Goathill
Major Settlement in the Parish of Goathill
Historical Forms
- Gatelme 1086 DB
- Ingatelma Exon
- Gathulla 1176 P
- Cotehull (sic) 1234 Pat
- Cochull (sic) 1254 Cl
- Gothull(e) 1254–6 DEPN 1283 Banco 1290 Drew 1316 Ch 1320 FA
- Gothill 1284 Banco
- Gotehull 1487 Ipm
- Gotehill 1495 1535 VE 1575 Saxton
- Gotylle 1569–74 Map
Etymology
Probably self-explanatory, 'hill where goats are pastured', from gāt and hyll (so Fägersten 301 and DEPN). The DB form may be simply erratic (the Exon form in addition wrongly incorporating the preposition in ), but it could suggest that the second el. was originally helm 'helmet', used in a figurative sense such as 'summit of a hill'.