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.

Snosmeres

Early-attested site in the Parish of Woking

Historical Forms

  • Snowesmere 1332 SR 1422 WAM 1474 Onslow 1548 LRMB
  • snawes mere 956 BCS955

Etymology

Snosmeres (c. 1800Rental ) is Snowesmere 1332 SR, 1422WAM , 1474Onslow (all p), 1548LRMB and is the snawes mere of 956 (BCS 955) in the bounds of Pyrford. v. supra 132 n. The parallel of Snowshill (Gl), Snawesille 1086 DB, Snaweshulle (c. 1180 LBW), makes it almost certain, as suggested by Professor Ekwall and Dr Ritter, that there was an OE  personal name Snāw . Cf. the compound Snāheard found in LVD. Hence 'Snāw 's mere or lake.'