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.

Vale Acre Copse & Vale Acre Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Alderholt

Historical Forms

  • Vellak(e) 1314 Ipm 1318 Cecil
  • bosc' apud Vellak(e) 1369 MinAcct
  • Vellak(e)brech' 1382 Cecil
  • Fenlak 1324 MinAcct
  • Wellake(brech') 1382 Cecil
  • bosc' domini voc' Fellake 1404 ib
  • Bosc' de Velacre 1508 ib
  • Vellker e17 CecilMap
  • Fell Acre Row 1846 TA

Etymology

Vale Acre Copse & Vale Acre Fm (SU 087117), Vellak (e )1314 Ipm, 1318Cecil , 1325, bosc ' apud Vellak (e )1369MinAcct , Vellak (e )brech '1382Cecil , Fenlak 1324MinAcct , Wellake (brech ')1382Cecil , bosc ' domini voc ' Fellake 1404ib , Bosc ' de Velacre 1508ib , Vellker e17CecilMap , Fell Acre Row 1846TA , probably 'fen stream', from fenn and lacu , as indicated by the 1324 form, with early assimilation of -nl - to -ll - and voicing of the initial consonant in the first el., and more recent reshaping of the name due to popular etymology; v. brǣc , rāw . The name refers to a small tributary of R. Crane.