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.

Eskdale

Major Settlement in the Parish of Eskdale and Wasdale

Historical Forms

  • Eskedal(e) 1285 StBA 1368 IpmR
  • in Coupeland 1301 GDR
  • Eschdale 1445 Pap
  • Eskdale 1578 Cocker
  • Asshdale 1461 Pat
  • Asshedale 1544 ib
  • Ashedale 1570 ExchKR
  • Esshedaille 1504 HMCx
  • Esshedale 1519 FF
  • Esshdale 1535 VE
  • Eshdell 1606 DKRxxxviii
  • Eshdale otherwise Eskdale 1642 HMCiv

Etymology

Originally 'valley of the Esk' (supra 14). v. dalr . Later there was confusion with esk , 'ash-tree, from ON  eski, and anglicising to esh and ash . The lost Eskedale in the Isle of Man, 1154 Eschedala (PN IOM 294), is apparently from eskidalr .