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.

Holden

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bolton by Bowland

Historical Forms

  • Holedene 1086 DB 13 Sawl33
  • Holden(e) l.12 Sawl37d Hy3 1271 Puds 1422 YI 1592 PRBlt
  • Houlden 1594 Comm 1641 WillY
  • Howden 1587 ib

Etymology

Holden, Holedene 1086 DB, 13Sawl 33, Holden (e )l. 12Sawl 37d, Hy 3 ib 43, 1271 Puds, 1422 YIet freq to 1592 PRBlt, Houlden 1594Comm , 1641 WillY, Howden 1587 ib. 'Hollow valley', v. hol 2 , denu .