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.

Thongsleigh

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cruwys Morchard

Historical Forms

  • Twangeslegh', Thauangeslegh' 1242 Fees775
  • Thwange(s)legh 1242 Fees762 1244 Ass 1356 Ass
  • Thwengeslegh 1371 Cl

Etymology

v. leah . The first element may be identical with that of Tongham (Sr), Tuangeham 1205 ClR, Twengham 1235 FF, Twangham 1245 FF, 1299 Ipm, Thuangham 1341 Pat. This is probably, as suggested by Blomé (115), the word thong (OE  þwang ) used in the sense of a long narrow strip of land. The genitival compound offers difficulties, however, and it is possible that the name is of late origin from a ME  surname Thwang .