Churchdown
Major Settlement in the Parish of Churchdown
Historical Forms
- Circesdvne 1086 DB
- Chirchesdon(e), Chyrchesdon(e), Chyrchesdoun, Chyrchesdun 12,13 Glouc c.1220 Godstow c.1230 GlR 1248 Ass 1322 Abbr 1400 Pat
- Chirschesdon c.1230 GlR
- Chirchisdon c.1230 GlChi,15
- Chirchesdon 1340 Ipm
- Churchesdon(e), Churchesdun 12 Glouc 1291 Tax 1316 FA
- Schurchesdon 1303 FA
- Churchisdon 1310 Ch
- Kyrchesdon 1190 P
- Kyrkesdon 1191 P
- Circhedon 1320 FF
- Cherchedone 1205 ClR
- Chercheden 1287 QW
- Cherchesdon 1269 Episc
- Chirchedon(e), Chyrchedon(e) 1221,1248 Ass 1252 Ch 1254 Cl 1261 FF 1276 RH 1458 FF
- Chireche(s)dune, Chireche(s)don c.1230 GlR 1285 FA
- Chericheton 1267 Pat
- Churchdon' 1221 Eyre
- Churchedon 1269 Episc 1303 FA 1382 Ipm
- Church(e)down(e) 1543 MinAcct 1553 AOMB 1590 FF
- Churesdon 1535 FF
- Churs(e)don 1540 AOMB 1550 Chant 1553 Will
- Churs(e)den 1542 LP
- Churs(e)dyn 1546 ib
- Chyrsdone 1637 Inq
- Chowersdown 1645 FF
- Chorsdown 1719 PR
- Churson 1577,1690 M
Etymology
Churchdown has as its first el. a Celtic hill-name from Brit *crouco - 'hill, mound', as in Crickley (115supra ), v. crūc 1 , to which OE dūn 'hill' was added in Anglo-Saxon times. The name refers to the prominent hill (Churchdown Hill 148infra ) standing out of the Vale lowlands and on the top of which are remains of an ancient camp (cf. Archaeologia xix, 169). The form of the first el. has been influenced by OE cirice 'church', doubtless because the parish church also stands on top of the hill, but the name is not from cirice , as the OE weak noun would not give the gen.sg. Chirches -. The reduction to Churson is noteworthy; this local form survives as Chosen Hill (121infra ), cf. Phonol. § 44.