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.

Underdowns

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bletchingdon

Historical Forms

  • under ladune 1139 Godstow c.1450
  • terra arabilis…que iacet sub Douna, sub Duna c.1250 Os

Etymology

Underdowns (6″) is under ladune 1139 (c. 1450) Godstow, terra arabilisque iacet sub Douna , sub Duna c. 1250 Os. 'Under the hill,' v. dūn .