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.

Seacombe Bottom, Seacombe Cliff, Seacombe Quarry, Seacombe Gallery

Early-attested site in the Parish of Worth Matravers

Historical Forms

  • Secombe, Secombesmede 1306 ChrP 1372
  • Seacomb(e) quarry 1786,1861 Hutch3
  • Seacombe Cliff 1811 OS
  • Seacombe Bottom, Seacombe Fd 1840 TA

Etymology

Seacombe Bottom (SY 981773), Seacombe Cliff, Seacombe Quarry (all 6″), Seacombe Gallery (local), Secombe , Secombesmede 1306 (1372) ChrP , Seacomb (e ) quarry 1786, 1861 Hutch3, Seacombe Cliff 1811 OS, Seacombe Bottom , Seacombe Fd 1840TA , 'valley opening on to the sea', v. , cumb , with mǣd , botm , cf. Seacombe Ch 4329; gallery is a mining term meaning 'an underground passage, a level or drift' (NED s.v. sense 7).