley  thinks  may  be  '  farm  of  the  sons  of  Geafhere,'  an 
unrecorded  name. 

Charing  Cross  (London),    c.  1290  Q.Eleanor's  Executors  Crucem 
^  de  la  Char-rynge.    Popular  etymology  says,  '  Ghere  reine,'  K. 
•   Edward  I.'s  tribute  to  his  Q.  Eleanor;  but  this  is  absurd.    Prob. 
it  is  simply  a  patronymic  like  the  above. 

Charlbuby  (Oxford).  Die  Heilige  Engl.  Ceorlingchmh,  1197-1208 
Churlebiry,  1238  Cherlebir.  '  Burgh,  castle  of  (the  descendants 
of)  Georl  or  Gearl,'  a  common  O.E.  name — i.e.,  '  the  churl ';  eo 
regularly  becomes  a  in  mod.  Eng.     Gf.  next. 

Charlcombe  (Bath).  '  Valley  of  Gearl  or  Georl,'  lit. '  of  the  churl, 
or  carl,  or  bondman.'    See  -combe. 

Charlgote  (Stratf ord-on-Avon) .  Dom.  Cerlecote;  in  Salop,  too. 
'  Cot,  hut  of  the  peasant  or  bondman.'    See  above. 

Charlton  (15  in  P.G.).  O.E.  chart.  Ceorlatun,  Dom.  Cerletone 
(Berks),  etc.  '  Village  of  the  churls  or  carls.'  See  Charlcombe, 
and  cf.  Chorlton.    We  also  have  a  Dom.  Bucks  Cerleslai. 


CHARMOUTH  193  CHAWTON 

Chabmouth  (Dorset).     O.E.  Chron.  833  and  Hen.  Hunt.  Carrum. 
-     R.  Char  is  perh,  the  same  Kelt,  root  as  in  Carron  (Sc),  and  so 

either  'rough'  or  'crooked'  river.     1160-61  P^;pe  Kent, has 

a  '  Charho.' 

Charney  Bassett  (Wantage).  B.C.S.  i.  506  Ceornei,  Dom.  Cernei, 
1291  Cernee.  '  Island  on  R.  Cerne.'  See  -ey.  The  Bassets 
were  a  Norman  family  who  owned  lands  hereabouts.  But 
Chabnes  (Eccleshall)  is  Dom.  Cervernest,  a.  1200  Ohavernesse, 
1227  Chaunes,  a.  1300  Chavemes,  Charneves,  Chaunes.  O.E. 
ceafor,  cefer,  5  chauer,  '  a  beetle ' ;  and  nest,  '  nest/  or  nces, 
'  promontory,  headland,  ness ' — a  very  curious  corruption. 

Charnwood  Forest  (Leicestersh.).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  it  has 
Cemelega.  Prob.  same  as  Carnwath  (Sc),  which  is  c.  1165 
Charnewid,  W.  cam  gwydd,  '  cairn,  cairnlike  hill,  covered  with 
shrubs  or  woods  ' ;  influenced,  too,  no  doubt  by  the  O.Dan,  wede, 
Dan.  ved,  Eng.  wood.    No  name  like  Cam  or  Gem  in  Onom. 

Chart  Sutton  (Maidstone).  838  chart.  Cert.  Chert,  a  kind  of 
quartz,  is  not  found  in  Eng.  a.  1679,  so  this  name  is  doubtful. 
It  seems  httle  use  to  compare  Chertsey.  However,  Chartley 
(Uttoxeter)  is  Dom.  Certehe,  c.  1300  Certelea,  which  must  be 
'  Certe's '  or  '  Ceort's  meadow.'  We  have  in  O.E.  charters 
Certsecer,  Ceortanstapol,  etc.,  as  well  as  Certham,  now  Chartham 
(Canterbury).  Thus  the  name  Certe  or  Ceorta,  though  not  in 
Onom.,  is  well  estabHshed. 

Chatburn  (Chitheroe).  1241-42  Chatteburn.  Prob.  'brook  of 
Ceatta '  or  '  Ceatt,'  as  in  next  and  in  Chetham,  sic  1235.  But 
both  this  and  Chat  Moss  may  be  fr.  O.W.  c{h)et,  W.  coed,  'a 
wood,'  as  in  Chetwode. 

Chatham.  O.E.  chart.  Ceattham,  Dom.  Ceteham,  c.  1150  chart, 
Csetham.     '  Home  of  Ceatta,'  a  Jute.    Cf.  Catton. 

Chatteris  (Cambridge),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Cateriz,  Catriz, 
Chetriz,  Dom.  Cetriz,  Cietriz;  chart.  Ceatrice,  Chaterik;  c.  1120 
Hen.  Hunt.  Chateric ;  a.  1153  Lib.  Eli.  Chateriz.  The  forms  in  Ch 
and  z  are  all  Norm.  Difficult.  Possibly  it  contains  the  personal 
name -K'afer.  C/.  Kettering.  Skeat  and  Stevenson  think  not, 
and  think  it  may  be  a  Kelt,  river-name,  which  is  doubtful. 

Chatterley  (Newcastle,  Staffs),  a.  1300  Chadderlegh,  Chadden- 
delle.  This  may  be  '  meadow  '  or  '  dale  of  St.  Chad.'  The  -en 
is  the  O.E.  gen.  -an,  whilst  the.er  is  a  trace  of  the  N.  gen.  in  -r. 
Norse  influence  is  coramon  in  N.  Staffs.  Cf.  Chadeirk.  Great 
and  Little  Chatwell  in  the  same  shire,  a.  1200  Chattewelle, 
are  also  fr.  Chad.     But  cf.  Catterton,  s.v.  Chadderton. 

Chawton  (Alton) .  Not  in  Dom.  It  has  a  Caudevre  {cf.  Michel- 
dever).  Old  forms  needed.  Perh.=  CHAUS0N  (Droitwich), 
Dom.  Celvestune,  1108  Chalvestone.  O.E.  Cealfes  tun,  'town  of 
Calf,'  or  '  the  calf.' 


CHEADLE  194  CHliLPORD 

Che  ABLE  (Stoke-on-Trent  and  Cheshire),  also  C.  Hulme  and 
MosELEY  (Cheshire).  St.  C.  Dom.  Celle  (error  for  Cedle;  Dom. 
continually  has  felle  for  felde),  1166  Chelle  (repeating  Dom.'s 
error),  1194  Chedele,  a.  1300  Chedle,  Dogge-Chedile.  Ches.  C. 
1194(jhedle.  This  must  beN.  Jcvidal, '  f  old- valley ';  N.  influence 
is  common  in  N.  Staffs.  Cf.  Katewell  (E.  Ross-shire),  in  G. 
Ciadail,  the  same  name.  For  -dale  slurring  into  -die,  cf.  Rodil 
(Harris),  and  the  ending  of  Marple  ;  whilst  for  N.  k  becoming  ch, 
cf.  -caster  and  -Chester. 

Hulme  is  O.E.  holm,  '  a  piece  of  low,  flat  land  by  a  river.' 
Cf.  Hume  (Sc),  1250  Home.  The  origin  of  '  Dogge-Chedile  '  is 
unknown.  Though  Celle  and  Chelle  are  clearly  errors  here, 
Chell  (Burslem)  is  1313  Ceolegh,  or  '  Geol's  lea.'  But  Kiddal 
(W.  Riding),  Dom.  Chidal(e),  is  manifestly  the  same  name  as 
Cheadle;  plainer  still  is  Chee  Dale,  Millersdale  (Derbysh.).  It 
is  worth  adding  as  to  the  Celle  forms  that  the  sb.  needle,  O.E. 
nidi,  whilst  3-6  nedle  is  also  3-7  nelde. 

Cheam  (Sutton).  1018  (or  later)  chart.  Cheyham.  'Home  of 
Ceahha,'  or  some  such  name.  Cf.  B.C.S.  1230  Ceahhan  mere. 
See  -ham. 

Chebsey  (Eccleshall).  Dom.  Cebbesio  (o  for  e),  a.  1250  Chebbesey. 
'  Isle  of  Ceobba '  or  '  Ceob,'  3  or  4  in  Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  Suffk. 
Cebbenhala.    See  -ey. 

Chbokley  (Cheadle,  Herefordsh.,  Essex,  and  S.  Cheshire).  Che.  C. 
Dom.  Cedla  (error),  1227  Chekkesleye,  Checkele.  Ches.  C. 
c.  1190  Boll  Chekelee,  later  Chackleigh.  He.  C.  1252  Chackileg. 
'  Meadow  of  Ccec,  CcBcca,  Cec '  or  '  Cecce,'  all  forms  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Checkendon  (Reading),  '  hiU  of  Cecca,'  and  Kekewich. 
See  -ley. 

Cheddab  (Somerset).  Exon.  Dom.  Cetdre,  Chart.  Cedre,  a.  1142 
Wm.  Malmesb.  Ceddren;  later  Chedare.  Kelt,  cet  der,  W.  coed 
dwr, '  wood  on  the  stream.'  1158-59  Pi'pe  Cedresfeld  (Somerset) 
seems  to  imply  a  man  Ceder,  of  whom  we  would  have  the  patro- 
nymic in  1160-61  Pipe  Gloucstr.,  Chedringwurda, '  farm  of  Ceder 's 
sons.'    C/.  Chetwode. 

Cheddleton  (Leek).  Dom.  Celtetone,  1200  Chetilton,  1204 
Cheteleton,  a.  1400  Chetelton.  Prob.  not  '  town  of  Geadel '  or 
'  Ceadela,'  as  in  Chaddleworth,  but  '  town  of  Cetel  or  Cytel,'  a 

.  common  O.E.  name.  Change  of  t  to  d,  or  vice  versa,  is  common. 
Cf.  Catterton  (Yorks),  Dom.  Cadretone,  Chatterley,  and 
Chedworth  (Gloucstrsh.),  872  chart.  Ceddanwyrde,  fr.  Cedda, 
but  also  1190  Chedeleswarde, '  farm  of  Ceadel.'  Caddel  is  still  a 
surname. 

Chelford  (Cheshire).  Dom.  Celeford,  also  in  Bucks,  Celforde. 
'Fold  of  Ceolla'  or  '  Cella.'  Cf.  Chelsfield.  Chellow 
(Bradford)  is  fr.  the  same  name,  Dom.  Celeslau,  '  Cella's  hill.' 
See  -low. 


CHELLASTON  195  CHEPSTOW 

Chellaston  (Derby).  Prob.  Dom.  Cellasdene.  Cf.  939  chart. 
Ceolan  hyrst  (Kent).  Now  'town  of  Ceolla/  but  the  ending 
seems  to  have  been  formerly  -dean,  q.v. 

Ohelmarsh  (Bridgnorth).  1179  Cheilmarsh,  1255  Cheylmerse. 
Prob.  contract,  for  '  Ceolmund'a  marsh.'  Cf.  Chelmick  in  the 
same  shire,  1232  Chehnundewyk;  but  Cheylesmore  (Coventry)  is 
a.  1300  Chisihnore,  O.E.  ceosel  mor,  '  shingly  moor.* 

Chelmondiston  (Ipswich).  Local  pron.  Chimston.  Not  in  Dom. 
'  Village  of  Chelmond  or  Ceolmund/  a  very  common  O.E.  name. 
Cf.  Cholmondestone  (Chesl^re),  Dom.  Chelmundestone ;  also 
Cholmondeley. 

Chelmsford.  Dom.  Celmeresfort,  1160  Pipe  Chelmesford,  1161  ib. 
Nord  chelmeresford.  'Ford  of  Ceolmcer'  or  'Celmar/  3  in 
Onom.  Liquid  r  easily  disappears.  The  name  of  the  river 
Chelmer  is  thus  a  back  formation  fr.  the  ford. 

Chelsea.  O.E.  Chron.  785  Cealchype,  1465  Chalchithe,  a.  1600 
Chellsaye.  The  name  has  changed.  Orig.  it  was  '  chalk- 
hithe  '  or  '  landing-rise.'  See  Hythe.  But  the  present  form 
represents  O.E.  ceosel-i^e,  'pebble-bank  isle';  O.E.  ceosel, 
'pebble  or  shingle.'  Cf.  Ger.  kiesel,  and  Cheselhanger 
(Berkeley),  1368  Chisulhanger,  'shingly  wooded  slope.' 

Chelseleld  (Chiselhurst) .  Possibly  by  dissimilation  Dom.  Ciresf el., 
1298  Chelesfelde,  'Field  of  Ceolla,'  a  fairly  common  name. 
Cf.  '  Chelesbergh '  in  chart,  of  935,  near  Shaftesbury,  Dom. 
Surrey,  Celesham,  and  Cheleswurda,  1159-58  Pipe  Wilts.  But 
Chelsworth  (Bildeston,  Suffk.)  is  962  chart.  Ceorlesworth, 
'farm  of  Ceorl' — i.e.,  the  churl  or  carl  —  common  name  in 
Onom.    See  -worth. 

Cheltenham.  803  chart.  Celtanhom,  Dom.  Chinteneham,  1158-59 
Chilteham.  '  Enclosure  on  R.  Chelt,'  prob.  a  Kelt,  word,  pos- 
sibly the  same  root  as  Celtce.  The  ending  here  is  hamm,  not 
ham.    See  -ham. 

Chelwood  (Bristol).  Old  forms  needed.  {Dom.  has  only  Ceol-, 
Celflede,  fr.  Ceolf  or  Ceolvmlf.)  May  be  '  Ceolla's  wood,'  or  perh. 
'  cold  wood,'  fr.  4  cheld,  cheald,  South,  form  of  cold,  O.E.  cald. 

Chenees  (Rickmansworth).  ?  1131  O.E.  Chron.  (Laud.)  Chinni, 
1297  Cheyny.  Prob.  O.E.  cine,  cyne,  3  chine,  4-6  chene,  chyn, 
'  a  fissure,  a  crack,  a  chine.'  Cf.  Kempton.  The  ending  is  the 
commonly  suffixed  Eng.  pi.  But  Dom.  Yorks  Chenehall  is  now 
Killinghall. 

Chepstow.  Li  W.  Casgwent  {cas  for  castel).  Dom.  Estrighoiel, 
1228  Close  B.  Striguill;  also  Straguil.  The  Dom.  form  looks  like 
'  dwelling,  abode,  W.  ystre,  of  the  Goidel  or  Gael.'  But  the 
present  name  is  O.E.  ceap-stow,  '  market-place>  place  for  bar- 
gaining,' as  in  Cheapside. 


CHEQUERBENT  196  CHESTER 

Chequekbent  (Bolton),  c.  1574  M.8.  Checkerbent.  This  must  be 
'  checkered,  variegated  bent  grass.'  The  vb.  chequer  is  rare  so 
early  in  Eng.,  so  this  seems  to  be  formed  fr.  chequer  sb.  '  chess- 
board/ or  '  chessboard  pattern  ';  O.Fr.  eschequier  ;  in  Eng.  1297 
chekere.  See  also  Bentley;  and  cf.  Chowbent  (Lanes),  1641-42 
Cholbent,  ?  '  bent  of  Ceol' 

Cherhill  (Calne).  Dom.  Cheurel,  1158-59  Pipe  Ceriel.  Doubtful; 
first  part  prob.  as  in  next;  -el  is  a  very  rare  representative  of 
-hill.  It  is  conceivable  that  the  root  is  O.E.  ceafor,  cefer,  4  chauer, 
'  a  chafer,  a  beetle  ';  O.H.G.  chevar. 

Chebiton  (4  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Ciretona  (Devon).  Hardly  fr.  the 
cherry,  O.E.  ciris,  cyrs,  and  then  not  found  till  c.  1350,  cheri, 
chiry.  Perh.  '  village  of  Ceorra  '  or  '  Gyra'  one  such  of  each  in 
Onom.  Cheeeington  (Warwicksh.)  is  the  same  name,  1327 
Chirytone.  Here,  and  also  in  the  case  of  the  two  Chirtons, 
Duignan  votes  for  cherry.  But  Cheriton  (Abesford)  is  prob. 
Dom.  Cerewartone,  fr.  some  man  of  doubtful  name,  (?)  Ceorl- 
weard,  a  name  not  recorded,  or,  by  dissimilation,  Ceolweard,  a 
fairly  common  name.  The  Kent  Ch.  is  not  in  Dom.  Cf. 
Churston.  However,  Cherington  (Tetbury),  Dom.  Cerintone, 
c.  1120  Cherintone,  later  Chederintone,  Baddeley  thinks  is,  '  ton, 
farm-enclosure  of  the  Ceadrings  '  or  '  sons  of  (?)  Ceadhere.' 

Chertsey.  Bede  Cerotsesei,  id  est  insula  Ceroti,  v.r.  Ceoroti  {grant 
ofQ15  Cherteseye].  1084  O.E.  Chron.  Ceorteseye,  Dom.  Certesy. 
'  Isle  of  Gerot.'      See  -ey. 

Cherwell  R.  (Oxford) .  681  chart.  Flumen  quod  appellatur  Ceruelle. 
864  ih.  Cearwellan,  1005  Cearwylle,  Cyrwylle.  Possibly  con- 
nected with  O.E.  cyrran  '  to  turn,'  but  prob.  pre-Keltic. 

Chesham  (Bucks).  K.G.D.  658  Cissanham.  O.E.  for  '  home  of 
Gissa.'  Gf.  Chessington,  Keswick,  and  Dom.  Essex,  Cesse- 
worda,  Cishelle.    The  names  Gis,  Gisi,  and  Giss  also  occur. 

Cheshunt  (Waltham  Cross).  Dom.  Cistrehunt,  a.  1300  Cesferhunt, 
1402  Chesthunte,  '  camp's  hunt '  or  '  hunting-ground.'  See 
Chester.  But  Chesford  (Kenilworth)  is  c.  1422  Chessford,  of 
quite  uncertain  origin;  perh.  O.E.  ceosleg, '  shingly.'  We  get  the 
personal  name  Ghesney  in  Sezincote  (Glouc),  Dom.  Che(i)snecote, 
'  cot  of  Ghaisne  '  or  '  Ghesney,'  O.Fr.  chesnaie, '  an  oakwood.' 

Cheslyn  Hay  (Walsall),  a.  1300  Hay  of  Chistlyn,  -ling,  ChistHng, 
Ches-,  Chystlyn.  Duignan  takes  this  to  be  a  dimin.  of  chest, 
Sc.  hist,  O.E.  cest,  cist.  Gf.  Chestal  (Dursley),  1374  Chystelay. 
Hay  is  O.E.  hege,  '  a  fenced  or  hedged  enclosure,'  here  perh. 
round  an  ancient  cromlech  or  burial-mound. 

Chessington  (Surbiton).  Dom.  Cisendone.  *  Gissa' a  fort';  O.E. 
dun.    Gf.  Chichester.    See  -don  and  -ton. 

Chester.  Bede,  '  Civitas  Legionum,  which  by  the  English  is  called 
Legacestir,  but  by  the  Britons  more  rightly  Carlegion,'  in  c.  810 


CHESTEKPIELD  197  CHETWODE 

Nennius  Cair  Ligion  (W.  caer,  'fort,  castle')  and  Urbs  legionis, 
894  O.E.  Chron.  Anre  waestre  castre,  Dom.  Cestrescire,  c.  1097 
Flor.  Wore.  '  Civitas  quae  Carlegion  Britannice  et  Legeceaster 
dicitur  Saxonice.'  L.  castra, '  a  camp  ' ;  O.E.  ceaster, '  a  fortified 
place/  then  often  'a  town';  cf.  A.S.  Gospels  (Luke  x.  11).  In 
mod.  W.  Caerlleon  Gawr,  '  great  fort  of  the  legion  '  (?  the  20th). 
Cf.  Caebleon  and  Leicester;  and  see  Caistor. 

Chesterfield  (Derbysh.  and  Lichfield).  De.  C.  955  Cesterfelda, 
1162-65  Cestrefelt.  Li.  0.  1262  Cestrefeud,  Chestrefewde.  See 
Chester.  Field  is  O.E.  f eld,  3-5  feU{e) .  In  1262  the  liquid  I  has 
become  w,  as  it  often  does,  esp.  in  Sc,  but  Oxf.  Diet,  gives  no 
examples  under  field. 

Chester-le-Street.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.;  also  R.  of  Hexham  Cuncha 
Chester;  1183  Cestria.  The  street  implies  a  Roman  road. 
Cuncha  is  also  found  in  the  form  Cununga,  which  suggests  Icel. 
honung-r,  '  king.' 

Chesterton  (Cambridge,  Cirencester,  Bicester,  StafEs,  and  War- 
wicksh.).  Ci.  C.  c.  1100  Cestretone.  War.  C.  1043  cJmrt. 
Cestretune,  Dom.  Cestretone,  Cestedone,  O.E.  ceaster-tun, '  town 
of  the  fort,  castle-town.'  See  Chester  and  -ton.  Also  cf.  Dom. 
Bucks  Cestreham. 

Cheswardine  (Market  Drayton).  Dom.  Ciseworth,  a.  1200  Chese- 
wurda,  Cheswordyn,  Chesewardyn,  Chesew'rthin.  '  Cheese- 
making  farm.'  O.E.  cese,  cyse,  '  cheese,'  and  -worth  or  its  var. 
-wardine,  q.v.  Similar  is  Cheswick  (Northumberland),  c.  1100 
Cheseuuic,  1631  Cheswick,  lit.  '  cheese-house.'  See  -wick.  Also 
cf.  Butterwick  and  Chiswick. 

Chetnole  (Sherborne).  {Dom.  has  Chenolle  and  Chenoltone  and 
CnoUe.)  Hybrid.  0.  Keltic  chet  ;  W.  coed, '  a  wood  ' ;  and  O.E. 
cnoll,  '  a  rounded  hillock,  a  knoll.'  Cf.  Chetwode,  Ejstowle,. 
and  Kits  Coity  House,  name  of  a  cromlech,  Aylesford,  Kent. 
Jos.  Colebroke,  c.  1800,  says  Eat  was  an  old  shepherd,  who  fed 
his  flocks  here ;  and  Coity  must  be  f r.  coed. 

Chettle  (Blandford).  Dom.  Ceotel1(o  prob.  error).  1238  Close  R. 
Chetel.  O.E.  cytel,  cetel ;  O.N.  cetel,  'a  kettle,'  hence  a  valley 
shaped  like  a  kettle,  a  '  corrie.'  Cf.  Kettle  or  Kingskettle 
(Fife). 

Chetton  (Bridgnorth).  ?  Dom.  Catinton.  '  Town  of  Ceatta,'  2  in 
Onom.    Cf.  Dom.  Bucks,  Cetendone. 

Chetwode  (Bucks).  949  chart. Cetwuda,  Dom.  Cetevde,  1248  chart. 
'  Forest  of  Chett,'  1270  '  in  Bosco  (wood)  de  Cett,'  1290  Chet- 
wood.  Hybrid  tautology;  O.W.  coit ;  W.  coed,  '  a  wood.'  Cf. 
Chute  and  the  personal  name  Chetwynd  (W.  coed  gwyn) ;  also 
Dom.  Cornw.  Chilcoit  (Corn,  for  '  neck  of  the  wood  '),  and  Bucks, 
Cetedone,  though  this  last  may  be  fr.  O.E.  cete,  '  cot,  hut.'  Cf. 
Datchet.    Also  cf.  Chetnole. 


.  CHEVELEY  198  CHIDDINGSTONE 

Cheveley  (Newmarket),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camh.  Cauelei,  Chauelei, 
Cheuelei,  Dom.  Chavelai,  a.  1200  chart.  Cheaflea,  Cseafle,  1346 
Chavele,  1426  Cheveley.  '  Chaff -meadow ' ;  O.E.  ceaj,  2-4  cheue, 
4  chaue,  '  chaff."    See  -ley. 

Chevenagb  (Avening).  Not  in  Dom.  1626  Chavenedge.  Prob. 
Cheven-  is  O.E.  Cifan,  '  Cifa's/  with  the  usual  Norm,  softening. 
Cf.  Chevening,  Che  vest  gton,  Chieveley,  and  Dom.  Surrej'' 
Civentone.  But  it  may  be  fr.  Ceen.  -age,  q.v.,  is  usually  a  late 
ending,  and  needs  old  forms  to  interpret  it. 

Chevet  (Barnsley)  Dom.  Cevet ;  and  Cheviot  Hills,  c.  1250  Montes 
chiueti,  a.  1300  Mons  chiuioth,  c.  1500  Chevet,  1596  Cheuott. 
Possibly  G.  c{h)iabach,  '  bushy  place,"  fr.  ciabh,  '  hair,'  which 
may  also  be  the  root  of  Chevy  Chase.  For  -ach  becoming  -iot, 
cf.  Elliot  |Sc.).  There  is  also  Caville  (Yorks),  which  is  Dom. 
Cevetle  (see  -ley).  The  name  is  very  doubtful.  Fr.  chevet,  '  a 
pillow,'  seems  impossible.  But  the  Chevin  (Otley)  is  plainly  W. 
cefn,  '  a  hill  ridge.' 

Chevington  (Ackhngton,  Bury  St.  Edmunds,  and  Pershore).  Bu. 
C.  Dom.  Ceuentuna.  Pe.  C.  972  chart.  Civincgtune,  Dom.  Civin- 
tone,  1275  Kyvin-,  Chyvintone.  'Town  of  the  sons  of  Cifa.' 
Cf.  Chevenage.    See  -ing  and  -ton. 

Chevy  Chase  (N.  Northumberland).  Sic  c.  1650,  but  a.  1500  ballad. 
'  The  hunttis  of  Cheuet."    See  Cheviot  and  Cannock  Chase. 

Chewton  Mbndip  (Bath) .  Dom.  Civetune,  1280  Close  B.  Chiweton, 
1238  ib.  Chyweton.  Onom.  has  no  Ciwa,  only  one  Ceawa,  which 
may  be  the  name  here,  and  also  in  Chew  Magna  and  Stoke 
(Bristol).  Dom.  Chiwe.  There  seems  no  Hkelier  origin,  though 
it  is  rare  for  a  place  to  be  called  after  a  man  alone;  but  cf. 
Goodrich,  etc.    Magna  is  L.  for  '  Great.' 

Chichester.  891  O.E.  Chron.  Cisseceaster,  c.  1070  Ecclesia  Ci- 
cestrensis,  c.  1114  Cicestre,  1167-68  Cycestr',  c.  1180  Cicestria, 
late  chart.  Chichestra,  1297  B.  Glouc.  Chichestre.  '  Camp,  fort 
of  Cissa/  son  of  Ella,  d.  c.  520.  See  Keynoe,  and  cf.  Cissbury 
Camp  (Worthing). 

CmcH  St.  Osyth  (Colchester),  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Chicce,  Sim. 
Dur.  ann.  1123  Cice,  1157  Pipe  Chich.  Doubtful.  None  of 
'  the  words  spelt  chich  in  Oxf.  Diet,  yield  a  likely  origin,  and  there 
seems  nothing  helpful  in  O.E.  C/.  Dom.  Devon,  Cichet.  So  prob. 
the  name  is  Keltic,  meaning  some  thing  or  place  of  concave  or 
hivelike  shape.  Cf.  W.  cychu,  '  to  cover,  to  hive.'  Osyth  was  a 
virgin  martyr,  of  doubtful  date,  ?  600-800.  Said  to  have  been 
granddaughter  of  Penda  of  Mercia  and  pupil  of  Abbess  Mod- 
wenna. 

Chlddingstone  (Eden  Bridge).  The  '  chiding  stone,'  a  sandstone 
boulder  fr.  which  fractious  wives  used  to  be  '  chided,'  still  stands 
at  the  rear  of  the  village;  O.E.  cidan,  to  chide,  pa.  tense,  chid, 


CHIEVELEY  199  CHILTON 

pa.  pple.  chidden.  But  for  all  that,  this  is  prob.  an  example 
of  popular  etymology,  and  the  real  name  will  be  O.E.  Cyddan 
Stan,  '  stone  of  Cydda  ' ;  there  are  2  of  this  name  in  Kent  men- 
tioned in  Onom.  Cf.  Kiddington  (Oxon),  Dom.  Chidintone; 
but  the  Kent  name  is  not  in  Dom. 

Chievbley  (Newbury).  O.E.  chart.  Cifan  lea,  1291  Chivele.  '  Lea, 
meadow  of  Ci^a.'  Not  the  same  name  as  Cheveley  (Cambs). 
Cf.  Chevington,  and  see  -ley. 

Chigwell  (Ongar).  O.E.  chart  Cingwella,  later  Cinghewella,  Chi- 
wellia.  '  Bang's  well,"  O.E.  cyning,  1-2  cyng,  cing.  Cf.  CniNGroBD. 

Chiloott  (Wells)  and  Chtloote  (Ashby-DE-LA-Z.).  Prob.,  as  in 
Chilton  and  Chilwell,  '  Gilda's  cot';  the  adj.  chill  is  inad- 
■  missible  in  all  these  cases,  being  recent.  But  Dom.  Comw., 
Chilcoit,  will  be  Old  Keltic,  or  Corn,  for  'neck  of  the  wood'; 
with  Com.  chil,  cf.  G.  caol,  '  narrow,'  and  caolas,  '  a  strait,  a 
kyle.'  The  Wells  name  could  quite  easily  be  Corn.;  it  is  not  in 
Dom.    Of.  Kllcot. 

Childeey  (Wantage).  Chart.  Cillan  rithe.  Cilia  rithe,  Dom.  Celrea, 
a.  1300  Celrea,  CeLry.  Cilia  is  presumably  a  personal  name. 
Cf.  B.C. 8. 1242  Cillan  hrycg  {i.e.,  '  ridge  ') ;  prob.  Cille,  sister  of 
Hean,  first  abbot  of  Abingdon.  The  letter  d  often  sufl&xes 
itself.  Cf.  Drummond  (Sc).  Rith  is  O.E.  for  '  stream,' cognate 
with  L.  rivus.  Cf.  Shottery.  But  Chtlderley  (Cambs)  is 
Cildra-ledh,  '  children's  '  (Sc.  childer's)  'lea.' 

Child's  Wigkham  (Broadway,  Worcester).  706  chart.  Childes- 
wicwon,  Wicwone,  972  chart.  Vuiguuennan.  The  present  name 
is  a  corruption ;  the  chart,  name  may  contain  W.  gwig, '  a  thicket, 
grove,  forest,'  or  else  the  name  of  the  tribe  Huiccii.  See  Wor- 
cester; also  see  Wtkttamford.  Child  is  O.E.  did,  'a  child,' 
not  found  as  child  till  c.  1160,  so  that  the  copy  of  the  706  chart. 
must  be  late.     Cild  is  also  early  found  as  a  proper  name. 

Chtt.t.tngham  (Bedford).  Sic  1595,  and  Chellington  [Kings- 
bridge  (Sussex),  Crewkeme  and  Brewood  (StafEs)].  Ki.  and  Cr. 
C.  Dom.  Cilletone.  Br.  C.  Dom.  Cillentone,  a.  1200  Cilderton, 
a.  1400  Chilinton, '  Home,  village,  or  town  of  Cille.'  The  names 
Cild,  Cilia,  Cille,  and  Cilli  are  all  in  Onom.  But  Sus.  C.  is  c. 
1060  chart.  CiUingtun  (probably),  or  '  village  of  Cilling,'  prob. 
patronymic  fr.  above.     See  -ham,  -ing,  and  -ton. 

Chiltern.  a.  800  Chilternsaetna,  Dom.  Cilterne  (Somerset),  a.  1125 
O.E.  Chron.  ann.  1009  Ciltem,  c.  1200  Gervase  Chiltre.  Cf., 
too,  chart  Hen.  I.  a  '  Ciltre.'  Oxf.  Diet,  says  origin  unknown. 
The  name  is  also  applied  to  a  kind  of  soil.  The  -ern  is  prob. 
O.E.  erne, '  a  house.' 

Chilton  (5  in  P.O.).  C.  Poldon,  Bridgewater,  Dom.  Cildetone, 
Steventon  C.  1015  chart.  In  loco  ubi  solicolse  appellativo  usu 
Cilda  tun  nominant,  Dom.  Cilletone,  a.   1300  Chilton,  Dom, 


CHILVEES  COTON  200  CHIPPING  NOETON 

Bucks  Ciltone.  Cilda,  1015,  prob.  is  a  man's  name,  as  the 
proper  gen.  plu.  of  O.E.  cild,  '  child,'  is  cildra.  But  Skeat  says 
that  this,  like  Chilford  (Cambs)  means  '  children's/  Yet  KLilton, 
(Yorks),  sic  1179,  is  Dom.  Chilton,  which  makes  Skeat's  asser- 
tion doubtful.    Cf.  next. 

CtttTjVEBS  Coton  (Nimeaton).  Dom.  Celverdestoche  (see  -stock), 
a.  1200  Chelverdcote,  a.  1300  Chilverdescote,  Chelverescot. 
'  Ceolweard's  cottages,'  coton  being  an  O.E.  pi.  of  cot. 

Chilwell  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Cilleuuelle,  Cid-,  Chide welle.  Cf. 
Dom.  '  Cildewelle '  (Cheshire).  Chil-  prob.  represents  a  man 
Cild,  Cilia,  or  Cille;  all  these  forms  are  found  in  Onom.  The 
Eng.  adj.  chill  is  not  found  till  1513.  See,  too,  above,  and 
cf.  Chilworth  (Romsey  and  Guildford),  Dom.  Leicr.,  Chilurda, 
and  1238  Close  E.  Cheleworth  (Cricklade),  which  all  must  be  fr. 
a  man  Cille,  or  the  like.  But  some  think  Chil-  is  same  root  as 
in  Bapchtld.    See  -worth. 

Chine  (in  Blackgang  Chine,  etc.,  in  S.  and  S.W.).  See  Chenies. 
The  Oxf.  Diet,  gives  no  quot.  before  1830. 

Chtngeord  (Walthamstow).  The  early  forms  vary  much — Dom. 
Chilgelford,  1242  Chingel-,  also  Cinge-,  Cinghe-,  Echingels-, 
Schingelf ord.  This  seems  to  be  '  Shingle  -  ford,'  N .  singl, 
'  water-worn  gravel  or  pebbles,'  M.E.  chingle ;  but  plainly 
confused  with  '  King's  ford.'  Cf.  Chigwell,  and  1160  Pipe 
Chingeswuda  (Eangswood,  ?  in  Surrey). 

Cheststock,  E.  and  W.  (Somerset).  Dom.  Cinioch.  Prob.  Keltic. 
Possibly  var.  of  Cannock,  fr.  W.  cnwc,  '  a  hillock.'  But  also 
cf.  G.  cianog, '  a  small  piece  of  arable  land.' 

Chinnob  (Wallingf ord) .  1234  Close  B.  Chynhore,  Chennor. 
'  Bank,  edge  of  Cina  '  or  '  Cyna,'  gen.  -an.  Cf.  Chinley  (Stock- 
port) .     See  -or. 

Chippenham  (Wilts,  Bp's.  Cleeve,  Cambs).  Wi.  C.  878  O.E.  Chron. 
Cippan  hamm,  c.  900  chart.  C^ppenhamme,  1158-59  Chepeham, 
Bp.  C.  c.  812  chart.  Cippanhamme,  Ca.  C.  c.  1080  Inquis.  Cam. 
Chipenham,  Dom.  Chipeham.  '  Enclosure,'  O.E.  hamm,  or 
'  home,'  O.E.  ham,  '  of  Cippa,'  -an,  a  rare  name;  Cippan  cannot 
be  =  Chipping.  Cf.  Dom.  Essex,  Kippedana,  the  2  Chipsteads, 
and  CHipprNGHURST  (Oxon),  chart.  Cibbanhyrst,  '  Cibba's  wood.' 

Chipping  Norton,  Ongar,  Sodbuby,  etc.  a.  1300  Roll  Norton 
Mercatoria.  Chipping  is  var.  of  cheaping,  found  c.  1200 
cheping,  '  a  market,  a  market-place,'  fr.  O.E.  ceap,  *  barter,' 
cipan,  '  to  sell,'  same  root  as  cheap,  cheapen,  etc.  Cf.  Chep- 
stow, and  see  Norton,  etc.  The  mod.  Swede  has  the 
same  sound  and  meaning,  though  not  the  same  spelling. 
He  always  speaks  of  Copenhagen  as  Chippenhavn, '  merchant's 
haven,'  though  he  spells  it  Kjobenhavn  or  -hamn,  whilst  a 
name  like  Jonkoping,  '  John's  market,'  he  pronounces  Yon- 


CHIPSTEAD  201  CHOLDERTON 

chipping.  But  Chipping  (N.  Lanes),  Dom.  Chipinden,  is  prob- 
'  vale  of  Cipa '  or  '  Ceapa,'  one  in  Onom  (see  -den),  and  Chip- 
PiNaTON  (Nthbld.)  is  oZd  Cebbington, '  town  of  Ceabba/  gen.  -ban, 
one  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 

Chtpstead  (Red  Hill  and  Sevenoaks) .  Not  in  Dom.  Prob. '  home- 
stead of  Cyppa.'    Cf.  Chippenham  and  Dom.  Norfk.  Chiptona. 

Chirbury  (Salop) .  913  O.E.  Chron.  Cyricbyrig — i.e., '  churchburgh ' 
or  '  town.'  See  the  interesting  article  Church  in  Oa;/.  Z)ici.  But 
by  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.it  is  Cereburih,  1236  Chirebir".    See  -bury. 

Chirk  (Accrington  and  Oswestry).  Ace.  C.  1202  Chirche,  or 
'  church  ';  but  Osw.  C.  a.  1300  Ciriee,  c.  1350  Chirk,  which  may 
not  represent  O.E.  for  '  church/  as  in  Chirbury;  but,  as  Chirk 
is  on  the  R.  Ceiriog,  it  may  be  a  corrup.  of  it.  In  W.  it  is 
Eglwys  y  wsen,  '  church  of  the  moor.' 

Chiselhfrst.  1160Pi^eChiselherst, c.  1380Chesilhurst.  'Woody 
place  on  the  shingle,'  O.E.  ceosel.  See  Chelsea  and  -hurst;  and 
cf.  Chesil  Bank,  Dorset.  But  Chiselboroxjgh  (Stoke-under-ham) 
is  1236  Close  B.  Sidelberg,  prob.  '  burgh  of  Cecil.'  The  original 
seat  of  the  Cecils  was  in  Monmouth,  where  the  name  is  pron. 
Seisyl;  we  see  the  same  name  in  Isolde  or  Yseult  of  the  medieval 
romances  and  in  Chisholm  (Sc).  See  -boro'.  We  also  have 
1240  Close  R.  Chiselhampt'. 

Chisenbury  (Pewsey).  Dom.  Cheseberie.  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey  Cisen- 
done.  '  Burgh,  town  of  Cisi,'  one  in  Onom.  Cissa  is  much 
commoner.  See  -bury.  Great  Chishall  (1597  ChishiU),  R.oy- 
ston,  may  be  fr.  the  same  name. 

Chislet  (Canterbury).  Chart,  and  Dom.  Gstelet.  Possibly  O.N. 
Fr.  castelet,  chastelet,  dimin,  of  chastel,  mod.  Er.  chdtelet  and 
cMteau,  '  a  little  castle.'  We  have  castelet  in  Eng.  c.  1320  and 
chastelet  in  1494;  but  the  early  change  fr.  a  to  i  is  scarcely 
explained.     Prof.  Weekley  is  quite  doubtful. 

CHISWIC3K  (London).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1230  Chesewycke.  O.E.  cese, 
cyse  wic,  '  dweUing,  hamlet  where  cheese  was  made.'  Cf. 
BuTTERWicK  and  Cheswardine,  and  see  -wick. 

Chitterne  (Wilts),  a.  675  Grant  Cyterene  forde.  ?  Dom.  Chetre. 
Prob.  '  Cyta's  house,'  O.E.  erne.  We  find  both  a  '  Cytan  ford  ' 
and  a  '  Cittan  den  '  in  early  charters. 

Chittlehamholt  (Chulmleigh)  and  Chittlehampton  (Umberleigh), 
both  Devon.  Dom.  Citrametona  (though  in  MS.  Curametone). 
The  first  part  must  be  the  common  O.E.  name  Cytel,  Chitel,  or 
Ketel ;  the  r  in  Dom.  is  due  to  the  common  interchange  of 
liquids.  Dom.  also  has  Chetelescote.  Holt  is  O.E.  and  Icel.  for 
'  a  wood,  a  grove.'    See  Hampton. 

Cholderton  (SaUsbury).  Dom.  Celdre-,  Celdrintone,  1287  Close 
E.  Childwarton.     '  Town  of  Ceolweard,'  var.  '  Kilvert.' 

U 


CHOLLERFORD  202  CHURCHINFORD 

Chollerford,  and  -ton  (N.  Tyne).  c.  410  Notit.  Dign.  Glurno, 
a.  700  Bav.  Geogr.  Celunno,  1232  chart.  Chelreton.  Cilurno 
suggests  W.  cilwrn,  'cauldron/  fr.  the  cavities  in  the  rocky 
river-bed  here;  Sc.  Rhys.  But  the  disappearance  of  the  n  is 
curious.     Cf.  above. 

Cholmondeley  (Cheshire).  Pron.  Chumly.  Dom.  Calmundelei. 
'  Galmund's  or  '  Geolmund's,  meadow.'  Gf.  Chelmondiston. 
See  -ley. 

Cholsey  (Berks).  1005  O.E.  Ghron.  Ceolesige^  Dom.  Celsei,  Sim, 
Dur.  ann.  1006  Ceolesegia,  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Coleseige.  '  Geola'a 
isle  ' ;  several  Ceolas  are  known.     See  -ey. 

Choppington  (Morpeth),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Cebbingtun.  '  Geab- 
ba's  village.'  Gf.  B.G.S.  282  Ceabban  sol.  It  may  be  a  patro- 
nymic.   See  -ing  and  -ton. 

Chorleton  -  CUM  -  Hardy  (Manchester).  1296-97  Chorleton= 
Charlton. 

Chorley  (Preston).  'Meadow  on  the  R.  Ghor/  a  name  prob. 
Keltic;  ?  cognate  with  W.  cor,  'a  circle,  a  crib.'  Cf.  Dom. 
Worcr.  '  Chure.'  But  Chorley  (Lichfield)  is  sic  a.  1400  and 
a.  1600  Chorley  alias  Charley.  '  Meadow  of  Georl,'  or  '  of  the 
carl  or  churl/  O.E.  ceorl. 

Chrishall  (Royston).  Not  in  Dom.  1298  Cristeshale — i.e., 
'  Ghrist'a  nook.'  Gf.  Dom.  Worcr.  Christetone,  and  Christen 
Bank  (Northumbld.). 

Christchurch.  1058  O.E.  Ghron.  Mt  Christes  cyrcean,  a.  1109 
Mt  Xrescircean,  c.  1160  Gesta  Steph.  Cristiciria  {sic). 

Christian  Malford  (Chippenham).  940  chart.  Cristemalford, 
'Christ's  Malford/  or  'ford  of  the  tax  or  impost/  O.E.  mdl, 
seen  in  the  Sc.  mailing. 

Chijdleigh  (2  in  Devon) .  Not  in  Dom.  '  Meadow  of  Gudd '  or 
'  Cudda,'  names  in  Onom.    See  -leigh. 

Chtjlmleigh  (Devon).  Dom.  Calmonleuge,  Exon.  Dom.  Chalmon- 
leuge,  1242  Glose  R.  Cha(u)meleg'.  '  Meadow  of  Geolmund/  a 
very  common  name ;  eo  regularly  becomes  a,  now  slurred  into 
u;  and  -leuge  is  scribe's  error  for  -leage,  dat.  of  leah.    See  -ley. 

Churohhtll  (4  in  P.G.).  Kidderminster  C.  Dom.  Circehille,  Oxf. 
C.  1295  chart.  Cercelle,  later  CherchehuUe,  Dom.  Bucks  Cherche- 
helle,  also  Chirchefeld;  in  Dom.  Surrey  it  is  Cercefelde.  Form 
1295  is  only  an  early  spelhng  of  '  church  hill.'  Gf.  the  forms 
under  Christchurch.  Churchdown  (Gloustrsh.),  now  pron. 
Chosen,  is  already  in  Dom.  Circesdune. 

Churcbinford  (Honiton).  Not  in  Dom.  Perh.  935  chart.  Chircel- 
ford.  The  liquids  do  interchange,  but  I  rarely  becomes  n.  The 
early  spelhngs  in  the  Oxf.  Diet,  do  not  encourage  us  to  derive 


CHURCH  MINSHULL  203  CIRENCESTER 

CEircel  fr,  circle ;  but  there  is  a  Med.  L.  cercella,  O.Fr.  cercdle, 
'  the  teal  duck/  which  seems  possible. 

Church  Minshull  (Middlewich).    See  Minshtjll  Vernon. 

Chxjbohoveb  (Rubgy).  Dom.  Wara,  1257  Waur(e),  a.  1300  Church 
Waver,  1327  Chirche-Wavre.  The  -overs  of  Warwk.,  Browns- 
over,  Cester-Over,  etc.,  are  all  fr.  O.E.  wafre,  wcefre,  '  the  aspen 
poplar.'    See  Wavertree,  etc. 

Churn,  R.  (Cirencester).  Prob.  found  in  c.  150  Ptolemy  Corinion 
and  a.  700  Rav.  Geogr.  Cironium,  names  for  Cirencester, 
which  stands  on  this  river;  it  is  sometimes  called  the  Corin. 
If  the  name  is  so  old  it  cannot  be  O.E.  cyrin,  '  a  churn,'  and  is 
prob.  pre-Keltic.  There  is  also  a  Churnet,  trib.  of  R.  Dove 
(Staiid.),  1284  Chirnete,  which  might  be  dimin.  of  O.E.  cyrin, 
dm  ;  but  Duignan  is  prob.  right  in  connecting  it  with  the  other 
river.    C/.  Cerne. 

Churston  Ferrers  (Devon).  Prob.  1167-68  Pipe  Chirestona, 
'  Town  of  Cire,'  one  Cyra  in  Onom.  Of.  Cheriton.  On  Ferrers, 
see  Beer. 

Chute  (Wilts)  and  Chute  Standen  (Andover).  1238  Close  R. 
Cett,  1241  ib.  Cet,  ?  which.  Gf.  1248  chart.  '  Forest  of  Chett,' 
1270  in  Bosco  de  Cett.  Kelt,  chet, coit,W.  coed,  '  a  wood.'  See 
Chetwode. 

Chyandour  (Penzance).  Corn.=  '  house  on  the  water,'  ti,  chi,  '  a 
house.'  The  G.  tigh,  *a  house,'  also  commonly  takes  the  ch 
sound.  Cf.Ch.ysQ,\\&t&r,CoTn.chy  sawstir,  '  house  on  the  Saxon 
or  English  land,'  and  Chyangwail,  Lelant,  '  house  in  the  field,' 
gwel,  gweal,  rather  than  '  among  the  corn-stalks,'  gwail.  Also 
see  Tywarnhaile. 

CiLSAN  (on  R.  Towy).  W.  cil  is  'the  back,*  then  'a  retreat,  a 
place  of  retreat,  a  comer.'  Gf.  G.  cM  and  cuil.  The  -san  is 
thought  to  be  O.E.  segne,  L.  sagina,  Gk.  a-ay-jvr],  '  a  seine  (net).' 

Cindery  I.  (BrightUngsea) .  1539  Syndry,  1674  Sinder  Isle.  Prob. 
O.E.  sunder  ea, '  isle  sundered  or  separated '  from  the  mainland. 
Gf.  Sunderland;  whilst  Cinderford,  For.  of  Dean,  is  1281 
Sinderford.     See  -ey. 

Cirencester.  Prob.  c.  150  Ptolemy  Corinion,  a.  700  Rav. 
Geogr.  Cironium,  O.E.  Ghron.  628  Cirenceastre,  c.  893  Asser 
Cirrenceastre  called  '  Cair  ceri '  in  British,  which  is  the  south  part 
of  the  Huiccii  (see  Worcester),  1155  Cirecestre,  c.  1180  Ben. 
Peterb.  Cirencestria,  Cirecestria,  1298  Cicestre,  which  last  is 
near  the  present  pron..  Sister,  Sizeter.  In  W.  Caergeri,  really 
the  same  name.  Usually  said  to  be  '  Ciren's  camp.'  There  is 
no  Giren  or  Cyren  in  Onom.,  though  we  do  find  B.C. 8.  349 
Cyran  leah — i.e., '  meadow  of  Cyra.'  However,  the  root  must  be 
pre-Saxon,  the  name  being  '  camp  on  the  Ciren'  or  '  Churn.* 
See  -cester. 


CISSBURY  204  CLAVERDON 

CissBUBY  (Worthing).  Not  in  Dom.  '  Burgh,  fort  of  Cissa.'  See 
Chichestee  and  -bury. 

Claines  (Worcester),  a,  1100  Cleinesse,  a.  1200  Claines.  This  is 
certainly  an  abnormal  name,  but  it  can  hardly  be  aught  else 
but  O.E.  clone,  cldne  nces,  '  clear,  clean  headland  ';  the  orig. 
meaning  of  clean  was  '  clear."  Of  course,  final  -ness,  q.v.,  is 
usually  sounded ;  but  it  could  easily  be  slurred. 

Clandown  (Radstock)  and  Clanfield  (Hants  and  Oxon).  Ox. 
C.  Dom.  Clenefelde,  1216-1307  Glanfeld,  1274-79  Clanefeld. 
Cf.  Dom.  Clanedun  (Surrey)  and  Clandone  (Bucks).  AU  fr. 
O.E.  clcBne,  cldne,  '  clear,  clean,  free  from  dirt  or  weeds.'  See 
-don. 

Clapham  (Westmld.,  London,  and  Beds).  We.  0.  Dom.  Clapeham; 
Lon.  C.  a.  900  chart.  Cloppaham,  Clappenham,  Dom.  Clopeham; 
Bed.  C.  1236  Clopham.  Some  think  Lon.  0.  is  '  Home  of  the 
Osgod  Glapa/  d.  1054,  where  Harthacnut  drank  himself  to 
death ;  but  Skeat  prefers  to  associate  both  the  above,  and  also 
Claphams  in  Yorks  and  Lanes,  with  mid.  Dan.  klop,  'a  stub,  a 
stump,'  prob.  allied  to  clump :  so  '  house  in  the  stumpy  ground.' 
Similarly  Clapton  (Hungerford),  1316  Clopton,  and  Clapton 
(Glostrsh.)  c.  1200  Cloptime ;  whilst  Dom.  has  a  Clopcote  (Berks). 
Cf.  Clopton.  Skeat  does  not  seem  to  have  noted  the  Dom, 
Westmld.  form,  which  favours  derivation  fr.  a  man.  Cf.,  too, 
Dom.  Sffk.  Cleptuna. 

Clarendon  (Sahsbury).  1164  Hoveden  Clarendonum,  1373  Claryn- 
done.  The  adj.  clear  is  not  found  in  Eng.  a.  1297,  and  there  is 
only  one  obscure  Clare  in  Onom.,  so  the  origin  of  this  name  is 
doubtful.  W.  clavrr,  'surface,  cover,'  does  not  seem  likely; 
'  HiU  of  Clare  '  is  more  so,  O.E.  dun, '  a  hill,  a  fort.'    Cf.  next. 

CLAiBO  (Yorks).  Not  in  Dom.,  though  now  name  of  a  wapentake. 
May  be  '  clear,  conspicuous  how '  O.N.  haug-r,  or  moothill  of  its 
wapentake;  only,  clear,  3-5  cler,  is  not  found  in  Eng.  a.  1297. 
But  there  is  also  Clareton  (Yorks),  Dom.  Claretone,  which 
favours  derivation  fr.  a  man  Clare.  Cf.  Clarendon,  Greenho 
(Norfolk),  and  Thingoe. 

Clatford  (Andover).  Dom.  Cladford.  Doubtful.  No  name  in 
Onom.  like  Clad.    Perh.  fr.  O.E.  elate,  '  bur,  burdock,  cHvers.' 

Claughton-on -Brock  (Garstang).  Dom.  Clactune,  1208  Clatton, 
1241  Close  B.  Clexton,  1288  Claghton.  '  Vill&,ge  of  Clac,'  several 
in  Onom.,  whilst  Brock  is  O.E.  broc,  '  a  brook.'  Cf.  Claxton, 
Clawton,  Holsworthy,  and  1160-61  Pipe  Clawurda  (Notts  and 
Derby);  also  Dom.  Yorks  Clactone,  now  Clayton  West,  and 
Cloctone  now  Cloughton. 

Claverdon  (Stratford,  Wwk.).  Dom.  Clavendone,  1151  Claver- 
don,  1326  Clardon.  'Clover  hill';  O.E.  clcefre.  Cf.  next,  and 
see  -don. 


CLAVE  RING  206  CLEE  HILLS 

Clavering  (Newport,  Essex).  Dom.  both  Essex  and  Nfk.  Clave- 
linga,  1241  Close  B.  Cluering,  1330  Claveryng.  This  cannot  be 
the  same  as  Claverlet  (Wolverhmptn.)  and  Claverhouse 
(Sc),  fr.  O.E.  clafre,  clcefre,  4-7  claver,  *  clover/  It  must  be,  by 
dissunilation,  fr.  a  man  Clavel,  prob.  he  who  came  over  with 
Wm.  the  Conqueror — '  place  of  the  sons  of  Clavel.'    See  -ing. 

Claxton  (Stockton,  Yorks,  and  Norfk.).  St.  C.  sic  1344,  Yo.  C. 
Dom.  3  times  Claxtorp  (see  -thorpe),  Nfk.  C.  Dom.  Clakestona. 
'  Town  of  Clacc '  or  '  KlaTch-r,'  a  N.  name.  Cf.  Clacton  and 
Claughton. 

Clay  (Lincoln).  Sice.  1180  Bened.  Peterb.  The  earliest  instance 
of  the  form  clay,  O.E.  clde^,  in  the  Oxf.  Did.  is  a.  1300. 

Clayhanger  (Devon,  S.  Somerset,  Staffs,  Essex).  Dev.  C.  Dom. 
Clehangre,  Glostr.  C.  Claenhangare;  St.  C.  1300  Cleyhunger,  later 
Cleohongre;  Ess.  C.  1015  O.E.  Chron.  Clseighangra — i.e.,  '  clay 
slope.'  The  prob.  meaning  of  O.E.  Jiangra  is  '  slope,'  fr.  the 
ob.  hang,  or  perh.  '  wood  on  a  slope.'  See  Oxf.  Diet.  HA]<rGER^. 
Cf.  Birchanger,  Hungerford,  etc.  In  Glostr.  it  has  now 
become  Clinger,  1138  Cleangra. 

Clayton  (8  in  P.O.).  More  than  one  in  Yorks  Dom.  Claitone. 
Clayton  Griffith  (Newcastle,  Staffs)  is  Dom.  Claitone,  «.1300 
Clayton  Griffyn.  O.E.  cZceg-Mw, 'town  in  the  clay.'  But  Dow. 
Yorks  also  has  a  Clactone=  Clayton  West.  See  Claughton. 
The  Griff yns  were  lords  of  the  manor  in  the  13th  cny. 

Clayworth  (Retford).  Dom.  Clauorde.  1156  Clawurda,  1202 
Clawurth.  '  Clayey  farm.'  Cf.  above  and  -worth.  The 
surname  Cleworth  is  the  same  name. 

Cleasby  (N.  Riding,  Yorks).  D&m.  Clesbi,  1202  Clasebi,  1298 
Cleseby.  Prob.  '  Dwelling  of  Clea/  or  some  such  name,  not 
found  in  Onom.  See  -by.  Hardly  fr.  O.E.  cleof,  later  cleo,  '  a 
cliff,  a  CLEVE '  {q.v.  in  Oxf.  Diet.).  This  last  is  the  origin  of 
Clee  and  Cleobtjry. 

Cleatlam  (Barnard Castle),  a.  1130 Sim.  Dur.  Clethinga.  Doubt- 
ful.   The  -am  will  be  -ham,  '  home.' 

Cleator  (Whitehaven).  Old  Cletergh.  O.N.  klett-r,  'a,  cliff,  a 
crag,'  and  ergh,  N.  corrup.  of  G.  airigh,  'a  shieling,  a  hut.' 
Cf.  Angles  ARK. 

Cleddy  R.  (Milford  Haven).  921  Clet5e  mufan,  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt. 
Glade  mouth,  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Clediv  and  Doncledif.  Prob. 
O.W.  cled,  'warm';  perh.  W.  cladd,  'a  trench.'  Cf.  Clwyd. 
But  Owen,  1603,  spells  it  Clydagh. 

Clee  Hills  (Salop).  Dom.  Clee,  Cleie.  O.E.  cleof,  later  cleo,  '  a 
chff,  a  brae,'  same  word  as  Cleve-land.  Cliff  in  O.E.  is  also 
clif,  N.  klif.  Cf.  Dom.  Lines.  Cleia,  and  Cleethorpes 
(Grimsby),  not  in  Dom. 


CLENCHWARTON  206  CLIFTON 

Clenchwarton  (K/s  Lynn) .  Not  in  Dom.  1234  Close  R.  Clenche- 
wartun.  Doubtful.  Hardly  fr.  Eng.  to  clench  O.E.  clincan, 
which  as  sb.  is  late.  Cf.  Clench  Common  (Marlboro'),  which 
may  be  connected  with  941  chart.  Clinca  leage,  Tisted  (Hants). 
Possibly  Kelt.,  ?  W.  clyn,  '  brake,  thicket,'  with  2nd  syll.  half 
lost,  as  in  Trunch.    See  Warton. 

Clent  Hills  (Stourbridge).  Sic  Dom.  Dan.  and  Sw.  Jclint,  Icel. 
klett-r,  '  a  hard,  flinty  rock,'  found  in  Eng.  as  dint  a.  1300  and 
as  clent  a.  1400.  Cf.  Glentworth,  and  Clint  (Ripley,  Yorks), 
not  in  Dom.  ;  also  Dunclent,  sic  in  Dom.,  near  by. 

Cleobury  Mortimbr  (Salop).  Dom.  Cleberie,  1287  Cleburi 
Mortimer,  ?  1298  Cluburi.  '  Cliff -burgh '  or  'castle.'  See 
Clee  and  -bury,  and  Mortimer. 

Clerkenwell  (London).  Sic  E. E.Wills  14:/^.  Very  likely  named 
'  well  of  the  clerks  '  in  the  time  of  Henry  I.  There  is  a  '  Clerche- 
welle  '  (Kent),  in  1158-59  Pipe.  Stow,  Survey,  1598,  says,  the 
London  place  '  took  the  name  of  the  Parish  Clerks  in  London 
who,  of  old  time,  were  accustomed  there  yearly  to  assemble  and 
to  play  some  large  history  of  Holy  Scripture.' 

Clevedon  (Somerset).  1321  Cliveden.  '  Cliff -hke,  brae-Hke  hill.' 
See  Clee,  Cleveland,  and  and  -don.  Cleeve  Prior  (Eves- 
ham) is  888  chart.  Clife,  Dom.  Clive.  1160-61  Pipe,  Northants  has 
a  CHua.    Cf.  Bishop's  Cleeve. 

Cleveland  (N.  Yorks).  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1093  Clivelande,  1209 
CHveland,  1461  Cle viand.  '  CHff-land.'  See  Clee.  Dom.  has 
only  Chve  in  Yorks,  but  this  12  times  =  North  and  South  Cliff,  etc. 

Clewer  (Windsor  and  Cheddar).  Win.  C.  Dom.  Clivore,  1291 
Cliwar,  Clyfwere,  1316  Clyware.  Prob.  O.E.  cKf-wara,  '  home 
of  the  cliff-dwellers.'  Such  cliff -men  are  referred  to  in  B.C.S. 
1.  318  (Kent).  Dom.  Somst.  has  only  a  Clovewrde,  'farm  of 
Clofa ' ;  this  can  hardly  be  Clewer,  Cheddar,  but  ?  With  it 
cf.  Clearwell  (For.  of  Dean),  old  Clowerwall,  fr.  dower,  '  sluice, 
mill-dam,'  found  in  1483  clowre,  and  still  in  North  dial,  door, 
but  further  S.  usually  clow.    See  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v. 

Cliffe.  Prob.  that  at  Selby,  c.  890  Alfred  Baeda  772  Clife.  O.E. 
cUf,  '  a  chff.'    See  also  s.v.  Cleveland. 

Clifford  (4  in  P.O.).  Gloucester  C.  922  chart.  Clifforda,  Dom. 
CHfort.     '  Cliff -ford  '—i.e.,  '  steep  ford.' 

Clifton  (14  in  P.O.).  Dom.  Yorks  Cliftun,  14  times, 
a.  1100  Hugo  Candidus  a  '  Cliftune,'  Rugby  C.  Dom.  Cliptone 
{p  an  error).  Clifton  Camvtlle  (Tamworth)  is  Dom.  Clistone, 
another  error,  but  1100  Cliftun.  'Cliff  town.'  See  above. 
The  Camvilles  were  Nor.  lords  of  the  manor,  who  took  their 
name  fr.  Canappeville,  Eure,  Normandy.  Their  name  was  also 
spelt  Campville. 


CLIPSHAM  207  COALBROOKDALE 

Clipsham  (Oakham)  and  Clipston  (Mket.  Harboro').  Dom.  Clipe- 
stone,  1317  Clipston.  '  Clip's  home  '  or  '  village  ' ;  one  Cli'p 
in  Onom.    Gf.  Dom.  CHpesbei,  now  Clixby  (Norfk.). 

Clitheroe  (Lanes),  Sim.  Dur.  contin.  ann.  1138  Clitherhou, 
1175-76  Cliderhous,  1230  CHderho,  1241  -erhow,  1501  CUderowe. 
Fr.  early  dial,  dithers,  mod.  dial,  clider,  for  clivers, ,  '  goose- 
grass/  and  Hoe,  O.E.  hoh,  '  a  height.'  \ 

Clive  (Shrewsbury).  Sic  1327.  O.E.  clif,  2-6  cliue,  really  a 
dat.,  '  a  cliff.' 

Clopton  (Glostrsh.,  Thrapston,  Stratford,  Wwk.,  Woodbridge  [or 
Clapton]).  Gl.  C.  Dom.  Cloptune.  Thr.  C.  c.  1080  Inquis 
Camh.  Clopetuna,  1210  Cloptune.  Str.  C.  1016  Cloptune,  Dom. 
Clotone.  '  Town  of  Glopa '  c/.,  Clapton,  also  1179-80  Ti'pe 
Clopton  (Yorks).    But  c/.  Clapham. 

Closworth  (Sherborne).  Not  in  Dom.  1252  chart.  Cloveswurthe, 
1270  Clovesuude  (i.e., '  wood  ').  Prob. '  farm  of  Ciovis  or  Chfa,' 
or  some  such  name.  The  nearest  in  Onom.  is  Clofena.  Cf.  a 
'  Closley,'  1285  in  Salop,  and  Lowestoft;  and  see  -worth. 

Cloughton.    See  Claughton. 

CLOviLLY  (N.  Devon).  Dom.  Clovelie.  Doubtful;  perh.  Com. 
clog  (G.  cloch),  '  a  steep  rock  '  and  velen,  '  yellow.'  There  is  also 
a  Bratton  Clovelly,  near  Okehampton. 

Clun  (W.  Salop).  Dom.  Clone,  Clune.  Now  in  W.  Colunwy. 
[Cf.  1131  O.E.  Chron.  '  Prior  of  Clunni.]  W.  clyn,  '  a  brake,  a 
thicket.'  But  cf.  Clunie  (Sc),  and  G.  cluain,  '  a  meadow.' 
Clungunford,  near  by,  will  be  W.  clyn  gywn,  '  fair,  clear  thicket,' 
whilst  Clunbury  is  Dom.  Climeberie.  See  -bury;  and  Clttnton 
is  Dom.  Cluton. 

Clwyd  R.  (Denbighsh.).    Dom.  Cloith,  Cloit.     W.  clwyd,  '  warm,* 

also  '  strong.'    Cf.  Clyde  (Sc). 
Clydach  (Glam.  and  Abergavenny).     Gl.  C.   1207-08  Cleudach. 

W.  clwyd,  '  warm,  comfortable,  sheltering.'    Some  say,  ach  is 

'  river  ' ;  it  is  more  prob.  a  suffix  of  place.    Cf.  Clarach,  Aberyst- 

with. 

Clyst  (Exeter  and  Topsham).  Ex.  C.  1001  O.E.  Chron.  Glistun, 
v.r.  Chstun,  Dom.  CKstone,  Glustone.  Also  Dow.  Bucks,  Wore, 
and  Dorset  Clistone,  -tune.  Hybrid.  W.  glwys,  '  a  hallowed 
place,  a  fair  spot,'  and  -ton. 

CoALBROOKDALE  (Salop)  and  Colebrook  (Plympton).  Dom. 
Colebroche,  1298  Colebroke.  O.E.  col,  'cool,  cold,'  does  not 
suit  well  phonetically,  so  it  may  be  fr.  O.E.  col,  2-8  cole,  '  char- 
coal, coal'; — brook  beside  which  charcoal  was  burned.  Cf. 
Dom.Chesh.  Colbourne,  1157P*i3eNorthbld.Colebr'.,  1107-28  Lift. 
Winton.  Colobrochestrel  (Winchester),  and  Coleshill.  See 
-dale. 


COALET  208  COCKSHOTTS 

CoALEY  (Frocester).  Dom.  Cpeleye,  later  Covel-,  Couley.  Prob. 
*  Cofa's  mead/    See  -ley. 

COANWOOD  (Carlisle).  '  Wood  of  Goen  or  Goena/  several  in  Onom. 
Cf.  B.C.S.  313  '  Cohhanleah/  date  804. 

CoATES  (Peterboro',  Cirencester).  Pe.  C.  Dom.  Cota,  Cote.  O.E. 
cot,  cott  ;  M.E.  cotes,  '  cots,  cottages.' 

CoBDEN  Hill  (Elstree).  Old  Copdene;  also  cf. '  Coppdene  '  1314  in 
Sussex,  later  Cob  den,  now  extinct.  '  Hill  at  the  head  of  the 
(wooded)  valley/  fr.  O.E.  cop,  coppe,  '  top,  summit'  (Oxf.  Diet. 
gives  no  spelling  of  the  sb.  cop  with  a  6).    See  -den. 

CoBHAM.  Surbiton  C.  Grant  of  a.  675  Chebe-,  Chabbeham,  Dom. 
Cebeha,  1315  Cobeham.  '  Home  of  Geabba,'  one  in  Onom. 
But  Gravesend  C.  939  chart.  Cobba  hamme, '  enclosure  of  Gobba.' 
Gf.  CoBLEY  (Alvechurch),  a.  1200  Cobbeslee;  and  see  -ham. 

CocKERMOUTH.  c.  1310  Cokcrmue,  1317  Cokermuth.  Can  this 
river's  name  come  fr.  O.E.  cocer,  M.E.  koJcer,  cokre,  '  a  quiver  '  ? 
If  not,  then  fr.  what  ?  There  is  also  Cockebham  (Garstang), 
Dom.  Cocreha,  1206  Cokerheim,  which  must  be  fr.  a  man  Cocker, 
a  surname  still  found.  In  Eng.  cocker  is  '  a  prize-fighter,  a 
wrangler/  not  found  c.  1275,  or  '  a  hay-worker,'  1st  in  1393. 
But  in  our  place-names  Cocker-  is  prob.  the  inflected  form  of 
the  N.  name  Kok-r.  The  river  name  must  remain  doubtful. 
Gf.  next  and  Coker,  Somst.,  Dom.  Cocre. 

CocKEBTON  (Darlington),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Cocertune,  1183 
Cokirtona.  '  Town  of  Gocker,'  a  name  not  in  Onom.,  but  see 
above,  and  cf.  Cockebsand  Abbey  (Lancaster),  1213-15  Cocres- 
sand,  1236-'^  Kokersond;  also  1225  Patent  B.  Cokerinton,  a 
patronymic. 

CocKFiELD  (Bury  St.  Edmunds  and  Durham) .  Bury  C.  chart.  Cochan- 
feld.  '  Field  of  Gocha '  or  '  Gocca:  Gf.  B.G.8.  246  Coccan  burh. 
Old  forms  needed  for  Dur.  C.  Gf.  1157  Pipe  CochuUa  (?  Gloster.), 
and  Dom.  Wore.  '  Cochesie.'  In  Pipe  Rolls  of  Rich.  I.  we  also 
have  '  Cokefeld '  (Oxfd.)  and  *  Cockesfeld  '  (Norfk.),  which  seem 
to  come  fr.  cock.    See  next.    Gf.  Coxjghton. 

CocKLEY  Cley  (Swaffham).  Not  in  Dom.  1451  Cokely  Clay.  Gf. 
Dom.  Cliesh.  Code,  and  1200  chart.  Kokedale.  '  Cock's 
meadow  ';  O.E.  cocc,  coc,  kok,  '  a  barnyard  cock.'  Gf.  next  and 
Clay,  O.E.  cIost,,  4-6  cUy ;  also  Coxley.     See  -ley. 

CocKNAGE  (Trentham).  1194  Cokenache.  Ache  is  not  a  M.E. 
form  of  oak  (see  Oxf.  Diet,  s.v.),  as  Duignan  thinks,  but  is  for 
hatch,  O.E.  hoea{c),  gen.  hcecce,  3-7  hacche,  bacche,  so  this  is 
*  hatch,  half-door  or  wicket-gate  of  the  cock,'  O.E.  coc;  or,  of  a 
man  Goc  or  Gocca,  both  forms  are  known.  Gf.  Stevenage. 
CocKBTJP  (Glostr.),  oZcZ  Cocthrop,  is  '  Gocca's  farm.'   See  thorpe. 

CocKSHOTTS  Wood  (Lanes).  1377-99  Cokeshoteslace,  and  Cock- 
SHUTT    (Cakemore,  Halesowen,  and  Ellesmere).    Ca.   C.    1440 


CODNOR  209  COLESHILL 

Kockshete.  A  cockshot  is  a  broad  way  or  glade  through  which 
game  {cochs)  might  sJioot,  so  as  to  be  caught  in  nets.  There  are 
many  so  named  in  Wore. 

CoDNOR  (Derby).  Dom.  Cotenovre.  'Bank,  border  of  Coda'  or 
'  Cota,'  both  on  record.  Cf.  Codbakbow  (Wwksh.),  a.  1300 
Codbarwe,  '  Coda's  mound/  and  Dom.  Kent  '  Codeha.'  The 
n  is  the  sign  of  the  O.E.  gen.     See  -or,  -over. 

CoDSALL (Wolverhampton),  a.  1200  Coddeshal,  a.  1300  Codeshale. 
'  Nook  of  Codda '  or  '  Coda.'    Cf.  Codnor,  and  see  -hall. 

CoEDPENMAEN  (Pontypridd).  W.  for  '  wood  of  the  rocky  headland 
or  height.'  Coed  Rhath  (Pembroke)  1324,  Coyt  rath  is  W. 
for  '  wood  on  the  mound  or  hill.'  Coety  (?  Pembroke)  is  old 
Coetif,  O.W.  for  '  dark  wood,'  W.  dy. 

CoGGESHALL  (Essex).  Dom.  Cogghessala,  1298  Coggeshale,  'nook 
of  Coga  or  Cogga.'  See  Onom.  Prob.  not  fr.  M.E.  cogge,  'a 
small  ship.'  Cf.  1183  Boldon  BJc.  Cogesalle  (Durham).  See 
-haU. 

CoQYROS  (Cornwall).  Said  to  be  Corn,  for  '  cuckoo-moor.'  Lit.  it 
is  '  cuckoo  in  the  moor,'  W.  and  Com.  cog. 

Colchester.  (?  940  chart.  B.C.S.  750,  CoUacestr),  Dom.  and  1160 
Pipe  Colecestra.  The  Camulodunum  of  Tacitus — Camulos  was 
a  Kelt,  deity.  An  inscription  shows  that  the  Empr.  Claudius 
founded  '  Colonia  Victricensis '  here,  and  so  it  may  have  come 
to  be  called  '  Colonia  castra,'  O.E.  chart.  Colenceaster,  in  W. 
Caercolun.  So  Colchester  may  mean  '  colony  camp  '  or  'city.' 
Only  it  is  on  E,.  Colne,  and  so  quite  possibly  it  means  only 
'  camp,  castle  on  the  Colne.' 

Cold  Aston  (Glostersh.).  c.  955  chart.  iEsctun — i.e.,  'ash-tree 
town.'    Dom.  Escetone.    Cf.  Caldicot. 

Cold  Coniston  (Craven) .  Dom.  Congehestone,  Coningeston ;  1202 
Calde  Cuningeston=  Cold  Kingston.    Cf.  Conisborouqh. 

Cold  Harbour  (Boston,  Grantham,  Cambs,  Glostrsh.,  Leith  Hill). 
'  Cold  shelter,'  an  ironic  name,  says  Leo  of  Halle,  in  Ger.  Kalte- 
herburg.  On  harbour,  which  is  lit.  '  a  place  of  shelter,'  see  Oxf. 
Diet.  Cf.  c.  1485  Skelton,  '  some  say  the  devil's  dead  and 
buried  in  Cold  Harbour.' 

Colesboubne  (Cheltenham),  c.  800  chart.  Colesburna,  c.  802  ib. 
Collesburna — i.e.,  '  bum,  brook  of  Colle  '  or  '  Cola,'  a  common 
O.E.  name.  Cf.  Coleby  (Lines),  and  Coseley,  also  Dom. 
Surrey  Colesdone;  Nfk.  Colebei.  Colbotjrn  (Yorks)  is  in  Dom. 
Corbume  by  dissimilation.  There  is  a  brook  Cole  (Wilts). 
CoLECOMBE  (Sevenhampton)  is  fr.  R.  Coln. 

CoLESHiLL  (Swindon,  Warwksh.,  and  FHnt).  Sw.C.  Dom.  Coles- 
eUe,  1298  Coleshulle.  War.  C.  799  chart.  Colles  hyl,  Dom.  Coles- 
hille.    Fi.  C.  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  KoleshuU,  but  said  also  to  be 


COLLINGBOURNE  DUCIS     210  COMBE 

old  Counsylht.  '  Hill  of  Colle  '  or  '  Cola.'  But  both  the  Berks 
and  War.  places  are  on  a  R.  Cole,  whose  origin  is  hard  to  guess. 
It  will  not  be  O.E.  cawel,  cawl,  4  col,  '  cole,  cabbage  ';  nor  does 
O.E.  col,  'cool,'  suit  well  phonetically;  while  col,  'charcoal/ 
does  not  seem  likely.    Cf.  Coalbrookdale. 

Collin GB0T7E,NE  Ducis  and  Kingston  (Marlborough),  Dom. 
Cohngeburne,  1298  Colyngborn.  '  Bourne,  bum,  or  brook  of 
Colling,'  a  name  in  Onom.,  where  also  are  Collanus  and  Collinc. 
It  is  a  patronymic  fr.  Goll{a),  a  fairly  common  name.  Cf. 
Dom.  Yorks  CoUngaworde,  now  Cullingworth,  and  Coneyswick 
(Wstrsh.),  Dom.  Colingwic.    Ducis  is  L.  for  '  of  the  duke.' 

Collin GHAM  (Newark).  Dom.  Cohngeham,  a.  1100  Colingham. 
'  Home  of  Colling.'     See  above  and  -ing. 

CoLMWOBTH  (St.  Neot's).  Dom.  Colmeworde,  -borde  (6  for  v). 
'Farm  of  Colm.'  Cf.  Dom.  Colmestan  (Salop).  In  Scotland 
Colm  is  short  for  Columba.  Here  it  may  be  for  Colman. 
See  -worth. 

CoLN  R..  (Glostrsh.)  and  Colne  R.  (Herts).  Gl.  C.  [c.  740  chart. 
Cunugl  ae,  855  ib.  Cunelga,  962  ib.  Cungle]  old  Culna,  Culne, 
Colum;  He.  C.  985  chaH.  Colen,  893  O.E.  Chron.  Colne.  Prob. 
pre-Keltic.  A  river  would  not  be  named  fr.  L.  colonia,  and  W. 
collen,  '  hazel,  hazel-wood,'  is  scarcely  likely.  In  view  of  the 
undoubted  early  forms  of  both  rivers,  confirmed  by  a  Devon 
R.  Coin,  found  so  early  as  670  chart.  Culum,  it  is  all  but  certain 
that  the  Cunugl  forms  must  have  been  applied  to  the  Glo'ster 
river  through  some  Saxon's  error.  Phonetically  they  are  hard 
to  identify,  and  Cunugl  is  now  represented  by  Knoyle.  Coln 
St.  Aldwyn's,  Fairford  (Glostr.),  corrupt  chart,  form,  dated  681 
Enneglan,  prob.  =  Cuneglan,  is  fr.  the  hermit  monk  St.  Ealdwine, 
prob.  he  who  d.  1085,  and  was  founder  of  Malvern  Priory. 
Ealdwine  was  a  favourite  name  with  churchmen.     See  Onom. 

Colne  (St.  Ives,  Hunts,  and  Lanes).  Hu.  C.  is  sic  in  Dom.,  and 
so  prob.  =  above.  La.  C.  is  1230  Calna,  1241  Close  R.  Kaun, 
1251  Caime,  1327  Cohi,  so  must  be=CALNE.  C/.  Dom.  Nhants. 
Calme. 


CoLNEY  Hatch  and  Heath  (St.  Albans).    O.E.  chart.  ColenoE 
i.e.,  '  isle  on  R.  Colne,  q.v.  and  -ey.     Hatch  means  '  a  wicket- 
gate.'    See  Aldboeough  Hatch. 

CoLTON  (Rugeley  and  6  others).  Dom.  Coltune,  -tone,  and  so  later. 
Dom.  Yorks  gives  Coltune,  Coletun,  or  Colletun  15  times.  Un- 
certain, but  prob.  O.E.  col  tun,  '  charcoal  (or  coal)  town.'  Col- 
wiCH  (Rugeley),  1166  Calewich,  a.  1300  Cole-,  Colwych,  is  also 
'  coal- village.'  Coal  is  O.E.  col,  2-8  cole,  6-  coal,  but  Oxf.  Diet. 
gives  no  cale,  and  it  may  be  an  error. 

Combe  (Coventry  and  Hungerford).  Cov.  C.  old  Cumb,  Combe; 
Hun.  C.  Dom.  Comba.     O.E.  cu7nb,  '  a  bowl,  a  valley,  a  coomb.' 


COMBEEBACH  211   COMPTON  BEAUCHAMP 

Of.  W.  cwm,  '  hollow/  and  Coomlees  (Sc),  also  Dom.  Wore, 
'  Comble/  or  '  meadow,  lea,  in  the  valley/  Combrooke,  also 
in  Warwk.,  is  '  brook  in  the  valley/  Combe  Martin  (N.  Devon) 
is  fr.  a  Martin  of  Tours,  who  received  lands  here  fr.  Wm.  Rufus. 
We  have  a  pi.  form  in  Combs  (Stockport  and  Stowmarket), 
the  latter  1235  Cambes. 

Comberbach  (Northwich),  Combereord  (Tamworth),  and  Comber- 
mere  (Nantwich).  a.  1200  Cumbreford.  1135  Cumbermere,  1240 
Cumbremer.  One  is  tempted  to  derive  Comber-  fr.  a  Keltic  root 
meaning  '  confluence,'  as  in  Cumbernauld  (Sc.)  and  in  Quimper 
or  Kemper  (Brittany).  Cf.  W.  cymmer  and  G.  comar  with  this 
meaning.  There  is  a  '  Roger  de  Combre '  in  Cheshire  a.  1200, 
and  Comber-  or  Combre  may  be  O.E.  cumbra,  gen.  pi.  of  cumb, 
'  a  valley ' — at  least  in  some  cases.  But  Comberton  and 
Comberworth  almost  force  a  derivation  fr.  Cumbra,  a  man's 
name,  lit.  '  a  Welshman.'  The  -bach  is  O.E.  bcec,  O.Fr.  bache, 
Nor.Fr.  bake,  M.E.  bache  {q.v.  in  Oxf.  Diet.),  'the  vale  of  a 
stream,'  same  root  as  beck.  Cf.  Batchworth,  Saptdbach,  and 
PoNTYCYMMER.    Mere  is  Eng.  and  O.E.  for  '  lake.' 

Comberton  (Pershore  and  Cambridge).  Pe.  C.  972  chart.  Cum- 
brincgtune,  Dom.  Cumbri(n)tune,  1275  Cumbrintone.  Ca.  C. 
Dom.  Cumbertone,  1210  Cumbretone.  '  Town  of  Cumbra,'  or 
'  the  Welshman,'  or  their  descendants.  Cf.  Cumberworth  and 
1157  Pipe  Cumbremara  (Staffd.);  and  see  above  and  -ing. 

Comberworth  (Lines)  and  Upper  Cumberworth  (Huddersfd.). 
1236  Close  B.  Comberworth.  Cf.  Earle  Chart.  447  Cumbran 
weor3,  Pershore.  '  Farm  of  Cumbra,'  or  '  the  Welshman.'  Cf. 
above  and  Cumberland. 

Combwich  (Bridgwater).  Dom.  Comich.  O.E.  cww6  mc,  '  valley 
dwelling  or  hamlet ' ;  wic  regularly  becomes  wich  in  later  Eng. 
Cf.  Combridge  (Uttoxeter),  a.  1300  Combruge. 

Compton  (16  in  P.G.).  804  chart.  Cumbden,  Kent  (-den  and  -ton 
interchange),  962  ib.  Cumtun  (Glostr.),  990  ib.  Cumtune 
(?  which),  c.  1020  Cumtune  (Guildford  or  Petersfield  ?),  Dom. 
Cun-,  Contone  (Warwk.),  Contone  (Wolvermpton.),  Cantune  (I.  of 
Wight);  1298  Cumpton  (?  which),  a.  1400  Comptone  (Wolver- 
hampton). O.E.  cumb  tun,  '  valley  village.'  Dom.  has  32 
manors,  always  with  n — Contone.    Cf.  Combe. 

Compton  Beauchamp  (Berks)  is  named  fr.  Guido  de  Bello  Campo 
(in  Fr.  Beau  Champ),  Earl  of  Warwick,  and  Alicia  his  wife,  who 
held  lands  here  1315-16.  C.  Scorpion  (Shipston),  Dom.  Con- 
tone parva,  1279  Compton  Scorfen,  which  last,  thinks  Duignan, 
may  be  *  track,  score  over  the  fen,'  but  it  is  quite  uncertain. 
Scorpion,  at  any  rate,  is  popular  etymology.  C.  Winyates, 
near  by,  is  said  to  show  an  old  form  of  '  vineyard.'  It  is  a.  1300 
C.  Wyniate,  Wyndyates,  c.  1540  C.  Vyneyatis.  ^   . 


CONBELIN  212  CONaRESBURY 

CoNBEUN  (Wales).  Thought  to  preserve  the  name  of  the  early 
British  Kling  Cunohellinus. 

CoNDATE  (Northwich).  Early  forms,  see  Cound.  Old  Keltic = 
'  confluence/  fr.  con,  '  together/  and  dJie,  '  set/  Cf.  Cond6, 
(France),  in  O.E.  Chron.  Cundoth,  and  Kind  St.,  mod.  name  of 
the  Roman  road  here.  Also  see  Watson,  Place-Names  Ross, 
s.v.  Contin.  The  streams  Dane  and  Croco  join  here.  Cf.  Con- 
DOVER  and  Cunuffe.  Congreve  (Penkridge)  is  Dom.  Come- 
grave,  a.  1300  Cune-,  Cumgrave,  where  the  Con-  is  uncertain, 
but  it  may  be  fr.  O.E.  cumb,  '  valley,'  so  often  in  Dom.  as  Con- 
tune. 

CoNDERTON  (Tewkesbury) .  875  chart.  Cantuaretun,  1327  Conterton. 
Very  interesting  proof  of  a  settlement  of  Kent  men  here ;  for  the 
name  in  O.E.  means  '  Kent -dwellers'  town,'  as  in  Canterbury. 
But  E..  CoKDER  (Lancaster),  1228  Gondouere,  is,  of  course  = 
CoNDOVER.  W.  and  H.  absurdly  suggest  a  derivation  fr.  Gunn- 
hildr ! 

CoNDicoTE  (Stow-on-Wold).  Dom.  Condi-,  Connicote,  1169  Cumdi- 
cote.  Hybrid;  cond.  O.Kelt,  for  'confluence,'  see  Condate, 
and  cf.  Ft.  Conde;  and  O.E.  cot,  '  cottage.'  Baddeley  prefers  to 
derive  fr.  a  man.  There  is  no  Conda,  and  only  one  Cunda  in 
Onom. 

CoNDOVER  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Conodoure,  1228  Cunedour,  1234 
Cunesdour,  1238  Cone-,  Cundover.  O.W.  for  '  the  joining  of 
the  streams.'  See  Condate  and  Dover.  Candover  is  prob. 
the  same  name;  Conder  E,.  certainly  is. 

CoNEYSTHORPE  (Malton).  Dom.  Coningestorp.  'King's  village.' 
O.N.  honung-r,  '  king,'  an  interesting  corrup.  See  Coningsby 
and  -thorpe.  But  Coneybury  and  Coneybtjrrow  Hill 
(Wore.)  and  Conbygar  (Gloster.)  are  fr.  cony,  M.E.  for  '  rabbit,' 
while  Coneys-  or  Conningswick  (also  in  Wore.)  is  Dom.  Coling- 
wic,  1275  CoUingwike,  '  abode  of  Colling,'  or  '  the  sons  of  Coll.' 
Cf.  CoLLTNQHAM,  and  see  -wick.  Coneygar  is  for  cony-garth.  See 
Oxf.  Diet.  s.v. 

CoNGERSTONE  (Athcrstoue) .  '  Stone  of  Congar,'  not  in  Duignan. 
But  cf.  Dom.  Norfk.  Congrethorp',  and  Congresbtjry  ;  also  see 
-ton. 

CoNGLETON  (E.  Cheshire).  Dom.  Cogeltone.  One  would  expect 
the  jBrst  half  to  be  the  name  of  a  man,  but  there  is  none  likely 
in  Onom.  There  is  a  Conall,  son  of  Comgal,  K.  of  Dabriada  563, 
which  names  might  suggest  an  origin ;  but  more  old  forms  are 
needed.  Cf.  Coln  (Glostr.),  962  Cungle;  also  cogill,  found 
c.  1400,  now  dial,  coggle,  '  a  water -worn  or  cobble-stone.' 

Congresbury  (Weston-super-Mare).  Exon.  Dom.  Cungresberia, 
O.E.  chart.  Congaresbyrig,  which  is  '  burgh,  town  of  St.  Con- 
garus,'  who  is  buried  here.    The  monastery  of  '  Cungresbyri ' 


CONINGSBY  213  COOKLET 

was  granted  by  K.  Alfred  to  Asser.    Little  seems  known  about 
the  saint  himself.    In  1155  Pipe  it  is  Cungresbi.     See  -by. 

CoNiNQSBY  (Boston).  Dom.  Cuningesbi,  1298  Cunynggesby. 
'  DweUing  of  the  ELing.'  O.N.  konung-r,  Dan.  konge.  See  -by. 
Cf.  CoNNiNQSBTTRGH  (Sc),  CoNiNGTON  (Cambs.),  B.C.S.  ill.  630 
Cunningtun,  Dom.  Cunitone,  1210  Conintone,  1290  Conington, 
1426  Conitone,  Skeat  thinks,  may  perh.  be  fr.  a  man,  Cuna, 
gen.  Cunan.  Cf.  Connington  (Hunts),  1236  Close  R.  Conninton, 
Cunyton,  and  Cold  Coniston.  Conisbuegh  (Rotherham), 
1240  Close  R.  Cunigeburg,  is  clearly  =  Coningsby.     See  -burgh. 

CoNisBOROUGH  (Rotherham).  Dom.  Coningesburg,  -bore,  c.  1145 
Geqffr.  Monm.  '  Kaerconan,  now  Cunungeburg,'  1202  Kuning- 
bere.     '  King's  burgh.'    See  above  and  -burgh. 

CoNisGLiFFE  (Darlington),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  CingcescUfe,  1202 
Cuniggesclive  super  Teisam.  The  name  represented  in  the  first 
half  is  perh,  doubtful.  It  may  be  Cynegyth  or  Cynesige  (Kinsige) . 
Prob.  it  is  for  King.    Cf.  Coningsby.    On  cliffe,  see  Clee. 

CoNONLEY  (Keighley).  Dom.  Cutnelai.  Doubtful.  Perh.  corrup. 
of  Cutan  leak,  '  Cuta's  meadow.'  Cuta  and  Cutha  are  both  in 
Onom.    See  -ley. 

CoNSETT  (Co.  Durham).  1183  Boldon  Bk.  Conekesheued.  Inter- 
esting corruption.  Heued  is  M.E.  for  O.E,  heafod, '  head,  height,' 
and  this  must  be  '  the  height  of '  some  quite  unknown  man. 
There  is  one  Cynech  in  Onom! 

CoNSTANTiNE  (Padstow).  Fr.  Constantinus,  King  and  martyr,  a 
convert  of  St.  Petrock.    He  died  590. 

Conway  (N.  Wales).  Prob.  c.  ^%Q  Ant.  Itin.  Conovio,  and  a.  700 
Rav.  Geogr.  Canubio  (the  river),  a.  1196  Gir.  Camb.  Cunewe, 
Aberkonewe,  -coneu;  1295  Aberconewey,  still  the  proper  name 
of  the  town.  The  E,.  in  W.  is  Conwi,  '  chief  river,'  fr.  Keltic 
con,  '  together,'  and  gwy,  '  river,'  referring  to  the  main  stream, 
being  joined  by  tributaries.  Conway  (Sc.)  is  not  the  same 
word.    , 

CooKHAM  (Maidenhead),  a.  971  will  Coccham,  Dom.  Cocheham, 
1238  Cokh',  1241  Cocham,  also  Cucham.  The  chief  evidence 
points  to  O.E.  coc-ham,  'cook's  home';  but  Cocham  and  the 
like  point  to  O.E.  cocc,  '  a  cock,'  '  cock's  home.'  Cookridge 
(Yorks)  is  Dom.  Cucheric,  ?  '  cook's '  or  '  cock's.'  Cook  Hill 
(Inkberrow)  is  a.  1300  Cochulle,  and  Cooksey  (Bromsgrove)  is 
Dom.  Cochesei,  a.  1300  Cokesey.  The  present  phonetic  evidence 
is  all  in  favour  of  cook.    Cf.  Cuxham. 

CooKLEY  (Eadderminster).  964  cAar^  Culnan  clif,  1066  Cullecliffe, 
1275  ColecHf .  The  charter  name  must  be  '  Culna's  cliff.'  The 
corrup.  to  -ley,  '  meadow,'  is  rare.  We  have  it  the  other  way 
round  in  Trottersoliffe. 


COOLING  214  COEFE 

CooLESTG  (Rochester).  805  c^orit.  Cinges  Culand,  or  'King's  Cow- 
land/  but  in  other  charters  it  is  774  Colling,  778  Oulinga,  and 
805  Culingas,  as  if  a  patronymic.  The  name  has  got  mixed. 
There  are  two  named  Coling  and  two  named  Culling  in  Onom. 
This  latter  personal  name  still  exists.    Cf.  Cowling. 

CoPDOGK  (Ipswich) .  Gf.  900  in  Thorpe  Diplom.  145  On  Sa  coppedan 
ac.  Copdock  is  '  copped' — i.e.,  pollarded  '  oak  ' — O.E.  ac,  very 
rarely  found  now  as  ock.  Oxf.  Diet,  gives  only  3-5  oJc.  It  also 
gives  only  O.E.  quots.  for  this  sense  of  copped,  which  is  fr.  cop  sb., 
O.E.  cop,  copp, '  head,  top.'  But  Dam.  Surrey  has  a  Copedorne, 
which  is  1160-01  Pipe  Coppedethorn.  Cf.  Copythobne  and  the 
surname  Braddock. 

CoPMANTHOBPE  (York).     Dom.  Copemantorp.      'Village  of  Cop- 
man,'  N.  for  'Chapman,  merchant.'     One  in  Onom.    Cf.  1242 
'  Close  R.  Copmaneford,  now  Coppingford  (Hunts).    See  -thorpe. 

CoPPENHALL  (Stafford  and  W. Cheshire).  Dom.  both  Copehale,  and 
later  Copen-,  Coppenhale.  '  Nook  of  Coppa '  or  '  Copa,'  the 
mod.  name  Cope.  Cf.  Copgrove  (Yorks),  Dom.  Copegrave ;  and 
CoPNOE,  (Portsmouth),  Dom.  Copenore,  O.E.  Copanora,  '  Copa's 
bank.'     See  -haU  and  -or. 

CopPLESTONE  (Devon).  Cf.  Dom.  Sffk.  Copletuna.  Prob.  '  Town  ' 
or  '  stone  of  Cuthbeald,'  common  in  Onom. ;  cf.  the  surname 
Cupples.     See  -ton. 

CoPYTHORNE  (Southampton).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  cf.  K.C.D.  v.  240, 
To  San  coppedan  fome  ;  also  Dom.  Surrey  Copedorne  and 
Copededorne,  1160-61  Pipe  Coppedethorn, '  the  pollarded  thorn- 
tree.'  See  Copdock.  But  if  this  name  be  late,  it  will  be  fr.  O.Fr. 
cop-,  coupp-,  colpeiz,  '  a  blow,  a  stroke,  a  copse ' ;  in  5-6  copie, 
copy  ;  but  in  mod.  Eng.  coppice,  '  a  wood  or  thicket  of  small 
trees  or  underwood.'  The  earUest  quot.  in  Oxf.  Diet,  is  1538, 
but  copy  is  found  in  1486  in  Nottingham  Rec.  iii.  254. 

Coquet  R.  (Northumbld.).  c.  800  Hist.  St.  Cuthb.  Cocwuda,  a.  1130 
Sim.  Dur.  Coqued.  Cf.  c.  1250  Matt.  Paris  Koket  insula. 
Cocc-wvda  is  O.E.  fr.  '  cock's  wood.' 

CoBBRiDGE  (Hexham),  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Corstopitum,  a.  1130 
Sim.  Dur.  Corebricge,  1150  Corbrig,  1157  Corebrigge.  Corstopit- 
-um  is  prob.  G.  corr  stobaeh,  '  hill -spur  full  of  stumps '  {stob), 
with  Brythonic  p  for  b,  and  t  common  scribal  error  for  c,  G. 
corr  is  lit.  '  a  snout,  a  bill,  a  horn  ' ;  W.  cor  is  '  a  circle,  a  crib.' 

Corby  (Carhsle,  Grantham,  Kettering).  Car.  C.  1120  Chorkeby, 
1222  Korkebi— i.e.,  '  dwelHng  by  the  oat-field.'  N.  korki.  Cf. 
CoRKicKLE.  But  Gr.  C.  is  Dom.  Corbi,  and  Ke.  C.  Carbi, 
'  dwelling  of  Cor  '  or  '  Car.'    One  in  Onom.     See  -by. 

CoRFB  (Taunton)  and  Coree  Castle  (Wareham).  Corfe  c.  1180 
Ben.  Peterb.  Chorf.  C.  Castle,  975  E.O.  Chron.  Corfes  Geat  (gate), 
c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Corfli  castellum,  1234  Corf,  1393   Letter 


COEKICKLE  215  CORWEN 

Notre  Chastelle  de  Corf.  Prob.  '  a  cutting '  in  the  Purbeck 
hills,  in  which  the  castle  stands,  fr.  O.E.  ceorfan^  '  to  cut/ 
Of.  Dom.  Corf  an  (Salop),  1160  Pipe  Corfha,  and  Gorton. 

CoBKiOKLE  (Whitehaven).  Prob.  N.  korki-keld,  'oat-field  well.' 
Of.  Cockley  Beck,  also  Cumbld.  old  Korkahth,  O.N.  Uith,  '  a 
hill-slope/  and  Corby.  But  there  is  a  Keekle  beck  near  White- 
haven, and  this  raises  uncertainty. 

CoRLEY  (Coventry  and  Salop).  Cov.  C.  Dom.  ComeUe,  1327  Corn- 
leye,  a.  1400  Corley.  Sal.  C.  Dom.  and  later  Cornhe.  '  Corn- 
growing  meadow.'  See  -ley.  We  have  a  reverse  change  in 
Cornbrough  (E.  Riding),  Dom.  Corlebroc,  a  form  of  somewhat 
doubtful  meaning. 

CoBNHiLL  (London,  Sunderland,  on  Tweed).  Lo.  C.  1160-61  Pi'pe 
CornheUe,  1167-68  ih.  Cornhille,  1234  Close  R.  Cornhull,  where 
all  the  endings  =  '  hill.'  But  Su.  C.  is  1183  CornehaU,  1322  Corn- 
hale  =  -hall,  q.v. 

Cornwall.  1047  O.E.  Chron.  Comwalon  (inflected),  Dom.  Com- 
valge,  c.  1110  Orderic  Comu  Britanniae,  id  est  Cornwallia,  1189 
Cornubia,  c.  1205  Layam.  Cornwaile,  -wale.  Cf.  Cornouaille 
{Bom.  Rose  Cornewaile),  Brittany.  Earle  says,  '  Place  of  the 
Walas  or  strangers  of  Kernyw.'  Cf.  Wales.  Others  derive  fr. 
O.Fr.  corn,  L.  comu,  '  a  horn,'  fr.  the  shape  of  Cornwall. 

CoRNWOOD  (Ivybridge).  Local  pron.  Kemood.  Dom.  Cornehude. 
Looks  like  O.E.  corn  wudu, '  corn  wood  ';  but  wherefore  such  a 
name  ?  No  Corn  or  the  Hke  in  Onom.  Cf.  Corn  worthy,  '  corn 
farm  '  (Totnes),  and  Corndean  (Winchcombe),  1189  Corndene. 
But,  because  of  a  Come  and  a  Cornbrook,  also  in  Glostrsh., 
Baddeley  thinks  Corn  must  be  an  old  stream  name,  and  says  cf, 
Abercorn.     But  that  Sc.  name  is  in  Bede  ^bbercurnig. 

CoRRiNGHAM  (Stanford-le-Hope  and  Gainsboro').  St.  C.  Dom,. 
Coringe-,  1242  Curingeham.  Ga.  C.  Dom.  Currincham.  Patro- 
nymic. '  Home  of  the  sons  of ""  some  unrecorded  Cur  a  or  Cora. 
There  is  one  Cyra  in  Onom.     See  -ing. 

Corse  Lawn  (Tewkesbury).  1179  Cors.  W.  cors,  'a  fen,'  and 
llan,  'enclosure,  then  church.'  Cf.  Carse  (Sc).  There  seems 
no  authority  for  Duignan's  assertion  that  corse  is  a  M.E.  form  of 
causey. 

Corsley  (Frome)  and  Corston  (Bristol).  941  chart.  Corsantune, 
Dom.  Corstune,  '  mead  '  and  '  village  of  Corsa.     See  -ley. 

CoRTON  Denham  (Sherborne).  Dom.  Corfetone,  1235  Close  B. 
Corfton  and  Cortun.  See  Corfe.  Denham  is  '  home  in  the 
dean  '  or  '  (wooded)  vale.' 

CoRWEN  (E.  Merioneth).  Possibly  W.  cor  faen,  'circle  of  stone/ 
or,  as  T.  Morgan  says,  '  stone  in  a  circle.'  But,  as  hkely,  W.  cor 
gwen,  '  white,  beautiful  circle,'  or  '  choir,'  or  '  church.'    Cf. 


COSELEY  216  COTTESBROOKE 

Bangor.    There  is  a  '  Corf  an  '  in  Salop  Dom.,  but  this  must  be 
the  Corf  ham  of  1160  Pipe  Salop. 

CosELEY  (Bilston).  14th  to  17th  cny.  Colse-,  Couls-,  Colsley,  later 
Cossley.  Prob. '  meadow  of  Col '  or  '  Cola.'  Cf.  Colesboubne, 
and  see  -ley. 

Cosgeove  (Stony  Stratford) .  1238  Close  R.  Couesgrave,  '  grave/ 
O.E.  grcBJ,  '  of  Cuja.'  Cf.  Coveney.  The  endings  -grave  and 
-grove  often  interchange.  But  Cosby  (Leicester),  Cosford 
(Rugby),  and  Cosham  (Hants),  1241  Cosseby,  a.  1200  Cosseford, 
and  Dom.  Cose-,  Cosseham,  are  fr.  an  unrecorded  man,  Cosa  or 
Cosse.    See  -ham. 

CosHESTON  (Pembroke).  1603  Owen  Costeinston.  'Town  of  Con- 
stantine.'    K.  Constantine  is  926  O.E.  Chron.  Cosstantin. 

CossrNGTON  (Bridgwater).  1237  Close  R.  Cusinton.  'Village  of 
Cusa,'  gen.  -an.    3  in  Onom.    Cf.  Cosby.    See  -ing. 

CoTHERiDGE  (Worcester).  963  c^arf.. Coddan  hrycce,  hrycge,  Dom. 
Codrie,  a.  1300  Coderugge.  'Ridge,'  O.E.  hrycge,  hrycce,  'of 
Codda '  or  '  Coda.'  One  each  in  Onom.  In  same  shire  is 
OoTTERLDGB,  1275  Coderugge. 

CoTHERSTONE  (DarUngtou).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Cuthbertestun.  '  St. 
Cuthbert's  town,''  an  interesting  corrup.  The  great  Cudberct  or 
Cuthbert  of  Mekose  flourished  c.  700.  Cf.  a.  1110  '  Cotherstoke  ' 
(Oundle).  But  Cotherston  (N.  Yorks)  is  Dom.  Codrestune,  -ton, 
'  town  of  Codra.'    Cf.  B.C.S.  1282  Codranford. 

CoTON  (Cambridge,  2  Warwk.,  StafEs,  Shrewsbury).  Cam.  C.  1211 
and  1291  Cotes,  1272  Cotun,  1296  Coton.  War,  C.  Dom.  and 
1287  Cotes,  1327  Cottone.  Staf.  C.  Dom.  Cote.  Skeat  thinks 
prob.  O.E.  cotum,  dat.  pi.  of  cot,  '  cottage.'  But  coton,  -un,  are 
regular,  and  cotes  irregular  nom.  plurals.  Cf.  Cotton  and 
Cotham,  Notts,  Dom.  Cotun,  Cotes. 

COTSWOLD  Hills.  780  chart.  Monte  quem  nominant  in  colse  mons 
Hwicciorum,  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Montana  de  Codesuualt,  1231 
Coteswold,  1300  Rolls  Parlmt.  Coteswalde,  a.  1500  Cottasowlde, 
a.  1553  Udall  Cotssold.  The  present  spelling  may  be,  as  Oxf. 
Diet,  thinks,  popular  etymology ;  but  the  name  prob.  is  '  Code's, 
Cota's,  or  Cotta's  wood.'  All  3  names  are  in  Onom.  O.E.  wald, 
weald,  '  a  wood,'  is  the  origin  of  both  weald  and  wold.  Cf.  next 
and  CuTSDEAN,  a  yet  older  name. 

CoTTERED  (Buntingford).  Dom.  Chodi'ei,  1236  Close  R.  Codreye, 
Coudr'.  '  River,  stream,  brook  of  Coda,'  O.E.  rith,  '  stream.' 
Cf.  Rye,  Rydb,  Childrey,  and  Cotgrave,  Notts,  Dom.  Godegrave. 

CoTTESBROOKE  (Northampton).  '  CoUa's  or  Cota's  brook.'  Cf. 
above,  '  Coteshala,'  and  '  Coteslai '  (Bucks)  in  Dom.,  and  Cot- 
TENHAM  (Cambridge),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Cotenham,  1283 
Cotenhame.  This  last  might  mean 'cottar's  home.'  Dom.  Yorks 
Cotesmore  is  now  Kedmoor,  so  t  here  will  be  error  for  c,  '  moor 
of  Coca.' 


COTTINGHAM  217  COVENTRY 

CoTTiNGHAM  (Hull).  Prob.  O.E.  Chron.  and  Sim.  Dur.  re  ann.  800, 
Cettingaham,  Dom.  Cotingeham,  1135  O.E.  Chron.  Cotingham. 
Patronymic.  '  Home  of  the  descendants  of  Cotta  or  Cota.'  Cf. 
above,  next,  and  also  Cottingham  (Market  Harborough)  and 
Cottingley  (Bingley).  Cottingwith  (E.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Cote- 
wid,  '  Cota's  wood.' 

Cotton  (Chesh.,  Derby,  and  Stowmarket).  Ch.  C.  Dom.  Cotintone, 
St.  0.  1479  Colton  (a  mistake),  a.  1490  Cotton.  Some  perh. 
O.E.  coton,  loc.  plur.  of  cot,  cota,  '  a  cot,  a  cottage.'  But 
Dom.'s  form  is  '  Cota's  town.'  See  above,  and  cf.  Cotok. 
Dom.  Yorks  has  Cottun  5  times,  representing  Cottam,  Crosby 
Cote,  etc. 

CouGHTON  (Alcester  and  Ross,  Hereford).  Al.  C.  Dom.  Coctune, 
a.  1200  Cocton.  Either  fr.  a  man  Cocca  or  Coche,  see  Cock- 
field,  or  fr.  O.E.  cocc,  coc,  '  a  cock.'  See  Cockley.  For  oc 
becoming  ough,  cf.  Broughton,  1128  Broctuna. 

CouND  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Cundet,  1240  Close  B.  Cunitte.  '  Con- 
fluence,'   See  CoNDATE  and  next. 

CouNDON  (Bp..  Auckland  and  Coventry).  Bp.  A.  C.  1183  Condona, 
Coundon.  Cov.  C.  Dom.  Condone,  Condelme,  1257  Cundulme, 
1327  Cundholme.  Cond  or  cound  is  O.Kelt,  for  '  confluence 
of  two  streams.'  Cf.  Cond  ate,  Condover,  and  Cound.  The 
-don  is  '  hill,'  whilst  -elme,  -ulme,  etc.,  represent  O.E.  holm, 
'  meadow  by  a  river.'    Cf.  the  early  forms  of  Durham. 

Courage  (Berks).  O.E.  chart.  Cusan  ricge,  hricge,  '  Cusa's  ridge  '; 
Dom.  Coserige;  1147  Cuserugia;  1316  Coserugge;  1428  Currygge. 
The  mod.  form  is  '  a  daring  respelling  after  the  Norman  manner  ' 
(Skeat).    It  should  properly  be  Curridge. 

Courteenhall  (Nhampton.).  Dom.  Cortenhale,  -halo;  1235  Close 
B.  Corten-,  Curtenhal.  '  Nook,  corner  of  Curda,'  the  only 
name  in  Onom.,  and  it  but  once.  See  -hall.  The  abnormal 
-een-  seems  a  pure  freak.  Cf.  932  chart.  Cyrdan  heal  (Meon, 
Hants) . 

Coveney  (Ely).  Chart.  Coveneye,  -neie,  Coueneia.  Skeat  is  sure 
this  is  '  Isle  of  Cufa,'  gen.  Cufan.  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey,  Covenha. 
Only  Coven  (Wolverhampton)  is  Dom.  Cove,  a.  1200  Covene, 
which  must  be  O.E.  cofa,  gen.  cofan,  'a  cove,  cave,  repository.' 
See  -ey. 

CovENT  Garden  (London).  ,The  convent  garden  belonging  from 
c.  1220  to  the  abbots  of  Westminster.  Convent  is  always  spelt 
covent  a.  1550. 

Coventry,  c.  1043  chart.  Cousentree,  1053  O.E.  Chron.  Cofantreo, 
1066  ib.  Couentre,  Dom.  Couentreu,  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1057 
Covantreo,  a.  1142  Wm.  Malmes.  Coventreia.  Cofan  treo  {w)  is 
O.E.  for  '  tree  by  the  cove,  cave,  or  chamber,'  or  else  '  tree  of 

15 


COVEEDALE  218  COXLEY 

Cofa,'  Cf.  CovENEY  and  Covenham  (Louth).  The  word  con- 
vent, M.E.  cement,  is  impossible  here.  It  is  not  found  in  Eng. 
a.  1225. 

CovERDALB  (Yorks).  Sic  1202.  Cf.  1203  '  Couerlee  '  or  Coverley. 
Cover-  here  is  difficult.  The  Eng.  cover  is  fr.  O.Fr.,  and  the 
word  is  not  found  in  Eng.  tiU  c.  1275;  whilst  in  the  sense  of 
'  covert  or  shelter  for  hunted  animals  '  it  is  not  found  till  1719. 
There  is  a  W.  cyfair,  a  land  measure,  two-thirds  of  an  acre, 
found  in  Eng.  in  1709  as  cover.  Possibly  Cover-  represents 
some  unidentified  personal  name,  as  in  Covebham  (N.  Yorks), 
Dom.  Covreha'. 

CowBEECH  (Hailsham,  Sussex).  Not  in  Dom.  This  seems  the 
same  name  as  Cowbach,  now  called  Clatterbach,  near  Clent 
(Wore),  where  St.  Kenelm^s  chapel  was.  ?  a.  1200  Cu-bache, 
c.  1305  Coubache,  1494  Cowbacch.  See  Oxf.  Diet.,  s.v.  bache, 
which  means  '  the  vale  of  a  stream  or  rivulet.'  Cf.  Batchwobth 
and  CoMBERBACH.  With  the  first  syU.  cf.  Cowick  (O.E.  wic, 
'  dwelling,  house  '),  Snaith  (Yorks),  1241  Cuwic. 

CowBRiDGE  (Glam.).  Eng.  translation  of  W.  Pontyfon,  where /ow 
is  by  assimilation  for  mon,  O.W.  for  '  cow.'  Said  to  have  been 
called  after  a  cow  whose  horns  stuck  in  the  arch  of  the  bridge 
here  so  firmly  that  it  had  to  be  shot  on  the  spot.  It  is  1645 
Pontyfuwch,  with  the  same  meaning.  So  far  T.  Morgan.  But 
there  is  also  a  Cowbridge  (Boston),  c.  1280  Cubrygge,  which  may 
be  the  origin  of  the  W.  place,  as  the  same  family  of  WiUiams, 
alias  Cromwell,  held  lands  in  both  places  in  16th  cny.  See 
Thompson,  Hist.  Boston,  616.  But  Cowthorp  (S.  Yorks)  is 
Dom.  Coletorp,  '  village  of  Cola,'  and  similarly  Cowsdown 
(Upton  Snodbury)  is  c.  1108  Colleduna,  1275  Coulesdon. 

CowES  (I.  of  W.).  Dates  only  fr.  1540.  It  must  be  a  pi.  form  of 
cove,  O.E.  cofa,  coua,  '  an  inner  chamber,'  only  found  with  the 
meaning  '  cove,  inlet,'  after  1590.  The  form  cowe  is  called  Sc, 
and  the  meaning,  '  cave,  den,'  Sc.  and  North.  The  name  then 
is  '  inlets.' 

CowLAM  (Driffield).  Dom.  4  times  Colnun,  once  Coletun.  Colnun 
is  prob.  an  O.E.  loc.  '  at  the  tops  or  summits.'  Cf.  O.N.  koll-r, 
'  top,  summit,'  and  Howsham,  a  loc.  too. 

Cowley  (Gnosall  and  W.  Drayton).  Gno.  C.  Dom.  Covelau,  a. 
1200  Coule.  W.  Dr.  C.  Dom.  Couelei,  'cow-meadow,'  O.E. 
cuu,  cu,  a.  1300  cou.     See  -ley. 

Cowling  (SMpton  and  Suffolk).  Skip.  C.  Dom.  Collinghe,  1202 
Collinge.  Suf.  C.  1459  Cowlynge.  Patronymic,  like  Cooling, 
'  place  of  the  sons  of  Cola  or  GoU.'    See  -ing. 

CoxLEY  (Wells).  Not  in  Dom.  1231  Cockesleg.  'Meadow  of 
Cocca,'  in  Onom.,  or  else  '  cock's  meadow.'  See  Cockley,  and 
cf.  Dom.  Chesh.  Cocheshalle.    See  -ley. 


CRACKENTHORPE  219  CRAVEN 

Crackenthorpe  (Westrald.) .  Old  Kreiginthorpe.  '  Village  of  '  ? 
There  is  no  name  in  Onom.  like  Greaga,  but  in  Lib.  Vit.  Dunelm. 
there  is  a  Craca,  gen.  -can;  also  cf.  Crayford.    See  -thorpe. 

Cracow  or  -oe  Hill  (Craven).  1202  Craho.  'Crow  how'  or 
'mound.'  O.E.  cmt^e, 'acrow.'  C/.  Crowthorne,  and  see -how. 

Craddock  (Cullompton).  Not  in  Dom.  Corruption  of  Caradoc. 
Cf.  Cramond  (Sc). 

Cradley  (Stourbridge  and  Heref dsh.)  and  Cradley  Heath  (Staffs) 
St.  C.  Dom.  Cradeleie,  a.  1200  Crad(e)lega,  1275  Cradeley.  He.  C. 
Dom.  Credleia.  '  Meadow  of  Crada  '  or  '  Creda,'  or  '  Creoda.' 
The  two  latter  only  in  Onom.     See  -ley. 

Crakehall  (Bedale).  Dom.  Crachele.  Prob.  'nook  of  Craca.' 
One  such  is  named  in  Liber  Vitce  Dunelm.  See  -haU  (-ele  is  for 
-hele  or  -hale).  Dom.  also  has  a  Crachetorp  in  E.  Riding,  whilst 
Dom.  Crecala  is  said  to  be  Crakehill  in  Topcliffe. 

Cramlington  (Northumbld.).  c.  1141  Cranlintune.  Doubtful. 
Perh.  O.E.  cran-hlinn-tun — i.e.,  '  village  by  the  torrent  or  Hnn 
frequented  by  cranes.'    Cf.  Linton. 

Cranage  (Congleton).  Prob.  for  an  O.E.  cranawic,  'crane's 
dwelling.'  Cf.  Swanage,  O.E.  Swanawic.  There  is  a  Crans- 
wick  (Driffield),  Dom.  Cranzvic  {z=  ts),  and  a.  1241  Close  B. 
Crendon  (Bucks). 

Cranborne  (Salisbury),  1241  Craneburn,  and  Cranbourne  (V7ind- 
sor).  Sic  1485.  '  Crane's  (or  heron's)  bum  or  brook.'  See 
above  and  Bourne.  The  crane,  now  extinct,  was  once  abun- 
dant in  Britain. 

Cranbrook  (Kent).  It  was  a  haunt  of  cranes.  Cranbrook  Castle 
(Dartmoor)  is  said  to  be  corrup.  of  Cranburh,  fr.  O.E.  burh,  burg, 
'  fort,  castle,  burgh.'  Cf.  Cranebrook  (Lichfield),  1300  Crone 
brouke,  Dom.  Norfk.  Cranaworda,  and  Cranham  (Pains wick), 
1190  Pipe  Cronham. 

Crank  (St.  Helen's),  Crank  Hill  (Wednesbury),  Crank  Wood 
(Derby).  See  Oxf.  Diet,  crank  56^,  '  a  crook,  bend,  winding,  a 
crooked  path  or  channel.'  Not  found  in  Eng.  till  1552.  Duig- 
nan  identifies  this  with  a  number  of  obscure  names  in  Cronk, 
several  Cronk  Hills  in  Salop,  etc.  But  crank  is  never  spelt  with 
0  in  Eng.,  and  Cronk  is  prob.  a  nasalized  form  of  crook  sb,  O.N. 
hrok-r.    See  Oxf.  Diet.,  s.v.  6  and  11. 

Cransley  (Kettering).    956  cAar^  Cranslea.    See  Cranbrook. 

Crantock  (Newquay).  Fr.  St.  Carantocus,  a  Welsh  saint  who 
lived  c.  450,  and  who  also  crossed  to  Ireland.    Cf.  Cradock. 

Craswall  (Heref d.).     1237  Cressewell=  Cresswell. 

Craven  (Yorks)  and  Craven  Arms  (Salop).  Yor.  C.  Dom.  Crave- 
scire  (shire).     1202  Cravene.     O.N.  kra  fen,  '  nook  in  the  fen.* 


CRAWLEY  220  ORESSWELL 

Fen  is  also  O.E.  fen,  and  is  found  fr.  2-4  as  ven  or  venn{e).    The 
name  must  therefore  indicate  a  dry  spot  in  the  midst  of  marshes. 

Crawley  (Winchester).  All  names  in  Craw-  are  fr.  O.E.  crawe,  '  a 
crow.'    Cf.  Dom.  Leicr.^  Crawsho. 

Crawtston  (Brecon).  Perh.,  says  Anwyl,  the  name  of  the  Keltic 
goddess  of  storage. 

Crayford  (W.  Kent).  Chart.  Creganford,  Creacan-,  Creagan-ford. 
'  Ford  of  Creaga,'  a  name  not  found  in  Onorfi.  Still,  as  Oxf.  Diet. 
says,  this  name  has  nothing  to  do  with  creek,  and  still  less  with 
crayfish  !  Craycomb  (Fladbury),  however,  is  1275  Craucombe, 
Crowecombe,  fr.  O.E.  crawe,  '  a  crow.'    See  -combe. 

Crayke  (Easingwold).  Dom.  Creic,  1197  Rolls  Crech;  1236  Creek, 
Crek.  See  Creech.  However,  this,  instead  of  being  W.  crug, 
'  stack,  heap,'  may  be  G.  crioch,  gen.  criche, '  boundary,  frontier, 
landmark.'  Only,  if  so,  it  is  very  rare  to  find  a  Gaelic  name 
so  far  south.    Dom.  Norfk.,  Kreic,  must  be  the  same. 

Crediton.  905  in  Eadmer  Ecclesia  Cridiensis;  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore. 
Cridiatunensis ;  c.  1540  Leland  Crideton.  Also  found  as  Kyrton. 
'  Town  on  R.  Creedy ' — 739  chart.  Cridia,  Dom.  Oidic,  Credie, 
by  some  said  to  be  fr.  Crida  or  Creoda,  grandfather  of  Penda, 
K.  of  Mercia,  or  fr.  Crioda,  Creoda,  first  K.  of  Mercia,  d.  593. 
But  it  is  rare  to  find  a  river  called  after  a  man.  Cf.  CredenhiU 
(Hereford)  and  Dom.  Bucks,  Credendone,  plainly  fr.  a  man 
Creda.  The  river  name  may  be  connected  with  W.  cryd,  O.W. 
crit,  '  to  shake.' 

Creech  (Wareham),  a.  1130  cJiart.  Crucha;  also  Creech  Hill 
(Somst) .  702  chart.  Crich  hulle.  O.W.  cruc,  W.  crug,  G.  cruach, 
'a  stack,  heap,  pile.'  Cf.  Crich,  Crickhowell,  Cricexade. 
Thus  Creech  Hill  is  a  tautology.  Dom.  Somst.  has  Crice,  CJruce, 
and  often  Cruche ;  in  Norf k.,  Kreic,  Kxeich. 

Creech  Michael  (Somerset) .  Chart,  of  682,  '  The  hill  which  is 
called  in  British  speech  Cructan,  but  by  us  (English)  Crycbeorh.' 
Cructan  is  '  heap,  pile,  hill  on  the  R.  Tone,'  while  Crycbeorh  is 
'  Stack-burgh.'     1167-68  Pipe,  Norf k.,  has  a  Crichetot  ( =  toft) . 

Cf.  EVERCREECH. 

Creighton  (Uttoxeter).  1241  Cratton,  so  perh.  O.E.  crcet,  crat  tun, 
'  cart  enclosure  '  or  '  village.'    More  old  forms  needed. 

Cressage  (Much  Wenlock).  Dom.  Cristesache,  1540  Cressege. 
Not  'crest '  (only  found  in  Eng.  fr.  1325),  but '  Christ's  edge  '  or 
border,'  O.E.  ecg,  1205  agge.  It  is  at  the  foot  of  Wenlock  Edge. 
Cf.  1494  Fahyan,  '  in  the  egge  of  Walys.' 

Crbsswell  (Norbld.,  Stafford,  and  Mansfield).  Nor.  C.  1235 
Kereswell.  Sta.  Q.  Dom.  Cressvale,  a.  1300  Cresswalle.  This 
ending  is  certainly  'well'  or  'spring,'  O.E.  wella,  often  in 
M.E.  wale  ;  and  Cress-  is  O.E.  cerse,  '  watercress.'  Cf.  Dom. 
Bucks,  Cresselai,  '  cress-meadow,'  and  Craswall. 


CEEWE  221  CROCKERTON 

Crewe.  Dom.  Crev,  Creuhalle  (Crewe  Hall).  O.W.  creu,  crau, 
Mod.  W.  crewyn,  Com.  crow, '  a  pen,  sty,  hovel.' 

Cbewkerne  (Yeovil).  Not  in  Dom.;  perh.  1160-61  Pipe,  Devon 
Creueq'r.  O.E.  cruc-erne,  '  cross-house,'  house  with  the  cross. 
Pipes  form  may  refer  to  the  Fr .  family  of  Crevecceur,  often  referred 
to  in  England.    Cf.  Crevequer,  c.  1330  chart,  Kent  and  Lines. 

Criccieth  (Portmadoc) .  Prob.  W.  crug  caeih,  'narrow  hill.'  Gj.  next. 

Crioh  (Matlock  Bath) ,  Dom.  Crice,  and  Crick  (Rugby  and  Chep- 
stow) .  Ru.  C.  Dom.  Crec.  W.  crug, '  a  heap,  stack,  mound,  hill.' 
Cf.  Creech  and  Crickhowell  and  Pbnkridge.  Duignan 
would  derive  this  group  of  words  fr.  G.  and  Ir.  crioch,  gen.  criche, 
'  boundary,  Umit,  frontier/  as  in  the  Sc.  Creich.  But  this  is 
not  found  in  W.,  and  the  evidence  given  under  Creech  Michael 
and  Crickhowell  seems  practically  conclusive;  though  cf. 
Crayke.    There  are  a  Crickapit  and  a  Crickley  in  Cornwall. 

Crickhowell  (Abergavenny),  c.  1188  Gir.  Gamb.  Cruco-hel.  In 
W.  Crughywel,  '  Conspicuous  hill,'  fr.  O.W.  cruc,  W.  crug,  '  a 
heap,  a  stack,'  and  hywel,  '  conspicuous.'  Hewell  Grange 
(Warwick)  always  found  sic,  may  be  the  same  word.  Baddeley 
thinks  Crickley  (Birdlip),  old  Cruklea,  contains  O.W.  cruc. 

Cricklade  (Wilts).  905  O.E.  Chron.  Crecca-gelade,  Cricgelad; 
c.  1097  Flor.  Wore.  Criccielad;  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Crikelade, 
Cricalade;  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Crichelada.  Gelad  is  O.E.  for 
'  passage,'  same  root  as  lead  and  lode;  but  the  first  half  is  doubt- 
ful. The  Eng.  creeJc  is  not  found  till  c.  1250  crike,  and  Oxf. 
Diet,  does  not  favour  it  here.  M'Clure  conjectures  W.  craig, 
'  a  rock,'  or  crv^c,  '  a  mound ' ;  the  latter  is  quite  possible.  Cf. 
Creech  and  next.  There  is  a  Craca,  but  no  nearer  man's  name, 
in  Onom.     1160-61  Pipe,  Surrey,  has  a  Crichefeld. 

Cricklas  (Caermarthen).  c.  1188  Gir.  Gamb.  Cruclas.  O.W.  cruc 
glas  (Mod.  W.  crug),  '  bluish  or  greenish  mound  or  stack.'  Cf. 
Creech. 

Cricklewood  (Middlesex).  1525  Crekyll  Woddes,  1553  Crekle 
Woods.  Doubtful;  older  forms  needed.  Prob.  fr.  a  man 
Grecel,  otherwise  unknown.    Gf.  1241  Close  R.  KJrikeleston. 

Crocken  Hill  and  Crockham  TTttt.  (Kent).  Prob.  '  pot-shaped ' 
hill,  fr.  W.  crochan,  O.Ir.  crocan,  G.  crogan,  O.E.  crocca,  -an,  '  a 
crock,  a  pot,  an  earthenware  dish.'  Cf.  a.  1000  '  Crocford '  in 
K.C.D.,  V.  17.  The  -ham  may  be  a  quite  late  corrup. ;  old  forms 
needed.    JDow.  has  only  Croctune. 

Crockern  Torr  (Dartmoor),  c.  1630  Crocken  Torr.  See  Crocken 
Hill.     Torr  is  a  '  tower-like  rock  or  hill,'  W.  tor,  Corn,  twr,  tor. 

Crockerton  (Warminster).  Not  in  Dom.  '  Town  of  the  potter  '; 
Crocker  is  first  found  c.  1315  in  Shoreham.  Gf.  '  Crokerbec,' 
Egremont,  Cumberland. 


CKOCKFORD  WATER  222  CROPREDY 

Crockford  Water  (Lymington).  a.  1000  chart.  Crocford,  ?thi8 
one.  Prob.  hybrid.  W.  crug,  O.W.  cruc,  'a  tumulus,  a  low 
hill';  cf.  Cruckbarrow  Hill  (Worcester),  1275  Cruckberew, 
Crokeborow,  a  double  tautology.  See  Barrow.  It  can  hardly 
be  fr.  crook,  O.N.  kroJc-r,  as  in  Le  Croc  du  Hurte,  Channel  Is. 

Cromer  (Norfolk).  Not  in  Dom.  1351  Crowemere.  'Crow(O.E. 
crawa)  mere  '  or  '  lake.'  Cf.  Bomer  Pool  (near  Shrewsbury) — 
i.e.,  '  bull  lake,'  and  Cranmer. 

Cromford  (Derby),  Dom.  Crunforde  (m  and  n  easily  interchange), 
andCROMHALL(Glouc.).  Dom. Cromhal.  O.E.crom6,crwm6,'bent, 
crooked,  curved,'  cognate  with  W.  crwm,  cram,  G.  and  Ir.  crom, 
O.G.  cromb,  with  same  meaning.  Cf.  Croome  d'Abitot,  Pershore, 
972  Cromb,  1275  Crombe  Dabitoth,  '  Crook  of  the  D'Abitots,' 
found  in  Dam.,  who  took  their  name  fr.  St.  Jean  d'Abbetot,  E. 
of  Havre.  Earl's  Croome,  near  by,  is  969  Cromban,  Cromman, 
Dom.  Crumbe.  There  is  also  a  Crambe  (Yorks),  Dom.  Crambom, 
-bon,  which  prob.  is  a  loc.  for  '  at  the  crooks,'  fr.  an  unrecorded 
O.E.  cramb,  cromb,  now  represented  by  crome,  cromb,  'hook, 
crook,'  first  found  a.  1400. 

Cromwell  (Newark)  and Cromwellbo'ttom  (Yorks).  Ne.  C.  Dom. 
CrunweU,  1223  CrumbweU,  1298  CromweUe,  c.  1340  Crumwell. 
Prob. '  curved  or  crooked  well,'  or  '  brook,'  as  in  Cromford  ;  but 
Crum  may  be  a  man's  name ;  it  is  so  now.  Cf. .  Cromhall 
(Charfield),  Dom.  Cromale,  -hal,  and  1179-80  Fi'pc  Yorks,  Crum- 
wurda.  Bottom  is  O.E.  botm,  '  the  lowest  part  of  anything,' 
found  fr.  c.  1325,  meaning  '  low-lying  land,  an  alluvial  hollow/ 
Cf.  Ramsbottom,  etc. 

CRONDALL(Farnham).  Dom. Crundele,  1242Crundel.  SeeCRUNDALE. 

Cronton  (Prescot).    Cf.  Dom.  Bucks,  Cronstone,  '  Village  of  Cron,' 
a  name  not  in  Onom.    Cronware  (Pembroke)  is  1603  Owen 
Cromewere,  and  in  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Lann  cronnguem,  perh.  W. 
llan  crwm  gwern,  '  church  on  the  crooked  moor.' 
Crookham  (Berks,  Hants,  and  Northumberland).     Berks  C.  O.E. 
chart.    Croh-hamme;    Dom.    Crocheham;    a.    1300    Crokham. 
'  Saffron  enclosure  ';  croh  being  the  O.E.  form  of  the  L.  crocus, 
whilst  the  ending  here  is  hamme,  and  not  the  commoner  ham, 
'  home.'    Cf.  Crowle.    But  Crooks  House  (Yorks)  is  Dom. 
Croches,  which  will  be  O.N.  Jcrok-r, '  a  crook,  a  bend,'  with  Eng. 
plur.    The  ending  -hes  has  afterwards  got  turned  into  -house. 

Croome  (three  on  Severn  near  Pershore).  969  chart.  Cromman, 
Croman,  Cromban,  all  datives,  972  ib.  Cromb,  1038  ib.  Hylcrom- 
ban  (now  Hill  Croome),  Dom.  and  1241  Crumbe,  Hilcrumbe. 
O.E.  cromba,  '  a  crook,  a  bend,'  cognate  with  O.G.  crumbadh,  as 
in  Ajstgrum  (Sc.)  and  W.  crwm,  crom,  '  crooked.' 

Cropredy  (Oxon).  Dom.  Cropelie,  1109  Cropperia,  ?  1275  Cro- 
prithi,  1291  Cropperye,  1330  Cropperdy,  1405  Croprydy,  1460 


CEOPTHORNE  223  CROXBT 

Cropredy.    Prob.  '  Croppa's  stream/  O.E.  rith,  as  in  Rye  and 
Ryde  ;  but  on  Crop-  cf.  next. 

Cropthorne  (Pershore).  780  Croppon-,  Croppethorne,  841Crop- 
panthonij  Dom.  Cropetom.  Crop  sb.  is  found  as  meaning  '  the 
head  or  top  of  a  tree/  a.  1300.  But  the  early  charter  forms  show 
that  Croppa  must  be  a  man.  Cf.  next.  Cropwell  (Notts)  Dom. 
Crophelle,  -bille,  is  fr.  N.  kropp-r,  '  a  hump  or  bunch,  a  hump- 
shaped  hill.' 

Cropton  (Pickering).  Dom.  Croptun.  so  also  in  Dom.  Suffolk. 
'  Village  of  Croppa.'  •  See  above. 

Crosby  (5  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Crosebi  (Cheshire),  1189  Pipe  Grossebi 
(Cumberland) .  Doin.  Yorks  has  Crox(e)bi,  Crocsbi,  and  Croches- 
bi,  representing  more  than  one  Crosby.  '  Dwelling  by  the  cross,' 
O.E.  cros,  3-4  croiz,  4-7  croce  ;  or,  at  any  rate  in  Yorks, '  dwelling 
of  Croc{cy,  a  fairly  common  name.     Cf.  Croxby;  and  see  -by. 

Crostwight  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Crostueit,  c.  1460  Crostweyt.  '  Cross- 
place  '  or  '  farm  with  the  cross.'  This  name  gives  a  rare  corrup. 
of  -thwaite.  Cf.  Crosthwaite  (Kendal),  1201  Crostweit;  and 
see -thwaite,  which  is  very  rarely  found  except  in  the  North-West. 

Crouch  End  and  Htt.t.  (London).  O.E.  cruc,  2-3  cruche,  3-5 
crouch{e),  'a  cross.'    R.  Crouch,  Essex,  may  not  be  the  same. 

Croughton  (Brackley) .  Not  in  Dom.  Curiously,  this  means  much 
the  same  as  Crostwight,  '  cross  town  ';  O.E.  cruc,  M.E.  cruche, 
croucTie,  '  a  cross.' 

Crowborough  (Leek  and  Tunbridge  W.).  Neither  in  Demi.  Lee 
C.  a.  1300  Crowbarwe.  Prob.  '  crow's  wood,'  O.E.  crawe,  and 
beam,  dat.  harwe.    Cf.  -borough. 

Crowland  or  Croyland  (Peterborough).  806  chart.  Croylandie; 
Sim.  Dur.  arm.  1075  Crulant;  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Cnilande,  1238 
Croilland.  Doubtful;  the  first  syll.  may  be  O.E.  croh,  '  safiron.' 
Cf.  Crowle. 

Crowle  (Worcester  and  Doncaster).  Wore.  C.  836  chart.  Croglea, 
840  ib.  Crohlea,  Dom.  Croelai,  Crohlea,  1275  Crowele,  O.E.  croh- 
ledh,  '  safEron  meadow.'  Crowley  is,  of  course,  the  same  name. 
Duignan  prefers  the  meaning  '  crocus  meadow/  and  compares  a 
'  Richard  de  CroccusweU  '  found  in  1332.  O.E.  croh  is  just  L. 
crocus  in  an  Eng.  dress.    Cf.  Crookham  and  Croydon. 

Crowthorn  (Berks).  Cf.  K.C.D.,  iv.  103,  'Crawan  thorn,'  Hants. 
'  Crow's  thorn,'  thorn-tree  frequented  by  crows,  and  used  as  a 
boundarj'-  mark.  Cf.,  too,  Crowmarsh,  Wallingford,  Dom. 
Cravmares  (O.E.  mersc,  merisc,  but  here  rather  O.Fr.  mareis, 
-ais,  '  a  marsh  '),  1242  Crawmers. 

Croxby  (Lincoln),  c.  1180  Ben.  Peterb.  Croxebi.  '  Crocc's  dwell- 
ing'; two  so  named  in  Onom.  Cf.  Croxall  (Lichfield),  773 
chart.  Crokeshalle,  Dom.  Crocheshalle,  and  Crosby. 


CKOXTON  224  CUCKAMSLEY 

Cboxton  (4  in  P.G.).  Eccleshall  C.  Dom.  Crochestone,  Chesh.  C. 
Dom.  Crostone,  Cam.  C.  Dom.  Crochestone,  1302  Croxtone, 
Thetford  C.  chart.  Crochestune,  1240  Croxton,  1303  Crokeston> 
c.  1460  Croxeston.  Also  1179-80  Pipe  Lanes,  Crokeston.  '  Vil- 
lage, town  of  Croc,'  a  man;  3  in  Onom.    Cf.  above. 

Croydon  (London).  809  Monasterium  quod  dicitur  Crogedena; 
Dom.  Croindene,  1288  Contin.  Gervase  Croyndona.  It  lies  on 
the  edge  of  the  chalk,  and  so  is  often  said  to  mean  '  chalk  hill ' ; 
cf.  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  Cray  and  crayer.  Yet  form  809  must  mean 
'  dean,'  (wooded)  vaUey  of  the'  safEron,'  O.E.  croh.  Cf.  Crowle. 
But  Croydon  (Royston)  is  Dom.  Crauuedene  1238  Craweden, 
1316  Croudene,  1428  Craudene,  'Dean,  wooded  vale  of  the 
crow,'  O.E.  crawe. 

Crudgington  (Wellington,  Salop).  Dom.  Crugetune.  Prob. 
'  town,  village  of  Cruga,'  gen.  -gan,  an  unknown  man.  For  dg, 
cf.  bryg  and  bridge,  Maggie  and  Madge.  There  is  a  surname 
Grudgings.    See  -ing. 

Crudwell  (Malmesbury).  Dom.  Credwelle.  Perh.  'crypt-well,' 
A.Pr.  crudde,  M.E.  crowd,  '  a  crypt,  a  vault.'  See  Oxf.  Diet., 
crowd  sb.'^,  not  given  there  till  1399 ;  so  it  may  be  fr.  a  man  Crud. 
Cf.  B.C.S.  536  Crudes  silba  ('  wood '). 

Crttg  Mawr  (Pembroke),  a.  1196  Gir.  Camb.  '  Crug  Maur — i.e., 
Collis  magnus,'  '  big  hill,'  '  stackhke  hill.' 

Crukeri  Castle  (Radnor).  Older  Oruk-keri.  Prob.  a.  810  Nennius 
Caer  Ceri,  '  Castle  of  Ceri.'  But  Cruk-  must  be  W.  cmg,  '  a 
heap,  a  stack.' 

Crumlin  (Pontypool).    W.  crom  llyn,  '  crooked  or  concave  pool.' 

Crundale  (R.  Wye,  Kent).  O.E.  crundel,  crondel,  still  in  South. 
dial.,  '  a  cutting  shaped  like  an  open  V,  made  by  a  little 
stream,  a  ravine.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  906  Abbancrundel,  also  3  farms 
in  Worcestershire  called  Crundel  or  Crundles,  and  Crondall. 
Baddeley  says  Crundel  (Kemble),  1280  Crondles,  means  '  a 
quarry.' 

Crutchley  (Northampton  and  Monmouth).  Not  in  Dom. 
'  Meadow  with  the  cross,'  O.E.  cruc,  2-3  cruche.  Cf.  Crouch 
End  and  Croughton,  and  Crutch  Hill  (Worcestersh.),  a.  1200 
Cruche,  1275  Cruch,  Cruce. 

Cub(b)ington  (Leamington).  Dom.  Cobintone,  Cubintone,  a.  1300 
Cobyngton,  Cumbyngton.  '  Village  of  Cuba.'  See  -ing. 
CuBBER-  or  Cobberley  (Cheltenham),  Dom.  Coberleie,  later 
Cuthbrightley,  is  '  Cuthbert's  mead.' 

CucKAMSLEY  or  -LOW  (Berks).  1006  O.E.  Ckron.  Cwichelmes  laewe, 
c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  CMchelmes  laue,  1297  Quichelmeslewe. 
'  Burial-mound  '  or  'hill '  (O.E.  hl^w)  of  Cwichelm  ';  either  he 
who  was  K.  of  Wessex,  d.  636,  or  an  earlier  pagan  king  of  this 
name,  d.  593.     See  -low. 


CUCKPIELD  225  CULMSTOCK 

CuCKFiELD  (Hajrward's  Heath).  1092  Kukefield^  1121  Cucufeld. 
Hardly  fr.  vb.  cucJc=  cacare,  not  found  a.  1440,  though  we  have 
cucking-stool  in  1308;  nor  likely  to  be  fr.  the  cuckoo,  which  in 
O.E.  was  geac,  Sc,  gowk,  though  it  is  found  as  early  as  c.  1240 
cuccu.  Analogy,  as  well  as  other  reasons,  points  to  '  field  of 
Cuca';  cf.  B.O.S.  936  Cucan  healas.  The  1121  speUing  cer- 
tainly suggests  the  bird;  if  so,  it  is  much  the  earHest  instance 
known.  Of.  next.  Cooksland  (Stafford)  is  Dom.  Cuchesland, 
which  Duig-nan  takes  to  be '  land  of  Cuca '  or '  Cue'    Cf.  Guxham. 

CucKNEY  (Mansfield).  Dom.  Cuchenai,  1278Cuckenay;  and  Norton 
CucKNEY  (Yorks).  1202  Yorks  Fines  Cucuneia.  Prob.  '  Cuca'a 
isle  ' ;  see  above  and  -ey.  To  derive  fr.  cuccu  '  cuckoo  '  is  for- 
bidden by  the  n,  sign  of  the  O.E.  gen. ;  whilst  to  make  it  O.E. 
oet  cucan  e^e,  '  at  the  running  stream,'  cwicu,  cucu,  '  living, 
quick,'  is  not  in  accord  with  analogy. 

CuDDESDON  (Oxford).  956  chart.  Cujjenes  dime;  a.  1200 Codesdona. 
'  Cuthen's  dean '  or  '  wooded  valley.'  Cuthen  seems  to  be  a 
contraction  of  the  name  Cyneihegn  or  Gyihegn ;  4  in  Onom. 
But  cf.  '  Cudandene,'  95S  cJiart.,  on  Stour  (Staffs).  There  are 
several  named  Cudd,  Cudda,  or  Cuddi  in  Onom. ;  also  cf.  Cuts- 
dean.     See  -den  and  -don. 

CuDWORTH  (Bamsley).  Not  in  Z)om.  '  C^z^tidt's  place  or  farm.'  Cf. 
Cudeley,  Worcester)  (974  chart.  Cudinclea,  Dom.  Cudelei,  orig.  a 
patronymic,  see  -ing;  also  Dom.  Cornw.  Cudiford.  Dom.  Yorks 
Cuzeworde  is  Cusworth. 

CuxcHETH  (Wigan  and  Cmbld.).  Cum.  C.  c.  1141  Culquith;  also 
Culchet.  Wig.  C.  1200-1  Culchet,  Kulchet,  1300  Culchyt,  1311 
Culcheth.  Far  older  is  793  Mercian  chart.  Celchyth,  which  seems 
the  same  name.  Prob.  '  strait '  or  '  passage  in  the  wood,'  W.  cul, 
'  a  strait '  (G.  caol,  a  '  kyle  '),  and  coed,  pi.  coydd,  '  a  wood.' 

CuLGAiTH  (Penrith).  This  surely  must  be  G.  cid  gaoith,  'at  the 
back  of  the  wind,'  or  fr.  G.  cii,il,  '  a  nook ' ;  whilst  cul  in  W. 
means  '  a  strait,  a  narrow  place.' 

CuLHAM  (Abingdon).  821  chart.  Culanhom,  ?  940  Culenhema,  1216 
Culham.     '  Enclosure  of  Cula.'    Cf.  Culworth;  and  see  -ham. 

CuLLERCOATS  (Newcastle).  First  syll,  doubtful.  It  may  be 
'dove  cots,'  O.E.  culfre,  'a,  dove.'  If  a  man's  name  it 
may  be  Ceolheard,  a  common  O.E.  name,  or  Ceolweard,  also 
common,  and  found  once  as  Ealvert.  Cf.  Killirby  (Durham), 
sic  1183  in  Boldon  Bk.,  but  1197  Culverdebi,  plainly  '  Ceol- 
weard's  dwelling ' ;  also  Dom.  Norfk.,  Culuertestuna,  and  c.  1200 
Culdertun,  Egremont,  Cumberland.  There  is  a  Culkerton 
(Tetbury),  Dom.  Culcortone;  if  not  fr.  Ceolheard,  then  fr.  some 
unrecorded  name.     The  -coats  is  '  cots.'    See  Coates. 

CuLMSTOCK  (Cullompton).  Dom.  Culmestoche.  '  Culm's,  Cylm's  or 
Cylma's  place  ' ;  all  these  forms  are  found  in  Onom.     See  Stoke. 


CULWOETH  226  CURT 

CuLWORTH  (Banbury).  1298  Culeworthe.  '  Cwto's  farm.'  There 
is  only  one  Cula  in  Onom.,  but  cf.  Culham.    See  -worth. 

Cumberland.  945  O.E.  Cliron.  Cumbraland,  c.  960  chart.  Cumbras 
{i.e.,  '  men  of  Cumbria '),  a.  142  Wm.  Mahnes.  Cumberland, 
1461  Lib.  Pluscard.  Cummirlandia.  Now  usually  held  to  be 
'  land  of  the  Cumbri '  or  Cymry,  med.  L.  Combroges,  '  fellow- 
countrymen.'  Of  course,  Cymry  is  now  the  common  name  for 
the  Welsh,  whose  Brythonic  kingdom  spread  right  away  up  to 
Strathclyde  until  the  10th  cny.  Cf.  Comberbach  and  Dom. 
Worcester  '  Cubrinture,'  Yorks  Cu'brewrde,  now  Cumberworth. 

Ctjmdivoce:  (Dalston,  Cumbld.).  a.  lOSOCombeSeyfoch.  Combe  is, 
O.E.  cumb,  Ht.  '  a  bowl,'  '  a  coomb,  a  valley,'  cognate  with  or 
loaned  fr.  W.  cwm,  '  hollow ' ;  the  second  part  may  be  W.  diffaith, 
'  wild,  uncultivated,  uninhabited.'  The  Sc.  divot,  '  a  turf,' 
always  has  t,  and  is  not  known  a.  1536.  But  -theyfoch  may 
well  represent  a  man's  name,  as  in  B.C.S.  1237  Theofecan  hyl. 
Only  there  is  a  Devoke  Water,  S.  of  Eskdale,  in  this  same 
county.  C/.CuMWHiNTON  and '  Cumbehop,'  c.  1200ci^ar^  Whalley. 

CuMNOR  (Oxford).  O.E.  chart.  Colmanora,  Cumanora,  Cumenoran; 
Dom.  Comenore.  '  Colman's  edge  or  bank,'  O.E.  ora  ;  the  liquid 
I  easily  disappears.    Cf.  Cowdenknowes  (Sc). 

CuMWJULNTON  and  Cumwhitton  (Carlisle) .  Old  forms  needed,  but 
perh.  both  Kelt.,  with  Eng.  -ton.  The  former  seems  to  be  W. 
cvrni  gwyn,  '  clear,  bright  hollow.'  However,  Lawhitton  (Corn- 
wall) is  '  long,  white  town.' 

CuNLiFFE  (Whalley,  Lanes).  1278  Gundeclyf,  1283  Cundeclive, 
c.  1300  ConHve,  1317  CimhfEe.  Doubtful.  W.  and  H.'s  deriva- 
tion fr.  Gunnhild-r  is  httle  less  likely  here  than  in  Conder. 
Prob.  hybrid,  Kelt,  conde,  cunde,  '  confluence,'  see  Condate, 
and  O.E.  cUf,  '  a  cliff  or  cleve.'  Cf.  Cleveland,  and  Lillies- 
LEAE  (Sc),  1186  LillescUf,  or  '  LiUa's  cliff.' 

CinsrsDiNE  (Durham).  Sic  c.  1200  chart.  Prob.  'Dean  (wooded) 
vaUey  of  Cuna  ';  2  in  Onom.  Cf.  Cunsall  (Leek),  Dom.  Cunes- 
hala,  and  Cundall  (York),  Dom.  Cundel. 

Curd  WORTH  (Birmingham).  Dom.  Credeworde,  a.  1200  Crud-, 
Croddeworth,  1327  Cruddeworth.  'Farm  of  Creoda';  meta- 
thesis of  r  is  common.  Cf.  Kersoe  (Worcestersh.),  780  Criddesho, 
1275  Crydesho. 

Curry  Mallet  and  Rivel  (Taunton).  Dom.  and  1155  Curi  (see 
North  Curry).  W.  cyri, '  a  cauldron-shaped  valley,'  0.  coire  ; 
cf.  Cyri,  and  Sc.  Corrie  and  Cur.rie.  Mallet  denotes  the  name 
of  the  family  to  which  this  place  once  belonged.  Cf.  Shepton 
Mallet,  and  for  Eivel  cf.  Rievaux. 

CuRY  (Falmouth).  1219  Patent  R.  Egloscuri  ('  church  of  Cury '); 
1445  Cury  towne;  also  Corantyn.  From  St.  Corentinus,  a  saint 
of  Quimper,  Brittany. 


CUTSDEAN  227  DALSTON 

CuTSDEAN  (Broadway,  Worcester) .  974  chart,  and  Dom.  Codestune, 
1275  Cotestone,  a.  1500  Cotesdon,  a.  1600  Cuddesdon.  This, 
then,  is  not '  Dean,"  but '  town  of  Code  or  Cota,'  perh.  the  same 
man  as  gave  name  to  the  Cotswolds.  Akeady  in  730  we  find 
B.C. 8.  236,  set  CodesweUan. 

CuxHAM  (Wallingford).  O.E.  c^ar^  Cuceshamm.  'Enclosure  of 
Cue'  Cf.  CucKEiELD  and  Cuxwold  (Lines),  1235  Cukewald; 
also  B.G.S.  936  Cucan  healas  (see  -hall).    See  -ham. 

CwMHiR  (Radnor),  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  W.  cumi  hir,  '  long  valley 
or  hoUow.'    Cf.  CuMDivocK. 

Cwm-llaw-Enog  (Chirk).  W.=  ' valley  of  Enog's  hand.'  Enog 
was  a  W.  chief  who,  it  is  said,  had  his  hand  cut  oJEE  for  being  found 
on  the  E.  side  of  OfEa's  Dyke. 

Cych  R.  (betw.  Pembroke  and  Caermarthen) .  a.  1300  Cuch. 
W.  cwch,  pi.  cychod,  '  a  boat.' 

Cyffdy  (Llanrwst).  W.  for  '  dark,  black  stump.'  Cf.  Cyffylliog 
(Ruthin),  and  Cufiern  (Haverford  W.),  old  Coferun. 

Cy2^on  R.  (Glam.)  seems  to  be  built  Hke,  and  to  mean  the  same  as, 
the  R.  Conway  (W.  con  gwy) — i.e., '  chief  river,'  compared  with 
the  httle  Dare,  Con,  as  in  L.,  means  '  together,'  and  -on  is  a 
common  ending  for '  river,'  as  in  af-on  itself,  in  C arron  (Sc),  etc. 

Cyri  (Merioneth).  Name  of  several  '  cauldron-shaped  hollows,' 
with  tarns,  same  as  G.  coire,  'a  Corrie  '  (8c.).  Cf.  Taliesin, 
'  the  cauldron  of  Cyridwen,'  and  Curry. 

Cytiau-'r-Gwyddelod  (Holyhead).  W.=  'cots  of  the  Irish.'  It 
is  a  mountain,  said  to  be  the  scene  of  a  battle,  c.  600,  between  the 
Owyddel  (or  Goidels,  or  Gaels)  and  the  Cymri,  or  Welsh. 

Dacre  (Penrith),  sic  1353,  and  Dacre  Banks  (Leeds).  Bede 
Dacore  (R.  and  monastery).  Dom.  Yorks,  Dacre.  Possibly 
med.  L.  {e.g.,  in  Dom.)  dicra,  c.  1300  dacrum,  O.Fr.  dacre,  dakere, 
M.E.  dyker,  mod.  E.  dicker,  corrup.  of  L.  decuria.  This  number 
10  was  the  customary  unit  of  exchange,  esp.  in  hides;  but  was 
it  ever  apphed  to  land  measurement  ? 

Dagenham  (Barking).  693  cJmrt.  Deccan-haam;  c.  1150  chart. 
Dechenham.  '  Daecca's  enclosure  '  or  '  pasture  ' ;  only  one 
Dcecca  in  Onom.  See  -ham.  But  Dagnall  (Oxon)  is  a.  1400 
Dagenhale.     See  -hall. 

Daglingworth  (Cirencester).  Feud.  Aids  Dageling-;  also  1240 
a  Dagelingstrete.  'Farm  of  the  sons  of  Dceghild,'  or  ' Dceg- 
weald,'  nearest  names  in  Onom.    See  -worth. 

Dalden  or  Dawden  (Sunderland),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Daldene, 
O.E.  ddl-denu,  'allotment,  portion,  field,  deal,'  'by  the  dean 
or  deep,  wooded  vale.'    See  -den. 

Dalston  (Carlisle).  1189  Daleston,  Dalstonn.  '  Town,  village  in 
the  valley  or  dale.'    O.E.  doel,  O.N.  dal.    Possibly  Dale  may  be 


DALTON  228  DAETMOUTH 

here,  as  it  is  still,  a  personal  name ;  though  it  is  not  in  Onom,  and 
would  hardly  be  in  use  so  early.  Of.  Dalby  (N.  Yorks),  Dom. 
Dalbi  and  Dalham  (Newmarket),  sic  in  Dom.  Dale  (Pembroke) 
is  found  in  1307  as  La  Dale — i.e.,  with  the  Fr.  art.,  '  the  dale.' 

Dalton  (5  in  P.O.).  Fumess  D.  Dom.  Daltun.  Cf.  a  '  Daltone  ' 
in  Dom.  Cheshire.  '  Town,  village  on  the  allotment,"  see 
Dalden;  in  northern  cases,  '  village  in  the  dale,"  N.  dal. 

Danby  Wiske  (Northallerton) .  Dom.  and  1202  Danebi,  or  '  Dane's 
dwelling.-'  Cf.  Tenby  and  Danemarche,  Jersey;  and  see  -by. 
On  Wiske,  see  Appleton  Wiske.  But  Danethorpb  (Notts), 
Dom.  Dordentorp,  1637  Dernthorp,  is  'village  of  Deorna.'  The 
phonetic  changes  are  all  explainable. 

Dane  orDAVENR.(Chesh.) ;  hence  Davenham  (sic  12 18)  and  Daven- 
port (Chesh.).  Dom. Devenehamand Deneport,a. llSOSim. Dur. 
Devenport.  Perh.  W.  dain,  '  pure,  pleasing,  beautiful,'  or  else 
dwfn,  '  deep.'  Cf.  Debenham.  Duignan  suggests  G.  deann, 
impetuous,  swift,'  but  that  would  rather  yield  Dann  or  Denn. 

Darent  R.    See  Dartford. 

Darlaston  (Wednesbury  and  Stone).  St.  D.  954  Deorlavestun, 
Derlavestone,  1004  ib.  Deorlafestun,  Dom.  Dorlavestone.  Wed. 
D.  a.  1200  Derlavestone.  '  Town  of  Deorlaf.'  Cf.  Darliston 
(Whitchurch)  and  Darlton  (Notts),  Dom.  Derluveton. 

Darley  (Leeds)  and  Darley  Abbey  and  Dale  (Derbysh.).  Der. 
D.  Dom.  Dereleie.  Dar-  is  prob.  from  Deor  or  Deora,  names  in 
Onom.,  and  phonetically  possible.  Darton  (Yorks)  is  Dom. 
Dertune.  In  O.E.  deor  means  '  any  wild  animal,'  then  '  a  deer,' 
then  used  as  a  personal  name,  '  a  man  Hke  a  deer.'    See  -ley. 

Darlington,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Dearningtun,  Dearthingtun ;  but 
1183  Boldon  Bk.  Derlingtona.  A  name  which  has  changed. 
There  is  no  trace  in  Onom.  of  the  Sim.  Dur.  forms,  and  only  one 
Deorling  or  Derling.  As  it  stands,  the  name  is  '  village  of  the 
darlings,'  O.E.  deorling,  a  dimin.  of  '  dear.'  '  Dearthingtun '  may 
possibly  represent  Darrington.  Cf.  Derlintun  in  1156  Pipe 
Notts,  in  Dom.  Dallingtune  and  now  Dalington.  We  have 
Darlingscot,  Shipston-on-Stour,  a.  1300  Darlingscote. 

Darn  ATT,  (SheiGfield).  O.E.  derne  heal,  '  hidden,  out  of  the  way, 
dark  nook.'  Cf.  Damhall  Pool  (Cheshire),  Dernford  (Cambs), 
and  Darnick  (Sc.)  ;  also  see  -hall. 

Darrington  (Pontefract).  Dom.  Darnintone,  Darnitone,  1204 
Darthingtone,  1208  Dardhinton.  *  Town,  village  of  Deorna ' 
(one  in  Onom.),  or  possibly  '  of  Deorwen,  or  -wine.'    See  -ing. 

Dartford  (Kent),  a.  1200  Derenteford,  Darentford.  'Ford  on 
R.  Darent,'  which  is  prob.  a  var.  of  Derwent;  it  is  940  chart. 
Daeriiita.    Cf.  Darwen. 

Dartmouth  (on  R.  Dart).  Exon.  Dom.  Derta,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur. 
Derte,  1250  Layam.  Derte  mujj.     Doubtful;  certainly  not  fr. 


DAKWEN  R.  229  DEBDEN 

Eng.  dirt.  Perh.  W.  dorth,  '  limit,  covering/  or  O.E.  dard^,  '  a 
dart,  a  spear,'  though  our  Eng.  dart  comes  to  us  through  O.Fr. 
dart.    Dartmoor  is  1228  Close  B.  Dertemor. 

Darwen  R.  and  town  (Lanes),  a.  1130  8im.  Dur.  Dyrwente,  1311 
Derwent.  W.  dwr  gwen,  '  white,  clear  stream.'  Cf.  Darent, 
Derwent,  and  G.  dobhar,  '  water,  river.' 

Dassett  (2,  Kineton,  Warwick).  Dom.  Derceto,  -tone,  a.  1200 
Afne  Dercet,  a.  1400  Chepyng  and  Great  Derset.  O.E.  deor, 
'  deer,'  and  set,  '  a  place  where  animals  are  kept,  a  stall,  fold.' 
See  Avon,  Chipping,  Darley,  and  r  on  p.  83. 

Datchet  (Windsor).  Dom. Daceta,  1238 Dachet.  A  puzzling  name ; 
but  all  solutions  fail  phonetically  except  ^Dacca's  cot,' O.E.  cete, 
'  cot,  hut.'  Cf.  Datchworth  (Stevenage),  769  chart.  Decewrthe, 
Dom.  Daceuuorde,  B.C.S.  81  Dseccanham,  and  Watchet.  The 
O.E.  cc  normally  becomes  tch. 

Dauntsey  (Chippenham).  Dom.  Dantesie.  Cf.  940  chart.  Daun- 
tesbourne  (Wilts).     '  Isle  of  Daunt.'    See  -ey. 

Davenham  and  -port.    See  Dane. 

Daventry  (Weedon).  Dom.  Daventrei,  a.  1124  Dauentre,  c.  1200 
Gervase  Davintria.  The  present  pron.  is  Daintry,  which  would 
suggest  an  O.E,  Dcefan  treo,  '  tree  of  Dcefa ' ;  cf.  Oswestry. 
However,  no  Dc^fa  or  Dave  is  in  Onom.,  though  cf.  1179-80  Pipe 
Yorks  Dauebi ;  whilst  John  Dawe,  who  gave  name  to  Dawshill 
(Powick),  was  living  there  in  1275.  In  the  absence  of  good 
evidence  for  an  ,0.E.  origin,  a  W.  origin  is  not  altogether  to  be 
dismissed,  though  a  W.  name  would  be  very  unhkely  here.  It  may 
be  'the  two -summits,'  fr.  W.  dau,  'two,'  and  entrych,  'summit,' 
as  D.  stands  on  a  hill,  and  there  is  another  a  mile  away.  It 
may  be  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Devnana. 

Dawush  (S.  Devon).  O.E.  chart.  Doflisc,  Dom.  Dovles,  a.  1500 
Doflysch.  Doubtful.  The  first  syll.  may  be  W.  du,  O.W.  dub. 
Corn,  dew,  '  black,'  or  dwfn,  '  deep.'  Cf.  Dewlish  and  Dow- 
LAis,  also  R.  Divelish  (Dorset),  which  is  chart.  DeueHsc,  Defiisch, 
Deulisc,  DefeHch,  and  Dom.  Devon,  MonHsh.  All  these  are  orig. 
river -names.  The  river  at  Dawhsh  is  now  the  Dalch.  So  the 
second  syll.  is  prob.  W.  glais,  '  stream,  river,'  rather  than  llys, 
'  court,  hall,'  or  glwys,  '  hallowed  place,  a  fair  spot.' 

Dead  WATER  (N.  Tyne) .  Perh.  1249  Dedy.  Doubtful.  We  find  '  a 
standing  poole  or  dead  water,'  as  early  as  1601  Holland's  Pliny. 

Deal.  Not  in  Dom.  1160  Pipe  Dela;  later  Dale,  Dele,  Dola. 
O.E.  dcBl,  3-6  del,  4,-1  dele,  '  a  division,  a  section,  a  part,'  a 
'  deal,'  cognate  with  dale,  s6^,  '  a  portion  or  share  of  land,' 
and  with  dole,  O.E.  ddl. 

Dean,  E.  and  W.  (Eastbourne).  Asser  Dene.  O.E.  denu,  '  a 
dean,  a  dell,  a  deep,  wooded  vale.'    See  also  Forest  or  Dean. 

Debden  (Saffron  Walden).  Dom.  Deppedana,  1228  Close  R. 
Depeden — i.e.,  '  deep,  wooded  valley.'    See  Dean. 


DEBENHAM  230  DENNY  BOTTOM 

Debenham  (Framlingham,  Suffk.).  Dom.  Depben-,  Depbeham. 
'  Home  on  the  E..  Deben/  which  may  be  W.  dwfn  '  deep.'  Cf. 
Davenham. 

Dee  R.  (Cheshire),  c.  150  Ptolemy  Deva,  1480  Dee;  but  a.  1196 
Gir.  Camb.  Deverdoeu,  Deverdoe,  which  is  just  the  mod.  W. 
name  Dwfr  Dwy.  W  dwfr  or  dwr  (O.W.  deifr),  is  '  river,  stream/ 
and  dwy  is  '  two/  feminine.  But  cf.  Dee  (Sc),  also  B>.  Divie, 
trib.  of  Findhorn,  Moraysh. 

Deee.htje.st  (Tewkesbury) .  804  Grant  Deor  -hyrst(e) ;  Dom.  Dere- 
hest,  a.  1200  Walter  Map  Durherst.  Dhr,  dior  in  O.E.  means 
'  any  kind  of  beast ' ;  hyrst  is  '  forest.'     See  -hurst. 

Deganwy,  Diganwy,  or  Dwyganwy  (N.  Wales),  a.  1145  Orderic 
Dag(e)aunoth;  Ann.  Cambr.  ann.  822  Arx  Deganhui.  Difficult. 
By  some  connected  with  Ptolemy's  Dekantai  ;  by  Rhys  Jones* 
with  the  Irish  Ogam  form  Deccetes,  found  in  (?)  sixth-century 
inscriptions  in  Devon,  Anglesea,  and  Ireland.  In  the  Patent  R. 
c.  1245  it  is  often  Gannok,  which  suggests  a  similar  origin  to 
Cannock. 

Dbighton.    See  Ditton. 

Dblph  (Yorks,  Rochdale,  N.  Staffs)  and  the  Delves  (Wednesbury) . 
A  '  digging  '  (for  iron  ore  or  the  like).  O.E.  dcelfan,  delfan,  '  to 
dig,  delve.'    Cf.  Dilhorne. 

Den AB Y  Main  (Rotherham) .  Dom .  Degenebi,  Denegebi .  '  Dwelling 
of,'  it  is  uncertain  who ;  perh.  Degn  or  TJiegn — i.e.,  '  thane,  lord,' 
names  in  Onow.  C/.  Dagenham  ;  and  see -by.  Main  meaning 
'  main '  or  '  chief  vein  of  mineral,'  seems  a  quite  recent  usage. 

Denbigh,  c.  1350  charts.  Den-,  Dynbiegh,  -eigh,  1485  Dynbigh. 
W.  Dinbych.  In  W.  din  bych  would  mean,  '  hill  or  fort  of  the 
wretched  being.'  This  would  be  absurd.  Prob.  it  is,  as  pron. 
in  Eng.,  Den-by,  'dwelling  of  the  Dane  ';  we  have  Denby  more 
than  once  in  Yorks,  Dom.  Denebi,  fr.  O.E.  Dene,  'Danes,'  and 
Dene-  or  Den-mearc,  '  Denmark.'  Thus  it  would  be  the  same 
name  as  Danby  and  Tenby.  See  -by.  But  T.  Morgan  favours 
W.  din  bach,  '  little  hill,'  which  it  is.  This  certainly  accounts 
better  for  the  final  guttural  -gh  or  -ch. 

Denchworth  (Wantage).  O.E.  cJmrt.  Dences  wyrthe,  Deneces 
wurthe,  Denices  wurth ;  Dom.  Denchesworde.  '  Farm  of  Dence,' 
Sb  name  otherwise  unfaiown;  though  Onom.  has  Denisc,  or  'the 
Dane.'    See  -worth. 

Denham  (Uxbridge  and  Eye,  Suffk.).  Ux.  D.  Dom.  Daneha. 
Eye  D.  Dom.  Denham.  Prob.  'home  of  the  Dane.'  Cf. 
Denton  and  Den-mark. 

Denny  Bottom  (Tunbridge  Wells).  Cf.  Denny  (Sc.)  1510  Dany, 
and  Dom.  Bucks,  Danitone.  Denny  is  a  dimin.  of  den  or  dean, 
'  a  narrow,  wooded  valley.'    See  -den.  - 

*  Cited  by  M'Olure,  p.  94. 


DENSTON(E)  231  DEVERILL 

Denston(e)  (Uttoxeter  and  Newmarket).  Utt.  D.  Dom.  Dene- 
stone,  '  village  of  Dene,'  3  in  Onom.,  meaning,  of  course,  '  the 
Dane/  Cf.  above.  But  New.  D.  is  Dom.  Danardestuna, 
*  town  of  Deneheard.'    Cf.  B.C.S.  480  Deneheardes  hegersewe. 

Denton  (8  in  P.G.).  801  chart.  Deantone  (Sussex).  Dom. 
Yorks  and  Lines  Dentune,  '  village  by  the  Dean,  or  deep, 
wooded  vale/  Cf.  Denford  (Berks),  Dom.  Daneford,  where 
O.E.  dcen,  a  word  cognate  with  den  and  dean,  means  esp.  '  a 
woodland  pasture  for  swine/  Few  Eng.  names  in  Den-  or  Dane- 
show  any  connexion  with  the  Danes ;  but  cf.  Denbigh,  and  above. 

Depteobd.  Sic.  1521,  but  c.  1386  Chaucer  Depford;  not  in  Dom. 
'  Deep  (O.E.  deop)  ford '  on  the  E-avensboume,  or  rather,  the 
creek  at  its  mouth.  There  is  -another  at  Sunderland.  Cf. 
Defford  (Pershore,  972  chart.),  Deopford,  Dom.  Depeforde,  also 
in  Dom.  Wilts. 

Derby.  917  O.E.  Chron.  Deoraby,  1049  Deorby,  1598  Darbi- 
shiere.  In  W.  Dwrgwent.  '  Beasts'  dwelling.'  O.E.  deor, 
dior,  Icel.  dyr,  '  a  beast ';  and  see  -by.  Derby  was  a  Danish 
name  ;  NorthweorSig  was  the  O.E.  one.  For  its  ending,  cf. 
Badgewobthy. 

Dbbeham  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Dere-,  Derham.  c.  1460  Dyram,  so 
=  Dyrham  and  Debby,  '  beasts'  home.' 

Debsingham  (King's  Lynn).  Dom.  Dersincham,  1234  Patent  R. 
Dersingham ;  '  home  of  the  Der sings.'    Cf.  Sandbingham. 

Debwent  R.  (Cumbld.  and  Yorks),  also  Debwentwateb,  sic 
1298.  The  two  rivers  get  a  little  mixed  in  early  records — c. 
380  Ant.  Itin.,  and  c.  700  Rav.  Geogr.  Derventione,  Bede 
Dorowensio,  Deruuentis  jQuvius,  c.  850  O.E.  vers.  Deorwenta, 
o.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Dyrwenta,  1229  Patent  R.  Derewent  (Yorks). 
W.  dwr,  dwfr  gwen,  '  white,  clear  stream.'  Cf.  Dabent  and 
Darwen.    For  suffixing  of  t,  cf.  Leven  and  Levant. 

Desboboitgh  (Mket.  Harboro').  Dom.  Deis-,  Diesburg,  c.  1260 
Rot.  Hund.  Dosteberge.  Very  puzzling;  no  name  in  Onom. 
seems  to  suit  any  of  these  forms;  but  it  may  be  Deorswith  (see 
Dosthill).  'Dais,'  raised  table  in  a  hall,  is  O.Fr.  deis,  and 
not  known  in  Eng.  till  1259,  so  very  unhkely  here;  but  cf. 
Diss.     See  -burgh. 

Deuddwb  (Wales).    W.  dau  dwr,  '  two  streams.' 

Deveeill — Kingston  Devebill  (Bath),  Longbbidge  Devebill, 
and  Bbixton  Devebill  (Warminster).  Dom.  Devrel,  1245 
Patent  R.  Deverel  (Wilts).  Prob.  hybrid.  Devr-  will  be 
O.Kelt,  for  '  stream,'  W.  dwfr  (see  Andover  and  Doveb)  ; 
whilst  -el  is  prob.  Eng.  for  hill,  or  else  -hale,  '  nook.'  See  -hall. 
Cf.  Derridge,  Kingswood,  old  Deveridge.  Possibly  Devrel  is 
Nor.  for  Devereux  or  d'Evreux. 


DEVIL'S  WATER  232  DILHORNE 

Devil's  Water  (Hexham).  1610  Speed  Do  vols  fl.  Thought  to 
be  comip.  of  G.  dubh  glas,  'dark,  peaty  stream '=  Douglas. 
This  is  very  doubtful. 

Devizes.  1157  Pipe  Divisis,  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Divisa,  1228  Close 
R.  ad  Divisas.  This  is  corrupt  L.,  and  prob.  means  '  place  at 
the  division  or  border '  (?  that  between  Saxon  and  Kelt). 

Devon.  878  O.E.  Chron.  Defenascir;  Exon.  Dom.  Duuenant, 
1189  Devonia;  1402  Devenshir,  c.  1630  Risdon,  'Devonshire, 
now  by  a  vulgar  speech  Denshire.'  In  O.W.  Dyvnaint,  which 
seems  to  be  O.W.  dub,  W.  du  nant,  '  dark  ravine  or  valley  or 
stream.'  The  Sc.  Devon,  c.  1210  Dovan,  has  a  similar  origin, 
G.  dubh  an,  'dark  river.'  But  Rhys  identifies  both  with  the 
Damnonii,  who  orig.  inhabited  Devonshire,  the  m  here  being 
aspirated  into  mh  or  v.    There  is  also  a  R.  Devon,  Notts. 

Devonport.  Dates  from  1689.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Devenport  is 
Davenport.    See  above. 

Dewchurch,  Little  (Hereford).  1234  Close  R.  Deweschirch, 
'  Church  of  Dewi,'  W.  for  St.  David.  Cf.  Dewiston,  near  St. 
David's,  Llandewi,  and  Dewsbury;  also  Dowthorpe  (Yorks), 
Dom.  Dwetorp,  1202  Duuestorp. 

Dewlish  (Dorchester).  Chart.  DioHsc,  1230  Close  R.  Deuehz,  1238 
Patent  R.  Deuehs.  Must  be  same  as  Dawlish  and  as  Dewlas 
R.    See  DowLAis. 

Dewsbury  (Yorks).  Dom.  Deusbereia,  -berie,  1202  Deubire. 
'  David's  burgh.'    See  Dewchurch  and  -bury. 

DiCKLEBOROUGH  (Scole,  Norfk.).  Dom.  Dicclesburc,  1232  Close  R. 
Dikelebury.  Prob.  '  burgh  of  Dicuil,'  a  Keltic  name.  See 
-borough. 

DiDCOT  (Oxford).  Not  in  Dom.  a.  1300  Doudecote,  also  Dud- 
cote;  and  DiDCOTE  (Beckford),  1177  Pipe  Dudicota.  Cf.  B.C.S. 
iii.  101.  Dyddan  hamm,  ib.  486  Dydinc  cotan  (dat.).  '  Cot, 
cottage  of  Dydda  or  Dudda.'  Cf.  Dudley  and  Diddington 
(Warwk.),  1188  Didindon. 

DiDMARTON  (Tetbury).  972  chart.  Dydimeretune,  Dom.  Ded- 
mertone.  Feud.  Aids  Dudmerton.  Perh.  '  village  of  Dudemcer,' 
as  in  1015  chart.  To  Dudemseres  hele  ('  nook '),  Chilton  (Berks). 
But  it  may  be  '  mere-  or  lake-town  of  Dydda '  or  '  Dudda/  the 
latter  a  very  common  name.    Cf.  Dummer. 

DiGBETH  (Birmingham,  Coventry,  and  Northfield,  Wore). 
Duignan  thinks  this  may  be  corrup.  of  dike  path;  dike,  O.E. 
die,  being  either  '  ditch '  or  'embankment.'  But  there  are  no 
old  forms,  and  this  is  doubtful. 

Dilhorne  (Stoke-on-Trent).  Dom.  and  till  1300  Dulverne. 
Duignan  thinks,  O.E.  dulf-,  delfern,  '  place  of  digging  or  delv- 
ing.' Cf.  Delph.  However,  in  Dom.  Bucks  we  have  '  Dile- 
herst,'  and  Dilham  (Norfk.)  is  sic  c.  1150,  fr.  a  man  Dela  or  Dila. 


DILSTON  233  DITTON 

DiLSTON  (Hexham),  a.  1300  chart.  Divelin,  which  looks  like  W. 
ty  Felyn,  'house  of  Velyn/  Of.  Helvellyn  and  Stibling 
(So.)  c.  1250  Estrivelin.  But — surely  very  improbably— Sir 
H.  Maxwell  thinks  this  name  is  D'Eyville's  town'  {see  Scala- 
cronica  MS.,  fo.  211)  ;  whilst  M'Clure  thinks  the  Dils-  is  a. 
corrup.  of  Dubglas,  '  dark  stream.' 

DiNAS  (Glamorgan).  W.  and  Corn., '  a  castle/  fr.  din,  '  hill/  then 
'  hill-fort.'    Cf.  Pendennis. 

Din  AS  Emrys  (small  hill  near  Snowdon).  1190  Gir.  Camb.  says 
this  means  '  promontory  of  Ambrosius,'  a  celebrated  bard  of 
the  5th  cny. 

Dm  AS  PowYS  (Cardiff).     1223  Patent  R.  Dinant  powis.     '  Hill '  or 

'  fort  of  PowYS.'    Cf.  above. 
DiNEFWR  Castle    (Caermarthen).     c.  1196  Gir.  Camb.  Dynevur, 

1246  Patent  R.  Dynavor.    W.  din  y  ffwyr,  '  castle  of  the  onset 

or  assault.' 
DiNGEBREiN  (Cornwall).    Com.  din  GerairU,  'fort  of  K.  Geraint, 

husband  of  Enid,  who  fell  at  Langport,  522.    Cf.  St.  Gebrans. 

DiNMOBE  (Hereford).  W.  din  mawr,  '  big  hill.'  It  is  a  village  on 
the  top  of  a  high  hill.     C/.  Dunmore  (Sc). 

DiNNiNGTON  (Newcastle-on-T.  and  Rotherham).  Ro.  D.  Dom. 
Dunnitone,  Dunintone,  '  town  of  Dun,  Duna,  or  Duning,'  all  in 
Onom.    See  -ing. 

Dm-ORWIG  (Caernarvon).  Old  Dinorddwig — i.e.,  'fort  of  the 
Ordovices/  a  tribe  of  central  Wales.  See  Tacit.  Agric.  18. 
But  in  charters  of  Edw.  III.  it  is  Dynnorbin.  Rhys  derives 
Ordovices  fr.  O.W.  ord,  W.  gordd,  '  a  hammer.' 

Dtnton  (Aylesbury  and  SaUsbury).  Sa.  D.  Duntone.  1179-80 
Pipe  Yorks.  Dinton,  '  village  of  Dynne  or  Dyne,'  a  common 
name  in  Onom.  See  -ton.  But  Dinsdale  (N.  Yorks)  is  Dom. 
Digneshale,  prob.  '  Degn's  nook  {cf.  Denary)  ;  though  Over 
Dinsdale  is  Dom.  Dimeshala,  fr.  Deorna,  or  perh.  Deoring, 
Diring,  names  in  Onom.    See  -hall. 

Diss  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Dice.  Doubtful.  ?  O.Fr.  deis,  found  in 
Eng.  c.  1259  as  deis, '  a  dais  or  high-table.'  Diseworth  (Derby) 
and  Disley  (Stockport)  imply  an  unrecorded  man  Disa.  Cf. 
Desborough  and  next. 

DissiNGTON  (Northumbld.) .  ?  The  Digentum  in  Hexham  Chrons. 
Should  be  '  town  of  Dissa  '  or  the  hke ;  but  there  is  no  such  name 
in  Onom.  Still  we  have  Dishforth,  Thirsk,  Dom.  Disforde, 
and  the  places  above,  suggesting  such  a  name. 

DiTTON  (Widnes,  Bridgnorth,  and  Sui'rey)  and  Fen  Ditton 
(Cambs).  Cam.  D.  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Dictune,  Dittune. 
Dom.  Surrey  and  Bucks  Ditone,  -tune;  also  c.  1170  and  1213 
charts.  Dicton,   ?  which,  and  c.   1005   chart.  Dictune,  Kent, 

16 


DOCCOMBE  234  DONYATT 

'Town,  enclosure,  with  the  ditch/  O.E.  die.  Cf.  Ditchford 
(Warwk.),  Dom.  Dicforde.  The  names  Deighton  and  Dighton 
have  the  same  origin  as  Ditton.  N.  Yorks  is  Dom.  Dictune, 
and  Deightonby  is  Dictenebi,  a  somewhat  rare  hybrid. 

DooooMBE  (Newton  Abbot).  Not  in  Dom.  1174  Documba,  1322 
Dockumbe;  also  corrupted  into  Dockham.  O.E.  docce-cumbe, 
'  dock-valley/  valley  in  which  the  docken  weed  abounded. 

DoDCOTT  (Nantwich).  1135  Dodecotte.  Cf.  a.  1300  '  Dodeford/ 
Northants.  '  The  cot  or  cottage  of  Dodd,  Doda,  or  Dodda,'  a 
very  common  name  in  Onom.  C/.  Didcot  and  Dodwell,  Strat- 
ford (Warwk.),  close  to  the  Doddanford  of  985  chart. 

DoDrNQTON  (Yate  and  Bridgwater).  Ya.  D.  Dom.  Dodintone, 
1170  Duddinton;  and  Doddington  (5  in  P.G.),  March  D.  Dom. 
Dodinton,  1302  Doddyngtone.  '  Village  of  Dodda  '  or  '  Dudda,' 
gen.  -an.  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  and  Salop,  Dodintone.  But 
DoDiNGTBEE  (Leicester)  is  perh.  fr.  dod,  '  to  cUp  or  top/  found 
a.  1225  dodd;  cf.  1440  Prompt.  Parv.,  '  doddyn  trees  or  herbys 
.  .  .  decomo.'  This  tree  was  the  meeting-place  of  the  hundred. 
Cf.  Maijningteeb.    See  -ing. 

DoQSTHOBPE  (Peterboro').  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1100  Grant  Dodes- 
thorpe.  Interesting  corruption;  '  farm  of  Dodd.'  See  Dodcott 
and  -thorpe. 

DoLEBUBY  Camp  (Mendips).  'Burgh,  fortified  place  of  Dola'; 
one  such  in  Onom.  It  is  the  site  of  a  pre-Roman  fort.  See 
-bury. 

DoLGELLY.  W.  dol  gelU,  '  meadow  with  the  grove  or  copse,'  gelli 
beiug  var.  of  the  commoner  celli. 

Dolly  Meadows  (Bath).  W.  Dol.  pi.  dolau  (pron.  dolay),  '  a 
meadow.'    Cf.  G.  dal.    Thus  the  name  is  a  tautology. 

DoLTON  (Devon).  Dom.  Dueltona.  1235  Patent  R.  Dughelton. 
'Town  of  Dougal'  (see  Duggleby),  only  here  the  h  has 
'  echpsed  '  the  g.    Cf.  the  surname  Doulton. 

Don  Er.  and  Doncastbr.  Prob.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Dono  and 
Bede  U.  xiv  Campodunum,  c.  850  O.E.  vers.  Donafeld;  Nennius 
Cair  Daun;  Dom.  Doncastre,  1158-59  Pipe  Dane  Castre,  1202 
Fines  Danecastre,  1206  Donecastre.  It  cannot  be  the  same  as 
Don  (Sc).    Perh.  W.  dwn,  G.  donn,  '  brown.'    See  -caster. 

DoNNiNGTON  (Salop,  Gloucs.,  and  Berks).  Sa.  D.  Dom.  Donitone. 
Gl.  D.  1176  Pipe  Dunnington.  Be.  D.  1316  Dunyngton. 
'  Village  of  the  sons  of  Dunn.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  iii.  601  on  Dunning- 
lande.    Cf.  Dunnington  ;  and  see  -ing. 

DoNYATT  (Ilminster).  1234  Patent  R.  Dunyed.  O.E.  dun  ^eat, 
'  hill  of  the  gate,  opening  or  pass.'  Yat  or  yat{t)e  has  been  the 
S.W.  dial,  form  of  gate  since  the  16th  cnv.  Cf.  Symond's 
Yat. 


DORCHESTER  235  DOVER 

DoRCHESTEB,  (Dorset).  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Diirno(no)varia,  939 
chart,  villa  regalis  quae  dicitur  Doracestria,  c.  1100  Flor. 
Wore.  Dorsetania,  1387  Dorchestre.  Durno-varia  is  prob. 
Kelt,  for  '  fist-plays/  there  having  been  a  Rom.  amphitheatre 
here ;  W.  dwrn,  Ir.  dorn,  '  fist ' ;  and  Corn,  gware  for  L.  varia,  '  a 
play.'  Asser,  ann.  875,  speaks  of  the  district  {paga),  called  in 
British  Dumgueir  (in  MS.  -eis),  but  in  Saxon  Thomsseta  {or 
Domsaeta),  now  Dorset.  In  the  present  name  there  is  nothing 
■which  represents  varia,  so  that  it  really  seems  to  mean  '  fist 
camp.'    Cf.  Cardurnock;  and  see  -Chester. 

Dorchester  (Oxon).  (?  Durcinate  in  a.  700  Bav,  Oeogr.)  c.  689 
Theodore  Villa  Dorcacsestrensis,  Bede  Dorcic,  O.E.  Chron.  635 
and  891  Dorcic-,  Dorcesceaster,  905  in  Eadmer  Dorkeceastre, 
Dom.  Dorchecestre.  This  seems  either  to  mean  '  camp  of  Dorc,' 
an  unknown  man,  or,  more  doubtfully,  '  dark  camp,'  O.E. 
deorc,  3  dorc,  '  dark.'    Also  see  Dorset. 

DoRDON  (Tamworth).  1285  Derdon.  Perh.  'hill  of  the  deer/ 
O.E.  dear.    Cf.  Dassett;  and  see  -don. 

DoRE  R.  (S.  Wales),  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Door  ;  and  Dore  (Here- 
ford and  Sheffield).  Shef.  D.  O.E.  Chron.  827  Dore,  ib.  942 
Dor.  W.  dwr,  '  water,  stream ' ;  G.  dobhar.  Cf.  Appledore, 
Dour  (Yorks),  and  Durra  (Comw.).  But  Plummer  derives  the 
towns  fr.  O.E.  duru,  dor,  '  a  door,  an  opening.' 

Dorset,  a.  900  Asser  Thornsseta,  Domsseta,  Dom.  Dorsete,  c. 
1097  Flor.  W.  Dorsetania.  Dornsseta  should  mean  '  seat, 
settlement  among  the  thorns';  but  cf.  Dorchester;  while 
some  connect  with  Ptolemy's  Durotriges,  who  dwelt  about  here. 
Cf.  Somerset.    Dom.  Essex  has  a  Dorseda. 

DoRSiNGTON  (Stratford-on-A.).  Dom.  Dorsintune,  and  Dorstone 
(Hereford),  a.  1300  Dorsinton.  '  Village  of  the  Dorsings,'  or 
?  '  sons  of  Deorsige.'    Cf.  Dersingham.    See  -ing. 

DosTHHiL  (Tamworth).  Dom.  Dercelai.  a.  1200  Dertehulla, 
Derchethull,  a.  1400  Derst-,  Dorsethull.  The  ending  is  clear. 
In  Dom.  -lai  is  fr.  -ley,  '  meadow,'  q.v. ;  and  hull  is  the  regular 
Mid.  form  of  '  hill.'  Derchet  or  Derst  prob.  represents  a  man 
Deorswith  ;  2  in  Onom.  But  cf.  also  Dom.  Bucks  Dusteb'ge  and 
Desborough. 

Douglas  (I.  of  Man).  Local  pron.  DooHsh.  Moore  says,  Manx 
dub  glais,  '  dark  stream.'  Cf.  Douglas  (Sc.)  and  Dowlais, 
pron.  Dowhsh.  One  of  K.  Arthur's  battles,  in  Nennius,  was  at 
'  Duglas.'     c.  1205  Layamon  has  a  '  Duglas  water  '  too. 

Dove  R.  (Derby)  andDovEY  or  DyfiR.  (S.  Wales  and  Machynlleth). 
Der.D.  890  chart.T)\x.ia.,  a.  1300  Duve  Douve.  Mach.D.  1428  Dyvi. 
All  fr.  O.W.  dubr,'W.dwfr,  dwr, '  water,  stream.'  Duignan  thinks 
Dove  the  '  diving  '  river,  O.E.  dufan.     Its  tribs.  certainly  dive 


BOVEK  236  DRAYCOTT 

underground.    Doveedige  (Uttoxeter)    is   Dom.   Dubrige,   c. 
1300  Doubrig, '  bridge  on  R.  Dove.' 

Dover  (also  near  Leigh,  Lanes),  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Portus  Dubris; 
a.  716  chart.  Dufras,  1048  O.E.  Chron.  Dofre,  a.  1100  Wm  Poit. 
Doueria,  c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Doru-,  Doro-bernia;  1160  Doura, 
Dovre;  c.  1205  Layam.  Doure,  c.  1276  Douere.  The  Kent  D. 
is  on  R.  Douver,  W.  dwfr.,  '  stream/  still  correctly  pron.  in 
Fr .,  Dou vre(8) .  Cf.  above,  and  Dovebdale,  Droitwich,  706  cfiart. 
Dourdale,  817  ib.  Doferdsel;  also  Dom.  Wilts  Dobreha.  There 
are  also  a  R.  Doverle  (Berkeley)  and  a  Dover  Beck,  1225 
Doverbec  (Notts),  and  a  Douvres  on  the  N.  coast  of  France. 

Dovercourt  (Harwich).  Dom.  Druurecurt  (first  r  an  error). 
'  Court  on  the  river,'  W.  dwfr.  See  above.  Court,  O.F.  cort, 
curt,  L.  cohors,  -tern,  '  court,  poultry-yard,  yard,'  is  not  in  Oxf. 
Diet,  till  1297.  It  means  '  a  clear  space  enclosed  by  a  wall,' 
then  '  a  large  building  in  a  yard,  a  castle.' 

DowLAis  (Glam.).  Pron.  Dowlish.  Disputable;  perh.  O.W.  <kiu, 
mod.  W.  dou  glais,  '  two  streams  ';  but  prob.  =  Douglas.  The 
Dewlas,  trib.  of  Nthn.  Dovey,  is  sic  1428  and  locally  pron. 
Diflas,  clearly '  dark  (W.  du)  stream.'  Dowlish  Waee  (Ilminster) 
should  be  the  same.  Cf.  Dawlish.  The  Little  and  Great 
DowABD  Hills,  lower  Wye,  were  old  Dougarth,  which  is  O.W.  for 
'  two  garths,'  or  '  enclosures.' 

DowNHAM  (Cambs  and  Norfolk).  Cam.  D.  K.C.D.  iv.  209  Dun- 
ham. Nor.  D.  1461  Dounham.  O.E.  dun-ham,  '  hill-dwell- 
ing.' Cf.  neict.  Downholme  (Richmond,  Yorks)  is  in  Dom. 
simply  Dune.     See  -hohn. 

Downs,  The  (off  Kent),  a.  1460  Gregory's  Chron.  The  Downys, 
1520  The  Downes.  Perh.  so  called  from  the  doum  or  hill,  O.E. 
dun,  opposite  the  E.  end  of  the  North  Downs. 

DowNTON  (SaUsbury).    c.  1160  Duntuna — i.e.,  'hill-town'  or  Hilton. 

Dowthorpe  (Yorks).  Dom.  Dwetorp.  Prob.  'village  of  Duua' 
or  '  Duha/  names  in  Onom.    See  -thorpe. 

Doxey  (Stafford).  Dom.  Dochesig,  c.  1200  Dokesei,  'Isle  of 
Docca,'  or  'the  duck,'  O.E.  docce.  Cf.  Duxford.  In  Dom. 
Salop  there  is'Dehocsele  or  '  Docca' b  nook.'    See  -ey  and  -hall. 

Drakenedge  (Warwksh.).  1251  Drakenegg.  O.E.  dracan  ecg, 
'  devil's  or  dragon's  edge  '  or  '  brink.'  Cf.  Drakelow  (Derbysh.) 
and  Wolverley,  former  942  '  set  Dracan  hlawen '  (see  -low), 
also  Drakestone  (Gloucs.). 

Draughton  (Skipton).    Dom.   Dractone.     Doubtful.    Possibly  it 
is   'town  of  the    devil,'   O.E.   draca.    Cf.  above.    Possibly = 
Drayton. 

Draycott  (Berks,  Blockley,  Dunchurch,  Stoke-on-T.).  Ber.  D. 
Dom.  Draicote;  Bl.  D.  1275  Draycote  ;  St.  D.  a.  1300  Dra-  and 


DEAYTON  237  DROITWICH 

Draycote.  This  must  go  with  Drayton,  an  even  commoner 
name  with  older  recorded  forms.  Draycott  would  seem  to  mean 
'dry  cot';  O.E.  dryge.,  drige,  2  dreie,  4  draye,  dreye,  'dry/ 
Possibly  it  is  fr.  O.E.  drcege,  'a  drag-net,  a  dray';  but  then, 
why  so  ?  Certainly  Skeat's  derivation  fr.  an  O.E.  drceg,  sup- 
posed to  mean  'a  place  of  shelter,  a  retreat'  (c/.  mod.  dray, 
'  a  squirrel's  nest '),  seems  rather  laboured.  But  the  matter  is 
not  yet  settled.  Dom.  Devon  has  a  Draheford,  ?  '  ford  for  a 
dray.'  Cf.  Drig. 
Drayton  (9  in  P.G.).  Chart,  DTsegtnn,  Dom.  Draitone,  1210  Dray- 
ton (Cambs).  810  chart.  Draiton  (N.  Notts),  960  chart.  Drasegtun, 
and  Dom.  Draitone  (Berks),  a.  1100  Draeitun,  a.  1200  Draiton 
(Stratford,  Warwicksh.).  Dom.  Dray-.  Draitone  (Penkridge  and 
Tamworth).  Dom.  Drattone  (Bucks).  Prob.  'dry  town';  but 
the  early  forms  make  O.E.  drcege  '  a  dray,'  at  least  a  possible 
origin.  Skeat  derives  the  place  in  Cambs  and  Berks  fr.  the  O.E. 
drceg,  referred  to  s.v.  Draycott.  The  '  Cair  Draithon '  of  c. 
800  Nennius  has  been  identified  with  one  of  the  Draytons, 
which  is  doubtful. 

Driffield  (Bridlington  and  Cricklade).  Br.  D.  c.  1050  O.E.  Chron. 
705  DrifEelda,  Dom.  Drifeld,  -felt,  1202  Driffeld.  Cr.  D.  Dom. 
Drifelle  (common  Dom.  var.).  'Dry  field,'  O.E.  drige,  3  drigge, 
drie,  '  dry.'  Duignan  says  Driffold  (Sutton  Colfield),  is  drift 
fold,  '  fold  into  which  cattle  were  driven.'    Of.  next. 

Drig  (W.  Cumbld.).    O.E.  drige,  '  dry  ';  drceg,  '  a  place  of  shelter. 
Of.  above. 

Drighlinqton  (Bradford).  Dom.  Dreslintone,  -ingtone.  The  s  in 
Dom.  is  to  avoid  the  guttural  gh ;  such  Dom.  hates.  Prob. 
'  viUage  of  the  descendants  of  Dryhtweald,'  or  perh.  '  Drycghelm ' 
(once  in  Onom.).    Cf.  Dom.  Gloucs.  Dricledone.     See  -ing. 

Dringhob  (Holdemess).  Dom.  Dringolme;  and  Dringhouses 
(York).  Not  in  Dom.  N.  dreng,  '  a  free  servant  of  the  king 
endowed  with  lands.'  They  were  found  all  over,  N.  of  the 
Humber  and  Ribble.  The  ending  -hoe  is  here  a  corrup.  of 
-holm,  q.v.,  through  the  liquidity  or  vanishing  tendency  of 
I  and  w,  influenced  by  Hoe,  '  height ' ;  whilst  holm  is  '  river- 
meadow.' 

Droitwich.  716  chart.  In  wico  emptoris  salis  quem  nos  Saltwich 
vocamus,  888  ih.  Saltwic,  1017  Sealtwic,  1049  O.E.  Chron.  Wic, 
Dom.  Wich  24  times,  Wic  once,  1347  le  Dryghtwych,  1469 
Dertwyche.  But  D.  is  not  Ptolemy's  Salinai.  Wich  is  simply 
O.E.  ivic,  '  dwelling,  village.'  See'  -wich.  True,  here  and  in 
Cheshire  and  the  neighbouring  districts  it  is  the  ending  of  most 
salt-producing  towns;  but  there  is  no  O.E.  authority  for  saying 
that  wic  or  wich  has  anything  to  do  with  salt.  Many — even 
Skeat — derive  this  wich  fr.  O.N.  vih,  '  a  bay,  a  small  (salt) 
creek  ' ;  hence,  it  is  said,  the  transition  is  easy  to  '  salt  or  brine 


DROMONBY  238  DULLINGHAM 

spring/  But  that  wich  could  come  fr.  vik  in  716  in  Worcestersh. 
seems  simply  impossible.  Droit-  (Fr.  droit,  '  right,  privilege  ') 
was  prefixed  by  sanction  of  Edw.  III.,  who  gave  the  inhabitants 
the  right  to  manufacture  salt  here  a.  1293.  The  right  had  to  be 
restricted  in  other  places  owing  to  the  great  waste  of  timber 
in  making  salt.  But  Edw.  the  Confessor  already  had  £52  a 
year  from  the  salt  works.    Cf.  '  The  Droits  of  Admiralty.' 

Dromonby  (N.  B/iding).  Dom.  Dragmalebi,  twice.  A  remarkable 
corrup.  '  Dwelling  of  Dragmel,'  one  in  Onom.  We  here  see 
how  any  one  liquid  can  become  another,  even  I  become  n. 
See  -by. 

Dronmeld  (Shefl&eld).  Not  in  Dom.  'Field  of  the  drone-bees'; 
O.E.  dran,  3-6  dron. 

Droxford  (Bps.  Waltham).  939  chart.  Drocenesforda ;  not  in 
Dom.     '  Ford  of  Drocen,'  not  in  Onom.,  but  cf.  Drakenedge. 

Druid  (Corwen)  may  be  for  W.  derwydd,  '  a  Druid.'  T.  Morgan 
omits  it.  But  Druid  Heath  (Warwk.)  is  c.  1400  Dru-,  Dre- 
wood,  fr.  a  family  of  Dru,  or  rather  Druce,  prob.  taking  their  name 
fr.  Dreux,  Normandy. 

Drypool  (Hull).  Dom.  Drid-,  Dritpol,  Dripold,  '  dirty  pool/ 
Icel.  drit,  '  durt.' 

DuDBRiDGE  (Stroud).  1302  Dodebrygge;  and  Duddo  (Norham); 
1183  Dudehowe.  Named  fr.  some  man  Dudd,  Duda,  or  Dudda, 
names  very  common  in  O.E.,  esp.  in  Mercia.  Cf.  Dudley  and 
Duddeston  (Birmingham),  1100  Duddestone.  The  -o  is  -howe, 
'  a  mound,'  q.v. 

DuDDON  (Tarporley)  and  Duddon  R.  (Cumbld.).  Latter  thought 
to  be  c.  709  Eddi  Regio  Dimutinga,  a  name  of  uncertain 
origin.  But  Tar.  D.  may  be  W.  du  din,  '  dark,  black  hill ' ; 
though  cf.  next. 

Dudley.  Dom.  Dudelei,  1275  Duddleye,  '  meadow  of  Dudd, 
Dudo,  or  Dodo,'  ?  the  duke  in  Mercia,  and  founder  of  Tewkesbury 
Abbey,  715.    Cf.  Didcot  and  Dudbridge;  and  see  -ley. 

DuEFiELD  (Derby).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1180  Ben.  Peierb.  Dufelda, 
'  dove  field.'  O.E.  *dufe,  c.  1200  duue,  c.  1300  duu.  If  this 
derivation  be  correct,  we  have  here  one  of  the  earliest  recorded 
examples  of  the  Eng.  word  dove.  Cf.  Doveskar,  Wensleydale, 
1202  Duuesker,  and  Doveridge,  Dom.  Dubrige. 

DuGGLEBY  (Yorks).  Dom.  Dighelbi,  Difgehbi.  '  Dwelhng  of 
Dougal,'  in  Ir.  and  G.  Dubkgall,  or  '  dark  stranger,'  the  Ir.  name 
for  the  Danes.  This  Danish  Kelt  prob.  came  from  Ireland. 
There  are  other  traces  of  such  settlers.  Cf.  Dolton;  and 
see  -by. 

DuLLiNGHAM  (Newmarket).  Dom.  Dullingeham;  also  old  Dilin- 
tone.     '  Home  of  the  Dillings.'    Cf.  Dillington  (Hunts)   and 


DULVERTON  239  DUNSTABLE 

Dilham  (Norfk.) — i.e.,  '  home  of  Dill/  still  a  personal  name,  of 
which  Billing  is  the  patronymic. 

DuiiVEBTON  (Somerset).  Dom.  Dolvertun.  The  name  here  seems 
unknown.    There  seems  trace  of  a  N.  Tolf-r  or  Tolrius. 

DuLWiCH,  sic  1606.  Not  in  Dom.  (There  are  coins  with  Dulwic 
on  them,  supposed  to  be  a  man's  name.)  Possibly  '  Dola's 
dwelling ';  one  Dola  in  Onom.  The  adj.  dull  is  not  in  Eng.  a. 
1430.    Cf.  Dom.  Derby,  Duluestune. 

DuMBLETON  (Evesham).  Sic  1327,  but  930  chart.  Dumolan, 
-llan,  995  Dumbletain,  Dom.  Dunbentone.  The  forms  are 
corrupt.  Skeat  suggested  ^  Domioulf's  town,'  but  this  is 
doubtful. 

DuMMER  (Basingstoke).  Dom.  Dumere.  Prob.  ^ Duda'a  mere'  or 
Make.'  Cf.  Dom.  Dodimere  (Sussex)  and  Dedmarton,  also 
Cromer. 

Dim  CHURCH  (Rugby).  Dom.  Donecerce.  c.  1200  Dunchirch,  1444 
Dunkyrke.  '  Church  on  the  hill,'  O.E.  dun,  though  possibly 
fr.  a  man  Donn  or  Dunn.  The  1444  -kyrke  is  interesting,  as 
showing  the  lingering  of  Dan.  influence,  just  as  in  Dunkirk, 
N.  France. 

DuNGENESS  (Kent).  1052  O.E.  Chron.  Na;ss — i.e.,  'nose,  cape, 
naze.'  Dunge-  is  prob.  Dan.  dynge,  '  a  heap,  a  pile  (of  dung),' 
mod.  Icel.  dyngja,  '  heap,  dung,'  O.E.  dung.  Cf.  Dinganess, 
Norway. 

DuNGLEDDY  (Glamorgan),  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Dou  Clediv,  1603 
Doyglethe,  *  the  dark  (W.  du)  Cleddy  R..' 

Dunham  (6  in  P.G.).  Sic  1150  chart.  K.C.D.  iv.  209.  Dom. 
Notts,  Duneham.  Norfolk  D.  c.  1460  Donham.  O.E.  dun-ham, 
'  hiU-dwelling.' 

Dunheved  (Launceston) .  Dom.  Dunhevet,  c.  1140  Downehevede, 
Dunehevede,  1250  Dunhefd.  Com.  din  hafod,  '  hill  of  the  sum- 
mer residence  ' ;  no  doubt  confused  with  O.E.  heafod  ;  Dan.  hoved, 
*  the  head.' 

DmsTMORE  (Leckhampstead).  Not  in  Dom.  Chart,  dunn  mere, 
which  is  O.E.  for  '  dim-coloured,  brownish  lake.'  Perh.  re- 
modelled on  DuNMORE  (Sc),  '  big  hill.' 

DuNMOW  (Essex).  Dom.  Dom(m)auua,  1160  Pipe  Dumawa,  c.  1386 
Donmowe.  Perh.  tautology.  W.  din,  '  a  hill,'  and  O.E.  muga 
'  a  heap,  a  mow,  a  pile  of  hay  ' ;  found  3-7  mowe. 

DuNNiNGTON  (York).  Dom.  Domni-,  Donniton,  also  Dodinton; 
1202  Dunnigton.  There  are  several  men  named  Dunning  in 
Onom.,  but  the  name  here  is  doubtful.     Cf.  Doddington. 

Dunstable.  Not  in  Dom.  \\2^  O.E.  Chron.  Dunestaple,  c.  1200 
Gervase  Dunstapele,  1433  Dunstaple.     '  Hill  of  the  market ';  it 


DUNSTALL  240  DURLSTONE 

lies  at  the  foot  of  Dunstable  Downs.  O.E.  dun-stapel.  Of. 
Barnstaple.  Dunsley  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Dunesle,  '  meadow  on 
the  hill.' 

DuNSTALL.    Common  var.  6i  TuisrsTALL. 

DimsTER  (Somerset).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  1231  Patent  B.  Dintre, 
which  looks  like  W.  din  tre,  '  hill  with  the  house.'  But  1243  ib. 
Dunesterr,  which  may  be  an  Eng.  remodelhng;  O.E.  dun  steor- 
ra{n),  '  hill  of  the  star.'  The  common  Sc.  ending  -ster,  O.N. 
sta'^r, '  dwellmg/  is  not  very  likely  here. 

DuNTiSBOURNE  (Cirencestcr) .  Dom.  Tantesbourne,  1102  Dontes-, 
1221  Duntesborne.  ?  '  Stream  of.'  Baddeley  gives  up  the 
impHed  name  as  hopeless.  Onom.  has  a  Dunniht  and  a  Thront, 
which  seem  at  least  possible.     See  -bourne. 

DuNTON  (3  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Norfk.  Dontuna.  Cf.  672  chart.  Dun- 
tun,  ?  near  Winchester,  and  Dom.  Duntune,  Salop.  '  Town  at 
the  hill ';  O.E.  dun,  which  also  means  '  a  fort.' 

DmrwiCH  (once  in  Suffolk,  now  submerged).  BedeDomnoc,  Dom- 
moc,  c.  1 175  Fantosme  Dunewiz.  Doubtful.  Some  derive  fr .  W. 
dwfn,  '  deep.'    Cf.  Dymock.    See  -wich. 

DuBDANS,  The  (Epsom).  Sic  1658.  Said  to  be  M.E.  durden,  '  a 
coppice  ' ;  but  there  seems  no  trace  of  this  in  Oxf.  Diet.,  where  the 
only  durdan  is  a  var.  of  dirdum,  '  uproar,  tumult,'  a  Sc.  and 
North,  dial,  word  found  c.  1440  in  York  Myst.  as  durdan.  This 
name  is  prob.  Dom.  Dordnhoes,  ?  '  hill  of  Dorda  ';  the  nearest 
name  in  Onom.  is  Durand.  See  Hoe.  The  plur.  s  often 
suffixes  itself. 

Dtjrdae.  (Carhsle) .  Kelt,  for  '  stream  with  the  thicket ' ;  G.  dobhar, 
W.  dwr,  and  G.  daire;  or  else  fr.  G.  darach,  '  an  oak.'  The  same 
Dur-  is  seen  in  Durbeck  or  Doverbeck  (Notts),  1225  Doverbec, 
prob.  a  tautology,  and  in  Durbridge  (Worcs.).    CJ.  Dover  and 

DWRBACH, 

Durham.  Founded  O.E.  Chron.  ann.  995,  but  no  name  is  given 
there,  c.  1070  Wm.  Jumieges  Castrum  quod  propria  lingua 
Dunelmum  nuncuparunt ;  1075-1128  Dunholme ;  c.  1175  Fantosme 
Durealme ;  1295  Dwreysm ;  c.  1470  Henry  Duram ;  1535  Stewart 
Durhame.  A  name  which  has  changed  more  than  once.  Dunelm 
or  -eahne  is  orig.  Kelt,  dun  ealm,  'hill  of  the  elms,'  an  early 
loan-word.  But  Dunholme  is  O.E.,  meaning  '  fort  by  the  holm 
or  river-meadow ' ;  whilst  Durham  should  mean  '  wild-beasts' 
home  or  lair,'  O.E.  deor  ham,  same  root  as  deer  ;  Icel.  dyr ; 
Sw.  diur,  '  a  wild  beast.'  That  the  n  should  have  become  r  is. 
but  one  other  proof  of  the  liquiditj'^  of  the  liquids.  Gf.  Dereham 
and  Dyrham. 

Dtjrlstone  Head  (Dorset) .  Not  in  Dom.  '  Perforated  rock  ' ;  O.E. 
thyrel,  '  a  hole,'  same  root  as  nos-<n7.  The  name  is  perh.  a 
translation  of  Tillywhim  near  by.    The  Head  is  full  of  holes. 


PURNFOKD  241  DYSERTH 

DuRNFORD  (Amesbury) .  Dom.  Darnef ord.  0 .E.  derne,  dyrne, '  secret, 
hidden,  obscure/  Cf.  Darnall  and  Darnick  (Sc).  Dornford 
(Wootton,  Oxon)  is  the  same;  1236  Patent  R.  Derneford. 

DuRRiNGTON  (Salisbury  and  Worthing).  Sa.  T>.  Dom.  Derintone, 
Wo.  D.  Dom.  Derentune.  Prob.  O.E.  Deoran  tun,  'town  of 
Deora.'  Onom.  also  has  Deorwen  or  Derwine.  Cf.  Dtjrsley 
(Glouc),  1153  Duresle,  also  Derselega,  where  the  name  is  doubt- 
ful. DuRRANCE  (Upton  Warren)  is  prob.  called  after  a  Robt. 
Duran,  known  to  be  living  in  an  adjoining  manor  in  1275. 

DusTON  (Northampton).  Dom.  Dustone.  Prob.  ^  Dudd's  town.' 
Gf.  Dom.  Dudestan  (Chesh.)  and  Dudley  and  Ditmmer. 

Button  (Warrington).  Sic  1302,  but  1102  Dotona.  Perh.  '  town 
of  Dutta.'  Cf.  940  chart.  Duttan  hamme  (Wiley,  Wilts).  But 
perh.  fr.  O.E.  dufe, '  a  dove ';  perh.  here  become  a  proper  name. 

Gf.  DUFPIELD. 

DuxFORD  (Cambridge).  Dom.  Dochesuuorde,  1211  Dokesworth, 
1284  Dukesworth,  c.  1660  Fuller  Dokesworth.  The  -ford  is  quite 
a  mod.  corrup.  '  I^arm  of  Due'  says  Skeat,  and  not  '  of  the 
ducks,'  O.E.  duca,  though  Due  is  an  unknown  personal  name. 
Cf.  DoxEY.  See  -worth.  But  Duxford  (Berks)  is  Dom. 
Dudochesforde,  '  Ford  of  Dudoc  ' ;  10  such  in  Onom. 

DwRBACH  (Pembrokesh.).  W.= 'little  stream.'  Durbeck  or  Dover 
Beck  (Notts),  1225  Doverbec,  might  be  the  same  name,  but  is 
more  likely  a  tautology;  W.  dwr=  Eng.  becJc,  'stream.' 

DwYFOR  and  Dwyffach  (Criccieth).  Prob.,  says  Anwyl,  'great 
and  little  goddess,'  L.  diva;  W.  mawr,  'big,'  and  bach,  'little,' 
in  both  names  aspirated. 

Dyffryn  (Merioneth),  old  Dyffrynt.  W.  dyfr-hynt,  '  water '  or 
'  river  way,'  and  so  '  vale.' 

Dym-  or  DiMCHURCH  (New  Romney,  Kent).  Not  in  Dom.  M'Clure 
compares  O.E.  dimhus  and  dimhof,  '  hiding  or  dark  place.' 

Dymock  (Glouc).  Dom.  Dimoch,  1167-68  Pipe  Dlmoc,  1223 
Dimmoc.  Doubtful.  It  looks  hke  an  O.W.  dimin.  of  W.  din, 
dyn,  'hill'  or  'fort';  m  and  n  constantly  interchange.  Cf. 
Dum-  or  Dunbarton,  and  DuisrwiOH. 

Dyrham  (Chippenham) .  Said  to  be  O.E.  Chron.  577,  also  950  chart., 
Deorham — i.e.,  *  wild  beasts'  lair  or  home.'  Cf.  Durham.  But 
Dom.  Wilts  has  a  Dobreham,  which  may  be  the  Chron.  place,  and 
so  a  hybrid — O.Keltic  dobr  ;  W.  dwfr,  'river';  and  O.E.  ham, 
'  home.'    Cf.  Dover. 

Dyserth  (Flint) .  1245  Patent  R.  Dissard.  W.  form  of  L.  desertum, 
'  a  desert  place,'  then  '  a  hermit's  cell,'  'a  house  for  receiving  pil- 
grims,' '  a  church,'  and  so  the  same  as  the  Deserts  and  Dysarts 
of  Ireland  and  Scotland.  There  is  a  '  Desertelawa  '  (hill),  1156, 
in  Pipe  Derby. 


DTVIR  242  EASINGTON 

Dyvi  R.  (Merioneth),  c.  1188  Oir.  Camb.  Ostium  Devi.  Prob. 
another  instance  of  river-worship,  the  name  prob.  meaning 
'  goddess.'    Cf.  Dwyfor. 

Eagle  Stone  (Baston  Edge).  Local  tradition  says,  fr.  the  Saxon 
archer  god  Egil  or  JEgle.    Cf.  AYiiESBURY  and  Eglesboubne. 

Eakeing  (Newark).  Dom.  Aigrun,  Ec(h)eringhe,  1229  Close  R. 
Ekering'.  1278-1428  Aykering.  This  seems  to  be  O.N.  eik- 
runn,  'runlet,  little  stream  with  the  oaks.'  Cf.  Aigbubth. 
Oxf.  Diet,  gives  run,  sb.  9,  with  this  meaning  as  North,  dial., 
and  has  no  quot.  a.  1581.  But  the  verb  run  in  its  earher 
usages'  seems  to  have  come  to  us  chiefly  through  Scandi- 
navian sources.  See  Did.  s.v.  run  vb.  The  later  forms  seem  to 
be  N.  eikar  eng,  in  M.E.  ing,  '  meadow  of  the  oaks.' 

Ealing  (London) .  1245  Patent  B.  Gilling ;  later  Yeling,  Yealing,  and 
ZeaUng  {Z  for  Y).  Evidently  the  same  patronymic  as  in  Gil- 
LiNGHAM.  For  the  falling  away  of  g,  cf.  L^chesteb,  Ipswich, 
etc.,  also  Yabmouth.  Onom.  has  both  Gilo  and  Gillus  ;  fr.  either 
Gilling  may  have  come.  See  -ing.  There  are  also  Dom.  Berks 
Elinge,  and  1161-62  Pi'pe  Eling,  Hants.  These,  however,  are 
prob.  patronymics  fr.  Ela,  a  man's  name  found  in  Beowulf. 

Eamont  or  Eamot  Bridge  (Penrith).  926 chart.  Eamotum,  M'Clure 
says,  O.E.  ea-{ge)mot,  in  926  in  a  loc.  plur.,  meaning  '  river  con- 
fluence '  or  '  meet ';  the  form  -mont  prob.  showing  the  influence 
of  N.  munn-r,  '  a  river-mouth.'  Possibly  the  same  name  as 
Emmet. 

Eabby  (Colne).  Dom.  Eurebi.  Prob.  '  dwelling  of  Eofor.'  Eofor- 
maer  of  Drifl&eld  is  found  also  as  Euremarus.  Cf.  Everley. 
See  -by. 

Eabdington.    See  Erdinqton. 

Eabdiston  (Tenbury),  Eabdisland,  and  Eabdisley  (Herefordsh.). 
Ten.  E.  957  chart.  Eardufestun,  Dom.  Ardolvestone,  a.  1100 
chart.  Eardulfestune.  '  Town,  land,  and  meadow  of  Eardwulf.' 
See  -ley  and  -ton. 

Earith.    See  Ebith. 

Earlswood  (Birmingham,  etc.).  Bir.  E.  in  c.  1274  chart,  is  'the 
Earl  of  Warwick's  wood.' 

Early  (Reading).  Dom.  Erlei,  1316  Erie,  Erlee,  1428  Arle.  Skeat 
conjectures  ' Earna's  lea,'  or  'meadow  of  the  eagle,'  O.E.  earn, 
and  compares  Abley.  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Erlai,  and  Eabnley 
(Sussex),  B.G.S.  i.  331  Eameleagh. 

Earsham  (Bungay).  Not  in  Dom.  1157  Pipe  Eresham.  'Home  of 
Ere,'  one  in  Onom:    Cf.  Abbeton. 

Easington  (4  in  P.G.).  Thame  E.  Dom.  Essedene.  Castle  Eden  E. 
a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Esingtun,  1183  Esyntona.  '  Town,  village  of 
Ese  or  Eene,'  both  very  common  in  Onom.    The  -ing,  q.v.,  may 


EASINGWOLD  243  EASTWOOD 

either  represent  the  O.E.  gen.  -an,  or  be  the  sign  of  a  patronymic. 
Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Esenberge.  For  interchange  of  -den,  -don, 
-ton,  see  these  endings. 

Easingwold  (Yorks) .  Dom.  Eisicewalt,  Eisincewald,  1230  Close  R. 
Esingewald.  Prob.  patronymic.  '  Wold,  wood  of  the  sons  of,' 
some  man  with  name  in  Is-  {cf.  Eastoft).  Wold  is  O.E.  wold, 
weald.  Of.  Easinqhope  (Wore),  1275  Esighope,  '  vaUey  of  the 
sons  of  Is  or  Esi,'  and  above.    See  -ing. 

East  Beckham  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Becham,  1458  Est  bekham.  May 
not  be  '  home  on  the  beck '  or  'brook,'  see  Bacup;  but  perh. 
fr.  a  man,  as  in  Beokenham. 

Eastbourne.  Dom.  Borne,  1114  O.E.  Chron.  Bume,  c.  1450 
Fortescue  Borne,  1730  Eastborn  or  Eborn.  Bume  or  bourne  is 
just  early  Eng.  for  '  brook,'  the  Sc.  burn.  Eastbubn  (Driffield) 
is  actually  Augustbume  in  Dom.    See  Atjst. 

Eastoote  (Pinner).  Of.  958  cTiart.  '  Eostacote  '  on  Stour,  Staffs — 
i.e.,  '  east  cot '  or  '  cottage  ';  also  1179-80  Pipe  Westcotun  and 
Oustcotun  (Yorks). 

Easterton  (Market  Lavington).  'Eastern  village.'  Cf.  Dom. 
Surrey  Estreha  and  Eastby. 

Eastfield  (Northampton).  963  O.E.  Chron.  ^Estfeld.  East- 
usually  is  '  east ' ;  but  Eastbrook  (Sutton  Coldfield)  is  a.  1200 
Essebrook,  which  is  prob.  '  ash-tree  brook.'  O.E.  cesc,  3  asse, 
5  esche  ;  esse  for '  ash '  is  found  in  Dom.  Easttngton,  2  in  Glouc, 
1119  Estinthone,  is  prob.  O.E.  eastan  tun,  'at  the  East  village.' 
See  -ing. 

Eastoft  (Goole).  Prob.  1119  chart.  Istofte,  which  looks  like  Dan. 
is-toft,  '  ice  '  or  '  icy  field.'  There  is  one  man  Iso  in  Onom.,  and 
many  names  in  Is-,  Isgod,  Ishere,  Iswulf,  etc.,  and  the  Is-  may 
be  a  contraction  of  any  of  them.     Dom.  has  only  Ese-,  Estorp, 

Easton  (12  in  P.O.).  O.E.  Chron.  656  ^stun,  1137  Estun  (North- 
ampton), 796  chart.  Eastun  (Berks).  Dom.  Estune  (E.  Riding, 
Yorks),  Estone  (Bucks).     '  East  town.' 

Eastbington  (Brough,  Yorks).  Dom.  Estrincton,  Perh.  'town 
of  Eastorwine,'  and  it  may  be  a  patronymic.     See  -ing. 

Eastry  (Dover).  788  chart.  In  regione  Eastrgena,  805  chart- 
Easterege,  a.  1000  Eastrege.  The  first  haK  will  mean  '  Eastern  ' ; 
M'Clure  connects  the  second  with  the  continental  tribe  of  the 
Rugii.  But  in  O.E.  the  ending  -ige  usually  means  *  island.'  Cf. 
Atjsterfield.  Eastbea,  or  Estbea  (Cambs),  is  prob.  B.C. 8. 
iii.  438,  Estrey,  or  '  eastern  isle.    Cf.  Westry  farm,  March,  and 

Eastwood  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Estewic,  error  for  -twit,  1166-7 
Pipe  Est  Twait,  1225  Estwaite,  and  often  so.  This  is  now  no 
region  for  -thwaite  (see  p.  59),  hence  the  change. 


EATHORPE  244  ECCLESHALL 

Eathorpe  (Leamington).  1327  Ethorpe.  '  Village  on  the  running 
water/  O.E.  kb,  O.N.  oa.  This  is  one  of  the  southmost  instances 
of  -thorpe,  q.v.    Cf.  Edalb,  and  Dom.  Glouc.  Aiforde. 

Eaton  Constantine  (Shrewsbury).    Dom.  Etone. 

Eaton  Hastings  (Farringdon).     O.E.  chart.  Eatun,  c.  1300  Eton. 

Eaton  Socon  (Bedford).  1155  Eitune,  1581  Eaton  Sooken. 
Eaton  Water  and  Wood  (Staffs).  Dom.  Eitone,  Etone. 
Eaton  (Notts)  Dom.  Etune,  Ettone,  Attune.  ,0.E.  ea-tun, 
'river-town.'  Socn  is  a  district  held  by  tenure  of  vocage — i.e., 
for  certain,  determined  service;  O.E.  soc,  'privilege  of  holding 
a  court  in  a  district.'    There  are  8  Eatons  in  P.O.    Cf.  Eton. 

Ebberston  (Snainton,  Yorks).  Dom.  Edbriztune,  1166-67  Pipe 
Edbrihteston.  '  Town  of  Eadbeorht/  a  very  common  O.E.  name. 
Cf.  Dom.  Salop  Etbretelie.  But  with  Ebberly  (Torrington)  cf. 
Dom.  Hereford,  Elburgelega,  '  meadow  of  (the  lady)  Elhurga.' 

Ebbesbotjrne  (SaUsbury).  672  chart.  Ebblesburnon,  Dom.  Ebles- 
borne.  'Elba's  brook'  or  'bum,'  O.E.  hurn{e).  Eabba  and 
Eabe  are  common  in  Onom.,  and  there  is  also  one  Ebhella.  The 
liquid  I  would  easily  disappear.  Cf.  Ebley  (Glouc),  1317 
Ebbaleye,  and  Epsom. 

Ebbseleet  (Thanet) .  O.E.  Chron.  449  Eopwinesfleot,  Ypwinesfleot ; 
also  Wippedsfleot.  Not  in  Dom.  O.E.  fleot,  Icel.  fljot  is  '  a 
stream  '  or  perh.  '  a  creek,'  same  root  &s  fleet.  See  Fleet.  The 
first  part  must  represent  the  name  of  some  early  Jutish  settler. 
Ebbs-  may  be  a  contraction  of  Ypwines-  or  Eopwines-.  There 
was  once  a  channel  between  Thanet  and  Kent,  and  this  is  at  the 
south-east  mouth  of  it.    Cf.  Ipplepen. 

Ebchester  (Co.  Durham).  Perh.  a.  700  Bav.  Geogr.  Ebio. 
'  Camp  of  ?.'    See  -Chester. 

EccHiNSWELL  (NcwbuTy).  Dom.  Eccleswelle.  Eccles,  as  in  next, 
is  prob.  L.  ecclesia,  W.  eglwys,  and  so  this  name  may  mean 
'  church  weU.'  It  is  a  curious  corrup.,  and  shows  how  any  one 
liquid  may  run  into  another,  though  I  very  rarely  becomes  n. 
There  is  one  Echun  in  Onom. 

EccLES  (Lanes,  Attleborough,  Maidstone)  and  Eccleseield  (Shef- 
field). Lane.  E.  sic  c.  1100.  Sh.  E.  Dom.  Eclesfelt,  1179  Eccles- 
feld.  Either  L.  ecclesia,  W.  eglwys,  '  a  church,'  or  rare  case  of 
a  personal  name  in  gen.  used  for  a  place,  without  suffix,  '  (village 
of)  ^cel '  or  '  JScle,'  a  known  O.E.  name.  Cf.  Beccles,  Beedon, 
and  Brailes.  It  is  hard  to  be  certain  which  alternative  is  right ; 
both  are  contrary  to  the  usual.  E.g.,  why  should  the  name  ^cel 
so  often  be  used  alone,  when  ahnost  no  other  is  ? 

EccLESHALL  (Stafford).  Dom.  Ecleshelle,  1298  Eccleshale,  1459 
Eggleshal.  '  Nook,  corner,  beside  the  church,'  or  '  of  JSceZ ' 
(see  above).  See  -hall.  Cf.  Eccleshill  (S.  Yorks),  Dom. 
Egleshil,  and  Eooleston  (Lanes),  Dom.  Eglestun. 


ECCTJP  246  EDGBASTON 

Eccup  (Leeds).  Dom.  Echope.  'Shut-in  valley  of  Ecca.'  Of. 
Bactjp,  and  see  -hope. 

EcKiNGTON  (Pershore  and  SheflSeld) .  Pe .  E .  972  chart.  Eccyncgtune, 
Dom.  Aichintune,  a.  1400  Ekington,  Ekynton,  Shef .  E.  ?  Dom. 
Ecinton.  '  Town  of  the  sons  of  Ecca.'  Of.  next  and  Grant  a.  675 
'  Eccantrewe  '  in  Surrey.     See  -ing  and  -ton. 

EcTON  (Northampton).  Dom.  Ecdone,  1298  Eketon.  '  Ecca's 
town.^  Ecca  is  a  very  common  name  in  Onom. ;  -don  and  -ton 
commonly  interchange. 

Edale  (N.  Derbysh.).  Dom.  Aidele.  '  Dale/  N.  dal-r,  '  with  the 
running  stream.'  O.E.  ea,  O.N.  da.  Cf.  Eathoepe  and 
Edzell  (Sc),  1204  Edale;  and  see  -dale. 

Eddington  (Heme  Bay).  Dom.  Eddintone.  ' Town  of  (the  sons 
of)  Ede '  or  '  Eada.'  Cf.  next  and  Dom.  (Bucks)  Eddingraue. 
See  -ing. 

Eddisbury  (Cheshire).  914  O.E.  Ghron.  Eadesbyrig,  'Eada's  or 
Ede's  burgh.'     Cf.  Dom.  (Bucks)  Eddinberge.     See  -bury. 

Eddlethorp  (Yorks).  Dom.  Eduardestorp.  '  Village  of  Edward,' 
Liquid  r  has  changed  to  Hquid  I.  Cf.  Eddlesborough  (Dun- 
stable)— ^not  in  Dom.  However,  in  another  place  in  Dom.  it 
is  Gedwalestorp ;  prob.  error. 

Eddystone  Lighthouse  (Plymouth).  '  Stone  or  rock  of  Eadda 
or  Mddi.' 

Eden  R.  (Cumberland  and  Kent).  Cum.  E.  prob.  c.  120  Ptolemy 
Ituna,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  lodene  and  duas  Geodene  ==  Castle 
Eden  and  Little  Eden  (Hartlepool) ;  latter  also  occurs  as  Suth 
Yoden.  The  early  forms  of  Eden  Water,  a  Sc.  tributary  of  the 
Tweed,  are  seen  in  those  of  Ednam  (Sc). ;  c.  1100  Aednaham, 
1116  Edyngahum,  c.  1120  Ednaham,  c.  1220  Edenham.  These 
forms  are  perplexing,  and  it  is  hard  to  come  to  a  verdict.  The 
first  part  possibly  contains  a  Kelt,  root  meaning  '  corn,'  W.  yd, 
Ir.  etha,  so  perh.  '  river  flowing  through  corn-lands/  On  en  or 
an  for  'river,'  cf.  p.  11.     Cf.  Itchen. 

Edenhall  (Langwathby) .  1158-59  Pipe  Edenhale.  '  Nook  by  the 
Eden.'    See  above  and  -hall. 

Edensob  (Bakewell).    Dom.  Ednesoure.     As  this  is  on  the  R. 

Derwent,  it  prob.  means  '  bank,  edge  of  Mdan '  or  '  Aidan.' 

'  See  -or  and  -over.     But  Eden,  see  above,  may  have  been  another 

name  of  the  Derwent.     We  get  the  same  name  in  Baddesley 

Ensor,  a.  1300  Ednesovre,  1327  Endeshover. 

Edgbaston  (Birmingham) .  Dom .  Celboldstone  ( '  Ceolbeald's  town') , 
1150  Egboldeston,  a.  1200  Egbaldeston,  Eggebaldeston. 
'  Ecgbeald's  village.'  We  cannot  now  explain  the  change  of 
name.     But  O.E.  ecg-  by  rule  becomes  edg:  e.g.,  edge  is  O.E. 


EDGEWARE  246  EGLOSKERRY 

Edgeware  (London).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1160  Eggeswere,  c.  1500 
Egges-ware.  Perh.  fr.  an  O.E.  Ecgeswer,  '  at  the  edge  of  the 
wear/  ecg,  2  egge,  '  edge/  and  wer,  locer,  '  a  fence,  an  enclosure 
for  fish/  Doni,.  also  uses  wara  for  'an  outlying  portion  of  a 
manor/  which  Round  makes  cognate  with  wer,  '  a  fence/ 
But  the  first  part  may  be  fr.  a  man  ^ga,  in  Onom.  Cf. 
Dom.  Norfk.  Egemere  and  Edgwokth  (Cirencester),  Dom. 
Egesuuorde,  Egeiswurde,  '  farm  of  j^ga  '  or  '  Ecg.' 

Edgton  (Aston-on-Clun,  Salop).  Cf.  1179-80  Pipe  Roll  Eggeton 
(Yorks) .  Either '  Mga's  town/  or '  village  at  the  edge.'  See  above. 

Edinqley  (Southwell).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  sic  1302.  Cf.  1005 
chart,  in  Bugdale,  Egseanlsea.  '  Eda's  lea  '  or  '  meadow.'  Cf. 
Eddingthorpe  and  Edingale  (Tamworth),  Dom.  Ednimghalle, 
a.  1200  Eadinghall,  Edenynghal(e),  which  may  be  a  patronymic, 
but  is  prob.  derived  fr.  Eadhun. 

E(d)dingthoiipe  (N.  Walsham).  Not  in  Dom.  1429  Edithorp. 
'  Eada's  village.'    Many  of  this  name  in  Onom.    See  -thorpe. 

Edington  (Wilts).  957  chart.  Ethandun,  Dom.  Edintone.  [879 
O.E.  Chron.  Ethandun,  cf.  Ashington.]  '  Town  of  Eda,  Eada, 
Etha,  or  Eata ' ;  all  these  forms  in  Onom.  See  -ing.  But 
Athelney  E.  is  Dom.  Edwinetone,  1199  Edintone. 

Edlingham  (Ahiwiek).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Eadulfingham,  Eadwul- 
fincham.  A  patronymic.  '  Home  of  the  descendants  of  Eadwulf,' 
a  common  O.E.  name.  Similar  is  Edlington  (Horncastle) . 
Dom.  EUintone,  Eilintone,  c.  1275  Testa  de  Neville  Edelington. 

Effingham  (Leatherhead) .  Not  in  Dom.  O.E.  Effingeham,  pat- 
ronymic; 'home  of  the  descendants  of  Effa  or  Eafa'  {cf. 
Bede  III.  24). 

Egerton  (Ashford,  Kent,  and  Bolton).  Not  in  Dom.  '  Eadgar's 
town.'    Cf.  Agardesley  (Staffs),  c.  1004  chart.  Eadgares  leye. 

Eqham (Surrey).  G^raw^of a.675, andDom.Egeham.  'Homeof ^g^a.' 
Cf.  Edgewabe,  and  Egbrough  (Yorks), Dom.  Egburg,  Acheburg. 

Eglesboubne  or  Ecclesburne  (Derbysh.).  Not  in  Dom.  Said 
to  be,  like  Eagle  Stone,  fr.  the  archer  Egil ;  though  the  first 
syll.  may  be  for  '  church,'  see  Eccles.  A  man's  name  is  prob. 
in  Egglestone  (DarHngton),  Dom.  Eghistun  (h  error  for  I), 
and  in  1342  '  Eglesfeld,'  (Westmrld.). 

Eglingham  (Alnwick),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Ecgwulfingham,  1197 
Eggleningeham.  '  Home  of  the  descendants  of  Ecgwulf,'  a 
common  name  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 

Egloshayle  (The  Lizard).  Sic  1536.  Corn,  eglos  hayle,  '  church 
on  the  tidal  river.'  Eglos  is  in  W.  eglwys,  G.  eaglais,  L.  ecclesia, 
Gk.  eKKXrjcrta. 

Egloskebry  (Launceston) .  Corn,  eglos,  'church,'  see  above,  and 
it  is  doubtful  what;  perh.  the  Corn,  for  '  fort,'  W.  caer,  or  perh. 


EGLWYS  NEWYDD  247  ELLENBO ROUGH 

(?  Corn,  and)  W.  ceri, '  medlar  trees/  In  Dom.  Cornw.  we  have 
Eglosberrie,  prob.  fr.  St.  Baire  of  Cork,  friend  of  Brendan  and 
Cainneach. 

Eqlwys  Newydd  (Cardiff),  now  usually  called  Whitchurch,  c. 
1540  Egglis  Newith,  which  is  phonetic  W.  for  '  new  church/ 
The  usual  W.  for  church  is  llan. 

Egremont  (Pembroke  and  Whitehaven).  Wh.  E.  a.  1200  Egener- 
mot,  which  is  clearly  O.N.  for  '  meeting-place,  court  of  Egen/ 
the  -er  being  the  N.  gen.  Cf.  Ennerdale.  But  it  is  1218 
Egremunde,  1246  Egremund,  where  the  ending  is  O.N.  munn-r 
for  mund-r,  'mouth,  ri  ver -mouth ' ;  perh.  influenced  by  O.E. 
munt,  L.  mons,  -Us,  '  hill,  mountain.' 

EiRL  (mountains,  Caernarvonsh.).    W.=' rivals.' 

Eldon  (Bps.  Auckland),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Elledun.  Prob. 
'  ^Zto's  or  EIWq  hill,'  O.E.  dun. 

Eldwick  (Bingley).  Dom.  Helguic,  Helwic.  O.E.  halig  wic, '  holy 
dwelling,'  holy  is  3-4  heli,  hely.  Cf.  O.N.  heilag-r,  Sw.  helig, 
and  Elloughton  ;  and  see  -wick. 

Elford  (Tamworth) .  1004  chart.  Ellef ord,  Dom .  Elef ord .  '  Ford  of 
^lla '  or  '  Elle/  common  O.E.  name.    Cf.  Dom.  Essex  Elefforda. 

Elham  (Canterbury),  c.  1000  Ulaham,  O.E.  for  'owl  village.' 
Not  in  Dom. 

EtiKTNqton,  South  (Louth).  Dom.  Alchinton,  1233  Suthelkinton, 
1359  Elkyngton.  Prob.  '  town,  village  of  Ealhhun,'  fairly 
common  in  Onom.,  and  found  also  as  Alchun.  But  it  may  be 
'  of  the  sons  of  Elc'    Cf.  next  and  -ing. 

Elkstone  (Cheltenham  and  Leek).  Chel.  E.  Dom.  Elchestane, 
1177  Pipe  Elkestan.  Leek  E.  1227  Elkesdon.  Elc  may  be  a 
man's  name,  otherwise  unknown.  Cf.  above;  Baddeley  says 
Ealch  for  Ealh-,  which  also  may  be.  But  these  are  prob. 
'  stone  '  and  '  hill  of  the  elk,'  O.E.  elcli,  elh,  then  not  recorded 
till  1486  elke.     See  -don  and  -ton. 

Elland  (HaUfax).  Dom.  Elant,  Elont.  This  seems  to  be  a  var, 
of  island.  It  stands  on  the  R.  Calder,  but  was  it  ever  an 
island  ?  Island  is  O.E.  inland,  iland,  pllond,  yllond,  4-5  eland. 
But  Ellel  (Lanes.)  is  Dom.  Ellhale,  prob. '  Ella's  nook.'   See  -hall. 

Ellastone  (Ashbourne) .  Dom.  Edelachestone,  Elachestone,  a.  1200 
Adelakestone,  Athel-,  Ethelaxton, '  village  of  jMthelac'  There  is 
also  1166-67  Pipe  Adelacheston  (Bucks  and  Beds).  See  -ton, 
which  often  interchanges  with  -stone. 

Ellenborough  (Maryport).  Old  Alneburg,  and  (prob.)  Aynburg. 
'  Burgh,  town  on  the  R.  Ellen  or  Ai.ne.'  But  Ellenhall 
(Eccleshall)  is  Dom.  Linehalle  (an  error),  a.  1200  ElHnhale, 
'  nook  of  Elle.'  Cf.  Ellesham.  And  in  O.E.  charters  we  find 
both   an   Ellenbeorh   and  an   Ellesbeorh.    But   Ellenthorp 


ELLERBY  248  ELM 

(W.  Riding)  is  Elwinetorp  and  Halwidetorp  {d  error  for  n)  in 
JDom — i.e.,  '  village  of  Ealhwine  or  Aluuinus',  same  name  as 
Alcuin.    Cf.  Elvington. 

Elleeby  (Holderness).  Dom.  Aluerdebi,  Alwerdebi,  1179-80  Pipe 
Alwardebi.  'DwelHng  of  Ealdweard.'  Cf.  Aulerthorpe;  and 
see  -by. 

Elleedine  (Wellington,  Salop).  Dom.  Ellevrdine,  1233  Close  R. 
Ele-  and  Ailwarthin.  '  Ella'a  farm.'  The  ending  -vrdine  or 
-wardine  (q.v.)  is  common  in  this  region. 

Ellebker  (South  Cave,  Yorks).  Dom.  Alrecher.  Prob.  O.N.  olr 
or  elrir  kjarr, '  alder  copse.'  Cf.  Ellebton  and  Carswell,  also 
Elleebtjbn  (E.  Biding),  Dom.  Elreburne. 

Elleeton  (on  Swale).  Sic  1203,  but  Dom.  Alreton,  twice,  Elre- 
ton(e),  5  times.  Perh.  =  Aldeetots,  and  some  cases  of 
Alleeton,  'town  among  the  alders,'  O.E.  alor,  aler,  5  ellyr, 
O.N.  olr,  elrir.  But  it  may  as  likely  be  fr.  the  common  O.E. 
name  Ealhhere,  or  else,  JElfherej  as  in  Alleeston.  Elleeby 
(Holderness),  Dom.  Alwerdebi,  Aluerdebi,  -wardebi,  Elwordebi, 
'  dweUing  of  Ealhweard/  must  be  of  different  origin. 

Ellesham  or  Ailsham  Peioey  (Lines).  Dom.  Elesham,  1233 
Ellesham.  'Home  of  u^lli,  Mia,  or  Ella.'  Cf.  808  chart. 
^lesbeorge,  (Somerset). 

Ellesmeee  (Oswestry) .    Sic  in  Dom.    '  Lake  of  Ella  '  \  see  above. 

ELLrNGHAM,  Gt.  (Attleboro') .  Dom.  sic  and  Elincgham,  and 
Ellington  (Hunts  and  Morpeth),  Hu.  E.  Dom.  EHntune,  may 
aU  be  patronymics;  'home,  town  of  JSlla's  descendants.'  But 
Ellingdon  (Swindon)  is  the  Ellandune  or  '  Ella's  fort,'  of  the 
great  Mercian  defeat  by  K.  Egbert  in  825 ;  ELLLffGHAM  (Bungay) 
is  Dom.  Elmingheha,  '  home  of  the  sons  of  Elm,  or  Elmund,  or 
Ealhmund';  and  Ellinthoepe  (S.  Yorks)  is  Dom.  Adelingestorp. 
See  Adelingfleet.    Also  see  -ing  and  -thorpe. 

Elloughton  (Brough.  Yorks).  Dom.  Elgendon,  The  Elgen-  is 
doubtful,  more  old  forms  needed.  It  is  not  impossible  it  may 
represent  hallow,  'a  saint,'  O.E.  halga,  -an,  3  Orm,  plur.  alhen, 
4  alwes.  Cf.  O.N.  heilag-r,  Sw.  helig,  '  holy,'  and  Eldwick. 
See  -don  and  -ton. 

Elm  (Cambridge  and  Frome).  Cam.  E.  a.  1154  O.E.  Chron.  956 
^Im,  1346  Elm.  O.E.  elm,  Dan.  celm,  aim,  '  an  elm-tree.' 
Cf.  Ash,  Poplae,  etc.  Elmbeidge  (Glostr.)  is  c.  1210  El- 
brugge,  but  c.  1200  Telbrugge  also  Thellbruge  '  bridge  made 
of  deals.'  O.E.  yel,  ]>ell.  The  change  arose  through  Thel- 
being  taken  as  Th'el-  or  '  The  elm  '  bridge.  There  is  a  '  Thel- 
brycg '  (Sandford,  Devon)  in  930  chart.  On  the  other  hand, 
Elmbridge  (Droitwich)  is  Dom.  Elmerige,  a  .1300  Elmrugge,  and 
-brugge,  which  is  orig.  '  elm -ridge,'  O.E.  hrycg. 


ELMERS  END  249  ELTERBURN 

Elmers  End  (Beckenham) .  Elmer  is  a  late  form  of  MlJmcBr,  a  very 
common  O.E.  name.  But  Elmore  (Gloster)  is  1177  Pipe 
Elmour,  1221  Elneovere.  '  Elm-tree  bank/  C/.  Hasler,  etc., 
and  see  -over. 

Elmett.    See  Barwick-in-Elmet. 

Elmham  (Norfolk) .  ?  1038  chart.  iElmham.  ?  O.E.  -  '  house  built 
of  elm-wood."    Of.  Elmdon  (Birmingham),  Dom.  Elmedone. 

Elmsbridge  (Surrey).  Dom.  Amelebrige,  often;  1230  Close  R. 
Emelesbrug.  '  Bridge  of  Mmele/  perh.  he  was  prsefectus  in 
Sussex  in  772  {B.G.S.  208).  We  have  a  similar  corrup.  in  Elm- 
stone  (Kent),  1243  Patent  R.  Eylmerston — i.e.  /  town  oiAylmer/ 
very  common  in  O.E.  as  Mlfmoer. 

Elmsett  (Ipswich).  Dom.  Elmeseta,  c.  1210  Jocelin  Elmset.  The 
meaning  is  a  little  doubtful.  Seat,  O.N.  soeti,  is  not  found  in 
Eng.  till  c.  1200,  and  with  the  meaning  '  place  of  abode '  not 
till  c.  1275.  But  the  ending  -set  or  -scet,  as  in  Somerset,  is 
very  old;  and  so  the  meaning  here  is  prob.  'dwelling  of  a 
family  called  Elm.'  Trees'  names  often  became  personal 
names.  However,  Elmstone  Hardwick  (Cheltenham)  is  889 
chart.,  Alchmundingtun,  Dom.  Almondeston,  '  dwelHng  of  Ealh- 
mund.'    See  -ing. 

Elslack  (Skipton).  Dom.  Eleslac.  'uElla's  slack,'  O.N.  slakki, 
'  a  small  shallow  dell  or  valley,  a  hoUow  or  dip  in  the  ground.' 
Cf.  Beeslack,  Penicuik  (Sc). 

Elston  (Newark) .  Dom.  Eluestune,c.  1190  Elvestona,1302  Eyliston. 
Of.  B.C.S.  936  ^Ifestun.  '  Town  of  jElf.'  Cf.  Alveston  and 
Dom.  Dorset  ^Elfatune.    O.E.  celf,  O.N.  alf-r  is  '  an  elf,  a  fairy.' 

Elstow  (Bedford).  Dom.  Elnestou,  c.  1160  Ahiestowe,  c.  1200 
Gervase  Helenstoe,  1233  Patent  R.  Alnestowa,  1327-1632  Ehies- 
towe.  Perh.  '  St.  Helen's  place,'  O.E.  stow.  Cf.  Morwenstow. 
The  Helen  is  said  to  be  Helena,  mother  of  Constantine  the 
Great.  But  it  may  well  be  ^Ealhhun's,Mlhun's,  or  Ealhwine'a 
place.'  These  are  all  known  names.  But  older  forms  are 
needed. 

Elstree  (St.  Albans).  1287  Idolvestre;  later  Idelestree,  Ilstrye 
— i.e., '  Eadwulf's  tree.'  Cf.  Oswestry,  etc.  The  form  Eagles- 
tree  is  a  stupid  invention. 

Elswick  (Preston  and  Newcastle).  Pr.  E.  Dom.  Edelelsuuic. 
Doubtful.  ■  Perh.  '  Mhel's  dwelling.'    See  -wick. 

Elsworth  (W.  Cambs).  Chart.  ElesworS,  Dom.  Elesworde,  1316 
Ellesworthe.  Local  pron.  Elser.  'Ella's  farm.'  Cf.  Elles- 
HAM.  In  O.E.  charters  we  also  have  '  Ellewurthie,'  now  the 
personal  name  Elworthy.    See  -worth,  -worthy. 

Elterburn  (Nthbld.),  old  Elthebum,  and  Elterwater  (Amble- 
side).   Doubtful.    There  is  one  man  Eltor  mentioned  in  Dom.  ■ 

17 


ELTHAM  250  EMNETH 

Elthajvi  (Greenwich).  Sic  1577,  but  Dom.  Ealdham,  which  is  O.E. 
for  '  old  home  or  house/  Another  Eltham  in  the  N.  is  found 
sic  in  1314.    Cf.  Elton. 

Eltisley  (St.  Neot's).  Not  in  Dom.  1251  Eltesle,  1302  Elteslee. 
The  nearest  name  in  Onom.  is  one  Eltan  or  Elstan,  a  monk. 
Skeat  conjectures  ^Mlfgeat's,  lea/  but  more  evidence  is  needed. 

Elton  (4  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Derby  Eltune,  Hants  Eltetone. 
Stockton  E.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Eltun;  Nottingham  E.  Dom. 
Ailtone,  c.  1190  Elletona.  On  analogy  of  Eltham  one  would 
incline  to  O.E.  eald  tun,  'old  town.'  But  Elletona  suggests 
derivation  f r.  a  man  Ella  ;  whilst  Mutschmann  is  prob.  right  in 
deriving  Ailtone  f  r.  Mgel,  late  var.  of  Mihel  or  Ethel,  '  the  noble- 
born.'    Gf.  Ellesham,  etc. 

Elvtngton  (York).  Dom.  Alvintone,  ^ Ealdwine'a^  or  ' Ealhwine'a 
town.'    Gf.  Ellenthobp. 

Ely.  Bede  iv.  19  Elge,  q.v.,  O.E.  versn.  Elige,  Elia  lond;  936  O.E. 
Ghron.  Elig,  Die  Heilige  Engl.  Ehgabirig,  a.  1153  Liber  Eliensis 
Ely.  AngUce  id  est,  a  copia  anguillarum  quae  in  eisdem 
capiuntur  paUudibus.  O.E.  el-i^e,  'eel-island.'  Cf.  Elie  (Sc). 
But  Skeat  thinks  that  Elge  represents  el-ge,  ge  being  a  very 
rare  and  early  O.E.  word  for  '  region,  district ' ;  Ger.  gau.    See  -ey. 

Ember  B<.  (Hampton  Court).  Prob.  same  root  as  Embeb  sb^, 
Oxf.  Diet.,  which  is  fr.  O.E.  ymb,  '  about,  round,'  and  ryne, 
'  course,  running.' 

Emborrow  (Bath).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  a.  1142  Wm.  Malmesb. 
Eatumberg,  1270  chart.  Eteneberga,  '  Barrow,  mound  of  Eata 
{Eatan,  Eathun),'  a  name  common  in  Onom.  It  is  an  interesting 
corruption.    Gf.  Barrowby,  etc. 

Embsay  (Skipton).  Dom.  Embesie,  1202  Emeseia.  '  Island  of  Embe.' 
One  monk  of  this  name  is  found  in  Lib.  Vit.  Dunelm.    See  -ay. 

Emlyn  (Caermarthen) .  c.  1188  Gir.  Gamb.  Emelin.  Must  surely 
have  some  connexion  with  W.  ymlyn,  emlyn,  '  to  follow,  to 
adhere ' ;  or  perh.  emyl,  '  border,  edge  ' ;  but  the  origin  is  quite 
doubtful.  A  castle  was  built  here  by  Sir  Rhys  ap  Thomas,  in 
time  of  Hen.  VIII. ;  hence  it  is  often  called  Newcastle  Emlyn, 
because  built  on  the  site  of  a  previous  castle.  Gf.  1603  Owen. 
'  Emlyn  Yskych  .  .  .  wherein  newe  Castle  standeth.' 

Emmer  Green  (Reading).  Gf.  Dom.  Bucks  Imere.  Perh.  O.E. 
ed-mere,  '  lake  beside  the  stream.'    Gf.  Eton  and  Hammer. 

Emmet  (Northumbld.  and  Yorks).  Perh.  926  O.E.  Ghron.  Eamo- 
tum  is  that  in  Norbld. ;  chart.  Emmet-roda  (Yorks),  M'Clure 
says  Eamotum  is  loc.  pi., of  ea-{ge)mot,  '  river  confluence.' 

Emneth  (Wisbech).  Not  in  Dom.  O.E.  emnet,  'a  plain,'  fr. 
emn  or  efn  or  efen,  '  even,  flat,  level,'  with  denominative  suffix 
as  in  thicket,  etc.    The  present  th  had  prob.  its  origin  with  a 


EMPINGHAM  261  ENVILLE 

Norm,  scribe,    €f.  Granth  for  Grant  (s.v.  Cambridge),  Thames 
for  Tames,  etc. 

Empingham  (Stamford).  Sic  in  Chron.  Petrob.,  1166  Pipe  Empin- 
geha.  '  Home  of  the  Empings/  an  O.E.  tribe.  Cf.  Impington 
(Cambs),  chart.  Impintun,  1210  Empintone.  Empshott  (Hants) 
is  Dom.  Hibesete,  '  seat,  dweUing  of  Hiba.'  ?  for  Himba  or 
Hima,  one  in  Onom.    Cf.  Aldee-shot. 

Emscote  (Warwick),  a.  1200  Edulfascote,  a.  1300  Edelvecote,  and 
Edehnescote.  Two  names  here,  '  Edulf's  or  Eadwulf'a '  and 
'  Eadhelm's  cottage.' 

Emswell  (Yorks).  Dom.  Helmeswelle,  Elmeswell.  '  Well  of  Helm 
or  Helmu.'  Of.  Emsworth  (Havant),  1231  Close  B.  Elmeworth. 
Only  Roll  Rich.  I.  Emeswelle,  Enewelle  (Herts)  is  now  Amwell. 
Emley  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Ameleie,  -lai,  which,  like  Amwell,  is 
fr.  a  man  Amma. 

Enborne  (Berks),  c.  1300  Enedburn,  and  Enford  (Pewsey),  Dom. 
and  chart.  Enedforde.  Fr.  O.E.  ened,  L.  anas,  -tis,  '  a  duck.' 
See  -bourne. 

Enderby  (Leicester),  Dom.  Endrebie,  1229  Close  R.  Endredebi. 
'  Dwelling  of  Endred  '  or  '  Mndred,'  a  name  not  in  Onom.  See 
-by. 

ExDON  (Stoke-on-T.),  Dom.  Enedun,  a.  1300  Hene-,  Enedun,  and 
Eneield  (London),  Dom.  Enefelde,  later  Enfeld,  Endfield,  may 
be  '  duck's  hill '  and  *  field '  too.  See  above,  and  cf.  1161-62 
Pipe  (Cumbld.)  Endehal,  '  duck's  nook.'  But  they  may  be  fr. 
a  man  JSna,  ^Eni,  Eana,  or  Eni,  all  forms  found  in  Onom. 
For  Endmoor  (Kendal)  we  need  old  forms.  It  might  be  fr.  O.E. 
ende, '  the  end,'  which  in  O.E.  also  means  '  a  quarter,  a  division,' 
and  later,  '  a  boundary.' 

England.  Freeman  says,  first  in  991  Treaty  K.  JEthelred  Engla- 
land;  1258  Henry  III.  Engleneloande.  In  975,  986,  and  1002 
the  country  is  called  Angel-cyn;  and  older  is  the  name  Saxonia. 
'  Land  of  the  Engels  or  Angles,'  who  came  over  fr.  East  of  the  R. 
Elbe,  where  there  is  a  Schleswig  district  still  called  Angeln, 
Cf.  Freeman,  Nor.  Conq.  i.  538  (3rd  edit.). 

Englefield  (Reading) .  871  O.E.  Chron.  Englef eld,  Dom.  Englef el, 
InglefeUe.  '  Field  of  the  Angles.'  Cf.  above,  and  Engleton 
(Warwksh.),  sic  a.  1200. 

Ennerdalb  (W.  Cumberland),  a.  1200  Egenerdal,  *  dale  of  Egen,' 
gen.  case.     Cf.  Egremont  and  Eynsham. 

Entwistle  (Salford).  c.  1400  Entwisell.  Perh.  'confluence  of 
Ena.'    See  Enfebld  and  Twizel. 

Envillb  (Stourbridge).  Dom.  Efnefeld,  a.  1200  Efne-,  Evenes-, 
Evene  feld,  '  Even  field.'  Cf.,  however,  Evenwood,  which 
with  this,  may  be  fr,  a  man,  though  in  this  case  prob.  not. 


ENYS  DODMAN  252  ESHER 

'  Even '  in  O.E.  is  ebn,  emn,  efn,  efen.    The  -ville  must  be  a 
quite  mod.  '  refinement/ 

Enys  Dodman  (Land's  End).  *  Island  of '  prob.  some  unknown 
saint.  BIr.  H.  Jenner  spells  it  Dodnan,  and  would  identify 
with  Donan,  perh.  he  after  whom  the  Breton  churches  at 
Landonan  and  St.  Thonan  are  called.  This  is  very  dubious. 
Cf.  The  Dodman,  Fowey.  Corn,  enys  is  W.  ynys,  G.  innis, 
'  island.'    Cf.  Ince. 

Epping  (London).  Dow.  and  1229  CZose  iS.Eppinges.  Patronymic. 
'  Place  of  the  descendants  of  Eppa,'  a  name  of  which  there  are 
several  examples  in  Onom.  Cf.  811  chart.  '  Appin(c)g  lond ' 
(Kent),  and  Dom.  Surrey  Epingeh a;  also  Epney  (Glostersh.), 
1252  Eppen',  '  Eppa'a  isle.' 

Eppleby  (Darlington).    Dom.  Aplebi=  Appleby. 

Epsom  (Surrey).  Dom.  Ebbasham(e),  1662  Ebsham  or  Epsom. 
'  Home  of  Ebbe  '  or  '  Mbbe,'  an  abbess,  early  in  7th  cny.  Dom.'s 
Ebbas-  must  be  an  error  for  Ebbes-.  Cf.  Mill-om  (N.  of  Barrow) ; 
also  Ipsley. 

Epworth  (Doncaster).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1444  Eppeworth.  '  Farm 
of  Eppa  or  Eappa.'    Cf.  B.C.S.  253  Eppan  hrycg.    See  -worth. 

Ebdington  (Birmingham).  Dom.  Hardintone,  a.  1200  Erdin(g)ton, 
1327  Erdyngton.  '  Village  of  Harding,'  once  in  Dom.  Erding. 
Cf.  Hardingstone  and  Eaudington  (Bridgenorth) .  This 
last  might  also  be  fr.  Eardwine. 

Erewash  R,  (Derby).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1175  Yrewis,  1637 Ar-,  Erewash. 
Doubtful,  prob.  pre-Saxon.    But  cf.  Guash,  Irwell  and  Wash. 

Erith  (London),  also  Earith  (St.  Ives,  Hunts).  Lon.  E.  c.  962 
chart.  Earhyth,  EarhiSe,  Dom.  Erhede,  1486  Erith,  c.  1580 
Eareth.  St.  I.  E.  Ramsey  Chron.  Herhythe,  Erethe,  Erithe. 
Dr.  Morris  says,  O.E.  ea-rith,  '  water-channel.'  But  Skeat  is 
positive  that  it  is  O.E.  ear-hythe,  '  muddy  landing-place '  or 
'  shore.'  O.E.  ear  is  a  very  rare  word,  Icel.  aurr,  '  wet  clay, 
mud.'     See  Hythb.    Skeat  is  almost  certainly  right. 

Ernley.    See  Arley. 

Escomb  (Bps.  Auckland),  a.  1130  /Sim.  D%r.  Ediseum.  '  Edda's 
or  Adde'a  valley';  but  already  1183  Boldon  Bk.  Escumba. 
See  -combe. 

EsGAiR  Felyn  (Ogwen).  W.=  ' yellow  scaur  or  cliff.'  Esgair  is 
same  root  as  the  Sc.  skerry,  G.  sgeir,  all  borrowed  fr.  O.N.  sker, 
N.  skjer,  '  a  rugged,  insulated  sea  rock.' 

EsHER  (Surbiton).  Dom.  Aissela,  Aissele,  c.  1210  Ashal,  1230-31 
Close  B.  Esser,  Eyser,  Eiser,  c.  1240  Assere.  A  curious  name. 
It  ifl  prob.  ^Ascytel's'  or  ^Aschil's  lea  or  meadow,'  O.E.  leah; 
and  I  has  become  r  by  dissimilation.  But  it  is  rare  for  the 
ending  -lea  or  -ley  to  have  wholly  fallen  away.     In  801  Grant 


ESK  R.  263  ETTINGSHAM 

we  find  an  Esher  or  Echer  in  Somerset,  to  which  the  above 
explanation  could  not  apply;  it  will  be=  Asheb,  '  ash-tree  bank/ 
Cf.  B.C. 8.  158  Uckinge  Esher. 

EsK  R.  (S.  Cumbld.).  1340  Eskheved  or  -head.  For  forms  see 
EsK  (Sc),  3  rivers  there,  a.  800  Esce,  etc.  Kelt,  root  for 
'  river,  water,'  as  in  Exe,  G.  uisge,  etc.  Wh.  Stokes  cannot  be 
right  in  calling  Esk  Pictish,  when  we  have  it  in  S.  Cumbld.; 
but  it  may  well  be  cognate  with  O.Ir.  esc,  '  a  marsh,  a  fen,'  and 
O.W.  uisc  or  UsK. 

EssENDiNE  or  -DEAN  (Stamford).  O.E.  Chron.  ann.  657  Esendic,  a. 
1100  Esendike.  '  Ditch,'  O.E.  die, '  of  Esa,  Ese,  or  Esi,'  all  these 
forms  are  in  Onom.  The  -dean  is  a  later  ending,  q.v.  Cf.  Dom, 
Essex  Lassendene,  which  may  be  La(The)  Essendean  (as  in 
Lasham),  as  no  man  Lassa  is  recorded.  But  by  1230  Close  R. 
we  get  Esenden.     See  -dean. 

EssENDON  (Hatfield).  1298  Writ  Estdene= 'East  Dean';  but 
EssiNGTON  (Walsall)  is  994:  chart.  Esingetun,  Dom.  Eseningetone, 
a.  1300  Esynton,  Esnyngton.  '  Village  of  the  descendants  of 
Esne,'  a  common  O.E.  name,  meaning  '  servant,'  or  else  '  of 
Esa,  Ese,  or  Esi,'  as  above.  1160-61  Pipe  Nthbld.  has  an 
Essinton. 

Essex.  Nennius  Est  saxum  (inflected).  O.E.  Chron.  499  East 
Sexa,  a.  1087  Essex,  Dom.  Exsessa,  a.  1236  Rog.  Wendover  Est- 
sexia.     '  Land  of  the  East  Saxons.' 

Etchells  (Chesh.,  etc.).  See  Nechells.  But  Etchilhampton 
(Wilts),  not  in  Dom.,  is  1228  Hechelhamt,  '  Homestead  of 
?  Heahhelm  or  Hehelm  ' ;  one  in  Onom.     See  Hampton. 

Etchingham  (Sussex).  1298  Echingham.  'Home  of  Ecca,'  a 
common  name  in  Onom.,  once  found  as  Eccha.  It  may  be  a 
patronymic.  See  -ing.  Dom.  has  only  Echen-,  Achintone  and 
Achingeworde.  Etchden  (Kent)  is  1286  Close  R.  Haccheden, 
perh.  '  woody  vale  entered  by  a  hatch  '  or  half -door,  or  wicket; 
O.E.  hcec,  hcecce,  3-7  hacche,  5  hetche,  5-6  heche  ;  but  it  may  be 
fr.  a  man  Eccha. 

Eton.  Sic  1298,  but  Dom.  Ettone,  Etone.  O.E.  ea-tun,  '  town 
on  the  river.'    Cf.  Eaton. 

Etburia  (Burslem).  The  pottery  works  here  were  founded  in  1769 
by  Josiah  Wedgewood,  who  gave  them  this  fanciful  name  '  as 
that  of  the  country  of  old  most  celebrated  for  the  beauty  of  its 
ceramic  products.' 

Ettingsham  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Attingeha,  a.  1145  Orderic 
'Apud  Ettingesham  in  ecclesia  Sancti  Eattae  confessoris,' 
abbot  of  Melrose,  then  Bp.  of  Lindisfarne  {Bede  iii.  26). 
'Home  of  Eatta's,  people';  a  patron3nnic.  Cf.  both  Etes- 
hale  and  Ettinghale  in  Dom.  Cheshire,  and  Ettingshall 
(Wolverhampton),    994    Ettingeshall,    Dom.    Etinghale:    also 


ETTON  254  EVESHAM 

Eatington  (Wwksh.),  Dom.  Etendone,  and  Eteloe  (Awre),  Dom. 
Eteslau, '  burial  mound  of  Mtta  '  or  '  Eatta.' 

Etton  (Mket.  Deeping  and  Beverley).  M.  D.  Ett.  sic  a.  1100; 
Bev.  E.  Dom.  and  1202  Ettone,  1179-80  Eton.  'Town  of 
Eatta.'    Cf.  above. 

Etjston  (Thetford).  Dom.  Eustuna,  and  Eusfort,  1479  Euston. 
Prob.  '  Eowa's  town.'  This  accords  with  analogy  better  than 
to  derive  fr.  O.E.  eowu,  M.E.  ewe,  '  an  ewe.'  Euston  Sq.  is 
called  after  the  Dukes  of  Grafton  and  Earls  of  Euston,  ground 
landlords  here. 

EuxTON  (Chorley).  Pron.  Allstn,  Elestn.  1241  Euckeston,  1246 
Eukeston,  a.  1300  Euchestona,  1311  Huxton.  '  Town  of  Euca/ 
a  name  unrecorded,  but  Hiui,  Hucco  and  HiLch  are  in  Onom. 

EvENLODE  (Stow-on-Wold).  772  chart  Euulangelade,  777  ib. 
Eunlade  {u=v),  969  ib.  Eowlangelade,  Dom.  Eunilade,  1327 
Evenlode,  1330  Eweneload.  O.E.  Eowlan  gelad,  '  channel  of 
Eowla/  gelad  being  cognate  with  Eng.  lade  and  lode.  Duignan 
translates,  '  ford,  ferry.'  Eowla  is  found  B.C. 8.  812  as  Eowel, 
name  of  a  W.  prince,  better  known  to  us  in  the  form  Howell. 

EvENWOOD  (Bps.  Auckland),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Efenwuda. 
'  Eafa's  or  Eafe's  wood.'  It  might  be  fr.  O.E.  efen,  efn,  '  even, 
level.'    Cf.  Enville. 

EvERCREECH  (Bath) .  Exon .  Dom .  Euercriz .  See  next  and  Creech  . 
Thus  it  is  a  hybrid — the  '  Creech  '  or  '  Hill  of  the  Boar.' 

Everley  or  -LEIGH  (Marlborough  and  Yorks).  Ma.  E.  a.  1140  Wm. 
Malmesb.  Eburleah.  Yo.  E.  Dom.  Eurelai,  -lag.  '  Meadow  of 
the  wild  boar.'  O.E.  eofor,  eofer,  3  eaver,  4  ever,  cognate  with 
L.  aper.  Cf.  O.E.  seofon,  now  seven.  Eversley  (Winchfield) 
is,  of  course,  the  same.  But  in  both  cases  Eofor  may  be  a 
proper  name,  just  as  Bear,  Wolf,  etc.,  are  so  used.  Cf.  Evring- 
HAM  and  Everton  (Notts),  Dom.  Evretone.    See  -ley, 

Eversden  (Cambs).  c.  1080  Inquis.  Cam.  Eueresdona,  Dom. 
Auresdone,  1291  Everesdon,  1316  Everesdene;  and  Everthorpe 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Evertorp.  '  Hill '  (or  '  valley  '),  '  enclosure,' 
and  '  village  of  Eofor '  or  '  of  the  wild  boar.'  See  Everley, 
-don,  -dean,  and  -thorpe;  also  cf.  Heversham. 

Evesham.  709  chart.  Homme,  Eveshomme,  also  Cronochomme, 
714  ib.  Eouesham,  716  ib.  Cronuchhomme,  854  ib.  Ecquines 
hamme,  1045  O.E.  Chron.  (H)eofeshamme,  Dom.  Eovesham, 
c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Eoveshamm.  '  Enclosure  of  Eof,'  herdsman 
to  Bp.  Ecgwine,  mentioned  in  854  chart.  Here,  it  is  said,  the 
Virgin  appeared  to  Eof,  and  a  monastery  was  erected  on  the 
spot  In  Worcestersh.  a  ham  means  specifically  'riverside 
meadow-land.'  See  -ham  (2).  Cf.  Eaveston  (Yorks),  Dom. 
Eveston,  Dom.  Surrey  Evesha,  and  1179-80  Pipe  Yorks  Euesham. 


EVINGTON  255  EXNING 

EviNGTON  (Boddington,  Sussex  and  Leicester).  Bo.  E.  Dom. 
Givingtune,  1303  Yivynton;  and  changes  for  Suss,  name  are 
similar.  '  Dwelling  of  Gefwine,'  For  similar  changes  also  see 
Ealing;  and  see  -ing. 

EvBiNGHAM  (Yorks).  Dom.  Evringha',  1202  Everingeham.  '  Home 
of  the  Boar's  sons.'  Cf.  Eveeley,  and  Dom.  Bucks  Evreham 
and  Evringehou.     See  -ing. 

EwELL  (Epsom).  727  chart.  Euuelle,  1160  Pipe  Aiwella,  which 
looks  like  an  O.E.  ed  welle, '  river  well/  '  well  by  the  river.'  But 
it  is  Dom.  Etwelle,  or  '  at  the  well.'  Cf.  the  surname  Attewell. 
There  was  a  well-known  well  here.  There  is  also  an  Ewell 
(Kemble)  whose  only  old  form  is  Ewelle.    Cf.  next. 

EwELME  (Woodstock) .  Sic  1450.  Not  in  Dom.,  but  chart.  Eawybn. 
This  last  is  thought  to  be  O.E.  ki,  river;  and  wielm,  walm,  wylm, 
'  boiling,  welling  up.'  It  prob.  means  '  a  spring.'  Cf.  Ewell, 
Gyting,  and  Walmsley. 

Ewhubst  (Battle,  Sussex).  822  chart.  lu  hyrst,  O.E.  for  '  yew-tree 
wood.'    Hyrst  also  means  '  a  sandy  place.' 

EwYAS  Harold  (Hereford),  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Eugias,  1167-68 
Pipe  Euwias,  mod.  W.  Euas.  Doubtful.  Nothing  in  mod.  W. 
seems  to  suit.  Eweston  (Pembroke)  is  in  Black  Bk.  St.  David's 
Oweynston. 

Exboubne  (Devon).  Dom.  Echeburne.  The  stream  here  now  is 
the  Okenent.  Eche-  may  be  =Exe;  and  Oke-  may  be  a  var.  of 
the  same  root,  while  -nent  will  be  W.  nant,  '  a  valley.' 

Ex(e)  R.  and  Exeter.  Sic  1485,  but  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Isca 
Dumnoniorum,  c.  810  Nenniiis  Cair  Legion  guar  Usic 
('  fort  of  the  Rom.  legion  on  the  Exe '),  877  O.E.  Chron. 
Escanceaster,  893  ib.  Exanceaster,  c.  893  Asser  Exceastre, 
Dom.  Exonia  urbs,  a.  1130  Sim..  Dur.  Brittanice  Cairwisc,  Latine 
Civitas  Aquarum,  c.  1275  Excetre.  '  Camp,  town  on  the  R. 
Ex/  in  Ptolemy  lo-xa,  L.  Isca,  739  chart.  Exa,  Eaxa.  Same  as 
Sc.  EsK,  same  root  as  is  seen  in  usque-baugh  and  in  whisky,  also 
in  Ax  and  Usk,  and  prob.  Ox-  (in  Oxford),  too,  all  being  Keltic 
forms  of  the  word  for  '  water,  river.'  The  mod.  W.  name  is 
Caerwysg.    For  Exe  R.,  cf.  Ashtord. 

ExHALL  (Alcester).  710  cJiurt.  Eccleshale,  Dom.  Ecleshalle.  '  Nook 
of  jEcel  or  JEcle,'  or  possibly  '  of  the  church.  Cf.  Eccles,  and 
see  -hall.  Extall  (Staffs)  is  1220  Hecstall,  prob.  '  place  of  the 
hatch  '  or  '  heck  ' ;  whilst  Exn^BY  (N.  Yorks)  is  Dom.  Aschilebi. 
'  Ascytel's '  or  '  AskiVs  dwelling.' 

ExMOUTH.     1001  ExanmuSan.    See  Exe. 

ExNiNG  (Newmarket),  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore.  Yxninga,  1157  Pipe 
Roll  Exningis.  ib.  1160  Exining,  1298  Ixinynge.  'Place 
on  the  water  or  stream.'    Cf.  Exeter.    Merivale  comiects  with 


1EXT0N  256  FAIRFIELD 

the  tribe  Iceni,  as  in  Icknield.    This  is  improbable.    See  -ing, 
as  river-ending. 

ExTON  (Oakham,  on  R.  Meon,  Hants,  Dulverton,  etc.).  Oa.  E. 
1126  Extona,  Han.  E.  940  chart.  East  Seaxnatune.  This  last 
is  '  town  of  the  East  Saxons  '  or  '  Essexmen.'  The  others  may 
be  '  town  of  Ecca,'  a  conmion  name.  Of.  Dom.  Chesh.  Exestan, 
which  is  prob.  Estyn  (Flint).  More  old  forms  needed.  Dom. 
has  Exwelle  in  Rutld.,  but  no  Exton  there  or  in  Somst.  1160-61 
Pipe  Kent  has  an  Exfnea  (c/.  Eastney,  Portsmouth) . 

Eyam  (Northants  and  Sheffield).  Not  in  Dom.  Nor.  E.  1155  Pipe 
Hehham.  'High  home/  O.E.  heali,  heh,  3-5  hey.  See  -ham. 
For  Eybford  or  Heyford  (Stow-on-Wold),  Dom.  Aiforde, 
Baddeley  prefers  O.E.  hege,  'hedge';  M.E.  heie,  which  is 
doubtful. 

Eynesbtjry  (St.  Neots).  Dom.  Einulvesberie,  c.  1130  Wm.  Malmes. 
Einulfes  Ijiri,  c.  1136  Enesbure.  '  Burgh,  town  of  Einwulf/ 
which  is  contracted  into  '  Mwx,'  '  Mne'  or  '  Ena ' ;  all  forms  are 
in  Onom.    Cf.  next;  and  see  -bury. 

Eynsford  (Dartford).  c.  983  chart,  ^nesford.  'Ford  of  ^ne.' 
See  above.    Cf.  Dom.  Norfk.  Ensford. 

Eynsham  (Oxford).  O.E.  Ghron.  571  Egonesham,  a.  1142  Wm. 
Malmes.  Egnesham,  c.  1450  Bromtun  Eynesham.  '  Home,  house 
of  Egon.'  This  is  prob.  the  same  name  as  Egensheim,  old  form 
of  Ensisheim,  Alsace. 

Eythorne  (Dover).  805  chart.  HeagySe  ^orne,  prob.  Dom. 
Haihome.  The  first  part  prob.  represents  the  name  of  some 
unknown  man.    O.E.  gi\f  is  'corn  cockle.' 

Eyton  (WeUington,  Salop).  Dom.  Aitone.  Perh.  'islet'  or  'ait- 
town.'  O.E.  iggath,  2  eyt,  7  ait,  8  ayte,  9  eyot,  '  a  Httle  island.' 
But  cf.  Ayton.  Eycote  (Colesbourne),  Dom.  Aicote,  is  '  cot  on 
the  islet.'    See  -ay,  -ey. 

Faddiley  (Nantwich).  Prob.  O.E.  Ghron.  584  Fethanleag.  No 
nxsun Fetha  in  Onom.,  so  prob.  'meadow  of  the  troop,'  O.E.  /eSa. 
For  th  becoming  d,  cf.  faddom  for  fathom,  fader  for  father,  etc. 
Of.  Fiddington  (Ashchurch),  Dom.  Fitentune,  a.  1300  Fedyn- 
tone.  But  Fadmoob  (Kirby  Moorside,  Yorks)  is  Dom.  Fade- 
more,  where  Fad-  is  doubtful.    Cf.,  too,  Dom.  Suss.  Fodilant. 

Faircross  (a  hundred  of  Berks).  Chron.  Abingdon  Balliva  Belle 
Crucis,  1428  Hundredum  de  Bella  Cruce,  of  which  '  fair,  beautiful 
cross  '  is  simply  the  translation. 

Fairfield  (mtn.  near  Helvellyn,  Cumbld.).  N.  fcer-fjall,  'sheep 
mountain  or  fell.'  Cf.  Fair  Isle  (Sc).  Fairburn  (W.  Riding), 
Dom.  Fareburn,  prob.  has  a  similar  origin.  But  Fairfield 
(Bellbroughton)  is  816  chart.  Forfeld,  '  fore,  front  field.' 


FkKENHAM  257  TARLTNGTON 

Fakenham  (Thetford).  Dom.  Fachenha,  Fagenham.  'Home  of 
Facca:    Of.  B.C. 8.  1232,  Faccan  heah. 

Fal  R.  (Cornwall),  c.  1200  Gervase  Fale,  1680  Vale.  Prob.  a 
Keltic  root  meaning  '  moving,  running,  flowing."  Cf.  G.  falbh, 
'  to  go,  to  walk.'  But  W.  Jfal  means  '  closure,  or  the  heel  of 
a  shoe.' 

Fallings  Heath  (Wednesbury) .  a.  1200  Olde  Falinge.  Duignan 
thinks  this  refers  to  a  falling  or  felling  or  clearing  of  timber. 
Oxf.  Diet,  gives  no  quots.  illustrating  such  a  usage,  and  yet  it 
may  well  be.  FAlloden  (Alnwick)  is  '  fallow  valley/  O.E.  falu, 
fealo,  '  pale  brownish,  or  yellowish  coloured.'  Cf.  Falfield 
(Thornbury),  1347  Falefield. 

Falmer  (Lewes).  Dom.  Falemere.  O.E.  for  'pale  brownish,  or 
reddish-yellow  mere  or  lake  ' ;  O.E.  falu,  4  faU,  now  fallow.  Cf. 
Fowlmere.  But  Falsgrave  (E.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Wal(l)esgrif, 
'  Welshman's  or  foreigner's  grave,'  O.E.  gro&f,  O.N.  grof,  Fal- 
stone  (Northbld.)  and  1168-67  Pipe  Faleslea  (Nhants.)  seem  to 
imply  a  man's  name,  Uke  Fala.    Onom.  has  only  one  Fawle. 

Falmouth.  Sic  1478,  1231  Close  R.  Falem',  1234  ib.  Falemuth, 
c.  1^50 Fortescue  The  Falmouthe ;  but  till  1660  usually  Smithwick 
or  Pennycomequick.    See  Faj.. 

Farcet  (Peterboro').  Not  in  Dom.,  but  O.E.  chart.  Fearres  heafod, 
or  '  bull's  head.'  Cf.  Fazeley  and  Forset  (N.  Riding),  Dom. 
Forsed,  which  is  perh.  '  head  of  the  waterfall  or  force.'    N./ors. 

Fareham  (Hants).  Not  in  Dom.  1160  Ferham.  '  Fair,  beautiful 
home.'    O.E.  fceger,  Icel.  fag-r,  Dan.  feir,  '  fair.' 

Faringdon  (Swindon  and  Exeter).  Swin.  F.  Dom.  Ferendone, 
Ex.  F.  Dom.  Ferentone.  Doubtful  at  both  ends.  Feren-  may 
represent  a  patronymic,  '  town  of  the  Ferrings  or  Farrings.' 
Cf.  Farringford.  Or  it  may  be  fr.  O.E.  fearn,  ' ferns '  (only  no 
early  speUing  feren  is  recorded  here) ;  or  foera,  -an,  early  M.E. 
fere,  'a  spouse,'  a  comrade,  'spouse's  hill':  and  the  ending 
may  either  be  O.E.  tun,  '  village,  town,'  or  dun,  '  dune,  hill, 
hill-fort.'    See  Farndon. 

Farleigh  or  -ley  (Halesowen,  Cheadle,  Elmore,  onMedway,  Surrey, 
Sahsbury).  Ch.  F.  Dom.  Fernlege,  El.  F.  1221  Farnlee,  ]^e.  F. 
Text.  Roff.  Fearnlega.  These  are  all '  fern-meadow.'  Biit  Su.  F. 
is  chart.  Fearlege,  Dom.  Ferlega;  and  Sa.  F.  Dom.  Farlege,  1155 
Pipe  Ferlega.  There  is  only  one  Fara  in  Onom.,  so  this  may 
be  fr.  O.E.  foera,  M.E.  fere,  '  spouse,  comrade,'  and  so  '  spouse's 
mead.'  But  Farewell  (Lichfield)  is  a.  1300  Eager-,  Fagre, 
Fayrwell,  '  fair,  clear  spring,'  fr.  O.E.  foeger,  3  fager,  4-7  far{e). 

Farlington  (Havant  and  N.  Riding).  Hav.  F.  1256  Deed  Far- 
hngetone,  N.  Rid.  F.  Dom.  Farlintun.  '  Town,  dwelling  on  the 
ferling,'  O.E.  feor^ling,  a.  1300  ferlyng,  '  fourth  part,'  here  'the 
fourth  part  of  an  acre/ 


FARMINGTON  258  FAETHINGSTONE 

Farmington  (Northleach).  Dom.  Tormentone,  1182  Tormer-,  1226 
Thormerton,  1601  Farmington  or  Thormerton.  Prob.  '  village 
of  Thurmcer.'  For  change  of  early  th  to  /,  see  Fenglesham. 
Cf.  Fabningham. 

Farnborough  (Banbury,  Wantage,  etc.).  Ban.  F.  Dom.  Fernberge. 
Want.  F.  931  chart.  Feam  beorg(an),  Dom.  Fermberge,  1291 
Farnberg.  'Hill  covered  with  ferns.''  See  Farestgdon  and 
Farndon;  cf.  Devon  Dom.  Ferenberga.  The  ending  -berg(e) 
represents  Barrow,  '  mound,  hill,"  rather  than  '  burgh.'  Farn- 
cote,  also  in  Wwk.,  is  sic  a.  1300. 

Farncombe  (Godalming).  Dom.  Fernecome,  'fern  valley.'  See 
-combe. 

Farndon  (Newark).  924  O.E.  Ghron.  Fearndune,  Farndune;  Dom. 
Farendune;  c.  1140  Wm.  Malmes.  Ferenduna.  This  is  clearly 
'  fern  hill.'  CJ.  Faringdon,  which  some  hold  is  the  place  meant 
in  these  references.  But  Farndon  (Chester)  is  Dom.  Ferentone, 
which  may  be  '  town  of  the  Ferrings.' 

Farnbam  (Surrey,  Hants,  and  W.  Riding) .  Su.  F.  893  O.E.  Chron. 
Feamhamm,  Dom.  Ferneham,  1297  Farnham.  Ha.  F.  805  chart. 
Femham.  W.  E,i.  F.  Dom.  Farneha.'  'Enclosure,'  or  'home 
among  the  ferns.'    See  Farnley  and  -ham. 

Farningham  (Dartford).  Dom.  Fermingeha.  '  Home  of  Farman,' 
2  in  Onom.,  or  else '  of  Farman's  son'  (m  and  n  often  interchange). 
Cf.  Farmington.    See  -ing. 

Farn  Isles  (Bamborough).  Bede  Fame.  M'Clure  thinks  this  is 
Keltic  ferann,  Ir.  fearran, ' land.'    It  may  be  O.E.  feam,  '  ferns.' 

Farnley  (Leeds  and  Otley).  Both  Dom.  Fernelie,  c.  1200  Gervase 
Fernlege,  1202  Farnelai  and  Fernleie.  'Fern  meadow.'  Cf. 
Dom.  Salop  Femelege,  Farleigh,  and  Farnham.    See  -ley. 

Farnsfield  (Southwell,  Notts).  Dom.  Franes-  Farnesfeld,  1189 
Pipe  Famefeld.  'Field  of  Frani  or  Frano/  a  N.  name.  'Field 
of  ferns '  is  not  likely, 

Farrinodon  (Alton,  Hants).     =Faringdon. 

Farringegrd  (Freshwater),  a.  1400  Ferringford.  Prob.  'ford  of 
the  Ferrings  or  Farrings.  Cf.  Faringdon  and  Ferrensby 
(S.  Yorks),  '  dweUing  of  F  err  en.' 

Farsley  (Leeds).  Dom.  Fersellai.  There  is  no  likely  man's  name 
in  Onom.,  and  connection  with  parsley  (see  Oxf.  Diet.)  hardly 
seems  possible.  Prob.  it  is  'furze  meadow,'  O.E.  fyrs,  4:-Qflrse. 
Cf.  1167-68  Pipe  Devon  Far-,  FairesUng.     See  -ley. 

Farthingstone  (Weedon).  Dom.  Fordinestone,  1292  Fardinge- 
ston.  Prob.  '  stone  of  Fcerthegn,'  also  found  as  Farthain  and 
Fardein,  or  possibly  fr.  Forthwine,  one  in  Onom.  Derivation  is 
not  impossible  fr.  O.E./eorSww(/,  4:-Qferdyng{e),  6  farthing,  which 
usually  means  '  a  farthing '  in  money,  but  also,  as  early  as 


FAVEKSHAM  259  FELIXSTOWE 

Exon.  Dom.  we  find/erdlm  meaning  a  land-measure,  ?  a  quarter 
acre.  Cf.  Ferndale.  But  Fabthestghoe  (Brackley)  is  Dom.  and 
1229  rerning(e)ho,  prob.  fr.  the  same  name  as  Fabningham, 
'  height  of  the  Farnings.'    See  Hob. 

Faversham.    See  Feversham. 

Fawley  (Aylston,  Hereford  and  Lambourn).  Ayl.  F.  c.  1030 
chart.  Feligly.  '  Meadow  of  one  Felig,'  or  some  such  name. 
There  is  a  Felaga  and  two  anchorites  called  Fel(i)geld  in  Onom. 
But  Lam.  F.  is  a.  1300  Falelegh,  1316  Fallele,  which  Skeat 
derives  fr.  E.  Frisian  falge,  '  fallow  land.'  Northants  F.  1242, 
FalghesF,  might  be  either,  but  the  -es  of  the  gen.  makes  it  prob. 
fr.  a  man. 

Fazakerley  (Liverpool).  1277  Fasakerlegh,  1376  Fasacrelegh. 
Looks  as  if  O.E.  fas-cecer-Uah,  '  border  of  the  open-country 
meadow/  ir.  fas,  foes, '  border,  fringe/  and  cecer,  acer, '  open  plain, 
field,'  mod.  '  acre.'  See  -ley.  There  is  no  name  in  Onom.  that 
would  suggest  Fazaker-. 

Fazeley  (Tamworth).  1300  Faresleye,  a.  1400  -eslee.  'Meadow 
of  the  hill,'  O.E.  fearr,  -es.    Cf.  Faucet,  and  see  -ley. 

Featherstone  (Wolverhampton,  Pontefract,  Haltwhistle).  Wol. 
F.  994  chart.  Feother(e)stan,  Dom.  Ferdestan,  1271  Fethereston 
Po.  F.  Dom.  Ferestane,  Fredestan.  '  Stone  of  Fether '  or 
'  Feader ' — i.e.,  '  father,'  which  is  still  dialectically  pron.  fether. 
Cf.  also  Fearby  (Yorks),  Dom.  Federbi. 

Feckenham  (Redditch).  804  chart.  Feccanhom,  957  Feccan  ham, 
Dom.  and  1156  Pipe  Roll  Fecheham.  '  Home  of  Fecca.'  Cf. 
Dom.  Surrey  Feceha.  See  -ham,  which  here  may  either  be 
'  home  '  or  '  enclosure.' 

Felbridge  (E.  Grinstead).  and  Felbrigg  (Norfolk  and  York) 
E.  Gr.  F.  not  in  Dom.,  but  old  Thelbrig.  Yo.  F.  1206  Felebrigge. 
No.  F.  1451  Felebruge,  Felbrygge.  Early  th  not  seldom  becomes 
/,  and  so  fel-=  O.E.  feZ,  ^ell,  '  a  deal,  a  board  or  plank.'  Thus 
this  name  is  '  bridge  (O.E.  hrycg)  made  of  boards.'  Cf.  Fengle- 
SHAM,  also  fill  var.  of  thill,  '  the  shafts  of  a  cart,'  likewise  Elm- 
bridge  and  Thelwall. 

Feuskirk  (Thirsk).  1210  Ecclesia  S.  Felicis.  This  is  the  same 
saint  as  in  Felixstowe.  However,  in  Dom.  it  is  Fridebi, 
*  dwelling  of  Freda.' 

Felixstowe  (Suffolk).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1080  chart.  'The  church 
of  St.  Felix  of  Walton.'  Sometimes  said  to  be  '  place,'  O.E. 
stoiv,  of  Felix,  first  bp.  of  E.  Anglia,  c.  640.  But  this  does  not 
agree  with  the  form  in  1318  Filthstowe,  which  might  be  '  filth 
place,'  place  full  of  dirt  or  foulness,  O.E.  fylQ.  This  is  not  likely, 
as  there  is  a  'To.  de  Fvlethe'  in  Kent  in  1318,  and  a  Dom. 
Felede,  which  is  Fauld  (Uttoxeter),  a.  1300  Falede,  Fauld,  Felde 


FELMINGHAM  260  TESTINIOG 

— i.e.,  O.E.  fald,  falced,  '  a  fold,  a  farmyard.'  Only  it  is  not  easy 
to  see  how  this  last  could  become  either  Filth  or  Felix.  The 
bp.'s  name  certainly  influenced  the  present  form. 

Fblmingham  (N.  Walsham).  Dom.  Felmincha.  A  patronymic, 
otherwise  unknown.    See  -ing  and  -ham. 

Felstead  (Chelmsford).  1082  cTiart.  Felstede.  O.E.  for  '  skin, 
hide-place,  tannery.'    O.E.  fel,  fell,  '  a  skin.' 

Feltham  (Hampton  Court).  Sic  969  chart,  and  Dom.  Possibly 
'  home  of '  some  man  with  a  name  like  Felgeld  or  Fildas,  the 
nearest  in  Onom,  Prob.  '  home,  house  in  the  field,'  O.E.  feld, 
3-5  felt.  The  Eng.  sb.  felt  already  occurs  in  O.E.  Felthorpe 
(Norwich),  Dom.  Felethorp,  seems  to  be  '  village  of  '  some  man. 
See  -thorpe. 

Felton  (Northumbld.  and  Bristol).  Nor.  F.  1242  Felton.  Not  in 
Dom.  May  be,  like  Feltham,  named  from  some  man.  Cf. 
1305  Eougham  chart.,  'Robertus  de  Feletone,'  E.  Anglia.  But 
Nor.  F.  at  least  may  be  '  town  on  the  fell'  or  '  hill.'  O.N.  fjall 
found  in  Eng.  as  fell  a.  1300.    Also  cf.  Felstead. 

Fen  Ditton  and  Drayton  (Cambs).  Cf.  1272  Fenne  (Lines.). 
O.E.  fen,  fenn,  '  a  marsh,'  O.N.  fen,  '  a  quagmire.'  See  Ditton 
and  Drayton. 

Fendrith  Hill  (W.  Durham).  Prob.  W.  ffaen  d{e)rwydd,  ''rock  of 
the  magician,  sorcerer,  or  Druid.' 

Fen-,  Finglesham  (Deal).  831  chart.  Thenglesham.  Not  in  Dom. 
'  Home  of  Thengli,'  a  name  not  in  Onom.  For  change  of  early 
th  into  /  cf.  Farmington,  Felbridgb,  and  Finchale,  and 
Threshpield  (Yorks),  Dom.  Freschefelt  and  Treschefelt. 

Fenny  Compton  (Warwksh.).  Dom.  Contone,  a.  1200  Cumton, 
a.  1400  Fenni  Cumpton.  See  Compton,  and  cf.  Fenton  (Stoke), 
Dom.  Fentone. 

Feock  (Devoran,  Cornwall).  ?  c.  1400  Ecclesia  Sancto  Feoko,  a 
saint  also  termed  Feoca,  Fyock,  Fiach  ;  the  name  is  Keltic  for 
'  raven ' ;  but  about  this  person  little  seems  known.  Cf.  Fixby 
(W.  Riding),  Dom.  Fechesbi,  which  must  be  '  dwelling  of '  one  of 
the  same  name. 

Ferndale  (Glamorgan).  M'Clure  suggests  that  this  is  ferthing- 
deal,  or  '  fourth  part.'  Cf.  Fartbingstone.  But  old  forms 
are  needed. 

Ferriby  N.  and  S.  (Yorks).  Dom.  Ferebi.  Prob.  'dwelling  of 
the  comrade  or  partner';  Northum.  O.E.  foera,  2-9  fere.  See 
-by.  But  Ferrybridge  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Ferie — i.e.,  '  ferry,' 
O.N.  ferja.    The  Oxf.  Diet,  has  nothing  for  the  sb.  a.  1425. 

Festiniog.  Fr.  W.  ffestinio,  '  to  hurry,  hasten,'  L.  festinare,  ?  in 
allusion  to  the  many  waterfalls  around. 


FEV-,PAVERSHAM  261  FINCHINGFIELD 

Fbv-,  Faversham  (Kent).  811  chart.  Fefresham,  858  ibid.  Febre- 
sham,  Dom.  Feversham.  1155  Pi'pe  Fauresham.  Some  suggest 
from  a  man,  or  fr.  L.  faher,  a  '  smith/  but  this  seems  doubtful; 
more  prob.  '  home  of  fever/  O.E.  fefer,  fefres.  It  is  also  said  to 
be  the  Fauresfeld  of  1154  O.E.  Chron.,  which  is  doubtful. 

Fewston  (Harrogate) .  Dom.  Fostune,  '  Town  at  the  waterfall ' ; 
Dan.  fos,  O.N.  fors.  To  be  perh.  noted  also  is  O.Nor.  Fr.  fiusf, 
'  lofty  trees  ' ;  but  Nor.  Fr.  names  are  very  rare  in  England. 

FiLBY  (Gt.  Yarmouth).  Dom.  Filebey,  c.  1471  Fylby.  'Dwelling 
of '  some  (Danish)  man,  whose  name  has  been  rubbed  down 
into  File.  Cf.  Filleigh,  and  see  -by.  But  Baddeley  says 
Filton  (Bristol),  1340  Fyltone,  is  '  farm  in  the  field,'  which  is 
doubtful. 

Filey  (Yorks).  Dom.  Fiuelac — i.e.,  'five  pools,'  O.E. /(f,  Z-9  five, 
and  lac,  '  a  lake,  a  pool.'  Camden  derives  fr.  an  early  Eng. 
file,  '  a  thin  sHp  of  land,  Hke  a  small  tongue  thrust  out,'  into 
the  sea.  The  Oxf.  Diet,  does  not  recognize  this  word  file.  Lac 
for  '  pool '  is  very  rare  in  O.E.,  and  there  is  perh.  no  other 
instance  where  it  has  become  -ley.  But  we  have  Fishlake 
(Doncaster)  in  Dom.  Fiscelac,  and  also  Fixca-le.  Cf.,  too, 
Beverley  and  Fyfield.  We  may  add  that  North  Fyhng 
(N.  Yorks)  is  Dom.  NortfigeUnge,  a  patronymic,  '  place  of  the 
sons  of  Fugel,'  2  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 

Filleigh  (S.  Molton).  Cf.  940  chart.  Fileleighe  (Glastonbury). 
?  'meadow  of  File.'  Cf.  Filby,  and  see  -leigb.  Onom.  has 
only  a  Filica,  seen  in  Filkins  (Lechlade),  old  Fileching,  '  place 
of  Filica's  sons.'    See  -ing. 

FiLLONGLEY  (Coventry).  Dom.  Filung-,  ingehe,  a.  1400  Filungeye, 
1475  Fylongley.  Duignan  cannot  explain,  but  says  cf.  FimNG- 
HAM  (Lincoln),  Dom.  Fihngeham,  FigeHngeham,  c.  1120  Figel- 
ingaham.  There  is  no  Hkely  name  in  Onom.  But  we  have 
Fyhng  (N.  Riding),  Dom.  FigeHnge,  Figlinge,  which  must  be  a 
patronymic.     Cf.  JFilby.     See  -ing. 

FiNCHALE  (on  R.  Weir,  Durham).  Thought  to  be  Bede,  iii.,  27, 
Pegnaleth;  1298  Fynkhale,  1305  Fynkhalgh.  O.E.  finc-halh 
means  '  finches'  haugh '  or  'meadow  by  a  river.'  Cf.  Feststall, 
and  1240  Close  R.  Finkel',  1241  ib.  Finchel'  (Andover).  For 
-hale  see  -hall. 

FiNCHAM  (Downham).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1150  Fincheham,  1451 
Fyncheham.  '  Home  of  a  man  Finch,'  or  '  of  the  finches,'  O.E. 
fine.  Cf.  above.  Also  Finchamstead  (Berks).  Dom.  Finch- 
amstede;  1316  Fynchamsted.  'Homestead,  farm  with  the 
finches.' 

FmcHiNGFiELD  (Braintrec).  Dom.  Fincinghefelde,  -gefelda,  1297 
Fynchingfelde.  Presumably  '  field  for  finching  or  hawking,  or 
catching  finches  or  birds  in.'     Only  there  is  no  sb.  '  finching ' 


FINCHLEY  262  FLAVELL  FLYFOED 

in  Oxf.  Diet,  nor  any  likely  man's  name  in  Onom.,  though  Dom. 
form  looks  like  a  patronymic.     See  next  and  -ing. 

FiNCHLEY  (London).  Recorded  from  time  of  K.  John.  Cf.  above. 
Finch  is  O.'K.finc,  4c  finch,  some  sort  of  small  bird  of  the  sparrow 
order. 

FiNEDON  (Wellingborough).  Prob.  Dom.  Tingdene,  1296  Thindon. 
Prob.  '  hill  of  the  thing,'  or  '  local  parHament/  O.N.  ]>ing,  N. 
ting.  Cf.  Thingoe.  On  common  change  of  early  th  to  /  see 
Felbridge.  But  FiNDON  (Worthing)  is  Dom.  Findune,  which 
is  prob.  'hill  of  Fin'  or  ''Finn,'  names  in  Onom.  See  -don.  Cf. 
FnsnsriNGLEY  (Notts) .  Dom.  Feniglei,  1278  Finningelay.  See  -ing. 
Dom.  (N'hants)  also  has  Finemere,  now  Finmere  (Bucldngham) . 

FiNGHALL  or  FiNGALL  (Bedale,  Yorks).  Dom.  Finegala.  Perh. 
O.E.  Chron.  788  Fingale  (in  Northumbria),  which  is  prob.  not 
=  FiNCHALE.  O.E.  finnig  or  fennig  halh,  loc.  hale,  'marshy 
fenny  nook  '  or  '  corner.' 

FiNSTALL  (Bromsgrove).    a.  1400  Fynchale.    See  Finchale. 

FiBBANK  (Sedbergh).  Old  Frithbank.  Frith  is  some  kind  of  a 
wood.  See  Frith  Bank.  But  Firby  (Wistow,  Yorks)  is  Dom. 
Fredebi,  1202  Fridebi,  which  is  '  Freda's  dwelling.' 

Fishguard  (Pembroke),  c.  1390  Fishgarth,  1535  Fisshecard. 
'  Fisher's  garth  or  enclosure/  the  -guard  being  but  a  mod. 
spelling  of  O.E.  geard,  '  yard,  court,  enclosure.'  In  W.  it  is 
Abergwaun,  '  at  the  mouth  of  the  level  or  straight  river.'  Cf. 
Hasguard  in  same  shire,  1307  Huscard,  where  the  first  syU. 
prob.  represents  a  man's  name,  now  uncertain. 

FiSKERTON  (Lincoln).  Sic  a.  1100,  but  Dom.  Fiscartime.  '  Town, 
village  of  the  fishers,'  O.E.  flscere. 

FiTTLEWORTH  (Susscx).  Not  in  Dom,  1167-68  Pi'pe  FitelwurSa. 
'Farm  of  Fitel,  Fitela,'  or  ^ Fithele,'  all  forms  in  Onom.  See 
-worth. 

FiiADBURY  (Pershore).  691  chart.  Fledanburg,  714  ib.  Fladeburi^ 
Dom.  Fledebirie.  '  Town,  castle  of  Fleda  or  Flceda.'  Cf.  Fled- 
borough  (Notts),  Dom.  Fladeburg.     See  -bury. 

Flambtjrgh  Head  (Yorks).  Dom.  Flaneburc,  -burg,  a.  1130  Sim. 
Dur.  Flamburge,  c.  1450  Fortescue  Flaymborough,  also  Flayn- 
burg,  -borght.  '  Fort  of  Fleinn,'  a  Norseman.  Flame  (0.  Fr. 
flambe)  is  not  found  in  Hterary  Eng.  a.  1340;  but  doubtless  it 
has  had  some  influence  on  the  present  form  of  the  name.  Cf. 
Flensburg,  (Schleswig).    See  -burgh. 

Flavell  Flyford  (Pershore).  930  chart.  Fleferth,  1002  ib.  Fle- 
ferht,  a.  1200  Flavel,  a.  1400  Fleyford,  a.  1600  Flyford  Flavell. 
The  two  names  are  really  a  redupHcation.  Fie-  or  Fla-  will  be 
a  man  Floeda,  Fleda,  as  in  Fladbury,  and  -ferth  is  softened 
form  of  -ford  (q.v.).  Flseferth  has  become  Fleyferthand  then 
Flavell,  through  the  common  dissimilation  of  r  for  I, 


^PLAXBY  263  FLINT 

Flaxby  (W.  Riding)  and  Flaxton  (York).  Dom.  Flatesbi,  and 
Flastun,  Flaxtun.  The  former  is  prob.  'dwelling  of  FUeda,' 
one  in  Onom.,  the  latter  '  village  among  the  flax/  O.E.  fleax. 
See  -by  and  -ton.  ' 

Flaxley  Abbey  (Gloster).  1167-68  Pipe  Flexlega,  c.  1188  Gir. 
Cambr.  Flexleia.  'Flax  meadow.'  Of.  above;  also  Flechham- 
stead  (Coventry),  1327  Flechamstude,  '  flax  homestead.' 

Fleam  Dyke  and  Flendish  (Cambs).  Variants  of  same  name, 
c.  1080  Inquis.  Gamb.  Flamencdic,  Flamminedic,  Dom.  Flaming- 
dice,  Flam(m)iding,  1158  Flemedich,  1279  Flemigdich,  1284 
Flemesdich.  'Fleming's  ditch/  of  which  dyke  is  the  older, 
hard  form.  Fleming  is  0.  Fr.  Flamenc,  late  L.  Flamingus. 
This  name  shows  the  early  settlement  of  the  men  of  Flanders 
in  our  midst. 

Flecknoe  (Rugby).  Dom.  Flachenho,  a.  1200  Fleckenho.  Prob. 
'  Hoe,  hiU  of  Flecca,'  gen.  -can,  not  in  Onom. 

Fleet  R.  (London  and  2  others),  also  Fleet  (Hants),  which  is 
K.G.D.  688  Fleot.  O.E.  fleot,  O.N.  fljot,  'a  stream,  a  river, 
also  a  creek  or  inlet.'  The  root  is  seen  in  O.N.  flj6t-r,  'quick.' 
Of.  Fleet  (Sc).  and  Fleetwood  (Lanes),  also  Dom.  (Norfk.) 
Fletwest  and  Shaltleet. 

Fleggburgii  (Gt.  Yarmouth).  Of.  1442  'Fleghalle,'  manor  in 
Norfolk.  ?  '  fort,  burgh  among  the  flags  or  rushes.'  Flag  is 
not  found  in  Eng.  till  1387,  and  is  of  doubtful  etymology,  but 
is  spelt  ^eg'  in  5.  Flag  sb.2  Icel.  flag,  '  the  spot  where  a  tujf  has 
been  cut,'  O.^.flaga,  '  a  slab  of  stone,'  still  used  in  E,  Anglia  for 
'  a  turf,  a  sod,'  is  quite  a  possible  origin.  Dom.  has  East  and  West 
Flee  and  FHceswella ;  but  Onom.  has  no  name  the  least  likely  here. 

Fletchtng  (Uckfield).    Dom.  Flescinge(s),  1232  Olose  R.  Flescing. 

A  patronymic;  the  man's  name  implied  is  unknown.     See  -ing. 
Fletherhill  (S.  Wales).     Sic  a.  1349.    A  tautology;  W.  llethr, 

*  a  hillside,  a  slope.'  Of.  Shakespeare's  FlueUen  for  Llewelyn, 
and  p.  82. 

Fletton  (Peterboro').  Sic  a.  1100.  'Town,  village  on  the  fleet 
or  stream,'  O.E.  fleot,  in  Qflett.    Of.  Fleet. 

Flimwell-vent  (Hawkhurst).  Old  forms  needed  for  Flim-;  not 
in  Dom.;  possibly  O.E.  fliem/i,  flyma,  'a  fugitive,  an  outlaw.' 
A  vent  or  went  is  said  to  be  '  a  place  where  roads  meet.'  The 
root  is  O.E.  wendan,  'to  go,  to  wend.' 

Flint.  In  W.  Fflint,  or  Tegeingl.  1277  In  castris  apud  le  Flynt 
prope  Basingwerk,  1277-8  Welsh  R.  Le  Chaylou  and  Rothelan, 
where  Chaylon  is  prob.  Fr.  caillou,  'pebble,  flint.'     O.E.  flint, 

*  flint,  rock,'  fr.  the  rocky  platform  on  which  the  castle  stands. 
Flints  are  not  common  here.  Flinton  (E.  Riding)  is  Dom. 
Flentun,  prob.  '  town  of  the  flints.'  Fltntham  (Notts)  eic  in 
Dom.,  is  clearly  'flint  house.'     See -ham. 


FLIXTON  264  FOEEST  OF  DEAN 

Flixton  (Salford).  c.  1200  Flyxton,  Fluxton.  Perh.  'town  of 
the  flitch/  OiEt-flicce,  5  flytske,  5-6  flik.  There  is,  however,  in 
K.C.D.  mention  of  a  Flecge,  Flecges,  a  man  otherwise  unknown, 
and  this  is  quite  a  possible  origin.  There  is  no  hkely  name  in  Onom. 

Flockton  (Wakefield).  Dom.  Flocheton,  1201  Floketon.  'Town 
of  '  an  unrecorded  Flocca.  Hardly  fr.  O.E.  flocc,  O.N.  fiokk-r, 
'  flock.'    Cf.  Dom.  (Norfk.)  Flokethorp. 

Flodden  (Northumbld.).  1512  Floudane.  Prob.  flood-dean — i.e. 
'  (wooded)  glen  with  the  stream,'  O.E.  flod,  M.E.  flod,  6  floud, 
'  a  river,  a  flood.'    See  -dean. 

Flookersbkook  (Chester).  1340  Flokersbroke.  Prob.  called  after 
some  man;  there  is  nothing  in  Onom.  nor  yet  in  the  dictionaries 
wh.  seems  helpful.  Flokk-r  would  be  N.  form  of  the  Flocca  of 
Flockton. 

Flushing  (Falmouth).  Sic  1661.  Named  after  the  Dutch  port 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Scheldt. 

FoGGATHOBPE  (Sclby).  Dom.  Fulcartorp.  '  Fulchar's  place  or 
village.'  In  Onom.  there  are  several  Folcheards,  one  Folcgaer, 
and  one  Fulcher.  The  orig.  name  has  had  eg  in  it,  and  the 
liquid  I  and  r  easily  disappear. 

FoLESHiLL  (Coventry).  Dom.  Focheshelle,  a.  1200  Folkeshulle, 
1327  FolkeshuU.  O.E.  folces  Jiyll,  'people's  hiU,'  which  in 
Midland  M.E.  regularly  is  hull. 

Folkestone,  a.  716  cJiart.  Folcanstan,  1051  O.E.  Chron.  Folc- 
stane,  Dom.  Fulchestan.  '  Stone,  rock  of  the  folk  or  people,'  or, 
more  prob.,  '  of  a  man  Folca.'  The  Onom.  has  a  Folco  and  a 
Fulco,  and  we  have  Folkton  (E.  Riding),  Dom.  Fulcheton. 

FoNTMELL  Magna  (Shaftesbury).  939  chart.  Funtmeales,  Dom. 
Fontemale.  Perh.  '  Fountain  of  Mcel{a),'  one  in  Onom.  ;  O.E. 
font,  2-6  funt.  The  order  is  unusual  as  -funt  or  -font  usually 
comes  last.  Cf.  Bedfont.  But  -mell  may  be  O.E.  mcel,  '  a 
mark,  sign,  cross,  crucifix ' — '  font  at  the  cross.'  Fontley 
(Fareham),  Dom.  Funtelei,  wiU  be  '  mead  with  the  fountain 
or  spring.'    Magna  is  L.  for  '  Great.' 

Ford  (Shrewsbury,  etc.).  Dom.  Ford.  1184  Pipe  Devon,  Ecclesia 
de  Forda.  Nothing  is  commoner  in  early  Eng.  names  than  to 
name  a  place  after  a  f ord,.which  was  often  a  very  important  spot 
before  bridges  were  made. 

FoRDHAM  (Colchester  and  Soham).  Cole.  F.  sic  1373,  but  c.  1080 
chart.  Fordam.     Soh.  F.  Dom.  Fordeham.     '  House  at  the  ford.' 

FoRDiNGTON  (Dorchester) .  Dom.  Fortitone,  1156  Pipe  Fordintune. 
Perh.  '  village  of  Forthwine,'  one  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 

Forest  of  Dean.  Dom.  Dene,  1160-61  Pipe  Foreste  de  Dena, 
c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Danubis&  Svlva.  \yhich  is  supposed  to  mean 


POEMBY  265  FOVANT 

'  forest  of  Denmark  or  of  the  Danes/    Dean  here  may  be  W. 
din,  '  fort,  hill-fort ';  but  is  prob.  as  in  Dean. 

FoRMBY  (Liverpool).  1203-04  Formebi,  1227  Forneby,  1269 
Fornebi.  '  Dwelling  of  Forni/  There  are  several  called  Foma 
or  For7ie  in  Onom.  Cf.  next.  In  Brit,  names  m  and  n  are  fre- 
quently found  interchanging.     See  -by. 

FoRNHAM  (Bury  St.  Edmunds).  Sic  in  Dom.  'Home  of  Forne.' 
See  FoRMBY.    There  is  a  Forne  in  Dom.  (Herefd.). 

FoRTON  (Gosport,  Newport,  Staffs,  N.  Lanes,  and  3  others).  New. 
F.  1199  Forton,  whilst  for  the  others  Dom.  has  Fortune,  and 
Fordune  (twice).  Prob.  'town  by  \he  ford.'  Of  course,  dune 
is  '  hiil.'  Leland  calls  Forthampton  (Tewkesbury)  Fordhamp- 
ton;  but  it  is  Dom.  Fortemeltone,  prob.  '  Forthhelm's  town." 

Foss  Dyke  (Boston).  1480  Caxton  Chron.  Eng.  'Two  other 
weyes  this  Belyn  made  .  .  .  that  one  is  called  fosse  and  that 
other  fosse  dyke ' — i.e.,  a  raised  causeway  over  marshes,  etc. 
Fosse  sb.,  L.  fossa,  'a  ditch,'  is  first  found  in  Eng.  a.  1440. 
There  is  also'  the  Fossway,  which  stretched  fr.  Exeter  to 
Lincoln,  via  Bath  and  Leicester.  Cf.  Fangfoss  (N.  Riding), 
Dom.  Frangefos,  ?  '  ditch  of  the  Frank.' 

FosTON  (3  in  P.G^.).  Foston  on  Wolds.  Dow.  Fodstone.  1158-59 
Pipe  Fostuna  (Northants).  Some  may  be  '  town  on  the  foss  ' 
(see  above);  but  Fodstone  must  be  fr.  some  unknown  man. 
See  -ton. 

Fotheringay  (Northampton).  Dom.  Fodringeia.  a.  1163  Fod- 
rigeia,  1237  Fodringh',  1434  Fotheringhey,  c.  1460  Foodryngdre. 
'  Foddering-island.'  0 .E .  fodor,  0 .N .  fo^r,  Dan.  foder, '  fodder, 
food  for  cattle.'  The  vb.  O.N.  /dtSm,  is  not  found  in  Eng.  till 
a.  1300.  Cf.  the  Pile  of  Fotheray  in  Furness,  q.v.;  also 
Featherstone.    See  -ay,  -ey. 

FoxJiiNESS  (Cromer).  Not  in  Dom.  'Foul,  dirty  cape  or  ness." 
O.N.  ful  noes.  Foul  is  also  found  in  O.E.  as  ful,  and  this  is  a 
more  likely  origin  than  O.E.  fugol,  'fowl,  bird.'  Cf.  next  and 
FuLFORD.     Still  Dom.  Nfk.  has  a  Fugalduna. 

FouLSHAM  (Dereham).  Dom.  and  1454  Folesham.  Prob.  not 
'  home  of  the  fowls,'  which  is  0 .E .  fugol.  Foolston  (W.  Riding) , 
Dom.  Fugelestun,  is  phonetically  different,  and  even  it  means 
the  man  '  Fowl's  town.'  Foulsham  will  be  '  home  of  the  man 
Fula;  seen  in  B.C. 8.  1052  Fulan  ea.  Cf.  Dom.  (Suss.)  Folsalre, 
or  '  Fula's  alder.' 

Fountains  Abbey  (Ripon).  1156  Pipe  De  Fontibus,  c.  1246  de 
Fontanis.     '  Abbey  of  the  springs  or  wells.' 

FovANT  (Salisbury).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  O.E.  cTiart.  Fobbefunte — 
i.e.,  'font,  spring  of  Fobba.'    Cf.  B.C.S.  862  Fobbanwyl  (well), 

FONTMELL,  and  Ha V ANT. 

18 


FOWEY  E.  266  FRANCE  LYNCH 

FowEY  R.  and  town  (Cornwall),  c.  1200  Oewase  Fawe  fl.  Town 
a.  1400  Fawi,  c.  1450  Fortescue,  the  Ffowe;  c.  1530  Foye,  1536 
Fowey.  Pron.  Foy.  The  river,  which  names  the  town,  is 
said  to  be  fr.  Corn,  foys  or  foy  fenton,  '  walled  well  or  fountain  ' 
(which  rises  near  Altarnun).  But  it  looks  a  little  like  the  Com. 
foath  or  foio,  pi.  fowls, '  cave,  den.' ;  the  W.  jfau.  Foy  (Herefd.) 
is  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Lanntiuoi.  'church  of  St.  Tyfai.'  Cf. 
Lamphey. 

FowLMERE  (Royston).  Dom.  Fuglemsere,  Fugelesmara,  which  is 
O.E.  for  '  fowls'  lake  or  mere';  1302  Ful-,1401  Foulmere. 

FowNHOPE  (Hereford).  Old  forms  needed.  It  seems  a  sort  of 
hybrid;  'fawn's  refuge';  O.Fr.  /own,  faow,  M.E.  (1369)  faun, 
'  a  fawn  ';  but  very  prob.  Fown-  is  O.E.  Fornan,  '  of  Foma,'  a 
common  name;  and  O.N.  h6x>,  '  a  haven,  a  place  of  refuge.'  See 
-hope. 

Foxholes  (Yorks).  Dom.  Foxhole,  Foxohole,  Foxele.  1202 
Fines  Foxholef orde.  Cf.  Foxton  (Cambs) .,  Dom.  Foxetune,  and 
B.C. 8. 750  Foxcotone.  There  is  a  Foxoote  (Glos.),  Dom.  Fuscote. 

Fox  Lydiate  (Redditch).  1300  Fox  huntley  yates,  1377  Foxhunt 
Ledegate.  '  Fox  hunter's  gate.'  See  Lidgate;  and  cf.  Hyett, 
Henbury,  1221  Hyate,  '  high  gate.' 

FoxT  (Cheadle,  StafEs).  1253  Foxiate — i.e.,  fox-gate,  or  'open- 
ing'; O.E.  geat,  get,  6-9  dial.  yat{t)e,  (Sc.)  yett.  But  in  1292  it 
is  Foxwyst,  which  is  inexpHcable. 

Fradley  and  Fradsweix  (Staffs).  1262  Foder(e)sleye,  1286 
Frodeleye.  j^fiom.  Frodeswelle,  a.  1300  FrothesweUe,  Frodes- 
wall,  -well.  ^rob.  all  fr.  a  man  Frod,  which  is  O.E.  for  'wise.' 
Form  1262  prob.  simply  illustrates  the  shiftiness  of  r.    See  -ley. 

Framingham  Earl  (Norwich).  Dom.  Framingaha.  1424  Fram- 
yngham.  '  Home  of  the  descendants  of  Frame,'  still  a  surname. 
Frcenxi  is  common,  and  there  is  one  Fram  in  Onom.  Cf.  Frem- 
INGTON.    See  -ing. 

Framlingham  (Suffolk).  Dom.  Framlingaham,  1157  Pipe  Fram- 
ingeham,  1425  Fremelyngham,  a.  1444  Framljmgham.  '  Home 
of  the  Framlings.'  These  may  be  '  descendants  of  Frambeald  ' ; 
2  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 

Frampton  (Boston  and  Dorchester).  Bos.  F.  Dom.  Framantune, 
Do.  F.  Frantone.  'Town  of  Frama'  or  'Fram';  1  in  Onom. 
For  intrusion  of  p,  cf.  Bampton  and  Hampton  ;  also  cf.  above. 
There  is  a  Framwellgate,  Durham,  and  a  Framelle  (?  '  Fram's 
nook ')  in  Dom.  Suss.  But  Frampton,  3  in  Glos.,  is  Dom. 
Framtone,  1221  Fremtone,  '  town  on  R.  Frame,'  or  '  Frome  '; 
whilst  Fraunton,  same  shire,  is  1166  Freulinton,  1182  Froulinton, 
perh.  fr.  a  man  Freo-,  Freawine. 

France  Lynch  (Stroud)  and  Franche  (Kidderminster).  Ki.  F. 
Dom.  Frenesse,  1276  Frenes,  Freynes.    Duignan  says,  O.Fr. 


PEANKLEY  267  FRESHWATER 

fresne,  '  ash-tree/  and  that  the  -esse  in  Dom.  is  meant  for  O.E. 
msce,  '  ash-tree/  and  so  Dom.'s  name  a  reduplication.  He  may 
be  right. 

Fbankley  (Bromsgrove)  and  Frankton  (Rugby).  Br.  F.  Dom. 
Franchlie,  a.  1200  Frankle,  Frankeleg.  Ru.  F.  Dom.  Franche- 
tone.  '  Meadow '  and  '  town  of  Franca '  or  '  the  Frank.' 
Origin  fr.  O.Fr.  franc,  'an  enclosure^  esp.  to  feed  swine  in'; 
in  Eng.  c.  1400  3bS  frank,  fraunke,  seems  just  possible. 

Freckenham  (Ely) .  '  Home  of  Freac  or  Frecca ' ;  both  forms  in 
Onom.  Of.  801  chart.  Frecinghyrte  (?  Kent),  also  Friock;- 
HEiM  (Sc).  The  root  is  O.E,  free,  '  ready,  quick.'  We  have 
also  Frickley  (Yorks).  Dom.  Frichehale,  or  '  Freca's  nook.' 
See  -hall. 

Freckleton  (Preston).  Dom.  Frecheltun.  '  Frecel's  or  Freculf'a 
town.' 

Freeby  (Leicestersh.).  Dom.  Fredebi,  1230  Close  R.  Fretheby. 
'  Village  '  or  '  dwelling  of  Frith{e) '  (one  in  Onom.),  or  of  some 
of  the  many  men  whose  names  begin  with  Frithu.  But  Free- 
THORPE  (Norwich)  is  Dom.  Frietorp,  '  village  of  Freyja,'  which 
was  the  name  of  a  well-known  Saxon  goddess.  Cf.  Freystrop 
and  Fbitton. 

Freemantle  (Bournemouth  and  Southampton).  Not  in  Dom. 
Cf.  c.  1220  Elect.  Hugo  '  Frisomantel,'  a  now  vanished  place 
near  High  Clere  House,  Hants.  This  is  a  puzzling  name.  Friso- 
suggests  the  Frisians  of  N.  Holland;  and  -mantel  must  surely 
be  O.Fr.  mantel,  '  a  mantle  or  cloak.'  But  how  comes  this  in 
a  place-name  ?  Mantel  (see  Oxf.  Diet.,  s.v.)  in  the  sense  of  '  a 
fortification,'  is  not  found  in  Eng.  till  1475.  Prob.  this  is  one 
of  the  rare  cases  of  a  place  called  simply  by  a  man's  name, 
often  referred  to  in  12th  cny  Pipe  as  Frigidum  Mantellum.  Cf. 
Goodrich,  Snitter,  etc. 

Freiston  (Boston).  Sic  1274,  Dom.  Fristune,  1381  Frestoine 
also  Ferry  Fryston  (S.  Yorks).  Dom.  Fristone.  Perh.  '  town 
of  the  Frisians  or  Frieslanders  ';  possibly  fr.  the  Saxon  goddess 
Frea  or  Freyja.  Fraisthorp  (BridHngton)  is  Dom.  Frestintorp, 
which  is  puzzHng. 

Fbemington  (Yorks  and  Devon).  Yorks  F.  sic  in  Dom.  The 
family  name  must  be  the  same  as  in  Framingham. 

Freseley  (Polesworth).  Sic  1256.  Friezeland  (Walsall  and 
Tipton)  and  Frisland  (Tibberton).  Duignan  derives  all, 
not  fr.  the  Frisians,  but  fr.  O.E.  fyrz,  '  furze,  gorse,'  dial. 
freze,  friez.  Oxf.  Did.  gives  furse  as  4-6  firse,  but  not  with 
transposed  r. 

Freshwater  (I.  of  Wight).  Dom.  Frescewatre.  Why  so  called 
is  not  very  apparent.  The  usual  O.E.  for  'fresh' — i.e.,  not 
*  salt ' — is  fersc.    Oxf.  Diet,  says  the  fre-  forms  do  not  occur 


FEES  SIN GFIELD  268  FRITTON 

till  c.  1205  Layamon,  and  so  are  most  likely  due  to  adoption 
fr.  O.Fr.  freis,  fresche.  But  the  much  earher  Dom.  form  shows 
this  untenable.    Cf.  Tkbeshfield,  Dom.  Freschefelt. 

Fressingfield  (Harleston).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1590  Fresingfield; 
and  Freston  (Ipswich).  Dom.  Frise-,  Fresetuna.  The  latter 
is  '  town  of  the  Frisians/  who  called  themselves  Frise,  Frese. 
The  former  is  prob.  '  field  of  the  Frisians'  descendants.'  Cf. 
Frisington.    See  -ing. 

Freystrop  (Pembroke).  ' Freyja's  village.'  She  was  a  Norse 
goddess,  akin  to  the  L.  Venus.  Fraisthorpe  (Yorks)  is  Dom. 
Frestintorp,  which  is  puzzhng;  also  cf.  Freethorpe  and 
Fridaythorp.'   See -thorpe. 

Fridaythorp  (Yorks).  Dom.  Fridarstorp,  Fridagstorp,  Fridaizs- 
torp.  'Village  of  Friday/  O.E.  Frigedceg,  O.N.  Friadag-r, 
'  day  of  Frigg  or  Frig/  the  Norse  Venus.  But  Friday  seems  to 
have  been  used  as  a  personal  name.  Cf.  B.C.S.  1047  Frigedaeges 
treow.    There  is  a  Friday  Street  (Glouc).     See  -thorpe. 

Frilford  (Berks).  O.E.  cTiart.  Frileford,  later  Frylesford.  Like 
Frelsham  (on  R.  Pang),  Dom.  Frilesham,  prob.  contracted  fr. 
Frithel,  Fritholf,  Frithuwolf,  or  some  such  name. 

Frimley  Green  (Farnborough).  Not  in  Dom.  'Moist  meadow/ 
frim  dial.,  O.E.  freme,  '  full  of  moisture,  sappy.'    See  -ley. 

Frindsbury  (Rochester).  Dom.  Frandesberie.  '  Burgh  of  Frand/ 
which  may  be  contraction  of  Freomund,  UkeUest  name  in  Onom. ; 
prob.  influenced  by  friend,  which  in  Southern  Eng.  is  4  vrind, 
5-7  frind.    See  -bury. 

Frisestgton  (W.  Cumbld.).  'Town  of  the  Frisings/or  'descend- 
ants of  the  Frisians.'    See  Fressingfield  and  -ing. 

Fritchley  (Derby).  Not  in  Dom.  Cf.  Dom.  Nfk.  Frichetuna. 
'  Meadow  of  Fricca/    Onom.  has  only  Frecca  and  Freca. 

Fritham  (Lymington).  Not  in  Dom.  Cf.  804  chart.  Frit5esleah 
(Kent).  '  Home  of  Frith/  or  of  some  man  with  a  name  begin- 
ning in  Frith- ;  there  are  many  in  Onom.  Frithubeorht,  Frithu- 
geard,'  etc.  The  O.E.  fyrMe,  'a  wood,'  is  seen  in  Chapel- 
en-le-Frith,  and  in  Fretherne,  Frocester,  Dom.  Fridorne, 
1372  Freethorne,  O.E.  frith-thyrne,  '  thorn-bush  by  the  wood.' 

Frith  Bank  and  Frithviixe  (Boston).  1323  Le  Frith,  1512 
'The  Bang's  Frith  beside  Boston.'  Frith  is  O.E.  fyrh^e,  'a 
wood  '  or  '  woody  pasture ';  -ville  is  always  mod. 

Frittenden  (Staplehurst,  Kent).  804  chart.  FriSSing-,  Fred- 
dingden,  and  in  the  same  chart.  FriSesleah.  '  Dean  (wooded) 
valley  of  the  descendants  of  Frith/    Cf.  Fritham. 

Fritton  (Long  Stratton,  Norfk.).  Dom.  Fridetuna,  Frietuna, 
'  Town  of  Frith  '  or  '  Fride.'    Cf.  Freeby. 


FROCESTER  269  FULHAM 

Frooester  (Stroud).  Dom.  Frowcester.  Origin  unknown;  perh. 
pre-Keltic.    See  -cester. 

Frodesley  (Shrewsbury)  and  Frodsham  (Retford  and  Warring- 
ton). Re.  F.  1240  Frodesham.  'Meadow'  and  'home  of 
Froda  or  Frod,'  common  in  Onom.  Cf.  Frodingham  (Yorks), 
Dom.  Frotingha'.    See  -ham,  -ing,  and  -ley. 

Frognal  (Windsor  and  2  others).  Old  forms  needed.  The  -al 
almost  certainly  represents  -hall  {cf.  BmsTAiiL,  Brinscall, 
etc.),  and  the  Frogn-  must  be  some  personal  name.  Of  course, 
O.E.  frogga,  -an  is  '  a  frog/  as  in  Frog  Hall  (Dunchurch),  Frog- 
ham,  and  Frogmore  (Camberley).  Though  there  is  no  Ukely 
name  in  Onom.,  we  have  704  chart.  Frocesburna  (Middlesex), 
which  is  prob.  '  Froce'a  '  or  '  Froga's  brook.' 

Frome  (Somerset).  Pron.  Froom.  875  O.E.  Chron.  Frauu,  c. 
950  ib.  Frome,  ib.  From  (river)  ;  also  Frome  R.  (Glouc.  and 
Hereford),  whose  forms  are  found  in  Frampton,  Framilode, 
1175-76  Pipe  Fremelada  (O.E.  gelad,  'ferry'),  and  Frenchay, 
1257  Fromscawe  (O.E.  scaga,  'wood').  The  Gloucester  R.  is 
now  rather  called  Frame."  Dr.  Bradley  thinks  this  must  be 
orig.  Frama,  which,  on  Kelt  lips,  would  aspirate  and  yield 
Frauu  or  Frauv.  Cf.  Aberefraw  and  Bp's.  Frome.  Mean- 
ing doubtful;  origin  fr.  W.  ffromm,  'angry,  fuming,'  is  not 
likely. 

Frosterley  (Co.  Durham).  Sic  in  1183  Boldon  Bk.,  but  1239 
Close  R.  Forsterlegh.'  '  Meadow  of  Forster  '  or  '  Foster  ' — i.e., 
'  the  forester  ' — a  word  not  in  Oxf.  Diet,  till  1297,  though  '  Archi- 
bald Forester '  occurs  1228  in  Cartul.  Boss.  No  name  Froster 
is  known,  but  metathesis  of  r  is  common.    See  -ley. 

Froxfield  (Hungerford  and  Petersfield).  Pet.  F.  965  chart. 
Froxafelda,  '  field  of  the  frogs,'  O.E.  frox{a),  var.  of  frogga, 
frocga ;  but  also  cf.  704  chart.  Frocesburna  (Middlesex) .  So  perh. 
'  Field  of  Froca.'  The  name  is  not  in  Onom.  But  Froxmore 
(Crowle),  1275  Froxmere,  1327  Froxemere,  is  plainly  'frogs' 
mere  or  lake.' 

FuLBBCK  (Lines)  and  Fulbottrn  (Cambs).  Li.  F.  1202  Fulebec. 
Ca.  F.  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Fuleburna,  Dom.  Fuleberne,  chart. 
Fuulburne.  O.E.  and  O.N.  ful,  'foul,  dirty';  and  see  -beck 
and  -bourne.     Cf.  Bacup,  c.  1200  Ffulebachope. 

FuLEORD  (York,  Stone,  and  Solihull).  Yo.  F.  Dom.  Fuleford  and 
Foleford,  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1066  Fulford,  St.  F.  Dom.  Fuleford. 
'  Foul,  dirty  ford.'  See  above.  Cf.  1183  Boldon  Bk.  Durham, 
Fulforth. 

FuLHAM  (London).  Sic  1298,  but  879  O.E.  Chron.  FuUanhamme. 
This  is  prob.  '  enclosure  of  Fullan.'  There  is  one  such  in  Onom. 
'  Home  of  fowls '  would  need  a  g  in  879.  O.E.  fugol,  '  a  fowl.' 
See  -ham  2. 


rULNEY  270  GALTKES 

Ftjlney  (Lincoln).  Thought  to  be  B.C.8.  1052  Fulan  ea,  '  isle  of 
Fula.'    Not  in  Dom.    It  has  a  Fulnedebi. 

FuRNESS.  Not  in  Dom.  Old  Futherness,  Fuderness,  which  is 
prob.  '  fodder-ness  or  cape '  (see  Fotheeay)  ;  though  M'Clure 
ventures  to  identify  with  Pict.  father,  '  a  piece  of  land.'  Cf. 
FoRTEViOT  (Sc).  Foodra  Castle,  on  the  point  at  Furness,  was 
formerly  called  '  the  Peel  of  Further  '  (Whitaker's  Craven). 

Fyfeld  (Abingdon).  Dom.  Fivehide — i.e.,  five  hides  of  land — 
still  1437  Fifhide,  but  c.  1540  Ffield.  Fyfeld  (Essex),  is  also 
Dom.  Fifhide,  while  places  of  the  same  name  in  Hants  and 
Wilts  were  1257-1300  chart.  Fifhide.  There  are  both  Five  Hide 
and  Fyfield  in  Glouc.    Cf.  Filey. 

Fyltng.    See  Fillongley. 

Gad's  TTttt.  (Gillingham,  Kent).  '  Hill  of  Gadd  '  or  '  Oaddo,'  as  in 
Gaddesby  (Leicester),  Dom.  Gadesbie,  and  Godshtll.    See  -by. 

Gaebwen  (Anglesea).  O.W.  gaer.  Mod.  W.  caer  gwen.  'White, 
clear  castle  or  fort.'  0  and  c  freely  interchange  in  W.  Cf. 
Dolgelly,  etc. 

Gailey  (Cannock).  1004  chart.  Gageleage,  Dom.  Gragelie  (error). 
a.  1300  Galewey,  Gaule,  Gaueleye.  '  Bog-myrtle  meadow,'  fr. 
O.E.  gagel,  4  gayl,  5-7  gaul{e),  5  gawl,  gawyl,  'the  gale  or  sweet 
gale.'    See  -ley. 

Gaineokd-on-Tees.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Ge(a)genforda,  c.  1150 
Gainesford,  1200  Geineford.  '  Straight,  direct,  favourable  ford.' 
O.N.  gegn,  found  in  Eng.  fr.  1300  as  gain. 

Gainsbobo'.  1013  O.E.  Chron.  Gaeignesburh,  Gegnesburh,  Dom. 
Gainesburg,  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1013  Gainesburh.  May  be  fr.  some 
man  Gegne  or  the  Uke;  but  there  is  no  such  name  in  Onom., 
unless  it  be  Ga^an-heard.  So  perh.  '  town,  castle  of  gain,  help, 
advantage,'  O.N.  gagn,  gegn,  found  in  Eng.  c.  1200  as  ga^henn. 
Mod.  Eng.  gain.    Cf.  Ganstead. 

Galeobd  (S.  Devon).  O.E.  Chron.  ann.  823  Gafol,  Gaful  forda. 
Not  in  Dom.  '  Ford  of  the  tribute,  or  payment  to  a  superior, 
or  gavel.'  O.E.  gafol,  which  does  not  mean  '  a  toll.'  M'Clure 
would  derive  fr.  a  Kelt,  gabail  or  gabal,  meaning  'the  fork  of 
a  stream,'  G.  gahhal;  this  seems  doubtful,  though  cf.  Yeovil, 
which  must  be  fr.  O.E.,  rather  than  Kelt.,  gafol,  geafl,  '  a  fork,  a 
forked  opening.' 

Galtbes  forest  (Yorks).  1179-80  Pipe  Foreste  de  Galtris;  also 
Caltres.  Thought  to  be  same  word  as  Calathros,  name  in  the 
L:ish  Annals  for  Callandeb  (Sc).  The  meaning  is  doubtful. 
Some  identify  it  with  '  Gerlestre  Wapentac '  in  Dom.  Yorks, 
which  is  possible,  and  may  be  '  tree  of  Goerlaf,'  or  some  such 
name. 


GAMBLESBY  271  GARSTON 

Gamblesby  (Langwathby).  1179-80  Gamelebi,  1189  Gamelesbi. 
'Dwelling  of  Gamel,'  O.N.  for  'old';  the  surname  now  is 
Gamble  or  Gemmell.  Gembling  (Yorks),  Dom.  Ghemelinge,  is  a 
patronymic  fr.  the  same  name,  and  shows  the  same  intrusion  of  b. 
Cf.  next,  Gammelspath,  name  of  the  old  Rom.  road.  Middle 
March  (Northumberland),  and  Ganfield.    See  -by. 

Gamlingay  (Sandy).  1166-67  Pipe  Gamelengeia  (Essex),  1210 
GameUngehey,  1211  Gamelingeye.  'Isle  of  the  descendants  of 
Gamel.'    Cf.  above ;  and  see  -ing  and  -ey. 

Gamston  (Retford).  Dom.  Gamelestune.  a.  1199  Roll  Rich.  I. 
Gamelesdun.  '  Hill '  or  '  town  of  Gamel '  or  '  Gamall/  names 
frequent  in  Onom.,  being  N.  for  '  old  man.'    See  -don  and  -ton. 

Ganfield  (a  hundred  in  Berks).  Dom.  Gamesfelle,  Gamenesfelle 
{n  here  for  I).    See  above. 

Gajstnel  (New  Quay).  Corn,  gan  hael,  'mouth  of  the  saltings.' 
Hael  or  hayle  means  '  a  tidal  river.' 

Ganstead  (Hull).  Dom.  Gagenestad,  1208  Gaghenestede.  The 
first  haK  must  be  the  same  as  in  Gainsbobo'.   See  -stead, '  place.' 

Ganthorpe  (Yorks).  Dom.  Gameltorp,  1202  Gaumesthorp.  '  Vil- 
lage of  Gamel.'    Cf.  Gamston  and  (Canton;  and  see  -thorpe. 

Gatstton  (York).  Dom.  Galmetona,  prob.  1179-80  Pi^e  Gonton. 
'  Town  of  Galmund,'  one  in  Onom.,  and  no  other  likely  name. 
But  cf.  Gamston  and  above. 

Gaugbave  (Leeds).  Dom.  Geregraue,  Gheregrave.  'Grave,'  O.E. 
grcef,  '  of  Goer  '  or  '  Geir  '  ;  cf.  next.  But  Gabeobd  (Berks)  is 
942  chart.  Garanforda,  1291  Gareford,  '  ford  at  the  gore  '■ — i.e. 
'  promontory  or  triangular  piece  of  land,'  O.E.  gdra.  Cf.  Gajb- 
TBBE.  Yet  Garforth  (Leeds),  Dom.  Gereford,  Ingereforde,  is  fr. 
the  man  Gcer.  See  -ford. 

Gabstang  (Preston).  Dom.  Cherestanc,  1204-05  Geirstan,  1206 
Guegrestang,  1208  Geersteng,  1230  Gerstang,  1304  Gairstang. 
This  is  a  peculiar  name.  It  seems  to  be,  the  man  '  Geir's  stang  ' 
— i.e.,  '  spear,'  or  '  goad ' — same  root  as  sting.  But  Dom.  evi- 
dently thought  that  the  name  was  '  Geir's  pool,'  O.Fr.  estang, 
L.  stagnum,  still  used  in  Eng.  as  '  a  stank.'  This  certainly  gives 
a  likelier  sense;  cf.  Mallerstang  (Cumberland),  and  Gaegbave. 
But  Gabshall  (Stone)  is  a  much  altered  name,  a.  1400  Gerynges 
halgh,  -hawe — i.e.,  '  river-meadow  of  Gering.'  See  -hall  and 
Haughton. 

Gabston  (Berks  and  Liverpool).  Ber.  G.  O.E.  cTiart.  Gserstun, 
Gerstun,  Grestun.  Also  Dom.  Garstune  (Worcester).  O.E. 
gcerstun,  '  a  grassy  enclosure,  a  paddock,'  O.E.  gcers,  grces, 
'  grass,'  the  old  forms  being  still  preserved  in  Sc.  The  orig. 
meaning  of  ton  or  town  is  '  enclosure.'  But  G.  (Liverpool)  is 
1093-94  Gerstan,  1142  Gerestan(am),  1153-60  Grestan,  1205-06 
Gaherstang  {cf.  Gabstang),  1297  Garstan.     '  Stone,  rock  among 


GARTH  272  GEDLING 

the  grass  ';  cf.  the  Gastons  (Tewkesbury),  old  Gerstone.  Gar- 
MSTON  (N.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Gerdeston,  fr.  Geard,  contracted  fr. 
Geardwulf,  or  the  like.    Cf.  Grbasborough. 

Garth  (Bangor,  etc.).  W.  garth,  'enclosure,  yard';  also  'hill- 
ridge,  headland,'  Ir.  gart,  '  a  head.'  If  the  meaning  be  '  yard/ 
it  is  a  loan-word  in  W.    Cf.  Gwaelod-y-Garth. 

Gartree  (Leicester).  Dom.  Geretreu.  '  Tree  at  the  gore  of  land,' 
O.E.  gdra,  4-9  gare,  O.N.  geire.  It  was  the  meeting-place  of  the 
Wapentake.    See  Garford  and  Appletree. 

Gatcombe  (I.  of  Wight).  Dom.  Gatecome.  'Valley  with  the 
opening,'  or  'gate,'  O.E.  geat.  Also  2  in  Glouc,  no  old  forms. 
See  -combe. 

Gateacre  (Liverpool).  'Field,  acre,'  O.E.  acer,  'with  the  gate,* 
O.E.  geat.    Cf.  Dom.  Bucks,  Gateherst,  and  Fazakerley. 

Gateshead.  Prob.  c.  410  Notit.  Dign.  Gabrosenti*  (Kelt,  gabar, 
'  goat ').  Bede  iii.  21  Ad  Murum,  ^t  Walle  (the  Roman  Wall). 
8im.  Dur.  ann.  1080  Gotesheved  id  est  Ad  caput  Caprae ;  also 
Capiit  Capras;  but  Sim.  Dur.  contin.  c.  1145  Gateshevet,  1183 
Gatesheued.  These  names,  of  course,  all  mean  '  goat's  head  ' — 
i.e.,  the  Gate-  is  O.E.  ^dt,  '  a  goat,'  and  not  ^eat,  '  a  gate.'  Cf. 
Gateford  (Notts)  1278  Gayt-,  c.  1500  Gatford,  also  fr.  N.  geit 
or  O.E.  ^dt,  '  a  goat.' 

Gavenny  R.  (S.  Wales).    W.  Gefni.    See  Abergavenny. 

Gawsthorpe  (Macclesfield) .  '  Village  of  ?'  Cf.  Gawthorpe,  Ossett, 
and  Dom.  Norfk.,  Gaustuna,  ?  fr.  an  unrecorded  Gaha.  Gawsa 
(Wales)  is  thought  by  Rhys  a  corrup.  of  causey  or  causeway  ! 

Gaydon  (Kineton)  and  Gayton  (Stafford,  Bhsworth,  and  King's 
Lynn).  Kin.  G.  1327  Geydon,  St.  G.  Dom.  Gaitone,  1227  Gai- 
don.  Lynn  G.  c.  1150  Geitun.  Prob.  not  fr.  gate,  but  fr.  a  man 
Goega  or  Gega,  K.C.D.  vi.  137  and  148,  while  we  get  the  patro- 
nymic Gceing  in  B.C.S.  iii.  257.  Gay  is  now  a  common  surname. 
Cf.  Ginge  (Berks),  Dom.  Gain3,  1225  Est  geyng,  and  Gaywood, 
also  found  near  King's  Lynn,  likewise  940  chart.  Gaecges  stapole 
(market),  Hants.     See -don  and -ton. 

Geddington  (Kettering).  Not  in  Dom.  Said  to  be  c.  1188  Gir. 
Camb.  Garcedune.  This,  if  the  same  place,  must  be  a  different 
name.  Prob.  '  town  of  Geddi,'  one  such  in  Onom.  Cf.  1363 
chart.  '  Wilhelmus  Bateman  de  Giddingg,'  near  Kettering  (which 
is,  of  course,  a  patronymic),  Gedney  (Lines),  and  Gedelega, 
1157  in  Pipe  Devon. 

Gedltng  (Nottingham).  Dom.  GhelUnge,  1189  Pipe  Gedlinges. 
A  patronymic.  The  same  name  is  seen  in  Gillamoor  (Yorks), 
Dom,.  Gedhngsmore.  Mutschmann  derives  fr.  O.E,  gcsdlingas, 
'  companions  in  arms,'  and  makes  Gillinq  the  same. 

*  The  -senti  may  be  for  -ceuti ;  perh.  the  same  Kelt,  root  as  in  Kent,  and  mean- 
ing *  head,'  or  '  headland.' 


GEE  CROSS  273  GIRDLE  FELL 

Gee  Cross  (Stockport) .  •An  ancient  cross  was  erected  here  by  the 
Gee  family. 

Gelliswick  farm  (Milford  Haven).  Hybrid.  W.  gelU  or  celU, 
'  hazel  grove/  and  N.  vik,  '  a  bay.'  Cf.  Wick  (Sc.)  and  Good- 
wick  (S.  Pembroke).  But  the  Welsh  tale,  Kulhwch  and  Oliven 
{a.  1200),  speaks  of  '  Gelh  '  or  '  KelU  Wic  '  in  ComwaU. 

Gentleshaw  (Rugeley).  1505  Gentylshawe.  'Wood  of  Gentle/ 
a  surname  still  in  use.  A  John  Gentyl  is  known  in  this  district 
in  1341.  Dom.  Bucks,  Intlesberie,  may  represent  the  same  name. 
See  -shaw. 

Gerrans  (Falmouth).  Perh.  the  same  as  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Din- 
Gerein — i.e.,  'castle  of  Geraint,'  K.  of  the  Welsh  in  711;  1536 
Grerens.    But  the  Welsh  chronicler's  castle  may  be  in  Pembroke. 

GiGGLESWiCK  (Settle).  Local  pron.  Gilzick.  Dom.  Ghiceleswic, 
Ghigeleswic.  Cf.  Ickleford.  'Dwelling  of  Gicel,'  now  Jekyl, 
fr.  Breton  Judicael,  which  also  jdelds  Jewell,  1215  Close  Ri  Gikels- 
wik  and  William  Gikel.     See  -wick. 

GiLCRUX  (Carlisle).  Old  forms  needed.  Cf.  Dom.  Norfk.,  Gillecros, 
Gildecros.  Can  it  be  '  cross  of  the  guild '  1  O.E.  gild,  gyld. 
Cross  was  early  taken  into  Eng.  in  more  than  one  form;  see  Oxf. 
Diet.  The  M.E.  crouch  shows  that  late  O.E.  must  have  had  a 
form  cruc,  L.  cruc-em,  '  cross.' 

GrLLLNG  (N.  Yorks).  Bede  in  Gethlingum,  Gsetlingimi.  Dom. 
Grellinge(s).  See  Gedlinq.  Gilling  and  Gillon  are  stiU  sur- 
names. There  is  a  '  Gilleburc '  1160  in  Pipe  (Northants). 
Cf.  Ealing.    See  -ing. 

GiLLiNGHAM  (Dorset  and  Kent).  Do.  G.  1016  O.E.  Chron.  Gilling- 
ham;  Dom.  Geling(e)ham,  1160  Pipe  GilHngeha;  Ke.  G.  c.  1150 
chart.  Gyllingeham.  '  Home  of  the  Gillings,'  a  patronymic 
fr.  Gilo. 

GrCiiiiNG-,  Gyllingdune,  and  GiLLrNGVASE  (Falmouth).  Said  to 
be  Corn,  for  '  William's  hill,'  and  '  William's  field/  Com.  mces, 
here  aspirated.  The  William  is  said  to  be  he  who  was  son  of 
Henry  I.,  drowned  in  the  White  Ship,  crossing  from  Normandy 
to  England,  1120.    All  this  is  a  little  doubtful. 

GiLSLAi^D  (Carhsle).  Sic  1215,  but  1291  Gillesland.  'Land,  terri- 
tory of  Giles  '  or  of  '  Gilo,'  2  in  Onom. 

GiMLNGHAM  (N.  Walsham).  Dom.  Giming(h)eha,  1443  Gymyng- 
ham,  c.  1449  Gemyngham.  The  name  or  patronymic  is  a  little 
uncertain  here.  Perh.  '  Home  of  Gemmund  or  Gefmund,'  the 
nearest  name  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 

GippiNG  E,.    See  Ipswich. 

Girdle  Fell  (Cheviots).  '  Mountain  with  the  belt  or  band  round 
it.'  The  ending  '  fell '  {q.v.)  is  Norse,  and  so  the  root  is  quite  as 
likely  O.N.  gyr^ill,  O.Sw.  giordell,  as  O.E.  gyrdel.    If  so,  this  is 


GIRLINGTON  274  GLASTONBURY 

one  of  the  very  rare  Norse  names  in  Northumberland.    C/. 
Girdle  Ness  (Aberdeenshire). 

GiRLiNGTON  (Bradford) .  Dom.  Gerlinton ;  also  sic  in  Dom.  Somerset. 
'  Town  of  Gerling/  or  perh.  '  of  Gcerland,'  one  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 

GiETON  (Cambridge).  Dom.  Gretone,  K.C.D.  iv.  145  Gretton,  1236 
Greittone,  1434  Grettone,  Gyrttone.  Skeat  inclines  to  think 
this  is  not  '  great  town '  (c/.  the  six  Littletons),  but  prov.  Eng. 
gratton,  '  grass  which  comes  after  mowing,  stubble/  fr.  O.E. 
greed,  Mercian  gred,  '  grass.'  The  forms  in  Girton  (Notts)  are 
practically  the  same.  Mutschmann  derives,  rather  doubtfully, 
fr.  O.E.  great,  'sand.'  Cf.  Gretton,  which  may  be  'great, 
O.E.  great,  town.'  Great  is  3-6  gret{e),  4-6  grett{ej.  Cf.  Girsby 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Grisbi. 

GiSBUEN  (Clitheroe).  Dom.  Ghiseburne,  1179-80  Giseburne,  1197 
Kisebum.  '  Burn,  brook  of  Gisa,'  2  in  Onom.  Kisi  was  a  Norse 
giant.    Cf.  GuiSBORo'.    See  -bourne. 

GiSLDSTGHAM  (Eye).  Dom.  Gislingeha,  -ghaham,  GissiHncham. 
'  Home  of  the  descendants  of  Gisel ' — i.e.,  '  the  hostage  ' — O.E. 
3iseZ,  O.N.  gid.    Cf.  1384  '  Giselyngton  '  (Lines). 

Gladmoxjth  (S.  Wales).  See  Cleddy.  Cf.  also  Gladder  Brook 
(Wore.)  1275-1340  Gloddre,  also  W.,  -der  being  dwfr,  '  stream.' 

Glamorgan.  1242  Close  B.  Clammorgan,  c.  1250  Layam.  Glom- 
morgan,  1461  Glomorganeia.  Old  W.  name  Morganwg,  Mod.  W. 
Gwlad  Morgan,  ^  dominion  of  Morgan,'  a  10th  cny.  prince,  of 
which  the  other  forms  are  corruptions  or  contractions. 

Glapthorne  (Oundle).  Not  in  Dom.  a.  1100  Glapthom.  Prob. 
'  thorn-tree  of  Glceppa,'  found  in  Onom.  Cf.  Glapton  (Notts), 
sic  1216-72. 

Glasbtjry  (Brecon),  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Glasbiria.  Hybrid;  W. 
glas,  '  blue,  green,  verdancy,  hence,  a  green  spot,'  and  O.E.  burh. 
See  -bury;  also  cf.  Glazebrook. 

Glascote  (Tamworth).  Sic  a  1300.  '  Cot,  cottage  with  windows 
of  glass,'  O.E.  glees,  a  very  rare  thing  for  an  early  cottage. 

Glaston  (Uppingham) .  Not  in  Dom.  a.  1 100  grant  of  664,  Glathe- 
stun.  There  is  no  name  like  Glatlie  in  Onom.,  though  there  is  a 
Gloedwis.  So  this  may  be  '  town  of  gladness,'  O.E.  gl(Bd,  4  glathe, 
but  prob.  not.  Gleadthorpe  (Notts),  Dom.  Gletorp,  1278 
Gledetorp,  must  have  the  same  origin. 

Glastonbury  (Somerset),  a.  716  Boniface  Glestingaburg ;  1016 
O.E.  Chron.  Glsestingabyrig ;  1297  B.  Glow.  Glastinbury.  In  W. 
Ynys  Wydrin  ('  isle  of  Wydrin ') ;  found  already  in  chart,  said  to 
be  of  601,  Ineswytrin.  Freeman  thinks  this  a  patronymic. 
William  of  Malmesbury  says  the  name  is  fr.  a  N.  Wales  Glasting, 
who  wandered  there  in  search  of  a  lost  sow.  The  Lib.  Hymn 
(Bradshaw  Society),  a.  900  calls  it  'Glastimber  of  the  Goidels'; 


GLATTON  275  GLOUCESTEE 

and  a.  1100  Ann.  Cambr.  calls  it  Glastenec.  M'Clure  would 
derive  fr.  a  somewhat  dubious  W.  glastan,  '  an  oak ' ;  there  is 
certainly  glasdonen  {ii.glas  and  tonen),  '  the  scarlet  oak/  a  quite 
possible  origin,  though  it  is  more  prob.  a  patronymic,  as  the 
very  early  fost  spelling  indicates.     See  -bury. 

Glatton  (Peterborough).  Not  in  Dom.  1217  Glattun.  Seems  to 
be  '  glad  town ' ;  O.E.  glced,  3  glat,  O.N.  gla^-r, '  bright,  beautiful,' 
cognate  with  O.H.G.  glat,  '  smooth.' 

Glazebrook  (Manchester).  1227  Glasbroc,  1303  Glasebrok.  Perh. 
tautology.  Kelt,  glas  and  Eng.  brook,  iDoth  meaning  the  same. 
Glazebury  is  near  by.  Of.  Dom.  Glese  (Wore),  now  Glass- 
hampton,  and  Glass  Houghton  (Yorks),  not  in  Dom.  W.  and  H. 
prefer  '  glassy  brook,'  O.E.  glees,  '  glass,'  but  are  prob.  wrong. 

Glbaston  (Ulverston).  Dom.  Glassertun.  This  impHes  a  name 
Glasser,  or  the  like,  prob.  Norse.  Glasserton  (Wigtown),  looks  the 
same  name;  in  early  chronicles  it  seems  to  get  confused  with 
Glastonbury. 

Glen  R.  (S.  Lines  and  Northumberland).  History  wanted.  Either 
may  be  Nennius  §  56  Fluminis  quod  dicitur  Glein.  G.  gleann  ; 
W.  glyn,  '  a  glen,  a  valley.' 

Glencune,  Glendhu,  and  Glenwhelt  (all  near  Haltwhistle). 
Glencune  is  G.  gleann  cumhann,  '  narrow  glen.'  Of.  Glencoe 
(Sc).  G.  dubh  means  '  black,'  W.  du,  and  -whelt  may  be  W. 
gwdllyn,  '  blade  of  grass/  or  ?  ullta,  '  a  crazy  one,  an  oaf.' 
Glencoin  (Ullswater)  =  Glencune,  G.  comhann,  being  var.  of 
cumJiann,  and  mh  has  become  mute. 

Glenderamackin  E.  (Keswick).  VMieG., gleann  dobhair  or  doir-a- 
meacain, '  glen  of  the  stream  with  the  roots,  bulbs,  or  parsnips.' 

Glenfield  and  Glen  Magna  (Leicester) .  1232  Close  R .  Glenesfield. 
Seemingly  fr.  a  man;  Glen  may  be  contraction  fr.  Glcedwine,  2  in 
Onom.  But  in  Dom.  is  Glen,  which  surely  must  be  G.  gleann, 
W.  glyn, '  valley,'  though  it,  too,  may  be  a  man's  name.  Magna 
is  L.  for  '  great.' 

Glentwobth  (Lincoln).  Dom.  Glenteum-de.  Cf.  grant  a.  675 
Glenthufe,  ?  in  Hants.  Perh.  '  farm  of  the  hard,  flinty  rock  ' ; 
Dan.  and  Sw.  Jclint.  See  Clent  and  -worth.  Glinton  (Market 
Deeping),  sic  Dom.  and  a.  1100,  would  suggest  a  man's  name 
hke  Glent  or  Glint.  None  such  is  recorded,  but  prob.  must  be 
postulated. 

Glogue  (Pembrokesh.).  La  W.  Y  Glog,  fr.  O.W.  clog,  '  a  stone  '; 
Corn,  clog,  '  a  steep  rock  ' ;  G.  clach,  gen.  cloiche,  '  a  stone.' 

Gloucester.  Pron.  Gloster.  c.  120  Lat.  inscr.  Glev.  =  Glevensis 
civitas,  later  do.  Glevi,  c.  380  Ant.  Bin.  Gle-,  Clevo,  a.  700 
Raven.  Geog.  Glebon,  681  cTiart.  Gleawceasdre,  804  grant 
Gleaw(e)ceastre,  Lanfranc  Rist.  ann.  1071,  Cloecistra,  ib.  1080 
Claudia  Civitas,  1085  ib.  Cleucestra,  a.,1130  Sim.  Dur.  Glocestre, 


GNOSALL  276  GOLCAB 

1140  O.E.  Chron.  Gloucestre,  c.  1160  Gesta  Steph.  Glocestrensis, 
1375  Barbour  Gloster.  In  W.  Caerloew,  as  in  a.  810  Nennius 
Cair  Gloui.,  Saxonice  autem  Gloecester.  Said  to  be  called '  camp 
of  Gloni '  fr.  its  builder,  a  mere  guess,  whilst  to  connect  with 
Emperor  Claudius  is  to  make  a  worse  guess.  Many  think  the 
name  Kelt.,  'bright  castle,'  fr.  W.  glaw,  'brightness.'  The 
forms  all  have  the  c,  in  later  times  the  soft  c,  and  not  ch  (except 
in  Layam,  Gleochaestre),  owing  to  Nor.  influence.     See  -cester. 

Gnosall  (Stafford).  Dom.  Geneshale,  1199  Gnowdes-,  Gnoddes- 
hall,  1204  Gnoweshale,  1223  Gnoushale.  '  Nook,  corner  of  ' 
prob.  '  Oeonweald,'  one  in  Onom.  Duignan  suggests  '  of  Cnof- 
wealh/  which  is  very  far  fr.  Dom.  But  older  forms  are  needed. 
Cf.  Dom.  Norfk,  Gnaleshala.    See  -hall. 

Gob6wen  (Oswestry).  (1298  '  Robertus  Gobyon.')  W.  gob  Owen, 
'  heap,  mound  of  Owen/ 

GdpALMiNG  (Surrey).  Dom.  Godelminge,  a.  1199  Goldhalming. 
Patronymic,  fr.  Godhelm.  Dom.  also  has  '  Godelannge,'  Surrey; 
?  an  error. 

GoDLEY  (Mottram).  a.  1250  Godelegh;  also  cf.  Dom.  Surrey, 
Godelei.  Prob.  not  '  good  meadow,'  but  '  meadow  of  Godd, 
Godda,  or  Gode,'  all  of  them  names  found  in  Onom.  Cf.  Gode- 
stoch  in  Dom.  Salop,  and  Godeston  in  1 155  Pipe  Devon.    See  -ley. 

GoDMANCHiiSTER  (Huntingdon).  970  chart.  Guthmuncester,  Dom. 
Godmundcestre,  c.  1150-1623  Gumecestre.  'Camp  of  Guth- 
mund/  a  name  common  and  early,  found  occasionally  as  Gud- 
mund,  which  is  but  var.  of  the  common  Godmund, '  the  man  whom 
God'  (or  'a  god')  'protects,'  as  gu^,  go^  is  O.N.  for  'god'; 
O.E.  god.  The  contracted  form  Gume-  is  influenced  by  O.E. 
guma,  3-4  gume,  3-6  gome,  '  a  man,'  and  Goma  occurs  as  a  name 
twice  in  Onom.  We  have  parallels  in  Goodmanham  and 
GuMLEY.    See  -Chester. 

GoDSHiLL  (WroxaU).     1499  Gaddishill=  Gad's  Hill. 

GODSTOW  (Oxford).  Not  in  Dom.  1158-59  Pipe  Godestov,  1161-62 
ib.  Godesto.  '  Place  of  Goda,'  a  very  common  O.E.  name.  See 
Stow.    Dom.  Oxon  has  Godendone,  '  Goda's  hill.' 

GoLANT,  Glent,  or  St.  Sampson's  (Par).  1507  Gullant.  Prob. 
Keltic  or  Com.  gol  land,  '  holy  ground.' 

GoLBORN  Bellow  and  David  (Chester),  c.  1350  Golborne,  which 
is  prob. '  gosHng's  burn  or  brook,'  fr.  gull  sb.^  in  Oxf.  Diet.,  found 
in  4  as  goll,  '  a  gosUng.'  Bellow  is  fr.  the  family  of  Bella  Aqua 
or  Belleau,  '  fine  water,'  which  once  held  this  place. 

GoLCAR  (Huddersfield).  Dom.  Gudlages  arc,  and  argo;  later, 
Gouthelagh  chaithes,  Goullakarres.  '  ShieUng/  Norse  Gaelic 
argh,  G.  airigh,  '  of  Gudlag  '  or  '  Guthlac'  See  Ai^glesabk,  and 
cf.  Grimsabgh,  etc.  The  -car  comes  through  the  influence  of  N. 
kjarr,  'marshy  ground.' 


GOLDEN  VALLEY  277  GOENAL  WOOD 

Golden  Valley  (S.  Hereford).  We  find  c.  1130  Richard  de  Aurea 
Valle  as  King's  chaplain.  Said  to  be  because  the  French  monks 
confused  W.  dwr,  '  stream/  with  Fr.  d'or, '  of  gold/ 

GoLDiNGTON  (Bedford).  Dom.  Goldentone.  *  Village  of  Gold'  or 
'  Gould.'  Cf.  Dom.  Essex,  Goldingham.  See  next  and  -ing. 
But  GoLDicoTE  (Alderminster)  is  1275  Caldicote,  '  cold  cot.' 

GoLDSBOROUGH  (Knaresboro') .  Dom.  Golborg,  Goldeburg,  1179-80 
Goldburg.  '  Burgh,  castle  of  Gold/  which  is  still  an  Eng.  sur- 
name. One  Golda  and  one  Golde  in  Onom.  See  -borough. 
GoLDTHORPB  (Rotherham) ,  Dom.  Guldetorp,  Golde-,  Godetorp, 
is  fr.  the  same  name.     See  -thorpe. 

GoNALSTON  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Gunnulveston,  1278  Guneliston, 
1316  Gonelston.     '  Town  of  Gunnulf-r.' 

GooDMAiraAM  (E.  Yorks).  Bede  Godmundigaham.  Dom.  Gud- 
mundham,  -mandham.  '  Home  of  Godmund ' — i.e.,  the  man 
whom  God  protects.  O.E.  mund,  '  protection.'  The  -iga  in 
Bede   prob.   represents   -ing,   q.v.    Cf.   Godmanchester   and 

GUMLEY. 

Goodrich  (Ross,  Hereford).  Not  in  Dom.  0.'E.Godric{h),  a,  man's 
name.  A  rare  type  of  place-name.  Cf.  Snitter  (Northumber- 
land), also  a.  1400  Godrichesley,  now  Gothersley  (Stourbridge). 

GooDWiCK  (Fishguard).    Dan.  and  Sw.  gud  vik,  *  good  bay.' 

Goodwin  Sands,  or  The  Goodwins  (Kent).  1495  le  Goodwine 
sandes,  1546  Goodwins  sands.  Said  to  be  fr.  Earl  Godwine,  so 
prominent  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the  Confessor.  Cf.  The 
Bedwins,  sands  in  R.  Severn,  perh.  fr.  O.E.  Beaduwine. 

GooLE  (Lines) .  a.  1552  Leland, '  a  place  caullid  Golflete' ;  fr.  the  dial. 
gool,  found  in  Eng.  in  1542  as  goole,  '  a  small  stream,  a  ditch  ' ; 
O.Fr.  gole,  goule,  '  the  throat.'    For  -flete,  see  Fleet. 

GooNHAVERN  (Pcrranporth,  Cornwall).  Corn,  goon,  '  a  down,  a 
moorland,  a  marsh,'  and  ?  some  word  for  '  iron,'  W.  haiarn. 

Goosey  (Faringdon).  O.E.  chart.  Gosige,  Dom.  Gosei,  1291  Goseye. 
'  Goose-isle.'  See  -ey.  But  Goosnargh  (Preston),  Dom.  Gusan- 
sarghe,  is  '  shieling  of  Gusan,'  an  unrecorded,  prob.  N.,  name. 
See  Anglesark  and  Grimsargh. 

Gore  (hundred  of  Middlesex,  around  Kilburn).  c.  1134  chart.  Gara, 
which  is  O.E.  or  Early  Eng.  for  '  a  wedge-shaped  strip  of  land  on 
the  side  of  an  irregular  field.'  This  is  a  good  deal  earlier  than 
any  quot.  in  Oxf.  Diet.    Cf.  Dom.  Wilts,  Gare. 

GoRLESTON  (Gt.  Yarmouth).  Dom.  Gorlestuna.  The  name  is 
doubtful;  ?  fr.  Garweald,  oi  Geroldus,  or  Gerbold,  as  in  Dom. 
Norfk.,  Gerboldesha. 

GoRNAL  Wood  (Dudley),  a.  1500  Gwarnell,  Guarnell.  Prob. '  hall ' 
or  '  nook  '  (O.E.  heall  or  hedlh)  '  of  Garnwi '  or  '  Geornwig,' 


GOESLEY  278  aRAINTHOEPE 

names  in  Onom.  Duignan  derives  fr.  O.E.  cweorn,  cwearne, 
6  quearn,  '  a  quern,  a  hand-mill/  but  this  is  not  prob.  phoneti- 
cally.   See  -hall. 

GoESLEY  (Glouc).  Not  in  Dom.  1228  Close  R.  Gorstley.  Prob. 
not  '  furze-meadow/  O.E.  gors,  '  furze,  whin,'  but  '  meadow  of 
Gorst/  a  name  not  in  Onom.,  but  still  a  surname.     See  -ley. 

GosFORTH  (Seascale  and  Newcastle).  Se.  G.  c.  1170  Gose-,  1390 
Gosford,  1452  Gosforth.  '  Goose  ford,'  O.E.  gos,  3-6  gose,  '  a 
goose.'  But  GoscoTE  (Walsall),  a.  1300  Gorstycote,  is  gorsey  cot 
or  '  cottage  among  the  gorse ';  and  Gossington  (Glouc),  1189 
Gosintone,  is  '  village  of  Gosa,'  -an.  Of.  940  chart.  Gosanwelle 
(Dorset).    See  -forth. 

Gotham  (Notts).  Sic  1316,  but  Dom.  Gatha.  O.E.  gdt  ham, '  goat- 
house,'  4-6  gote,  6-  goat.  Gotherdstgton  (Bishop's  Cleeve),  Dom. 
Godrinton,  is  fr.  Godhere.     See  -ing. 

GowER  (S.  Wales).  In  W.  Gwyr.  a.  810  Nennius  Guir,  c.  1188 
€Kr.  Camb.  Goer,  Ann.  Camb.  1095  Goher.  Prob.  W.  gwyr, 
'  awry,  askew ';  there  is  a  Corn,  gover,  '  a  rivulet ';  and  W.  gwyr 
is  '  fresh,  verdant.'    There  can  be  no  certainty  as  to  the  name. 

GowY  R.  (trib.  of  R.  Mersey,  Cheshire).  Corrup.  of  W.  gwy, '  water, 
river/ 

GoxHTLL  (E.  Riding  and  Grimsby).  E.  Ri.  G.  Dom.  Golse  (?  c), 
Gr.  G.  Not  in  Dom.,  1210  Gousele  (where  -ele  prob.  represents 
-hale  or  -hall,  q.v.).  Difficult;  more  old  forms  needed.  No 
name  like  Golc  is  on  record;  and  gowk,  4-6  goJc,  O.N.  gauk-r,  '  the 
cuckoo,'  yields  no  I,  nor  is  it  found  in  Eng.  till  c.  1325. 

GoYT  R.  (N.E.  Chesh.).  M.E.  gote,  'a  watercourse,  a  stream'; 
O.E.  gyte, '  a  flood,'  fr.  geotan, '  to  pour,'  stiU  found  in  North,  dial, 
as  goit,  goyt.  Of.  W.  gwyth,  '  a  conduit,  a  channel';  also  '  Skir- 
beck  Gowt,'  sic  1593,  near  Boston,  which  is  a  watercourse  or 
channel.  Guyting-Power  and  -Temple  (Glouc.)  must  be  fr.  same 
root;  814  chart.  Gythinge,  Dom.  Getinge,  1221  Guytinge,  with 
-ing,  q.v.,  here  in  its  meaning  of  '  place  on  a  stream.'  But 
GoYTRB  (Glamorgan)  may  be  for  W.  coed  tre,  'wood-house, 
dwelling  in  the  wood.' 

Grafton  (5  in  P.G.).  Worcester  G.  884  chart.  Graftune.  Two  in 
Warwick,  710  chart.  Graftone,  962  ib.  Greftone,  Dom.  Grastone, 
1189  Grafton.  Northants  G.  1166-67  Pipe  Grafton.  '  Grove 
town,'  O.E.  grdf.    See  -ton. 

Graham.  The  orig.  Graham  prob.  was  in  Northumberland;  c.  1195 
a  David  de  Graham  witnesses  a  charter  re  Ellingham  (Belford) . 
The  surname  is  found  a.  1128  as  Graeme,  and  1139  Graha. 
O.E.  grd  ham,  '  grey  house.'  Of.  1179-80  Pipe  Gremrig  (Yorks). 

Gratnthorpe  (Lines).  [Dom.  Lines  has  only  Greneham.]  '  Village 
in  the  forked  valley  ';  O.N.  grein,  '  division,  branch';  Sw.  gren. 


GEAMPOUND  279  GREAT  KIMBLE 

'  a  branch/  See  -thorpe  and  Grain  (Sc),  also  Grain,  sb.''  in 
Oxf.  Diet.,  found  in  Eng.  a.  1300.  This  last  also  means  '  arm  of 
the  sea,  branch  of  a  stream/  as  in  Isle  of  Grain  (Medway). 

Grampound  (Truro).    Corn,  grawpont,  '  great  bridge.' 

GRAN(D)BORauGH  (Rugby  and  Winslow) .  1043  chart.  Greenesburgh, 
Greneburga,  Dom.  Grane-,  Greneberge,  1260  Greneborwe, 
'  Burgh  of  Green,'  not  in  Onom.  Cf.  Granby  (Notts),  Dom. 
Granebi,  and  Dom.  Lines.,  Granham.    See  -borough. 

Grantchesteb.    See  Cambridge. 

Grantham.  Sic  in  Dom.  '  Home  of  Oranta '  or  '  Grant,'  a  name 
not  in  Onom.,  but  we  have  also  Grantley  (Ripon),  Dom. 
Grentelaia.    On  the  meaning  of  Grant,  see  Cambridge. 

Grasmere  (Cumberland).  'Grassy  lake';  O.E.  grces,  3-6  gras, 
'  grass.'    Cf.  Graseley  (Wolverhampton),  sic  1282. 

Grassington  (Skipton).  Dom.  Ghersinton,  1212  Gersinton.  '  Town 
of  Gersent '  or  '  Gersendis,'  both  names  in  Onom. 

(jtRATeley  (Andover).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  a.  941  Lett,  to  Athelstan 
Greatanlea.  '  Greta's  lea  '  or  '  meadow  ' ;  but  the  name  is  not  in 
Onom.  Cf.  Greetham  and  Gratwich  (Uttoxeter),  Dom.  Grate- 
wich,  which  Duignan  thinks  'great,  large  village.'  O.E.  great, 
3  greet,  4-6  grait,  grett. 

Graveley  (Stevenage  and  Huntingdon).  Hunt.  G.  chart.  Graeflea, 
Greflea,  Dom.  Gravelei,  '  grave  or  trench  meadow.'  See  -ley. 
Cf.  Graveney  (Faversham),  940  chart.  Gravenea.     See  -ey. 

Gravesend.  Dom.  Essex,  Grauesanda,  1157  Pipe  Grauesent. 
c.  1500  in  Arnold's  Chron.  Gravesende — i.e., '  at  the  end  of  the 
moat.'    Cf.  Med.  Dutch  grave,  '  a  trench.' 

Greasborough  (Rotherham).  Dom.  once  Gersebroc.  One  would 
expect  a  man's  name  here,  but  on  analogy  of  Garston  this  is 
prob.  '  grassy  brook,'  O.E.  broc,  altered  to  -borough  (q.v.).  O.E. 
for  '  grass  '  is  goers,  gross.  But  it  is  also  in  Dom.  Grese-,  Gresse- 
burg,  prob.  'burgh,  castle  of  Grese'  or  ^ Grise' — i.e.,  'the  Pig!' 
See  Gristhorpe.    So  Gersebroc  is  prob.  an  error. 

Great  Ayton  (Yorks).  Dom.  Atun,  1179-80  Atton.  Perh. '  village 
of  Mtta,  Mtte,'  or  '  Mtti,'  all  forms  in  Onom.  If  so,  not=  Ayton 
(Sc).  It  may  well  be  =Eton;  O.E.  ea-tun,  'town,  village  on 
the  stream.' 

Great  Bookham  (Leatherhead).  Chart.  Bocham,  Dom.  Bocheha. 
Cf.  1224  Patent  R.  Bukeham  (Norfk.).  Prob.  'beech-built 
home.'    See  Bockhampton. 

Great  Bradley  (Newmarket).  1341  deed  Bradeleghe;  M.E.  for 
'  broad  lea  '  or  '  meadow.'    See  -ley. 

Great  Kimble  (Bucks).  Dom.  Chenebella,  chart.  Cunebelle,  1291 
Kenebelle.     Cf.  903  chart.  Cynebellinga-gemsere.     Perh.,  as  Dr. 


GEEAT  TEY  280  GRETTON 

Birch  suggests,  called  after  Cunobellinus,  the  British  King,  said 
to  have  been  buried  here.  There  is  also  a  Cynebill  or  Cynobill, 
brother  of  the  Bps.  Cedda  and  Ceadda,  in  Onom.  Cf.  Kemble 
(Cirencester),  a.  1300  Kenebelle. 

Great  Tey  (Kelvedon).     O.E.  tih,  teah,  '  a  paddock/ 

Great  Witchingham  (Norwich).  Dom.  Wicinghaha,  c.  1444 
Wychjrngham.  '  Home  of  Wiching  '  or  '  W icing ';  three  of 
this  name  in  Onom.,  really  a  var.  of  viking, '  bay-man,  sea-rover.' 
Prob.  here  a  patronymic.     See  -ing. 

Greenodd  (Lonsdale).  O.N.  oddi,  odd-r,  'a  small  point  of  land,' 
as  in  Odde  (Norway).  Cf.  Greenhow  (Pately  Br.).  O.N.  haug-r, 
'  mound,  cairn  ',  and  Dom.  Norfk.,  Grenehov. 

Greenwich.  1013  O.E.  Chron.  Grenawic,  Dom.  Grenviz,  c.  1386 
Chaucer  Grenewich.  O.E.  grene  wic,  '  green,  grassy  town  or 
dwelling.' 

Greetham  (Oakham).  Dom.  and  1292  Gretham.  Cf.  Dom.  Hants, 
Greteham.  Prob.  *  Greta's  home,'  as  in  Grateley.  But  it  may 
be  '  great  house ';  O.E.  great,  grecet,  3-6  gret,  4-6  greet.  Greet- 
LAND  (Halifax)  is  Dom.  Greland. 

Grendon  (Atherstone,  Northampton,  Aylesbury).  Ath.  G.  Dom. 
Grendon.  O.E.  gren  dun,  '  green  hill.'  Grindgn  (Ham  and  Co. 
Durham),  H.  G.  Dom.  Grendone,  and  1183  Boldon  Bk.  Grendona 
(Durham),  is  the  same  name.' 

Gresham  (Norwich).  Dom.  and  1426  Gressam.  Older  forms 
needed,  but  prob.  'Home  of  Gressa,'  a  name  not  in  Onom., 
but  seen  in  Gressenhall,  and  cf.  Greasborough,  whilst 
Dorri.  Norfk  has  also  Gresingaha,  the  patronymic  form.  See  -ham. 

Gresley  (Burton-on-Trent) .  Old  forms  needed.  Perh.  '  meadow 
of  Gresa '  or  '  Gressa.'  Cf.  Gresham.  But  also  cf.  1179-80 
Greselea,  1283  Greseleye  (S.  Lanes),  Grizebeck  and  Grizedale, 
which  may  come  fr.  O.N.  griss,  'a  pig.'  See  -ley.  Greis-  or 
Grassthorpe  (Notts),  Dom.  Grestorp,  is  prob.  'grassy  village'; 
cf.  Garston. 

Gressenhall  (Dereham).  Dom.  Gressenhala,  c.  1450  Gressenhale. 
Prob.  as  above, '  nook,  corner  of  Gressa.'  It  does  not  seem  prob. 
that  it  comes  fr.  grass  ;  no  adj.  grassen  or  gressen  is  known.  See 
-haU. 

Greta  R.  (Yorks).  O.N.  griot  a,  'stony,  shingly  river,'  fr.  griot, 
O.E.  great, ' gravel,  sand,  stones.'  The  name  reappears  in  Lewis, 
the  R.  Greeta  or  Creed,  in  G.  Gride.  We  also  have  a  R.  Greet 
(Notts),  958  chart.  Greota,  Great  Bridge  (Wednesbury)  on  a 
stream  called  a.  1400  Grete,  a.  1600  Greete,  and  Greet  (Glouc), 
1195  Greta,  a  hamlet  on  a  iDrook. 

Gretton  (Kettering  and  Winchcombe).  Ket.  G.  not  in  Dom. 
Chron.  Ramsey  Gretton.    Same  as  Girton,    But  Wi.   G-  ia 


GEEYSTONES  281  GKITTLETON 

Dom.  Gretestan,  or  -stanes,  c.  1175  Gretstona,  prob.  '  great 
stone  or  rock/  Cf.  Geeetham;  and  see  -ton,  which  often  inter- 
changes with  -stone. 

Greystones  (Sheffield) .  Cf.  847  chart.  Fram  Smalen  cumbes  heaf de 
to  grsewanstane ;  not  this  place.  There  is  no  Smallcombe  in  the 
Gazetteers. 

GmMSABGH  (Preston) .  Dom.  Grimesarge.  '  Grim's  sheihng '  or 
'  hut."  argh  being  N.  corrup.'of  G.  airigh.  See  Anglesabk;  and 
cf.  Sizergh  (Kendal),  also  next. 

Grimsby.  Dom.,  and  1156  Pipe  Grimesbi,  1296  Grimmesby,  1297 
Grymesby.  '  Grim's  dwelling.''  See  -by.  Grim  was  a  very 
common  O.E.  name.  Grimsby  existed  from  the  days  of  Cnut, 
or  earlier.  Its  origin  is  described  in  c.  1300  Havelok.  There  is  a 
Grimsbury  (Berks)  and  a  Grimstock  (Coleshill) .  See  -stock.  But 
Grimscote  (Whitchurch)  is  said  to  have  been  Kilmescote  and 
Kenemyscote,  which,  as  Duignan  says,  is  prob.  '  Coenhelm's  '  or 
'  Kenelm's  cot.'    There  are  also  several  Grimstons — e.g.,  Dom. 

-     Yorks  and  Notts,  Grimeston,  Grimstun,  and  a  Grimsbury  (Glouc.) . 

Grim's  Dyke,  or  Ditch  op  Grim,  runs  fr.  Bradeham  (High  Wycombe) 
to  Berkhamstead  (Herts).  It  is  an  ancient  earthwork  of  un- 
known origin,  possibly  Roman.  Cf.  above  and  Graham's  Dyke 
(Falkirk),  which  is  the  old  Roman  Wall;  also  Grime's  Hlll 
(Worcs.),  1275  Grimesput  ('pit ').  Grim  in  O.E.  means  '  fierce, 
cruel,'  common  as  a  surname.  Geimley  (Worcs.)  is  851  chart. 
Grimanleage,  '  Grima's  meadow/ 

Grestdleton  (CHtheroe).  Dom.  GretUntone.  This  seems  to  be  a 
corrup.  of  the  common  '  GrimcyteVs  town,'  a  name  also  found  as 
Grichetel,  Grinchel,  Grichel.  But  cf.  next,  Grindleford  (Sheffield) 
and  Grindalythe  (see  Hythe),  Thirsk;  neither  in  Dom. 

Grindley  Brook  (Whitchurch) .  May  simply  be  '  meadow  with  the 
barred  gate';  O.N.  grind.  See  -ley.  Some  would  compare 
Grendlesmere  (Wilts)  fr.  Grendel,  the  witch  in  Beowulf.  Cf. 
a.  1000  cJmrt.  Grendles  bee  and  Grindeles  pytt  (Wore),  and  there 
is  a  Grindelay,  or  '  Grendel's  isle  '  (Orkney) ;  but  see,  too,  above. 
Grendley  (Uttoxeter)  is  often  in  13th  cny.  Greneleye,  as  if 
'  green  meadow.'    Cf.  Gringley  (Notts),  Dom.  Grenelei. 

Gedstdon.    See  Grendon. 

Grinshill  (Shrewsbury).  Not  in  Dom.  Grin  is  prob.  var.  of 
Grim,  as  in  Grimsby,  etc.  Grimthorpe  (Yorks)  is  in  Dom.  both 
Grim-  and  Grintorp;  cf.  940  chart.  Grinescumb  (Dorset).  But 
Grind  ale  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Grendale,  '  green  dale.' 

Gristhorpe  (Filey).  Dom.  Grisetorp  and  Griston  (Thetford). 
Dom.  Gris-,  Grestuna.  '  Village  of  the  pigs,'  or, '  of  a  man  Grise  '; 
O.N.  griss,  '  a  pig.'  Similar  is  Girsby  (Yorks),  Dom.  Grisebi. 
Cf.  next  and  Greasbobough;  and  see  -thorpe. 

Grittleton  (Chippenham).  940  chart.  Grutelingtone,  Dom.  Grete- 
linton.     '  Village  of  the  sons  of  Grutel,'  a  name  not  in  Onom. 

19 


GEIZEBECK  282  GULVAL 

Perhaps  it  is  for  the  fairly  common  Orimcytel,  var.  Gr'icketel, 
See  -ing. 

Geizebeck  (Furness)  and  GmzEDAiiE  (Cumberland).  O.N.  griss, 
'  a  pig.'    Cf.  above.     On  beck,  '  a  brook/  see  Beckebmet. 

Groby  (Leicester).  Dom.  Grobi,  1298  Grouby.  '  Dwelling  by  the 
pit."    O.N.  grof,  Ger.  grube.    See  -by. 

Gronant  (Rhyl).    W.  gro  nant,  '  sand  '  or  '  gravel  valley.' 

GxJASH  R.  (Rutland).  Prob.  O.W.  gwes,  'that  which  moves  or 
goes.'    Cf.,  too,  G.  guaimeas,  '  quietness,'  and  Wash. 

Guernsey.  Possibly  c.  380  Notit.  Dign.  '  Granona  in  Armorica.' 
If  so  the  first  part  of  this  name  must  be  Keltic,  or  pre-Keltic; 
perh.  W.  gwern,  '  plain,  moor,  and  alder  tree,'  with  N.  ending. 
But  it  is  a.  1170  Wace  Guernesi,  1218  Patent  B.  Ger(n)esie, 
1219  Gernereye;  1286  Close  B.  Gennere,  1447  Guernesey,  1449 
Garnyse,  1454  Gernessey.  Some  think  it  is  also  a.  1220  Volsunga 
Saga  Varinsey.  The  name  is  prob.  N.  '  Isle  of  Gcerwine '  or 
'  Gerinus,'  names  in  Onom.,  or  of  an  unrecorded  Gcern,  in  which 
case  s  in  1218  will  be  an  Eng.  gen.  and  r  in  1219  a  Norse  one. 
See  -ey. 

Guild  EN  Mobden  (Royston,  Hunts)  and  Sutton  (Chester),  c.  1080 
Inquis.  Camb.  Mordune,  1166  Mordone,  1236  Mordene.  '  Moor, 
down  ';  O.E.  dun,  changed  into  denu,  '  (wooded)  valley.'  Later, 
1255  Geldenemordon,  1317  Guldenemordon,  1302  Gylden,  1342 
Gilden,  1346  Gyldene.  This  also  prob.,  thinks  Skeat,  means 
'  Morden  of  the  guild-brother,'  O.E.  gyldena,  gen.  pi.  of  gylda, 
'  a  guild-brother.'  But  further  evidence  is  needed.  It  can 
hardly  be  the  same  as  Dom.  Goldene  (Salop),  with  which  cf. 
GoldenhiU  (Stoke-on-Trent). 

Guildford.  Dom.  Gilde-,  Geldeford,  c.  1100  BaVph  the  Black 
Guldedune  (O.E.  dun,  '  hill,  hiU-fort '),  1120  Geldeforda,  a.  1199 
Goldeford,  1298  Gildeforde.  '  Ford  with  the  toU  ';  O.E.  ^ield, 
^eld,  ^yld,  '  payment,  tribute.' 

GuiSBORo'  (Yorks) .  Dom.  Ghigesborg ;  but  it  is  also  Dom.  Giseborne, 
1151  Gysebume.  Cf.  Gisburn,  and  see  -bourne.  It  is  diJBficult 
to  say  what  name  Ghige-  represents,  but  prob.  it  is  the  same  as 
in  Ginge  (Berks),  which  is  in  O.E.  chart.  Greging,  Geinge,  Gainge; 
Dom.  Gainz, '  place  of  the  sons  of  Gcega  ';  also  cf.  K.C.D.  vi.  137, 
Geganlege,  '  Gega'a  meadow.'  In  Ghiges-  we  have  a  strong  gen. 
instead  of  the  weak  -an,  and  Gise-  is  a  contraction;  also  see  next. 
See  -boro'. 

GuiSELEY  (Shipley).  Dom.  Gisele.  '  Gisa'B  lea'  or  'meadow.' 
See  above,  and  cf.  Dom.  Norfk.,  Guistune.     See  -ley. 

GuLVAL  (Penzance).  Sic  1521;  1536  Gulvale  alias  Lanesleye  (1222 
Lanesely).  Called  after  (?wc?t<;aZ,  Bp.  of  St.  Malo,  6th  cny.  But 
Lanesely  must  mean  '  church  of  '  some  other  saint. 


GUMLEY  283  GWYNFAI 

GuMLEY  (Leicester).  Dom.  Godmundelai,  1292  Gomundele.  '  Lea, 
meadow  of  Godmund';  3  suck  in  Onom.  Cf.  Godmanchester 
and  GooDMANHAM ;  and  see  -ley. 

GuNNEESBTJRY  (Kew).  Not  found  till  the  15th  cny.  'Burgh, 
town  of  Gunner/  N.  Gunnarr,  a  common  name  in  Onom.  Cf' 
next  and  Ballygunner  (Waterf ord) ;  and  see  -bury. 

GuNNERSKELD  (Shap).  'Well  of  Gunner'  (see  above);  fr.  O.N. 
kelda,  '  a  well,  a  spring.'    Cf.  Threlkeld  (Penrith). 

GiTNNiSLAKE  (Tavlstock) .  Perh.  '  Lake  of  Gunna ';  there  is  one 
such  in  Onom.  On  this  Norse  name,  which  means  '  war,'  see 
the  interesting  discussion  in  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  gun  sb.  Cf. 
GuNSTON  (Staffs)  a.  1300  Gonestone,  Gunstone.  Guim  is  still  a 
common  surname.  Lake  is  already  found  in  O.E.  as  lac,  though 
rarely.  Cf.  Filey.  But  Dom.  Devon  has  a  Gherneslete; 
?  this  place,  which  may  be  fr.  O.E.  gelcet{e),  '  open  watercourse  ' 
or  '  jimction  of  roads '  (see  leat,  sb.),  and  so  '  leat  of  Geornn '  or 
'  Geornwi/  corrupted  into  Guimislake.    Cf.;  too,  Gtjrney  Slade. 

GuNTHORPE  (Nottingham  and  Norfolk).  Not  G.  Sic  a.  1100  in 
grant  of  664,  but  Dom.  Gulne-,  Guimetorp,  1278  Guntorp.  Nor. 
G.  Dom.  Gunestorp.  '  Village  of  Gunna.'  See  above,  and 
-thorpe.  Possibly  the  name  embedded  is  Gunhildr ;  cf.  GuN- 
THWAiTE  (Yorks),  1389  Gunnyldthwayt. 

GuNWALLOE  (The  Lizard).  Named  fr.  Winwaloe,  son  of  Fragan  of 
Brittany,  c.  550. 

Gurney  Slade  (Bath).  This  looks  as  if  the  same  name  as  Dom, 
Devon,  Gherneslete ;  see  Gunnislake.  Dom.  Somerset  has  only 
Gernefelle,  '  Georn's  field.' 

Gtjyhirn  (Wisbech).  'Guy's  nook'  or  'hiding-place';  O.E.hyrne, 
now  hern,  him.  Guy  is  a  common  Nor.  name  in  England.  But 
Guy's  Clife  (Warwick)  is  a.  1200  Gibbe-  KibbecUve,  a.  1300 
Chibbeclive — i.e.,  '  Gibbie's  '  or  '  Gilbert's  cliff.' 

Gwaelod-y -Garth  (Cardiff).  W.,  'bottom  of  the  Httle  corn-field.' 
Garth  must  be  a  loan-wood,  fr.  O.N.  gar^-r,  '  an  enclosure,  a 
yard  ';  but  in  W.  it  now  means  '  a  ridge,  a  hill,  a  promontory.' 

GwAUN-OAE-GuRWEN  (Glam.).  Looks  like  W.  gwaen  cae  gwr  gwen, 
'  moor  with  the  field  of  the  fair  man '.  There  is  also  a  II.  Gwaun 
or  Gwayne  (Pembrokesh.)  a.  800  Guoun,  or  Gvoun;  W.  gwaen, 
'  a  (wet)  moor.'  Cf.  Waunarlwydd,  Glam.  (W.  arglwydd,  '  a 
superior,  a  lord  ') . 

GwEEK  (Helston).  Corn,  giveek ;  L.  vicus,  'town,  village.'  Cf. 
Week  St.  Mary,  etc. 

GwiNEAR  (Hayle,  Cornwall) .  NotinjDom.  1536  Gwynner.  Some 
would  say.  Corn,  gwin  nor,  '  white  earth.'  Cf.  Annor.  But 
Gwynear  was  a  saint,  killed  by  K.  Listewdrig. 

Gwynfai  or  -EE  (Llangadock).  1317  Gwynuey.  To-day  W.  gwyn 
fai,  aspirated  fr.  mai,  '  fair  field.'    But  -uey  may=  gwy,  'river.' 


GYTING  284  HADSTOCK 

Gyting  and  Temple  Guiting  (Cutsdean,  Wore).  974  Gytincgas 
^welme,  Gytinc,  -ges.  Gyting  seems  a  patronymic,  '  place  of 
the  sons  of  Gytha,  Gytlie,  Githa,'  or  '  Gida/  all  forms  in  Onom. 
See  -ing.     O.E.  cewylme  is  '  a  spring,  a  well/    See  Ewelme. 

Haoheston  (E.  Suffolk).  Dom.  Haces,  Hecestuna.  '  Town  of 
Hacca  ' ;  2  in  Onom. 

Haoejstess  (Whitby).  Bede  Haconos,  Hakenes ;  O.E.  vers.  Hecanos ; 
Dom.  Hagenesse.  Haco  nos  is  O.N.  for  '  Haco's  ness  '  or  '  nose.' 
Cf.  Hackthorpe  (Penrith)  and  Haconby  (Bourne).  But  a  farm 
called  Hack-  or  Ack-bury  (Brewood,  Staffs)  is  a.  1300  Herke- 
barewe  and  1304  Erkebarwe,  '  burial-mound  of  '  an  unidentifi- 
able man. 

Hackney  (London),  c.  1250  Hackenaye,  Hacquenye;  temp. 
Edw.  IV.  Hackeney  or  Hackney.     '  Isle  of  Hacca,  Hacco/  or 

*  Hacun  ';  several  so-called  in  Onom.  See  -ey.  Nothing  to  do 
with  hackney,  the  '  horse/  which  is  O.Fr.  haquenee,  and  not 
found  in  Eng.before  about  1330.  Of.  Hagboubne  (Wallingford), 
a.  900  chart.  Hacca  broce,  Dom.  Hacheborne,  1291  Hakeburn. 

Haddenham  (Thame  and  Ely).  Th.  H.  Dom.  Hadena;  El.  H. 
K.G.D.  vi.  98  Haedanham;  c.  1080  Inquis.  Gamb.  Hadenham, 
Hsederham,  Hadreham  ;   Dom.  Hadreham;    1300  Hadenham. 

*  Home  of  Hceda  '  or  '  Heada.'  The  forms  with  r  pro  n  are  due 
to  a  common  confusion  of  liquids.     C/.  Haden. 

Haddon  Hall  (Bakewell).  Dom.  Hadun(a),  O.E.  for  'high  hill/ 
hedh,  '  high.''    Cf.  a  '  Hadune  '  (Notts),  in  Eoll  Rich.  I. 

Haden  Cross  (Dudley).  Named  fr.  a  family  long  resident  here. 
A  family  of  Haden  is  found  at  Rowley  Regis  in  1417.  (7/.  Had- 
denham. 

Hadfield  (Manchester).  Not  in  W.  and  H.  Cf.  778  chart.  'To 
hadfelde  3eate.'  This  cannot  mean  'head  field,'  but  will  be 
'  field  of  Hadd,  Hada,  Hadde,  or  Headda/  names  all  found  in 
Onom.    Cf.  Dom.  Essex  Hadfelda.    Not  the  same  as  Hatfield. 

Hadleigh  (Suffk.)  and  Hadley  (Droitwich) .  Suf .  H.,  not  in  Dom., 
a.  1200  Heddele,  still  the  local  pron.  Dr.  H.  1275  Hedley. 
Prob.  '  Headda's  meadow.'  But  Hadley  (Wellington,  Salop) 
is  said  to  be  old  Hsethleigh,  O.E.  hceth,  '  a  moor,  a  heath.'  It  is 
Dom.  Hatlege,  and  in  Dom.  medial  th  regularly  becomes  d. 
Hadsor.  (Droitwich)  is  a.  1100  Headesofre,  Dom.  Hadesore,  1275 
Haddesovere.  '  Bank,  edge  of  Headda/  O.E.  ofr,  obr,  '  bank, 
brink,  edge.'    See  -or. 

Hadstocb:  (Cambridge).  1494  i^a^^/aTi  Hadestok.  Cf.  R.Rich  I. 
Hadestache  (Derby) .  Either  '  place  of  Hadde  or  Headda,'  see 
Hadfield;  or  fr.  hade  sb^  Oxf.  Diet,  'a  strip  of  land  left  un- 
ploughed,  as  a  boundary,  etc'  Found  in  1523.  Stock  is  the 
same  root  as  stake. 


HAGGERSTON  285  HAKIN 

Haggerston  (London).  Dom.  Hergotestane.  Either  '  stone  of 
Hcergod,  Heregod,  or  Heregyth/  all  in  Onom. ;  or  '  stone  of  the 
heriot/  O.E.  here-geatu,  a  feudal  service,  now  commuted  to 
a  money  payment  on  the  death  of  a  tenant.  See  Oxf.  Diet, 
s.v.  HERIOT.  But  there  is  or  was  a  Haggerston  (Co.  Durham), 
1183  Agardeston,  1213  Hagardeston,  which  must  be  fr.  a  man 
Haggard,  O.Fr.  Agard,  still  a  surname. 

Hagley  (Stourbridge).  Dom.  Hageleia,  a.  1200  Hageleg.  The 
first  half  is  thought  to  be  N.,  though  such  names  are  very  rare 
in  this  shire.  O.N.  hagi,  Sw.  hage,  '  enclosed  field,  pasture,'  not 
found  in  Eng.,  as  hag  sb^,  until  1589.  Moreprob.  is  derivation 
from  O.E.  haga,  with  the  same  meaning,  cognate  with  O.E. 
hege,  '  a  hedge.'  The  -ley  (q.v.)  is  '  meadow.'  Cf.  Haglow 
(Awre),  old  Hagloe.  See  -low.  This  may  be  fr.  a  man  Agga, 
short  for  Agamund,  a  common  name,  as  a  form  Aggemede  is 
found  for  Hagmede,  also  in  Glouc. 

Haigh  and  Haighton  (see  Hatjghton). 

^Saikable  (Westmld.) .    Said  to  be  High  Cop  Gill  or  '  ravine ' ;  fr. 
O.N.  hd-r  kopp-r,  '  high  top  (of  a  hiU).'    See  -gill. 

Hailes  (Glouc.)  and  Hales  (Mkt.  Drayton).  Dom.  Hales  (?), 
a.  1400  Hali,  Hales.  Glos.  H.  Dom.  Heile,  c.  1386  Chaucer 
Hayles.  O.E.  healh,  dat.  heale,  Mercian  halh,  hale,  '  a  nook, 
corner,  secret-place,'  with  common  Eng.  pi.  Some  make  it 
'  meadow-land  by  a  river,  a  haugh.'  See  -hall.  Hale  (Arre- 
ton,  I.  of  W.)  is  Dom.  Atehalle,  '  nook  of  Ata/  2  in  Onom., 
where  the  personal  name  has  fallen  away.  We  have  the  simple 
Hale  also  at  Liverpool,  Altrincham,  Glostersh.,  and  Chingford. 
The  pi.  s  is  usually  late. 

Hailsham  (Sussex).  Not  in  Dom.  1230  Close  R.  Eilesham. 
'  Home  of  Mia,'  1  in  Onom. 

Hainault  Forest  (Essex).  Old  Henholt.  This  old  form  tends  to 
bar  out  connection  with  Hainhault  or  Phihppa  of  Hainhault, 
Germany,  consort  of  Edward  III.  Some  think  it  is,  O.E.  hkin 
(inflected  form  of  heah),  holt,  '  high  wood.'  As  likely  hen 
represents  Dan.  hegna,  '  a  hedge,  an  enclosure,'  O.N.  hegna,  '  to 
enclose.'    Dom.  Essex  has  only  Henham. 

Hainton  (Lincoln),  Dom.  Hagetone,  Haintone,  -tun,  and  Hain- 
WORTH  (Yorks),  Dom.  Hageneworde.  Prob.  fr.  same  man  as 
in  Haunton  (Tamworth),  942  Hagnatun,  a.  1300  Hagheneton, 
and  in  Hanyard,  1227  Hagonegate,  Hageneyate.  '  Town ' 
and  '  farm  of  Hagene.'    See  -worth. 

Haisthorpe  (Yorks).  Dom.  Aschil-,  Ascheltorp,  Haschetorp. 
'  Place  of  ^s-  or  Ascytel,'  var.  Askyl,  Aschil.  See  Asselby  and 
-thorpe. 

Hakin  (IMilford  Haven).  Sometimes  thought  to  be  fr.  the  Norse 
Xing  Haco{n)  (?  which).    Such  an  origin  would  be  contrary  to 


HALAM  286  HALLOUGHTON 

analogy.    It    may    be    corrup.    of    haven.    Cf.    Copen-hagen, 

'  merchants'  haven/ 
Halam  (see  Hallam). 
Hale  (see  Hatles). 
Halesowen    (Worstrsh.).    Dom.  Halas,   1276  Halesowayn,  1286 

Halesowen.    See   Hailes.     The   Owen  comes  fr.   David  ap 

Owen,  prince  of  N.Wales,  who  married  Emma,  sister  of  Henry  II., 

in  1174. 
Halfoed  (Shipston  and  Stourbridge).     Ship.  H.  950  cTiart.  Halh- 

ford,  1176  Haleford.     '  Ford  at  the  meadow-land,'  or  '  haugh,' 

O.E.  healh ;  see  -hale,  -hall.    But  St.  H.  is  1343  Oldeforde. 

Halifax.  Curious  name.  It  seems  always  (see  below)  to  have 
been  so  spelt,  since  the  founding  of  the  Church  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist  here  soon  after  1100.  If  so,  it  must  be  O.E.  Mlig  feax, 
'  holy  (2-4  kali)  locks  '  or  '  head  of  hair,'  perh.  referring  to  some 
picture  of  the  head  of  St.  John.  On  the  strength  of  a  compari- 
son with  Carfax  (see  Oxf.  Diet,  s.v.),  it  is  often  said  to  mean 
'  holy  fork  '  or  '  holy  roads,'  converging  as  in  a  fork,  L.  furca. 
Carfax  is  first  found  in  1357  Carfuks,  and  not  till  1527  as  Carf axe, 
so  this  origin  seems  quite  untenable.  Perh.  the  earliest  original 
document  which  names  the  place  is  a  letter,  c.  1190,  which 
speaks  of  '  ignotse  ecclesise  de  HaHflex,'  where  the  I  seems  to  be  a 
scribe's  error,  and  -flex  must  be  feax.  '  Holy  flax '  would  make 
no  sense.  In  Dom.  it  seems  to  be  called  Feslei.  Can  the  Fes- 
be  feax  too  ? 

Halkin  (Holywell).  Dom.  Alchene,  a  puzzling  form.  But,  as  the 
village  now  lies  at  the  foot  of  a  hill  called  Helygen,  this  is  prob. 
the  origin.    It  means  in  W.  '  a  willow-tree.' 

Hallam  (Sheffield).  Dom.  Hallun.  An  old  loc,  'on  the  slopes,' 
O.N.  hall-r,  '  a  slope';  cf.  La  Haule,  Jersey.  Halam  (South- 
well) is  also  in  chart,  set  Halum,  1541  Halom.  For  a  N.  word 
taking  on  an  Eng.  loc.  form,  cf.  Holme-on-the-Wolds.  Hallen 
(Henbury),  old  Hel(l)en,  may  be  fr.  W.  helen,  '  salt ';  but  this  is 
doubtful. 

Halulford  (Shepperton).  969  chart.  Halgeford,  inflected  form  of 
O.E.  haligford,  '  holy  ford,'  1316  Halgheford. 

Hallikeld  (Yorks).  O.N.  heilag-r  kelda,  'holy  well  or  spring.' 
O.E.  hdlig,  'holy.'  Cf.  Gunnerskeld  and  1202  Fines  Helghe- 
felde. 

Hallingbury  (Bp's.  Stortford).  Dom.  HaUngheberia.  'Burgh, 
town  of  the  sons  of  ?  '  Older  forms  needed  to  identify  this 
patronymic ;  ?  fr.  Halig  or  Healfdene.    See  -ing. 

Hallington  (Corbridge,  Northumbld.).  Cf.  806  chart.  Hahngton, 
in  the  Midlands.  Prob.  a  patronymic,  'Haling  or  Hayling's 
town.'    Cf.  Hayling  I. 

Halloughton  (see  Haughton). 


HALLOW  287  HAMEETON 

Hallow  (Worcester) .  816  chart.  Heallingan,  Halhegan,  Halheogan, 
963  ib.  Hallege,  Dom.  Halhegan,  1275  Haliawe.  A  very  puzzling 
name.  It  surely  must  be  meant  to  represent  hallow,  *  a  saint,' 
then,  '  the  shrine  of  a  saint/ O.E.  ha^a,  hah,e,  pi.  hah,an,  2  hale- 
chen  ;  whilst  Heall-  Hal-  does  look  as  if  it  had  something  to  do 
with  -hall  iq.v.), 

Ha(l)lsall  (Ormskirk).  1224  Haleshal,  1312  Halesale,  1320-46 
Halsale,  1394  Halsalle.  Prob.  '  hall  of  Hala  '  or  some  such 
name;  Halga  is  the  nearest  in  Onom.  Were  the  name  late  it 
might  be  '  Hal's  hall.'  Cf.  '  Halsam  '  in  a  grant  of  a.  675,  near 
Chertsey,  Halstead,  Halstock,  and  Dom.  Halstune  (Salop),  also 
Halsham  (Yorks),  Dom.  Halsam,  -em.  For  the  ending  -all  cf. 
Walsall,  etc.,  and  see  -hall. 

Halton  (8  in  P.O.).  Leeds  H.  Dom.  Halletun.  Graven  H.  Dom. 
Haltone,  Alton,  1179-80  Pi'pe  Aleton.  Tring  H.  Dom.  Haltone. 
'  Village  with  the  hall  or  mansion.'  See  -hall  and  -ton.  But 
Dom.  Yorks,  Haltun,  is  now  Great  Houghton,  and  1160-61 
Pipe  Nhbld.,  Haulton,  prob.  has  a  similar  origin. 

Haltwhistle  (Garlisle).  1178  Arbroath  Chart.  Haucwy  -  Htle 
(scribe's  error),  1220  ib.  Hauetwisel;  later  in  same  chart.  Haut- 
wisil,  -twysill,  1553  Hawtwesyll,  a.  1600  Hartweseil.  Local 
pron.  Haw-tessel.  The  first  syll.  is  doubtful.  Some  say,  O.E. 
hawe,  '  a  look-out.'  The  likeliest  origin  is  O.E.  hdwi  twisla, 
'  bluish-grey  confluence,'  where  Haltwhistle  burn  joins  Tyne ; 
O.E.  hdwi,  hkbwi,  hcewi,  6-9  haw,  '  bluish,  greyish,  or  greenish 
blue,'  and  see  Twizel.  Cf.  chart.  '  Hocgetwisle  '  (Hants),  and 
Oswaldtwistle  (Accrington) . 

Halveegate  (Norwich).  Dom.  Halfriate,  1157  Halvergiata.  O.N. 
halfr  gat  (O.E.  geat),  'the  half  gate,'  ?  one  which  only  closed 
the  entrance  half-way  up. 

Ham  (Hungerford,  Richmond,  and  Essex).  Es.  H.  969  chart. 
Hamme,  O.E.  for  '  enclosure.'  See  -ham.  But  Hambrook 
(WinterlDourne),  Dom.  Hambroc,  may  be  O.E.  hean  broc,  '  at 
the  high  brook.' 

Hamble,  R.  (Solent).  Bede  Homelea,  c.  1450  Fortescue  Hammelle 
Ryce  and  Hammelle  the  Hoole.  M'Clure  suggests  that  this 
may  be  an  aspirated  form  of  R.  Gamel  ;  but  the  name  is  doubtful. 

Hambledon  (Godalming  and  Cosham).  God.  H.  O.E.  chart. 
Hamaelendun,  Dom.  Hameledone,  '  Hamela's  fort.'  Also  Ham- 
bleton  (Selby  and  Preston).  Both  Dom.  Hamelton,  fr.  the  same 
name. 

Hamerton  (Hunts).  Dom.  Hambertune,  and  Great  Hammerton 
(W.  Riding),  Dom.  Hanbretune,  look  as  if  fr.  an  inflected  form 
of  the  common  name  Heahbeorht — Hanbeorht,  Hanbert,  or  the 
like.  But  Hammerton  (Yorks),  Dom,.  Hamereton,  seems 
'  town  oifHaimhere  or  Haimheardus  or  Haimerus,'  a  name  still 


HAMMER  288  HAMPTON 

surviving  as  Hamar.    Cf.  Hammersmith  and  -wich;  also  Dom. 
'Nik.,  Hameringahala. 

Hammer  (Haslemere  and  Prescot).  Not  in  Dom.  O.E.  heah  mere, 
'  high  pool '  or  '  lake."  Seen  inflected  in  the  name  Hanmer. 
Cf.  Abestger  Hammer  and  Emmer;  also  Hampole. 

Hammersmith  (London).  Seems  to  have  no  old  forms,  and  no 
history  before  Chas.  I.  '  Hermodewode/  mentioned  in  Enc. 
Brit.,  cannot  be  the  same  name.  Nor  can  the  place  be  called 
from  the  artisan  hammersmith,  found  in  Eng.  fr.  1382.  There 
is  no  such  place-name  in  England.  Prob.  it  is  '  Hamer's  smite/ 
O.E.  smite,  a  rare  word,  prob.  meaning  'a  bog,  a  morass.' 
See  Smite,  Dom.  Smithh.  It  can  hardly  be  '  Hamer's  Mythe  ' 
or  river-mouth,  as  there  is  none  such  here.    Cf.  Hamerton. 

Hammerwich  (Lichfield) .  Dom.  Humerwiche,  c.  1200  Hamerwich, 
a.  1300  Homerwich.  '  Dwelling,  village  of  Homer  '  or  '  Hamar.' 
Cf.  Hamerton  and  Homerton  (E.  London). 

Hamose  (Anchorage,  Plymouth).  '  Home  (shelter)  among  the 
ooze,"'  M.E.  oaze,  wose,  O.E.  wos,  '  juice.'    See  -ham. 

Hampole  (Doncaster).  Dom.  Hanepol,  which  is  an  inflected  form 
for  O.E.  hean  pal,  '  high  pool.'    Cf.  Hammer  and  Hanley. 

Hampshire,  O.E.  Chron.  755  Hamtfinscire,  c.  1097  Fhr.  Wore. 
Hantunscire.  Hamtun  is  O.E.  for  '  home  town,'  which  as  a 
place-name  is  spelt  Hampton.  There  is  a  R.  Hamps  (N.E. 
Stafld.),  but  it  seems  impossible  to  guess  its  origin,  though 
Duignan  connects  with  the  vb.  hamper.  It  is  a  river  so  '  ham- 
pered '  that  it  totally  disappears  undergroimd  for  a  time. 
Hampen  (GIouc.)  is  Dom.  Hagenpene,  '  fold  of  Hagan.' 

Hampstead  (London),  and  Hampstead  Marshall  and  Norris 
(Berks).  Lo.  H.  Dom.  Hamestede.  O.E.  hdm-stede,  'home- 
stead, home-place  or  farm.'  Cf.  Ashampstead  (Pangboum), 
1307  Ashamsted,  and  Finchamstead  (Berks),  Dom.  Finchame- 
stede,  '  homestead  with  the  finches.'  Hampstead  Marshall 
was  in  possession  of  Roger  le  Bygod,  Earl  of  Norfolk  and  Lord 
Marshal  of  England,  in  1307.  Norris  is  fr.  the  Norman  family 
of  Norreys.  There  is  also  a  Hamstead  (Handsworth),  a.  1400 
Hamp-  and  Hamstede,  and  Dunhampstead  (Droitwich),  804 
chart.  Dunhamstyde,  972  Bunhsemstede.  Hampnett  (Glouc), 
Dom.  Hantone,  but  Kirhy's  Quest.  Hamptoneth,  may  be  for 
'  Hampton  heath.' 

Hampton  and  Hampton  Court  (London;  11  Hamptons  in  P.O.). 
781  Synod  of  Brentford  Homtune,  Dom.  Hamntune,  1402  Hamp- 
ton, 1514  7ease  Hampton  Courte,  also  Dom.  Hantone  (Chesh.), 
Hantuna  (Essex).  O.E.  ham  has  as  one  of  its  earliest,  if  not  its 
earhest  meaning, '  village,'  so  ham-tun  will  mean  '  enclosed,  forti- 
fied village,'  or  else  '  house,  home.'  The  letter  p  has  a  habit  of 
intruding  itself  where  not  needed.    Cf.  Bampton,  Brompton,  etc. 


HAMPTON-LUCY  289  HANKHAM 

Hampton -Lucy  (Stratford,  Wwk.).  c.  1062  chart.  Heamtun,  Dom. 
Hantone,  and  Hampton-in-Akden,  Dom.  Hantone,  a.  1200 
Hantune  in  Arden,  are  O.E.  hean  tun,  inflected  form  of  '  high 
town/  hmh,  '  high/  C/.  Hanbuby.  H.-Lucy  has  been  held 
by  the  Lucy  family  from  the  time  of  Q.  Mary.  Hampton  Gay 
(Oxon.)  is  also  Heantun  in  958. 

Hamstall  Ridwarb  (Rugeley).  1004  Rideware,  Dom.  Riduare, 
a.  1300  Rydewar  Ham{p)stal.  O.E.  hamsteall,  'homestead.' 
Cf.  c.  1200  chart.  Whalley  Abbey  Hamstalesclogh.  Ridware 
Duignan  is  prob.  right  in  thinking  to  be  Ridwara,  '  dwellers  on 
the  rhyd' ;  only  that  in  W.  means  'ford'  not  'river/  Cf. 
Cantebbuby,  etc. 

Hanbury  (Broitwich,  Bromsgrove,  Burton-on-T.,  and  Oxfordsh.). 
Dr.  H.  691  chart.  Heanburg,  757  ib.  Heanbnrh,  Hanbiri,  796  ib. 
Heanbyrig.  Bro.  H.  836  chart.  Heanbyrg,  Dom.  Hambyrie. 
Bur.  H.  a.  1300  Hamburi,  -bury,  a.  1400*^  Hanbury,  1430  Ham- 
bury.  Ox.  H.  Dom.  Haneberge,  1495  Hanburye.  O.E.  hkin 
byrg  is  '  high  burgh,'  even  as  Hampton  is  often  '  high  town.' 
But  in  both  cases  ham  may  be  '  home  ' ;  prob.  not.  Henbuby 
(Bristol),  691  chart.  Heanburg,  Dom.  Henberie,  is,  of  course = 
Hanbuby.    Of.  next  and  Heneield.    See  -bury. 

Hanchubch  (Trentham).  Dom.  Hancese  (-cese  for  -circe),  1296 
Hanchurch.     O.E.  hean  circe,  '  high  church.' 

Handbobough  or  Hanbobough  (Woodstock).  Dom.  Haneberge, 
prob.  O.E.  hean  beorge,  'high  hill.';  beorgis,  'a  mountain,  a  hill, 
a  mound,'  and  heah  is  '  high,'  gen.  hean.  It  may  be  '  cocks' 
hill,'  O.E.  hana,  '  a  cock,'  han-cred, '  cock-crow.' 

Handforth  (Manchester).  Some  think  this  is  'ford  (g.v.)  with  a 
hand-rail  across  it.'  But  Handswobth  (Sheffield)  is  Dom. 
Handeswrde,  fr.  a  man  Hand,  while  Handsworth  (Birmingham) 
is  Dom.  Honeswrde,  a.  1200  Hones-,  Hunesworth,  a.  1300 
Hunnesworth,  '  farm  of  Hona  '  or  '  Hunna.'    See  -worth. 

Hanging  Grove  (Hanley  Child),  Hanging  Heaton  (Dewsbury), 
and  Hanging  Houghton  (Nthmptn.).  Dew.  H.  Dom.  Etun, 
Nor.  H.  not  in  Dom.  1230  Close  R.  Hangadehout.  Hanging 
is  corrup.  of  O.E.  hangra,  '  a  wood  on  a  sloping  hill.'  Cf. 
BmcHANGER,  etc.  The  -dehout  in  1230  seems  to  mean  '  of 
Hout,'  an  unrecorded  name.  Houghton  is  always  a  difficult 
name.     See,  too,  Heaton,  and  cf.  Hangerbury  Hill  (Glouc). 

Hankham  (Hastings).  947  chart.  Hanecan  ham,  prob.  this  place, 
Dom.  Henecha'.  '  Home  of  Haneca.'  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks,  Hane- 
chedene.  947  cannot  be,  as  some  think,  Hanham  Abbots 
(Winterbourne),  Dom.  Hanun,  -on,  c.  1170  Hanum,  which  seems 
to  be  the  old  loc.  common  in  Yorks,  '  at  Hana'?,.'  See  -ham. 
But  Hankerton  (Malmesbury)  is  1282  Haneketon.  fr.  the  same 
name  as  Hankham. 


HANLEY  290  HARDINGSTONE 

Hanley  (3  in  Wore,  and  Staffs).  Dom.  Hanlege,  -lie  (Upton-on- 
Sevem),  817  Heanley  (Tenbury),  Dom.  Hanlege,  1275  Childre- 
hanle  (Hanley  Child),  1332  Hanley  (Potteries).  Perh.  all  O.E. 
Tiean  lege,  '  high  meadow.'  Cf.  Hanbury.  Childre-  is  gen.  pi,  of 
child.  But  it  is  to  be  noted  that  there  are  2  called  Hana  in  Onom. 
{cf.  Honley)  ;  whilst  Hanney  (Berks)  is  956  chart.  Hannige,  Dom. 
Hannei,  'isle  of  the  cock/  O.E.  hana.   Cf.  Dom.  Salop,  Hanelev. 

Hanwell  (Ealing).  Dom.  Hanewelle.  All  these  names  in  Han- 
are  doubtful  as  to  the  first  syll.  Hanwell  must  be  interpreted 
as  Hanley  is,  and  cf.  Hanbuby.  But,  to  show  how  uncertain 
the  ground  is,  Hanyard  (Stafford)  is  1227  Hagonegate,  Hagene- 
yate,  with  which  cf.  Haunton  (Tamworth),  942  chart.  Hagnatun, 
a.  1300  Hagheneton,  Hanneton,  '  Hagene'a  gate  '  and  '  town.' 

Happisburgh  (Norwich).  Dom.  Hapesburc,  1450  Happysborough. 
Local  pron.  Hazeboro'.  The  name  is  sometimes  spelt  Haisboro' 
and  Hazebro'.  The  contractions  are  interesting;  the  z  sound 
is  rare  in  such  a  case.  '  Town  of  Happi/  though  Heppo  is 
the  nearest  name  in  Onom.    See  -burgh. 

Habberton  (see  Market  Harborough). 

Harbledown  (Canterbury).  Not  in  Dom-.  1360  (letter  of  a  Fr. 
chaplain)  Helbadonne.  'Hill,  down,  O.E.  dun,  of  Harble/ 
which  is  prob.  the  O.E.  Heardbeald,  1  such  in  Onom. 

Harborne  (Birmingham).  Dom.  Horebome,  c.  1300  Horebum, 
a.  1400  Horboume;  -bourne  (q.v.)  is  'brook.'  O.E.  hdr,  M.E. 
hor{e)  is  '  hoar,  hoary,  grey,  old,'  but  har  or  hare  often  also 
means  '  boundary,'  and  this  place  is  on  the  border  between 
Staffs,  and  Worcestersh.  Of.  Harome  and  Hoar  Cross;  also 
Harridge  (Redmarley),  1275Horerugge, '  ridge  on  the  boundary  ' 
between  Worcester  and  Hereford. 

Harborough,  Great  and  Little  (Rugby).  1004  chart.  Here- 
burgebyrig,  Dom.  Herdeberge,  a.  1300  Herdebergh,  -berwe, 
Herburburi.  '  Hereburh's  town.'  See  -borough.  But  Har- 
bury  (Leamington)  is  Dom.  Edburberie,  Erbur(ge)berie — i.e., 
'  Eadburh's  burgh  '  (see  -borough) ;  whilst  Harburston  (Pem- 
broke) is  1307  Herbraundyston,  fr.  Herbrand,  an  early  Flemish 
settler.    Harby  (Notts)  is  Dom.  Herdebi,  cf.  Hardwick. 

Harbottlb  (Rothbury).  Sic  1595.  O.E.  hdr  botl,  'hoary,  grey 
house.'    Of.  O.N.  hdr-r,  and  Newbattle  (Sc). 

Harden  (Walsall),  a.  1400  Haworthyn,  -werthyn,  -wardyne,  1648 
Harden.  O.E.  heah  worthyn,  '  high  farm.'  See  -wardine.  It 
has  now  the  same  pron.,  but  has  not  quite  the  same  meaning, 
as  Hawarden.  Harden  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Heldetone,  or  '  town 
on  the  slope,'  O.E.  hylde,  helde. 

HARDrsTGSTONE  St.  Edmunds  (Northampton).  Dom.  Hardinge- 
stone,  but  c.  1123  Hardingestroona.  Thought  to  be  a  corrup. 
of  *  Harding's  thorn.'   Also  Hardington-Mandeville  (Yeovil), 


HAIiDWICK(E)  291  H  ARLINGTON 

Dom.  Hardintone.  Two  Hardings  in  Onom.  Cf.  Ardington 
and  Hardington  (Lamington,  Sc).  See  -ton  and  its  inter- 
change with  -stone. 

Hardwick(e).    There  are  said  to  be  26  in  England.    Cambs.  H. 
c.  1080  Inquis  Cam.  and  K.C.D.  iv.  245  Hardwic,  1171  Herd- 
wice,  Dom.  Glouc,  Herdeuuic;  Bucks,  Harduich,  -uic;  Yorks, 
Hardwic    and  Arduuic;    Durham    H.    1183    Herdewyk,   1197 
Herdewich;   Lines.    H.   Dom.   Harduic,    1204   Herduic.    Also 
K.C.D.  iv.  288  Heordewica,  perh.  in  Northants.    Usually  de- 
rived fr.  herd,   '  herd's,  shepherd's  dwelling/    Skeat  insisted 
that  it  could  be  nothing  else,  pointing  to  the  form  Heordewica, 
and  to  the  fact  that  by  rule  eo  in  O.E.  becomes  a  in  our  time. 
This  is  indisputable.    There  is  also  a  word  Jierdwick  (see  Oxf. 
Diet,  s.v.) — Dom.  'iii.  hardvices,'  ?  c.  1150  herdewica,  1537  herd- 
wyk,  which  is  explained  as  '  the  tract  of  land  under  the  charge 
of  a  herd  or  shepherd  ...  a  sheep  farm.'    But  there  is  this  diffi- 
culty, that,  except  occasionally  in  Northumbld.,  herd  is  never 
^   pron.  hard ;  and  according  to  Oxf.  Diet,  neither  O.E.  heard, 
hiord,  3-  herd,  '  a  flock,  a  herd,'  nor  hirde,  hierde,  '  a  shepherd,' 
were  ever  spelt  hard.  So  that  the  name,  in  some  of  its  many  occur- 
rences, must  have  been  thought  to  be  O.E.  heard  wic,  '  hard, 
solid   dwelling,'   hard   being   given   as   2-4   herd.    Hahdwick 
Priors  (Southam)  used  to  belong  to  the  monks  of  Coventry. 
But  curiously  Duignan  can  give  no  early  forms  for  either  of  the 
Warwk.  Hardwicks.    He,  however,  gives  a.  1300  Hordewyke 
for  Hardwick  (Eldersfield,  Worstrsh.).     See  -wick. 

Harewood  (Leeds),  a.  1142  Wm.  Malmesb.  Harewode.  O.E. 
hara-wudu,  '  hares'  wood.'  Cf.  Harwell.  But  Haresfield 
(Glouc),  Dom.  Hersefeld,  1179  Harsefelde,  is  '  field  of  Hersa,' 
though  Onom.  has  only  Heorstan. 

Harkstead  (Ipswich).  Dom.  Herchestede.  '  Stead,  steading,  or 
dweUing -place  of  Heorc  '  or  '  Hark,'  still  a  surname.  Onom.  has 
only  one  Hercus. 

Harlaston  (Tamworth)  and  Harleston  (Bungay).  Tam.  H. 
1004  cJuirt.  HeorKestun,  c.  1100  ib.  Heorlaveston,  Dom.  Horulve- 
stune,  a.  1200  (H)erlaveston(e),  a.  1300  Horlaveston.  Bun.  H. 
K.C.D.  1298  Heorulfes  tun,  Dom.  Heroluestuna.  '  Eeoruwulf's ' 
or  *  Heorelfs  town  ' ;  2  in  Onom. 

Harlech  (Barmouth) .  W.  hardd  llech, '  beautiful  rock.'  So  named, 
it  is  said,  when  Edw.  I.  built  a  castle  here. 

Harley  (Rotherham  and  Much  Wenlock).  Rot.  H.  1179-80  Her- 
lega.  Mu.  H.  Dom.  Harlege.  Prob.  North.  O.E.  for  '  higher 
meadow,'  O.E.  Mah,  hiera,  Angl.  hera,  in  5  har,  her.    See  -ley. 

Harlxngton  (Hounslow  and  Dunstable).  Ho.  H.  Dom.  Herding- 
ton,  but  Du.  H.  Dom.  Herlingdone.  '  Town  of  Harding.'  See 
Hardingstone.  There  is  no  name  like  Harding  in  Onom.,  but 
cf.  Harlton  and  the  N.  Erling. 


HARLOW  HEATH        292  HAREOGATE 

Harlow  Heath  and  Cab  (Harrogate).  Prob.  'grey,  hoary-look- 
ing hill/  O.E.  hdr,  O.N.  Mr-r,  and  see  -low.  Car  is  either  O.E. 
can,  '  a  rock/  or  N.  kjarr,  '  copse,  brush  wood.'  Of.  Dom.  Essex, 
Herlaua. 

Harlton  (Cambridge),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Harle-,  Herletona, 
1339  Harleton.  Prob.  '  Herla's  village.'  Of.  Harlaston  and 
Harston,  also  Harlsey,  E.  and  W.  (N.  Riding),  Dom.  Herelsaie, 
Herlesege,  Herselaige,  '  isle  of  Herla.'    See  -ey. 

Harnhill  (Cirencester).  Dom.  Harehille,  c.  1300  HarenhuU.  Prob. 
'  grey  hill,'  O.E.  har,  -an,  '  grey,  hoary.'  Cf.  Harridge  in  same 
shire. 

Harold  (Beds),  old  hare  weald,  and  Harold  Wood  (Romford). 
Prob.  both  O.E.  hara  weald,  '  hare  wood '  or  '  forest  region.' 
Dom.  Beds,  has  only    Hareunelle,    and   it   is   not   in   Dom. 

Essex. 

Harome  (Nawton,  Yorks) .  Dom.  Harem,  Harun,  which  last  must 
be  a  loc.  '  at  the  boundaries,'  O.E.  Mr.  Cf.  Hallam,  Har- 
BORNE,  etc. 

Harpenden  (Herts).  1250  Harpendene,  1298  Harpeden,  and  cf. 
966  in  B.C.S.  iii.  435  Of  fsere  grae^an  hane  and  lang  hearpdene. 
'  Dean,  woody  vale  of  the  harp,'  O.E.  hearpe.  Skeat,  however, 
prefers  to  derive  fr.  a  man  Herp.  Cf.  B.C.S.  34,  Herpes  ford — 
i.e.,  Harpford  (Devon).  There  is  also  a  Harpsden  (Henley- 
on-Thames).  The  differing  genitives,  -en  and  -es,  are  against 
identifying  all  three.  Note,  too,  Harpham  (E.  Riding),  Dom. 
Harpein,  where  the  ending  is  prob.  a  corrupt  loc.  as  in 
Hallam,  etc.,  and  Harpley  (Worcstrsh.),  1275  Arpeley, 
Harpele. 

Harperley  (Co.  Durham).  1183  Harperleia.  The  'meadow  of 
the  harper,'  O.E.  hearpere,  O.N.  harpari.    See  -ley. 

Harrdstgay  (N.  London),  a.  1300  Haringee,  of  which  Hornsey 
is  a  corruption.  As  in  Harrington  (Cumbld.  and  Northants) 
and  Harringworth  (Kettering),  Earring  must  be,  surely,  a 
man's  name,  possibly  a  patronymic.  There  is  one  Hearing  in 
Onom.,  and  Herring  is  still  an  Eng.  surname.  See  -ing.  The 
-gee  in  a.  1300  is  perh.  the  rare  O.E.  ge,  'region,'  which 
Skeat  thought  to  be  found  in  Ely,  Bede's  El-ge.  But  see 
also  -ay.     Cf.  Herringby. 

Harrogate.  The  original  name,  a.  1600,  was  Haywra  or  Heywray, 
*  hedged-in  corner  or  landmark,'  O.N.  Mgi  (O.E.  hege), '  a  hedge,' 
and  wrda,  '  comer,  turn,  landmark.'  Cf.  Wrawby.  Hay  and 
haw  are  very  near  of  kin,  and  both  mean  '  hedge,'  and  haw-iora 
could  easily  refine  into  Harro-;  while  -gate  is  O.N.  gata,  '  a  way, 
a  road,'  not  the  same  as  the  common  Eng.  gate,  '  a  door.' 
Possibly  the  first  syll.  is  O.E.  heah,  3-5  hei,  hey,  'high.'  Cf. 
Haverah  and  Wray. 


HAEROW-ON-THE-HILL      293  HAETSHILL 

Harrow-on-the-Hill.  Perh.  767  chart.  Gmneninga  hergae.  Dom. 
Herges,  later  Hareways,  1616  Visscher  Haroue  on  the  hill. 
Possibly  O.E.  h(Brg,  hearg,  'a  heathen  temple/  Of.  Pepper- 
harrow,  1147  Peper  Harow.  The  sb.  Jmrrow  is  not  found  in 
Eng.  till  a.  1300,  as  haru,  harwe,  and  so  cannot  be  thought  of 
here. 

Harston  (Cambridge  and  Grantham).  Not  in  Dom.  Camb.  H. 
1291  Hardeleston,  1298  Hardlistone,  1316  Hardlestone.  Prob. 
'  Hardulf  or  Heardvmlfs  village  '  (Skeat). 

Harswell  (York).  Dom.  Ersewelle.  More  old  forms  needed. 
Perh.  fr.  a  man  Erra,  1  in  Onom.  Perh.  fr.  O.E.  har,  '  a  bound- 
ary.'   Cf.  Harome.    Hardly  =  Harwell. 

Hartington  (Buxton).  Not  in  Dom.  ?  c.  1150  Grant  '  Herte- 
dona  in  Pecco  (Peak).'  The  central  r  prob.  represents  a  gen., 
'hart's  hill,'  O.E.  herot,  heorot,  'a  hart,  a  stag.'  The  endings 
-don  and  -ton  often  interchange  (q.v.) . 

Hartlebury  (Kidderminster).  817  and  980  cJiart.  Heortlabyrig, 
985  ib.  Heortlanbyrig,  Dom.  Huertberie,  a.  1200  Hertlebery, 
'  Burgh  of  Heortla,'  otherwise  unknown ;  but  cf.  Harford  (North- 
leach),  which  is  779  chart.  lorotlaford,  not  in  Dom.  ;  also  Irth- 

LINGBORO'. 

Hartlepool.  Bede  Heruteu,  id  est.  Insula  Cervi;  O.E.  vsn.,  c.  850 
Herotea.  Herot,  herut,  or  heorut  is  O.E.  for  '  hart,  stag,'  the 
ending  -eu  is  a  variant  of  -ey,  'island'  (q.v.);  whilst  ea  means 
'  a  stream,  water,'  which  points  on  to  the  later  ending  -pool, 
1211  Hartepol,  1305  Hertelpol.  The  letter  I  not  seldom  in- 
trudes itself.     See  p.  82. 

Hartley  Wintney  (Winchfield).  Prob.  Dom.  Hardelie  (?  fr.  a 
man  Heard),  and  prob.  Grant  of  a.  675  Hertlys,  Hertlye — a 
spelling  which  must  be  much  later  than  the  original  grant. 
'  Hart's  meadow.'  See  above,  and  -ley.  Wintney  is  '  Winton's 
isle.'  See  Winchester.  HLirtlip  (Sittingbourne)  is  c.  1250 
chart.  Hertlepe,  '  hart's  leap.'     Cf.  Birdlip. 

Harton  (Yorks  and  S.' Shields) .  Yor.  H.  Dom.  Heretun.  Cf.  Dom. 
Haretone  (Cheshire).  Doubtful.  O.E.  here  is  'an  army'; 
but  cf.  Harwell.  Hartpitry  (Glouc),  1221  Hardpirie,  Bad- 
deley  thinks  'pear-tree,'  O.E.  pirige,  '  of  '  some  unknown  man. 
Could  it  not  be  simply  fr.  hard,  as  almost  all  its  old  forms  seem 
to  indicate  ? 

Hartshill  (Atherstone).  Dom.  Ardreshille,  a.  1200  Hardredes- 
hulle,  Hardreshulle.  '  Heardred's  hill,'  regularly  in  Midland 
M.'E.  hull{e).  This  is  a  name  to  bid  one  beware  !  But  Harts - 
HEAD  (Liversedge)  is  Dom.  Horteseve,  for  O.E.  heortes  heafod, 
'  hart's  head '  or  '  height,'  while  Harthill  (Sheffield)  is  Dom. 
Hertil.  With  this  last  cf.  Hartell  or  Hartle  (Belbroughton), 
1275  Herthulle,  '  hart  hill.' 


HARVINGTON  294  HATFIELD 

Habvington  (Chaddesley  Corbett).  1275  Herewinton,  1340  Her- 
wynton.  '  Hereivine's  town/  But  H.,  Evesham,  is  709  chart. 
Herefordtune,  963  ib.  Herefordtun  juxta  Avene,  Dom.  Herfer- 
thun,  1275  Herrfortune.  Here-ford-tune  is,  of  course,  '  town 
of  the  ford  of  the  army/    The  corruption  is  very  remarkable. 

Harwell  (Steventon).  O.E.  chart.  Haranwylle,  Dom.  Harwelle, 
Harowelle.  Skeat  says  the  man  '  Hare  or  Hara'a  well,'  O.E. 
hara  means  '  a  hare ' ;  but  the  sign  of  the  gen.  suggests  a  per- 
sonal name.  Hare-  or  H!arwell  (Notts)  is  Dom.  Herewelle, 
prob.  fr.  O.E.  here,  'an  army.' 

Harwich.  Not  in  Dom.  a.  1300  Herewica,  Herewyck.  O.E. 
here-wic,  '  army-dwelling,  camp.'    See  -wich. 

Hasbury  (Halesowen),  a.  1300  Haselburi.  O.E.  hasel  byrig  or 
beorh,  '  hazel  town '  or  '  hill.'  Cf.  Hasler,  and  Hascombe 
(Godalming),  not  in  Dom.  But  Haseield  (Glouc),  Dom.  Has- 
Hesfelde,  is  prob.  fr.  O.E.  ham,  haso,  '  grey,' though  c.  1300  we 
have  Hersfelde.    Gf.  Dom.  Wilts,  Haseberie.    See  -bury. 

BLaselor  (Alcester),  Haselour  (Tamworth),  and  Hasler  (Solent). 
Al.  H.  Dom.  Haselove,  a.  1300  Haselovere,  Ta.  H.  a.  1300 
Hazeloure,  a.  1400  Haselovere.  O.E.  haesel,  haesl  ofer,  '  hazel 
bank  '  or  '  border.'  Cf.  Haseley  (Wwk.),  Dom.  Haseleia,  and 
Asher;  also  Hasilden  (Glouc),  Dom.  Hasedene,  1274  Hasilton. 
See  -over. 

Haslingeield  (Cambridge).  Dom.  HasHngefeld,  1284  Haseling- 
feld.  Patronymic,  '  field  of  the  HcesUngs  '  or  '  sons  of  Hazel,' 
still  a  personal  name.  O.E.  hcesel,  hcesl,  'the  hazel-tree.'  Cf. 
Hasltngden  (Lanes),  Haslington  (Chesh.),  and  Heslestgton 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Hashnton. 

Hassocks  (Sussex).  O.E.  hassuc,  '  a  clump  of  matted  vegetation,' 
then  '  a  clump  of  bushes  or  low  trees.'  Cf.  {K.C.D.  655)  986 
chart.    On  one  hassuc  upp  an  hrofan  hricge. 

Hastings.  1011  O.E.  Chron.  Haestingas,  1191  chart.  Barones  de 
Hastingiis.  Patronymic;  at  first  a  shire  distinct  from  Sussex, 
prob.  called  after  the  E.  Saxon  vildng,  Hasten{g),  who  landed 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Thames,  O.E.  Chron.  ann.  893.  Cf.  Croix 
Hastain,  Jersey. 

Hatch  Beauchamp  (Taunton),  Dom.  Hache,  and  Hatch  End 
(Middlesex).  Cf.  Dom.  Nfk.  and  Salop,  Hach(e).  O.E.  hcec 
3-7  hacche,  4  hach,  '  a  hatch  ' — i.e.,  '  a  half-door,  gate,  or  wicket- 
then,  any  small  gate  or  wicket.'    Cf.  Colney  Hatch. 

Hatcham  (S.  London)  =  Atcham. 

Hatfield  (Worcstr.,  Herts,  Doncaster,  Holderness).  Wor.  H.  1275 
Hathfeld,  Her.  H.  Dom.  Hetfelle,  later  Hethfeld,  Don.  H.  Bede 
Hethfeld,  c.  850  O.E.  vsn.  Hse])felda,  Hoi.  H.  Dom.  Hedfeld. 
O.E.  hoB\>  felda,  '  heath  field,  open  field.'  But  Great  Hatfield 
(Hull)  is  Dom.  Haie-,  Hai  -feld  or  -felt— i.e.,  '  hay  field,'  O.E. 
hie^,  he^,  2-4  hei,  3-7  hey{e),  O.N.  hey,  '  hay.'    Cf.  Heathfield. 


HATFORD  296        HAVEEAH  PARK 

Hatford  (Berks).  Dom.  Hevaford  (meant  for  Hevadford),  a.  1300 
Havedlord,  1420  Hautford.  O.E.  heafod-ford,  '  head-ford,  chief 
ford/ 

Hatherleigh  (Devon),  Exon.  Dom.  Hadreleia,  and  Hatherley 
(Glouc),  1022  chart.  Hegberle  (?  fr.  O.E.  hea^  burh,  '  high  castle 
lea'),  Dom.  Athelai,  1150  Haiderleia,  1177  Hedrelega,  1221 
Hathirlege.  All  except  1022  clearly  '  heather  meadow.'  This 
is. interesting,  as  Oxf.  Diet.' 8  earhest  form  is  1335  hathir,  and  it 
thinks  it  must  be  quite  Northern,  while  postulating  an  orig. 
hcedder,  hceddre.  Cf.  Uttoxeter.  But  Hatherop  (Fairford), 
Dom.  Etherope,  1148  Haethrop,  1275  Hatrope,  1294  Haythorp, 
Baddeley  makes  '  hedged  village,'  O.E.  hege,  M.E.  heie,  '  a 
hedge.'    See  next,  -leigh  and  -thorpe. 

Hatherton  (Nantwich  and  Cannock).  Can.  H.  996  chart.  Hagen- 
thorndun — i.e.,  '  hawthorn  hill ' — Dom.  Hargedone,  a.  1300 
Hatherdone,  -dene,  Hetherdon.    An  instructive  list !   See  above. 

Hatley  St.  George  (Sandy).    K.G.D.  iv.  300  Hsettanlea,  Dom. 
"  Hatelai,   Atelai,    1284   Hattele.     Cf.   Dom.   Hatlege   (Salop). 
'  Hcetta's  lea,'    See  -ley. 

Hatton  (4  in  P.O.).  Duignan  says,  all  Midland  Hattons  are  O.E. 
hceth-tun,  '  town  on  the  heath.'    Cf.  Hateield.    None  in  Dom. 

Haxjghton  (Stafford),  Dom.  Haltone,  a.  1200  Halecton,  a.  1300 
Halechtone,  Haluch-,  Haleg-tone;  Haughton  Green  (Man- 
chester), 1314  Halghton;  Haughton-le-Skerne  (Darhngton), 
a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Halhtun,  1183  Halctona,  later  Halughton. 
This  last  is  also  the  spelling  of  a  place  in  Leicester,  chart. 
Edw.  III.  Thus  Halloughton  (Kingsbury)  is  the  same  name, 
a.  1400  Halghton,  Halugh-,  Haluton ;  the  Notts  one  is  1291  Halton. 
O.E.  healh,  halh,  2-3  halech,  4-7  hawgh,  5-haugh,  'a  flat  meadow 
by  a  riverside.'  Cf.  Haigh  (Wigan),  Halugh  (Bolton),  Halton 
and  Haigh  ton  (N.  Lanes),  Dom.  Hale  tun  and  Houghton  ;  also  see 
-hall  and  -ton.  Skerne  is  a  river.  But  Haughton  (Notts), 
Dom.  Hoctun,  1278  Hockton,  Mutschmann  derives  fr.  a  man  Hoc. 

Haunton.    See  Hanwell. 

Hatjxley -ON -Coquet,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Hafodscalfe,  which  is 
prob.  O.E.  heafodes  scelfe  (O.N.  skjdlf-r),  'head,  of  the  shelf  or 
ledge  of  rock.'    The  corruption  is  curious. 

Hauxton  (Cambridge),  c.  1060  Hauekstune,  Dom.  Havochestun, 
1316  Haukestone.  'Village  of  Hafoc' — i.e.,  'the  Hawk,'  still 
a  personal  name.  Gf.  Hawkesbury  (Coventry),  Hawksworth 
and  Hauxwell  (Yorks),  Dom.  Hauocswelle. 

Havant  (Portsmouth).  O.E.  chart.  Hamanfunta,  'fountain,  font, 
well  of  Hama,'  4  in  Onom.  The  present  form  is  simply  a  phonetic 
wearing  down  of  the  O.E.  name.  Dom.  is  Havehunte,  where 
the  h  is  prob.  error  for/.     Cf.  Chalfont  and  Fovant. 

Haverah  Park.    See  Harrogate. 


HAVERFORD  WEST  296  HAY 

Haverford  West  (Pembroke),  c.  1188  Gir.  Camh.  Itin.  Haver- 
fordia;  c.  1200  Gervase  Haverforde,  1603  Harford.  In  W. 
Hwlffordd  or  Cseralun.  '  Oats-fjord/  O.N.  hafre,  pi.  hafrar, 
Dan.  havre,  'oats';  for  -ford=N.  fjord,  cf.  Waterford  oppo- 
site, and  MiLFORD.  The  W.  Hwl-  must  be  a  corrup.  (?  of  hywl, 
'  a  sail ') ;  while  ffordd  in  W.  means  '  a  road,  a  passage.'  The  full 
form  Haverfordwest  is  found  as  early  as  1603  Owen. 

Havering  (Romford).  Dom.  Haveringas,  1160  Pipe  Hauering. 
Prob.  patronymic,  'place  of  the  sons  of  Haver'  or  ' H award.' 
See  Haversgate,  and  -ing. 

Haversgate  Island  (Orford).  Not  in  Dom.  This  is  prob. 
'  Haward's  road  or  way,'  O.E.  geut.  Five  Hawards  in  Onom. 
But  Haverthwaite  (Ulverston),  1201  Haverthuayt,  will  be 
'  oat-place  '  or  '  farm.'    See  Haverford,  and  -thwaite. 

Hawarden  (Flintsh.).  Pron.  Harrden.  Cj.  Garden.  Dom. 
Havrdin,  Inquis.  p.m.  Hauwerthyn.  '  Hedged  farm,'  Eng.  haw, 
O.E.  haga,  '  a  hedge,'  and  see  -warden.  Cf.  Harden,  which  is, 
N.B.,  '  high  farm.'  The  Mod.  W.  is  Pennar  Lag  or  '  high  en- 
closure by  the  lake,'  more  correctly,  pen  arth  leg. 

BLa-Wes  (Earkby  Stephen).  O.E.  and  O.N.  hdls,  'the  neck,  a  col,' 
common  in  Northern  place-names  for  '  the  connecting  ridge 
between  two  heights.'    See  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  hause. 

Hawksworth  (W.  Ridg.  and  Notts).  W.  R.  H.  Dom.  Hauoc(h)- 
esorde.  Not.H.Z)om.Hochesuorde,c.  1190Houkeswrthe.  'Hawk's 
place  or  farm,'  O.E.  heafoc,  hafoc,  3-5  Jiauk{e),  '  a  hawk.'  See 
-worth.  (7/.  Hawkridge  (Berks).  0.-£^.  cAar^.  Heafoc  hrycg,  and 
940  chart.  Hafuc  cnollum  (Pewsey,  Wilts) ;  also  Hawkbach,  a. 
1400  Haukebache, '  hawk  valley '  (see  Comberbach)  .  Wherever 
you  have  the  -s  of  the  gen.  Hawk  will  be  a  man's  name.  Cf. 
Hauxton,  Hawkswick  (W.  Riding),  Dom.  Hocheswic,  and 
Hawksbury  (Foleshill),  a.  1400  Haukesbury,  Hawkesbury 
(Wickwar.),  Dom.  Havochesberie,  also  Dom.  Kent,  Havochesten. 

Hawnby  (Holmsley,  Yorks).  Dom.  Halmebi,  1201  Fines  Halmiby, 
1298  Hainleghe.  'Meadow'  or  'dwelling  '  of  Helm  or  Helma,' 
2  such  in  Onom.  Al  easily  becomes  aw,  and  m  often  changes 
into  its  kindred  liquid  n.  Cf.  Hawton  (Notts),  Dom.  Holtone, 
'dwelling  in  the  holt '  or  'wood.'    See  -by  and  -leigh. 

Hawstead  (Bury  St.  Edmunds).  1298  Haustede.  'Place  (Sc. 
'  steading  ')  with  a  hedge  or  fence,'  O.'Ei.haga,  4-9  haw{e).  Haw, 
O.E.  haga,  and  hay,  O.E.  hege,  are,  of  course,  cognate,  and  both 
mean  '  hedge,'  but  they  are  not  the  same  words. 

Haxby  (York).  Dom.  Haxebi.  '  Dwelhng  of  Hacca,'  2  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Haxey,  Doncaster;  (see  -ej).     See  -by. 

Hay  (N.E.  of  Brecon),  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  Itin.  Haia,  Haya. 
O.E.  hege,  4-9  hay{e),  '  a  hedge,  a  fence,'  cognate  with  haw,  and 
hedge.    Cf.  above  and  Oxhey.    In  W.  it  is  Tregelli,  '  house 


HAYDOCK  297  HEBBURN 

among  the  woods/     Haywood,  Great  (Rugeley)  is  Dom.  Hai- 

wode. 
Haydock  (St.  Helen's).     1168-69  Hedoc,  1170-01  Heddock,  1286 

Haydok,  1321  Heydok,  1565  Heghdoyk.    Seems  to  be  O.E. 

hege-docce, '  hedge  of  dock  or  docken.'    Cf.  Docoombe  and  Hay. 

Dock  for  ships  is  a  late  word.    W.  and  H.  are  quite  uncertain, 

and  suggest  a  man's  name,  unknown,  for  the  &st  part,  and  O.E. 

dc/  oak,'  for  the  second.     Hayden  (Glouc),  1220  Heidun,  1222 

Heydunn,  certainly  seems  fr.  O.E.   hege,  M.E.  heie,   'hedge,' 

whilst  Hayton   (Notts),  1154-89  Haythona,  may  be  fr.  O.E. 

hcep,  '  a  heath.' 
Hayes   (Uxbridge).    793  chart.  Haese,  Dom.  Hesa,  later  Hease, 

Heyse,  Hays.     Doubtful;  perh.  for  O.E.  hasu,  heasu,  'grey  or 

tawny-looMng.'    Possibly  fr.  O.E.  ces,  2  ese,  4  hes,  '  carrion ' ;  for 

ending  -a  or  -e=  '  watery  place,'  see  -ey. 

Hayle,  The,  or  Saltings  R..  (Bodmin).    Corn,  heel,  '  a  tidal  river.' 

Hayltng  I.  (Portsmouth).    Dom.  Hahngei.    Prob.  a  patronymic, 
-"   '  isle  of  the  Halings,'  though  there  is  no  such  name  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Hallington,  and  -ey. 

Hazlehubst  (Cobham).  Grant  of  c.  675  Hasulhurst,  c.  1200  Ger- 
vase  Heselherste.  '  Hazel-tree  wood,'  O.E.  hcesel,  and  see  -hurst. 
Cf.  Haslewood  (W.  Riding),  Dom.  Heselewode. 

Headless  Cboss  (Redditch).  Curious  corrup.  1675  Hedley's  Cross. 
We  find  a  Wm.  de  Hedley  in  this  district  in  1275. 

Healaugh  (Tadcaster).  Dom.  Hailaga,  Helage,  O.E.  heah  leah, 
'  high  meadow ';  -laugh  is  a  rare  form  of  -leigh  or  -ley  (q.v.). 
Cf.  next  and  Headon  (Notts),  Dom.  Hedune. 

Healey  (Masham  and  Rochdale),  and  Healeyfield  (Co.  Dur- 
ham). Dur.  H.  1183  Boldon  Bk.  Heleie,  -ey.  O.E.  hkth  leak, 
'  high  meadow.'  High  is  4-6  hee,  he,  hie.  Cf.  above  and 
Heaton  ;  and  see  -ley. 

Heapham  (Gainsborough).  Not  in  Dom.  Cf.  1200  chart.  Hepe- 
dale.  Prob.  '  home  of  Heppo,'  several  in  Onom.  Perh.  fr.  O.E. 
heope,  '  the  fruit  of  the  wild  rose,'  a  hip,  4-5  hepe  5  heepe.  Cf. 
Hepworth. 

Heathfield  (Sussex  and  Newton  Abbot) .  Sus.  H.  not  in  Dom.,  local 
pron.  HefEul.  Ne.  H.  Dom.  Hetfeld,  -felle — i.e.,  '  heath  field.' 
See  Hatfield  and  cf.  ?  c.  1150  Grant  Hethcote,  Peak  District. 

Heaton  (7  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Hetun,  Etun  (Yorks),  Hetune  (Salop). 
O.E.  heah,  4-6  hee,  he,  hie, '  high.'  Similarly  Headon  and  Hedon 
(Hull)  are  '  high  hill.'    Cf.  Healey  ;  and  see  -ton. 

Hebburn  (Jarrow)  and  Hebbttrn  Bell  (hill,  Belford).  a.  1130 
Sim.  Dur.  Heabyrn  and  Hybberndune.  Heabyrn  is  certainly 
Early  Eng.  for  '  high  burn  or  brook,'  O.E.  heah,  hea.  Hybbern- 
looks  more  Hke  '  hip-bum,'  brook  along  which  the  hips  grow, 

20 


HECKFIELD  298  HELMINGTON 

4-6  hejpjpe,  6-7  hep.  Cf.  above.  The  personal  name  is  usually 
spelt  Hepburn.  See  Hepboene.  Bell,  of  course,  refers  to 
the  shape  of  the  dune  or  hill;  Oxf.  Diet,  gives  no  instances  of 
such  a  usage. 

Heokfield  (Basingstoke).  'Field  of  Heca' ;  one  was  Bp.  in 
Sussex,  1047.  Gf.  836  chart.  'Heccaham.'  Dom.  has  only 
Heceford.  We  get  the  patronjonic  in  Heckington  (Lines). 
Cj.  Dom.  Nfk.  Hechincham. 

Heddington  (Calne) .  '  Town  of  Headda '  or  '  Hedde/  a  common 
O.E.  name.  Cf.  1158-59  Pipe  Hedendon  (Oxfd.),  and  Dom. 
Essex  Hidingeforda.    Perh.  patronymic.    See  -ing. 

HEDNEsroKD  (Cannock),  a.  1400  Hedenesford, Edenesford.  'Ford 
of  Heoden.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  544  Hednesdene,  and  Henshaw,  Halt- 
whistle,  old  Hedneshalgh.    See  Haughton. 

Hed WORTH  (Jarrow).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Heathewurthe.  '  Heath- 
place.'  The  d  ending  for  heath  is  seen  also  in  the  Ger.  and  Du. 
heide,  O.N.  hei^-r.    See  -worth. 

Heeley  (Sheffield).  'High  lea  or  meadow';  O.E.  heah,  4-6  hee, 
he,  hie.  Cf.  Healey  ;  also  Heigkley  Gas.  (Staffs).  Dom. 
Heolle,  a.  1300  Helegh,  HeUey.  Duignan  makes  this  a  hybrid 
fr.  W.  heol, '  a  road,  a  way.'    See  -ley. 

Heigham  Potter  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Hecham,  1444Heigham  Porter 
and  H.  Potter.  '  High  home,'  O.E.  heah  ham,  4-6  heigh,  as 
still  in  Sc.  Cf.  Heighton  (Sussex),  and  Higham.  Potter  is  a 
corrup.  of  Porter  through  the  vanishing  of  the  hquid  r. 

Hellesden  (Norfolk).  1450  Heylesden,  -don,  Haylysdon.  'The 
woody  vale '  or  '  the  hill  of '  some  man  with  a  name  in  O.E. 
beginning  with  HcbI-  or  Heal-.  There  are  several  such.  Possibly 
fr.  the  Scandinavian  ogress  Eel,  the  Northern  Proserpine ;  hence 
the  Eng.  hell.  Dom.  has  only  Helesham.  Cf.  Helston;  and 
see  -den  and  -don. 

Hellifield  (Skipton).  Dom.  Helge-,  Haelgefeld.  Either  '  Eelgi'a 
or  Helga's  field';  or  fr.  O.E.  halig,  haleg,  3-4  heli,  '  holy.'  Cf. 
Helbeck  (Aysgarth,  N.  Riding),  1230  Close  B.  Helebec.  See 
-beck,  and  HeUaby  (S.  Yorks),  Dom.  Elgebi. 

Helmdon  (Brackley).  ?  Dom.  Elmedene  {Oxf.  Diet,  has  no  spelling 
of  elm  with  h).  Prob.  O.E.  helm-dun,  '  top  of  the  hill,'  fr.  helm, 
'  top,  summit,  then,  helmet. '  Cf.  '  Helm  o'  the  Hill '  (S,  of 
Felton),  and  next. 

Helmingham  (Stowmarket).  Sic  in  Dom.  Cf.  838  cJiart.  Hel- 
manhyrst.  '  Home  of  the  sons  of  Helma  '  or  '  Helm.'  Cf.  next, 
and  Dom.  Yorks  Helmeswelle,  now  Emswell;  and  see  -ing. 

Helmixjgton  (Bps.  Auckland),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Hehne,  Healme, 
which  is  O.E.  for  '  top,  summit ';  taken  later  for  a  proper  name, 
and  -ington  added.    Cf.  above. 


HELMSLEY  .     299  HENDON 

Helmsley  (N.  Yorks).  Dom.  Elmeslac  (3  times),  Hamelsec  (4 
times)  Almeslai  (once).  The  last  form  is  the  present  name,  the 
man  '  Helm's  meadow/  Cf.  above.  But  the  other  forms  look 
like  '  Helm's  '  or  else  '  Hamel's  oak/  O.E.  dc.     See  -ley. 

Helperby  (York).  Sic  1441,  but  Dom.  Hilprebi,  Ilprebi.  '  Dwell- 
ing of  Helpric  or  Helpericus/  names  in  Onom.  To  make  it 
'  dwelling  of  the  helper '  (a  word  in  Eng.  a.  1300)  would  be 
contrary  to  analogy.  Cf.  Heuerthoepe  (Yorks),  Dom.  Elpe- 
torp,  and  next.    See  -by. 

Heupringham  (Sleaford).  Dom.  Helpericha,  -rincham.  '  Home  of 
the  sons  of  HeVperic'    Cf.  Helperby,  and  see  -ing. 

Hbkpston  (Mket.  Deeping),  a.  1100  chart.  Helpeston.  '  Dwelling, 
village  of  Helpo/  2  in  Onom.  Cf.  the  mod.  name  Helps,  and 
Dom.  Bucks  Helpeswrth, 

Helston  (Falmouth).  Sic  1432, 1200  HeUeston.  Possibly  hybrid, 
fr.  Corn,  hellas,  '  a  marsh.'    But  cf.  Hellesden. 

Helstry  Kingsley  (Cheshire).  It  prob.  is  the  goddess  ^  Hel's 
tree.'  Cf.  Hellesdon,  Oswestry,  and  Helsby  (Cheshire), 
Dom.  Helesbe. 

Helvellyn  ((Mtn.,  Cumberld.).  Prob.  Kelt,  for  'yellow-looking 
slope,'  hel  felyn.  Corn,  velen,  '  yellow.'  But  hel  is  a  somewhat 
doubtful  Kelt.  root.  There  are  3  places  in  Wales  in  P.G. 
called  Velindre  or  '  yellow  house.' 

Hemel  Hampstead  (Herts).  Dom.  Hamelamestede,  Henamestede 
(error),  1303  Hemelhamstead.  'Homestead,  home  place,' 
O.E.  hdm-stede,  '  of  Hemele,'  several  in  Onom.  Cf.  Hemsworth, 
also  Hemlington  (N.  Riding),  Dom.  Himelintun,  Himeligetun, 
a  patronymic  fr.  Hemel ;  Dom.  Norfk.  Hemehngetun.  See 
-ing.  Hempstead  (GIouc),  Dom.  Hechanestede,  c.  1120-30 
Heccamstede,  1230  Ehamstede,  may  mean  '  high  homestead,' 
O.E.  heah,  '  high,'  or  may  be  fr.  Hecca,  -an,  a  man.  It  is  often 
found  in  full  as  Heyhamstede,  etc. 

Hemingburgh  (Selby),  Knytlinga  Saga  Hemingaborg,  and  Hem- 
INGBY  (Horncastle),  Dom.  Hamingebi.  '  Fort  of  Heming,'  and 
'  dwelling  of  Heming,'  3  in  Onom.     See  -burgh  and  -by. 

Hempnall  (Norwich).  Dom.  Hemenhala.  Cf.  c.  1490  '  Hem- 
nales '  (Suffolk).  'Nook  of  Hemma,'  3  in  Onom.  For  intru- 
sion of  p,  cf.  Brompton,  Hampton,  etc.  Cf.  Hempshill 
(Notts),  Dom.  Hamessel,  c.  1200  Hemdeshill,  Hemsby  (Gt. 
Yarmouth),  and  1166-67  Pipe  Heimbia  (Devon).     See  -hall. 

Hemsworth  (Wakefield).  Dom.  Hameleswrde,  Hilmeword.  'Farm 
of  Hamele.'    Cf.  Hemel  Hampstead;  and  see  -worth. 

Hendon  (London).  O.E.  chart.  Hean  dun  (inflected  form)  Dom. 
Handune.  A  Keltic  origin  is  out  of  the  question.  It  is  plainly 
'  high  hill,'  as  it  is;  or  else  possibly  '  Hean'a  hill.'    Cf.  B.C.S. 


HENFIELD  300  HEEEPORD 

246  Heanes  pol,  also  Henstill  (Sandford,  Crediton),  930  chart, 
Henne  stigel,  where  henne  is  either  O.E.  for  '  hen/  or  inflected 
form  of  heah,  '  high  '  ;  stigel  is  '  a  step,  a  ladder,  a  stile/  Hen- 
CASTEB  (Wstmld.),  Dom.  Henneeastre,  must  be  '  high  camp/ 
whilst  Hen  ACRE  (Glouc),  c.  1196  Heneacre,  is  '  high  field,'  and 
Henbareow  (same  shire),  '  high  tumulus/ 

Henfield  (Sussex).  Dom.  Hamfeld.  As  the  Hquids  m  and  n  so 
often  interchange.  Ham-  is  prob.  O.E.  Man,  inflected  or  loc. 
form  of  hexih,  '  high,'  so  '  high  field.'  Cf.  Hanbtjry  and  Hen- 
knolle,  1183  in  Boldon  Bk.,  Durham. 

Hengston  Hill  (Cornwall).  O.E.  Chron.  835  Hengesterdun.  '  Hill 
of  Hengest,'  but  not  necessarily  the  comrade  of  Horsa,  a.d.  449. 
O.E.  hengest  means  '  a  male  horse,  usually  a  gelding.'  C/. 
HnsrcKsEY  etc.  A  Hengest,  vassal  of  the  Danes,  is  mentioned 
in  Beowulf  and  other  early  O.E.  poems,  Baddeley  thinks 
Hengaston  (Berkeley)  may  be  for  O.E.  Man  gcerstun,  'high 
grass-town.'    Cf.  Wallgaston,  near  by,  1243-45  Walhamgarston. 

Henham  (Bps.  Stortford).  Sic  in  Dom.,  c.  1220  Elect.  Hugo 
Hengham.  O.E.  hean  ham,  'high  house,'  hean  inflected  form 
of  heah. 

Henley  (R.  Thames,  and  in  Arden),  Th.  H.  727  chart.  Henlea, 
Dom.  Henlei ;  Wwk.  H.  a.  1200  Henlea,  a.  1400  Henley  in  Arde(r)n. 
Either  O.E.  hean  ledh,  'high  meadow,'  heah  being  inflected,  or 
henn-ledh,  '  hen  meadow.'  There  are  also  '  Henley  '  (Ipswich) 
and  'Henlei,'  Dom.  Surrey.  E.  and  W.  Hendred  (Wantage). 
O.E.  chart.  Henna  rith,  is  '  hens',  water-hens'  riU.'  Henwood 
(Solihull),  a.  1200  Hinewud,  is  more  Hkely  fr.  O.E.  hina,  3  hine, 
5  heynd,  7  hiend,  '  a  hind,  a  servant';  but  Heniviarsh  (Glouc), 
1236  Hennemerse,  will  be  '  moor-hen  marsh.' 

Hensall  (Whitley  Br.).  Dom.  Edeshale,  which  seems  to  be  for 
'  Mdan's  '  or  '  Edan's  nook.'  See  -hall.  But  Henshaw  (Halt- 
whistle)  is  c.  1147  Hethingeshalch;  also  Hedneshalgh — i.e., 
'  Heoden's  haugh  '  or  '  river -meadow,'  influenced  by  North. 
Eng.  shaw,  O.E.  scaga,  '  a  wood.' 

Hensteidge  (Somerset).  Dom.  Hengesterich,  O.E.  chart.  Hen- 
gestes  ricg,  O.E.  for  '  Hengest's  ridge.'    See  Hengston. 

Hepborne  or  Hayborne  (Wooler).    c.  1330  Hebhorn,  1363  Hib- 
burne,  1366  Hebburne.     'Burn,  brook  with  the  hips,'  the  fruit 
of  the  wild  rose,  O.E.  heope.  Mope,  4-9  hep{e).    Cf.  Hebburn, 

Hepworth  (Huddersfield) .  Dom.  Heppeword.  '  Farm  of  Heppo/ 
Cf.  Heapham;  and  see  -worth. 

Hereford.  1048  O.E.  Chron.  Herefordseir,  1260  Herford.  '  i'ort 
of  the  army,'  O.E.  here.  Curiously,  we  get  much  older  forms, 
s.v.  Harvlngton  (Evesham),  which  is  709  Herefordtune,  etc. 
In  1161-62  Pipe  we  still  read  of  '  Herefort  in  Waliis.' 


HEEMANSOLE  301  HEVER 

Hermansole  (farm,  Canterbury) .  '  Herman's  pond  or  pool/  O.E, 
sol,  '  mire,  a  muddy  place,'  now  only  Kent.  dial.  sole.  Cf. 
Maydensole  (Dover) . 

Heenb  Hill  (London)  and  Herne  Bay  (Kent) .  Cf.  K.C.D.,  iii.  279: 
'Eamhylle/  O.E.  hyrne,  M.E.  herne,  him,  'a  corner,  nook, 
hiding  -  place.'  Cf.  Dom.  Hants  Heme,  and  Essex  Witbrictes 
herna. 

Herringby  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Harringebi,  c.  1456  Haryngby. 
'  Dwelling  of  Herring.'  Still  a  surname,  patronymic  fr.  Heara, 
gen.  Hearan.    C/.  Herringswell  (Mildenhall).     See -by. 

Herringeleet  (Suffolk).  Dom.  Herlingaflet,  1361  Herlyngflet. 
'  River  of  the  Herlings ' ;  patronymic,  (?)  fr.  Herlewine,  3  in  Onom. 
Of.  K.G.D.  782  Herlingaham  or  Hurlingham.     See  Fleet. 

Hersham  (Walton-on-Thames) .  Not  in  Dom.,  but  cf.  Dom.  Norfk. 
Hersam.  '  Home  of  '  some  one  of  the  many  men  with  names  in 
Here-,  Heremod,  Heresic,  Hereweald,  etc. 

Herstmonceux  (Pevensey).  '  Hurst,  forest  (of  Anderida),  belong- 
ing to  the  Norman  family  Monceaux.'  O.E.  hyrst  means  '  a 
knoll,  a  hillock,'  as  well  as  '  a  wood.' 

Hertford.  Bede  Herutford,  1087  Ordinance  Wm.  I.  Hertfordscire, 
1258  Hurtford.  '  Ford  of  the  hart.'  O.E.  heorut,  3-6  hert,  '  a 
hart.'  The  mod.  pron.  of  the  place-name  always  has  the  a 
sound.  Cf.  Harford  (Glouc),  743  chart.  Heort  ford,  802  ih. 
Hereforda,  Dom.  Hurford,  1221  Harford. 

Hesblton,  Monk  and  Cotjd  (Durham),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Hesel- 
dene.   '  Dean,  den  (wooded),  valley  with  the  hazels.'  O.E.  hcesel. 

Hesketh  Bank  (Southport).  1283-92  Heskayth,  1292  Eskayth. 
Wyld  says,  O.N.  hest  shei^,  '  race  course.'  It  seems  possibly  a 
plural  form  of  W.  hesg,  '  sedges.'  Cf.  Werneth,  '  place  of 
alders ' ;  but  the  ending  -ayth  is  against  this ;  also  the  rarity  of 
W.  names  here. 

Hesltngton.    See  Hasltngeield. 

Hessle  (Hull).  Dom.  Hasele,  which  must  be  O.E.  hcesel-liah, 
'  hazel  mead.'  {Of.  Dom.  Salop,  Hesleie,  and  Hesley,  Notts, 
1217  Heselay.)  But  it  seems  to  be  1179-80  Pipe  Hessewell, 
Hesiwald,  which  corresponds  with  an  Ashwell  or  Heswell,  1239 
in  Galend.  Pap.  Reg.,  i.  181,  '  ash-tree  well.'  Cf.  1298  '  Gerardus 
de  Hesebrygge.' 

Hetton  (Skipton).  Dom.  Hetune.  O.E.  heah  tun,  'high  town.' 
Cf.  Hewick  (Yorks),  Dom.  Hawie.  But  Hetton -le -Hole  (Co. 
Durham)  seems  to  be  1516-17  Durham  Ace.  Rolls  Hett,  where 
Hett  is  doubtful. 

Hever  (Eden  Br.).  Sic  1327,  but  1278  Heure,  also  Evere.  Prob. 
for  he-over,  or  he-oure,  '  high  bank,'  OE.  heah  ofr.  Of.  Heeley 
and  Wooler,  and  see=  over. 


HEVEESHAM  302  HIGHAM  FEREEES 

Heversham  or  Ever-  (Westmld.).  Dom.  Eureshaim,  a.  1130  Sim. 
Dur.  Hefresham.  '  Home  of  Eojor ' — i.e.,  '  the  wild-boar.' 
See  -ham. 

Hewobth  (Felling,  Durham) .  1183  Ewwrth .  Prob .  0  .E .  tw  worth, 
'  yew-tree  farm ' ;  but  possibly  fr.  a  man  Eva,  Eua,  or  Ewa. 
Such  names  are  known.    See  -worth. 

Hexham.  Prob.  c.  410  Notitia  Axelodunum,  Bede  Hagulstad, 
c.  1097  Orderic  Haugustalda,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Extoldesham, 
a.  1200  John  Hexham  Hestoldes-,  Hextildesham,  c.  1300  Hexe- 
lesham,  1421  Hexhamshire.  A  curious  and  difficult  name.  The 
Notitia  name  is  not  certainly  Hexham.  If  it  is,  Axelo-dunum 
is  certainly  Kelt,  for  'high  hill/  and  the  O.E.  name  may  be  a 
corruption  of  this.  But  O.E.  hagosteald  is  '  a  young  soldier,  a 
bachelor.'  Cf.  B.C.S.,  i.  97,  Haegstaldes  cimib  (Somerset).  It  is 
often  said  to  be  '  home  on  the  Hestild.'  Two  brooks,  said  once 
to  have  been  called  Hextol  and  Halgut,  now  the  Cockshaw  and 
Cowgarth  bums,  meet  here. 

Hextablb  (Swanley).  Not  in  Dom.  Perh.  '  hatch  staple,'  O.E. 
hcBC,  -ce,  M.E.  hec,  hek,  '  a  hatch,  wicket-gate,'  and  stapol,  '  a 
pole  or  pillar  marking  the  boundary  of  an  estate.'  Cf.  Hexton 
(Bewdley),  1227  Hekstane.  However,  the  names  Heca,  Hecca, 
and  Heed  are  common  in  O.E.,  and  may  well  be  postulated  here. 
Cf.  HexthIoep  (Yorks),  Dom.  Hestorp,  Estorp. 

Heybridge  (Maldon).  Prob.  Dom.  Hobruge  {cf.  Hoe),  ?  c.  1250 
Visitation  Churches  belonging  to  St.  Paul's  Heubrege.  Prob. 
'  high  bridge,'  O.E.  heah,  3-5  hey,  hei;  possibly  fr.  O.E.  heg,  heg, 
3-7  hey,  'hay.'  Cf.  Roll  Rich.  I.,  '  Haiscot '  (Essex).  ^  The 
Heydons  (there  are  several)  are  prob.  all  '  high  hill.'  Cf. 
1166-67  Pipe  Hidon  (Devon).     Cf.  Eyam. 

Heysham  (N.  Lanes).  Dom.  Hessam,  1094  Heseym,  1216  Hesam. 
'  Hesa's  home.'    Cf.  Hessle,  and  see  -ham, 

HiBALDSTOW  (Brigg).  a.  1100  Grant  of  664  Hibaltestow,  1179-80 
Hybaldestow,  Hibolstowe.  '  Place  of  Hibald  '  or  '  Hygebeald,' 
common  in  Onom.    See  Stow. 

HiCKLETON  (Doncaster).  Dom.  Chicheltone  {cf.  Keighley),  Ichel- 
tone.     '  Town  of  Hicel.'    See  next. 

HiCKLTNG  (Melton  Mowbray).  Dom.  Hechel-,  Hegelinge,  1298 
Hikellinge.  Prob.  a  patronymic.  Cf.  B.C.S.  862, '  Hiceles  wyrfe ' 
(Salisbury).     '  Place  of  Hicel's  descendants.'     Cf.  above. 

HiGHAjM  Ferrers  (Northants).  c.  1060  chart.  Hecham,  1465  Rolls 
Parlmt.  Heigham  Feres.  '  High  house  or  home,'  O.E.  Mah, 
4-6  heigh.  Cf.  Heighah.  William  Ferrers,  Earl  of  Derby, 
became  lord  of  the  manor  here  in  1199.  But  Highnam  (Glouc), 
old  Hynehamme,  is  '  the  enclosure  of  the  hind'^,'  or  '  servants.' 
See  -ham. 


HILBOROUaH  303  HINDERWELL 

HiLBOROUGH  (Norfk.)  [Dom.  Hildeburhwella]  and  Hillborough 
(Stratford,  Wwk.).  Str.  H.  710  chart.  Hildeburhwrthe,.  Zafer 
Hildeborde,  Hildebereurde ;  a.  1200  Hilburgewrth ;  1317  Hilde- 
boreworth.  A  very  interesting  corrup. — a  woman,  '  Hilde- 
burh's  farm/  Gf.  "^Hilston  (Holderness),  Dom.  Heldovestun, 
Heldeweston,  ?  fr.  Heldwulf,  one  in  Onom.;  whilst  Hilcote 
(Gloue.)  is  old  Hyldecote,  fr.  O.E.  hylde, '  a  slope/ 

HiLBREE  I.  and  Point  (Cheshire).  1577  Hilbery.  Possibly  W.  hel 
bre,  '  bank  on  the  hill  or  brae.'  Eng.  bree  sb'  '  eye-brow '  {Oxf. 
Diet.)  never  seems  used  for  '  brae  '  or  hill-slope,  though  Skeat 
says  it  doubtless  had  also  this  sense.  Of  course,  Hilbery  could 
mean  '  hill-fort '  or  '  burgh,'  only  burgh  or  bury  very  rarely 
becomes  bree. 

HrLDENBOBOUGH  (Toubridge),  not  in  Dom.,  and  Hildenley 
(N.  Yorks) .  Dom.  Hildingeslei,  Ildingeslei.  This  last  is  '  meadow 
of  Hilding/  patronymic  fr.  Hilda.'  The  first  name  may  be  fr. 
the  simple  Hilda.  Hillesley  (Wickwar)  is  Dom.  Hildeslei. 
See  -borough  and  -ley. 

Htldersham  (Cambridge) .  Dom.  amdichart. Hildricesham.  *  Home 
of  Hilderic,'  one  in  Onom.  Gf.  Hinderwell.  Hildebthobpe 
(Yorks)  is  Dom.  Hilgertorp,  or  '  Hildegar's  village.' 

HiLGAY  (Cambs) .  c.  1080  Inquis.  Gamb.  Hehngheie,  Ramsey  Ghron. 
Helingeye.  Patronymic.  'Isle  of  the  Hellings.'  Gf.  Hel- 
lingly  (Sussex),  and  see  -ay. 

Himbleton  (Droitwich).  816  chart.  Hymeltun,  Dom.  ffimeltun; 
and  HiMLEY  (Dudley),  Dom.  HimeHc ;,  a.  1200  HumiHleg,  Humi- 
leg;  a.  1300  Humilele,  Hymele.  Perh.  'town'  and  'meadow 
of  Hemele/  common  in  Onom.  Duignan,  owing  to  lack  of  all 
sign  of  the  possessive,  prefers  to  derive  fr.  O.E.  hymele,  '  the 
hop  plant,'  and  refers  to  Hemlington  and  Hambleton  (Yorks), 
which  are  both  fr.  a  man  Hamel  or  Hemel.  But  there  is  at 
Himbleton  a  stream,  956  chart,  hymel  broc,  which  does  seem 
'  hop-plant  brook,'  and  the  early  spellings  also  favour  '  the  hop- 
plant  '  origin. 

Hinckley  (Leicester).  Dom.  HincheUe.  '  Meadow  of  Hynca,'  one 
in  Onom.  See  -ley.  But  for  Hincaster,  see  Hencaster, 
'  high  camp.'  Htnchwick,  Condicote,  1294  Henewyk,  1307 
Hynewyke,  is  perh.  O.E.  henge  wie,  '  steep  village.     Gf.  Hinks- 

FORD. 

Hinderwell  (N.  Riding).  Dom.  Heldrewelle,  Hildre-,  Ildrewelle; 
1179-80  Pipe  Hilder-,  HirderwaUe.  '  Well  of  HiU  or  Held.* 
The  r  may  be  the  N.  gen.,  but  we  also  find  3  Heldreds  and  a 
Hilderic  in  Onom.  The  liquids  I  and  n  do  interchange.  Gf. 
Hn^DERSHAivr  and  Hinderskelf,  now  Castle  Howard  (Yorks), 
Dom.  Hildreschelf,  Ilderschelf .  Shelf  often  occurs  for  '  ledge 
of  rock.' 


HINDLIP  304  HISTON 

HiNDLip,  Hestlip  (Worcester).  'Hind's  leap/  O.E.  hlyf,  3  lijp,  '  a 
leap/    Cf.  BiBDLip. 

HiNGHAM  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Hincham,  often,  1452  Hengham.  Pos- 
sibly contracted  fr.  ' Hengest's  ham'  or  'home.'  Older  forms 
needed.     Onom.  has  one  Hength. 

Hjnksey  (Oxford).  O.E.  c^arMIengesteseie,  -ige;  1297  Hencsei. 
'Hengest's  isle.-  Of.  Hengston  and  Hinxworth.  Hinks- 
FORD,  Kingswinsford,  is  1271  Henkeston,  1300  Hinkesford, 
more  prob.  fr.  Hynca,  as  in  Hingkley. 

Hesttlesham  (Ipswich).  Dom.  and  sic  1157.  Puzzling.  The 
nearest  name  in  Onom.  is  Hinwald  or  Hinieldus.  Possibly 
Hintel  is  dimin.  of  the  known  name  Hunta.    See  -ham. 

HiNTON  Waldrist  or  Waldridge  (Berks;  10  Hintons  besides  in 
P.G.).  Dorset  H.  chart.  Hine-,  Hyneton;  Ber.  H.  B.C.S., 
iii.  228,  Heantunninga,  Dom.  Hentone ;  Cambs  H.  Dom.  Hintone ; 
Glouc.  H.  1303  Henton.  The  B.C.S.  form  means  '  dwellers  in 
Heantun  ' — i.e.,  '  high  town/  O.E.  Man,  dat.  of  heuh,  '  high/ 
But  the  Hintons  are  not  all  the  same,  and  come  most  of  them 
fr.  O.E.  hina,  gen.  of  hiwan,  '  domestic  servants,  hinds,'  or  else 
fr.  hind,  '  a  female  deer.'  See  -ton.  Waldrist  is  fr.  O.E. 
WeaUric.  He  was  King's  Chancellor  1100-35.  See  Chron. 
Ahing.,  ii.  127. 

Hints  (Tam worth  and  Ludlow).  Tarn.  H.  Dom.  Hintes,  a.  1300 
Hyntes.    Duignan  thinks  W.  hynt, '  a  road,  way,'  with  Eng.  pi.  s. 

Henxton  (S.  Cambs).  and  Hinxworth  (Herts)  Ramsey  Chron. 
Hengestone,  1277  Hengeston,  1341  Hyngeston.  Dom.  Hain- 
geste  uuorde.  '  Hengest's  farm '  and  '  village.'  Cf.  Hinxton 
(Essex)  and  Hinksey,  and  see  -ton  and  -worth. 

Hipperhouvie  (Halifax).  Dom.  Huperun.  It  seems  hard  to  ex- 
plain Huper  or  Hipper.  There  is  nothing  likely  in  Onom.  unless 
it  be  Hygebeorht  or  Hubert ;  but  it  may  be  a  dissimilated  form 
of  hippie,  5  hupple,  see  next,  and  mean  '  at  the  little  heaps,' 
-un  being  an  old  loc,  which  either  becomes  -holme,  '  riverside 
meadow,'  or  -ham,  q.v. 

HiPSWELL  (Richmond,  Yorks).  Dom.  Hiplewelle,  c.  1538  Leland 
Ipreswel.  There  is  no  name  at  all  likely  here,  so  this  must  be 
'  well  at  the  hippie,'  or  '  little  heap,'  first  recorded  in  Oxf.  Diet. 
in  1382  as  hypil,  heepil,  and  derived  fr.  O.E.  *  hiepel,  hypel, 
cf.  Ger.  hail f el. 

HmwAiN  (Aberdare).  W.  hir  gwaen,  'long  plain'  or  'meadow/ 
It  anciently  stretched  for  ten  miles. 

HissiNGTON  (Herefdsh.).  Dom.  Hesintune.  Prob.  '  town  of  Hesa,' 
a  name  not  in  Onom.     Cf.  Dom.  Bucks,  Hesintone. 

HiSTON  (Cambridge),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Hestitona,  Dom. 
Histetone,  Histone,  1 165  Hestona.     '  Village  of  Hesta  or  Hcesta.' 


HITCHIN  305  HOCKWOLD 

HiTOHiN.  Dom.  Hiz,  1210  Hiche,  1303  Huche,  1346  Hicheyn,  1541 
Hechjm.  Dom.'s  Hiz  =  Hits.  The  name,  it  would  seem,  can 
only  mean  Hicca's  (place)  ;  a  Hica  and  a  Hicca  in  Onom.  Had 
the  -in  been  early  it  would  prob.  have  represented  an  old  loc, 
but  it  seems  quite  late.  For  similar  names  (which  are  rare)> 
cf.  Beedon,  Brailes,  Coven,  etc.  The  R.  on  which  it  stands, 
formerly  the  Hitche,  seems  to  have  been  rechristened  Hiz  after 
Dom.  HrrcHAM,  Ipswich  and  Maidenhead,  '  Hicca's  home,' 
show  what  the  normal  forms  of  this  name  would  have  been. 

HixoN  (Stafford).  Dom.  Hustedone,  a.  1300  Huntesdun,  Huhtes- 
Hucste-,  Hucces-,  Huncesdon;  a.  1600  Hickston,  Hixeton.  It 
is  on  a  '  hill,'  and  the  ending  is  clearly  -don,  q.v.  The  proper 
name  which  comes  before  is  a  puzzle.  Huch,  Hucco,  and  Huctred, 
var.  of  U hired,  are  the  nearest  in  Onom.  In  Dom.  st  usually 
stands  for  guttural  ch  or  gh. 

Hoar  Cross  (Burton-on-T.).  1248  Harecres,  1262  La  Croiz,  1267 
Orcross,  1268  Horecros.  'Boundary  cross,'  O.E.  Mr.  See 
Harborne.  This  Hoar-  in  later  spellings  of  place-names  is 
often  corrup.  into  Whore.  Cf.  the  Hoarstone  (Bewdley),  1275 
Richard  o'  th'  horeston.    Another  in  Glouc. 

HoARwiTHY  (Ross).  1Q05  chart.  To  ]jam  haran  wifie,  '  to  the  old 
withy  or  willow,'  O.E.  withig. 

HoBOROUGH  (Kent).  838  chart.  Holebeorh;  also  Holenbeorh, 
-beorge,  '  hill,  mound  of  Hola.'    See  Barrow. 

HoBY  (Leicester).  Dom.  Hobie.  '  Dwelling  on  the  Hoe  '  or  '  hill.' 
Cf.  HuBY,  and  see  -by. 

Hockerhj^  (Herts  and  Wore).  He.  H.  c.  1250  Hokerhuka,  1491 
Hokerelle.  '  Hill  of  the  hooker,'  or  '  thief  who  steals  with  a 
hook.'  Not  in  Oxf.  Diet,  till  1567.  So  Skeat.  Perh.  Hocker- 
TON  (Notts),  Dom.  Hocre-,  Ocreton,  may  be  the  same,  and  not  fr. 
a  man  Hoc  with  N.  gen.  r.     All  is  doubtful. 

Hockley  (Birmingham  and  Essex).  Bi.  H.  1327  Hockele,  1332 
Hockelaye.  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey,  Hoclei.  Prob.  '  meadow  with 
the  hocks,  holly-hocks,  or  mallows,'  O.E.  hoc.  Skeat  thought 
Hoc-  a  M.E.  hardening  of  O.E.  hoh,  ho,  '  promontory,  abrupt 
height.  Hoe,'  though  the  Oxf.  Diet,  does  not  confirm  this.  Still, 
next  is  very  possibly  so  derived;  so,  too,  O.E.  chart.  Hants, 
Hocgetwisle.  See  Twizel:  also  cf.  Dom.  Leicr.  and  Notts, 
Hoches,  ?=' heights,'  and  Beds,  Hocheleia,  and  Hocberry 
(=-bury),  Glouc. 

HocKLiiTB  (Beds).  Old  Hocclyve.  Seen  also  in  the  name  of  the 
15th  cny.  poet  Occleve  or  Hoceleve.  Prob.  '  promontory  chff, 
projecting  cliff.'    See  above  and  Cleveland. 

HocKWOLD  (Brandon).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1460  Hokehold.  Doubt- 
ful. It  may  be  '  high  wold  ' — i.e.,  '  wood  '  or  '  hilly  district,' 
cognate    with    weald,   or    '  high    hold  ' — i.e.,    '  fortress.'    See 


HODDLESDEN  306  HOLBTJEN 

Hockley.    But  it  may  be  fr.  a  man  Hocca.    Cf.  Hockwobthy 
(Wellington),  see  -worthy,  1160  Pipe,  Hochelai  (Northants)  and 

HuCKNAIiL. 

HoDDLESDEN  (Darwen).  C/.  1297  a  '  Hodleston/  Prob.  '  den  or 
DEAN  of  Holdwulf  or  ^Holdulf/  one  in  Onom.  Wyld  and  Hirst 
omit.  But  HoDDESDON  is  fr.  a  man  Hod  or  Hoda,  both  in 
Onom.    Cf.  940  chart.  Hoddes  stoc  (Wilts). 

HoDNET  (Market  Drayton).  Dom.  Hodenet.  Prob.  'heath  of 
Hoda/  gen.  -an.  Cf.  Hodcot  (Berks),  Dom.  Hodicote,  963  chart. 
Hodan  hlsew  (=  -low  or  '  hill '),  and  1160  Pipe  Chesh.,  Hodeslea. 
For  -et=  heath,  cf.  Hatfield  and  Bassett.  Dom.  Salop  has 
also  a  Humet.  Hodkell  (Southam),  Dom.  Hodenelle,  -helle, 
is  '  Hoda's  nook';  see  -hall;  while  Hod  sock  (Notts),  Dom. 
Odesach,  1302  Hodesak,  is  *  Hoda's  oak.* 

Hoe,  The  (Plymouth).  1590  Spenser  The  Western  Hogh,  1602 
Carew  The  Hawe.  O.E.  hoh,  ho,  '  a  heel,  a  projection,  a  spur,  a 
hill,  high  ground ' ;  Sc.  heugh.  Cf.  Hoo,  Hockley,  Dom.  Devon, 
Ho  (Totnes);  1160-61  Pipe  Kent,  Ho;  Hoe  Ford  (Fareham); 
Mortbhoe,  Staplow,  etc.  Hoe,  hoo,  is  a  common  ending  in  Staffs 
and  Warwk. — e.g.,  Tysoe  is  Dom.  Tiheshoche,  a.  1300  Thysho. 

HoGSTON  or  HoGGSTON  (N.  Bucks) .  Dom.  Hochestone.  O.E.  chart. 
Hocgestan,  '  stone  of  Hocca.'  Hog,  '  a  pig,'  is  not  found  till 
1340.  Hogge  for  Hodge  or  Roger  is  found  in  CShaucer,  Cf. 
Hogsthorpe  (Lines),  not  in  Dom.,  Hogston  (Sc),  and  Hoxton; 
also  Dom.  Lines.  Hogetune. 

(La)  Hogue  Hatbnai  (Guernsey)  and  Hotjgtje  Bie  (Jersey).  These 
names  are  all  pure  Scandinavian.  Hogue  is  O.N.  haug-r, 
'  mound,  cairn.'  Cf.,  Grenehoga,  -ehov,  Dom.  Norfk.  See  -how. 
Hatenai  is  '  isle  of '  some  Norseman  who  cannot  now  be  surely 
identified.  See  -ay.  Whilst  Bie  is  the  same  as  the  common  suffix 
-bie  or  -by,  '  dwelling,'  q.v.    Cf.  Cape  La  Hogue  (Cherbourg) . 

Holbbach  (Spalding).  810  chart.  Holebech,  c.  1290  Holebec,  1571 
Holbich.  Nothing  to  do  with  beach.  May  be  '  hole,  hollow,' 
O.E.  hoi,  'with  the  bach  or  beck  or  brook.'  Hardly  'beck  of 
Hola,'  a  name  in  Onom.,  for,  if  so,  we  should  expect  Holanbech  in 
810.  O/.  a  *  Holan  bsecc,' on  Stour  (Staffs)  in  958  c^«r<.   See -bach. 

HoLBBCK  (Leeds).    See  above. 

HoLBUBN  (London),  c.  1162  Holeburn,  1513  Holbome.  Pron. 
now  clipped  down  to  '  'Obun.'  J.  R.  Green  says  '  hollow  bourne,' 
or  burn  or  brook.  Cf.  Langbourne  Ward  in  the  City.  O.E.  hoi, 
dial,  holl,  and  5-9  hole,  '  hollow,  depressed,  lying  in  a  hollow.'  It 
may  be  '  Hola's  burn.'  Cf.  Hobokotjqh,  and  see  -bourne.  It 
may  also  be  'hole  of  the  burn,'  'hollow  with  the  brook,'  O.E. 
hoi,  hole.  Cf.  the  Holbrook  (Warwk.),  which  Duignan  says 
is  holh  broc,  '  hollow  with  the  brook.'  Holbrook  (Winch- 
combe)  certainly  is  c.  1170  Holebroc. 


>  HOLCOMBE  307  HOLME 

lIoLCOMBE  (Painswick  and  Manchester).  Pa.  H.  1166  HoUecumbe; 
Ma.  H.  c.  1215  Holcumbe  hevet  (head).  Combe  is  '  valley/  q.v., 
but  Hoi-  must  be  interpreted  according  as  one  interprets  HoL- 
BXJRN.  C/.  HoLDEN  (Yorks),  Bom.  Holedene;  and  Holfoed 
(Winchcombe),  Bom.  Holeforde. 

HoLOOT  (Northampton).  Bom.  Holecote,  ?  c.  1220  ElexA.  Hugo. 
'Philip  de  Holkotes.'  This  last  prob.  means  'hovel-like  cot- 
tages/ fr.  O.E,  hulu,  '  a  husk,  a  hull/  found  a.  1225  meaning 
'  a  hut,  a  hovel.'  Cf.  Hull.  But  Bom.'s  form  points  to  '  cot 
of  Hola/  a  known  name. 

HoLDERNESS  (E.  Yorks).  Bom.  Heldrenesse,  Heldemesse;  c.  1097 
Orderic  Hildernessa;  c.  1100  Holdernese;  1208  Holdernesse. 
Prob.  '  cape  of  the  High  Reeve/  an  officer  of  rank  in  the  Dane- 
lagh, O.N.  hold-r,  O.E.  hold.  But  in  its  earlier  forms  fr.  Eeld-r, 
Hild-r,  on  which  names  see  Hindebwell.    See  -ness. 

HoLKHAM  (Wells,  Norfk.).  Bom.  and  1157  Pipe  Boll  Holeham. 
Seems  to  be  fr.  O.E.  holh,  'a  hollow,  a  hole,  a  cave,'  'dwelling 
at  or  in  the  hollow.'    See  -ham. 

HoT.TiAT^TD  (S.  Lincoln).  Bom.  Holland,  1216  Hoyland.  The  Dutch 
Holland  is  prob.  '  holt-land,'  woodland,  see  Oxf.  Bid.  s.v. ; 
whilst  the  Eng.  name  is  usually  thought  to  be  O.E.  hoi  land, 
*  hoUow  or  low-lying  land.'  But  Holland  suggests  Dan.  hoi, 
'  high,'  which  does  not  seem  very  applicable.     Of.  Hoyland. 

HoLLTNGBOTniNE  (Maidstone) .  c.  1018  Holingburne.  '  Bum,  brook 
of  the  holly -trees,'  O.E.  holen,  hole^n,  3  holin,  5  holiitg.  Cf. 
K.G.B.  722  Holungabuma,  prob.  in  Dorset;  and  Bom.  Bucks, 
Holendone.  We  get  a  curious  corrup.  of  this  root  in  Holdfast 
(Upton-on-Sevem),  967  chart.  Holenfesten,  prob. '  holly  fastness/ 
Cf.,  too,  HoLUN,  Upp.  and  Low.  (Bewdley),  1332  HoIjti. 

HoLLOWAY  (Feckenham,  London,  and  Matlock  Bath).  Lon.  H. 
sic  1576,  but  Fe.  H.  Bom.  Holewei,  a.  1200  Holowei;  Ma.  H. 
Bom.  Holewei.  Also  Holloway  or  Holewey  (For.  of  Dean). 
'  Way  which  is  deeply  excavated  or  depressed,  lying  in  a  hollow,' 
O.E.  hoi,  infl.  hole,  4-9  holl,  cognate  with  hollow,  not  foxmd  till 
c.  1205  Layamon  holh,  3-4  holewe,  3-5  holwe.  The  a.  1200  form 
cited  by  Duignan  is  earher  for  hollow  than  anything  in  Oxf.  Bid. 

Holme  (7  in  P.O.),  a  very  common  name — found,  e.g.,  in  Bom. 
Yorks  17  times  as  Holme  or  Holne.  It  is  O.E.  holm,  '  low,  flat 
land  by  a  river,  river -meadow.'  It  often  interchanges  as  an 
ending  with  -ham,  and  as  ending  is  also  found  as  -hulme,  as  in 
Davyhulme,  and  as  -om,  in  Millom  (probably).  Holmttbth 
(Huddersfield)  is  Bom.  Hohie.  The  -firth  is  O.E.  fyrhp,  Z-frith, 
4  ri ht, '  a  wood,  wooded  country,  unused  pasture-land.'  Holme- 
ON-THE-WoLDS  is  Bom.  Hougon,  which  must  be  a  loc.  '  at  the 
hows '  or  '  mounds,'  O.N.  haug-r.  Cf.  Howsham,  and  for  a 
Norse  word  taking  an  Eng.  loc.  form,  cf.  Hallam.    The  Nor. 


HOLMPTON  308  HOMEESFIELD 

family  of  Pierrepont  or  '  Perpunt '  is  found  at  Holme  Pierrepo  nt 
(Notts)  in  1302.  In  Channel  Is.  holm  becomes  -hom,  Brecqhon, 
Jethon  (1091  chart '  quae  vulgo  Keikhulm  vocatur'),  etc. 

HoLMPTON  (Hull).  Dom.  Holmetune.  '  Town  on  the  holm  or  river- 
meadow.'    See  above.    For  intrusion  of  p,  cf.  Hampton. 

HoLNE  (Ashburton,  Devon).  8ic  in  Dom.  O.E.  holeyn,  hollen, 
'  hoUy-tree.'  Cf.  847  chart.  JEthelwulf,  To  tSaem  beor3e  Se  mon 
hatet5  '  set  Ssem  holne/  also  Hollandbtjsh  (Sc). 

HoLNHURST  (Glouc).  940  cAarf.  HolenhvTst.  '  Holly- wood.'  See 
above  and  -hurst. 

HoLswoRTHY  (Budc).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  'farm  of  Hola.'  Cf. 
HoLBEACH,  and  see  -worthy. 

Holt  (Norfolk  and  Worcester).  Dom.  both  Holt.  O.E.  and  N. 
holt,  '  a  wood,  a  copse.'  So  also  Holton  (6  in  P.O.).  Newark 
H.  Dom.  Holtone.     '  Town  by  the  wood.' 

Holyhead.  Pron.  Hollyhead.  a.  1490So<owerLeHolyhede.  But 
in  W.  Caergybi — i.e.,  '  fort  of  St.  Oybi.'  The  parish  church 
occupies  an  elevated  site  where  once  stood  a  monastery  dedi- 
cated to  this  saint.  And  the  '  Mountain  of  Holyhead  '  is  called 
Pen-Caer-Gybi.  Gybi  or  Cybi  was  a  British  saint  who,  after 
visiting  Gaul  and  opposing  Arianism,  returned  c.  380,  and 
founded  this  monastic  estabUshment  here. 

Holy  Island  (Northumbld.).  c.  1130  Hali  eland,  c.  1330  R.  Brunne 
Holy  Eland.  So  called  because  the  Columban  monks  from  lona 
planted  the  monastery  of  Lindisfarne  here  in  the  7th  cny. 
Cuthbert  was  its  great  saint. 

Holywell  (Flint).  In  W.  Treffynon.  So  called  from  the  famous 
well  of  St.  Winefride,  to  which  many  R.C.  pilgrims  still  come. 
Winefride  is  a  dubious  saint,  reputed  to  have  been  a  noble 
maiden  whose  head  was  cut  off  by  Prince  Caradog  because  she 
scorned  his  lustful  advances.  The  head  rolled  down  a  hiU,  and 
where  it  stopped  this  spring  or  well  gushed  forth  !  She  is  said  to 
have  been  daughter  of  Prince  Teuyth  of  N.  Wales  in  the  7th 
cny.,  but  there  is  no  mention  of  her  doings  until  Robert  of 
Shrewsbury,  c.  1140. 

Homer  (Much  Wenlock) .  Not  in  Dom.,  but  old  Hohnere,  which  is 
O.E.  for  '  hoUow  lake,'  lake  in  a  hollow.  Cf.  Cromer  and 
HoLBTJRN;  but  for  HoMERTON  (London),  see  Hammerwich. 

Homersfield  (Harleston).  Dom.  Humbresfelda,  Red  Bk.  Excheq. 
Humeresfeld,  also  Humorsfeld.  Doubtful.  Perh. .  '  field  of 
Humberht,  Humbertus,  or  Hunbeorht,'  all  forms  in  Onom.,  the 
last  most  correct.  Cf.  Hubberstone.  It  might  be  fr.  Hormcer. 
Cf.  B.C.S.  622  Hormseres  wudu.  The  liquid  r  could  easily  dis- 
appear, and  a  spelHng  Hornersfield  is  found.  Skeat  votes  for  a 
man  Hunmcer,  a  name  admittedly  not  on  record. 


HOMILDON  309  HOOTEN  PAGNELL 

HoMiLDON  (Northumbld.) .  c.  1230  Homeldun.  'Hill  of  Homel.' 
Cf.  Homeliknow  (Coldstream),  1198  Homelenolle.  Rommel  is 
still  a  personal  name  in  Germany,  but  is  not  found  in  Onom. 

Cf.  HUMBLETON. 

HoNEYBOiJRNB  (Evesham).  709  chart.  Huniburne,  840  ib.  Hunig- 
burn,  Dom.  Huni-,  Honey burne.  '  Brook  with  honey-sweet 
water/  O.E.  honig.  Of.  next,  and  see  -bourne.  There  is  a 
HoNEYBBOOK  in  the  same  shire,  866  chart.  Hunig  broc;  also  a 
HoNEYBOBOUGH  (Pembksh.),1307  Hounteborch,  1327  Honiborch. 
'  Burgh,  castle  of  Hunta '  or  Hunto/  several  in  Onom.  See  -burgh. 

Honey  CHURCH  (Devon).  Dom.  Honecherche.  The  connexion 
between  a  '  church '  and  '  honey,'  O.E.  huni-^,  4-7  honi,  is  not 
very  obvious,  and  this  is  prob.  '  church  of  Buna.'  Cf.  Honiley 
(Warwk.),  a.  1200  Hunilegh,  plainly  fr.  honey,  even  as  is  HoN- 
NiNGTON  (same  shire),  1043  chart.  Huniton,  Dom.  Hunitone. 
On  Honey  Child  (Romney  Marsh),  1227  Honi  Child,  see 
Bapchild. 

Honicknowle  (Crown  Hill,  Devon).    Prob.  '  knoll,  hill  of  Honoc/ 
a  name  in  Onom.    Cf.  Dom.  Devon,  Honecherde  (-erde  prob.= 
-worth,  '  farm),  and  Knowle. 

Honing  (Norwich).  Honingham  (Norwich),  and  Honington  (3  in 
P.O.).  Dom.  has  only  Honincgetoft.  Honing  is  c.  1160 
Haninges,  '  place  of  the  sons  of  Hana '  or  '  Rona.'  Cf.  Dom. 
Kent,  Honinberg.  See  -ing.  But  Honley  (Huddersfield)  is 
Dom.  Haneleia,  prob.  '  mead  of  Rana/  2  in  Onom.    Cf.  Hanley. 

Hoo  (Rochester),  c.  700  chart.  Hogh,  Dom.  Hou,  How=Hoe. 
Stanhoe  was  orig.  Stanhoghia.  There  is  also  a  Hoo  Faem 
(Kidderminster),  1275  John  de  la  Ho. 

Hook  (7  in  P.O.).  Where  these  are  fr.  hook,  O.E.  hoc,  'a  hook,' 
then  '  an  angle  or  bend'  in  a  river,  etc.,  thej'^  must  be  late,  as 
Oxf.  Diet,  has  nothing  in  this  sense  till  late  in  16th  cny.  But 
some  of  the  Hooks  (those  in  Norse  regions)  are  prob.  of  the  same 
origin  as  the  Hog  and  Hough  of  Lines,  and  Hook  (Goole) .  See 
Houghton.  The  numerous  Hooks  in  Pembk.  will  have  this 
origin.    1603  Owen, '  South  hooke,'  etc.,  and  in  older  charts.  Hoch. 

Hook  Norton  (Banbury).  917  O.E.  Chron.  Hocneratun,  Hoc- 
ceneratun;  late  chart.  Hokenarton;  c.  1115  Ren.  Runt.  Hoche- 
neretune.  An  interesting  and  puzzling  corrup.  Rocnera  must 
surely  be  a  gen.  pL,  and  the  name  mean  '  town  of  the  Rocs ' 
or  '  sons  of  Roc.' 

Hoole  (Chester).  Sic  1340.  O.E.  hoi,  5-6  hoole,  ' a  hole,  a  hollow.' 
Cf. '  Hammelle  the  Hoole,'  s.v.  Hajmble  R.  ;  also  cf.  Much  Hoole. 

HooTON  Pagnell  and  Roberts  (Doncaster  and  Rotherham). 
Dom.  H.  Dom.  Hotun,  1203  Hoton.  '  Village  on  the  Hoe  '  or 
'  hill.'    Hoton  is  very  frequent  in  Dom.  Yorks,  usually  for  some 

HUTTON. 


HOPE  310  HOENINGSHAM 

Hope  (4  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Hope  (Salop).  This  is  hope  sb^  in 
Oxf.  Diet.,  '  a  place  of  refuge/  O.E.  hop,  '  a  piece  of  enclosed 
land,  an  enclosed  little  valley  ';  O.N.  hop,  '  a  small,  land-locked 
bay,  an  inlet,'  as  in  St.  Margaret's  Hope  (Sc).  Cf.  Hopehotjse 
(Hartley),  1275  '  John  de  Hope.'  Hope  (Denbigh)  is  now  in 
W.  Yr  Hob,  '  the  hope,'  or  Hoben,  '  2  hopes.'  Hope-Mansel 
(For.  of  Dean)  is  1263  Hope  Maloysell,  an  O.Fr.  proper  name. 

HoPTON  (Mirfield  and  Great  Yarmouth).  Mi.  H.  Dom.  Hoptone; 
Ya.  H.  sic  c.  1080.  The  plant  hops  is  not  found  till  c.  1440. 
This  is  prob.  for  hope,  as  above;  or  it  may  be,  like  Hop- 
wooD  (Alvechurch),  848  chart.  Hopwuda,  fr.  O.E.  hop,  '  the 
privet.' 

HopwAS  (Tamworth).  a.  1100  Hopewaes,  Dom.  Opewas,  a.  1200 
Hopwas.  O.E.  Jiop  wase,  wees,  '  valley  of  the  swamp  or  marsh.' 
Of.  Albewas  ;  and  see  -hope. 

HoEBUHY  (Wakefield).  Dom.  Orberie.  Doubtful.  There  seems  no 
likely  name  in  Onom.  It  may  be  as  next.  See -bury.  Horfield. 
(Bristol),  Dom.  Horefelle,  Baddeley  derives  fr.  O.E.  horh,  M.E. 
hore,  '  mire.'     Cf.  Hormead,  same  shire. 

HoRHAM  (Eye,  Suffolk).  Sic  c.  1150,  but  Dom.  Horam,  -an.  Prob. 
like  HoBEHAM  (Sussex),  '  home  of  the  whore  '  or  '  harlot/  O.E. 
hor,  O.N.  Mra.  Dom.'s  Horan  may  be  an  old  loc,  '  at  the 
whore's.'    See  -ham. 

HoBNBLOTTON  (E.  Somerset).  Dom.  Horblawetone,  a.  1145  Wm. 
Malmesb.  Homblawerton,  '  Horn-blower  town.'  Already  in  the 
Corpus  Glossary,  c.  725,  we  find  horn  blauwere. 

Hornby  (Lancaster).  Dom.  Hornebi,  1278  Horneby;  also  more 
than  one  in  Yorks,  Dom.  Hornebi.  '  Dwelling  of  Horn.'  Cf. 
Homcastle,  and  King  Horn,  perh.  orig.  Horm,  a  Dan.  Viking 
of  the  9th  cny.,  who  fought  for  the  Ir.  King  Cearbhall.  But 
Hornby  in  Smeaton  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Horenbodebi,  Horebodebi, 
where  the  man's  name  is  now  hardly  recognizable.    See  -by. 

HoRNCASTLE  (Lincs).  Dom.  Hornecastre,  1161-62  Pipe  Horne- 
castra.  '  Camp  of  Horn.'  See  above.  The  ending  -caster, 
q.v.,  rarely  becomes  -castle. 

HoRNiNGSEA  (Cambridge),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Homingeseie. 
'  Isle  '  and  '  home  of  the  Homings  '  or  '  descendants  of  Horn. 
Cf.  Hormer  (Berks),  B.C.S.,  iii.  520,  Horninga  msere  (lake,  mere), 
Chron.  Abing.  Hornigmere;  also  Horninglow  (Burton-on-T.), 
sic  a.  1300,  See  -low,  '  burial-mound.'  Cf.,  too,  Dom.  Essex 
Horminduna,  and  Norfk.  Hornincgetof t ;  also  Hornington 
(Ainsty),  Dom.  Horninc-,  Hornin-,  Horni-  tone.  See  -ing.  On 
Horn,  see  above. 

HoRNnsTGSHAM  (Warminster) .  Dom.  Horningesha.  '  Home  of  the 
sons  of  Horn.'    See  above,  and  -ing. 


HORNSEY  311  HOUGHTON 

HoENSEY  (N.  London),  a.  1300  Haringee,  with  the  hard  g  still 
preserved  in  Harbin  gay.  Hornsea  is  a  corrup.  which  has 
arisen  through  softening  of  the  g  into  Harnjy,  and  then  Hornsea. 
But  Hornsea  (E.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Hornesse,  '  isle^  peninsula  of 
Horn.'    See  Hornby  and  -ay. 

HoRRiDGE  (Glouc).  Prob.  'hoar,  grey  ridge/  O.E.  Mr/  'hoary, 
grey,  old,'  3-5  hor.  But  c/.  Horton.  Dom,  Glouc.  has  only 
Horedone. 

Horseord  (Norwich)  {Dom.  Hosforda,  also  Horsha)  and  Hors- 
EORTH  (Leeds).  Le.  H.  Dom.  Horseforde,  Hoseforde.  There 
are  coins  of  K.  Alfred  which  seem  to  read  Orsnaforda  as  well  as 
Oksnaforda  (Oxford).     '  Horse  ford."    See -forth. 

Horsham  (Sussex).  Prob.  'home  of  Horsa';  perh.  the  Jute  who 
came  over  with  Hengest,  449  a.d .  There  is  also  one  in  Worstrsh. 
sic.  1275,  which  may  be  the  same,  or  else  '  horse's  enclosure ' ; 
O.E.  hors  hamm.  See  -ham  2,  and  cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Horsedene. 
Dom.  Sussex  has  only  Horselie  and  Horstede. 

HoRSLEY  (8  in  P.G.).  Leatherhead  H.  perh.  871-89  chart.  Horsa 
leh,  Dom.  Horslei,  ib.  Derby,  Glouc .  and  Sussex  Horselei.  Rather 
'  Horsa's  '  than  '  horse  meadow.'    See  above,  and  -ley. 

HoRSMONDEN  (Kent).  Not  in  Dom.  1570-76  Lamharde  Hors- 
mundene.  '  The  Dean  or  (woody)  vale  of  the  ward  of  Horsa.' 
O.E.  mund,  '  protection.' 

HoRSTED  Keynes  (E.  Grinstead).  Dom.  Horstede.  Prob.  as  in 
Horsham,  'Horsa's  place';  O.E.  stede.  Keynes  is  the  Nor. 
family,  de  Cahanges. 

Horton  (10  in  P.G.).  972  chart.  Horton  (Wore),  Dom.  Yorks, 
Salop,  Worcr.,  Bucks,  Hortone,  -tune;  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Hore- 
tun.  Doubtful.  It  might  be  '  hoary,  grey -looking  town.'  See 
Horridge.  Duignan  prefers  O.E.  horh  tun, '  dirty,  muddy  town,' 
and  says  c/.  Hormead  (Herts),  which  Skeat  makes '  muddy  mead.' 

HoRwiCH  (Bolton  and  Stockport).  Cf.  Dom.  Wore.  Horwich. 
=  Horton.    See  -wich. 

HoTHAM  (Yorks).  Dom.  Holde  twice,  Hode  5  times.  O.E. 
heald  is  only  found  in  sense  of  '  holding,  keeping,  possessing.' 
Holde,  '  a  lair,  lurking-place,'  is  not  found  recorded  till  c.  1205, 
and  as  '  fort,  fortress '  not  till  a.  1300.  The  -ham  has  been 
added  after  Dom.  But  Dom.  has  once  Hodhu'.  With  Dom. 'a 
Hode  cf.  the  Sc.  hand,  hod,  for  '  hold.' 

Houghton  (11  in  P.O.).  A  difficult  name,  with  several  origins. 
Those  in  the  N.  seem  often  to  be  fr.  North.  Eng.  how,  '  hill, 
hillock,  tumulus,  barrow';  O.N.  haug-r,  'cairn,  mound,'  in 
7  hough.  E.g.,  H.,  Heddon-on-the-WaU,  is  1200  Yorks  Fines 
Houton,  while  H.  (E.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Houe-,  Oueton.  Cf.,  too, 
Hougon,  a  loc,  '  at  the  mounds,'  name  in  Dom.  for  Holme  on 


HOUNSLOW  312  HOXTON 

the  Wolds.  Glass  Houghton  (S.  Yorks),  Dom.  Hoctun,  Hough- 
ton-le-Side,  1200  Yorhs  Fines  Hoctona,  H.  (K's.  Lynn)  Dom. 
Hodtune,  and  the  many  Hohtones  in  Dom.  Northants,  are 
prob.  fr.  Hoe,  '  height,  promontory/  3-6  hogh.  See  Hockley. 
Houghton  (Beds  and  Hants)  will  be  the  same,  being  both 
Hou8ton(e)  in  Dom.,  st  being  Dom.'s  regular  '  avoidance '  of 
guttural  gh.  Qreat  Houghton  (Barnsley)  is  Dom.  Halton,  and 
so=  Houghton  or  halhtun,  'river-meadow  town';  whilst  Hanging 
Houghton  may  possibly  be  fr.  a  man  Hout.  Old  forms  are 
always  needed. 

HouNSLow  (London).  O.E.  chart.  Hundeshlaew,  Dom.  Honeslowe. 
'  Burial-mound  of  Bund  '  or  '  Hiinda.'  See  -low.  But  Hound - 
HILL  (Uttoxeter)  is  a.  1300  Hogenhull,  a.  1400  Howenhull,  as 
well  as  Hunhyle,  Hounhull,  suggesting  origin  fr.  a  man  Hoga, 
-an,  '  the  prudent.' 

Howden-le'-Weab  (Co.  Durham).  1130  Houendena,  and  Howden 
and  Howden  Dyke  (Yorks),  Dom.  Houeden,  c.  1200  Hoveden, 
1635  Hovenden  (prob.  not  a.  1130  8im.  Dur.  Offedene).  Doubt- 
ful. Very  hkely  fr.  an  unrecorded  Hofa.  Cf.  Hovingham 
(Yorks),  sic.  in  Dom.,  giving  its  patronymic;  only  Ojfa  and  Ofa 
in  Onom.  It  might  \)Q  '  wooded  vale  of  the  plant  hove  '  (spelt 
so  c.  1440),  O.E.  hofe,  which  may  be  the  violet  or  ground  ivy. 
A  EroUof  Rich.  I.  has  Houedensir',  or  Howdenshire.  Of  course, 
in  North.  Eng.  how  is  '  a  hill,'  found  in  Eng.  fr.  a.  1340  (see 
-how),  whilst  HowTHOKP  (Yorks),  Dom.  Holtorp,  is  '  village  in 
the  hollow '  or  '  hole.'    See  -den. 

HowLE  Hill  (Ross,  Hereford).  W.  hywel,  'conspicuous.'  C/. 
Cbicesowell. 

HowsHAM  (E.  Riding  and  Lincoln).  E.  Ri.  H.  Dom.  Huson,  O.E. 
loc.  huson,  '  at  the  houses.'  Gf.  Hallam  and  Newsham. 
Housen  (Cotheridge)  is  just  the  M.E.  pi.  '  houses.'    See  -ham. 

Howtel  (N.W.  of  Wooler).  1525  Howtell  Swyre  (O.E.  swira 
'neck';  cf.  Manor  Swaee,  Sc).  How  will  be  O.N.  haug-r, 
'  mound,  hill ' ;  the  -tel  must  remain  doubtful.    Cf.  Houghton. 

Hoxne  (Eye,  Sfk.).  Dom.  Hoxana,  Hund.  Roll  Hoxene,  1473 
Hoxon.  Doubtful.  O.Fris.  hoxene,.  hoxne  is  '  a  hamstring  ' 
(see  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  hox  sb.);  but  this  seems  unlikely.  Skeat 
adopts  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Anscombe,  that  here  we  have  an 
O.E.  Hoxena,  gen.  pi.  of  Hoxan,  possibly  the  name  of  some  small 
tribe  of  settlers,  just  as  we  find  mention  of  the  tribe  Wixan 
and' the  famous  tribe  of  Seaxan  or  '  Saxons.'  The  name  in  any 
case  seems  abnormal. 

HoxTON  (London).  Dom.  Hochestone,  c.  1350  Hoggeston,  later 
Hog&ton,  1610  jB.  Jonson  Hogsdon.  '  Town  of  Hocca'  (R.oga  is 
found  once).  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Hochestone,  and  1179-80  Pipe 
Hokesgarth  (Yorks). 


HOYLAKE  313  HULL 

HoYLAKE  (Birkenhead).  Dom.  Hoiloch.  The  'HoyleLake'  was 
formed  by  the  '  Hoyle  Bank/  sic  a.  1600,  still  visible  at  certain 
states  of  the  tide.  Hoyle  is  an  inflected  form  of  O.E.  Jiol,  '  hole, 
hollow  place/  given  in  Oxf.  Diet,  as  5-6  hoil{e),  and  Yorks  dial. 
hoil.  The  Oxf.  Did.  calls  lac  '  lake'  early  M.E.,  but  it  is  found 
in  O.E.  Chron.  ann,  656,  and  once  or  twice  in  Dom.  The  Sc. 
form  loch  is  not  recorded  till  Barbour,  1375. 

HoYLAJSTD  (Barnsley).  Dom.  Holland,  Holant  (another  in  Derby), 
1242  Hoyland.  Cf.a.l  100  chart.  '  Hoylandia '  (Lines) .  '  Hollow, 
low-lying  land.'  See  Hoylake  and  Holland.  Hoyland 
SwAiNE  (Sheffield)  is  Dom.  Holan  and  Holande;  but  Dom.  Holun 
and  Holam  is  Hollytn  (Yorks),  an  O.E.  loc.  holun, '  at  the  holes.' 

Hubberholme  (W.  Riding)  and  Hubberstone  (Milford  Haven), 
Dom.  Yorks  Huburgheha'  (for  -ham,  which  often  interchanges 
with  -holm) .  '  River -meadow '  and  '  stone  of  Hunbeorht, 
Humberht,  Hunburh,  or  Hubert,'  all  names  on  record.  The 
Rubber  in  Pembroke  is  said  to  have  been  the  viking  who  with 
his  brother  Hingua  led  the  great  invasion  of  866.  But  this  can 
hardly  be  the  same,  for  the  866  man  is  in  O.E.  Chron.  Hubba  or 
Ubba.  There  is  a  Hubberst'  recorded  in  Derbyshire,  and  a 
Hobrichtebi  in  1167-68  Pi'pe  Cumbld. 

Htjby  (Leeds  and  Easingwold).  Dom.  Hobi.  'Dwelling  on  the 
Hoe  '  or  '  hill.'    C/.  Hoby;  and  see  -by. 

HuccLECOTE  (Glouc).  Dom.  Hochilicote,  1221  Hukelingcote, 
later  Hokelin-  and  Hokelcote.  '  Cot  of  Hocel '  or  his  sons. 
Onom.  has  only  Hicel  (see  Hickling)  ;  and  c/.  1231-34  Close  R. 
Hukels-,  Hucliscot  (Leicester).     See  -ing. 

Hucknall  Toekabd  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Hochenale,  1160  Pipe 
Hochenhala,  1287  Hokenale  Torkard.  0 .E .  H ocean  heal, '  nook  of 
Hocca.'  Cf. Hockwold, and Dom.Bncks Huchdene and Hucheha. 
The  Nor,  family  of  Torkard  is  found  here  ia  1284.     See  -hall. 

Huddbrsfield.  Dom.  Oderesfelte,  Odresfeld.  '  Field  of  Odhere  ' 
or  '  Oderus,'  one  such,  and  one  Northern  Udardus,  12th  cny., 
are  found  in  Onom.  Htjd swell  (Richmond,  Yorks),  Dom. 
Hudreswelle,  is  prob.  fr.  the  same  name.  But  Huddiknoll 
(Glouc),  old  Hodenknole,  is  fr.  Hoda  or  Hudda. 

HuiSH  Champflower  (WiveHscombe,  Smst.).  Huish  is  O.E.  hig-, 
hivnsc,  'a  household,  then,  a  hide  of  land.'  Cf.  K.C.D.  107. 
On  Cotenes  felde  an  hywysce,  and  Melhuish.  Champflower 
is  a  Nor.  name,  Fr.  champ  fleuri,  '  flowery  field.'  We  find 
Richard  de  Hywis  of  Lod  Hywis  (Smst.),  in  time  of  K.  John; 
1253  Hywish,  1298  Hyuhyshe. 

Hulam  (Hartlepool),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Holum,  a  loc,  'at  the 
holes,'  O.E.  hoi.    Cf.  Hallam. 

Hull  (formerly  Kingston-on-Hull).  Nam«  of  a  small  river. 
Prob.  connected  with  O.E.  hoi,  mod.  dial,  holl,  howl{e),  '  hollow, 

21 


HUMBEE  314  HUNSTANTON 

depressed,    lying   in    a   hollow/    Named   Kingston-on-H.    by 
Edw.  I.  1299;  in  a.  1552  Leland  simply  Kingston. 

HuMBER.  Bede  Humbra,  Hymbra,  c.  890  Alfred  Humbre  (in  Lat. 
vsn.  Abus  fl.).  Prob.  aspirated  form  of  cumber,  'confluence^ 
of  Ouse  and  Trent,  W.  cymmer,  G.  comar  ;  the  -ber  is  prob.  the 
same  root  as  in  Aber.  Cf.  Combebbach,  etc.,  also  Cumber- 
nauld (Sc),  and  Dom.  Sffk.  Humbresfelda.  This  last,  with 
HuMBERSTONE  (N.  Lincs  and  Leicstr.),  will  be  fr.  Humbert  or 
Hunbeorht.    See  Homers  field  and  Hubbebstone. 

HuMBLETON  (Hull).  Dom.  Humeltone.  'Town  of  Humel/  var. 
of  Homel  (see  Homildon).  The  letter  b  readily  intrudes  itself. 
Cf.  Dom.  Norfk.  Humiliat  (-iat=yet,  '  gate  '). 

HuNCOAT  (Accrington),  Dom.  Hunnicot,  and  Hundcot  (Leicester). 
Dom.  Hunecote,  1124  O.E.  Chron.  Hundehoge  (see  -how).  '  Cot, 
dwelling  of  Hunda '  or  '  Huna.'  O.E.  hund  means,  of  course, '  a 
hound.'    Cf.  '  Hunditone  '  (Cheshire)  in  Dom. 

HuNGEREORD.    The  oldest  (14th-15th  cny.)  forms  all  have  Hunger-, 

Hungre-,  but  this  can  have  nothing  to  do  with  Eng.  hunger.    It 

is  O.E.  hongra,  hangra, '  a  hanging  wood  on  a  hillside.'  Cf.  Clay- 

[  HANGER  (1300  Cleyhunger),  Hungerfield  (Glouc),  old  Hanger-, 

HuNGERHTTiT.,  and  also  '  Hungrewenitune  '  (Chesh.)  in  Dom. 

HuNGERHTLL    (Nottingham,    Henley  -  in  -  Arden,    and    Somerset) . 

Nott.  H.  old  HongerhiU.     O.E.  hangra,  hongra,  '  a  wood  on  a 

hill  slope.'    Cf.  BiRCHANGER,  Clayhanger,  and  above.    There 

[tare  also  2  Hungry    Hills   in   Wore,  and  a  Honger   Grove 

(Puddleston). 

Hunmanby  (Yorks).  Dom.  Hundemanebi,  'Dwelling  of  Eune- 
man,'  one  in  Onom.     See  -by. 

HuNNiNGHAM  (Leamington).  Dom.  Huningeham,  a.  1200  Honyng- 
ham.  '  Home  of  the  sons  of  Huna  '  or  '  Hun,'  a  common  name  in 
Onom.  C/.HuNNiNGTON  (Halesowen),  1402  Honyngton.  See-ing. 

HuNSiNGORE  (Wetherby).  Dom.  Holsingoure.  More  old  forms 
>.:??;  needed ;  but  the  Hquids  I  and  n  not  uncommonly  interchange. 
•j;^  The  ending  is  prob.  not  Gore,  '  triangular  wedge  of  land,'  but 

rather  '  bank,'  O.E.  ofr,  obr,  M.E.  oure  (see  -over),  '  of  Hunsige,' 

a  common  O.E.  name. 

Hunslet  and  H.  Carr  (Leeds).  Sic  Dom.,  but  1202  Hunesflet. 
'  River  of  Huna.'  See  above  and  Fleet.  The  same  man's 
name  is  seen  in  Hunshelf  (S.  Yorks),  Dom.  Hunescelf.  Shelf 
in  names  often  has  the  meaning  '  ledge  of  rock.'  For  Carr 
'rock,'  cf.  Rbdcar;  also  cf.  Hunscote  (Wwksh.),  1327  Hun- 
stanscote,  a.  1400  Huntscote.  But  Hunsley  (N.  Yorks)  is 
Dom.  Hundeslege,  '  meadow  of  Hund  '  or  '  the  Dog.' 

Hunstanton  (The  Wash).  1038  and  c.  1150  cJuirt.  Hunstanestun. 
Local  pron.  Hunston.  '  Town  of  Hunstan.'  There  are  5  such 
in  Onom. 


ADDITION  TO  PAGE  316 

HuRSTMONCEAUX  (Pevensey)  is  called  after  a  Nor.,  Monceaux,  who 
came  over  with  the  Conqueror. 


HUNTINGDON  316  HUTTON 

Huntingdon  (also  near  Chester,  Dom.  Hunditone.)  O.E.  Chron. 
ann.  656,  Huntendune,  921  ib.  Huntandune,  1011  ib.  Hunta- 
dunscir,  c.  1175  Huntedune.  '  Hill,  down,  of  the  hunter,' 
O.E.  hunta,  2-6  hunte.  Cf.  Huntington  (Cannock),  1262  Hun- 
tingdon, 1300  Huntyndon,  and  Dom.  Yorks  Huntindune. 
Hunta  and  Hunting  were  also  men's  names.  See  -ing,  -don, 
and  -ton. 

HuNTiNGTRAP  CoMMON  (Hadsor,  Wore),  a.  1300  Hounting- 
thrope,  Huntingdrope,  '  hunting  village.'    See  -thorpe. 

HuNTON  (Bedale  and  Maidstone).  Be.  H,  Dom.  Huntone.  '  Town 
of  Huna.'  See  Htjnslet  and  next.  So  Hunworth  (Melton 
Constable),  Dom.  Huneworda.     See  -worth,  '  farm.' 

Htjntspill  (Highbridge) .  Dom.  Hunespil,  a.  1500  Honys-,  Hons- 
pill.  '  Pool  of  Huna,'  as  above.  Pill  is  often  found  in  S.  Wales 
for  '  pool,'  and  the  Dom.  form  here  shows  it  is  an  O.E.  variant, 
and  not  W.  Cf.  Htjntsham  (For.  of  Dean),  c.  1145  Honsum, 
c.  1200  Hunstone,  1298  Hondsum.    '  Huna's  home.'    See  -ham. 

HtniLEY  (Atherstone  arid  Marlow).  Ath.  H.  cMrt.  Hurnlega,  1199 
Hurnlege,  -lei.  Mar.  H.  Dom.  Herlei,  1316  Hurle.  Skeat 
derives  both  fr.  O.E.  Tiyrne,  '  a  corner,  a  nook.'  The  Marlow  H. 
is  doubtful.  See  -ley.  Hukcot  (Kidderminster)  is  also  puzz- 
ling. Dom.  Worcote  (W  for  H),  a.  1200  Hurchote,  -cote,  1275 
Horecote,  a.  1600  Hurdcote.  Here  Duignan  prefers  '  cot  of 
the  herd  or  shepherd,'  O.E.  Jiyrde.  Much  more  likely  is  O.E. 
horh  or  hore,  '  dirt,  filth,'  4  hoore,  here  used  adjectivally  as  in 
Horton. 

HuRLiNGHAM  (Putney).  K.G.D.  782  Herlinga  ham.  'Home  of 
the  Herhngs.'  ?  descendants  of  Herlewin.  Cf.  Roll.  Rich.  I. 
HurUngebure  (Notts). 

Hurstbourne  (3  in  Hants).  Not  in  Dom.  Winchester  H.  961 
chart.  Hysseburna.  '  Brook  of  Hyse,'  3  in  Onom.,  var.  of  Husa; 
the  corrup.  is  unusual.  Of  course.  Hurst  is  O.E.  hyrst,  '  a  wood, 
a  grove,  and  also  a  sandy  place.'    See  -bourne. 

Hurworth-on-Tees.  1183  Hurdewurd,  1344  Hurreworth.  '  Farm 
of  Hyrde  '  or  '  Hirde/  2  in  Onom.    See  -worth. 

Husthwaite  (Easingwold).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  'farm,  croft  of 
Husa,'  or  '  Husi,'  names  in  Onom.  C//Huthwaite  (Mansfield), 
no  old  forms,  and  Dom.  Bucks  Huscott.     See  -thwaite. 

HuTTON  (13  inP.G.).  Dom.  Somst.  Hutone,  Dom.  Yorks  Hoton, 
Hottune  over  40  times,  nearly  all  for  some  Hutton,  while  1202 
YorJcs  Fines  has  Hoton,  Hottun,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Hotun, 
1183  Hotona — i.e.,  Hutton  Henry.  '  Town,  village  on  the  Hob 
or  projecting  height.'  Cf.  Hooton  and  Sheriff  Hutton. 
Huthwaite  (Mansfield  and  Sheffield)  prob.  has  the  same  origin; 
but  perh.  fr.  a  man  Huti  or  Hutto,  seen  in  'Hutisted '  (Staffs), 
Roll.  Rich.  I.    The  Sheff.  H.  is  not  in  Dom.    See  -thwaite. 


HUXLEY  316  ICKNI(E)LD  STEEET 

Huxley  (Chester) .  Said  to  be  cTiart.  Hodeslea.  '  Meadow  of  Hod  ' 
or  '  Hoda.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  1282  Hodes  ac.  But  this  is  abnormal. 
The  names  Hue,  Huch,  or  Hucco,  all  in  Onom.,  seem  more  likely 
origins.    See  -ley. 

Hyde  (Cheshire,  Staffs,  Wwksh.,  and  Glouc).  Hyde  Heath  (Bucks), 
and  Hyde  Park  (London).  O.E.  higid,  later  hid,  hide,  hyde, 
an  O.E.  measure  of  land,  orig.  as  much  as  would  support  one 
family  and  their  dependents.  The  spelling  of  the  place-name 
seems  almost  always  Hyde,  and  the  London  H.  goes  back  to 
Dom.    The  hida  or  '  hide  '  is  often  referred  to  in  Dom, 

Hydon  Heath  (W.  Surrey)  is  wrongly  spelt  High  Down,  as  it  is 
1453  Hyddeneshethe,  '  heath  of  ?  Hyddan/  Onom.  has  only 
Hidda  and  Hiddi.    On  the  Heath  is  Hydons  Ball. 

Hylton  (Sunderland).  Prob.  '  town  on  the  slope  or  incline.'  O.E. 
hylde,  helde,  cognate  with  hyll,  '  a  hill.' 

Hythe  (Kent).  1051  O.E.  Chron.  HitSe,  1228  Close  B.  Heth,  Heia, 
1234  ib.  Hee.  A  hithe  is  '  a  landing-rise,  a  quay,'  a.  700  hydde, 
later  hy^.  Cf.  Rotherhithe,  etc.  The  old  forms  are  exactly 
paralleled  by  those  of  O.E.  rith, '  a  stream.'    See  Rye,  Ryde,  etc. 

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

IcKENHAM  (Uxbridge).  Dom.  Ticheham,  also  Tykenham.  'Home 
of  Tica '  or  '  Tican,'  a  name  in  Onom.  O.E.  ticcen,  Ger.  zieJce, 
is  '  a  goat,  a  kid.'  Cf.  Titchbobne.  The  loss  of  the  initial  Ms 
curious;  but  Norm,  scribes  regularly  softened  c  into  ch.  But 
IcOMBE  (Stow-on-Wold)  is  781  chart.  Icancumb,  '  Icca's  valley.' 

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

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

Ickni(e)ld  Street  or  Way  runs  fr.  ibsLiNGHAM  (Bury  St.  Ed- 
munds) to  Wantage.  854  chart.  Icenhilde  weg,  903  ib.  Iccen- 
hilde  wege,  a.  1200  Ad  regalem  viam  quae  vocatur  Ikenhilde- 
strete;  Stratam  regiam  quae  appellatur  Ykenild;  via  regia  vel 
le  Ricnelde  strete,  a.  1300  Rikehnge  strete,  a.  1^00  Rykenylde- 
strete.  Also  a.  100  chart.  Cinges  strsete.  Commonly  said  to 
come  fr.  the  tribe  Iceni  {\k7)voI),  who  occupied  all  E.  Anglia  in 
1st  cny.  a.d.    This  is  denied  by  Duignan  in  his  full  and  valuable 


IDDESLEIGH  317  ILFORD 

arts.  s.v.  The  ending  -hylt,  -hilde,  -ild  may  be  O.E.  TiyUe,  '  the 
slope  of  a  hill/  The  rest  of  the  name  must  remain  doubtful. 
IcKWORTH  (Bury  St.  E.)  will  be  like  Ickham  (Canterbury), 
'  farm  of  lea,'  not  fr.  the  Iceni  ;  whilst  Icklingham  will  be  '  home 
of  the  sons  of  Icel.'    See  above. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


ILFRACOMBE  318  INGATESTONE 

iLrnACOMBB  (N.  Devon).  Dom.  Alfreincome,  1233  Close R.  Afiride-, 
Aufredecumbe,  1234  ih.  Alfridecumbe.  '  Valley  of  Ealhfrith,'  a 
common  O.E.  name,  spelt  later  Alfrith  and  Alfrid.    See  -combe. 

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

iLKETSHALii  (Buugay).  Dom.  Ilchesteshala.  M'Clure  thinks 
'  Ulfketel's  hall  or  mansion.'  More  old  forms  needed.  It  may 
be  1225  Patent  B.  Kilketeleshal.     ?  Ki  error  for  U  or  Wi. 

Ilkley  (Yorks).  Thought  to  be  Ptolemy  OUcana.  Dom.  Illicleia, 
nuclei,  IllecUve  {i.e.,  'cUff').  'Meadow  of  ?  '  If  the  name 
be  O.E.  it  may  be  fr.  Ulfach,  Ulfeg,  Willac  or  Willoc,  all  these  are 
in  Onom.    See  -ley. 

Ilmington  (Shipston-on-Stour).  c.  1010  chart.  Ylmandune,  Dom. 
Edelmitone,  llmedone,  a.  1200  Illamedone,  1326  llmyndon. 
'  Hall,  down  of  Eadhelm,'  though  some  of  the  forms  suggest 
JElmin,  also  in  Onom.  Endings  -don  and  -ton  often  inter- 
change, q.v. 

Ilminsteb,  (Somerset).  Dom.  Ileminstre.  'Church  on  the  He'  or 
'  Isle.'    See  Ilchester  and  -minster. 

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

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

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

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

Ingatestone  (W.  Essex).  The  original  name  in  Dom.  is  simply 
Ginge,  Ing.  It  is  regular  for  initial  g  to  fall  away  (see  I  'passim). 
Thus  originally  this  must  be  the  same  as  Ginge  (Hendred,  Berks), 
B.C.S.  iii.  257  Gseging,  later  ib.  iii.  173  Gainge,  iii.  67  Gaincg, 
i.  506  Geinge,  Dom.  and  Pipe  (1155-56)  Gain3,  1125  Estgeyng. 
Patronymic.  'Place  of  the  sons  of  Gcega.'  Cf.  Gaydon. 
Gate  is  presumably   O.E.  geat,  'gate.'     See  -ing.    Inglestone 


INGBIRCHWORTH  319  INSKIP 

(Hawkesbury)  is  also  spelt  Ingateston,  and  1610  Inguston.  Older 
forms  unknown. 

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

Ingestbe  (Stafford).  Dom.  Gestreon,  a.  1300  Ing-,  Yngestre,  Inge- 
straund,  -trent.  Prob.  '  Inga'a  tree/  O.E.  treo,  treow.  Cf. 
Oswestry.  But  -straund  is  O.E.  strand,  '  shore,  bank  of  a 
river/  here  the  Trent,  which  accounts  for  Ingestrent.  The  Dom. 
form  is  corrupt,  but  represents  a  pi.  of  treo. 

Ingham  (Lincoln  and  Norwich),  Inqwobth  (Norwich).  Dom.  Lin. 
Ingeha;  Nfk.,  Ingewrda.  'Home'  and  'farm  of  Inga,'  2  in 
Onom.  See  -ham  and  -worth.  Duignan  thinks  Ingon  (Strat- 
ford, Wwk.),  704  chart.  Ingin,  must  be  O.E.  in  gin,  '  in  the  gap ' ; 
while  tfGTHOiiP  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Ucnetorp,  or  '  Ycca'a  village  ' ; 
the  -ne  represents  the  0  .E .  gen.  -an,  ne  sounding  en.     See  -thorpe. 

LsroLEBOBOUGH  (hill,  W.  Yorks).  Said  to  be  'beacon-borrow  or 
hill.'  Only  inghj  '  fire,'  is  not  found  till  1508,  and  in  the  16th 
cny.  only  in  Sc.  Ingle  -is  prob.  for  Angle,  O.E.  Engle,  '  barrow 
of  the  Angle,'  or  'Enghsh'  man.  Cf.  next,  -borough  is  O.E. 
biorg,  beorh,  2  beoruh,  4  borw,  burgh,  7  barrough,  '  hill,  mound-Uke 
hill,  barrow.     Cf.  Barbow  and  Whitbarrow  (N.  Lanes). 

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

Inglewhite  (Preston).  This  must  surely  be  the  same  name  as 
Dom.  Yorks  Ingulf vestuet,  '  Ingulph's  village'  or  -thwaite,  q.v. 

Ingoldisthobpe  (King's  Lynn),  a.  1300  chart.  Ingoldesthorp,  and 
Ingoldsby  (Grantham).  Dom.  Ingoldesbi.  'Village'  and 
'  dwelling  of  Ingold,'  in  Onom.     See  -thorpe  and  -by. 

Inkbebbow  (Worcester).  789  chart.  Intanbeorgas,  803  ib.  Intan- 
bergum,  Intanbeorgan,  Intebeorgas,  Dom.  inteberge,  1275 
Inkbarewe.  '  Babbow,  mound-Hke  hill  of  Inta,'  3  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Inglebobough. 

Inkpen  Beacon  (Hungerf ord) .  931  chart.  Ingepenne,  Dom.  Hinge- 
pene,  1298  Ingepenne,  1316  Tnkepenne.  '  Inga'a  pen,'  O.E. 
'penn,  '  a  fold  for  cattle,'    Cf.  Inkford  (Wore.)  and  Pambeb.  , 

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

Inskip  (Preston).  Dom.  Inscip.  Prob.  'Zwe's  or  Ini'a  hut,'  Da. 
kippe,  '  hut,  low  alehouse.'  Oxf.  Diet,  does  not  give  kip,  '  a 
sharp-pointed  hill,'  before  1815.  Possible  also  is  '  Ine's  skep  ' 
or  'beehive.'     O.N.  sheppa,  'a  basket,'  is  found  once  in  O.E., 


J^INSTOW  320  ISHlM 

and,  after  1225,  is  common  as  skep,  aXso  4-9  skipipe),  though  not 
found  for  '  beehive  '  till  1494.    Gf.  Mtnskip. 

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

Ipplepen  (Newton  Abbot).  Dom.  Iplepene,  1230  Ipelepenn. 
Prob.  'pen,  enclosure  (O.E.  penn)  of  Ipele,'  var.  of  Ypwine, 
the  base  name  of  Ebbsfleet,  called  in  Life  of  St.  Mildred  Ypples 
fleet.    The  liquids  I  and  n  not  seldom  interchange. 

Ipsley  (Redditch).  963  chart.  Mpa  leage,  Dom.  Epeslei,  a.  1200 
Ippeslei.  Either  'aspen-tree  (O.E.  ceps)  meadow';  cf.  Apps 
Couht  and  Apsley.     Or  perh.  'Mppa'a  mead.'    Cf.  Epsom. 

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

Ipswioh.  993  O.E.  Chron.  Gipeswic,  Dom.  Gyppeswik,  Guppewicus, 
c.  1097  Orderic  Gepesuicum,  1455  Yepiswiche,  1463  Ipysweche, 
'DweUing  of  Gipa  or  Gyppa.'  The  name  of  the  R.  Oipe  or 
Gipping  is  a  back-formation.  Por  loss  of  initial  g  cf.  Ilchbster 
and  Isleham;  also  cf.  Islip  and  Gibsmere  (Notts),  Dom.  Gipes- 
mare,  1302  Gyppesmere.    See  -wich. 

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

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

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

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

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

IsHAM  (Kettering).  Sic  a.  1100;  not  in  Dom.  It  is  uncertain  what 
man's  name  Is-  will  represent.  The  R.  Isbome  (Evesham)  is 
709  chart.  Esigburn,  777  Esegburn,  '  brook  of  Esig,  Ese,  or  Esi,' 
all  forms  are  found;  and  Isham  may  come  fr.  this  name  too,  as 
certainly  does  1160-01  Pipe  Sussex,  Eisewrda  {Dom.  Isiwirde), 
' farm  oiEse.'    Cf  Isfield, Uckfield  (not in  Dom.),  and Essendon. 


ISIS  R.  321  rVEL 

Isis  R.,  name  of  R..  Thames  above  Oxford.  Sic  1537  Leland,  but 
c.  1387  Higden  Ysa,  1603  Yshnyver  (see  Nevern).  It  is  almost 
certain  that  this  is  a  Keltic  name  for  '  river '  or  '  water/  as  in 
OusE,  and  G.  uisge.  Cf.  Wisbeach  and  the  Wissey,  trib.  of  Ouse. 
Skeat  thinks  that  Ismere  House,  Kidderminster,  c.  757  clmrt. 
Usmere,  may  show  the  same  root.  H.  Alexander  asserts  that 
Isis  is  merely  a  '  fanciful  separation  '  of  the  L.  name  for  Thames 
— Tarn  -esis.  This  is  contrary  to  our  evidence,  esp.  that  of 
Higden;  and  the  form  Esis  never  seems  to  occur. 

IsLEHAM  (Soham)  and  Isleworth  (R.  Thames).  Pron.  I-zelworth. 
Dom.  Gisleham,  1284  Isilham,  1321  Yeselham.  Dom.  Ghistel- 
worde,  later  Yhistelworth,  Istelworth,  c.  1600  Thistleworth. 
'  Home '  and  '  farm  of  the  hostage,'  O.E.  gisel.  Islebeok 
(N.  Yorks),  Dom.  Iselbec,  is  presumably  '  brook  of  the  hostage ' 
too.  But  Islehampstead  is  prob.  1230  Close  R.  Ysenhamested, 
'  homestead  of  Isen-.'  There  are  several  possible  names,  Isenbard, 
Isengrim,  etc.     See  -worth. 

Isle  op  Dogs  (London).  Formerly  Stepney  Marsh.  1588  Ames' 
Map,  He  of  Dogges;  1593  Norden's  Map,  '  Isle  of  Doges  Ferme.' 
The  origin  of  the  name  is  quite  unknown  to  history.  See  Thorn- 
bury  and  Walford's  Grreater  London,  i.  535-37.  Possibly  because 
so  many  dogs  were  drowned  in  the  Thames  here. 

Islington  (London).  Old  Isendune.  The  I,  as  in  island,  is  said  to 
be  quite  mod.  Prob.  '  hill  of  Isena.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  144  Isenan 
sewylm  ('  spring  ');  and  see  -ing,  -don,  and  -ton. 

IsLip  (Oxford  and  Thrapston).  Ox.  I.  a.  1100  chart.  Githslep. 
Thr.  I.  Dom.  and  c.  1240  Islep.  '  Githa's  leap,'  O.E.  hlyp, 
3  leep,  Up,  4-6  lepe.  There  are  4  GitJuz's  in  Onom.  Cf. 
BniDLip. 

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

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

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


IVEK  322  KEDINGTON 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kedington  (Haverhill,  Suffolk) .  Dom.  Kidituna.  Cf.  Dom.  Keding- 
ton  (Wore.) .  '  Town  of  Cedd,  Cedda,  or  Ceadda,'  gen.  -an.  Cf.,  too, 
Dom.  Cedeslai  (Wore.) .    Kedsley  is  still  a  surname.    See  -ing. 


KEEL  323  KELSTON 

Keel  (2  in  Montgomery)  and  Keele  (Newcastle-under-L.) .  New.  K. 
a.  1200  Kiel.  Duignan  is  prob.  right  in  calling  all  these  Keltic. 
G.  cille,  *  graveyard,  church/  comes  very  near  in  sound;  but  G. 
words  are  unknown  hereabouts,  so  it  is  prob.  W.  cil,  '  a  comer, 
a  nook.'  '  But  Kbelby  (N.  Lines)  must  be  fr.  a  man,  as  in 
Kelmarsh,  Kelloe,  etc.;  so  also  Nun  Keeling  (Yorks),  Dom. 
Chehnge,  plainly  a  patronymic  fr.  a  man.  Keel  or  Cele. 

Keevil  (Trowbridge).  Dom.  Chivele,  1217  Patent  E.  ELivele.  The 
ending  -ley,  q.v.,  very  rarely  falls  away  to  I  only.  But  this  is 
prob.  '  meadow  of  Cifa/  Cf.  Chevenage,  Kiveton  Park, 
Sheffield,  etc. 

Kegworth  (Derby).  Not  in  Z>om.  '  Farm  oi  Ceagga/  Cf.B.C.8. 
762  Ceaggan  heal,  and  939  chart.  Cagbroc  (Shaftesbury).  See 
-worth. 

Keiqhley  (Yorks).  Now  pron.  Keithly.  Dom.  Chichelai,  1300 
Kighelye,  1303  Kighley.  This  is  the  same  name  as  the  well- 
known  Abp.  Chichele  (c.  1362-1443),  and  must  be  '  meadow  of 
CyJcell '  (var.  of  Cytel  or  Ketel,  a  common  name),  a  name  found 
once  in  Sim.  Dur.  The  present  pron.  curiously  confirms  the 
fact  that  Cykell  is  var.  of  Cytel.    See  -ley. 

Kekewich  or  -wick  (Runcorn) .  See  Kenswick,  and  c/.  Checkjley, 
and  1286  Close  R.  Kekaller,  '  Cec's  alder-tree.' 

Keld  (Richmond,  Yorks).  O.N.  kelda,  'a  well,  a  spring.'  Cf. 
GuNNEBSKELD,  Thrclkeld,  etc.;  also  Dom,.  Wore.  '  Celdeslai,' 
and  ih.  Bucks,  Celdenuella  and  Celdestone. 

Kelfield  (York).  Dom.  Chelchefeld.  The  name  represented  by 
Chelche-  is  doubtful.  It  may  be  Ceollach  or  Cellah,  found  once 
in  Onom. 

Kellet,  Over  and  Nether  (Carnforth) .  Dom.  Chellet,  a.  1400 
Keldehth.  O.N.  kelda-hlith,  '  spring,  well  on  the  hill-slope.' 
How  early  the  name  contracted,  yet  how  late  the  true  form 
lingered  ! 

Kellington  (Normanton).  Z)om.  Chellinctone, Chelintune.  'Town 
of  Celling/  a  recorded  name,  or  '  of  the  sons  of  Ceolla.'  See 
-ing. 

Kelloe  (Coxhoe,  Durham).  1522  Kellowe.  Prob.  '  CeoVs  hill '  or 
'  how,'  O.N.  haug-r,  '  a  mound,  a  cairn,'  found  in  Eng.  as  how 
a.  1340.    See  -how. 

Kelmarsh  (Northampton).  Dom.  Keilmersc.  'Marsh,'  O.E. 
mer{i)sc,  '  of  Ceol.'  Cf.  Kelby  (S.  Lines),  Dom.  Chelebi,  and 
above. 

Kelston  (Bath).  Old  forms  needed.  Not  in  Dow.  But  cf.  Dom. 
Bucks  Celdestane — i.e.,  '  stone  at  the  well '  or  '  spring,'  O.E. 
celde,  O.N.  Jcelda.  Cf.  Kilham,  also  Kelmstow,  Halesowen, 
1327  Kelmestowe,  '  place '  of  a  chapel  to  St.  Kenelm  or  Coenhelm. 


KELVEDON  324  KENILWORTH 

Kelvedon  (Essex).  998  chart.  Cynlaue  dyne,  Dom.  Keluenduna, 
1298  Kelwendon.  Prob.  'hill  of  Cynelaf/  6  in  Onom.  The 
change  here  is  unusual.    See  -don. 

Kemerton  (Tewkesbury).  Said  to  be  840  chart.  Cyneburgincgtun 
{B.C.S.  430),  '  dwelhng  of  the  sons  of  Gyneburh/  a  woman.  See 
-ing.     But  Dom.  Chin-,  Chenemertune,  '  dweUing  of  CynemcBr* 

Kemmaes  Head.    See  Cemmaes. 

Kempley  (W.  Glouc).  Dom.  Chenepelei,  1221  Kenepelege,  1239 
-pelega.  Some  think,  O.E.  cyne-ceppel-leah,  '  royal  apple- 
meadow,'  an  interesting  corruption.  Norm,  scribes,  esp.  in 
Dom.,  have  a  habit  of  turning  c  into  the  softer  ch.  But  it  is 
already  1195  Kempelee,  and  Baddeley  may  be  right  in  making 
it  '  Gnapa'a  lea,.' 

Kempsey  (Worcester).  799  chart.  Kemesei,  977  ib.  Cymesige, 
Dom.  Chemesege  (Norm,  spelling),  1275  Kemesey.  Prob.  '  isle 
of  Ceomma.'  A  p  often  intrudes,  cf.  Bampton,  Brompton,  etc. 
See  next  and  -ey. 

Kempsfobd  (Glouc).  O.E.  Chron.  800  Cynemaeresford,  1236 
Kynemeresford,  1541  Kamyseford.  '  Ford  of  Cynemcer.'  But 
Kempston  (Bedford),  Dom.  Cameston  (4  times),  1242  Close  R. 
Kemes-,  Kemstun,  is  prob.  fr.  a  man  Ceomma,  in  Onom.  The 
letter  p  is  a  common  intruder. 

Kempton  (Sunbury).  Dom.  Chenetone;  1222  Patent  R.  Kenintun; 
1238  Kenni-,  Kenyton,  Kenet' ;  1331  Kenyngton.  Prob.  '  town 
of  Coen  or  Coena,'  both  in  Onom. 

Ken  CHESTER  (Hereford),  c.  380  Anton.  Itin.  Magnis,  Dom.  Chene- 
cestre.    O.E.  cyne  ceaster, '  royal  camp  or  town.'    Cf.  Kempley. 

Kendal,  a.  1199  Kirkeby  in  Kendal,  1303  Brunne  Kendale,  1575 
Kirkbie  Kendall.  'Dale,  vaUey  of  R.  Kent,'  which  must  be 
the  same  as  R.  Kennet — at  least  so  thinks  Skeat.  This  K. 
is  not  in  Dom.,  but  we  have  there  a  '  Cheldale ' — i.e.,  Kendall 
Farm  (Driffield)— on  the  R.  Kell,  trib.  of  the  Hull.  The  liquids 
I  and  n  occasionally  interchange.  KeU  may  be  W.  celli,  '  a 
wood,  a  grove.'    See  -dale  and  Ktrkby. 

Kenfig  Hill  (Bridgend,  Glam.).  Chart.  Kenefeg.  W.  cefnyffyg, 
'  at  the  head  of  the  swamp,'  now  mostly  buried  in  the  sand,  but 
once  famous.  Caen  or  Ken  Wood  (Hampstead)  might  be  fr. 
cefn  too ;  but  it  does  not  seem  mentioned  till  1661,  which  is  far 
too  late  for  us  to  be  sure  of  anything. 

Kenilworth  (Warwick).  Dom.  Chinewrde,  a.  1199  Roll.  Rich.  I. 
Kenilleworhe,  1229  Kenillewurth,  1297  R.  Glouc.  Keningwrthe, 
Kiningwurthe,  1298  Kenilworthe.  The  true  form  is  found  only 
in  the  other  and  now  defunct  Kenilworth,  near  Worcester,  974 
chart.  Cynelde  weorthe,  980  ib.  Cinilde  wyrthe.  'Farm  of 
Cynehild,'  a  woman.     Cf.  Dom.  Salop  Cheneltone.     The  word 


KENLEY  325  KENTISBURTFOED 

kennel  is  fr.  Nor.  Fr.,  and  not  found  in  Eng.  till  c.  1350.    See 
-worth. 

Kenley  (Shrewsbury  and  Surrey).  Shr.  K.  Dom.  CheneUe. 
'  Coena'a  meadow.'  Several  of  this  name  in  Onom.  See  -ley. 
But  Kenneblby  (Oswestry)  and  Kennebsley  (Wellington, 
Salop,  and  Hereford),  Dom.  Chenardelei,  Oswestry,  are  fr. 
Coenweard.    The  surname  Kenward  is  still  in  use. 

Kennet  R.  (Berks)  and  town  and  R.  (Newmarket) ;  also  old  name 
of  Marlboro,  which  is  1223  Kenet.  Be.  K.  is  c.  380  Ant.  Itin. 
Cunetio,  1006  O.E.  Chron.  and  B.C.S.,  ii.  367,  Cyneta;  Ne.  K. 
c.  1080  Kenet,  Dom.  Chenet.  Keltic  root  of  unknown  meaning. 
Cf.  Kennet  (Sc),  Kent  R.  (Wstmld.),  Kentford  (Sussex) 
{Chron.  Ramsey  Chenetheford),  and  Kintbuby. 

Keistnington  (London  and  Berks).  Lo.  K.  Dom.  Chenintone, 
c.  1390  Kennyngton.  Be.  K.  O.E.  chart.  Cenintune,  Cenigtune; 
later  Ohenig-,  Chenitun;  c.  1290  Keninton.  Seems  to  be  O.E. 
Coenantun,  '  town  of  Coena '  (3  in  Onom.,  and  1  Goen),  or  else 
'  of  Coena's  descendants.'  Skeat  prefers  to  derive  fr.  Keen  or 
the  Keenings,  O.E.  cene,  '  bold,  valiant,  keen.'  Cf.  Dom, 
Devon,  Chenigedone,  '  Keening's  hill,'  and  Kensworth  (Beds). 
KJBNNINGHALL  (Thetford),  Dom.  Cheninchala,  Chenighehala,  has 
prob.  the  same  origin.  The  -ighe-  is  the  common  -incg,  sign  of 
the  patronymic.     See  -ing  and  -hall. 

Kensington  (London).  Dom.  Chenesitune.  Prob.  'town  of 
Coensige  '  or  '  Gensige  '  (2  in  Onom.).    See  -ing. 

Kenswick  (Worcester).  Dom.  Checinwiche,  a.  1200  Checkingwic, 
a.  1400  Kekingwik,  Kekingewyke,  Kekeswych.  Prob.  '  dwell- 
ing of  the  sons  of  Cecca,'  cf.  Checkley,  or  '  of  Cygincg,'  one 
in  Onom.  Cf.  Kekewich  and  Kensworth,  Beds  (not  in  Dom.), 
and  see  -wick. 

Kent.  55  b.c.  Jul.  Ccesar  Cantium,  c.  30  b.o.  Diod.  Sicul.  Kavnov, 
?  a.  600  Gregory  Tours  Cantia,  JSede  Cant-uarii,  a.  810  Nennius 
Ghent,  O.E.  Chron.  676  Centlond,  Dom.  Ghent;  also  c.  930 
Lett,  to  Athelstan  Gantescyre.  E.  Nicholson  conjectured  an 
O.Kelt,  root  meaning  '  white,'  fr.  the  chalk  cHfEs.  Cf.  W.  gwyn, 
gwen.  Possibly  it  means  '  headland.'  Cf.  G.  ceann,  '  head,' 
and  Gabrosenti,  O.Kelt,  form  of  Gateshead.  For  R.  Kent 
see  Kendal  and  Kennet. 

Kentchubch  and  Kendebchtjbch  (Hereford)  are  only  1  mile 
apart.    Not  in  Dom.    Prob.  both  are=LLANGYNiDE. 

Kentisbueyfoed  (Barnstaple).  Dom.  Ghentesberie,  Exon.  Dom. 
Ghentisberia.  The  Kenti-  may  represent  some  such  O.E.  name 
as  G entwine  or  Gintswine,  a  common  name,  or  perh.  Goenstan 
or  Ghenestan.  Cf.  Kentchubch.  1160-61  Pipe  Glouc.  has  a 
Gantebohhan,  which  may  be  for  '  Ganta's  bow  '  or  '  arch.'  O.E. 
bo^a  has  this  sense.    There  is  a  Canta  in  Onom.,  and  this  may  be 


KENTISH  TOWN  326  KETTON 

the  name  in  Kentisbury  too.    Cf.  Kentisbeare  (CuUompton), 
Dom.  Chentesbere.    See  Beer,  '  a  wood/ 

Kentish  Town  (London).  Old  Kanteloues  Town,  later  Kentes- 
towne.  Named  fr.  the  family  of  Cantlow,  formerly  Kaunteloe, 
Norm.  Chanteloup,  or  champ  de  lov/p,  'wolf's  field.'  Inter- 
esting example  of  '  popular  '  etymology. 

Kenton  (Exeter  and  2) .  Dom.  Devon  and  Bucks  Chentone,  Sffk. 
Kenetona;  1157  Pipe  Chenton  (Devon).  Older  forms  needed. 
May  be  fr.  a  man  Coen,  in  Onom.  Perh.  fr.  the  common 
name  G entwine,  contracted. 

Keresley  (Coventry).  1275  Keresleye.  'Meadow  of  the  water- 
cress,' O.E.  ccBTse,  cerse.  Cf.  Cresswell  and  Abbot's  Kers- 
WELL;  also  Kersewell  (Wstrsh.),  1275  Kersewelle. 

Kersey  (Suffolk).  O.E.  chart.  Caersige,  1342  Kersey;  also  1262 
'  panni  cersegi,'  Kersey  cloths.  '  Isle  of  watercresses.'  See 
above  and  -ey.     Dom.  has  only  Keresfelda  and  -halla. 

Kessingland  (Lowestoft).  Dom.  Kessinga-,  Kessingeland ;  1225 
Patent  E.  Cassinge-,  Casingland.  '  Land  of  the  sons  of  Casa,'  one 
in  Onom.     Cf.  B.C.S.  341  Kasingburne  and  Chesham.     See  -ing. 

Kesteven  (E.  Lines).  Dom.  Chetsteven,  a.  1200  chart.  Ketstefena, 
1242  Ketsteven'.  Looks  like  '  Cetta's  stem  or  stock,'  O.E.  stefn, 
stemn.    But  for  Chet-  cf.  also  Chetwood. 

Kestle  Mill  (St.  Columb  Minor,  Cornwall).  There  is  in  Dom. 
Salop  a  Cestulle,  or  '  hill  of  Cest/  an  unknown  man.  But  it  is 
quite  uncertain  if  this  is  the  same. 

Keswick  (Cumberland,  and  Taverham,  Norfolk) ;  also  East  Kes- 
wick, near  Leeds  {Dom.  Chesuic).  Tav.  K.  Dom.  Kesewic, 
c.  1150  Casewic,  and  so  =  Cheswardine  and  Chiswick,  ^cheese 
farm,'  '  house  where  cheese  is  made.'  See  -wick.  Keston 
(Hayes, Kent),  Dom.  Chestan,  may  be  similarly  '  cheese  stone  '  or 
*  cheese-press ' ;  otherwise  it  will  be  'stone  of  Cis,'  a  name  in  Onom. 

Ketley  (Wellington,  Salop).  Not  in  Dom.  Cf.  1158-59  Chateleia, 
Pipe  Norfk.  and  Suffk.,  '  Meadow  of  Cetil,  Chetel/  or  '  Ketil '; 
all  forms  in  Onom.  The  seat  of  the  Curzons  of  Keddleston  was 
a.  1400  Ketilston.  See  -ley.  But  Ketford  (Dymock),  Dom. 
Chitiford,  is  fr.  a  man  Cyta. 

Kettering.  963  O.E.  Chron.  Ketering,  1125  Kateringes  (pL), 
and  Ketteringham  (Norwich),  956  chart.  iEt  Cytringan,  Dom. 
Ketrincham.  Patronymics.  '  Abode  of  the  sons  of  Kater,' 
still  in  use  as  a  surname.  See  -ing  and  -ham  (where  the  -an  of 
956,  a  possible  loc,  will  be  found  referred  to). 

Kettleburgh  (Wickham  Mket.).  1224  Ketelbergh.  '  Burgh, 
castle  of  Cetel  or  Cytel ';  a  common  name.     See  -burgh. 

Ketton  (Stamford).  Not  in  Dom.  Cf.  1183  Boldon  Bk.  Kettona 
(Durham).  Prob.  '  village  of  Cetta  ';  one  in  Onom.  Cf.  Ket- 
EORD ;  see  -ton. 


KEVERNE  327  KIDDERMINSTER 

Keverne  (Cornwall).  Not  in  Dom.  1536  Keweyn.  Prob.  fr. 
St.  Keynwen  or  Kenew,  daughter  of  Brychan  of  Brecknock,  and 
aunt  of  St.  Cadoc.  Kenwyn  is  the  name  of  the  parish  of  which 
Truro  stands.    Cf.  St.  Keyne  (Cornwall),  but  not  Keynsham. 

Kew  (London) .  Old  Kayhough,  Kayhoo,  Keye ;  1749  Kew.  '  Pro- 
montory, point  of  land  at  the  quay  or  wharf  ';  O.Fr.  kay,  cai  ; 
in  Eng.  4  keye,  and  see  Hoe,  Hoc. 

Kewstoke  (Weston-super-Mare).  Dom.  Chiwestoch.  Said  to  be 
'  place  of  St.  Kew.'  St.  Ciwg  or  Cwick  was  patron  saint  of 
Llangwick,  on  E..  Tafl,  possibly  Exon.  Dom.  Lancichuc.  There 
is  also  a  St.  Kywa  or  Ciwa  in  the  Exeter  Martyrology,  Feb.  8. 
Cj.  Roll  Rich.  I.,  '  Kiweshope  '  (Hereford). 

Keyham  (Leicester  and  Devonport).  Lei.  K.  Dom.  Caiham  and 
Caitorp.  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey  and  Salop  Ceiha.  '  Home  of  ?'  perh. 
Ceawa.  Cf.  B.G.S.  833  Ceawan  hlaew.  There  is  a  well-known 
Pict.  name  Ce  or  Keth,  now  Kay.  Cf.  Key^orth  (Notts),  Dom. 
Caworde,  1200  Kye-,  c.  1294  Keword,  which  Mutschmann  takes 
for  O.E.  cy  worth,  'cow  farm,'  O.E.  cu,  pi.  cy,  Sc.  kye. 

Keymer  (Hassocks,  Sussex).  Dom.  Chemere.  Prob.  ^  Ceommn'a 
mere  '  or  '  lake.'    Cf.  Cromer,  etc. 

Keynor  (Selsea).  O.E.Chron.  4:11  Cymenesore,  '  Cymen's  shore,' 
Dom.  Coonore,  -nare ;  where  the  Saxon  ^lle  and  his  3  sons,  Cissa, 
Cymen,  and  Wlencing,  landed  in  477.  Cf.  the  Cumensora 
near  W.  Wittering  (Sussex),  mentioned  in  a  spurious  charter. 
See  -or. 

Keynsham  (Bristol),  c.  990  Ethdweard  re  871  Coeginesham,  Dom. 
Cainesham,  1223  Patent  R.  Keinesham.  '  Home  of  Keigwin,' 
a  surname,  prob.  Cornish,  still  in  use.     Cf.  Caijwell. 

KsYNTON  (Dorset}  Wilts,  Salop).  Do.  K.  formerly  Chintone,  Con-, 
Cuntone;  Wi.  K.  Contone;  Sa.  K.  Cantune.  O.E.  Coenantun, 
'  town  of  Coena '  (3  in  Onom.). 

KiBWORTH  (Leicester).  Dom.  Chiburde.  Cf.  1208  Torks  Fines 
Kybbewordhe.  'Farm  of  Cybba.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  1002  Cybban 
stan.     See  -worth. 

KroDAL.    See  Cheadle. 

Kidderminster.  Dom.  Chideminstre,  1223  Elideminstre,  a.  1300 
Kyder-,  Kydelminstr,  c.  1350  Kiderminestere.  In  a  grant  of 
736  lands  at  '  Chideminstre '  (Norm,  scribe's  spelling)  are  given 
by  K.  u3i]thelbald  to  Earl  Cyneberght  on  which  to  bmld  a 
monastery  (see  -minster).  So  the  name  is  '  Monastery,  monas- 
tery-church of  Cydda.'  There  are  3  in  Onom,.,  also  a  Cyda,  a 
Cydd,  and  a  Cyddi.  The  r  is  a  later  insertion,  so  M'Clure's  deriva- 
tion fr.  O.W.  cyddwfr  {=  cyn-dwfr),  '  confluence  of  the  rivers,'  is 
barred  out.  Besides,  the  confluence  of  Stow  with  Severn  is 
4  miles  away.     But  there  is  a  Kiddermore  Green  (Wolverhamp- 


KIDLINGTON  328  KILLINGWOKTH 

ton),  which  may  have  a  W.  origin.    For  '  cockney  '  insertion  of 
r  cf.  Tattershall. 

KiDUNGTON  (Oxon).  Dom.  Chedelintona,  Cedelintona  (also  in 
Devon),  1149  Cudelyngton,  1214Kedelinton,  1227-28  Cudelinton, 
Kedelyngton.  '  Town  of  the  sons  of  Cydel,'  or  perh. '  of  Ceadela.' 
But  KiDDiNGTON  (Oxon.)  is  Dom.  Chidintone,  '  town  of  Cydda.' 

See  KlDDEBMINSTEE.. 

KiDSGROVE  (Stoke-on-T.)-  No  old  forms;  but  cf.  Dom.  Northants 
Chidesbi.     '  Grove,  wood  of  Cydda.'    Cf.  above. 

Kidwelly  (Csermarthen).  a.  810  Nennius  and  a.  1130  Lib. 
Landav.  Cetgueli;  Brut  y  Twys.  ann.  991  Cydweli;  Ann.  Cambr. 
KedweH ;  1401  Kedewelly.  In  mod.  W.  Ced-,  Cadweli.  A  little 
doubtful;  prob.  a  tribal  name  fr.  a  chief  Cadwal. 

KiELDER  (Cheviots).  G.  caol  dobhar  (W.  dwr).  'Narrow  stream.' 
In  G.  ao  is  pron.  ii,  but  on  Eng.  lips  varies  greatly  in  sound; 
with  the  sound  in  Kielder  cf.  Eddrachilis  (Sc.)=G.  eadar-a- 
chaolais,  and  pron.  by  English  people  EddraheeUs. 

KiLBURN  (London),  c.  1134  chart.  Kuneburna,  Keneburna;  later, 
Kele-,  Keelebum,  Caleburn;  1536  Kilnborne.  '  Burn,  brook 
of  Cuna  or  Coena  or  Coen  ' ;  several  in  Onom.  But  later  forms 
indicate  some  comparison  with  O.E.  ceol,  '  a  keel,  a  ship.'  As 
we  often  see,  any  liquid  may  interchange  with  any  other ;  hence 
the  n  becoming  I.    Cf.  Killinghall. 

KiLCOT  (Gloucester).  Dom.  Chilecot,  1307  Kulkotte.  Prob.= 
Chilcott  (Wells),  and  so  Keltic  for  '  narrow  wood.'  It  is 
difficult  to  account  for  the  Chile-  otherwise,  unless  it  be  similar 
to  KiLHAM,  with  chile  for  O.E.  celde,  '  a  spring.'  Cf.  Killpeek 
(Herefd.),  1219  Kilpec.  However,  there  is  one  Killa,  or  Cylla, 
in  a  Mercian  chart. 

KiLHAM  (Driffield).  Dom.  Chillon  (6  times),  1179-80  Pipe  Chillum. 
An  old  loc,  chillon  or  cyllum,  '  at  the  sources  or  springs '  of 
R.  Hull;  O.E.  celde,  O.N.  kelda, '  a  spring,  a  well.'  Cf.  Kelham 
(Notts),  Dom.  Calun,  1189  Pipe  Kelum,  and  Welham.  There  is 
another  near  Coldstream  (Sc). 

Killinghall  (Harrogate).  Dom.  Chenehalle,  Chilingale.  'Nook 
of  Coena  '  or  '  Cilia,'  with  gen.  -an.  Dom.  is  perpetually  inter- 
changing I  and  n.    Cf.  CtttTiTiTNGBam,  Kilburn,  etc.    See  -hall. 

KiLLiNGWORTH  (Newcastle),  c.  1330  B.  Brunne  Kilyngworth, 
1424  KyUynworth,  and  Kilworth,  South  (Lutterworth),  1288 
Close  B.  Suth-Kevelingwrth,  1307  Kivelingworth.  The  ending, 
of  course,  is  '  farm.'  See  -worth.  The  prefix  seems  a  patrony- 
mic otherwise  unrecorded,  perh.  fr.  vb.  kevel,  O.N.  kejla,  '  to 
bit  or  bridle,'  and  so  this  might  be  '  bridling-place.'  Cf.  above. 
But  Kilworth  is  in  Dom.  Chiveleswordc,  which  postulates  a 
man  Cifel,  or  the  like. 


KILMINGTON  329  KINDER  SCOUT 

KiLMiNGTON  (Bath  and  Axminster).  Dom.  Chelmetone,  Ex.  Dom. 
Chilmatona.  Ax.  K.  1219  Patent  B.  Kelmeton.  *  Town  of 
Gelm/  one  in  Onom.,  or  '  of  Oelm's  sons/    See  -ing. 

KiLNSEA  (Spurn  Hd.).  Dom.  Chilnesse.  Perh.  'isle,  peninsula  of 
the  kiln  ' ;  O.E.  cyline,  cyln,  O.N.  kylna.  Cf.  Kilnhurst  (Rother- 
ham).  The  sign  of  the  gen.  in  Kilnsea  suggests  a  man's  name, 
but  there  is  nothing  in  Onom.  except  Cylm  ;  Cyln  might  be  a 
variant.  Kilnwick  (Beverley)  is  Dom.  Chelingewie,  Chilewid, 
a  patronymic  fr.  Gil  or  Cele,  the  name  seen  in  Kelby  (S.  Lines), 
Dom.  Chelebi.     See  -wick,  'dwelhng.' 

KiLSBY  (Rugby).  Not  in  Dom.  1155-62  c^arf.Kylesbya.  'Dwelling 
of  CilU  or  Cilia  ' ;  several  in  Onom.  Of.  1155  Pipe  Cheleswuyda, 
'  Cille's  farm,'  and  Kelby  (S.  Lines),  Dom.  Chelebi.    See  -by. 

KiLViNGTON  (Thirsk).  Dom.  Cheluintun,  c.  1190  Kilvingtone,  1200 
Kilvintone.  Prob.  'town  of  Ceolwynn';  one  in  Onom.  But 
KiLvnsrQTON  (Notts),  Dom.  ChUvintun,  Chelvinctun.  Mutsch- 
mann  would  make  '  home  of  the  sons  of  Cylfa ' ;  one  in  Onom.) 
See  -ing.  Kilve  (Bridgwater),  not  in  Dom.,  1221  Patent  R. 
Kelve,  seems  to  be  one  of  the  rare  cases,  like  Goodrich,  etc., 
where  a  place-name  is  simply  a  man's  name,  here  Ceolf,  short 
form  of  the  common  Geolwulf. 

KiMBERLEY  occurs  3  timcs,  each  a  different  name,  and  none  fr. 
KiMBER,  name  of  R.  Pang  (Berks)  near  its  source,  Kelt,  cumber, 
W.  cymmer,  '  a  confluence.'  K.,  Nottingham,  is  Dom.  Chi- 
nemar(e)Lie,  ^  Gynemcer's  mead.'  K.,  Warwksh.,  is  1311  Cyne- 
baldeleye,  ^  Gynebald's  mead';  and  K.  near  R.  Yare  (Norfk.) 
is  Dom.  Chineburlai,  1237  Kyneburl',  'mead  of  Gynebeorht,'  a 
very  common  O.E.  name.  Gf.  Kilmersdon  (Bath),  1235  Kyne- 
merdon,  and  Kimsbury  (Gloster),  c.  1230  Kinemeresbur. 

KiMBOLTON  (Hunts  and  Leominster).  Hu.  K.  Dom.  Chenebaltone, 
1297  Kynebauton.  '  Town  of  Gynebald  ' ;  m  and  n  often  inter- 
change. Gf.  Great  Kimble,  and  Kilmeston  (Southampton), 
Dom.  Chenehnestune,  '  Kenelm'a  town.' 

KiMPTON  (Andover  and  Welwyn).  An.  K.  Dom.  Chementune.  We. 
K.  Dom.  Kamintone,  1210  Kentone,  later  Kymi-,  Kemitone, 
1346  Kumynton.  Skeat  is  clear  that  this  last  is  O.E.  Gyman 
tun,  '  town  of  Cyma.'  It  is  on  the  R.  Kime,  but  this  must  be  a 
back  formation.  Gf.  Kyme  and  Dom.  Devon  Chiempabera, 
perh.  fr.  Gempa — i.e.,  '  warrior.' 

Kinder  Scout  (The  Peak).  Scout  is  Oxf.  Diet,  sb^,  fr.  O.N.  sJmte, 
'a  high,  overhanging  rock.'  Kinder  is  doubtful;  old  forms, 
needed.  It  looks  like  G.  cinn  dobhair  (W.  dwr),  '  at  the  head 
of  the  stream,'  but  this  would  be  a  very  rare  type  of  name  for 
this  region.  So  prob.  it  is  fr.  kind,  sic  in  O.E.  and  O.N.,  in 
mod.  Icel.  Jcind-r,  '  sheep,'  though  in  older  usage  it  seems  to 
mean  only  '  kind,  sort.' 

22 


KINETON  330  KINGSWINFORD 

KiNETON  or  Kington  (Warwksh.).  969  chart.  CyTigtune,  Dom. 
Cintone.  Plainly  '  royal  town,  town'of  the  king  ';  O.E.  cyning. 
Cf.  Dom.  Lines  Chinetorp,  O.E.  cyne,  '  royal '  village. 

Kingsbury  (Tamworth).  Dom.  Chinesburie,  a.  1200  Kinesburi, 
1322  Kinesbury.  '  Burgh,  town  of  Cyne ' — i.e., '  the  royal/  Said 
to  have  been  a  residence  of  the  Mercian  kings.     See  -bury. 

Kingsclere  (Newbury).    See  Burghclere. 

KiNGSCLiFFE  (Wansford,  Northants).  1202  Y or Jcs  Fines  Cunigges- 
clive  super  Teisam,  must  be  the  same  name. 

King's  Langley  (Herts).  'King's  long  meadow';  O.E.  lang  Uah. 
The  land  here  was  in  royal  possession  from  Hen.  I.  to  Cromwell, 
and  a  house  was  built  here  by  Hen.  III.  Kjengsnorton  (Bir- 
mingham), Dom.  Nortune,  also  belonged  to  the  Crown  from 
the  Conquest  to  Hen.  III. 

Kjng's  Lynn.  Dom.  Lena,  c.  1100  Lun,  1314-15  Lenne,  1450 
LjTine.  O.E.  hlynn  means  usually  '  a  torrent  running  over 
rocks,'  which  does  not  exist  here.  Its  later  meaning,  '  a  pool,' 
is  not  recorded  till  1577-87,  Hohnshed's  Chron.  Cognate  with 
W.  llyn.  Com.  lin,  G.  linne,  '  a  pool ';  so  the  origin  here  may  be 
Keltic.  The  town's  history  goes  back  at  least  to  1100,  prob. 
earUer.  Originally  it  was  a  fief  of  the  Bp.  of  Norwich,  and  so 
called  Lynn  Episcopi;  but  it  was  emancipated  by  Hen.  VIII., 
and  at  that  time  received  its  present  name,  Lynn  Regis  or 
King's  Lynn. 

KiNGSLEY  (Cheshire  and  Hanley).  Ches.  K.  sic  a.  1128.  Han. 
K.  Dom.  Chingeslei,  a.  1300  Kynggesley.  'King's  meadow.' 
See  -ley. 

King's  Nympton  (Chulmleigh).  1287  Kingesnemeton.  Hybrid. 
See  Nymphsfield. 

KiNGSTHORPE  (Northampton).  Dom.  Chingestorp.  'King's  vil- 
lage.'   See  -thorpe. 

Kingston  (13  in  P.G.).  Surrey  K.  619  Cingestun,  838  Cyningestun. 
Camb.  K.  Dom.  Chingestone,  1210  Kingestone.  Notts  K.  Dom. 
Chinestan,  1291  Kynstan.  Warwk.  K.  1327  Kyngestone.  '  King's 
town.'  Sur.  K.  was  the  usual  place  for  the  consecration  of  the 
Saxon  Kings.  The  Notts  name  is  O.E.  cyne  stan, '  royal  stone.' 
Kingston  Lisle  (Wantage),  1288  Kingeston  Lisle,  was  called 
after  William  de  Insula  or  De  L'Isle,  in  the  time  of  Hen.  II. 

KiNGSTONE  Bagpuize  (Berks).  Dom.  Chingestune  in  Merceham 
(Marcham) ;  also  in  chart.  Kingestun,  Cingestun.  Called  after  a 
Norman  Bachepuiz  (Chron.  Abingdon,  temp.  Wm.  II.),  1316 
Bakepus,  1428  Bagepuys.  Prob.  fr.  O.Fr.  hache,  '  a  gulley,  a 
watercourse,'  cf.  Eng.  bach,  and  O.Fr.  puz,  puiz,  Fr.  puits,  L. 
puteus,  '  a  well.'    The  Fr.  place  is  now  Bacquepuis,  Eure. 

KiNGSwiNFORD  (Dudley).  1023  chart.  Swinford,  Dom.  Suinesford. 
'  Ford  of  the  swine  ';  O.E.  swin.    It  was  a  royal  manor  in  Dom. 


KINGSWOOD  331  KIEKBY 

KiNGSWOOD  (5  in  P.O.).  1160  Pipe  Chingeswuda,  Kent.  Dom. 
Glouc.  has  only  Chingescote,  now  Kingscote. 

KiNGWESTON  (Somerset).  Dom.  Kenwardston,  an  interesting  cor- 
ruption.   Cyneweard  is  a  very  common  O.E.  name. 

KiNNERLEY  (Oswestry)  and  Kinnersley  (W.  Hereford,  Severn- 
Stoke,  and  Wellington,  Salop).  1223  Patent  R.  Kinardeseia 
(see  -ey),  ?  which.  Wei.  K.  Dom.  Chinardelei,  Chinardeseie. 
'  Meadow  of  Cyneheard/  a  common  O.E.  name.  Cf.  next  and 
1155  Pipe  Oxon.  Chenewardberge,  '  hill  of  Coenweard '  or 
'  Kenward  ';  also  Kingerby  (Lines),  1218  Patent  R.  Kyngorby, 
prob.  '  dwelling  of  Cynegar ' ;  one  in  Onom.    See  -by  and  -ley. 

KiNNERTON  (Cheshire).  Dom.  Cinbretune.  ^  Cynebeorht's  town.' 
Cf.  above. 

KiNTBURY  (Hungerford).  Dom.  Cheneteberie,  chart,  set  Cynetan 
byrig,  1316Kenetbm-y.    '  Burgh  ontheR.  Keknet.'   See  -burgh. 

Kesiton  (Hereford  and  Salop).  He.  K.  Dom.  Chingtune;  also 
Kington  (Worcester).  Dom.  Chintune,  1275  Kyngton,  1340 
Kynton,  which  Duignan  renders  O.E.  cyne  tun,  '  royal  town.' 
Cf.  1167-68  Pipe  Sussex  Cunton. 

Kinver  Forest  (Stourbridge).  736  chart,  'the  wood  called 
Cynibre,'  964  Cynefare,  Dom.  Chenefare,  1222  Kenefer,  Testa 
de  Nevill  Kinefar,  1282  Kynefare.  M'Clure  thinks  this  may 
represent  an  early  Cunobriga, '  high  burgh.'  The  origin  is  quite 
uncertain.  It  is  very  Hkely  Kelt.,  ?  W.  cwn  y  bre,  'height,  top 
of  the  brae '  or  '  slope.'  O.E.  cyne  means  '  royal,'  and  cyne 
fare  (or  fcer)  '  royal  road ' ;  but  this  may  have  been  a  Saxon 
corrup.  of  a  W.  name. 

KrppAX  (Pontefract).  Dowi.  Chipesch.  The  local  pron.  is  Kippis. 
O.E.  ceap-cesc,'  market  ash-tree.'  Cf.  Chepstow  and  Borrowash. 

KiRBY  (11  in  P.O.).  Dom.  Leicr.  Cherchebi.  Contracted  fr. 
KiRK-BY,  '  dwelling  by  the  church.'  Kirby  Wiske  (Thirsk) 
is  1212  Kirkeby  super  Wise.     See  Appleton  Wiske. 

Kirby  Cross  and  Kirby-le-Soken  (Walton-on-Naze) .  See  above. 
Not  in  Dom.  These  are  among  the  most  southerly  of  names 
in  -by.  Soken  is  a  district  held  by  socage,  in  O.E.  socn,  fr. 
soc,  '  the  right  of  holding  a  court  in  a  district.'  All  dwellers  in  a 
soken  were  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  lord  of  the  manor  there. 

KiRDFORD  (Petworth).  Not  in  Dom.  Cf.  c.  1030  '  Cyrdeslea,' 
Hereford.  '  Ford  of  Cyrd,'  contraction  of  Ceolred,  a  common 
O.E.  name. 

KiRKBRiDE  (Carlisle).  1189  Kirkebride.  '  Church  of  St.  Bride,' 
or  Bridget  or  Brigida  of  Kildare. 

KiRKBY  (16  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Yorks  Chirchebi  or  Cherchbi  35  times, 
and  Kirkebi  once,  all  for  some  Kirkby  or  Kirby — i.e.,  '  dwelling 
by  the  church.'    Cf.  Kendal;  see  -by. 


KIRKHAM  332  KNATTON 

KniKHAM  (N.  of  R.  Ribble).  Dom.  Chicheham  (r  omitted  by  error), 
c.  1141  Chircheham,  the  name  as  written  by  a  Norman  or 
Southern  scribe.  '  Home,  house  by  the  Tcirh,'  N.  Eng.  and  Sc. 
for  church. 

KiRKLiNGTON  (Bedale  and  Southwell).  Be.  K.  Dom.  ChercHnton, 
Cherdinton,  1212  Torhs  Fines  Kertlinton.  So.  K.  Dom.  Cherlin- 
ton,  Cherluintone,  1291  Kirtelyngton.  These  may  be  same  as 
KniTLiNGTON ;  but  prob.  they  are  mostly  Kirk-linton, '  the  Lyn- 
TON  by  the  church.''  However,  Kirklinton  (Carlisle)  is  c.  1120 
Kirklevington,  prob.  'church  of  the  village  of  Lewine'  or  ^Leof- 
wine/  or  his  descendants.    Cf.  Livingstone  (Sc.)  ;  and  see  -ing. 

KniKOSWALD  (Chimbld.).  1166-67  Pipe  Karcoswald.  'Church  of 
Oswald.'    Cf.  Oswestry. 

KmKSTALL  Abbey  (Leeds).  Founded  1147-52.  1237  Close  B. 
Kirkestal.  c.  1540  Leland  Qiristal.  '  Kirk '  or  '  church  place.' 
O.E.  steel 

KJEETLiNG  (Newmarket)  and  Kirtltngton  (Oxford),  c.  1080 
CurteHnge,  Dom.  CherteUnge,  977  O.E.  Chron.  Kyrtlingtune, 
a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  CirtHng,  1230  Close  B.  Kurt-,  KertUnton,  1241 
ib.  Curlinton.  This  must  be  a  patronymic,  *  place  of  the  sons  of 
Cyrtel'  though  no  name  Hke  this  is  given  in  Onom.  Cf.  KniK- 
LESTGTON ;  and  see  -ing. 

Kjeton  Lindsey  (Lines).  1156  Pipe  Chirchetune.  'Kirk  or 
church  town  of  the  Lindsays."  Cf.  Kirkham.  Randolph  de 
Limesay  or  Lindeseye — i.e.,  '  isle  of  lime-trees ' — came  over 
with  the  Conqueror. 

Knapton  (York  and  N.  Walsham)  and  Knapwell  (Suffk.).  Yo. 
K.  Dom.  Cnapetone,  others  not  in  Dom.,  'town  of  Cnapa'; 
whilst  Suf .  K.  is  sic  1230,  '  well  of  Cnapa.'  Cf.  Knapthorpe 
(Caunton),  Dom.  Chenapetorp.  But  Knap  Farm,  Cold  Knap 
Wood,  etc.  (Wstrsh.),  are  fr.  O.E.  cncep,  M.E.  knap,  'a  hillock.' 
So  also  Knappe  (Sussex),  1218  Cnappe. 

Knabesbobough.  Dom.  Chenaresburg  (5  times) .  1 155  Pipe  Chanar- 
desburc,  1156  Canardsburc,  1158  Cnardesburc,  1179-80  C!narre- 
buri,  c.  1180  Ben.  Peterb.  Chiaresburgus.  The  orig.  name  was 
'  burgh,  castle  of  Kenward '  or  '  Cyneweard.'  But  as  it  stands 
on  a  rocky  slope  it  seems  early  to  have  been  thought  '  fort  of 
the  rugged  rock,'  M.E.  hnarre,  found  a.  1250. 

Knaves  Castle  (Lickfield).  a.  1300  'a  place  called  Cnaven 
castle,'  now  a  small  mound.  O.E.  cnafa,  '  a  boy,  a  servant '; 
later,  '  a  knave,  a  rogue.'    Cf.  Knavenhtll  (Alderminster) . 

Knayton  (Thirsk).  Dom.  Cheneve-,  Chenivetune,  Chennieton, 
1235  Cneveton.  '  Town  of  Coengifu,'  a  woman's  name,  only 
found  here.  Cf.  Kneveton  (Notts),  Dom.  Chenivetone,  c.  1190 
Chnivetun,  which  Mutschmann  prefers  to  derive  from  O.E.  cniht, 
'  a  servant,'  which  explains  the  Kn-,  but  not  the  -ev. 


^KNEBWOETH  333  KNOYLE 

Knebworth  (Stevenage).  Dom.  Ohenepeuorde,  a.  1300  Kenebbes- 
wrth,  1303  Knebbeworth.     '  Cnehba'a  farm.'    See  -worth. 

Kneesworth  (Royston,  Herts).  1276  Knesworth,  1346  Knees- 
worthe.  'Farm  of  Knee';  O.E.  cneo,  'a  knee';  not  recorded 
as  a  personal  name.  Cf.  Knebsall  (Notts),  Dom.  Cbeneshale, 
1189  Pi'pe  Cneeshala.     See  -hall. 

Knighton  (4  in  P.G.)  Lei.  K.  Dom.  Cnihtetone.  K.-on-Teme 
957  Cnihtatune,  Dom.  Cnistetun  {Dom.  almost  regularly  has 
st  for  gh),  1108  Cnihtetun,  1218  Cnigheton.  '  Servants'  town.' 
On  Knight  see  next.  Cf.  Knightwick  (Worcester),  738  chart, 
Cnihtwic.    See  -wick,  '  dwelling.' 

Knightsbridge  (London) .  c.  1 150  Cnihtbriga ;  later,  Knyghtsbrigg. 
O.E.  cniht  meant  orig.  '  a  boy,  a  lad,  an  attendant,  a  servant.' 
Its  mod.  usage  as  '  knight '  is  not  recorded  till  O.E.  Chron.  1086. 

Knockin  (Salop).  Prob.  dimin.  of  W.  cnwc,  G.  cnoc,  'a  hillock.' 
Cf.  Knook  and  Knucexas.  One  would  like  to  see  the  old 
forms  of  Knock  holt  or  '  wood  '  (Sevenoaks) ,    It  is  not  in  Dom. 

KInoddishall  (Saxmundham) .  Dom.  Chenotessala,  1225  Patent 
R.  Kenodeshal.  '  Nook,  comer  of  Cnod,  Gnut,'  or  '  Canute.' 
Of.  Knottingley  and  ILnutsford.    See  -hall. 

Knolton  Bryn  (EUesmere).  Tautological  hybrid.  '  Town  on 
the  knoll.'  O.E.  cnoll,  Dan.  hnold,  W.  cnol,  Sc.  knowe,  and  W. 
bron,  Corn,  bryn,  'a  hill.'  Of.  KInowle  and  Notting  Hill. 
But  Kinoulton  (Notts),  Dom.  Chineltune,  1152  Cheneldestoa,  is 
'  Cyneweald's  town.' 

Knook -(Wilts),  a  800  chart.  Nox  gaga,  Dom.  Cunuche,  1236  Cnuke. 
W.  cnuch,  '  a  junction  ' ;  or  cnuwch,  '  a  junction,  a  bush.' 

Knottingley  (Yorks).  Z)om.  Notingelai,  1202  Cnottinglai.  Patro- 
nymic. '  Meadow  of  the  sons  of  Cnot '  or  '  Gnut.'  See  -ley. 
But  Knott  in  Gumbld.  and  Westmld.  means  '  a  hill,'  as  in 
Amside  Elnott,  Hark  Knot,  Scald  Knot,  etc.  O.E.  cnotta,  see 
Oxf.  Diet.,  knot  sb.  14. 

Knowl(e)  (Birmingham,  Bristol,  etc.).  Bir.  K.  Dom.  Gnolle,  a. 
1300  La  CnoUe,  a.  1400  Knole.  Wednesfield  K.  a.  1300  le 
Knolle.  Alvechurch  K.  1275  la  Cnolle.  O.E.  cnoll,  '  a  round- 
topped  hillock'  or  '^hill,'  a  knoll;  Sc.  knowe.  Two  'Cnolle' 
in  Dom.  Dorset. 

Knowsley  (Liverpool).  Dom.  Phenulweslei  (P  error  for  C7) .  'Lea, 
meadow  of  Goenwulf,'  a  name  common  in  Onom.     See  -ley. 

Kjstoyle  (Salisbury).  948  chart.  Cunugl,  Cnugel,  1228  Stepel  Knoel. 
Gf.  B.G.S.  i.  240  Cunugl-ae  (= '  isle '),  which  Birch  identifies 
with  CoLNE  (Glouc),  q.v.  This  cannot  be  the  same  as  knoll, 
O.E.  cnoll,  '  hill-top,  hillock,'  though  M'Clure  declares  that  the 
Oxf.  Diet,  says  this  is  the  origin  of  Knoyle.  Where  does  it  say 
that  ?  Nor  is  it  likely  to  be  O.E.  cnucel,  '  knuckle,  hill  like  a 
knuckle.'    This  would  not  have  become  Knoyle.    Cunugl  looks 


KNUCKLAS  334  LADBROKE 

like  W.  cwn  uchel,  '  lofty  height '  or  '  hill-top/  the  O.W.  ugl 
thus  being  cognate  with  Ogle,  and  Sc.  Ochils,  and  Ogil-vie.  It 
is  only  fair  to  add  that  the  Gazetteers  speak  of  no  hill  here,  so 
the  name  may  be  pre -Kelt. 

Knucklas  (Radnor).    In  W.,  Cnwcglas,  1246  Patent  R.  Cnuclays. 
'Green  hill/  fr.  W.  cnwc,  'lump,  hillock/  and  glas  (lias),  '  green, 
blue."    Cf.  KJNOCKCN  and  Knook. 

Knutsfobd  (Cheshire).  Dom.  Cunetesford.  'Ford  of  K.  Cnut 
or  Canuti.'  Cf.  Knuston  (Northants),  Dom.  Cnutestone,  and 
Knoddishall. 

Knutton  (Newcastle,  Staffs).  Dom.  Clotone  (error),  a.  1300 
Cnot(t)on^  Kjiotton.  '  Village  on  the  hillock  ';  O.E.  cnotta,  '  a 
knot,'  found  fr.  14th  cny.  used  as  '  a  hiU.'    See  Knott. 

Kyloe  (Belford).  1272  Kilei,  1561  Kilhowe,  Killowe,  1636  Kilo. 
Hybrid.  G.  cill{e),  '  church,  churchyard,'  and  howe,  O.N. 
ha/ug-r,  'mound,  cairn';  in  Eng.  as  how,  a.  1340,  'a  hill,  a 
hillock.'    Cf.  Tysoe,  etc. 

Kyme  (Lincoba).  Sic  1136, 1233  Kima.  O.E.  cyme  vbl.  sb.  means 
'  coming.'  But  this  seems  to  be  the  W.  C7jme,  '  lovely,  beauti- 
ful.' Skeat  thinks  that  this  Kyme  and  others  must  all  come 
fr.  a  man  Cyma,  5  in  Onom.,  but  this  type  of  name  is  rare. 
Cf.  KiMPTON.    There  is  also  a  R.  Kym,  trib.  of  the  Gt.  Ouse. 

Kynance  Cove-  (The  Lizard).  Corn.  Kyne  sans,  'holy  Kyne,'  a 
Corn,  saint  who  lived  c.  490.    Cf.  ICeverne  and  Penzance. 

Kyndelyn  (Wales).  Prob.  not  same  word  as  Cunobellinus  (see 
Kjmble),  though  M'Clure  thinks  so.  Much  more  likely  W. 
cwn  Velyn,  '  height  of  Velyn,'  aspirated  form  of  Melyn.  Cf. 
Helvellyn.  Cwn  is  cognate  with  the  G.  ceann,  loc.  cinn, 
'  head,  height,'  so  often  found  in  Sc.  names  as  Ken-,  Kin-.  Cf. 
Kinvee.  and  Knoyle. 

Kybb  Wyre  (Tenbury).  Dom.  Cuer,  Chuer,  1108  Cyr,  1275  Cure 
Wyard.  W.  cwr,  '  border,  edge,  limit ' ;  it  is  on  the  border 
between  Worcester  and  Hereford.  The  Wyards  were  its  early 
Nor.  lords. 

Laceby  (Grimsby).  Dom.  Levesbi,  1234  Lesseby.  'Dwelling  of 
Lefa  '  or  '  Leofa,'  common  in  Onom.    See  -by. 

Lackenby  (Redcar).  Dom.  Lachenebi,  Lachebi,  1202  Lackenbi. 
'  Dwelling  of  Lacen,'  a  name  still  found  as  Laking.     See  -by. 

Lackeord  (Bury  St.  Edmunds).  Dom.  Lacforda,  Lacheforda. 
Prob.  'ford  at  the  pool';  O.E.  lace.  Cf.  Mobtlake,  Dom. 
Suffk.  Lacheleia,  and  Hants  Lacherne. 

Ladbroke  (Southam,  Wwksh.).  980  chart.  Hlodbroce,  Dom. 
Lodbroc,  a.  1200  Lodebroc(h).  Looks  Hke  'brook  of  Hlod '  or 
'  Hloth  ' ;  but  Lodbroc  or  Lothhroc  is  name  of  a  well-known  hero 
of  the  Sagas.     Cf.  Dom.  Chesh.  Latbroc.  , 


LADOCK  335  LANCHERLY 

Ladock  or  Landoc  (Grampound  Rd.,  Cornwall).  '  Church/ Com. 
Ian,  W.  llan,  '  of  St.  Cadoc'    See  Caradoo  and  Llangadoo. 

Laleham  (Staines) .  Dom.  Leleham,1237Estlalham.  '  Home  of  LeZa ' 
or  '  Lilla.'    Cf.  Lawford,  and  Laleston  (Bridgend).     See  -ham. 

Lambeth  (London).  1041  O.E.  Chron.  Lambhythe,  1088  Lam- 
hytha,  c.  1130  Eadmer  Lambetha,  -beta,  1217  Lamheye,  -heth, 
1588  Lambehith.  O.E.  lamb-hi^e,  '  landing-place  for  lambs.' 
See  Hythe.  Derivation  fr.  O.E.  Mm,  '  loam,'  is  inadmissible. 
Cf.  next  and  Lamcote  (Notts),  Dom.  Lanbecote. 

Lambotjrn  (Berks).  K.  Alfred's  Will  Lamb-burna,  943  cMrf. 
Lamburna.     '  Lamb's  burn  or  brook.'    See  -bourne. 

Lamorna  Cove  (Penzance).  Corn.  Ian  mornader,  'enclosure  for 
the  lampreys  '  or  '  pilchards  ';  L.  murcena. 

Lampeter  (Cardigan).  In  W.  Llanbedr  Pont  Stephan.  The  W. 
Llan  bedr  is  '  church  of  Peter.'  Cf.  next.  On  llan  cf.  Llana- 
TAN.  We  find  the  Lam-  very  early — e.g.,  Dom.  Glouc, '  Li  Wales 
sunt  iii  hard  vices  (herds'  farms),  Lamecare  (?  llan  y  caer, '  church 
by  the  castle  '),  &  Porteschivet  (Portskewett)  &  Dinan.' 

Lamphey  (Pembroke).  Old  Llandyfei,  1603  Lantfey;  forms  Llan- 
faith  and  -feth  are  also  found,  as  if  W.  llan  ffydd,  '  church  of 
faith.'  But  the  name  is  '  church  of  St.  Tyfai,'  seen  also  in  Foy 
(Herefd.),  Lib.  Land.  Lanntiuoi,  and  in  Lampha  (Glam.). 

Lamport  (Northampton).  1158-59  Pipe  Laport,  Cf.  Dom.  Kent 
Lamport.  The  Lam-  is  doubtful,  but  is  prob.  O.E.  lamb,  as  in 
Lambeth;  and  so  'lamb's  gate,'  L.  porta,  in  Eng.  as  port,  fr. 
c.  950.    See  also  Oxf.  Diet,  port  sb^,  '  a  town.' 

Lanarth  (Cornwall).  1285  Close  R.  Lannarth.  Corn.=  'high 
enclosure.'  The  orig.  meaning  of  Ian,  llan,  lam,  lann,  in  all  Kelt, 
languages  is  '  enclosed  place.'     '  Church  '  is  a  later  meaning. 

Lancarf  (Cornwall).  Corn.  = 'graveyard ';  Corn,  corf,  L.  corpus, 
'  a  body,  a  corpse.' 

Lancarrow  (Cornwall).  Corn.= 'deerpark,'  carw,  'a  hart';  L. 
cerws,  '  a  stag.'    Dom.  has  a  Lancharet. 

Lancaster.  Sic  1399,  but  Dom.  and  1198  Loncastre,  1161-62 
Lancastria.  '  Camp  on  the  R.  Lthste.'  See  -caster.  Lancashire 
is  first  mentioned  in  1169;  in  1523  we  have  it  in  its  mod.  form, 
'  Lancasshyre.'  Till  after  Dom.  Lancashire  S-  of  the  Ribble  was 
in  Cheshire,  and  Lancaster  itself  in  Yorks. 

Lancaut  (Chepstow).  956  chart.  Landcawet,  1221  Langcaut.  The 
956  form  is  O.Kelt  for  '  enclosed  land,'  W.  llan  cauad.  Kelt 
Ian,  W.  llan,  means  '  enclosure,'  and  is  cognate  with  Eng.  land. 

Lancherly  (Somerset).  Perh.  801  chart.  Lancherpille.  LancJier 
is  'land  share';  K.C.D.  706  Brisnodes  Land-share;  ib.  419 
Hebelmes  Landschere.  The  ledges  at  Worth  Maltravers  (Dorset) 
are  also  called  Lanchers. 


LANCHESTER  336  LANGLEY 

Lanohestbr  (Durham).  1183  Boldon  Bh.  Langchestre,  'long 
camp/     O.E.  and  N.Eng.  laTig,  '  long/    See  -Chester. 

Lancing  (Sussex).  Dom.  Lancinges.  Named  fr.  WUncing,  son  of 
^lla,  O.E.  Chron.  4:11.  Cf.  Keynob,  and  Dom.  Surrey  Lanchei. 
See  -ing. 

Land-ahe  (Cornwall).  Dom.  Lander.  Corn.  Ian  dar,  'enclosure  of 
the  oaks.'    Cf.  O.G.  dair,  '  an  oak.' 

Landbeach  (Cambridge).  Dom.  XJtbech — i.e.,  a  little  farther  away 
or  out  from  the  old  shore  of  the  Wash  than  Waterbeach — 
1235  Close  B.  Londbech'.  Beach  is  a  curious  word.  It  must 
mean  '  shingle  '  or  simply  '  shore/  but  is  not  recorded  in  Oxf. 
Did.  till  the  16th  cny.    Cf.  Wisbech. 

Landewednack  (The  Lizard).    Dom.  has  Langenewit,  and  Lan 
wenehoc.    Com.=  '  church  of  8t.  Devinicus/  said  to  be  a  con- 
temporary of  St.  Columba.    Cf.  Banchory  Devenick  (Sc). 

Landican  (Wirral).  Dom.  Landechene.  Prob.  'church  of  the 
deacon/  referring  to  Woodchurch  near  by.  W.  diacon,  in  Eng. 
a.  1300  deken,  '  a  deacon/  one  not  in  full  orders. 

Landicle  (Cornwall).  Sic  in  Dom.  Com.=  '  Church  of  St.  Teela.' 
Cf.  '  Lantocal/  B.C. 8.  47.  Tecla  was  a  Roman  abbess  in  the 
days  of  Gregory  the  Great.  Landkey  (Barnstaple)  seems  to 
be  1235  Close  R.  Landegeye;  cf.  Keverne. 

Landoc.    See  Ladock. 

Land's  End.  997  O.E.  Chron.  Penwiht  Steort;  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur. 
Penwithsteort.  Welsh  Triads  Penbryn  Penwaeth,  Welsh  Laws 
Pengwaeth  or  -waed,  Myrv.  Archaeol.  Penwedic  yng  Ngherniw. 
Pen  is  Keltic  for  '  head,  headland  ' ;  wiht,  with,  or  waeth  must 
be  W.  gwydd,  Corn,  gwedh, '  woods/  while  steort  is  O.E.  for  '  tail.' 
Of.  Start  Point.  The  name  Penwith  is  still  applied  to  this 
whole  district. 

Landtje  (Cornwall).     Corn,  lan  dew,  '  black,  dark  church/ 

Landuit  (Cornwall).  Corn.  =  ' church  of  Ulf  or  'St.  Olaf/  one 
of  the  most  saintly  of  the  Norse  Kings,  995-1030,  patron  saint 
of  Norway. 

Landywood  (Walsall).  No  old  forms.  Duignan  thinks  'launde 
i'  th'  wode,'  M.E.  launde,  O.Fr.  land,  launde,  '  a  plain  sprinkled 
with  bush  or  tree,'  then  '  a  lawn.' 

Langeord  (Oxford).  1155-58  chart.  Langeford.  'Long  ford.' 
Similarly  there  are  6  Langtons  in  P.O.,  Dom.  Yorks  Langeton 
and  Lanton,  Lines  Langtone.  There  are  also  several  Langdales  ; 
one  in  1160-61  Pipe  Notts  and  Derby,  has  the  curious  reduplica- 
tion Langedala  Dala. 

Langley  (Bromley).  862  chart.  To  langan  lea3e.  . '  Long  meadow.' 
So  Langley,  Henley-in-Arden,  1150  Langelleie,  a.  1200  Langeleg, 
a.  1300  Langele.    But  Langley  Park  (Cumberland)  is  old  Lang- 


LANGPORT  337  LASKET 

lif  erga,  '  shieling,  dairy  hut  of  Langlif,'  a  N.  woman.    For  erga 
see  Arklid.    See  -ley. 

Langport  (Central  Somerset).  Prob.  Llywarch  Hen  Llongborth, 
1160-01  Pi'pe  Laport.  As  it  stands,  '  Long  Harbour/  O.E.  lang, 
long,  also  4-5  lang,  '  long/  while  port  is  a  very  early  loan  fr.  L. 
partus.  But  evidently  the  orig.  name  was  Keltic,  the  common 
Ir.  Longphort,  '  ship's  harbour,'  then  '  encampment,'  seen  about 
20  times  in  Ireland  to-day  as  Longford,  and  also,  says  K.  Meyer, 
in  the  Sc.  Luncarty,  1250  Lumphortyn.  Ir.  and  G.  long,  luing 
is  '  a  ship,'  also  a  loan  fr.  L.  longa  (navis),  '  a  war-ship.'  The 
meaning  in  Somerset  must  be  '  encampment.' 

Langrigg  (Aspatria).  1189  Langrug.  Cf.  896  '  Langenhrycge ' 
(Glouc.) ;  this  is  O.E.  for  '  long  ridge  ';  in  North.  Eng.  and  Sc. 
lang  rigg.    There  is  a  Longridge  (Preston). 

Langthorpe  (Yorks).  Dom.  Lambetorp,  La'betorp,  Lanbetorp. 
'  Lambi's  place.'  No  Lamhi  in  Onom.,  but  m  and  n  often  inter- 
change; cf.  KiMBOLTON.  But  Langthwaite  (Yorks)  is  Dom. 
Langetouet,  Langetouft,  '  long  place.'    See  -thwaite  and  Torr. 

Langwathby  (Cumberland).  1189  Langwadebi.  'Dwelling  by 
the  long  ford.'  Cf.  Langwith  (Notts),  1291  Langwaith,  and 
Wadeford.    See  -by. 

Lantern  Marshes  (Orford).  Dangerous  to  mariners,  and  so  a 
lantern  was  once  placed  here,  whilst  now  there  are  two  light- 
houses. 

Lapley  (Frocester  and  Stafford)  and  Lapworth  (Birmingham). 
Fr.  L.  1315  Lappeleye.  St.  L.  Dom.  Lepelie,  a.  1200  Lapehe, 
Lappely.  816  chart.  Hlappawurthin  {cf.  -warden),  Dom.  Lape- 
forde,  '  Hlappa's  lea  '  and  '  farm.'    See  -ley  and  -worth. 

Larkbeare  (Exeter).  Dom.  Laurochebere,  Exon.  Dom.  Lauroca- 
bera,  1237  Laverk  ber,  '  Lark  wood,'  O.E.  Idwerce  or  Idferce  beam. 
Of.  Beer,  and  the  personal  name  Conybeare;  also  1160  Pipe 
Lauerchestoc  (Essex),  and  Larkborough  (Worcestersh.),  709 
chart.  Lauerkeboerge — i.e.,  '  lark  hill.'  See  Barrow.  Lark- 
meld  (Maidstone)  is  Dom.  Laurochesfel'.  The  R.  Lark,  Suffk., 
is  a  back-formation  fr.  Lackeord. 

Lartington  (Barnard  Castle),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Lyrtingtun.  Cf. 
B.S.C.  Lortan  hlaew.  '  Town  of '  some  unknown  man,  Lurta, 
Lorta,  or  Larta.    Very  prob.  a  patronymic.     See  -ing. 

Lasham  (Alton,  Hants).  Dom.  Esseham'.  'Home,  house  by  the 
ash-trees.'  Cf.  Ashby,  etc.  The  L.  comes  fr.  the  Fr.  la,  '  the,' 
prefixed  by  a  Nor.  scribe,  1284  L-asham.  Cf.  Lappal,  Hales- 
owen, 1335  Lappole, '  the  pool,'  1342  Thomas  atte  Pole,  also  Dom. 
Essex,  Lassendene,  where  the  La-  prob.  has  the  same  origin. 
Thereisboth  anEssendine (Stamford), and  an Essendon (Hatfield). 

Lasket  (Cumberland)  and  Lasket  Grove  (Monmouth).  Perh.  W. 
glas'coed,  '  green  wood  ';  cf.  Chetwood.     But  Lasboro'  (Glouc), 


LASTINaHAM  338  LAlTNCESTON 

c.  1220  Lasseberewe,  is  '  lesser  mound  '  or  '  tumulus/  O.E.  Icessa, 
M.E.  lasse,  '  less.' 

Lastingham  (Cleveland).  Bede  iii.  23  Lestingau,  but  in  pref. 
Lsestinga  ea.  Dom.  Lestingeham.  Patronymic;  '  home  of  the 
Lestings  ';  ea  is  O.E.  for  '  river.' 

Latchford  (Warrington).  Fr.  letch  sb^,  Oxf.  Diet.  6-9  lache. 
9  latch,  '  a  muddy  ditch,  a  stream  through  a  bog,  a  bog/  cognate 
with  leach  v.,  '  to  water,  to  wet,'  prob.  fr.  O.E.  leccan, '  to  water.' 
Cf.  1138  Newminster  Cart.  '  Appeltreleche,'  and  see  Lbchlade. 

Lathom  (Ormskirk).  Dom.  Latune,  1201-56  Lathun,  1225  Patent 
R.  Lathum,  1535-43  Latham,  Latheham.  This  is  a  corrupt  loc, 
'  at  the  barns,'  O.N.  hla^a,  loaned  in  O.E.  Cf.  Hallam,  Kel- 
HAM,  etc.,  also  the  common  and  puzzling  Sc.  Letham,  sic  a.  1200, 
1284  Latham.  Horsfall  Turner  gives  Latun  in  Dom.  for 
Amoundemess  as  now  Layton,  Ladon  in  E.  Riding  as  now 
Lathom,  and  Ladon  in  Cave  Hundred  (Yorks)  as  Laytham.  All 
these  names  may  have  a  similar  origin  to  what  Wyld  and  Hirst 
give  above.  Cf.  Latton.  But  Lathbuby  (Bucks),  1225  Late- 
biry,  is  fr.  a  man  Leot  ;  that  and  Leotan  are  in  Onom. 

Latimer  (Chesham).  Not  in  Dom.,  a.  1440  Latemer.  It  would  be 
a  very  unlikely  thing  if  formed  fr.  the  personal  name  Latimer, 
sic  in  Eng.  c.  1205,  fr.  O.Fr.  Latim{m)ier, '  an  interpreter,'  corrup. 
of  latinier  or  Latiner.  The  sb.  latimer  is  already  found  in  Dom. 
It  may  be  '  mere,  lake  of  Leot,'  a  man  in  Onom. 

Latton  (Swindon).  Dom.  Latone;  cf.  Dom.  Essex  Lattuna.  It 
may  be  '  village  of  Leot,'  one  in  Onom.  ;  eo  regularly  becomes  a. 
As  likely  =  Lathom,  Dom.  Latune,  '  at  the  barns,' 

Laughabne  (W.  of  Caermarthen).  Pron.  Larn,  1603  Talagharn. 
In  W.  Tallacharn  or  Talycoran,  '  at  the  end  of  R.  Coran,'  ?  W. 
corafon,  '  a  rivulet.'  The  origin  of  Laughame  is  doubtful.  One 
might  guess,  '  the  low  alder  tree';  see  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  low  (early 
M.E.  lah,  4  lagh,  5  lawghe),  and  am;  but  prob.  it  is  corrup.  fr. 
the  W.  name.  There  is  a  R.  Latjghern  (Worcestersh.),  757 
chart.  Lawern(e).  This  is  O.W.  llawern,  Corn,  lowern,  'a  fox/ 
Lavemock  (CardifE),  old  Llywernog,  is  the  dimin.,  'little  fox.' 

Laughton  (Rotherham,  and  3).  Ro.  L.  Dom.  Lastone  {Dom.  regu- 
larly replaces  a  guttural  by  st).  Prob.  '  low  town,'  fr.  O.N.  lag-r 
'  low,'  early  M.E.  lah,  3-4  la-^h,  4  laghe,  loghe,  5  lough,  Sc.  laigh. 
Cf.  Dom.  Hereford  Lautone.  Lastun  in  Dom.  Yorks  also  stands 
for  W.  Layton. 

Latjnceston.  Dom.  Lanscavetone,  Lancauetone,  1154-89  Lan- 
ceston,  1199  Lanstaveton,  1220  Lanzavetun,  1224  Lancaveton, 
1227  Lanstone  (the  mod.  pron. ;  how  early  it  was  reached  !),  1245 
Lanstaueton,  Lanceueton,  1260  Launcetton;  also  said  to  be  a. 
1176  chart.  '  The  town  of  St.  Stephen  at  Lanstone.'  Commonly 
said  to  be  '  church  (Corn.  Ian)  of  St.  Stephen,'  but  this  seems  far 


LAUNTON  339  LATER  MARNEY 

fr.  certain.  Scave  or  Stave  could  with  difficulty  represent 
Stephen,  a  name  always  spelt  in  O.E.  Chron.  Stephne,  and  prob. 
represents  some  Com.  word  now  lost.  An  older  name  was 
DuNHEVED.  Lansdown  (Glouc.)  is  a  doubtful  name;  some  of 
its  old  forms  (Launtes-,  Lantesdon)  look  as  if  they  might  orig. 
be  something  similar  to  Launceston. 

Launton  (Bicester).  Dom.  Lantone,  1274  Langetun,  1525  Lawn- 
ton.     O.E.  king  tun,  '  long  village.' 

Lavan  Sands  (Conway).  A  tautology.  W.  llafan,  'a  strand,  a 
sandy  beach." 

Lavenham  (Suffolk).  Dom.  Lauenham.  Cf.  B.C.S.  1288-89  Lauan 
ham.  '  Village,  dwelling  of  Lafa,  Leofe,  or  Lawa'  all  forms  are 
known.    O/.  Bom.  Norfk.  Lawendic,  and  Lavington. 

Laverstock  (SaHsbury).  Bom.  Lawrecestokes  and  Lavertestoch, 
1221  Patent  R.  Laverkestok.  '  Place  of  Lawerce  ' — i.e.,  '  the 
lark.'    See  Stoke. 

Laverton  (Yorks  and  Broadway,  Worcestersh.).  Yo.  L.  Bom. 
Laureton,  Lavretone.  Br.  L.  c.  1240  Lawertune.  Prob.  '  town 
of  Leofgar  or  Leuegams,'  or  'of  Leofweard,'  a  common  name. 
More  old  forms  needed.     Cf.  Laverhay,  Wamphray  (Scotland). 

Lavington  (Chichester).  725  chart.  Lavingtune,  Bom.  Laventone. 
Patronymic.  '  Town,  village  of  the  descendants  of  Lafa '  or 
'  Leofa.'    Cf.  Bom.  Bucks  Lauuendene,  and  Lavenham. 

Lawford  (Manningtree  and  Rugby).  Man.  L.  Bom.  Laleforda, 
Ru.  L.  Bom.  Leile-,  Lelle-,  Lilleford,  1086  Ledleford,  1161  Ledes- 
forde,  1236  Lalleford.  Fine  proof  of  the  liquidity  of  I.  '  Ford 
of  Lil '  or  '  Lilla,'  names  in  Onom.    Cf.  Laleham. 

Lawhitton  (Launceston) .  Bom.  Longvitetone,  Ex.  Bom.  Languite- 
tona,  which  is  simply  '  long  white  town,'  O.E.  hwit,  O.N.  hvit-r, 

'  white.'      Cf.  CUMWHITTON. 

Lawrenny  (Pembrokesh.).  c.  1190  Gir.  Camb.  Leurenni,  -eni, 
1603  Owen  Lawrenny.  The  first  syll.  is  W.  llawr, '  floor,  bottom,' 
but  Enni  is  unknown.     Cf.  Ystrad  Enni  on  the  Ithon. 

Laxheld  (Framlingham).  Bom.  Suffk.  and  Essex,  Laxefelda. 
'  Field  of  Leaxa.'  Similarly,  Laxton,  Howden  and  Newark, 
Bom.  Yorks  and  Notts  Laxintun,  New.  L.  1278  Lexington. 
See  Lbxden. 

Laycock  (Keighley).  Bom.  Lacoc,  1237  Close  R.  Lacok.'  Prob. 
'  low  cock  '  or  '  heap,'  O.N.  lag-r  kokk-r,  Norw.  kok,  '  a  heap.' 
Cock  in  the  sense  of  hay-cock,  etc.,  is  not  found  in  Oxf.  Bict. 
till  1598.  On  Lay-  cf.  next,  Laughton,  and  the  mod.  sur- 
name Locock. 

Layer  Marney  (Essex).  Bom.  and  a.  1300  chart.  Legra,  which  is 
gen.  plur.  of  O.E.  leger,  'a  lair,  a  camp/  in  M.E.  '  a  place  for 
animals  to  lie  down  in ' ;  cf.  1573  Tusser  Husband,  '  Borne  I 


LATTON  340  LEAVEN  R . 

was  ...  in  Essex  laier,  in  village  faier,  that  Riuenhall  hight.' 
Marney  is  fr.  Marigny  in  Normandy.  There  are  also  Layer 
Breton  and  Layer  de  la  Haye,  near  Colchester.  One  of 
these  is  1217  Patent  R.  Lawefare,  1235  Close  R.  Laghefar,  which 
must  be  'low  road.'     See  Laughton  and  c/.  thorough/are. 

Layton  (N.  Riding).  East  and  West.  Dom.  Lastun,  Lattun.  As 
Dom.  regularly  replaces  a  guttural  by  st,  prob.  '  low  town/  Sc. 
laigh  toun,  and  so  =  Laughton  {q.v.).  But  Layton  (Amounder- 
ness)  is  Dom.  Latun,  and  so  it  may  be=  Lathom,  '  at  the  barns.' 

Lazonby  (Cumberland  and  Northallerton) .  No.  L.  Dom.  Lesingebi, 
Leisenebi,  Lesinghebi,  Leisingbi,  1179-80  Pi'pe  Lagenebi,  1203 
Fines  Leysingeby.  '  Dwelling  of  the  Les{s)ings,'  a  patronymic; 
one  Lesing  in  Onom.    See  -by. 

Lea  R.  (Essex).  891  O.E.  Chron.  Lyga,  913  ib.  Lygea(n),  Ligene, 
c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Luye.  M'Clure  connects  with  the  Keltic 
river-name  Logana^  but  the  origin  is  quite  doubtful.  Hen.  Hunt. 
gives  another  R.  Luye  near  Hereford;  there  is  to-day  a  village. 
Lea,  near  Ross,  but  very  hkely  this  is  the  common  O.E.  leak, 
'  meadow.'  P.G.  has  6  places  called  Lea;  For.  of  Dean  L.  1195 
La  lega. 

Lbadenham  (Lincoln),  a.  1150Langledenham.  '  Home  of  LetZa,' 
one  such  in  Onom.    Cf.  Ledbury. 

Lea  Marston  (Coleshill).  Two  hamlets,  1257  Waure  Merston, 
1573  Waver  Merstone,  The  Wavers  were  lords  of  this  '  marsh 
town,'  O.E.  mersc  tun,  for  a  considerable  time.    For  Lea,  see  -ley. 

Leamington.  Dom.  Lunintone  {un  error  for  em),  1242  Leminton. 
'  Town  on  R.  Leam,'  which  may  be  O.E.  leom(a),  '  a  flash,  a 
gleam,'  less  hkely  fr.  O.E.  lAm,  '  mud,'  Du.  leem,  Eng.  loam. 
Leamington  Priors  (of  Kenilworth)  is  Dom.  Lamintone,  1327 
Lemynton  Prioris.  Lemington  (Moreton-in-Marsh),  Dom.  Lemin- 
ingtune,  Limen-,  Lemintone,  is  '  town  of  (the  sons  of)  Leofman' 
common  name,  found  shortened  to  Leman.     See  -ing. 

Leatherhead  (Surrey).  Sic  c.  1670.  Dom.  Lered,  a  puzzling 
form.  Leather  is  the  O.E.  ZetSer,  Icel.  Mr,  O.Fris.  leer,  Breton 
ler ;  but  it  is  doubtful  if  this  is  the  real  origin  of  the  name.  More 
old  forms  are  needed.  There  is  an  O.E.  loefer,  '  a  plant,'  see 
Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  LEVERS  ;  and  Liverpool  is  1222  Litherpool, 
whilst  Larford  (Stourport),  was  706  Leverford;  so  the  name  is 
prob.  '  head,  height  with  the  rushes  or  sword-bladed  plants,' 
O.E.  Icefer,  leber.  It  may  be  fr.  Leod-,  Leothere,  a  well-known 
name,  cognate  with  Luther,  cf.  Leatherbarrow.  Also  cf. 
Lbtheringsett  . 

Leathley  (Otley).  Dom.  Ledelai  {Dom.  regularly  makes  th  into  d). 
'  Meadow  on  the  slope,'  O.E.  hlith.  Cf.  Leith  Hill,  and  Kirk- 
leatham  (N.  Yorks),  Dom.  Westhdu'. 

Leaven  R.     See  Leven. 


LEAVENING  841  LEEK 

Lbavenino  (York).  Dom.  Ledlinghe,  -inge.  Dom'a  forms  seem 
corrup.  of  '  place  of  Leofwine's  or  Leofwynn's  sons.'    See  -ing. 

Lebbeeston  (Filey).  Dom.  Ledbeztun,  -bestun,  1206  Ledbrizton, 
1208  Ledbristone.  '  Leodbeorhfs  town ';  this  is  prob.  the  origin 
of  Liberton  (IVIidlothian) .  Dom.  prefers  to  use  z  and  st  instead 
of  a  harsh  guttural. 

Lechlade  (Glouc).  872  chart.  Lecche,  Dom.  Lecelade,  1221  Liche- 
lade.  'Way,  path/  O.E.  geldd,  'by  or  over' — i.e.,  ferry  over  'the 
R.  Leach/  whose  old  forms  are  seen  also  in  Eastleach,  Dom. 
Lece,  1347  Estlecche,  and  Northleach,  Dom.  Lecce.  This  is 
prob.  O.E.  Icece,  '  a  stream/  fr.  leccan,  '  to  water.'  Cf.  Latch- 
ford. 

Leck  (N.  Lanes).  Dom.  Lech.  Prob.  N.  loecJc-r,  '  a  brook.'  Cf. 
Leek  and  Lucker.    It  may  be  Eng.    Cf.  Latchtord. 

Leckford  Abbas  (Stockbridge,  Hants).  947  chart.  Legh-,  Leaht- 
ford.    Prob.  '  ford  in  the  meadow/  O.E.  Uah.    See  -leigh. 

Leckham(p) STEAD  (Berks  and  Bucks).  Ber.  L.  B.C.S.  ii.  534 
Leachamstede ;  Dom.  Lecanestede,  Lekehamstede,  1316  Leck- 
hampsted.  Dom.  Bucks  Lechastede.  '  Homestead,  Hamp- 
STEAD,  with  a  kitchen-garden.'  O.E.  Uac,  3  lee,  is  '  a  leek/ 
then,  any  garden  herb.  Cf.  Leighton.  Similarly,  Leckhamp- 
TON  (Glouc.)  is  Dom.  Lechantone.    See  Hampton. 

Leconfield  (Beverley).  Dom.  Lachinfeld,  -felt.  '  Field  of  '  some 
unknown  man,  ?  Lecca,  -can.    Laking  is  a  personal  name  to-day. 

Ledbury  (Malvern).  Dom.  Liedeberge,  1235  Lidebir;  cf.  Dom. 
Salop  Ledewic.  ^  Leoda'a  burgh.'  Cf.  Leadenham,  also  Lat- 
COMBB,  Dom.  Bucks  Ledingberge,  a  patronymic,  and  ib.  Surrey 
Ladesorde.  Duignan  derives  Ledbury  fr.  the  E,.  Leaden,  972 
chart,  and  Dom.  Ledene,  on  which  it  stands,  is  also  does  Up- 
leadon  (N.-W.  Glouc).  This  is  doubtful,  and  the  origin  of 
Leaden  is  unknown.  Perh.  connected  with  W.  lledan, '  breadth,' 
or  Iliad,  '  flooding,  streaming.' 

Leeds.  Bede  Loidis,  Dom.  Ledes.  Doubtful;  ?  W.  lloed,  '  a  place.' 
There  are  also  Lede  Chapel  (Tadcaster),  Dom.  Lede,  and  a 
Leeds  (Maidstone),  1235  Close  B.  Lhedes.  Lede  or  lead,=  '  water- 
course,' is  not  found  till  1541. 

Leek  (StafEs).  Dom.  Lee,  a.  1200  Lech,  1284  Leyc.  Prob.  N. 
loech-r,  '  a  brook.'  Cf.  Leckford.  Leake  (Boston),  Dom. 
Leche,  1216  Leake,  1313  Lek,  1320  Leek,  and  E.  and  W.  Leake 
(Notts),  Dom.  Lec(c)he,  a.  1277  Leyk,  must  be  the  same  name. 
It  may  be  Eng.;  see  Lechlade.  For  Leek  Duignan  prefers 
W.  llech,  'a  flagstone.'  Leek  Wootton  (q.v.)  (Kenilworth),  is 
1327  Lekwottone.  There  is  also  a  Lee  in  1183  Boldon  Bh., 
Durham.  All  these  names  are  doubtful.  The  forms  in  Oxf. 
Dict.s.y.  lea  sb^  do  not  encourage  us  to  call  them  hardened  forms 
of  O.E.  Uah,  '  meadow.' 


LEICESTER  342  LEONARD  STANLEY 

Leicester,  pron.  Lester,  a.  800  Legoracensis  civitas,  c.  800 
Nenniibs  Caer  Lerion,  918  O.E.  Chron.  Legraceaster,  Ligran- 
ceaster,  980  ib.  Legeceasterscir  (here,  as  in  several  other  places, 
this  means  Cheshire,  q.v.),  1120  Legrecestrie,  c.  1145  Geoff r. 
Mon.  and  c.  1175  Fantosme  Leircestre,  1173  Leicestria,  c.  1205 
Layamon  Leirchestre,  but  c.  1275  Leycestre,  1258  Henry  III. 
Leirchestr.  '  Camp,  fort  on  R.  Leir,"  old  name  of  R.  Soar  (1253 
Sor) .  Leir  may  be  the  same  as  Layer,  but  this  is  quite  doubt- 
ful. Connexion  with  K.Lear  is  even  more  so.  In  Mabinogion 
he  is  Llyr,  and  he  is  first  named  in  Geoffr.  Mon.  Possible  is  a 
connexion  with  W.  llithro,  '  to  slip,  to  glide.'    See  -caster. 

Leigh  (12  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Lecie  (prob.  near  Cricklade)  and  Lege 
(Salop  and  Worcester),  O.E.  Uah,  dat.  leage,  '  a  piece  of  culti- 
vated land,  a  meadow,'  so  common  in  the  ending  -ley,  q.v. 

Leighterton  (Tetbury)  c.  1140  Letthrinton,  1273  Lettrinthone. 
Perh.  '  village  of  (the  sons  of)  ^  Leather e.'    See  -ing. 

Leighton  (Hunts,  Salop,  Welshpool).  956  chart.  Wilmanlehtune 
(see  Wormleiohton).  Hun.  L.  1260  Lechton,  1291  Legheton, 
but  men  of  the  name  Leighton  hved  in  this  barony  a.  1066.  Cf., 
too,  1154-61  chart.  Lectona  (Lines),  and  a.  1199  Lecton  (Beds). 
O.E.  leahtun,  lehtune,  '  a  herb  garden,'  fr.  Uac,  '  a  leek.'  See 
Leckhamstead  ;  and  cf.  next. 

Leighton  Buzzard.  917  O.E.  Chron.  Lygtun;  later,  Lygetun; 
a.  1700  L.  Beaudezert.  See  above.  The  Norm,  family  Beau- 
desert  or  Bosard  were  influential  here  in  14th  cny.  Cf.  Beau- 
desert  (Henley-in-Arden),  c.  1135  Beldesert,  and  in  Cannock 
Chase. 

Leintwardeste  (N.  Hereford).  Dom.  Lentevrde  (Salop),  which  is 
'  farm  of  Lenta,'  an  unknown  man.     See  -wardine. 

Leith  Hill  (S.  Surrey).  Tautology.  O.E.  hlith,  'a  slope,  a  hill- 
side.'   Cf.  Lytham. 

Lenborough  (Bucks).  O.E.  Chron.  571  Liggeanburh,  Lygeanbirg; 
not  in  Dom.  Prob.  the  burgh  or  fort  of  some  man,  whose  name 
is  now  unrecognizable. 

Lenham,  West  (Maidstone).  804  chart.  Westra  Leanham.  '  House, 
home  given  as  a  reward  or  gift,'  O.E.  lean. 

Leominster.  1046  O.E.  Chron.  Leomynstre,  Dom.  Leominstre, 
1233  Leminstr',  c.  1600  Camden  Lemester;  in  W.  Llanllieni. 
Said  to  be  '  church  of  Leof '  or  '  Leofric'  It  is  doubtful  who  he 
was ;  perh.  the  W.  Mercian  earl,  husband  of  Lady  Godiva,  c.  1030. 

Leonard  Stanley  (Stonehouse,  Glouc).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  cf. 
Dom .  Linor  =  a  Leonard  in  Devon .  Doubtful .  There  is  a  Burton 
Leonard  in  S.  Yorks.  St.  Leonard  was  a  confessor  of  the  6th 
cny.  at  Corbigny  (Autun,  France),  a  reputed  miracle-worker,  but 
not  otherwise  famous,  and  not  likely  to  be  denoted  in  our  Eng. 


LEPTON  343  LEVEETON 

names.     These  may  be  connected  with  W.  llenu,  'to  veil  or  en- 
velope/ 

Lepton  (Huddersfield) .  Dom.  Leptone.  'Town  of  Leppa/  3  in 
Onom. 

Lesnewth  (CameKord).  Com.  les  newydh,  'new  hall.'  W.  llys, 
'  court,  hall/  G.  lios.    Dom.  has  a  Lisniwen. 

Letcombe  Regis  and  Basset  (Wantage).  Dom.  Ledencumbe, 
Ledecumbe,  1161-62  Pipe  Ledecuba;  later  Letecoumb.  '  Deep 
valley  of  Leoda.'  Cf.  Ledbury,  and  see  -combe.  The  Bassets 
were  a  Norman  family  of  many  possessions.    Cf.  Bassett. 

Lethebingsett  (Holt,  Norfk.),  a.  1300  Eccleston  Leveringsot. 
Prob.  '  seat,  residence,'  O.E.  scet, '  of  the  descendants  of  Leofgar.' 
For  foTv  becoming  th,  cf.  Liverpool.  See  -ing.  But  Letters- 
ton  (Pembroke),  c.  1300  Letarston  is  prob.  fr.  the  name  Leod- 
heard  or  Leothere,  in  Onom.  However,  in  1516  it  is  Littardiston, 
and  was  then  held  by  a  John  Littard. 

Letton  (Hereford).  Dom.  Letune.  Prob.  'town  on  the  leat/ 
7  let,  O.E.  gelcet, '  an  open  conduit,  a  water  charmel ';  but  it  may 

be=LATHOM. 

Leven  (N.  Yorks),  Dom.  Levene,  Leven  R.  (N.  Lanes),  and  Leaven 
R.  (Yorks) ;  and  prob.  same  name,  Levant  R.  (S.  W.  Sussex),  as 
t  would  easily  suffix  itself.  Cf.  Darwen  and  Derwent,  both  the 
same  root.  W.  llevn,  'smooth';  also  cf.  Leven  (Sc).  But 
Leven  (Hornsea),  old  forms  needed,  is  prob.  an  O.E.  gen.  Leofan 
'  Leofa's'  place;  cf.  Beedon,  '  Leventon'  (Cumberland)  in  1189 
Pipe,  and  Levenhull.  Levens  (Milnthorpe,  Westmorland), 
Dom.  Lefuenes,  looks  like  another  gen.,  '  Lefwen's,  or  Leofwen's  ' 
(place),  4  of  this  name  in  Onom. 

Levenhull  (Leamington).  A  curious  name,  not  in  Duignan.  Its 
form  suggests  W.  llevn  hel,  '  smooth  bank.'  But  -hull  in  Mid- 
lands stands  for  hill,  2-5  hull{e) ;  cf.  Aspull  and  SoLiBnjLL ;  so 
that  this  should  be  '  hill  of  Leofa,'  gen.  -fan  ;  several  named 
Leof,  Leofa,  and  Leofe  in  Onom.    Cf.  above. 

Levebington  (Wisbech).  1285  Liverington,  1302  Leveryngtone. 
Patronymic.  '  Village  of  the  sons  of  Leof  ere  or  Leof  here.'  Cf. 
Liverpool.    See  -ing. 

Leverton  (Boston)  may  be  fr.  Leof  here  or  Lifere,  2  such  in  Onom. 
Leverton  N.  and  S.  (Notts)  is  Dom.  Legretune,  1189  Leirton, 
c.  1200  Legherton,  and  Mutschmann  doubtfully  derives  fr. 
Leofhere  ;  cf.  Layer  and  Liverpool.  But  Great  and  Little 
Lever  (Bolton)  will  prob.  be  fr.  O.E.  Icefer,  some  plant,  now 
'levers,'  a  rush,  an  iris,  or  the  like.  The  forms  are  a.  1200 
Leuer,  1212  Little  Lefre,  1227  Leoure,  1326  Great  Leure. 

Leverton  (Boston).  Dom.  Levretune.  Said  to  be  fr.  Leofric, 
seneschall  of  Earl  Algar  the  younger,  who  d.  fighting  the  Danes 
in  870.    But  more  prob.  fr.  Leofhere ;  cf.  Liverton.    Kirk 


LEWAN(N)ICK  344  LICKEY  HELLS 

Levington  (N.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Levetona,  *  town  of  Leofa.'    Cf. 
Dom.  Devon,  Levestone. 

Lewan(n)ick  (Launceston).  *  Church  (Com.  Ian)  of  St.  Wethenoc ' 
or  '  Winoch/  brother  of  Winwaloe.     See  Gunwalloe. 

Lewdown  (N.  Devon).  Prob.  Keltic  leu  dyn,  '  lion  hill/  hill  like  a 
lion,  such  as  Arthur's  Seat  (Edinburgh) . 

Lewes.  Sic  Dom.  O.E.  chart.  Loewas;  a.  1200  Lib.  de  Hyda  Leu- 
wias ;  also  Loewen,  Leswas,  Laquis,  Perh.  fr.  an  O.E.  *hleoiv,  M.E. 
lewej  'warm,  sunny  ';  found  as  sb  in  hus-hleow,  'house-shelter.' 
The  variants  are  somewhat  puzzhng ;  in  the  last  qu  will  stand  for 
w,  as  in  old  Scots. 

Lewisham  (Surrey).  O.E.  chart.  Liofshema.  '  Enclosure  of  '  some 
man  with  a  name  beginning  Leof-  or  Lex)fw-.  There  were  many 
such.  See  -ham,  '  enclosure.'  But  Levisham  (Yorks)  is  Dom. 
Lewe-,  Levecen,  where  the  ending  is  prob.  a  corrupt  loc,  '  at 
Leoveca's/  a  known  name;  cf.  Hall  am  and  -ham,  also  next. 
Lewston  (Pembrokesh.)  is  1324  Lewelestoun,  prob.  '  Leofweald's 
town.' 

Lewknor  (WaUingford),  Dom.  Levecanol,  -chanole,  1154-89  Leo- 
vecachanoran  (inflected),  1178  Levechenore,  -eckenore,  1224 
Leuekenor.  '  Shore,  bank  of  Leofeca/  only  one  in  Onom. ;  O.E. 
era,  'bank,  edge';  cf.  Windsor, etc.  The  -ol(e)  in  Dom.  is  but 
another  instance  of  its  constant  confusion  of  the  liquids. 

Lexden  (Colchester).  Dom.  Laxendena,  1157  Pipe  Lexeden(e). 
'  The  den  '  or  'dean  of  Leaxan.'  Cf.  Laxmeld  and  O.E.  chart. 
Leaxanoc. 

Leybubn  (Yorks).  Pom.  Leborne.  c.  1330  Leyborne.  Prob. '  shel- 
tered brook,'  O.E.  hleo, '  protection,  shelter,'  4-6  le,  7  ley,  lay,  our 
word  '  lee  ' ;  it  is  not  recorded  as  an  adj.  till  c.  1400.  Cf.  Libbery 
(Worcestersh.),  972  chart.  Hleobyri,  '  refuge,  shelter  town.' 

Leyland  (Preston).  Dom.  Lailand,  1140-49  Leilande.  O.N.  Idg-r, 
early  M.E.  lah,  3  laih,  Sc.  laigh,  '  low  land.' 

Leyton  (Essex) .  ?  Dom.  Leiendune.  '  Town  on  R.  Lea.'  Leyton- 
stone  seems  modern. 

Lichtield.  Bede  Lyceitfeldensis,  a.  900  O.E.  vers.  Liccetfelda, 
c.  800  Nenyiius  Licitcsith,  803  chart.  Liceidfeld;  O.E.  Chron. 
731  Licetfelda,  1053  ih.  Licedfelde,  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Lichfeld; 
perh.  also  a.  700  Rav.  Geogr.  Le(c)tocetum,  and  c.  800 
Nennius  Cair  Luit  Coyt,  mod.  W.  caer  llwyd  coed,  '  fort  in  the 
grey  wood.'  This,  however,  was  prob.  near  Welshpool.  The 
popular  derivation,  'church-yard,'  lit.  'field  of  corpses,'  fr.  O.E. 
lie,  4-5  liche,  fails  to  explain  the  early  f.  But  lic-cet-feld  is  O.E. 
for  '  corpse-hut-field,'  field  with  the  mortuary,  O.E.  cete,  '  a  cot, 
a  hut,'  as  in  Datchet,  Watchet,  etc. 

Lickey  Hills  (BniMrNGHAM) .  1330  Leckheye.  W.  llechQU,  pron. 
leckay,  plur.  of  llech,  '  a  flag  or  flat  §tone/  G,  l^ac^ 


LIDFORD  345  LINCOLN 

LiDFORD  or  Lydford  (Bridestowe,  Devon).  997  O.E.  Chron. 
Hlidaford,  1018  cliart.  Lidauorde,  Exon.  Dom.  Lidefort,  a.  1130 
Sim.  Dur.  Lideforda.  '  Ford  on  B.  Lid,'  W.  lied,'  '  broad/ 
There  is  no  O.E.  hlida,  whilst  hlid  means  '  a  lid ' ;  but  liye  means 
'gentle/  which  is  not  impossible. 

LiDGATE  (Newmarket).  Not  in  Dom.  O.E.  hlid^eat,  'a  postern/ 
fr.  hlid,  '  a  gate,  a  lid."  Cf.  Ludgate  and  Foxlydiate.  There 
is  a  Hlidgeat  in  963  chart,  re  Wasing  (Berks). 

LiFTON  (Devon) .  1157  Pipe  Lif tuna,  1283  Lyf  ton.  '  Town  of  Leof ' 
or  '  Leof  a  '  ;  common  in  Onom.  Dom.  Has  only  Levestone.  Cf. 
Kirk  Levinqton. 

LiGHTHORNE  (Warwick).  Dom.  Listecorne  {Dom.  scribes  hated  a 
combination  like  ght),  1252  Lychtehirn,  c.  1300  Liththorn, 
1327  Lighttethume,  O.E.  leoht  thorn  or  thyme,  '  light  thorn.* 
?  Thorn-bush  with  a  lamp  hung  on  it.  But  Duignan  derives  Light- 
wood  (Cotheridge)  fr.  O.E.  hlith,  M.E.  lith,  lyth,  '  a  slope,  a  hill- 
side.' 

LiLLESHALL  (Newport,  Salop).    Dom.  Linleshalle.    It  is  difficult 

to  say  what  name  is  represented  here.    There  is  one  Lunling 

in  Onom.     But  Dom.  may  be  in  error,  and  the  man's  name  be 

Lilla,  as  in  next  and  in  Lhjjesleaf  (Sc),  1116  Lillescliva, 

'  LiUa's  cHff.' 

LiLLiNGTON  (Sherborne  and  Warwicksh.).  War.  L.  Dom.  Lillin- 
tone,  later  Liletun.  '  Village  of  Lilla.'  Cf.  Laleham  and  2  Lil- 
hngstones  in  Bucks;  also  LrLLUNG  (Yorks),  Dom.  Lil(l)inge, 
patronymic  fr.  Lilla.    See  -ing  and  -ton. 

Limehouse  (Stepney) .  1536  Limehowse  Reche.  Said  to  be  corrup. 
of  lime-oast,  O.E.  dst,  4-7  host,  8  ovst,  '  a  kiln.'  Older  forms 
needed.     Cf.  Dom.  Surrey  Limevrde  (=  -worth). 

Limen  R.  (Kent).  Sic  893  O.E.  Chron.,  but  a.  716  chart.  Limming, 
?  W.  llym,  '  sharp,  keen,'  from  the  air  there.  It  can  hardly  be 
llyman,  '  naked  one.'  There  is  also  a  R.  Limin  (Hunts),  seen  in 
Limining,  old  form  of  Lymage,  where  -ing  {q.v.)  wiU  have  its 
meaning,  '  place  on  a  stream  ' ;  -age  is  usually  late  and  trouble- 
some. 

Limpley  Stoke  (Bath)  and  Limpsfield  (Surrey).  Not  in  Dom. 
'Meadow,  field  of  Limpa,'  an  unrecorded  man;  but  cf.  Dom. 
Norf k.  Limpeho  (ho  ^  '  height ')  and  Dom.  Essex  Limpwella ; 
also  see  Stoke  and  -ley. 

Lincoln,  c.  150  Ptolemy  Lindon;  c.  380  Ant,  Itin.  Lindum; 
Bede  Lindocolina  civitas,  a.  900  O.E.  tr.  Lindcylene;  942  O.E. 
Chron.  Lindcylene,  Lindcolne,  1093  ih.  Lincolne;  Dom.  Lincolia, 
Lincolescire ;  c.  1100  Flor.  Wore.  LindicoHnensis ;  1461  Linde- 
colnea.  In  W.  Caer  Iwydgoed  ('castle  of  the  grey  wood'). 
Lindum  colonia,  says  Freeman,  is  a  unique  name  for  England. 
As  Lindon  is  found  in  Ptolemy,  it  cannot  be,  as  is  often  said, 

23 


LlNDISPARl^El  §46  LITTLEBUET 

fr.  O.E.  lind,  'lime  tree/  but  is  prob.  fr.  a  Keltic  lind,  'water.' 
W.  llynn,  G.  linne,  '  a  pool,  a  lake  ' ;  and  the  name  will  mean 
*  Roman  settlement  by  the  pool/    Cf.  next. 

LiNDiSFAHNE  01  Holy  Island  (Northumberland).  Bede  Provincia 
Lindisfarorum,  Lindisfarnenses  incolse;  a.  800  chart.  Lindes- 
farona.  Doubtful.  M'Clure  thinks  fr.  Celt,  lind,  '  water  '  (see 
above  and  next),  and,  perh.,  fr.  same  root  as  Lombardic  fara, 
'  race,  family  ' — '  dwellers  in  the  water.'  The  rivulet  opposite 
is  still  called  Lind  or  Lindis.  The  -fame  may  come  fr.  G.  fearann, 
'  land,  estate,  farm.' 

LiNDSEY  (Lines).  Bede  Lindissi;  c.  1000  Mljric  Lindesig,  c.  1190 
Oir.  Camb.  Lindeseia;  c.  1300  Lindeseye.  Quite  possibly  this 
may  contain  the  same  root  as  Lincoln,  and  so  be  '  isle  in  the 
water  ■" ;  see  -ay.  But  here  it  is  more  likely  to  be  '  isle  of  the 
lime-tree,  or  linden,'  O.E.  and  O.N.  lind.  Lindley  (Hudders- 
field)  is  Dom.  Lillai,  prob.  a  corrupt  form.  But  Lindridge 
(Tenbury)  is  Dom.  Linde,  1275  Linderugge. 

Lineord  (Stanford-le-Hope).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  cf.  Dom.  Bucks 
Linforde.    This  must  go  with  Linton. 

LiNKiNHOBNE  (Callington,  Cornwall).  Not  in  Dom.  Said  to  be 
corrup.  of  Ian  tighern,  Kelt,  for  '  church  of  the  King '  or  '  lord ' — 
i.e.,  St.  Melw,  son  of  Melyan,  prince  of  Devon.  One  would  like 
a  little  more  proof  of  this. 

Linton  (5  in  P.G.).  K.C.D.  iii.  368  Lin  tun,  Dom.  Yorks  Linton, 
Devon  Lintone.  Prob.  O.E.  lin  tun,  '  flax-enclosure/  L.  linum. 
Cf.  Eng.  Unseed;  also  Linfobd,  Linehill  Green,  Penkridge, 
a.  1300  LynhuU,  and  Linton  (So.).,  1127  Lintun. 

LiSKEABD  (Cornwall).  Dom.  Liscarret,  a.  1199  Liscaret,  -chared, 
1474  Leskirde,  1536  Lyscarde.  Les-,  Lis-,  or  Lys-  is  Kelt,  for 
'  court,  haU,  enclosure ' ;  the  second  part  is  doubtful,  but  cf. 
W.  cariad,  '  a  lover,  a  sweetheart,'  G.  caraid,  '  a  friend,  a  rela- 
tion.' G.  caraid  is  'a  pair,  a  couple.'  The  meaning  quite 
possibly  is  '  lover's  hall.' 

LiTHERSKEW  (N.  Riding,  Yorks).  Not  in  Dom.  Lither-  is  perh. 
Eng.  adj.  litTier,  O.E.  ly^re,  '  bad,  foul,  pestilential,'  while  -skew 
is  fr.  O.E.  sceaga  or  O.N.  skog-r,  '  a  wood,  a  copse.'  Cf.  Askew, 
'  ash-wood,'  now  only  a  personal  name,  and  Shaw.  Lither-  is  as 
likely  to  be  O.E.  Icefer,  '  any  sword-bladed  plant.'  Cf.  Liver- 
pool, etc. ;  V  can  become  th. 

LiTLENGTON  (Roystou,  Hcrts).  c.  1080  Lidlingtone,  Litlingtona, 
Dom.  Lidlintone,  1316  Lutlingtone.  '  Village  of  the  LitUings/ 
or  sons  of  the  '  Kttle  '  (O.E.  lytel)  '  man.' 

Little  Bbedy.    See  Bridport. 

Littlebury  (Saffron  Walden  and  Notts).  Saf.  L.  Dom.  Litelbyria. 
Not.  L.  Dom.  Liteiburg,  '  Little  burgh.'    See  -bury. 


LITTLE  HAY  347  LIVE  ETON 

Little  Hay  (Lichfield),  a.  1300  Luttelhay,  'little  hedge/  or 
'  fence/    See  Hay. 

LiTTLEPOBT  (Ely).  Dom.  Litelport.  O.E.  'port  is  rarely  fr.  L. 
porta,  '  a  gate/  generally  as  here  fr.  L.  partus,  '  a  harbour.'  The 
sea  once  came  right  up  past  here. 

Little  E-lbston  (Wetherby).  Dom.  Ripestain,  -sten,  c.  1505 
Rybstone.     '  Stone  of  Rippa,'  one  in  Onom.     See  -ton. 

Little  Salkeld  (Cumberland).  1167-68  Pipe  Aide  (Old)  Sale- 
child,  1189  Salekil.  The  latter  part  is  O.N.  kelda,  '  a  spring.' 
Cf.  Threlkeld  (Penrith) ;  the  former  perh.  represents  some  man's 
name  in  Sele-  or  Sal-;  there  are  several  such  in  Onom.  But  it 
may  be  O.E.  seel,  sal,  4-7  sale,  O.N.  sal-r,  '  a  hall,  spacious 
chamber,  castle.'    Sale-  could  hardly  represent  salt. 

Little  Snobing.    See  Snoreham. 

Littleton  (7  in  P.G.).    Dom.  Surrey  Liteltone.     '  Little  village.' 

Littlewob-th  (Faringdon,  Wstrsh.,  and  Staffs),  no  old  forms  in 
Duignan,  is  presumably  'Httle  farm.'  But  L.  in  S.  Yorks  is 
Dom.  Scitelesworde,  '  farm  of  Scytel '  or  '  Sceotweald ' ;  1  in 
Onom.    See  -worth. 

Litton  (Bath,  Buxton,  Skipton).  a.  1067  chart.  Hlytton  (?  Bath), 
Dom.  Yorks  Litone.  '  Town  on  the  slope  '  or  '  hill-side.'  O.E. 
hli^.  But  Litton  Cheney  (Dorset)  is  940  cMrt.  Lidentune, 
'  town  of  Lida  ';  1  in  Onom. 

LrvERMEBE  Pabva  and  IVIagna  (Bury  St.  Edmunds).  'Rushy 
lake.'  See  next.  Parva  and  Magna  are  L.  for  '  Little '  and 
'  Great.' 

Liverpool.  1189-99  Leverpol,  11 90-94  Liuerpul,  1222-26  Litherpol, 
1229  Leverpul.  In  W.  Llerpwll.  Nothing  to  do  with  any 
imaginary  bird  called  liver.  Not  impossibly  W.  llyvr  pwl, 
'  expanse  or  confluence  at  the  pool.'  But  it  is  prob.  Eng.,  mean- 
ing '  rushy  pool ' ;  fr.  O.E.  Icefer,  leber,  '  any  rush-like  or  sword- 
bladed  plant.'  See  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  levers.  This  is  confirmed 
by  Livermere,  also  by  Larford  (Stourport)  in  706  chart,  (of 
really  later  date)  Leverford,  and  by  Leatherhead,  Dom.  Lered, 
which  gives  the  same  contraction  as  W.  Llerpwll,  whilst  in  its 
mod.  form  we  get  a  th  corresponding  to  1222  Litherpol  {cf. 
Litherskew).  W.  and  H.  are  confident  it  is  '  pool  of  Leofhere,' 
which  is  certainly  possible,  and  is  confirmed  by  Leverington  ; 
prob.  also  by  Leverton  and  Liverton.  Cf.  K.G.D.  vi.  243 
Leofereshagan,  near  the  Thames.  But  this  cannot  be  the  same 
as  LrvERSEDGE  (Yorks),  Dom.  Livresec  and  -sech.  This  last 
must  be  simply  (place  of)  '  rushy  sedge,'  O.E.  soecg,  secg,  sech, 
seic;  1222  Patent  R.  has  a  Livredal. 

LrvERTON  (Newton  Abbot)  and  Liverton  Mines  (Loftus,  Yorks). 
Lo.    L.    Dom.     Livreton,    Liureton,    1179-80   Pipe   Liuerton. 


LIZARD  PT.  348  LLANDDOGGET 

'  Village  of  Leofhere.'  Dom.  Devon,  has  only  Leovricestone, 
somewhere  in  the  S.,  fr.  Leofric,  but  prob.  not  Liverton.  See 
above,  Levebton  and  -ton. 

LiZAUD  Pt.  Dom.  Lisart.  Corn,  lis  arth,  'court,  hall  on  the 
height.'    C/.  W.  llys,  G.  lios;  also  WESTON-imDEii-LizARD. 

Llanapan  (Aberystwith).  W.  llan  A  fan,  '  church  of  St.  Afan 
Buallt,  disciple  of  St.  Padarn,  6th  cny.,  and  himself  a  bp.  and 
brother  of  King  Dogged.  W.  llan,  O.W.  Ian,  '  enclosure,'  then 
'  church/  Corn.  Ian,  Ir.  land,  lann,  G.  lann  (c/.  Lhanbeide, 
Sc),  is  the  same  root  as  Eng.  land  and  Bret.  Icunn,  '  a  heath,' 
seen  also  in  the  Fr.  Landes.  The  earhest  instance  we  have  noted 
in  England  is  in  a  Grant  of  680  (copy  later),  to  the  Abbot  of 
Glastonbury,  B.C. 8.  47  '  Lantocal,'  ?  =  '  church  of  St.  Tecla.' 
Cf.  Landicle,  also  Lampeter.  In  some  W.  names  llan  or  Ian 
is  ioiglan,  '  a  bank,'  as  in  Llanhaithog  (Kentchurch,  Hereford), 
which  is  prob.  Ian  haiddog,  '  bank  of  oats.' 

Llanabmon  (Ruabon)  and  Llan aemon-yn -Yale  (Mold).  W.  llan 
Oarmon,  '  church  of  St.  Germanus,'  Bp.  of  Auxerre,  sent  to 
Britain  by  Pope  Celestine,  c.  430.  Cf.  Maes  Gabmon.  The 
yn  Yale  is  better  yn  lal,  fr.  ial,  '  an  open  space  or  region.'  Cf. 
Yale. 

Llanbabo  (Anglesea).  '  Church  of  St.  Pabo.'  Cf.  M'Clure,  pp.  57 
and  59.  Pabo  Post  Prydain  was  a  great  warrior,  who  latterly 
became  very  devout. 

Llanbadabn  (Aberystwith  and  Radnor).  '  Church  of  St.  Padarn,' 
a  Breton,  companion  of  St.  David.  Cf.  Llanaean.  L.  in 
Radnor  is  L.  Mawr,  '  the  great  L.';  there  are  at  least  2  others, 

Llanbebis  (Caernarvon).  '  Church  of  St.  Peris,'  said  to  have  been 
a  cardinal  sent  as  a  missioner  from  Rome  in  6th  cny.  Close  by 
there  are  Llyn  Peris  and  Llyn  Padarn.     Cf.  Llanbadabn. 

Llanbol  (Anglesea).  Old  Llanvol.  'Church  of  St.  Bol.'  Cf. 
Cors  y  Bol  ('  marsh  of  Bol ')  and  Rhos  y  Bol  ('  heath  of  Bol ') 
near  by.  The  Diet.  Christ.  Biog.  records  only  a  Bolcan,  who  was 
baptized  by  St.  Patrick,  and  was  one  of  his  helpers. 

Llancabfan  (Cowbridge).  c.  1145  Geoffr.  Mon.  epil.  Lancarvan. 
'  Church  of  St.  Carfan  or  Corbagni ';  said  to  be  corrup.  of  Ger- 
manus, who  is  said  to  have  built  the  first  monastery  in  Britain 
here.  Cf.  Llanabmon.  The  church  is  now  dedicated  to  St. 
Cadoc. 

Llandaff.    c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Landavia.     *  Church  on  the  Taff.' 

Llanddewi  (4  in  P.G.).  1346  Llandewivrevi,  or  L.  Brefi  (Cardi- 
gansh).  '  Church  of  St.  David,'  Bp.  of  St.  David's,  d.  601, 
patron  St.  of  Wales.    Cf.  Dewchtjbch. 

Llanddogget  (Denbighsh.).  Founded  by  K.  Dogged,  who  died 
c.  542.    See  Mabinogion,  and  cf.  Llanafan. 


LLANDDUW  '  349  LLANGROVE 

Llandduw  or  -ddew  (Brecon),  g.  1180  Gir.  Camb.  Landu.  W.  llan 
duw,  '  dark  church/  and  not  '  church  of  St.  David  '  or  Dewi. 

Llandegfajst  (Menai  Br.).  Fr.  St.  Tegfan,  of  whom  little  seems 
known. 

Llandeilo  (Caermarthensh.).  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Lanteliau  Penn 
litgart  ('head,  end  of  the  grey  ridge/  now  Llwydabth). 
'Church  of  St.  Teilo/  Bp.  of  Llandaff  in  7th  cny.;  also  called 
Tiliaus;  a  very  popular  saint.  Cf.  Llanthjo,  also  Llandeilo 
Tref  y  Cernyw  {Lib.  Land.  Cemiu),  where  the  latter  part  means 
'  house  of  Cornishmen.' 

Llandovery  (Caermarthen) .  c.  1550  Leland  Llanameueri.  In 
W.  llan  ym  Ddyfri,  '  church  beyond  or  among  the  waters.' 

Llandeindod  Wells.  W.  = '  church  of  the  Trinity.'  It  was 
dedicated  in  1603. 

Llandudno.  'Church  of  St.  Tudno,'  son  of  Seithengu;  he  was 
a  W.  saint  early  in  the  6th  cny. 

Llandyssul  (Cardigan).  Lib.  Communis  Llandowssuld,  -dussuld. 
See  St.  Issell's,  and  cf.  Llandyssil  (Mont.). 

LLANELLA.N  (Colwyn  Bay).  Here  also  is  Elian's  Well.  Elian 
Geimiad  was  a  saint  of  6th  cny. 

Llanelly  (Caermarthen  and  Brecknock) .  Caer.  L.  1788  Llanelhw. 
From  St.  Elliw,  granddaughter  of  Brychan  of  Brycheiniog. 
There  is  also  a  Llanelieu  (Breck.). 

Llanerchymbdd  ( Anglesea) .  This  has  nothing  to  do  with  church, 
though  there  has  long  been  a  church  here.  It  is  W.  llanerch 
y  medd,  '  forest  glade  or  clearing  where  they  drank  mead.'  Cf. 
Lanark  (So.). 

Llanfair  (8  in  P.G.).  'Church  of  Mary,'  the  Virgin.  Such 
churches  show  the  rise  of  Latin  influence.    Cf.  Builth. 

Llanfihangel  Din  Sylwy  (Anglesea).  The  first  part  is  '  church 
of  the  Archangel'  (Michael).  The  second  seems  to  mean  'on 
the  hill  of  the  wide  view,'  fr.  syllu,  '  to  gaze.' 

Llangadoc  (Caermarthen).  1285  CZose -R.  Lancaddok.  'Church 
of  St.  Gadoc,'  c.  500,  who  lived  on  an  islet  in  the  Bristol  Channel, 
but  d.  in  Brittany.    Cf.  Caradoc. 

Llangefni  (Anglesea).  'Church  on  R.  Cefni,'  prob  fr.  W.  cefn, 
'  a  ridge.' 

Llangollen.  '  Church  of  St.  Collen/  son  of  Gwynawc,  abbot  of 
Glastonbury,  and  then  an  austere  hermit;  7th  cny. 

Llangovan  (Monmth.).   Fr.  St.  Cofen,  of  whom  httle  seems  known. 

Llangrove  (Ross,  Herefd.).  A  post-oflS.ce  and  ignorant  local 
corruption.  In  all  old  documents  '  Long  grove,'  which  exactly 
describes  the  place  as  seen  from  a  distance. 


LLANGRWYNEY  350  LLANTWIT  MAJOR 

Llangewyney  (Crickhowell) .  1603  Owen  lion  y  grwyne.  '  Church 
of  Grewyn.'  But  who  was  he  ?  ?  Gwrwan  or  Gurvan,  bp.  of 
Llandaff,  who  excommunicated  Tewdwr,  K.  of  Dyfed. 

Llangynidb  (Crickhowell).  It  has  an  Eng.  form  Kender church ; 
'  church  of  St.  Gynidr/  or  in  O.W.  Lanncinitir.  The  saint  was 
of  the  5th  cny.  Also  old  Lannicruc,  W.  llan  y  Crug,  '  church  at 
the  heap  or  barrow.' 

Llanillty  (Glamorgan),  c.  1150  chart.  Landiltwit,  c.  1350  ib. 
Launlltwyt.  '  Church  of  St.  IlUyd/  or  Iltutus,  orig.  a  Breton 
knight,  who  came  over  to  the  court  of  K.  Arthur,  and  nephew 
of  St.  Gannon.  Cf.  Ilston  and  Llai^twit.  Llantyd  (Pembroke) 
gives  the  same  name  in  a  contracted  form. 

Llanoveb  (Monmouth).  'Church  of  St.  Govor'  or  Gower,  a  W. 
saint,  of  whom  little  seems  known. 

Llanehian  (Pembroke),  c.  1190  Gir.  Camb.  Lanrian.  *  Church  of 
St.  Rhian,'  who  seems  unknown.  Can  it  be  fr.  Reafhun  or 
Hrethun,  abbot  of  Abingdon  and  bp.  of  Leicester,  who  died 
c.  835  ? 

Llansatntfeaidd  (Monmouth).  'Church  of  Saint  Bride/  or 
Bridget  of  Kildare,  453-523. 

Llanstadwell  (Pembroke).  Sic  1594,  but  c.  1190  Gir.  Camb. 
Lanstadhewal.  W.  llan  ystad  hywel,  '  church  of  the  conspicuous 
stadium  or  furlong,'  which  seems  a  curious  name.  More  ex- 
planation is  needed.     Cf.  St.  Tudwall's  I.,  Caernarvon. 

Llanstinan  (Letterston,  Pembroke).  Sic  1594.  'Church  of  St. 
Justinian/  said  to  have  come  fr.  Brittany  to  Wales  in  the  time 
of  St.  David. 

LLANTH02«ry  (Abergavenny),  a.  1196  Gir.  Camb.  Lanthotheni.  He 
also  says :  *  The  English  corruptly  call  it  Lanthoni,  whereas  it 
should  either  be  called  Nanthodeni — i.e.,  the  brook  Hodeni — 
or  else  Lanhodeni,  the  church  upon  the  Hodeni,'  now  the  Hondu, 
origin  unknown.  For  change  of  nxint  to  Ikm  see  Nantwich. 
The  other  old  forms  intermingle  with  those  of  the  offshoot  from 
this  priory,  at  Gloucester — 1160-61  Pi'pe  Lantoeni,  1221  Laun- 
toney,  1223  Lantonay,  1225  Lantoeny. 

Llanthjo  Ceossekny  (Abergavenny).  Prob.  1285  Close  B. 
Lanthelyou,  '  church  of  St.  Teiliaw/  of  the  6th  cny. ;  same  as  in 
Llandilo. 

Llanteisant  (Glamorgan).  W.=  ' church  of  the  three  saints/ 
— viz.,  Illtyd,  Tyfodwg,  and  Gwynno. 

Llantwit  Majoe  (Cardiff)  or  in  W.  Llanilltud  Fawr.  '  Church  of 
St.  Illtyd.'  Fawr  or  mawr, '  big,'  is  the  tr.  of  Major,  L.  for  '  the 
greatsr.'  There  are  2  other  Llantwits  in  Glam.,  as  well  as 
Llantood  (Kernes),  Valor.  Eccl.  Llantwyd.  See  Ilston  and 
Llanillty. 


LLANWEYNO  351  LONDESBOKOUGH 

Llanweyno  (Herefordsh.).  Fr.  St.  Beuno,  contemporary  of 
Kentigem,  who  founded  a  religious  society  at  Clynnog  Fawr, 
Carnarvon,  c.  616.    Eleven  churches  are  dedicated  to  him. 

Llan-y-Gwyddel  (Holyhead).  'Church  of  the  (Irish)  Gaels.' 
Gwyddel  lit.  means  '  dwellers  in  the  forest,  or,  among  the  shrubs,' 
gwydd.    Cf.  TRWYN-y-GwYDDEL. 

Llithfaen  (Pwllheli).  ?  W.  llithr,  '  a  slide  or  glide,'  and  jQPaen,  *  a 
stone.'  T.  Morgan  says  llith  implies  attraction,  and  that  there 
is  a  stone  near  here  of  the  nature  of  a  loadstone. 

Lliw  R.  (Bala  and  Loughor).  Doubtfully  derived  fr.  W.  Uw,  '  an 
oath.' 

Llwydarth  (Glamorgan),  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Litgart,  1603  Owen 
Lloydarch.    W.  llwyd  garth,  '  grey  ridge  '  or  '  cape.' 

Llyncaws  (Denbighsh.).  W.  =  '  pool  like  a  cheese ' ;  while  LlwyN'- 
CELYN  (Rhondda)  is,  'lake  of  the  holly.'  Sometimes  llyn 
becomes  llan,  '  church,'  as  in  Llangwathan  or  Llyn  Gwaeddan, 
in  c.  1130  Lib.  Land.  Luin  Guaidan.  This  is  perh.  Gwarthan,  who 
helped  to  establish  the  monastery  at  Bangor  Iscoed,  6th  cny. 

Llyn  Cyri  (Cader  Idris).  W.  'pool  of  the  cauldron  or  Corrie'; 
cyri  is  hardly  a  Welsh!  word,  yet  see  Cyki. 

Llyn-yb-afrangc  (pool  on  R.  Conway).  W.  = '  pool  of  the 
beaver.' 

Llysfaen  (Abergele).  W.  ='hall,  court  made  of  stone.'  W. 
and  Com.  maen,  here  aspirated ;  /=  v  or  mh. 

Llys  Helig  (now  a  sandbank  oj5  Conway) .  '  Palace  of  Helig,' 
now  submerged.    He  was  a  great  Cymric  lord  of  the  Middle  Ages. 

LocKiNGTON  (Derby  and  Beverley).  Dom.  Yorks  Lochetun, 
Lecheton.  Cf.  Dom.  Essex  Lochintuna.  '  Town,  village  of 
Log,'  1  in  Onom.    Cf.  next.     See  -ing  and  -ton. 

Lock's  Bottom  (Orpington,  Kent).  A  bottom,  O.E.  botm.  is  'a 
low-lying  valley.'  Cf.  Ramsbottom.  Lock  is  the  O.E.  name 
Log,  and  is  still  a  surname,  Cf.  above,  1158-59  Pipe  Loches- 
wella  (Wilts),  and  Loxwood. 

Lofthouse  (Pateley  Br.  and  Wakefield).  Dom.  Lofthuse,  -tose. 
Lot-  and  Loct  -huse.  '  House  with  an  upper  room  or  garret,' 
O.N.  and  O.E.  loft.  This  name  has  also  become  Loftus,  in 
the  same  county. 

Lolworth  (Cambridge).  Chart.  Lulleswyr^,  Lollesworth.  Dom. 
Lolesuuorde,  1284  Lulleworth.  '  Farm  of  Lull'  Cf.  Lulworth 
(Dorset).  The  patronymic  is  seen  in  Lullington  (Burton),  and 
Dom.  Kent  Lolingestone. 

Londesborough  (Mket.  Weighton).  Dom.  Lodenesburg,  'Burgh 
of  Lothan  or  Lothen,'  both  in  Onom.  The  o  has  been  nasalized; 
whilst  Dom,  regularly  makes  medial  th  into  d.    See  -burgh. 


LONDON  362      LOSTOCK  GEALAM 

London,  c.  100  Tacitus  Londinium,  c.  360 Amm.  Marcell.  Londinium 
vetus  oppidmn  quod  Augustam  posteritas  appellavit ;  c.  610  E, 
Saxon  coin  Lundx)nia,  a.  810  Nennius  Cair  Londein.  O.E.  Chron. 
457  Lundenbyrig  (=Londonburgh),  c.  1175  Fantosme  Lundres, 
c.  1250  Layamon  Lundene,  but  *  Frensca  Lundres  heo  hehten  ' ; 
1258-1450  Lunden,  1298  London,  a.  1300  Mabinogion  Lwndrys 
(q.v.  p.  89,  Everyman's  Libry.,  for  an  early  legend  re  the  origin), 
c.  1460  Londyn ;  also  1140  O.E. Chron.  Lundenisce f olc.  Commonly 
derived  fr.  a  Keltic  Ion  din,  '  marsh  or  pool  with  the  fort,'  W. 
llyn, '  pool,  lake,'  G.  Idn, '  a  marsh,'  and  W.  din,  G.  diln,  gen.  d'Ain, 
'  a  hill,  a  fort.'  This  is  quite  possible.  W.  J.  Watson  identifies 
it  with  So.  LxTNDiN  and  the  commoner  Lundy,  G.  lunndan,  '  a 
green  spot,'  strictly  '  green,  wet  place,'  fr.  a  nasahzed  form  of 
lod,  '  a  puddle,'  which  he  thinks  is  prob.  same  root  as  Lutetia 
Parisiorum.  If  so,  it  is  very  remarkable  that  both  London  and 
Paris  should  originally  have  names  practically  the  same.  The 
Saxons,  at  any  rate,  early  made  Lon-  into  Lun-,  which,  in  pron., 
it  has  remained  ever  since.  For  this  there  is  abimdant  analogy. 
The  0  sound  is  retained  in  Fr.  Londres.   Cf.  Ludgate  and  Ltjne. 

LoNGMYND  Range  (Salop),  c.  1285  Testa  de  Neville  Foresta  de 
Longe  Munede.  The  -mynd  seems  W.  mynydd,  '  hill ' :  the 
name  may  be  a  hybrid  and  the  Long-  be  the  common  Eng.  adj. 
O.E.  lang,  long.  But  Oxf.  Diet,  mentions  a  doubtful  O.Ir.  or 
Keltic  long-  in  combinations,  also  meaning  '  long.'  But  cf. 
Mtjnet,  andMiNDTON.  Longdon  (Upton-on-Severn)  is  972  cliart. 
Langdune,  '  long  hill.'  Long  Eye  (Bromsgrove)  is  972  chart. 
Longaneye  (dat.),  '  long  island.'  See  -ey.  Longthwaite 
(Cockermouth)  may  be  translation  of  Longoviciimi  in  c.  400 
Notit.  Dignit.    See  -thwaite. 

LoNGNOR  (Buxton,  Shrewsbury,  Leek,  and  Penkridge).  Pen.  L. 
Dom.  Longenalre,  1223  Langenalre,  1327  Longenolre.  Le.  L. 
a.  1300  Longenorle.  Sh.  L.  a.  1300  Longenholre,  Langenalre, 
Longenolre,  Longnore.  O.E.  lang  alor,  air, '  long,  tall  alder -tree.' 
LoNGNEE-on-Sevem  is  also  the  same.  Longboro'  (Moreton-in- 
Marsh),  Z)om.  Langeberge,  is '  long  tumulus.'  See  Barrow  ;  whilst 
LoNGNEY  (Gloster) ,  972  chart.  Longanege,  is '  long  island.'  See  -ey. 

LoNGSDON  (Stoke-on-T.)  a.  1300  Longesdon.  '  Hill  of  Lang  '  or 
'  Long,'  which  have  always  been  Eng.  personal  names.    See  -don. 

LoNGSHip  (off  Land's  End).     1667  '  the  rock  called  the  Longship.' 

LoppiNGTON  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Lopitone.  '  Town  of  Loppa  '  or 
'  Loppo,'  both  in  Onom.  Cf.  South  Lopham  (Thetford),  1225 
Luppeham. 

LosTOCK  Gralam  (Nantwi6h),  Lostock  Hall  (Preston).  Pres,  L. 
1205  Lostok,  1296  Loes,  -Lestok.  Wyld  thinks  fr.  an  unre- 
corded O.E.  hlos,  same  root  as  lot,  O.E.  hlot;  and  so  perh.  '  place 
where  lots  used  to  be  cast;  'O.E.  stoc,  stocc,  lit.  '  a  block  or  stake 
stuck  into  the  ground.'    Cf.  Hlosstede  {B.C.S.  iii.  449)   and 


LOSTWITHIEL  363  LOWESTOrT 

Loscombe  (both  Dorset).  This  is  doubtful.  In  Dom.  Surrey 
we  have  Losele,  which  rather  suggests  '  mead  of  '  an  unrecorded 
man  '  Losa,'  though  it  may  be  '  lot-nook.'  See  -hall.  Gralam 
was  son  of  Hugh  de  Bunchamp,  c.  1080. 

LosTWiTMiEL  (Cornwall).  Pron.  Los-withi-el.  1485  Lestwithiell, 
1536  Lostuthyell.  Many  absurd  derivations  have  been  given. 
It  is  quite  simple.  Com.  lost  withell,  'rump  of  the  lion/  referring 
to  the  shape  of  a  hill  here.    Cf.  Withiel. 

LoTHBUBY  (London),  c.  1515  Cock  Lorells  Bh.  Lothe  bery. 
'  Sheltered  town/  fr.  O.E.  Ueow\,  1554  lothe,  '  shelter,  warmth.' 
Cf.  L.  Lothing,  Lowestoft,  and  Louth.  But,  as  we  already  have 
Lothingland  in  Dom.,  see  Lowestoet,  Loth-  may  well  be  the 
contracted  form  of  a  man's  name. 

Lothersdalb  and  Lothersden  (Craven).  Dom.  Lodresdene,  1202 
Lodderesden.  A  Lothewardus,  or  Lodewardus,  or  Erothweard 
was  Abp.  of  York  c.  925-930.    See  -dale  and  -den. 

Lothingland  (Suffolk).  Dom.  Ludingalanda,  1158-59  Pipe Loinge- 
land,  1237  Patent  B.  Luddinglond,  Ludingeland,  1459  Lodyng- 
lond.    '  Land,  territory  of  the  sons  of  Luda '  or  '  Loda.'    See  -ing. 

Loughborough.  Dom.  Lucteburne,  and  -burg,  1298  Luhteburge. 
Possibly  this  may  be  the  same  name  as  Lothbury.  Or  more 
prob.  fr.  a  man's  name, '  burgh,  castle  of  LuTita '  or  '  Luhha,'  the 
latter  a  known  form.    See  -borough. 

LouGHOR  (Gliamorgan).  Possibly  c.  380  Anton.  Itin.  Leucaro.  .  In 
W.  Cas  Uywchyr.  The  Cos  is  said  to  be  for  castell,  and  llwchyr 
a  word  for  a  lake  =  G.  loch.  There  is  a  lakelike  expanse  of  water 
here,  and  a  R.  Llwchwr  or  Llychwr.   Certainly  W.  llwch  is  '  pool.' 

LouND  (Lowestoft  and  Retford).  Dom.  both  Lund(a).  Re.  L. 
1302  Lound.  O.N.  lund-r,  '  grove,  wood.'  But  possibly,  fr. 
phonetic  reasons,  same  as  hum  or  lound,  '  calm,  sheltered 
place ';  also  of  N.  origin.  See  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  Lund  (Beverley), 
Dom,.  Lont,  1179-80  Pipe  Lund,  is  the  same  name.  Cf.  Dom. 
Lines  Lund. 

Louth  (Lines) .  Dom,  Ludes,  1154-65  c^arf.  Luda.'  Croxden  Chron. 
re  1210  Percolude — i.e.,  '  park  of  Louth,'  1225  Louth.  Perh.  fr. 
O.E.  hlud,  'loud,'  'noisy  place.'  Much  more  likely,  O.E. 
Meow]>,  1554  lothe,  now  in  dial,  lewth,  '  shelter,  warmth ' ;  and 
so,  'sheltered,  warm  place.'  The  letters  d  and  th  very  often 
interchange  in  old  charters,  through  Norm,  scribes. 

LowDHAM  (Notts).  Dom.  Ludha,  c.  1170  Ludam,  1302  Loudham. 
(It  is  near  Ludcerce  in  Dom.).  'Home  of  Luda  or  iJude,' 
several  in  Onom. 

Lowestoft.  Dom.  Lothuwistoft,  later  Lowistoft,  Loistoft.  1455 
Leystoft,  c.  1600  Camden  Lestoffenses.  The  curious  Dom.  form 
must  represent  '  toft '  or  '  field  of  HlotTiewig,'  a  name  found  as 
that  of  a  port  reeve  in  Kent,  B.C.S.  1212,  same  name  as  that  of 


LOWESWATER  354  LUDGATE 

the  famous  K.  of  the  Franks,  O.Ger.  Chlodwig,  Ger.  Ludwig, 
Fir.  Lewis  or  Louis.  This  name  exactly  suits  the  phonetics  of 
all  the  forms  given  above.  Tojt  is  O.N.  to^t,  N.  toft,  tuft,^  '  a 
homestead,  a  house-site,  a  holding.'  L.  Lotlung,  Dom.  Lothing- 
land,  beside  Lowestoft,  shows  us  a  patronymic  fr.  Hlothewig,  with 
its  ending  dropped,  as  often  happens.     Cf.  Closworth. 

LowESWATER  (Cumbld.).  1189  Laweswater.  Perh.  'water,  lake 
of  HlcBwa';  1  in  Onom. 

LowTHEB  R.  (Westmorland).  Perh.  connected  with  O.Ir.  lothur, 
'  canalis,'  Bret,  laouer, '  a  trench.'  Cf.  Sc.  Lauder  and  Lowther. 

LowTHORPE  (Driffield).  Dom.  Loghetorp,  Logetorp,  1161-62  Pipe 
Leu-,  Luitorp,  1179-80  Luuetorp.  Prob.  fr.  low  adj.,  early  M.E. 
Uh  (O.N.  Idg-r),  2-3  hh,  la^e.  '  Low-lying  village.'  See  -thorpe. 
Oxf.  Diet,  has  no  example  of  low,  a.  1150. 

LoxLEY  (Warwick,  Uttoxeter,  and  Sheffield) .  Wa.  L.  Dom.  Loches- 
lei,  1151  Lochesle.  Ut.  L.  Dom.  ib.,  a.  1300  Lockesleye.  A 
Warwick  chart,  of  985  also  speaks  of  '  Locsetena  gemsere,' 
'  boundary  of  the  Loc  dwellers  or  settlers,'  here  in  gen.  pi.  Cf. 
Dorset,  etc.  This  is  '  meadow  of  Loc.'  Cf.  next,  and  1161-62 
Pipe  Locheswell  (Wilts).    See  -ley. 

LoxwooD  (Billingshurst).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  cf.  Exon.  Dom. 
Lochesbera,  where  bera  is  '  wood.'  Perh.  'wood  of  Loc'  There 
is  one  Loc,  and  there  are  two  Lucas  in  Onom.  Cf.  Lock's 
Bottom  and  above. 

LucKER  (Belford).  1152  Lucre.  This  must  simply  be  N.  loeck-r, 
'  a  brook,'  a  very  rare  type  of  name  in  Northumberland.  Cf. 
Leckford  and  Leek. 

Ltjdchurch  (Narberth,  Pembroke).  1353  Londeschirch,  1377 
Londchirch;  but  in  Myv.  Archaeol.  Yr  Eglwys  Lwyd,  '  the  grey 
church.'  The  w  is  a  common  intrusion  in  the  early  spellings, 
due  to  the  nasalizing  of  the  wot  u  sound,  a  proceeding  not  rare. 
Some  hold  that  Llwyd  means  '  the  adorable,  the  blessed  one.' 

Ltjddington  (Stratford-on-A.  and  Garthorpe).  St.  L.  c.  1000 
chart.  Ludintune,  Dom.  Luditone,  a.  1100  Ludintime.  Ga.  L. 
Dom.  Ludintone.  '  Village,  town  of  Luda.'  Cf.  Ltjtton  and 
947  chart.  Ludanbeorh  (Wilts).  There  are  also  Ludborough, 
Louth,  and  Ludham,  Gt.  Yarmouth,  sic  1262. 

LuDGARS-  LuDGERSHALL  (Andover,  Aylesbury,  Gloster).  An.  L. 
a.  1200  Lutgershal.  Ay.  L.  1232  Close  R,  Lutegare-,  Lutte- 
gartshal.  Gl.  L.  1220  Lutegares-,  1280  Letegareshale.  '  Nook 
of  LeodgcBr,  Liutger,  Ludegar,'  the  name  occurs  in  many  forms. 
See  -hall. 

Ludgate  (London).  Sic  1585.  It  may  possibly,  though  not  prob., 
be  O.E.  hlidgeat,  6  lydyate,  '  a  postern,  a  swing-gate,  a  gate 
between  meadow  and  ploughed  land.'  Lydiate  Lane  (Hales- 
owen)   is  a.   1300  Nonemonnes  Lydegate,  'no    man's    gate.' 


LUDLOW  366  LUXULYAN 

But  c.  1145  Geoffrey  Monm.,  c.  1205  Layamon,  and  a.  1300  The 
Brut  tell  that  Lud  or  Lhidd  was  a  British  king,  brother  of 
Cassibelaumis,  and  that  London  was  called  from  him  Caerlud; 
also  that  he  was  buried  near  this  gate  which  now  bears  his  name, 
called  in  the  British  language  Porthlud,  and  in  Saxon  Ludesgate. 
Good  authorities  hold  that  Lludd  was  a  Celtic  deity.  See,  too, 
Mahinogion  (Everyman's  Libry.),  p.  89. 

Lttdlow.  Not  in  Dom.,  unless  it  be  one  of  the  Ludes — i.e.,  Lud's 
(place),  there;  1223  Patent  R.  Ludelawe,  1497  Ludlowe.  In  W. 
Llwydlo.     '  ffill  of  Lud.'    See  Ltjdgate  and  -low. 

LurwiCK  (Northants).  O.E.  Chron.  675  (late  MS.)  Lufgeard, 
which  is  '  yard,  court  of  Lufa/  2  in  Onom.  But  Dom.  Luhwic, 
1166-67  Pipe  LufEewich,  fr.  O.E.  wic,  'dwelling.'  Of.  K.C.D. 
iv.  288  Lofintune,  prob.  Northants;  and  Luffenham  (Stamford), 
1166  Luffenha. 

LuGQ  R.  (Leominster) .  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore.  Lucge.  Perh.  connected 
with  W.  llwch,  '  a  lake,  a  pool.'  As  likely  this  is  another  case 
of  river-worship.  A  god  Lugus,  li.  Lug,  seems  to  have  been  one 
of  the  ancient  deities  of  the  Kelt,  family.  Cf.  Carlisle.  For 
Ltjqwahdine  1233  Patent  R.  Lugwurthin,  on  this  river,  see 
-warden — i.e.,  '  farm.' 

LxTNDY  I.  (Bristol  Channel).  Not  in  Dom.  Doubtful.  May  be 
same  as  Sc.  Ltjndy;  see  London.  This  scarcely  suits  the 
site,  so  prob.  Norse  lund-ey,  '  puffin  island,'  N.  lunde,  Icel.  lundi. 
See  -ey.    For  Lund  see  Lound. 

Lune  R.  (Lancaster  and  N.  Yorks).  Lan.  L.  prob.  c.  150  Ptolemy 
Alona;  also  see  Lancaster.  Said  to  be  fr.  a  Keltic  lounx), 
'  mud  ' ;  on  Keltic  Ion  and  lod,  see  London. 

LusTON  (Leominster).  Dom.  Lustone.  'Town  of  Lusa.'  Cf.  940 
chart.  Lusebeorg  (Wilts)  and  Lustleigh  (Newton  Abbott);  the 
latter  prob.  fr.  a  man  Lustwine;  3  in  Onom. 

Luton  (Beds  and  Chatham).  Bed.  L.  sic  a.  1199,  but  Dom.  and 
1157  Loitone,  1155  Pipe  Luitune.  Prob.  'village,  town  of 
Lulia,'  a  name  in  Onom.  But  Lutley  (Staffs),  c.  1300  Lutteleye, 
and  Lutley  (Halesowen),  Dom.  Ludeleia,  is  '  mead  of  Ludxi '  or 
'  Luta.'  Lutley  may  be  fr.  O.E.  lyt,  3-4  lut,  3-5  lute,  '  little,'  as 
in  Luthebury,  old  form  of  Littlebury  (Saffron  Walden) . 

Lutterworth  (Leicester).  Dom.  Lutresurde;  also  Lutrington 
(Co.  Durham),  1183  Lutringtona.  This  must  be  '  farm '  and 
'  village  of  Lutter  '  or  '  Luther,'  or  '  Lutter's  descendants  ' ;  but 
there  is  no  such  name  in  Onom.,  only  one  Lothewardus,  also  a 
Leutherius  or  Hlothhere.    See  -ing,  -ton,  and  -worth. 

LuTTON  (Yorks,  Oundle,  and  Wisbech).  Dom.  Yorks  Ludton;  not 
in  others.     '  Town  of  Luda  '  or  '  Lud.'    Cf.  Luddington. 

LuxuLYAN  (Lostwithiel).  Sic  1536 ;  also  called  Lan  Sxh^ian. 
Said  to  be  corrup.  of  Corn.  Lan  lulian,  '  church  of  St.  Julian '; 


LYDBURT  NORTH       356  LTNDHURST 

which  of  this  name  is  doubtful.  There  are  115  Julians  in  Did. 
Christ.  Biogr.  It  is  now  dedicated  to  Julitta ;  hence  the  parish 
of  St.  Juliot,  Cornwall.  The  story  of  Juhtta  and  her  child 
Cjrric  was  very  popular,  and  St.  Basil  wrote  in  praise  of  her. 

Lydbtjby  North  (Salop).  Dom.  Lideberie.  Prob.  '  Lida'a  burgh.' 
See  Lydney  and  -biiry.  But  Lydeaud  St.  Lawrence  (Taun- 
ton) seems  to  be  fr.  a  man  Lidgeard.  Dom.  Lidegar,  1285 
Lydeyarde.  Cf.  963  chart.  Lidgeardes  beorge,  re  Wasing, 
Berks.  Only,  of  course  Lidgeard  will  itself  mean  '  Lid's  yard  ' 
or  '  garth.'  LYDBROOK-on-Wye  is  a.  1300  Luddebrok,  and  there 
is  a  Dom.  Glouc.  Ludebroc ;  perh.  fr.  a  man  Lydda  ;  but  Baddeley 
suspects  the  first  part  to  be  a  pre-Saxon  river  name. 

Lydd  (Kent).  774  chart.  Hlid;  later,  Lyde,  Lide.  O.E.  hlid,  '  a 
cover.' 

Lydpord  (N.  Devon).    See  LroroRD. 

Lydiard.  There  are  places  of  this  name  at  Wootton  Basset  and 
Swindon  (Wilts).  Dom  Lidiarde,  Lediar,  also  Lydeard  St. 
Lawrence  (Somst.),  and  Bp.'s  Lydeard  (Taunton).  Dom. 
Lidiard,  Lediart.  1224  Patent  R.  Lidiard  is  in  Wilts.  The 
name  might  be  '  Lida'sjoxA,'  or  '  enclosure  '  (O.E.  geard) ;  but  is 
prob.  O.E.  Ud-geard,  '  boat,  ship-yard  ' — at  least  in  some  cases. 

Lydnby  (on  Severn).  972  chart.  Lidan  ege,  1224  Lideneia,  1230 
Lideneya.     '  Isle  on  R.  Leden.'    See  Ledbury  and  -ey. 

Lydstep  (Penally,  Pembk.).  1603  Owen  Ludsopp,  '  Lud's  place 
of  refuge.'     See  Ludgate  and  -hope. 

Lye  (Cradley).  Old,  Leeh,  Lyegh,  Lyghe,  Lye,  Lee,  which  show  it 
var.  of  lea,  'meadow.'  See  -ley.  Lye  (Glouc.)  has  similar  old 
forms. 

Lyme  Regis.  Mentioned  in  774.  Dom.  and  1234  Lym,  1184:  Hist. 
Selhy  Luma,  which  last  suggests  a  possible  derivation  fr.  O.E. 
leoma,  'a  ray  of  hght,  a  flash,  a  gleam  ' ;  4  lewme,  lime,  lym. 
But  both  here  and  in  N.  Staffs  there  is  a  R.  Lyme,  the  latter 
a.  1200  Lima  (other  forms  see  Burslem),  which  seems  to  be 
simply  O.E.  hlimme,  'a  stream,  a  river';  and  this  is  quite  pos- 
sibly the  origin  of  this  town  too.  Regis  is  L.  for  '  of  the  King.' 
Lyme  received  a  royal  charter  from  K.  Edward  I.  in  1316,  when 
it  was  surrendered  to  the  Crown.    Cf.  Kjng's  Lynn. 

Lyminge  (Shomchffe).  804  chart.  Limming,  Dom.  Leminges. 
Doubtful;  prob.  patronjrmic.  There  are  two  namedXwmngr  in 
Onom.    Cf.  next ;  and  see  -ing. 

Lymington  (Hants).  Not  in  Dom.  c.  1450  Fortescue  Limyngton. 
The  man's  name  here  is  prob.  Leofman,  var.  Leman  and  Low- 
man.    Cf.  above,  and  see  -ing. 

Lyndhurst  (Hants),  a.  1100  cAar^  Lindhyrst,  which  is  O.E.  for 
'  forest,  wooded  place  with  the  limes  or  lindens.'    Cf.  Lyndon 


LTNNE  357  MAER 

(Warwk.),  a.  1300  Lynden,  possibly  fr.   O.E.  lin,  'flax/  as 
in  Lyncroft  (Lichfield).    See  -den  and  -don. 

Lynne  or  Lymne  or  Lympne  (S.  Kent).  77  Pliny  Limnus,  c.  150 
Ptolemy  Portus  Lemanis  ;  Dom.  Lymne,  1392  Linne.  Prob. 
Kelt,  linn, '  pool,  lake';  but  for  Lemanis  c/.  Lomond  (Sc.)  and 
L.  Leman  or  L.  of  Geneva.  Lynn  (Lichfield),  however,  is 
c.  1300  la  Lynd,  Lynde,  O.E.  lind,  '  the  linden  '  or  '  lime-tree.' 

Lytham  (Preston).  Dom.  Lidun.  Prob.  loc.  of  O.E.  hli'6,  'on 
the  slopes  or  hiU-sides.'  Cf.  Hallam,  Ktt.wam,  etc.;  also 
Lythe  (N.  Yorks) ,  Dom.  Lid.   The  Lyth  (Ombersley)  is  the  same. 

Mablethorpe  (Lines).  Dom.  Malb'torp.  1202  Mapertorp,  Mau- 
pertorp,  Mautorp,  1318-1469  Malberthorpe,  1591  Mabberthorp. 
An  interesting  corrup.,  '  village  of  Malber/  or  some  such  name. 
The  nearest  in  Onom.  are  Marbert  and  Mcethelheorht  or  Madalbert. 
See  -thorpe. 

Macclesfield.  Dom.  Maclesfeld,  1297  Makelesfelde,  1503  Maxfeld. 
Looks  like  '  Matchless,  peerless  field,'  fr.  wakeless,  a.  1225  make- 
lese,  '  matchless,'  fr.  O.E.  gemaca,  '  a  peer,  equal,  match,  a 
make.'  There  seems  no  name  in  Onom.  which  would  yield 
Makele,  but  Malton  (Cambs)  is  1282  Makelton;  and  so  it  is 
prob.  derived  from  a  man's  name,  as  all  analogy  suggests. 

Machynlleth  ( Aberdovey) .  W.  ma  Ghynlleth, '  field  of  Cyn  Ueith,' 
in  Geoff r.  Mon.  Kinhth  map  Neton.  (7/.  Mallwyd  (Merioneth), 
field  of  Llywd  ';  Manest,  '  field  of  Nest,'  etc. 

Mackney  (Wallingford).  957  chart.  Maccanige,  1428  Mackeney. 
'  Island  of  Macca.'    See  -ey. 

Madehurst  (Sussex),  not  in  Dom.,  and  Madeley  (Salop  and  Staffs). 
Sa.  M.  K.C.D.  iii.  123  Madan  leage,  Dom.  Madelie.  St.  M. 
975  chart.  Madanlieg.  Cf.  Dom.  Suss.  Medelei.  '  Wood  '  and 
'  meadow  of  Mada ';  O.E.  hyrst,  '  a  wood ' ;  and  see  -ley. 
Madeley  Uleac  (Uttoxeter)  is  named  fr.  its  Saxon  possessor 
in  Dom. 

Madingley  (Cambridge).  Dom.  Madingelei,  1284  Maddingele. 
'  Meadow  of  the  descendants  of  Mada.'  Cf.  above,  and  Mad- 
dington  (Wilts) ;  and  see  -ley. 

Madley  (on  Wye,  Hereford),  c.  1130  Lib.  Landav.,  pp.  323,  324, 
Madle,  q.v.,  W.  mad  lie,  'good  place.'  Though,  of  course,  some 
will  hold  it  must  be  the  same  as  Madeley. 

Madresmeld  (Worcester),  a.  1200  Medeleffeld,  1275 Madresfelde. 
Skeat  thinks, '  Mceth-here's  field ' ;  Dom.  regularly  writes  th  as  d. 

Madron  (Penzance).  Fr.  St.  Maiernus  of  Treves,  in  Chaucer 
Madryan;  also  Medhran,  disciple  of  St.  Piran  or  Kieran. 

Maer  (Newcastle,  Staffs).  Dom.  and  later  Mere,  O.E.  for  'mere, 
lake.' 


MAES  GAEMON  358  MALTBY 

Maes  Gaumon  (Mold).  W.=  '  (battle)field  of  St.  Oerman,'  Bp.  of 
Auxerre,  France,  who  came  to  Britain  in  429.  We  find  a 
'Maisbeli'  as  early  as  c.  1145  Geoff r.  Monm.  ?  =  MAESBUBy 
(Oswestry).    Cf.  Llanaemon. 

Magor  (Newport,  Mon.).  W.  magwyr,  'a  wall";  also  found  in 
Cornwall  as  Magor  and  Maker,  old  Macuir. 

Maidenhead.  1297-98  Mayden  heth,  c.  1350  Magdenhithe,  1538 
Maidenhedde.  '  Maiden's  hythe  '  or  '  landing-place  ' — i.e.,  one 
very  easy  to  land  at,  fr.  O.E.  hydde,  later  AytS,  '  a  haven,  a  land- 
ing-place.' Cf.  Hythe.  Maiden  Castle  (Dorchester),  not  in 
Dam.,  is  claimed  as  a  Keltic  name,  which  is  quite  unlikely. 
The  Maiden  Castle  is  Edinburgh,  found  c.  1150  as  '  Castellum 
puellarum.'    Dorset  also  has  Maiden  Newton. 

Maidstone.  Dom.  Medwegestun;  1245  Patent  B.  Maidenestan; 
later  Meddestane,  Maydestan,  which  will  mean  '  rock '  rather 
than  '  town  on  R.  Med  way,"  though  its  W.  name  is  said  to  be 
Caer  Meguaid  or  Medwig,  '  fort  on  the  Medway.'    See  -ton. 

Malden  (Kingston,  Surrey).  Dom.  Meldone,  prob.  '  sword  hill '  or 
'dune,'  O.E.  dun;  fr.  O.E.  mcel,  'sword,  mark,  ornament.' 
This  wiU  be  the  root  also  of  Maldon  (Essex),  993  O.E.  Chron. 
Maeldiin,  1472  Maiden,  rather  than  O.E.  mdl,  3  male,  'tax, 
tribute.'  But  cf.  Christian  Malford.  A  man  Mai,  or  the 
like,  seems  implied  in  such  names  as  Malshanger  and  Mals- 
worth.    See  Birchanger  and  -worth. 

Malham  (Leeds).  Dom.  Malgon,  -un.  These  are  clearly  old 
locatives  of  the  common  Yorks  Dom.  type.  But  there  seems 
no  O.E.  word  to  give  us  malg- ;  mcele,  mele,  '  a  cup,  a  basin,' 
seems  the  nearest — '  among  the  cup-shaped  hollows.'  But,  then, 
the  g  must  be  an  error.    See  -ham. 

Malling,  South  (Sussex).  Sic  838,  a.  1200  MeUinges,  1288  Contin. 
Gervase  Suthmallinges.    Patronymic.     Cf.  Melling. 

Mallwyd  (Dinas  Mawddy) .  W.  ma  llwyd,  '  grey  plain '  or  '  district.' 

Maimesbfry.  Bede  v.  18,  Monasteriimi  qnod  Maildulfi  urbem 
nominant,  O.E.  vers.  Maldulfesburh,  940  chart.  Matelmesburg, 
1015  O.E.  Chron.  Ealdehnesbyrig ;  but,  in  latest  MSS.,  Meal- 
delmesbyri,  where  the  M.  prob.  stands  for  In.  Cf.  Inhrypum= 
RrpoN.  Dom.  Ecclesia  Malmsburiensis,  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore. 
Malmesbyriensis,  c.  1160  Gesta  Steph.  Malmesbiria.  '  Burgh  of 
Maldulf,'  7th  cny.  abbot  and  teacher  here.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Ealdhelm  ;  hence  arose  a  very  curious  confusion. 

Mat.pas  (Chesh.  and  Truro).  Former  pron.  Morpus,  latter  Mohpus. 
Same  as  the  Fr.  Mauvais  pas  (O.Fr.  malpas),  or  '  bad  path,' 
alongside  the  Mer  de  Glace. 

Maltby  (Rotherham).  Dom.  and  1179-80  Maltebi,  1442  Mauteby. 
Perh.  '  Malt  town,'  O.E.  and  O.N.  malt,  north  dial.,  etc.,  mwut. 
But  more  likely  it  is  '  dwelling  of  Malte,'  2  in  Onom.  Mallt  is 
W.  for  '  Matilda.'    See  -by. 


MALTON  359  MANNINGTEEE 

Malton  (Yorks).  Dom.  Maltun,  Contin.  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1138 
Maaltun,  1202  Melton.  Doubtful.  Might  be  'malt  town' 
(c/.  Maltby),  but  prob.  '  tax,  tribute  town/  O.E.  mdl,  3  male. 
See  Maldbn.  However,  Malton  (Cambs)  is  1279  Malketon, 
1282  Makelton,  and  may  come  fr.  the  same  man's  name  as  is 
prob.  seen  in  Macclesfield. 

Malvern.  Dom.  Malferna,  Ann.  Wore.  1085,  Major  Malvernia 
('  Great  Malvern  ')  fundata  est  per  Alwium  '  orEaldwine,  1156 
Ptjje  Maluerna,  1362Maluerne,W.  moeZg^iuerw,  '  hill  of  alders,'  or 
'  hill  over  the  moor  or  plain.' 

Mamble  (Wore).  957  chart.  Momela  (gen.  pL).  Dom.  Mamele. 
Keltic  mam,  '  round,  rounded,'  G.  mcLm,  '  a  round,  breastlike 
hill';  the  ending  is  uncertain.    C/.  Mambeg  (Sc). 

Mamhtlad  (Monmouthsh.).  c.  1130  Lib.  Landav.  MamheiUad. 
Cf.,  in  same  book,  Mamilet  forest  (Herefordsh.),  evidently  the 
same  name ;  and  also  Manchester.  Mam  will  mean  '  round, 
rounded  ' ;  and  there  is  a  W.  heledd,  '  a  salt-pit ' ;  but  the  name 
seems  more  likely  to  be  W.  maen  heiliad,  '  stone,  rock  for  the 
serving  [of  liquor],'  referring  to  some  custom  now  forgotten. 

Man,  I.  OF.  J.  Ccesar  Mona,  c.  77  Pliny  Monapia,  c.  150  Ptolemy 
MovaptVa,  v.r.  MovaotSa  (former  =  Movdnva,  Nicholson,  and  same 
as  Ptol.'s  Mava7rto6,  near  Wicklow),  Bede  Mevaniae  Insulse,  a.  810 
Nennius  Eubonia,  id  est  Manau,  1000  O.E.  Ghron.  Mon  ege 
(=Mona's  Isle),  c.  1110  Orderic  Insula  Man;  in  Manx  Eilan 
Mhannin.  Doubtful.  Earle  thought  0.  Kelt,  man,  '  a  place.' 
Cf.  Akemanchester,  old  name  of  Bath,  Akeman  Street,  Ayles- 
bury, and  Manchester. 

Manacles  (rocks  near  Lizard).  Corrup.  of  Corn,  men,  mcen  eglos, 
'  rocks  of  the  church,'  perh.  fr.  the  Church  of  St.  Keverne  on 
the  high  ground  behind. 

MANCETTER(Atherstone).  1251  Mancestre.  An  old  Rom.  station, 
and  =  next.     See -caster. 

MIanchester.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Mancunio,  v.r.  Mamucio;  923 
O.E.  Ghron.  Mameceaster;  Dom.  and  on  to  1421  Mamecestre. 
Perh.  a  hybrid,  '  round  hill  camp  '  (see  Mamble  and  -Chester) ; 
but  it  may  be  fr.  Kelt,  man,  maen,  '  stone.'  Cf.  above  and 
Mansfield,  and  Maumbury  Rings,  Dorchester. 

Manea  (March) .  This,,  says  Skeat,  must  be  '  Manna's  isle,'  as  it 
once  was  an  island.  Cf.  Manley  (Warrington)  and  Manton 
(Marlborough) ;  and  see  -ey. 

Mangotsfield  (Bristol).  Dom.  Manegodes  felle.  '  Field  of  Man- 
god,  Mangold,  or  Managolt,'  all  forms  in  Onom. 

Manningtree.  Not  in  Dom.  '  Tree  of,'  Mann,  Manna,  Manne, 
Manni,  Manno,  Mannig,  or  Manning.  All,  except  the  two  last, 
common  names  in  Onom.  Cf.  Braintree,  Oswestry,  etc. ;  and 
see  -ing. 


MAN  or  WAR  360  MARCHAM 

Man  of  Wab  (rock,  Scilly) .  Corrup.  of  Corn,  men,  maen  an  vawr,  run 
into  one  word,  Menavawr  or  Menawore, '  big  rock/  C/.  Manacles. 

Manobbiee  (Pembrokesh.).  c.  1188  Gir.  Camb.  says  it  is  '  Mansio 
Pyrri/  manor,  estate,  mansion-house  of  a  man  Pyrr.  Cf.  Caldy. 
Some  think  the  ending  is  the  N.  boe-r,'  dwelling'  (see  -by),  and 
so  the  name  a  tautology.  Cf.  c.  1130  Lib.  Landav.  Mainaur 
Garth  Benni,  and  Manob  fabon,  '  manor  of  Mabon/  Cmrthnsh. 
Note,  W.  mcenor,  '  district,'  has  nothing  to  do  with  Eng.  manor. 

Mansebgh  (S.  Westmorld.).  Dom.  Manzserge.  'Hut,  shiehng  of 
Mann/  here  a  proper  name.    On  -ergh  see  Anglesabk.    Cf. 

Manston. 

Mansfield  (Notts).  Dom.  Mamm-,  Mamesfelde,  1162-65  cTiart. 
MamefEellt,  1189  Pipe  Mamefeld,  1278  Man'efeld,  Maunsfewd, 
1291  Mannesfeld.  Difficult.  It  is  on  R,.  Man  or  Maun,  which 
may  be  a  back  formation,  but  not  certainly,  for  we  get  it  1300 
Mainesheued  {in  prob.  error  for  m),  1332  Mammesheued,  '  head 
of  R.  Mam.'  It  may  then  be  'field  on  the  Man,  Maun,  or 
Mam,'  which  according  to.  all  analogy  will  be  Kelt.,  either  W. 
mamn,  'a  bog,'  or,  transferred  by  some  ignorant  Saxon  fr. 
some  neighbouring  hill,  and  so  fr.  warn,  now  only  in  G.  mdm, 
maim,  '  a  low,  rounded  hill,  like  a  mamm€,  or  breast.'  But  it 
may  be  fr.  some  man,  unrecorded  in  O.E.;  cf.  Mammendorf, 
Bavaria,  Mansfeld,  Saxony,  and  Manchesteb. 

Manston  (W.  Riding  and  Sturminster  Newton).  Dom.  Yorks 
Maines-,  Manestun.  '  Town  of  Man,  Mana,  or  Mcena,'  all  in 
Onom.    Cf.  Mansebgh. 

Mapledtjbttam  (Reading).  1217  Patent  R.  Mapeldureham.  We 
have  mapuldur  as  O.E.  for  'maple-tree'  as  early  as  c.  725 
CorptLS  Gloss.  Cf.,  too,  Maplebobough  (Alcester),  Dom.  Mapel- 
berge,  940  cJiart.  Mapildore  (Wilts),  and  1282  Close  R.  Mapel- 
treham  (Chesh.) ;  also  Maplebeck  (Notts),  Dom.  Mapelbec,  and 
Dom.  Kent  Mapledescam.    See  next,  and  -ham. 

Mapledubwell  (Basingstoke).  Grant  of  a.  675  Mapeldure — i.e., 
'  maple-tree.'    Cf.  the  name  Rowantree,  and  above. 

Mappleton  (Hull  and  Ashbourne) .  Hu.  M.  Dom.  Mapleton.  '  Town 
of  a  man  called  Maple,'  O.E.  mapel.  Men  are  often  called  after 
trees — Ash,  Birch,  Beech,  etc.     It  may  be  fr.  the  tree  alone. 

Mabazion  (Penzance).  1250  Marhasgon,  1309  Marhasyon,  1313 
Marhasion;  c.  1470  Markysowe,  Marchasyowe,  c.  1540  Leland 
Markesju,  1595  Marghas-iewe  (often  to-day  Market  Jew — a 
curious  example  of  popular  etjrmology).  The  name  is  Corn. 
marhas  Diow  (fr.  De  Yew),  '  market  on  Thursday.'  But  Diow 
must  have  had  an  older  form  Dion. 

Mabcham  (Abingdon).  B.C. 8.  iii.  427  Merchamme,  Dom.  Merce- 
ham.  '  Enclosure,'  O.E.  hamme,  '  on  the  march  or  boundary,' 
O.E.  mere,  mearc.    Mabch  itself  is  c.  1080  Merc,  1169  Merch. 


MAECHINaTON  361  MAKLBOEOUGH 

Cf.  next.  But  the  cognate  Eng.  march  is  O.Fr.  marche,  first  in 
Eng.  c.  1290  in  '  The  Marche  of  Walis/  Cf.  Mauk  and  Mark- 
ham  (Notts).    Dom.  Marcham. 

Marohinqton  (Uttoxeter) .  951  chart.  Msercham,  1004  Mercham- 
tune,  Dom.  Marchamtone,  a.  1300  Marchynton  upon  Nedwode. 
'  Town  with  the  house  on  the  march  '  or  '  boundary/  between 
Staffs  and  Derby.    See  above  and  -ing. 

Makden  (Hereford).  Dom.  Mawrdine,  1232  Close  B.  Maw-,  Mau- 
worthin.     '  Farm  of '?  perh.  Jlfaw,  one  in  Owom.     See -warden. 

Margate.  1225  Patent  B.  Meregate;  also  Mergate;  prob.  'road/ 
O.E.  geat, '  by  the  mere '  or  '  lake ',  now  drained.  For  e  become  a 
cf.  Derby,  pron.  Darby.  Cf.  Mahfleet  (Hull),  Dom.  Mereflet, 
'  river  by  the  mere.'    See  Fleet. 

Mark  (Highbridge),  Mark  Beech  (Eden  Bridge),  etc.  O.E. 
mearc,  Anghan  were,  2  marc,  4-  mark,  '  boundary,  frontier, 
Hmit,  later,  landmark.'  Cf.  847  Grant  (Dorset),  on  merce 
cumb,  and  Marcham.  Markyate  (Beds)  is  '  the  boundary 
gate  '  between  Beds  and  Herts. 

Market  Deeping  (Peterboro') .  a.  1100  Grant  of  664  Depingge, 
c.  1200  Gervase  Diepinge.  There  seems  no  Eng.  sb.  '  deeping  ' 
or  '  dippimg '  which  will  suit ;  but  cf.  '  Depenbech  '  in  Cheshire 
Dom.,  now  Malpas.  There  seems  no  helpful  name  in  Onom; 
but  see  -ing  as  denotiug  a  place  on  a  stream.  The  '  Market '  in 
all  names  with  this  prefix  seems  a  late  addition,  though  New- 
market goes  back  to  the  12th  cny. 

Market  Harborough.  Not  in  Dom.  a.  1300  Haverberg,  1517 
Harborow.  The  Oxf.  Diet,  says  =  Market  Harbour  {q.v.,  s.v.). 
But  a.  1300  shows  this  cannot  be;  it  must  be  fr.  Dan.  havre, 
'  oats.'  See  Havbrford  and  -burgh.  Harberrow  (Hagley)  is  a. 
1200 Hardberwe,  a.  1300 Herdeberue,  O.E.  hierdan  beorge, '  herds- 
man's barrow  or  burial  mound ' ;  also  cf.  Harberton  (Totnes) . 

Market  Weighton  (Yorks).  Pron.  Weeton.  Dom.  Wicstun. 
1298  Wighton,  Wyhton,  Wyghton.  From  some  man;  Weah, 
Wigheah,  and  Wiht  are  possible  names  in  Onom.  Dom.  regularly 
changes  guttural  ch  or  gh  into  5^ 

Markington  (Leeds).  Dom.  Merchintone.  'Town  of  Mearca,' 
not  in  Onom.,  or,  of  one  of  the  many  names  in  Mearc-. 

Marks  Tey  (Colchester).  J.  H.  Bound  has  shown  that  Marks  in- 
volves the  name  of  the  village  of  March,  Pas  de  Calais,  borne 
by  AdeloLf  de  Mark,  owner  of  Marks  Tey  district  in  Dom.  So 
this  name  means  '  Mark's  paddock,'  O.E.  tih,  teah,  teag.  Cf. 
Great  Tey. 

Marlborough.  Dom.  Marleberge,  1110  O.E.  Chron.  Mserlebeorg, 
1158  Merleb'ga.  Marl,  O.Fr.  marie,  is  not  found  as  an  Eng.  word 
till  1372,  nor  merle,  '  blackbird,'  till  1450.  So  this  is  prob. 
'  Barrow,  tumulus  of  Mcerle/  short  form  of  Mo&rleswegen,  4  in 

24 


MAELEY  362  MAKSTON 

Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  Wore.  Merleberg.  Marl  Cliff  (Wstrsh.), 
c.  872  chart.  Marnan  Clive,  later  Maranclive,  Mearnanclif ,  a.  1790 
Mar  Cleeve,  is  '  marble  cliff/  fr.  O.E.  marma,  here  perh.  rather 
with  its  meaning  '  stifE  clay/  which  is  the  meaning  of  O.Fr. 
marne,  marie.  Maelewood  (Thornbury),  in  its  old  forms,  1221 
to  Leland,  is  always  Morle-,  and  so  prob.  fr.  O.Fr.  morele, '  night- 
shade/ found  so  spelt  in  Eng.  fr.  c.  1265. 

Mabley  (Bingley)  and  Marley  Hill  (Swalwell,  Durham).  Sw. 
M.  1183  Merleia  and  Bin.  M.  1202  Merlegh,  which  is  prob. 
'  meadow  by  the  mere '  or  '  lake.'  0/.  Maklow,  etc.  But 
Marley  (W.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Mardelei,  Merdelai,  prob.  '  marten's 
mead/  O.E.  meai%.  Dom.  regularly  makes  th  into  d.  Cf. 
Martley. 

Marlingford  (Norwich).  Dom. Merlingeforda,  1161-62  Merlingef'-, 
1454  Marlyof  erthe,  1482  Marlyngf  orthe.  '  Ford  of  Merlin/  or 
perh.  of  his  descendants.  See  Caermarthen  and  -ing.  The 
-ferthe  or  -forth'e  for  -ford  {q.v.)  is  due  to  Norse  influence. 

Marloes  (Milford  Haven).  Tax.  Eccl.  Malros,  1603  Owen  Marlasse. 
Evidently  =Melrose  (Sc),  O.W.  masl  rhos,  '  bare  moor.' 

Marlow  (Maidenhead).  Dom.  Merlawe.  'Hill  by  the  lake  or 
mere/  O.E.  mere,  2-3  mcere,  4  marre,  5  mer.  Cf.  Marley  and 
Martin.    See  -low. 

Marown  (I.  of  Man).  Named  fr.  St.  Buny  or  Ronan,  Bp.  of  Sodor 
A.D.  600.    Ma-  is  the  common  Kelt,  endearing  prefix,  '  my  own/ 

Marple  (Manchester).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  corrup.  of  merc- 
pool,  or  '  pool,  lake  at  the  boundary.'    See  Marwood. 

Marr  (Doncaster).  Dom.  Marra,  4  times,  Marie  once  (error). 
Perh.  fr.  mar  sb.  '  a  hindrance,  obstruction,'  found  first  in  Oxf. 
Diet,  in  a.  1300  Cursor  Mundi,  fr.  O.E.  merran, '  to  mar.' 

Marrick  (Richmond,  Yorks).  Dom.  Marige,  Mange  {n  for  ri). 
Prob.  '  isle  in  the  mere.'  Cf.  Margate;  but  -ey  {q^.v.)  is  rarely 
seen  as  -ick. 

Marsham  (Norwich).  Dom.  Marsam.  Cf.  B.C.S.  496  Msersaham. 
Perh.  '  home  of  Mcersa.'  See  -ham.  On  marsh  see  next. 
Marston  Moor  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Merstone,  prob.  fr.  same  name. 

Marske  (2  in  Yorks).  Dom.  Mersc,  Mersch.  O.E.  merisc,  mersc, 
'  a  marsh.'  Seen  also  in  Little  Marsis  (Yorks)  Dom.  Parvo 
Merse,  and  Pickering  Marishes,  Dom.  Oudulvesmersc,  etc.  But 
Baddiley  derives  Marshfield  (Box),  Dom.  Meresfelde,  fr.  a 
man  Mcerwine. 

Marston  (12  in  P.O.).  Warwk.  M.  c.  1000  Merston  juxta  Avonam, 
Dom.  Mers(e)ton,  two,  also  near  Penkridge  ib.,  1327  Mershton. 
Glouc.  M.  Dom.  Merestune.  Cf.  774  cMrt.  '  Mersctun,'  (Ro- 
chester). '  Town,  dwelHng  by  the  marsh';  O.E.  mersc,  mcersc, 
merisc,  4  merss,  5-  marsh.  Cf.,  too,  Dom.  Meresberie  (Salop). 
Duignan  gives  5  Marstons  in  Warwksh.  alone. 


MARTIN  363  MATLASK 

Mabtest  (Lines,  Dover,  Salisbury).  Sa.  M.  (prob.  871  O.E.  Chron. 
Meretune),  Dom.  Mertone,  1227  Meretone.  '  Town  on  the 
mere.'  See  Mae-low  ;  and  c/.  Merton.  Martin  (Notts),  Dom. 
Martune,  on  the  borders  of  Yorks,  is  prob.  O.E.  mearc  tun, 
'  boundary  town.'  Marton  (7  in  P.G.),  Dom.  Lines  Martone, 
Yorks  Martun,  -tone,  21  times,  Mereton  4  times,  may  not 
always  be  the  same.  That  near  Leamington,  1327  Merton, 
seems  to  be;  but  in  1179-80  Pijpe  Yorks  we  have  a  '  Mareton,' 
which  might  be  fr.  O.E.  mare,  'a  goblin'  (c/.  nightmare).  In 
1157  Pipe  Cheshire  we  have  a  '  Monte  Martin,'  prob.  fr.  St. 
Martin  of  Tours,  dth  cny. 

Mabtletwy  (Pembksh.).  1603  Owew  Marteltwy.  The  first  part  is 
corrup.  of  W.  merthyr,  '  a  martyr,'  the  second  doubtful. 

Martley  (Worcester).  Dow.  Mertelai.  1275  Mertelee.  No  likely 
name  in  Onom.,  nor  can  it  be  fr.  mart,  '  market,'  or  mart,  '  an 
ox'  (see  Oxf.  Diet.,  s.v.),  so  prob.  'meadow  of  the  mart,'  dial, 
name  of  the  marten,  O.E.  mear^,  mer'6.  Cf.  foumart  and 
Marley  (W.  Riding) ;  see  -ley.  But  Marthry  (Pembk.)  c.  1130 
Lib.  Land.  Mathru,  some  thiak  to  be  W.  mai  or  ma  thru, 
'  field  of  woe  '  {tru).    Prob.  it  is  fr.  Merthyr. 

Marwood  (Barnard  Castle),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Marawude.  Mara- 
is  doubtful.  It  may  represent  a  proper  name  clipped  down.  C/. 
Onom.  under  Mar-,  Marc-,  Mear-,  Mearh-.  Prob.  it  is  fr.  O.N. 
mura,  O.E.  mare,  '  a  gobhn.'    Gf.  nightmare. 

Mary-le-bone  (London) .  1742  St.  Mary  at  the  Bourne,  or  brook — 
i.e.,  the  Tyburn.  The  Cockney  has  caused  the  liquid  r  to 
vanish. 

Maryport.  Where,  or  near  where,  Q.  Ilary  landed  in  her  flight 
from  Scotland,  1568;  but  till  1750  called  Ellenfoot. 

Masborough  (Rotherham).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  contraction  of 
'  Mcessa's, '  or  '  Masso's  burgh ' ;  both  forms  in  Onom.  Cf. 
next,  andMaisemore  (Glouc),  1221  Meismore,  later  Meyesmora, 
which  is  prob.  '  Mceg's  moor ' ;  one  in  Onom. 

Masham  (Yorks).  Sic  1296,  but  Dom.  Massan.  Prob.  as  above, 
'  Jf  assa's  home';  only  Dom.'s  form  will  be  an  irregular 
loc,  such  as  Dom.  Yorks  is  full  of,  '  at  Massa's.'  Cf.  Hal- 
lam,  etc. 

Mathern  (Chepstow).  Addit.  Lib.  Land.  Martharne,  -erne,  later 
Matharn;  prob.  W.  ma  theyrn,  '  field  of  the  king  or  lord '  {G. 
tighearn),  and  not  fr.  merthyr,  '  martyr.' 

Mathon  (Gt.  Malvern).  Dom.  Matma,  1275  Mathine,  a.  1500 
Mathan.  O.E.  ma^um,  mu^m,  '  a  precious  thing,  a  valuable 
gift ';  m  and  n  easily  interchange.     C/.  JIedomsley. 

Matlask  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Matelasc.  1453  Matelask.  Curious 
name;  looks  like  O.E.  mcete,  'small,  poor,  bad,'  and  lisk,  a  M.E. 


MATLOCK  364  MEDWAY  R. 

word  of  prob.  Scandinavian  origin,  a.  1200  lesske,  5-6  lasJce, '  the 
flank  or  loin.'    Cf.  next. 

Matlock.  Not  in  Dom.  ?  O.E.  m^te  loca,  '  small  enclosure.'  C/, 
PoBLOCK  and  above.  But  Matford  (Berkeley)  is  c.  1270  Math- 
ford,  whilst  Matson,  same  shire,  is  c.  1121  Matesdona,  1199 
Metteresd',  showing  that  this  is  for  '  Mcethhere'a  down.'    See  -don. 

Mattishall  (Dereham).  Dom.  Mateshala,  1484  Mateshal(l)e. 
'  Hall '  or  '  nook  of  Mata/    See  -hall. 

Maughold  Hd.  (I.  of  Man).  St.  Maughold  was  chief  of  an  Irish 
band  of  robbers  converted  by  St.  Patrick  and,  next  to  St.  Ger- 
man, patron  saint  of  the  Isle. 

Maxinby  (Thirsk).  Dom.  Mannebi,  Mannesbi,  1202  Magnebi,  1204 
Mageneby.  '  DweUing  of '  some  man  with  a  name  in  Magen-  or 
Msegen-.  There  are  many  in  Onom.,  Msegenfrith,  Msegenheard, 
etc.  It  can  hardly  be  fr.  the  simple  Mann,  as  in  Manseegh,  etc. 
See  -by. 

Mayfield  (4  in  P.G.).  Ashbourne  M.  Dom.  Madevelde,  a.  1300 
Mathelefell,  Matherfield,  a.  1400  Mathefeld,  Mayfield.  Prob. 
O.E.  mcethel  felda,  '  field  of  the  meeting '  or  '  council.'  Of. 
K.G.D.  1339  Metheltun.  Old  forms  needed  for  the  other  names ; 
not  in  Dom.  They  may  be  fr.  may,  '  the  hawthorn/  found  so 
used  a.  1548.    Meaburn  (E.  Oambld.)  is  1120Maiburn;  ?  meaning. 

Mayeord  (Woking).  955  chart.  Mse^^e  forda.  '  Virgin's  ford.' 
O.E.  ?W0B3tS  or  mce^eb,  '  a  maid,  a  virgin.' 

Meas-,  Meesden  (Herts),  a.  1300  Mesdune.  O.E.  meos  dun, 
'  mossy  hill.' 

Mease  E..  (Derbysh.  and  Warwick)  and  Mees  R.  (Staffs).  O.E. 
meos  ;  O.N.  mose,  '  moss,'  found  in  Eng.  c.  1639  meese,  and  still 
in  S.W.  dial,  meesh.  So,  '  mossy '  river.  Measham  (Ather- 
stone)  is  Dom.  Messeham,  and  Mill  Meese  (Stone)  is  Dom. 
Mess,  a.  1400  Mulneme(e)s,  which  gives  us  the  old  forms  of  both 
river  names.    Cf.,  too,  Measden  and  Missenden. 

Medmenham  (Marlow).  Dom.  Medemeha.  'Home  of  prob. 
'  Moethhelm,'  one  in  Onom.  Dom.  regularly  makes  th  into  d, 
and  liquid  I  easily  vanishes.    Cf.  next. 

Medomsley  (Co.  Durham) .  1211  Madmesl'.  Prob. '  Meadow  of  the 
valuable  gift,'  see  Mathon;  it  is  found  in  c.  1200  Ormin.  in  pi. 
as  Tnaddmess.  If  a  man's  name  be  preferred,  it  may  be  found  in 
Mceldomen  or  Meldum,  var.  of  Mailduf,  or  in  McBthhelm,  as 
above.    See  -ley. 

Med  way  R.  a.  1000  chart.  Msedw8e3a,  1016  O.E.  Chron.  Medew8e3a, 
a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Meodewage,  1215  Mag.  Chart.  Medewaj^e. 
Perh.  O.E.,  fr.  mcBd,  '  a  meadow,'  and  waga,  '  deep  waters  ' 
(M'Clure) .  But  some  think,  W.  med  gwy,  '  water,  river  which  is 
extended  or  full.'    Cf.  R.  Wey  and  Maidstone. 


MEED  HAM  365  MELTON 

Mebdham  (Rochester).  774  chart.  Msedham.  'Home  on  tHe 
ineadow  ';  O.E.  moBd,  '  a  mead  ';  though  Dom.  Kent  Meddestan 
suggests  a  man's  name.  See  -ham.  Meeth  (Devon)  may  also 
be  fr.  meed,  but  is  doubtful. 

Meerbeook  (Leek).  '  Brook  on  the  boundary  ';  O.E.  mcsre  ;  M.E. 
moer,  mer.  Of.  1241  Newminst.  Chart.  Usque  ad  Merethorne. 
But  Meresbbook  (Sheffield)  and  Dom.  Meresbroc  (Salop)  may 
be  fr.  O.E.  mere,  '  a  lake."  Cf.  940  chart.  Mserhlinc,  Wiley 
(Wilts),  '  links  at  the  boundary.'  Meering  (Notts),  Dom.  Mer- 
inge,  is  a  patronymic. 

Meieord  (Welshpool) .  Prob.  W.  mai  fod,  aspirated  fr.  bod,  '  field 
with  the  house  or  hut  in  it.' 

MELBOTJRisrE  (Cambs,  Derby,  and  E.  Riding).  Cam.  M.  chart. 
Meldebume,  Dom.  MeUebume,  1661  Fuller  Meldebum.  *  Brook 
of  Melda.'  Cf.  Meldreth.  De.  M.  Dom.  Milebume  (3  times), 
Somerset  Meleburne.  There  are  also  1157  Pipe  Meleburna 
(Northumberland),  and  another  in  1158  in  Wilts.  But  M.,  E. 
Riding,  is  Dom.  Middelbume,  Midelbome,  '  middle  brook.'  Cf. 
Melton.     See  -bourne. 

Meldreth  (Royston,  Herts),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Meldrethe, 
Dom.  MeLrede.  '  Melda'a  enclosure.'  See  Melbourne,  and 
Shepreth  near  by. 

Melksham  (Wilts).  Dom.  Melchesha,  1155  Pipe  Melchesham,  1223 
Melkesham.  '  Home  of  Melc,'  or  the  like.  No  such  name  in 
Onom.     See  -ham. 

Melltng  (Carnforth).  Dom.  Mellinge.  Cf.  Malling.  Prob.  a 
patronymic. 

Mellis  (Eye,  Suffolk).  Dom.  Melles,  and  Mells  (Frome),  ?  Dom. 
Mulle.  Cf.  Dom.  Melas  and  Mele  (Chesh.).  W.  melys, '  sweet,'  is 
not  Kkely;  prob.  all  are  fr.  O.N.  mel-r,  *a  sandbank,'  also  'bent 
grass.'  Meals  or  miols  are  the  common  name  for  *  sand-dunes ' 
on  the  shores  of  Norfolk,  Lanes,  etc.  See  Oxf.  Diet.,  s.v.  meal 
sb^.  Cf.  Melford  (Sc.)  and  Meols.  Duignan  thinks  Melly 
(Halesowen),  a.  1200  Melley,  to  be  a  form  of  mill,  O.E.  mylen, 
1  myll,  4-6  melle  ;  if  so  the  -ey  must  be  a  dimin.     Cf.  Mtlwich. 

Mellor  (Blackburn  and  Stockport).  Not  in  Dom.  W.  maelawr, 
*  a  place  of  traffic,'  cf.  Maelor,  a  hundred  in  Flint,  is  conceiv- 
able. But  prob. ,  O.N.  mel-r,  'a  sandbank,'  or  'bent  grass.' 
The  N.  nominative  ending  r  seldom  survives  in  a  name. 

Melmerby  (E.  Cumberland  and  N.  Yorks).  Dom.  Yorks  Mai-, 
Mehnerbi ;  1202  Tories  Fines  Melmorbi.  '  Dwelling  of  Melmor  '  ; 
one  is  known  in  the  days  of  K.  Eadred,  c.  950.     See  -by. 

Melsonby  (Darlington).  Dom.  Malsenebi.  'Dwelling  of  some 
unknown  man,  perh.  Mcerleswegen  or  Merleswain.     See  -by. 

Melton  (Brough,  Yorks,  and  Woodbridge) .  Dom.  Yorks  Medeltone 
— i.e.,  *  middle  town.'    M.  Constable  (King's  Ljnm),  Dom. 


MELVERLEY  366  MEOLE  BRACE 

Meltuna,  was  held  under  the  Bps.  of  Thetford  by  their  hereditary 
constables,  the  de  Lyons  or  de  Meltons.  Little  Melton  (Norwich) 
is  Dom.  Meltun  parva.  M.  Mowbray,  Dom.  Medeltun,  is  called 
after  the  family  who  once  held  lands  here.  Roger  de  Morihray, 
or  Mouhray,  is  on  the  Roll  of  Battle  Abbey  (1066,  or  later), 
c.  1175  Fantosme  Munbrai,  1179-80  Pipe  Molbrai,  a.  1200  Wm. 
Newbury  Monbrai ;  origin  doubtful.  There  is  a  Mowbray  south 
of  Silloth.  Some  of  the  Meltons — e.g.,  in  Norfolk — may  possibly 
be  as  in  Mellis,  '  village  on  the  sand-dune.'  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey 
Meldone.  Meltonby  (E.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Meltebi,  '  dwelling  of 
Melte  '  or  '  Malte  ';  2  in  Onom.  The  n  is  sign  of  the  gen.  Cf. 
Meltham  (Huddersfield). 

Melverley.    See  Milverton. 

MJELYNLLYiir  (Llaurwst).  W.  'yellow  lake';  W.  felyn,  'yellow,' 
unaspirated.    Cf.  DimFERMLiNE  (Sc). 

Menai  Straits  (Bangor) .  There  is  a  Menei  in  Taliessin,  but  the  name 
here  seems  to  date  only  from  the  construction  of  the  great  bridge. 
It  is  supposed  to  be  W.  main  gwy,  '  narrow  water  '  or  '  strait.' 

Mekdham  (Harleston).  Dom.  Mendaham.  Cf.  1179-80  Pipe 
Mendham  (Lanes) .  This  must  be  '  home  of  Menda/  an  unre- 
corded name.    See  -ham. 

Mendip  Hills  (Somerset),  a.  1100  cMrt.  in  Wm.  Malmesb.  Mons 
Munidop,  1284  Close  R.  Munedep,  1290  chart.  Menedipp. 
Prob.  not  fr.  W.  mynydd ;  Corn,  menit,  menyth,  '  a  hill.' 
'  Munidop '  prob.  means, '  enclosed  land  in  a  privileged  district ' ; 
see  Minety  and  -hope.  Menith  Wood,  Lindridge  (Wore),  is 
1718  Meneth,  but  a.  1300  Menhey  wood,  so  that  the  mod.  form 
must  be  corrupt. 

Menheniot  (Liskeard).  1536  Menhynyott.  Corn,  maen  hen  Neot, 
'  old  rock  of  Neot,'  eldest  brother  of  K.  Alfred.    Cf.  St.  Neots. 

Menston  (Leeds).  Dom.  Mersintone.  'Town  of  McBvsa';  gen. 
-san.    Cf.  Marsham.    The  liquid  r  has  disappeared ! 

Mentmobe  (Leighton  Buzzard).  Dom.  Mentemore.  It  looks  Kelt. 
=  W.  mynydd  mawr.  Corn,  menit  meur  or  mur,  'big  hiU.'  Cf. 
Mendep  and  Penmaenmawr.  There  is  no  name  like  Mente  in 
Onom.,  but  an  origin  fr.  O.E.  minte,  3-7  mente,  '  mint,'  any  plant 
of  the  aromatic  genus  Mentha,  is  quite  possible,  and  so  *  mint 
moor.'  Duignan  derives  Monmore  (Wolverhampton)  fr.  W. 
mawn  mawr,  '  great  bog,'  but  it  is  1327  Monnemere,  which  must 
mean  '  lake  of  Monne,  Monna,'  or  '  Monn,'  all  fairly  common 
names  in  Onom. 

Meole  Brace  (Shrewsbury),  Meols  (Wirral),  and  Meols  Cop 
(Southport).  Dom.  Salop  Melicope,  Melela.  Prob.  not  fr.  W. 
moel,  '  a  conical  hill,'  with  Eng.  plur.  s,  but  fr.  O.N.  mel-r,  '  a 
sand  dune,'  a  'meal.'  See  Mellis.  AsMielle  it  is  common  in 
Channel  Is.  Brace  is  a  mining  term  for  'the  mouth  of  a  shaft,' 
and  Cop  is  O.E.  cop,  copp,  '  top,  summit.' 


MEON  R.  367  MERTHYR  TYDVIL 

Meon  E.  (S.  Hants),  and  Meonstoke  (Bp's.  Waltham).  932  chart. 
To  Meone.  Thought  to  contain  the  same  root  as  Bede's  province 
of  the  Meanuari,  O.E.  vers.  Meanwara,  '  dwellers  in  Mean/  We 
can  say  no  more.  SeeSTOKE.  There  is  also  Meon  (Glouc),  1164 
Muna,  1221  Meen,  which  must  be  the  same. 

Meopham  (Gravesend).  940  chart.  Meapeham,  Meapham;  Dom. 
Mepeham.     '  Home  of  Mmpa/ 

Mepal  (Ely).  1302-1428  Mephale.  'Nook  or  corner  of  Meapa/ 
Cf.  above  and  -hall. 

Mere  (Wilts  and  Knutsford).  Wilt.  M.  Dom.  Mere,  Mera;  1155 
Pipe  Mera.  O.E.  mcere,  ^emcere,  '  a  boundary,  a  landmark,' 
or  else  mere, '  lake ' ;  these  have  often  been  drained  of  recent  years. 

Meriden  (Coventry).  1398  Muridene,  1440  Meryden,  c.  1550 
Alspathe,  alias  Myredene.  Prob.  not '  merry  vale,'  but  fr.  miry, 
4-6  myry,  6-7  myrie,  6  myerry,  7  merie,  fr.  mire ;  O.N.  myrr,  4-6 
myr,  4  mure,  muyre,  'boggy,  swampy  ground.'  Cf.  Mtreield 
and  the  name  Merry  lees.  See  -den.  Merry  Brook,  Cropthome 
(Wore),  may  have  a  similar  origin. 

Merioneth.  Named  after  Merion,  grandson  of  Cunedda  Wledig; 
the  -eth  or  -ydd  is  an  enclitic  particle,  with  no  very  clear 
meaning. 

Merriott  (Crewkeme).  Dom.  Merret.  [?  cf.  859  chart.  Meritie 
stret  to  Senfeling  forde.]  Perh.  '  island  in  the  lake '  or  mere, 
fr.  AIT  {q.v.  in  Oxf.  Diet.),  2-8  eyt,, '  island.' 

Mersea  (Essex) .  895  O.E.  Chron.  Meresig ;  O.E.  =  '  isle  in  the  mere ' 
or  'lake';  Dom.  Meresai.  Cf.  Dom.  Mersse  (Salop),  Merse 
(Bucks),  and  Merestone,  now  Merston  (I.  of  Wight);  also 
Merstowa  (Somerset),  1231  Patent  R.    See  -ea. 

Mersey  R.  a.  1100  Mserse.  Doubtful.  Prob.  'river  of  the 
boundary,'  from  O.E.  {ge)mcere,  '  boundary,  march,'  and  Sa,  i, 
1-3  ce,  '  river.'  The  Mers-  may  be  fr.  '  marsh,'  O.E.  mersc, 
rtherisc.  Cf.  Dom.  Cheshire  Mersham,  also  name  of  a  village  near 
Ashford,  and  1179-80  Pipe  Mershon  (Yorks).  Cf.,  too,  the 
Mearse  (Bromsgrove),  ?  *  the  boundary,'  of  which  name  there  are 
no  old  forms;  and  see  Mersea  and  Merstham. 

Merstham  (Bed  Hill  and  Ashford).  Red.  M.  Dom.  Merstan.  Prob. 
'  stone  at  the  boundary  ';  O.E.  moere  (gemcere)  stan  ;  -an  easily 
becomes  -ham  {q.v.). 

Merthyr  Tydvil  or  Tydeil.  W.  for  '  martyr  Tydvil.'  She  was 
daughter  of  Brychan,  Keltic  chief  in  S.  Wales  in  5th  cny.  With 
her  father  and  brother  she  was  murdered  here,  and  a  church 
was  erected  in  her  memory.  Cf.  Merthyr  Cynog  (Brecon). 
C,  son  of  Brychan,  was  murdered  by  the  Saxon  pagans.  The 
same  root  is  prob.  found  corrupted  to  Marthrey  (Pembrk.),  c.  1130 
Lib.  Land.  Marthru,  Mathru;  c.  1190  Qir.  Camb.  Martru^ 


MEETON  368  MIDDLESEX 

Merton  (Surrey  and  Dolton,  Devon).  Sur.  M.  O.E.  Chron.  755 
Merantun,  is  '  town  of  the  mare ';  O.E.  mere,  -ran ;  Dom.  Mere- 
toni.  Other  Mertons — e.g.,  Dom.  Devon  Mertone — will  be= 
Mabton. 

Messingham  (Brigg).  Sic  a.  1100  clmrt.  A  patronymic,  as  shown 
by  Messing  (Kelvedon).  There  is  one  monk  Messa,  gen.  -san, 
in  Onom.  Cf.  Great  Massingham  (King's  Lynn),  1179-80  Pipe 
Mesington  (Yorks),  and  K.C.D.  721  Msessan  wyrth.  Also  cf. 
Missenden. 

Mesty  Croft  (Wednesbury).  Prob.  'field,  little  farm  of  Meste.' 
Cf.  Dom.  Derby  Mestesford. 

Methley  (Leeds).  Dom.  Medelai.  As  Dom.  for  Middleton  is 
Medeltone,  this  is  prob.  'middle  meadow,'  the  Meth.  being 
influenced  by  O.N.  mith-r,  'mid.'  Cf.  Middop  ('mid  hope,' 
q.v.),  Craven;  Dom.  Mithope;  and  Dom.  Yorks  '  Mith  Hundret ' 
— i.e.,  '  Middle  Hundred.'    See  -ley. 

MEXBOBOUGH(Rotherham).  Dow.  Mechesburg.  Prob.  1202  7or^ 
Fines  Merlns-,  Morkisburg ;  1206  Merkesburgh.  '  Burgh ,  fort  of,' 
it  is  not  certain  what;  perh.  some  name  in  Mearc-  or  Marc-,  if 
the  latter  identification  be  right.  But  if  Dom.  is  right,  then  fr. 
some  man  Mecca,  Mecco,  or  Mecga,  aU  names  in  Onom.  See 
-boro'. 

Micheldever  (Winchester).  Dom.  Miceldevre.  Looks  like  O.E. 
micel,  *  great ' ;  Sc.  muchle ;  and  Kelt,  dever,  '  water,  river.' 
Cf.  Dover.  There  is  no  river  nearer  than  the  Itchen.  Cf. 
1322  '  le  Mikeldor  de  Yowberg  '  (Wastwater),  and  1160-61  Pipe 
Hants  Micheldene.  There  is  another  Micheldean,  old  Muchel- 
dene  (Forest  of  Dean). 

MiCHELNEY  or  MucHELNEY  (Somerset).  Dom.  Michelniu,  a.  1130 
^m.I>Mr.Micelnei,c.  \\\4:  O.E.  Chron. M.jGld.m^Q.  O.E.=  '  great 
island,'  O.E.  ij.    The  n  is  the  accus.  inflexion. 

Mjckleby  (Yorks).  Dom.  Michelbi.  Mickxeham  (Dorking) .  Dom. 
Michelham.  Micklethwaite  (W.  Riding).  Dom.  Muceltuoit, 
-tuit,  1202  Fin^  Micle-,  Mikelthwaite.  Mickleton  (Campden, 
Glouc).  1005  chart.  Micclantun,  Dom.  Muceltune;  whilst 
M.  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Micleton.  All  fr.  O.E.  micel,  micle, 
mycel,  'great';  in  Sc.  muchle.  See  -by,  -ham,  -thwaite,  and 
-ton. 

Middlesborough.  <S'icl586.  Prob. 'ilfai7(Zw/'s  town.'  C/.Malmes- 
bury;  and  see  -borough.  But,  of  course,  Middleham  (Yorks), 
Dom.  Middelha',  is  '  middle  house,'  and  Middlewich 
(Chesh.)  the  same,  though,  by  a  scribe's  freak,  Dom.  spells  it 
Mildest  vie. 

Middlesex.  1011  O.E.  Chron.  Middelseaxe,  1087  ih.  Middelsex. 
'  Land  of  the  Middle  Saxons.'    Cf.  Essex,  Sussex,  Wessex. 


MIDDLETON  369  MILWICH 

MiDDLETON  (21  in  P.G.).  Tamworth  M.  Dom.  Mideltone,  King's 
Lynn  M.  Dom.  Middeltona,  etc.  Cf.  Milton.  We  findMidel-, 
Middeltun,  19  times  in  Yorks  Dom.,  whilst  Middleton  (Morley) 
is  Dom.  Mildentone,  '  town  of  MiUa.'    Cf.  Melbourne. 

Mtdgham  (Berks).  K.C.D.  iii.  193,  196  Mieghsema  gemsera;  Dom. 
Migeham,  1316  Migham.  Cf.  1161-62  Pipe  Migehal  close  by. 
'  Home  of  the  midges  ' ;  O.E.  mycg,  micg.    See  -ham. 

MiDGLEY  (Luddenfoot,  Yorks).  Dom.  Micleie.  O.E.  micel,  '  great 
ledge  '  and  Uah, '  meadow.'  Migley  (Co.  Durham)  1183  Migleia, 
is  prob.  the  same  name.  Cf.  Mitcham.  The  dg  is  palatalized  c, 
cf.  Badgeworthy. 

Mildenhall  (Suffk.  and  Marlbro').  Suf.  M.  Dom.  Mildentune  and 
Mitdenehalla  {t  for  I),  1158-59  Pipe  Mildehala.  Ma.  M.  Dom. 
Mildenhalle.  '  Comer  of  Milda/  one  such  woman  in  Oiiom. 
See  -hall. 

Miles  Platting  (Manchester) .  Miles  is  presumably  a  man's  name. 
Platting  is  '  a  small  foot-bridge.'    See  Oxf.  Diet.  (s.v.). 

MiLFORD  Haven,  c.  1190  Girald.  Milverdicus  portus  (harbour), 
c.  1425  Melyford,  c.  1450  Mylford,  1593  Millford  Ha  von.  Milford 
is  prob.=  MELroRD  (Sc),  'sandy  bay'  or  'fjord,'  N.  mel-r,  'a 
sand-dune'  or  'sandbank/  and  fjord.  Cf.  Waterford.  The 
-icus,  c.  1190,  is  adjectival.  There  was  a  Rhyd  y  felin,  or  'ford 
of  the  mill/  only  a  mile  away,  but  this  cannot  be  the  origin  of 
the  present  name.  North  Milford  (Tadcaster)  is  Dom.  Mileford, 
'  ford  at  the  mill ';  O.E.  mylen  and  myll. 

MiLLBANK  (London).    Sic  a.  1560. 

MiLLiNGTON  (Yorks).  Dom.  Mileton,  1206  Fines  Milington.  '  Town 
of  Mile  '  or  '  Milo  ';  4  of  the  latter  in  Onom.     See  -ing. 

MiLLOM  (S.  Cumberland).  Old  forms  needed.  Perh.  mill-holm,  a 
*  holm,'  O.E.  and  Dan.  holm,  O.N.  holm-r,  is  a  small  island  in  a 
river,  and  also  a  flat  meadow  near  a  river  or  the  sea,  easily 
flooded. 

Milton  (20  in  P.O.).  Some  of  these  are  prob.  'mill-town,'  but 
M.  Kent  or  Essex  is  893  O.E.  Ghron.  Middeltun,  c.  1120  Henr. 
Hunt.  Middletune.  Milton  Abbey  (Dorset)  is  also  old  Middle- 
tune,  so  is  Milton  (Cambs),  while  Milton  (Abingdon)  is  Dom. 
Middeltune,  1291  Middelton,  c.  1540  Milton.  Milton  (Cumbld.) 
is  1230  Muleton,  which  is  O.E.  mylen,  3-4  mulle,  'a  mill.' 
Milburn  (Pontefract)  is  1201  Milneburn,  or  '  mill -brook.'  Cf. 
Middleton. 

MiLVERTON  (Warwick  and  Somerset).  Wa.  M.  Dom.  Malvertone, 
a.  1200  Melv-,  Mulvertone.  Som.  M.  c.  1043  chart.  Milferton, 
Dow. Milvertone.  'Villagejtownof  Jfi^/er.'  C/. Mel verley (Salop). 

MiLWicH  (Stone).  Dom.  Melewiche,  a.  1200  Mulewich.  'Village, 
dwelling  with  the  mill.'    See  Milton  and  -wich. 


MIMMS  370  MISSENDEN 

MiMMS  (Herts).  Dom.  Mimmise,  1278  Mjaninys.  This  is  simply 
'  abode  of  the  Mimmas.'  Onom.  has  only  Minna.  This  is  an 
abnormal  name. 

MiNAUD  (St.  Grerman's).  Corn,  min  arth,  '  edge  of  the  height.'  Cf. 
Miniard  (Worcs.),  where  the  central  i  will  be  the  y  of  the  W. 
article.    Not  the  same  as  Minaiid  (Sc). 

MmcHnnTAMFTON  (Stroud).  Dom.  Hantone,  a.  1300  Munnechen-, 
Monneken-,  Mynchyn-,  Munchun-  hampton — i.e.,  Hampton — 
'home-town  of  the  monks';  O.E.  monec,  munec,  here  gen.  pi. 
Cf.  Grant  a.  675,  Menechene  Rude  or  Monk's  Cross,  on  borders 
of  Hants  and  Surrey. 

MiNDRUM  or  -DB.IM  (N.  Northumberland).  Old  Minethrum,  1324 
Mundrum.  Seems  a  curious  hybrid  and  tautology.  W. 
mynydd  ;  Corn,  menit,  '  hill ' ;  and  G.  druim,  '  hill-ridge.'  Drum 
is  very  common  in  Sc.  place-names,  cognate  with  L.  dorsum, 
'  back.'    Cf.  next. 

Mtndton  or  MiNTON  (Salop).  Dom.  Munetune.  Prob.  not  hybrid, 
'  town  beside  the  hill '  (the  Longmynds) ;  W.  mynydd ;  Corn. 
menit,  '  a  hill.'  But,  like  Minety  (Wilts),  not  in  Dom.  and  not 
in  a  Kelt,  region,  it  will  prob.  go  with  Meend,  a  name  common  in 
Forest  of  Dean,  1263  Mihinde,  1281  La  Mimede,  1303  Miinde, 
now  derived  by  Rev.  A.  L.  Mayhew  fr.  an  O.E.  or  rather  Anglo- 
Nor.  form  of  low  L.  munita,  for  immunitas,  '  privileged  district, 
one  free  from  seignorial  rights.'  Cf.  Mint  (Westmld.),  Dom. 
Munet,  and  Munet. 

MrNSHULL  Vernon  (Cheshire).  Dom.  Manessele,  -shale.  'Nook, 
corner  of  Manne '  or  '  Man{n)a/  a  common  name  in  Onom. 
This  is  one  of  the  very  rare  cases  where  -hull  is  really  -hall  (q.v.). 

Minskip  (York).    Dom.  Minescip.    Must  be  rendered  like  Inskcp. 

MiNSTERLEY  (Shrewsbury) .  Dom.  Menistrelie.  '  Church  meadow.' 
Cf.  MiNSTERWORTH  (Glouc),  1221  Munstreworthe,  and  Dom. 
Notts  Ministretone,  now  and  since  1316  Misterton.  See  -ley, 
-minster,  and  -worth. 

MiNwoRTH  (Birmingham).  Dom.  Meneworde,  a.  1200  Muneworth, 
a.  1400  Myneworth.  No  name  Mene,  Mine  known;  and  O.E. 
mene,  myne  is  '  a  necklace,  an  ornament ' ;  but  there  is  a  name 
Manne ;  see  Minshttll.    See  -worth. 

MiRMELD  (Yorks).  Dom.  Mirefeld,  -felt;  1202  Mirfeld;  ?  1297 
R.  Glouc.  520.  '  The  churche  founded  in  a  miry  place,  called 
mury  felde  ' ;  fr.  Icel.  myrr,  myri,  '  swamp,  fen,  a  (quag)mire.' 

MissENDEN,  Great  and  Little  (Bucks).  Dom.  Missedene  and 
Missevorde.  Perh.  '  Vale  of  Missa  '  or  '  Messa  ';  one  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Messingham;  and  see  -den.  However,  they  are  on  a  little 
R.  Mise,  which,  if  not  a  back  formation,  is  prob.=  Mees.  There 
is  also  a  Misson   (Bawtry),  Dom.  Notts  Misne,    1278  Misin, 


MITCHAM  371  MOLD 

which  is  prob-  an  old  loc.  'at  Missa's,'  (place).  Missebden 
(Glouc),  old  Musardere,  -ader,  seems  to  be  fr.  a  foreign  family 
of  Musard. 

MiTCHAM  (Surrey).  Dom.  Michleham,  later  Miecham,  Micham. 
O.E.  micel  Mm,  '  large  house.'  Of.  Mickleham,  Mtdglby,  and 
Mitcheldean  (Glouc).     See  -dean. 

Mitchell  (New  Quay).  Old  Modishole.  A  curious  corruption; 
certainly  nothing  to  do  with  St.  Michael.  Prob.  'Hole  of 
Modred,'  a  Corn,  name,  also  spelt  Medraut,  and  name  of  K. 
Arthur's  treacherous  nephew.  But  Mitchel  (Wolverhampton) 
is  1332  Mucheale,  '  great  hall '  or  '  big  nook.'  See  -hall.  Much 
in  M.E.  was  used  for  '  great,  large,'  as  in  Much  Wenlock. 

Mite  R.    Prob.  =  Mythe. 

MiTFORD  (Morpeth).  Prob.  '  ford  at  the  water's  meet.'  See  next; 
and  c/.  MuTFORD  and  940  chart.  Myjjford  (Wilts). 

MiTTON  (Blackburn,  Warwick,  Penkridge,  Stourport,  Tewkesbury). 
St.  M.  841  chart.  Mjrthun,  Dom.  Methune,  1275  Mutton.  Tew. 
M.  964  chart.  Myttune,  965  ih.  Muctone  (c  common  error  for  t), 
1033  Mytune.  Wa.  M.  Dom.  Mutone,  a.  1300  Mutton.  Pe.  M. 
Dom.  Mui-,  Moitone ;  also  Dom.  Salop  Mutone.  O.E.  {ge)mythan 
or  {ge)mythe,  '  junction  of  streams  or  roads,  waters'  meet.' 
Penk.  M.  is  at  the  junction  of  Avon  and  Learn.  The  root  is  the 
same  as  (river's)  mouth.  Cf.  MrrroRD,  Mythe,  and  Myton; 
'    also  see  -ton. 

MxKEN  (Leek),  1219  Mixne,  and  Mixenden  (Halifax),  not  in  Dom. 
O.E.  mixen,  -ne,  '  a  dunghill,  a  midden.'  Cf.  Mixebne  (Winch- 
combe),  1300  Blakemixeme  (O.E.  em,  '  house  ').    See  -den. 

Mobbebley  (Knutsford).  Dom.  Motburlege,  'Meadow  of  Mod- 
beorht ' ;  2  in  Onom.    See  -ley. 

MocHDRE  (Conway).  W.  (and  Corn.)  moch,  pi.  of  mochyn,  '  a  sow  ' ; 
dre  must  be  for  W.  tre,  '  house,  shed.' 

Modbury  (Ivybridge).  Cf.  Dom.  Devon  Modlei.  '  Burgh  of  Mod,* 
or  some  of  the  many  names  in  Mod-.  Onom.  has  one  Moding, 
the  patronymic. 

MoDDERSHALL  (Stouc).  Dom.  Modrcdcshale.  'Nook  of  Modred/ 
a  well-known  name.    See  -hall. 

MoELFRE  (Menai  and  Oswestry).  W.=  'bald  hill';  moil,  'bald,' 
like  a  bald  head,  hence  moel,  '  a  conical  hill.'  Fre  is  for  hre,  '  a 
hill,  a  brae.' 

Mold  (Flint) .  Mold  is  contracted  fr.  mo  -alt ;  Norm.  Fr.  Mont  haut 
or  MonthauU.  The  Norman  Roger  de  Montalto  is  found  here  in 
1244.  L.  mons  alius  means  '  high  hill.'  Cf.  Melton  Mowbray, 
and  Montgomery.  The  na^me  prob.  is  a  translation  of  the 
W.  name  Gwyddgrug,  '  conspicuous  hill.'    Also  cf.  Hainault. 


MOLE  E.  372  MONTACUTE 

Mole  E.  (S.  tributary  of  Thames).  It  is  a  river  that  burrows  like 
a  mole  ;  M.E.  mulle,  molle  ;  M.Du.  mol.  Not  found  in  Eng.  till 
1398.  But  Mole  Cop,  hill,  N.  Stafford,  is  prob.  tautology;  W. 
moel,  'a  bare,  rounded  hill';  and  O.E.  cop,  'a  summit/  See 
Cassop.    It  may  be  Dom.  Melicope  (Salop). 

MoLEswoRTH  (Huuts).  Dom.  Molesworde.  '  Farm  of  Moll ';  four 
in  Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  Essex  Molesham,  ib.  Bucks  Moleshov,  ib. 
Yorks  Molescroft ;  and  see  -worth. 

# 

MoLLAJfTD  BoTREATJX  (S.  Molton).  Exon.  Dom.  Mollanda.  Prob. 
*  Land  of  Moll '  or  '  Mole.'  See  above.  The  lords  of  Bottreaux 
lived  near  Tintagel.  Moleston  or  Molleston  (Narberth),  1283 
Moylhistonne,  may  be  fr.  a  man  of  similar  name.  Certainly  it 
can  have  nothing  to  do  with  moles ! 

Mollington  (Banbury  and  Cheshire).  Ban.  M.  a.  1000  chart. 
Mollintun;  Ches.  M.  Dom.  Mol-,  Muhntone;  also  K.C.D.  759 
Mulantun.  '  Town  of  Moll,  Mollo,  Mul,'  or  '  Mula ';  several 
persons  of  these  names  in  Onom.  Cf.,  too,  Moleswobth  and 
1179-80  Pipe  Molebi  (Yorks).  But  Moilgrove  (Pembroke)  is 
for  MaWs — i.e.,  '  Matilda's  grove.' 

Molton,  South  (Devon).  Dom.  Sudmoltone.  'Town  of  Moll.' 
See  above.    Exon.  Dom.  also  gives  '  Molacota.'    Cf.  Moulton. 

Monks  Eleigh  (Bildeston,  Suffk.).  958  cMrt.  Uleyge,  972  ib. 
Ulan  lege,  990  i6.  Illege.  'Mead  of  Ylla';  one  in  Onom.  Cf. 
Illey;  and  see  -leigh. 

MoNKSiLVER  (Taunton) .  Dom.  Selvra,  Selva.  Curious  name,  prob. 
fr.  L.  silva,  '  a  wood.'  Monk's  Ktbby  (Lutterworth)  is  Dom. 
Chirchberye  or  '  Churchbury,'  but,  through  Danish  influence, 
changed  by  1198  into  Kjrkebi.  See  -by.  The  monks  of  Anglers 
(Normandy)  had  property  here. 

Monkton  (Jarrow).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Munecatun.  '  Town  of  the 
monks  '  (of  Jarrow) ;  O.E.  monec,  munec,  *  a  monk.'  Cf.  Bishop 
Monkton  and  Monkwick  (E.  Riding),  Dom.  Moncwic.  Oxf.  Diet. 
does  not  give  the  contracted  form  monk  or  munc  until  the  13th 
cny.  Dom.  has  the  full  form  in  Monechetune  or  Moor  Monkton 
(Ainsty),  and  Monuchetone — i.e.,  Monkton  (Barkston  Ash), 
whilst  another,  spelt  as  last,  is  Nun  Monkton  (York) . 

MoNMORE.     See  Mentmore. 

Monmouth.  Dom.  (Hereford)  Monemuta.  1298  Monemuthe.  'At 
the  mouth  of  the  E,.  Monnow ';  W.  Mynwy,  ?  myn  gwy,  '  kid 
river.'  Cf.  also  W.  mawn,  '  a  bog.'  The  shire  only  dates  fr. 
1536  ;  before  that  it  was  part  of  the  Welsh  region  of 
Gwent. 

Montacute  (S.  of  Somerset).  1160-61  Pipe  Monte  Acuto.  Built 
by  and  called  after  Drogo  of  Montacute  ('  sharp  hill ')  in  Nor- 
mandy, temp.  Wm.  the  Conqueror. 


MONTGOMERY  373  MORNINGTHORPE 

Montgomery.  Dom.  Castellum  de  Montgomeri,  also  Muntgmneri ; 
c.  1130  Eadmer  de  Monte  Gummeri,  c.  1145  Orderic  Mons 
Gomerici,  Rogerius  de  Monte  Gomerici.  '  Hill '  (L.  mons,  -Us; 
Fr.  mont)  '  of  Gomeric/  a  Norman;  this  name  is  imique  as  an 
Eng.  or  W.  comity  name.  In  W.  it  is  Trefaldwyn,  '  house  of 
Baldwin/  its  Norman  foimder.  His  castle  was  taken  by  Roger 
Montgomery  a.  1086,  and  thereafter  called  by  his  name. 

MoNTON  (Eccles,  Lanes) .  1478  Mawnton.  Prob.  O.E.  Mawan  -tun, 
'  town  of  Mawa  ';  2  of  that  name  in  Onom. 

MooRSHOLM,  Great  and  Little  (Boosbeck,  Yorks) .  Dom.  Morehusun, 
1179-80  Pipe  Morhuse.  The  Dom.  form  is  an  O.E.  loc,  '  at  the 
moor  houses.'  The  -holm  {q.v.),  '  meadow/  must  be  late.  We 
have  the  simple  Moor  (Wore),  Dom.  More. 

MoRCHARD  and  Norchard  (Forest  of  Dean).  No  old  forms. 
Baddeley  thinks  the  m  and  n  reUcs  of  the  O.E.  article,  '  at  the 
orchard';  O.E.  cet  thcem  ortgearde.  Dom.  has  an  Orcartone 
(Devon),  and  Exon.  Dom.  an  Orcerdleia.  But  Morchard  Bp. 
(Crediton)  seems  Dom.  and  Exon.  D.  Morcet(h),  -chet,  which 
looks  like  Kelt,  for  'big  wood';  Corn,  wewr,  mer ;  W.  mawr, 
'  big  ';  and  W.  coed,  pi.  coydd;  O.W.  cet,  chet, '  a  wood.' 

MoRDEN  (Cambs,  Wimbledon,  and  Wareham).    War.  M.  K.G.D. 

722  Mordun;  O.E.  for  'moor  hill.'    Cam.  M.  c.  1080  Inquis. 

Camb.  Mordune,  1166  Mordone,  1236  Mordene,  where  -dene  is 

O.E.  denu,   'valley.'    Cf.  Moorsholm,  and  Moreby  (Yorks), 

Dom.  Morebi. 
MoREOAMBE.    c.  150  PtoUmy  MopuKafjifSr],  which  would  .be  Keltic 

for  '  crooked  sea '  or  '  bay.'    Of.  Cjameo  (Sc.)  and  next.     But 

no  other  early  forms  seem  known,  so  this  is  prob.  an  antiquary's 

name. 

MoRETON  (10  in  P.G.).  Wallingford  M.  962  chart.  Mordun,  O.E. 
for  'moor  hill';  but  Dom.  Mortune,  c.  1290  Morton.  Dom. 
Surrey  has  Moriton,  Warwick  and  Glouc.  Mortone,  while  Dom. 
Yorks  has  Mortun  17  times.     See  -don  and  -ton. 

MoREA  Byohan,  Nevin,  and  Waen  (all  N.  Wales),  and  Moree 
(Bridgnorth).  Dow.  Stafis  Morve.  W.  mor/a,  '  a  marsh/  W. 
bych  means  '  a  wretched  being,'  and  gwaen,  '  a  plain,  a  meadow.' 

Cf.  Nevern. 

MoRQAJSfSTOWN  (Cardifi).  Morgan  is  Pict.  Morcunn;  O.Bret,  mor 
cant,  '  sea  bright.'  Of.  Tillymgrgan.  The  man  referred 
to  here  is  Morgan  Thomas,  on  whose  land  the  village  was 
built. 

MoRLEY  (5  in  P.G.).  Leeds  M.  Dom.  Moreleia,  -lege,  Morleia, 
'  Moorland  meadow.'    Cf.  Morden.    See  -ley. 

MoRNiNGTHORPE  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Maringathorpe.  Maringa  must 
be  a  patronymic.     See  -ing  and  -thorpe. 


MOEPETH  374  MOUNTAIN 

Morpeth.    Contin.  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1138,  Morth  path;  so  not,  as 
often  said, 'moor  path,' O.E. pcetS,  but  'murder-road,'  fr.  O.E. 
mor^,  4-5  morth,  murth,  '  murder/ 

MoR  Ros  (The  Lizard).    Corn.=  '  sea  heath,  or  moor.' 

MoRT  Hoe  (N.  Devon).  Dom.  Mortehov,  c.  1190  Letter  in  Canterb. 
Regist.  Moreth'.  Prob.  as  above,  '  murder  hill.'  Cf.  O.Fris. 
morth,  mord,  '  murder.'  Similar  must  be  Mortham  (Yorks), 
sic  in  Dom.  and  Mortlake.    See  Hoe. 

Mortimer  (Reading) .  1258  Mortemer.  Fr.  Ralph  de  Mortuo  Mari 
('  of  the  Dead  Sea '),  or  Morte  mer  (a  castle  and  abbey  near 
Rouen),  who  came  over  with  Wm.  the  Conqueror.  He  is 
mentioned  in  Dom.    The  '  Dead  Sea '  origin  is  a  myth. 

Mortlake  (London).  Dom.  Mortelega,  -lage,  c.  1130  Eadmer 
Murtelac.  '  Murder  lake.'  See  Morpeth.  Not  prob.  fr.  O.Fr. 
lac,  though  lace,  '  pond,  pool,'  is  found  in  O.E.,  but  fr.  O.E. 
lagu,  gen.  lage,  3  la^^e,  4-5  laye,  '  a  lake,  a  pool.'    Cf.  Lackford. 

Morton.    See  Moreton. 

MoRVTLLE  Fell  (hill,  Kirkby  Stephen) .  Looks  like  a  reduplication, 
'  moor '  (O.E.  mor),  ' fell.'    See  -feU. 

MoRWiNSTow  (Bude).  1536  Morwynstow.  'Place,'  O.E.  stow, 
'  of  Morwine  ';  one  such  in  Onom.    Cf.  Padstow. 

MoSELEY  (Birmingham  and  Worcester).  Wo.  M.  816  chart.  Mose- 
leage,  851  ib.  Mosleage.  Bi.  M.  Dom.  Museleia.  O.E.  mose  or 
meos  leah,  '  moss '  or  '  mossy  lea.'  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Moslei, 
Muselai,  and  Mossley  Hill  (Liverpool) . 

MosTYN  (Flint).  Prob.  1301  chart.  Moston.  Can  it  be  W.  mws 
twyn,  '  foul,  stinking  hillock  "i  T.  Morgan  suggests,  corriip.  of 
W.  maes  ddin,  '  field  of  the  fortress.' 

MoTTiNGHAM  (Eltham,  Kent).  O.E.  chart.  Modingahema  and 
-hamme.  ■ '  Enclosure  of  Moding,'  one  such  in  Onom.,  or  '  of  the 
sons  of  Mod  '  or  '  Mot.'    See  -ing  and  -ham,  '  enclosure.' 

MoTTiSEONT  (Romsey).  Z)om.  Mortesfunde.  'Spring  or  fountain.' 
L.  fons,  -tis,  '  of  Morta ';  one  in  Onom.    Cf.  Bedfont. 

Moulin  Huet  (Guernsey).  Eng.  pron.  moohn  whet.  It  is  Fr. 
for  '  mill  of  the  httle  grey  owl ' ;  or,  as  likely,  Huet  is  dimin.  of 
Hugh,  hence  our  name  Hewett. 

MouLSFORD  (WaUingford).  Chart.  Mullesford.  'Ford  of  Mul  or 
Mula  ';  4  in  Onom. 

MouLTON  (8  in  P.O.).  Middleton  Tyas  M.  Dom.  Moltun.  North- 
ampton M.  Dom.  Moltone.  Spalding  M.  1272  Muleton.  '  Vil- 
lage of  Mula  '  or  '  Mola.'    See  above. 

Mountain  (Bradford  and  Pembroke).  Pe.  M.  is  1603  Muncton, 
'  monk  town.'  Dom.  Yorks  has  many  '  Monuchetones,'  but 
J.  H.  Turner  identifies  all  with  various  Monktons. 


MOUSE  HOLE  375  MUNDESLEY 

MousEHOLE  (Penzance),  c.  1600  iJarew  Mowgehole.  If  the  name 
has  ever  been  different  from  what  it  now  is,  it  is  hard  to  say 
what  it  can  be  corrup.  of.  There  is  nothing  like  mowge  in 
Oxf.  Diet.,  nor  any  spelling  of  mouse  with  g. 

Mowii  Cop  (Cheshire).  Tautological  hybrid.  W.  moel,  G.  maol, 
'  a  rounded  or  conical  hill ' :  and  O.E.  cop,  copp,  '  head>  summit, 
hill.' 

MowsLEY (Rugby).  Prob. '  if w?a's mead."  0/.  Mowthorp  (Yorks), 
Dom.  Muletorp;  see  -thorpe;  and  Moulton. 

MoxHTJLL  (Coleshill)  andMoxLEY  (Wednesbury) .  a.  1300  Mukes- 
hull,  a.  1400  Mockeslowe,  Mox(e)lowe.  '  Hill '  and  '  burial- 
mound  of  More/  Hull  is  regular  in  Mid.  names  for  '  hill ' ;  and 
see  -low  and  -ley.  But  Moxby  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Molzbi,  Molscebi, 
1158-59  Pipe  Molesbi,  1183  Molseby,  '  dwelhng  oi'  some  un- 
recorded '  Molsc.' 

MoYE  (Channel  Isles).  Common  name  for  'a  dangerous  point/ 
Fr.  moie  is  ht.  '  a  mass  of  stones.' 

Much  Wenlock  (Salop).  Dom.  Wenloch,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur. 
Waneloc.  '  Much '  is  early  M.E.  muche,  moehe,  meche,  miche, 
short  form  of  muehel  or  michel,  Sc.  mickle,  muckle,  and  is  fre- 
quent in  early  use  for  '  great,  large.'  Cf.  Much  Dewchukch, 
Much  Hoole  (Preston),  Much  Mabcle  (Glouc),  '  boimdary 
(O.E.  mearc)  hill,'  etc.  Much  Wenlock  in  17th  cny.  is  also 
More  Wenlock.  '  Waneloc '  is  O.E.  ween  (short  for  wce^en) 
loca,  '  waggon,  wain  enclosure.'    Cf.  Matlock. 

Mucklestone  (Mket.  Drayton).  Dom.  Moclestone,  1253  Mukle- 
stone.  Prob.  'big  stone';  O.E.  micel,  my  eel,  'great,  large'; 
possibly  fr.  a  man  Mucel.  Cf.  Micheldever,  etc.  Muckley 
Corner  (Lichfield)  is  a.  1600  Mucklow,  which  may  mean  '  great 
mound.'  See  -low;  cf.  Mucklow  Hill  (Halesowen),  1424  Moke- 
lowe,  Moghlowe. 

MuMFORDS  (S.E.  Bucks).  Not  in  Dom.  The  personal  name 
Mumfordis  corrup.  of  the  Norm.  Montfort,  but  this  may  not  be 
the  same.    Cf.  Mundford. 

MuNCASTER  (Ravenglass).  Old  Meolcaster,  1290  Mulcaster.  Good 
illustration  how  almost  any  of  the  liquids,  like  I  and  n,  may 
interchange.  The  first  syll.  might  be  W.  moel,  '  a  conical  hill,' 
but  it  is  prob.  fr.  O.N.  mel-r,  '  a  sand  dune,'  a  '  meal.'  See 
Mellis,  and  -caster,  '  fort ' ;  also  cf.  next. 

MuNDESLEY  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Muleslai,  c.  1150  Mulesle,  1444 
Moneslee.  An  exact  parallel  to  the  above;  and  d  readily 
suffixes  itself.  The  orig.  name  seems  to  have  been  '  Mul'a 
meadow.'  Onom.  gives  us  Mon,  Monn,  Mouna,  Mul,  Mula, 
Mund,  and  Munda,  any  of  which  may  have  had  influence  here. 
There  is  a  Moundesley  Hall  (King's  Norton) ;  no  old  forms ;  but 


MUNDFORD  376  NACTON 

a  Mundes  dene  is  found  in  972  chart,  near  by.    C/.,  too,  Dom. 
Kent  Mundingeham.    See  -ley. 

MuNDFOKD  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Mundeford.  Prob.  'protected  ford/ 
fr.  O.E.  mund,  '  protection.'    But  cf.  Mumfords  and  Mundes- 

liEY. 

MuNDHAM  (Norfolk).  Chart.  Mundan  ham,  'home  of  Munda.' 
Cf.  B.C.S.  1282  Mundes  den,  and  above. 

MuNET  (Clun,  Salop).  Dom.  Munete.  Perh.  Corn,  menit,  W. 
mynydd,  'hill.'  Cf.  Mynyd  Bidden,  O.W.  for  Edinburgh;  but 
more  prob.  it  is  fr.  Munita,  as  in  Mindton.  Mynytho 
(Carnvnsh.)  is  corrup.  of  W.  mynyddoed,  '  mountains.' 

MusTON  (Filey  and  Nottingham).  Fi.  M.  Dom.  Mustone,  4  times. 
No.  M.  not  in  Dom.  Prob.  '  town  of  Mus/  1  in  Onom.  But 
N.  and  S.  Muskham  (Newark),  Dom.  Muscha,  1314  Suthe 
Muskham,  must  be  fr.  a  man  Micsca,  or  the  like.  Onom.  has 
only  Mocca  ;  but  cf.  Muschenheim,  old  Muscanheim,  Hesse. 

Mtjswell  Hnji  (N.  London).  Old  MustweU,  O.E.  must,  L.  mustum, 
'  new  wine.'  There  is  one  Mus  in.  Onom.  But  Mustees  (Co. 
Durham)  is  1130  de  Monasteriis — i.e.,  '  monasteries.' 

MuTFOBD  (Beccles).  Dom.  Mitteforda,  c.  1460  Motford.  =Mit- 
EORD,  '  ford  at  the  waters'  meet ';  O.E.  {ge)mythe.    Cf.  Mitton. 

Myddle  (Shrewsbury).  Not  in  Dom.  Perh.  W.  midd  dol,  'en- 
closed place  in  the  meadow.'  W.  also  has  midlan,  '  enclosed 
place,  Usts,'  and  middi,  '  a  pit  in  a  river.' 

Mythe,  The  (Tewkesbury).  Not  in  Dom.  Prob.  O.E.  {ge)my\a, 
'  place  where  2  rivers  meet,'  here  the  Avon  and  Severn.  M'Ciure 
prefers  to  derive  fr.  O.E.  muth,  dat.  mythe,  cognate  with  O.N. 
munn-r,  Dan.  mund,  '  mouth,  river -mouth.'  The  R.  Mite 
(Eskdale,  Cumbld.)  is  prob.  the  same  word.  Cf.  Mitfobd  and 
Mitton.  Myton-on-Swale  is  Dom.  Mitune,  O.E.  mythan  (see 
Mitton);  and  Myton  (HuU),  Dom.  Mitune,  will  prob.  be  the 
same,  though  some  derive  fr.  O.N.  my,  '  a  midge,'  so  '  tiny 
town.' 

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

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


NAFFERTON  377  NAWTON 

Naffekton  (Driffield).  Dom.  Nadfartone.  Nadfar  must  repre- 
sent some  imrecorded  man's  name.  Onom.  has  a  Nothfrith  and 
a  Nothbeorht,  which  are  conceivable  as  origins. 

Nailbourne  (Canterbury).  B.C.S.  ii.  172  Nseglesbuma,  c.  1480 
WarJavorth  Naylborne.  '  Nail's  brook/  the  sb.  nail,  O.E.  ncegel, 
here  being  used  as  a  personal  name,  as  in  Nselesbroc  and  Naegles- 
cumb,  in  B.C.S.  Cf.  Nailslea  (Bristol),  740  chart.  Negles- 
leah,  Nailstone  (Nimeaton),  and  Nailsworth  (Stroud).  See  -ea 
and  -worth;  also  Eylebotjbn  in  Oxf.  Diet.,  where  a  'Nail- 
bourne  '  is  interpreted  in  several  quotations  as  a  sort  of  inter- 
mittent spring  or  stream. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nawton  (Helmsley) .  Dom.  Naghelton,  Nageltone,  Nagletune,  1202 
Nawelton.    Prob.  not  '  Town  in  the  centre  '  or  '  at  the  central 

25 


NAZE  378  NEN(E)  R. 

point  of  the  district/  O.E.  nafela,  3-4  nauele,  5  naweUe,  '  the 
navel ' ;  used  of  the  central  point  of  a  district  from  Wyclif 's 
time.    Prob.  fr.  a  man  Nagel;  see  Natlbourne. 

Naze,  The  (N.  Sussex).  14  .  .  .  Sailing  Directions  The  Naisse,  the 
Nasse.  It  may  also  be  Eadolfes  nsesse  in  1049  O.E.  Chron., 
or  that  may  be  Dungeness,  called  Nsesse  a  few  years  later. 
The  word  is  almost  certainly  contained  in  Dom.  Essex  Nesseto- 
cham,  Nasestoca,  or  Ness  Stoke.  Ozf.  Diet,  derives  fr.  O.E. 
nces,  nes,  O.N.  nes,  Sw.  nds,  '  promontory,  headland,'  related 
to  O.E.  nasu,  M.E.  nase, '  nose.'  But  it  is  prob.  fr.  nasu,  found 
1390  nase,  c.  1407  nasse.  O.E.  nces  gives  '  ness,'  which  is  so 
common  in  this  quarter — Orford  Ness,  Eastness,  Foulness,  etc. 
Cf.  ToTNESS,  1297  Tottenays,  Nessculefe,  and  Gronez,  Eouge 
Nez,  etc.,  Channel  Is. 

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

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

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

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

Needles,  The  (I.  of  Wight),  c.  1400  Anc.  Pet.  Les  nedeles  del 
Isle  de  Wight.  O.E.  ncedl,  nidi,  *  a  needle.'  This  is  the  earliest 
known  instance  of  the  word  used  for  '  a  sharp  rock ' ;  as  'a 
pillar  or  obelisk  '  it  is  found  in  1387. 

Needwood  (Burton-on-T.).  a.  1200  Nedwode._,  Prob.  'wood  of 
Nedda.'  Cf.  K.C.D.  624  Neddan  leah;  Duignan  suggests 
W.  nedd,  nydd,  '  a  dingle,  a  resting-place.'  Cf.  Nidd  (Ripon), 
Dom.  Nit. 

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

Nen(e)  R.  c.  950  Nyn,  Nen.  Local  pron.  N6an.  Also  called  in 
early  times — e.g.,  by  Leland,  c.   1542 — ^the  Avon  or   'river.' 


NESSCLIFFE  379  NEW  BEIGHTON 

It  must  be  a  form  of  W.  nant,  inflected  nentydd,  neint,  '  a  ravine, 
dingle,  or  brook/    There  is  also  nennig,  '  a  small  brook/ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Newbottle  (Fence  Houses,  Durham).  1183  Newbotill.  O.E. 
niwe  botl,  '  new  dwelling.'  Cf.  Harbottle  (Rothbury)  and  New- 
battle  (Sc). 

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


NEWBURN  380  NEWNHAM 

Newburn  (Northumbld.).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Nywe  bume.  *  New 
brook/    Of.  Newbubn  (Sc).    See  -bourne. 

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

Newcastle-on-Tyne.  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore.  Novum  Castellum,  c. 
1175  Fantosme  Noef-Chastel-sur-Tine,  a.  1200  Wm.  Newbury 
Castellum  Novum  super  fluvium  Tinum.  Sim.  Dur.  tells  us  it 
was  so  named  when  built  by  Robert,  son  of  Wm.  the  Conqueror, 
in  1081.  In  c.  410  Notit.  Dignit.  it  is  Pons  Mlii,  and  in  1073 
Munechecaster  or  '  monks'  castle.'  Newcastle -irtsDEE.-LYME 
is  1166  Novum  Oppidum  (=  New-town),  a.  1200  Novum  Castrum 
super  Limam,  which  is  L.  for  the  present  name.  Newcastle 
(Pembk.)  is  1594  Newcastell. 

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

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

New  Forest,  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore.  In  Nova  Foresta,  quae  lingua 
Anglorimi  Ytene  nuncupatur.  Freeman  thought  Ytene  must 
be  connected  with  Jutes.  1155  Pipe '  Censu  None  foreste.'  1297 
M.  Glov/}.  The  nywe  forest  pat  ys  in  SouJ>amte8syre.  Wm.  the 
Conqueror  cleared  away  several  hamlets  to  make  this  Forest  in 
1079. 

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

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

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

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

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

Newnham  (7  in  P.O.).  Monk's  Kirby  N.  Dom.  Niweham,  a.  1300 
Newnham.     Cam.  N.  chart.  Niwanham,  later  Newenham,  1436 


NEWPORT  381  NORHAM-ON-TWEED 

■Newynham.  Tenbury  N.  1007  chart.  Neowanham,  1043  Neowen- 
ham.  Severn  N.  Dom.  Nimeham.  This  is  an  O.E.  dat.,  '  at 
the  new  home/  Gf.  Newington,  also  1160  Pipe  Niweham 
(Hereford).  N.  Padox  (Warwksh.)  is  for  paddocks,  a  late 
addition. 

Newport  (10  in  P.G.) .  N.  Pagnell  is  Dom.  Nevport,  1297  Neuport, 
1571  N.  Pannel.  O.E.  port.,  L.  porta,  ht.  '  gate/  comes  to  mean 
'a  town,  a  market-town.'  But  see  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  Port  sbS  ^, 
and  ^.  Pagnell  is  fr.  the  Norm,  family  of  Pagenel,  now  Paynell. 
Ralf  Pagenel  is  foimd  in  Dom.  in  Somerset. 

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

Newsham.  At  least  4  places  so  caUed.  Kirby  Wiske  (Yorks)  N. 
is  Dom.  Newehusu',  Neuhuson,  1201  Newesmn.  Newe  huson 
is  a  late  O.E.  loc,  of  the  type  very  common  in  Yorks,  '  at  the 
new  houses.'  Cf.  Hallam,  Howsham,  etc.  There  are  also 
Newsham  in  Leckonfield  and  Newsham  in  SpofiEorth,  both 
Yorks,  and  both  Dom.  Neuson(e),  an  early  contraction;  whilst 
Newsham,  or  Newsome,  (N.  Lanes)  is  Dom.  Newhuse. 
Newstead  (Notts)  is  1189  de  Novo  Loco,  '  new  place '  or  '  dwelling.' 
Newton  (40  in  P.G.).  Oambs  N.  chart.  Neutun.  Lanes  and 
Norwich  N.  Dom.  Neweton(a),  N.  Reigney  (Penrith)  1189 
Pipe  Niweton,  Dom.  Yorks  Neutun,  Neweton,  43  times.  '  New 
town.'  Gf.  Nbwington.  Newton  Abbot  (S.  Devon),  Dom. 
Niueton,  was  given  by  Ld.  Brewer  to  the  abbot  of  Tor. 

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

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

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

NoRBXJRY  (E.  Salop).  Dom.  Cheshire  Nor(d)berie,  a.  1300  North- 
byri.     'North  town';  O.E.  nor^.     See  -bury. 

NoRE,  The  (Essex).  1049  O.E.  Ghron.  Innan  Nor«mu«an,  _  'In 
North  mouth  '  of  Thames.  But  Nore  is  N.  nor,  '  a  bay  with  a 
narrow  entrance.'  There  seems  to  be  a  White  Nore  near 
Lulworth,  Weymouth. 

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

NoRHAM-ON-TwEED.  Sic  1183,  1461  Norame.  'North  home'; 
O.E.  Mm,  on  the  Northern  border  of  England.  Gf.  c.  1 100  chart. 
Norhamscire. 


NOKMACOTT  382  NOETHUMBERLANB 

NOBMACOTT  (Longton,  Staffs).  Dom.  Normanescote,  1242  Nor- 
mancote.  '  The  Norman's  cottage.'  See  next.  (7/.  the  name 
Westacott. 

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

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

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

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

Northampton.  1088  O.E.  Ghron.  NorSamtune,  c.  1097  Flor.  W. 
Northamtunensis,  a.  1145  Orderic  Northantonia,  1373  Northamp- 
tonia.  '  North  home-town.'  See  Hampton,  and  cf.  Southamp- 
ton and  Northam  (N.  Devon  and  Southampton) . 

Northaw  (Potter's  Bar),  also  old  Northall;  but  1539  Northawe. 
'  North  haw  '  or  '  hedge  ';  O.E.  ha^a. 

Northcote  (S.  Devon)  and  North  Cotes  (Lines).  Dev.  N.  Dom. 
Norcote.  'North  cot  or  cottage';  O.E.  cot,  cott,  'a  chamber, 
a  hut.' 

North  Cttrry  (Taunton).  1155  Pipe  Nordcuri,  1161  ib.  Norcuri. 
See  Curry  Mallet. 

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

NoRTHLEW  (Bea worthy).  1219  Patent  B.  Lyu.  Doubtful.  ?  = 
Lliw. 

NoRTHOWRAM  (Halifax).  Dom.  Oure,  Ufron,  1202  Northuuerum. 
Ufron  is  the  common  Yorks  O.E.  loc,  'on  the  river -banks  ' ; 
O.E.  o/er,  Ger.  ujer.  See  Over,  Hallam,  etc.,  and  -ham. 
Northover  (Somst.)  is  1219  Northovre. 

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

North  Stoke  (WalUngf ord) .  a.  1087  chart.  NorS  stoke;  late  O.E. 
for  '  north  place.'    Cf.  Stoke. 

Northumberland.  Sic  c.  1175  Fantosme,  but  Bede  Nordanhymbri, 
c.  890  Alfred  On  Norj^anhymbra  ]>eode,  898  O.E.  Chron.  Norjj- 
hymbre,  c.  1000  ^Ifric  NorShymbralande.    This  name  for  a 


NOETHWICH  383  NOTTING  HILL 

district  far  '  North  of  Humber '  came  early  into  use.  Deira, 
to  the  S.J  became  largely  Danish;  but  Bemicia,  to  the  N.,  was 
never  so.  Cf.  1065  O.E.  Ghron.  Wore,  '  In  Yorkshire  and  in 
Northumberland.'  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  883  already  distinguishes 
Eboracum  and  Northimbri;  and  even  more  noteworthy  is  his 
'  Sohus  Northumbriae  Comitatum.'  c.  1097  Flbr.  W.  has 
*  Suthymbria  '=  Deira. 

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

NoRTHWOLD  (Stoke  Ferry,  Norfk.).  a.  1200  Nordwolde,  c.  1220 
Norwolde,  c.  1225  Northwaude.  O.E.  nor^  wald,  'north 
wood '  or  Norwood. 

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

Norwich.  1004  O.E.  Ghron.  NorSwic,  Dom.  Norwic,  1297  Nor- 
wiche.  O.E.  nor^  wic,  'northern  dwelling'  or  'village.'  See 
-wich.    NORWELL  (Newark)  is  Dom.  Nortwelle. 

Norwood  (London) .  a.  1697  Aubrey  Perambltn.  Surrey,  '  The 
great  wood  called  Norwood/  or  'north  wood/  Cf.  North- 
wold. 

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

NosTERMELD  (Cambs).  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Nostresfelda. 
Skeat  derives  fr.  a  tenure  by  saying  Paternosters,  and  compares 
the  name  of  an  AUce  Paternoster,  who  held  lands  at  Pusey 
(Berks). 

Nottingham.  Asser  ann.  868,  '  Scnotingaham  quod  Britannice 
Tigguocobauc  interpretatur,  Latine  Speluncarum  domus,'  or 
'  house  of  caves.'  Tigguocobauc  is  prob.  Kelt,  for  '  house  in 
the  Uttle  cave ' ;  cf.  W.  ty,  G.  tigh,  '  a  house,'  Corn,  ogo,  '  a 
cavern,'  and  W.  bach,  O.W.  becc,  'little.'  Dom.  Snotingeham, 
a.  1190  Walter  Map  Notingam,  1461  Snotingham.  '  Home  of 
the  Snotinga,'  a  patronymic.  Onom.  gives  Snoding  and  Snot. 
Snoddy  is  still  used  as  a  personal  name.  Cf.  Sneinton.  There 
are  also  2  Nottinghams  in  Gloster.     See  -ing. 

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


NOTTON  '  384  OAKHANGER 

Notion  (Barnsley).  Dom.  Notone.  'Nut  town/  O.E.  hnut. 
Cf.  NuTTLES,  Dom.  Notele. 

NxjNBTJB,]srHOLME  (York).  Dom.  Brunha',  but  1206  Brunnum,  a 
loc.  'At  the  burn'  or  'bourne/  O.N.  brunn-r.  See  -bourne 
and  -hobne  ('  a  meadow  by  a  river  ').  -ham  and  -holme  often 
interchange,  and  many  Yorkshire  places  in  -ham  or  -am  are 
orig.  locatives. 

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

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

Ntjnnington  (York).  Dom.  Nonninctune;  Noningtune,  Nunnige- 
tune.  Patronymic.  '  Town  of  the  sons  of  Nun  '  or  '  Nunna,' 
several  in  Onwa.    Cf.  Altabnun.    See  -ing  and  -ton. 

NuESLiNG  (Southampton).  Dom.  Notesselinge,  later  Nutshalling. 
A  curious  and  unexplainable  corrup. ;  prob.  patronymic  fr.  some 
unrecorded  man.    See  -ing. 

NuRTON.    See  Nostell. 

NuTEiELD  (Redhill).    Dom.  Notfelle.     '  Field  of  nuts,'  O.^E.  hnut. 

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

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

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

Oakeobd  (Bampton).     1174  chart.  Acforde.     O.E.  dc,  'an  oak.' 

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

Oakhangeb  (Berkeley,  Alton,  and  Dorset).  Be,  0.  1250  Ochungre; 
chart.  ?  where,  Achangra  (c,  1350  Akhangre),  which  is  O.E.  for 
'  oak-tree  slope.'    Cf.  Clayhanger.    There  is  also  961  chart. 


OAKINGTON  385  ODIHAM 

Gteoc  hangra  (at  Hurstbourne,  Winchester),  but  this  is  fr.  O.E. 
geoc,  '  a  yoke/  or  '  as  much  land  as  a  pair  of  oxen  can  plough  in 
a  day/ 

Oakington  (Cambridge),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Hokintona,  Hoc- 
chintona,  Hockingtona,  Dom.  Hochintone,  1284  Hokingtone, 
Hoggitone.  Patronymic.  '  Village  of  the  Hockings  ' — i.e.,  sons 
of  Hoc  or  Hoca,  both  known  names. 

Oakley  (Rochester,  Bp's.  Stortford,  and  4  others).  Roch.  0. 
chart,  of  date  774  Acleag.  StafEs  O.  1004  chart.  Acclea,  Dom. 
Aclei.  Beds.  0.  1166  Pipe  Achelai.  Bp's.  S.  0.  1474  Ocle 
Magna  and  Parva;  958  chart.  Acleg,  -lea,  on  Stour,  Staffd. 
O.E.  dc  leah,  '  oak  meadow.'  Similarly  Oakworth  (Keighley) 
isDom.  Acewrde,  Acurde, '  oak  farm.'    See  -worth. 

Oabe  (Chieveley,  Berks,  Wilts,  Faversham,  N.W.  Somerset).  Ch. 
O.  B.C.8.  iii.  509  Ora,  1316  Ore.  O.E.  ora,  '  bank,  shore,  edge,' 
cognate  with  L.  ora.  Cf.  Bognor,  etc.  But  Som.  0.  is  1264 
At,  perh.  same  root  as  Arrow,  or  ?  N.  aa-r, '  river.'  It  is  on  the 
East  Lynn  R,.,  whilst  Fav.O.  is  on  a  creek  of  the  R.  Swale. 

Oby  (Norfolk).  1479  Owby.  '  Dwelling  of  06a,  Oixi,  O^a,' a  name 
common  in  Onom.    See  -by. 

OcK  R.  (Abingdon)  and  Ockbrook  (Derby).  Dom.  Ochebroc. 
O.E.  chart.  Eoccen,  and  in  late  copy  of  chart,  of  955  Occen. 
Skeat  cannot  suggest  any  meaning  for  the  Berks  river ;  and  the 
Derby  name  is  presumably  the  same,  though  some  think  it  a 
tautology,  making  Ock  Kelt,  for  '  water.'  This  last  is  some- 
what confirmed  by  Geoffr.  Mon.  iv.  12,  who  tells  us  that  '  Ridoc ' 
is  the  British  name  of  Oxford  (W.  rhyd,  O.W.  rit,  '  a  ford,^  whilst 
oc  is  certainly  not  W.  for  'ox').  Cf.  1201  '  Yockflet '— i.e., 
Yokefleet  (Howden).  There  is  also  an  Octon  (E.  Riding), 
Dom.  Ocheton,  which  seems  fr.  the  same  root. 

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

OcKLEY  (Dorking)  =  Oakley. 

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

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


OPFCHUKCH  386  OMBERSLEY 

Offchuiich  (Leamington).  .  1300  Ofechirche,  'church  of  OjQTa/ 
?  the  K.  of  Mercia  in  8th  cny.  Qffley,  in  the  same  county,  is 
Dom.  OfEeleia. 

Offenham  (Evesham).  714  chart.  Vffaham,  860  ih.  Uffenham^ 
Dom.  Offenham.     '  Home  of  Uffa  '  or  '  O^a' 

Offerton  (Durham),  a.  1130  8im.  Bur.  Uffertun.  Prob.  'town 
on  the  bank/  O.E.  ohr,  ofr,  Ger.  ufer;  see  -over.  But  OfEerton 
(Hindlip)  is  972  chart.  ^Elflaedetun,  ?  Dom.  Aicrintune,  1275 
Alfverton,  a.  1600  Alcrinton,  now  called  Alfreton,  a.  1800  Affre- 
ton.  A  most  remarkable  corrup.  '  Town  of  JElflced,'  perh.  she 
who  was  daughter  of  K.  Offa,  757-786.  Duignan  suggests  that 
r  came  in  through  similarity  of  -^Iflaed  to  MUied. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Olney  (Bucks  and  Coventry).  Dom.  Olnei,  Bucks;  Cov.  0.  1349 
Ohieie.  Cf.  K.G.D.  621  Ollan  eg,  O.E.  for  '  OZZa's  isle.'  Also 
1016  O.E.  Chron.  Olanige,  c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Olanege,  an  islet  in 
the  Severn  near  Deerhurst.    See  -ey. 

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

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


OMlLY  It.  387  ORMSKIEK 

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

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

Ongah  (Essex)  or  Chipping  Ongah.  Dom.  Angra,  O.E.  hangra,  '  a 
wooded,  hill-slope.'    Cf.  Clayhanger,  and  see  Chipping. 

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

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

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

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

Orford  (Suffolk  and  Warrington).  Suff.  0.  not  in  Dom.  1166-67 
Pipe  Oreford,  c.  1450  Fortescue  Orford  havyn.  Like  Orwell, 
near  by,  prob.  corrup.  fr.  N.  aar  fjord,  '  river  '  or  '  river -like 
firth  or  bay.'  In  N.  aa  sounds  o.  Cf.  Haverford,  Waterford 
(Ireland),  etc.  Warr.  0.,  sic  1511,  may  be  fr.  a  man  Ord,  or 
contracted  fr.  one  of  the  many  names  in  Ord-. 

Orleton  (Tenbury).  Dom.  Alretune,  1275  Olretone,  '  alder  town.' 
See  Allerton,  etc.  Alder  is  O.E.  alor,  aler,  3  olr,  7  owler, 
ouller.  The  Orls  (Mathon)  is  fr.  same  root.  Alder  is  still 
pron.  orl  in  S.  Salop.  But  Ollerton  (Newark),  Dom.  and  1190 
Alretun,  1278  Alverton,  is  perh.  fr.  Mlfweard  or  Mlfhere. 

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

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

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

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


ORRELL  388  OSMOTHERLET 

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

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

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

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

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

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

OsGATHOBPE  (Loughborough) .  'Village  of  Osgar  or  Osgeard,' 
common  in  Onom.    See  -thorpe. 

OsGODBY  (E.  Riding  and  Market  Rasen).  E.  R.  0.  Dom.  Ansgo- 
tesbi,  -gotebi,  Asgozbi  (z  =  fe) ;  1204  Fines  Angodeby;  1206  An- 
goteby.  M.  R.  0.  a.  1100  chart.  Osgoteby,  1298  Osgodeby. 
Gf.  Dom.  Osgotcros,  1179-80  Pipe  Osegotecros,  now  Osgoldcross 
(Wapentake),  Yorks.  '  Dwelling  of  Osgod '  or  '  Osgot,'  common 
names  in  Onom.,  which  also  has  the  Norm,  forms  Ansgod  and 
Ans-got.  Cf.  next,  and  Ansthryth,  var.  of  name  Osthryth. 
Osgod,  in  N.  Asgod,  seems  to  mean  '  the  good  ' — i.e.,  '  the  prop- 
erty, of  the  gods.'    See  -by. 

Osmotherley  (Lanes  and  Northallerton).  Lan.  0.  1260-72 
Osmunderlawe,  1269  Asemunderlai,  1276-79  Asmunderlauue, 
1588  Estmotherlie,  1667  Osmonderley,  1670  Osmotherlow. 
Nor.  0.  Dom.  Asmundrelac,  1197  Rolls  Hosmundeslea,  a.  1300 
Osmunderley.  Instructive  forms.  '  Meadow  of  Asmund '  or 
'  Osmund '{' the -pioteGted '  or  else  'the  mouth  of  the  gods'). 
Cf.  Osborne,  N.  Asenbjorn,  '  bear  of   the  gods  or  demigods.' 


OSNEY  389  OULTON 

The  ending  is  often  -low  {q.v.)  or  -lawe, '  hill/     Cf.  Asp  atria, 

and  Amothebby,    and  Mythe;   also    Osmondthorpe    (Notts), 

1331  Osmundthorp. 
OsNEY  (Oxford).     1155  Pipe  Osineia,  1161  ib.  Oseneia,  c.  1200 

Gervase  Osneye.     '  Island  of  Osa/  gen.  '  Osan,'  common  name 

in  Onom.    See  -ey. 
OsSETT   (Yorks).    Dom.   Osleset.     'Seat,   abode,'   O.N.  s(Bti,   'of 

Osla,'  2  in  Onom.    Liquid  I  easily  vanishes. 
OssiNGTON  (Newark).    Dom.  Oschintone,  1162-65  chart.  Oschintona, 

1278  OsciQgton, '  Town  of  Osecg,'  a  name  in  Onom.   Mutschmann 

xierives  fr.  a  dubious  Oshetin,  var.  of  the  common  Asketill.    See 

-ing  and  -ton. 

.OswALDTWiSTLE  ( Accrington) .  1241  Oswaldtuisil.  '  Oswald's  con- 
fluence.' See  TwiZEL ;  and  cf.  Birtwistle,  Entwistle,  Tintwistle. 
In  E.  Yorks  we  also  have  Oswaldkibk,  Dom.  Oswaldes  cherca. 

OsWESTEY,  c.  1190  Gir.  Itin.  Camb.  Osewaldstreu,  id  est  Oswaldi 
arborem,  or  '  tree  of  Oswald,'  K.  of  Northumbria,  d.  642.  He 
was  prob.  slain  here  by  Penda,  K.  of  Mercia.  1603  Owen  Oses- 
tree.  In  W.  Croesoswallt,  'cross  of  Oswald.'  Cf.  Brentry 
(Glouc),  1247  Bernestre,  '  tree  of  Beam.' 

Otford  (Sevenoaks).  O.E.  Citron.  114:  Ottanford,  a.  1130  Sim. 
Dur.  Ottaforda,  1160-61  Pipe  Otteford.  'Ford  of  Otta'  or 
'  Otto.'    Cf.  Otham  (Maidstone). 

Othebton  (Penkridge  and  Worcester)  and  Otheby  (Bridgwater). 
Pe.  0.  Dom.  Orretone,  a.  1200  Oderton,  a.  1300  Otherton,  which, 
like  Otherton  (Wrcstrsh.),  is  prob.  '  Ohthere's  or  Othere's  or  Otre's 
town.'  All  these  forms  are  in  Onom.  Othery  is  prob.  similar, 
with  ending  -y  or  -ey,  '  islet.'    But  cf.  Otteby. 

Otley  (W.  Riding  and  Ipswich).  W.  Rid.  O.  Dom.  Othelai,  a.  1130 
Sim.  Dur.  Oteleia .    '  Otta'e  lea '  or '  meadow.'    See  above  and  -ley. 

Otteby  St.  Maby  (Exeter).  963  chaH.  Otheri,  Dom.  Otri,  c.  1200 
Gervase  Oteri,  1460  Otryght.  '  Isle,'  O.E.  i$e,  i^,  '  on  R.  Otter,' 
which  is  prob.  O.E.  otr,  oter,  otor,  '  an  otter.'  Cf.  Otterburn 
(Craven  and  Northumbld.),  Dom.  Yorks  and  Hants,  Otrebume, 
1160-61  Pipe  Devon  has  a  Fenotri,  ?  Fen  Ottery. 

Ottbingham  (Hull),  Ottebington  (N.  Yorks),  and  OuGHTBiNGTCfN 
(Warrington).  Dom.  Otringeha',  Otrege,  Otrinctime,  Otrintona. 
Wyld  and  H.  connect  these  Ottring-  names  with  the  N.  Auth- 
grimr  or  Oudgrim  (see  Obbell),  which  certainly  seems  the  origin 
of  the  Warr.  name,  which  Wyld  and  H.  omit.  But  the  Ottring- 
names  prob.  are  patronymics  fr.  Othhere,  Otre,  or  perh.  OtJigar, 
all  found  in  Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  Otringeberge  and  Otringedene 
(Kent),  which  is  by  no  means. a  specially  N.  region.    See  -ing. 

OuLTON  (6  in  P.G.).  Stone  0.  a.  1300  Oldeton,  Oldington- 
Possibly  O.E.  Ealdantun,  '  Ealda's  town,'  or  else  *  old  town.' 
But  Dom.  Norfolk  Oulstona— i.e.,  Oulton,  Aylsham— will  be 


OUNDLE  390  OWSLEBURY 

'  Ulfs,  town/  It  is  in  1477  Owstoonde.  Possibly  it  is  '  town 
of  Ule ' — i.e., '  the  owl/  Cf.  Ouston  and  Outchester  (Bamboro') 
1242  Ulecestr. 

OmsTDLE  (Northampton).  Bede  Undalum,  a.  1000  Undola,  a.  1100 
chart.  Undale,  1542  Leland  Omidale.  Thought  to  be  a  con- 
tracted form  of  AvoN  +  dale^  O.E.  dcel.  But  the  contraction 
seems  almost  too  early  to  be  found  in  Bede.  Avon  means  '  river/ 
here  the  Nen.    For  a  similar  contraction,  cf.  Dunoon  (Sc). 

OuNY  or  Onney  E,.  (Salop  and  Hereford).  Seen  in  Onibury,  Dom. 
Aneberie,  and  also  in  Anelege.  Must  be  Keltic  for  '  river.' 
The  G.  abhuinn  or  amhuinn,  '  river/  is  in  certain  districts  pron. 
own.    Cf.  OuNDLE  and  Avon. 

OusE  Great,  Ouse  R.,  and  Ousebubn  (York).  Gr.  0.  905  O.E. 
Chron.  Wusa,  1010  ih.  Usa,  a.  1130  Use,  1330  Ouse.  York  0. 
Dom.  Usebume,  1237  Usus.  Perh.  connected  with  O.E.  wdse, 
4-6  wose,  6  oous,  ouse,  '  wet  mud,  ooze.'  The  name  occurs  all 
over  England — iu  Essex  and  Sussex,  as  well  as  in  the  cases 
above — and  very  possibly  it  is  Keltic.  See  p.  12.  Isis,  c.  1350 
Ysa,  must  surely  be  a  cognate  root.    See  -bum. 

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

OusETHOEP  (Howden).  Domi  Owestorp,  Dwestorp  (D  error  for  0). 
Not  fr.  R,.  Ouse,  but  '  village  of  Oua,  Ova,  or  06a,'  forms  all  in 
Onom.    See  -thorp. 

Ouston  (Stamf  ordham,  Birtley,  Durham ;  and  Coxwold,  N.  Riding) . 
St.  O.  1201  Yorhs  Fines  Hulkeleston — i.e.,  '  Hulfcytel'  or 
*  Ulfcytel'B  village.'  But  Cox.  0.  Dom.  Ulvestone,  1201  Ulveton, 
'  village  of  Ulf,'  '  Ulf 's  town.'  Now  also  called  Oulston.  But 
Ouston  (Coleshill)  is  old  Oustheme,  Owsthim,  which  is  prob. 
'  east  nook.'  East  Riding  in  Dom.  is  Oust  redenc ;  and  see  Herne. 
Cf.  OuLTON  and  Owston. 

OvENDEN  (Halifax).  Sic  Sim.  Dur.  contin.  ann.  1147.  O.E.  Ofan- 
denu,  *  den,  cave  of  Ofa,'  or  possibly  '  of  Owen.' 

Over  (Glouc,  Cambridge,  and  Winsford,  Chesh.).  Gl.  0.  804  cMrt. 
Ofre  ad  Gleawecestre.  Cam.  0.  Dom.  Ovre,  Oure;  1210  Overe. 
Chesh.  Dom.  Ovre.  O.E.  ofre,  dat.  of  ofer,  '  a  shore  of  a  sea  or 
bank  of  a  river.'    Cf.  Ger.  ufer  ;  and  see  -over. 

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

OwERSBY  (Market  Rasen).  1233  Orresby.  Prob.  corrup.  of 
'  Ordgcer's  or  Ordgar'a  dweUing.'  The  name  is  very  common  in 
Onom.     See  -by. 

OwsLEBURY  (Winchester).  Not  in  Dom.  Cf.  Ozleworth  (Char- 
field),  Dom.   Osleworde,  c.    1220  Hoheleswordi,  later  Wozel-, 


OWSTHORP  391  OXFORD 

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

OwsTHORP  (Pocklington).  Dom.  lanulfestorp,  1203  Ulnestorp, 
a.  1400  Ulvesthorpe.  Very  curious  corruption.  '  Village  of 
Eanvmlf,'  very  common  in  Onom.  In  a.  1400  the  Ean-  has 
dropped  away.  With  the  present  form  Ows-,  cf.  Ooston,  mod. 
pron.  of  Ulverston;  also  cf.  next.  Owthorp  (Notts),  Dom. 
Ovetorp,  c.  1190  Hustorp,  is  '  village  of  Z7^  or  Uvi.'  See  -Thorpe. 

Owston  Priory  (Leicester)  is  1233  Osulveston,  '  town  of  Osumlf, 
a  name  common  in  Onom.  But  Owston  (Doncaster),  Dom. 
Ulsitone,  1179-80  Pipe  Ouston,  is  prob.=  OusTO]sr  (Corwold), 
Dom.  Ulvestone,  '  town  of  Ulf.'  Only  it  seems  to  be  in  Dom. 
also  Austun  and  Austhu';  which  may  be  an  O.E.  loc,  '  in  the 
east  places/  oust  and  aiist  being  early  forms  of  '  east^'  and  loca 
tives  in  -un  or  -on  are  not  uncommon;  only  they  usually  turn 
into  -ham.    See  Hallam,  etc.,  and  next. 

OwsTWicK  (Hull).  Dom.  Ostewic.  Prob.  'eastern  dwelling,'  just 
as  East  Riding  is  in  Dom.  Oust  redenc,  and  in  the  Yorks  Pipe 
Bolls  we  have  '  Oustcotun '  and  '  Westcotun,'  or  Eastcott  and 
Westcott.     Cf.  above;  and  see  -wick. 

OxENHOLME  (Wcstmld.).  '  Oxen's  meadow.'  See  -holm.  Cf. 
OxLEY  (Wolverhampton),  Dom.  Oxelie.  and  Oxnam  (Sc). 
OxcliflE  (N.  Lanes)  is  Dom.  Oxeneclif . 

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


OXHEY  392  PAILTON 

OxHjEY  (Watford).  1007  chart.  Oxangehsege — i.e.,  O.E.  for  '  oxen's 
enclosure '  or  '  hedge/  O.E.  hege.  Cf.  Hay  and  Oxenhay 
(Berkeley),  1243  Oxhaye. 

OxNEAD  (Norfolk).  1420  Oxenede.  The  ending  is  difl&cult.  There 
seems  nothing  Ukely  in  e  or  w  (no  ede  or  nead  or  the  like),  so  this 
may  be  '  oxen-head/  where  head  is  used  in  the  sense  of  '  a  pond 
or  body  of  water  dammed  up.'  Caxton,  1480,  speaks  of  '  fissh- 
ponde  hedes,'  and  head  is  spelt  3-6  heed,  4-7  hede. 

OxsTED  (Reigate).  Dom.  Acstede,  O.E.  for  '  oak-place '  Cf. 
homestead,  etc. 

OxTON  (W.  Riding,  Birkenhead,  and  Southwell,  Notts).  W.  R.  0. 
Dom.  Oxetone  and  Ossetone.  So.  0.  Dow?  Oxetune.  *  Village 
of  the  oxen.'  Cf.  Oxspring  (SheflBeld),  Dom.  Osprinc,  and 
Oxenton  (Tewkesbury),  Dom.  Oxendone. 

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

Packington  (Tamworth  and  Ashby-de-la-Zouch) .  Ta.  T.  Dom. 
Pagiatone,  a.  1200  PaMntone.  Ash.  P.  1043  chart.  Pakinton, 
Dom.  Patitone  (error).  Cf.  Dom.  Essex,  Pachenduna,  and 
Packwood  (Warwk.).  The  nearest  name  in  Onom.  is  one  Pcecga  ; 
so  prob.  '  vUlage  of  Pcecga.'    See  -ing  and  -ton. 

Padbuky  (Bucks).  B.C. 8.,  ii.  377,  Padde  byrig,  Dom.  Pateberie, 
'  Burgh,  town  of  Padda,'  3  in  Onom.  Cf.  Paddington,  London, 
(1167-68  Pijpe  Padinton,  1439  Paddyngton)  and  Warrington,  and 
Dom.  Surrey,  Padendene;  also  Pad  worth. 

Padstow  (N.  Cornwall  and  Devon).  Com.  P.  981  O.E.  Chron.  See 
Petrocestow,  1536  Padstowe.  Dev.  P.  Dom.  Petroches  stow, 
later  Petrockstow.  '  Place  of  St.  Petroc,'  an  interesting  corrup- 
tion. The  ending  -stow,  found  already  in  981  in  Cornwall,  is 
an  early  proof  of  Anglo-Saxon  influence  there. 

Pad  WORTH  (Theale,  Berks).  O.E.  chart.  Peadan  wurth,  Dom. 
Peteorde,  c.  1280  Paddewurth.     '  Farm  of  Peada.'    See  -worth. 

Pagham  (Bognor).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1108  Paggaham,  1298 
Pageham.  '  Home  of  Paga,'  only  one  in  Onom.,  and  he  at  Carlisle* 
But  Paythorne  (W.  Riding),  Dom.  Pathorme,  prob.  contains  the 
name  Pcega  or  Paga  also;  2  Pcegas  in  Onom.  Cf.  Pagajsthill 
(Stroud),  1346  PaganhuUe,  and  Painley. 

Pailton  (Rugby),  a.  1300  Paylynton,  Pailinton,  'Village  of 
Pcelli,'  one  in  Onom. 


PAINLEY  393  PAPCASTLE 

Painley  (Craven).  Dom.  Paghenale,  possibly  a  gen.  pi.  '  lea  of  the 
pagans.'  Oxf.  Diet,  has  no  instance  of  pagan,  a.  1376 ;  but  Pagan, 
Paganus,  and  Pagen  are  all  names  in  Onom.  Paine  and  Payne 
are  surnames  fr.  pagan.  Painswiok  (Stroud)  is  Dom.  Wyke, 
but  later  Wyke  Pagani,  Payneswyke,  called  after  Pain  Fitzjohn, 
Justiciar  Sheriff,  who  seems  to  have  built  his  castle  here  during 
the  wars  of  Stephen.  Similarly  Painsthorpe  (E.  Riding)  is  in 
Dom.  simply  Thorf .  Paghenale  may  also  stand  for  '  nook  of 
Paga,'  gen.  -an.  If  so,  the  ending  must  have  changed.  See 
-hall,  -ley,  -thorpe  ('  village '),  and  -wick  ('  dweUing  '). 

Palfrey  Green  (Walsall),  a.  1600  Palfraye  Green.  A  palfrey  or 
(lady's)  riding-horse  was  a  common  fine  or  payment  to  a  King 
or  superior  for  land.  Sometimes  it  was  an  annual  or  periodical 
payment.    For  the  word,  which  is  O.Fr.,  see  Oxf.  Diet. 

Palgrave  (Diss).  962  chart.  Palegrave,  Dom.  Pag(g)raua,  c.  1210 
Jocelin  Palegrava,  c.  1430  Pagrave.  Prob.  '  Pallig'a  grave,' 
O.E.  grcef.  A  Pallig,  a  Danish  earl,  is  mentioned  1001  in  O.E. 
Chron.  Pale  sb.  is  Fr.,and  not  in  Eng.  till  c.  1330;  pale  adj.  is 
also  Fr.,  and  not  in  Eng.  a.  1300.    Cf.  Orgrave  (Yorks),  etc. 

Pat.t.tnsburn  (N.  Northumbld.).  '  Bum,  brook  of  Paulinus,'  who 
prob.  preached  and  baptized  here.    See  Bede. 

Pamborough  (Glastonbury).  956  Pathenebergh.  Prob.  '  burgh, 
castle  of  Patta;  gen.  Pattan.  Cf.  '  Pattnaden,'  B.G.8.  imi. 
See  -burgh.  But  Pamber  (Hants)  is  1217  Patent  R.  Penbere, 
1225  Pen-,  Pember.  Prob.  O.E.  penn  beam,  '  fold  in  the  wood.' 
Cf.  Penn  and  Beer,  also  Pamington  (Ashchurch),  Dom.  Pamin- 
tone,  fr.  an  unrecorded  Pama. 

Pampisford  (Cambridge).  Dom.  Pampesuuorde,  even  as  late  as 
1851  Pampsworth.  '  Farm  of  Pamp,'  an  imknown  name.  Cf. 
Dan.  dial,  pamper,  '  a  short,  thick-set  person.'  The  local  pron. 
is  Paanza,  which  Skeat  says  is  'regularly  shortened  from 
Pamp's'orth.'    See  -worth. 

Pangbourn  (Berks).  833-34  chart.  Peginga-,  Psegeinga-  burnan, 
956  Pangan-buman.  '  Burn,  brook  of  Pceginga  '—i.e.,  '  son  of 
Pcega,'  2  in  Onom.  The  river  is  now  called  simply  the  Pang, 
and  nearer  its  source  the  Kimber.    Cf.  Pei^stone. 

Pannal  (Harrogate).  Dom.  Paghenhale,  1315  Pattrehall,  later 
Panhale,  1448  Pannal.  '  Hall  of  Paga  or  Pcega,'  gen.  Pagan, 
Both  forms  in  Onom. 

Pantsaeson  (Wales).  W.= '  glen  of  the  Saxon '  (G.  Saisneach)  or 
'  EngHshman.' 

Pantyoelyn  (Breconsh.).  W.=  'glen,  hollow  of  the  holly,'  Cf, 
Llwyngelyn. 

Papcastle  (Cockermouth).  From  a  local  L.  inscription,  c.  200,  it  is 
known  that  Pap-  represents  Abalabba,  site  of  a  Roman  fort. 

26 


PAPWORTH  EVERARD         394  PATTISHALL 

Papworth  Everaed  (Cambridge).  Local  pron.  Parpor.  Dom. 
Papeworde,  Ramsey  chart.  Pappenwrthe,  Pappeworthe.  '  Place 
of  Pappa.'    Papo  is  the  only  name  in  Onom.    See  -worth. 

Par  (Cornwall).     ?  =  W.  pauyr,  '  pastm-e/ 

Parcansoalli  (Cornwall).    Corn.=  '  park,  field  of  the  bats.' 

Parford  •  (Moreton  Hampstead).  Prob.  1174  chart.  Pirforde. 
Prob.  fr.  O.E.  piri^,  '  a  pear-tree.'  Cf.  Parham  (Berkeley), 
1264  Perham,  and  Pirbright. 

Paerbt  R.  (Somerset).  O.E.  Chron.  658  Pedrida,  ib.  893  Pedrede, 
Pedret.  W.  pedryd,  '  a  square/  perh.  referring  to  the  piece  of 
land  enclosed  by  the  river  bend  near  Pawlett. 

Partnby  (Spilsby,  Lines.).  Bede  Peartaneu.  'Isle  of  Peartan/ 
O.E.  eu  var.  of  i^,  i^e,  'island/  see  -ey,  Peartan  may  be  a 
personal  name.  Nothing  hke  it  in  Onom.  Perh.  W.  partyn, 
'  a  smart  little  fellow/  or  perthen, '  a  bush.' 

Passenham  (Northants).  921  O.E,  Chron.  Passanhamm.  '  En- 
closure, O.E.  hamm,  of  Passa,'  only  one  in  Onom.,  in  Kent.  But 
cf.  next.    See  -ham. 

Passeield  (Liphook).  Cf.  Dom.  Essex,  Passefelda.  'Field  of 
Passa,'  one  in  Onom. 

Paston  (N.  Walsham).  a.  1150  chart.  Pastun.  Contraction  for 
'  Passa's  town.'  See  above.  But  Paston  or  Pawston  (Wooler) 
is  for  PoUokston. 

Patoham  (Brighton)  and  Patching  (Worthing).  947  chart.  Pec- 
cinges  and  Pettingas  (tt  for  cc).  '  Home  of  Pecca,  Pecga,  or 
Pacca,'  and  'place  of  the  sons  of  Pecca,'  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey, 
Pachesham,  Paxford,  Campden,  sic  1275  and  Paxton  (Berwick) . 
c.  1098  Paxtun.  The  only  name  in  Onom.  is  Pecga.  See  -ham 
and  -ing. 

Patney  (Devizes).  B.G.S.  iii.  354,  Peatanige.  O.E.  for  '  Isle  of 
Peata,  Peatta,  or  Peada,'  all  3  forms  are  known.  Peat  and  Pate 
are  both  still  in  use  as  surnames,  Cf.  Pattishall  and  Dom. 
Patintune,  Salop. 

Patrestgton  (Hull).  Dom.  Patrictone.  'Town  of  Patrick';  the 
-ick  has  become  -ing,  because  -ing  is  so  much  commoner  in  place- 
names.     See  -ing. 

Pattingham  (Wolverhampton).  Pron.  Pattinjem,  cf.  Birming- 
ham. Dom.  Patingham,  a.  1200  Pattingeham,  a.  1500  Patin- 
cham,  '  Home  of  the  sons  of  Patta  '  or  '  Peatta.'  Cf.  Patton 
(Salop),  prob.  B.C.S.  77  Peattingtun,  and  Dom.  Essex,  Paten- 
duna.     Patton  (Kendal)  is  Dom.  Patun.     See  -ing  and  -ham, 

PATTISHALL  (Towcester),  1207  Pateshill,  1236  Pateshull  {cf. 
AspuLL,  etc.).     '  Hall  of  Peata ' ;  cf.  Patney,  Patshull  (Wolver- 


PAULERSPURY  395  PEEL 

hampton)  is  Dom,  Pecleshella,  a.  1300  Petles-  Patleshull — i.e., 
either  '  Poecgel'a  or  Pyttel's  hill/    Pegglesworth  Of. 

Paulerspury  (Towcester) .  '  The  pury  of  (Robert  de)  Paveli/  an 
early  owner.  The  name  '  Pury  end  '  still  survivee ;  it  is  in  JDom. 
Pirie,  O.E.  pir^e,  piri^e,  pirie,  '  a  pear-tree/    Cf.  Pirbright. 

Paull  (Hull).  Dom.  Paghel,  Pagele:  later  Pagula.  Contraction 
for  '  nook  of  Paga  or  Pcega,'  both  in  Onom.    See  -hall. 

Pavenham  (Sharnbrook,  Beds.) .  '  Home  of  Paba  or  Peabba/  a 
name  not  in  Onom.,  but  cf.  Pebworth,  Stratford-on-Avon. 
848  chart.  Pebeworthe,  Dom.  Pebevorde.    See  -worth,  '  farm.' 

Pavey  Ark  (hill,  Grasmere).  Said  to  be  '  shieHng,  dairy  hut  of 
Pavia.'    See  Arklid, 

Pawlett  (Bridgwater),  c.  705  chart.  Pouelt;  later  Pouholt.  Perh. 
'  village  in  the  holt  or  wood.'  Pou  is  said  to  be  =  L.  pagus,  as 
often  in  Brittany.  Pouelt,  however,  prob.  represents  an  O.W. 
pwl  allt, '  pool  by  the  clifE.'  But  Pawton,  St.  Breock,  Cornwall, 
is  c.  988  chart.  Polltun,  '  village  by  the  pool  or  stream.' 

Peak,  The  (Derbyshire),  a.  800  chart.  Pecssetna  {i.e.,  dwellers  in  the 
Peak),  924  O.E.  Chron.  Peac-lond;  Dom.  Pechesers,  now  '  Peak's 
Arse  ';  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  In  monte  vocato  Pec,  a.  1135  chart. 
dominium  de  Pecco,  1173-4  Pech.  Oxf.  Diet,  says  '  origin  im- 
known,  perh.  British,'  and  not  connected  with  the  Eng.  peah 
sb.  Cf.  Peckham,  Pegsdon,  etc.  It  may  be  the  name  of  a 
demon  or  spirit.    Cf.  Puck. 

Peakirk  (Peterboro').  c.  1015  chart.  Pegecjo-can,  a.  1100  Giant 
Pei-,  Peychirche.  '  Church  of  Pega  or  Pcega,'  both  in  Onom. 
This  is  far  south  to  find  a  '  kirk  '  ! 

Peasemore  (Leckhampstead) .  Chron.  Abing.  Pesimara,  a.  1224 
Pesemere,  c.  1540  Peysmer.  '  Land  for  growing  pease,'  O.E. 
pise.  The  ending  is  a  little  unsettled;  O.E.  mere,  '  marsh,  fen  ' 
seems  scarcely  prob.,  yet  we  have  Peasemarsh  (Sussex),  as  well 
as  Peasenhall  (Saxmundham) .  It  may  be  O.E.  mor,  '  a  moor  ' ; 
(Peasbrook,  Broadway,  Worcester),  in  972  c^r<.  Pisbroc,  is  also 
fr.  O.E.  pise,  '  a  pea.' 

Peckham  (London)  and  Peckham  Btjsh  (Tonbridge),  ?  c.  1130 
Eadmer  Petteham ;  but  Dom.  Pecheha,  1278  Pecham.  '  Home 
of  Peca  or  Pecha,'  possibly  the  same  name  as  Peak,  if  it  mean 
a  demon  or  sprite,  or  Puck.  Cf.  too  Dom.  Surrey,  Pechingeorde, 
'  farm  of  the  sons  of  Peca.' 

Pedmore  (Stourbridge).  A  name  which  has  curiously  changed. 
Dom.  Pevemore,  c.  1200  Pebbemore,  1340  Pebmore.  '  Moor  of 
Peuf '  or  '  Peufa,'  both  in  Onom.,  or  rather  fr.  Peobba,  a  dimin. 
form  of  Peof  or  Peuf.     '  Moor  'is  O.E.  mor. 

Peel  (I.  of  Man)  and  Peele  Hall  (Tarvin,  Cheshire).  I.  of  M. 
P.  1399  chart.  Pela,  1656  Peel-Town,  mentioned  with  Castle- 


PEGSDON  396  PENDENNIS 

Town.  The  Eng.  peel  is  not  found  till  c.  1330,  and  meant 
originally  '  a  paUsade  or  fence  of  stakes/  then  '  a  castle/  Its 
history  is  rather  curious.  See  Oxf.  Diet,  s.v.  There  was  for- 
merly a  moated  tower  at  Peele  Hall.  But  the  Manx  name  of 
Peel  is  Port-na-hinsey,  '  port  of  the  island '  (now  connected 
by  a  narrow  breakwater  with  the  mainland) .  It  was  also  called 
Holmtown. 

Pegsdon  (Bedfordsh.).    Dom.  Pechesdon,  '  hill  of  Peak/  q.v. 

Pegswood  (Morpeth).  Prob. '  wood  of  Pecge ;'  c/.  958  chart.  Pecges 
ford,  on  Stour,  Stafford,  740  ib.  Peginhullis  (Wilts),  and  above. 
Pegqlesworth  (Dowdeswell)  Dom.  Peclesurde,  is  prob.  fr.  a 
man  Peohtgils.    See  -worth,  '  farm.' 

PELSAMi  (Walsall).  994  chart.  Peolshale,  Dom.  Peleshale.  a.  1400 
Peoleshale.  '  Nook,  corner  of  Peola.'  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey,  Pele- 
f  orde,  and  see  -hall. 

Peltjtho  (Abbey  Town,  Cumbld.).  Prob.  G.  poll  uchdaich,  'pool 
by  the  ascent.'    In  any  case  the  name  is  much  corrupted. 

Pemberton  (Wigan).  Sic  1323,  but  1200-1  Penberton,  1202  Pen- 
breton.  Perh.  hybrid,  W.  penn  bre,  '  head  of  the  hill '  (there 
is  a  Pembrey  in  Wales)  +  -ton,  q.v.  But  quite  possibly  fr.  a 
man,  as  P ember,  though  not  in  Onom.,  is  still  a  surname. 

Pembbidge  (Heref ordsh.) .  Dom.  Penebruge.  Prob.  hybrid  as 
above,  W.  penn,  '  head,  height,'  +  bridge. 

Pembroke,  c.  1180  Gir.  Camb.  Pembrochia  caput  maritimae 
sonat,  1297  R.  Olouc.  Penbroc,  c.  1350  Pembrok,  1450  Pembroke. 
O.W.  pen  broc,  mod  W.  penfro,  head  of  the  sealand.'  O.W. 
and  Bret,  bro,  O.Ir.  brog,  country,  land  (vale).'  There  is  also 
Penbro,  or  -fro,  near  the  Lizard;  1219  Patent  B.  Eglospenbroc 
{eglos,  '  church  ').     Cf.  Pentire  (Cornwall)  and  Kintyee  (Sc). 

Penally  (Pembk.).  Old  Pen  Alun,  which  is  perh.  O.W.  for 
'  beautiful  height/  G.  aluinn,  '  fair,  lovely.' 

Penarth  (Glamorgan).  W.  penn  arth,  'head  of  the  height,'  or 
'  high  headland.'    Cf.  Lanarth,  and  Kinnaird  (Sc). 

Penberry  Headland  (St.  David's).  May  be  hybrid,  W.  penn, 
'  head,  headland,'  and  -berry,  =  -biu-gh,  q.v.  Of.  Turneerry 
(Sc).  But  it  prob.  is  fr.  W.  beri,  '  a  kite,  a  glede.'  Penbury 
(Gloster.)  must  be  at  least  half  Eng.,  perh.  wholly  so. 

Pencarrow  (Bodmin).  Corn,  pen  caerau,  'height  of  the  forts/ 
Corn,  and  W.  caer,  G.  cathair,  '  a  castle,  a  fort.' 

Pencoyd  (Ross,  Heref d.).  =Pencoed  (Glam.),  W.  for  'head  of 
the  wood,'  coed,  pi.  coydd. 

Pendennis  (Falmouth).  Sic  1567.  Corn,  pen  dinas,  'headland 
with  the  castle.' 


PENDLETON  397  PENN 

Pendleton  (Manchester).  Dom.  Peniltune.  Prob.  '  town  of 
Pendwulf '  or  '  Penweald/  both  names  in  Onom. ;  older  forms 
needed.  But  Pendle  {sic  1612)  Hill,  Clitheroe,  is  1344  Penhull, 
a  tautology,  W.  jpenn,  '  height,'  and  hull,  regular  old  Midi,  for 
*  hiU.'  Pendle  Hill  is  therefore  a  triple  tautology.  Cf.  Penhull 
(Lindridge),  sic  c.  1300. 

Pbndock  (Tewkesbury).  877  and  Dom.  Pene-,  Peonedoc,  1275 
Penedoch.  Prob.  W.  penn  y  dych,  '  height  of  the  groan  or  sigh,' 
Pensax  (Stourport),  in  the  same  shire,  will  also  be  W.,  fr.  W. 
Sais,  '  a  Saxon,  an  Englishman.'  It  is  found  c.  1400  as  Pensax. 
-sex. 

Pendragon  (Westmld.),  '  head,  height  of  the  dragon,'  was  a 
castle  of  Wm.  Rufus.  Oxf.  Diet.,  does  not  give  dragon  in  Eng. 
till  c.  1220,  and  says,  fr.  Er.  dragon,  L.  draco,  -nem.  It  certainly 
was  adopted  in  the  Keltic  tongues  too. 

Penenden  Heath.  Dom.  Pinnedenna,  c.  1200  Gervase  Pin- 
nindene.    O.W.  pinn,  penn  eiddyn,  '  head  of  the  hillslope.' 

Penge  (Sydenham).  957  chart.  '  Se  wude  ]>e  hatte  Poenge,  1067 
chart.  '  Penceat  Wood  in  Battersea  Manor ';  1308  chart., '  Penge 
in  parochia  de  Badricheseye.'  M'Clure  thinks  this  a  worn-down 
form  of  Kelt,  penceat,  '  chief  wood  '  =  Penketh. 

Penistone  (Sheffield).  Dom.  Peng-,  Pangeston,  1551  Pennystone. 
'  Town  of  Panga,'  or  '  of  (nasalized)  Poega,'  both  names  in  Onom.; 
Cf.  Pangbouhn  and  Pendeford  (Wolverhampton),  a.  1400 
Penneford. 

Penketh  (Warrington).  Sic  1292,  but  1296  Penket;  prob.  as  in 
Penge.  Cf.  1166-7  Pipe,  Devon,  Morchet,  prob.  O.Kelt,  for 
'  great  wood.' 

Penkhtill  (Stoke-on-T.) .  Dom.  Pinchetel,  a  hybrid,  'height,' 
W.  penn, '  of  Cytel  or  Ketel,'  a  common  O.E.  name.  But  a.  1200 
Pencul,  which  looks  like  W.  penn  cut, '  slender  height '  or  '  head  ' ; 
while  the  present  form  has  been  influenced  by  huU,  W.  Midi, 
form  of  hill.    Cf.  Penkridge. 

Penkridge  (Stafford),  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Penno  Crucis,  958  chart. 
Pencric,  Dom.  Pancriz,  1158  Pipe  Peincrig,  1160  ih.  Peincriz, 
1297  Pen-,  Pemcriche,  a.  1400  Penk  rich.  W.  penn  crych, 
'  wrinkled,  rumpled  height.'  But  M'Clure  and  Rhys  connect 
with  Cbeech.  The  R.  Penk  seems  to  be  a  back  formation  or 
contraction  fr.  Penkridge — a.  1300  '  the  river  of  Pencriz,'  a.  1400 
'River  Penk.'  Cf.  Pentrich.  Duignan's  art.  is  very  full; 
with  Penkridge  he  classes  Penncricket  Lane,  Oldbury,  no  old 
forms. 

Penllyn  (Cowbridge).  Prob.  W.  penn  llwyn,  'head,  height  with 
the  grove.' 

Penn  ( Wolvermpton) .  Dom.  Penne.  O.E.  penn,  '  a  pen,  a  fold.' 
There  is  also  Pen  Mill  (Yeovil),  prob.  Dom.  Penne  too. 


PENNAED  398  PENTNET 

PEnnsTAED,  E.  and  W.  (Somerset).  Spurious  chart,  of  681  Pengerd. 
Corn,  pen  gerd,  '  height  with  the  hedge/  Corn,  gerd,  gard,  G. 
garradh,  Eng.  garth,  yard, 

Penni-^  Pennegant  (N. W.  Yorks) .  W.  penn  y  gwant,  *  height  of 
the  butt  or  mark/  or  perh. '  y  gwynt '  '  of  the  wind.'  The  name 
'  Pennine  Range  '  seems  to  have  no  ancient  history. 

Pennington  (Lymington  and  Ulverston).     UI.  P.  Dom.  Penne- 

getun.    This  must  be  fr.  O.E.  penning,  pcenig,  or  penig,  '  a 

penny/  '  penny  town/  referring  to  some  tax  or  impost.     Cf. 

Penny  4  e  in  Oxf.  Diet.    Pennyland, '  land  valued  at  Id.  a  year/ 

is  not  given  in  Diet,  till  a  Gloucr.  chart,  a.  1300,  Penilond. 

Pennycomeqitick  (old  name  of  Falmouth).  Corn,  pen  comb  icJc, 
'  height  of  the  narrow  valley  or  combe/  though  others  say,  '  y 
cum  cuig,  '  of  the  valley  of  the  cuckoo.' 

Penpont  (Altarnon).  Dom.  Penponte.  Corn.  =  'at  the  head  of 
the  bridge.'  Cf.  Penpont  (Sc).  We  have  the  dimin.  in  Pen- 
rwNTAN  (Knighton,  Radnor),  which  means  '  little  mill- 
dam  ' ;  but  pont,  L.  pons,  -tis,  is  regular  W.  and  Corn,  for 
'  bridge.' 

Penrith.  1166-7  Pipe  Penred,  1461  Penreth.  W.  penn  rhydd, 
'red,  ruddy  height';  though  some  say,  'head  of  the  ford/ 
W.  rhyd,  O.W.  rit.  But  what  ford  ?  The  Eamont  is  a  good 
bit  away.  Quite  possible  is  an  Eng.  origin,  fr.  pen  for  cattle, 
and  rith  '  stream,'  as  in  Cottered,  Ryde,  etc.,  so  '  cattle-fold 
by  the  stream.'  But  against  an  Eng.  origin  is  the  parish  of 
Penrith,  sic  1603,  in  Pembroke,  1594  Penrythe. 

Penbuddock  (Penrith).  Prob.  W.  penn  rhuddog,  '  reddish,  russet- 
coloured  height.'    There  is  also  rhodog,  '  a  little  circle.' 

Penbyn  (Falmouth).  Sic  1536.  Corn,  pen  ryn,  '  at  the  head  of 
the  promontory  or  peninsula,'  lit.  'nose.'  Cf.  Rhynns  (Sc). 
The  three  places  called  Penrhyn  in  Wales  are,  of  course,  of 
similar  origin,  W.  penn  rhyn. 

Penselwood  (GilHngham).  Nennian  Catalogue  Pensauelcoit.  W. 
penn  sawell  coed.  '  Wood  of  the  height  like  a  chimney  or  smoke- 
hole.'  Near  by  are  the  Pen  pits,  prob.  O.E.  Chron.  658  '  ^t 
Peonnum,'  ib.  1016  Peonnan. 

Pensnett  (Kingswinf ord) .  1248  Peninak,  c.  1300  Penniak,  a.  1400 
Pensyned,  Pensned  chace.  Clearly  W.,  penn  sinach,  '  head  of 
the  ridge';  it  is  on  high  land.  But  Pensham,  Pershore,  is 
972  chart.  Pedneshamme,  '  enclosm-e  of  Peden.'    See  -ham. 

Pent  R.  (Essex),  and  on  it  Pentlow,  or  '  hill,  mound  on  the  Pent.' 
See  -low.  Bede  Penta.  Prob.  W.  pant,  '  a  hollow,  a  dingle/ 
On  its  lower  reaches  it  is  called  the  Blackwater. 

Pentney  (Swafifham).  1451  Penteney.  Prob.  O.E.  Pendan  i^e, 
'  Penda's  isle/    See  -ey. 


PENTREATH  399        PETERBOROtTGH 

Penteeath  (Cornwall).  Corn.  =  '  at  the  head  of  the  sands  or 
strand.'  (7/.  Pentraeth,  Menai  Br.  and  Portbeath.  Treath 
is  the  G.  traigh. 

Pentbich  or  -ridge  (Derby  and  Dorset).  De.  P.  Dom.  Pentric; 
Do.  P.  958  chart.  Pencric.    Prob.  both  =  Penkeedge. 

Pentyre  (Padstow) ,  Corn,  pen  or  pedn  tir, '  head,  end  of  the  land/ 
Brythonic  form  of  Kintyrb  (Sc). 

Penwortham  (Preston).  Sic  1343,  but  1140-9  Penuerthan,  1201-2 
Pelwrdham,  1204  Penwrthan,  1242  Penwirtham,  1305  Pen- 
wurtham.  No  likely  name  in  Onom.,  so  this  is  prob.  W.  penn 
gwrthan,  '  at  the  head  of  the  dell  or  corrie/  the  -an  being  cor- 
rupted, very  naturally,  on  Eng.  lips  into  -am  or  -ham,  q.v. 

Penzance.    Corn,  pen  or  pedn  sans  (L.  sanctus),  '  holy  headland.' 

Peopleton  (Pershore).  972  chart.  Piplincgtime,  Dom.  Piplintiine, 
1275  PypHnton.  A  curious  and  not  easily  explained  corruption. 
Perh.  Piplin-  is  a  corrup.  of  Pippen,  one  in  Onom.,  the  only  likely 
name  on  record.  But  972  is  certainly  a  patronymic,  and  points 
to  an  unrecorded  Pipel,  '  town  of  the  sons  of  Pipel.'     See  -ing. 

Peppard  Common  (Henley-on-T.) .  Prob.  fr.  some  man  not  in 
Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  Surrey,  Pipereberge.  We  also  have  Pepper 
Ness  (Sandwich),  which  is  1023  chart.  Piperneasse,  and  must 
surely  be  fr.  a  man  too,  and  not  fr.  O.E.  pipor,peppor,  and  piper, 
'pepper.'  Pepper  Wood  (Bellbroughton)  is  1242  Piu-perode, 
which  is  perh.  '  wood  (O.E.  wudu,  of  which  -ode  is  corrup.)  of 
Purper  or  Purperd.'  A  Robt.  Pippard  is  found  here  in  1294, 
and  Pippard  may  be  fr.  Purperd,  a  name  otherwise  unknown. 

Peranzabuloe  (Cornwall).  Dom.  Lanpiran  ('church  of  Piran'), 
1536  Vicaria  'jancti  Perani  in  Zabulo,  '  of  St.  P.  on  the  sands,' 
L.  sahulum  or  sahulo,  '  coarse  sand,  gravel.'  Peran  is  Bryth. 
form  of  Kieran,  founder  of  Clonmacnoise  monastery,  famous 
It.  saint,  d.  545.  Cf.  Perranporth  and  Perranuthnoe  in  Corn- 
wall, and  Peran  WELL  (Sc.) ;  also  Peran  Towans  (New  Quay), 
temp.  Hen.  I.  Perran  Tohod,  temp.  Hen.  III.  Pyran  Thohon. 
See  TowAN  Hd. 

Perry  Barb  and  Hall  (Staffs.).  Barr  P.  Dom.  Pirio,  a.  1200  Piri, 
Pirie,  Pirye,  a.  1300  Pyrie;  Hall  P.  a.  1300  Pyrye.  O.E.  pirige, 
M.E.  pirie,  '  a  pear-tree.'    Cf.  1160-1  Pipe  Somst.,  Perretona. 

Pershore  (Worcester).  972  Perscoran,  1056  O.E.  Chron.  On 
Perscoran,  Dom.  and  1298  Persore,  1102  Eadmer  Perscore. 
O.E.  persoc  ora,  gen.  -an,  '  peach-growing  bank  or  shore.'  Cf. 
Keynor,  Windsor,  etc.  Shore  is  prob.  Du.,  and  only  found 
in  M.E. 

Peterborough.  Its  old  names  were  Burh  =  '  burgh,'  and  Mede- 
hamstede.  It  received  its  present  name,  in  honour  of  St.  Peter j 
fr.  K.  Edgar.    See  O.E.  Chron.  963. 


PETERSHAM  400  PICKWELL 

Petersham  (Richmond).  727  chart.  Piterichesbame,  Dom.  Patri- 
cesham  (c/,  Batteesea),  1266  Petrichesham.  '  Home  of 
Patricius '  or  '  Patrick,'  which  to  this  day,  in  Scotland,  is  con- 
stantly interchanged  with  Peter. 

Petridge  (Tunhridge).  O.E.  Pedan  Tirycg,  'Peda's  ridge/  Cf. 
Petham,  Canterbury  and  Dom.  Petelie  (Salop).  These  may  be 
fr.  Peatta.  Cf.  K.C.D.  949  Peattan  ig.  There  is  also  a  Pedewrde 
in  Dom.  Salop.    See  next. 

Pettaugh  (Stowmarket).  Dom.  Pete-,  Pette  haga.  'Meadow, 
haugh  of  Piot '  or  '  Peott'  O.E.  Tmlech,  halh,  which  in  endings 
is  usually  found  in  its  dat.  hale;  see  -hall.  But  Dom. 'a  form 
-haga  is  very  rare,  and  is  O.E.  haga, '  fenced-in  place,  enclosure.' 

Pbtworth  (Sussex).  1199  Pitteworth.  O.E.  chart.  Peartinga- 
wyrth  is  thought  by  Birch  to  be  P.,  but  more  early  forms  are 
needed.  The  Pet-  may  be  the  same  as  in  Petridge.  But  it 
should  be  noted  that  'pet  is  regular  Kentish  for  'pit,  O.E.  pytt, 
O.Fris.  pet.  So  Petham,  Canterbury,  is  prob.  '  house  beside 
the  (gravel)  pit.' 

PEUiiiNioQ  (C'marthen).  W.  = '  land  of  Paulinus'  the  well-known 
missionary  in  Bede.    (7/.  Capel  Peulin. 

Pevensea.  1049  O.E.  Chron.  Pefenasaee,  later  MSS.  Peuenesea, 
1088  ih.  Pefensea,  c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Pevanessa,  but  Dom.  Pevene- 
sel,  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Pevenesel.  *  Island  of  Pefen,'  perh.  a 
British  not  an  O.E.  name.  The  -ea  is  O.E.  i^,  i^e,  O.N.  ey, 
*  island';  what  -el  represents  is  not  so  certain.  Certainly 
-esel  cannot  represent  isle  or  island.  See  these  words  in 
Oxf.  Diet. 

Pewsey  (Wilts),    a.  1400  Pevesey,  =  Pttsey,  '  Pefi's  isle.' 

Phepson  or  Fepston  (Himbleton,  Worcester) .  956  chart,  and  Dom. 
Eepsetnatun(e),  1108  Fepsintune.  'Town  of  the  dwellers  in 
Fep,'  an  unknown  name.     Cf.  '  Petsaetna,'  s.v.  Peak. 

Pickering  (E.  Yorks).  Dom.  Pickeringa,  Pickeringe.  '  Home  of 
Pichere's  sons.'  Cf.  B.C. 8. 125  Pickeresham ;  and  Pixham  Ferry, 
Worcester,  1275  Pykerham,  Pykresham.     See  -ing. 

PICKHTT.L  (Thirsk).  Dom.  Picala,  -ale.  *  Nook  of  Pice'  Cf.  next, 
and  see  -hall,  which  is  rarely  corrupted  into  -hill. 

Pickton  (Chester).  1340  Pykton,  and  Pickworth  (Rutland), 
K.C.D.  812  Piccingawurth,  c.  1460  Pykeworth.  '  Town  of  Pice,' 
and  '  farm  of  the  descendants  of  Pice'  See  -ton  and  -worth. 
Also  Picton  (Stockton),  1179-80  Piketon,  fr.  the  same  name. 
Cf.  Dom.  Pichetorne  (Salop),  'Pice's  thorn';  also  Pickbtjrn 
(Brodsworth,  Yorks),  Dom.  Picheburne,  1202  Pikeburn,  Pick- 
tree,  Co.  Durham,  1183  Piktre,  and  Dom.  Norfk,  Pichenha'. 

PiCKWELL  (Devon).  Exon.  Dom.  Pedicheswell.  As  Pedich  is  not 
in  Onom.,  it  may  be  corrup.  of  Patrick.    See  Petersham. 


PIDDLE  R.  401  PIMPERNE 

Peddle  R.  and  hamlet  (Pershore),  and  Piddletown  (Dorchester). 
Pe.  P.  963  chart.  Pidele,  Dom.  Pidele,  Pidelet,  1275  Pydele 
North.  Do.  P.  K.C.D.  522  and  656.  Pyedele,  Dom.  Pydele. 
It  may  be  cognate  with  the  Eng.  piddle  and  puddle,  but  these 
appear  late  in  recorded  Eng.  See  Oxf.  Diet.  There  is  no  W. 
sb.  like  pydel.  Duignan  thinks  it  means  '  a  small  stream."  Cf. 
next,  Affpiddle  and  Tolpiddlb. 

PiDDLETRENTHiDE  (Dorchester) .  A  difficult  name  needing  further 
light  thrown  on  it.  On  Piddle  see  above.  The  rest  is  doubtful. 
W.  tren  is  '  impetuous/  and  the  R.  Teent  in  W.  is  Trin.,  while 
W.  hydo  is  '  sheltering,  apt  to  cover."  But  all  this  is  groping  in 
the  dark.  Possibly  -trent-  may  represent  thirteen,  O.N.  \rettan, 
Dan.  tretten,  Sw.  tretton,  nasalized;  and  hide  may  be  the  well- 
known  land  measure.    See  Hyde. 

PiDLEY  (Huntingdon) .  Not  in  Dom.  Perh. '  Peda's  mead ;  the  name 
is  in  Onom.  But  Pro  sle y  ( Devon)  is  930  chart.  Pidersleage,  where 
Pider  is  a  name  hard  to  identify;  in  Dom.  it  has  become  Pidelige. 

PiERSE  Bridge  (DarHngton).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Perse  brycg. 
Perse  is  not  in  Onom. ;  but  it  is  the  Fr.  Piers.  Cannot  be  connected 
with  pierce,  which  is  Fr.,  and  not  in  Eng.  a.  1297. 

Pilkington  (Prestwich).  1301  Pylkington.  A  patronymic,  which 
seems  otherwise  unknown. 

Pill  (Bristol)  and  West  Pill  (Pembroke).  Pe.  P.  c.  1550  Leland 
Pille.  Pill  in  these  cases,  in  E.  Cornwall  and  S.E.  Ireland,  is  a 
var.  of  pool,  and  generally  means  '  a  tidal  creek  ' ;  also  '  a  running 
stream." 

PiLLERTON  Hersey  (Rincton).  Dom.  Pilarde-,  -dintun  (e).  1,176 
Pilardintone,  1327  Pylardynton,  'village  of  Pilheard,'  a  rare  name. 
Bilheard  is  also  found.  The  Herce  family  held  the  manor  in  Nor. 
days. 

PiLLEY  (Lymington  and  S.  Yorks).  Yor.  P.  Dom.  Pillei.  Prob. 
'  isle  of  Pila  '  or  '  Pilu.'    See  next,  and  -ey. 

PiLSLEY  (Chesterfield).  Cf.  a.  1100  chart.  '  Pilesgate,"  Melton  Mow- 
bray. '  Meadow  of  Pilu  or  Pilwine.'  There  is  a  '  Pileford  "  in 
Dom.  Yorks.     See  -ley. 

PiLTON  (N.  Devon  and  Shepton  Mallet) .  Dev.  P.  c.  1130  Wm. 
Malmesb.  Piltune.  Shep.  P.  1233  Pilton.  Ped  sbS  '  a  palisade 
or  fence,"  is  not  in  Eng.  a.  1300;  so  this  is  prob.  '  Pilu's  town." 
See  above,  also  Pill.     But  PiUand  is  Pelland  in  Exon.  Dom. 

-PiMLico  (London).  So  spelt  from  1598;  first  found  as  a  place  in 
1614.  Cf.  Pymlyco  or  Runne  Red  Cap,  1609,  a  pamphlet  on 
London  life.  See,  too,  N.  and  Q.,  21  Nov.  1908.  It  seems  to 
be  a  personal  name, '  old  Ben  Pimhco "  being  referred  to  in  1598. 

PiMPERNE  (Blendford).  935  chart.  Pimpern  welle.  A  puzzling 
name.     O.W.  pimp,  W.  pump  is  '  five,"  but  W.  em  is  '  a  pledge  " ; 


PINCHBECK  402  PITCHCOMBE 

O.E.  erne  is  '  house/  but  there  seems  no  O.E.  name  or  word  Pim/p. 
Connexion  with  pimpernel  seems  impossible.    See  Oxf.  Did.  s.v. 

Pinchbeck  (Spalding).  810  chart.  Pyncebek,  Dom.  Picebech. 
1290  Pyncenbent  (?  error).  O.E.  pynce  or  pinca  is  '  a  point '; 
but  here  it  is  quite  as  likely  to  be  name  of  a  man.  Cf.  Dom. 
Norfk,  Penkesford,  and  Pineneys  Green;  and  see  -beck, 
'  brook.' 

PiNCHFiELD  (Hertford).  796  chart.  Pinnelesfeld.  '  Field  of  Pinnel,' 
no  other  known. 

PiNHOE  (Exeter).  1001  O.E.  Chron.  Peonnho,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur. 
Penho.  Tautology.  Corn,  pen,  W.  pinn,  penn,  '  a  height/ 
and  O.E.  hoh.  Cf.  Hoe.  Pindetjp  (Gloster),  old  Pinthrup,  may 
be  similar,  with  its  ending  a  rare  var.  of  -thorpe,  '  village.' 

Pinkneys  Green  (Maidenhead),  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Pinchenei, 
1161-2  Pipe  Pinchenni,  1298  Pynkeny.  '  Isle  of  Pinca,'  gen.  -an. 
Cf.  B.C. 8.  665  Pincan  ham,  1160-1  Pipe  Pinchinei  (Hants),  and 
Pinchbeck.    See  -ey. 

Pinner  (Harrow).  Named  in  1336  chart.  Prob.,  like  Asher, 
Beecher,  Hasler,  etc.,  O.E.  pin-ofr,  'pine-tree  bank';  cf. 
WooLER.  The  name  of  the  rivulet  Pin  here  will  be  a  back 
formation.  Pinley  (Warwksh.),  a.  1200  Pinelei,  is  also  fr. 
O.E.  pin ;  see  -ley.  We  read  in  c.  1205  Layamon  4057, '  In  Logres 
was  King  Piner  ' ;  but  this  can  have  no  connexion  here.  Pennar 
Pike  (Yorks)  will  be  W.  pinn  arth, '  head  of  the  height,'  or  '  high 
headland.'  Cf.  Penahth  and  Red  Pike.  Baddeley  derives 
PiNNOCK,  Hailes,  Dom.  Pignocsire,  later  Pinnoc,  (prob.)  fr. 
pinnock  sb^,  found  a.  1250,  as  name  for  the  hedge-sparrow  or 
some  other  bird.  The  -sire  in  Dom.  is  for  '  shire.'  Exon.  Dom. 
also  has  a  Pinnoc,  prob.  Kelt,  for  '  little  hill.' 

Pipe  (Lichfield,  Hereford)  and  Pipe  Gate  (Mket.  Drayton).  Pi.  P. 
a.  1200  Pype,  Pipe,  which  is  O.E.  for  '  pipe.'  The  city  water 
has  for  long  been  conveyed  by  pipe  from  here.  Her.  P.  is  also 
Dom.  Pipe.     Cf.  Pipe  Hayes  ('  hedges  '),  Erdington. 

PtPEWELL  (Kettering).  Sic  Dom.  and  1160  Pipe  Roll.  '  Well  with 
a  pipe  from  it,'  O.E.  pipe. 

Pirbright  (Woking).  1300-1400  Pirifrith,  Pirifirith,  Pirifright, 
Purifright.  O.E.  piriyfyrh'^e,  '  pear-tree- wood.'  Cf.  Paulers- 
PURY,  PiREHTTiL,  Stone,  Dom.  Pirehel,  Pireholle,  and  Potters- 
PURY,  also  next. 

PiRTON  (Hitchin,  Worcester,  and  Awre).  Wor.  P.  766  chart. 
Pirigton,  Pyrigtun,  972  Pyritune,  Dom.  Peritune.  Aw.  P.  Dom. 
Peritone,  'pear-tree  village.'  Cf.  Perton  or  Purton  (Wolver- 
hampton), c.  1060  Pertune,  Dom.  Pertone. 

Pitchcombe  (Stroud),  1253  Pychencombe;  and  Pitcht-ord  (Shrews- 
bury).    1238  Close  R.  Pycheford,  1298  Redulphus  de  Picche- 


PLAINANGUAEE  403  POLDHU 

forde/  Prob.  fr.  a  man  Pice,  Pic,  oT^Picco.  See  Onom.,  and 
Cf.  Pegswood,  The  verb  pitch,  '  to  throw/  is  not  foiind  in 
Eng.  till  c.  1205.     See  -combe,  '  valley/ 

Plain  AN  GFAEE  (Cornwall).  'Plain  for  theatrical  plays/  Plain 
is  O.Fr.,  L.  planus,  but  gimre  is  late  Corn.,  L.  varia.    Cf.  Doe- 

CHESTER. 

Plaistow  (London,  Sussex,  Selborne).  Lo.  P.  old  Plegstow,  Se.  P. 
1271  La  Pleystow,  now  called  Plestov.  O.E,  plegstow,  'play- 
place,  playground,'  Cf.  Plestins  (Warwksh.),  a.  1300  Pleystowe, 
Pleistouwe.    See  Stow. 

Plashetts  (Northumbld).  Dimin.  of  plash  sb^,  O.E.  plcesc,  plesc, 
'  a  marsh,  or  marshy  pool.'  Plashet  is  also  an  Eng.  word,  found 
from  fr.  1575,  and  given  in  Oxf.  Diet,  as  fr.  O.Fr.  plassiet 
plaschet,  dimin.  fr.  plascq,  '  a  damp  meadow.' 

Pleck  (Gloster  and  Walsall).  Gl.  P.  1220,  Plocke.  M.E.  (found 
c.  1315)  plecche,  '  a  small  enclosure  or  plot  of  ground,'  cognate 
with  Du.  plecke  with  same  meaning;  but  there  is  no  O.E.  ploecca, 
as  Baddeley  thinks. 

Plemonstall  or  Plemstall  (Chester).  1340  Plemondstow. 
'  Plegmund's  place.'  See  Stow.  But  -stall  is  O.E.  steall,  steel, 
also  '  a  place,'  then  '  a  stall.' 

Pltjmpton  (Penrith,  Preston,  Yorks,  and  Lewes).  Pr.  P.  Dam. 
Pluntun.  Yor.  P.  Dom.  Plontone,  1206  Plumton,  1490  Plompton. 
Prob.  '  plum-village.'  O.E.  plume.  No  name  like  Pluma 
in  Onom.    For  the  intrusion  of  p  cf.  Bampton,  Beompton,  etc. 

Plumstead  (Woolwich  and  Norwich).  Wool,  and  Nor.  P.  Dom. 
Plumestede;  Nor.  P.  1450  Plumbsted.  O.E.  plume-sted,  '  plum- 
place.'    Cf.  Plumpteee  (Notts),  Dom.  Pluntre. 

Plymouth.  Sic  1495,  but  1231  Close  R.  Plimmue,  1234  ib.  Plime- 
muth,  c.  1450  Fortescue,  The  Plymouthe.  Plympton,  Dom. 
PUntone,  c.  1160  Plintona,  1218  PHnton.  Plymstock,  Dom. 
Plemestoch.  All  on  R.  Plym.  W.  plym,  L.  plumbum,  is  '  lead  ''; 
but  some  think  the  root  simply  means  here  '  river.' 

Plynlimmon  Mountain  (Wales).  1603  Oiven  Penplymon.  W. 
Pumlumon;  c.  1200  Gir.  Camb.  Montana  de  Elenit  or  Elennith. 
Pum  llumon  seems  to  be  W.  for  '  five  beacons.'  O.W.  pimp, 
W.  pum,  pump,  '  five,'  and  llumon, '  beacon.'  Cf.  Ben  Lomond 
(Sc),  G.  Laomuinn. 

PocKLiNGTON  (York).  Dom.  Poclinton,  14  times,  1202  Pokelinton, 
1298  Pokelington.  Prob.  '  town  of  Puccla,'  gen.  -Ian,  fr.  O.E. 
pucel,  '  a  goblin,'  prob.  connected  with  puck,  '  a  fairy.'  Cf. 
PucKLECHUECH,  and  Pockley,  E.  Riding,  Dom.  Pochelac  (for 
this  ending,  cf.  Filey)  .  Possibly  this  last  is  fr.  Poha  or  Pohha, 
names  in  Onom.     Cf.  1161-2  Pipe  Pocheslea,  Northants. 

PoLDHU  (the  Lizard).     Corn.  =  '  black  pool.' 


POLESWORTH  404  POPPLETON 

PoLESWOETH  (Tamworth).  Old  PoUes-,  Polsworth,  'farm  of  PoV 
Of.  Dom.  Bucks,  Policote,  and  K.C.D.  641  Polesleah. 

PoLLiNGTON  (Wellingboro') .  Cf.  Grant  of  a.  675  '  Poddenhale/ 
Winchester.  O.E.  Poddantun,  '  town  of  Podda,'  in  Onom.  Cf. 
PoDMORE  (Eccleshall)  Dom.  Podemore  ('  moor '),  and  Poden 
(Wore),  860  cMrt.  Poddan-,  -denho.    See  Hoe. 

PoLTTREiAJsr  (the  Lizard) ,  Corn,  pol  yrhian,  '  pool  at  the  boundary/ 
or  else,  'pool  of  St.  Urian.'  Cf.  Centurion's  Copse.  Others 
say  fr.  St.  Ruman  or  Ruan,  whose  bones  were  translated  to  Tavis- 
tock Abbey  in  960.     St.  Euan's,  Major  and  Minor,  are  near. 

PoNSONBY  (Whitehaven) .  '  DweUing  of  Punzun'  in  Fr.  Ponson,  on 
record  c.  1300,  whilst  another  Punzun  is  named  1179-80  in  Pipe, 
Yorks.    See  -by. 

PoNTEFRACT.  8ic  1608,  c.  1097  Orderic  Fractus  Pons,  1120  Bull 
Pontefractum,  c.  1160  John  Hexh.  Pontifractus.  L.  pontefracto, 
*  broken  bridge,'  a  rare  type  of  Eng.  name,  prob.  referring  to  the 
bridge  broken  down  by  Wm.  I.,  1069.  Remains  of  a  Roman 
bridge  were  still  visible  in  Leland's  time.    Cf.  Catterick. 

PoNTESBURY  (Shrewsbury).  Prob.  O.E:  Chron.  661  Posentesbyrg, 
'  Burgh,  castle  of  Posente.'    See  -bury. 

PONTRILAS  (Hereford).  W.  pont  tri  glas,  'bridge  over  three 
streams.'  It  is  so  still.  Pontfadoc  (Chesh.),is  for  Pont  Madoc, 
'  son  of  Owain  Gwynedd,'  who,  the  natives  say,  discovered 
America  !     F  is  aspirated  m. 

PoNTYPOOL  (Monmouth) .  As  it  stands,  W.  pont  y  pwl, '  bridge  at  the 
pool,'  but  commonly  held  to  be  pont  ap  Howel, '  Powell's  bridge.' 

Pontypridd  (Glamorgan),  c.  1540  Leland  Pont  Rherhesh,  W.  pont 
yr  hesg,  'bridge  of  the  rushes.'  But  renamed  pont  y  pridd,  lit. 
'  bridge  of  clay/  for  pont  yr  hen  dy  pridd, '  bridge  of  the  old  house 
of  earth/  erected  by  Wm.  Edwards,  1755. 

PooLE.  1234  Close  R.  La  Pole,  c.  1450  Fortescue  Polle  havyn. 
O.E.  pol.  Corn,  pol,  '  a  pool.'  But  Pool,  W.  Riding,  is  Dom. 
Pouele,  which  may  be  *  pool-nook.'    See  -hall. 

Poplar  (London),  c.  1350  Popler.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt 
Dr.  Woodward,  writing  in  1720,  '  Popler  or  Poplar  is  so  called 
from  the  multitude  of  poplar-trees  (which  love  a  moist  soil) 
growing  there  in  former  times.'  The  Manor  of  Poplar  belonged 
to  Sir  John  de  Pulteney,  temp.  Edw.  III.,  which  gives  about  the 
earliest  mention  of  the  name  of  the  tree  in  England  (see  Oxf. 
Diet.),  O.Fr.  poplier,  L.  populus. 

PopPLETON  (York).     Dom.  Popletune,  Popletunis,  pi.  for  P.  Upper 
■^  and  Nether.     '  Poplar-tree  town,'  late  O.E.  popul,  dial,  popple. 

But  Papplewick,  Nottingham.      Dom.   Paplewio,  is  fr.   O.E. 

papol,  'pebble.' 


POE(T)CHESTER  405  PORTSMOUTH 

Por(t)chesteb  (Fareham).  c.  150  Ptolemy  Meyas  Aifirjv,  the 
Rom.  Portus  Magnus,  '  great  harbour/  c.  1170  Wace  Pore- 
cester,  c.  1205  Layam.  Port-cheestre.  L.  portus,  '  harbour/ 
and  castrum,  '  camp/  See  Chester,  and  cf.  Portsmouth. 
Identification  with  Cair  Peris  in  Nennius  is  very  doubtful. 

PoRcuiL  (Falmouth) .  Local  form  Perkil.  Corn,  porth  chil,  '  har- 
bour on  the  neck  of  land/  which  it  is.  Chil  is  same  as  G.  caol, 
'  narrow,  a  strait,  a  kyle.' 

PoRiN GLAND  (Norwich).  Dom.  Porringelanda.  Porring  is  an 
otherwise  unknown  patronymic. 

PoRLOCK  (Somerset).  1052  O.E.  Ckron.  Portlocan,  1275  Porlok. 
Port-loca  is  '  enclosed  harbour,'  loca,  '  an  enclosure.'  Cf. 
Matlock. 

PoRTHCAWL  (Glamorgan).  W.  porth  cawell,  '  harbour  of  the  weir  ' ; 
or  '  of  the  hampers  or  baskets/  Corn.  dial,  cawel,  cowel,  '  a 
fish  creel,'  O.E.  cawl,  ceawl,  '  a  basket.'    Cf,  Calbourne. 

PoRTH  Gaverne,  Isaac,  Quest  (Padstow).  Corn,  porth,  '  harbour,' 
L.  portus,  '  of  the  goat,'  gavem,  '  of  the  corn,'  iz,  with  its  adj. 
izick,  '  of  corn,'  and  '  white,'  gunn. 

Porthmear  (Cornwall).  Corn.  =  '  great  harbour,'  Mear  is  cognate 
with  Eng.  more,  L.  major,  G.  mor,  as  weU  as  W.  mawr. 

PoRTiNSCALE  (Kcswick).  Old  Portingscale.  Thought  to  be  '  the 
harbour  or  ferry  by  the  hut,'  of  the  viking,  O.N.  skali,  '  a 
shieUng,  a  hut.' 

PoRTiSHAM  (Dorchester),  a.  1250  Owl  and  Night.  Porteshom. 
'  Home  on  the  harbour.'    See  above  and  -ham. 

PoRTiSHEAD  (Bristol).  Pron.  Posset.  'Head,  headland  at  the 
port  or  harbour.' 

Portland.  Sic  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.;  O.E.  Chron.  837  Port,  v.r., 
Portlande — i.e.,  '  land  forming  a  harbour  or  shelter.' 

Port  Llaitw  (S.  Wales) .  Thought  to  be  c.  150  Ptolemy  Louentinon. 
Doubtful. 

Portreath  (Redruth).  Corn,  porth  treath,  '  harbour  on  the  strand 
or  sands.'    Cf.  Pentreath. 

Portskeweth  (Chepstow).  1065  O.E.  Chron.  Portasciht5,  Dom. 
Porteschiwet,  c.  1130  Lib.  Land..  Vorthiscemn,  a.  1130  Sim. 
Dur.  Portascith,  Gir.  Camb.  Itin.  Eskewin.  Doubtful.  Perh. 
W.  porth  yscuit,  '  harbour  at  the  shoulder.'  But  the  W.  name 
is  said  to  be  Porthiscoed,  ?  ysgoad,  '  a  thrusting  aside.'  See 
M'Clure,  p.  300,  note. 

Portsmouth.    O.E.  Chron.  501  refers  to  Port,  and  to  a  chief  Port 
who  landed  here.     c.  1097  Orderic  Portesmude,  1203  Portes- 
muthe,  1213  Portesmue.    Very  likely  it  is  simply  L.  portus, 
'  harbour,'  but  we  have  Portington  (Yorks)  Dom.  Portiton, 


POSTWICK  406  PRESTEIGN 

-inton,  which  must  be  fr.  a  man  Port.    In  1160-1  Pipe  Hants, 
we  have  Portesdon  or  Poetsdowij. 

PosTWicK  (Norwich).  1452APossewyk.  Nothing  Ukely  in  Onom. 
so  prob.  O.E.  post-wic,  '  house,  dwelling  with  the  posts/  But, 
PosTLiP  (Gloster),  Dom.  Poteslepe,  1175  Postlepa,  is  prob. 
'  Potta'a  leap/    Cf.  Biedlip. 

PoTTON  (Sandy),  a.  1130  Pottona.  Possibly  '  pot- town/  O.N. 
pott-r,  '  a  pot/  Perh.  fr.  a  man  Pohta  or  Poto,  names  in  Onom. 
Cf.  1179-80  Pipe,  Potton  (Yorks),  not  in  Dom.,  but  there  we 
have  PoTTERTON,  Dom.Potertun;  this  is  as  early  as,  or  earher 
than,  any  quot.  for  potter,  in  Oxf.  Diet.  Potterspuiiy  (Stony 
Stratford)  is,  however,  in  1229  simply  Estpirie.  See  Pauler- 
spury.  PoTTERNE  (Wilts)  is  Dom.  Poterne,  where  erne  is  cer- 
tainly O.E.  for  '  house.' 

PoTJLTON  LE  Fylde  (Preston)  and  Poulton  (Fairford  and  Birken- 
head). Pr.  P.  Dom.  Poltun,  O.E.  for  '  village  by  the  pool.' 
Fa.  P.  1303  Polton. 

PowicK  (Worcester).  Chart.  Poincgwic,  Dom.  Poiwic,  1275  Poys- 
wyke,  a.  1300  Poywick.  Poincg-  i§  clearly  a  patronymic,  fr. 
Po  or  Poha,  see  -ing ;  so  this  is  '  dwelling-place  of  Poha's  descen- 
dants.'   See  -wick. 

PowYS  (this  includes  Fhnt,  Montgomery,  Merioneth),  also  Powys 
Cast.  (Welshpool),  c.  1200  Gir.  Camb.  Powisia,  Ann.  Camb. 
828  Poywis,  1297  Powys.     W.  powys,  '  a  state  of  rest.' 

PoYNiNGS  (Hurstpierpoint,  Sussex).  Dom.  Poninges.  A  patrony- 
mic. Nothing  in  Onom.  Poynton  (Stockport)  is  Dom.  Pontone; 
so  evidently  Pon  was  a  man's  name. 

Praze  (Camborne).    Corn,  pras,  L.  pratum,  '  a  meadow.' 

Frees  (Whitchurch)  and  Preese  (Lytham).  Ly.  P.  Dom.  Pres. 
W.  prys,  pres, '  copse,  shrubs.'  Cf.  Dumfries  (Sc).  Preesall 
(Preston)  is  Dom.  Pressouede,  where  the  ending  is  doubtful; 
prob.  it  is  for  '  wood,'  and  so  a  tautology.    Also  see  -hall. 

Prendergast  (Haverf ord  W.) .  Sic  1603  Owen.  The  name  is  also 
found  with  same  spelling  in  Berwicksh.,  1100  Prenegest,  1451 
Prendregest,  also  Plenderguest ;  whilst  in  Roxburghsh.  is  Plender- 
leith,  1587  Prenderleith.  A  puzzHng  name.  The  first  part 
may  be  for  O.W.  premier,  found  in  Ir.  as  prenter,  '  a  presbyter, 
a  priest,'  and  the  second  may  be,  W.  gest,  cest,  '  a  deep  glen 
between  two  hills.'    Fris.  gaast,  '  a  morass,'  seems  also  possible. 

Prescot.  '  The  cot  or  cottage  of  the  priest.'  O.E.  prepst,  O.N. 
prest-r. 

Presteign  (Radnor)  and  Preston  (19  in  P.O.).  Dom.  Yorks, 
Bucks,  and  Salop,  Prestone,  -tun;  ib.  Warwk.,  Prestetone.  All 
=  '  priest's  town.'  In  W.  Presteign  is  Llanandras  or  '  church 
of  St.  Andrew.' 


PRESTWICH  407  PUNSBOENE 

Peestwich  (Manchester).  1301  Prestwyche.  O.E.  preost-wic, 
'  priest's  dwelling/  Cf.  Peestwick  (So.)  and  Prestwood 
(Stourbridge),  a.  1200  Prestewude;  also  Prestbnry  (Chelten- 
ham), Bede  Preosdabyrig,  Dom.  Presteberie.    See  -bury. 

Pbiokwillow  (Ely).  Called  fr.  a  willow,  used  for  making  pricks 
or  skewers.    Cf.  the  '  spindle-tree.' 

Pbinoe-  or  Peinsthoepe  (Rugby),    a.  1300  Prenesthorpe.    '  Village 

of  Preon  ' — i.e.,  '  the  pin '  or  '  brooch,'  Sc.  preen.    Cf.  Preen 

(Salop). 
Peioes  Heys  (Tarvin,  Cheshire) .     An  '  extra-parochial  Uberty ' 

of  1,100  acres,  with  houses.    See  Oxf,  Diet,  hay  sb^,  O.E.  hege, 

3  heie,  4-7  hey{e),  '  a  hedge.' 

Peivett  (Alton).  Prob,  O.E.  Chron.  755  Pryfetes  floda.  Prob. 
a  personal  name  of  unknown  origin.  The  shrub  privet  is  not 
surely  known  in  Eng.  a.  1542,  and  its  etymology  is  very  doubtful. 
Can  Pryf et  be  for  prefect,  L.  prcefectus  ? 

Peudhoe  or  -HOW  (By well,  Northumbld).  c.  1175  Fantosme  Prud- 
hame  (=ham),  a.  1200  Prudchou.  Prob.  '  Prud's  height.' 
There  is  one  Prud  in  0.nom.  in  Cornwall,  while  '  proud '  (O.E. 
prut,  prud)  is  not  used  re  things  tiU  c.  1290.     See  Hoe. 

Puokeeidge  (Ware).  This  is  a  name  of  the  night- jar.  See  Oxf. 
Diet.  But  the  place-name  is  prob.  '  Pucca's  ridge.'  Cf.  Pouke 
Hill  and  Powke  Lane  (Staffs.),  Puckington  (Ilminster)  and  a 
'  Pokebrook,'  1274  in  Lines.  Old  forms  needed.  They  may 
all  come  fr.  puck  or  pook,  O.E.  puca,  O.N.  puki, '  a  sprite,  demon, 
fairy.'    See  Oxf.  Diet.,  puck  sb.^ 

PucKLECHUECH  (Bristol).  946  O.E.  Chron.  Puc(e)lan  cyrcan, 
Dom.  Pulcrecerce,  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  946,  Puclecirce.  O.E.  for 
'  church  of  the  goblin,'  pucel,  prob.  connected  with  pu^k,  '  a 
fairy.'  Cf.  Pocklington  and  Puckle-  or  Picklenash  (Gloster), 
'  fairies'  ashtree.'     Gloster  also  has  a  Puckshole. 

PuDSEY  (Leeds) .  Dom.  Podechesaie,  1183  Puteaco,  1203  Pudeckshee, 
1213  Picteaceo.  'Isle  of  Podeca'  {t=Bodeca,  1  in  Onom.). 
See  -ey.  '  Poody-Crofte '  sic  1423  Coventry  Leet  Bk.,  seems  to 
be  fr.  the  same  name.     It  is  not  in  Duignan. 

PuLLOXHiLL  (Beds),  c.  1200  Polochessele.  'Hill  of  Pohc'  This 
can  hardly  be  the  same  name  as  Pollock  (Renfrewsh.),  1158 
Pollock,  Pullock,  though  it  may.  The  -ele  may  be  for  liale, 
'  nook';  see  -hall;  or  -sele  may  be  O.E.  sele,  '  a  hall,  a  house.' 

PuNCKNOLL  (Dorchester).  'Knoll,  hillock  of  Punt,'  1  in  Onom., 
short  form  of  Puntel.    Cf.  940  chart.  Punteles  treow  (Dorset). 

PuNSBOENE  (Hatfield) .  Not  in  Dom.,  c.  1495  Pamsborow.  It  must 
be  fr.  the  same  name  as  Panshanger,  also  in  Herts,  no  old  forms, 
'  wooded  slope  of  Pan.'  The  ending  -borne  is  -bourne,  '  brook,' 
while  -borow  is  -burgh  or  -boro',  q.v.    Puncheston  (Letterston, 


PUEBECK  408  QUANTOCKS 

Pembk.)  is  1603  Ov>en  Pontchardston,  a  name  not  in  Onom.;  but 
Punchard  is  common  in  medieval  France. 

PuRBECK.  1205  Purbice,  1410  Pm^brick.  '  Brook  of  the  ram,  or 
wether  lamb/  O.E.  pur  found  only  in  pur  lamb;  or  'of  the 
snipe  or  bittern/  also  O.E.  pur.  Cf.  PueeLeet  and  Pubton, 
and  see  -beck. 

PuKFLEET  (Essex).  O.E.  pur-fleot, '  snipe  or  bittern  creek  or  inlet.* 
Cf.  Fleetwood. 

PuBLEiGH  (Maldon)  and  Purley  (Reading  and  Surrey).  Read.  P. 
Dom.  Porlei,  a.  1290  Purle.  Ma.  P.  prob.  998  chart.  Purlea. 
Thought  by  Skeat  to  be,  like  Pubton,  '  pear-tree  meadow ' ;  but 
old  forms  are  against  this,  and  prob.  these  names  are  to  be 
taken  as  in  Puebeck. 

PtTBSTON  (Pontefract) .  Dom.  Prestun,  and  so  =  Preston.  But  Pur- 
shall,  (Bromsgrove)  is  a.  1300  Pershull,  '  hill  of  Piers/  Cf. 
''  Piers  Plowman/ 

PuRTON  (Swindon  and  Berkeley).  Sw.  P.  796  chart.  Perytun, 
Puritun,  lat&r  Pyryton,  pear-tree  town.'  O.E.  pirige,  '  pear- 
tree,'  peru,  '  a  pear.'    Cf.  Paulerspury. 

PusEY  (Berks),  a.  900  Mlfred's  Will  Pefesigge,  later  Peuesige; 
1066-87  Chron.  Abingdon,  Pusie,  Dom.  Pesei,  a.  1290  Pesey. 
O.E.  Pefes  -i^e,  '  isle  of  Pefi,'  an  unknown  man.     Cf.  Pewsey. 

PuTLOE  (Standish).    a.  1200  Puthleleye,  1274  Potteley;  Putney 
(London)  old  Putton  -heath;  and  Puttenham  (Guildford).     All 
fr.  the  common  O.E.  name  Put(t)a,  -an.    In  the  first  case  -ley 
'  meadow,'  has  varied  with  -loe  or  -low,  '  burial  mound.' 

Pwllheli.  Pron.  pool-theUy.  W.  for  '  brine  pool.'  Cf.  Treheli, 
'  house  of  brine,'  '  salt-house,'  in  Carnarvon  also. 

PwLL  Crochan  (Fishguard),  1377  Porttraghan,  Tax.  Eccl.  Port- 
crachan,  and  Pwll  y  Crochan  (Colwyn  Bay).  Prob.  not  '  pool 
of  the  pot '  for  drawing  water,  or  '  like  a  cauldron,'  same  as 
Eng.  crock  ;  but  fr.  W,  clochan,  '  a  Kttle  bell ' ;  the  liquids  I  and  r 
easily  interchange.  -  There  is  another  Pwll  Crochan,  N.  of 
Llanrian. 

Pytchley  (Kettering).  Dom.  Pihteslea,  'meadow  of  Piht/  or 
'  Peoht.'    See  -lev. 

Quad  RING  (Spalding),  a.  1100  Quadaveringge.  Seemingly  a 
jjatronymic;  possibly  fr.  Wadbeorht  or  Vadipert,  or  fr.  Wad- 
iveard,  names  in  Onom.     But  this  is  quite  uncertain.    See  -ing. 

QuANTOCKS  (Somerset)  and  East  Quantoxhead.  Chart,  attrib. 
to  681  Cantuc-uudu  ('wood').  Dom.  Cantocheheve' (' head,' 
O.E.  heafod).  W.  cant  uch,  'upper,  higher  circle.'  W.  vxih 
is  same  root  as  Ochils  (Sc.)  and  G.  uachdar,  '  the  top,  upper 
part,'  so  common  in  Sc.  place-names  as  Auchter-. 


QUAELTON  409  EABY 

QuAELTON  (Bolton).  1292  Quelton.  Prob.  'town  of  the  qoiarry/ 
stiU  in  north  dial,  quarrel,  O.Fr.  quarriere.  See  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v. 
quarrel  and  quarry  sbs.^  We  find  in  1298  '  Thomas  de  Querle/ 
now  QuarreU  (Kinnaird,  Stirlingsh.). 

QuAHNFORD  (Buxton).  1227  i^uerneford.  'Ford  of  the  quern' 
or  'handmiU/  O.E.  cweorn,  cwym.  Of.  Quaendon  (Derby), 
'hill  Hke  a  quern/  Quernhowe  (Yorks)  and  Quoen.  How- 
ever, Baddeley  thinks  the  Querns  (Cirencester)  corrup.  of 
Crundles,  sic  1286,  see  CRTiNDAiiE. 

QuAERiNGTON  (Coxhoe,  Durham),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Queorming- 
tun,  1183  Querindune,  Queringdona.  Seemingly  patronymic, 
fr.  O.E.  cweorn,  '  a  quern,  a  handmill.' 

QuATBRiDGE  (Bridgenorth) .  895  O.E.  Chron.  Cwatbrycge;  Dom. 
Quatford  and  Quatone,  c.  1097  Orderic  Quatfort  now  Quatford 
Castle;  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Quadruge,  Quathruge.  Some  think 
fr.  0. W.  coit,  W.  coed, '  a  wood,'  which  is  not  very  Ukely.  There 
is  an  obscure  quut, '  a  pimple,  a  boil,'  found  fr.  1579.  The 
Quat-  is  quite  doubtful.    Cf.  Quothquhan  (Sc). 

Qtjedgeley  (Gloster).  c.  1142  Quedesley,  c.  1155  ^uedesleg; 
also  perh.  1136  Quadresse.  Prob.  '  mead  of  (an  unrecorded) 
Cwed.'  Baddeley  says,  cf.  Quither  (Tavistock),  1286  .-Quedre; 
but  it  is  prob.  Kelt.     Cf.  W.  cwthr, '  excretory  orifice,  anus.' 

QuEENBOROUGH  (Chatham),  c.  1460  Queneborow.  Called  after 
PhiUppa,  Queen  of  Edward  III.,  who  d.  in  1369.  Edward  built 
a  castle  here.     See  -burgh. 

Queen's  Camel  (Cadbury,  Somerset).    See  Camel. 

QuEMERFORD  (Calne).  Thought  to  be  Kelt,  cumber,  '  cor^uence.' 
Cf.  the  Breton  Quimper  and  Comberbach. 

QuiNTON  (Birmingham  and  Gloster).  Bi.  Q.  840  chart.  Cwentune, 
1275  Quintone.  Gl.  Q.  848  chart.  Cwentone,  Dom.  Quenintune. 
O.E.  cwoen,  cwen{n),  tun,  'woman's'  or  '  queep's  village.' 
This  is  the  same  name  as  Quemington,  also  in  Gloster,  Dom. 
Quenintone. 

QuoiSLEr  Mere  (Cheshire) .  Perh.  *  meadow  of  the  heifer  or 
quey,'  6-9  quoy,  only  in  North  dial. ;  fr.  O.N.  Icviga,  'a,  heifer.' 

QuoRN  (Loughborough).    See  Quarnford. 

QuY  (Cambs).  c.  1080  Inquis.  Cambs.  Coeie,  Choeie,  Dom.  Coeia, 
1210  Cueye,  1261  Queye,  1272  Coweye,  Cowye,  O.E.  cu  -ege, 
*  cow  island.'  Cf.  Sheppey,  and  quey  (Sc.)  for  '  a  heifer,  ta 
young  cow,'  O.N.  kviga,  also  Dom.  Devon,  Goie.    See  -ey. 

Raby  ^Cheshire  and  Darlington).  Ches.  jR.  Dpm.  Rabie.  D^r.  R. 
a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Eabi,  -b^;  this  might  be  O.N.  for  '  dwelling 
made  with  poles  or  stakes,'  rd ;  but  this  last  also  means  '  a  roe- 
deer.'    See  -by. 

27 


EADCLIFFE  410  EAINFOED 

EiADCLiFFE  (4  at  least).  Devon  R.  Exon.  Dom.  Radcliva.  Man- 
chester B>.  1343  Radclive,  -cliffe.  Also  Dom.  Bucks  Radeclive. 
'Red  cliff/  O.E.  read  (3  roed)  clif.  Cf.  Ratcliffe-upon-Soar, 
Dom.  Radeclive.    Radbrook  (For.  of  Dean),  is  1204  Redebroc. 

Radfield  (Cambs).  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Radefelde,  Radesfeld, 
Dom.  Radefelle,  1284  Radefeld,  1302  Radfelde.  Prob.  '  Moeda's 
field  ' ;  though  here  and  in  other  names  in  Rad-,  as  Skeat  admits, 
an  origin  fr.  O.E.  read,  3  reed,  'red/  is  always  possible.  Cf. 
1158-9  Pipe  Rademora  (Staffs).  Radholme  (Yorks),  is  Dom. 
Radun,  an  old  loc.  '  on  the  roads/  O.E.  rod.  See  -ham  with 
which  -holme  often  interchanges. 

Radford  (Wrcstrsh.  and  Leamington).  Wor.  R.  1275  Radeford. 
Le  R.  Dom.  Redeford,  a.  1189  Radeford.  Perh.  '  red,  reddish 
ford,'  O.E.  read,  3  reed,  'red';  but  perh.,  as  in  Radbourne, 
'  reedy  ford  ';  O.E.  hreod,  (h)  read,  '  a  reed.'  Also  cf.  two  nuxt. 
Radham  (Gloster)  is  955  chart'.  Hreodham. 

Radlett  (Herts).  No  old  forms.  Skeat  thinks,  O.E.  rad  (ge)  l(Bt, 
'  road  meeting-point/  But  Dom.  Herts  has  Radeuuelle,  which 
is  prob.  'well  of  Rada.'  Cf.  next;  and  1161-2  Pipe  Raden 
-heoh',  ?  '  height  of  Rada,'  Bucks  and  Beds. 

Radley  (Abingdon),  a.  1290  Radeley,  c.  1520  Raydeley.  Prob. 
'  red  meadow,*  as  in  Radcliffe  ;  see  -ley.  But  Skeat  compares 
B.C.8.  iii.  85  '  Radeleage  '  (Wilts),  which  he  derives  fr.  Rad<i  or 
Rceda,  a  pet  form  of  one  of  the  many  names  in  Rsed-;  whilst 
Radbourne  (Southam.),  is  980  chart.  Hreodburne  or  'reedy 
brook.' 

Radnor  (Wales,  and  old  hamlet  near  Congleton).  Dom.  Raddre- 
nore  (prob.  the  central  r  is  an  error).  O.E.  raden  ora,  '  edge  of 
the  road  or  ride ';  prob.  in  the  first  case  the  Rom.  road  which 
ran  fr.  Wroxeter  to  Abergavenny  and  Cserleon.  The  W.  name  is 
Maesyf ed  or  -hyf ed,  prob.  for  hyfaidd, '  field  of  the  dauntless  one.' 

Radstock  (Bath).  Looks  like  O.E.  rod  -stoc,  '  place  on  the  road.' 
Cf.  Stoke.  But  it  may  be  fr.  a  man,  as  in  next.  Cf.  too 
Radway,  Banbury,  Dom.  Rad-  Rodeweie,  which  Duignan  thinks 
'  red  way,'  because  the  soil  here  is  reddish  marl. 

Radston  (Northants).  c.  1275  Radistone;  also  Rodeston.  Prob. 
'  town  of  Rada  or  Rodo,'  names  in  Onom.  There  is  also  a 
*  Radeston,'  ?  Salop,  c.  1205  in  Layam.  But  Radwick  (Gloster) 
is  c.  955  chart.  Hreodwica,  '  reed-built '  or  '  thatched  dweUing.' 

Rainford  and  Rainhill  (St.  Helens).  1189-98  Raineford,  1202 
Reineford;  1190  Raynhull,  1246-56  ReynhiU,  1382  Raynhull. 
Fr.  some  man  with  a  name  in  Rsegen-  or  Regen-.  They  are 
very  common,  see  Onom. — Regenbeald,  Regenhild,  etc.  Rainors 
(Gumbld.)  is  said  to  have  been  formerly  pron.  Renneray,  which 
is  pure  N.  See  -ay.  Raines  Brook  (Warwksh.),  a.  1200  Reynes- 
broc,  is  known  to  be  fr.  Rainald,  the  Dom.  tenant  of  the  manor. 


RAINHAM  411  RAPES 

Rainham  (Chatham).  811  Roegingaham.  Evidently  a  patrony- 
mic, fr.  Rcegen  or  Regen,  a  name  generally  found  in  one  of  its 
numerous  combinations,  Regenburh,  -frith,  -heard,  etc.  Rainton 
Thirsk,  Dom.  Rainincton  1183  Rayntona,  will  have  a  similar 
origin;  only  here  it  is  a  patronymic.  Dom.  also  calls  it  Raininge- 
wat,  where  -wat  will  be  O.E.  weed,  '  ford.'    Cf .  Wath. 

Raisthobpe  (Yorks).  Dow.  Redrestorp.  '  Bether's -plsice.'  There 
is  one  Reg^er  and  one  Ratherus  in  Onom.    See  -thorpe. 

Rake  (East  Liss),  Rake  End,  and  the  Rakes  (Staffs).  O.N.  rdk, 
'  a  stripe,  streak/  Norw.  dial,  raak,  '  footpath,'  found  in  14th 
cny.  Eng.  as  rake,  '  a  way,  a  (rough)  path  ' ;  still  dial,  and  Sc. 

Rampton  (Cambridge),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Gamh.  Ramtune,  Dom. 
Rantone,  1210  Ramptone.  '  Village  of  rams,'  O.E.  ramm. 
Cf.  FoxTON  and  Shepton. 

Ramsbottom  (Manchester).  A  'bottom,'  O.E.  botm,  north.  E. 
bodome,  is  '  a  valley,  a  fertile  valley.'  Cf.  Boddam  (Sc.)  and 
Stabbottom.  As  to  the  Ram-  cf.  next  and  Ramsley  (Salop), 
a.  1100  Hremesleage,  Dom.  Rameslege,  '  Hrcem's  or  Ram'a  lea.' 

Ramsbury  (Hungerford).  c.  988  chart.  Hremnesburg,  c.  1097 
Flor.  W.  Reamnesbyrig.  '  Town  of  Ramni,'  a  Saxon  name 
found  also  in  Ramshorn  (Sc.)  .  The  root  is  O.E.  hremn,^  raven.' 
Cf.  next,  and  1179-80  Pipe  Rammesberia  (Yorks). 

Ramsden  (Charlbury,  Oxfd).  O.E.  chart.  Remnesdiin.  'Hill  of 
Remni,'  see  above.  Perh.  it  is  c.  1450  Oseney  Reg.  134  Ramme 
dune.  But  Ramsden  Heath,  Billericay,  is  Dom.  Ramesdana, 
'  Dean,  valley  of  Ramni.'    See  -den. 

Ramsey  (Hunts).  K.C.D.  iv.  300  Hrames  ege,  Dom.  Ramesy, 
c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Ramesia.  c.  1130  Eadmer  Rammesei,  a.  1150 
chart.  Ramesige.  Not  orig.  '  isle  of  rams,'  O.E.  ram{m),  but 
*  isle  of  Hrcem '  or  '  the  Raven,'  O.E.  hrcem,  var.  of  hrcemn, 
hrafn,  '  raven.'  Cf.  Hjremmesden,  now,  says  Kemble,  Rams- 
dean  (Hants). 

Ramsgate.  c.  1540  Ramesgate,  '  Road,'  O.E.  geat,  '  of  Ram,'  a 
fairly  common  name.  Cf.  940  chart.  Hiremnes  geat  (Wilts), 
B.C. 8.  356  Rames  cumb,  near  Hallow  on  Severn,  and  Ramsden. 

Ranby  (Lincoln  and  Retford).  Both  Dom.  Randebi,  ^Rand's 
dwelling.'  Cf.  Ran  worth  (Norwich),  O.E.  chart.  Randworth. 
See  -by  and  -worth.  But  all  names  in  Rand-,  like  these  and 
Rand  WICK  (Stroud),  1120  Randwyke  (O.E.  wic  'dwelling'), 
may  be  fr.  O.E.  rand,  rond,  '  brink,  bank,'  O.N.  rond,  '  shield 
rim,  stripe,'  Sw.  and  Dan.  rand,  '  rim,  border,'  also  in  Du.,  seen 
in  the  famous  Rand  (Johannesburg).    Cf.  Dom.  Lines,  Rande. 

Rapes  of  Sussex.    Dom.  In  Rap  de  Hastinges.    One  of  six  districts 

■   into  which  Sussex  is  divided.     Oxf.  Diet,  says  rape  may  mean 

'  land  measured  by  the  rope,'  O.E.  rap,  O.N.  reip  ;  but  that  there 


RASKELr  412  EAWDON 

is  no  positive  proof.  Yet  cf.  Orderic  678  c,  Oinnes  carucatas 
quas  Angli  hidas  vocant  fxmiculo  [Randolf  Flambard]  mensus 
est  et  descripsit.    Cf.  Rope. 

IIaskelf  (Easingwold).  Dom.  Raschel.  O.E.  m-sceye,  *  roe-deer's 
shelf  of  rock.' 

Rastrick  (Brighouse).  Dom.  Rastric.  O.E.  rcest  hryeg,  O.N.  rast 
hrygg-r,  '  rest '  or  '  resting  ridge.' 

Rathmell  (Settle) .  Dom.  Rodemele.  *  Sand-dune  of  the  rood/ 
or  '  cross/  O.E.  rod,  with  the  North,  a.  A '  mell '  is  O.N.  mel-r; 
see  Meole. 

Ratley  (Banbury).  Dom.  Rotelei,  a.  1200  Rottelei,  a.  1300 
Rotley.  'Good,  excellent  meadow/  O.E.  rot;  or  fr.  rot,  'a 
root,  an  edible  root.'    See  -ley. 

Rattlesdbn  (Bury  St.  E.).  1161-2  Pipe  Radleston,  c.  1420 
Lydgate  Ratlysdene.  Older  forms  needed.  '  Wooded  valley 
of.'  ?  Ecedweald  var.  Badoald,  Rcedwealh  var.  Batuvalah,  or 
JRcedwulf  var.  Eathwulf  or  Eadulf,  all  forms  in  Onom.  See 
-den  and  -ton. 

Raughton  Head  (Dalston,  Cumbld.).  1189  Rachton.  Doubtful; 
no  Hkely  name  in  Onom.,  and  it  is  phonetically  difficult  to  derive 
fr.  rache,  O.E.  rcecc,  3-6  racch,  4-5  rack,  '  a  hunting-dog ' ;  so 
prob.  named  fr.  some  unknown  man.    See  -ton. 

Ravenglass  (S.  Cumbld.).  Prob.  W.  yr  afon  glas, '  the  greenish  or 
bluish  river/  afon  pron.  as  in  Stratford  on  Avon.  All  other 
explanations  seem  to  break  down.  But  we  have  1189  Pipe 
'Ravenewich/  (Cumbld.),  dwelling  of  Haven*  or  ' Hrafn.' 
See  next. 

Raveningham:  (Norwich),  a.  1300  Eccleston  Ravingham.  A 
patronymic.  Prob.  most  names  in  Raven-,  like  Ravenstone 
(Bucks),  etc.,  come  fr.  a  man,  as  in  Hrafnsaust  and  Hrafnseyri 
(Iceland),  known  to  be  called  fr.  a  settler.  See,  too,  Ramsbuey, 
Ramsey,  and  Renhold,  and  cf.  1189  Pipe  '  Ravenewich ' 
(Cumbld.). 

Ravensthorpe  (Dewsbury  and  Northmpton).  De.  R.  Dom. 
Rag(h)enel  -torp.  No.  R.  Grant  of  664  Ragenildetorp.  '  Village 
of  Ragenald '  or  Begenweald,  mod.  Reginald.  Ragh-  has  become 
Raw-  and  then  Rav-.  There  is  also  in  N.  Yorks  a  Raventhoep, 
Dom.  Ravenetorp,  fr.  a  man  Raven.    See  above,  and  see  -thorpe. 

Ravenstone  (Olney  and  Ashby  de  la  Z.) .  Oki.  R.  Dom.  Raveneston. 
The  man  'Raven's  village';  and  .R4.VENSWORTH  (Richmond, 
Yorks,  and  Chester-le-rStreet) .  Ri.  R.  Dom.  R,aveneswet. 
Ch.  R.,  a.  IIZO  Sim.  Dur.  Raveneswurthe.  The  man  'Raven's 
farm.'    See  above  and  -wof th. 

Rawdon  (Leeds).  Dom.  Rodum,  -un.  01^  loc.  *.at  rthe  ^roods '  or 
'  crosses.'  But  W.  and  H.  derive  RAWGLrFF  and  -eold  (Lanes), 
fr.  O.N.  rauQ-r,  '  red.' 


RAWMARSH  413  REDBRIDGE 

Rawmarsh  (Rotherham).  Dom.  Rodemesc  {for  -mersc),  1206 
E/umareis.  Prob,  '  rough  marsh/  O.E.  ruw,  3  ru,  3-5  rowe,  now 
row,  var.  of  rough.  Dom.'a  Rode-  may  be  an  error;  or  fr.  a  man 
Eoda,  2  in  Onom.  Marsh  is  O.E.  mersc,  mcersc,  but  -mareis  is 
rather  the  now  almost  obs.  marish,  O.F.  marais,  -eis,  as  in 
Beaumahis. 

Rawnsley  (Hednesford) .  Duignan  says  modern,  and  prob.  named 
fr.  Rawnpike  Oak  half  a,  mile  away.    See  RrvTNGTON  Pike. 

Rawtenstall  (Rossendale) .  Sic  1585,  but  1465  Rowtanstall. 
It  was  on  a  '  Rowtan  clough/  and  so  prob.  means  '  roaring, 
noisy,  boisterously  windy  place.'  It  is  Oxf.  Dict.'s  rout  vb'* 
fr.  O.N.  rjota,  N.  ruta,  '  to  roar,'  in  Eng.  3  rute,  4  roiite,  rowte. 
Cognate  with  rout  vb^,  O.N.  rauta,  Sw.  rota, '  to  bellow  or  roar.' 
1513  Douglas  speaks  of  '  rowtand  Caribdis,'  and  '  a  haly  routand 
well','  while  Carlyle  in  his  Reminiscences  speaks  of  '  a  rowting 
Brig.'  It  is  possible,  however,  that  the  first  part  is  the  name 
Hrothwine  or  Rothin,  of  whom  there  are  3  in  Onom. ;  -stall  is 
O.E.  steall,  steel,  '  place,  stable.'  Cf.  Rowten  or  Roiiten  Cave 
(Ingleboro'),  and  Ratten,  older  Routand  Clough  (Thieveley  Pike). 

Rayleigh  (Essex) .  Perh.  '  meadow  on  the  stream".'  Ray  or 
Rea  is  a  frequent  name  for  '  a  small  river,'  the  r  corning  on  by 
attraction  fr.  the  preceding  O.E.  art.— ^'  on  thoere  ea,'  '  on  the 
river.'  Cf.  Nechells,  1161-2  Pipe  Raelega  (Devon),  and  Rye. 
But  Sir  H.  Maxwell  thinks  =- Raelees  (Selkirk),  O.E.  rd-ledh, 
'roe  meadow.'  This  is  confirmed  by  Raygill,  Craven,  Dom. 
Roghil.     See  -gill,  '  ravine.' 

Reagh  (Swaffham,.  Cambs).  1279  Reche,  a  *  reach '  or  extension 
of  land,  O.E.  rcecan,  '  to  reach.'  The  earliest  quot.  for  the  sb. 
in  Oxf.  Diet,  is  1536,  Limehowse  Reche. 

Reading.  Pron.  Redding.  871  O.E.  Chron.  Readingas,  1006  ih. 
Rsedibgan  (late  dat.  pi.),  Dom.  Redinges,  1254  chart.  Rading. 
Patronymic.  '  Home  of  the  descendants  of  Reada,'  or  the  Red, 
now  found  spelt  as  a  surname  Reid,  or  Reade. 

Reculver  (N.  Kent),  c.  410  Not.  Dign.  Regulbi,  a.  716  chart. 
Raeulf,  Bede  Racuulfe,  Raculph.  O.E.  Chron.  679,  Ra-,  Reculf' 
811  chart.  Reacolvensa  ecclesia,  1241  Racolor;  also  Raculfs 
Cestre,  where  Raculf  is  imagined  to  be  a  man's  name.  The  root 
is  unknown,  but  the  present  form  has  been  influenced  by  O.E. 
culfre,  culfer,  '  a  culver  dove  or  wood-pigeon.' 

Redannick  (the  Lizard).    Corn,  =  '  place  of  ferns.'     Cf.  W.  rhedyn 
.  It.  raithneach,  G.  raineach,  '  fern.'     The  -ick  is  the  same  ending 
as  Ir.  and  G.  -ach, '  place  of,'  or  '  abounding  in.'     Cf.  Trelissick, 
etc. 

Redbridge  (Southampton)'.  Perh.  Bede  iv.  16.  'A  place  called 
Hreutford,   v.r.   Reodf ord ' — i.e.,  '  ford  with    reeds  ' ;  but  cf. 

RfiTFORD. 


REDCAE  414  KEEPHAM 

Redoab  (WMtby).  Not  in  Dom,  1179-80  Redkier.  '  Red  rock/ 
O.E.  carr,  cognate  with  or  derived  fr.  Keltic  car,  '  a  rock/  See 
Cabr  Rocks  (Sc). 

Redcuffe  (Bristol).  Dom.  Redeclive.  O.E.  for  'red  cliff.'  Cf. 
Clevelajstd.    There  is  another  '  Redeclive '  in  Cheshire  Dom. 

Redditoh.  (843  chart,  in  readan  sloe, '  to  the  red  slough  ')•  1300 
Redediche,  1642  Red  ditch,  Reddiche, '  red  ditch ' ;  but  Reddish 
(Stockport)  is  1296-97  Radish,  which  is  quite  doubtful.  The 
vegetable  radish  is  found  in  O.E.  as  redic,  3  redich,  5  radish. 

Redesdale  (Mid-Northumbld.).  1421  Redes-,  Rydes-,  Ridesdale, 
a.  1600  Risdale.  On  R.  Mede,  which  may  be  O.E.  hreut,  hreod,  or 
read,  4-5  red, '  a  reed.' 

Redmahley  d'Abitot  (Newent).  963  chart.  Reode  maere  leage, 
and  978  ib.  Rydem-,  Dom.  Redmerleie,  Ridmerlege,  1275 
Rudmereley,  Redmereligh,  Rudmareligh.  Prob.  O.E.  hreod  mere 
imh,  '  reedy  lake  meadow' ;  see  -ley.  But  it  may  be  as  in  RoD- 
MABTON.  Urse  d'Ahitot  held  lands  here  under  the  Bps.  of  Worces- 
ter, in  Dom.'B  time. 

Redmire  (Yorks).  Dom.  Ridemare,  Rotmare.  Prob.  '  reedy  lake,' 
O.E.  hreod,  read,  '  a  reed,'  and  mere.  Mire  is  O.N.  myr-r, 
'  swamp,  bog,'  and  not  found  in  Eng.  a.  1300.     Cf.  above. 

Rednal  (Bromsgrove).  730  chart.  Wreodan  hale,  1275  Wredin- 
hale.     '  Nook  of  Wreoda,'  not  in  Onom.    See  -hall. 

Red  Pike  (Wastwater) .  1322  le  Rede  Pike.  Pike,  Oxf.  Diet,  sb^,  is 
the  North.  Eng.  name  for  a  pointed  or  peaked  hill  or  mountain, 
and  is  chiefly  foimd  in  Nthn.  Lancashire,  Westmorland,  Cum- 
berland, and  the  Sc.  borders.  The  earliest  case  cited  is  c.  1250 
Lane.  Charters,  '  Ad  Winterhold  pike.'  The  furthest  S.  cases 
seem  to  be  Thieveley  Pike,  Rossendale,  Rivington  Pike,  Mid- 
Lanes,  and  Backden,  Haw,  and  Pinnar  Pikes  in  Yorks.  The 
range  is  much  the  same  as  the  kindred  fell,  and  confirms  the 
suggested  deriv.  fr.  N.  or  West  N.  dial.  ^J^A;, '  a  pointed  mountain,' 
piktind,  '  a  peaked  summit.'  There  is  one  curiously  corrupted 
example  in  Northbld.,  Wansbeck,  which  is  orig.  Wannys  pike. 

Redeuth  (Cornwall).  Corn,  rhe  Druth,  'stream,  swift  current  of 
the  Druids.' 

Red  Swire  (Nthbld.) .  c,  1375  Red  Swyre,  O.E.  swira, '  neck,  pass.' 
Cf.  Manor  Sware  (Sc). 

Reedham  (Norfolk),  c.  1300  Redhamme,  1424  Redeham,  1460 
Redham,  '  enclosure,'  O.E.  hamm,  '  among  the  reeds.'  See 
Redesdale,  and  -ham. 

Reepham  (Lincoln),  a.  1100  chart,  (dated  664).  Refham.  Perh. 
'  home  on  the  rock.'  O.N.  rif,  '  a  rock,  a  reef.'  Change  fr.  /  to 
p  is  very  rare.     It  may  be  fr.  Ecefen,  a  name  3  times  in  Onom. 


REETH  415  RHOSCEOWTHER 

Reeth  (Richmond,  Yorks).  Dom.  Rie.  O.E.  nt5,  ri^e, '  a  stream.' 
Of.  Rye. 

Reigate.  1199  Regat,  later  Reygate.  '  Gate,  opening  (O.E.  geat, 
2-6  gat)  on  the  ridge/  O.E.  hrycg,  4  reg,  4-5  regge,  5  ryge.  Its 
pre-Oonquest  name  was  Cherchefelle,  '  church-field." 

Reighton  (Bridlington).  Dom.  Rictone.  Prob.  'town  of  Rica,' 
one  in  Onom. 

Remenham  (Henley).  Dom.  Rameham,  a.  1290  Remeham,  1316 
Remenham.  Prob.  '  home  of  the  Raven.'  O.E.  Arce/w,  late  O.E. 
hrdemn,  hremn,  here  a  man's  name.     C/.  Ramsbitby. 

Rempstone  (Loughboro') .  Dom.  Repestone,  c.  1180  chart.  Rempes- 
ton,  Prob.  fr.  some  unknown  man.  The  nearest  in  Onom.  are 
Hramhertus  and  Hramfridus.  Mutschmann  prefers  Hrafn  or 
Raven,  which  is  at  least  possible. 

Rendlesham  (Suffolk).  Bede  iii.  22  Rendlaesham,  id  est  Rendili 
mansio,  1459  Rendelesham.  '  Home  of  Rendil.'  But  Rend- 
COMB,  Cirencester,  Dom.  Rindcumbe,  perh.  contains  an  old 
river-name.    See -combe. 

Rekhold  (Bedford).  Old  Ren-,  Ranhale  (see  -hall);  but  Ahhey 
chart.  Ravenshold,  '  hold,  fort  of  a  man  Raven  or  Hremn.'  Cf. 
Remenham.  A  man  Rauan  or  Raven  is  foimd  in  Dom.  at 
Beeston,  6  mis.  to  S.E. 

Rennington  (Alnwick),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Reiningtun.  'Town 
of  the  descendants  of  ?  Hranig.'    See  Onx)m.,  and  -ing. 

Repton  (Derby).  874  O.E.  Chron.  Hreopodune.  Prob.  fr.  some 
unknown  man,  '  Hreopa's  hill.'    Cf.  B.C.S.  216  Hroppan  broc. 

Restormel  (Cornwall).  Old  Lestormel.  AU  the  liquids  may 
interchange.  Com,  =  '  court  of  TormeV  Cf.  Listewdrig,  called 
after  the  king  who  killed  St.  Gwynear. 

Rettobd.  Sic  1225,  but  Dom.  Redforde,  'red  ford.'  Perh.  Bede 
iv.  16  Hreutford,  Hreudford,  '  reedy  ford.'     Cf.  Redbridge. 

Rettendon  (Chelmsford).  ?  1298  Johannes  de  Ratingden.  Prob. 
'  hill,  fort,  O.E.  dun,  of  Reathun  or  Rethhun,'  in  Onom. 

Revesby  (Boston).  1156  Pipe  Reuesbi,  c.  1275  Righesbey,  1498 
Resbie.     '  Dwelling  of  Rewe,'  one  in  Onom.     See  -by. 

Reynoldston  (Glamorgan).  Reynold  is  the  common  O.E.  Regen- 
hild  or  -weald.    Cf.  Ravensthobpe. 

Rhayader  (Radnor) .    W.  rhaiadr  Gwy,  '  waterfall  on  the  Wye.' 

Rhiwlas  (Bangor  and  Herefordsh.).    W.  rhiw  glas,  '  green  slope.' 

Rhos  (Denbigh  and  Pembrksh.).  Per.  R.  now  pron.  Roose.  c. 
1190  Oir.  Camb.  and  1297  Ros,  1603  Rose.  W.  rhos,  Corn,  ros, 
*  a  dry  meadow,  a  moor,  heath.'    Cf.  Roose  and  Ross. 

Rhoscrowther  (Pembroke).  1324  Restrouthur,  Tax^  Eccl.  Ros- 
truther;    also    Rustruthur,    Ruscrouthur,    Rescorthurg,    1594 


BHUBDLAIf  416  RICHMOND 

Rosgrothor.  W.  rhos  is  '  moor/  See  above.  The  second  part  is 
doubtful.  The  early  forms  remind  of  Anstruthee  (So.)-,  c.  1205 
Anestrothir,  1231  Anstrother,  fr.  G.  srathair,  '  a  cart-saddle/ 
also  '  a  swamp,  a  bog.'    The  latter  sense  is  found  in  Eng.  dial. 

Rhuddlan  (Flints  and  Cardigan).  Flint  R.  1063  O.E.  Chron. 
Rudelan.  Dom.  Roelent.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Rudelant.  W. 
rhudd  llan,  '  red  enclosure '  or  '  church ' ;  or  more  prob.  rhydd  y 
Uan,  *  ford  by  the  church.' 

Rhyd  Orddwy  (Rhyl).  W.  =  '  ford  of  the  Ordwi/  or  '  Ordo vices,' 
a  tribe  whose  name  is  derived  from  O.W.  ord,  '  a  hammer/ 
Cf.  DnsroRWiG. 

Rhyd-y-Groes  (Upton-on-Severn).  In  Drayton  Crossford.  W. 
= '  ford  of  the  cross,'  W.  croes.  It  was  the  scene  of  one  of 
Gruffydd's  battles  in  1039 ;  and  it  still  retains  its  old  name. 

Rhytonioq  (Denbigh).  Ann.  Cambr.  816  Roweynauc.  Said  to 
have  been  given  to  Ehufawn,  son  of  Cunedda  Wledig,  for  his 
gallantry  in  driving  the  Picts  out  of  N.  Wales.  The  -iog  seems 
to  be  here  simply  a  suffix  of  place;  whilst  Bhufawn  is  thought  to 
be  the  W.  form  of  Romanus. 

Rhyl.  Either  W.  yr  kal  or  haleg,  '  the  salt  marsh,'  or  yr  hel{a),  '  the 
himting-ground '  (of  Rhuddlan). 

RiBBLE  R.  (Preston),  c.  150  Ptolemy  Belisama,  'most  warlike 
.one,'  another  case  of  river-worship.  The  BeU-  is  of  course  the 
same  root  as  L.  helium, '  war.'  Ptol.'s  river  may  be  the  Mersey, 
c.  709  Eddi  Rippel,  Dom.  Ribel,  a.  1100  Ribbel.  The  first  part 
may  be  W.  rhe,  '  swift  motion  or  current,'  and  the  second  is  as 
in  Beh-sama.  The  Eng.  ripple  is  onomatopceic  and  quite 
recent.    Cf.  Ripple. 

RiBCHESTER  (Prcston).  Perh.  Not.  Dign.  Bremetonaci.  Dom. 
Ribelcastre.     '  Camp  on  the  Ribble.'    See  -Chester. 

RiBSTON  (Wetherby).  Sic  1527,  but  Dom  Ripestan,  1202  Ribbe- 
stain,  '  Stone  of  Rihba,'  or  '  Rippa/  only  the  latter  in  Onom. 
See  -ton.  But  Ribbesford,  Bewdiey,  is  1023  chart.  Ribbedford, 
a.  1100  Ribetforde,  where  the  meaning  of  the  first  part  is  quite 
unknown.    It  may  be  a  man's  name. 

RiccAL  (Selby).  Dom.  and  c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Richale — i.e.,  'nook 
of  Ricca.'    Cf.  K.C.D.  713  Rican  forda;  and  see  -hall. 

RiCHBOROUGH  (Thauet).  a.  65  Lucan  Rutupina  litora,  c.  100 
Juvenal  Rutupinus  fundus,  c.  150  Ptolemy  Fovrov-n-iai,  Bede, 
'  The  city  of  Rutubi  Portus,  by  the  English  corrupted  into  Repta- 
cestir;c.  1550  licland  Km.  Ratesburgh,  1758  Thorn.  Retesburgh. 
'  Burgh,  fort  or  camp  or  harbour  (portus)  of  Rutub,'  an  unknown 
man. 

Richmond  (Yorks  and  Surrey).  Yor.  R.  {Dom.  Hindrelache) . 
a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Richmundia,  c.  1175  Fantostne  Rictemunt, 


RICKEESeOTE  417  RINGLAN© 

c.  1250  Jf.  Paris  Richemund.  Fr.  riche  mont, '  rich,  fertile  hill.' 
Named  by  the  Breton  Alan,  who  built  a  castle  here  on  lands 
given  him  by  William  I.  R.  in  Surrey  was  orig.  Shene,  and  was 
changed  to  R.  out  of  compliment  to  Hen.  VII.,  '  Henry  of 
Richmond/  his  father  being  Edmund  Tudor,  Earl  of  Richmond. 

RiCKERSCOTE  (Staffd.).  Of.  Dom.  Recordine,  Salop  (-dine  prob. 
=  wardine,  'farm,'  q.v.).  'Cot,  cottage  of  Ricard,  Ricred, 
Beccaredus,  Richere  or  Ricerus ';  all  these  forms  are  in  Onom. 

RiCKiNGHALL  (Diss)  and  Rtcknall  (Co.  Durham).  Dur.  R.  1183 
Rikenhall.  '  Hall '  '  of  (the  decsendants  of)  Rica.'  Cf.  chart. 
of  679  Ricingahaam,  Essex,  and  Riccal.  See  -hall.  Ricke- 
STON,  Pembksh.,  is  1324  Ricardyston,  '  Richard's,  town.' 

RiCKMANSWORTH  (Herts).  Dom.  Ricemareworde,  1303  Rikemares- 
worth,  '  Ricmcer's  farm.'  There  is  an  '  Ikemaneswurda '  in 
1167-68  Pipe  Devon.    See  -worth. 

RroDLESDEN  (W.  Riding)  and  Riddleswoeth  (Thetford).  Dom. 
Redelesden,  '  wooded  vale '  and  '  farm  of  Roed-  or  Redwulf.' 
Cf.  Riddlecombe,  Chulmleigh.    See  -combe,  -den,  and  -worth. 

RiDGEWAY  or  RuDGEWAY  (Bristol,  Pershore,  Staffs,  Shefl&eld). 
Br.  R.  950  chart.  Hricweg,  Per.  and  St.  R.  O.E.  chart.  Hrycg-, 
Ricweg,  -weye,  1300  Reggewey.  '  Way,  road  on  the  ridge,' 
O.E.  hrycg,  3-6  rugge.  The  Rom.  road  fr.  Chester  to  Worcester 
is  called  '  la  Rugge,'  but  all  Ridgeways  are  hot  Roman.  Cf. 
Grant  of  a.  675  Ruggestrate  (-street),  Hants. 

RroiNG  (one  of  the  3  divisions  of  Yorks) .  In  Dom.  we  have  '  Est 
Treding  and  Reding,'  Yorks,  also  '  Nort-trading,  West-reding, 
and  Sudt-reding'  of  Lincolia,  also  edit.  1783,  p.  375, '  Treding 
dicit  quod  non  habet  ibi  nisi  ix  acras  et  dimid.'  1295-96  Rolls 
Parlt.  West  redyng,  Est-redyng,  North  redyng;  also  '  In  Comi- 
tatu  Ebor.'  .  .  .  '  et  in  supradictis  tribus  Trithing.'  Late  O.E. 
]>riding  or  priding,  fr.  O.N.  ]>ri^jung-r,  '  third  part,'  fr.  O.E. 
\>ridda,  O.N.  jjnSe, '  third.'  There  is  a  Riding  Mill,  Northbld., 
and  a  Riding  burn,  c.  1250  Revedeneburne,  ?  '  valley  of  Refa,' 
an  unrecorded  name.    See  -dean. 

RiEVATJLX  (Helmsley,  Yorks).  1132  Rievalle,  1156  Pipe  Rieuall, 
1200  Riuille,  c.  1246  Ryeualle,  1394  Reival.  '  Vale  of  the  R.  Rye,' 
fr.  O.Fr.  valle,  Fr.  val,  '  a  valley ';  -vaulx  is  an  old  plur.  form. 

RiLLiNGTON  (York).  Sic  1391,  but  Dom.  Redlinton,  Renhton. 
The  name  is  very  corrupt;  orig.  it  may  have  been  '  town  of 
Hredle/  a  name  in  Onom. 

Remington  (Clitheroe).  Dom.  Renitone.  More  old  forms  needed, 
?  fr.  a  man,  Hrani. 

RiNGLAND  (Norwich),  RiNGLEY  (Manchester),  Ringstead  (King's 
Lynn),  RiNGWAY  ('Cheshire),  Ringwgod  (Hants).  They  are  on 
the  rivers  Wensum,  Irwell,  Nene,  Bollin,  and  Avon,  so  none  can 


KINaMER  418  RISHANGLE'S 

be  connected  with  the  river  in  c.  1169  chart.  Ad  sicam  (brook, 
syke)  Polterkeved  quae  cadit  in  Ring/  All  prob.  come  fr.  O.E. 
wring,  O.N.  wring-r,  '  a  ring.'  See  -ley,  -stead,  etc.  There  is 
also  a  RiNGBUBGH  (Holderness).  Dom.  Ringheborg,  E-ingeburg, 
'  burgh,  castle  of  Hring/  contracted  form  of  Hringweald  or 
-wulf ;  whilst  Rangeworthy  (Gloster),  1303  Ryngeworth,  is  prob. 
fr.  a  similar  name.     See  -worth,  '  farm.' 

Rengmer  (Lewes) .  Saga  OlafHar.  Uringamara.  Said  to  be  corrup. 
of  Regin-mere,  '  lake  of  Regnum,  or  Regno,'  name  of  Chichester 
in  Ant.  Itin.,  c.  380.     Cf.  above. 

Ripley  (Leeds,  Derby,  Woking).  Leeds  R.  Dom.  Ripeleia,  1202 
Rippeleg;  Wo.  R.  K.C.D.  1361  Rippan  leah,  'Meadow  of 
Rippa.    See  -ley. 

RrpoN.  Sic  1386,  but  c.  709  Eddi  Hrypi,  Bede  In  hrypum,  c.  1050 
O.E.  Chron.  ann.  769  Ripum,  948  ib.  Rypon, Dom.  Ripum.  Prob. 
fr.  L.  ripa,  '  bank ';  it  is  on  the  bank  of  the  Ure.  It  can 
hardly  be  fr.  O.E.  hropan,  '  to  howl  or  scream.'  The  -um  and 
-on  are  loc.  endings — '  on  the  banks '  of  the  Ure. 

RrppiNQAiiB  (Bourne).  806  chart.  Repingale,  Dom.  Repinghale. 
Patronymic ;  '  Nook,  corner  of  the  Repings,'  a  name  not  in 
Onom. ;  but  cf.  a.  1100  Hrepingas  in  S.  Lines.  For  hale, '  nook,' 
see  -hall. 

Ripple  (Tewkesbury  and  Deal).  Tew.  R.  680  chart.  Rippell,  later 
Ryppel,  Dom.  Rippel.  Skeat  thinks  this  must  be  a  personal 
name,  because  of  next;  if  so,  this  is  very  exceptional.  Some 
think  it  =  Ribble  ;  anyway,  it  is  on  a  long  stream,  trib.  of  Severn. 
The  Eng.  ripple  is  quite  a  recent  word.  Dom.  Kent  has  only 
Ripe. 

RrppLESMEBE  (Windsor).  Dom.  Riplesmer(e),  1316  Ripplesmere, 
'  Lake  of '  an  unknown  man  '  Rippel.'  Cf.  Ripplingham 
(E.  Riding),  Dom.  Riplingha',  1179-80  Pipe  Ripplingeham 
Arches.     See  -ing. 

RiSBY  (York  and  Bury  St.  E.).  Yo.  R.  Dom.  Risbi,  '  DweUing 
of  Risa  '  or  '  Rhys,'  a  W.  name.  Cf  Reston  (Sc),  1098  Ristun, 
next.  Long  Riston  (Yorks),  Dom.  Ristun,  and  Princes  Risboro' 
(Bucks),  Dom.  Riseberge,  Risberg. 

RiSELEY  (Bedford  and  Reading).  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Riseberge,  and 
Northants  Ristone.  '  Meadow  of  Risa.'  Cf.  above.  See  -ley. 
But  Rise  (Holderness),  Dom.  Risun,  and  Rise  Cabb,  (Darling- 
ton), seem  to  be  fr.  rise,  '  a  hill,  rising  gro^md.'  The  vb.  is  O.E., 
though  the  sb.  is  only  recorded  late.  The  -un  in  Risim  is  a  common 
loc.  in  Yorks  Dorn.     See  Cabr,  '  rock.' 

RishaisTQLes  (Thorndon,  Suffk.).  Dom.  Ris  angra,  late  O.E.  for 
'  rush-covered  slope,'  O.E.  rise,  M.E.  rishe,  '  a  rush,'  and  han^ra, 
*  hill-slope.'  Cf.  Clayhai^geb.  The  mod.  ending  -les  shows 
how  easily  the  liquid  r  shdes  into  I. 


RISHTON  419  ROCHESTER 

RiSHTON  (Blackburn).  'Rush  -town/  See  above,  and  c/.  'Rise- 
tone  '  in  Cheshire  Dom. ;  it  may  be  this  same  place ;  also  Rissing- 
TON  (Gloster),  Dom.  Risendune, '  rushen  down/  See  -don,  -ing, 
and  -ton. 

RiviNGTON  Pike  (Mid  Lanes).  Sic  1588,  but  a.  1290  Roinpik, 
a.  1652  Rivenpike,  1688  Ryven  pyke,  1673  Riving  Pike.  The 
meaning  seems,  '  riven,  cloven  pike  or  Peak  ' ;  though  no  form 
of  rive  (vb.  in  Oxf.  Dic^.)  exactly  explains  Roin  {a.  1290).  The 
vb.  nveis  O.N.  rifa,  found  in  Eng.  a.  1300.  Cf.  Red  Pike,  and 
Rawnpike  Oak  (Warwksh.),  which  Duignan  says  is  dial,  for  '  a 
stag-headed  tree,'  one  with  dead  branches  on  its  top,  also  spelt 
Ranpike,  Rampick. 

Robin  Hood's  Bay  (Whitby),  c.  1550  LeUnd  Robyn  Huddes 
Bay.  The  legendary  Robin  Hood  is  first  found  in  1377  Piers 
Ploioman,  and  his  name  is  commemorated  in  cairns,  crosses, 
caves,  oaks,  etc.,  as  far  S.  as  Somerset,  and  as  far  N.  as  this. 

RoBOBOUGH  (2  in  Devon).  S.  Torrington  R.  Dom.  Raweberge, 
also  old  Rougaburga.  Doubtful;  either  'burgh  of  Ruga'  (see 
Routon),  or  '  rough  burgh  or  fort '  (see  Ro"wington),  and  cf. 
Roughcastle  (Falkirk) ,  and  Ro wberro  w  ( Axbridge) .  See  -borough . 
RoEL  or  Rowell  (Notgrove),  Dom.  Rawelle,  is  '  roe-deer's  well/ 
O.E.  rah. 

RocESTER  (Uttoxeter).  Dom.  Rowecestre,  a.  1200  Roffecestre, 
'  Hrof's  '  or  '  Ralph's  castle,'  and  so  =  Rochester.    See  -cester. 

Rochdale.  Dom.  Recedam  (see  -ham),  1241-92  Rachedale,  1286 
Rached,  Must  be  fr.  a  man  Rached  or  Reced,  which  may  be 
contracted  fr.  Reccared  or  Riccared,  names  in  Onom.  The  d  has 
become  merged  in  the  -dale,  hence  later  confusion  with  Hroche 
or  Roche,  who  give  name  to  Rockbeare,  Roxburgh  (Sc),  etc. 
The  nouns  roach  and  rock,  M.E.  roche,  are  both  fr.  Fr.,  and  not 
found  in  Eng.  a.  1250.  The  R.  Roch  on  which  the  town  stands 
is  plainly  a  back-formation.  Cf.  Pinner,  Yeovtl,  etc.   See  -dale. 

Rochester,  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Durobrevis;  Tabula  Peutinger. 
perh.  earher  than  Itin.,  Roribis,  604  chart.  Hrofibrevi,  Bede 
Hrofescsestir,  762  chart.  In  civitate  Hrofi;  O.E.  Chron.  ann.  604 
Hrofesceaster,  Dom.  Rouescestre,  c.  1386  Chaucer  Rowchestre. 
A  name  that  has  changed.  Durobrevis  is  said  to  mean  '  fort  at 
the  bridges,'  duro  being  perh,  cognate  with  Eng.  '  door,'  and 
brivo  is  said  to  be  O.Kelt,  for  '  bridge.'  The  Peutinger  form  is  a 
scribe's  corruption.  How  Duro-  became  Hrofi-  we  cannot  tell ;  but 
already  Bede  beheved  that  Hrof,  Norm.  Fr.  Rou,  was  a  man,  for- 
merly primarius  in  this  town.  See  -Chester,  '  a  camp.'  There 
is  a  Rochester  (Otterb'urn),  and  a  Rochecestre,  Dom.  Salop, 
which  might  be  fr.  a  Norman  Roche,  cf.  next  and  Roxburgh 
(Sc),  but  more  prob.  fr.  O.E.  roh,  M.E.  roj,  roch,  '  rough,'  prob, 
same   as    Rugby,  in   Dom.    Rocheberie.     Cf.  Rocester  and 

ROWINGTON. 


KOCHS'ORD  420  ROLLESTON 

RooKPORD  (Essex  and  Tenbury).  Ess.  R.  Dom.  Rochesfort. 
'  Ford'  of  Boc'  Cf.  Roxburgh  (Sc),  and  Ruxford  (Devon),  930 
chart.  Hrocesford;  also  Rokeby  (Yorks),  Dom.  Rochebi. 

RocKBEARE  (Exeter).  Dom.  Rochsbere.  'Wood  of  Roche.'  See 
above.  O.E.  beam, '  a  wood.'  Cf.  Beer  and  the  persoinal  name 
Conybeare,  also  Roxbtjrgh  (Sc.)  and  Rookwlth  (Yorks),  Dom. 
Rocuid,  where  the  ending  also  means  '  wood.' 

RocKCLrFFB  (Carlisle).  1595  Rowclif.  Possibly  mod.  corrup.  for 
'  cliff  of  Eou '  or  '  Rolls.'  Cf.  Rochester,  in  Chaucer  Row- 
chestre.  As  likely  fr.  O.E.  ruh,  rug,  4-6  rogh,  5-7  roche  (So.), 
6  rowch  (Sc),  'rough,  shaggy.'  Rockhampton  (Thornbury), 
Dom.  Rochemtune,  later  Rokampton,  is  thought  to  be  '  rooks 
Hampton,'  O.E.  hroc. 

Rocking  (Kent).  78'5  chart.  Hroching.  Patronymic.  'Place  of 
the  descendants  of  Hroche.'    Cf.  Rockbeare  and  next. 

Rockingham  (Uppingham).  Dom.  and  1160  Pipe  Rochingeham, 
1135  O.E.  Chron.  Rogingham,  1482  Rokyngham.  '  Home  of 
the  Rockings,'  or  '  descendants  of  Roche.'  See  above,  and 
-ham. 

Rock  Savage  (Frodsham).  A  splendid  mansion  was  erected  here 
by  Sir  John  Savage  in  1565. 

RoDEN  R.  (Wroxeter),  Rodinq  R.  (central  Essex),  and  Rodington 
(Shrewsbury).  Roden  is  perh.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Rutunio. 
R'ton  is  Dom.  Rodintone.  There  are  2  called  Roda,  gen.  -an,  in 
Onom.,  and  R'ton  might  be  '  town  of  Roda,'  and  Roding  a 
patronymic .  See  -ing.  This  is  unlikely  for  a  river,  and  both  rivers 
are  prob.  Keltic;  whilst  R'ton  will  be  '  village  near  the  Roden.' 
The  root  might  be  W.  rhudden,  '  a  red  streak,  a  ruby,'  fr.  rhudd, 
rhydd,  '  red ' ;  or  these  river  names  might  be  connected  with 
W.  rhwtioni,  '  to  produce  dregs  ' ;  but  the  origin— like  that  of 
so  many  river  names — ^is  quite  doubtful.  There  is  a  '  Gibbe 
Ruydinges '  found  in  Staffs  in  1309,  a  name  which  might  well 
be  fr.  rhudd  or  rhydd. 

The  Essex  R.  gives  name  to  quite  a  number  of  places — 
Abbot's  Roding,  Leaden  Roding,  White  Roding,  etc. 

RoDBORo'  (Stroud),  c.  740  chart.  Roddenbeorgh,  is  '  Barrow  of 
Rodda.'  RoDLEY,  same  shire,  is  Dom.  Rodele,  but  1163-64 
Radelea,  and  often,  later,  Rad-  and  Rud-;  so  it  may  either  be 
fr.  a  man  Rodda,  or  '  red  lea.'  See  -ley.  Rodmarton  (Tet- 
bury),  Dom.  Redmertune,  is    '  Rcedmijer'a   town.'      Cf.   Red- 

MARLEY. 

RoLLESTON  (Burton-on-T.  and  3) .  Bur.  R.  942  chart.  Rothulfeston, 
1004  ib.  Rolfestun,  Dom.  Rolvestune.  '  Hrothwulf's  town.'  All 
the  others  may  not  be  the  same.  R.  (Notts)  is  Dom.  Roldestun, 
RoUestone,  1346  Roldeston,  '  town  of  Rold,'  2  in  Onom. 


EOLyENDEN  421  EOSSALL 

RoLVENDEN  (Ashford,  Kent).  Perh.  '  den  or  dean  or  wooded 
valley  of  Roland.'  The  famous  R.  is  in  Eginhard, '  Hruodlandus 
Brittanici  limitis  praefectus.' 

Roman  Wall,  The  (R.  Tyne).  a.  1500  Blach  Bk.  Hexham  Miirus 
Romanorum. 

Romney  Marsh  (Kent).  697  chart.  Rumin  -ing,  1052  O.E.  Ghron. 
Rumenea,  1228  Rumenal,  1288  Contin.  Gervase  In  niarisco  de 
Romenal.  Rumin  or  Rumen  quite  possibly  represents  Roman, 
as  this  district  is  so  full  of  qonnexion  with  Rome.  The  -ey,  q.v., 
means  '  island.'  But  form  697  seems  more  like  a  patronymic, 
'place  of  the  sons  of  Ruma' ;  and  this  is  the  most proh.  origin. 
RoMANBY  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Romundebi, '  dwelling  of  Hrothmund ' 
or  '  Rodmund.'    See  -by. 

RoMSEY  (Hants).  Pron,  Riimsey.  a,  1142  TTm.  Malmesb.  Rume- 
sium,  a.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Abbas  Rumensis,  1298  Romeseje. 
'  Isle  of  Rum.'    Cf.  Rumholt  and  Rumney. 

RooMFiELD  (Todmorden) .  1314  Romesgrene,  close  by— r4.e., '  Green 
of  Roma  '  or  '  Ruma,'  one  in  Onom. 

Roos(e)  (Hull  and  Fumess).  Both  in  Dom.  Rosse.  As  Rhos 
(Pembroke)  is  to-day  pron.  Roose,  these  are  clearly  the  same 
name,  W.  rhos,  '  a  moor,  heath,  marsh.'  There  is  also  a  Roose 
(Portkerry,  Glam.). 

Rope  (Nantwich).  This  is  an  old  place,  and  prob.  means,  *  a  piece 
of  land  meansured  by  a  rope.'    See  Rapes  and  nest. 

Ropley  (Alresford).  972  chart.  Ropleah.  O.E.  for  '  lea,  meadow, 
measured  by  a  rope.'    Cf.  Rapes. 

Rosemarket  (Neyland,  Pembk.).  1603  Owen  Rosmarken.  Rose- 
is  W.  rhos,  *  a  moor,'  and  the  present  ending  is  mod.  Cf.  Rhos- 
market,  or  Rhos  y  Farket,  Nevern,  same  shire,  old  Rosavarken. 
The  name  must  surely  be  the  same  as  Rosemakkee  (Fortrose^ 
Sc),  c.  1228  Rosmarkensis  Episcopus,  1510  Rosmarky,  where 
W.  J.  Watson  takes  the  ending  for  G.  marcnaidh,  or  .mairc- 
nidh,  old  gen.  of  marcnach,  'place  of  horses.'  No  likely  W. 
origin  seems  forthcoming;  so  this  may  be  a  rare  Gadhelic 
survival. 

RosER  Castle  (Carhsle).  1272  Rosa.  Named  by  its  builder, 
Bp.  Manclerk,  c.  1240,  fr.  the  rose,  symbol  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 
The  change  of  -a  to  -er  denotes  a  '  Cockney '  pronunciation. 
Cf.  Ktddebminsteb. 

Ross  (Hereford).  In  W.  Rhossan  ar  Wy.  W.  rhoSj  'a  moor,  a 
heath.'  Cf.  Rhos.  Ros-  is  common  in  Corn,  names;  we  have 
already  Roscarel  in  Dom.  Lord  de  Ros  is  fr.  Ros,  iSolderness, 
Sic.  a.  1130. 

Rossall  (Fleetwood).  Dom.  Rus-hale,  1228  Roshale,  -hal,  1265 
Rossale.  '  Nook,  enclosure  of  the  horse,'  O.N.  hross,  O.E.  ihors. 
See  -hall. 


ROSSENDALE  422  ROUTE 

R0SSENDAI.E  (N.E.  Lanes).  Sic  c.  1230,  1294  Roscyndale,  1296 
Rosendale.  '  Valley  of  Roschil,  or  '  Roscytel,'  nearest  name  in 
Onom.  The  liquids  I  and  n  interchange  without  much  difficulty. 
See  -dale. 

RossETT  (Wrexham),  a.  1700  Yr  orsidd;  besides  the  village  2  or  3 
fields  in  this  district  are  now  called  Rossett.  The  W.  name  means 
'  the  throne/  or '  high  seat/  and  must  refer  to  some  mound  in,  or 
once  in,  the  field.  T.  Morgan  says  it  is  corrup.  of  rhosydd,  pi.  of 
rhos,  '  a  moor.'  Rosset  (W.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Rosert,  a  name  of 
doubtful  meaning. 

RosTHERNE  Mere  (Altrfucham).  Looks  like '  roost,'  O.E.  hrost, '  of 
the  hern  or  heron,'  O.Fr.  hairon,  Fr.  heron,  in  Eng.  fr.  1302.  But 
it  may  also  be  fr.  O.E.  hyrne,  M.E.  heme, '  a  nook,  a  hiding-place.' 
Cf.  Herne  Hill. 

RoTHERHAM  (Yorks  and  Surrey).  Yo.  R.  Dom.  Rodreha,  1242 
Roderham.  Some  say,  '  home  on  the  R.  Rother,'  Icel.  rau^-r, 
'  red.'  Others  derive  fr.  O.E.  hrv^er,  hry'^er,  3-  rother,  5  rodder, 
'  an  ox.'  Cf.  Rutherford  (Sc).  But  this  occurrence  of  the 
name  in  Sussex  makes  it  prob.  that  the  river-name  is  a  back 
formation  {cf.  Rochdale),  and  that  the  name  of  the  town  is '  home 
of  B.ro%here,'  a  known  name.  But  Ryther  (W.  Riding),  I)<ym. 
Ridre,  must  be  O.E.  nS  ofer,  'brook bank';  cf.  Rtde,  Wooler, 
etc.  RoTHERFiELD  Greys  (Hcnley-on-Thames)  is  1237  Rethere- 
feld,  1242,  Retheresfeld,  prob.  '  ox's  field.' 

RoTHERHiTHE  (Loudon).  1298  Retherhethe,  1460  Redre,  1660 
Pepys  Redrifife  (a  plain  corruption).  Looks  like,  not  '  red 
Hythe  '  or  '  harbour,'  but  rather  '  ox-harbour  '  or  '  landing- 
place.'  See  above.  But  cf.  ?  a.  1 100  Hugo  Candidus  In  Londone 
.  .  .  juxta  portum  qui  vocatur  Etheredishythe,  '  harbour  of 
Ethered,'  var.  of  the  common  O.E.  Mthelred. 

RoTHWELL  (Leeds,  Kettering,  and  Caistor,  Lines.).  Dom.  Leeds 
and  Ket.  RodeweUe,  Caist.  Rodowelle.  Ket.  R.  1360  Pijpe 
Rothewelle,  now  pron.  Rdwell,  while  Ruthwell  (Dumfries)  is 
pron.  Riwel.     '  Well  of  the  rood  '  or  '  cross,'  O.E.  rod. 

ROTTINGDEAN  (Brighton).  Old  forms  needed.  Referred  to  c.  1380. 
It  may  be  *  rotten,'  O.N.  rotinn,  or  'rotting  (Icel.  and  N.  rot,  vb.) 
valley.'  The  rotten  has  as  one  pretty  early  sense,  '  of  ground, 
soil,  etc.,  extremely  soft  .  .  .  friable.'  This  suits  the  site.  But 
perh.,  as  in  Rawtenstat.l,  '  routing  valley ' — i.e.,  one  '  making 
a  roaring  noise,  boisterously  windy.'  See  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v.  rout 
vb^  and  vb^,  both  of  Norse  origin.  No  spelling  rotting  or  rot  is 
given  S.V.,  but  we  do  find  rote,  rawt,  and  raut.    See  -dean. 

RouGHAM  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Ruhham,  c.  1280  chart.  Rucham. 
O.E  ruh  ham,  '  rough,  shaggy-looking  house/ 

RouTH  (Beverley).  Dom.  Rute,  Rutha.  O.N.  ru'S,  *  a  clearing  in 
a  wood,'  a  rare  word. 


ROUTON  423  RUBERY  HILL 

RouTON  (Norfolk).  Sic  1451,  but  1477  Rowton;  also  Rowton 
(E.  Yorks  and  Chester).  Yo.  R.  Dom.  Rugheton,  Rugeton. 
All  prob.  '  town  of  Ruga/    See  Rowneb,  and  c/.  Roborough. 

RowiNGTON  (Warwick).  Dom.  Rochintone,  a.  1200  Rokintun, 
a.  1400  Rouhinton,  1378  Rochinton.  Doubtful;  Duignan 
prefers  '  rough  town/  O.E.  roh.  See  Rochester  and  Rugby, 
-ing  and  -ton. 

RowLAJSTDS  Castle  (Havant)  and  Gill  (Newcastle).    Rowland  or 
Roland  is  the  0.  Teut.  Bodland  or  Hruodland,  fr.  hrodj  '  famous.' 
Cf.  RoLVENDEN.    GiU  is  Icel.  gil,  '  a  gap.'    Cf.  fish-gill.    In 
names  it  means  either  '  a  little  bay  '  or  '  a  ravine.'    Cf.  Auchin 
GILL  (Sc). 

Rowley  Water  (N.  of  Hexham),  a.  1300  chart.  Ruleystal  (=  O.E. 
steel,  'stall,  place').  Perh.  'rest-meadow,'  O.N.  ro,  Eng. 
c.  1200  ro,  4-5  roo,  4  rou,  5  rowe,  '  rest,  repose,  peace.'  There 
are  other  Rowleys.  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks,  Rovelai,  which  suggests 
some  man's  name,  ?  what,  whilst  Rowley  Regis  (Dudley)  is 
a.  1200  Rohele,  Rueley,  Roele,  a.  1300  Rueleg,  which  is  prob. 
'  rough  lea,'  O.E.  ruh.  See  Rugby.  It  belonged  to  the  King 
in  Dom.,  hence  Regis,  '  of  the  King.'    See  -ley. 

Rowlston  (Yorks).  Dom.  Roolfestone,  Rolvestun.  'Town  of 
Hrolf.'    Cf.  Rochester. 

RowNER  (Gosport).  Dom.  Ruenore,  1114  O.E.  Chron.  Rugenor. 
O.E.  Rugan  ora,  *  shore  of  Ruga.'  Cf.  Windsor,  etc.  Also  cf. 
B.C.S.  699  Rugan  die  ('  dyke  '),  ib.  ii.  516  Ruwanbeorg  (Berks), 
ib.  i.  545  Ruganbeorg,  Dom.  Norfk.  Ruuenore.  But  Rownall 
(Cheadle)  is  Dom.  Rugehala,  a.  1300  Roughenhale,  Rowenhale. 
These  last  Duignan  thinks  oblique  cases  of  O.E.  ruh,  in  its  weak 
declension,  ruwa,  -an,  '  rough  nook.'    Cf.  Rugby,  and  see  -hall. 

Roxby  (Doncaster)  and  Roxton  (St.  Neot's).  Dom.  Rozebi,  a 
spelling  which  Dom.  Yorks  also  gives  to  Rousby.  Dom.  Roche- 
stone.  Prob.  '  dwelling  '  and  '  town  of  Boo  '  or  '  Rocga,'  names 
in  Onom,  Cf.  Roxburgh  (Sc.)  and  Rockbeare.  See  -by 
and  -ton. 

RoYSTON  (Herts  and  Barnsley).  Her.  R.  c.  1220  Elect.  Hugo  Crux 
Roies,  1263  Croyrois,  1298  Villa  de  Cruce  Roisia,  v.r.  Rohesia, 

•  Rosia;  1428  Roystone.  Said  to  be  called  fr.  a  Lady  Roysia,  or 
Roese,  about  whom  nothing  is  known.  A  lady  called  Rohais  is 
known  in  1156,  and  there  is  a  Roese  de  Lucy,  temp.  Hen.  II. 
Crux  is  L.  and  croy  is  O.Fr.,  Mod.  Fr.  croix,  '  cross.' 

RuAbon  (Denbigh) .  W.  rhiw  Mabon,  '  slope  of  Mabon,'  M  eclipsed 
by  aspiration.    Mabon  was  a  saint  who  founded  a  church  here. 

RuAN  Major  and  Minor  (The  Lizard).    For  this  saint,  see  Polur- 

BIAN. 

Rubery  Hill  (King's  Norton).  No  old  forms.  Duignan  says  O.E. 
ruh  beorh  (M.E.  berg),  '  rough  hill.'     But  cf.  947  chart.  Rugan 


RUDDINGTON  424  RUNCTON  HOLME 

beorh  (Wilts),  fr.  a  man  Riiga,  as  in  B.C.8.  699  Rugan  die. 
Cf.  RowNER.  RuAEDEAN-on-Wye,  1281  Rowardin,  later  Ruwor- 
thyn,  exhibits  a  rare  var.  of  -worthy  or  -wardine,  '  rough  farm/ 

RuDDiNGTON  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Roddintone,  Rodintun,  1261 
Rotinton,  1287  Rotyngton;  also  Rodington,  Riatyngton.  '  Town 
of  Hroda,  Rudda,  or  Ruta,'  all  names  found  in  Onom.  Cf.  Hutton 
RTn)(E)BY  (Yorks),  Dom.  Rodebi,  1179-80  Pipe  Rudebi  (see 
Hutton),  and  Rudeford  (Glouc),  Dom.  Rudeford. 

RuDGE  (Stroud  and  Salop).  Str.  1179  Rugge,  Sal.  R.  Dom. 
Rigge — i.e.,  '  ridge.'    See  Ridgeway. 

Rtjdston  (Birchington).  Dom.  Rodestan,  1206  Ruddestain,  which 
is  prob.  not  rood-stone,  O.E.  rod,  but '  stone  '  or  '  town  of  Roda  ' 
or  '  Rudda.'    Two  of  each  so  named  in  Onom.    See  -ton. 

RuEFORD  (Ormskirk  and  Notts).  Or.  R.  1318  Roughford,  1332 
Rughford,  which  explains  itself.  No.  R.  Dom.  Rugforde,  1161- 
62  Pipe  Rucford,  1198  Rocheforde.  Thus  this  cannot  be  the 
same  as  1160  Pipe  Runfort  (Notts  and  Derby).  But  it  is  prob. 
the  same  as  Rujfford  (Holdemess),  Dom.  Ruforde,  and  Rtjeeorth 
(York),  Dom.  Ruford.    See  -forth. 

Rugby.  Dom.  Rocheberie,  a.  1300  Rokeby,  a.  1500  Rukby.  Very 
likely  fr.  a  man,  '  dwelling  of  Roc  '  or  '  Hroca/  both  in  Onom.  ; 
and  cf.  Roxburgh  (Sc),  also  Rocheord  and  Rockbeare,  in 
■  the  early  forms  of  which  we  find  a  plain  gen.  But  Duignan 
prefers  here,  as  in  Rowley,  Rownall,  Rugeley,  and  Rudge- 
WAY,  O.E.  ruh,  hruh,  3  ruhe,  4  roh,  5  rouh,  roidh  {Oxf.  Diet,  gives 
also  many  forms  in  -euch,  -och,  -uch,  but  calls  them  aU  Sc),  also 
4  rug{g),  4-6  rughe,  rogh{e),  4-5  rou^,  row^, '  rough.'    See  -by. 

Rugeley  (Staffs).  Dom.  Rugelei,  a.  1200  Ruggeley,  Ruggleg,  1217 
Rugeleg.  '  Rough  lea  '  (see  above),  or,  quite  possibly, '  meadow 
of  Riiga '  or  '  Rugga'  both  in  Onom.  Cf.  Rowner  and  Ryton. 
See  -ley. 

RuiSLiP  (Uxbridge).  Old  Ryselippe.  Prob.  'leap  of  some  man; 
more  old  forms  needed  to  tell  whom,  ?  Ruga.    Cf.  Hindlip. 

Rumholt  (Norfolk).  Sic  1293.  O.E.  rum  Twit,  'roomy,  spacious 
wood.'  Cf.  Rumworth  (Bolton) .  '  Roomy  farm,'  1205  Rum- 
worth.  In  either  case  they  may  come  fr.  g,  man  i?wm.  (7/.  next. 
Onom.  gives  one  Ruma. 

RuMNEY  (Cardiff),  c.  1330  R.  Brunne  Chron.  35.  'The  abbey 
of  Rumeye,'  ?  this  place.  '  Isle  of  Ruma  -gen,  -an  {cf.  Romney), 
of  '  of  Rum.'    Cf.  Rumburgh,  Halesworth,  and  above.    See  -ey. 

Runcorn.  913  O.E.  Chron.  Rumcofan,  v.r.  Romicofan,  a.  1200 
chart.  Runcofa,  1377  Runnkorn.  O.E.  rum  cofa^  gen.  -an, 
'  roomy,  spacious  cave  or  chamber.' 

Runcton  Holme  (Downham).  Dom.  Runghetuna.  *Towi;i  of 
Runca,'  or  some  such  unrecorded  name.    +See  JIolme, 


RUNHALL  425  RUTLAND 

RuNHALL  (Attleborough).  Dom.  Runhala.  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Ruen- 
hale,  which,  on  analogy  of  Rowner,  Dom.  Ruenore,  will  be 
'  Euga'a  nook  '  or  '  corner/    See  -hall. 

RuNHAM  (Yarmouth) .  1285  Runham,  1475  Runnham ;  and  Rtinton 
(Sheringham),  c.  1460  Runeton.  Prob.  both  fr.  a  man  Run  or 
Runa,  not  in  Onom.  Not  likely  fr.  O.E.  run,  1-4  run,  '  a  rune, 
counsel,  speech.'  Of.  Dom.  and  1179  Runtune,  now  Rounton 
(Yorks),  1160-61  Pipe  Notts  and  Derby,  Runfort,  and  above. 
See  -ham  and  -ton. 

RuNNYMEDE  (R.  Thames),  c.  1220  Elect.  Hugo  Runemad.  '  Mead, 
meadow  (O.E.  mcBd,  mcedu)  of  rune ' — i.e.,  counsel  or  speech. 
Here  Magna  Charta  was  signed  in  1215. 

RuscoMBE  (Twyford  and  Cainscross).  Tw,  R.  c.  1520  Ruscombe; 
also  Roscombe,  Ruscamp.  '  Rush  valley.'  See  -combe  and 
next;  also  cf.  1202  '  Risewich  '=  Ruswick  (Bedale). 

RusHALL  (Pewsey,  Scole,  Nfk.,  and  Walsall).  Pe.  R.  (or  another) 
967  chart.  Rischale,  972  ib.  Hrischeale,  Wa.  R.  Dom.  Rischale, 
a.  1200  Ruissale,  Rushale.  '  Rushy  nook.'  O.E.  hrise,  risc{e), 
4-7  rish,  6-rush,  '  a  rush.'  See  -hall.  The  Rushtons  will  be 
similar,  Dom.  Stafis  Riseton,  also  Ruswick  (Yorks),  Dom. 
Risewic  (see  -wick) ;  but  Ruston  Paeva  (N.  Yorks),  is  in  Dom. 
not  only  Roxtun  but  five  times  Roreston,  which  looks  as  if  fr. 
an  unknown  man  Rora,  ?  G.  and  Ir.  Ruairidh  or  Rory,  Liquid 
r  when  medial  readily  disappears. 

RusHOCK  (Droitwich).  Dom.  Russococ  (mid.  o  an  error),  a.  1300 
Rushoke.  The  ending  is  doubtful,  ?  cock,  '  a  heap,'  N.  koTc, 
not  in  Oxf.  Diet,  till  1398,  but  we  have  1086  Dom.  Yorks  Lacoc, 
now  Laycock,  '  low  heap.'  On  rush-  see  Rtjshall.  Rushock 
(Herefd.)  is  Dom.  Ruiscop,  fr.  O.E.  cop{jp),  '  top,  summit, 
covered  with  rushes.' 

RusHOLME  (Manchester) .  '  Rushy  meadow  by  the  river.'  O.E. 
holm,  Icel.  holm-r  has  this  meaning.    Cf.  Holm  (Sc). 

RuswAEP  (Wbitby).  Pron.  Riissarp.  Not  in  Dom.  Prob, 
'  rushy  heap,'  fr.  O.E.  geweorp,  '  that  which  is  cast  or  thrown  up.' 
hence '  a  heap,'  same  root  as  in '  warp  and  woof.'  Cf.  Salwabpe. 
For  the  Rus-  see  Rushall.  But  a  man  Rust{a)  is  seen  in 
Rtjstington  (Worthing)  and  Rustall  (Tunbridge  Wells).  Cf. 
Dom.  Wilts  Rusteselle,  '  Rusta's  nook.'     See  -hall. 

Ruthin  (Denbigh).  1399  Writ  Ruthyn.  Looks  like  W.  rhudden, 
*  a  red  streak,  a  ruby/  fr.  rhudd, '  red.'  The  prevailing  soil  here 
is  red. 

Rutland.  As  a  shire  later  than  Dom.,  where  it  is  Roteland,  1156 
Pipe  Rotelanda,  1298  Close  R.  '  Vic.  Northampt.,  Vic.  Rotel.' 
c.  1500  Rutland.  Prob.  '  land  full  of  roots,'  O.N.  and  late  O.E. 
rot,  3-6  rote,  4  rotte,  6  rott,  9  rut,  '  a  root,'  though  often  derived 
fr.  Icel.  rau^r,  '  red.' 

28 


BUTTON  426  RTTON 

RtTYTON  -  Eleven  -  Towns  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Rutune.  Perh. 
'  town  of  Ruta/  3  in  Onom.  But  it  is  quite  possibly  Rutunium, 
c.  380  in  Ant.  Itin.  There  are  Rom.  remains  here.  As  for 
'  the  eleven  towns/  there  are  still  five  townships  in  the  parish. 
Also  cf.  Rotsea  (Driffield),  Dom.  Rotesse,  and  Ryton. 

Rydal  (Windermere)  and  Rydal  Beck.  '  Rye-dale/  O.E.  ry^e, 
4-6  ry.  Cf.  1179-80  Pipe  Ridala  (Yorks).  For  beck,  '  a  brook/ 
see  Beckermet. 

Ryde.  1377  La  Rye,  La  Riche;  it  was  then  destroyed  by  the 
French.  Riche  would  be  reach  sb.,  '  a  bay/  '  the  portion  of  a 
channel  between  two  bends.'  But  La  Riche  is  certainly  an 
error  for  Rithe,  c  for  t  being  a  very  common  error  in  old  MSS., 
they  are  so  alike.  Cf.  Shottery.  Rithe  is  O.E.  rith{e),  Firs. 
ryd,  ride,  in  Eng.  8-9  ride  ;  also  in  Sussex  and  I.  of  W.  dialect 
rithe,  rythe,  '  a  small  stream,  a  brook.'  W.  rhyd,  '  ford/  is 
phonetically  inadmissible;  it  would  never  yield  the  mod.  pron. 
Ryde  any  more  than  Riche;  and  there  is  no  ford  here.  Cf. 
Shepreth  (Cambs)  in  Dom.  Escepride,  Reeth,  and  Rye. 

Rye  (Kent)  (c.  1060  Ria,  1230  Rya,  later  la  Rie)  and  Rye  R.  (Yorks) 
(1132  Rie,  1200  Ri,  1394  Rei,  forms  taken  from  Rievatjlx). 
Not  fr.  rye,  see  Rydal.  The  same  as  Ryde,  fr.  O.E.  rithe, 
'  a  small  stream ';  not  cognate  with  ree  sb.,  'a  stream,  channel, 
river  '  (not  found  till  1422),  which  Oxf.  Diet,  thinks  may  be  O.E. 
6a,  '  stream,'  with  r  fr.  the  fem.  art.  as  in  '  on  thsere  ea ';  but 
cognate,  prob.  with  Flem.  reie,  rui,  N.Fris.  ride,  rie,  '  stream- 
let, rill.'  Cf.  Reeth  and  Hythe;  also  Ryther  (W.  Riding), 
Dom.  Rie,  and  Peckham  Rye. 

Ryhall  (Stamford).  963  O.E.  Chron.  Rihala,  a.  1100  chart.  Rihale, 
1528  Ryall.  '  Nook,  enclosure  with  the  rye,'  O.E.  ry^e.  Cf. 
Rydal.  Ryttht.  (Wragby,  Yorks),  Dom.  RiheUa,  is  exactly  the 
same  name.  See  -hall.  But  Ryall  (Worcsr.)  is  1275  Ruhale, 
and  may  either  be  the  same,  or  fr.  O.E.  ruh,  '  rough.' 

Ryhope  (Wearmouth) .  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Reofhoppas,  1183 
Boldon  Bh.  Refhope,  1197  Riefhope.  Perh. '  hope  ' — i.e.,  'piece 
of  enclosed  land/  with  a  roof  to  part  of  it ' — O.E.  hrof,  1-5  rof,  Sc. 
rif,  '  a  roof  ' ;  and  see  -hope.  Reef,  '  a  rock,'  is  not  in  Eng.  till 
1584.  But  the  phonetics  of  the  first  half  are  very  unsatis- 
factory with  the  present  evidence.  It  may  represent  a  con- 
tracted form  of  some  man's  name  in  Reef-,  Rcefmcer,  Rcefwine, 
or  the  like.  But  Boldon  Bh.  also  has  the  v.r.  Resehoppe  and 
Roshepp,  which  only  makes  confusion  worse  confounded. 

Ryton  (Co.  Durham,  and  2  in  Warwk.).  War.  R.  Dom.  Rietone, 
a.  1300  Ruyton,  Rugintune,  Rutune;  Dur.  R.  1183  Ritona.  As 
with  Rugeley,  '  Ruga's  town,'  or  '  rough  town ' ;  but  this  last 
does  not  sound  a  prob.  name.  In  1183  Ritona  the  i  is  sounded 
as  y. 


SACOMBE  427  ST.  DAVID'S 

Sacombe  (Herts).  Dom.  Sueuecamp,  -champ,  Seuechampe.  An 
interesting  name  and  change.  '  Camp  or  field/  Fr.  champs  '  of 
Swcef/  a  name  in  Onom. ;  ov,  says  Skeat,  '  of  the  Suevi,'  a  tribe 
of  N.E.  Germany. 

Sapfron  Walden.  '  Wooded  region  in  which  saffron  (Fr.  safran) 
grew.'  Walden  is  a  derivative  of  O.E.  weald,  '  forest.'  Cf. 
1577  Harrison  England,  '  Their  saffron  is  not  so  fine  as  that  of 
Cambridgeshire  and  about  Walden.' 

Saighton  (Chester).  Perh.  Dom.  Salitone.  'Willow'  or  '  saugh 
town/  O.E.  salh,  north,  dial,  saugh,  '  a  willow.'  Cf.  Sauchie  and 
Sattghton  (Sc). 

Satntbury  (Honeybom-ne) .  Dom.  Svineberie,  Hund.  R.  Seyn- 
burie,  1345  Seynesbury.  Nothing  to  do  with  a  saint,  but, 
'  town  of  Svein '  or  '  Swegen,'  a  Dan.  name,  common  in  old 
England,  now  Swayne.    See  -bury. 

St.  Albai^'s.  Dom.  de  Sco  Albano,c.  1114  O.E.  Chron.  St.  Albane- 
stow  (=  place),  1148  chart.  Apud  Sanctum  Albanum.  The 
Roman  Verulamium.  Alhan,  England's  protomartyr,  was 
beheaded  here,  c.  303,  and  an  abbey  was  built  in  his  honour, 
c.  796.    Cf.  Vertilam. 

St.  Anthony-est-Meneage  and  St.  Aiithony's  Head  (Falmouth). 
Churches  were  built  at  both  these  places  by  Normans  soon  after 
the  Conquest  in  honour  of  the  famous  St.  Anthony,  Egyptian 
hermit,  in  the  time  of  Athanasius. 

St.  Asaph.  1373  '  Evesque  de  Saint  Assaphe.'  A  bishopric,  it 
is  said,  was  founded  here  by  St.  Kentigern,  c.  560,  in  honour  of 
Asaph,  his  favourite  disciple.  The  W.  name  is  Llanelwy, 
'  church  on  R.  Elwy.' 

St.  Austell's  (Cornwall).  Local  pron.  St.  Ossles.  The  saint  was 
a  disciple  of  Sampson  of  Dol,  Brittany.  Austell  is  var.  of 
Osweald  or  Oswald.    Cf.  Nostell. 

St.  Breoch  (Cornwall).  He  was  a  disciple  of  St.  German  of 
Auxerre,  c.  500.     Cf.  St.  Brieux  (Brittany). 

St.  Briavels  (Glouc).  1131  Pipe  St.  Briavellus.  Prob.  fr.  St. 
Eberulphus,  c.  600,  who  also  gives  name  to  the  Norm.  Evroult. 

St.  Bride  Bay  (Pembroke).  1603  Bridbay.  '  Bay  of  St.  ^n^at^a,' 
the  famous  Bridget  of  Kildare,  a.d.  453-523. 

St.  Burlan  or  Bury  an  (Penzance).  Buriena  was  the  pretty 
daughter  of  Aengus,  K.  of  Munster,  in  time  of  St.  Patrick.  Said 
to  have  lived  here  in  6th  cny. 

St.  David's.  Dewi  or  David  was  first  Bjj.  of  Menevia  (St.  David's), 
grandson  of  Ceredig,  d.  601.  The  W.  name  is  Ty  Ddem,  *  house 
of  David.'    Owen,  1603,  calls  it  Mjoiyw. 


ST.  ERTH  428  ST.  MA  WES 

St.  Erth  (Hayle,  Cornwall).  1536  Ergh.  St.  Ere  was  one  of  the 
earliest  saints  to  come  over  fr.  Ireland,  c.  500.  He  was  a  dis- 
ciple of  Brendan  and  father  of  St.  Enny. 

St.  Fagan's  (Cardiff).  He  was  reputed  a  missionary  sent  by  Pope 
Eleutherus  to  Britain  late  in  the  2nd  cny.,  on  the  urgent  invita- 
tion of  Lleurwg. 

St.  German's  (Cornwall  and  King's  Lynn).  Dom.  Devon  Germani 
S'.  He  was  Bp.  of  Auxerre,  France,  and  is  said  to  have  come 
to  Britain  in  429.     Cf.  Llanarmon  and  Week. 

St.  Gowan's  Head  (Pembroke).  1603  St.  Govens  pointe.  St. 
Cofen,  Govein,  or  Goven,  was  an  early  W.  saint,  wife  of  Tewdrig 
and  mother  of  Mewrig,  Kings  of  S.  Wales.  We  find  her  name 
also  in  Llangovan  (Mon.),  and  St.  Goven's  chapel  (Pembk.). 

St.  Helier  (Jersey).  Named  fr.  St.  Helerius  or  Hilary,  one  of  the 
earliest  Breton  monk  missionaries,  who  settled  in  Jersey. 

St.  Herbert's  Isle  (Derwentwater) .  Bede  tells  of  a  presbyter 
Herebeorht  or  Heriberct,  who  lived  here  as  a  hermit. 

St.  Ishmael's  (MiHord  Haven),  a.  1200  Gir.  Camb.  Apud  Sanctum 
Hysmaelem,  Sancto  Ysmaele,  1603  Owen  St.  Ismells.  This 
saint  was  prob.  nephew  of  St.  Teilo;  certainly  he  had  nothing 
to  do  with  the  son  of  Abraham.  In  Lib.  Land,  the  name  is 
Lanyssan,  where  Yssan  is  derived  fr.  Ysfcel.  In  Tax.  Eccl.  it 
is  Ecclesia  Sancti  Wynnoci, '  church  of  St.  Winnoc  '  or  Wymocus 
or  Winelle,  as  in  the  2  Trewinnows  (Cornwl.).  There  are  also 
in  this  shire  two  St.  Issell's,  that  at  Tenby  in  W.  Llan  Usyllt 
or  Hussillt,  '  church  of  St.  Ussille '  or  '  Usyllt,'  same  name  as 
Yseult  or  Isolde  of  the  medieval  romances.  This  one  is  a  man, 
father  of  St.  Teilo.    See  Llandeilo,  and  cf.  Llandyssul. 

St.  Ive  (pron.  Eve,  Liskeard),  St.  Ive's  (Cornwall  and  Hunts). 
Hun.  C.  c.  1200  Gervase  Seint  Ive.  Some  derive  the  Corn, 
names  fr.  St.  la,  an  Irish  virgin  and  princess,  martyred  at  Hayle 
a.d.  450.  Others  derive  all  fr.  Ivo  or  Tvo,  a  Persian  bp.  said 
to  have  come  over  fr.  Ireland,  and  to  have  d.  at  Hunts  St.  I., 
c.  590.  They  are  prob.  all  too  old  to  be  derived  fr.  Yves,  Bp.  of 
Chartres,  in  the  time  of  our  Henry  I. 

St.  Just  (Falmouth  and  Land's  End) .  He  was  deacon  of  St.  Patrick 
and  tutor  of  St.  Kieran,  c.  430.  On  the  meaning  of  St.  Just 
'  in  Penwith '  see  Land's  End.  There  are 45  saints  called  Justus 
or  Just  in  Diet.  Christ.  Biogr. 

St.  Martin  le  Grand  (London).  1285  Stat.  London  '  Seint  Mar- 
tyn  le  Graunt.'  This  is  the  great  Martin,  Abbot  of  Tours, 
c.  350. 

St.  Mawes  (Falmouth).  An  Irish  saint,  who  perh.  came  with 
Ruan.    See  Polurrian. 


ST.  MICHAEL'S  429  SALT 

St.  Michael's  Mount  (Penzance),  a.  1066  chart.  Sanctum  Mi- 
chaelum  qui  juxta  mare,  1474  The  Mounte.  Called  after  Michcel 
the  archangel.  Cf.  Mont  St.  Michel  (Normandy), right  opposite, 
c.  1205  Layam.  Mihseles  munte. 

St.  Neot  (Liskeard)  and  St.  Neot's  (Hunts).  Hun.  St.  N.  1132 
O.E.  Chron.  '  Prior  of  St.  Neod,'  1161-62  Pipe  de  sancto  Neoto. 
He  was  the  eldest  brother  of  Mliied  the  Great.  His  relics  were 
translated  from  Cornwall  to  Hunts,  and  a  Benedictine  monastery 
founded  for  them  in  974. 

St.  Osyth  (Clacton-on-Sea) .  14  .  .  .  Sailing  Directns  Seint  Hosies. 
This  is  prob.  Hosius,  Bp.  of  Cordova,  famous  adviser  of  Em- 
peror Constantine,  and  prominent  figure  in  the  Council  of  Nicsea, 
A.D.  325. 

St.  Pangeas  (London).  Dom.  Pancratius  S'.  Pancratius,  a 
Roman  boy  of  fourteen,  was  one  of  Diocletian's  martyrs,  Bede 
iii.  29.     Cf.  Week  St.  Pancres. 

St.  Peter  Port  (Guernsey).  1286  Close  R.  St.  Peter  in  Portu 
('harbour'). 

Salcombe  (Glouc.  and  Devon).  Gl.  S.  1121  Salcumbe,  De.  S.  O.E. 
chart.  Sealtcimib — i.e.,  '  salt  valley  ' ;  but  O.E.  sealh,  M.E.  salwe, 
'  willow '  is  possible  in  the  first  case.     See  -combe. 

Sale  (Manchester).  Prob.  Dom.  Salhale — i.e.,  'nook  among 
the  willows,'  O.E.  salh.  Cf.  Salton,  and  Saul  (Stonehouse), 
c.  1120  Salle,  prob.  '  willow  lea.'     See  -hall. 

Saltord  (Manchester).  Sic  in  Dom.  1588  Sallford.  '  Ford  at  the 
willows.'  See  above.  Cf.  Welford.  But  there  are  also 
Salford  (Beds)  (old  forms  needed),  and  3  in  Warwk.,  of  which 
Salford  Abbots  and  Priors  (Evesham)  are  714  chart.  Saltford 
(Major  et  Minor) ,  Dom.  Salford,  a.  1300  Saltford,  Salford,  Sauf  ord, 
'  salt  ford,'  fr.  an  ancient  salt  spring  once  near  the  ford  on  the 
Axrow  there.  Then  Salford  or  Safford  Br.  on  Tame  is  a.  1300 
Scraford,  Schrafford  Brugge,  plainly  fr.  O.E.  scrcef,  '  a  cave.' 
Cf.  Shrawardine. 

Salisbury  and  Salisbury  Plain.  O.E.  Chron.  552  Searobyrig, 
ih.  1086  Searebyrig,  Dom.  Sarisberie,  c.  1110  Orderic  Salesburia, 
1232  Sarresbere,  1294  Saresbury,  1297  R.  Glouc.  The  plein  of 
Salesbuary.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Sorbiodoni  (=-dunum)  is  old 
Saresbury.  M'Clure  conjectures  that  Sorbio  may  be  Ir.  soirb, 
'  easy  '  and  perh.  earlier, '  level.'  But  the  Saxons  prob.  thought 
Searo  or  Sar  was  a  forgotten  man,  and  the  liquid  r  easily  becomes 
I.  Cf.  Saredon  (Warwksh.),  Dom.  Sardone,  Seresdone,  a.  1300 
Saredune.     In  Nennius  S.  is  called  Cair  Caratauc.     See  -bury. 

Salop.    See  Shrewsbury. 

Salt  (Stafford).  1004  will  Halen,  Dom.  Selte,  a.  1300  Saut  (the 
Sc.  and  local  pron.  to-day).  O.W.  halen,  O.E.  sealt,  'salt.' 
There  were  saltworks  two  miles  away;  ?  any  nearer. 


SALTASH  430  SANCTON 

Saltash  (Plymouth).  1279  Esshe — i.e.,  '  ash-tree.'  Cf.  Ash.  But 
it  is  difficult  to  see  the  relevance  of  the  Salt-.  Prob.  it  is  a  man's 
name,  as  prob.  in  Saltney.  Salt  is  still  an  Eng.  surname. 
There  is  a  Sajlt  Box  (Ebbworth)  where  perh.  Glastonbury 
Abbey  kept  a  store  of  salt. 

Salterford  (Notts),  Salterporth  (Colne),  Saiterhebble 
(Halifax),  Saltersford  (Worcestersh.),  and  Salters  Br. 
(Alrewas).  No.  S.  Dom.  Saltreford.  Al.  S.  a.  1400  Salte-, 
Salterbrugge.  Cf.  c.  1200  chart.  Whalley  Saltergat,  963  chart. 
Sealter  ford.  O.E.  sealtere,  '  a  salt-dealer  or  carrier,  a  (dry) 
Salter ' ;  this  part  of  Staffs  is  quite  a  salt  district.  On 
-forth  see  -ford.  -Hebble  seems  to  be  var.  of  Abele,  '  the  aspen 
tree,'  found  c.  1440  Prom/p.  Parv.  as  '  Awbel  or  ebelle  tree,'  v.r. 
'  ebeltre ' ;  whilst  1830  Forby,  East  Anglian  Glossary,  gives 
'  Ebble,  the  asp  tree.' 

Saltfleetby  (Louth).  1229  Close  B.  Saltfleteby.  'Dwelling  by 
the  salt  river.'    See  Fleet  and  -by. 

SaIiTNEY  (Chester).  Cf.  810  chart.  Salteney  (Lines),  which  prob. 
means  '  isle  of  a  man  Salt.'  Cf.  Saltash  and  -ey,  Salton 
(York),  Dom.  Saleton,  is  prob.  '  willow  town.'  Cf.  Sale  and 
Salwarpe.  But  Saltmarsh  (Yorks),  Dom.  Saltemerse,  is,  of 
course,  as  it  says. 

Salwarpe  R.  and  Village  (Worcester).  770  chart.  Saluuerp,  later 
Salewearpe,  Dom.  Salewarpe,  which  looks  like  O.E.  salh-gewearp, 
'  willow-heap.'  Cf.  Saleord  and  Ruswahp.  Salt  fr.  the 
earliest  times  always  has  a  t,  and  so  cannot  be  admitted  here. 
Cf.,  too,  Saltley  (Birmingham),  a.  1300  Salughtley,  Salegl', 
I  Salutely,  Salua  alias  Salegh,  plainly  fr.  O.E.  salh,  sealh,  M.E. 
salugh,  salwe,  '  the  willow  or  saugh.'  Similar  is  Sal  wick 
(Preston),  Dom.  Saleuuic.    See  -wick. 

Sambournb  (Alcester)  and  Sambrook  (Newport,  Salop).  714 
Sambume  (recent  copy  of  O.E.  chart.),  Dom.  Sandburne,  1327 
Sombourne.  These  both  must  be  'sandy  brook,'  O.E.  sand; 
m  and  n  often  interchange.    Cf.  Bampton,  etc. ;  and  see  -bourne. 

Sampford  (6  in  P.O.,  Devon  and  Somerset).  Cf.  1157  Pipe  Sam- 
ford  ( ?  Norfolk)  and  1158  Samf ort  ( ?  Staffs) .  Doubtful.  Nothing 
likely  in  Onom.  Sam-  in  O.E.  and  M.E.  is  a  common  prefix  for 
'half '=  semi.  But  'half  ford'  does  not  seem  a  very  prob. 
origin,  so  these  too  are  prob.  for  '  sandy  ford.'  See  above. 
Letter  ^  is  a  very  common  intrusion,  as  in  Hampton,  etc. 

Sampson  (Scilly).  Called  after  St.  S.,  the  Bp.  of  Dol,  Brittany, 
b.  in  Glamorgan  in  5th  cny.,  and  earlier  Abbot  of  St.  Peirio's, 
Llantwit.     Also  commemorated  in  Guernsey. 

Sancton  (Yorks).  Dom.  Santune,  1202  Santona.  '  Saint's  town.' 
*  Saint '  is  found  in  Eng.  as  early  as  c.  1175  seiyit,  L.  sanctus, 
O.Fr.  saint,  seint,  Eng.  3-5  sant,  4  san,  4-8  sanat,  '  holy.'  Cf. 
Santon  and  Bishop's  Burton,  orig.  Sanctuary  Burton. 


SANDAL  431  SAPCOTE 

Sandal  (Wakefield).     Dom.  Sandala,  -alia,  -ale,   'sandy  nook/ 

See  -hall. 
Sand  bach:  (Cheshire).    Dom.  San  bee.     'Sandy  beck  or  brook.' 

O.E.  sand.    See  Comberbach.    Sandgate  (Sandbridge,  Kent) 

is  862  chart,  scenget  hryc,  '  sandy  road  ridge/  O.E;  geat,  '  a 

way.'    Saundby  (Notts)  is  Dom.  Sandebi.     See  -by. 
Sandhurst  (Glouc,   Berks,  and  Kent).     Glo.   S.   Dom.   Sanher, 

1167-68  Pipe  Sandherst.  Ken.  S.  O.E.  chart.  Sandhyrst.     Cf. 

858  chart.  Ilia  sylva  sandhyrst  nominatur.     '  Sandy,  woody 

region,'  '  forest  with  sandy  bottom.' 
Sandleford  Priory  (S.  Berks),    a.  1190  Pipe  Sandlesford,  1291 

Sandellord.     '  Ford  of  a  man  Sandle,'  in  O.E.  Sandwulf,  Sandolf. 

Sandon  (Chelmsford,  Royston,  and  Stone)  and  Sandown  (I.  of  W.) 
Sto.  S.  Dom.  Sandon,  Scandone  (error) ;  a.  1200  Sandone.     O.E. 
sand  dun, '  sand  hill.' 
Sandringham    (King's    Lynn).    Dom.    Santdersincham.    Curious 
corruption.    This  is  '  holy  Dersingham,'  as  compared  with  the 
next  parish,  Dersingham.    Fr.  saint,  L.  san^tus,  '  holy.' 
Sandwich.    993  O.E.  Chron.  Sandwlc,  c.  1300  Becket  Sandwych. 
'  House,  dwelling,  O.E.  wic,  among  the  sand.'     But  quite  possibly 
the  name  is  N.  sand-vih,  '  sandy  bay,'  as  in  Sandwick  (E.  Ross). 
Saints  Bay,  Guernsey.     1309  Saynte,  may  be  a  corrup.  of  this 
last.     See  -wich. 
Sandy.    Dom.  Sande,  also  in  Hants.     '  Sandy  isle.'    See  -ay. 
Sanford  (Glouc.)  (1230  Sam-,  later  Saunforde)  and  Santord  Bret 
(Somerset).     '  Sandy  ford.'     Cf.  B.C.S.  i.  490  Sandforda— t.c, 
Sandford  (Berks).     In  Scotland  and  Ireland  we  have  the  name 
as  Sandyford.     Cf.  Dom.  Salop  Sanf ord.     The  family  of  Bret  or 
Brito — i.e.,  *  the  Breton ' — ^is  very  old.     Richard  le  Bret  was  one 
of  Beckett's  murderers. 
Santon  Bridge  (Cumberland).     Cf.  Dom.  'Santune'  (Cheshire). 
833  chirt.  Sandtim  is  Sampton  (West  Hythe),  where,  for  change 
of  n  to  mp,  cf.  Bampton.    The  meaning  of  Santon  may  either 
be  '  sand-town,'  '  village  on  the  sand,'  as  above ;  or  '  saint's 
town,'  as  in  Sancton.    Kirk  Santon  (N.  Lanes)  is  Dom.  San- 
tacherche, '  holy  church.''    Cf.  Saintbridge  (Glouc),  1245  Spnde- 
brugge,  later  Send-,  Senbridge,  which  must  have  come  orig.  fr. 
O.E.  sand,  sond,  '  sand ' ;  sond  is  found  as  late  as  1512. 
Sapcote  (Hinckley),  perh.  like  Sapey  Pritchard  (Bromyard),  781 
chart,  set  Sapian,  Dom.  Sapie,  fr.  O.E.  scepige,  '  fir,  spruce  fir '; 
-cote  is  '  cot,  cottage.'    Cf.  c.  1130  Wm  Malmesh.  Sap  wic,  ?  N. 
Devon.     All  of  them  may  be  fr.  an  unknown  man  Sap  or  the 
like.     Salperton    and    Sapperton    (Glouc),    the    former    969 
Saper(e)tune,  Dom.  Salpretune,  the  latter  Dom.  Sapletorne,  1221 
Sapertone,  are  both,  doubtfully,  derived  fr.  O.E.  seep,  '  sap,' 
and  so  perh.  '  sapling  pear  enclosure.'     Cf.  Perry. 


SARK  432  SCAGaLETHORPE 

Sark  (Channel  Islands).  1218  Patent  R.  Serk  and  1219  Serck. 
Perh.  fr.  its  supposed  shape,  fr.  O.E.  sere,  O.N.  serk-r,  '  a  shirt.' 
So.  *  sark.' 

Satterthwaitb  (Ulverston).  'Place  of  the  sceter.'  N.  for 
'  summer  farm,  log  hut  used  by  dairy  farmers  then.'  See  -thwaite . 

Savernake  (Marlboro').  Not  in  Dom.  1161-62  Pipe  Sauernac, 
1222  Patent  B.  Savernac.  Perh.  1298  '  Bertramus  de  Savynaco.' 
More  old  forms  needed.  Possibly  '  Scejfa's  oak/  O.E.  dc.  Cf. 
K.C.D.  550  Sseffan  mor.  For  a  becoming  er,  cf.  Kidderminster. 
It  might  perh.  be  '  Severn's,  oak.'  Severn  is  still  found  as  a 
surname,  but  only  recently. 

Sawbridge  (Daventry)  and  Sawbridqe worth  (Herts).  Dav.  S. 
Dom.  Salwebrige,  1327  Salebrugge,  1598  Salbridge.  '  Bridge  of 
withies '  or  '  willows,  O.E.  salh.  See  Salwarpe.  But  the 
latter  is  Dom.  Sabrixtewoode,  1 166  Sabrihtesworth,  1428  Sabrige- 
worth.  *  Farm  of  Scebeorht,'  later  '  Sabriht/  '  the  sea-bright.' 
See  -worth. 

Sawley  (Ripon,  Clitheroe,  Derby).  Ri.  S.  Dom.  SaUaia.  Prob. 
'  willow  or  saugh  meadow,'  O.E.  salh.  Cf.  Sale,  and  above; 
and  see  -ley. 

Sawston  (Cambridge),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Salsintona,  Dom. 
Salsiton,  1210  Sausintone,  1284  Sausitone;  also  Ghron.  Ramsey 
Salsingetun,  Selsingetona,  which  shows  the  name  is  orig.  a 
patronymic,  '  village  of  the  Scelsings/  an  unknown  family. 
But  we  have  Dom.  Sawesberie  (Salop),  which  suggests  some 
name  in  Saw-  or  Ssew- ;  there  are  several. 

Sawtry  (Peterboro').  Cart.  Rames.  Saltreche,  '  salt  reach.'  See 
Reach. 

Saxmundham.  Prob.  '  house,  home  under  the  protection,  O.E. 
mund,  of  the  Saxons,'  O.E.  Seaxe.  No  name  Seaxmund  in 
Onom.  See  -ham,  and  cf.  Goodmanham.  There  is  a  Mundham 
(Norfolk),  prob.  fr.  a  man  .     Cf.  Saxon  Street  (Cambs). 

Saxton  (Tadcaster).  Dom.  Saxtim,  1119  chart.  Saxtona — i.e., 
'  town,  settlement  of  Saxons,'  O.E.  Seaxe,  in  this  Anglian  region. 
Cf.  Saxby  (Melton  Mowbray).  There  was  also  a  Saxton  (Wood 
Ditton,  Cambs.),  Dom.  Sextone,  1284  Saxtone,  which  Skeat  prefers 
to  derive  fr.  a  man  Saxa.  Cf.,  too,  Dom.  Essex  Saxendena, 
and  Saxondale  (Notts),  Dom.  Saxeden,  1291  Saxndal.  See 
-den  and  -dale. 

ScAGGLETHORPE  (Malton).  Dom.  Scachetorp,  -ertorp,  Scarchetorp; 
1207  Fines  Scaketorp.  The  orig.  man's  name  must  be  repre- 
sented by  Dom.' a  Scacher-  {r  easily  becomes  its  kindred  liquid  I) ; 
but  in  Onom.  we  only  find  Scacca  or  Sccecca.  Cf.  Scackleton 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Scacheldene,  evidently  fr.  the  same  name;  so  is 
Skeckling  (Holderness),  Dom.  ScacheHnge,  '  place  of  the  sons  of 
Scacel.'  To  derive  fr.  O.N.  sTcagi,  '  low  cape^  ness,'  accounts 
for  neither  the  -le  nor  Dom.'s  -er. 


SCALE  Y  433  SCOTTEE, 

SOALBY  (Yorks).  Dom.  1178-80  Scallebi,  Scalebi.  'Hut  or  shiel- 
ing-abode/ O.N,  shale.    Cf.  Skelbeooke,  and  see  -by. 

Soam(p)ston  (Yorks).  Dom.  Scameston,  4  times,  1202  Fines 
Scameliston.  '  Village  of  Scamel.'  Onom.  has  only  Scamma 
and  Sceomma,    Cf.  Scagglethob,pe. 

SoARBOEOTJGH.  Not  in  Dom.  1179-80  Pipe  Scardeburc,  1194  Eog. 
Hoveden  Scardleburg,  1297  Schardeburghe,  1436  Scarborough; 
also  Scarhburge.  '  Burgh,  castle  on  the  sherd  or  shard,'  O.E. 
sceardr—i.e.,  piece  '  sheared  ofE.'  Scargill  (N.  Yorks)  is  in 
Dom.  Scacreghill,  which  can  hardly  be  fr.  O.N.  sker,  '  a  rock,  a 
scaur.'    See  -gill. 

ScAWBY  (Lines).  '  Dwelling  on  the  promontory,'  O.N.  skage.  Cf. 
next.  But  Sgawsby  (Brodsworth,  Yorks)  is  Dom.  Scalchebi, 
1205  Scauceby,  '  dwelling  of  Scealc,'  2  in  Onom.  Scawton 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Scaltun,  is  a  little  doubtful.    Cf.  Scalby. 

ScAWFELL  and  S.  Pikes  (Cumbld.).  O.N.  skage,  '  a  promontory/ 
and  fjall,  N.  fjeld,  '  a  mountain,  a  hill.'  Cf.  The  Skaw  (Den- 
mark) and  The  Scaw  of  Unst.     On  Pike,  see  Red  Pike. 

SciLLY  Isles,  c.  400  Sulpicius  Sev.  Sylinancis  (insula),  c.  1200 
Gervase  Insula  Suilli,  Sagas  Syllingar,  1345  Insula  de  Scilly, 
1592  Silley  (so  now  pron.),  1603  Owen  Sorlinges  commonly 
cleped  SyUie.  In  Mod.  Fr.  Les  lies  Sorlingues.  A  little  diffi- 
cult. The  early  references  are  to  an  insula,  or  '  island,'  and  may 
refer  to  the  tiny  islet  of  Scilly,  in  the  N.W.  of  the  group,  which 
has  given  its  name  to"  the  whole.  The  c  in  the  name  is  plainly 
an  intrusion;  and  the  form  SorUnges  plainly  represents  the  name 
as  known  to  the  Romans ;  the  liquids  I  and  r  readily  interchange. 
What  the  c.  400  ending  -nancis  represents  it  is  hard  to  say.  But 
prob.  the  Syli-  or  SniUi  is  Corn,  silli,  selli,  Bret,  sili,  '  a  (conger) 
eel';  so  '  isle  of  eels.'  But  it  might  be  fr.  Corn,  syll,  sull,  '  a 
view,  a  prospect.'  Cf.  Sully  (Cardiff),  and  see  -ey.  The  earlier 
name  Cassiterides,  '  tin-islands,'  must  have  included  part  of 
Cornwall.  Kao-o-ire/atSes  goes  back  to  Herodotus,  c.  450  B.C., 
and  to  Strabo. 

ScoRTON  (Garstang  and  Darlington).  Da.  S.  prob.  Dom.  Scortone 
(Yorks).  Prob.  'town  of  Scorra'  or  '  Scorta,'  both  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Dom.  Norfk.  Scartune.  But  Scoreby  (Pocklington),  Dom. 
Scornesbi,  must  be  '  dwelling  of  '  ?  Sceorfioine.    See  -by. 

ScoTBY  (Carlisle),  c.  1139  Scotebi,  1189  Scottebi.  '  DweUing  of 
the  Scots  ' ;  one  cannot  be  quite  sure  who  are  meant.  Duignan 
construes  the  Scotlands  (Bushbury),  as  O.E.  sceat  landes, 
'  corner  lands.'  But  Scotforth  (Lancaster),  Dom.  Scozford, 
must  be  '  Scots'  ford  '  {z=ts).     See  -forth. 

ScoTTER  (Lincoln),    a.  1100  chaH.  Scotere.    Prob.  'spit  of  land, 
-  Icel.  eyri,  inhabited  by  Scots.'     Cf.  Scottow  ('  Scot's  how '  or 
'  hill ')  (Norwich),  and  Dom.  Norfk.  Scottesa. 


SCOTTON  434  SEASCALE 

SooTTON  (Yorks  and  Lines).  Yor.  S.  Dom.  Spotton,  -tune.  '  Town 
of  the  Scots.'    Cf.  above. 

ScouiiTON  (Attleborough).  Dom.  Sculetuna.  'Town  of  STculi,'  a 
N.  name. 

ScRAYESTGHAM  (Yoik).  Dom.  Screngha'.  Prob.  *  home  of  the  sons 
of  Scrcewa,'  1  in  Onom.     See  -ing  and  -ham. 

SoREMERSTON  (Berwick).  1197  Schermereton,  later  Screm'ston. 
Older  forms  needed.  Possibly  '  village  of  Scealdamer.'  Cf. 
Skelmersdale. 

ScRiVEN  (Knaresboro').  Dom.  Scravinge.  'Place  of  the  sons  of 
Scrcef  or  '  Sceorf,'  only  the  latter  in  Onom.  Cf.  Scarle  (Notts), 
Dom.  Scorvelei.    See  -ing  and  -ley. 

ScRTJTON  (Bedale).  Dom.  Scuruetone.  'Town  of  Scurua'  or 
'  Scyrua,'  a  monk,  or  perh.  of  '  Scurf  a,'  a  Danish  jarl,  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Sheraton  and  Screveton  (Notts),  Dom.  Scrivetone,  1284 
Scrouton.    Scrooby  (Notts)  is  Dom.  Scrobi. 

Seacourt  (Oxford),  c.  957  chart.  Seofecan  wyrthe,  Dom.  Seuac- 
oorde,c.  1130  Chron.  Ahingd.  Seovecwurde,  1401-02  Seokeworthe. 
A  most  instructive  and  warning  corruption.  '  Seofeca's  farm  ' ; 
whilst  Seabredge  (Staffs)  is  a.  1300  Sheperugge,  '  sheep  ridge ' ! 
See  -worth. 

Seacroet  (Leeds  and  Skegness).  Le.  S.  Dom.  Sacroft,  1199  Secroft. 
O.E.  see,  '  sea,'  was  also  appUed  to  a  lake  Hke  the  Sea  of  GaUlee; 
but  there  is  no  trace  of  such  here.  So  prob.  '  sedgy  croft '  or 
'  farm,'  O.E.  scecg,  secg,  5  sege,  7  sage,  9  dial,  seag,  '  sedge.' 
Cf.  Seagry,  Seaton,  and  Dom.  Northants  Sewelle;  also  see 
Ancroft. 

Seaford  (Sussex).  1234  Close  B.  and  c.  1450  Fortescue  Seforde. 
'  Ford,  passage,  by  the  sea.' 

Seagry  (Chippenham).  Dom.  Segrie,  1225  Patent  R.  Seggreye. 
O.E.  secg  rithe, '  sedge-grown  strem.'    Cf.  Sedgefield  and  Rye. 

Seal  (Sevenoaks)  (c.  1250  chart.  La  Sele),  and  Seale  (Farnham). 
Neither  in  Dom.     O.E.  seel,  sele,  '  a  house,  a  haU.' 

Seamer  (Yorks)  and  Semer  (Ipswich).  Yo.  S.  Dom.  Semers, 
Semser,  -mer.  Prob.  O.E.  sem,  sam  {ge)meere,  '  half  boundary.' 
But  Sea-  seems  often  doubtful  in  Eng.  place-names.  See  above 
Cf.  Dom.  Salop  Semebre,  ?  '  half  bank '  (O.E.  obr).  There  are 
3  men  in  Onom.  called  Scemer  or  Semer. 

Seasalter  ( Whitstable) .  Old  forms  needed.  It  may,  as  some 
think,  be  partly  of  Brythonic  orig. ;  but  this  is  doubtful. 

Seascale  (Cumbld.).  '  DwelHng  by  the  sea,'  O.N.  shdli,  formd  in 
Eng.  a.  1300  as  scale,  '  a  hut,  a  shed ' ;  same  root  as  sheal  and 
shieling.  Cf.  Galashiels  (Sc.)  and  Bowscale  (W.  Cumbld.), 
which  is  fr.  N.  bol  sTcali,  '  hut,  shed  dwelling.' 


SEATON  435  SEINT 

Seaton  (9  in  P.Q.).  Dom.  and  1179-80  Pipe  Setton  (Yorks);  also 
Dom.  Seton=  Seaton  Boss.  1298  '  Simon  de  Seyton/  ?  whicli. 
Not  all  are  on  the  sea, — e.g.,  Seaton  (Uppingham).  So  Sea-  may 
represent  some  of  the  many  O.E.  names  in  See-  or  Sea-,  '  town 
of  ? '  The  So.  Seaton  is  called  after  the  De  Sey  family.  But 
Setton  looks  like  seat-town,  with  seat  in  the  sense  of  '  settlement/ 
country  '  seat/  O.E.  scet,  as  in  Somerset. 

Seaton  Carew  (W.  Hartlepool).  Said  to  be  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur. 
Ceattune, '  town  of  Geatta.'  The  hard  O.E.  c  very  rarely  becomes 
s.  The  Carew  may  be  fr.  Henry  Carey  or  Carew  (the  names  are 
the  same),  first  Baron  Hunsdon,  who  received  lands  in  Yorks 
fr.  Q.  Ehzabethinl571. 

Seckington  (Tamworth).  O.E.  Chron.  755,  Secggandune,  Ssecan- 
dune — i.e., '  hill '  or  '  hill-fort  of  Secca  or  Seccga ';  several  in  Onom. 

Sedbbrgh  (Yorks).  Dom.  Sedberge,  1549  Sedberg.  O.E.  seed, 
3  sed,  '  sad,'  often  in  early  use  '  massive,  solid,'  also,  fr.  1412 
'  dark,  deep  in  colour  ';  -bergh  is  a  M.E.  var.  of  Barrow,  O.E. 
beorh,  berh, '  a  hiU.'  Cf.  Dom.  Roeberg  himdred,  later  Rugheberg, 
Rubergh,  name  of  a  now  defunct  '  hundred '  in  Berks. 

Sedgeberrow  (Evesham).  771  and  964  chart.  Secgesbearwe,  Dom. 
Seggesbarve,  1275  Seggesberrow.  Prob. '  Barrow,  hill  or  tumu- 
lus of  Secg.'  Sedgeley  (Wolverhmptn.)  is  c.  1006  chart.  Secges 
lea.  Dam.  Segleslei  (l  for  c),  a.  1300  Seggesleye,  clearly  '  Secg's ' 
or  '  Segge's  lea,,'  though  the  name  is  not  in  Onom.  Also  cf. 
Sedgemoor. 

Sedgeeield  (FerryhiU).  Said  to  be  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Ceddesfeld — 
i.e.,  '  Ceadda's '  or  '  Chad's  field.'  Note  the  corruption.  Cf. 
Shad  WELL.  Only  in  1183  Boldon  BJc.  it  is  Seggesfeld,  and  1197 
Eolls  Secchefeld,  plainly  fr.  O.E.  secg,  '  sedge,  rushes  ' ;  see  next. 
So  that  the  identification  of  Sim.  Dur. 'a  name  is  prob.  wrong. 

Sedgemoor  (Somerset).  It  cannot  be  K.C.D.  iii.  386  Sejes  mere. 
O.E.  secg,  5-sedge,  is  applied  to  various  coarse,  rush- like  plants ; 
mere,  of  course,  is  '  lake.'     Cf.  above. 

Sedlesoombe  (Battle).  '  Valley  of  Sedel ';  cf.  B.C.S.  997  Sideles- 
ham,  and  Dom.  Kent  Sedlinges,  the  patronymic.    See  -combe. 

Sefton  (Liverpool).  Dom.  Sexton  (x  an  error),  1236  Ceffton,  1249 
Cefton,  1318  Sefton.  Either  fr.  a  man  Sceffa  {cf.  Dom.  Leics. 
Sevesbi)  or  fr.  O.N.  sef,  '  sedge.' 

Seighford  (Stafford) .  Dom.  Cestef ord,  a.  1400  Sesteford.  In  Dom. 
often  st=  ht,  as  Dom.  hates  gutturals,  so  this  is  prob.  O.E.  seohtre 
ford,  '  brook,  ditch  ford.' 

Seint  or  Seoint  (Carnarvon).  Prob.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Segontium. 
Also  called  Caer  Seoint;  prob.  the  same  as  Cair  Segeint  in  list 
appended  to  Nennius.  The  Segontiaci  were  a  British  tribe  who 
prob.  dwelt  near  Silchester. 


SEISDON  436  SETTRINGTON 

Seisdon  (Wolverhmptn.).  Dom.  Seis-,  Saisdone,  a.  1300  Seisden. 
Duignan  is  puzzled  here.  Seis-  prob.  is  a  contraction  of  some 
man's  name,  ?  Siward,  Scewulf,  Setilf;  it  might  be  W.  Sais,  '  a 
Saxon/    See -don. 

Selby.  Sic  1483;  not  in  Dom.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Selebi.  May  be 
'  dwelling  of  '  a  man  mth  one  of  the  many  O.E.  names  in  Sele-, 
Seleforth,  Selewig,  etc.  But  Sel-  may  also  be  Icel.  sel,  '  a  shed 
at  a  mountain-farm/  a  smtor,  or  else  O.N.  sodl, '  happy.'     See  -by. 

Sellacks  Maesh  (Ross,  Herefd.).  Prob.  1160-61  Pi'pe  Salceia. 
Prob.  'isle  of  Seolca'  or  '  Seoloce/  names  in  Onom.;  -eia=-ey, 
q.v.  SeUacks  is  for  Seoloce's.  It  might  be  fr.  L.  salic{e)tum, 
'  a  willow  grove ' ;  hence  the  Fr.  name  Saussaie. 

Sellapield  (Whitehaven).    Hybrid.    N.  selja,  '  a  dairy.' 

Selly  Oak  (Birmingham),  a.  1200  Selleg',  Selley.  Doubtful. 
Sell-  or  Selle-  prob.  represents  a  man's  name,  a  contraction  of  one 
of  the  many  in  Sele-,  Seleburh,  Selered,  etc.  The  ending  may 
either  be  -ey  or  -ley,  q.v. 

Selsea.  Bede  Selaeseu,  Selesei  (in  a.  900  O.E.  versn.  Sylesea),  quod 
dicitur  Insula  vituli  marini  (' isle  of  the  sea  calf').  Seal- 
island,'  O.E.  siol,  seol ;  Icel.  sel-r.    See  -ea. 

Selston  (Nottingham).  Dom.  Salestune,  1284  Seliston.  Perh. 
same  name  as  1160  Pipe  Selveston  (Northants).  'Village  of 
Sdim,'  2  in  Onom.  Also  c/.  Dom.  Kent  Selesburne  and  SeUnge, 
which  postulate  a  man  Sde,  and  a  patronymic.     See  -ing. 

Sel  WOOD  (now  Frome  or  Frome  Selwood).  878  O.B.  Chron.  Seal- 
wudu,  c.  893  Asser  '  Selundu — i.e.,  sylva  magna  in  Latin,  Coit 
maur  in  British.'     O.E.  sel,  '  good.'    Cf.  Dom.  Hants,  Seldene. 

Semeb  (Ipswich).    See  Seamer. 

Semley  (Shaftesbury).  '  Half -meadow  ' ;  O.E.  sam,  sem.  Cf.  Dom. 
Bucks  Senlai.     See  -ley. 

Semp(e)binqham  (Bourne).  O.E.  Chron.  852  Sempi^aham,  1156 
Shim-,  Shempingeham,  ?  c.  1290  The  Ermitage  of  Sempling- 
ham,  c.  1330  Sempyngham.  A  patronymic.  See  -ham;  and  cf. 
Shzmplestg.  Semple  is  still  a  common  surname,  but  it  is  for  St.  Paul. 

Sennen  (Land's  End).  From  Senan,  b.  Co.  Clare,  c.  488,  Bp.  near 
Kilrush,  and  friend  of  St.  David. 

Sessay  (Thirsk).  Dow.  Sezai.  Doubtful.  In  Dom.  2  usually  =  <s; 
?  '  isle  of  ScBgeat '  or  '  Saietus,'  names  in  Onom.    See  -ay. 

Sethar  (Lizard).     Corn,  for  '  gull,  sea-mew.' 

Settle  (Yorks).  Dom.  Setel.  O.E.  setl,  'a  seat,  a  resting-place.' 
Cf.  939  cJuirt.  '  Fram  Setle  to  netles  stede,'  near  Maidstone. 

Settrington  (Malton).  Dom.  Sendriton,  c.  1100  Seteringetun, 
1179-80  Setrinton.  Might  be  '  abode  of  the  scetor  (N.)  or  sum- 
mer-farm dwellers.'  Only  Dom.'s  form  must  then  be  a  mistake. 
There  is  no  name  in  Onom.  like  Sender.    See  -ing  and  -ton. 


SEVENOAKS  437  SHAN^LIN 

Seven  OAKS  (Kent  and  Northwich).  J.  R.  Green  thought  prob.  a 
sacred  group  of  trees  forming  an  ancient  boundary-mark. 
Snooks  is  a  corrup.  of  this  word.  The  town  in  Kent  does  not 
seem  to  go  back  much  before  1400.  There  is  a  Sevenstorp  in 
Dom.  Yorks.  Sevenhampton  (Glouc.  and  Wilts)  is  Dom.,  both, 
Sevenhamtone.  SeeHAinPTON.  Sennington,  close  by  the  former, 
is  a  corrup.  of  the  same  name. 

Severn  R.,  in  W.  Hafren.  c.  90  Tacitus  Sabrina,  893  O.E.  Chron. 
Ssefern>  Dom.  Saverna,  c.  1190  Gir.  Camb.  Haveren,  1297  B. 
Glouc.  Seuerne,  c.  1450  Saverne.  Name  prob.  pre-Keltic;  change 
of  Kelt,  h  to  Rom.  s  is  according  to  rule. 

Seweeby  (Bridlington).  Dom.  Siward-,  Siwarbi.  'Dwelling  of 
Sigeweard  '  or  '  Siward.'     See  -by. 

Shackerston  (Atherstone).  1298  '  Ricardus  de  Shakelston.'  Prob. 
'  town  of  Scecol '  or '  Scecolf,'  in  Onom.  The  liquids  I  and  r  readily 
interchange.    Cf.  the  common  surname  Shackleton. 

Shadforth  (Durham).  1183  Shaldeford,  Shadeford.  O.E.  sceald 
ford,  '  shallow  ford.'    See  Shalcombe,  Shalford,  and  -forth. 

Shad  WELL  (E.  London).  Said  to  be  *  St.  Chad's,  well.'  Cf.  Sedge- 
field  ;  but  see  above.  , 

Shaftesbury,  c.  893  Asser  Sceftesburg,  935  cTiart.  Scheftesburi, 
982  O.E.  Chron.  Sceaftesbyrig,  1156  Shaftesbiria,  1228  Saftesbir.' 
Prob.  not  fr.  O.E.  sceaft,  '  a  spear,  dart,  pole,'  but  fr.  a  man  so- 
called.  Cf.nextamdB.C.S.  629  Sceafteshangra  (wooded  slope),  also 
Scaftworth  (Notts),  Dom.  Scafteorde;  and  see  -bury  and  -worth. 

Shafton  (Barnsley).  Dom.  Sceptone,  -tun.  'Village  with  the 
sheep  ';  O.E.  sceap.    Cf.  Shefford. 

Shalbourne  (Hungerford).  B.C.S.  iii.  404  set  Scealdeburnan; 
Dom.  Eseldeborne  (a  Norm,  addition  of  e,  as  they  could  not  pro- 
nounce our  sh ;  cf.  Sheffield),  1316  Shaldeburne,  c.  1540 
Shalborne.  O.E.  sceald  hurna,  '  shallow  brook  or  burn.'  See 
next  and  Shelford. 

Shalcombe  (I.  of  W.).  Dom.  Eseldecome  (on  E-  see  above);  and 
Shalfleet  (I.  of  W.) .  838  chart.  Scealdan  fleote,  Dom.  Selde  flet. 
'  Shallow  valley,'  see  -combe,  and  *  shallow  river,'  see  Fleet. 
O.E.  sceald,  'shallow'  (in  Barbour  schald,  same  root  as  shoal), 
curiously  enough  is  not  in  O.E.  diets.  Form  838,  also  939 
chart.  Scealdan  for^,  Shaftesbury,  suggest  derivation  fr.  a  man 
Scealda.  Skeat  does  not  favour  this,  but  it  is  quite  possible; 
cf.  Shalstone  (Bucks),  Dom.  Scaldetone.  Cf.  also  Shadforth 
and  next. 

Shalford  (Braintree  and  Guildford).  Br.  S.  Dom.  Escaldeforde, 
Scaldefort.  Gu.  S.  Dom.  Scaldeford.  O.E.  sceald  ford, '  shallow 
ford.'     See  above. 

Shankltn  (I.  of  W.).  Dom.  Sencliz.  The  z  prob.  represents  a 
nasaUzed  g  or  ng,  and  so  this  is  prob.  O.E.  sc{e)anca  Mine, '  rising 


SHAPCOMBE  438  SHELDON 

ground,  ridge,  like  a  man's  shanh '  (M.E.  sanhe),  or  '  legbone/ 
Cf.  Oxf.  Diet,  shank  sb.  8.    HUtic  is,  of  course,  tlie  mod.  links. 

Shapoombe  (Devon).  Dom.  Scobacoma.  '  Valley  of /S^co6a.'  There 
is  a  Scobba  and  a  Scoppo  in  Onom.  Cf.  Shapwick  (Bridgewater), 
and  see  -combe.  But  Shapridge,  (For.  of  Dean)  is  1281-82 
Sheepridge;  O.E.  sceap. 

Shap  Fell  (Westmorld.).  Prob.  'hill  shaped  like  a  bushel.' 
O.N.  skjappa.    Shap  Abbey  dates  a.  1200.    Of.  Scawfell. 

Shaeeshill  (Wolverhmptn.).  Dom.  Servesed,  a.  1200  Sareshulf, 
a.  1300  Sarnesculf,  Sarneshull,  Sharnshull,  S(h)areshull.  A 
much  altered  name.  Dom.  is  prob.  '  Sceorfa  head,'  and  Sares- 
hulf or  -sculf,  '  Sceorfs  shelf '  of  land.  Cf.  Shelf  anger,  etc. 
Hull  is  common  midl.  M.E.  for  hill. 

Sharnbrook  (Beds),  Dom.  Sernebroc,  and  Sharkford  (Hinckley). 
Dom.  Scerneford.  Cf.  792  chart.  Scranaburna  (belonging  to 
St.  Albans).  These  all  seem  to  come  fr.  O.E.  scearn,  O.N.  sharn, 
O.Fris.  sTcern,  N.Fris.  sjaarn,  '  dung,  esp.  dung  of  cattle,'  still 
in  dial,  as  sharn. 

Sharpness  (Berkeley,  Glouc).  956  chart.  On  scearpan  nesse. 
O.E.  for  'sharp,  pointed  headland';  perh.  not  this  one.  It  is 
1349  Sharpenesse.  The  Berkeley'  MSS.  forms — Shopenash, 
Shobenasse,  etc. — prob.  refer  to  another  place. 

Shattereord  (Bewdley).  996  chart.  Sciteresford,  1286  Sheteresford. 
'  Shooter's,  archer's  ford  ' ;  O.E.  scytere,  sceotere. 

Shavington  (Nantwich) .  1298Shaventon.  '  Town  of  ^Scea/a' in  Onom. 

Shaw  (Melksham  and  Lanes).  Mel.  S.  Dom.  Essages  {cf.  Shal- 
bourne),  1291  Schawe,  1316  Shaghe.  O.E.  scaga,  '  thicket, 
wood.'    Shaw  is  common  in  Sc.  names. 

Sheen  (Surrey  and  Longnor).  Sur.  S.  O.E.  chart.  Sceon;  Lon.  S. 
Dom.  ib.  Prob.  O.E.  seine,  scene,  sceone,  '  beautiful.'  Its  use  as 
sb.  seems  late.    There  is  also  a  Sheen  Hill  (Worcs). 

Sheerness.  O.N.  sJcoerr  nes,  or  M.E.  scere  nces,  '  bright,  clear 
headland.'  The  adj.  sheer  is  very  puzzling;  see  Oxf.  Diet.  The 
town  is  comparatively  recent. 

Shjiefield.  Dom.  Scevelt,  Scafeld,  Escafeld;  1298  Writ  Shefelde; 
c.  1386  Chaucer  Sheffeld.  '  Field  on  the  R.  Sheaf;  O.E.  sceaf, 
'  a  sheaf.'  On  Norm,  prefixing  of  E-  in  Dom.,  see  Shalbourne. 
But  Shefford  on  R.  Lambourne  (Berks),  Dom.  Siford,  is  O.E. 
Scypford,  '  sheep  ford.'    Ct.  Shafton. 

Sheldon  (Birmingham)  and  Shelfield  (Henley-in-Arden).  a.  1200 
Scheldon,  1370  Scheldone,  a.  1300  Scelefhull,  1322  ScheKhull. 
Prob.  both  fr.  O.E.  scelfe,  '  shelf-Hke '  or  '  shelving  hill,'  and 
'field.'  Of.  Shelf  anger,  Shelton  (Staffs),  Dom.  Scelfitone> 
a.  1350  Self  ton,  a.  1400  Schelton;  also  Dom.  Bucks  Skeldene, 
and  Shildon;  and  see  -don  and  -ton. 


SHELF  439  SHEPRETH 

Shelf  (Halifax).  Dom.  Scelf.  O.E.  scelfe,  'shelf'  (of  rock,  etc.). 
Cf.  Dom.  Scelves  (Wore.)  and  Shelfield  (Walsall);  Dom. 
Scelfeld,  a.  1300  Schelfhul. 

Shelf  ANGER  (Diss).  1291  Shelf  angel.  O.E.  scelf e-angra,  'shelf- 
like, wooded  slope.'    Gf.  Blbchaistgee.. 

Shelford  (Cambridge  and  Stoke  Ferry,  Notts).  Cam.  S.  c.  1080 
Inquis.  Camh.  Esceldford,  Sceldford;  Dom.  EseeLforde,  1210 
SeKord;  cf.  K.C.D.  iv.  157  Scealdeforda.  O.E.  sceald,  M.E. 
schald,  scheld,  '  shallow.'  Cf.  Shalbourne,  Shalford,  and 
Shallowford  (Stone),  a.  1300  Schaldeford.  The  initial  E-  is  a 
Norman  euphonic  prefix,  and  quite  according  to  rule. 

Shellingford  (Faringdon).  B.C.S.  ii.  373,  Scaringaford,  but  p. 
372  XaHngeford  (Z  for  Sh) ;  Dom.  Serengeford,  1291  Schalinge- 
ford,  1316  Shallingford.  Curious  corrup. '  Ford  of  the  Searings  ' 
or  '  sons  of  Scara.'     Cf.  Kent,  chart.  Scarendene. 

Shelsley  Beauchamp  and  Walsh  (R.  Teme,  Worcester).  Dom. 
Caldeslei,  1275  Sceldeley  Walleys,  1346  Sheldesleye.  Prob.  fr. 
some  man  Sceld  or  Sceald,  rather  than  fr.  O.E.  scyld,  and  so 
'  island  like  a  shield.'    See  -ey.     B.  and  W.  were  former  owners. 

1275  Subsidy  Roll  says :  '  Quod  Henricus  le  Waleys  quondam 
tenuit.'  Waleys,  Wallace,  Walsh,  and  Welsh  are  all  the  same 
name,  and  mean  '  the  Welshman.' 

Shenboro'  and  Shenington  (Glouc).  Sic  1293,  but  Dom.  Senen- 
done,  1263  Schenedon.  '  Hill '  or  '  town  of  the  beautiful  man  ' ; 
O.E.  seen,  Ger.  schon,  '  fair,  beautiful,'  also  used  as  a  personal 
name,  now  spelt  Chiene,  but  pron.  sheen.  We  get  the  patrony- 
mic in  Shen-,  Shengay  (Cambs),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Sceningei, 

1276  Schenegeye, '  Shening's  isle.'  Cf.  Sheen,  Shenfield  (Brent- 
wood), Shenley  (Barnet),  Skinflats  (Grangemouth),  and  next. 

Shenstone  (Lichfield  and  Hartlebury).    Li.  S.  a.  1100  Scenstan, 

Dom.  Seneste,  a.  1200  S(h)ene8tan,  a.  1300  Schenestane;  Ha.  S. 

1275  Scheneston,  1327  Shenston.     O.E.  scene  stan,  'beautiful, 

bright  rock  '  or  '  stone.'    Cf.  Sheen. 
Shepley=  Shipley,  and  Shepton=  Shipton. 
Shepperton  (Middlesex).    Dom.  Scepertone.    No  likely  name  in 

Onom.,  and  shipper,  which  is  Du.  or  Low  Gter.,  is  not  in  Eng. 

a.  1390;  so  prob.  '  Ship's  host  or  army  town,'  fr.  O.E.  scip-here. 

Possibly,  not  prob.,  fr.  Corn,  sciber,  W.  ysgubor,  in  Eng.  1567 

skipper,  '  a  barn.' 

Sheppey  (Kent),  a.  716  cMrt.  Scepeis,  O.E.  Chron.  832  Sceap  ige — 
i.e., '  sheep  island  ' ;  also  1229  Close  R.  Shipweya,  1230  Sypweya. 
There  is  also  a  Sheppy  or  Sheep  way  near  Bristol.     See  -ey. 

Shepreth  (Royston,  Herts),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Scepereie 
Dom.  Escepride,  1302  Scheperethe.  Not  '  sheep  stream,'  O.E. 
rith,  ride,  says  Skeat,  because  of  the  long  i,  whilst  here  we  have 
only  a  short  e.     Prob.  fr.  O.E.  wr(B6,  wrced,  '  a  wreath,  a  ring,  a 


SHEPSHED  440  SHILLINGSTONE 

bandage,  then  a  fence  of  twisted  or  wreathed  hurdles.'    Cf. 
Meldreth,  near  by. 

Shepshed  (Loughboro') .  1245  Shepesheved.  '  Headland  like  the 
head  of  a  sheep ' ;  O.E.  Mafod,  2-5  heved  ;  Dan.  hoved,  *  head.' 
But  Shepscombe  (Painswick),  1263  Sebbescombe,  is  '  valley  of 
Sceobba.' 

Sheraton  (Castle  Eden).  1183  Shurutona.  'Village  of  Scurua' 
or  '  Scyrua,'  a  name  in  Onom.     Cf.  Scrtjton. 

Sherborne.  671  Scireburnensis  ecclesia,  O.E.  Chron.  860  Scira- 
buma,  905  Scireburnensis,  c.  1130  Wm.  Malm.  Schireburnensis. 
O.E.  scire  burna,  '  brook,  burn  at  the  shire  or  division.'  Sher- 
BOURN  (Warwick)  is  also  Dom.  Scireburne,  the  boundary  between 
the  hundreds  of  BarHchway  and  Kineton.  And  Sherburn 
(Durham)  is  1183  Sirburne,  prob.  the  same  root;  whilst  Sher- 
borne (Glouc),  Dom.  Sareburne,  is  doubtful.  There  is  an  O.E. 
scir,  '  bright,  pure.' 

SHERrpr-HuTTON  (Yorks).  1398  Schiref  hoton.  '  Village,  enclosure 
on  the  hoe.'    See  Htjtton.    Presumably  a  sheriff  lived  here. 

Sheringham  (N.  Norfk.) .  Dom.  Sc(h)erninga'/1351  Shiryng-,  c.  1460 
Sheringham.'  Prob.  O.E.  Sciranham.  *  Home  of  Scira/  2  in 
Onom.  Prob.  here  a  patronymic.  Sherington  (Newport  Pag- 
nell),  Dom.  Serintone,  is  prob.  fr.  same  name.  No  Sera  in 
Onom.    See  -ing, 

Sherstone  (Wilts).  1016  O.E.  Chron.  Sceorstan,  c.  1100  Encom. 
Emmae  Scorastan,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Scearstan.  Prob.,  though 
not  certainly,  fr.  late  O.E.  scoru  ;  O.N.  skor,  '  a  notch,  a  tally, 
a  score,'  same  root  as  shear  ;  O.E.  sceran.  Thus  the  name  may 
mean  '  stone,  rock  with  the  notch  or  crevice,'  or  '  boundary 
stone,'  or  '  a  standing  stone  with  a  sharp  edge  '  (M'Clure). 

Sherwood  Forest  (Notts).  1189  Pipe  Schirewude,  1237  Shirewud 
— i.e.,  '  wood  at  the  shire  or  boundary.'    Cf.  Sherborne. 

Shbvinqton  Moor  ( Wigan) .  1200-33  Shefinton,  1268-79  Shevinton, 
1322  Skeventon.  '  Town,  village  of  Sceafa/  gen.  -an.  Cf. 
Scevintone,  Dom.  Salop. 

Shide  (Newport,  I.  of  W.).  Dom.  Side.  Prob.  aspirated  form  of 
O.E.  side,  '  a  side,'  found  in  Eng,  with  the  meaning  '  slope  of  a 
hill '  as  early  as  c.  1250.  For  similar  aspiration  cf.  Shareshill 
(Wolverhmptn.),  Dom.  Servesed,  a.  1200  Sareshulf,  also,  in  same 
district,  the  Showells,  a.  1300  Sewalle,  Sewale. 

Shifford  (Oxford).     '  Sheep  ford  '=  Shefford. 

Sheldon  (Co.  Durham).  1211  Selvedon.  Prob.,  as  in  Sheldon, 
O.E.  scelfe  dun,  '  shelf -like  hill.'    See  -don. 

Shellingstone  (Blandford),  also  called  Shilling  Ockford  {cf. 
Ockbrook).     Old   Ockford    Eskelling,   fr.    a   inan   Schelin   or 


SHILSTON  441  SHOCELACH 

Eschelinus  in  Dom.  On  the  E-  prefixed  by  Dom.,  see  Shal- 
BOHRNE.  But  Shtllington  (Hitchin)  is  c.  1080  SchitlingedunC; 
Dom.  Sethlindone,  Rams.  Hist.  Schitlingdone,  fr.  an  unrecorded 
patronymic  ScitUng.  Onom.  has  nothing  but  Sceaftweald  and 
Scilling.    See  -ing,  -don,  and  -ton. 

Shilston  (several  farms,  Devon) .  Said  to  be  '  shelf  stone ' — i.e., 
the  site  of  a  dolmen;  O.E.  scelfe,  scylfe, '  a  shelf/ 

Shimpling  (Bury  St.  Edmunds).  Dom.  Sempingaham;  see  Semp- 
KiNGHAM.  On  the  dropping  of  the  -ham,  cf.  Woking  and 
Wokingham. 

Shinfield  (Reading).  Dom.  Scanesfelt,  1316  Shenyngf elde ;  also 
Senefeld,  Schunnyngfeld.  Skeat  thinks  the  Dom.  form  a  scribal 
error,  and  says  ttas  is  '  field  of  the  Scienings  '  or  '  sons  of  Sciene.' 
Cf.  the  mod.  name  Chiene,  pron.  Sheen,  and  next. 

Shengay  (Cambs).  Old  Shening-ay.  'Isle  of  the  Scienings.'  See 
above. 

Shipley  (Leeds  and  Salop)  and  Shipton  (10  in  all).  Dom.  Warwk. 
Sciplea  (in  Salop),  Yorks  Scipeleia.  '  Sheep  meadow '  and 
'  sheep  village  ';  fr.  O.E.  sceap,  seep,  '  a  sheep,"  and  so=  Shepley 
(Huddersfield),  Dom.  Seppeleia,  and  the  Sheptons.  See  also 
-ley  and  -ton.  Shepton  Mallet  (Somerset)  has  added  to  it  the 
name  of  its  former  owners;  Malet  is  still  a  surname.  Shtpton- 
under-Wychwood  (Oxford)  is  c.  1450  Schiptone  under  Whic- 
wode.     See  Wychwood  ;  and  cf.  Rampton. 

Shippen  (W.  Riding),  Dom.  Scipen,  and  Shippon  (Abingdon), 
c.  1100  Chron.  Ahing.  Scippene,  Scipena;  1316  Shupene.  O.E. 
scypen,  '  a  cow-house ';  dial.  Eng.  shippen,  shuppen. 

SHrpsTON-ON-STOFB.  770  chart.  Scepeswasce,  957  ib.  Scepwaesctun. 
Dom.  Scepwestim.  A  curious  contraction.  '  Town  of  the 
sheepwash.'  Shipton  Oliff  (Glouc),  Dom.  Scip(e)tone>  is 
'  sheep-town.'     Oliff  is  the  family  name  Ohve. 

Shirley  (Solihull,  Derby,  and  Southampton).  Sol.  S.  a.  1300 
Schirley.  Der.  S.  Dom.  Sirelei.  Doubtful.  There  is  no  likely 
name  in  Onom.,  and  no  O.E.  sire.  Prob.  O.E.  scir  leak,  '  shire 
meadow';  cf.  Sherborne  and  Shirbourne  (Coventry)  (a.  1300 
Shirburne),  which  mean  'shire'  or  'boundary  brook';  also 
Shireoaks  (Notts)  and  Skiblaugh. 

Shobdon  (Herefordsh.)  and  Shobnall  (Burton-on-T.).  a.  1300 
Sco-,  Shobenhale.  '  Hill '  and  '  nook  of  Sceoba,'  gen.  -an. 
See  -don  and  -hall. 

Shobrooke  R.  (Devon).  930  cMrt.  Sceocabroc;  O.E.  for  'brook 
of  Sceocca ' — i.e.,  the  devil,  Satan !    Of.  Shuckburgh. 

Shocklach  (Malpas).  Dom.  Socheliche.  The  first  syll.  must  be 
as  above>  and  the  second  is  a  rare  variant  of  O.E.  leah,  '  a 
meadow.'    Cf.  SkirlauqA  aiid  StublacA;  and  see  -leigh. 

29 


SHOEBUEY  442  SHOTTON 

Shoebury  (Essex).  893  O.E.  Chron.  Sceoburg,  994  ib.  Sceobyrig. 
Hardly  fr.  O.E.  seed,  '  a  shoe  ';  prob.  '  burgh,  fort  of  Sceoha '  or 
'  Sceohha,'  in  Onom. 

Shooter's  Hill  (London).  1549  Latimer,  Shooters  hyll.  Prob.  a 
resort  for  archery. 

Shobeditch  (London).  K.C.D.  index,  a ' Sordic."  c.  1360  Soerditch, 
1597-98  Shorditch.  Stow,  1598,  says  he  had  evidence  that  400 
years  before  his  day  it  was  called  Soersditch.  Soer  prob.  is  the 
name  of  a  man.  There  are  in  Onom.  Soart  and  Sogor.  Cf.  next. 
Shore  meardng  '  sewer '  is  not  found  till  1598. 

Shobeham  (Sussex,  Sevenoaks).  Not  in  Dom.  Sus.  S.  1234  Close  B. 
Shor-,  1238  ib.  Sorham ;  but  c.  1 120  Hen.  Hunt.  Cymensore, '  shore, 
border  of  Cymen/  now  represented  by  KEYi>roE,.  Thus  it  would 
seem  the  Cymen  has  been  dropped,  and  the  ending  -sore  treated 
as  if  it  were  a  proper  name,  and  the  common  -ham  added. 
Shoreham  (Kent)  is  sic  a.  1300,  and  can  have  nothing  to  do  with 
shore  either.  The  last  is  prob,  fr.  Du.,  and  not  found  in  Eng. 
tiU  14th  cny.  Shore-  here  must  be  a  name,  as  in  Jane  Shore, 
famous  mistress  of  Edw.  IV.  The  only  likely  name  in  Onom.  is 
one  Scorra.    Cf.  next,  and  1231  Close  R.  Sorham  (SufEk). 

Shorncliffe  (Folkestone),  ?  Dom.  Soaneclive  (a  error  for  r),  and 
Shorne  (Gravesend).  1160-61  Pipe  Shorna.  The  root  seems 
to  be  O.E.  scieran,  '  to  sheer,  cut  off ' ;  pa.  pple.  scoren,  '  shorn, 
cut  short  off,  precipitous.'  O.E.  scearn,  O.N.  skarn,  '  sharn, 
dung  of  cattle,'  6-9  shorn,  and  a.  1300  chart,  schorn-penny,  does 
not  seem  likely. 

Shorwell  (Newport,  I.  of  W.).  Dom.  Sorewella.  '  Well  of 
Sor{r)a '  (not  recorded),  or  '  Scorra.'    See  Shoreham. 

Shotoveb  (Oxford).    Dom.  Scotorne  (error  for  -ovre).  Close  R. 
1229  Sothore,  1230  Shotor',  1231  Shotovr'.    Not  chateau  vert  f 
but  ^  shot,  division  of  land  on  the  bank  or  brink';  O.E.   obr, 
ofer;  M.E.  overe.    See  Aldershot  and  -over. 

Shotswell  (Kineton).  1123  Soteswalle,  -welle;  a.  1300  S(c)hotes- 
well.  'Well';  O.E.  wella,  'of  Scot'  (in  Onom.)  or  'the  Scot.' 
Cf.  next. 

Shottery  (Stratford-on-Avon).  704-09  chart.  Scottarith,  O.E.  for 
'  stream  of  the  Scots.'  How  came  they  here  ?  1016  '  on 
Scotrithes  gemsero,'  a.  1400  Shoteriche,  Shotrech.  Cf.  next. 
On  rith  cf.  Chtldrey. 

Shottesbrooke  (Bray).  Dom.  Sotesbroc,  1189  Schottesbroch,  1316 
Sotesbroke.  '  Scot's  brook.'  Cf.  958  chart.  Scotteshealh  (haugh), 
and  above. 

Shottof  (Wooler,  Castle  Eden,  and  Flint).  Wool.  S.  a.  1130  Sim. 
Dur.  Scotadun,  but  c.  1230  Schottun;  Gas.  S.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur. 
Sceottun,  1183  Siottona  and  Shotton.     This  name  represents 


SHOTWICK  443  SHUSTOKE 

two,  or  rather  three,  different  meanings:  (1)  Scots'  'down  or 
hill/  (2)  '  Scots'  town/  and  (3)  *  town,  village  on  which  is 
levied  a  scot  or  tax ';  O.E.  sc{e)ot,  gesc{e)ot,  same  words  as  in 
*  paying  your  shot.'  Without  old  forms  the  Flint  name  is 
uncertain. 

Shotwick  (Chester).  1340  Shotwyk.  Prob.  *  dwelling  '  (O.E.  wic) 
'  of  a  Scot ';  but  cf.  above. 

SKRAWARDEsrE  (Shrewsbury).  Prob.  Dom.  Salevrdine  (cf.  Salfoed 
Br.),  where  we  have  a  Nor.  scribe  making  exactly  the  same 
phonetic  change  as  Salop  for  Shropshire;  1318  Luytel  (Little) 
Shrowardyn.  The  Shra-  may  either  mean  '  cave '  or  a  man's 
name  Scrawa ;  see  next.  The  ending  means  '  farm,  holding  ' ;  see 
-wardine.    We  also  have  a  Stavrdine  in  Dom.  Salop. 

Shrawley  (Stourport).  804  chart.  Scrsefleh,  a.  1200  Escreaelei 
(Norm,  spelling),  1275  Schreweley,  And  Skeewtley  (War- 
wick) Dom.  Servelei,  a.  1300  Screweley,  Shreueley,  Schreule, 
a.  1400  Sravesle,  Shreussle.  Both  may  be  '  meadow  with  the 
cave ' ;  O.E.  scroef.  But  Duignan  thinks  the  forms  of  the 
latter  all  point  to  a  worn-down  form  of  O.E.  scir  gerefa,  '  shire 
reeve,  sheriff.'  Also  cf.  B.C.S.  723  Scraewanleah,  near  Exeter, 
which  must  represent  a  man's  name.     See  -ley. 

Skbewsbitry,  also  Salop  and  Shropshiiie.  901  chart.  In  civitate 
Scrobbensis,  1007  O.E.  Chron.  Scrobbesbyrg,  1083  chirt. 
Salopesberia,  Dom.  Sciropesberie,  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore.  Scrob- 
besbyria,  a.  1145  Orderic  Scrobesburia,  c.  1190  Gir.  Camb. 
Solopusburia,  1271  Salopseburi,  1283  Slopesbiry,  1387  Schroys- 
bury,  1461  Schrevisbery,  1485  Shrewsbury;  also  1088  O.E. 
Chron.  Scrobscyre.  Shrewsbury  is  O.E.  scrobbes  byrg,  '  burgh, 
castle  among  the  shrubs,'  Shropshire  is  simply  Scrobscire,  whilst 
Salopesbury  is  supposed  to  be  the  nearest  that  the  Norman 
could  come  in  pron.  to  Scrobbesbury.  Then  the  -bury  was 
dropped,  and  we  get  Salop.  No  Norman  could  pron.  Sc-.  Cf. 
Sheawaedine. 

Sheivenham  (W.  Berks).  K.C.D.  vi.  131  Serif enan  hamm;  O.E. 
chart.  Scrivenanhom,  Dom.  Scrivenham,  1316  Shrivenham. 
'  Enclosure  of  Serif  ena/  an  unknown  man .  Scrivein — i.e . ,  scrivener 
— ^is  f oimd  in  Eng.  a.  1300.     Cf.  Sceuton  ;  and  see  -ham. 

SHUCKBUEaH  (Southam)  and  Shuce2^all  (Hereford).  Dom.  Soche- 
berge,  a.  1300  Suckeberge,  Shukborow,  Schuckborough.  Shuck- 
nall  vrill  be  O.E.  Scuccan  heal.  '  Nook '  and  '  castle  of  the 
Devil ' ;  O.E.  scucca,  '  Satan,  a  demon,  evil  spirit.'  Cf.  Shttg- 
BOEOUGH  (Staffs),  a.  1400  Shokke-,  Shukburgh,  and  Shobeooke. 
See  -burgh  and  -hall. 

Shustoke  (Coleshill  and  Walsall).  Col.  S.  Dom.  Scotescote,  1256 
Schuttestok,  1290  Schustoke.  Dom.  is  'Scot's  cottage';  as  to 
the  Scot,  cf.  Shotteey.    But  Stoke  is  '  place.' 


SHUTTINGTON  444  SILKMOEE 

Shttttington  (Tamworth).  Dom.  Cetitone,  1165  Sheftintone, 
a.  1300  Schetynton,  1327  Schutinton.  Dom.'s  form  is  abnormal, 
and  prob.  represents  a  deliberate  change  fr.  the  original  O.E. 
Sceaftingtun  (as  it  would  seem), '  village  of  Sceaffs  descendants/ 
Shtiedington  (Leckhampton),  1148  Schurden-,  1157  Scherdyn- 
tone,  is  thought  to  be  fr.  Scirgeard  or  Scirierd,  one  in  Onom. 
See  -ing. 

SiBLE  Hedingham  (Essex).  Dom.  Hedingham,  but  1488  Henjrng- 
ham,  1489  Hevenyngham.  It  is  not  easy  to  explain  the  change 
of  %  to  dJ  after  1489.  The  name  is  a  patronymic,  '  home  of  the 
sons  of  Hcedda  '  or  '  Headda,'  a  very  common  name.    See  -ing. 

SiBSTONE  (Atherstone).  'Stone  of  Siha'  or  '  Sihha.'  Of.  Dom, 
Sibetune  (Salop),  and  Sibetorp,  now  Sibthoepe  (Notts). 

SiCKLiNGHALL  (Wetherby).  Dom.  Sichingal,  Sidingale  {d  error  for 
cl),  c.  1150  Sieclinhale.  '  Nook  of  the  Sicklings,'  an  unrecorded 
patronymic,  though  we  do  have  Suckling.  It  is  prob.  '  sons  of 
ScBcol '  or  '  SoBColf ';  1  in  Onom.    See  -ing  and  -hall. 

SiDCUP  (Kent).  Old  forms  needed,  not  in  Dom.  Prob.  '  Sida'a 
cop  '  or  '  hill ';  O.E.  cop,  copp,  '  head,  summit,  hill.'  Cf.  B.C.S. 
159  Sidan  ham.  The  first  syll.  might  be  O.E.  seed,  3  sed,  4-5 
*  said,  '  sad,'  often  in  early  use  '  massive,  solid,'  and  also  fr.  1412 
'  dark,  deep  in  colour.'  Cf.  Sedbergh,  and  Siddington  (Ciren- 
cester), Dom.  Sudin-,  Suditone,  plainly  fr.  Syda  or  Sidu. 

SiDDiCK  (Workington).  This  is  said  to  be  O.E.  Scidwic,  '  dwelling 
at  the  shed  '  or  '  divide ';  O.E.  sceadan,  '  to  separate.'  But  this 
is  doubtful;  more  prob.  fr.  some  man  8ida  or  Side.  Cf.  Siden- 
HALL  (Tamworth),  a.  1300  Sydenhale.  Sidnall  (Cherbury)  is 
orig.  the  same.  In  later  North.  MSS.  of  Layamon  the  Wall  of 
Severus  is  Sid-wall.  Side  sb.,  O.E.  side,  is  4-5  sid,  and  this  quite 
possibly  gives  the  origin,  its  root  being  possibly  O.E.  sid, '  ample, 
spacious,  extensive,'  Sid  wic,  '  ample  dwelling,'  is  a  very  likely 
name. 

SiDLESHAM  (Chichester).  B.C.S.  997  Sidelesham.  Cf.  Exon.  Dom. 
Sidelham.     '  Home  of  Sidel.' 

Sid  R.  and  Sidmouth  (S.E.  Devon).  Dom.  Sedemude.  Sidmouth 
may  be  Ptolemy's  Dunion.  The  root  of  Sid  may  be  W.  sid,  '  a 
round,  a  circling.' 

SiLCHESTEB.  (Reading),  c.  1205  Layam.  Selechaestre.  c.  150  Ptolemy 
Caleva,  which  may  be  caled-va,  with  caled=silva  or  'wood.' 
Cf.  the  name  Caledonia  in  Tacitus  Agricola.  But  Sil-  or  Sile- 
chester  is  also  derived  fr.  L.  silex,  -ids,  '  flint,'  and  the  first  syU. 
is  really  quite  doubtful.  Quite  possibly  the  name  is  '  good 
camp,'  fr.  O.E.  sel,  '  good.'  Eng.  names  in  -chester,  q.v.,  almost 
never  have  a  L.  word  like  silva  or  silex  as  the  first  part. 

SiLKMOBE  (Stafford),  Silkstone  (Barnsley)',  and  Silksworth 
(Sunderland).     Dom.  Selchmore,  a.  1400  Selke-,  Silkemor;  Dom. 


SILLOTH  445  SITTINGS  OURNE 

Silchestone.     '  Moor/  '  town/  and  '  farm  of  Seolca.'    Cf.  Silkby 
(S.  Lines).    See  -ton  and  -worth. 

SiLLOTH  (Cumbld.).  Perh.,  as  Dr.  Guest  thinks,  same  word  as 
Sol  WAY.  Prob.  N.  sol  wath,  'muddy  ford';  O.E.  sol,  'mud/ 
that  which  '  sullies.' 

SiLSDEN  (Keighley).  Dom.  Siglesdene.  The  name  is  a  little  un- 
certain ;  more  old  forms  needed.  It  may  be  '  Sigelac's '  or 
'  Silac'a,'  or  else  '  Sigefugul'&  dean  '  or  '  woody  vale.'  See  -den. 
Sigglesthorne  (Hull),  Dom.  Siglestorne,  is  fr,  the  same  name. 

SiLTON  (York).  ?  O.E.  Chron.  779  Seletun,  prob.  '  village  by  the 
hall ' ;  O.E.  sele.  But  it  is  Dom.  Silf  tune,  Silvetune,  winch  seems 
to  be  '  town  of  Seulf/  short  form  of  Scewulf. 

SiLVEBDALE  (Carnf orth) ,  c^r^  Siuerdale,  ^  Sigeweard's  dale.  Silver 
How  (see  -how),  and  Selverside  {cf.  Ambleside),  Lake  District, 
are  thought  to  be  fr.  Selver,  gen.  of  the  O.N.  personal  name 
Solvr.  This  will  do  for  North,  names,  but  hardly  for  Silver 
Street,  a  common  name  for  old  roads  in  the  South. 

Silverley  (Cambs).  c.  1080  Inquis.  Gamhs.  Seuerlaio,  also  Seiluer- 
leia ;  Dom.  Severlai,  1284  Silverle.  '  Silver-like  meadow.'  Of. 
Silverdale  (Newcastle,  Stafford),  Silverhill  (St.  Leonard's),  Silver- 
ton  (Devon) ;  but  cf.  above.  Silverton  (Devon)  is  Dom.  Sulfre- 
tone.     '  Silver  town.'    Cf.  Swestnerton. 

Sestder-.    See  Suitoer-. 

Singleton  (Chichester),  Great  Singleton  (Preston).  Pr.  S.  Dom. 
Singletun,  1168-69  Schingeltona.  Our  adj.  single  is  Fr.  and  late, 
so  this  must  be  M.E. sciricle,  L.  scindula,a>'  shingle,'  or  thin  piece 
of  wood  used  as  a  house-tile,  seen  also  in  Dom.  Bucks  Sincleberia. 
Oxf.  Diet's  earliest  quot.  is  c.  1200. 

Sinnington  (Yorks).  Dom.  Sevenictun,  Siuenintun,  Siverinctun, 
Siuerintun.  Perh.  '  town  of  the  sons  of  Siferth'  short  form  of 
the  common  Sigefrith.  Sifer-  has  become  Siven-  and  then  Sinn- ; 
liquids  r  and  n  easily  interchange.  Sinwell  (Wotton-under- 
Edge)  is  c.  1220  Sienewell,  '  beautSul  well';  see  Sheen. 

SnsroDUN,  -don  Hill  ( Wallingf ord) .  Old  forms  unknown.  But 
Skeat  thinks  there  is  no  reason  why  it  should  not  mean  '  synod 
down.'  The  word,  in  the  forms  sinoth,  synoth,  senoth,  is  often 
found  in  O.E.  Chron.  for  '  a  council.' 

SiSLAND  (Norfk.).  Dom.  Sislanda,  1450  Cyselond.  Prob.  '  land  of 
Sysilt,'  a  Nor.  family,  now  Cecil.  Cf.  Chisholm  (Sc.)  and  Dom. 
Kent  Siseltre.  But  Siston  (Bristol)  is  Dom.  Sistone,  1240 
Sixtune,  and  Syston  (Leicester)  is  old  Syche-,  Syeston,  which 
both  may  be  '  town  of  Sica  ' ;  1  in  Onom. 

SiTTiNGBOURNE  (Kent).  Not  in  Dom.  1360  S'Eborne,  c.  1386 
Chaucer  Sydingborne.  Prob.  '  brook,  burn  of  Sida  ';  gen.  -an. 
Cf.  Sydenham.  It  may  be  a  patronymic.  Cf.  Dom.  Sethlin- 
done  (Beds)  and  Settintone  (Leics).    See  -bourne. 


SKEFFINGTON  446  SKIPWITH 

SKEFEmGTON  (Leicester).  ?  822  chart.  Sciofingden^  1298  Skefting- 
ton.  The  charter  form  is  '  dean,  wooded  den/  or  '  valley  of  the 
descendants  of  Skiofa  or  8kioba ';  latter  name  only  in  Onom. 
See  -ing. 

Skegness  (Lines)  is  tautological.  O.N.  shagi,  '  a  promontory/ 
with  the  English  later  addition  -ness,  O.E.  nces.  Skagi  is  fr.  O.N. 
sJcaga,  '  to  stand  out.'  Cf.  skegg,  '  a  beard.'  Skegby  (Notts), 
Dom.  Schegebi,  is  fr.  a  man  Skeggi, '  the  bearded.'    See  -by. 

Skelbrooke  (Doncaster).  Dom.  Scalebro.  '  Brook  by  the  hut '  or 
'  shireling  ' ;  O.N.  skali.    Cf.  Scalby. 

Skellinqthoepe  (Lincoln),  a.  1100  cJiart.  ScalSorpe,  which  will 
mean  '  village  of  Skald '  or  '  Skealda.'  But  Skilltngton 
(Grantham)  shows  that  prob.  both  these  names  are  patronymics, 
'  dwelling  of  the  sons  of  Skeald.'  A  '  Skekelinge  '  is  mentioned 
in  Lines  in  1528 ;  and  Scilling  is  common  in  Onom.    See  -thorpe. 

Skelmanthobpe    (Huddersfield).    Dom.    Scemel-,    Scelmertorp. 
'  Village  of  Skelmer  '  or  '  Scealdamer,'  as  in  next.    The  liquids 
n  and  r  often  interchange.    See  -thorpe. 

Skelmebsdale  (Ormskirk).  Dom.  Schelmeresdale.  Cf.  901-09 
chart.  Scealdsemeres  hamme.  '  Scealdamer'8  dale.'  Cf.  Skel- 
morlie  (Sc.)  and  above. 

Skelton  (4  in  P.G.).  Leeds  S.  Dom.  Sceltune,  1179-80  Scelton. 
Penrith  S.  1189  Schelton.  Prob.  '  town,  village  of  huts  or 
booths  ' ;  O.N.  skali.    Cf.  Scalby  and  Skelbrooke. 

Skerne  R.  (Durham).  Perh.  fr.  O.N.  Skernir,  'the  Bright,' 
messengre  of  Frey,  god  of  light,  fr.  skirr,  '  clear,  pure,  bright.' 
Cf.  Scarning  (Dereham),  prob.  patronymic  fr.  Skernir,  and 
Sharnbrook. 

Skerton  (Lancaster) .    Dom.  Schertune.     '  Town  on  the  rock '  or 
'scaur';  O.N.  sker  ;  so  hybrid.    Escr6tons,  Jersey,  shows  the 
same  root. 

Sketty  (Glam.).  For  W.  ynys  Ketti,  'isle  of  Ketti,'  which  may 
be  =  Coety  (see  Coed)  .  There  is  a  Maen,  or  rock,  Ketti  on  a 
hill  here. 

Skidd  AW  (Gumbld.).  Old  forma  needed.  Perh.  W.  ysgeth,  pi. 
-thau,  'a  spear,  spears,'  fr.  its  supposed  shape;  ?/ would  soon 
drop,  and  th  easily  harden  into  d.  The  mountain  has  3  peaks 
or  '  spear-heads.' 

Skipton.  Dom.  Scipton,  Schipetune,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Scipe- 
tuna.     '  Town,  village  with  the  sheep ';  O.E.  scepj  sceap. 

Skipwith  (Selby).  Dom.  Schipewic,  1200  Scippewic.  This  seems 
to  be  unlike  Skipton,  and  to  mean  '  dwelling  of  Scippa ' ; 
though  Onom.  has  only  Sceobba  and  Scepius.  The  -with  is 
var.  of  -wich,  q.v.,  O.E.  wic,  '  dwelling,  house.'  This  is  a  very 
rare  variant. 


SKIRBECK  447  SLINDON 

Sklbbeok  (Boston).  Dom.  Schirebec,  1216  Scirbe>c.  '  Beck,  brook 
at  the  shire'  or  'dividing-line';  O.E.  scir.  Possibly  fr.  O.N. 
skirr,  '  clear,  pure,  bright.'    Cf.  Skerfe.    See  -beck. 

Skielaugh  (Hull).  Dom.  Scirelai,  Schirle,  Schirelai;  =  Shirley. 
For  meaning  see  above.  With  -laugh  cf.  Shooklach. 
Skirlenqton  (E.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Schereltun,  1179-80  Pipe 
Sirlinton;  prob.  fr.  a  man  Scirold  or  Scirweald. 

Sbxelpenbeck  (York).  Dom.  Scarpenbec.  'Brook  of  Sceorfa' 
or  '  Scurfa  '  ;  perh.  the  Danish  jarl  in  Onom.  Of.  Boll  Rich.  I, 
Scurpige,  Beds.    See  -beck. 

Skyrack  (a  Yorks  wapentake).  Dom.  Siraches  wapentac.  O.E. 
8cir-dc,  '  shire  oak,'  meeting-place  of  the  hundred.  Cf.  Apple- 
tree. 

Slad  (Stroud)  and  Slade  (Gower).  O.E.  slced,  sled, '  a  valley,  deU, 
forest  glade,'  still  in  use.  Cf.  Sledmere.  But  Slatdbtjrn 
(Clitheroe),  Dom.  Slateborne,  is  prob.  fr.  O.N.  sletta,  'a  flat  piece 
of  land.'    Cf.  Sleat  (Sc). 

Slaithwaite  (Huddersfield) .  Not  in  Dom.  Now  pron.  Slowat. 
'Sloe-covered  farm'  or  'field';  O.E.  sla(h),  3-7  slo,  6-9  slae, 
'  a  sloe,  the  fruit  of  the  blackthorn.'    See  -thwaite. 

Slapton  (Leighton  Buz.,  Nottingham,  and  Kingsbridge).    Not. 
S.  sic  1287.     Lei.  S.  Dom.  Slapetone.    Cf.  Dom.  Devon  Slape- 
forda.    Cannot  be  fr.  Eng.  skip,  '  an  opening,'  a  late  word, 
.     hut  ir.  a,  man  Slapa,  not  in  Onom. 

Slaughterford  (Glouc).  779  cTiart.  Sloh  tranford,  1154-61 
Slaforda.  Interesting  corrup.  'Ford  of  the  sloe-tree';  O.E. 
sloh-treo,  gen,  pi.  tran.  An  older  form  of  sloe  is  found  in  the 
Glossaries,  slach-thorn — i.e., '  sloe  '  (or  '  black ') '  thorn.'  We  also 
have  an  tipper  and  Lower  Slaughter,  Stow-on-Wold,  Dom. 
Sclostre,  1183  Sloctre, '  sloe-tree ' — a  curious  corruption  ! 

Sleapord.  O.E.  Chron.  852  Sliowaforda.  Prob.  O.E.  show,  sliw  ea, 
'  tench  '  or  '  muUet  river,'  and  not  O.E.  slaw,  Icel.  sljo-r,  '  slow.' 
The  brook  here  is  stiU  called  the  Slea.  But  it  is  also  thought 
to  be  the  '  LafEord '  in  Patent  B.  for  1217  and  1218.  Initial  s 
does  sometimes  disappear  in  Gaelic  names.    See  Leven  (Sc). 

Sledmere  (York).  Dom.  Slidemare.  'Mere,  lake  in  the  valley, 
dell,  or  bit  of  boggy  ground ' ;  O.E.  slced,  sled,  now  slade.  Cf. 
Slade. 

Slindon  (Eccleshall,  Arundel).  Ecc.  S.  Dom.  SUndone,  a.  1300 
Slyndon.  Doubtful.  Slim  adj.  is  not  in  Eng,  till  17th  cny. 
Prob.  fr.  O.E.  slim,  'slime,  ooze,  soft  mud';  m  and  n  often 
interchange.  Cf.  Slineord  (Sussex)  and  Slyne  ;  also  Slimbridge 
(Coaley),  Dom.  Heslinbruge  (Nor.  scribes  often  prefix  E-,  seldom 
He-),  1166  Slimbergge,  1224  Slymbrugge. 


SLINGSBT  448  SNELLAND 

Sltngsby  (York).  Dom.  Sehingesbi,  Eslingesbi  (Nor.  spelling).. 
1202  Slingebi.  'Dwelling  of'  a  man  unknown,  ?  Seleivine. 
See  -by. 

Sloley  (Cromer,  Arley).  Ar.  S.  a.  1200  Slalei,  a.  1300  Sloley. 
Cro.  S.  «.  1300  Eccleston  Sloler  (the  r  a  scribe's  or  Cockney's 
error).     '  Slough-meadow  ';  O.E.  sloh.    See  -ley. 

Slyne  (Lancaster).  Dom.  and  1176  Pipe  Sline,  1272  and  1310 
Scline.  Prob.  O.E.  and  O.N.  slim,  '  slime,  soft  mud,  alluvial 
ooze ';  m  and  n  often  interchange.    Cf.  Slindon. 

Smeeton  Westerby  (Leicester)  and  Great  Smeaton  (Northaller- 
ton). Nor.  S.  Dom.  Smidetune,  Smet(t)on,  1183  Smetheton, 
1211  Smitheton.  'Smooth,  level  village';  O.E.  smethe.  Cf. 
Smethwick. 

Smester  (Worcestersh.) .  M'Clure  thinks  that  this  place  on  the 
little  E,.  Smestow  (stow,  '  place  '),  a  trib.  of  the  Stour,  is  '  sma  ' 
or  '  small  Stour.'  Icel.  smd-r,  Dan.  smaa,  O.E.  smod,  '  small.' 
In  Sc.  the  common  ending  -ster  is  always  for  N,  sta^-r, '  steading, 
farm-place.'    Duignan  has  neither  Smester  nor  Smestow. 

Smethwick  (Birmingham).  Dom.  Smedewich,  a.  1250  Smeythe- 
wick,  Smethewyke.  O.E.  smethe  wic,  '  smooth  dwelling.'  Cf. 
Dom.  Norf.  Smethedune.     It  is  on  a  plain,  and  so  may  be 

*  village  on  the  plain,'  as  there  is  a  Smeath  (Kent),  the  Smeath 
(K.'s  Lynn),  and  Markham  Smeath  (Swaffham).  But  Oxf.  Diet. 
gives  for  smethe  sb.  only  one  quot.,  c.  1440,  and  E.  AngHcan 
dial.    See  -wick. 

Smite  (Coventry  and  Droitwich).  Co.  S.  Dom.  Smithh,  1251 
Smite.  Wo.  S.  978  chart.  Smita,  1275  Smite.  O.E.  smita, 
which  prob.  means  '  bog,  morass,  foul  place.'  There  is  also  a 
R.  Smite  (Notts),  in  Ldand  Myte,  c.  1613  Suite. 

Smithmeld  (London),  c.  1425  '  The  Priory  of  seynt  Bartholomew 
yn  Smythfyld.'  Referred  to  early,  ?  1154,  as  '  the  smooth 
field.'  O.E.  smeSe,  '  smooth.'  Smithdown  (Liverpool)  is 
'  smooth  hill.' 

Snailwell  (Cambs).  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Snegeluuelle,  Dom. 
Snellewelle,  chart.  Sneillewelle,  1169  Sneilwella,  1316  SneyleweUe. 
O.E.  snoegel,  sncegl,  sncel,  Dan.  snegl,  '  a  snail.' 

Sneaton    (Whitby).    Dom.    Sneton.    Perh.    '  town   of   8net '    or 

*  Simt.'    Cf.  Snettisham. 

Sneinton  (now  part  of  Nottingham).  Dom.  Notintone,  1168-9  Pipe 
Snotinton ;  so  the  first  part  of  the  name  represents  the  same  family 
as  in  Nottingham.  But  Snainton  (N.  Yorks)  is  Dom.  Snechin- 
tune,  '  town  of  Snecca  '  or  '  Snocca  ';  only  the  latter  in  Onom. 

Snellaitd  (Lincoln),  Thought  to  be  Norse,  ^  Snel'a  wood';  O.N. 
lund-r,  *  a  grove,'  3  Snels  in  Onom.  Cf.  Snelston  (Ash- 
bourne) and  TiMBERLAND. 


SNETTERTON  449  SOHO 

Snetterton  (Norfolk).  1455  Snyterton.  'Town  of  Snoter'  or 
'  Snothere,'  in  Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  Derby  Esnotrewic  (with  Nor.E.). 
We  have  also  Snitterfield  (Warwk.),  Dom.  Snitefeld,  1151 
Snitenesfeld,  a.  1300  Snitenef eld ;  fr.  a  man  Suite  or  Suiter, 
seen  also  in  Snitterby  (Lines),  and  Dom.  Yorks  Snitertun.  The 
liquids  u  and  r  often  interchange. 

Snettisham  (King's  Lynn).  Cf.  a.  1199  Snetesham  (Salop)  and  804 
chart.  Snattingden  (Kent).     'Home  of  Snat,  or  Suet.' 

Sneyd  Green  (Hanley).  1410  Snede.  O.E.  snced,  O.N.  sneith, 
'  a  small  piece,  a  piece  cut  or  "  sned  "  off,  an  outlying  portion 
of  a  manor.'  Cf.  Halsnead  (Lanes),  Snead  Common,  Stour- 
port  and  Mamble  (Salop),  Snaith  (Yorks),  Dom.  Esneid,  Esnoid. 
The  E-  is  fr.  a  Nor.  scribe,  a  common  prefix  for  him ;  and  Snyd all 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Snitehala.  Duignan  says  Snead  is  a  common 
Midlands  name. 

Snodland  (Kent).  838  chart.  Snoddingland.  'Land  of  the 
Snodings  '  or  '  descendants  of  Snodda  or  Suodd.'  All  these  names 
are  in  Onom.  ;  and  Snody  is  still  a  surname.  Cf.  Dom.  Snodes- 
byrie  (Worcs.),  now  Upton  Snodsbury,  in  840  chart.  Snoddes 
lea;  also  940  chart.  Snodesdelle  (Dorset). 

Snook.    See  Blyth-snook. 

Snoreham  (Essex)  and  Little  Snoring  (Fakenham).  Dom. 
Snaringa,  1454  Litel  Snoring.  The  name  Snor,  and  the  patro- 
nymic Snoring,  are  not  in  Onom.  But  Snorri  is  a  well-known  N. 
name.     It  has  nothing  to  do  with  Eng.  snore,  not  found  a.  1330. 

Snowdon.  a.  1145  Orderic  Mons  Snaudunus,  c.  1200  Snaudime, 
id  est,  Mons  Nivis,  a.  1235  Eog.  Wendover  Snauduna,  1461 
Snauwdon.  A  '  Snowdenhill '  is  mentioned  near  Cambridge  in 
1447.  O.E.  sndw  dun,  '  snow-capped  hill.'  In  W.  it  is  Y 
Wyddfa,  '  the  tomb  '  or  '  tumulus.' 

Soar  R.  (Leicester).  Welsh  Red.  Bk.  of  Hergest  Sorram,  c.  1145 
Geoffr.  Monm.  Sore,  1253  chart.  Sor.  Perh.  N.  saur,  '  mud, 
swamp,'  perh.  Keltic. 

SocKBRLDGE' (R.  Eamout).  ?  the  '  Soccabyrig '  in  O.E.  Chron. 
780.     It  may  be  Sockburn-on-Tees.    There  is  one  Soca  in  Onom. 

SoDBURY  (Yate).  c.  900  ch<irt.  Soppanbyrig,  Dow.  Sopeberie,  1224 
Sobbiri.     '  Town  of  Soppa.'    See  -bury. 

SoHAM  (Cambs).  Dom.  Saham,  a.  1200  chart.  Ssegham,  Chrou. 
Ramsey  Seham.  '  Home  in  the  hollow,'  fr.  O.E.  sigan,  pa. 
tense  sag,  '  to  sink  down,  to  sag ' ;  Bavar.  saig,  Tyrol,  sege, 
soga,  '  a  depression,  a  swamp.'  There  was  once  a  large  mere 
at  Soham.     Cf.  Dom.  Norfk.  Saha. 

SoHO  (London).  Sic  1632.  Said  to  be  fr.  the  cry  of  the  huntsmen 
calling  off  the  harriers — '  So-hoe  !'  Stow  speaks  of  hunting  in 
this  very  district  in  1562. 


SOLENT  450  SOUTHACRES 

Solent.  Bede  Solente.  Breton  sol,  '  the  tide/  Can  the  -ent  be  a 
Kelt,  suffix  cognate  with  the  common  Tout,  end  ;  cf.  W.  entrych, 
entyrch,  '  top,  summit '  ?  Thus  the  name  might  mean,  '  head, 
end  of  the  tide.' 

SouHULL  (Warwicksh.) .  Dom.  Ulverlei — i.e.,  Wolverley — but  a. 
1300  Soly-,  SuUhull.  'Muddy  hiU';  O.E.  sol,  'mud,  that 
which  sullies,'  syla,  '  wallowing  places.'  Layamon  always  has 
hull  for  hill,  and  he  belongs  to  this  region;  O.E.  hill,  hyll,  2-5 
hull.  Cf.  AspuiiL,  Levenhtjll,  etc.;  also  Soblwell,  Lydney), 
also  spelt  Sully,  1281  Sollewalle,  '  muddy  spring.' 

SoLWAY  Erith.  c.  1300  Sulway,  1682  Sulloway;  also  Sulliva. 
Likewise  called  Tracht-Romra,  fr.  G.  trdghadh,  '  ebbing,'  and 
Scottwade  or  Scottiswathe — i.e.,  '  Scots'  ford,'  N.  and  Dan. 
wath.  O.N.  sol-vag-r,  'muddy  bay';  O.E.  sol,  'mud,'  that 
which  '  sullies.'  For  vag-r  becoming  -way,  cf.  Scalloway  and 
Stornoway  (Sc).  (7/.  SiLLOTH,  Solent,  and  Solihull.  Firth 
or  frith  is  Icel.  fjor^-r,  lH.  fjord,  '  bay,  inlet  of  the  sea.'  There  is 
a  El.  Salwey  near  Kidderminster,  for  which  old  forms  are  needed. 

Somerby  (Grantham  and  Oakham).  Gr.  S.  Dom.  Sumerlede, 
Sumerdebi,  Sumertebi.  '  Dwelling  of  Somarled  '  or  '  Sumarli'6i.' 
The  most  famous  of  this  name  was  regulus  of  Argyll,  d.  1166, 
ancestor  of  the  Lords  of  the  Isles.    See  -by. 

Somerford  (Staffs),  Somerford  Keynes  (Swindon),  and  Gt. 
SoMERFORD  (Chippenham).  Sta.  S.  a.  1300  Somerford.  '  Ford 
usable  only  in  summer.'  There  are  37  Sumor-  or  Sumrefords 
in  Dom. 

Somerset.  878  O.E.  Chron.  Sumor  sset,  1204  chart.  Sumerset, 
1443  Somerset.  '  Seat,  dwelling  of  the  family  Sumor,'  seen 
also  in  Somerton  in  this  shire. 

SoNNiNG  (Reading).  B.C.S.  i.  56  Surminges,  Dom.  Soninges, 
c.  1280  Sunninge,  1316  Sonnynge.  '  Place  of  the  descendants  of 
Sunna.'  Sunna,  Sunno,  and  Suno  are  all  in  Onom.  Normans 
wrote  on  for  O.E.  un.  Skeat  is  doubtful  of  connexion  with 
sun-worship.     Cf.  Sundon  and  Sunninghill. 

Sotwell  (Walhngford).  Dom.  Sotwelle,  c.  1280  Sottewell.  '  Well 
of  Sola  ' — i.e.,  the  foolish  man,  the  '  sot.'  Sola,  Soto,  and  Sotus 
are  all  in  Onom.  The  sb.  sot  is  in  Eng.  c.  1000,  but  is  fr.  O.Fr. 
sot,  of  unknown  origin. 

SouLBXJRY  (Leighton  Bzd.)  and  Sotjlby  (Kirkby  Stephen).  Prob. 
'  burgh '  and  '  dwelling  of  Sola,'  2  in  Onom.  See  -bury  and 
-by,  and  cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Solintone.  But  Souley  End  (Bed- 
worth),  Dom.  Soulege,  is  '  meadow  on  the  R.  Sow.'    See  -ley. 

SouRBY  (N.  Lanes).    Dom.  Sorbi=SowEBBY. 

Sotjthacres  (Ripley,  Yorks).  Dom.  Sotesac',  Sosacre.  'Acre, 
field  of  Sotu,'  a  man  in  Onom. 


SOUTHALL  461  SPAESHOLT 

South  A  TJ.  (Middlesex).  Modern,  after  Noethall,  which  is 
ancient. 

SoTJTHAM  (Warwksh.).  980  chart.  Sutham,  1043  ib.  Southam, 
Suoham,  Dom.  Sucham.     '  South  house  '  or  '  home.' 

SouTHABiPTON.  O.E.  Chrou.  837  Hamtun,  c.  1100  Flor.  Wore. 
Suthamtone,  -enses,  a.  1145  Orderic  Suthamptona,  c.  1175 
Fantosme  Suhantune.  '  South  Hampton  '  or  '  home-town '  or 
'  home-stead.'    Cf.  Northampton. 

South  Leigh  (Axminster).  c.  1305  St.  Kinelm  Soup  le3.  '  South 
meadow.'    Cf.  Leigh  and  -ley. 

Southminster  (Essex),  a.  716  chart.  Sut5mynster — i.e.,  'south 
church.'     See  -minster. 

SoxjTHROP  (Lechlade).  Cf.  a.  1100  chart.  Suthorpe,  in  the  Mid- 
lands.    '  South  thorpe/  q.v.,  also  found  in  the  form  throp. 

South  Shields.  '  South  huts  or  shielings.'  The  root  is  Icel. 
skjol,  O.N.  sJcali,  'a  shelter';  Icel.  skjold-r,  'a  shield/  Cf. 
Shieldhill  (Sc). 

SouTHWARK.  1023  O.E.  Chron.  SuSgeweorc,  Dom.  Sudwerche, 
1160-61  Pipe  Sutwerc,  Sagas  Sydvirke,  c.  1386  Chaucer  South- 
werk.  '  South  work '  or '  fort ' ;  same  root  as  in  bulwark  and  Wark^ 

Southwell  (Notts).    958  chart,  at  Suthwellan,  Dom.  Sudwelle. 

Sow  E..  (Staffs  and  Warwk.).  War.  S.  O.E.  chart.  Sowa,  Sow, 
Dom.  Sowa,  Sou.  St.  S.  a.  1200  So  we.  Origin  unknown;  not 
O.E.  sv{iu,  c.  1150  suwa, '  a  sow.' 

SowERBY  (2  in  Yorks)  and  Sowerby  Row  (Carlisle).  Yor.  S.  Dom. 
Sourebi,  Sorebi,  1179-80  Sourebi.  Car.  S.  1189  Sourebi. 
'  Dwelling  amid  the  mud  '  or  '  swamp  ' ;  N.  saur.  Cf.  Sourby, 
also  Sorbie  and  Soroba  (Sc.)  .    See  -by. 

SoWLEY  (now  a  lake  near  Lymington).  Prob.  '  South  meadow.' 
See  -ley. 

Spaldestg.  Dom.  SpalUnge,  a.  1100  chart.  Spalda,  1154  O.E.  Chron. 
Spaldelyng.  '  Place  of  the  descendants  of  Spalda  ';  a  patrony- 
mic. Cf.  next.  Spaldington  (E.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Spellinton, 
4  times,  so  that  a  var.  name  Spalla  or  Spella  must  have  existed. 

Spaldwiok  (Hunts).  Cf.  Dom.,  Spaldes  forde,  now  Spalford, 
Notts.     '  Dwelling/  O.E.  wic,  *  of  Spalda.'    See  above. 

Sparkford  (Bath),  1298  Sparkeforde.  Older  forms  needed. 
Prob.  '  ford  of  Spearhafoc '  or  '  Sperauoc,'  2  in  Onom.  Prob. 
not '  sparkling  ford/  fr.  O.E.  spoerca,  spearca, '  a  spark.'  Spark- 
hell  (Yardley)  is  fr.  a  family  of  Spark,  known  here  in  1275. 

Sparsholt  (Winchester).  963  chart.  Speresholt;  also  chart.  Speeres- 
holt,  Dom.  This  is  prob.  '  holt,  wood  of  Spere,'  a  man;  cf. 
Spernal,  (Alcester)  [Dom.  Spernore  ('  bank  of  Spera ') ;  but 
it  may  be  '  wood  for  spear  shafts,'  O.E.  spere, '  a  spear.' 


SPEEN  452  SPROWSTON 

Speen  (Newbury).  Supposed  to  be  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Spinis  (loca- 
tive), 821  Grant  Spene,  Dom.  Spone,  1316  Spene.  Usually  said 
to  be  L.  spinae,  '  thorns/  and  Newbury,  the  '  new  burgh/  as 
contrasted  with  the  old  Rom.  Spinae.  But  Skeat  says  the 
vowel  sounds  make  this  impossible,  because  O.E.  Spene  would 
not  be  pron.  Speen,  but  Spaine(r-) .  He  says  Spene  is  an  adj . 
fr.  O.E.  spon,  '  a  chip,  thin  plank,'  hence,  he  supposes,  '  a 
wooden  tile  for  roofing  ' ;  and  so  Speenham,  a  form  also  found, 
would  be  '  shingled  house.'  Skeat's  case  is  not  fully  demon- 
strated ;   but  cf.  SrNGLBTON. 

Speeton  (Bridlington).  Dom.  Specton,  Spetton,  Spreton.  '  Town 
of  ?'     Onom.  has  a  Spieta.    It  may  be  as  next. 

Speke  (Liverpool).  Prob.  called  after  Walter  L'Espec  (Nor.  Fr. 
for  'a  woodpecker'),  who  founded  Kirkham,  Rievaulx,  and 
Warden  Abbeys,  temp.  Hen.  I. 

Spelsbuby  (Charlbury).  Dom.  Spelesberie.  'Burgh  of  Spila,' 
one  in  Onom.    Cf.  Spilsby;  and  see  -bury. 

Spetchley  (Worcester).  816  chart.  Spsecleahtun,  967  ib.  and 
Dom.  Speclea,  1275  Spechesleye.  Duignan  thinks  '  vegetable 
garden  of  '  an  unrecorded  '  Spoec.'    See  Leighton,  or  leak  tun. 

Spilsby  (Lines.),  also  Spilsbuby  (Mamble).  1275  Spelebury,  1327 
Spellesbury.  '  Dwelling  '  and  '  town  of  Spila  '  or  *  Spille.'  See 
-by  and  -bury. 

Spinney  (Cambs).  Prob.  O.Fr.  espinaye,  L.  spinetum,  'place  of 
thorns,  a  small  wood,'  fr.  O.F.  espine,  L.  spina,  '  a  thorn.'  But 
Spennpthorne  (Leyburn)  is  Dom.  Spennigetorp,  which  must  be 
a  patronymic,  fr.  Spen,  or  Spens,  a  name  still  in  use. 

Spofforth  (Harrogate).  Dom.  Spoford.  ?  'ford  of  Spot,'  a 
recorded  name.     See  -forth. 

Spondon  (Derby).  Prob.  O.E.  'sp6n  dun,  '  hiU  like  a  spoon,'  which 
was  orig.  a  chip  of  wood,  O.N.  spdnn.  Cf.  Speen,  Dom.  Spone- 
lege  (Salop)  and  Spon  End  (Coventry).  There  is  no  name  like 
Spon  in  Onom.,  but  we  have  1231  Close  R.  Sponton,  (Suffk.) 
as  well  as  Spoonley  (Sudeley),  1320  Sponley. 

Spreyton  (Bow,  Devon).  Dom.  Spreitone.  'Town  of  Sprae,' 
shotr  form  of  Spraecalirvg ,  2  in  Onom..  It  also  has  Spcer,  Sperri, 
and  Sperus. 

Sproatley  (Hull),  Dom.  Sprotelei,  and  Sprotborough  (Doncaster), 
Dom.  Sproteburg.  'Meadow'  and  'Burgh,  castle  of  Sprot{t),' 
3  in  Onom.    See  -burgh  and  -ley. 

Sprowston  (Norwich).  '  Town,  village  of  Sprow,'  3  in  Onom. 
Cf.  Dom.  Sprostune  (Cheshire),  and  Sprouston  (Sc),  Dom. 
Yorks  Sprostune  is  now  Sproxton  ;  and  there  is  another  Sprox- 
tbn  near  Melton  Mowbray. 


SPUESTOW  453  STAINTON 

Spurstow  (Tarporley).  Dom.  Spurstone.  Prob.  'stone'  or  else 
*  stow '  (O.E.  for  '  place  ')  '  of  Spor  or  Sporri,'  one  in  Oriom. 
Perh.  fr.  O.E.  spura,  spora,  Icel.  spori,  '  a  spur.' 

Stackpole  (Pembroke).  1594  Stacpoll,  -pole,  1603  Stackpoole. 
Hybrid.  O.N.  stak,  '  a  cliff,  an  isolated  rock/  common  in  N. 
of  Scotland,  and  W.  pwl,  '  a  pool,  a  small  inlet  of  the  sea.'  But 
Stackhouse  (Yorks),  Dom.  Stacuse,  is  prob.  '  house  like  a 
stack  ■" ;  O.N.  stakk-r,  Sw.  stack,  and  Dan.  stak.  The  -house  here 
will  be  O.N.  too — hus.  Stakesby  (Whitby),  Dom.  Staxebi,  and 
Stakes  Hill  (Cosham),  seem  to  imply  an  otherwise  unknown 
man,  Stoecc. 

St  ADDLE  Bridge  (Northallerton).  Cf.  838  chart.  '  Estre  Stadel- 
ham '  (Limming,  Kent).  Stadel  seems  to  be  the  name  of  a 
man  not  in  Onom. 

Stadment  (Hereford).  M'Clure  derives  -ment  fr.  O.Corn.  menedh, 
also  menit,  menyth,  '  a  hill.'  Cf.  Longmynd.  Stad-  is  uncer- 
tain; it  may  be  for  O.E.  street,  L.  stratum,  'a  (Roman)  road.' 
Cf.  Stradfeld  for  Straffield,  in  Dom.  The  liquid  r  could 
easily  drop  out.  As  likely  it  is  W.  ystad,  *  a  furlong,  a 
stadium.' 

Stafford.  1016  O.E.  Chron.  Stsefford,  1071  Staffordescir,  Dom. 
Stat-,  Stadf ord.  '  Ford  which  needs  a  staff ' ;  O.E.  stcef. 
M'Clure  thinks  it  here  means  '  a  guiding  rail.'  This  town  is 
mentioned  earlier  on  coins,  as  early  as  Edgar  (958-75) — Stseth, 
which  is  O.E.  for  '  bank,  shore,  waterside '  {cf.  Statham)  ;  so 
Stseth  or  Stathe  may  have  been  the  orig.  name,  and  -ford  a 
later  additon, 

Stalndrop  (Darlington)  and  Stainforth  (Doncaster).  Dom. 
Stainforde.  '  Stone-built  village '  and  '  stoney  ford.'  O.N. 
steinn,  '  stone,  rock.'     See  -thorpe  and  -forth. 

Stadster  Ker  (Selby) .  /Sic  1259.  St.  may  be,  as  it  still  is,  a  man's 
name.  It  may  be  O.E.  stan  (or  rather  O.N.  steinn)  ofer,  '  stone, 
bank,  rocky  bank.'  Cf.  Stadstburn  (Yorks),  Dom.  Stain-, 
Stanburne,  and  Staestland  (Halifax),  Dom.  Stanland.  Ker  is 
var.  of  Carr, '  a  rock.'    See  Redcar. 

St  ACNE,  Stane  (Cambs),  and  Staines  (R.  Thames).  Cam.  S.  Dom. 
Stanes.  Tham.  S.  969  Stan^,  993  O.E.  Chron.  Stane.,  Dom.  and 
1228  Stanes.  O.E.  stdn,  '  a  stone,  a  rock.'  Skeat  points  out 
that  the  mod.  spelling,  Staines,  not  Stones,  shows  Scandinav. 
influence.  Cf.  Icel.  steinn,  '  a  stone.'  Cf.  too  Dom.  Stanes 
(Wore),  now  Stone. 

Stainton  (5  in  P.O.).  Rotherham  S.  Dom.  Stantone,  1179-80 
Steinton.  'Stone-built  village';  Icel.  steinn,  Dan.  and  Sw. 
sten,  O.E.  stan,  '  stone,  rock.'  Cf.  Stainland  (Halifax),  Dom. 
Stanland,  and  Stenton  (Sc),  and  above. 


STAITHES  4^4  STANTON 

Staithes  (Yorks).  Not  in  Dom.  O.E.  StcB^,  'shore,  river-bank/ 
with  the  common  pi.  -es.  Cf.  Staitord,  and  Stath  (Glouc), 
1304  Staith. 

Staleybeidge.  'Bridge  at  the  stall';  O.E.  sIcbI,  steall,  'place, 
stall,  stable.' 

Stalisfield  Green  (Faversham).  Local  pron.  Starchfel,  an 
example  of  the  common  change  of  liquid  I  into  r.  In  Dom.  it 
seems  to  be  Stanefelle,  an  instructive  instance  how  all  the 
liquids,  here  I,  n,  and  r,  can  interchange.  Thus  the  name  orig. 
is  *  stoney  field.' 

Stalmine  (Preston).  Sic  Dom.  and  1212.  Hybrid.  O.E.  steall, 
'  place,'  and  O.N.  minni,  '  meeting  of  two  roads '  or  '  rivers.' 
Cf.  ArRJvnnsr. 

Stamford.  Bede,  Dom.,  and  Pipe  Stanford,  922  O.E.  Chron. 
Steanford,  Steamfordd.  O.E.  for  '  ford  with  the  stones  ';  O.E. 
stdn.  Interchange  of  m  and  n  is  common.  Prob.  stone  and 
stem  are  the  same  in  root.  Cf.  Stanford  (Berks  and  Notts), 
Dom.  Stanford.    There  are  7  Stanfords  in  P.O. 

Stamfordham  (Newcastle-on-T.).  1201  Stanfordeham.  See  above 
and  -ham. 

Standish  (Glouc.  and  Wigan).  Gl.  S.  872  chart,  and  Dom.  Stanedis 
(also  Stanhus — i.e.,  'Stone  house';  cf.  Stenhousemthr,  Sc). 
Wi.  S.  1177-78  Stanesdis,  1180-1206  Stanedis,  1211-13  Stanedich, 
1332  Standissh.  O.E.  stdn  edisc,  '  enclosure,  park,  enclosm-e 
with  the  stone  wall.'  The  -isc  has  become  -ish  just  as  in  dish, 
O.E.  disc.  Skeat  derives  this  and  Farndish  (Beds),  Dom.  Fernadis, 
fr.  O.E.  disc,  '  dish,  cup,  hoUow,  concave  place  in  a  field ';  but 
for  these  latter  meanings  Oxf.  Diet,  gives  nothing  a.  1810.  Cf. 
Cavendish. 

Standon  (Eccleshall).  Dom.  Stantone  =  Stanton  ;  whilst  Stand- 
hill  (Oxon)  is  a.  1300  Standelf,  '  stone-delf ' — i.e.,  quarry. 
See  ddf  sb^,  fr.  vb.  delve, '  to  dig.' 

Stanhoe  (King's  Lynn).  14 .  .  .  Liber  Sharbur,  Edwinus  .  .  . 
vocavit  Mam  Stanhoghiam,  quae  postea  vocabatur  Stanhowe. 
'  Rocky  point  of  land.'  See  Hoe.  ?  What  Edwin  is  referred  to. 
Cf.  1179-80  Pipe  Stangaho  (Yorks). 

Stanley  (5  in  P.O.).  c.  938  chart.  Stanlea3e,  ?  which;  940  chart. 
Stanleyghe  (Wilts);  Dom.  Yorks  Stanlei,  12  times;  1156  Pipe 
Stanlega  (Warwick) ;  1369  Mem.  Ripon  Staynlay  (Wakefield). 
O.E.  Stan  lea^e,  locative,  nom.  leah,  '  stony  meadow.'     See  -ley. 

STAintf ER  (Sussex) .  Dom.  Stan  mere— i.e.,  '  stony  lake.'  Cf.  the 
name  Granmer — i.e.,  '  crane  lake.' 

Stanstpd  (Wrotham,  Kent).  810  chart.  Stanham  stede — i.e., 
'  stone  house  place.' 

Stanton  (20  in  P.O.).  Dom.  Stantun(e)  (Yorks,  Salop,  Notts,  and 
Staffs) .     '  Stone-built  town  '  or  '  village  ' ;  O.E.  stdn,  '  stone.' 


STANWAY  456  STAVERTON 

Stan  WAY  (Colchester,  Toddington,  and  Winchcombe).  Cf.  Dom. 
Staneweie  (Salop),  and  1189  Pipe  Stanwega  (Cumbld.).  '  Way, 
road  paved  with  stone ';  O.E.  stdn.  Dom.  Yorks  Stenweghe(8), 
Steinuege,  is  now  Stanwick.  Stein-  is  clearly  fr.  O.N.  steinn, 
not  O.E.  Stawell  (Leach  and  Bridgwater)  is  Dom.  Glouc. 
Stanewell. 

Stanwell  (Middlesex).  Dom.  Stanwelle.  'Stone  well' — i.e., 
prob.  '  well  surrounded  by  a  stone  wall.'    Cf.  Stone  well. 

Stapenhtll  (Burton-on-T.  and  Stourbridge).  Bu,  S.  Dom.  Stapen- 
hille.    St.  B.  1342  Stapenhull.    '  Hill  of  Steapa,  -an/  one  in  Onom. 

Stapleford  (7  in  P.O.)  and  Stapleton  (4  in  P.O.).  Romford  S. 
Dom.  Staplefort.  Cam.  S.  B.C. 8.  iii.  687  Stapelford,  Dom.  Staple- 
ford  (also  Notts).  ?  c.  1150  Grant  Stapelfordia,  Notts.  1179-80 
Pipe  Stapleton  (Yorks).  O.E.  stapul,  stapol,  'a  stake,  an  up- 
right post,  a  pillar ' ;  then  '  a  market.'  Staplow,  -loe  (Cambs), 
is  Dom.  Staplehou,  1428  Stapulho ;  O.E.  hoh,  '  heel,  projection.' 
See  Hoe.  Curiously,  Stapleton  (Yorks)  is  in  Dom.  both  Staple- 
tone  and  Staplendun,  '  hill  of  the  staple ' ;  while  Stapleton  (N. 
Lanes)  is  in  Dom.  Stopeltierne, '  market  of  the  lord,'  G.  tigheama. 
Cf.  Thrimby. 

Staebeok  (Harrogate).  Old  Osbern-stahbec.  'Rushy  brook'; 
Sw.  Starr,  a  '  rush  ';  Icel.  hehk-r,  '  a  brook.'    Cf.  Stab  (Sc). 

Starbottom  (Skipton).  Dom.  Stamphotne  (plainly  an  error). 
Prob.  '  rushy  bottom  '  or  '  valley  ';  O.E.  hotm.  See  above;  and 
cf.  Ramsbottom. 

Start  Point  (S.  Devon).  O.E.  steort,  '  a  tail,  a  promontory.'  Cf. 
Land's  End.  For  Starteorth,  a  corrupt  form,  see  Stbad- 
broke.  Steort  reappears  in  many  names — Stert  (Devizes, 
Glouc,  and  Somerton),  Stert  I.  and  Point  (Bridgwater,  perh. 
1184 Pipe  Sterte),  Stirtloe  (see  -low)  (Hunts),  etc. ;  also  Stardens 
(Newent),  1301  Styrtesden,    For  Star.ton  see  Staverton. 

Statham  (Warrington),  not  in  W.  and  H.,  and  Stathern  (Melton 
Mow.).  Prob.  both  fr.  O.E.  stceth,  'bank,  waterside,  shore.' 
O.E.  erne  is  '  house.'    Cf.  Staithes. 

Staunton  (5  in  P.O.).  1297  Scotch  Roll  (Chancery)  Steynton,  1302 
Staunton  (Notts).  O.E.  stan  tun,  '  stone-built  village.'  Cf. 
Stanton  and  Stenton  (Sc.) . ;  but  the  u  here  shows  Nor.  influence. 

Stavelby  (Knaresboro',  Kendal,  and  Chesterfield).  Kn.  S.  is 
prob.  Dom.  Stanleia  {n  for  u),  p.  65a.  Dom.  has  nothing  else 
for  the  first  two,  and  for  Ch.  S.  Stavehe.  The  Stave-  is  doubt- 
ful; prob.  it  is,  hke  Stafford,  which  was  orig.  not  fr.  staff,  but 
fr.  O.E.  stceth,  '  bank,  shore,  waterside,'  mod.  dial,  staithe,  '  a 
river  landing-place';  th  has  also  become  v  in  Stevenage. 
See  -ley. 

Staverton  (Daventry,  Cheltenham,  Totnes).  Da.  S.  1156  Stauer- 
tun.    Ch.  S.   Dom.  Starventon,  1230  Stauerton.    Cf.  Starton 


STAXTON  466  STEVENTON 

(Coventry),  1163  Stauerton,  and  Dom.  Staurecote  (Salop). 
These  all  may  be  '  town  of  Stanhart,'  var.  of  Stanheard  or 
Stanhere.  But  at  any  rate  To.  S.  is  a.  1100  chart.  Stofordtune, 
Dom.  S(t)overton,  which  looks  like  '  Statfoed  town/ 

Staxton  (York).  '  Dom.  Stacstone,  Stactone.  No  man  Stac  in 
Onom.,  so  this  is  perh.  a  tautology;  O.N.  stak,  '  a  cliff,  isolated 
rock,'  and  O.E.  stdn,  '  stone,  rock.'  But  see  Stakesby  s.v. 
Stackpole,  and  -ton. 

Stechtord  (Birmingham).  1242  Stichesford,  a.  1300  Stichford, 
Stycchefford.  Stetch  is  dial,  for  '  a  ridge  between  two  furrows 
in  ploughed  land  ' ;  perh.  cognate  with  stake  and  stick.  But  this 
also  may  be  fr.  Stifec.  Cf.  Stetchworth,  Stivichall  (Coventry), 
and  Stewkley. 

Steeple  (Southminster) .  Cf.  Dom.  '  Steple '  (Cheshire).  O.E. 
stepel,  '  a  church  steeple,'  same  root  as  steep.  There  are  six 
places  in  P.G.  like  Steeple  Ashton,  Steeple  Claydon,  etc.  We 
already  have  '  Stepelknoel '  in  1228  Close  B. 

Steeton  (Keighley).  Dom.  Stivetrme,  1298  Stiveton.  '  Town  of 
Styfa.' 

Stepney  (London  and  Hull).  Lon.  S.  old  Stebenhythe,  Stiben- 
hede,  Stebunhethe,  1503  Stepney.  On  the  analogy  of  Steven- 
age, which  has  much  earher  attestation  (there  is  no  trace,  it 
seems,  of  Stepney  till  1299),  almost  certainly  O.E.  cet  stithan 
hydde,  '  at  the  stout,  strong  landing-stage,'  or  Hythe.  But  the 
name  has  certainly  been  influenced  by  thoughts  of  Stephen,  a 
name  which,  however,  O.E.  Chron.  always  spells  Stephne,  and 
no  spellings  with  b  seem  to  occur.  The  form  Stepney  (see  -ey) 
is  quite  late ;  so  presumably  is  the  name  at  Hull. 

Stetchworth  (Newmarket).  K.C.D.  iv.  245  SteuicheswortSe,  269 
Steuecheworde,  Dom.  Stiuicesuuorde,  Stuuicesworde,  1235 
Stivecheswrthe,  1383  Stewcheworthe.  '  Farm  of  Sty  fee '  or 
'  Stifec.'  Cf.  Stecheord  and  Stukeley.  But  Stitchbrook 
(Lichfield)  is  Dom.  Tichebroc  and  a.  1300  Sichelesbroc, 
Stichelesbroc,  '  brook  of  Sticcele.' 

Stevenage  (Herts).  K.C.D.  iv.  176  Stichensece,  Stithensece,  Dom. 
Stigenace,  1199  Stivenach,  a.  1199  Stiphenage,  c.  1250  Stitenache, 
Hundred  B.  Stepenacth,  1303  Stivenhach.  O.E.  cet  stithan 
hoBCce,  '  at  the  strong  hatch  '  or  '  gate  ' ;  influenced  by  the  name 
Stephen  or  Steven,  for  which  the  first  part  was  mistaken  by 
Nor.  scribes.    Cf.  Cocknage,  Staveley,  and  Stepney. 

Steventon  (Berks,  Whitchurch,  and  Beds,  where  also  spelt 
Stevtngton).  Dom.  Stivetune,  1291  Stiventon,  1316  Styving- 
ton,  c.  1540  Stevynton.  The  name  has  been  influenced  by 
Stephen,  but  orig.  it  must  have  been  Styfan  tun,  *  Stifa's  village.' 
Cf.  Steeton. 


STEWKLEY  467  STOCKWELL 

Stewkley  (Leighton  Buz.).  974  chart.  Stiveclei,  1040  ib.  Styve- 
clea;  later  Stiucle.  Prob.  not  '  Sty  fee's  meadow/  (c/.  Stetch- 
worth),  but  '  meadow  in  the  clearing  in  the  wood ';  O.E.  sty  fee 
is  said  to  mean  this.    Cf.  Stijkeley. 

Steyning  (Sussex).  Dom.  Staninges.  '  Place  of  the  descendants 
of  Stan '  or  '  Stein.'    Patronymic. 

Sticklepath  (Okehampton).  Dev,  dial,  stickle,  '  steep.''  Prob. 
same  root  as  in  stickleback  ;  O.E.  sticle,  '  a  prickle.''  We  get 
the  sb.  in  Harrison  Stickle,  a  hill  near  Windermere. 

Stillingeleet  (York) .  Dom.  Steilingfled,  Steflinflet,  also  Steflinge- 
feld  (error).  Stefiing  must  be  a  patronymic,  perh.  fr.  Stefan  or 
its  dimin.  See  -ing;  -fleet  is  'river' — see  Fleet.  We  get  the 
same  name  in  Stttt.tngtok  (Easingwold),  Dom.  Stivelinctun. 

Stilton  (Helmsley  and  Peterboro').  He.  S.  Dom.  Tilstun,  3  times. 
'  Tila's  town/  Pe.  S.  not  in  Dom.  It  seems  a  case  of  meta- 
thesis. 

Stinchcombe  (Dursley).  1150-60  Stintescombe,  1220-89  Stinctes- 
cumb.  Prob.  '  valley  of  Stinta  ' — i.e.,  '  the  stinted,  or  stunted 
one.'  Cf.  Dom.  Norfk.  Stinckai,  and  Stlnsford  (Dorset),  old 
Styntes-,  Stinchefford. 

Stirchley  (Birmingham  and  Shifnal).  B.C.S.  71  Stercan  lei.  Cf. 
Stbicklaot)  and  1155  Pipe  Sterchelai  (Wilts).  'Meadow  of 
Sterca  '  or  '  the  stirks.'     See  -ley. 

Stisted  (Braintree).  Dom.  Stiesteda.  This  must  be  the  same  as 
1231  Close  R.,  Stisted',  Tystede.  It  seems  to  be  'sty-stead'  or 
place;  O.E.  stige,  Ban.  sti,  'a  sty,  a  pen.'  But  Tisted  is 
'  Ticca' 8  stead.' 

Stockingford  (Nuneaton).  1155  Stoccingford,  a.  1300  Stockeford. 
Duignan  says  stocking  means  '  a  grubbing-up  of  woodland  or 
waste,  and  preparing  it  for  cultivation.'  Cf.  Stocking  (Hares- 
feld),  1205  Stockem  putte,  '  pit  at  the  tree-stocks  ' ;  an  O.E.  loc, 
stoccan. 

Stockport.  1488  Will  Stopforde,  a.  1600  Stoppord,  -ort,  and 
still  locally  pron.  Stoppert.  Prob.  not  fr.  O.E.  stoppian,  '  to 
stop,'  but  '  ford  of  Steapa ' ;  one  in  Onom.  The  orig.  ending 
might  be  -worth, '  farm,'  q.v.  The  form  Stock-  seems  quite  recent. 

Stockton-on-Tees.  1183  Stoktona,  1208  Stocton.  O.E.  stoc,  stocc, 
means  '  a  stock,  stem,  stick,  block.'  The  meaning  here  is '  fenced- 
in  village.'  Cf.  next.  There  are  7  Stocktons  in  P.G.  Stock- 
ton-on-the-Forest  (York)  is  Dom.  Stocthun,  while  St.  near 
Harewood  is  Stochetim,  and  Stockton-on-Teme  is  958  chart. 
Stoctune. 

.Stockwell  and  Stock-vtellflat,  or  S.  Green  (Lambeth).  1296 
Stokwelflatte.  Prob.  'well  with  the  stocks  or  stakes  aroimd 
it.'    Cf.  above  and  the  Stockwell  (Glasgow). 

30 


STODMARSH  458  STORT  R. 

Stodmarsh  (Canterbury).  Perh.  fr.  an  unknown  man  8tod.  Cf. 
Dom.  Essex  Stodfelt,  Norfk.  Stodeia  (see  -ey),  and  Salop  Stodes- 
done.    Most  of  these  may  be  fr.  stud.    See  Stoodleigh. 

Stoke  (many).  E.g.,  808  chart.  NorSstoc  (Somerset),  Dom.  Stoca, 
Stocha  (St.-on-Trent).  O.E.  stoc,  'place/  lit.  what  is  stuck  in 
or  down,  a  stake.  Dom.  has  31  cases  of  Stoche  {ch=k)  and 
32  of  Stoches. 

Stoke  Bruern  (Towcester).  1370  Stoke  Brewerne — i.e.,  'brew 
house."    Cf.  Whithorn  (Sc).    O.E.  hwit  erne. 

Stoke  Poges  (Bucks).  Sic  1612,  but  Dom.  Stoches.  Amica, 
heiress  of  this  Stoke,  married  Robt.  Pogis,  knight,  in  the 
12th  cny. 

Stokeslby  (Yorks).  Dom.  Stocheslage,  '  Meadow  of  the  Stoke  ' 
or  '  place.'    Cf.  Stokesby  (Gt.  Yarmouth) ;  and  see  -ley. 

Stone  (Kent  and  Kidderminster).  Kent  S.  993  O.E.  Chron.  Stane 
See  M'Clure,  p.  280.  Kidd.  S.  Dom.  and  1275  Stanes,  1327 
Stone.  See  Staine.  Stone  (Staffs)  is  a.  1300  both  Stane  and 
Stanes. 

Stoneham  (Winchester).  Bede  iv.  16,  'The  place  called  Ad 
Lapidem ' ;  O.E.  vers.  Mt  Stane.  See  -ham,  and  cf.  Stone- 
house  (Stroud),  1229  Stanhus,  and  Stoneleigh  (Coventry), 
Dom.  Stanlei. 

Stonehenge  (Salisbury).  Sic  1529,  but  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt. 
Stanenges,  c.  1145  Geoffrey  M on.  Stanheng,c.  1205  Layam.  Stan- 
henge,  1297  R.  Glouc.  Ston  heng,  and  -hyngel.  M'Clure  thinks 
of  O.E.  Stan  hanger  '  sloping  stones ';  hange=hangra  or  angra. 
Cf.  Clayhanger,  etc.  There  is  an  early  tradition  that  the 
circle  was  erected  at  the  instigation  of  MerUn  the  enchanter, 
in  memory  of  460  nobles  slain  by  Hengist  the  Saxon  in  472. 
But  the  W.  bard  Aneurin  says  it  existed  even  before  the  time 
of  Ambrosius,  the  opponent  of  Hengist. 

Stonewell  (Lancaster) .  1418  Stanewelle,  and  Stoneywell  (Lich- 
field), a.  1300  Stoniwelle,  a.  1400  -walle.     =  Stanwell. 

Stonnall  (Walsall),  a.  1200  Stanhale,  Stonhale.  See  -hall.  Cf. 
Stancil  (Yorks),  Dom.  Steineshale.    Prob.  '  stoney  corner.' 

Stoodleigh  (Tiverton)  and  Sttjdley  (Warwksh.  and  W.  Riding)., 
Wa.  S.  Dom.  Stodlei,  a.  1300  Stodelegh.  W.  Rid.  S.  Dom. 
StoUai  (5  times),  1202  Fines  Stodlee.  '  Meadow  of  the  breed- 
ing stud ' ;  O.E.  and  O.N.  stod.  Cf.  Stotfold,  but  also  Stod- 
MARSH.  See  -leigh.  Duignan  says  the  Stude,  Ch.  Lawford,  a. 
1300  de  la  stude,  is  a  var.  of  stead,  '  homestead  ' ;  but  prob.  it  is 
fr.  stod  too. 

Stopham  (Pulboro').  Sic  1238  Close  B.  Prob.  '  home  of  Steapa/ 
2  in  Onom. 

Stort  R.  (Essex) .    See  Bp's.  Stortford. 


STOTFOLD  459  STRATFOED 

Stotfold  (S.  Yorks  and  Baldock).  Yo.  S.  Dom.  Stod-,  Stotfald. 
Ba.  S.  1007  chart.  Stodfald.  O.E.  for  '  enclosure,  fold  for  the 
breeding  stud/  Cf.  Stoodleigh,  and  Stodfauld  burn  {sic  1542), 
near  Cullen  (Banffshire). 

Stottesdon  (Cleobury  Mortimer) .  Sic  1 160  Pipe.  '  Hill  of  8totta ' 
(not  in  Onom.)  or '  8tut'    Of.  B.G.S.  787  Stutes  hyl ;  and  see  -don. 

Stoulton  (Worcester).  840  chart.  Stoltun,  Dom.  Stotune,  1275 
Stoltone,  1332  Stotton.  O.E.  stol-tun,  '  stool  town/  a  unique 
name,  perh.  referring  to  some  seat  of  civil  or  ecclesiastical 
authority,  now  forgotten.  Stutton  (Ipswich)  may  be  fr.  Stut. 
Cf.  B.G.S.  787  Stutes  hyl. 

Stoub,  R.  (Kent,  Dorset,  Worcester,  Staffs).  Ke.  S.  a.  700  chart. 
Sturia,  839  Stura.  Wo.  S.  757-985  chart.  Sture.  St.  S.  781 
cJiart.  Sture,  and  so  Dom.  Skeat  inclines  to  associate  with  Eng. 
stir.  Perh.  cognate  with  Bret,  ster,  steir,  '  river.'  There  is  a 
tiny  R.  Stour  (Cambs),  on  which  is  Stub-  or  Stourbridge;  but 
it  must  be  an  invented  name,  for  we  have,  1199-1200  Steresbrig, 
1201-02  Steresbreg,  1418-19  Sterrebridge,  'bridge  of  Steer,'  a 
personal  name  fr.  O.E.  stior, '  steer,  ox.'  Cf.  Bull,  and  Stearsby 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Estiresbi,  Stirsbi.  Stourbridge  (Worcester)  is 
1333  Sturbrugg,  and  Stoubton  is  1227  Sturton. 

Stow  (7  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Bucks  Stov.  Lichfield  S.  1221  Stowe. 
O.E.  stow,  '  a  place,  village,  town.'  Gf.  Chepstow,  etc., 
Stowick  (Henbury)  is  1316  Stokewicke. 

Stbad broke  (Suffolk).  13  ...  in  Matt.  Westmr.  Strodbrocke. 
'  Brook  ';  O.E.  broc, '  on  the  (Roman)  road  or  street ';  O.E.  street. 
Gf.  next.  Dom.  Yorks  Stradford  has  now  become  Startforth. 
Stroat  (Tidenham)  is  956  chart.  Street. 

Straeeield  or  Stratfield  Mortimer  (Reading).  Dom.  Stradfeld ; 
later,  Stratf  eld.  '  Field  on  the  street  or  Roman  road ' ;  O.E.  street. 
Gf.  next,  Streatley,  and  1160-61  Pipe  Northants  Strafford. 

Stramshall  (Uttoxeter).  Dom.  Stagrigesholle  (a  bad  shot!),  a. 
1300  Strangricheshull,  -hall,  Strangeshull,  a.  1400  Strongeshull. 
The  first  part  is  '  Stranglic'B  '  or  '  Stronglic's  '  (both  in  Onom.) — 
i.e.,  '  the  stronghke's ' — while  the  second  varies  between  -hall, 
q.v.,  and  -hill,  midl.  hull. 

Strangeways  (Manchester).  1326  Strangwas.  Popular  etymol- 
ogy!  Orig.  O.E.  Strang  wdse,  'strong,  stiff  ooze'  or  'mud.' 
Gf.  Alrewas,  etc.  W.  and  H.  prefer  to  derive  fr.  O.E.  woesc, 
'  washing  up  '  of  water.  But  none  of  our  names  in  -was  ever 
show  a  trace  of  a  final  c. 

Stratford,  Stony,  on  Avon,  and  3  others.  Avon  S.  691  chart. 
aet  Stretfordse,  714  ih.  Straetforda.  O.E.  Ghron.  675  Stretford 
(Lines).  Dom.  Essex  and  Warwk.  Stradford.  They  all  mean 
'  ford  on  the  stratum '  or  '  Roman  road,'  O.E.  street.  Gf. 
Stkaffield.    There  is  a  Straford  in  Dom.  (Salop),  and  a  Straf- 


STRATHFIELDSAYE  460  STUBLACH 

ford  in  1160  Pipe  Northants;   whilst  Straf(f)ord.  or  StrafEorth 
is  name  of  a  wapentake  in  Dom.  Yorks. 

Stbathfieldsaye  and  Stratfield  or  Steaitield  Mobtimer 
(Reading).  Dom.  Stradfeld  in  Redinges'  hundred — i.e.,  'street- 
held,'  or  field  near  the  Roman  way.  The  -saye  is  the  s  of  the 
gen.,  and  -ay,  '  islet '  or  '  watery  spot.'    See  above. 

Steatton  (7  in  P.G.).  Dom.  Stratun  (Salop),  Strattone  (Bude), 
1156  Strattun  (Leicester).  'Town,  village  on  the  street'  or 
'  road/  Prob.  they  all  stood  on  Roman  roads.  See  above. 
P.O.  has  also  10  cases  of  Stretton,  and  there  are  4  in  Warwk. 
alone,  2  in  Dom.  as  Stratone,  and,  of  course,  all  the  same  name. 
S.-on-Fosse  and  S.-under-Fosse  refer  to  the  Rom.  Fossway  or 
road  fr.  Lincoln  to  Exeter;  L.  fossa,  '  a  ditch.'  It  is  caUed  in 
O.E.  chart.  Fos  and  Foss.  Stretton  (Burton-on-T.)  is  found 
so  spelt  as  early  as  a  charter  of  942 ;  also  cf.  Stubton. 

Steeatley  (Reading).  B.C.S.  i.  108  Strset-leah,  Stretlea.  Cf. 
c.  700  Kent  chart.  Stretleg.  '  Meadow  on  the  street  or  stratum.' 
See  Stratfokd,  and  cf.  Stretham  (Cambs),  c.  1080  Streatham, 
and  Strelley  (Notts),  Dom.  Straleia,  1166  Pipe  Stratlega,  and 
so  the  name  as  Streatley.  But  Steeetthoep  (S.  "Yorks)  is  Dom. 
Stirestorp,  'village  of  Stir';  ?  the  majordomo  of  Harthacnut. 
The  same  name  recurs  in  Stearsby  (Yorks),  Dom.  Stirsbi. 

Strensall  (N.  Riding).  Dom.  Strenshale.  Perh.  '  nook  of  Streon.' 
See  -hall.  But  Strensham  (Pershore)  is  972  chart.  Strengesho, 
'  hill '  (see  Hoe)  '  of  Streng  ' — i.e.,  '  the  strong.'  Strong  and 
Strang  (Sc.)  are  still  common  surnames.  By  1275  it  is  Strenge- 
sham. 

Strickland  (Westmorld.).  Dom.  Stercaland.  '  Stirk  land ';  O.E. 
styrc,  styric,  '  a  young  bullock  or  heifer.' 

Strood  (Rochester).  1160  Pipe  Stroda;  and  Strotjd  (Glouc),  1200 
La  Strode.  O.E.  strod{e),  a  common  charter  word  for  '  marshy 
lai\d.'  Cf.  Stretaston  (Monks  Kirby),  a.  1400  Strodaston, '  East 
town  in  the  marshy  land,'  and  Stroud  Green  (N.  London), 
which  has  no  old  history. 

Strumpshaw  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Stromessaga,  1452  Stromsaw,  1454 
Strumpeshawe.  Doubtful.  There  is  no  likely  name  in  Onom., 
yet  Strome-  prob.  represents  a  man.  The  ending  may  either 
be  shaw,  '  a  wood  '  q.v.,  or  '  haw,  '  a  hedge  ' ;  O.E.  haga. 

Stubham  (Ilkley).  Dom.  Stube  (-e  ?=-ey,  q.v.),  and  Stubhotjse 
(Harewood),  Dom.  Stubhuson  (a  loc).  O.N.  stubb-r,  stobbi,  O.E. 
styb,  '  a  stump,  a  stub.'  Here  ?  '  house  made  of  stumps,'  or 
'  beside  the  stump.'    See  -ham. 

Stublach  (Middlewich) .  Not  in  Dom.  But  there  were  orig.  two 
hamlets.  Stubs  (prob.  O.E.  styb,  '  a  stub  '  or  '  stob  '  or  '  stake,' 
Icel.  stubbi,  stobbi,  stubbr,  Dan.  stub, '  a  stump ')  and  Lache  {Dom, 
Leche — i.e.,  O.E.  leah,  lea^,  '  meadow'). 


STUDLET  461  SULHAM 

Sttjdley.    See  Stoodlbigh. 

Stfkeley,  Great  and  Little  (Hunts).  Chart.  Styvec  lea,  Stivec- 
lea,  Dom.  Stivecle.  '  Styfec's  meadow.'  Cf.  Stetchwobth. 
On  sty  fee  see  Stewkley.     See  -ley. 

Stuntney  (Ely),  c.  1080  Inquis.  Camb.  Stuntenei,  'Isle  of  the 
weak  or  foolish  man  ' ;  O.E.  stunta,  stunt.     See  -ey. 

Stubton  (2  in  Lines,  Retford,  and  Cambridge).  Re.  S.  Dom.  Estre- 
tone,  c.  1200  Strattone;  also  Stubton  Gbange  (Yorks),  Dom. 
Stretun,  =  Stratton.    Old  forms  needed  for  the  others. 

Stubby  (N.E.  Kent).    679  chart.  Sturia.    See  Stoub  and  -ey. 

Stutton  (Ipswich  and  Tadcaster).  Ta.  S.  Dom.  Stutone,  Stouetun. 
'  Town  of  Stut,  one  in  Onom.,  contracted  fr.  Stutheard  or  Stuthere. 
Cf.  B.C.S.  787  Stuteshyl,  and  1160-61  Pipe  Somst.  StutteviU. 

Suckley  (Worcester).  Dom.  Suchelei,  1275  Sukkeleye.  '  Meadow 
of  Succa '  or  '  Sucga.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  1234  Succan  pyt,  958  chart. 
Sicanbyrig,  on  R.  Stour  (Stafford),  and  Sugwobth.    See  -ley. 

SuDBBOOK  (Grantham,  Chepstow,  and  Glouc).  Like  next,  these 
may  all  be  'south  brook';  O.E.  su^S,  O.N.  swS-r,  Dan,  syd, 
'  south.'  But  cf.  Sotebroca,  Dom.  Devon,  '  brook  of  Sota/  2  in 
Onom. 

SuDBUBY  (Worcester  and  Suffolk).  Wo.  S.  963  chart.  Suthan  byrig. 
Su.  S.  O.E.  Chron.  798  Sudberi;  also  Suthberi;  a.  1200  Sudbiri, 
1471  Sudberrye.  '  South  burgh  '  or  '  fort.'  Cf.  Sudeley  (2  in 
Glouc.),  Dom.  Sudlege,  1250  Suthlege.     See  -bury. 

SuPFiELD  (N.  Riding,  Aylsham,  Cromer).  York  S.  Dom.  Sudfelt. 
'  South  field.'    See  next. 

SuppoLK.  Orig.  the  southern  part  of  East  Anglia.  1076  O.E.  Chron. 
SuSfolc,  c.  1175  Fantosme  Sufolke,  1478  Suffolk.  'The  South 
folk.'  Cf.  NoBEOLK.  EarHer — e.g.,  1010  O.E.  Chron. — ^it  was 
Eastengle  or  Engla,  now  East  Anglia. 

SuGNALL  (Eccleshall).  Dom.  Sotehelle  (error),  a.  1200  SogenhuU, 
a.  1300  Suggenhale,  -hille;  and  Stjgwobth  (Sunningwell,  Berks), 
Dom.  Sogorde.  Cf.  1293-94  'Suggeden'  (Salop).  'Farm  of 
Sucga.'  See  Suckley  and  -worth.  In  Sugnall  the  ending 
varies  between  -hall,  q.v.,  and  -hill,  midl.  hull,  as  often. 

SuLHAM  (Reading)  and  Sulhampstead  (Berks).  Skeat  says  not 
the  same  names.  Dom.  Soleham,  c.  1130  Chron.  Abingd.  Sule- 
ham,  also  Soulham,  which  is  prob.  '  home  of  Sula.'  Cf.  Sulan- 
broc,  -ford,  and  -graf,  all  in  O.E.  charters,  and  Dom.  Suletime 
(Salop),  and  ib.  Soleberie  (Bucks).  But  c.  1290  Sylhamsted, 
1402  Syllampstede,  1428  Silhamsted,  c.  1540  Sulhampsted 
Banaster  (now  Bannister,  fr.  a  Norman*),  and  S.  Abbatis,  now 

*  A  Robert  Banistre  was  Nor.  lord  of  Prestatyn,  Flint,  in  1164. 


SULLY  462  SURTEES 

S.  Abbots.  These  persistent  y  forms  must  represent  an  O.E. 
a,  and  not  u,  so  this  is  prob.  '  homestead  in  a  miry  place/  O.E. 
sylu.  Cf.  Sowlk-  or  Sookholme  (Notts),  1189  Pipe  Sulcholm, 
1230  Close  R.  Sulgholm,  '  miry  meadow,'  fr.  O.E.  sulig,  sulh, 
'  miry,  wet ' ;  and  see  -holm.  Soulby  (Cmnbld.)  is  '  dweUing 
of  Solva/    Cf.  Hampstead. 

Sully  (isle  off  Glamorgan),  a.  1300  Taxatio  Sulleye,  1610  Sylye. 
M'Clure's  suggested  connexion  with  Silures  seems  very  doubtful. 
More  likely  '  Isle  of  Sulf/  2  in  Onom.  See  -ey.  However,  it  lies 
at  the  mouth  of  the  rivulet  Sili,  which  T.  Morgan  says  may  mean 
'  hissing  water.'  It  may  contain  the  same  root  as  Scilly. 
Curiously  Stjlley  (Lydney)  is  1281  SoUewalle,  '  muddy  spring.' 
See  above. 

Stjnbtjby  (Hampton  Court),  a.  962  chart,  set  Sunnanbjnrg,  Dom. 
Suneberie;  also  Sunnabyri.  'Burgh,  castle  of  Sunna' — i..e, 
'  the  sun ' ;  O.E.  sunne  fern,,  Icel.  sunna.    Cf.  SmfDON. 

SuNDERLAim.  The  orig.  town  was  Wearmouth.  This  '  Sunder- 
land '  occurs  first  in  1183  Boldon  BJc.  as,  presumably,  land 
sundered  from  Bp's  and  Monk's  Wearmouth,  land  specially 
privileged,  fr.  O.E.  sundor,  '  apart,  special ' ;  sun-,  syndrian, 
'  to  separate.'  Cf.  Sundeiilajtdwick  (Drifl&eld),  Dom.  Sundre- 
lanwic  (see  -wick),  Dom.  C!hesh.  Sundreland,  and  perh.  Sinder- 
hope  (Allendale).  But  Sinderby  (Thirsk),  Dom.  Senerebi,  is 
perh.  '  dwelling  of  Bind-,  Sundbeorht/  an  old  Teutonic  name. 
See  -by  and  -hope.  There  was  also  a  '  Sunderland '  found  in 
Wstrsh.  charters.  On  it  now  stands  Sunday's  Hill  (Spetchley), 
a  curious  example  of  popular  etymology. 

SuNDON  (Dunstable).  K.C.D.  920  Sunnan  dun,  which  may  be 
'  hill  of  the  sun,'  but  quite  as  likely  '  fort  of  Sunna.'  See 
Stotbtiry. 

SmrarNGHiLL  and  -well  (Berks).  Old  Suninghull,  Sunningehulle 
(hull=hiU;  cf.  Solihtjll,  etc.).  B.C.S.  i.  506  Sunningauuille, 
ih.  iii.  108  Sunninga  wylle,  Dom.  Soningeuuel,  c.  1290  Sunninge- 
well.     '  Hill '  and  '  well  of  the  Sunnings.'    See  Sonnlng. 

SuBBiTON.    See  Noebiton. 

Suellngham  (Norwich).  Dom.  Sutherlinga-,  Suterlinge-ham. 
'  Home  of  the  dwellers  in  the  South  ' ;  a  patronymic.  See  -ing, 
Cf.  Easterling,  '  a  dweller  in  East  Germany,'  etc.,  and  Suther- 
land (Sc). 

Surrey.  Bede  iv.  6  In  regione  sudergeona;  O.E.  vers.  Suthrigra 
lande,  838  Suthreie,  1011  O.E.  Chron.  Suthrige,  c.  1175  Fantosme 
Surrei,  c.  1386  Chaucer  Surrye.  'Southern  kingdom';  O.E. 
ric,  Hge — i.e.,  south  of  the  Thames. 

SuRTEES  (Co.  Durham).  1211  Super  Teisam.  L.  super,  Fr.  sur, 
'  on  the  Tees.' 


SUSSEX  463  SWANLAND 

Sussex.  .  c.  800  Nennius  Sutsaxiiin  (inflected),  O.E.  Chron.  449 
Suf$  Sexa,  891  ib.  SuSseaxas,  c.  1330  E.  Brunne  Southsex. 
(Land  of)  'the  South  Saxons/  Cf.  Essex,  and  Wessex,  or 
'  the  West  Saxons/ 

Stjtterton  (Boston).  Sic  in  chart,  of  ?  810.  The  Onom.  has  only 
a  Sulfa,  so  this  will  be  '  town  of  the  soutar '  or  '  tailor ' ;  O.E. 
sutere,  O.N.  sutar. 

Sutton  (38  in  P.G.).  B.C.S.  ii.  224  Sut5tun,  Dom.  Sudtone;  later 
Suthtun,  Suttone  (Berks) ;  Dom.  Suttone  (Surrey  and  Cambs.) ; 
1160  Pipe  Sutton  (Kent).  'South  town.'  But  825  chart. 
Suthtune  has,  in  one  case,  in  Worcestersh.,  become  Sodington. 
Dom.  Yorks  has  Sudtun  or  -tunen  23  times,  and  Sutun  10  times. 

Sutton  Coldfield.  Dom.  Sutone,  a.  1200  Sutton  Colmesfeld, 
Colnes  field,  a.  1400  Sutton  in  Colfield.  '  South  town '  (see 
above)  '  in  Colm's  field.'  Colm  is  short  form  of  Columba  or 
Golum,  as  in  Inchcolm  (So.)  ;  and  the  liquids  m  and  n,  though 
not  so  commonly  as  I  and  r,  tend  to  disappear.  Cold-  is  a  late 
and  ill-informed  corruption. 

SwAiTHAM  (Cambridge)  and  Swatfham  Bulbeck.  K.C.D.  iv.  245 
Suafham,  Dom.  Suafam,  1210  Swafham.  '  Home  of  Swcef.'  Cf. 
SwAVESEY.  SwAEiELD  (Norfk.)  is  c.  1150  Suathefeld,  which 
may  be  for  '  Swcef s  field'  too.  Onom.  has  nothing  nearer. 
For  a  similar  change  cf.  Stevenage. 

Swainsthorp  (Norfolk).  1451  Sweynnysthorp,  1458  Sweynsthorp. 
'  Village  of  Swegen '  or  '  Sweyn,'  or  '  of  the  swain  or  herd  or 
swineherd.'  Of.  Swainby  (Yorks),  Dom.  Suanebi,  and  Swaeptset 
(N.  Lanes),  Dom.  Suenesat,  ?  '  seat  of  the  swain.'  Cf.  Somerset. 
See  -by  and  -thorpe. 

Swale  R.  (Yorks  and  Kent).  Yor.  S.  Bede  Sualua,  O.E.  vers. 
Swalwa,  1155  Pipe  Svaledale.  Kent  S.  is  a  salt-water  strait. 
M'Clure  thinks  connected  with  O.E.  swellan,  '  to  swell,'  and 
compares  the  numerous  Ger.  Schwal-bachs.     Cf.  Swalwell. 

Swalloweield  (Berks).  Dom.  Solafel,  c.  1290  Swalefeld;  later 
Swaleewefeld.     O.E.  swealwe,  swalwe,  '  a  swallow.' 

Swalwell  (Co.  Durham).  1183  Boldon  Bh.  Sualwels.  Perh. 
'  Sualo's  well,'  1  such  in  Onom.    As  likely  fr.  same  root  as  Swale. 

Swanage  (Bournemouth).  O.E.  Chron.  877  Swana-,  Swanewic, 
O.E.  for  '  swans'  dwelling.'  It  might  also  be  swana  wic, '  swine- 
herds' dwelling.'  For  the  phonetic  changes  involved  in  the 
change  of  -wic  into  -age  cf.  the  forms  of  Knowledge  v.  in 
Oxf.  Diet.  Cf.,  too.  Cranage,  'cranes'  dwelling'  (Congleton). 
Greenwich  to-day  is  pron.  Greenage.  But  Swanboro'  Tump 
(Pewsey,  Wilts)  is  a.  900  K.  Alfred's  Will  Swinbeorg,  '  swine's, 
mound  '  or  '  Barrow.'    Thus  Tump  is  but  a  tautology. 

SwANLAND  (Brough).     1298  Swanelond.    Cf.  above. 


SWANSEA  464  SWINNERTON 

SwAiTSEA.  1188  Sweynsei,  c.  1190  Gir.  Camb.  Itin.  Sweineshe 
quod  et  Kambrice  Abertawe  ('mouth  of  E,.  Tawe ')  vocatur; 
1210  Sueinesheia,  1234  Sweinesheie,  1298  Sweynese.  *  Isle  of 
K.  Swegen '  or  '  Sweyn,'  d.  1014,  who  thrice  invaded  England 
from  Denmark.  Cf.  Swainsthorp,  and  Swancote  (Wore),  1275 
Swanecote,  '  cot  of  the  swain  '  or  '  swineherd/     See  -ea, 

SwABDESTON  (Norwich).  'Town  of  Swearta/  3  in  Onom.,  or  'of 
Swe,OTda.'    Cf.  B.C. 8.  ii.  174  Sweordestan  (Glouc). 

SwAELTNG  (Kent).  805  cMrt.  Sueordhlincas.  'Links  for  sword- 
play  ';  O.E.  sweord.  Cf.  Swerford,  and  941  chart.  Suuyrdling 
(Twickenham) . 

SwARTH  (Ulverston).  Dom.  Warte;  but  the  other  Dom.  Yorks 
Warte  is  Warter  Himdred.  ?  fr.  O.E.  sweart,  '  swart,  swarthy, 
black,  dark  '  (place),  or  sweard,  O.N.  svord-r,  '  sward,  turf.' 

SwAVESEY  (Cambridge).  Dom.  Svavesye,  1266  Suauiseye,  1346 
Swafsey.  '  Isle  of  Swcef/  lit.  one  of  the  tribe  Suevi,  now  the 
Swabians.  Cf.  Swaetham  and  Swaythorp  (E.  Riding),  Dom. 
Suauetorp.    See  -ey. 

SwERFORD  (Oxford).  Perh.  a.  800  cJiart.  Sweord  ora,  O.E.  for 
'  sword  bank ' — i.e.,  level  bank  fit  for  fighting  with  swords. 

Cf.  SWARDLINQ. 

SwETTENHAM  (Congletou).  '  Home  of  Sweta,'  gen.  -an,  or  'of 
Swet.'  Sweting  is  also  in  Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  ISTorfk.  Suatinga, 
patronymic,  and  Swetton  (W.  E-iding),  Dom.  Suatune. 

SwiNBROOK  (Burford,  Oxon).  'Swine's  brook';  O.E.  swin,  O.N. 
svin.  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Svene-,  Sueneborne,  or  '  Swinburne ' ; 
see  -bourne.  Swindon — ^there  are  3,  Dom.  Wilts  and  Glouc. 
Suindone — ^is,  of  course,  '  Swine's  hill.'  Swilland  (Ipswich)  is 
c.  1330  chart.  Swinnlonde. 

SwESTE  (Hull).  Dom.  Swine,  Suine.  'Swine  island,'  with  -e  =  -ey. 
O.E.  swin,  '  swine.' 

Swineshead  (Boston,  Hunts,  Eccleshall,  and  Spetchley).  Bos. 
S.  786-96  chart.  Suinesheabde,  a.  1100  ib.  Swyneseheved.  Ecc. 
S.  Dom.  Sueneshed.  Sp.  S.  989  chart.  Swinesheafod,  a.  1300 
Swynesheved.  Prob.  'height  of  the  swine';  O.E.  sunn;  but 
possibly  fr.  a  man  Sigeioine,  which  would  contract  into  Smne  ; 
so  Duignan. 

SwiNPORD  (Rugby).  Cf.  808  chart.  Swinford  (Somerset),  and 
958  chart.  Swinforda  (on  R.  Stour,  Staffd.).     '  Swine's  ford.' 

SwiNNERTON  (Staffs).  Dom.  Siilvertone,  1205  Silverton,  1206 
Soulverton,  1298  Swynnreton,  a.  1300  Swinaferton,  Swyne- 
farton,  a.  1500  Swynerton.  A  name  which  has  changed;  orig. 
'  Silver  town  ';  O.E.  seolfor,  siolfor,  2-7  siluer,  3-4  suluer  ;  ?  why 
so  called.  Cf.  Silverton.  But  its  present  form  is  fr.  some 
unrecorded  man  with  a  name  like  Swinafer,  or  ?  fr.  swine  ford- 


SWINTON  465  TALKE 

SwiNTON  (3  in  Yorks,  and  Manchester).  Dom.  Yorks,  Suintml 
5  times.  1179-80  Pipe  Suineton  (Yorks).  Prob.  'town  of 
Swegen  (also  Suen,  Svein),'  a  very  common  name  in  Onom. 
There  is  also  Swinden  (Craven),  Dom.  Suindene,  prob.  fr.  O.E. 
swin,  '  swine.'    See  -den. 

Sydenham  (S.  London  and  Wallingford)  and  S.  Damaeel  (Tavis- 
tock). B.C. 8.  759"Sidanham.  O.E.  for  '  home  of  Sida.'  The 
London  S.  is  1675  Evelyn  Sydnam.  The  Tav.  S.  at  first  be- 
longed to  the  Damarels. 

Symond's  Yat  (Hereford).  '  Opening,  pass,  gate '  (O.E.  geat)  '  of 
Simund '  or  '  Sigemund.'  Cf.  Yatton  (Bristol),  and  Yethoim 
(Sc). 

Syeescote  (Tam worth).  1100  Siricescotan,  a.  1200  Sirichescote, 
Sirescote,  but  Dom.  Fricescote  {F  error  for  S).  Form  1100  is 
O.E.  for  •  cots,  cottages  of  Sigeric  '  or  '  Siric/ — i.e.,  '  the  vic- 
torious.' Syebston  (Notts),  Dom-  Sirestune,  and  Syresham 
(Brackley),  Dom.  Sigres-,  Sigreham,  are  fr.  the  same  name. 
Cf.  Dom.  Salop  Sireton,  and  Syreford  (Glouc). 

Tachebrook,  Bishop's,  and  T.  Mallory  (Warwick).  K.C.D.  751 
Taecelesbroc,  Dom.  Taschebroc,  Tacesbroc,  a.  1200  Tachelesbroc, 
•  Brook  of  ToBcel.'  Cf.  Tackley  (Oxford),  Dom.  Tachelie.  The 
Mallorys  were  old  lords  of  the  manor  here.  Sir  Thos.  Malory  of 
the  Morte  d' Arthur  prob,  belonged  to  this  shire. 

Tadcaster.  1066  O.E.  Chron.  TatSa,  Dom.  Tatecastre.  Prob. 
'  Camp  of  Tada.'  Cf.  B.C. 8.  1152  Tadan  leah— i.e.,  Tadley 
(Basingstoke),  and  Tod  wick;  also  Tadlow  (Cambs),  Dom. 
Tadelai,  and  Dom.  Surrey,  Tadforde.     See  -caster. 

Taparn  Spite  or  Tavernspite  (Whitland,  Caermthnsh.) ;  also 
Taearnaubach  (Tredegar).  Tafarn  is  just  the  W.  form  of  L. 
taherna,  Eng.  tavern.  Spite  is  a  corrup.  of  L.  hospitium  '  hos- 
pice,' the  '  hospital.'  Cf.  Llanspyddyd  (Brecon)  and  Yspytty 
Ystwyth.  Tafamau  is  the  plur.,  and  bach  means  '  a  hook,' 
prob.  for  attaching  horses;  but  the  meaning  of  the  name  is  not 
very  clear. 

Tajff  R.  (S.  Wales),    c.  1540  Leland  Thave.    Its  oldest  recorded 

■   form  is  found  c.  1130  in  Landavia — i.e.,  Llandapf;  it  is  very 

doubtful  if  also  in  the  early  forms  of  Cardut.    Prob.  Keltic, 

aspirated  form  of  Tam  or  Tame  (see  Tamworth),  meaning 

'  quiet '  or  perh.  '  wide  '  river. 

Talke  (Stoke-on-T.).  Dom.  Talc,  a.  1300  Talk;  now  called  more 
fully '  Talk  o'  the  Hill.'  As  talc, '  mica,'  is  quite  late  in  Eng,,  this 
last  may  be  a  tautology,  like  Barrhill  (Sc),  fr.  W.  twhh,  '  a 
height,  a  hill,'  the  G,  tulach,  which  gives  us  many  Sc.  names  in 
Tilly-  and  Tulhe-,  Cf.  Talkin  (Brampton),  which  may  be  a 
dimin.,  and  also  Talog,  which  may  be  the  origin  here. 


TALOG  466  TANTON 

Talog  (Caermarthen) .  W.  talawg,  *  high-fronted '  or  '  high  house/ 
not  a  thatched  cottage. 

Talsabn  (Lampeter).  Prob.  '  the  end  of  the  road/  W.  tal,  '  fore- 
head, front/  and  sarn,  '  road.'  It  is  at  the  end  of  Sam  Helen, 
an  old  Roman  road. 

Tamab  R.  (S.  Devon),  c.  150  Ptolemy  Tafiapos,  c.  988  chart.  Tamur, 
997  O.E.  Chron.  Tamer.  Prob.  same  Kelt,  root  as  Taff  and 
Tam.     See  below.     The  -ar  will  be  terminational. 

Tameeton  Foliot  (Crown  Hill,  Devon).  ?  Dom.  Tanbretone. 
'  Town  on  R.  Tamae.'  Gilbert  Foliot,  Bp.  of  Hereford,  1149-63, 
was  a  native  of  this  place.  In  Exon.  Dom.  we  also  find  a 
'  Tamerlande.' 

Tamworth.  840  chart.  TomeworSig,  later  chart.  Tamanwor^ig, 
913  O.E.  Chron.  TamaweortSige,  918  ib.  Tamanweort5e,  943  ib. 
Tamwurth,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Tameweorde.  'Farm  on  R. 
Tame,'  which  is  Kelt,  for  *  qniet,  calm,'  mod.  W.  tato  (w  =  as- 
pirated m),  G.  tdmhach,  same  root,  and  Thames.  M'Clure 
derives  fr.  a  man  Toma  or  Tuma  ;  but  Eng.  rivers  are  not  called 
in  this  way  after  a  man ;  and  there  is  no  Toma  or  Tama  in  Onom., 
only  one  Tomus  and  Tuma,  while  the  place  is  never  found  with 
a  u.-  Connection  with  O.E.  tarn,  torn, '  tame,'  is  quite  conceivable. 
Tamhorn,  near  by,  is  Dom.  Tamahore,  a.  1200  Tamenhorn, 
'  horn,  hornlike  bend  of  the  Tame.'    See  -worth  and  -worthy. 

TA2TEIELD  (Ripon).  Doubtfully  thought  to  be  K.  Alfred's  Dona- 
felda.  Dom.  Tanefeld.  It  may  be  '  field  of  Teona/  Cf.B.C.S. 
801  Teonan  hyl ;  eo  regularly  becomes  a.  Certainly  nothing  to 
do  with  tanning. 

Tai^kebville  (once  in  Warwick).  1120  Tanc'  villa,  1157  Tanchar- 
uille,  c.  1175  Tankarvile.  Really  a  Norm,  name,  '  town,'  Fr. 
ville,  '  of  Tancred,  Tancrad,  or  Thancred,'  a  name  common 
enough  in  O.E.  There  is  now  no  Tanker  ville  in  England,  but 
there  is  a  Tankersley  (Barnsley),  Dom.  Tancresleia. 

Tanshelf  (Pontefract).  Sic  in  1257  chart.,  but  947  O.E.  Chron. 
Taddenes  scylfe — i.e.,  '  Tadden's  shelf  '  or  '  ledge,'  O.E.  scelfe, 
scylfe.  There  is  Sh  Tada,-'gen. -an,  in  Onom.,  hut  no  Tadden.  The 
form  in  Dom.,  Tatessella,  only  puzzles  us  a  little  more.  It  is  the 
same  name  as  Tattebshall. 

Tansley  (Matlock  and  Dudley)  and  TAiifWOBTH  (Birmingham). 
These  all  postulate  a  man  Tan  or  Tana,  not  in  Onom.,  but  cf. 
Tanwobth.  We  must  not  invoke  W.  tan,  '  fire.'  However, 
Duignan  says,  the  Dudley  name  is  rightly  Tansy  Hill,  fr.  the 
wild  tansy,  or  potentilla.     See  -ley  and  -worth,  '  farm.' 

Tantoit  (Stokesley,  Yorks).  Dom.  and  1209  Tameton.  It  is  on 
a  R.  Thame;  also  see  Taunton.  Similarly  Tanworth-in- 
Arden,  a.  1200  Taneworth,  a.  1500  T(h)oneworthe,  is  '  farm  on  ' 


TAPLOW  467  TAVERHAM 

a  little  river,  which  Duignan  thinks  would  once  be  called  Tan  or 
Tone.    See  -worth. 

Taplow  (Maidenhead).  Dom.  Thapeslav.  'Burial  mound  of 
Ta/pa;'  the  h  in  Dom.  is  a  Nor.  insertion.  Cf.  B.C. 8.  993  Tapan 
hal.    See  -low. 

Tabannon  R.  (Wales).  This,  says  Anwyl,  may  be  the  Keltic 
goddess  of  Thunder,  W.  taran. 

Tahdebigge  (Bromsgrove).  c.  1000  cMrt.  Tserdebicga,  a.  1000 
Terde  bicg,  Dom.  Terdeberie,  1158-59  Pipe  Terdebigga,  1283 
Tyrdebigg.  There  is  nothing  likely  in  Oxf.  Diet,  to  give  origin  to 
-bigge,  though  it  surely  must  be  =  the  Norse  Biggin  or  '  build- 
ing.' For  the  first  half  we  must  postulate  a  name  Terde  or 
Tarde ;  only  a  rare  Tyrd{d)a  seems  known. 

Tabn  Wading  (little  lake,  Hesket,  Penrith.)  1089  chart.  Tarn- 
wadelyn,  c.  1360  Terne  Wathelyiie.  O.N.  tjorn,  '  a  tarn,  a 
mountain  lakelet.'  Many  Wadas  in  Onom.,  but  nothing  nearer 
in  the  way  of  a  man's  name. 

Tabraft  Kaines  or  Keynston  (Blandford).  935  chart.  Terenta, 
a.  1225  Ancren  Riwle  Tarente.  Prob.  =TAiiAiraoN.  Cf. 
1160  Pipe  Tarenteford  (Kent). 

Taerengton  (Ledbury).  Not  in  Dom.  Hardly  fr.  W.  iaran, 
'  thunder.'  No  likely  man's  name  in  Onom.,  unless  it  be  Tora, 
gen.  -an. 

Tabbing  (Worthing).  941  chart.  Terring.  'Place  of  the  sons  of 
Terr,'  a  name  not  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 

Tass  R.  (Norfolk).    Prob.  W.  tas, '  what  binds,  a  band.' 

Tatentttt.t.  (Burton-on-T.).  771  chart.  Taten  hyll,  'hill  of  Tate,' 
fem.  of  Tata.  See  next,  and  cf.  Tattenhaul  (Chester),  Dom. 
Tatenale,  and  Tatworth  (Somst.).  Tatham  (N.  Lanes).  Dom. 
Tathaim,  is  fr.  the  same  name  in  its  male  form. 

Tattebshall  (Boston).  Dom.  Tateshale,  1161-62  Pipe  Tateshal, 
1249  Tateshall,  a.  1450  Tatessall.  'Nook  of  Tata.'  The  r 
results  fr.  a  '  Cockney  '  pron,     Cf.  Kiddeeminstbb.     See  -hall. 

Tattingstonb  (Ipswich).  1199  Tatingetun.  'Village  of  the  de- 
scendants of  Tata,'  a  common  O.E.  name.    Cf.  above.    See  -ton. 

Taunton.  Sic  1499,  but  O.E.  Chron.  722  Tantun  (so  pron.  still), 
Dom.  Tantone.  'Town  on  the  R.  Tone,'  prob.  same  root  as 
Tame,  Thames,  etc,  the  liquids  m  and  n  not  rarely  interchang^ing, 
and  so  '  quiet '  river.  Cf.  Tanton.  Not  prob.  are  derivations 
fr.  W.  tan, '  fire,'  or  tonn, '  unploughed  land.'  Taynton  (Newent) 
is  Dom.  Tet-,  Tatinton,  '  town  of  Tetta  '  or  '  Tata.'    See  above. 

Taverham  (Norwich).  Sic  in  Dom.  Taver- may  stand  for  Ta</^ere 
or  Tatbeorht,  names  in  Onom. ;  th  often  becomes  v.  Cf.  Steven- 
age, etc.    See  -ham. 


TAVISTOCK  468  TEME  R. 

Tavistock.  997  O.E.  Chron.  Tefingestoc,  Taefingstoc,  Dom.  Taue- 
stoch,  c.  1130  Eadmer  Tavestoc,  c.  1145  Wm.  Malmes.  Tavis- 
tokium^  1155  Tauistoche.  Tefingestoc  is  an  O.E.  patronymic, 
'  place  of  the  Tcefings/  but,  as  it  is  on  R.  Tavy,  these  will  mean, 
'  dwellers  on  the  Tavy,'  a  Keltic  root  same  as  Tame  and  Thames, 
only  aspirated.  Cf.  G.  i^mh,  *  rest,  quiet.'  See  Stoke,  and 
c/.  next;  also  1179-80  Pipe  Taueston  (Yorks). 

Taw  R.  (N.  Devon).  Sic  1068  O.E.  Chron.  c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Tavus, 
1166-67  Pipe  Taui.  Also  Tawe  R.  (Swansea),  c.  1190  Gir. 
Camb.  Tawe;  also  said  to  be  old  Tafwy  (W.  gioy,  '  river ').  W. 
taw,  '  silent,  quiet,'  same  root  as  Tame  (see  Tamwoeth),  Tavy 
(see  Tavistock),  Thame,  etc.,  the  m  here  being  aspirated. 

Tawton  (Devon).  Dom.  Tawetone,  1157  Pipe  Tautun.  See 
above. 

Taynton  (Burford).     =  Teignton,  also  see  Tatjnton. 

Tean  R.  and  hamlet  (Staffs) .  Dom.  Tene,  a.  1400  Tejme.  Like  so 
many  river  names,  doubtful.  Cf.  Teign  and  Tyne.  Tain 
(Sc.)  is  1223  Tene,  and  generally  thought  fr.  N. ;  but  fr.  what  ? 

Teddington  (R.  Thames  and  Warwk.).  Th,  T.  sic  1427,  but  969 
cJiart.  Tudintun,  1279  Todington,  Wa.  T.  969  chart.  Tidinctune, 
1016  ib.  Tiddingtun.  '  Town  of  the  sons  of  Tidda '  or  '  Tuda,' 
gen.  -an,  a  common  O.E.  name.  Grave  scientific  men  in  the 
20th  cny.  have  actually  thought  it  meant  *  Tide-end-town ' ! 
Cf.  Dom.  TedenesvUe  (for  -hulle)  (Salop),  which  is  'hill  of 
?  '  Teden,'  whilst  Dom.  Bucks  Tedinwiche  suggests  a  man  Teda 
or  Teoda,  1  in  Onom.  There  is  also  Teddesley  (Penkridge). 
Sic  a.  1300.  See  -ley.  But  Teddestoton  (Tewkesbury)  is  780 
chart.  Teottingtim,  977  ib.  Teodintun,  Tidingctun,  c.  1046 
Theotinctun,  Dom.  Teotin  time.  1275  Tedinton.  '  Town  of  the 
sons  of  Teotta '  or  '  Tette  '  (this  is  common).    See  -ing. 

Tees  R.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Tesa,  1387  Teyse.  Perh.  fr.  W.  tesach, 
'  wantonness,'  fr.  tes,  '  heat  of  the  sun.'  The  R.  Test  (Hants) 
is  sometimes  called  Tees,  and  the  Teise,  trib.  of  R.  Medway,  will 
be  the  same  name.     They  may  all  be  pre-Keltic. 

TeignR.  Mod.  pron.  Tinn.  739  c^ar^  Teng.  Dom.  Taigne,  Teigne ; 
and  Drews  Teignton  (S.  Devon).  1001  O.E.  Chron.  Tegntun, 
Dom.  Teinton,  Taintone.  Perh,  fr.  W.  teneu  or  O.E.  \ynne, 
W.  Fris.  ten,  tin,  '  thin,  slender.'  The  Drews  comes  fr.  Drewe 
de  Teignton,  landholder  temp.  Hen.  II.  Cf.  Taynton  (Burford), 
Dom.  Tentone. 

Telpen  Pt.  (Amroth).    W.  telpyn,  '  a  lump.' 

Teme  R.  (Wore).  O.E.  chart.  Temede,  once  Tamede.  Seems 
the  dame  as  Thames  ;  but  it  is  said  to  be  in  O.W.  Tefaidd,  Tefedd 
if  =  v,  and  V  =  aspirated  m).  On  it  was  Tempsiter.  Cf. 
Tempsford. 


TEMPLE  EWINa  469  TEWIN 

Temple  EwufG,  Gbaeton,  etc.  Such  names  indicate  lands  of  the 
Knight  Templars. 

Tempsfoed  (Sandy).  921  O.E.  Chron.  Tamese-,  esaforda,  Dom. 
Tamiseford.  There  was  another  R.  Thames  here;  the  form 
Temps  is  said  to  come  through  the  Norse  sagas.     C/.  Teme. 

Tenbuhy  (Wore).  Dom.  Tametde-,  Tamedeberie.  'Burgh,  fort 
on  the  R.  Teme/  which  is  the  same  root  as  Tam-worth  and 
Thames.    See  -bury. 

Tenby.  1248-49  Tinbegh,  1325  Tyneby,  1350  chart.  Tynby,  in  W. 
Dinbych  y  Pysgod.  See  Denbigh.  There  are  a  good  many  traces 
of  the  Norseman  hereabouts ;  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  Tenby 
is  corrup.  of  Den-by, '  Danes'  dwelling.'    Cf.  Danby,  and  see  -by. 

Tendeing  (Weeley,  Essex).  Dom.  Tendringa,  and  Ten-,  Ton- 
deringae  (ae='isle,'  ;  see  -ey).  A  patronymic,  ?  fr.  Tondheri, 
2  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 

Tenterden  ( Ashf ord) .  Sic  1439 ;  so  now  meant  for  '  Dean,  wooded 
valley  where  tenters  were  spread  for  stretching  cloth.'  This 
word  in  English  goes  back  to  the  14th  cny.  Cf.  1408  Nottingham 
Rec.  ii.  60  '  Johannes  London  occupat  unum  croftum  cum 
taynters.'  But  in  Dom.  it  is  Tintentone,  fr.  some  unknown 
man,  Tinta  or  Tenia. 

Tern  R.  (W.  Staffs),  a.  1200  Time,  Tyrne,  Turne.  Prob.  M.E. 
terne  (found  in  Wstmld.  in  1256).  Dan.  tjern,  N.  tjom,  '  a  tarn, 
a  small  hill  lake.'    Cf.  Ttbt.ey. 

Tbrrington  (York,  K.'s  Lynn,  and  Wisbech).  Yo.  T.  Dom. 
Teurinc-,  Teurintone,  1202  YorJcs  Fines  Theverington.  Doubt- 
ful. Wis.  T.  Dom.  Terintune.  Patronymic,  ?  fr.  Theodhere  or 
Teherus  or  Theudor,  names  in  Onom.     See  -ing. 

Tetbtjry  (S.  Glouc).  680  chart.  Tettan  Monasterium,  c.  1000  ih. 
Tettanbyrig,  Dom.  Teteberie.  '  Burgh  of  Tetta.'  Of.  next, 
Tatbnhill,  Tetsworth  (Oxon),  and  Titteswobth.     See  -bury. 

Tettenhall  (Wolverhampton).  O.E.  Chron.  593  Teotanhealh, 
ih.  910  Teotanheale,  Dom.  Totehala,  c.  1120  Een.  Hunt.  Totan- 
hale,  a.  1300  Tetenhale.  '  Nook,  enclosure  of  Teota  or  Tetta.' 
Skeat  thinks  Teota  a  form  of  O.E.  tota,  '  a  spy,  a  look-out,'  a 
tout !     Cf.  ToTLEY ;  and  see  -hall. 

Tetton  (Sandbach).  Dom.  Tedtune.  May  be  '  Tette'^  town.'  See 
above ;  but  perh. '  people's  town.'  Cf.  Theteord,  a.  1200  Tedf  ord. 

Tevershall  (Mansfield).  Dom.  Tevreshalt,  1284  Teversalt,  and 
Tevbrsham  (Cambridge).  Dom.  Teuresham,  Teuersham,  1210 
Teuersham.  '  Holt,  wood,'  and  '  home  of  Tefere/  an  unknown 
name.    See  too  -hall. 

Tewin  (Welwyn).  Dom.  Teuuinge,  and  Theunge,  1166  Tiwinge. 
'  Place  of  the  sons  of  Tiw.'  He  was  the  Teutonic  Mars,  or  god 
of  war.    See  -ing. 


TEWKESBURY  470  THEMELTHOEPE 

Tewkesbury.  Dom.  Teodechesberie,  c.  1146  Wtn.  Malmesb. 
Theochesberia,  1157  Tiochesbiria,  1201  Teokesberi,  c.  1350 
Teukesbury.  '  Burgh  of  Teodeca/  or  '  Theoc/  a  Saxon  hermit, 
settled  here;  soon  after  a  monastery  was  here  founded  by  Odo 
and  Dodo,  dukes  of  Mercia,  715.  Cf.  963  chart.  Teodeces  leage, 
near  Redditch,  now  Tidsley. 

Tey  R.  (Essex) .  Chart.  Tiga(n) .  May  be  same  as  Great  Tey,  O.E. 
tih,  teah,  teag,  '  a  paddock.'  Cf.  O.E.  leah,  '  meadow,'  often 
found  as  lea^,  and  to-day  usually  -ley  in  names.  Or  fr.  O.E. 
tyge,  '  a  diverting'  (of  a  water-course). 

Teynham  (Faversham).  801  chart.  Tenham.  Prob.  'home  of 
Thegn '  or  '  Degn,'  the  nearest  forms  in  Onom.  Derivation  fr. 
O.E.  ten,  '  ten,'  can  hardly  be  thought  of;  but  possibly  the  name 
is  =  TwYNHAM.  It  is  now  in  a  marshy  region,  near  a  creek  of 
the  Swale. 

Thame  R.  (trib.  of  Thames,  Aylesbury,  also  N.  Yorks,  1209  Tame) 
and  Thames  R.  Latter  is  c.  50  B.C.  J.  Gcesar  Tameses,  c.lOO 
Tacitus  Tamesa,  c.  893  Alfred  and  1297  R.  Olouc.  Tamese;  v.r. 
in  Mf.  Temes,  1377  Langland  Themese,  1503  Thamyse,  1649 
Thames.  Keltic  root,  meaning  '  quiet,  silent,'  or  perh.  '  wide 
river.'  W.  taw  (aspirated  form),  '  still,'  G.  tdmh,  '  rest,  quiet,' 
tdmJiach,  '  quiet,  dull,  heavy.'  Same  root  as  Tamar,  Tame, 
Tavy,  Taw,  Teme,  etc.  Skeat,  however,  declares  the  origin 
quite  unknown.  The  initial  Th-  is  a  Norm,  innovation,  which 
it  is  really  absurd  to  retain.  On  the  -eses  cf.  Isis  and  Ouse  ;  it 
must  be  Kelt,  for  '  river.' 

Thai^et.  80  Solinus  Ad-Tanatos,  679  chart.  Tenid,  Bede  Tanet, 
a.  810  Nennius,  Tanet,  1461  Thenede.  Thought  to  be  Keltic 
for  '  fire,'  O.Ir.  teine,  gen.  tened,  W.  and  Corn.  tan.  But  tann 
also  seems  to  be  Kelt,  for  '  an  oak.'  If  the  former,  it  will  prob. 
mean  '  place  of  beacon-fires.' 

Thatcham  (Berks).  B.O.S.  iii.  432  Thaecham,  Dom.  Taccham, 
Taceham.  The  charter  name  is  O.E.  for  '  thatched  house,'  or, 
more  exactly,  as  in  Sc,  '  a  thack  hoose.'  Norman  scribes  often 
wrote  t  for  th,  as  to  them  the  h  was  mute.     Cf.  Thaxtbd. 

THAXTED(Dunmow).  1528  Thackstedd.  C[f.  1298  Thaxton.  O.E. 
thcec  stede,  '  thatched,'  lit.  '  roofed  place,  steading,  or  farm.' 
Cf.  above. 

Thelwall  (Warrington).  923  O.E.  Chron.  Delwsel — i.e.,  'wall, 
rampart  made  of  deals,  boards,  or  planks,'  O.E.  ^el,  pell.  Cf. 
Theale  (Reading),  which  Skeat  thinks  must  have  meant  a  place 
where  a  plank  was  thrown  over  a  stream;  also  cf.  Et^m bridge 
and  Felbridge,  and  Tilbridge  (Upton-on-Severn),  1275  Tel- 
drugge  {d  for  6),  plainly  from  same  root. 

Thbmelthorpe  (Norfolk).  Not  in  Dom.  1477  Thymbilthorpe. 
Prob.  not  '  village  where  thimbles  were  made,'  O.E.  thymel,  fr. 


THENFOED  471  THORMANBY 

thuma,  '  the  thumb ' ;  see  -thorpe.  It  is  fr.  a  man  Tymbel,  in 
Onom.,  also  seen  in  Thimbleby  (Yorks),  Dom.  Timbelbi.  But 
Great  Timble  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Timble,  Timbe,  and  is  perh. 
'  mound,  hill  like  a  thimble ' ;  only  Oxf.  Diet,  gives  no  form  with 
b  till  15th  cny. 

Thbnpobd  (Banbury).  Not  in  Dom.  1298  Teneford;  perh.  'ford 
of  harm ' — i.e.,  where  some  grave  accident  took  place,  O.E.  teona, 
3-6  tene,  '  harm,  injury.'  There  was  in  958  chart,  a  '  Theonfan- 
forth,'  on  E..  Stour  (Stafford),  but  this  cannot  be  the  same  name. 
Dom.  Oxon.  has  Tentone,  now  Taynton  (Burford),  also  Teigtone; 
this  suggests  a  first  syll.  =  Teign. 

Therfield  (Royston,  Herts).  796  chart.  Thyrefeld.  Prob.  '  Thy- 
ra'a  field.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  702  Thyrran  mere.  Thyra  is  still  a 
woman's  name  in  Denmark. 

Thetford  (Suffk.  and  Ely).  Suf.  T.  O.E.  Chron.  870  Theodforda, 
1094  ib.  Theotforda,  Dom.  Tetford,  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Tedforde 
(cf.  note  on  Thatcham),  1237  Thefford.  Ely  T.  Dom.  Tedford, 
Lib.  de  Hydh  Theedford,  1157  Pipe  Roll  TetforS.  '  Ford  of  the 
people,'  O.E.  fedd — i.e.,  '  large,  wide  ford '  (Skeat). 

Thinqoe  (Suffolk) .  Dom.  Thingehov,  Tingehv.  '  How  or  mound 
of  the  thing  '  or  provincial  assembly.  Cf.  Dingwall  and  Ting- 
wall  (Sc).  The  ending  -oe  is  O.N.  haug-r, '  mound,  cairn,  how/ 
See  Howden. 

TBiBKLEBy  (Thirsk).  Dom.  ^Torchilebi,  Turchilebi,  Turgilebi, 
Turgislebi,  -gisbi.  'Dwelling  of  ThurkiW  or  'Turchill,'  con- 
tracted fr.  Thurcytel,  a  common  name.    See  -by. 

Thirsk  (Yorks).  Dom.  Treske,  c.  1150  Treses,  1202  Tresc,  Tresch, 
c.  1350  Thresk.  Prob.  Keltic  tre  esk,  '  house  on  the  water ' 
(G.  uisge) — i.e.,  the  Codbeck.  Sec  Esk,  Usk,  etc.  If  it  be  Keltic, 
it  is  a  very  exceptional  name  in  these  parts.   (7/.  Thbesheield.   " 

Thixendale  (New  Malton,  Yorks).  Dom.  Sixtendale,  Sixtedale. 
'  The  sixteen  dales,'  which  go  to  form  the  township.'  O.E.  syx-, 
sixtyne,  '  16  ' ;  there  is  no  form  in  Oxf.  Diet,  without  t. 

Tholthobpe  (York).  Dom.  Turulfestorp,  Turolvestorp.  'Village 
of  Thurnmlf '  or  '  Turolf,'  3  in  Onom.    See  -thorpe. 

Thobalby  (Aysgarth).  Dom.  Turoldesbi,  Turodes-,  debi,  'Dwell- 
ing of  Thurweald '  or  '  Turold,'  several  in  Onom.  Cf.  Tharles- 
thorp  (Yorks),  Dom.  Toruelestorp,  and  Thorlby  (Yorks),  Dom, 
Toreddereby,  Torederebi,  prob.  fr.  Thurweard  or  Toruerd; 
also  Tarleton  (Preston),  old  Thurweald  -tun.  In  O.N.  the  name 
is  Thorvaldr;  cf.  Trodais,  Jersey.    See  -by. 

Thobmanby  (Easingwold).  Dom.  Tormozbi,  Turmozbi  {z=ds  or 
ts) .  '  DweUing  of  Thurmund,  Thurmod,  or  Thurmot,'  all  names 
in  Onom. ;  so  =  next.  Of.  Thobmabton,  now  usually  Fabming- 
TON,  and  Thrumpton  (Notts),  Dom.  Turmodestun. 


THORNABY-ON-TEES  472  THEELKELD 

Thobnaby  -  ON  -  Tees.  Dom.  Thormozbi  {z=ds).  'Dwelling  of 
Thurmod '  or  '  Thurmund.'    Of.  above;  and  see  -by. 

Thobnbuby  (Glouc.) — 896  chart.  Thornbyrig,  Dom.  Turneberie — and 
Thorncombe  (Chard).  1417  Thornecombe.  Prob.  'burgh/ 
and  '  valley  with  the  thorn-trees ' ;  but  former  may  be  fr.  a 
man  Thorn,  still  a  personal  name.  Cf.  Thoenton.  Thorn- 
holme  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Thirnon,  also  Tirnu",  a  loc.  '  at  the 
thorns."  See  -ham  and  -hohne.  Cf.,  too,  Thirntoft  (N.  Yorks), 
Dom.  Tirnetoft,  '  croft,  farm  with  the  thorn-tree.' 

Thorneb,  (Leeds).  Dom.  Tornoure,  -eure.  '  Thorn-tree  bank/ 
O.E.  ofr.    See  -over. 

Thoeney  (Chichester  and  Cambs).  Chi.  T.,  1048  O.E.  Chron. 
Thornege,  1066  ib.  Thurneie.  Cam.  T.,  Dom.  Torny,  1158 
Torneya,  1169  Thorneia.  There  is  also  one  on  R.  Thames  near 
London.  O.E.  Thorn-ege  is,  of  course,  '  thorn  isle.'  See  -ey. 
c.  1170  Wace,  Roman  de  Bou,  1065,  writes  of  the  London  T.: 
'  Ee  est  isle,  Zon  est  espine,  seit  rainz,  seit  arbre,  seit  racine, 
Zon6e  90  est  en  engleiz.  Isle  d'espine  en  franceiz.'  This  is 
another  illustration  how  hard  a  Norman  found  it  to  reproduce 
our  Eng.  th. 

THOBNGUMBAiiD  (Hull) .  Dom.  Tomo.  *  Thorn-tree  of  Gumbeald ' 
or  '  Qundbeald,'  both  names  in  Onom. 

Thorkeam  (King's  Lynn),  a.  1300  Eccleston  Turnham  (which  is 
now  the  Norfolk  pron.) .     Th  again  !     See  above  and  -ham. 

Thoenthorpe  (Yorks).  Dom.  Torgrimestorp.  '  Thorgrim-r's  place. 
See  -thorpe.  But  Thoenington  (Nhbld.)  is  said  to  be  old 
Thoburnham,  or  '  Thorburn's '  or  '  Thorbeorn's  home.'  The 
latter  is  found  in  Lib.  Vit.  Dunelm. 

Thoenton  (15  in  P.O.).  In  Dom.  Yorks  it  occurs  34  times  as 
Torneton,  Tornitun,  Torentun,  Tornenton.  Either  '  village  with 
the  thorn-trees,'  O.E.  thorn,  or  '  of  Thorn,'  a  man.  Cf.  Thobn- 
buby. 

Thobp  Abch  (Boston  Spa,  Yorks).  Dom.  Torp.  'Village  by  the 
shieling  or  summer-farm,'  Norse  G.  argh.  See  Anglesabk  and 
-thorpe. 

Thoepe  Aitdlin(g)  (Pontefract).  Old  Audelin,  cf.  Audlem,  Dom. 
Aldelime ;  and  see  -thorpe,  '  village,  (Uttle)  farm.' 

Thoepe  Contsantine  (Tam worth).  Dom.  Torp,  a.  1300  Thorp 
Constantin,    A  family  so  called  fr.  Constantine,  Normandy. 

Thbapstone  (Oundle).  Prob.  '  Thorpe  on  the  rock.'  See  Thoepe. 
Cf.  Thboapham  (Yorks),  Dom.  Trapun,  a  loc,  ?  '  at  the  village.' 
See  -ham. 

THEELKE1.D  (Penrith).  Cf.  Dom.  Trelefelt— i.e.,  ThreHalds  (N. 
Lanes).  The  Threl-  is  uncertain.  It  may  be  contracted  fr. 
Thorkell.  Thurkleby  (Yorks)  is  Dom.  Turchilebi.  -keld  is  '  well, 
spring.'    See  Keld. 


THRESHFIELD  473  THUKMASTON 

Threshfield  (Skipton).  Dom.  Treschefelt,  Freschefelt.  A  little 
doubtful.  The  Thresh-  may  be  Keltic,  as  in  Thirsk.  But  th 
does  interchange  with  /,  as  in  Fenglesham,  and  so  it  may  be 
'  fresh/    See  Freshwater. 

Thrimby  (Shap).  Z)om.  Tiernebi.  '  Dwelling  of  Tierwe/ the  mod. 
name  Tierney.  Onom.  has  one  Thrim,  but  nothing  like  Tierne, 
which  is  the  almost  exact  phonetic  representative  of  G.  tigh- 
earna,  '  lord/  O.W.  tern ;  and  this  may  be  the  word  here. 
Cf.  Stapleeord,  but  also  Thurne.    See  -by. 

Throckenholt  (Wisbech).  O.E.  Chron.  657  (late  MS.)  Throkon- 
holt.  '  Wood  for  sharebeams  or  plough-heads/  O.E.  throe.  Cf. 
Holt.  Throckmorton  (Fladbury),  c.  1200  Troche-,  c.  1220 
Trokemertum,  -mardtune,  1275  Throkemorton,  can  hardly  be 
fr.  the  same  root.  The  ending  will  be  '  mere-town,"  '  moor- 
town,'  or  perh.  '  boundary-town,'  O.E.  {ge)mcere ;  whilst  Throe 
will  be  a  personal  name.  Gf.  939  chart.  Throcbryge,  Hants, 
ThrocMng  (Herts)  (patronymic),  and  Throckley  (Northbld.). 

Throwley  (Ham),  T.  Forstal  (Faversham),  and  Throwleigh 
(Okehampton).  H.  T.,  a.  1300  Truleg.  '  Meadow  of  the  cofan, 
tomb,  or  grave,'  O.E.  thruh,  thru{u)ch,  5  throh,  throw,  and  still 
in  So.  and  N.  dial.  Cf.  Througham  (Glouc),  pron.  Druffum, 
Dom.  Troham,  later  Truham.     See  -ham  and  -ley. 

Throop  (Christchurch)  and  Thrupp  (Mid  Oxon  and  S.  Northants) 
=  Thorpe. 

ThrYbergh  (Rotherham).  Dom.  Triberga,  -ge.  Prob.  *  three 
barrows '  or  '  mounds,'  O.E.  jiri  ;  and  see  Barrow.  Cf.  Sedbergh. 

Thtjndersley  (Rayleigh) .  Dom.  Thunreslau.  '  Meadow  (or 
'  mound,'  see  -low)  of  the  god  Thunor '  or  '  Thor.'    See  -ley. 

Thurgoland  (Sheffield).  Dom.  Turgesland.  Prob.  '  land  of  Thur- 
god  '  or  '  Turgot/  a  common  O.E.  name.  THtrRQARTON  (Notts) 
is  Dom.  Turgarstime. 

Thitrlaston  (Dunechurch  and  Hinckley).  Dun.  T.  Dom.  Torlave- 
stone,  a.  1300  Thurlaveston.  '  Village  of  (an  unknown)  Thur- 
laf;  but  Hin.  T.  c.  1190  cJiart.  Thurkeleston,  '  village  of  Thur- 
hill '  or  '  Thurcytel.'  Old  forms  needed  for  Thurlestone 
(Kingsbridge)  and  Thtjrlstone  (Sheffield).  Thurlston  (S. 
Yorks)  is  Dom.  Turulfestone,  Turolveston,  '  Thurumlf's '  or 
'  Turolf's,  town ' ;  while  Thurstaston  (Birkenhead)  is  Dom. 
Turstaneton,  '  Thurstan's  town.'    It  is  now  pron.  Thirsaston. 

Thtjrlby  (Bourne),  a.  1100  chart.  Thurleby.  '  Dwelling  of  Thur- 
kill '  or  '  of  Thurlac'    See  -by. 

Thurleigh  (Bedford)  and  Thurlow  (Suffolk).  'Meadow'  and 
'  hill  of  the  god  Thor '  or  '  Thunor/  an  old  Scandinavian  and 
Saxon  deity.     Cf.  Thursday;  and  see  -leigh  and  -low. 

Thtjrmaston  (Leicester),  c.  1200  Turmotestona.  '  Thurmod's  '  or 
'  Thormood'a  town.' 

31 


THUKNE  474  TIBBERTON 

Thtjene  (Yarmouth).  1477  Thirne.  There  is  in  Eng.  c.  1300 
theme,  '  a  girl,  a  maid/  fr.  O.N.  ])erna ;  but  this  will  not  suit  for 
Thurne.  Thubnham  (Lancaster)  is  Dom.  Tiernun.  It  is  prob. 
that  these  names  come  fr.  thorn,  the  tree,  even  though  it  is  never 
found  with  an  »  or  w  in  Oxf.  Diet.  But '  Thorne  '  is  found  alone 
as  a  place-name  in  Dom.  Yorks.  Tiernun,  according  to  all 
analogy,  should  be  an  old  loc.  (see  -ham),  '  at  the  thorn-trees  '; 
and  will  be  the  same  name,  originally,  as  Thornholme  (Yorks), 
which  is  in  Dom.  Thirnon  and  Tirnu'.    Cf.  Thornbury  and  next. 

Thtjrnscoe  (Rotherham).  Dom.  Ternusc,  -usche,  which  must  be 
Kelt,  either  for  '  chief,  head  stream,'  O.W.  tern.  Cf.  Ttntekn, 
or  for  '  vehement  stream,'  W.  tern.  Also  see  Usk;  and  cf. 
Thuisk.  But  the  present  name,  a  Norse  corrup.,  is  '  thorn-tree 
wood/  O.N.  skog-r.  Cf.  Buescough.  It  is  now  pron. 
Thrunsker. 

Thitbrock  (Grays).  Dom.  Thurrucca.  O.E.  furruc  is  'the  bilge 
of  a  ship,'  in  mod.  dial.  '  a  heap  of  dirt,'  and  '  a  drain.'  This 
place  must  surely  have  been  orig.  one  where  filth  and  dirty 
water  gathered.    Cf.  West  Thureock. 

Thtjrsford  (Dereham)  and  Thurslby  (Godalming),  1305  Thyrs- 
forde.  '  Ford '  and  '  meadow  of  Thor,'  the  thunder  god.  For 
spelling  with  u,  cf.  Dom.  Essex,  Turestapla,  and  Thursday;  and 
see  -ley.  There  is  a  now  obs.  Thxjrseield  (Newcastle-under-L.), 
which  was  Dom.  Turvoldes  feld,  a.  1300  Thurfredesfeld,  and 
Torvedeston.  '  Town  of  Thurweald '  or  '  Thorold.'  Cf.  Thoresby 
(Notts),  Dom.  Turesbi. 

Thurston  (Bury  St.  E.).  Dom.  Turstanestuna.  '  Town  of  Thur- 
stan.'  Cf.  Thurstaston  (Birkenhead),  pron.  Thursiston,  Dom. 
Turstaneton.  There  is  also  a  Thurstonland  (Huddersfield),  Dom. 
Tostenland,  prob.  a  scribe's  error. 

Thuxton  (Attleboro').  Dom.  Thustuna.  The  man's  name  here  is 
uncertain.  The  nearest  in  Onom.  is  Thochi,  var.  of  ToJcig  ;  but 
we  have  also  several  called  Toc{c)a,  a  Toce,  and  a  Tocga. 

Thwaite  (Eye),  c.  1150  chart.  Thwete.  O.N.  thveit,  lit.  'a  piece 
cut  off,'  fr.  thvita,  '  to  cut,'  then  '  a  small  bit  of  land.'  Cf. 
Crossthwaite,  etc.  Thwaite  End  (Irton,  Cimibld.)  is  actually 
said  to  have  been  corrupted  into  Ayners  ! 

Thwing  (Hunmanby,  Yorks).  Dom.  Twenc,  Tuinc,  Tuenc;  1206 
Twenge.  Seems  to  be  the  rare  O.E.  iwing,  '  a  mass,  a  lump,' 
lit.  what  is  pressed  together,  fr.  twengan,  '  to  pinch,  squeeze, 
twinge.'    Cf.  Dom.  Salop  Tuange. 

Tibberton  (Salop,  Droitwich,  and  Glouc).  Dr.  T.,  978  chart. 
Tidbriht-ingctun,  Dom.  Tibbertun,  1275  Tybrytone.  Gl.  T. 
Dom.  Tebristone  (on  st,  see  p.  26),  later  Tyber-,  Typertone. 
'  Town  of  Tidbeorht '  or  *  Tidhurh.'     On  978  see  -ing. 


TIBTHORPE  475  TILLINGHAM 

TiBTHOEPE  (Driffield).  Dom.  Tibetorp,  Tipetorp.  '  Village  of 
Tiba '  or  '  Tibba.'  Cf.  Dom.  Tibetune  (Salop),  and  also  Tipton. 
See  -thorpe. 

TiOH-.    See  Titch-. 

TiOKEiLL  (Rotherham).  c.  1097  Flor.  W.  Tyckyll,  1119  chart. 
TykjU,  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1102  TychiU,  1194  Hoveden  Tikehil. 
'  Hill  of  the  tike/  Icel.  tik,  '  a  bitch,,  a  cur,'  Sw.  tik,  '  a  boor.'' 
But  Dom.  Tichele-vorde  (Salop)  must  be  '  farm  of  Ticel/  an 
unknown  man;  and  Ticknall  (Derby),  chart.  Ticcenheal,  is 
'  Tica'a  nook.'     Of.  Dom.  Bucks  Tichesla  and  Ticheforde;  also 

TiTCHBORNE  and  TlXALL. 

TiOKTON  (Beverley).  Dom.  Tichetone.  '  Town  of  Tica  '  or  '  Ticca.' 
Gf.  above;  also  1166-67  Pipe  Tichesoura  (Rutld.),  and  1460 
Paston  Tychewell. 

TiDMARSH  (Pangbourn).  1316  Thedmersshe,  1428  Tydemershe, 
c.  1540  Tedmarsh.  '  Tydda'a  marsh,'  6  Tidas  or  Tydas  in  Onom. 
Cf.  TiDENHAM  (on  Wye),  956  chart.  Dyddan-harome,  '  enclosure 
of  Dydda/  but  Dom.  Tideham,  1253  Tudenham.  See  -ham. 
TiDSLEY  or  Teddesley  Wood  (Pershore)  is  963  chart.  Teodeces- 
leage,  '  Teodec's  lea.'    Cf.  Tewkesbury. 

TiDNOCK  (Cheshire).    Prob.  dimin.  of  W.  tyddyn,  *  a  farm.' 

TiDWELL  (E.  Budleigh,  Devon),  a.  1300  Todewil,  ToddviUe,  Tode- 
vil,  TudewiUe,  ToudeviUe.  '  Tuda's, '  or  '  Todea's,  pool,'  O.E. 
wcbI,  '  a  whirlpool,  an  eddy,  a  fish-pool.'  Cf.  ]\Iaxwell  (Sc.)'. 
The  name  prefixed  occurs  in  a  great  variety  of  forms — Tida, 
Toda,  Tuda,  Tudda,  Tydda.    Cf.  Tidmarsh. 

Tilbrogk  (St.  Neots).  Prob.  '  Brook  of  Tila  or  Tile/  4  in  Onom. 
Cf.  TiLFORD,  and  1179-80  Pipe,  TiUul  (?  '  Tila's  hiU ')  (Yorks). 
But  some  think  of  W.  twll, '  a  hole.'    This  is  not  prob. 

Tilbury.  Bede  Tilaburg,  Dom.  Tilleberie,  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt. 
Tilaburh,  c.  1200  Westilleberie  (West  Tilbury),  1278  Tillebury. 
'  Tila's  fort  or  burgh.'    See  above,  and  -bury. 

TiLEHURST  (Reading).  K.C.D.  iv.  157,  Tigelhyrste,  1316  Tyghel- 
hurst,  c.  1540  Tylehurst.  This  must  mean  '  tile  wood  or  copse,' 
O.E.  tigel,  L.  tegula,  '  a  tile.'    They  may  have  been  made  here. 

TiLFORD  (Farnham,  Surrey),  c.  1160  Tileford.  '  Tila's  '  or  '  Tile's 
ford.'  Cf.  Tilbrogk.  Tiln(e)  (Notts),  Dom.  Tilne,  Tille,  1189 
Pipe  Tilnea,  is  '  Tila's  isle.'    See  -ay. 

Till  R.  (Northumbld.).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Tillemuthe,  W.  twll, 
'  a  hole,'  or  perh.  tyle,  '  a  steep,  an  ascent.' 

Tillinqham  (Southminster).  B.C.S.  8  Tillingeham,  and  Tilling- 
TON  (Petworth  and  Stafford).  Pet.  T.,  Dom.  TeUingedone  and 
Tedlingha  {d  prob.  error).  St.  T.  Dom.  TiUintone.  'Home' 
and  '  village  of  the  sons  of  Tila.'  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Telingham. 
See  -don,  -ham,  -ing,  and  -ton. 


TILLY  WHIM  CAVES  476  TISTED 

Tilly  Whim  Caves  (Swanage).  M'Clure  says  Com.  toulen  veyn, 
'  holes  in  the  rocks/  Cf.  Durlstone.  But  one  may  also  con- 
jecture W.  tuell  gwyn,  '  clear,  bright  covert/ 

TiLMANSTONE  (Dover).  1298  Tihnanneston.  'Tovm  of  Tilman/ 
3  in  Onom.  A  '  tillman '  is  a  ploughman  or  peasant,  found  as 
an  Eng.  -word  as  early  as  Cursor  Mundi.  Cf.  940  chart.  Til- 
mannes  dene. 

TiMBERHANGER  (Bromsgro ve) .  Dom.  Timbrehangre ;  Timbeelaj^d 
(Lincoln),  1204  Timberlun;  Timbeeley  (Cas.  Bromwich),  1301 
Timberweissiche  (timber-way  -syke,  O.E.  sic,  sice,  'rivulet, 
ditch').  All  fr.  O.E.  timber,  O.N.  timbr,  'timber,  wood  for 
building  purposes.'  -hanger  is  O.E.  hangra,  '  wooded  slope.' 
Cf.  Clayhangee,  and  -land  here  is  O.N.  lund-r,  '  grove,  wood.' 
Cf.  Toseland.    Also  see  -ley. 

TiNGEWiCK  (Buckingham).  Dom.  Tedinwiche,  a.  1199  Tingwic. 
Seems  to  be  '  dwelling  of  Teda,  -an,  Tigga,  -an,  or  Thegn,  all 
in  Onom.    More  old  forms  needed.     See  -wick. 

TmsLEY  (Sheffield).  Dom.  Tinestawe,  Tirneslawe;  also  Tineslege 
(under  Derby).  'Meadow  of  Tinna'  {cf.  Boll  Rich.  I.,  'Tin- 
neston,'  Kent) ;  or,  rather,  as  the  liquid  r  has  early  disappeared, 
'  meadow  of  the  thorn-tree,'  O.E.  yorn.  Da.  and  Sw.  torn. 
Cf.  Thoenbuey.  On  -lawe  see  -low,  '  mound,'  which  is 
not=  -ley. 

Tentagel  (Camelford).  c.  1205  Layamon  Tintageol,  edit.  c.  1275 
Tyntagel,  1536  Tyndagell;  also  Dundagel.  Corn,  dun,  din  diogl, 
'  safe  fort '  or  '  castle.' 

Tenteen  (Chepstow).  O.W.  for  *  castle  of  the  chief.'  Cf.  above 
and  K.  Yoi-tigern,  and  Caer  Guor-thigirn,  Nennius ;  also  G. 
tighearna,  '  lord,'  and  Thrimby. 

Tipton  (Staffs),  a.  1300  Tibinton,  Tybeton.  '  ViUage  of  Tiba.' 
St.  Tibbe,  or  Tybba,  was  patroness  of  hunting  and  hawking.     Cf. 

TiBTHORP. 

TiELE  Brook  (Tewkesbury).  780  chart.  Tyrle,  785  ib.  Tyrl.  Prob. 
fr.  E.  Fris.  tirreln,  tirhn,  'to  turn  about  quickly,'  the  Sc.  tirl. 
But  TiELEY  (Market  Drayton)  is  Dom.  Tireleye,  Tyrlegh, 
'meadow  on  the  E-.  Tern,'  the  liquid  n  having  disappeared; 
whilst  TiRLEY  (Tewkesbury),  formerly  Trinley,  is  Dom.  Trinleie, 
c.  1220  Trinlega,  where  the  Brook  name  has  got  confused  with 
the  name  of  some  man.  Trimma  and  Trumwine  are  nearest  in 
Onom.    See  -ley. 

TiSBURY  (Salisbury),  a.  716  chart.  Dyssesburg.  '  Castle  of  Tisa  ' 
or  '  Tiso,'  both  in  Onom.    See  -bury. 

TiSTED  (Hants).  941  chart.  Ticcestede,  Dom.  Tistede.  '  Home- 
stead, farm  of  Ticca.'    But  cf.  Stisted. 


TI(T)CHBOIlNE  477  TODWICK 

Ti(t)ohbobne  (Alresford),  Titchfield  (Fareham),  Titohmarsh 
(Thrapston),  and  Titchwell  (Norfolk).  909  chart.  Ticceburna, 
1298  Tycheburn;  O.E.  chart.  Ticcenesf eld ;  1298  Tychemershe; 
1450  Tichewill.  '  Burn  or  brook/  '  field/  '  marsh '  and  '  well  of 
Ticca,  Tica,  or  Ticcea,'  all  names  in  Onom.  But  any  of  them 
might  also  come  fr.  O.E,  ticce{n),  Ger.  zieke,  '  a  kid/  Cf.  Tixall 
and  Tickenhill  (Bewdley).     See  -borne. 

TiTTENSOR  (Stoke-on-Trent).  Dom,  Titesoure,  a.  1200  Titesoura, 
Titnesovre,  a.  1300  Titneshovere.  '  Bank,  brink,  edge/  O.E. 
obr,  ofr,  ofre,  ora,  *  of  Tita/  -an,  or  '  Titel,'  both  in  Onom.  Cf. 
BoLSOVER,  Edensob,  Tittleshall,  etc.  TiTTESwoRTH  (Leek) 
is  a.  1300  Tet(t)esworth,  '  farm  of  Tette '  or  '  Tcta,'  both  in 
Onom.    See  -worth. 

Tittleshall  (Swaffham).  1425  Titeleshale,  c.  1471  Tytlyshall. 
'  Nook  of  Tyttla  '  or  '  Titillus,'  both  in  Onom.    See  -hall. 

Tiverton  (Chesh.  and  Devon).  Ch.  T.  Dom.  Tevretone.  De.  T. 
Dom.  Tovretone,  Exon.  Dom.  Touretona,  Tuuertone,  1166-67 
Pipe  Tuuerton,  later  Tuyverton.  Thought  also  to  be  a.  900 
K.  Alfred's  Will  Tuiford=  Twypord  and  -ton,  O.E.  ttoi, '  double, 
twd,  tu,  '  two,'  and  so  '  double-ford-town.'  In  Dom.  re  is  regu- 
larly=  er ;  and  in  W.  still/  is  pron,  v.  So  the  vret  or  vert  is  O.E. 
ford,  3  vord.  Cf.  c.  1190  Qir.  Camh.  Milverd-icus  for  MiLford. 
The  d  of  ford  has  in  Tiverton  become  merged  in  the  t  of  -ton. 
Cf.  TwERTON  and  TeverseCall. 

TiVY  R.  (Cardigan),  c.  800  Nennius  Tivis,  or  Teibi;  and  see 
Aberteivi.    Prob.  =  Towey. 

Tixall  (Stafford).  Dom.  Ticheshale,  a.  1200  Tikeshale.  'Nook 
of  Tica.'  Cf.  TiOKNALL  and  Dom.  Bucks  Tichesla.  See  Titch- 
BORNE  and  -hall. 

Tockenham  (Swindon)  and  Tockington  (Glouc).  B.C. 8.  481 
Toccanham,  Dom.  Tochintune,  1298  Tokynton.  '  Home '  and 
'  town  of  Tocca.'  Cf.  Tocketts  (Yorks),  Dom.  Tocstune,  also 
Toscotune;  and  Tockwith,  Dom.  Tocvi,  '  Tocc's  wood,'  O.N. 
Toki-  vith-r,  Dan.  ved.    Cf.  Le  Van  Tocque,  Jersey. 

ToDENHAM  (Chipping  Norton),  c.  804  chart.  Todanhom.  'En- 
closure of  Toda '  or  '  Tuda.'  Of  the  latter,  there  are  many  in 
Onom.  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Todeni.  There  are  also  3  Todding- 
tons,  Dom.  Todintun  (Glouc),  1314  Todinton  (Lanes).  See 
-ham  and  -ton. 

ToDMORDEN.  '  The  Morden  of  the  tods  or  foxes.'  Tod,  common 
still  in  Sc,  is  fr.  Icel.  toddi,  '  a  bunch  of  wool,'  referring  to  the 
fox's  tale.  Cf.  c.  1170  Newminster  Cartul.  Todholes.  There  are 
2  Mordens,  at  Mitcham  andWareham.  This  is  O.E.  mor,  denu, 
'  moorland  valley.' 

ToDWiOK  (Sheffield).  Dom.  Tatewic.  'Dwelling  of  Tata.'  Cf. 
Tad  caster.    See  -wick. 


TOFT  478  TOOTHILL     ^ 

ToPT  (Dunchurch,  Beccles,  and  Cambridge),  Toft  Hill  (Bp. 
Auckland),  Toftwood  (Dereham).  Ca.  T.,  Dom.  Tofth, 
1302  Thofte.  O.N.  toft,  adopted  into  O.E.,  '  cleared  space  for 
the  site  of  a  house/  then  '  homestead,  (small)  farm  ' ;  also  some- 
times '  a  knoll  or  hillock.'  J.  H.  Turner  gives  5  places  ending 
in  -toft  in  Yorks — Altofts,  Arnoldstoft,  Langtoft,  Thirntoft, 
Willitoft.  In  these  cases  Dom.  speUs  -toft  or  -tot.  In  the 
defunct  ElestoU  it  inserts  an  I.  Duignan  records  none  fr.  Staffs 
or  Worcester.    It  recurs  in  Ametot.  Jersey. 

ToLLESBUHY  (Witham) .  *  Burgh  of  Tolla/  Cf.  Tolesby  (N.  Riding) 
Dom.  Tollesbi.  Tollerton  (York),  Dom.  Tolentun,  ToUetun, 
is  also  Tollantun,  the  n  of  the  gen.  being  changed  to  its  kindred 
liquid  r,  perh.  through  Norse  influence,  Tolthorp  (Yorks), 
Dom.  Toletorp,  is  fr.  the  same  name.  Cf.  Tolworth  (Surbiton) . 
See  -worth.  Tollerton  (Notts),  Dom.  Troclauestone,  1166 
Pi'pe  Turlaueston,  1294  Thorlaxton,  c.  1500  Torlaston,  is 
difficult.    The  forms  represent  either  Thurlac  or  Thorlaf. 

Tolpiddlb  (Dorchester).  Prob.  'clump  of  trees  beside  the  small 
or  puddly  stream,'  fr.  toll  sb,*  which  Oxf.  Diet,  says  is  now 
dial.  fr.  Kent  to  Hants.  This  toll,  first  found  in  1644,  is  of 
unknown  origin.  See  Piddletown.  Tollerdlste  (Wore), 
1327  Tolwardyn,  means,  thinks  Duignan,  not  '  toll-farm,'  but 
*  farm  free  fr.  toll  or  tax,'  O.E.  toll  has  this  meaning.  See 
-wardine. 

Tonbrtdge  or  Tttnbridge.  Dom.  Ton(e)bridge,  c.  1097  Flor. 
Wore.  Tunebrycgia.  Prob.  '  bridge  of  Tuna/  common  in  Onom. 
A  little  stream  called  the  Tun  here  joins  the  Medway.  It  may 
be  a  later  back  formation,  or  ?  W.  tonn,  '  land  unploughed.' 
Cf.  1303  R.  Brunne  Eandl.  Synne  10586:  '  So  long  he  ITumna] 
leuede  yn  that  estre  (place)  that  for  hys  name  he  hy^t  (was 
called)  Tuncestre.'    This  last  name  seems  now  lost. 

Tong  (Bradford  and  Shifnal).  Br.  T.  Dom.  Tuinc.  Tonge 
(Middleton,  Manchester),  1227  Tonge,  1285  Toung,  Tong,  1551 
Tongue.  Tong  Park  (Shipley).  O.E.  tunge,  O.N.  tunga,  Dan. 
tunge,  *  tongue,  tongue  of  land,  promontory.'  Cf.  Dom.  Wore. 
Tonge,  and  Tongue  (Sc),  Tong  Fold  (Bolton)  is  now  pron. 
Tornfont. 

TooLEY  Street  (London),  c.  1650  St.  Tulie's  Street.  Corrup.  of 
'  St.  Olave'e,  Street.'  ,  The  Danes  were  settled  here,  and  Olaf 
was  patron  saint  of  Norway.  Cf.  tawdry,  fr.  St.  Audrey's  or 
Ethelreda's  fair. 

TooTHELL  (Ongar,  Alvanley,  Chesh.).  It  may  be  a  tautology,  as 
toot  or  tote  is  found  in  Eng.  for  '  an  isolated,  conspicuous  hill,  a 
look-out  hill,'  fr.  1387.  The  O.E.  totian  is  found  only  once, 
meaning  *  to  protrude,  peep  out';  but  the  vb.  tote,  'to  peep 
out,  peer,  gaze,'  is  common  fr.  a.  1225.  There  is  also  O.E.  tota, 
'  a  spy,  a  look-out,  a  tout,'  often  a  proper  name.    See  next. 


TOOTING  479  TORRISHOLME 

Tooter,  too,  is  found  as  a  sb.  fr.  Wyclif,  1382,  '  one  who  gazes,  a 
watchman,'  as  in  Tooter  Hxll  (S.  Lanes).  Of.  Tothill,  and 
Cleave  Toot  (Bristol).  The  name  toot  to-day  seems  chiefly 
S.  Wstn.;  but  we  have  a  Tote-hill,  Hartington  (Northumbld.), 
and  a  Tuthill  stairs  (Newcastle) . 

Tooting  (London).  727  chart.  Totinge,  Dom.  Totinges,  1228 
Toting',  1229  Thotinges.  Patronymic.  '  Place  of  the  sons  of 
Tota/  Four  called  Tota  and  2  Tuta  in  Onom.  For  pi.  ending 
in  Dom.  cf.  Barking,  Woking,  etc. ;  and  see  above.  But  Toton 
(Notts),  Dom.  Tolvestune,  1189  Pipe  Turuerton,  is  fr.  a  man 
TTiorolf. 

ToPOLiiTB  (Thirsk).  Dom.  Topeclive,  1301  Topclive.  '  Chff  of 
Topa,  Tope,  or  Topp/  all  forms  in  Onom.    Cf.  Cleveland. 

ToppESFiELD  (Halstead).  1298  Toppesfelde.  'Field  of  Toppa.' 
See  above. 

TopsHAM  (S.  Devon),  c.  1072  Toppeshamme,  1297-98  Topesham. 
'  Enclosure  of  Toppa  or  Topa.'  See  above.  The  -ham  here  is 
O.E.  Tiamm,  '  enclosure,  place  hemmed  in.' 

ToROROSS  (Kingsbridge),  Torpoint  (Cornwall),  etc.  Tor  or  Torr 
must  be  Kelt.,  though  already  found  as  torr  in  an  O.E.  Dorset 
chart,  of  847.  As  a  name,  it  is  chiefly  confined  to  Cornwall, 
Devon,  and  Peak  (Derby)  district.  Corn,  toor,  tor,  '  hill,  promi- 
nence' (though  this  form  is  denied  existence  by  Oxf.  Diet.), 
W.  twr,  O.W.  twrr,  '  heap,  pile,'  as  in  Mynydd  Twrr,  old  name 
of  Holyhead  Mtn.,  G.  tdrr,  '  a  heap,  a  pile,  then,  a  bill,  lofty  or 
conical,  a  mound,  a  heap  of  ruins.' 

ToRKSEY  (Lincoln).     873   O.E.  Chron.  Turces  ig(e),  Turices  ige, 
a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Torchasia.     'Isle  of  Turca  or  Turc,'  but 
•     hardly  of  '  the  Turk.'    Cf.  B.C.S.  165  Turcan  den.    See  -ey. 

ToRPENHOW  (Wigton,  Cumbld.).  c.  1200  Thorphinhow.  '  Mound, 
cairn,'  O.N.  haugr,  '  of  Thorfinn,'  a  common  name  in  Cumbld. 
in  12th  cny.    Cf.  Brant  How  and  Maeshow  (Sc). 

Torquay.  Kelt,  tor  cau  (in  W.  pron.  kay).  '  Hill  by  the  hollow.' 
See  ToRCROss.  Qicay  is  a  quite  recent  spelling  of  Jcay  or  key,  '  a 
wharf,'  and  the  pron.  key  instead  of  kay  is  recent,  too.  Of 
course,  Torquay  really  has  nothing  to  do  with  quay. 

ToRRiNGTON  (Devon).  1156  Pipe  Torentun,  1219  Torintun.  Perh. 
'  town  of  Tora,'  gen.  -an,  one  in  Onom.  But  Torentun  in  Dom. 
Yorks,  1179-80  Pipe  Torenton,  always  seems  for  Thorijton. 
Cf.  Dom.  Chesh.,  Torentune. 

ToRRiSHOLME  (Morecambe)".  Dom.  Toredholme.  '  Meadow  by  the 
sea  of  Thored,'  a  common  O.E.  name.  See  -holm.  Cf.  Tort- 
worth  (Glouc),  Dom.  Torteuord,  1364  Tortheworth,  where  the 
name  seems  to  be  Torth  or  Torht,  which  is  var.  of  Thored  ;  also 
found  in  Onom.  as  Thord,  Thorth,  and  Tori. 


TOSELAND  480  TRAFFOED 

ToSELAiiTD  (Hunts).  Dom.  Toleslund.  'Grove/  O.N.  lund-r,  *  of 
ToU/  a  N.  name.  Of.  Timbebland.  But  Tostock  (Bury  St. 
E.)  and  1167-68  Pipe  Devon,  Tosby,  imply  a  man's  name  like 
Tos.    See  -by  and  Stoke. 

ToTHiLL  (London).  1250  Patent  R.  Tothull,  c.  1590  Totehill,  1598 
Stow  the  Tuthill,  1665  Tuttle,  1746  Toote  Hill=  Toothill. 
Wyclif,  2  Sam.  v.  7,  has  '  the  tote  hill  Syon.' 

ToTLAJSTD  Bay  (I.  of  Wight).     '  Look-out  land.'    See  Toothell. 

ToTLEY  (Sheffield).    Dom.  Totele.    The  site  is  so  commanding  * 
is  prob.  O.E.  totan  leak,  '  meadow  of  the  spy '  or  '  look-out/  t'^.: 
'  tout.'    Cf.  Tettenhall  and  next;  also  Totenhull  sic  a.  16(<.*.. 
now  Tutnell,  Tardebigge. 

ToTNESS  (Devon).    930  chart.  Tottaness,  c.  1205  Layam.  Tottena 
1250  Totenas,   1297  Tottenays.     '  C^ape  of  the  look-out '  >..-.;■ 
'  coastguardsman/  O.E.  tota,  -an.    See  Toothill  and  -ness. 

Tottenham  (London).  Dom.  Toteham,  a.  1124  Totenham,  1479 
Totnam  (the  mod.  pron.) .  '  Home  of  Tota '  or  *  Totta.'  Cf. 
above,  and  Tottno  (Oundle),  1229  Close  R.  Toteho.  '  Hoe, 
hill  of  Tota.'    See  -ham. 

Tottebidge  (S.  Herts).  Not  in  Dom.,  unless  it  be  there  Torinch, 
?  an  error.  1291  Tatterigg.  '  Ridge  of  Tata'  or  '  Totta/  both 
names  common  in  Onom;  but  cf.  Tothill.  Ridge  is  O.E.  Jirycg, 
Icel.  Jirygg-r,  Dan.  ryg, '  a  ridge  of  land/  lit.  '  the  back.' 

ToTTTNGTON  (BuTy  and  Thetford).  Cf.  Dom.  Teotintune  (Wore). 
'  Village  of  Teta,  Tetta,  Tetto,  Teotta,'  all  forms  in  Onom.  See 
-ing. 

TowAK  Head  (New  Quay),  c.  1130  Tohod  (an  error),  c.  1180 
Thohon.  Corn,  tovoan,  W.  tywyn,  '  seashore.'  The  th-  in  c. 
1180  will  come  fr.  a  Norm,  scribe.  Cf.  Towyn.  Jago,  in 
Cornw.  Gloss,  gives  towan,  towin,  tewen,  tuan,  or  tyen,  as  '  Cornish 
words  for  a  dune  or  heap  of  sand.' 

TowcESTEE  (Northants) .  921  O.E.  Chron.  Tof eceaster,  Dom.  To ve- 
cester.  '  Camp,  settlement  of  Tofig  '  or  Tof  or  Toui,  all  forms 
in  Onom.,  and  Tofig  very  common.  It  now  stands  on  the 
R.  Tove,  but  this  name  seems  to  be  a  late  back  formation. 
TowTHORP  ( Yorks) ,  Dom.  Tovetorp,  is  '  village  of  Toui.'  Similar 
is  TowTON  (S.  Yorks),  Dom.  Touetun. 

TowY  R.  (S.  Wales),  c.  1130  Lib.  Landav.  Tywi  (so  still  in  W.), 
Ann.  Cambr.  1095  Stra  tewi.  Perh.  same  root  as  W.  tywio, 
'  to  spread  out.'    Cf.  TivY. 

TowYN  (Abergele  and  Merioneth).  W.  tywyn.  Corn,  towan,  *  sea- 
shore, place  of  sands.'    Cf.  Towan. 

Trafford  (Manchester).  Sic  1292.  Wyld  and  H.  conjecture 
'  trough-like  ford.'     O.E.  troTi. 


TEAWSMAWR  481  TRENANS 

Trawsmawb  (Oaermarthen) .  W.  traws  is  *  across/  and  mawr,  G. 
mdr,  '  big/  Cf.  Trawsfynydd  (Merioneth),  '  across  the  moun- 
tain/ W.  mynydd.  Traws  is  L.  trans.  But  here  it  must  be  W. 
trawst,  '  rafter ' — '  the  big  beam/     ?  why. 

Treales  (Preston).  Z)om.  Treueles.  Seems  Kelt.  ?*  house  in  the 
field/  W.  and  Corn,  tre,  '  house/  and  Corn,  gwel,  gweal,  '  field.' 
1160-61  Pipe  Hereford,  Trivel,  must  be  the  same.  W.  has  also 
tra  for  'house,'  as  in  Pipe  ib.,  Trawent,  ?  'windy  house,'  W. 
gwynt,  '  wind.' 

Tee  Asser  (Pembroke) .  W.  tre  or  tref,  '  house  of  Asser/  It  was 
the  birthplace  of  Asserius  Menevensis,  friend  and  biographer  of 
Alfred  the  Great. 

Trecastle  (Brecon).  1298  Close  R.  Tria  Castra — i.e.,  'three 
camps.'    But,  of  course,  W.  tre  is  '  house,  village.' 

Tredington  (Shipton-on-Stour,  and  Tewkesbury) .  Sh.  T.  757  chart. 
Tredingctun,  964  ib.  Tyrdintune,  991  ib.  Tredintune,  Dom. 
Tredinctun.  Te.  T.,  Dom.  Trotintune,  1221  Tredigtone.  '  Town 
of  the  sons  of  Tyrdda,'  a  comes  or  earl,  its  known  early  owner. 
Transposition  of  r  is  common.  1280  Close  R.  Tradington,  now 
Trotton  (Sussex),  will  rather  be  fr.  Treda,  given  in  Onom.  as 
abbot  in  Wore,  Mercia,  c.  775;  so  might  the  other  place,  too. 
But  Tred WORTH  (Glouc),  1284  Truddeworth,  is  also  fr.  Tyrdda, 
See  -ing  and  -worth. 

Treeton  (Rotherham) .  Dom.  Trectone.  ?  *  town  of  Trecca'  a 
Yorks  name  in  Onom.  Or,  as  it  is  also  Dom.  Treton,  it  may 
simply  be  fr.  tree,  O.E.  treo.  Cf,  Tresham  (Hawkesbury),  sic 
in  972  chart. 

Trefecca  (Talgarth,  Brecknockshire) .  W.  = '  house  of  Rebecca '  or 
'  Becky.'  The  mod.  W.  tra,  tre,  or  tref,  is  '  house,  village,  town,' 
in  O.W.  trev.  Seen  in  1324  Traueger,  now  Trefgarn  (Pembk.). 
For  this,  cf.  Tregaer. 

Tregaer  (Monmouth).  1325  Tregeyr,  and  Tregeare  (Egloskerry, 
Cornwall).  Prob.  1285  Chse  R.  Tregear.  '  House,  settlement 
by  the  castle,'  O.W.  gaer,  W.  caer,  Bret.  ker.  Cf.  Trefgarn  and 
T^eflerw  (Pembk.),  '  nice,  delicate  house.'  But  Tregaron 
(Cardingsh.)  is  fr.  Caron,  a  saint  of  unknown  history. 

Tre-Gvo3ngn  (Cornwall).    Corn.=  '  house,  village  of  bees.' 

Trelawne  Inlet  (West  Looe) .  Corn,  tre  lawn,  '  clear,  open  town- 
let  ' ;  lanm  is  cognate  with  Ir.  and  Brit,  lann,  W.  llan.  Com.  Ian, 
'  enclosure,  open  space  among  woods,'  seen  also  in  Eng.  lawn, 
found  earher  as  laund. 

Trelleck  (Monmouth).  1347  Rolls  Parlmt.  Trillek.  W.  tre  llech, 
*  house  made  of  flags  or  flagstones.' 

Tremaine  (Launceston).  Corn,  tre  meini,  'house  of  the  stones/ 
or  '  of  the  dolmen,'  maen. 

Trenans  (St,  Austell).    Corn.=  '  house  in  the  valley,'  W.  nant. 


TRENT  R.  482  TROTTERSCLIFPE 

Trent  R.  and  Trentham  (Stone).  Btde  and  O.S.  Chron.  633 
Treanta,  924  ib.  Treonta,  c.  900  Asser  Terente,  Dom.  Trenta; 
also  a  E,.  '  Trent '  in  Wore,  K.C.D.  iii.  396.  Dom.  Trenham, 
1156  Pipe  Trentham.  H.  Bradley's  ingenious  conjecture,  that 
in  Tacitus  Ann.  we  should  read  '  Trisantonam '  pro  '  castris 
Antonam/  and  make  Trisantona  the  orig.  form  of  Tre(h)anta, 
seems  far-fetched.  The  origin  seems  unknown.  It  cannot  be 
the  same  as  the  famous  counsel  of  Trent  (Tyrol),  which  is  the 
L.  Tridentum. 

Treryn  Din  as  (Land's  End).  Corn.  =  ' castle  of  the  fighting- 
place,'  treryn,  now  pron.  treen.  Cf.  1268  Norwich  Assize  Rolls 
Treneham.    There  is  no  name  like  Trena  in  Onom. 

Tresco  (Scilly)  and  Trescowe  (Marazion).  Dom.  Trescau.  Corn, 
for  '  house  beside  the  elder-tree/  still  called  scaw  in  Cornwall, 
Com.  scawen,  as  in  Bosoawen,  Bret,  scao,  scav,  scaven. 

Tresellian  R.  (Truro)  seems  to  be  Corn,  for  '  house  of  eels/  silli, 
'  an  eel ' ;  but  if  so  the  ending  is  unexplained. 

Trb  SpmiDiON  (The  Lizard).    Corn.=  '  house  of  spirits  or  ghosts.' 

Trevinb  (Letterston,  Pembroke).  Black  BTc.  Carw. Trefdyn, -dun, 
W.  tref  ddin,  '  house,  village  on  the  hill.'  Trevethin  (Mon.) 
is  the  same  name,  1285  Close  R.  Trevedyn,  W.  tref  y  din.  But 
Trevean  (Cornwall)  is  Dom.  Trebihan,  Corn,  tre  bean  or  vean 
(W.  bian,  bihan), '  little  house.' 

Trimdon  (Co.  Durham).  1183  Tremeldon.  A  curious  contrac- 
tion; older  forms  needed.  Perh. '  hill  of  Trumweald/  the  nearest 
name  in  Onom. 

Trimpley  (Suffolk  and  Bewdley).  Su.  T.  Dom.  Tremelaia,  Trem- 
lega;  Be.  T.  Dom.  Trinpelei;  1275  Trympeleye.  'Meadow  of 
some  unknown  man.  There  is  one  Trimma,  a  Mercian  monk, 
in  Bede.    See  -ley. 

Tring  (N.  of  London).  Dom.  Trevinga,  Trevng,  Treunge;  1211 
Traynge ;  1^3  Trehynge.  '  Place  of  the  sons  of  Tryg.'  See  -ing. 
Thring  is  stiU  a  common  surname  (de  Thring  is  found  1273) ,  and  the 
Th-  may  have  been  orig.  Norm.,  and  so  the  7i  would  then  be  mute. 

Tritton  (E.  Kent  ?  now) .  a.  1200  Tritton.  Said  to  be  fr.  Trithona 
(or  Frithona)  5th  Abp.  of  Canterbury,  and  first  English  one. 

Troedyrhtsv  (Glam.).    W.=  '  base  of  the  slope.'    Cf.  Troedybryn. 

Troon  (Camborne).  W.  or  Corn.  trioyn=G.  srdn,  'a  nose,  point, 
cape.'    Cf.  Troon  (Sc). 

Troston  (Bury  St.  E.) .  Dom.  Trostuna.  On  analogy  of  next  this 
may  be  *  Trota's  town.'  Onom.  has  nothing  Likelier.  Cf.  Dom. 
Chesh.  Trosford. 

Trotterscliffe  (W.  Mailing).  Pron.  Trosley,  which  shows  -cliffe 
to  be  a  recent  '  improvement ' ;  so  is  Trotter- ;  the  man  here 
recorded  is  prob.  Trota,  one  in  Onom.     '  Trota's  mead.' 


TROUTBECK  483  TUBNET 

Troutbeck  (Penrith  and  Windermere),  c.  1080  Bek  Troyte.  It 
may  be  fr.  a  man  Trota  in  Onom.  Trout  is  fr.  Fr.  truite,  and 
would  hardly  be  looked  for  in  Cumberland  c.  1080;  whilst 
Troyte  is  still  an  Eng.  surname.  Troutsdale  (E.  Riding)  is 
Dom.  Truzstal.  Here  also  trout  is  doubtful;  it  may  be  fr. 
Truthec,  a  name  in  Onom.  In  Dom.  z  is  for  ts  or  tcs ;  while  -stal 
will  be  O.E.  steall,  steel,  '  place.' 

Trowbridge  (Wilts).  {Dom.  has  a  Troi  near  here.]  c.  1160  Gest. 
Steph.  Trobriga,  1212  Trobrigge.  Unless  fr.  a  man  Trota,  this 
is  prob.  fr.  W.  tro, '  a  turn  ' ;  the  river  on  which  it  stands  is  called 
the  Biss.  But  the  name  may  be  a  hybrid.  Trowell  (Notts), 
Dom-  Trowalle,  Mutschmann  derives  fr.  O.E.  trSow, '  a  tree.' 

Trumpet  (Ledbury)  and  Trumpington  (Cambridge) .  K.C.D.  iv.  245 
Trumpintun,  1270  Trumpington,  1297  Trumpiton.  The  latter 
name  is  perh.  corrup.  of  Trumbeorht's  or  Trumberct's  town.' 
Any  such  name  as  Trump  or  Trumping  is  unknown.  But  the 
former  is  prob.  W.  '  hill-ridge  with  the  croft  or  land-portion 
on  it.'    W.  trum,  G.  druim  and  peth,  Pict.  pit,  pet,  '  a  portion.' 

Trunch  (N.  Walsham).  Dom.  Trunchet,  Truchet;  1426  Trunche. 
A  rare  case  in  this  region,  plainly  W.  tru)yn  diet,  *  point '  lit. 
'  nose  of  the  wood/  O.W.  chet,  cet,  coit,  mod.  W.  coed.  Cf. 
Chetwood.  Cf.  Troon  (Sc),  and  1179-80  Pipe  Yorks  Trun- 
field,  not  in  Dom.  This  last  may  be  contracted  fr.  '  Trununnc'a 
field.'  Ft.  tranchet,  '  paring-knife,  chisel-shank,'  seems  out  of 
the  question  for  Dom.'s  Trimchet.  The  Trunch  (Oakridge) 
seems  to  have  as  old  form  The  Trench,  here  in  its  oldest  mean- 
ing, '  lane  through  a  wood.'  Ozf.  Diet,  gives  no  spelling  of 
trench  with  u. 

Truro.  Old  Treuru,  Triueru,  1536  Truroo.  Corn,  tre  vuru  (pi.  of 
vor),  '  three  ways  ';  3  main  roads  meet  here. 

Trusham  (Chudleigh)  and  Trusthorpe  (Mablethorpe) .  The  man's 
name  here  is  uncertain.  Cf.  Trewsbury  (Cirencester),  Dom. 
Tursberie,  c.  1300  Trussebyry.  W.  H.  Stevenson  inclines  to 
connect  this  with  O.E.  trus,  '  brushwood.'  Cf.  Dom.  Norfk. 
Treus.     See  -bury,  -ham,  and  -thorpe. 

, Trwyn-y-Gwyddel  (Cardigan  Bay).  W.=  'cape  of  the  Gael.' 
Cf.  Troon  (Sc.)  and  Murian-'r-Gwyddel  (Harlech),  name  of 
ancient  fortifications.    W.  trwyn  is  same  as  G.  srdn,  lit.  '  nose.' 

Trysull  (Wolvermptn.).  Pron.  Treezle.  984  chart,  and  later, 
Tresel,  Dom.  Treslei.  It  means  trestle.  This  occurs  in  O.Fr. 
trestel,  but  that  is  fr.  Bret,  treustel,  fr.  treust,  trest,  '  a  beam,' 
found  also  in  W.  tresll,  fr.  trawst,  so  the  root  is  Keltic,  though 
very  early  in  O.E. — e.g.,  Trescot  near  by  is  1006  Treselcote, 
'  hut  built  in  trestle  fashion.' 

Tubney  (Mareham).  c.  1290  Tubbeney,  1316  Tobbeney,  c.  1540 
Tubney.   C/.5.C./S.ii.514Tubbanford.   'MeoiTubba.'  See-ey. 


TUDDENHAM  484  TWISTON 

TuDDENHAM  (2  in  Suffolk) .  1298  Tude'ham,  1450  Tudenham,  1477 
Todenham.  '  Home  of  Tuda '  or  '  Tudda,'  names  common  in 
Onom.  Cf.  TuDHOB  (Spennymoor),  Tudhope  and  Tudworth 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Tudeworde. 

TuGBY  (Leicester)  and  Ttjggal  (Alnwick),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur. 
Tugga-  and  Tughala.  Cf.  958  chart.  Tigwella,  on  Stour  (Staffd,) . 
'  Dwelling '  and '  nook  of  Tuga ';  one  in  Onom.    See  -by  and  -hall. 

TuNBRiDQE  Wells  dates  from  1606.    See  Tonbrldge. 

TuNSTALL  (Eorby  Lonsdale,  Yorks,  Stoke-on-T.,  Suffolk).  Kir.  T. 
Dunstall;  Yor.  T.  Dom.  Tonnestale,  1179-80  Tunstale;  Sto.  T. 
1272  Tunstall;  Suff.  T.  c.  1460  Tonstale;  also  B.C. 8.  iii.  605 
'  the  old  Tunsteall ' — i.e.,  Brockley  Hall.  O.E.  tun  steall,  '  en- 
closed place ' ;  a  stall  is  properly  '  a  farm-yard.'  The  name  is 
always  changing  into  Dunstall;  in  Staffs  we  find  it  so  on  four 
occasions.    Of.  Dom.  Norfk.  Tonstede.    See  -don  and  -ton. 

TuBNANT  Brook  (S.  Wales),  c.  1130  Lib.  Landav.  Nant  tri  neint 
— i.e., '  valley  of  the  three  valleys.' 

TuRVEY  (Bedford).  Dom.  Toruei,  -ueie;  ?  a.  1153  Lib.  Eliensis 
Torneia.  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Turvestone.  '  Isle  of  Turf,'  or  '  of 
Turfida,'  nearest  name  in  Onom.    See  -ey. 

TuSMOBE  (Oxon.).  Dom.  Toresmere,  1216  Thuresm'e,  1274-79 
Tursmer.  '  Lake,  mere  of  the  god  Thar.'  The  liquid  r  has 
vanished. 

TxTTBURY  (Burton-on-T.).  Dom.  Toteberie,  a.  1200  Tuttebury, 
Stuteberie,;  a.  1300  Tuttesbiri,  Tutesbury.  'Burgh  of  Tota,' 
or  else,  '  look-out  castle  ' ;  the  castle  commands  a  wide  prospect. 
Cf.  TooTHELL  and  Tottenham,  also  Tfitstall  Cross  (Broms- 
grove),  Dom.  Tothehel,  a.  1300  Tot(t)enhull, '  Tota's  hill.' 

Tuxford  (Notts) .  Sic  c.  1350,  but  Dom.  Tuxfarne  (error).  1454  Tux- 
f orthe.  '  Ford  of  Tucca,  Tuca,  or  Tucu,'  all  in  Onom.  See  -ford 
and  -forth. 

Tweed  R.  and  Tweedmouth.  ?  a.  600  Avdlanau  Ty^;  Bede 
Tuidus,  Twidus;  a.  800  Hist.  St.  Cuthbt.  Tweoda;  c.  966  Pict. 
Chron.  Tede;  a.  1130  Tweda;  a.  1150  Thveda;  1211  Tydemue. 
Perh.  fr.  W.  twyad,  'a  hemming  in,'  fr.  twy,  *  to  check,  to  bound.' 

TwERTON-ON-AvoN  (Bath).    Dom.  Twertone=  Tiverton. 

TwiCEJENHAM.  Prob.  704  chart.  Twicanhom,  and  793  chart.  Twit- 
tanham,  with  t  for  c,  948  Twiccanham,  c.  1200  Gervase  Twiccen- 
ham.  Prob.  '  home  of  Twica '  or  '  Twicga,'  in  Onom.  ;  or  fr. 
O.E.  tmcen,  '  place  where  two  roads  meet.'  The  derivation  of 
M'Clure,  p.  214,  seems  far-fetched.  Twigworth  (Glouc),  1242 
Twyggenwrthe,  is  plainly  '  farm  of  Twicga.' 

TwiSTON  (Clitheroe) .  Prob.  1318-19  Twysdenne,  which  is  a  hybrid ; 
W.  twys, '  top,  tuft,  head/  and  O.E.  denu  '  (wooded)  valley.' 


TWIZEL  485  TYWARNHAILE 

TwizEL  (Norham),  Twizel  House  (Bamboro'),  and  Twysell 
(N.  Durham).  Nor.  T.  c.  800  Hist.  St.  Cuthbt.  Twisle,  1183 
Tuisela.  Dur.  T.  1183  Tuisill.  O.E.  twisla,  'confluence/  fr. 
twislian,  '  to  fork,  to  split/  The  pron.  to-day  is  Twy-zel.  Of. 
Haltwhistle  and  Dom.  Yorks  Tuislebroc. 

TWYFOBD  (5  in  P.O.).  Northumb.  T.  Bede  Ad  tuifyrdi  quod  signi- 
ficat  '  ad  duplex  vadum/  [Evesham  T.  714  chart.  Tuiforde, 
a.  1000  Twyfyrde.]  956  chart.  Twyfyrd  (Glouc),  Dom.  Bucks 
Tveverde,  ib.  Oxon.  Tuiforde,  1298  Twyforde  (prob.  Herts); 
also  1160  Pipe  TwiuerS  (Kent).  O.E.  twi  ford,  'double  ford.' 
Cf.  Tiverton  and  Twerton.  But  Twiver  (Glouc.)  is  for  '  the 
Weaver '  river. 

TwYNHAM  (Christchurch).  Sic  in  Dom.  O.E.  tweon  ean,  '  between 
the  rivers/  O.E.  ea.  Twynholm  (Sc),  c.  1200  Twenham,  is 
the  same  name.  Cf.  the  Rom.  Interamna  and  Dom.  Hant^ 
Tuina. 

Twi-,  Twyning  (Tewkesbury).  814  chart.  Bituinseum,  Dom.  Tve- 
ninge,  Tuninge;  1221  Tweninges.  This  is  O.E.  betwynum,  be- 
tweonan  6as,  '  between  streams/  ea  being  later  supplanted  by 
-ing  with  same  meaning  (see  p.  56).  Cf.  Twynham  and  902 
O.E.  Chron.  Tweoxn  eam,  Tweoxnam,  ?  =  Twyning. 

Tyburn  (London).  Dom.  Tibume,c.  1420  Lydgate  Tyburne.  Prob. 
'  two  burns  '  or  '  brooks/  O.E.  tivi,  '  two.'    See  -bourne. 

Tydd  or  TiD  St.  Giles  (Wisbech).  1293  Tyd.  ^erh.  W .  tuedd/ a. 
region,  a  coast.'  Skeat  says  fr.  a  personal  name  Tidi,  and 
compares  Tidmarsh,  Tidworth,  etc.    But  this  is  abnormal. 

Tyddyn  Wysgi  (Anglesea).  W.= '  farm  by  the  water.'  Cf.  Tid- 
NOCK  and  Use,  and  '  whisky.' 

Tyldesley  (Manchester).  Sic  c.  1430.  '  Meadow,  lea  of  the  tent,' 
O.E.  tyld,  teld.    Weekley  suggests  '  Tilda's '  or  '  Matilda's  lea.' 

Tyne,  R.  etc.  Bede  Tinus,  Tyne;  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Tina  and 
Tynemuthe;  c.  1145  Wm.  Malmes.  Tinemuthe;  1151  Pipe  Tin- 
dala;  1178  Tyndale.  Ptolemy's  TiVa  is  prob.  the  Haddington 
Tyne  (Sc).  Perh.  fr.  W.  tynu,  'to  draw,  pull,'  G.  teanu,  'to 
move,  stir,  proceed,'  or  fr.  W.  tyno, '  a  green  plot,  a  dale.' 

Tysoe  ( Warwicksh.) .  Dom.  Tiheshoche;  a.  1200  Tiesoch,  Thiesho, 
Thisho,  Tyeso;  a.  1300  T(h)ysho.  '  Height  of  Tihha '  or  '  Tih.' 
See  Hob. 

TYTHERmaxoN  (Thornbury).  Dom.  Tidrentune,  c.  1170  Tidring- 
ton, '  town  of  the  sons  of  Tidhere.'    See  -ing  and  -ton. 

Tywarnhaile  (Cornwall) .  Corn,  ty  war  an  hayle,  '  house  on  the 
tidal  river.'  Cf.  Hayle.  We  get  this  ty  or  ti  (G.  tigh)  in  such 
Dom.  Cornw.  names  as  Ticoith,  '  house  in  the  wood,'  Tiwarthel, 
etc.    Cf.  Chyandoub. 


UCKFIELD  486  '  ULLENHALL 

UoKEiELD  (Sussex).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  1240  Close  B.  Quicfeld. 
Perh.  '  Field  of  Ucca  '  or  '  XJcco,'  both  in  Onom.  Cf.  B.C.S.  158 
Uckinge  esher,  Ucetngton  (Glouc),  Dom.  Hochinton,   1221 

'  Uchintone,  and  Uukinghall  (Wore),  1275  Hugingehale, 
where  we  get  the  patronymic;  also  Upton  (Pembk.),  in  Gir. 
Camb.  Ucketune,  Uccetuna.  1240  Qiiic-  looks  like  O.E.  cwicu, 
c{w)ucu,  '  moving,  shifting,  alive/  as  in  quicksand ;  but  this 
sense  is  not  in  Oxf.  Diet.  a.  1340. 

Umtngton  (Berks).  B.C.S.  ii.  376  Uffentune,  Dom.  Offentone. 
1291  Offingtone,  Offentone;  also  about  same  date,  Uffinton, 
'  Town,  village  of  Uffa/  a  common  name  in  Onom.  Cf.  UfEnell 
(Pershore),  and  next. 

Uffoed  (Melton).  Sic  a.  1100.  '  Ford  of  Ufa/  a  common  name  in 
Onom.    Cf.  above. 

Ufton  (Southam  and  Theale,  Berks).  So.  U.  c.  1000  XJlfetune; 
Dom.  Ulchetone  (error) ;  a.  1300  Ulston,  Oluston,  Oulfton,  Oluf-, 
Olughton;  Th.  U.  1317  Uftone.  The  latter  may  be  fr.  Ufa,  as 
above;  it  is  now  called  U.  Newet  (prob.  =  Newent).  Cf.  Dom. 
Somt.  Vfetone.  But  aU  the  other  forms  point  to  '  town  of  Ulf/ 
Nor.  Fr.  form  of  the  common  Wulf. 

Ugborough  (Ivybridge).  Dom.  Ulgeberge.  'Town,  burgh  of  ? 
Onom.  has  one  Olfgeat  or  Oluiet;  and  cf.  Ugthorpe.  See 
-borough. 

Ugglebabnby  (Sleights,  Yorks).  Dom.  Ugleberdsbi,  1179-80  Vgul- 
bardebi.    '  Dwelling  of  Ugelbert ' ;  one  in  Onom.    See  -by. 

Ugthobpe  (Grosmont,  Yorks).  Dom.  Ugetorp,  Ughetorp.  Prob. 
'  village  of  Huga  '  or  '  Hug/  both  names  in  Onom.  Cf.  Ughill 
(Yorks),  Dom.  Ughil ;  and  see  -thorpe. 

Uloeby  (Alford  and  Lines).  Dom.  Uluesbi.  'Dwelling  of  Ulf/ 
Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Vlchestone.    See  -by. 

Uley  (Dursley).  Dom.  Euulege,  later  Huelege.  'Yew-tree 
meadow,'  O.E.  iw,  eow.    See  -ley. 

Ulgham  (Morpeth).  'Home  of  V  Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Oilgi,  and 
Chesh.  Ulchenol  (?  Uha'^  knoll').  No  Ulga  in  Onom.  It  may 
be  like  the  next,  '  home  of  the  Owl/  nickname  of  some  man, 
O.N.  u^la,  O.E.  ule.  Ulchester,  or  Outchester  (Belford),  may 
have  a  similar  origin.  Some  identify  it  with  a.  700  Bav.  Geogr. 
Oleiclavis. 

Ullenhajll  (Henley-in-Arden).  Dom.  Holehale,  a.  1200  Hulehale, 
1257  Hunhal,  1326  Uhihale,  Ulehale,  Holenhale.  'Nook  of 
the  owl,'  O.E.  ule,  -an,  6-6  howle,  6  houle,  7  oole ;  O.N.  ugh,. 
And  Ulls WATER,  as  well  as  Uldale  (Cumberland),  are,  of 
course,  fr.  the  same  bird;  prob.  through  N.  rather  than  Eng. 
Ullett  Rd.  (Liverpool)  is  for  owlet,  1542  oulette.  Cf.  1211 
Ulecote  (?  Co.  Durham)  and  Oubrough  (Yorks),  Dom.  Uleburg, 


ULLESKELF  487  UPMINSTER 

Ulenburg,  also  Ulcombe  (Maidstone),  with  which,  prob.  goes 
940  chart.  Olencumb  (Dorset).  But  Ullingwick  (Glouc), 
a.  1200  OUinggewike,  1212  Wyllynwyck,  is  '  dwelling  of  the  sons 
of  Willa.'    See  -ing  and  -wick. 

Ullbskelb'  (York).  Dom.  Oleslec,  Oleschel.  'Ledge  of  Olla'  or 
'  XJla,'  both  forms  in  Onom.  O.E.  scelfe,  scylfe,  '  a  shelf.' 
Ulley  (Sheffield),  Dom.  Ollei,  is  fr.  same  man's  name.    See  -ey. 

Ulromb  (Yorks).  Dom.  Ulfram,  Ulreham.  '  Home  of  Ulfarr/ 
N.  form  of  the  common  O.E.  Wulfhere.    See  -ham. 

Ulveestone.  Local  pron.  Ooston.  Dom.  Vluerston,  1196  Olues- 
ton,  1202  Vlveston,  1230  Ulveston.  Prob.  '  town  of  Wulfhere,' 
a  very  common  name.  Cf.  Dom.  Chesh..  Ulvre,  Bucks  Vlf re- 
stone;  also  Ulveeley  (Acock's  Green),  Dom.  Uluerlie,  a.  1200 
Hulferle.  Cf.  Owsthorpe  with  Ooston;  also  cf.  Woolverstone 
(Ipswich).  Ulmston  (Nthbld.)  is  c.  1316  Ouston,  prob.  fr.  a 
man  Ulfhelm. 

Umberleigh  (Devon)  is  var.  of  Amberley  and  Ombersley, 
'  pitcher  meadow,'  while  Umberslade  (Henley-in-Arden),  a.  1200 
Ombreslade,  is  '  channel,  watercourse,'  O.E.  {ge)ldd,  '  of  the 
pitcher,'  O.E.  amber,  omber.    Cf.  Cricklade. 

Unoleby  (Yorks).  Dom.  Unchelsbi,  Unglesbi,  Unchelfsbi.  Prob. 
'  dwelling  of  Wuncild,'  one  in  Onom.,  which  also  gives  one  Hun- 
chil,  or  Runcytel,  seen  in  Dom.  Yorks  Hunchilhuse.  Eng.  uncle 
is  fr.  Er.    See  -by. 

Unstojste  (Sheffield)  (not  in  Dom.)  and  Unsworth  (Manchester). 
1522  Undesworth.  There  are  2  Unas  but  no  Unda  in  Onom. 
See  -stone  and  -worth. 

Unthank  (Alnham  and  Haltwhistle,  Northumbd.,  and  3  in  Cumbld.). 
Common,  too,  in  Sc.  {q.v.),  where  found  1228  Vnthanc.  O.E. 
un-  anc  means  '  ingratitude,'  and  the  reference  may  be  to  the 
barrenness  of  the  soil.  But  Canon  Taylor  says  it  denotes  a 
piece  of  ground  on  which  some  squatter  had  settled  '  without 
leave '  of  the  lord. 

Uphill  (Weston-s.-M.).  Dom.  Opopille.  Doubtful.  Perh.  'hill 
of  Oppo  '  or  '  Oppa,'  both  in  Onom. 

Upleatham  (Redcar).  Dom.  Upelider,  1204  Uplium.  The  Dom. 
is  plainly  O.N.  upp  a  hli^ar, '  up  on  the  slope  or  hill-side.'  Hli^ 
is  also  O.E.  for  '  slope,'  cf.  Lbith  Hill;  and  1204  is  an  old 
loc.  from  it,  now,  like  all  these  Yorks  locatives,  turned  into  -ham 
iq.v.).  Kirkleatham  is  Dom.  Westlidu'.  But  Upleadon  (N.W. 
Glouc.)  is  '  upon  the  B.  Leadon.'    See  Ledbury. 

Upminster  (Romford),  a.  716  chart.  Upmynster,  Dom.  Upmon- 
stra.  '  Upper  '  or  '  high-up  church.'  Cf.  Upton  and  Upthorp 
(Shipston-on-Stour),  990  chart.  Uppsthrop. 


UPPER  WTCHE  488  TJXBRIDGE 

Uppee  Wychb  (Malvern).  O.E.  wic,  'dwelling-place/  Cf.  Dom, 
Wiche  (Salop),  and  Droitwich. 

Upsall  (Thirsk).  Dom.  Upesale,  Upsale,  Upeshale;  1179-80  Hup- 
sale.  This  is  prob.  O.E.  up  seel,  '  upper  hall/  4-7  sale,  5  sail. 
Thus  the  ending,  unlike  most  old  names  in  -ale  or  -all,  is  not 
-hall  iq.v.).    Cf.  Upminster. 

Upton  (24  in  P.G.).  962  chart.  Uptun  (on  Severn),  Dom.  Yorks 
and  Salop  Uptune,  -tone,  Berks,  Glouc.,  and  Warwk.  Optone, 
Bucks  Opetone,  Suffk.  Opituna.  O.E.  up  tun,  '  upper,  high- 
up  village/  Oldest  of  all  perh.  is  Upton  Warren  (Bromsgrove), 
714  chart.  Uptone.  The  Warins  and  Fitz-Warins  owned  the 
manor  in  the  13th  cny.  Upton  (Pembk.),  1603  Owen  Vpton, 
is  c.  1190  Gir.  Camb.  Ucketune,  Uccetuna,  fr.  a  man  Ucca,  as 

inUCKFIELD. 

Upware  (Cambs).  1349  Upwere.  O.E.  up  wcer,  'upper  weir'  or 
'fish pool.'    C/.  Upwell  (Wisbech). 

Upwood  (Huntingdon).  Cf.  1060  chart.  '  Uppwude  cum  Ravelaga 
berewico  suo.'     '  Upper  wood.'    Cf.  above. 

Ure,  E..    See  York. 

UsK  R.  In  W.  Wysc.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Isca,  1050  O.E.  Chron. 
Wylisce  ('  in  Welsh  ')  Axa,  Dom.  Huscha,  c.  1130  Lib.  Landav. 
Huiso,  c.  1250  Layam.  Uske.  Kelt,  uisc,  '  water,  river,'  same 
root  as  G.  uisge, '  whisky,'  Axe,  Otjse,  and  Ux- bridge. 

UswoRTH  (Washington,  Co.  Durham).  1183  Useworth.  *  Farm 
of  Osa,'  a  common  name;  no  Usa  is  recorded.  Cf.  Otjse.  See 
-worth. 

Utley  (Keighley).  Dom.  Utelai.  'Meadow  of  Uta.'  Cf.  839 
chart.  Uhtlufe  (Kent).  There  are  2  Utas,  and  also  4  Utels  in 
Onom.    See  -ley. 

Uttoxeter.  Pron.  tJxeter.  Dom.  Wotocheshede  {d  for  th  as 
usual,  medially,  in  Dom.) ;  a.  1200  Uttockeshedere,  Uttoxe- 
shather,  Huttokeshagh,  Ottokeshather ;  a.  1400  Uttoxhather, 
Uttoxeshather,  Uttoxatre,  Uttockcestre;  a.  1600  Utcester, 
Utseter,  Uttecester.  The  analogy  of  Exeter  tempts  one,  and 
Chambers's  Encycl.  actually  invents  an  O.E.  Uttocceaster ;  but 
the  name  has  nothing  to  do  with  -cester  or  '  camp.'  The  first 
half  must  represent  an  unrecorded  man  Wotoc  {ch  in  Dom.  is 
the  usual  Norm,  softening),  or  Uuottok.  Cf.  the  mod.  names 
Whittock  and  Whytock.  The  second  half,  -hedere  or  -bather, 
must  surely  be  Norse,  the  O.N.  heith-r, '  a  heath,  a  moor.'  Eng, 
heath  would  yield  no  r,  and  '  Wotoc's  heather  '  is  a  very  unlikely 
name,  though  heather  is  a  much  earlier  and  wider  spread  Eng. 
word  than  Oxf.  Diet,  knows.     See  Hatherleigh. 

Uxbridge  (Middlesex).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  it  has  an  Exeforde  near 
Bedfont.     1139    Oxebridge;   later   Woxbridge.    It   is   on   the 


VALLE  CRUCIS  489  WADBOROUGH 

R.  Colne,  so  Ux-  or  Oxe-  here  may  be  =  Usk,  '  river,  water/ 
Oxf.  Diet,  gives  no  case  of  ox  becoming  ux  in  Eng. ;  but  O.N.  for 
'  ox  '  is  uxe  or  oxe.    This  is  to  be  viewed  as  one  views  Oxtobd. 

Valle  Cbucis  Abbey  (Llangollen).  L.=  'in  the  valley  of  the 
Cross."  Cistercian  abbey  founded  here,  c.  1200,  by  Madoc  ap 
Gruffydd.  In  W.  it  is  Llan  Egwest.  Le  Clos  du  Valle,  Guernsey, 
1135  Wallus,  however,  is  fr.  O.N.  voll-r,  'a  field.' 

Vauxhall  (Lambeth).  1363  '  Faukeshalle  juxta  London.'  Fawkea 
was  a  powerful  baron,  in  the  reign  of  K.  John,  who  built  '  La 
Salle '  (the  hall)  '  de  Fawkes.' 

Ventnor  (I.  of  Wight).  Ventanora  must  mean  'shore,  edge, 
brink  of  the  Venta.'  Venta  is  common  in  Eng.  place-names  of 
Roman  times,  Venta  Belgarum,  Icenorum,  Silurum,  etc.  {i.e., 
Winchester,  Caistor  near  Norwich,  Chepstow,  etc.).  M'Clure 
(pp.  32-33)  shows  that  Venta  is  not  Keltic  but  late  Latin,  the 
meaning  being  '  market,  place  where  things  are  sold/  L.  vendere, 
venditum.    Cf.  Wentnor. 

VEEULAM-St.  Albans.  Bede  '  Verulamium  '  or  in  Eng.  '  Verla- 
macsestir  or  Vsetlinga-csestir,'  v.r.  Vseclinga-Caestir.  In  Bede's 
O.E.  versn.,  over  100  years  later,  Werlameceaster  or  Waeclinga- 
ceaster.  c.  1205  Layam.  Verolam  or  Verolamestun.  Verlam 
or  Werlame  seems  to  have  been  a  river  name,  about  which 
M'Clure  has  some  conjectm:es,  drawn  fr.  Whitley  Stokes  (see 
his  p.  40) .     VsetUnga  reminds  of  Watling  Street. 

Vbuwood  (Wimborne).  Old  forms  needed.  But  cf.  1179-80  Pipe 
Verli  (Yorks),  which  may  be  '  lea,  meadow  of  Verca  '  or  '  Werm' 
There  was  one,  abbess  at  Tynemouth.  Bom.  Wilts  has  a 
Vergroh  (S.W.  of  Dorchester). 

Vradden  or  Bkaddn  (Cornwall).  To  guess,  as  some  do, '  chough's 
abode,'  and  derive  fr.  Corn,  vran,  Ir.  and  G.  bran,  '  a  crow, 
chough,  Cornish  crow,'  is  to  leave  the  d  quite  unaccounted  for. 
Braddan  was  a  Keltic  St.  of  the  7th  cny.  Cf.  Kirk  Braddan 
(I.  of  Man). 

Vyrnwy  (Montgomerysh.).  Perh.  W.  hryn  (6  aspirated)  gwy, 
'hill  with  the  stream.'  But  Vreny  or  Breni  Vawr  (Pem- 
broke), is  not  'big  hill'  (W.  mawr,  'big'),  but  prob.  'big 
prow,'  O.W.  hreni. 

Waberthwaite  (Millom).  '  Place,  farm  of '  ?  Old  forms  needed. 
Perh.  fr.  a  Wyberth  in  a  Cumbld.  charter,  c.  1080,  or  fr.  Wac- 
beorht  or  Weardbeorht,  names  in  Onom.  Perh.  fr.  Walbert  or 
WealhbeorU,  as  in  Walberswick  (Sfk.).    See  -thwaite. 

Wadborough  (Pershore).  972  chart.  Wadbeorh,  Dom.  Wadberge. 
These  are  just  O.E.  for  '  woad-hill,'  woad  being  a  plant  for  dyeing 
blue.    See  -burgh. 


WADDINGTON  490  WALDRINGriELD 

Waddington  (Lincoln),  c.  1300  Widdindune — i.e.,  O.E.  Wyddan 
dim,  '  hill  of  Wydda.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  960  Wyddan  beorh.  The 
name  Wada  is  also  common  in  Onom.,  and  Wid  and  Wida  are 
also  found.  For  the  tale  of  the  mythic  Wade  and  his  boat,  see 
Kemble  Saxons  in  Engld.  1.,  420. 

Waddon  (Croydon).  Prob,  a.  900  B.C.S.  ii.  196  Hwsete  dun,  Dom. 
Watendone,  Wadone,  1287  Whatdon;  and  Waddon  Hill  (Ship- 
ston-on-Stour),  chart.  Hwsetdune,  both  being  O.E.  for  '  wheat 
hiU.'    Cf.  Whaddon  and  Dom.  Bucks  Wadruge,  '  wheat  ridge.' 

Wadeford  (Chard).  Tautology.  O.E.  weed,  dial,  wath,  Icel.  vaS, 
'  a  ford.'  Cf.  Langwade  (Cambs),  1210  Landwath,  1284  Land- 
wade.  Cf.  Wath.  Wassand  (Yorks),  Dom.  Wadsande,  is  prob. 
fr.  the  same  root. 

Wadenhoe  (Oundle).  1166-67  Pipe  Wadeho.  'Hill,  height  of 
Wada.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  50  Wadan  hlaew,  Waddington,  and  next; 
and  see  Hoe. 

Wadswokth  (Hebden  Br.)  (Dom.  Wadeswrde)  and  Wadworth 
(Doncaster)  (Dom.  Wadewrde).  'Place,  farm  of  Wad,  Wada,' 
or  '  Wade.'  See  Waddington,  and  cf.  Wadsley  (Sheffield), 
Dom.  Wadesleia,  Wadelei;  only  in  Dom.  Derby  it  seems  given 
as  Wodnesleie,  '  meadow  of  Woden '  {cf.  Wanborough)  ;  also 
cf.  940  chart.  Wadlea3e  (Wilts).    See  -worth. 

Wainixeet  (Lines).  1396  Waynflete.  Fleet  is  'river,'  Wain  is 
^^  not  the  Rom.  Venonio,  which  is  High  Cross;  it  may  be  W. 
[i^  gwaen,  '  plain,  meadow,'  as  in  Waenfawr,  '  big  plain,'  Carnar- 
ifi^i  von.  But  WAiNLODE-on-Severn,  1424  Waynelodus,  is  '  wain, 
^^wagon  ferry,'  O.E.  {ge)ldd. 

Wakefield.  Dom.  Wachefeld,  c.  1350  Wakefeld.  Perh.  '  field 
of  the  vigil  or  wake  ' ;  O.E.  wacu,  so  Skeat.  But  cf.  1332  Molls 
Parlnd.  '  Le  Seigneur  de  Wake,'  which  suggests  '  field  of  a  man 
Wake.'  Li  Onom.  are  Wacca,  Wacco,  and  WoAih,  whilst  Wac  is 
common  in  early  Rolls. 

Walbrook  (London).  Perh.  c.  1140  Walebroc.  See  Oxf.  Diet. 
s.v.  Husting.     '  Brook  by  the  (London)  Wall.' 

Walcot  (Pershore,  Alcester,  Norwich),  Walcote  (Lutterworth), 
and  Walcott  (Lincoln) .  Pe.  W.  a.  1200  Walecot,  Dom.  Warwk. 
and  Salop  Walecote.  '  Cot,  cottage  by  the  wall,'  O.E.  weall ; 
though  perh.  wale  is  dat.  of  O.E.  wealh,  '  stranger,  foreigner, 
Welshman.'    Cf.  Walsall. 

Walden  Stubbs  (Pontefract).  Perh.  1179-80  Pipe  Yorks  Alanus 
de  Stublis.  Doubtful.  Stubbs  is  prob.  fr.  Sc.  and  G.  stob,  '  a 
stake,  a  stump.' 

Waldringfield  (Suffolk).  Local  pron.  Wunnerful !  Waldring- 
prob.  means  '  the  descendants  of  WeaMhere,'  a  common  name  in 
Onom.    See  -ing. 


WALES  491  WALlilEESLEt 

Wales.  922  O.E.  Chron.  On  Norj?  Wealum,  Eall  Norp  Weallcyn; 
as  name  of  the  country  perh.  first  in  1046  O.E.  Chron.  Into 
Wealan;  Dom.  Rex  de  Nort-Wales ;  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Waloniaj 
c.  1175  Fantosme  North  Wales.  In  1055  O.E.  Chron.  also  called 
Brytland  or  '  Britons'  land ' ;  whilst  in  O.E.  Chron.  the  people 
are  called  Wealas,  passim.  O.E.  weal,  wealh,  fern,  wylen,  is  '  a 
stranger,  a  foreigner/  then,  '  a  slave  ' ;  so  Wales  is  '  land  of  the 
strangers/  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  point  of  view.  Earle  thinks 
we  get  the  same  root  not  only  in  the  Ger.  Welsch,  but  in  Wal- 
loons, Wallachla,  and  canton  Wallis  in  Switzerland.  We  get 
the  older  name  in  c.  1145  Geoffr.  Monm.  '  Kambria,  in  their 
British  tongue  Kambri.'  The  mod.  W.  name  is  Cymru  or 
Kymru,  fr.  cym  -bro, '  the  compatriot,  the  native  of  the  country.' 
Wales  (Sheffield),  sic  Dom.  also  Walls,  seems  to  be  an  inflected 
form  of  O.E.  weall,  '  wall,  rampart.'  But  Walesby  (Newark), 
Dom.  Walesbi,  is  fr.  wealh.    See  -by. 

Waleord  (Ross)  and  Waleoed  Heath  (Shrewsbury) .  '  Ford  at 
the  wall,'  or  possibly  'the  well,'  O.E.  weall  or  well{a).  Cf. 
Dom.  Surrey  Walforde.  Walham  (Berkeley)  is  old  Waleham, 
prob.  fr.  O.E.  wealh.    See  above. 

Walk  Mill  (Burnley  and  Cannock),  Walker  Barn  (Macclesfd.), 
Walkeord  (Christchurch).  All  fr.  to  '  walk,'  Sc.  wauk,  '  to  full 
cloth,'  O.E.  wealcan,  '  to  turn  about,'  wealcere, '  a  fuller.' 

Walkingham  (Elnaresboro') .  Dom.  Walchingha',  and  Walking- 
ton  (Beverley),  Dom.  Walchinton.  '  Home '  and '  village  of  the 
sons  of  Wealh  '  or  '  the  foreigner.'  See  WalEvS,  and  -ing.  But 
W A LKERINQH AM  (Gainsboro'),  Dom.  Walcheringeham,  is  'home 
of  the  sons  of  Walchere.' 

Wall  Heath  (Dudley).  1332  Kingswallhuth  (=  heath).  Ancient 
earthworks  near  by.  There  is  a  fort  near  Wolverhampton,  '  The 
WaUs.' 

Wallingford.  c.  893  chart.  Wehnga  ford,  1006  O.E.  Chron. 
Weahnga  ford,  1216  ih.  Walinge  ford,  1298  Walinford,  1373 
Walyngforde.  '  Eord  of  the  Wealings  '  or  '  sons  of  Wealh,'  or 
'  sons  of  the  foreigner.'  See  Wales.  We  get  a  Norm,  spelling 
in  Wm.  of  Poitiers  Guarenford.  Cf.  Wallington  (Surrey), 
Dom.  WalUngeha,  and  Dom.  WaUtone  (Salop).  But  Walling- 
WELLS  (Notts),  1278  Wellandwell,  is  fr.  O.E.  weallende,  'boUing, 
bubbling  up.' 

Wallsend  (Newcastle).  1382  Dur.  Halm.  Rolls  Campus  de  Wal- 
leshond.  '  End  of  the  (Roman)  Wall,'  whose  other  end  is 
Bowness  (Cumbld.),  bui^t  by  Hadrian,  c.  130.  Wallop  (Stock- 
bridge),  Dom.  Wallope, -lop ;  1217  Close  R.  Welhop,  prob.  means 
'  piece  of  land  enclosed  with  a  wall,'  O.E.  vjeall,  Fris.  wal.  See 
-hope. 

Walmersley  (Bury) .  '  Meadow  of  Waldemar '  or  '  Wealdmcer,' 
this  only,  and  this  but  once,  in  Onom.    Cf.  1220-51  Cockersand 


WALMESFORD  492  WALWORTH 

Chart.  Waldemurfeld.    Wyld  and  H.  omit  both  this  and  Walmer 
Br.  (Preston).     See  -ley. 

Walmesford  (Northants).  O.E.  Chron.  657  Welmesford.  Perh. 
'  Ford  of '  ?  some  unknown  man.  But  both  it  and  Walmley  Ash 
(Sutton  Coldfield),  a.  1300  Warmleye,  are  more  prob.  fr.  O.E. 
walm,  wielm,  '  a  boiling  or  bubbling  up,  a  spring.'  Cf.  Ewelm 
and  Walmgate  (York). 

Walney  I.  (Barrow).  1127  Wagneia,  1189-94  Wageneia,  1227 
Wagneia.  '  Isle  of  Waga/  gen.  -an.  The  I  must  be  a  mod, 
intrusion.     See  p.  82,  and  -ey. 

Walpole  Highway  and  St.  Aistbrew  (Wisbech).  ?  a.  1244  ATict- 
deed  Villa  de  Walepol.  '  Pool  at  the  wall,'  O.E.  weall,  '  a  wall, 
a  rampart.'  There  seem  to  have  been  men  named  Walpole  in 
Norfk.,  a.  1200. 

Walsall.  1004  Walesho  (see  Hoe),  a.  1100  Waleshale,a.  ISOOWales- 
Walsale.     '  Nook,  corner  of  the  Welshman.'  See  Walcot. 

Walsham,  North  and  South.  Dom.  Walessam,  -esha;  1373  Will 
Edw.  Block  Pr.  '  Robert  de  Walsham.'  Prob.  '  home  of  Wale/ 
2  in  Onom.    See  Walcot  and  -ham. 

Walsingham  (Norfolk).  K.C.D.  782  Waelsinga-,  Dom.  Walsinga-, 
a.  1340  Walsyngham.  A  patronymic^  fr.  Weds,  a  name  in 
Beowulf.   See  -ing. 

Waltham  (9  in  P.O.)  and  Walthamstow.  Kent.  W.  727  chart. 
Waltham,  1001  O.E.  Chron.  Wealtham,  Essex  and  Berks  Dom, 
(and  chart,  a.  1067)  Waltham.  '  Home  of  Wealt '  ;  Weald  and 
Wealda  are  also  in  Onom.  As  the  spelling  is  always  with  t  it  is 
not  at  aU  likely  to  be  '  home  in  the  weald/  O.E.  for  '  wood,' 
same  root  as  wold.  Skeat,  because  we  never  find  any  sign  of 
a  gen.  in  even  the  earliest  charters,  thinks  it  cannot  be  from  a 
man,  and  conjectures  an  O.E.  wealt,  '  unsteady,  ill-built,  de- 
cayed,' comparing  the  known  unwealt,  '  steady,  firm,'  and  Icel. 
valt-r,  '  easily  upset.'    See  -stow. 

Walton  (21  in  P.O.).  Carlisle  W.  Bede,  '  The  royal  vill  caUed  Ad 
murum'  ('at  the  Wall');  Suffk.  W.  1046  chaH.  Wealtun; 
Blackburn,  Stone,  and  Epsom  W.  Dom.  Waletone.  Two  in 
Warwk.,  Dom.  Waltone.  Peterboro'  W.  1147  chart.  Walton. 
'  Town  with  or  at  the  wall  or  rampart,'  O.E.  weall.  There  are 
prob.  over  50  Waltons  in  England;  some  may  be  fr.  O.E.  weal, 
'  stranger,  foreigner,  Welshman,'  dat.  wale.  Cf.  Walcot.  Dom. 
varies  all  through  between  Wal-  and  Wale-.  In  Dom.  Yorks 
Walton,  Waleton,  or  Waliton  occur  10  times.  White  Walton 
(Berks)  is  B.C.S.  762  Wealtun,  whilst  Bps.  Walton  (Hants)  is 
909  chart.  Wealtham.    See  above. 

Walworth    (S.    London).    Dom.    Waleorde.    *Farm    of    Wale.' 
Cf.  above ;  and  see  -worth,  regularly  -orde  in  Dom.    Walsworth 
(j11ouc.">,  old  Wale-,  Wallesworthe,  is  the  same  name. 


WAMBROOK  493  WAPENBURY 

-Wambeook  (Chard).  Said  to  be  '  Woden's  brook/  Cf.  Wan- 
BOEOUGH.  Old  forms  needed;  it  is  not  in  Dom.  It  might  be 
'  Wamba's  brook/ 

Wampool  R.  (N.W.  Cumbld.).  c.  1080  chart.  Pollwathoen;  also 
Wathanpol.  W.  pwl,  G.  poll  is  our  Eng.  pool,  but  all  these 
words  tend  to  mean  '  a  stream/  in  Sc.  a  pow,  also.  Wathan  may 
perh.  be  the  same  root  as  W.  gwydden,  Corn,  gwedhen,  '  a  tree.' 

Wanborough  (S^^indon  and  Guildford).  Neither  will  be  O.E. 
Chron.  591  Wodnesbeorge,  Woddesbeorg,  fr.  the  god  Woden. 
But  Sw.  W.  is  Dom.  Wemberge^  1245  Wamberge,  and  Guil.  W. 
is  1147  Wenebergia.  This  seems  to  be  '  burgh,  fort  of  Wana,' 
2  in  Onom.  There  is  a  Wodnesborough  (Kent),  a.  1300  Wodnes- 
berge,  but  this  cannot  be  the  O.E.  Chron.  name  either.  Cf. 
Wednesbtjey.  But  Wajstdale,  which  occurs  several  times  in 
Cumbld.  and  Yorks,  is  prob.  fr.  O.N.  vang-r, '  field ' — i.e.,  valley 
partly  cultivated. 

Wandswoeth  (S.  London).  Dom.  Wendelesorde,  Wandesorde. 
'  Farm  on  the  R.  Wandle,'  prob.  W.  gwen  dol,  '  fair,  beautiful 
mead.'  Connexion  with  the  Teutonic  Vandals,  whose  homes 
was  between  Vistula  and  Oder,  or  with  the  Slavic  Wends,  who 
dwelt  nearer  Britain,  in  the  same  latitudes,  is  quite  doubtful. 
Cf.  K.C.D.  1283  Wsendlescumb,  1223  Patent  R.  Notts  Wandles- 
legh,  and  Hutton  Wandesley  (Yorks),  Dom.  Wandeslage,  all  of 
which  point  to  a  man  Wandel  or  Wanda.  There  is  one  Wandel 
in  Onom.    Cf.  Wendlebuey  and  Windsoe.    See  -worth. 

Wansbeck  R.  (Northumbld.).  a.  1700  Wannys  pike  water.  This, 
then,  is  a  corrup.  of  '  Wanny's  peak.'  There  are  no  genuine 
becks  in  Northbld.,  they  are  all  hums.  For  pike  see  Red  Pike; 
but  who  or  what  is  Wanny  ?  Perh.  the  same  as  the  Sc.  wannis 
in  BeUenden's  Livy,  which  is  '  scars,  wens,'  O.E.  wenn. 

Wai^sboeoitgh  (N.  Devon).  Not  in  Dom.  The  associating  with 
Woden,  seeing  that  it  fails  of  proper  authentication  in  some  other 
cases,  is  uncertain  here  also.  Prob.=  WAifBOEOUGH,  though 
the  ending  may  be  =  Baeeow.  Cf.  Wajstseoed  (Driffield  and 
Northants).    But  also  see  next. 

Waijsdyke,  The  (Bath),  a.  1145  Wm.  Malmes.  Wodnesdic — i.e., 
'  dyke  or  rampart  of  Woden,'  the  famous  Saxon  god,  also  called 
Odin.  But  Wanswell  (Berkeley),  1170-90  Weneswell,  is  fr. 
a  man  Wene. 

Waittage  (Berks).  O.E.  chart.  Waneting,  Waeneting;  1238  Wanet- 
ing ;  c.  1540  Wanting ;  so  the  ending  -age  seems  quite  modern. 
Patronymic.  '  Place  of  the  Wanetings,'  an  unknown  family. 
See  -age  and  -ing. 

Wapenbtjby  (Leamington)  {Dom.  Wapeberie,  1198  Wapenbiri), 
Wapley  (Yate)  (Dom.  Wapelei,  1163-64  Pipe  Wappelai),  and 
Wappenham  (Towcester)  {Dom.  Wapeham).  '  Burgh,  mead, 
and  home  of  Wap{p)a,'  an  unrecorded  name.     Cf.  Waplinq- 


WARBLETON  494  WARHAM 

TON  (Yorks),  Dom.  Waplinton,  which  gives  an  extended  form. 
See  -bury,  -ham,  and  -ley. 

Warbleton  (Heathfield  Tower,  Sussex).  Dom.  Warhlitetone.  C/. 
Dom.  'Werblestun'  (Chesh.).  Prob.  corrup.  of  'town  of 
Wembeald,'  3  in  Orvom. 

Warborough  (Wallingford).  913  O.E.  Chron.  Weardbyrig,  O.E. 
chart.  Weardburh.  '  Guard  -burgh  or  fort,'  O.E.  weard,  '  a 
guard,  a  watch,  a  ward.' 

Warboys  (Hunts).  Dom.  Wardebusc.  A  little  doubtful.  It 
seems  to  be  '  guard  bush,'  '  bush  of  the  watch,'  fr.  O.E.  weard 
and  O.N.  bush-r, '  bush,  wood,'  not  found  in  Oxf.  Did.  till  c.  1250. 
Cf.  Dan.  varde,  'a  beacon,  a  landmark.'  But  the  ending  has 
certainly  been  influenced  by  Fr.  hois,  '  a  wood.'    Cf.  p.  64. 

Warbubton  (Altrincham).  Dom.  Wareburgetun,  a.  1200  Wer- 
burton.  '  Town  of  St.  Werburga,'  daughter  of  Wulfhere,  K.  of 
Mercia,  Abbess  of  Ely  and  then  of  Chester  (d.  c.  875),  where  a 
monastery  was  dedicated  to  her,  c.  1057. 

Warden  (Hexham),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Waredun,  1183  Wardoiia. 
Possibly  '  sentry  hill,'  O.E.  wcer,  Dan,  var,  '  wary,  on  guard.' 
Or  fr.  a  man  Ware,  one  in  Onom.    See  -don. 

Wardle  (Nantwich).  1602  Woodhull.  Cf.  Dom.  Yorks  Wardille, 
now  Warthill,  and  Dom.  Worcr.  Warthuil.  '  Ward  or  guard 
hill,'  which  often  becomes  hull  in  this  region  and  to  the  S.  of  it. 
Cf.  AsTLE,  Solihull,  etc.    See,  too,  Wahborotjgh. 

Ware  (London),  a.  900  Guare,  Dom.  Waras,  1210  Wares  (?  1304 
Eolls  Parlmt.  I.  163.  1,  In  Villa  Warr).  Perh.  O.E.  wcer,  iver,  '  a 
fence,  a  wear,  an  enclosure  for  fish.'  However,  Skeat  is  con- 
fident it  is  simply  O.E.  waras,  'dwellers';  a  very  bald  and 
curious  name.  Cf.  Canterbury;  also  Dom.  Wwk.  Wara,  and 
Warton.  Dom.  uses  wara  for  '  the  outlying  part  of  a  manor,* 
prob.  fr.  same  root  as  ward — i.e.,  'defence.' 

Waheham.  O.E.  Chron.  876  Werham,  978  ib.  Wserham.  '  House 
at  the  wear.'    See  above.    But  cf.  Warden,  Warley,  and 

Up  WARE. 

Waresley  (Hartlebury).  817  chart.  Waeresleye,  980  ih.  Weres- 
Isege,  c.  1108  Wseresley,  a.  1200  Wareslei.  '  Meadow  of  Wcer.' 
But  Waresley  (Sandy)  is  '  wether'^  lea,'  '  ram's  meadow.' 

Wabgrave  (Berks,  on  Thames).  1061-65  chart.  Weregravse,  Dom. 
Weregrave,  later  Wergrave.  O.E.  wera  groef,  '  grave  of  the 
men';  wer,  '  a  man,'  and  graf,  groef,  '  a  trench,  a  grave.'  Cf. 
Gabgrave,  etc. 

Warbam  All  Saints  (Wells,  Norfk.).  Sic  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph. 
Either  =  WareSam,  '  home  at  the  wear,'  or  fr.  a  man  Warr  or 
Ware.  Skeat  derives  Warfield  (Berks),  Dom.  Warwelt,  fr. 
O.E.  wcer,  '  a  weir.'    Cf.  Warley  and  Wharrari. 


WARK  495  WARSTOCK     ' 

Wabk  (Northumbld.) .  1 157  Pipe  Werch,  c.  1 175  Fantosme  Were,  lit. 
'  work/  hence '  fortification/  Cf.  bulwark,  outwork,  etc.,  and  next. 

Warkworth  (Northumbld.).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Werceworde. 
1150  Werkewurthe,  c.  1175  Werkewde,  c.  1460  Warcorth. 
'  Place,  manor  with  the  work  or  rampart.'  Cf.  above,  Wark- 
leigh  (N.  Devon),  796  cJiart.  Wrkeleye  (Wilts),  and  Warkwood 
(Redditch),  1242  Werewode  (prob.  re  for  re). 

Warley  (Halifax)  {Dom.  Werla)  and  Warley  Common  (Brent- 
wood) (Dom.  Wareleia) .  Doubtful.  See  Wareham,  Warham,  and 
-ley.  Warley  Wigorn  (Halesowen)  is  Dom.  Werwelie,  a.  1400 
Werulege,  Wereulegh,  Werweleye,  which  Skeat thinks  prob. '  Wcer- 
wulf'a  mead.'    Wigornia  is  the  common  L.  for  Worcester. 

Warmington  (Oundle  and  Banbury).  Oun.  W.  963  O.E.  Chron. 
Wermiagtun.  Ban.  W.  Dom.  Warmintone.  A  patronymic; 
there  are  no  likely  names  in  Onom.,  unless  it  be  WcRrmoer  or 
WcBrmann.  But  Warsmswoth  (Doncaster)  is  Dom.  Wermes-, 
Wemesford,  which  implies  a  man  Werm  or  Weorm-,  so  does 
Warmfield  (W.  Riding),  Dom.  Warnesfeld,  and  Warndon 
(Wore),  Dom.  Wermedun,  1275  Warmdone.  Cf.  Worm's  Head. 
See  -ing,  -ton,  and  -worth. 

Warminster  (Westbury).  Dom.  Guerminstre,  1165  Pipe  War- 
menist',  a.  1228  Wermenistr'.  The  War-  may  be  as  in  Warham, 
but  as  Dom.  has  no  dislike  for  initial  O.E.  w,  Guer-  may  be  for 
W.  giverdd,  gywrdd,  '  green,  verdant,'  and  so  '  green-looking 
church  ';  dd  easily  disappears.    See  -minster. 

Warrenton  (N.E.  Northumbld.).  Old  Warndham.  Doubtful. 
There  are  2  called  Woerin  or  Warin  in  Onom.  Cf.  Warrenby 
(Redcar),  not  in  Dom.,  and  next.  John,  earl  of  Warrenne 
(b.  c.  1240),  is  1297  '  erl  of  wareine,'  O.Fr.  warene,  -enne,  '  a 
piece  of  ground  or  preserve  for  breeding  rabbits.' 

Warrington.  Dom.  WaLLtitune,  1175-82  W'linton,  1255  Wherin- 
ton,  1277  Werington.  Grig. '  town  of  Waling,'  or '  the  foreigner.' 
See  Walungford.  But  early  the  liquid  I  dissimilated  into  r, 
and  the  name  became  '  town  of  Warin,'  of  whom  there  are  several 
in  Onom.  Cf.  Warenberie,  Dom.  Cheshire,  and  the  personal  names 
Warren  and  Waring,  prob.  fr.  OJ^.  vcenngi,  'a  confederate.' 

Warsash  (Southampton).  Perh.  contracted  fr.  '  Wcerstan's  ash,' 
the  man's  name  is  fairly  common.  Cf.  Dom.  Hants  Warschessele 
(=  -hale  or  -hall,  q.v.)  and  next,  and  Borrowash. 

Warsop  (Notts).  Sic  1230,  but  Dom.  Wareshope,  Warsope. 
'  Valley  of  Wcer'  or  '  Ware*;  Icel.  hop,  '  a  haven,  a  place  of 
refuge.'  Cf.  Sc.  Hobkirk;  also  Warslow  (Leek),  Dom.  Weres- 
lie,  1300  Werselow.     See  -hope,  -low,  and  -ley. 

Warstock  (Birmingham).  Duignan  says,  a.  1500  Jiar  side,  'hoar 
stoke '  or  '  boundary  place,'  and  says  Warridge  (Bromsgrove) 
shows  the  same  change.     Old  forms  seem  lacking. 


WAETER  496  WATCHET 

Waetee  (York) .  Dom,  Wartre  (re  sounded  er) .  Doubtful.  Cf.  -er. 
Possibly  '  ward,  guard,  sentry  bank/  Wassail  Grove  (Hale- 
sowen), 1275  Warselde,  seems  to  have  been  similarly,  '  ward- 
settle  '  or  '  watch-tower '  (O.E.  seld  or  setl,  synonyms). 

Wakton  (Carnforth,  Preston,  Atherstone,  and  Staffs).  Ath.  W. 
1285  is  Wavertone  (still  sometimes  so  called)  and  St.  W.  1272 
Wavertime.  '  Aspen  -  tree  town.'  See  Waveetbeb.  But 
Pres.  W.  is  Dom.  and  later  Wartun,  which  points  to  some  man 
War{r).    Cf.  Ware  and  Waedlb. 

Warwiok.  915  O.E.  Chron.  '  This  year  was  Wserinwic  built,'  yet 
701  chart.  '  in  Wserincwicum,'  also  chart.  Wseriugwic,  Dom. 
Warwic,  a.  1145  Orderic  Guarewicum,  1258  Warewik.  '  Dwell- 
ing of  the  Wcerings.'  Waring  is  still  a  common  name.  Cf. 
Waeeington.  There  was  said  to  be  a  tribe  of  that  name  on 
the  S.W.  coast  of  the  Baltic  (Shore's  Origin  ofA.-S.  Race,  p.  36). 
However,  Wabwick  (Carlisle)  is  1120  Warthewic,  '  dwelling  of 
Wearda,'  nearest  name  in  Onom.    See  -wick. 

Wash,  The  (Lines),  and  Wash  or  Guash  R.  (Rutland).  Often  said 
to  be  Kelt,  for  '  water ' ;  but  almost  certainly  O.E.  wdse,  '  ooze, 
soft  mud,'  as  in  Washfield  (Tiverton),  1166  Pipe  Wasfeld, 
AiiBEWAS,  etc.  Cf.  O.N.  veisa,  '  stagnant  pool,  puddle.'  The 
Wash  at  low  water  looks  like  a  collection  of  muddy  sandbanks. 
Cf.  next  and  Wass  (York).  Dom.  Wore,  and  Glouc.  has  Wase- 
bume,  -borne,  the  latter  now  Washboubne  (Beckford). 

Washford  (Somerset).  Exon.  Dom.  Wasforda.  Perh.  '  ford  of 
Wassa '  or  '  Wasa.'  Of.  next.  More  likely  fr.  O.E.  wdse, '  ooze, 
soft  mud,'  O.N.  vds, '  wetness,'  as  above.    Cf.  Vason,  Guernsey. 

WASHiNQBOBOtrGH  (Lincoln),  a.  1100  Grant  o/664  Wassingburge. 
'  Burgh,  castle  of  the  descendants  of  Wassa.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  236 
Wassanburn.  But  Skeat  says  Wasing  (Berks),  Dom.  Walsinge, 
a.  1290  Wawesenge,  1316  Wausynge,  is  '  home  of  the  Wcelsings  ' 
or  '  sons  of  Wcels/  a  name  found  as  early  as  Beowulf.  Washing- 
ton (Co.  Durham)  is  1183  Wassyngtone,  1197  Wessinton,  plainly 
a  patronymic  fr.  Wassa.    See  -ingft 

Waskeei.ey  (Darlington).  Mawer  thinks  this  a  hybrid;  N.  was^ 
'  hardship,  toil,  danger,'  and  kjcer,  kjerr,  '  marsh,  wet  copse,' 
so  'dangerous,  marshy  ground,'  as  it  is  still;  and  -ley  {q.v.). 
Cf.  Wasdale  (Cumbld.). 

Waspebton  (Warwick).  1043  chart.  Waspertone,  as  also  in  K.C.D. 
939.  Duignan  says,  O.E.  wdse-  perig-  tun,  '  mud  or  fen,  pear- 
tree  town.'  This  looks  peculiar.  It  is  prob.  fr.  some  unre- 
corded man;  at  any  rate  Vosper  is  still  a  known  Cornish 
surname.    Cf.  Dom.  Devon  Wasberlege. 

Watohet  (Somerset).  915  O.E.  Chron.  Weced,  988  ib.  Wecedport. 
Dom.  Wacet,  a.  1300  Wechet.  O.E.  woecce, '  a  watch,'  fr.  vxican, 
•  to  watch,  wake,'  and  cete,  '  cot,  hut ' ;  so  '  watch-cot,  outlook 


WATCHFIELD  497  WATTON 

hut/    The  hard  O.E.  c  normally  becomes  tch  in  mod.  Eng.,  as 
in  Bletohley,  etc.    Cf.  Datohet. 

Watoheield  (Shrivenham).  931  chart.  Waeclesfeld,  Wachenesfeld, 
later  Uacenesfeld.  '  Field  of  Wacol ' — i.e.,  '  the  wakeful  one,' 
early  confused,  says  Skeat,  with  O.E.  wacen,  '  vigilance,  keeping 
watch.' 

Waterbeach  (Cambridge).    Dom.  Bech,  Bece.    See  Landbeach. 

Waterley  (Rochester) .  774  chart.  Wseterlea,  '  meadow  by  the 
water.'  Waterloo  (London)  has  perh.  the  same  meaning,  -loo 
being  the  Elem.  equivalent  of  O.E.  leah.  See  Oxf.  Diet.  s.v. 
lea  sb^. 

Water  Orton  (Coleshill).  a.  1300  Overton.  '  Upper  town  on 
the  river '  Tame. 

Wateord  (Herts,  Rugby,  Shenstone).  He.  W.  946  will  Watford, 
chart.  Watforda,  1390  Wathf ord.  Ru.  W.  Dom.  Wat-  and  Wad- 
ford.  Prob.  '  ford  of  Wata '  or  '  Wada,'  both  in  Onom.,  the 
latter  very  common ;  but  the  absence  of  all  trace  of  the  gen.  is 
not  usual.  Weddington  (Hinckley)  is  Dom.  Watitune.  Cf. 
Watton  and  Watnall  (Notts),  c.  1200  Wattenhou. 

Wath-on-Dearne  (Rotherham).  Dom.  Wat,  Wate.  Wath  is  a 
common  Eng.  or  Scandinavian  name  for  '  a  ford.'  See  Wade- 
EORD,  and  cf.  Watlas  (Yorks),  Dom.  Wadles  (?  O.N.  lest,  '  a 
burden,  a  last ') .  The  R.  Dearne  is  fr.  O.E.  derne,  dyrne,  O.Fris. 
dern,  '  iddden,  obscure,  secret.' 

Watling  St.  (Roman  road  '  fram  Dovere  in  to  Chestre,'  R.  Glouc. 
174).  880  chart.  Waethnga  street,  926  ib.  Wsec-,  Wsexlinga 
strsete,  1013  O.E.  Chron.  WaetHnga  Streete,  v.r.  Wat-,  Wsec-, 
Sim.  Dur.  ann.  1013  Waetlinga  strete,  1387  Trevisa  Watlynge 
strete.  Orig.,  some  say,  the  name  of  the  Milky  Way,  by  which 
the  hero-sons  of  Woetla  were  supposed  to  march  across  the  sky. 
But  it  seems  really  to  have  been  orig.  the  road  N.  fr.  London  to 
Verulam  or  Waetling  csester.  Cf.  M'Clure  (pp.  40-41),  and 
next.  For  Street,  cf.  Birchley  Street  (Atherstone),  a.  1300 
Birchelei  stret.  In  W.  it  is  Hynt  St.  lalm,  '  St.  James's  Way.' 
See  Duignan,  s.v.,  and  next. 

Watlestgton  (Battle,  Wallingf ord  and  Downham) .  Ba.  W.  Dom. 
Watlingtone,  Wa.  B.  ib.  Watelintune,  in  O.E.  chart.  Wseclinctune, 
Hwsetlinga  time,  Weetlinc-,  Waetlingtune.  '  Town  of  the  Wat- 
lings.'  See  above  and  cf.  Dom.  Watelintune  (Berks)  and 
Wathngeseta  (Norf  k.) .  Who  Wcetla  or  Watla  really  was  is  quite 
unknown.     This  is  evidently  a  patronymic.     See  -ing. 

Wattlesborough  (Wroxeter).  It  stands  on  Watling  Street. 
See  -borough. 

Watton  (3  in  P.G.).  Yorks  W.  Bede  Wetadun,  O.E.  for  *  wet  hill,' 
Dom.  Wattune,  Waton.    But  W.  Herts  is  K.C.D.  vi.  212  Wad- 


WAUN  498  WEDNESBURY 

tune,   Dom.   Watone,    1210   Wattone.    '  Town  of    Wada '   or 
'  Wade,'  still  a  common  surname.    C/.  Watford. 

Watin.   See  GwAm? .  Wawne  (Hull) ,  not  in  Dom.,  must  be  the  same. 

Wavendon  (Woburn  Sands) .  Dom.  Wauuendone.  '  Hill  of  Waga, 
Wagan '  or  '  Vagan,'  all  names  in  Onom.    See  -don. 

Wavbney  R.  (S.  Norfolk).  As  rivers  are  nearly  all  Kelt,  this  is 
prob.  a  form  of  W.  afon,  '  river/  pron.  as  in  Stratford-on-Avon, 
with  the  Eng.  ending  -ey.  For  a  somewhat  similar  prefixing  of 
w,  cf.  Wemyss  (Sc),  from  G.  uamh  ;  also  Wodin  and  Odin,  and 
our  pron.  of  one. 

Waver  R.  (Cumberld.).  c.  1080  Wafyr.  ?  fr.  W.  gwefr,  '  amber/ 
fr.  its  colour;  but  prob.  O.E.  wcefre,  '  wandering,  restless.' 

Waverley  (on  R,.  Wey,  Farnham).  1155  Pipe  Wauerle.  Abbey 
founded  here  1128.  Wey  might  be  contract,  of  Waver  {q.v.) 
and  -ley.  There  is  also  possible  O.E.  wceferlice,  '  belonging  to 
theatres,'  though  one  would  need  evidence  to  vote  for  such  an 
origin.  More  likely  is  the  supposed  O.E.  wcefre,  *  the  aspen-  ■ 
poplar.'  See  Wavertree.  There  are  also  2  Wavertons 
(Chesh.  and  Cumbld.).  and  see  Warton. 

Wavertree  (Liverpool).  Pron.  Wartree.  Dom.  Wauretreu 
(Chesh,),  O.E.  wcefre,  'restless.'  This  must  refer  to  some 
trembling  tree  like  the  aspen.  Duignan  holds  that  there  must 
be  an  O.E.  wcefre,  '  the  aspen  poplar.'     Cf.  above. 

Wear  R.  and  Wearmouth  (Durham).  Bede  Were,  c.  800  Hist.  St. 
Cuthbt.  Wirra.  Possibly  c.  150  Ptolemy  OveSpa;  also  Bede 
Viurae  muda  or  Wiremuth,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Weremuthe, 
Giuramuthe.  M'Clure  connects  with  Kelt,  gyrwe,  '  fen,  marsh,' 
and  with  Jarrow.  This  is  uncertain.  In  1160-61  Pipe  Nthbld. 
is  a  Werewurda,  ?  '  farm  of  a  man  caUed  Weir.'    See  -worth. 

Weaver  R.  and  Weaverham  (Cheshire).  Dom.  Wevre,  Wivre, 
Wivreham.  The  root  must  be  Keltic;  perh.  W.  gwyf,  'that 
yields,  is  smooth,  is  drawn  out,'  hence  gwyfr,  '  a  wire  ' ;  possibly 
W.  gwefr,  '  amber,'  fr.  the  colour  of  the  water.  Cf.  Waver 
and  Wyre.     See  -ham. 

Weaverthorpe  (York) .  Dom.  Wilfretorp,  Wifretorp,  1206  Wyuer- 
torp.  '  Village  of  Wiferth,'  var.  of  Wilfrith,  a  very  common 
O.E.  name.     See  -thorpe. 

Wedmore  (Weston-s.-M.).  Sic  in  Dom.,  but  O.E.  Chron.  878 
WeSmor.  '  Moor  of  the  agreement  or  pledge,'  O.E.  wedd-mor. 
A  treaty  was  signed  here  in  878.  Cf.  wedder  and  wether  and 
wadset  in  Sc. 

Wednesbury  and  Wednesfield  (Wolvermptn.) .  (?  O.E.  Chron. 
592  and  715  Wodnesbeorge,  -beorh,  -byri;  cf.  Wanborough); 
Dom.  Wadnesberie,  a.  1200  Wodnesbyrg,  -beri,  Wodenesbeorh. 
994  and  Dom.  Wodnesfeld.     '  Burgh,  fort '  and  '  field  of  the 


WEEFORD  499  WELLINaBORO' 

god  Woden  '  (Ger.)  or '  Odin '  (N.).    There  is  said  to  have  been  a 
temple  of  Woden  at  Wednesbury.    See  -bury. 

Weeford  (Lichfield)  {Dom.  and  later  Weforde)  and  Weeton  (Leeds) 
{Dom.  Widetun).  The  North  and  Sc.  wee  is  late,  and  not  to  be 
thought  of.  Both  are  fr.  O.E.  wid  (pron.  weed),  'wide';  the 
d  was  bound  to  disappear  before  /  and  t.  Wideton,  in  Dom. 
Yorks,  also  represents  Weighton  and  Wyton  (E.  Riding), 
where  wid  has  taken  on  its  mod,  pron.  wyde,  our  '  wide.' 

Week  St.  Germans  and  St.  Pancras  (Devonsh.)  and  St.  Mary  (Bude). 
Perh.  a.  800  chart.  East  and  West  Wixna  (Devonsh.).  Corn. 
gweek,  fr.  L.  vicus,  '  a  town,  village,'  O.E.  wic,  '  a  dwelling/ 
See  St.  Germajs-s  and  St.  Pancras. 

Weighton  (E.  Yorks).  Little  W.  is  Dom.  Widetone,  O.E.  wid  tun, 
'  wide  village.'  Cf.  Weeton.  But  '  Widetona  '  (W.  Riding) 
is  now  WiDDiNGTON,  and  Weighton  Market  is  Dom.  Wicstun, 
'  Wicga's  or  Wyga's  village ' ;  it  is  now  pron.  Weeton. 

Welboitrn  or  -burn  (Lines  and  Yorks).  Lin.  W.  O.E.  Chron.  675 
(late  MS.)  Wsetelleburne — i.e.,  '  burn,  brook  of  Weatla ' ;  one 
in  Onom.  Cf.  Watling  St.  But  W.  Yorks,  Dom.  Wellebrune, 
is  '  brook  which  comes  out  of  a  spring  ' ;  well  has  this  meaning. 
See  -bourn.  C/.Welbeck  (Worksop),  1189  Wellebec,  1290  Welbec. 

Weldon  (Kettering).  1363  chart.  Weldone.  O.E.  wella-dun, 
'  well  hill.'  Similar  is  Welbury  (Northallerton),  Dom.  Welle- 
berge.    See  -bury. 

Weleord  (on  Lambourn,  Bucks).  949  chart.  Weligforda,  c.  1540 
Welleford.  '  Ford  at  the  willows,'  O.E.  welig.  Cf.  Salford, 
which  also  means  '  willow  ford.'  But  Welford  (Stratford-on- 
A.)  is  Dom.  Welleford,  a.  1200  Walleford,  1221  Wehieforde;  prob. 
'  ford  of  the  Welsh.'    See  Wales. 

Welham  (Mket.  Harboro',  E.  Retford,  and  New  Malton).  Ret. 
and  Mai.  W.  Dom.  Wellon,  -un,  O.E.  loc.  '  at  the  wells.'  But 
M.  Har.  W.  Dom.  Weleha,  prob.  '  home  of  Wale '  or  '  Wealh '  ; 
several  in  Onom.    Cf.  Wales.    See  -ham. 

Welland  R.  (Northants).  921  O.E.  Chron.  Weolud,  which  looks 
like  W.  gwcelod,  '  base,  bottom.'  The  -ud  has  now  been  nasa- 
lized into  -and.  But  Welland  (Upton-on-Severn)  is  1196 
Weneland,  1297  Wenlond,  1461  Wenelond.  '  Land  of  Wenna.' 
Cf.  Wallingwells. 

Wellesbourne  (Warwick).  862  chart.  Welesburn,  Dom.  Wale- 
borne.  Doubtful.  Duignan  prefers,  '  brook  of  the  stranger, 
serf,  or  Welshman,'  O.E.  wealh,  dat.  wale.  Cf.  Walcot,  and 
see  -bourne, 

Wellingboro',  Wellingore  (Lincoln),  and  Wellington  (Here- 

j  ford).     1154-61  chart.  Wellingoura,  c.  1030  c/iar^.  Weolintun. 

The  Welling-  will  prob.  represent  the  same  name  as  in  Wal- 


WELLOW  600  WEND  OVER 

LiNGFOED.  The  ending  -gore  or  -ore  may  either  be  O.E.  gdra, 
4  goore,  4-9  gore,  '  a  triangular  or  wedge-shaped  piece  of  land 
at  the  side  of  a  field'  (c/.  Kensington  Gore),  or  fr.  O.E.  ora, 
'  edge,  brink,  border.'    See  -boro'. 

Wellow  (Newark,  Bath,  and  Yarmouth  I.W.).  Bath  W.  Dom. 
Wilege,  Yar.  W.  Dom.  WeHge,  O.E.  welig,  wilig,  '  a  willow-tree  ' 
here  prob.  in  loo.  But  W.  (Newark)  1278  Welhagh,  1302  -hawe, 
is  prob.  well-haugh.     See  HIaughton. 

Wells  (Somerset  and  Norfolk).  Som.  W.  1087  O.E.  Chron.  Wel- 
lensis  secclesia,  1231  Welles.  Nor.  W.  a.  1200  Welle,  1298  Wells. 
O.E.  wella.  '  a  spring,  a  well,'  with  mod.  Eng.  plur.  Som.  W. 
was  founded  in  a.d.  704,  and  called  from  3  springs  in  the  garden 
of  the  bishop's  palace. 

Welney  (Wisbech).     O.E.  welkin  ig, '  isle  of  the  well  or  spring.' 

Welshpool,  c.  1530  Rolls  Papers,  *  the  Welshe  poole.'  On  the 
adj.  Welsh,  O.E.  wylisc,  see  Wales.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
called  Welshpool  to  distinguish  it  fr.  Poole  (Dorset).  The  W. 
name  is  Trallwm,  whose  traditional  meaning,  '  the  greedy 
swallow,'  seems  very  doubtful. 

Welton  (Lincoln;  7  in  P.O.).  Dom.  Welleton,  '  village  by  the 
well.'    Cf.  Welham.    Welleton  occurs  10  times  in  Dom.  Yorks. 

Welwyn  (Herts) .  O.E.  chart.  On  WeUgun — i.e., '  at  the  willows,' 
a  loc.    Cf.  Hallam,  ELclham,  etc.,  and  Wellow. 

Wem  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Weme.  O.E.  wenn, '  a  swelling,  a  wart, 
a  wen ' ;  often  in  14th  cny.  wem — m  and  n  readily  interchange. 

Wembuby  (Plymouth).  951  O.E.  Chron.  Wicgan  beorge,  c.  1120 
Hen.  Hunt.  Wienbeorhe.  '  Burgh  of  Wicga ';  several  in  Onom. 
Cf.  K.C.D.  1296  Wicgan  die.  There  is  a  '  Weneberge  '  in  Dom. 
Surrey. 

Wendlebuby  (Bicester),  Dom.  Wandesberie,  1216-1307  Wendebur, 
Wendlebur,  1274-79  Wendelbur,  and  Wendling  (Dereham), 
Dom.  Wenlinga.  Said  to  be  fr.  the  Vandals,  a  doubtful  state- 
ment. The  name  Wendel,  and  other  such  as  Wendelhurh,  are 
to  be  foimd  in  Onom.,  so  that  connexion  with  the  Vandals  could 
at  most  be  indirect.  The  -ing  is  the  sign  of  a  patronymic. 
See  Wandsworth,  Windsob,  and  -bury. 

Wendon  or  Wajndon  (Northbld.) .  c.  1300  Egilsaga  Vinheide  (-heide 
is  O.N.  hei'S-r,  '  a  heath ') ;  also  Weondun,  which  seems  to  be 
O.E.  Weohhan  dun,  '  hill  of  Weohha  '  or  '  Wehha  ' ;  1  in  Onom. 

Wendovbb  (Bucks).  K.C.D,  593  Waendofron,  Dom.  Wendovre, 
1155  Pipe  Wendoura.  Cf.  958  chart.  Windofere,  near  R..  Stour 
(StaSd.).  O.W.  gwen  dubr,  mod.  W.  gwyn  dwfr,  '  clear  river.' 
Cf.  Andovbr,  Dovee,  etc.,  also  Deveeon  (Sc).  Connexion 
with  the  Wends  (see  Wtkdsoe)  is  very  unlikely. 


WENDY  501  WERRIN'GTON 

Wendy  (Royston,  Herts.),  c.  1080  Wendeie,  Dom.  Wandei, 
Wandrie;  1316  Wendye.  '  Isle  of  Wenda.'  Cf.  a.  1199  '  Wend  ' 
(Norfk.)  in  Roll.  Rich.  I.  This  may  refer  to  a  Wendish  settler. 
Gf.  Wandsworth.    See  -ey. 

Wenlas  R.    W.  given  glas,  '  white  '  or  '  fair  stream.' 

Wenlock,  Much  and  Little  (Salop).  Dom.  Wenloch,  a.  1163 
Wenlock.  W.  gwen  llwch,  '  clear  lake '  or  '  pool.'  But  in  W. 
it  is  Llan  Meilien,  '  church  of  St.  Milburga/  or  simply  Llane. 
On  this  use  of  Much,  see  Oxf.  Diet.,  s.v. 

Wennington  (Lancaster  and  Rainham,  Essex).  La.  W.  Dom. 
Wininctune,  Ra.  W.  961  chart.  Winintune.  '  Town,  village  of 
the  Winings/  or  '  sons  of  Wine.'  Cf.  Dom.  Sussex,  Venningore, 
and  Wen-,  Wincote  (Glouc),  Dom.  Wenecote,  1175-76  Winecota, 
'  cot  of  Wine  '  or  '  Wynna.' 

Wensley  (Leyburn,  Blackburn,  Matlock).  Le.  W.  Dom.  Wendres- 
laga,  Wentreslage;  1204  Wandeslei.  Not  in  W.  and  H.  The 
name  here  is  uncertain;  it  may  be  that  of  Wendretha,  saint  and 
virgin,  but  more  old  forms  needed.  Cf.  1223  Patent  R.  Wandles- 
legh  (Notts),  and  Dom.  Bucks  Weneslai  (prob.  fr.  Wenna  or 
Wenni  in  Onom.).    See  -ley. 

Wensum  R.  (Yarmouth).  Cf.  Bede  Wantsumu,  Thanet.  M'Clure 
thinks  this  is  a  Teutonic  want  or  went,  '  a  way,'  common  in 
dial:,  and  -sonu  a  qualifying  adj.,  as  in  winsome,  etc.    Cf.  next. 

Wentbbidge  (Pontefract).  Went,  '  a  way  or  a  ford ';  see  above. 
But  Wentwobth  (Cambs  and  Rotherham)  is  Cam.  W.  Dom. 
Winteworde,  1291  Wynteworth,  'farm  of  Winta/  in  Onom. 
But  Ro.  W.  is  Dom.  Wintre-,  Winteworde.  '  Farm  of  the  man 
Winter.'    Cf.  Wintebingham.     See  -worth. 

Wentnob  (Bp.'s  Castle,  Salop).  Dom.  Wantenoure.  '  Bank, 
brink,  edge/  O.E.  ofer,  obr ;  M.E.  overe,  '  of  Want ';  1  in 
Onom.    Also  cf.  Ventnoe. 

Wenvoe  (Cardiff).  Said  to  be  Norm,  corrup.  of  W.  gwyn  fa, 
'blessed  place';  gwyn,  gwen  otig.  means  'white,  clear,'  and 
Gwynfa  is  now  popular  W.  for  '  Paradise.'  The  -voe  rather 
suggests  Norse  influence,  it  being  Norse  Eng.  for  '  bay';  O.N. 
vag-r,  Icel.  vo-r.    Cf.  Van  Rouget,  Jersey. 

Webqs,  The  (Wolverhmptn.) .  a.  1300  Wytheges,  a.  1400  Wytheges, 
Withegges,  Wyrges.  '  Wythy  hedges,'  fr.  O.E.  withig, '  a  willow,' 
and  hecg{e),  '  a  hedge.'  A  curious  corruption.  Dom.  Hants 
Wergeborne  is  prob.  fr.  a  man.     Cf.  O.E.  dweorg,  duerg,  '  dwarf.' 

Werneth  (Stockport and  Oldham).  St.  W.  Dom.  Wamet.  Old  W. 
1558-59  Wyernyth,  1572  Wyreneth.  Perh.  'place  of  alders'; 
W.  gwern,  old  pi.  gwernedd.    Same  root  common  in  Sc.  names  as 

Feaen. 

Webbington  (Peterboro'  and  Stoke-on-T.).  Prob.  'village  of  a 
man  Wera.'    Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Verendone;  and  see  -ing  and  -ton. 


WERWICK  502  WEST  THURROCK 

Weewick.  c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Viroviacum.  Doubtful.  Wer- 
miglit  be  W.  gwyr,  '  pure,  fresh/  Cf.  Wabwiok  and  Winwick, 
and  above;  also  Wervin  (Chesh.).  ?  Dom.  Wiveorene,  1387 
chart.  Wyrvyn,  a  puzzling  name.     See  -wick. 

Wesenham  Heath  (Norfk.).  Dom.  and  1245  Wesenham.  '  Home 
of  Wesa  ';  not  in  Onom.,  but  cf.  Wessington  (Alfreton). 

Wesham  (Preston) .  1235  Westhus,  1262  Westesham,  1524  Wessom. 
It  has  varied  between  O.E.  west  hus  and  west  ham,  both  meaning 
'west  house  ^  or  'home.'  Cf.  Dom.  Wesberie  (Salop).  There 
is  an  unidentified  '  Westhuse  '  in  Dom.  Yorks,  near  Maunby. 

Westbuey  (Bucks,  Glouc,  and  Wilts) .  Glo.  W.  793-96  Uuestburg, 
Wil.  W.  794  Westbyri,  1053  O.E.  Chron.  Weestbyrig,  Dom.  Bucks 
and  Wilts  Westberie.  '  West  burgh '  or  '  town.'  Cf.  Dom. 
Wesberie  (Salop). 

Westcote  (Chipping  Norton)  and  Westcott  (Dorking  and  Ayles- 
bury). Dor.  W.  Dom.  Wescote.  Cf.  1179-80  Pipe  Westcotun 
(Yorks),  the  latter  a  loc.     '  West  cots  '  or  '  huts.' 

Westerdale  (Grosmont,  Yorks).  1179-80  Westerdale.  'Western 
dale  ';  Icel.  vestr.,  'the  West.'    Cf.  Westerdale  (Caithness). 

Westminstbr.  1040  O.E.  Chron.  Westmynstre,  Dom.  abbas  West- 
monasteriensis.  This  means  the  minster  or  abbey  church  West 
of  London.    See  -minster. 

Westmorland.  966  O.E.  Chron.  (MS.  of  ?  a.  1200)  Westmoringa- 
land,  '  land  of  the  dwellers  in  Westmor  '  (see  infra),  as  yet  only 
the  barony  of  Appleby;  1131  Pipe  Westmarieland,  c.  1175 
Fantosme  Westmari(e)lande,  1194  Hoveden  Westmerilande,  1200 
Westmorland  (often  later  Westmari-),  1461  Westmurland.  Prob. 
not '  west  moor  land,'  but '  land  on  the  West  border  of  England,' 
the  land  to  the  W.  of  this  not  being  EngHsh  till  late.  O.E. 
{ge)mmre,  '  boundary,  border.' 

Weston  (33  in  P.O.).  In  Dom.  always  Weston(e).  *  West  town  ' 
or  '  village.'    Dom.  Bucks,  Westone=  W.  Turville. 

Weston -UNDER-LizARD  (Shifnal).  Dom.  Westone,  a.  1400  Weston- 
under-Lusyerd,  a.  1500  Weston-subtus-Luceyord,  Lizard  is 
a.  1100  Lusgerd,  a.  1200  Luseiard,  a.  1300  Lusyard.  Duignan 
thinks  this  is  luce-yard  or  '  fish-pond ' ;  only  luce,  '  a  pike,' 
O.Fr.  lus,  luis,  is  not  found  in  Eng.  a.  1338.  Lizard,  the  animal, 
is  not  found  till  1377,  but  then  as  lusarde,  O.Fr.  lesarde,  L.  lacerta. 
It  is  not  likely  to  be  the  origin.  It  might  be  louse-yard, '  court- 
yard full  of  lice '!     O.E.  lus,  luus,  3  luse. 

Westow  (York).  Not  in  Dom.  Said  to  be  O.E.  wif-stow, '  woman's 
place.'     '  Wifestede,'  in  Dom.  Yorks,  is  now  Winstead. 

West  Thurrock  (Grays),  c.  1460  Westthirrok.  'Thurrock'  is 
O.E.  \urruc,  '  a  small  ship  (?),  the  bottom  of  a  ship,  the  bilge.' 
Hence  it  comes  to  mean,  as  it  does  still  in  several  county  dialects, 
*  a  heap,  esp.  of  mud.'    In  Kent  it  means  '  a  covered  drain.' 


WETHERAL  503  WHAPLODE 

Wetheral  (Carlisle)  and  Wetherby  (Tadcaster) .  c.  1120  Weder- 
hal,  Dom.  Wedrebi.  '  Hall '  and  '  dwelling  among  the  wethers 
or  rams/  O.E.  wether,  Sc.  wedder.  Cf.  Wedderburn  (Sc). 
Or  else  Wedr  may  be  a  man's  name,  as  in  next.  Skeat  prefers 
the  '  sheep '  origin  for  Wetherley  (Cambs),  c.  1080  Inquis. 
Camb.  Wederlai,  WeSerlai;  Dom.  Wederlai;  1166  Wederleah; 
1284  Wetherle. 

Wetheringsett  (Stowmarket).  K.C.D.  907,  932  Wederinge  sete. 
Cf.  1298  '  Johannes  de  Wethering'ton.'  '  Seat,  abode  of  the 
descendants  of  Wedr.'    Cf.  above. 

Wetwang  (York).  Dom.  Wetwangham.  Curious  name.  O.N. 
voett  or  vett  vang-r,  used  in  Iceland  for  '  place  of  summons,'  fr. 
vett-r  or  voetti,  '  a  witness,'  and  vang-r,  '  a  field.'  The  -ham 
rarely  drops  off;  but  perh.,  as  ham  is  O.E.,  it  never  should  have 
been  on.  Cf.  Lingwang,  '  heather  field,'  sic  in  Notts  chart., 
c.  1160,  and  Goldswong  Terrace,  Nottingham. 

Wetwood  (Eccleshall,  Staffs).  1298  Wetwude.  O.E.  woet  wudu, 
'  wet  wood.'  But  Wetmoor  (Burton)  is  a.  1100  Withmere  or 
*  withy  lake.'    Cf.  Westwood  (Yorks),  Dom.  Westude. 

Wey  R.  (Surrey),  a.  675  Grant  Waiemu])e,  where  it  joins  the 
Thames  (late  MS.).  Kelt,  gwy,  '  river,'  esp.  a  slow-flowing  one. 
Cf.  Wye  and  Suthld.  G.  uidh,  *  slow-flowing  water.'  Also 
Weybridqe,  a.  675  Waigebrugge,  727  chart.  Weibrugge,  Dom. 
Webruge.  Cf.  Weymottth.  This  Wey  may  also  have  con- 
nexion with  the  waga,  '  deep  waters  '  of  the  O.E.  Glosses,  a.  900; 
and  the  O.E.  and  Kelt,  words  may  be  cognate. 

Weymottth.  c.  1450  Fortescue  the  Weymouthe.  There  is  another 
little  R.  Wey  here. 

Whaddon  (Cambs,  Bletchley,  and  Glouc).  Ca.  W.  c.  1080  Inquis. 
Camb.  Phwaddune,  Dom.  Wadone,  -dune;  1210  Waddon;  1302 
Whaddone.  Gl.  W.  Dom.  Wadune,  1221  Waddone.  O.E. 
hwcete  dun,  '  wheat  hill.'  Cf.  Waddon  and  Whatcomb  and 
Whatton  (Nottingham),  Dom.  Watone. 

Whalley  (Blackburn).  O.E.  Chron.  798  Hwselleage,  Hweallaeg; 
Dom.  Wallei;  c.  1120  Hen.  Hunt  Wellehaie;  a.  1400  Whalleye; 
a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Walalege.  Prob,  '  whale  island  ';  O.E.  hwcel, 
O.N.  hval-r,  or  rather  '  marshy  region  called  after  Whale.'  But 
how  comes  such  a  name  here  ?  Prob.  '  whale  '  was  the  name  of 
a  man,  a  viking.  Two  Hwalas  in  Onom.;  there  is  also  a  Whaley 
Br.  (Stockport).  W.  and  H.  prefer  to  derive  fr.  O.N.  hwall,  '  a 
hill.'  But  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  whale  can  certainly 
become  whnll  on  Northern  tongues.  O.N.  hwall  is  a  very  rare 
word.    See  -ey. 

Whaplode  (Holbeach,  Lines).  810  chart.  Cappelad,  1236  Quappe- 
lode,  c.  1275  Quappelade.  There  is  one  Cape,  but  no  other  name 
likely  in  Onom.,  and  it  is  hard  to  see  how  the  name  could  be  fr. 
O.E.  cceppe,  '  cap,  cope.'    There  is  an  0.  Du.  quappa, '  a  toad,' 


WHAEFE  R.  504  WHICKHAM 

a  possible  origin.  Aspirated  c  often  turns  to  wh-  in  Gaelic 
place-names.  Cf.  Colquhohn,  Dalquhaiiran,  Dalwhtstnie, 
etc.,  in  Sc.  The  -lode  is  O.E.  lad, '  a  lode,  a  canal,  a  waterway, 
a  lead';  in  Sc.  '  lade.' 

Whabfe  E,.  and  Wharfedale  (Yorks).  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Hwerf, 
Hwerverdale  (-er  shows  a  gen.).  Prob.  Icel.  hvarf,  'a  turning, 
a  shelter  ';  O.E.  hweorfan,  '  to  turn.'    Cf.  Qtjahfe  (Sc). 

Whaream  (York).  Dom.  Warron,  -an;  1199  Warham.  Warron 
seems  to  be  loc.  of  O.E.  wcer,  '  a  weir,'  '  at  the  weirs.'  Cf. 
Waefield  and  Hallam;  and  see  -ham. 

Whatcomb  or  Watctjmbe  (Berks).  Dom.  Watecumbe,  O.E.  hwcete 
cumb,  '  wheat  valley.'  Cf.  Whatcote  (Kjneton),  Dom.  Quater- 
cote  (error),  1183  Quatcote,  1301  Wathcote  (perh.  fr.  a  man), 
Whatfield  (Suffk.),  and  Whetecombe  (Dorset),  also  Waddon 
and  Whaddon. 

Whatley  (Frome).  '  Wheat  meadow.'  Cf.  Dom.  Essex  Wateleia, 
Whateley  Hall,  Gas.  Bromwich,  1278  Wateley,  Wheatley  (Tam- 
worth),  a.  1600  Whateley,  and  Wheatley  (Doncaster  and  Notts), 
Dom.  Watelage  and  Wateleia.  But  Wheatenhurst  (Glouc), 
Dom.  Witenher(s)te,  is  '  wood  of  Hwita/  gen.  -an. 

Wheal  (common  in  Cornwall).  Corn,  huel,  '  a  mine,'  or,  at  times, 
gwel,  '  a  field.'  There  is  a  '  Hvele '  in  Dom.  Salop,  and  R. 
Wheelock  (Sandbach)  may  be  the  same  root,  or  at  any  rate 
Keltic,  the  -lock  being  perh.  W.  llwch,  '  a  lake,  a  pool.' 

Whelde-ake  (York).  Dom.  Coldrid  (3  times).  Dom.'s  form  prob. 
means  '  cold  '  or '  cool  stream  ' ;  O.E.  col  riih.  The  (h  has  become 
d  also  in  Cottered,  Ryde,  etc,  and  it  is  quite  in  accord  with 
rule  for  c  to  aspirate  and  become  wh.  Cf.  Whaplode  .  Wheld  ale 
(W.  Riding)  is  Dom.  Queldale  {qu=  w),h:.  0. ^.ceald,  cold /cold.' 
JBut  the  present  ending  -drake  needs  more  old  forms  to  explain  it. 

Whenby  (Easingwold).  Dom.  Quennebi,  1202  Quenebi.  '  The 
woman's  house ';  O.N.  Icvenna,  '  a  woman,  a  quean.'    See  -by. 

Wheenside  (W.  Yorks).  Hybrid.  W.  g^M^erw,  '  plain,  moor.'  On 
-side,  see  Ambleside. 

Wherwell  (Hants).  1048  O.E.  Chron.  to  Hwerwillon  {loc),  c.  1145 
Wm.  Malmes.  Werewelle.   O.E.  hwer-milla, '  pot  or  cauldron  well.' 

Whicheord  (Shipton-on-Stour).  1128  Wicheford.  'Ford  of  the 
wych  ';  O.E.  mce,  M.E.  idche,  prob.  '  the  wych  elm  '  or  '  hazel.' 
Cf.  WiCHEORD  and  Wychwood.  But  Whichcote  (Wootton 
Bassett)  is  old  Wykles-,  Wikeles-,  Wyghelscote.  '  Got,  cottage 
of  Wicel,'  a  name  not  in  Onom.,  perh.  contraction  of  Wichelm  or 
Wichelinus,  known  forms. 

WmcKHAM  (Swalwell,  Durham).  1183  Quykham.  Fr.  O.E.  cwcw, 
1-3  cwic,  3-6  quik,  quyk,  5  whik,  whyk,  lit.  '  living,  endowed  with 
life,'  but  here  in  sense  2,  Oxf.  Diet-,  '  consisting  of  animals,  live- 


WHINLATTER  505  WHITEHAVEN 

stock/  as  in  '  quick  stock/  '  quick  goods/  etc.,  found  fr.  O.E.  on 
to  18th  cny.     O.E.  Mm  must  here  mean  '  farm.'     See  -ham. 

WHEsriiATTEE,  (hill,  Bassenthwaite) .  W.  gwyn  lletJir  (G.  leitir), '  fair, 
clear  slope.'  Of.  Dullatur  (Sc.)  and  aU  the  Ir.  names  in  Letter-. 
WHmrELii  (Shap),  sic  in  1203  chart.,  is  prob.  fr.  the  common 
name  Wine.     Whin,. the  rock,  is  late.    See  -fell. 

Whtppingham  (Newport,  I.  of  W.).  Dom.  Wipingeham.  'Home 
of  the  descendants  of  Wippa ';  1  in  Onom.  Cf.  Whipley  in 
CHnt,  Dom.  Wipeleie.    See  -ing  and  -ham. 

Whissendinb  (Oakham),  c.  1230  Rob.  GrossestesteWissenden.  '  The 
dean  of '  prob.  '  Hwithyse,'  the  nearest  name  in  Onom.,  and 
common  there.  The  -dine  or  -den  will  be  O.E.  denu,  M.E.  dene, 
dane,  '  a  valley  deep  and  wooded.' 

Whistley  (Reading).  B.C.S.  iii.  511  Wiscelea,  c.  1130  Chron. 
Abing.  Wisseleia,  Wischeleia;  c.  1400  Wirselay.  Skeat  says 
'  meadow  lea ' ;  E.  Fries,  wiske,  '  a  small  meadow ' ;  Ger.  wiese, 
*  a  meadow ' ;  in  Eng.  usage,  moist  or  low-lying.     (7/.  Wiskford. 

Whiston  (Worstrsh.,  Penkridge,  Cheadle,  Prescot,  Rotherham). 
Pe.  W.  1004  chaH.  Witestun,  Dmn.  Witestone;  Wo.  W.  1262 
Wytstan,  Wystan,  a.  1400  Wyston,  Whiston;  Che.  W.  Dom. 
Witestone;  Pr.  W.  1190-1292  Quistan,  1385  Whistane;  Ro.  W. 
Dom.  Widestan,  Widestha'.  Perh.  all  O.E.  hvnt  stan,  '  white 
stone '  or  '  rock ' ;  though  some  may  be  '  town  of  Hwit ' — i.e.,  the 
white  man — and  Widestan  looks  like  '  wide,  broad  stone.' 

Whitacre,  Over  and  Nether  (Coleshill),  Dom.  Witacre  (also  sic  in 
Nthants),a.  1300  Wythacre,  Wytacer,  a.  1400  Whitacre,  is  either 
'  white  (O.E.  hwit)  field,'  or '  withy  field ' ;  O.E.  withig, '  a  willow ' 
or  *  withe.'  But  1289  contiu.  Gervase  Whetekre,  prob.  in  Hants, 
is '  wheat-field ';  O.E.  hwcete.  Acre  is  adopt,  of  L.  ager,  'field.' 
Cf.  Birkacre  (Chorley),  Whatcomb,  Wetmoor  (Burton),  a.  1100 
Withmere,  etc. 

Whitby.  Dom.  and  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Witebi,  1298  Wythby. 
'  Dwelling  of  Hwita.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  724  Hwitan  beorh.  But  in 
Bede  Streonshalh,  Streoneshalch — i.e.,  it  is  said — '  sinus  fari,' 
'  bay  of  the  Hghthouse.'  Streonshalh  suggests  a  G.  sron  shealg, 
'  nose,  point  of  the  hunt.'    See  -by. 

Whitchtje,C5H  (12  ia  P.O.).  1001  O.E.  Chron.  Hwitciricea,  ?  Hants, 
Dom.  Warwk.  Witecerce,  1326  Whitcherche,  1166-67  Pipe  Devon 
Wicherche.  In  Tax.  Eccl.  Album  Monasterium  is  the  name  of 
several  Whitchurches.  '  White  church.'  Cf.  Whitfobd  (Sur- 
rey), Dom.  Witford,  and  Whitkirk  (W.  Riding). 

Whitehaven.  Sic  1300.  From  O.E.  hcefen,  O.N.  hofn,  *  a  haven, 
harbour,  'or  '  sheltered  inlet  of  the  sea.'  The  ending  is  rare  in 
Eng.,  and  prob.  denotes  Norse  influence.  Cf.  Mtltord  Haven 
and  Stonehaven  (Sc).  The  name  seems  sometimes  to  have 
been  contracted  into  Whitton. 


WHITEWELL  506  WHITTLE  SEAME  RE 

Whitewell  (Dore,  Sheffd.).  942  O.E.  Chron.  Hwitan  Wylles  geat. 
The  Ewita  or  '  White '  here  is  prob.  a  man.  Cf.  Whitby.  There 
is  another  Whitewell  Bottom  (Manchester),  whilst  P.G.  has  5 
Whitwells,  or  '  white  wells/  Dom.  Yorks  Witeuella,  etc. 

Whitland  Abbey  (Caermarthensh.).  c.  1190  Gir.  Camb.  Alba 
Landa,  or  '  white  land.-'  Its  old  W.  name  was  Bangob,  y  Ty 
Gwyn  ar  Dav,  or  '  Bangor  of  the  Wbite  House  on  the  R.  TafE.' 

Whitley  (S.  Northbld.,  2  in  York,  and  2  in  Warwk.),  Nor.  W. 
1322  Whiteley;  Yo.  W.  Dom.  Witelaia;  War.  W.  Dom.  Witeleia, 
1376  Whyteleie.     *  White  meadow.'    See  -ley. 

Whitminster  (Stonehouse).  c.  1188  Oir.  Camb.  Album  monas- 
terium.     '  White  abbey  '  or  *  abbey  church.'    See  -minster. 

Whitmobe  (Newcastle-imder-L.).  Dom.  Witemore,  1242  Wyte- 
more.    '  White  moor  ' ;  O.E.  hwit  m6r. 

Whltnash  (Leamington).  Dom.  Witenas,  1327  Whitenasshe. 
'  White '  or  '  whiten  ash-tree ' ;  O.E.  hunt,  in  dat.  -an.  '  Ash  ' 
is  O.E.  cesc. 

Whitstablb  (Kent).  Dom.  Witenestaple.  '  Market  of  Wita/  or 
'  the  wise/  gen.  pi.  witena.    Cf.  Barnstaple  and  Witenagemot. 

WHiTSimBROOK  (Wore).  K.C.D.  570  Wixenabroc.  Prob.  '  brook 
of  the  Huiccii.'  See  Worcester.  Wicga  is  a  very  common 
name  in  Onom.    It  is  a  curious  corruption. 

Whitttngham  (Alnwick  and  Preston).  Pr.  W.  Dom.  Witingheham, 
Witingha;  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  883  Hwitingaham  (?  that  near  N. 
Berwick);  Al.  W.  1160-61  Pipe  Witingeha.  *  Home  of  the 
Whitings  '  or  '  sons  of  White  '  or  '  Hivita ' — i.e.,  the  white  man. 
There  is  one  Hwiting,  found  in  Kent  and  Wessex,  in  Onom.  Cf. 
Whittingham  (Sc.)  and  Dom.  Salop  Witentrei,  and  next.  Whit- 
tinge  (Hartlebury),  1325  Whyteling,  may  mean  '  white  heather/ 
as  Duignan  thinks.  Prob.  it  is  a  patronymic  fr.  Witulf  or  Wit- 
beald,  or  some  such  name.    See  -ing. 

Whittington  (8  in  P.G.).  Carnforth,  Gloucester,  and  Oswestry  W. 
D(ym.  Witetone;  Lichfield  W.,  925  chart.  Hwitantone,  -tune; 
Stourbridge  W.  a.  1300  Whytynton,  Whitenton.  'Town  of 
Ewita,  Wita,'  or  '  Witta ' — i.e.,  the  white  man.  Cf.  above  and 
-ing. 

Whittlebxjry  (Towcester).  Not  in  Dom.  1284  Close  B.  Wytle- 
bery.     *  Burgh  of  Witla.'    See  next  and  -bury. 

Whittleseamerb  (now  drained).  O.E.  Chron.  657  (late  MS.) 
Witlesmere.  '  Lake  of  With,,'  a  name  not  in  Onom.  Cf.  K.C.D. 
iii.  101  Insulam  quae  Witlesig  nuncupatur,  now  Whittlesea 
(Peterboro'),  c.  1080  Witleseie,  Dom.  Witesie,  1394  Witleseye. 
The  Witla  or  Witol  may  be  fr.  O.E.  witol,  '  wise/  or  else  short 
for  Witwulf.  Cf.,  too,  Whittlesford  (Cambridge),  Dom. 
Witelesford. 


WHITTON  507  WICKEN 

Whitton  (3  in  P.O.).  Perh.  1156  Pi'pe  Wihtuna  (Yorks)  may  be 
Whitton  (Doncaster).  There  is  one  WiM  in  Onom.  But  these 
names  should  prob.  all  be  '  white  town/    Of.  Whitohueoh,  etc. 

WniTWEiiL  (5  in  P.O.).  Dom.  Norfk.  Witewell,  Yorks  Witeuella. 
O.E.  hwit  wella, '  the  white  well." 

Whitwobth  (Rochdale  and  Co.  Durham).  Dur.  W.  1183  Whit- 
wortha.     O.E.  hwit  worth,  *  white-looking  farm.' 

Whixley  (York).  Dom.  Crucheslaga,  Cucheslaga  (twice);  1281 
Close  E.  Quixeley;  c.  1300  Quixley  {qu=w).  '  Meadow  of  '  prob. 
*Cuca' ;  one  in  Onom.  On  aspirated  c=wh,  cf.  Whaplode; 
and  see  -ley. 

Whoelton  (Barnard  Gas.).  Dom.  Wirveltun,  1202  Wher-,  Whor- 
uelton.  Obscure.  Perh.  fr.  a  man  Wernweald  or  Wernwulf, 
names  in  Onom. 

WiBSEY  (Bradford)  {Dom.  Wibetese)  and  Wibtoet  (Lutterworth) 
(1004  Wibbetoft,  Dom.  Wibetot).  '  Isle  '  and  '  farm  of  '  prob. 
not  Wibha  but  '  Wigbeorht,  Wihtbeorht,  or  Wibert/  all  forms  in 
Onom.  ;  r  readily  disappears.    See  -ey  and  -toft. 

WiCAUGH  (Malpas).  Old  Wichenhalgh,  later  Wj^cough.  'Haugh, 
river-meadow/  O.E.  halech,  halh,  of  some  kind  of  tree,  O.E. 
wice,  M.E.  wiche,  wyche.  Cf.  the  wych  elm  and  hazel ;  or  else, 
'  of  Wicga/  a  common  name  in  0)iom.  Wichenfoed  (Wor- 
cester) being  1007  chart.  Wiceneford,  confirms  derivation  fr. 
wice,  *  ford  of  the  wych  elms.' 

WiCKFOED  (Ely),  a.  1200  Wycheford.  See  above.  Possibly  fr. 
O.E.  wicce,  '  a  witch';  but  cf.  Whichfoed.  Whilst  Wiohi^or 
(Lichfield),  a.  1100  Hwiccen  ofre,  Dom.  Wicenore,  a.  1200 
Whichnore,  Wytchnor,  a.  1300  Wychenovere,  is  prob.  '  bank, 
edge  of  the  hutch,'  O.E.  hwiccen  ofr  or  ofer,  where  hutch  is  not 
the  same  as,  but  is  often  confused  with,  the  O.E.  hwicce,  M.E. 
whicche,  mod.  dial,  whitch.  Cf.  Edensoe.  There  was  also  a 
tribe  Huiccii  (see  Woecestee),  from  which  prob.  comes  Wioh- 
BOLD  (Droitwich),  692  chart.  Uuicbold,  or  '  house,  royal  dwell- 
ing of  the  Huiccii.' 

Wick  (Littlehampton,  Pershore,  Bristol,  Cowbridge).  Dom.  Wiche, 
Wicha,  passim.  Like  Wyck  (Rissington,  Glouc.)  and  Wyke, 
prob.  all  the  Eng.  names  are  O.E.  wic,  '  dweUing,  village,'  L. 
vicus,  not  N.  Uke  the  So.  Wick,  '  a  bay,'  and  the  Jersey  Vicqs. 
The  Cow.  W.  is  said  to  be  orig.  W.  y  wig  fawr,  '  the  great 
wood '  or  *  thicket.'    Similar  is  Wicwee  (Denbigh).     See  -wick. 

WiCKEN  (Soham  and  Stony  Stratford).  So.  W.  1210  and  1284 
Wykes,  1395  Wykyne.  Wykes  is  M.E.  pi.  of  O.E.  wic,  '  dweU- 
ing, village,'  and  form  1395  is  a  M.E.  loc.  for  O.E.  wicum,  '  at 
the  villages.'  But  in  some  cases,  and  in  Wykin  (Coventry), 
a.  1300  Wykene,  the  name  may  be  =  quicken  sb^,  Oxf.  Diet., 


WICEENBY  508  WIGAN 

found  fr.  1387,  in  6  whicken,  9  wicken,  wiggin,  '  the  rowan  or 
mountain  ash.'    Cf.  Rowanteee  (Sc). 

WiOKENBY  (Lincohi).  Cf.  605  chart.  Wycingesmarce  (?  near 
Canterbury).  'Dwelling  of  Wicing,'  3  in  Onom.,  prob.  same 
word  as  viking,  O.E.  wicing,  '  a  sea-rover.'  Cf.  Wigauthokpe, 
Dom.  Bucks  Wichendone,  and  above. 

WiOKEESLEY  (Rotherham) .  Dom.  Wincreslei,  Wicresleia.  'Mead 
of  Wingcer  or  Winegcer.'    See  -ley. 

WiCKTORD  (Essex).  Bom.  Wicfort,  later  Wykeford.  Either  fr. 
O.E.  wic,  '  village/  as  next,  or  fr.  a  man  Wicga  or  Wyga ;  prob. 
the  former,  as  we  have  Wicford  in  Dom.  Salop. 

WiCKEAM  (Berks,  Hants,  Herts,  Banbury)  (Be.  W.  B.C.S.  i.  506 
and  1154-58  Wicham)  and  West  Wickham  (Cambs)  {K.C.D. 
vi.  98  Wicham).  Skeat  in  his  Berks,  but  not  in  his  Cambs,  says 
this  name  is  also  in  chart.  Wichamm.  Either  '  village  enclosure  ' 
or  '  village  home.'  See  -ham  and  -wick.  Wickhambbeattx 
(Canterbury)  is  chart.  Wichsema.  Cf.  Dom.  Norfk.  Wichhatun 
and  Wykeham.  However,  Child's  Wickham  is  different,  and 
Wickham  Ford  (Evesham),  near  by,  is  709  Wicwon,  792  Wig- 
wenn;  K.C.D.  iii.  396  on  Wicweoniga,  Dom.  Wiquene,  1275 
Wike  Wanef  ord,  1332  Wykewane ;  a  difficult  name,  which  must 
go  with  Child's  Wickham.  Wickwab  (Chipp.,  Sodbury), 
Dom.  Wichen,  is  '  village  of  John  La  Warre,'  to  whom  K.  John 
gave  it. 

WiCKLEWOOD  (Wymondham,  Norfk.).  Cf.  a.  1100  Wecelle  burne, 
which  cannot  have  been  far  away,  and  Dom .  Surrey  Wachele- 
stede.  The  name  Wecela  or  the  like  is  not  in  Onom.,  nor  is  there 
anything  like  it  in  the  O.E.  Diet. 

WiDDiNGTON  ( W.  Eliding,  Newport,  Essex) .  Dom.  Yorks  Widetona. 
Cf.  Dom.  Glouc.  Widindone,  and  Surrey  Wdintone.  '  Town  of 
Wida,  Widda,  or  Widia,'  all  in  Onom.  It  may  be  a  patronymic. 
But  WiDDiAL  (Herts)  is  Dom.  Widihale,  '  withy  nook,'  O.E. 
withig,  Dan.  vidie,  '  a  willow,  a  withe.'    See  -hall. 

WiDECOMBE  (Ashburton,  Devon).  B.C.S.  164  Widan  cumban, 
Wessex  chart.  Widcumb,  O.E.  wid  cumb,  '  wide  valley.'  But 
WiDFORD  (on  Windrush).  Dom.  Widiforde,  1231-34  Wythiford, 
is  '  withy  ford,'  O.E.  withig. 

WiDNES  (Liverpool).  1241-42  Wydenes,  1256  Wydnes.  O.N. 
vid'-r  TUBS  (O.E.  wid  ncBs),  '  wide  nose  or  ness  or  promontory.' 

Wij'OL  or  WiFORD  (Berks).  Dom.  Wiford,  which  Skeat  thinks 
prob.  the  orig.  name  and  =  O.E.  wic-ford,  '  ford  by  the  village.' 
Cf.  Wickham.  It  is  not  easy  to  explain  the  form  Wieol 
without  further  old  forms,  though  r  easily  replaces  I. 

WiGAN.  1245  Wygayn,  Wigayn;  a.  1281  Wygan,  Wigan.  Said 
commonly  to  be  Kelt,  for  '  battle,  beating,  wigging ' !  and  to 


WIGBOROUGH  50^  WIGHTON 

be  the  only  Kelt,  town-name  in  Lanes,  which  is  nonsense.  Free- 
man thought  the  very  old  church  of  St.  Mary  le  Wigford  (Lines) 
was  the  site  of  a  battle.  But  the  only  likely  origins  in  W.  are 
gmg,  '  a  grove,  a  nook,  a  cove/  or  gwyg,  '  a  veitch ' ;  whilst 
.  gwegio  is  '  to  totter,  to  wag.'  The  -an  or  -ayn  (c/.  Gavin  and 
Gawayne)  will  be  terminational.  To  derive  fr.  W.  gwig  is  more 
likely  than  to  make  the  name  O.E.  Wicgan,  a  gen.  '  Wiga's ' 
(Sc.  town).  This  would  be  abnormal;  but  c/.  Beedon,  Coven, 
etc.,  and  the  two  next,  also  Waghen  (Yorks),  Dow.  Wagene, 
1179-80  Wagane.  There  are  2  men  Wighen  in  Onom.,  4  called 
Wagan,  and  1  Wagene.  More  illuminating  is  Wigantsoepe 
(York),  Dom,  Wichingastorp,  'village  of  the  Wicings.'  See 
WiCKENBY.  But  if  Lanes  Wigan  is  for  Wicing,  a  patronymic, 
it  is  once  again  quite  abnormal. 

WiQBOEOUGH  (Somerset).  1408  chart.  Wiggebeare,  which  looks 
like  a  tautology,  W.  gwig,  '  a  grove,'  and  O.E.  hearo,  '  a  wood,' 
as  in  Beer,  Conybeare,  etc.  But  if  this  is  O.E.  Chron.  851 
Wicganbeorg,  as  it  may  be,  then  it  is  '  Barb,ow  of  Widga'  a 
common  name  in  Onom.  Of.  Dom.  Essex  Wicghebga,  and 
Wigwold  (Cirencester),  old  Wygewold,  'wold,  high  moor  of 
Wicga.'    See  -boro'. 

WiGGiNTON  (Yorks,  Tamworth,  Banbury,  and  Tring).  Yo.  W. 
Dom.  Wichistun;  Tam.  W.  a.  1100  Wicgintun,  Dom.  Wigetone; 
Tr.  W.  Dom.  Wigentone,  1303  Wygentone.  '  Town,  village  of 
Wicga,  -an/  common  in  Onom.,  which  has  also  2  Wighen^, 
Of.  Wiggins  Hill  (Sutton  Coldfield),  a.  1300  Wygenesliul, 
Wiginghul. 

WiGGLESWOBTH  (Long  Preston).  Dom.  Wiclesforde  and  Win- 
cheleswrde.  'Farm  of  Wincel.'  Cf.  Winchelsea.  On  the 
interchange  of  ending,  see  -worth.. 

WiGHELL  (Tadcaster).  Dom.  Wicheles.  Doubtful;  Dom.'s  form 
may  be  for  '  Wicga's  nook ' — i.e.,  fr.  hale  or  -hall  {q.'V.)  rather 
than  -hill. 

Wight,  I.  of.  77  Pliny  Vectis,  c.  110  Sudonius  Vectis  Insula, 
Bede  Vecta,  a.  810  Nennius  Inis  gueith,  O.E.  Chron.  449  Wiht, 
a.  1200  Gueid  vel  Guith,  quod  Latine  divortium  dici  potest, 
c.  1400  And.  Pet.  Isle  de  Wight.  Prob.  O.W.  gueid,  gueith, 
'  division ' ;  there  is  also  a  W.  gwth,  '  rage,  violence,  also  a 
channel,  a  conduit.'  Cf.  Girisbrooke,  Winwideield,  and 
Wythburn.  Of  course.  Insula  in  L.,  inis  in  O.W-  (mod.  W. 
ynys),  and  isle  in  Fr.  all  mean  '  island.' 

WiGHTON  (Walsingham).  c.  1426  Wyghton.  'Town  of  Wiht,' 
one  in  Onom.  So  Wightwick  (Wolvermptn,),  though  Dom. 
Wistewic,  a.  1300  Wystewyk  and  Wytewyk,  is  plainly  '  Wiht's 
village.'    Dom.  often  has  st  for  ht;  it  so  hates  gutturals     Cf., 

e.g.,  WlLBRIGHTON. 


WIGMORE  610  WILLINGTON 

WiGMORE  (Herefordsh.).    Dom.  Wigemore,  1283  Wygemor.    Prob. 

'  moor/  O.E.  mdr,  '  of  Wiga  '  or  '  Wicga  or  Wigga,'  all  common 

in  Onom.    Cf.  Wigborough.    But  it  may  be  W.  gwig  mawr, 

'  great  thicket/ 
WiGSTON    (Leicestersh.).    Dom.    Wichingestone.  <.  *  Town    of    the 

viking/  O.N.  vihing-r,  O.E.  wicing. 
WiGTOFT  (Boston).    Sic  1484      Prob.  'farm  of  Wiga';  but  cf. 

above,  and  see  -toft.    Cf.  Wigsley  (Notts),  Dom.  Wigeslei. 

WiLBRAHAM  (Cambs)  and  Wilburton  (Ely).  1156  Wilbureham, 
1302  Wilburham,  K.C.D.  vi.  98  Wilburhton.  '  Home  '  or  '  town 
of  Wilburh/  a  woman.  But  Wilbrighton  (Gnosall),  Dom. 
Wilbrestone,  a.  1300  Wylbricton,  is  '  Wilbrihfs  town.' 

Wilder  (Stourport  and  Bedford).  St.  W.  1275  Wybeldone — i.e., 
'  hill  of  Wigbeald,  Widhmld,  WilbmU,  or  Wih'aU,'  all  forms  in 
Onom.  See  -don.  But  Bed.  W.  is  Dom.  Wildene,  O.E.  wild 
denu,  '  wild,  waste  valley.'    See  -den. 

Wiley  or  Wil  R.  (Wilts),  a.  800  chart.  East  and  West  Willa, 
c.  893  Asser  Guilou,  940  chart.  Wilig.  This  last  is  O.E.  wilig, 
'  willow,'  but  the  root  is  prob.  W.  gweilgi,  *  a  torrent.'  Cf. 
Abergwili;  or  possibly  O.W.  gwyll, '  a  fairy,'  and  so  this  would 
be  a  haunted  stream. 

WiLLENHAiiL  (Coventry  and  Walsall).  Wal.  W.  prob.  the  c.  732 
chart.  Willanhalch,  996  Willanhale,  Dom.  Winehala,  Winenhale, 
a.  1200  Willenhal(e) ;  Gov.  W.  a.  1400  Wihiehale,  Willenhale. 
'  Nook  '  or  '  meadow,  haugh,  of  Willa.'    See  -hall. 

WiLLERBY  (Scarboro'  and  Hull).  Dom.  Wilgardi  (for  -debi),  Hull. 
'  Dwelling  of  Wilgeard,'  one  in  Onom.  See  -by.  Willersey 
(Honeybourne),  c.  850  chart.  Wylleressie,  Dom.  Willersei,  is  fr. 
the  same  name.    See  -ey. 

WrLLESDEN  (London).  Dom.  Wellesdone,  1561  Wilsdone.  Dom. 
might  be  O.E.  welles  dun,  *  hill  of  the  well '  {cf.  Wherweix)  ; 
but  Willa  is  a  common  man's  name  in  Onom.  The  -den  is 
evidently  a  late  corruption.  But  there  is  a  Wilsden  (Craven), 
which  is  Dom.  Wilsedene. 

Willey  (Lutterworth).  Dom.  Welie,  1129  Wilee.  Prob. '  meadow 
of  the  willow,'  O.E.  welig,  wilig.  Cf.  WilHtoft  (E.  Riding), 
Dom.  Wilgetot,  '  willow  farm.' 

Willestgham  (Cambridge  and  Gainsboro').  Cam.  W.  K.C.D.  iv. 
245  Uuuilingeham,  Dom.  Wiuelingehem,  1750  Wivelingham; 
Gain.  W.  1301  Wyvelingham.  Patronymic.  *  Home  of  the 
Wifelings '  or  *  sons  of  Wifel,'  a  known  name.  Cf.  Wivelis- 
COMBE.    See  -ing. 

WiiiiiiNaTON  (Bedford  and  Durham),  Bed.  W.  Dom.  Welitone, 
Dur.  W.  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Twilingatun,  Twinlingtun.  In  both 
cases  a  patronymic.  In  the  former,  *  town,  village  of  the  sons 
of  Willa  '  {cf.  above) ;  in  the  latter,  fr.  some  unknown  man  and 


WILLOUGHBY  511  WINCHCOMBE 

his  sons.  Onom.  gives  one  Tulling  at  Exeter,  but  nothing  nearer. 
It  might  be  'village  of  the  twins';  c/.  Ger.  zwilling.  But 
WiLLiNGTON  (Shipston-on-S.)  is  Dom.  Ullavintone,  a.  1300 
Wolyngton,  1327  Wolamynton,  which  is  prob.  a  patronymic, 
'  village  of  the  sons  of  Wulflaf/    See  -ing. 

WiLLOUGHlBY  (4  in  P.O.),  Rugby  W.  Dom.  Wilebere  (-bury), 
Wilebei,  -bee,  a.  1300  WiHbi,  1327  Wylughbi.  Also  1298  Wylghe- 
by,  1419  Wylleby,  perh.  Lines.  Notts  W.  Dom.  Wilgebi.  Perh. 
'  dwelling  of  Willech,'  2  in  Onom. ;  more  prob.  fr.  O.E.  welig, 
wilig,  '  a  willow.'    See  -by. 

WiLMCOTE  (Stratford-on-Avon)  and  Wilnecote  (Tamworth). 
Str.  W.  1016  cMrt.  Wilmundigcote,  Dom.  Wilmecote,  a.  1200 
Wilmunde-,  a.  1400  Wilmoncote.  Ta.  W.  Dom.  Wilmundecote, 
1224  Wilmecote,  a.  1300  Wilmondecote,  1356  Wylmyncote. 
Both  are  '  Wilmund'a  cottage.'  The  -ig-  in  1016  is  a  remnant 
of  the  patronymic  -ing. 

Wilmington.    See  Wimblington. 

WiLSHAMSTEAD  (Bedford).  1327  Wilsamstede.  *  Will's  Hamp- 
STEAD  '  or  '  home-place.'     Willu  is  common  in  Onom. 

Wilton  (3  in  P.O.).  O.E.  Chron.  871  Wiltun,  prob.  near  Salisbury. 
'  Town  of  the  tribe  Wilscetas.'  Cf.  next.  But  Wilton  (Ross),  like 
Bishop's  Wilton  (York),  Dom.  Wiltone,  is  '  town  of  Willa/  a 
name  common  in  Onom. 

Wilts.  1011  O.U.  Chron.  Wiltunsch-,  1298  Wiltesh.  {sic).  Wilts 
is  a  contraction  of  Wilscetas,  '  sitters,  dwellers  on  the  R.  Wil.' 
So  says  Asser. 

Wimbledon.  O.E.  Chron.  568  Wibbandime,  '  Wibba's  hill,'  Cf, 
WiBSEY.  The  b  has  been  nasalized.   But  it  may  be  fr.  Winebeald. 

WiMBLiNGTON  (  Mauch.).  1387  Wilmyngton,  1539  Wymehngton. 
Willmington.  Patronymic.  '  Town  of  the  Wilhelmings ' 
(Skeat).     Cf.  Wilmington  (Honiton  and  Dartford). 

WiMBORNE  (Poole).  O.E.  Chron.  718  Wimburn,  ib.  871  Winbuma 
mynster.  Cf.  Dom.  '  Wimberie '  (Chesh.).  Doubtful.  Perh. 
'  burn,  brook  of  the  battle,'  O.E.  {ge)winn,  '  battle,  strife.'  But 
WiMPOLE  (Cambs)  is  Dom.  Winepole,  1302  Wynepol,  1346 
Wympole.  '  Pool  of  Winu,'  a  known  name ;  the  pool  is  still 
there.    Wimbome  very  likely  has  a  similar  origin. 

WiNCAwroN  (Somerset),  a.  800  chart.  Hwinca.  Prob.  a  man's 
name,  nasalized  form  of  Hwicca.    Cf.  Whixley,  and  see  -ton. 

WiNCTTAM  (Northwich).  Dom.  Wimundisham,  later  Wymincham. 
'  Home  of  Wymund.'    Cf.  Wymondham. 

WiNCHCOMBE  (Glouc).  803  chart.  Wincelcumba,  1053  O.E.  Chron. 
Wincelcumbe,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Wincencomb,  Wincelcumb, 
c.  1305  St.  Kenelm  Wynchecumbe.  Perh.  '  valley  of  Wincel ' 
(not  in  Onom.)  or  '  Winca.'  Cf.  Winchelsea.  But  O.E. 
wincel, '  a  corner,'  is  as  likely.    See  -combe. 


WINCHESTEE  512  WINFEITH 

Wn^CHESTEE.  c,  150  Ptolemy  Venta,  5ecZe  Ventse  Civitas,  O.E.  vers. 
Wiutancestir,  0  E.  Chron.  755  Wintanceastre,  ib.  1036  Win- 
ceastre,  c.  1100  Flor.  W.  Wintonia,  c.  1175  Wincestre,  1297 
R.  Glouc.  Winchestre.  In  W.  Caer  Gwent — i.e.,  '  fort,  castle  on 
the  plain,  clearing  or  open  country/     See  -Chester. 

WiNCHELSEA  (S.W.  Kent).  {Dom.  Winchelesmere),  1288  contin. 
Gervase  Winchelese,  1297-98  Wynchelese,  -chilse.  ?  '  Isle  of 
Wyncel.'    See  Winchcombe  and  Winkleigh  and  -ea, 

WrNCLE  (Cheshire).  Dom.  Winescol,  a.  1200  Winchal.  Prob. 
'  hill  of  Wina/  3  in  Onom.  O.E.  hyll,  '  hill,'  regularly  became 
hull  in  the  Midlands  fr.  2  on,    Cf.  Asphll. 

WrNCOMBLEE(Northumbld.).  OM  Wynkhamlea.  Doubtful.  Perh. 
O.E.  Wincan  leak,  *  meadow  of  Winca,'  one  in  Onom.  Cf. 
Wincolmlee  (Hull). 

Windermere,  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  ann.  791  Wonwaldremere  (a 
corrupt  reading),  1157  Winendemere,  1196  Winendremer,  1196- 
1748  Winandermere.  More  and  better  old  forms  needed.  The 
first  part  may  be  Kelt,  and  contain  W.  gioyn,  '  clear,  white, 
beautiful';  -mere  is  O.E.  mere,  'lake.'  W.  and  H.  derive  fr. 
a  hypothetical  Norseman  Vignandr,  a  name,  they  say,  exactly 
equivalent  to  the  known  O.E.  Wigno]).  This  is  ingenious,  but 
our  verdict  must  be  '  not  proven.'  There  is  a  Winder  (Frizing- 
ton,  Chimbld.)  which  certainly  looks  like  W.  gwyn  dwr,  '  clear 
stream.'    Windeeton  (Warwksh.)  is  1327  Wyntertone. 

WiNDRTJSH  E.  (Oxford).  779  chart.  Uuenrisc,  Die  Heilige  Engl. 
Wenrisc.  Prob.  Keltic.  Cf.  W.  gwyn,  fem.  gwen,  '  fair,  clear,' 
and  rhysgiad,  'an  overgrowing.'  The  ending  is  plainly  influ- 
enced by  O.E.  rise,  '  a  rush.' 

Windsor.  [K.CD.  iv.  165  Wendles  ore],  Dom.  Windesores,  1096 
O.E.  Chron.  and  Eadmer  Windlesora,  a.  1145  Ord.  Vit.  Windres- 
soris,  1297  R.  Glouc.  Windelsore;  also  Wyndelshore.  'Bank, 
border,  shore,'  O.E.  ora,  '  of  Wendel  or  Windel.'  The  liquids 
I  and  r  easily  interchange.  The  O.E.  name  Wendel  or  Wcendel, 
thinks  Skeat,  is  akin  to  the  Teutonic  tribe,  the  Vandals.  Con- 
nexion with  the  Wends,  a  Slavic  race,  cannot  be  thought  of. 
Cf.  Wendlebtjry  and  Windlesham  (Camberley) ;  also  Bggnor, 
CuMNOR,  etc. 

WiNFARTHiNG  (Diss).  Dom.  Wineferthinc,  later  Wynneferthing. 
Prob.  patronymic,  '  place  of  the  sons  of  Winefrith.'  See  -ing. 
But  perh,  '  the  ferding '  (common  Dom.  term),  or  quarter  of  a 
hide  of  land, '  of  Wynne,'  the  common  O.E.  Wine.  Cf.  Pinfarth- 
ing  (Amberley) ;  Pin-  ?  =  O.E.  penn,  '  sheep-fold.' 

WiNFOP.D  Eagle.     See  Aquilate  ;  and  cf.  next. 

WiNPRiTH  (Dorset).  Chart.  Wenfrut.  W.  gwen  ffrwdd,  'white, 
clear  stream.' 


WINKLEIGH  513  WIRKSWORTH 

WiNKLEiGH  (N.  Devon).  Dom.  Wincheleie.  C/.  1298  'Thomas 
de  Wyncelade/  '  Winca's  meadow/  or,  as  likely,  '  WinceVs 
meadow/  Cf.  Winchcombe,  Winchelsea,  Dom.  Northants 
Winewincle,  etc.  See  -leigh.  Winksley  (Yorks),  _  Dom. 
Wichingeslei,  is  a  patronjrmic,  '  meadow  of  the  sons  of  Winca.' 

WiNNiNGTON  (Mket.  Drayton).  Dom.  Wennitone.  'Town  of 
Wenna/  -an,  or  '  Wenni.' 

WiNSLOW  (Bucks).  Chart.  Uines  hlau,  'Wine's  hill';  Wine  is 
common  in  Onom.  See  -low.  Cf.  Winsley  (Bradford-on- 
Avon),  Dom.  Wineslei  (Salop),  and  792  chart.  Uuineshauue 
(belonging  to  St.  Albans),  also  Winson  (Bibury),  Dom.  Wines- 
tune,  '  Wine's  town.' 

WmsTER  R.  (Derby  and  Westmld.).  W.  gwyn,  '  white,  clear,'  and, 
thinks  M'Clure,  ster,  common  river  name  in  Brittany,  of  which 
the  many  British  cases  of  Stoue.  may  be  another  form. 

Winterborne  (14  in  Dorset;  also  Berks,  Wilts,  and  Glouc).  1155 
Pipe  Winterburne  (Glouc).  Presumably,  '  bourne,  burn,'  O.E. 
burna,  '  stream,  which  runs  only  in  winter,'  O.E.  winter. 

WtNTERHOLD  PiKE  (N.  Laucs).  Sic  c.  1250  in  chart.  Either  '  hold 
for  dwelling  in  in  winter,'  O.E.  winter,  or  '  Winter's  hold';  the 
name  is  still  a  personal  one.  Cf.  B.C.S.  761  Wintres  hlsew. 
Hold  is  O.E.  heald,  3-hold,  found  fr.  c.  1205  in  the  sense  of  '  lair, 
den,  place  of  refuge.'    Cf.  Scawtell  Pikes. 

WiNTERiNGHAM  (Doncaster).  Dom.  Wentrigha',  -rigena;  1298 
Wyntringham.  Patronymic.  '  Home  of  the  sons  of  Winter  or 
Wintar,'  both  forms  in  Onom.  Cf.  above,  and  see  -ham.  Wrsr- 
TERTON  (3  in  P.G.),  Dom.  Norfk.  Wintretuna,  is  fr.  the  same 
name ;  so  is  Wentworth. 

WiNTON  (N.  Yorks,  Kirby  Stephen,  Patricroft,  Bournemouth). 
Yo.  W.  Dom.  Winetune.  '  Town  of  Wine,'  a  common  O.E. 
name.  But  Winthorpe  (Newark)  is  Dom.  Wimuntorp,  '  village 
of  Winemund.'    See  -thorpe. 

WnsrwicK  (Warrington) .  ?  the  Cair  Guinntguic  of  a.  810  Nennius, 
which  will  be  Kelt  for  '  fair,  clear  village,'  W.  gwyn.  Corn,  gwin, 
and  Corn,  gweh,  L.  vicus,  '  village.'  But  all  analogy  would 
lead  one  to  say,  '  dwelling  of  PTme,'  a  common  name  in  Onom. 
See  -wick. 

WmwiDEiELD.  Freeman  thinks  =Wingfield  (Derbysh.).  On 
the  R.  Uinuaed,  says  Bede  iii.  24,  which  will  be  Kelt.  Vindo, 
W.  gwyn,  '  clear,  white,'  and  ?  O.W.  gueid,  gueith,  '  division, 
channel.'  If  so  this  may  now  be  represented  by  the  R.  Went 
or  Wynt,  a  trib.  of  R.  Don. 

WiRKSWORTH  (Derbysh,).  835  chart.  Wyrceswurthe.  This  may 
be  the  *  farm  of  a  man  Weorc'  Cf.  B.C.S.  1282  Weorces  mere, 
and  Dom.  Bucks  Wirecesberie.     Or  it  may  be,  '  farm,  with  the 


WIREAL  514  WITHAM 

fortification  or  outwork  or  bulwark/  O.E.  weorc.  Cf.  Waek, 
c.  1175  Werk  and  Dom.  Wirceshel,  now  Worsall  (N.  Riding), 
and  Wircesburg,  now  Worsbrough  (S.  Yorks).  It  is  prob.  fr.  a 
man's  name.     See  -worth. 

WiRBAii  (Birkenhead).  895  O.E.  Chron.  Wir  heala,  Dom.  Warhelle, 
a.  1100  Wirhalas.  The  name  has  a  Keltic  look  {cf.  W.  gwyr, 
'  pure,  fresh/  and  Corn,  hal,  '  a  moor ') ;  but  Sir  E.  Anwyl  does 
not  favour  this.  The  W.  name  used  to  be  Cilgwri,  '  retreat  of 
Owri.'  If  the  present  name  were  *  Gwri's  hall/  O.E.  heall,  we 
should  have  prob.,  though  not  certainly,  had  a  gen.  sign  in  895. 
So  we  must  leave  the  name  doubtful.  See  -hall.  Wyrley 
(Walsall)  is  Dom.  Wireleia,  a.  1200  Wirlege,  which  Duignan 
derives  fr.  O.E.  wir,  *  the  wild  myrtle.'  This  may  be  the  root 
of  Wirral,  too.    Cf.  Woreall. 

WiSBEOH.  O.E.  Chron.  657  Wisebece,  K.C.D.  v.  4  Wisebeche,  1298 
Wysebeke.  'Beach  of  Uui,'  4  men  called  Uui  or  Uvius  in 
Onom.y  all  East  Anglians  too.  Cf.  Wisley.  Beach  is  not  found 
in  Oxf.  Diet,  till  c.  1535.  Cf.  Landbeach.  Skeat  derives  Wis- 
fr.  O.E.  Wia-ea^  '  Ouse  stream,'  as  the  Ouss  once  flowed  past 
here.  The  early  spellings  of  Ouse  do  not  support  this,  and  the 
pronunciations  seem  always  to  have  been  distinct. 

WiSHAW  (Tamworth).  Dom.  Witscaga,  a.  1200  Witteshage,  a.  1300 
Wissawe,  a.  1400  Wyschawe,  -shawe.  '  Wita's  wood,'  O.E. 
scaga,  '  a  small  wood,  a  grove.'    Cf.  Wishaw  (Lanarksh.). 

WiSHFORD  (Salisbury).  'Ford  on  the  meadow,'  E.  Fries,  wislce, 
Low.  Ger.  msche,  Ger.  wiese  ;  in  Eng.  udsce  seems  to  mean  a 
small  meadow,  moist  and  low-lying.  Cf.  Whistley,  and  next; 
also  the  Wysshes  (Siddington). 

WiSKE  Moor  (Northallerton).  Might  be  Kelt.  =  G.  uisge,  '  water,* 
or  whisky !  More  likely,  '  meadow  moor.'  See  Wishford. 
Cf.  Appleton  Wiske. 

Wisley   (Worcester).    759   chart.   Uuisleag.     '  Meadow   of    Uui.' 

Cf.  WiSBEACH. 

WiSTANSTOW  (Craven  Arms).  Cf.  Dom.  Wistanestune  (Chesh.). 
'Place'  (O.E.  stow)  'of  Wistan'  or  '  Wigstan,'  ^  Wihstan,'  or 
'  Winestan ' — all  forms  in  Onom. 

WiSTON  (Pembk.  and  Steyning).  Old  forms  needed  for  Stey.  W. 
?  Dom.  Wistanestun.  Cf.  Wisley.  Pem.  W.  is  old  Castell 
Gwis,  in  W.  Cas  Gwys,  '  castle  of  Owys  ' — i.e.,  Wiz,  the  Nbrm. 
knight  who  built  it. 

WiTCHAM  (Ely).  Dom.  Wiceham,  1302  Wychham.  'Home  of 
Wioa,'  or  '  by  the  witch-elm,'  O.E.  wice.  Cf.  Witcheord,  near 
hj,  Dom.  Wiceford. 

< 

WiTHAM  (several).  Somerset  W.  Dom.  Witeham,  c.  1170  Witte- 
ham,  now  pron.  Wit-am;  O.E.  hmt  ham,  '  white  house.'  Essex 
W.  Dom.  Witham  is  pron.  Wit-ham,  and  is  on  a  R.  Guith ;  while 


WITHEEIDGE  615  WITTEKSHAM 

R.  Witham  (Lines)  is  pron.  Widh-am.  It  is  said  to  be  1115 
chart.  Witham;  but  c.  1190  Gir.  Camh.  Widhema,  Die  Heilige 
Engl.  Withma,  1240  Wima,  1281  Wyme.  LeUnd  says  it  takes 
name  fr.  the  place  Witham,  where  it  rises  8  miles  beyond  Grant- 
ham. But  very  likely  both  these  last  are  Keltic,  ?  with  the 
root  O.W.  gueid,  gueith,  '  division,  separation,  a  channel/  941 
O.E.  Chron.  Hwitanwyllesgeat  is  the  mouth  of  E..  Witham. 
There  is  a  '  Wyfie  '  in  796  chart.  Wilts. 

WiTHERiDGE  (Devon).  Dom.  Wederige,  Exon.  D.  Wedreriga. 
Perh.  a.  800  chart.  Widerigge.  '  Ridge'  or  '  rigg'  (as  in  Sc.  and 
N.  Eng.)  '  of  Widr  '  or  '  Wither.'    Cf.  Withersfield. 

WiTHERNSEA  (Hull)  {Dom.  Widfomessoi,  Wilfornes)  and  Withern- 
wiCK  (Hull)  {Dom.  Widf ornewic) .  The  Dom.  forms  seem  erro- 
neous, or  /  has  replaced  th  (see  FenglesbCam)  ;  and  both  names 
are  prob.  patronymics — '  peninsula  '  and  '  dwelling  of  the  sons 
of  Wihthere/  3  in  Onom.,  whilst  we  have  Wihthering  in  B.C. 8. 
779.    See  -ea  and  -wick. 

Withersfield  (Newmarket).  'Field  of  Wither/  4  in  Onom.  Cf. 
a.  1100  Grant  of  664  '  Wytherington,'  near  Peterboro'. 

WiTHiEL  (Bodmin)  and  Withiel  Florey  (W.  Somerset).  Ck)rn. 
withell,  '  a  lion,'  fr.  the  supposed  look  of  the  place.     Cf.  Lost- 

WITHIEL. 

WiTHiNGTON  (4  in  P.O.).  Cheltenham  W.  736-37  Grant  Wudian- 
dune,  Dom.  Widendune.  '  Hill  (O.E.  dun)  of  Widia  or  Wudga/ 
3  in  Onom.    Cf.  Dom.  Bucks  Withungraue. 

WiTHYBROOK  (Briuklow)  is  1198  Widebroc,  which  should  mean 
'  wide  brook ' ;  but  the  mod.  pron.  shows  it  is  only  the  common 
Nor.  d  for  th  medial,  and  the  name  really  is  fr.  ().E.  withig,  '  a 
willow,  a  withe.'  So  is  Witcombe  (Birdlip),  1330  Wydy- 
coumbe,  later  Wydecombe;  though  Baddeley  thinks  it,  'wide 
valley.' 

WiTLEY  (Godalming,  Halesowen,  Worcester).  Ha.  W.  a.  1500 
Whiteley.  Wo.  W.  964  chart.  Wittleage,  969  ih.  Witleag,  Dom. 
Witlege.  Cf.  Dom.  Chesh.  and  Devon  Witelei.  Either  O.E. 
hwit  leah,  '  white  mead,'  or  '  meadow  of  Wita,'  3  in  Onom.,  as 
in  Witney  (Oxford), '  isle  of  Wita.' 

WiTSON  (Newport,  Mon.).  Old  forms  needed.  We  may  cf.  1157 
Pipe  Witsand,  or  '  white  sand  '  (Beds.). 

WiTTENHAM  (Abingdon).  B.C. 8.  ii.  224  Wittanhamme,  c.  1540 
Whittenham  Comitis  ('  of  the  count  or  earl ')  and  Wittenham 
Abbatis  ('of  the  abbot').  'Enclosure'  (O.E.  hamm)  'of 
Witta.' 

WiTTERSHAM  (Pcasmarsh,  Sussex).  '  Home  of  Wither/  3  in  Onom. 
Cf.  B.C. 8.  60  Uuidringa  muth — i.e..  West  Wittering  (Sussex), 
patronymic  fr.  Wither  or  Widr.     Cf.  Witheridge. 


WITTON  516  WOLST  ANTON 

WiTTON  (7  in  P.O.).  Droitwich  W.  714  chart.  Wittona,  1043  Hwi- 
tona;  Birmingham  W.  Dom.  Witone,  a.  1400  Wytton;  Norwich 
W.  Dom.  Witona,  1179-80  Pipe  Witeton  (Yorks).  Prob.  all 
O.E.  hmt  tun, '  white  village  ' ;  but  cf.  Witley  and  Wittenham. 

Witton-le-Weae,  (Bp.  Auckland),  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  Wudu-, 
Wudetun — i.e.,  '  Wood-town/     See  Wear. 

WiVELiscoMBE  (Somerset).  Cf.  941  Wifeles  cumbe  (Sussex). 
'  VaUey  of  Wifel'  Cf.  also  B.C.S.  699  and  1067  Wifeles  ford 
and  ham,  Dom.  Chesh.  Wivelesde,  and  Yorks  Wifleshale,  now 
Wilsill  (see  -hall),  Willingham  and  Worston.    See  -combe. 

WiVENHOE  (Essex),  c.  1452  Whevenho,  Wevenho,  Wefnow. 
'  Hob,  height  of  Wifa,'  gen.  -fan. 

WiVETON  (Norfolk).  Dom.  Wiuetona,  1482  Wyveton,  Weveton. 
'Village  of  Wifa.'  Cf.  above.  Wiverton  (Notts),  Dom. 
Wivretune,  is  fr.  Wigferth  or  Wifare. 

WoBURN  Sands  (Bletchley).  969  chart.  Woburninga  (jemsere) — 
i.e.,  '  district  of  the  dwellers  on  the  Woburn.'  1155  Wobburne, 
O.E.  wo,  woh  hurna,  *  crooked  stream  or  bourne  or  burn,'  Cf. 
a.  675  Grant  *  Woburne  brugge '  (Surrey),  and  796  chart.  Wo- 
burne  (WUts).  There  are,  or  were,  also  several  Womeres  in 
England — '  crooked  lakes.' 

WoDNESBOROUGH  (Kent),  a.  1300  Wodnesberge.  '  Burgh  or 
Barrow  of  the  god  Wodin  or  Odin.'    Cf.  Wanborough. 

WoKESTG.  a.  715  chart.  Wocchingas,  O.E.  Chron.  777  Wocingas, 
Dom.  Wochinges.  Patronymic.  '  Place  of  the  sons  of  Wocc,' 
one  in  Onom.  Also  Wokingham  or  Oaktkqham  or  Ockingham 
(Berks),  c.  1280  Wokingham,  c.  1540  Okj-ngham,  1568  Oking- 
ham.     '  Home  of  the  Woccings.'    See  -ham  and  -ing, 

WoLLASTON  (Stourbridge  and  Wellingboro').  St.  W.  1327  Wolars- 
ton,  prob.  '  Wulf gar's  town*;  the  name  is  common.  But 
WoLLASHiLL  in  Same  shire  is  1275  Wollaueshull, '  hill  of  Wulflaf,' 
a  still  commoner  name.  Similar  is  Wolt^aton  (Notts),  Dom. 
Olavestune.  Welling.  W.  seems  to  be  Dom.  Walesdone,  '  hill 
of  Wale,'  2  in  Onom.    See  -don  and  -ton. 

WoLSELEY  (Rugby).  Dom.  Ulslei,  a.  1200  Wulfsiesleg,  a.  1300 
Wulseleye.  '  Meadow  of  Wulfsige  or  Wulfsie,'  a  very  common 
name  in  Onom.,  and  a  fuller  form  of  Wolsey  (ELing's  Lynn),  1166 
Pipe  Wulsi — i.e.,  '  woK's  isle,'  O.E.  wulfes  ige.    See  -ley  and  -ey. 

WoLSiNGHAM  (Co.  Durham).  Sic  1183.  'Home  of  Wolsin,'  var. 
of  the  very  common  name  Wulfsige.    See  -ham. 

WoLSTAjsTTON  (Stoke-on-Treut) .  Sic  c.  1350,  but  Dom.  Wistane- 
tone,  1198  Wulstanestone.  'Village  of  Wulfstan,'  a  common 
O.E.  name.  Cf.  Dom.  Salop  Vlestanesmude.  However,  Dom.'a 
form  will  rather  represent  Wigstan  or  Wistan,  also  a  very  com- 
mon name.  Wolstrop  (Glouc.)  is  old  Wulvesthrop,  '  thorpe, 
village  of  Wulf.' 


WOLVERHAMPTON      517  WOODCEOFT 

Wolverhampton.  985  chart.  Heantune,  994  chart,  of  Wulfrun 
(corrupt  copy),  Hamtune,  Hantone,  1006  chart.  Heantim,  JDom. 
Hantone,  -done,  Dom.  Wore.  Wrehantone,  a.  1200  Wulfrune- 
hanton,  -nhamtun,  Wolvernehampton.  Hean  tiine  is  the 
inflected  form  of  O.E.  heah  tun,  '  high  town/  which  not  seldom 
gets  confused  with  Hampton.  This,  then,  has  become  '  the 
hampton  of  Wulfrun/  daughter  of  K.  Edmund.  She  foimded 
a  college  here,  and  endowed  the  church  with  great  possessions, 
in  994. 

WoLVERLEY  (Kidderminster)  and  Wolverton  (Warwick).  866 
chart,  (late  copy)  Wulfferdinleh,  Wulferdinlea,  1046  ib.  Wulf- 
weardiglea,  Dom.  Ulwardlei,  1275  WolfEardeleye,  Dom.  Ulwardi- 
tone,  1150  Wlwarditone.  '  Meadow  of  the  sons  of  '  and  '  town 
of  Wulfweard  (c/.  -ing).  But  Wolvershill  (Nuneaton),  a.  1300 
Wulfareshull,  and  Wolverton  (Pershore),  977  Wulfringetime, 
984  Wulfrinton,  Dom.  Ulfrinton/l275  Wolfertone,  are  '  hill  of  ' 
and  '  town  of  the  sons  of  Wulfhere/  a  very  common  name. 
Cf.  854  chart.  '  Of  Wulfherescumbe  on  Wulfheres  clif,'  and 
WoRDSLEY.  From  Wulfhere  also  is  Wolverton  (Basingstoke), 
Dom.  Ulvretime,  Vluretune;  whilst  Wolverton  (Bucks)  in 
Dom.  has  the  patronymic  -ing — Wluerintone. 

WoLVEY  (Nuneaton),  a.  1200  Wulfeia,  1251  Wolveye.  'Isle  of 
Wulf  or  '  Wolf.'  See  -ey.  But  with  Wolviston  (Stockton- 
on-Tees),  cf.  Dom.  Suffk.  Wluerthestuna,  which  is  prob.  '  Wulf- 
heard's  town.' 

WoMBLETON  (Nawton).  Dom.  Winbeltun,  Wilbetun,  1235  Wim- 
bleton.     '  Town  of  Winebeald.' 

WoMBOFRNE  (Wolvermptu.) .  Dom.  and  later  Wamburne,  a.  1300 
Wombeburne,  Wamburn.  Prob.  '  brook  in  the  hollow,'  lit. 
'womb,'  O.E.  loambe,  womb{e).  Cf.  Wombridge  (Sialop)  and 
WoMBWELL  (Barnsley),  Dom.  Wanbuelle,  -la.     See  -bourne. 

WoMERSLEY  (Pontcfract) .  Dom.  Wilmereslege.  '  Meadow  of 
Wulfmoer  '  or  '  Ulmar,'  a  very  common  name. 

WoNERSH  (Guildford).  Old  forms  needed.  Won-  may  be  for 
'  Wana's,'  a  name  in  Onom.  ;  -ersh  is  almost  certainly  ersh  or 
arrish,  both  forms  in  Oxf.  Diet,  as  var.  of  eddish  (q.v.),  O.E. 
edisc,  of  obscure  origin,  '  a  wheat-stubble,  a  cleared  corn-field,' 
found  in  dial.  fr.  Devon  to  Sussex.    Cf.  Cavendish. 

WooDCHESTER  (Stroud).  740  chart.  Wuduceastre,  Dom.  Wide-  and 
Udecestre.     '  Fort,  town  in  the  wood/  O.E.  wudu.    See  -Chester. 

WooDCOTE  (Warwick,  Bromsgrove,  and  Reading).  Wa.  W.  Dom. 
Widecote,  1165  Wudcote;  Br.  W.  Dom.  Udecote,  1275  Wodecote. 
*  Cot,  cottage  in  the  wood,'  O.E.  wudu. 

WooDCROET  (Chepstow).  {Cf.  a.  1100  Grant  of  664  '  Wodecrofte,' 
near  Market  Deeping.)     O.E.  croft,  '  a  field,  a  small  farm.' 


WOODEND  518  WOOLPIT 

WooDBND  (Shipley,  Towcester,  etc.).  There  are  3  in  Stafidsh., 
which  mark  the  bounds  of  the  Forest  of  Arden. 

WooDHAY  (Eantbury,  Berks).  1316  Wydehay^c.  1540  Woodhay. 
'  Wood  fence  or  hedge/  O.E.  Tiege  (also  haga  and  hecg,  but  these 
are  distinct  words).    Cf.  Oxhey. 

Woodstock  (Oxford).  Dom.  Wodestok,  -stock;  1154-71  Wudes- 
toca,  c.  1160  Gest.  Steph.  Wodestoc,  1163  Wdestoke.  '  Place, 
settlement  in  the  wood.'  Cf.  Stoke,  Hadstock  (Cambs),  etc.; 
whilst  WooDMANCOTE  (3  in  Glouc.)  is  1230  Wdemenecote, 
'  woodman's  cot.' 

WooKEY  and  Wookey  Hole  (Wells).  1231  Patent  B.  Woky. 
Prob.  O.W.  guocov,  mod,  W.  gwcof, '  a  cave.' 

WoOLACOMBE  Traoy  (N.  Devon).  Dom.  Olecube,  Exon.  D.  Vla- 
cumbe;  Dom.  also  has  Wolnecome.  Cf.  941  chart  Uulecumb, 
(Twickenham) .  '  Valley  of  Wola,'  one  in  Onom.  '  WiUehnus 
de  Traci '  {sic  chart.  1174)  lived  here.  He  was  one  of  the  mur- 
derers of  Beckett. 

WooLAVLNQTON  (Bridgwater).  O.E.  chart.  Wulflafing  tun.  'Vil- 
lage of  Wulflaf's  children.'  Cf.  Woollaston  (Staffd.),  Dom. 
UUavestone,  and  WooUavington  (Sussex) ;  also  WooLASTON-on- 
Severn,  Dom.  Odelaweston,  1218  Wolavestone,  where  Baddeley 
postulates  an  unknown  Wudelaf.    See  -ing  and  -ton. 

WooLEE  (N.  Northumbld.).  Local  pron.  Oolor.  1197  Rolls  Wel- 
loure,  Testa  de  Nevil  Willore.  '  Well  on  the  bank  or  edge,' 
O.E.  ofer,  ohr,  now  usually  -over,  as  in  Ashover,  Shotover,  etc., 
but  often  contracted  as  in  Asher,  Hadsob,  Hasleb,  etc.  In 
more  recent  times  the  vowel  sounds  have  been  transposed,  and 
the  name  now  is  locally  suppoed  to  denote  '  a  wool  market ' ; 
and,  indeed,  W.  was  a  great  wool  centre.  But,  as  will  be  seen, 
Eng.  place-names  in  Wool-  very  seldom  have  any  connexion 
with  wool.  E.g.,  Wooldale  (S.  Yorks)  is  Dom.  Ulvedel,  '  dale 
of  ?7Z/' or 'the  Wolf,' etc. 

WooLHAMPTON  (Berks).  Dom.  OUavintone,  c.  1280  Wulavinton, 
1428  Wolamptone.  A  name  which  has  changed.  Not  orig.  the 
Hampton  or  '  home  town,'  but  the  '  town,  village  of  Wullaf  or 
Wulfflaf  or  rather  '  of  the  Wulflafings,'  or '  sons  of  Wulflaf .'  Cf. 
the  N.  Olaf  and  K.C.D.  vi.  243  Wullaiingland  and  Woolavington. 

WooLLEY  (Wakefield).  Dom.  Wiluelai.  '  Meadow  of  the  willows/ 
O.E.  wilig,  welig.    Gf.  Willey. 

WooLMEE  Gbeen  (Stevenage).  Chart.  Wulfmser.  '  Boundary, 
district,'  O.E.  {ge)mcBre,  '  of  a  man  Wulf.' 

WooLNOTH  St.  Mary  (parish,  London) .  Prob.  fr.  Wulfnoth,  brother 
of  K.  Harold  (d.  1066). 

WooLPiT  (Bury  St.  Edmunds).  Dom.  WKpeta.  '  Wolf -pit/  O.E. 
wulf-pyt.    Gf.  1148  Glouc.  chart.  WIpitta. 


WOOLSTONE  519  WOKKINGTON 

WooLSTONE  (Shrivenham,  Berks).  Dom.  Olvricestone,  c.  1280 
Wulfricheston,  Wulvricheston,  1316  Wolfricheston.  '  Town, 
village  of  Wulfric'  See  -ton.  This  name  shows  how  hopeless 
it  is  to  try  to  guess  origins  !  Woolscott  (Warwk.)  is  equally- 
hopeless,  for  it  is  Dom.  Werlavescote,  '  WcBrlafQ  cottage/ 
WooLSTON  (Bp's.  Cleeve)  is  simpler — Dom.  Olsendone,  1316 
Wolsiston — i.e.,  *  Wolsi's,,'  fuller,  '  Wulfsige's,  town." 

Woolwich.  Dom.  Hulviz  (Norman  phonetics  !),  Text.  Bojfensis 
Welwic,  a.  1400  Wolwiche.  The  O.E.  form  is  said  to  be  Wule- 
wic,  prob.  '  dwelling,  house  for  wool,'  O.E.  wul,  wull,  Icel.  ull, 
'  wool,"  and  O.E.  wic.    See  -wich. 

WooRE  (S.  Chesh,).  Dom.  Waure.  Gf.  Brownsover  (Rugby),  Dom, 
Gaura,  a.  1300  Waure,  Bruneswaure,  -wafre,  which  Duignan 
derives  fr.  a  supposed  O.E.  wcefre  or  wafre,  '  the  aspen  poplar.' 
Cf.  Wavertree. 

WooTTON  (13  in  P.O.)  and  Wotton  (2).  Dom.  Vdetune  (Salop), 
Wodetone  (Staffs),  Wotone  (Warwk.),  Utone  (Glouc).  Woot- 
TON  Rivers  (Marlboro'),  c.  680  chart.  Wdetun,  B.C.S.  i.  506 
Uudetun  (Berks) .  '  Wood-town,'  '  dwelling  in  the  wood.'  Hill 
WooTTON  (Leamington)  is  Dom.  Hille,  1327  Hull  wottone;  while 
WooTTON  Wawen  (Henley-in-Arden)  goes  back  to  723  chart. 
Widu  tun,  1043  Wagene  de  Wotton,  p.  1350  Wawenes  and 
Waunes  Wotton.  Wawen,  O.E.  Wahgene,  was  a  great  local 
proprietor  before  the  Conquest. 

Worcester.  691  chart.  Weogorna  civitas,  Bede  Provincia  Huic- 
ciorum,  O.E.  vsn.  Hwicna  Gemaere  (territory),  a.  810  Nennius 
Huich,  c.  800  chart.  Hicca,  c.  802  ib.  Wegoranensis  civitas, 
Wigornensis  ecclesia,  804  ib.  Wigornacestre,  836  ib.  Weogur- 
nacestre,  c.  897  Mlfred  Wiogora  ceastre,  c.  1075  Wigraceastre, 
c.  1100  Flor.  Wore.  Episcopatus  Wigornensis,  1274  Wirecestre, 
c.  1290  Wyricestre,  1297  B.  Glouc.  Wurcetre,  1666  Merrett 
Wostershire.  Mod.  pron.  Wu-ster.  Some  think  it  is  the  Cser 
Guiragon  or  Guveirangon  of  Nennius.  Gf.  Wroxeter.  '  Fort 
of  the  Euiccii  '  or  '  Wigorna ' — i.e.,  prob.  '  the  forest  men,' 
O.W.  guig,  gwig,  '  a  grove.'  See  M'Clure  (p.  165),  and  cf. 
Whicheord,  and  the  Wyre  forest  once  in  this  shire.  Hu-  and 
Gu-  both  equal  W. 

Word  (Kent  and  Sussex)  and  Worth  (Eastry,  Kent,  and  Ware- 
ham).  O.E.  worth,  '  a  farm,'  in  Dom.  always  -word(e),  -vord(e), 
-orde.  See  -worth.  The  people  at  the  Kent  Word  always  call 
it  Worth. 

WoRDSLEY  (Stourbridge),  a.  1200  Wuluardeslea,  a.  1300  Wol- 
wardele.  '  Meadow  of  Wulfweard.'  Gf.  Wolverley.  See 
-ley. 

Workington  (W.  Cumbld.).  1300  Werkenton.  'Town  of  (the 
sons  of)  Weorc,'  one  in  Onom.    See  -ing. 


WOEKSOP  520  WOESTEAD  HALL 

Worksop  (Eetford).  Dom.  Werchesope,  1189  Pi/pe  Worcheshope, 
1285  Wyrkesop,  1456  Worsop.  Prob.  '  Hope,  harbourage,  or 
valley  of  Wore'  Of.  Woesley  and  Warsop;  but  also  c/. 
Wark.    See  -hope. 

WoRLESTON  (Nantwich) .  Not  in  Dom.,  but  c/.  Dom.  Bucks  Vorls- 
done.  '  Town,  village  of  Worla,'  a  name  not  in  Onom.  Cf. 
Whorlton. 

WORLINGHAM  (Suffk.)>  WORLINGTON  (Soham),  and  WORLTNGWORTH 

(Framlingham) .  All  three  in  the  same  county,  and  yet  in  each 
the  Worling-  has  a  different  origin.  They  are  in  Dom.  War-, 
Werlingaha,  '  home  of  the  sons  of  Warl ' ;  WiriUntona,  where 
the  name  is  doubtful,  Onom.  has  one  Wernweald  ;  and  Wyrling- 
wortha,  '  farm  of  the  Wyrlings.'    See  -ing  and  -worth. 

WoRMEGAY  (King's  Lynn),  c.  1150  Wirmegeie,  1232  Wurmegaye, 
Red  Booh  Wirmingai,  Patronjrmic.  '  Isle  of  the  Wyrmings,' 
or  '  sons  of  Wyrm/  the  Snake.  Cf.  WorminghaU  (Thame). 
See  -ay. 

WoRMESTGEORD  (Essex).  Dom.  Widemondefort,  later  Withermond- 
ford,  1481-90  Howard  Bks.  Wyrmyngforde.  '  Ford  of  Wither- 
mwnd/  an  unrecorded  name,  but  Onom.  has  Widmund  and 
Witherwine.  Withermond  could  easily  become  Wyrmyng-,  and 
wyrm  is  O.E.  for  '  worm,'  hence  the  confusion  and  present 
spelling.  WoRMiNGTGN  (Glouc),  Dom.  Wermetim,  is  simply 
'  town  of  Wyrme  '  or  '  Wurm.'    See  -ing. 

WoRMLEiGHTON  (Southam).  956  chart.  Wilmanlehtune,  Dom. 
Wimeres-,  menestone,  a.  1200  Wilmelathune  {t  for  c),  1327 
Wilmeleghtone,  a.  1400  Wormleytone.  '  Wilman's  Leighton,' 
a  very  remarkable  corruption ;  2  Wilmuns  in  Onom.  The  Dom. 
forms  show  how  unreliable  Dom.  may  be. 

Worm's  BLead  (Pembrokesh.).  Low  Dutch,  prob.  Flemish  form 
of  Orm's  Head.    See  p.  79. 

WoRRALL  (Sheffield).  Dom.  Wihala,  -hale.  Possibly  '  wild  myrtle 
nook ' ;  O.E.  wir.    See  Wirral  and  -hall. 

WoRSBORo'  (Barnsley).  Dom.  Wircesburg.  '  Burgh,  town  of 
Wire  '  or  '  Wore'    Cf.  next,  and  see  -burgh. 

WoRSLEY  (Manchester  and  Abberley).  Ma.  W.  1296-97  Werkslegh, 
1293  Workellegh.  '  Mead  of  Were'  Cf.  above  and  Worksop. 
But  Ab.  W.  a.  1200  Wermeslai,  Wervesleye,  1275  Worvesle, 
1327  Werwesle,  1332  Worsley.  Prob.  'mead  of  Wcerwulf.' 
See  -ley. 

WoRSTEAD  Hall  (Walsall),  a.  1560  Walstede,  -stode.  'Stead, 
steading,  farm  of  Wealh ' — i.e.,  '  the  stranger.'  Woeston 
(Stafford)  is  c.  1300  Wiveleston,  Wyverstone,  Wyfridestone, 
Worliestone.  The  name  shows  variations,  but  prob.  is  '  town 
of  Wifel.'    Cf.  B.C.S.  699  and  1067  Wifeles  ford  and  ham,  and 

WiVELISCOMBE. 


WOETfl  621  WREXHAM 

Worth.    See  Word  and  -worth. 

Worthing,  also  Worthen  (Shrewsbury,  perh.  c.  1350  chart. 
Worthyn).  Prob.  the  dat.  of  O.E.  wor\>ig,  '  enclosed  farm.' 
Cf.  Tamworth  and  Worthy  (Winchester),  which  is  the  same 
name,  1001  O.E.  Chron.  Worthige.     See  -worth. 

Wortley  (2  in  Yorks  and  Wotton-under-Edge) .  Yo.  W.  Dom. 
Wirtleie,  Wirlei,  Wrleia,  1298  Wurtele.  Wo.  W.  old  Wurthelye, 
Worteley.  Prob.  O.E.  wyrt  leak,  '  field  for  growing  roots ' — 
turnip  or  suchlike.  Worton  (Yorks  and  Potterne),  Dom. 
Yorks  and  Wilts,  Werton(e),  is  prob.  the  same. 

WouLDHAM  (Rochester),  c.  970  chart.  Wuldaham.  Prob.  'home 
of  '  an  unrecorded  man. 

Wrangle  (Boston).  Dom.  Weranghe,  1276  Wrangle,  1396  Wrang- 
hill,  Wrangel.  Prob.  O.E.  wer,  waer,  '  a  fence,  enclosure  for 
fish,  a  weir,'  and  angel, '  fish-hook  ' ;  so, '  weir  for  fishing  in.' 

Wrathing  (Cambs  and  Suffolk).  Cam.  W.  Dom.  Waratinge,  chart. 
Wrsettincge,  1167  Wreting,  1210  Wrotinge,  1302  Wrattinge. 
'  Home  of  the  sons  of  Wrcetta '  or  '  the  man  with  the  wart '; 
E.  Anglian  wret.  Dom.  inserts  an  a,  and  makes  it  Warat-,  to 
help  a  Norman's  pronunciation.    See  -ing. 

Wrawby  (Brigg)  and  Wray  (Lancaster  and  Windermere).  Cf. 
1612-13,  in  N.  Riding  Rec,  '  A  parcell  of  meadow  called  the 
Wraie ' ;  N.  loraa,  '  a  corner,  a  landmark.'  Cf.  Capernwray 
(Lanes),  '  chapman's,  merchant's  corner,'  Haverah,  and  Wrae 
(Sc.)    See  -by. 

Wraysbury  (Staines).  Not  in  Dom.,  but  old  Wyrardisbury, 
'  Town,  burgh  of  Wcerheard '  or  '  Werardiis,'  a  common  name 
in  Onom.    See  -bury. 

Wrekin,  The  (Salop).  ?  a.  600  Llywarch  Hen.  Dinnle  Wrecon, 
a.  900  chart.  Wreocensetun.  Prob.  same  root  as  Wroxeter,  q.v. 
Possibly  same  root  as  W.  gwrechyn,  gwrachin, '  a  crabbed  fellow,' 
but  this  is  doubtful. 

Wrelton  (Pickering).  Dom.  Wereltun.  More  old  forms  needed; 
?  fr.  Werdwulf  or  Wernheald.  Cf.  Wressel,  also  E.  Riding, 
_Dom.  Weresa.  This  may  be  the  same  name  as  Dom.  Wore. 
Weredshale,  interpreted  by  Skeat  as  '  O.E.  weoredesheale,  "  a 
place  occupied  by  a  host,"  wherein  a  set  of  men  squatted  in 
company.' 

Wrexham.  In  W.  Gwrecsam,  corrup.  of  the  Eng.  name.  In  Saxon 
days  it  was  in  Mercia,  not  Wales.  1160-61  Pipe  Chesh. 
Wristlesham,  1222  chart.  Madoc  ap  Gruffith  Wrechceosam, 
1236  Wreccesham,  Wrettesham  {t  common  error  for  c),  1291 
Wyrcesson,  1316-17  Wrightlesham,  c.  1620  Beaumont  and  Fletcher 
Rixum.  Prob.  '  home  of  Wryhtsleof'  one  in  Onom.  ;  1160  has 
the  regular  Nor.  st  for  guttural  h,  which  the  Norman  could  not 
abide.    See  -ham. 

34 


WRIBBENHALL  522  WYLE  COP 

Wribbenhall  (Bewdley).  Dom.  Gurbehale,  a.  1100  Wrbenhala, 
1240  Wrubenhale.    '  Wrobba's  nook/    See  -ball. 

Wbittle  (Cbelmsford).    Prob.  692-93  chart.  Writolaburna  (brook), 
1^  1234  Close  B.  Writel.    Perb.  Keltic ;  c/.  W.  gwrthol, '  backwards/ 
Wbithinlgton  (Bath)  is  Dom.  Writelinctune/  a  patronymic, 
»      prob.  based  on  the  same  root.    See  -ing. 

Wbookwahdine  (Wellington,  Salop).  'Farm  of  Wrocc'  Cf. 
Wboxall,  and  see  -wardine. 

Weotham  (Kent)  and  Weottesley  (Wolverhampton).  Dom. 
Wrotolei,  a.  1200  Wrotelei,  Wroteslea.  '  Home  '  and  '  meadow 
of  Wrot.'    See  -ham  and  -ley. 

WB,oxAiiL  (Ventnor  and  Warwk.).  Ve.  W.  1038-44  chart.  Wrocce- 
sheale  binnan  Wiht.  War.  W.  a.  1200  Wrocheshal(e),  Wroke- 
shal.  '  Nook  of  Wrocc*  Of.  Wroxhill  (Beds)  and  Wroxton 
(Oxon).    See  -hall. 

Wboxetee  (Shrewsbury),  c,  150  Ptolemy  Urioconio,  c.  380  Ant. 
Itin.  ibid.,  also  Virocono.  Prob.  also  a.  810  Nennius  Caer 
Guiragon  or  Guoricon,  or  Umahc,  Brut  y  Tywysogion  Caer- 
wrangon.  Wroxeter  is  for  Wrocn'&  caster.  (7/.  Exeter,  and 
see  -caster.  It  may  contain  the  same  root  as  Wreken.  M'Clure 
thinks  Virocono  may  contain  the  name  of  Verica,  son  of  the 
Keltic  King  Commios. 

Wyohwood  (W.  Oxon.).  O.E.  Ghron.  841  Huicceuudu,  Dom. 
Huchewode,  1284  Whyche-,  Whucchewode.  '  Wood  of  the 
Huiccii.'  It  formerly  belonged  to  the  bishops  of  this  tribe,  who 
perh,  took  their  name  fr.  O.E.  wice,  M.E.  wiche,  '  a  tree,'  prob. 
the  wych  elm,  or  hazel.    See  also  Worcester  and  Wicheord. 

Wycliffb  (Teesdale).  Dom.  Witchve— i.e.,  '  white  chfE,'  O.E.  hwit 
clif;  there  is  one  here;  but  a.  1130  Sim.  Dur.  WigecHf — i.e., 
'  cliff  of  Wiga/  4  in  Onom. 

Wycombe  (Bucks).  Dom.  Wicombe,  c.  1350  Wycombe,  1387 
Trevisa  Wycomb  malban.  Mod.  pron.  Wick-am.  '  Valley  of 
the  Wye,'  a  httle  trib.  of  R.  Thames.  Of.  1160-61  Pipe  Sussex 
Wicumba.    See  -combe. 

Wye,  R.  Dom.  Waia,  c.  1097  Flor.  Wore.  Weage,  Latin  Chrons. 
Vaga,  c.  1130  Lib.  Landav.  Gwy,  which  is  W.  for  '  river,  stream/ 
Of.  Wey  and  Wycombe. 

Wyke  (Bradford)  and  W.  Regis  (Weymouth).  Dom.  Wiche. 
'  Dwelling.'    See  -wich.     Regis,  L.  '  of  the  king.' 

Wyken.    See  Wicken. 

Wylam  (Northumbld.).  1201  Wilum;  a  loc,  as  in  Kilham,  etc., 
'  at  the  wells  ';  O.E.  wiell{a),  '  a  spring,  a  fountain.'    See  -ham. 

Wyle  Cop  (Shrewsbury).  M'Clure  thinks  Wyle  is  same  as  Wyla, 
prob.  gen.  pi.  of  wygel.  both  words  in  the  early  O.E.  glossaries. 


WYMONDHAM  .         523  YAR  R. 

with  the  meaning  '  cave.'    Cop  is  O.E.  cop,  copp, '  top,  summit. 
See  Oxf.  Diet.,  cop  sb^. 

Wymondham  (Norf k.  and  Oakham) .  No.  W.  c.  1 150  Wimundehame. 
*  Home  of  Wimund,'  a  common  O.E.  name.  Cf.  Dom.  Wimmi- 
disham  (Chesh.),  now  Wincham,  and  Wimmitorp  (Notts),  now 
Winthorpe.     See  -ham,  here  prob.  '  enclosure.' 

Wyre,  R.  (Lanes).  Sic  a.  1300.  Wyre  Forest  (Wstrsh.). 
Always  Wyre.  There  is  also  Wyre  Piddle  (Pershore),  Dom. 
Pidele,  1290  Wyre  Pidele.  Any  of  these  may  be  fr.  W.  gwyr, 
'  oblique,  sloping,  bending,'  or  gwyre,  '  pure,  fresh,  lovely.' 
But  all  is  doubtful.  Cf.  1235  Close  R.  Wirbm-ne.  Duignan 
cites  the  rivers  Wyre  Fawr  and  Fach  (W.  mawr  and  bach), 
'  great  and  little  spread,'  fr.  Cardigansh. 

Wysall  (Nottingham) .  Dom.  Wisoc,  1302  Wishow,  1637  Wysshaw. 
'  Hill,'  O.E.  hoh,  '  of  Uui ' ;  cf.  Wisley.  Onom.  has  only  1  Wizo. 
The  present  ending  is  quite  recent;  cf.  Watnall. 

Wytham  (Ojdord).  O.E.  chart.  Wihtham,  c.  1130  Chron.  Ahing. 
Uuihteham,  Wictham,  c.  1540  Wightham.  '  Home  of  Wihta ' 
or  '  Wiht.  Wythburn  (Keswick)  may  be  fr.  the  same  man's 
name,  but  is  prob.  =  Wight,  a  Kelt  root. 

Yaldeng  (Maidstone).  Not  in  Dom.  1230  Close  R.  Ending. 
More  evidence  needed.  Possibly  patronymic  fr.  Gelda,  1  in 
Onom.    See  -ing. 

Yale  (Derbysh.).  W.  ial,  '  open  IsLnd.'  Cf.  Llanarmon-yn- 
Yale  (Mold). 

Yanworth  (Hazleton).  Dom.  Teneurde,  1221  Jeanworth,  1251 
Zaneward.  '  Farm  of  Ean,'  short  for  Eanbeorht,  or  the  hke. 
See  -worth. 

Yapham  (E.  Riding).  Dom.  lapun,  1230  Japun.  Perh.  a  loc, 
'at  the  gaps';  O.N.  gap,  'chasm';  Sw.  gap,  Da.  gab,  'open 
mouth.'  Gap  is  not  found  in  Eng.  till  c.  1380.  See  -ham. 
But  Yapton  (Arimdel),  not  in  Dom.,  will  be  fr.  a  man  Geppa  ; 
2  in  Onom. 

Yar  R.  (I.  of  Wight)  and  Yare  R.  (Gt.  Yarmouth).  Forms  see 
Yarmouth.  The  Yare  is  perh,  c.  150  Ptolemy  Gariemios,  c, 
380  Notit.  Dign.  Garianno,  whilst  the  earhest  sure  form  is 
Dom.'s  G«rne.  M'Bain  held  that  Yare  is  =  Yarrow  (Sc), 
which  is  G.  garbh,  'rough).  So  Garianno  will  be  Kelt,  for 
'  rough  river ' ;  the  -enn-  or  -ann-  or  -ne  representing  a  Kelt,  word 
for  '  river,'  like  G.  abhuinn.  Cf.  the  rivers,  Gar-onne,  Guadi-ana, 
etc.  The  Yar  may  represent  the  simple  Kelt.  adj.  for  '  rough,' 
its  earhest  known  form  being  Dom.'s  Er.  However,  Arnoliefe 
(Skipton)  is  once  in  Dom.  Gerneclif,  where  Gerne  must  be  O.E. 
earn,  '  an  erne '  or  '  eagle.' 


YAEDLET  524  YAXHAM 

Yabdley  (Birmingham).  972  chart.  Gjordleahe,  Dom.  Gerlei,  1275 
Jerdeleye.  Yabdley  Hastings  (Northants),  a.  1124  Jerdelai. 
*  Enclosed  meadow/  fr.  O.E.  geard,  '  a  yard,  a  court.'     See  -ley. 

Yabkhill  (Hereford).  811  chart.  Geard  cylle,  which  is  O.E.  for 
'  Yard  vessel/  a  strange  name  for  a  place.  O.E.  geard  is  '  yard, 
enclosure,  dwelling.'  Kiln  is  O.E.  cylene,  and  not  to  be  thought 
of  here.  In  any  case  the  corruption  is  notable.  Yartledon 
(Glouc),  old  Yarcledon,  Yacledon,  and  Zarkley,  Baddeley 
derives  fr.  the  dial,  yark,  '  ragwort.' 

Yarlett  (Stone) .  Dom.  1300  Erlide,  a.  1500  ErUd,  a.  1600  Yerlett. 
Doubtful;  an  abnormal  name.  Duignan's  O.E.  geard  lyt, 
'  little  yard,'  seems  out  of  the  question.  The  name  seems 
Norse;  O.N.  earl-  or  iarl-  hlith,  O.E.  eorl-hlith,  '  earl's  '  or  '  jarl's 
slope.'  Th  certainly  could  harden  into  t  or  dr — medially  it  often 
does  in  Dom. — and  the  Eng.  earl  is  6-7  yerle.  The  Sc.  -lets  seem 
generally  to  have  been  orig.  -leth,  as  in  Cromlet,  Hurlet, 
and  Passelet,  old  form  of  Paisley. 

Yarm  (N.  Riding).  Dom.  larun,  Gerou  (u  error  for  n).  larun 
looks  like  an  O.E.  loc. ;  see  -ham.  But  the  name  is  prob.  O.E. 
gerum,  '  room,  space,'  or  geruma,  '  a  place ' ;  gerume,  '  roomy.' 

Yarmouth,  Great.  Dom.  Gernemua,  c.  1130  Eadmer  and  1167 
Pipe  Gernemutha,  1223  Jernemue,  1278  Magna  Jernemouth, 
1461  Yarmouth.  Yarmouth,  Little  (Suffolk)  is  1229  Close 
B.  Parva  Gernem'.  Yarmouth  (I.  of  Wight)  is  Dom.  Er  mud, 
1231  Close  B.  Erem'.  Oxf.  Dict.'s  earliest  quot.  for  mouth  in 
the  sense  of  '  river  mouth  '  is  a.  1122. 

Yarneield  (Stone  and  Somerset).  1266  Ernefeld,  1327-79  Erne- 
fen,  a.  1600  Yernfyn,  Yarnefylde.  Som.  Y.  Dom.  Gernfelle 
{II  as  often  for  Id),  O.E.  gearn  feld,  '  yarn  field,'  or  else  '  fen.' 
Cf.  Yarnwigk  (N.  Riding),  Dom.  Gernwic,  '  house  for  making 
yarn.'    See  -wick. 

Yarwell  (Wansford,  Northants).  Not  in  Dom.  1238  Jarewell. 
Doubtful.  Possibly  fr.  O.N.  jara,  poetic  word  for  '  a  fight,  a 
combat.' 

Yatesbury  (Calne).  C/.  Dom.  Bucks  lateberie.  '  Town,  burgh  of 
Geat '  or  '  Geot.'  See  -bury.  But  Yate  (Bristol),  778  chart. 
Gete,  Dom.  Giate,  is  O.E.  cet  Geate,  '  at  the  gate.' 

Yattenden  or  -don  (Berks).  Dom.  Etingedene,  1316  Yatindene, 
1365  Yatyndene,  1428  Yatendene.  '  Dene,  valley  (O.E.  denu, 
often  coniused  in  names  with  O.E.  dun,  '  hill,  down ')  '  of  the 
Geatings '  or  '  sons  of  Geat.'  Cf.  B.C.S.  iii.  68  Geates  cumb 
(Cumnor),  and  Yatting  (Kent),  1235  Close  B.  Jatingden. 

Yaxham  (Norfolk)  and  Yaxley  (Peterboro') .  1477  Yeaxham.  940 
chart.  Geakeslea,  1235  Close  B.  Jakesli.  There  is  also  one  at 
Eye  (Suffolk) .  '  Home  '  and  '  meadow '  of  Yeaca,'  not  in 
Onom.    See  -ham  and  -ley. 


TEADON  525  TIELDEN 

Yeadon  (Leeds).  Dom.  ladun.  Prob.  an  old  loc,  *  at  the  roads/ 
or  '  on  the  way/  fr.  O.N.  gata,  Da.  gade,  '  a  road,  a  way ' ;  the 
So.  gate.  We  see  t  become  d  also  in  Yokefleet  (N.  Yorks),  iDom. 
lucu-,  lugufled.    See  Fleet. 

Yeabsley  (Yorks).  Dom.  Eureslage,  O.E.  eofors  liaJi, '  wild-boar's 
field  '=  EvEESLET.    Cf.  Yeveeing. 

Yedding  or  Yeading  (Middlesex).  793  cTiart.  Geddingas.  Patro- 
nymic, 'Home  of  the  sons  of  Oeddi/  one  in  Onom.  Cf.  the 
mod.  surname  Giddings. 

Yelveeton  (Norwich  and  Dartmoor).  No.  Y.  prob.  Dom.  Ailuer- 
tun,  '  town  of  Mlfweard,'  a  common  name.  Da.  Y.  is  doubtful. 
Said  to  be  Elford-town,  as  the  Elfords  once  had  a  seat  here. 
This  is  phonetically  very  doubtful.  Perh.  it  is  Dom.  Utvretone 
{Ut-  error  for  TJI-),  and  so  '  town  of  Ulf heard '  or  '  Ulfard,'  var.  of 
the  very  common  Wulfheard.    There  is  an  Elf  orde  in  Dom.  Devon. 

Yenlet  (several  at  mouth  of  Thames).  789  chart.  laegnlaad,  808 
chart.  Genlad  (Kent),  Bede  Genlada,  said  to  be  O.E.  gegn, 
'  opposite,  over  against,'  and  lada  (gelad),  '  way,  passage.' 
Perh.  one  origin  of  Eng.  inlet.  Cf.  1570-76,  Lambarde  Peramh. 
Kent  (1826)  234, '  A  thing  yet  well  known  in  Kent  and  expressed 
by  the  word  yenlade  or  yenlet,  which  betokeneth  an  Indraught 
or  Inlett  of  water  into  the  land.'  Inlet  is  found  as  early  as 
a.  1300  Cursor  Mundi,  In-late. 

Yeo,  R.  There  are  3,  one  in  N.  Devon,  2  in  Somerset.  The  one 
near  Crediton  is  739  chxirt.  Eowe.  Possibly  fr.  Ir.  eo,  '  yew- 
tree  '  river.  W.  J.  Watson, '  with  hesitation,'  derives  the  R.  Ewe 
(Ross-shire)  from  this  root.    Cf.  next. 

Yeovel  and  Yeovilton.  a.  800  chart.  Gifla,  Dom.  Givele,  Ivle, 
chart.  Gavylton.  Though  Yeovil  is  on  R.  Yeo,  it  orig.  had 
nothing  to  do  with  Yeo.  Gifla  or  Gavyl  seems  to  be  O.E. 
gafol,  geafl,,  '  a  fork,  a  forked  opening ' ;  cognate  with  G.  gabhal 
or  gobhal  {bh=v),  'a  fork,'  as  in  Gavell  (Kilsjrth).  The  mod. 
name  is  made  up  of  Teo  and  Fr.  ville,  a  truly  modern  compound  ! 
There  is  also  said  to  be  a  St.  Ivel,  fr.  whom  the  town  took  its 
name.  No  such  name  appears  in  the  Diet.  Christ.  Biogr.  Cf. 
Galeoed,  Ilchestee,  and  Yielden. 

Yeveein(g)  (Wooler).  Bede  Ad  gefrin,  a.  1120  Hen.  Hunt.  Adge- 
brin.  Doubtful.  ?  containing  W.  gwefr,  'amber,'  'amber- 
coloured.'  Yaverland  (I.  of  Wight)  is  Dom.  Evreland,  fr.  the 
name  Eofor,  Eofer,  or  Ever,  i.e., '  the  Boar.'    Cf.  Eveesley,  etc. 

Ybwbaeeow     (hill,     Wastwater).     1322     Yowberg.     '  Baeeow 
mound-like  hill,  with  the  yews  ' ;  O.E.  iw. 

Yielden  (Beds).  Dom.  Giveldene.  'Dean,  wooded  vale  at  the 
forked  opening ' ;  O.E.  geafl.  See  Yeovil  and  -den.  Yielding 
Teee  (Broom,  Wore.)  may  have  the  same  root,  but  it  is  1275 
Gyldintre,  which  looks  like  '  tree  of  Gilda,'  gen.  -an.  Onom,.  has 
only  Gildeioine. 


YNYS  GLANACH  526  YOXAL 

Ynys  Glanach  (Anglesea).  a.  1190  Qir.  Camh.  Enislannach. 
W.  =  '  island  of  Glanach,'  or  perh.  '  isle  of  the  landing  or  going 
ashore';  W.  glaniad.  Also  caUed  Priesthohne  (O.E.  and  Dan. 
holm,  '  a  small,  low  island ')  and  Puffin  Isld.  But  T.  Morgan 
says  the  W.  name  now  is  Ynys  Seiriol,  fr.  a  saint  who  erected 
his  cell  here  in  6th  cny. 

YocKLBTON  (Shrewsbury).  Dom.  Loclehuile,  error  for  Geochulle, 
just  as  Dom.  has  Locheshale  for  Yoxall.  This  seems  to  be 
'  village  of  the  yokel,'  at  least,  there  seems  no  likely  man's  name ; 
only  yokel,  '  a  boor,  a  country  lout/  is,  so  far  as  records  go,  a 
recent  and  dial,  word,  for  which  we  can  find  nothing  earlier  than 
Jamieson's  yochel,  '  a  big,  stupid  person.'  Prob.  it  is  derived 
fr.  yoke,  and  meant  orig.  'a  ploughman.'    But  cf.  Giqgles- 

WIOK. 

York.    c.  380  Ant.  Itin.  Ebur-,  Eboracum,  Bede  Ecclesia  Ebora- 
censis,  c.  780  Alcuin,  a  resident  there,  Euborica  civitas,  O.E. 
Chron.  738  Eoforwic,  a.  998  Richer   Eurvich,  c.  1000  Mlfric 
Eferwic,  Dom.  Euruic,  1198  Hoveden  Everwic,  c.  1205  Layam. 
'  icleped  Eborac,  seoS^en  Eoverwic,'  1275  ib.  Euerwich.  Layam. 
2666  says  the  name  used  to  be  Caer  Ebrauo,  fr.  the  good  K. 
Ebrauc,  1298  Everwyke,  1479  Surtees  Misc.  York.    Also  York- 
shire, 1065  O.E.  Chron.  Eoforwicscire,  c.  1386  Chaucer  York- 
shire.   The  name  orig.  was  the  Kelt.  Ebur-,  Eborach,  which 
Gluck  says  is  Jr.  ebrach, '  muddy,'  fr.  abar,  Ir.  and  G., '  a  marsh,' 
with  the  common  ending  -ach,  '  place  of.'    But  the  Angles  may 
have  taken  it  to  be  '  town,  dwelling,'  O.E.  ivic,  '  on  the  R.  Ure  ' 
or  '  Eure,'  which  looks  like  G.  iubhur,  Ir.  ibar,  *  a  yew.'    Cf. 
the  Eburones,  a  tribe  in  Belgium,  Caesar  B.O.  2.  4.  4,  Eborius, 
Bp.   of  York,   at   the   Council   of   Aries,  a.d.   314,  and  the 
Eburovices,  the  tribe  who  have  given  name  to  Evreux.     The 
mod.  W.  name  is  Caerefrog,  the  descendant  of  Layam.'s  Caer 
Ebrauc,  '  castle  of  Ebrauc'     The  present  pron.  York  comes 
through  the  influence  of  the  Danes,  who  called  it  Jorvik— ^*=  y. 

YonLGEAVE  (Bakewell),  Dom.  Giolgrave,  and  Youlton  (N.  Riding), 
Dom.  loletune.  Prob.  '  yellow  grave '  and  '  town ' ;  O.E. 
geoh,  -lu,  '  yellow ' ;  but  lole-  may  represent  a  man  Oola,  2  in 
Onom. 

YouiiTHORPE  (Pocklington).  Dom.  Aiultorp.  Doubtful;  hardly  fr. 
O.E.  ule.  Mid  High  Grer.  iuwel,  iule,  '  an  owl ' ;  prob.  '  village  of 
Howcel,  Howel,  Huwal,  or  Owel,'  recorded  names  of  British 
princes.    But  cf.  above.    See  -thorpe. 

YoxAL  (Burton  -  on -T.).  Dom.  locheshale  (see  Yookleton). 
a.  1300  Yoxhal(e),  Jokesal,  a.  1400  Yokeshale,  Joxhale.  No 
likely  name  in  Onom.,  so  prob.  '  nook '  or  '  meadow  of  the 
yoke.*  O.E.  geoc,  gioc,  ioc — i.e.,  as  much  as  could  be  plowed 
by  a  yoke  or  pair  of  oxen  in  one  day.  See  -hall.  Similarly 
YoxFORD  (Saxmundham)  is  Dom.  Gokesford. 


YE  AEAN  627  ZOY 

Yr  Aran,  etc.  See  Aran,  etc.  7r  or  y  is  the  W.  article  '  the/ 
yr  being  used  bef .  a  vowel  or  h. 

YsPYTTY  (Betws  y  Coed)  and  Ysfsttty  Ystwyth.  Corrup.  not  of  L. 
hospitium,  '  a  hospice,  a  hospital/  but  of  L.  hospes,  -itis,  *  a 
guest,'  and  W.  ty,  '  house,'  and  so,  '  an  inn.'  Cf.  Tatarn 
Spite  and  Aberystwyth. 

YsTAiiYFERA  (Glam.) .  Old  ynys  tal  f era  (perh.  iorfuriau) ,  *  meadow 
at  the  foot  of  the  high  walls ' — i.e.,  '  hills.'  But  W.  ystal  is 
'  a  stall,'  audi  f era  or  hera,  '  a  stack  of  hay  or  com.' 

YsTRAD  MYNACH  (Cardiff).    W.= '  monk's  meadow.'    W.  ystrad  is 
same  as  G.  srath  or  '  strath,'  but  in  W.  means  rather  '  a  meadow ' 
or  '  rich  lowland.'    However,  the  original  name  is  said  to  have 
.  been  Y-Maenarch,  named  after  one  of  the  Earls  of  Hereford. 

Zennor  (St.  Ives).  There  seems  to  be  no  saint  of  this  name. 
Perh.  Com.  and  W.  lender,  '  cold,  coldness,'  Com,  iein,  W.  min, 
'cold.'    Of.  the  personal  name  Jenner. 

ZoY  (Somerset),  c.  725  chart.  Soweie,  Dom.  Sowi.  O.E.  su  i-^e, 
'  sow  isle.'  Initial  s  regularly  becomes  z  in  this  region.  Cf. 
Chedzoy,  Bridgwater,  1257-1300  chart.  Chedeseye,  'Cedda'B 
isle.'    See  -ey. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 

H.  Alexandee:  Plaoe-Names  of  Oxfordshire.    1912. 

H.  Alexander:  Place-Nam es  and  Dialect  Study  (Yorks  Dialect  Sooy.).    1911. 

E.  Anwyl,  Celtic  Religion.     1906. 

W.  St.  CTiATTC  Baddelby:  Plaoe-Names  of  Gloucestershire.     1913. 

BjSbkman;  Nordische  Personennamen  in  England.     1910. 

DiCTIONAEIES: 

A  New  English  Dictionary,  edited  by  Sir  J.  A.  H.  Murray,  etc.    Oxford.    1888  sq 

Dialect,  Joseph  Wright.     6  vols. 

Anglo-Saxon,  Bosworth-Toller. 

Cornish,  R,  Williams,  Lexicon  Comu-Britannicum.     1865. 

Gaelic,  Macleod  and  Dewar.     1853. 

Icelandic,  R.  Cleasby  and  G.  Vigfusson.     1874. 

Welsh,  W.  0.  Pughe  and  R.  T.  Pryse.     2  vols. 
W.  H.  Dttignan:  Place-Names  of  Staffordshire.     1902. 
W.  H.  DtHGNAN:  Place-Names  of  Worcestershire.     1905. 
W.  H.  DtriGNAN:  Place-Names  of  Warwickshire.     1912. 
Encyclopedia  Bbitannica.     11th  edit. 
E.  Fbeeman  :  History  of  the  Norman  Conquest.    4  vols. 
E.  Ebeeman:  History  of  William  Ruf us.    2  vols.     1882. 
Gazetteebs: 

Cassell's,  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland.    6  vols.     1900. 

Comprehensive,  of  England  and  Wales,  edited  by  J.  H.  Brabner.    6  vols. 
A.  Good  all:  Place-Names  of  South-West  Yorkshire.     1913. 
G.  de  Gbuchy:  The  Settlement  of  Normandy  [and  Channel  Islands],  1911. 
J.  S.  Hell:  Place-Names  of  Somerset.     1913. 
J.  B.  Johnston:  Place-Names  of  Scotland.     2nd  edit.     1903. 
W.  L.  Jones  :  King  Arthur  in  History  and  Legend.     1911. 
A.  Mawee:  The  Vikings.     1913. 

E.  M'Clube:  British  Place-Names  in  their  Historical  Setting.     1910. 

F.  W.  Moorman:  Place-Names  of  the  West  Riding.     1910. 
T.  Morgan:  Place-Names  of  Wales.     2nd  edit.     1912. 

H.  MtrrscHMANN:  Place-Names  of  Nottinghamshire.     1913. 

G.  Owen:  Description  of  Pembrokeshire,  edited  by  H.  Owen.    2  vols.    1892-1897. 
W.  G.  Sbaele:  Onomasticon  Anglo-Saxonicum,     1897. 

W.  W.  Skeat:  English  Dialects.     1911. 

W.  W.  Skeat:  Place-Names  of  Cambs.     1901. 

W.  W.  Skeat:  Place-Names  of  Hunts.     1902. 

W.  W.  Skeat:  Place-Names  of  Herts.     1904. 

W.  W.  Skeat:  Plaoe-Names  of  Bedford.     1908. 

W.  W.  Skeat:  Place-Names  of  Berks.     1911. 

W.  W.  Skeat:  Place-Names  of  Suffolk.     1913. 

W.  Thobnbtiry  and  E.  Wauobd:  Old  and  New  London,  also  Greater  London. 

2  vols.     1898. 
J.  H.  Tttenee:  Yorkshire  Plaoe-Names  in  Domesday  Book  (Bingley). 
H.  C.  Wyld  and  Hiest:  Place-Names  of  Lancashire.     1911. 
Zachbisson:  A  Contribution  to  the  Study  of  Anglo-Norman  Influence  on  English 

Place-Names.     1909. 
The  History  of  Northumberland,  by  C.  J.  Bates,  1895;  of  Cumberland  and  of 

Westmoriand.  by  R.  S.  Ferguson,  1890  and  1894. 
O.E.  Charters  in  Birch,  and  Kemble,  and  in  A.  S.  Napier  and  W.  H.  Stevenson, 

Anecdota  Oxoniensia.     1895. 

For  those  who  wish  to  continue  their  researches  in  the  original  sources,  the  early 
Charters,  Rolls,  and  Chroniclers,  much  useful  guidance  will  be  found  from  the 
Bibliography  in  Searle. 

The  above  list  simply  contains  the  modern  books  found  most  useful  by  the  writer, 
together  with  several  others  which  proved  inaccessible  to  him  in  Scotland,  or  which 
have  been  published  so  recently  that  he  has  been  able  to  consult  them  very  im- 
perfectly or  not  at  all,  but  which  will  be  found — all  of  them — very  useful  by  the 
student.  The  Isle  of  Man  has  been  barely  touched  in  the  preceding  pages, 
because  the  ground  has  been  so  well  covered  already  in  A.  W.  Moore's  'Sur- 
names and  Place-Names  of  the  Isle  of  Man,'  1890. 

528 


INDEX  TO  PLACES  NOT  DEALT  WITH  IN  THEIR 
ALPHABETICAL  ORDER 


AlRYHOLMB      - 

PAGE 
.    105 

Cooksland 

PAGE 

-  225 

Ginge 

PAGE 

-  282 

Aisne 

-  119 

Copenhagen     - 

-  200 

Goldenhill 

-  282 

Akemanchester 

.  359 

Croco 

-      7 

Groldswong 

-  503 

Almond  - 

-     11 

Croix  Hastain 

-  294 

Goodwick 

-  273 

A-metot   - 

-  478 

Cronk 

-  219 

Grassthorpe     - 

-  280 

Anaton    - 

-  105 

Cudeley  - 

-     55 

Great  Massingham 

-  368 

Aosta 

-  116 

Ouffem    - 

-  227 

Great  Timble  - 

-  471 

Armingford 

-  110 

CiiTTi  catch 

-     14 

Greenho  - 

-  204 

Ashfurlong 

-  124 

Cusworth 

-  225 

Gronez    - 

-  378 

Astrope  - 

-     42 

Guith      - 

-  514 

Austonley 

-  100 

Dalch      - 

-  229 

Gunby     - 

-  159 

Aydon     - 

-  119 

Davyhnlme 

-  307 

Guyting  - 

-  278 

Devoke  Water 

-  226 

Gwemol  - 

-    90 

Bacchus  - 

-  162 

Dhu  Heartach 

-  188 

Barmoor 

-  126 

Divie 

-  230 

Harberton 

-  361 

Bamnber 

-  123 

Dodman 

-  252 

Harbottle 

-  379 

Baxby     - 

-  120 

Dunclent 

-  206 

Harrison  Stickle 

-  457 

Baynhurst 

-  122 

Hasguard 

-  262 

Bedwins 

-  277 

Eaveston 

-  254 

La  Hauls 

-  286 

Bevington 

-  180 

Ebrington 

-    87 

Hedley    - 

.  297 

Bidlington 

-  137 

Edzell     - 

-  245 

Hemlington     - 

-  303 

Birtwisle 

-  389 

Elberton 

-  118 

Henshaw 

-  298 

Brendwood 

-  168 

Elburton 

-    96 

Heron's  Ghill  - 

-    40 

Brecqhou 

*-  308 

Ellel 

-    52 

Hewell  Grange 

-  221 

Brisco     - 

-     54 

Ellinthorpe 

-     94 

Hewick  - 

-  301 

Bure 

-     29 

Ensor 

-  120 

Highclere 

-  176 

Bumiston 

-  170 

Eryholme 

-  105 

Holleth   - 

-  320 

Etchells  - 

-  378 

Hyett      - 

-  286 

Caen 

-  324 

Etherow 

-      7 

Canisbay 

-     48 

Evreux    - 

-  526 

Isle  of  Man      - 

-  528 

Capemwray     - 

-  521 

EvToult  -    '    - 

-  427 

dargo 

-     43 

Ewe 

-  525 

Jethou 

-  308 

Camo 

-  190 

Carron    - 

11,  193 

Fangfoss 

-  265 

ELarswell 

-  187 

Castle  Holdgate 

-     66 

Famdish 

-  454 

Kedmoor 

-  216 

Catterton 

-  191 

Fauld      - 

-  259 

Keekle  beck    - 

-  215 

Channel  Islands 

-  528 

Fixby      - 

-  260 

Kemble  - 

-  280 

Chedzoy 

-  527 

Foodra    - 

-  270 

Kersoe    - 

-  226 

Cherburg 

-  332 

Foolston 

-  265 

Eaddal     - 

-  194 

Cherrington     - 

-  192 

Forth  End 

-     44 

Killirby  - 

-  225 

Cilrath    - 

-  104 

Fossway  - 

-  460 

Kihnersdon 

-  329 

Claracb   - 

-  207 

Kiknescote 

-  281 

Clearwell 

-  206 

Garonne 

-  523 

Kilton     - 

-  200 

Clyne       - 

-     68 

Gambling 

-  271 

Kintyre  - 

-      2 

Coker 

-  208 

Gillamoor 

-  272 

Kirk  Braddan  - 

■  489 

529 


630 


INDEX  TO  PLACES 


Kirk  Bramwith 

PAGE 

■  165 

Kits  Coity 

-  197 

Kneeton 

-  376 

Landes    - 

-  348 

Lansdown 

-  339 

T;arford  -        -    340.347 

Jjarton    - 

-    60 

Lavemock 

-  338 

Libbery  - 

-  344 

Liberton 

-  341 

Lingwang 

-  503 

Listewdrig 

-  415 

Llangovan 

-  428 

Llanhaithog     - 

-  348 

Llanspyddyd  - 

-  465 

Llyn-y-Gader  - 

-  180 

Lomond 

-  403 

Ltmcarty 

-  337 

Lymage  - 

-  345 

Maisemcre 

-  363 

Maresden 

-  135 

Markham  Smeath 

-  448 

Marthrey 

-  367 

Manmbury  Rings 

-  369 

Maw  R.  . 

-  127 

Maydensole 

-  301 

Melrose   - 

-  362 

Menstrie 

-    58 

Mielle      - 

-  366 

Millbreak 

-     14 

Moilgrove 

-  372 

Monmore 

-  366 

Moxley    - 

-    57 

Murian-'r-Gwydde] 

[-  483 

Nolton    - 

-  377 

Nun  Keeling   - 

-  323 

Nurton    - 

-  383 

Oubrough 

-  486 

Panshanger     - 

-  407 

Papplewiok     - 
Paxfoid  - 

-  404 

-  394 

Paythome 

.  392 

PAGE 

Pegglesworth  -  -  395 

Penncrioket     -  -  397 

Penrath  -        -  -  104 

Pensax    -        -  -  397 

Plenderleith     -  -  406 

Pouke  Hill      -  -  407 

Powke  Lane    -  -  407 

Priestholme     -  -  526 

Quimper          -  -  211 

Rangeworthy  -  -  418 

Rath        -         -  -  104 

Ratten  Clougb  -  413 

Rawnpike        -  -  419 

Rondin    -        -  -  411 

Rookwith         -  -  420 

Rotherwas       -  -  100 

Rotsea     -         -  -  426 

Rouge  Nez      -  -  378 

Rowberrow      -  -  419 

Rowten  Cave  -  -  413 

Ruxford  -        -  -  420 

Ryther    -        -  -  422 

St.  Juliot        -  -  356 

St.  Keyne        -  -  327 

St.  Ruan's       -  -  404 
Salkeld    ...    40 

Salwey    -        .  .450 

Saredon  .        .  -  429 

Saundby.        -  .  431 

Seacombe        -  -    49 

Sezincote          .  ■  196 

Sho wells  -        .  .  440 

Sinderly  -        .  -  462 

Skeckling         -  .  432 

Smallcombe     -  .  281 

Smithwick       -  .  257 

Snaith     -        -  -  449 

Stakesby         .  .  453 

Stearsby.        -  .  460 

Stert  and  Stirtlow  -  455 

Stivichall        -  -  456 

Stroat     .        .  .459 

Stude      .        .  .458 

Stutton   -        -  -  459 


Swinscoe 

FAGS 

-  177 

Sychan    - 

-    90 

Tarleton  - 

-  471 

Thieveley  Pike 

.  414 

Thimtoft 

-  472 

Tiokenhill 

-  477 

Tilbridge 

.  470 

Tintwisle 

.  389 

Tipping  - 

.    29 

Tollerdine 

-    61 

Trelissick 

-  413 

Trescot    . 

.  483 

Trewinnow 

•  428 

Trodais   - 

.  471 

Trotton  - 

.  481 

Tumble  . 

-    77 

Upperup 

-    59 

Uptborpe 

-    42 

Vau  Rouget    . 

.  501 

Vau  Tocque     - 

.  477 

Varin.sey 

-  282 

Vicq 

-  507 

Walberswick   - 

.  489 

Warthill  - 

-  494 

Wassand  - 

-  490 

Waunarlwydd . 

.  283 

Weddington     - 

.  497 

Westrip  - 

.    42 

Wetmoor 

-  505 

Wilsden  . 

.  610 

Wincote  - 

.  501 

WiriRkill  - 

.    52 

Winstead 

-  502 

Witcombe 

.  515 

Wolstrop 

42,93 

Womere  . 

-  516 

Worsbrough    - 

-  514 

WyssheB  . 

-  514 

Wyton     - 

.  499 

Yaverland 

-  625 

Yokefleet 

.  385 

INDEX   OF  SUBJECTS   AND   PERSONAL  NAMES 


-age 

Ainger     - 
-am 

Ansoombe 
Antonine  Itiny. 
Anwyl,  Sir  E. 

Asquith  - 
-ay 

-bach 
balla 
Bannister 
Basset     - 
beacon    - 
-beck 
Birch,  W. 
Boldon  Book  - 
-borne, -bourne 
-boro' 
Bosard    • 
bottom    - 
Braddock 
Bradley,  H.   56, 
Brown     - 
Brunei     - 
Bumel    - 
-bury 
Byron 


Caddell    - 
Caesar  (Julius) 
Campbell 
Cantlow  - 
Carbonel 
Carey 
Carlyon  - 
-caster     - 
Cecil 

-cester  and  -Chester  - 
Chiene     - 
Conybeare 
Crockford's 
tory     - 


PACK 

-    46 

-  106 

-    63 

181,  312 

-      4 

66,  74, 

220,  241 

-  113 

-    46 

-    47 

-  189 

-  461 

-  343 

-  129 

47, 136 

-  333 

-    27 

-    47 

-    48 

-  242 

-  121 

-  214 

269,  482 

-  170 

-     92 

-    92 

-    48 

174, 177 

.  194 

4,322 

-  184 

-  326 

-  112 

-  436 

-  181 

-     49 

-  201 

ter-    49 

-  441 

-  337 

irec-    ^ 

-     76 

Cupples  - 
Cuthbert 


PAGE 

-  214 

-  216 


D'Abitot 

222, 414 

-dale 

-    50 

Danelagh 

40,42 

-dean 

-    50 

Domesday  Book 

25,  70, 

83 

Drewe     - 

-  468 

Dutch    - 

34-35 

Earle,  J, 

-  491 

-ell 

-    52 

Ellis,  H.- 

-    26 

Eltringham 

-  101 

EncyclopcBdia  Bri- 

tannica 

-    67 

Enog 

-  227 

Etheridge 

-    96 

Fawkes   - 

-  489 

-fell 

-    51 

Ferrers    - 

137,  302 

Eitzhamon 

-    72 

Foliot      - 

-  466 

-ford,  -forth     - 

-    61 

Eorster    - 

-  269 

Freeman,  Ed. 

31,  79, 

251,  274, 

345, 380 

Frisian    - 

-    23 

Fumival  - 

-  332 

Giddings  -        -  625 

-gUl  ...  62 
Qiraldua  Cambr.  -  82 
Green,  J.  R.  -  -  437 
Guest,  E.  -  -  445 
Guise       -        -        -  114 

-hall        -        -  -    52 

-ham       -        -  -    52 

Hamil      -        -  -  102 

Helen      -        -  -  249 

Henderson,  G.  -  !«  ,,-  187 

531 


Hengist  - 

^ 

PAOB 

-  458 

Hewett    - 

. 

-  374 

Hooking  - 

. 

-  385 

-hope 

- 

-    64 

-how 

. 

-    54 

Howell    - 

- 

254,  526 

-ing 

- 

-     65 

Jekyl       - 

_ 

-  273 

Jenner,  H. 

. 

66,  252 

Jenner  (the  name)  -  627 

Jewell 

_ 

-  273 

Johnston 

• 

-  169 

Jutes 

- 

-    24 

Keigwin  - 

• 

-  327 

Kemble,  J. 

. 

69, 490 

Keynes   - 

- 

-  311 

-leigh,  -ley 

. 

-    57 

Leland    - 

. 

-    67 

Tiisle 

• 

-  330 

Uandaff,  Bk. 

of 

-    74 

Louis 

-  364 

-low 

. 

-    57 

Lucy 

- 

-  289 

Mabon     - 

. 

-  423 

Malbysse 

- 

-    91 

Mallet     - 

. 

-  226 

Mallory  - 

• 

-  465 

Mansel    - 

. 

-  310 

Mawer,  A. 

• 

-  496 

Mercian  - 

* 

-    28 

Merlin     - 

. 

-    69 

Meyer,  K. 

2. 

130, 337 

-minster  - 

. 

-    67 

Moore,  A.  W. 

. 

236,  528 

Morgan,  T. 

67  and 
paaaim 

Mowbray 

- 

-  366 

Occleve  - 

. 

-  305 

Offa 

. 

-    25 

Ogams^  - 

- 

-      8 

632 


INDEX  OF  SUBJECTS 


PAGE 

Olave  -  -  -  478 
-or           ...    58 

OrdeHcm  Vit.  -  -    71 

Osyth      -        -  -  198 

-over       -        -  -    58 

Owen  (Welsh)  -  -  286 

Owen,  H.         .  -    66 

Paternoster  -  -  383 
Patrick  -  -  -  114 
Paynell  -  -  -  381 
Pliny  ...  4 
Plmnmer,  A.  -  -  235 
Ptolemy  -        -         4, 69 

Rhys,  J.  110,  232,  272 
Rohais  -  -  -  423 
Ronnd,  J.  H.  -        -  361 

St.  Aldwyn's  -  -  210 

St.  Leger  -  -  112 

Saussaie  -  -  -  436 

Searle,  W.  -  -    79 

Seebohm,  F.  .  -    33 


PAGE 

Sephton,  Mr.  -  -  41 
Severn  ■  -  -  432 
shires  -  -  -  30 
Shore,  Mr.  -  .  496 
Simeon  of  Durham  -  27 
Stevenson,  W.  H.  66,76, 
186,  193,  483 
Stokes,  Wh.  12,  110, 
1871  253,  317 
Strang  -  -  -  460 
Suckling  -        -  444 


Tacitus    -        T 
Taylor,  Is. 
Thompson,  J.  - 
Thorold  - 
Thring     - 
-thwaite  - 
Tirrold    - 
-ton 
.tump 

Turner,  J.  H.   - 
60,  62,  338, 
Turville  . 


5,69 

54,  487 

161,218 

-  115 

-  482 

-  59 
.  115 

-  59 
179, 463 

55,  57, 

383,  478 

.    92 


PAGE 


Valence  - 

. 

-  137 

viking     - 

- 

-  508 

-ville 

160, 

259,  466 

Vosper    - 

- 

-  496 

Wallace,  Walsh 

-  439 

-warden  - 

. 

-     60 

Warin(g) 

488 

495-496 

Watson,  W. 

J. 

212, 352, 
421,  525 

Wawen    - 

. 

-  519 

Weekley,  E 

. 

preface 

Wends     - 

. 

-  512 

Westacott 

- 

-  352 

Whittock,  Whytock  488 
Winefride  -  -  308 
Worsaae-  -  -  40 
-worth,  -worthy       -    60 


Yseult 


Zaohrisson 


428 


63 


BILLING   AND  SONS,   LTD.,     PRINTERS,  GCILDFORD 


WORKS  BY  ERNEST  WEEKLEY,  M.A. 

PROFESSOR    OF    FRENCH     AND     HEAD    OF    THE    MODERN    LANGUAGE    DEPARTMENT, 
UNIVERSITY    COLLEGE,    NOTTINGHAM. 


THE  ROMANCE  OF  WORDS. 

A  Popular  Book  on  the  Sources  of  the  English  Vocabulary. 

3s.  6d.  net. 

PRESS  OPINIONS. 

Athenaum. — '(Professor  Weekley)  has  a  sense  of  humour  of  the 
Hfe  of  to-day  which  is  not  always  characteristic  of  professors  .  .  . 
we  wish  many  to  share  the  enjoyment  which  the  book  has  given  us.' 

Observer. — 'A  book  of  extraordinary  interest ;  everyone  interested  in 
words  should  immediately  obtain  a  copy,  and  those  who  do  not  yet 
realize  how  enthralling  a  subject  word-history  is  could  not  do  better 
than  sample  its  flavour  in  Mr.  Weekley's  admirable  book.' 

Evening  Standard. — '  Mr.  Weekley  has  provided  a  most  pleasurable 
browsing  ground  for  anybody  who  cares  to  trace  words  in  constant 
use  through  various  chops  and  changes  up  to  their  original  form  and 
signification  ;  and  moreover  one  can  in  an  unoccupied  interval  turn 
to  Mr.  Weekley  at  any  page  with  the  certainty  of  finding  something 
of  interest  put  with  much  clearness.' 

THE  ROMANCE  OF  NAxMES. 

3s.  6d.  net. 

PRESS  OPINIONS. 

Athemsum. — '  Professor  Weekley  is  one  of  those  rare  teachers  who 
know  how  to  make  learning  interesting.  We  welcomed  his  book  on 
*'  The  Romance  of  Words,"  and  we  are  equally  glad  to  have  its  com- 
panion, "  The  Romance  of  Names,"  which  is  at  once  entertaining  and 
scholarly.     It  does  not  make  the  mistake  of  giving  us  too  much.' 

Outlook. — '  For  a  thoroughgoing  essay  in  iconoclasm,  for  a  really 
turbulent,  topsy-turvy  wrecker  of  snobbery  and  puttings  down  of 
the  social  mighty  from  their  seats,  commend  us  to  this  well-written, 
witty,  and  erudite  work  of  Mr.  Weekley.  .  .  .  The  exceedingly 
witty  and  readable  style  which  Mr.  Weekley  adopts  confronts  one 
with  the  temptation  of  enjoying  his  book  too  keenly  to  criticize  it 
from  a  scientific  point  of  view.  It  is  really  a  well-conceived  and 
concisely  written  work,  which  must  rank  henceforth  as  an  authority 
on  its  subject.     It  is  learned  and  full  of  information.' 

Truth. — *  Professor  Ernest  Weekley  has  a  singularly  happy 
knack  of  combining  entertainment  with  erudition  in  the  production 
of  a  popular  book.  He  did  so  in  **  The  Romance  of  Words,"  and  he 
has  now  written  an  equally  delightful  volume.  Under  his  guidance 
a  study  of  the  origin  and  significance  of  surnames  becomes  full  of 
fascination  for  the  general  reader.  .  .  .  The  book  is  packed  with 
curious  facts  set  forth  in  the  most  interesting  way.' 

LONDON:  JOHN  MURRAY,  ALBEMARLE  STREET,  W. 


WORKS  BY  HENRY  CECIL  WYLD, 

BAINES  PROFESSOR    OF    ENGLISH    LANGUAGE    AND   PHILOLOGY   IN   THE   UNIVERSITY 

OF   LIVERPOOL. 


THE  HISTORICAL  STUDY  OF  THE 
MOTHER  TONGUE.  An  Introduction  to  Philological 
Method.    7s.  6d. 

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studied,  and  of  the  principal  points  of  method  in  such  a  study,  and  to  prepare 
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A  SHORT  HISTORY  OF  THE  ENGLISH 
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THE  PLAGE  OF  THE  MOTHER  TONGUE 
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LONDON:  JOHN  MURRAY,  ALBEMARLE  STREET,  W. 


THE  STUDENTS  ENGLISH  LITERATURE. 

A  History  of  English  Literature  and  of  the  chief  English 
Writers  founded  upon  the  Manual  of  Thomas  B.  Shaw.  By  A. 
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SHAKSPERE  AND  HIS  PREDECESSORS  IN 

THE   ENGLISH    DRAMA.     By   F.    S.    Boas,    M.A, 

sometime  Professor    of   English    Literature,    Queen's    College, 

Belfast.     6s. 

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THE  ENGLISH  NOVEL  FROM  ITS  ORIGIN 

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2s. 

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THE  STORY  OF  ENGLISH  LITERATURE. 

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Master  at  the  Luton  Secondary  School.  Three  Volumes,  3s.  6d. 
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Vol.    II.  Seventeenth  and  Eighteenth  Centuries,  1625-1780. 

Vol.  III.  Nineteenth  Century,  1780-1880, 


LONDON  :  JOHN  MURRAY,  ALBEMARLE  STREET,  W. 


THE   EVOLUTION  OF  LITERATURE.    By 

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Australia,  and  America ;  and  makes  study  of  what  the  Author  calls  barbaric, 
autocratic,  and  democratic  literature ;  the  object  of  the  work  being  to  try  to 
account  for  the  origin  and  successive  changes  of  literature  as  a  social 
phenomenon. 

HISTORY  AS  LITERATURE,  AND  OTHER 
ESSAYS.    By  Theodore  Roosevelt.     6s.  net. 

History  as  Literature — Biological  Analogies  in  History — The  World  Move- 
ment— Citizenship  in  a  Republic — The  Thraldom  of  Names — Productive 
Scholarship— Dante  and  the  Bowery — The  Foundations  of  the  Nineteenth 
Century — The  Search  for  Truth  in  a  Reverend  Spirit — The  Ancient  Irish  Sagas 
— An  Art  Exhibition. 

POEMS,  NEW  AND  OLD.    By  Henry  Newbolt. 
5s.  net. 

This  volume  contains  all  the  poems  published  by  Mr.  Henry  Newbolt  from 
1897  to  the  present  day,  together  with  an  addition  of  ten  poems  not  hitherto 
published. 

'  By  this  date  it  would  be  needless  to  applaud  in  detail  those 
heart-stirring  songs,  or  the  other  lyrics,  which  move  some  of  us  as 
the  work  of  scarcely  any  other  contemporary  singer  can  do.  Here, 
in  fact,  is  a  volume,  not  to  criticize,  but  to  welcome.' — Church  Times. 

THE  GALLANT  WAY.     A  Volume  of  Poems. 
By  Frank  Taylor.    2s.  6d.  net. 

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who  does  for  the  great  feats  of  our  soldiers  what  Mr.  Newbolt  has 
done  for  our  admirals.' — Spectator. 

SELECTIONS   FROM  THE  EPIGRAMS  OF 

M.  VALERIUS  MARTIALIS.  Translated  or  Imitated  in 
English  Verse  by  W.  J.  Gourthope,  G.B.,  Formerly  Professor 
of  Poetry  in  the  University  of  Oxford;  Hon.  Fellow  of  New 
College,  Oxford ;  Fellow  of  the  British  Academy.     3s.  6d,  net. 

The  'translations'  have  been  made  as  close  and  faithful  as  possible,  in  order 
to  show  the  analogy  of  social  and  intellectual  tendencies  in  the  Roman  and 
British  Empires  :  where  the  details  of  the  Latin  could  not  be  satisfactorily  re- 
produced by  translation,  an  endeavour  has  been  made  to  represent  the  effect  of 
the  original  in  an  'Imitation.' 


LONDON:  JOHN  MURRAY,  ALBEMARLE  STREET,  W. 


PLACE  NAMES. 

"  The  Place  Names  of  England  and  Wales."      By  Jas.  B. 
Johnston.     John  Murray.     15s.  net. 

[Reviewed  by  Bishop  Frodsham.] 

THE  history  of  the  various  races  that  have  inter- 
mingled their  blood  in  these  islands  is  an  obscure 
subject  at  the  best.  The  records  soon  cease.  There- 
fore every  beam  of  light,  even  the  faintest  that  can  be 
thrown  upon  the  past,  becorries  valuable.  And  often, 
when  the  direct  record,  in  later  days,  is  of  the 
meagrest,  place  names  may  be  found  to  offer  definite 
evidence  on  important  points.  As  it  happens,  we  have 
in  England  records  of  place  names  in  abundance  long 
before  we  have  regular  history  in  abundance.  More- 
over, place  names  "  help  much  to  indicate  the  breadth 
and  depth  of  the  impact  of  the  foreign  invader,  and 
England  had  invaders  not  a  few  ". 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  do  more  than  guess  when 
the  first  denizens  of  these  islands  came  or  how  they 
came.  The  true  Ancient  Britons  were  certainly  anterior 
to  the  Celts,  and  they  sprang  from  what  ethnologists 
describe  as  the  Mediterranean  race.  As  a  race  they 
have  disappeared,  leaving  no  trace  behind  them  in 
Great  Britain  except  a  few  graves,  a  few  skulls,  and 
still  fewer  words  which  exist  in  a  handful  of  river  and 
mountain  names.  The  Biddle,  the  Bollin,  the  Croco, 
and  the  Etherow  are  small  Cheshire  streams  with  an  old 
nomenclature  that  seems  to  belong  to  this  pre-^Celtic 
race.  The  Trent,  the  Severn,  the  Stour,  the  Wrekin, 
and  the  Cheviot  Hills  are  also  possibly  pre-Celtic  in 
origin.     But  it  is  more  than  possible  that  further  traces 


may    be   found    in    Wales,    in   Cornwall,    and    in    the 
northern  counties  that  once  formed  part  of  the  kingdom 
of   Strathclyde.       Mr.   Johnston  is  of  opinion   that  it 
would  be  wasted  time  to  attempt  to  speculate  upon  the 
language  of  this  ancient  people.     It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
some    ardent    Welsh    scholar    will    venture    upon    the 
subject,   for,   although  their  language  may  have  dis- 
appeared,  there  are   traces   in   the   population   of   the 
PrincipaUty  to-day  of  these  "  long-skulled,  dark-haired, 
dark-eyed  pre-Celts  "  as  distinguished  from  the  fair, 
tall,  grey-eyed,  round-headed  descendants  of  the  con- 
quering race.     Abb6  Mendel's  law  as  to  the  indestruc- 
tibility of  type  works  out  in  human  beings  as  it  does 
with  muki-coloured  sweet  peas.       And  there  are  not 
wanting  signs  in  England  also  that  the  ancient  British 
stock  exists,   and  is  reasserting  itself  despite  all   the 
vicissitudes     of     invasion     that     have     produced     the 
amalgam  of  the  British  race. 

The  Celt,  on  the  other  hand,  has  left  a  strong 
linguistic  mark  upon  the  history  of  England.  An  ex- 
ample of  this,  quite  outside  the  question  of  place  names., 
may  be  found  in  the  "  sheepscoring  "  numerals 
that  crop  up  throughout  the  Kingdom.  Thirty  years 
ago  the  reviewer,  as  a  very  young  man,  had  occasion 
to  bring  some  observations  of  his  own,  made  in  the 


Yorkshire  dales7  before  the  late  Professor  Rhys  of 
Oxford.  That  great  Celtic  student  very  emphatically 
expressed  an  opinion  that  "  folk  were  scarcely  cold  in 
their  graves  in  some  parts  of  the  West  Riding  who  had 
used  a  language  so  full  of  Celtic  words  that  it  might 
be  called  a  Celtic  dialect  ".  The  county  schools  are 
exterminating  that  sort  of  thing,  but  during  the  past 
few  months  the  reviewer  has  heard  some  children  in 
Lincolnshire  counting  one  another  out  for  a  game  with 
Celtic  numerals. 

Lincolnshire  is  the  most  Scandinavian  of  all  the 
counties.  Of  Celtic  place  names  there  are  only  four, 
of  which  the  county  town  is  one— or  rather  half  of  one. 
"  Lin  ".  or  "  lind  ",  is  Celtic  for  "  water  ".  "  Coin  " 
in  this  case  is  an  abbreviation  for  "  colonia  ".  The 
whole  word  therefore  means  -'  Roman  settlement'by 
the  water  ",  an  appropriate  designation,  particularly 
in  days  before  the  fens  were  drained.  All  through  the 
Eastern  and  Midland  counties  there  is  a  similar  scarcity 
of  Celtic  place  names.  There  the  Scandinaviaps  and 
the  Teutons  swarmed,  and  rived  away  the  Celtic  name 
jwith  the  land.  But  in  Cornwall,  '*  the  horn  of  the 
'Welsh  ",  there  are  no  true  English  names  of  any  con- 
.sequence,  except  "  modern  upstarts  like  New  Quay, 
'and  two  names  on  the  very  eastern  edge — Launceston 
and  Saltash  ". 

The  study  of  place  names  reveals  some  curious  racial 
characteristics.  "  In  the  case  of  Angle,  Saxon  and 
Dane  they  tell  at  least  a  little  as  to  who  were  their 
favourite  heroes ;  whilst  in  the  case  of  the  Celt  they 
show  who  were  his  favourite  saints  ".  Again,  the 
"Saxon,  unlike  the  more  modest  and  poetic  Celt, 
dearly  loved  to  commemorate  hims.elf  or  at  any  rate  his 
own  family  name  in  a  manors  or  farm  or  village  ". 
These  manors  and  farms  not  infrequently  passed  into 
Norman  hands  at  the  Conquest,  and  often  Norman 
families  took  to  themselves  Saxon  names.  Indeed,  it 
is  quite  remarkable,  considering  all  the  circumstances 
of  the  case,  how  few  Norman  lords  managed  to  plant 
their  names  in  English  ground  as  the  Teutons  did 
before  them.  In  some  cases  they  added  their  own 
personal  names  to  earlier  place  names,  as  in  the  case 
of  Woolacombe  Tracy  in  North  Devon.  "  Willelmus 
de  Traci ",  one  of  the  murderers  of  Becket,  so  it 
appears,  lived  in  the  "  Valley  of  Wola  or  Wulfgar  ". 

In  Wales,  on  the  other  hand,  the  Normans  left  an 
interesting  and  important  group  of  place  names.  The 
reasons  for  this  are  not  far  to  seek,  but  among  them 
must  be  placed  the  rugged  Inadaptability  of  the  Welsh 
tongue.  A  very  interesting  example  of  Norman 
methods  is  to  be  found  in  Mold  in  Flint,  where  the 
Norman  name,  to  say  the  least,  is  well  disguised.  The 
Celts  called  the  place  Gwyddgrag,  "  conspicuous 
mount  ".  The  Normans  translated  this  word  into 
Mont  Halt,  "  high  mount  ".  Ttiis  translation,  with  a 
transition  stage  Moalt,  has  now  been  squeezed  down 
into  Mold. 


The-  track  of  Scandinavian  invasions  can  easily  be 
tra;ced  by  place  names.  '  The  Ondings  -by,  -thwaite, 
-beck,  -fell,  for  instance,  are  welf-known  marks  of  the 
Northman.  It  is  not  so  generally  known  that  the 
ending  -caster  is  also  a  guide  up  to  a  certain. point. 
The  Norse  tongues  alone  preserved  the  hard' c. in  the 
Roman  castrum  or  contra.  On  ihe  lips  of  the  Saxon, 
aided  by  the  Norman,  the  c  has;  always  softened  into 
-cester  or  -Chester.  For  example,  Doncaster  was  a 
Roman  settlement  that  came  into  Danish  hands. 
Gloucester,  on  the  other  hand,  was  far  removed  from 
their  avaricious  grasp.  Similarly,  a  study  of  the  map 
of  Wales  shows  that  the  Norsemen  or  the  ^  Saxons 
named  all  the  headlands  of  impdrtance,  except  round 
Cardigan  Bay,  while  the  inland  rivers  both  of  England 
and  Wales,  with  few  and  unimportant  exceptions, 
retain  their  Celtic  designation.   . 

It  is  difficult  to  refi;"ain  frorh*  walking  very  much 
farther  in  an  interesting  by-path  of  English  history  in 
company  with  the  author  of  this  fascinating  book. 
Mr.  Johnston's  task  in  a  sense  is  a  new  one.  He  has 
endeavoured  to  synthesise,  for  the  first  time,  all  the 
many  notable  attempts  to  arrange  the  place  names  of 
various  counties  and  districts.  In  other  words  he  has 
attempted  a  conspectus  of  the  whole  subject,  not  with 
any  false  idea  that  his  work  represents  the  last  word 
that  can  be  said^  but  to  make  the  "  pathway  easier  for 
the  more  thorough  men  who  are  sure  to  come  after  ". 
Jane  Welsh  Carlyle,  with  pathetic  humour,  once 
remarked  that  her  grim  husband  was  of  opinion  that 
no  one  should  require  thanking  for  the  performance  of 
a  task.  "  But  I  want  thanking  ",  complained  the  poor 
lady.  So  Mr.  Johnson  naively  hopes  that  he  "  may 
receive  a  little  thanks  for  what  he  has  done,  rather 
than  censure — all  too  easy  to  utter — for  what  he  has 
left  undone  ".  Those  who  love  England  and  Wales, 
among  whom  the  reviewer  numbers  himself,  will 
thank  this  scholarly  Scottish  clergyman  for  his  willing 
labours  on  their  behalf. 


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