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.

Mercombe Wood

Early-attested site in the Parish of Withington

Historical Forms

  • to mærcumbe c.800 BCS299 11th
  • Merescumbe 1139–48 Glouc
  • Markham grove 1839 TA
  • Meresplot 1139–48 Glouc

Etymology

Mercombe Wood, to mærcumbe c. 800 (11th) BCS 299, Merescumbe 1139–48 Glouc, Markham grove 1839TA . 'Boundary valley', v. (ge)mǣre (gen.sg. (ge )mǣres ), cumb , referring to a long deep valley along which the parish boundary runs, as did that of the Withington estate in BCS 299; the same boundary is named in Meresplot 1139–48 Glouc (but cf. Merscplot 190infra ), and in mærweges c. 800 BCS 299, which is a track going north along the boundary from the head of Mercombe.