Awliscombe
Major Settlement in the Parish of Awliscombe
Historical Forms
- Aulescoma 1086 DB 1535 VE
- Awelescumb' 1221–30 Fees
- Aullescombe 1316 Ipm
- Auliscombe 1339 Ass
- Aurescumbe 1203 Cur
- Houelescumb 1285 FA
- Ouliscomb(e) 1303 FA 1322 Ass
- Oulescomb(e) 1351 Orig 1356 Ipm
- Owlyscombe 1393 Exon
- Overaouliscombe juxta Honyton 1394 Ass
- Alscombe 1541 SR
- Aulscombe al. Alliscombe 1706 Recov
Etymology
Blomé (85) is doubtless right in identifying the first element in this name with the gen. of OE āwel , 'awl, hook, fork,' and the reference must be to some topographical feature which distin- guishes the combe. Blomé takes it to refer to the triple fork of the river a mile from Awliscombe. It is more doubtful if he is correct in thinking that the river itself (now the Wolf) was actually called Awel . The frequent forms with Ow-, Ow - make any connexion with OE æwiell (StudNP 2, 92) unlikely.