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.

Blanch

Early-attested site in the Parish of Warter

Historical Forms

  • grangia de Blaunchemarl(e), Blaunchemarl(e) 1150–60 Melsa 1293 QW
  • grangiam de Blanchemarl(e), Blanchemarl(e) 1153 YCh 1172etfreqto1303 Meaux 1205 ChR
  • Blanch(e) 1156,13th Meaux
  • Blanch(e) alias Blanche Marle 1614 FF
  • Blaunch c.1200 Meaux

Etymology

This was a grange of Meaux Abbey and under French  influence this name replaced the older Arras (supra 169). The name means 'white marl,' from OFr  blanch and marle . Cf. Blaunchemarle quod Latine Albemarlia dicitur 1150–60 Melsa i, 101. There are many old chalk-pits in the fields about the grange.