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.

Hamel Down

Early-attested site in the Parish of Widdecombe in the Moor

Historical Forms

  • great waste called Hameldon 1566 DA
  • Hammeldon 1652 Recov

Etymology

The shape of the hill resembles a hog's back (F. R. -T.) and hamel must here have the sense of 'cut off.' v. hamel .