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.

Goldhanger

Major Settlement in the Parish of Goldhanger

Historical Forms

  • Goldhangrā, Goldhangram 1086 DB
  • Goldhangre 1253 FF 1303,1346 FA 1348 Ch
  • Goldhanger 1248 Ass 1428 FA
  • Goldheng(re) 1248 Ass 1275 RH
  • Golehangr' 1270 FF
  • Galdhangr(e) 1218 Fees 1253 FF
  • Caldhangre 13th BM
  • Goldangre 1326 Londin 1364 Ch
  • Goldanger t.Hy8 Dugdvi 1768 M
  • Goldynger 1539 LP 1547 FF
  • Coldanger 1469 Pat
  • Coldangre 1550 FF

Etymology

The usual form of the second element suggests a compound of hangra, 'slope,' but as this is not at all applicable to the site, we are probably right in taking it to be anger , 'grass-land,' cf. Ongar supra 71–2. gold is probably used of some marsh-plant, the site being low-lying, cf. Goldiford (PN BedsHu 195).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site