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.

Stow on the Wold

Major Settlement in the Parish of Stow on the Wold

Historical Forms

  • Eduuardesstou 1086 DB
  • Eadwardestowe, Edwardestowe Hy1 Ch 1241 BM c.1107
  • Stowe S(ci') Edwardi 1260 FF 1316 FA 1330 Ch 1395 FF 1585 FF
  • Stoua 1213 WinchLB
  • Stouwa, Stouwe 1258 Madox 1284 Episc 1327 SR
  • Le Stauwe 1221 Ass
  • Estow 1221 Ass
  • Stow(e) 1221 Eyre 1236 FF 1276 RH 1733 PR
  • Stow(e) super le Olde 1557,1571 FF
  • Stow(e) on the Olde 1574 FF
  • Stow(e) on the Wowld 1577 M
  • Stow(e) the Olde 1585 FF 1597 Will
  • Stow(e) le Old 1611 Rec
  • Stow(e) in ye Would 1701 PR

Etymology

v. stōw 'place', here in the sense 'place where people gathered for the practice of religion' and later 'a church dedicated to the service of a particular saint' (cf. EPN ii, 159). Stow was probably originally part of the Maugersbury estate which was given to the monastery at Evesham (Wo) before 714 (cf. BCS 130); it is named from the church which was dedicated to St Edward, king and martyr (975–8) and which is called 'the church of St Edward' in DB (cf. Finberg 64); the name Edward in the oldest forms of the p.n. appears also in St Edward's Well (223supra ). Stow stands on the high exposed hill-top above Maugersbury and the affix 'on the Wold' refers to this (v. wald , Cotswolds 2supra ).

Places in the same Parish

None