Henlow
Major Settlement in the Parish of Henlow
Historical Forms
- Haneslauue, Hanslau, Hanslaue, Haneslau 1086 DB
- Hanelawe Hy2 Ch 1261 GestStAlb 14th
- Hanlaga 1202 Ass
- Hennelawe 1207 FF 1287 Ass
- Hanlawe 1220 LS
- Henlawe 1227 1242 Fees867 1247 Ass 1253 FF 1276 1299 Ipm 1399 Ch
- Anelawe 1227 Ass
- Hanlowe 1276 Ass
- Hannelowe 1282 Abbr
- Henlowe 1302 FA
Etymology
Apart from the Domesday forms, with an inflexional s for which there is no support, all the spellings of this name point to derivation from OE hænna -hlāw , 'fowls' hill' (v. hlaw ), with the same development of ME forms in Han - as well as in Hen - from OE æn which we have in Fancott and Dane End supra 137, 153. In these last two names, however, the an - forms have prevailed. If this derivation is correct, the name is exceptional, for OE hlaw is usually preceded either by an adjective (cf. Goldenlow supra 120) or, most commonly, by a pers. name.
Places in the same Parish
None