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.

East and West Pilliven

Early-attested site in the Parish of Witheridge

Historical Forms

  • Pilefen(ne) 1238 Ass 1269 FF
  • Pillefenne 1242 Fees758 1408 IpmR
  • Pylefenne 1270 Ass

Etymology

This is probably from OE  Pīlan -fen , 'Pila 's marshy land,' v. fenn , with the same pers. name as in Pilmoor (PN NRY 23). See, however, Pilemoor infra 420.