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.

Durdham Down

Early-attested site in the Parish of Westbury on Trym

Historical Forms

  • Thridhemedon 1306 Ass
  • Redlanedoun' 1512 Comp
  • Thridlond Downe 1537 MinAcct
  • Trydlond down 1544 LP
  • Thridland als. Rudland, mess' super le Downe 1575 FF
  • Thridlandowne als. Durdamdowne 1597,1613 ib
  • Durdon Downe, Durdom Downe 1625 SurvClf

Etymology

Durdham Down, 1777Brist 12156, Thridhemedon 1306Ass , Redlanedoun '1512 Comp 183, Thridlond Downe 1537MinAcct , Trydlond down 1544 LP, Thridland als. Rudland , mess ' super le Downe 1575FF , Thridlandowne als. Durdamdowne 1597, 1613 ib, Durdon Downe , Durdom Downe 1625 SurvClf. 'The hill or down belonging to Redland (infra )', v. dūn . The oldest form Thridheme - and its derivative Durdham - is an elliptical formation meaning 'the dwellers in Redland', v. hǣme and cf. Weston Subedge (i, 261supra ).