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.

Bowscale

Major Settlement in the Parish of Bowscale

Historical Forms

  • le Bouschale, le Bouscale 1361 Ipm
  • Bowscalez 1485 ib
  • Buskaill, Bewskayll, Buskell 1562,1568,1571 PR(Greystoke)
  • Bowreskell 1568 LRMB
  • Bowskell 1600 PR(Dacre)
  • Buskelde 1604 LRMB
  • Buskell 1606 Ct
  • Bouskell 1650 ParlSurv
  • Bowsgill 1749 PR(Crosth)
  • Bousgil(l) 1753 1777 NB

Etymology

v. skáli . The place lies at the bottom of a great curving hill, so the first element is probably OE  boga , 'curve.' Later there was common confusion in the second element between skáli and gil .

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Early-attested site