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.

Chinway Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ottery St Mary

Historical Forms

  • Chynewaydowne 1548 Moulton
  • Chinneway 1607 Depositions

Etymology

The Chineway is the road which runs across the ridge here, and we may possibly have as the first element the word chine (OFr  eschine ) denoting 'spine, backbone.' Mrs Rose-Troup notes that the road goes to Gittisham and that that Manor was held (TRE) by one Chinias , Chenias .The history of that pers. name is unknown; it probably had a hard k but it may be that it represents a name with initial Ch .