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.

Blaze Fell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Lazonby

Historical Forms

  • Blesfel(l) 1358,1393 GDR
  • Blesfelle 1384 Scotland
  • Bleze fell 1619 ExchKR
  • Blees fell 1650 ParlSurv
  • Bleasfell 1722 Devonshire

Etymology

The absence of any sign of inflexion in the three medieval forms makes it probable that the first element is the Norwegian word bles , 'white spot,' from some feature of the hill. Cf. blaze used in English of a white star on a horse's head. The second element is fiall .