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.

Cleeve Cloud

Early-attested site in the Parish of Southam & Brockhampton

Historical Forms

  • Clowde 1484 BGi,302 1563
  • Couer clowde 1564 Dep
  • Couer cloud 1565 ib
  • Cleeve-cloud 1779 Rudder

Etymology

Cleeve Cloud, Clowde 1484 (1563) BG i, 302, Couer clowde 1564Dep , Couer cloud 1565 ib, Cleeve-cloud 1779 Rudder 369. v. clūd 'rock, a mass of rock', describing the rocky outcrop on the edge of Cleeve Hill. Couer - is of doubtful origin, but could be the surname Cover (cf. Reaney 80), as in Cover Hay (89supra ), Coverdowne , Coverfoord in Charlton Kings (100), and Coverbreache in Cheltenham (108infra ).