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.

Cliveden

Early-attested site in the Parish of Taplow

Historical Forms

  • Chueden' 1195 Cur(P)
  • Cliveden 1200 Cur 1211 Abbr
  • Clifden 1766 J
  • Cliefden 1826 B

Etymology

Cliveden stands high above the Thames on top of a steep rise and the first element must be OE  clif or cleof used descriptively of its position. It is commonly compounded with dun as in Cleadon (Du) and Clevedon (So) but forms in don for Cliveden are rare and late. The second element is clearly denu and the reference must be to the valley to the south of the house. 'Steeply sloping valley.'

Places in the same Parish