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.

Hawkwell

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hawkwell

Historical Forms

  • Hac(he)uuella, Hechuuellā 1086 DB
  • Hakewell(e) 1202–47 FF 1321 Ipm 1323–30 Londin 1350 Cl
  • Hauekeswelle 1259 Ass
  • Haukewell(e) 1389 Cl 1552 EAS(OS)iv
  • Hakwell 1444 Pat 1552 EAS(OS)iv
  • Hawk(e)well 1486–93 ECP 1608 EAx
  • Hackwell or Hakewell 1594 N
  • Harkwell 1693 AshingdonPR

Etymology

The spot from which the place originally took its name was, no doubt, in the neighbourhood of the church and the hall, both of which are situated on the inside of an angular bend of an affluent of the Roach, which could be called haca , i.e. 'hook.'There are two other angular tongues of land on the course of the stream, one, just west of the church, formed by a confluence of two streams, the other east of the hall. Haca-wielle was probably the name of the stream. Cf. Hacton and Hakelondsbroke supra 132. Hauke - is due to ready confusion with the bird- name.

Places in the same Parish

None