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.

Cowldyke

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Edstone

Historical Forms

  • Coldic 1154–63,1333 Riev
  • Colebecke 13 Malton

Etymology

The first element seems to be ON  kola , a common Scand stream-name meaning 'coal-black river' (from ON  kol and á ) (Rygh, NElv 30). It is probably a stream-name in this case, for Cowldyke stands very near to the river Dove (which actually means 'black') and to a stream (possibly identical with the river Dove) called Colebecke (13Malton 115). v. dic , bekkr .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement