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.

Bluntishmere Drove

Early-attested site in the Parish of Over

Historical Forms

  • aquam de Erhe (i.e. Erith) vel Bluntesdich 1251 ElyCouch

Etymology

Bluntishmere Drove (6″). Cf. Blunt (e )smere 1277 Fleet, Blunt (e )smere fen 1575Survey , Blunt (e )smere Drove 1777Terr , Blunte Meer 1637 BedL, Blunsmare 1652FF , Far Bluntmere 1826CCC , Over Blunt Fen 1829 Wells. The Ouse here forms the boundary between Over and Bluntisham (PN BedsHu 204) and the first element is the personal name found in Bluntisham itself and the second is probably (ge)mǣre, 'boundary.' The Ouse was called aquam de Erhe (i.e. Erith) vel Bluntesdich 1251ElyCouch .If the 1829 form is reliable, Blunt gave name also to the dīc and fenn .