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.

Culgaith

Major Settlement in the Parish of Culgaith

Historical Forms

  • Culgait c.1140 Weth 1290 et freq
  • Culgaid c.1165,c.1290 Weth
  • Culcait 1159 CWxxii
  • Culchet 1203 P
  • Culchehit 1278 Ass
  • Culgayth 1232 FF
  • Kulgayth, Kulkayth 1278 Ass
  • Colegeythe 1304 Lowther
  • Colgayth 1324,1369 Cl
  • Culgath, Culgad, Kulgad 1279 Ass
  • Culgath or Culgarth 1585 FF
  • Colgarth 1323 Fine 1329 Pat
  • Culgaithe al. Culgarthe 1599 CWxiv
  • Culgarth 1750 Pococke
  • Cullegayt 1380 Cl
  • Golgath 1675 Sandford

Etymology

This name is of British origin. It is formed from an Old Celtic base *cūl , which has developed into Welsh  cil , 'corner, retreat,' and British *cation , Welsh  coed , 'wood.' The OE  form of the name would have been *Cȳlcēt . The name seems to be identical with Culcheth (La), though there the c of coed has been palatalised as in Lichfield, from British Lētocēton . The novum castellum de Chulchet ', at which David I king of Scots issued a writ for Shrewsbury Abbey c. 1137 (LaCh 275), should probably be identified with Culgaith rather than Culcheth.On the origin and development of these names, v. ScandCelts 109, PN La 97. Colquite and Kilquite are Cornish parallels, and the same compound occurs in Blaencilgoed (Pemb).

Places in the same Parish