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.

Great Dunmow and Little Dunmow

Major Settlement in the Parish of Great and Little Dunmow

Historical Forms

  • (at) Dunemow(e) 951 ASWills 14th
  • Dunemow(e) Chepyng 1369 Pat
  • Dunemow(e) Chipping 1486–93 ECP
  • Muche Dunemow(e) 1569 Lancs
  • (of) Dunmæwan c.1000 CCC383 c.1125
  • (at) Dunmawe c.1045 ASWills 14th Colch 1119,1198 Bracton 1222 BM 1227
  • Dunmawe Parva 1237 Fees 1247 FF
  • Dunmawe Chepyng 1352 FF
  • Dunmaue 1185–7 NLC
  • Dunmaue Magna 1225 ib
  • Dunmawa (comitis de Sancto Paulo) 1196 P
  • Dōmauua, Dommauuā, Dommawa 1086 DB
  • Dumauue 1152–8 OxonCh
  • Dumawe, Dumawa 1161–2 P
  • Dummawe 1303 FA
  • Don(e)mawe 1163–88 France 1273 BM 1325 Londin
  • Don(e)mowe 1291 Tax
  • Canoun Don(e)mawe, Chepyng Don(e)mawe 1345 FF
  • Dumagh 1232 Cl
  • Dun(e)maghe 1312 Pat

Etymology

This name, as Ekwall has suggested (Studies 72–3), is a combination of OE  māwe , māwa , mǣwe , ME  māwe , mowe , 'meadow,' from OE  māwan , 'to mow,' and dun . 'Meadow on the hill,' or, possibly dunmāwan , 'hill meadows.' Cf. the surnames of Robert atte Mowe of Stambourne (1336Ct ) and Richard atte Mow of Runwell (1413AD ). Great Dunmow was also called Chipping (v. cieping ), while Little was called Canoun from the Priory. The Count of St Pol was lord of Alfriston now Bigods infra (1235Ass ).

Places in the same Parish

None