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.

Close Beck, Close Farm, Close Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Elwick and Elwick Hall

Historical Forms

  • Le Clooe (sic) 1484 RPD, IPM
  • The Close 1498,1539 IPM
  • Close 1564 1653,1824 Salvin
  • farm & lands called the Close in the parish of Elwicke 1717 Hud
  • Close House 1728 Salvin
  • Close farm 1744 SurteesIII236
  • Closse 1498 IPM
  • Cloce 1539 ib
  • Cloyse 1549 ib

Etymology

'The enclosure', OFr  clos, ME  close . The reference is to an early enclosure of ground from moorland, “a warm, ancient farmhold” Surtees III 89.