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.

Dovenby

Major Settlement in the Parish of Dovenby

Historical Forms

  • Dunaneby (sic) 1230 Scotland
  • Duaneby 1260 Rental
  • Douvanneby 1265 Cl
  • Donaneby (sic) 1267 Misc
  • Dovannesby 1271 Pat
  • Douonby, Douanby, Douamby 1278,1279 Ass
  • Dovanbi, Dovaneby 1285 Ipm
  • Duuvaneby 1286 Cl
  • Duuaneby 1292 Ass
  • Duuanbi 1318 MinAcct
  • Dofanby 1399 IpmR
  • Dovenby 1541 MinAcct
  • Dovenby or Dolphinby 1671 Fleming

Etymology

'Dufan 's .' This personal name is of Irish origin (OIr  Dubhán ), a diminutive of dubh , 'black,' but it is on record from Iceland (Lind s. n .). v. Introduction. The present pronunciation points to confusion of the first element with the personal name Dolfin found in Dolphenby supra 191.