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.

Woodovis

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

Historical Forms

  • Wodeheuese 1244 Ass 1330 SR
  • Wodeuesse juxta Tauistoke 1346 Ass
  • Wodeuese t.Ed3 Ass
  • Wodewys, Odewys, Wodeovese, Wodeovys 1488 Rental

Etymology

'At the wood-edge,' v. efese . Cf. Woodsaws (Co), Wodesouse , Wodeseuese 1296Ass , Wodesouese , Wodesauese 1302Ass . The modern form has probably been influenced by the dialectal ovvis , recorded from Somerset, and used commonly in Devon, a closely allied word.