Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Conysyn crosse 1578 Anc

• Conisome crose, Conisholme Crosse 1585,1587 1613,1617 LMR

• le Connysome Crosse 1589 Anc

• Conesom Crosse 1690 ib

• Conysholme Crosse 1616 LMR

• Conysholme crosse 1624 ib

• Conyson Crosse 1595 FMap

• Conyson crosse 1595 FSurv

• Counessome Cross 1828 Bry

• le Cunigeseng eHy3 Gilb 1409

• Cunnighenges 1251 RRG

• Conyngsenges 1347,1399 LMR

• Conyngenges 1366,1369 ib

• Conyngeng 1384 ib

• Conygesenge 1407,1427 ib

• le conyneseng 1408 ib

• Conyngesenges 1429,1442 1452 Anc

• Conysynge 1564,1565 ib

• Conyshynge 1564 ib

• Conysynges 1567 ib

Etymology

CONISHOLME CROSS (lost), Conysyn crosse 1578Anc , Conisome crose , Conisholme Crosse 1585, 1587ib , 1613, 1617LMR , le Connysome Crosse 1589Anc , Conesom Crosse 1690ib , Conysholme Crosse 1616LMR , Conysholme crosse 1624ib , Conyson Crosse 1595FMap , Conyson crosse 1595FSurv , Counessome Cross 1828 Bry, cf. loco ... vocat Conysome 1588Holywell , Conyson 1595FSurv , cunisholm 1725Foster , conysholme hedge 1615LMR , Conisholme hedge 1620ib , Cunnisholme hedge 1657ib , Connissome crosse hedge 1656ib , cf. Conyson furlonge 1595FSurv , Conysonfur long (sic)c.1638Holywell , cunisholme meadow 1725Foster . The cross was a cross-roads at the junction of the road forming the southern boundary of the parish and that from Fulstow to Covenham. Conisholme is recorded as the name of a place in 1588, 1595 and 1725. It appears, therefore, that that form is a rationalisation of an earlier name or the result of popular etymology, associating it with Conisholme LSR over five miles to the east. The earliest form so far noted for Conisholme Cross is Conysyn crosse which as was first proposed in LAAS iv, 44, suggests that it may well be a later reflex of le Cunigeseng eHy3 (1409) Gilb, Cunnighenges 1251 RRG, Conyngsenges 1347, 1399LMR , Conyngenges 1366, 1369ib , Conyngeng 1384ib , Conygesenge 1407, 1427ib , le conyneseng 1408ib , Conyngesenges 1429, 1442ib , 1452Anc , Conysynge 1564, 1565ib , Conyshynge 1564ib , Conysynges 1567ib , presumably 'the rabbit meadow(s)', v. con(n)ing, eng . It will be noted that the latest date this name has been noted is 1567 and the earliest for Conisholme Cross is 1578. No certainty is possible.