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.

Bovey

Early-attested site in the Parish of Germansweek

Historical Forms

  • Bovy 1242 Fees755 1333 SR
  • Bovye 1569 Deed

Etymology

This looks as if it was the same name as Bovey infra 466.That is a river-name, but this Bovey lies on a ridge between two streams, so it seems difficult to think it can be a stream-name.It might be manorial, it might be for OE  bufan īe , 'above the water.' No certainty is possible.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement