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.

Coltishall

Major Settlement in the Parish of Coltishall

Historical Forms

  • Cokereshala, Colceteshala, Coketeshala 1086 DB
  • Couteshal 1200 Cur 1202 FF 1209,1250 Ass
  • Couteshale 1214–29 BS
  • Couteshale 1219 Inq 1232 Pat 1237–51 Holme c.1250 HMC 1254–75 Val 1257,1269,1286 Ass 1268 NoRec 1310 DeBanco 1312 NfD 1302to1428 FA 1314to1476 FF 1320 NoRec 1326,1374,1375 Ipm 1330 SR 1358 Fine 1407 Ch
  • Gouteshal 1226–8 Fees
  • Couteshal 1275 RH 1292 AD
  • Coutishale 1291 Tax
  • Coutesale 1332 FF
  • Coutesal 1332 Ipm
  • Coutessale 1401–2 FA
  • Coutheshale 1440 BM
  • Cowetishale 1450 AD
  • Cowteshale 1503 NfA
  • Coltesale 1535 VE 1547 Pat

Etymology

This is no doubt OE  halh, preceded by a pers.n., suggested to be OE  *Cohhede or *Coccede , i.e. formations with the diminutive suffix -ede from OE  *Cohha or *Cocca in analogy with Luhhede and Lullede from Luhha and Lulla , which are well recorded (v. DEPN s.n. and Redin 161).The meaning of halh is usually given as 'nook, corner of land', but it clearly also developed certain special meanings of which one, given by Smith in EPNE as 'land almost enclosed by the bend of a river', certainly suits the situation of Coltishall.

According to 19th-cent. reports (e.g. Archaeologia 23: 365) Roman remains were found in abundance here, such as pottery, fibulae and coins, which seem to prove Roman occupation but more exact information is lacking.