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.

Dore

Major Settlement in the Parish of Dore

Historical Forms

  • Dore 827 ASC c.900
  • Dor 942 c.955 ib
  • Dore 1086 DB a.1118 FW c.1130 HH 1246 FF
  • Dore alias Dowre 1585,1589 FF
  • Dorehesles c.1175 Beau
  • Dorhesele 12th Pat 1316
  • Doreheseles 1312 Beau
  • Douere 1375 Cl
  • Doer 1521 Hallv
  • Dawer 1512 AddCh
  • Damre 1521 Hallv

Etymology

'Narrow pass', v. dor . The valley from which it is named was formerly on the boundary between the kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria (827, 942A ASC) and subsequently between Db and WRY. Doreheseles is apparently 'hazel-trees belonging to Dore', v. hæsel , and was the former name of the place in which the Abbey of Beauchief was established, cf. the forms for Beauchief supra 208.