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.

Mainbow

Early-attested site in the Parish of Highweek (with Newton Abbot)

Historical Forms

  • Maynbogh c.1200 Torre 15th
  • Meynbogh 1244 Ass
  • Maynbough 13th Oliver
  • la Maynbouhe 13th Buckfast
  • la Meynbogh 1301 Ass

Etymology

This may be a compound of the British word maen , 'stone' and OE  boga , 'bow' (v. Bowden supra 37), hence 'curve of land by the rock.' Or the first element may be OE  mægen - as in the compound Mainstone supra 228.