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.

Holnest

Early-attested site in the Parish of Farway

Historical Forms

  • Holnest 1244 Ass
  • Holnyst 1333 SR

Etymology

This is probably a compound of OE  holegn and nest , 'nest,' hence 'nest in a holly tree.' For similar farm-names, cf. Crowneast (PN Wo 91).