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.

Malswick

Early-attested site in the Parish of Newent

Historical Forms

  • Meleswika Hy2 Madox
  • Maleswyk(e) c.1280 Newent5d 1310 FF 1320 Ass
  • Malleswyk, Malleswite 1320 Ass 1542 LP
  • Mawlsewycke 1539 LP
  • Mawyswycke 1570 FF
  • Maysewke als. Maweswyke 1598 FF
  • Malecliue 1278 Newent8

Etymology

Malswick, Meleswika Hy 2 Madox, Maleswyk (e )c. 1280Newent 5d, 1310FF , 1320Ass , Malleswyk , Malleswite 1320Ass , 1542 LP, Mawlsewycke 1539 LP, Mawyswycke 1570FF , Maysewke als. Maweswyke 1598 FF.The first el. is the ME  fem. pers.n. Mall (from Mary ) or possibly an OE  malu (gen.sg. malwes ) 'gravel', which Professor Ekwall suggested to occur in Mawsley and Wythemail (Nth 128, 129). v. lēah 'clearing'; cf. also a local name Malecliue 1278Newent 8 (v. clif ), and Mallepark (181 infra ).