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.

Dunningwell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Millom and Millom Rural

Historical Forms

  • Duningekeld c.1210 Furness
  • Dunnyngwell 1599 PR

Etymology

The first part of this name is probably the Old and Middle English personal name Dunning . The second element in the oldest form is clearly ON  kelda, 'spring.' By the end of the 16th century it had been replaced by the English 'well.'