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.

Glen Dhu

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bewcastle

Historical Forms

  • Glendeu in Bothcastredall 1339 GDR

Etymology

This may be Gaelic  gleann dubh , 'black glen,' as Glen Doo (PN Man 470, Marstrander 228–9). But Professor Jackson points out that it may simply be British corresponding to ModW. glyndu , like Glendue (PN NbDu 94) and Glendow (PN Dumf 41), spelt in a (pseudo-)Gaelic way.