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.

Godlingston Fm formerly Manor Ho, Godlingston Manor

Early-attested site in the Parish of Swanage

Historical Forms

  • Godlington (als. Golinton) 1299 Ipm
  • Godelyngton 1381 IpmR
  • Godelington 1426 ib
  • Godlyngton 1546 Ct
  • Godlington 1795 Boswell 1825 Gre
  • Godelyng(e)ston 1345,1378 FF 1457 IpmR
  • Godelingston 1408 ib
  • Godlyngston 1413 FF c.1500 RoyRoll
  • Godlingston 1458 Hutch3 c.1586 Tres
  • Gedelyngston 1367 FF
  • Cothelynston 1383 IpmR
  • Gothelyngston 1384 Hutch3
  • Golynston 1412 FA
  • Goddleston 1671 Swan

Etymology

Possibly 'Godelin's farm', from the ME  (OG ) pers.n. Godelin (Förstemann PN 660, Forssner 120) and tūn; both the masc. (Godelen (us )) and the fem. (Godelena ) forms of this pers.n. are recorded from England (Forssner loc. cit. , Fägersten 126 note 3), and either may occur here. However, in view of the consistent forms in -ing -, -ing (e )s -, Dr von Feilitzen does not think the pers.n. Godelin a likely first el., and suggests that a ME  pers.n. *Godling (< OE  gōd 'good' + -ling , cf. the OE  pers.n. Dēorling ) may be preferable.For an early mill here, v. Mill Mead infra .