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.

Gransmore alias Grinsmore alias Gris(t)mal Green

Early-attested site in the Parish of Felsted

Historical Forms

  • Grandeloy'ere 1189–98 France
  • grendelesmere 12th Caen
  • Gryndysmere, Grendismere 1222,1367 Rental
  • Gryndesmeretye t.Hy4 Ct
  • Grindesmore 1576 French
  • Grismal Green 1777 C

Etymology

'Grendel 's mere,' v. mere . Identical with Grendlesmere (W) BCS 677. Grendel was a man-eating monster of human form, descended from Cain, who lived in the fens and was killed by Beowulf.