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.

Main Down (Plant.)

Early-attested site in the Parish of Tarrant Gunville

Historical Forms

  • (pastur' montana voc' la) Menedon(e) 1397,1398 Weld1
  • Main Down 1811 OS
  • Monelandes Downe 1541 Rawl

Etymology

Main Down (Plant.) (ST 932138), (pastur ' montana voc ' la ) Menedon (e )1397, 1398Weld 1, Main Down 1811 OS, Main Down Plant .1839TA , 'common hill or down', from (ge)mǣne and dūn, with reference to its situation near the E par. bdy, cf. foll. and Monelandes Downe 1541Rawl which may have the same first el., with land .