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.

Cownalls Linhay

Early-attested site in the Parish of Colyton

Historical Forms

  • Cownell 1597 Recov
  • Counwell 1649 ParReg
  • Couhayne 1591 ParReg

Etymology

This is probably from OE  cūna -wielle , 'cows' spring,' the s being pseudo-manorial. The adjacent Cownhayne is Couhayne 1591 ParReg. The name perhaps means 'cow enclosures,' v. supra 129. The second n is doubtless due to the influence of the neighbouring Cownalls. Cf. Linhayes supra 592.