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.

Indescombe

Early-attested site in the Parish of Tavistock and Tavistock Hamlets

Historical Forms

  • Entescombe 1340 Inqaqd

Etymology

The first element might be OE  ent , 'giant.' Hence, 'giant's valley,' cf. Thursden (PN La 85) from OE  þyrs , 'giant.' In the 1488 Rental the Wallabrook stream which flows down this valley is called Endlesbrooke .Its relation to Indescombe is obscure.