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.

Cowcombe Hill & Cowcombe Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Minchinhampton

Historical Forms

  • Colecumb(e) 1221,1248 Ass 1307 MchCust 1309 MinAcct 1327 SR 1411 MinAcct
  • Colcombe, Colcumbe 1268 Episc 1403 BGli 1438 Rent 1454 MinAcct 1465 Pat 1533 FF
  • Collcombeslone 1379 MinAcct
  • Cokcombe 1449 MinAcct
  • Cocomb 1777 M
  • Cowkeham 1594 FF
  • Cowcombe 1779 Rudder

Etymology

Probably 'valley where charcoal was burnt', v. col , cumb . For Cow - cf. Phonol. § 27. The little valley and hill-side are still well- wooded. The word cumb is often used in the p.ns. of Stroud valley to describe such side-valleys, as in Gatcombe (infra ), Brimscombe (141infra ), etc.