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.

Bowness on Windermere

Major Settlement in the Parish of Windermere

Historical Forms

  • Bulebas (sic for Bulenas) 1190–1210 Kendi,3
  • Bulnes 1282 Kendi,276 1437 ib
  • Bulnesparke 1452 MinAcct 1454 Kendii,72
  • Bulnysperke 1390–4 ib
  • Bowlnes 1566 RichWill
  • Bownas 1675 Rent
  • Bownes(s) 1706,1718 Ct
  • Bownis 1750 Pococke

Etymology

'Bull headland', v. bula , næss ; Bowness (Cu 123) is of different origin. In 1770 Young (iii, 175) notes: 'I am sensible…of mis- spelt names; but many of the places I mention are not to be found in maps, I am obliged, therefore, to write from the ear', and so he spells the name Bonus .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement