Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (of) Holande c.1000 CCC383 c.1125

• Holandā, Hoilandam 1086 DB

• Parva Hoiland(e) 1212 RBE

• Hoiland(e) Gynes 1238 SR

• Hoilaund 1274 Cl

• Hoyland(e) 1218 Fees 1226 Pat 1241 ADi 1252 Misc 1328 Londin

• Hoylaund, Hoylaund Magna 1248 Ass 1274 Cl 1291 Ch

• Holand Alta 1271 Pat

• Mykyll Holand, Mikyll Holand 1462–3 ib

• Holond(e) 1275 RH 1336 Londin 1346,1428 FA

• Holaunde 1291 Tax 1294 Ipm

• Holend 1440 Pat

• Howland 1318 Inqaqd

• Houland 1324 Londin

• Great Heylond 1362 Pat

• moche holland 1552 EAS(NS)i

• Holland Magn., Holland P'va 1594 N

• Guisnes in 1210 (RBE)

Etymology

'Land on the (low) spur,' v. hoh , land . The i , y in the early forms is a French method of indicating the length of the vowel and did not affect the pronunciation (cf. Zachrisson, Pron. of Eng. Vowels 64–5). The modern short vowel does not seem to be older than the 16th century, and is probably due to the combined influence of the Dutch Holland and the Lincolnshire Holland in similar low-lying country. Gynes because the manor of Little Holland was held by the Count of Guisnes in 1210 (RBE).