English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Drakelowe

Major Settlement in the Parish of Drakelow

Historical Forms

  • (æt) Dracan hlawen 942 Peniarth 13th
  • Drakel' 942 Peniarth 13th
  • Drakelawa, Drakelaw(e) 1175,1176,1177,1178,1179,1180 P 1330 QW
  • Drachelawe 1086 DB 1185 BurtCh
  • Drakeslawe 1183,1184,1186 P
  • Drakelow(e), Drakeloue 1201 CartAnt 1227,c.1250 Burton 1272 BurtCh 1275,1280 Burton 1284–6 FA
  • Draggelawe 1307 Abbr

Etymology

'Dragon's mound', v. draca , hlāw ; cf. Drakelow (PN Wo 258), Dragley (PN La 212), Drakelowe 1415DuLaMB , an unidentified place in Bonsal supra 345, and Bruce Dickins “English Names and OE Heathenism”, Essays and Studies xix, 160. This name reflects the common idea of a dragon protecting a burial-mound.