Survey of English Place-Names

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 ).