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.

Curscombe Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Feniton

Historical Forms

  • Cochalescoma 1086 DB
  • Coklyscomb 1333 SR
  • Cokelescombe 1370 Ass

Etymology

Blomé (94) suggests that this is for OE  cocc -hēales cumb , 'valley of the cock-frequented nook,' but such a compound is not in itself very likely. Wallenberg (StudNP 2, 93) compares Coklescomb in Kent with a similar run of forms except for one Cukelescumbe and Cuckoldscombe and Cuxton (K) with persistent Cu -. He suggests an OE  cucola , 'cuckoo,' cf. Latin cuculus . We may note further Coscott (Berks), Cokelescote 1316 FA, Cokkelescote 1454 AD vi, and Corscombe supra 165. Most likely Curscombe and Coscott (Berks), like Corscombe supra , contain a pers. name *Coccel .

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement