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.

Durdle Door

Other OS name in the Parish of West Lulworth

Historical Forms

  • Dirdale Door 1811 OS
  • Duddledoor c.1825 Map
  • Durdle or Dudde Door 1826 Gre

Etymology

, 1861 Hutch3 , Dirdale Door 1811 OS, Duddledoor c. 1825 Map,Durdle or Dudde Door 1826 Gre , an arched rock projecting into the sea ; the first part of the name may be either from OE  (ge )þyr (e )lod ' pierced ' , pa . part . of the vb . þyr (e )lian ' to pierce ' , or from an OE adj. *þyr (e )lede ' having a hole ' , derived from the sb . p  rel ' hole ' , perhaps with hyll ' hill ' , v. dor , duru , cf. Durdle Pier in Portland par . infra and Durlston in Swanage par . supra .