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.

Swansley Wood Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Caxton

Historical Forms

  • Swaneholmbroke 1511 Coleiii

Etymology

Swansley Wood Fm. Cf. (nemore de ) Swanesle (hul )c. 1150, 1180StNeot , 1279 RH, 1345CWool , Swannesle (hul )c. 1150, 1180StNeot , c. 1250StJohn 'sH , 1324MinAcct , Swanlehille 15thCaiCh , Swanneley 1553 Pat. It is impossible from the early forms to decide whether this is 'the wood of the peasant' (v. swān ) or that of the swan (OE  swan ).A late form, however, Swaneholmbroke 1511Cole iii, with its reference to 'low-lying land by a stream' (v. holmr ) and the brook which flows past the farm, is in favour of the latter, v. lēah .

Places in the same Parish