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.

Little Dunster Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Marshwood

Historical Forms

  • Dunestrewe c.1220 Poul
  • Donestrowe 1329 HarlCh 1399 Cl
  • Donstrowe 1338 HarlCh
  • Dunstrow(e) 1396 FF 1397 AddCh 1406 HarlCh 1409 1410 1440 ib

Etymology

Little Dunster Fm (SY 433972), Dunestrewe c.1220Poul (p), Donestrowe 1329HarlCh (p), 1399 Cl (wrongly transcribed Donescrowe ), 1425 IpmR, Donstrowe 1338HarlCh , Donstrowe al. Dunstrowe BM I, 1376 FF, 1380HarlCh , 1398 IpmR, Dunstrow (e )1396 FF, 1397AddCh , 1406HarlCh , 1409 FF, HarlCh , 1410ib , 1440 Cl, IpmR. Probably 'Dun's tree', from the OE  pers.n. Dunn or the ME  surname Dun (e ) and trēow , cf. Loxtree Fm in Evershot par. supra for a similar p.n., and for the surname cf. Downshay Fm 167.