Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Ciltecome 1086 DB

• Childecumb(e) 1198,1199 P 1288 Ass 14 LodersC

• Childecomb(e) 1332 1346 1352 Fine 1399 Cl 1428 FA 1454 DCMDeed

• Child(d)ecome 1322 SR 1362 Weld2

• Childcomb 1340 NI 1367 Hutch3

• Chiltecumb(e) 1266 FF 1268,1280 Ass 1285 FA 1313 Brid 1331 Pap

• Chiltecomb(e) 1294 Brid 1297 Pat 1326 Cl 1338 Drew 1346 Hutch3 1353 Fine 1360 Cl 1368 Weld2 1379 Ilch

• Chyltecombe 1421 DorR

• Childescome 1291 Tax

• Chillecomb 1361 Hutch3

• Chylcombe 1544 WRO 1558 Weld2

• Chilcombe Eliz WRO 1648 SC

• Chilcome Eliz WRO

• Chelcombe Eliz ChancP

Etymology

Probably 'valley at a hill or hill-slope called *Cilte ', from a pre-Brit  *ciltā 'steep hill, hill-slope' (v. full discussion of this el. by Coates JEPN 167–15) and OE  cumb, cf. the analogous Chilcomb PN Ha 53 which has 10th-cent. spellings (in 12th-cent. copies) cilta (n )cumb (e ). The village lies in a small valley at the foot of a steep slope rising to 640′ at Chilcombe Hill which is crowned by a hillfort. The manor once belonged to the Knights Hospitallers (Hutch3 2738), cf. Prioris Hospit ' de Chyltecome 1325Brid .