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.

Ampney Downs

Early-attested site in the Parish of Ampney Crucis

Historical Forms

  • le Doune 1275 CirenP
  • le Downe 1540 AOMB

Etymology

Ampney Downs, 1777 M, le Doune 1275CirenP , le Downe 1540AOMB , v. dūn 'expanse of open hill country', in the south-east of Gl usually referring to the outlying higher grounds of the Cotswold parishes which provided considerable amounts of sheep-pasturage.Ampney Downs was in the north-west of the parish adjoining Baunton.