Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bishop's Down 1811 OS

• Dune, Denne (probably for Doune) 1280 Ass

• Doune 1332 SR 1406,1484 Digby

• La Doun', Bysshopesdoun' 1332 Salis

• Down(e) 1460 Digby 1677 et freq

• Bysshopysdoune 1468 FF

• Bysshops Downe 1500 AddCh

• la Downe Episcopi 1515 DCMDeed

• le Downe, la Downe 1538 Digby

• Bu(i)sshop(p)s Downe 1582 1583 SPDom 1614 Digby

• Down(e) and Marsh 1664 HTax 1795 Boswell

Etymology

Bishop's Down (Fm) (ST 673121), Bishop 's Down 1811 OS, Dune , Denne (probably for Doune )1280Ass , Doune 1332 SR, 1406, 1484Digby , La Doun ', Bysshopesdoun '1332Salis , Down (e )1460Digby et freq to 1677ib , Bysshopysdoune 1468 FF, Bysshops Downe 1500AddCh , la Downe Episcopi 1515DCMDeed , le Downe , la Downe 1538Digby , Bu (i )sshop (p )s Downe 1582ib , 1583SPDom , 1614Digby , cf. (Lower ) Down , Down Md 1842TA , from dūn 'hill, down'; Bishop 's because it belonged to the bishops of Salisbury, like Bishop's Caundle par. supra of which it was formerly a detached part, v. biscop , episcopus .In 1598, 1677Digby there is a family of copyholders here called B (u )is (s )hop (pe ), but the affix clearly predates them.For the tithing of Down (e ) and Marsh 1664 HTax, 1795 Boswell, v. Caundle Marsh par. supra .