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.

Tongue Head

Early-attested site in the Parish of Borrowdale

Historical Forms

  • caput de Tunghe, del Tung 1242 Furness

Etymology

So called from its shape, as it lies between Angle Tam Gill and Allen Crags Gill. The name is derived from OE  tunge, 'tongue,' or more probably from ON  tunga which is in frequent use in Iceland as an independent word and as a place-name element. Cf. also Tongue in N. Sutherland.