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.

Botlands Blawith (field)

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Clifton

Historical Forms

  • Blawathlinays c.1330 Hesley
  • Stallardlinays c.1330 Hesley
  • Botland 1789 LowtherW

Etymology

The first element in the 14th-century form is 'dark ford,' v. blá(r), vað . The second element looks like the plural of ME  linhay , 'shed,' but this word seems to be specifically a south-western form, and here, as also in Stallardlinays c. 1330Hesley , in this parish, a compound līn-, (ge)hæg, 'flax enclosure,' is more probable. No explanation can be given of Botlands in the modern name. It occurs again in the existing Botlands and Lords Botland—fields in this parish—and in Botland 1789LowtherW , also in this parish.

Places in the same Parish