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.

Cancer Drove

Early-attested site in the Parish of Holnest

Historical Forms

  • Cancer Drove 1845 TA
  • Canschaue 1394 Shepherd1
  • Canchers lane, Canshere Lawne 16 Shepherd2
  • Cansewlane 1516 Digby
  • claus' voc' Canshere, claus' voc' Cansher(e)s 1552 Shepherd2
  • Cancer Drove, Cancer Grd 1800 EnclA
  • Kaneschase Hy3 CampbCh
  • Caushath' 1332 SR

Etymology

Cancer Drove (ST 645108), Cancer Drove 1845TA , Canschaue 1394Shepherd 1, Canshawlane , Cannshavelane 1464, Canshauelane 1474Digby , Canchers lane , Canshere Lawne 16Shepherd 2, Cansewlane 1516Digby , claus ' voc ' Canshere , claus ' voc ' Cansher (e )s 1552Shepherd 2, Cancer Drove , Cancer Grd 1800EnclA , cf. Lr Cancer , Middle Cancer 1844TA (Long Burton), v. sc(e)aga 'small wood, copse', lane ; the first el. may be canne 'hollow, deep valley', or an OE  pers.n. Cana for which v. Canford 22. The forms Kaneschase Hy 3CampbCh and Caushath ' (possibly for Canshath ') 1332 SR (p) are perhaps also to be associated with this place; if the spellings are reliable, the second el. in these forms shows alternation or confusion with chace 'chase' and hǣð 'heath'.