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.

Whitecliff

Early-attested site in the Parish of Coleford

Historical Forms

  • Whytecliue 1363 Ass
  • Whiteclyvestrete 1481 Probyn
  • Whitecle(e)ve 1598 1638 Ct 1667 GlR
  • White Clieve 1642 Comm
  • Whitcliffe 1500–15 ECP
  • Whitcleue 1553 Will
  • Whitcleaf 1603 GlR

Etymology

Whitecliff, Whytecliue 1363Ass , Whiteclyvestrete 1481Probyn 23, Whitecle (e )ve 1598 ib, 1638 Ct, 1667 GlR, White Clieve 1642Comm , Whitcliffe 1500–15 ECP, Whitcleue 1553 Will, Whitcleaf 1603 GlR. 'White, bright bank', v. hwīt , clif .