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.

Owdeswell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Withington

Historical Forms

  • Aldeswella, Aldeswelle 1191 P 1260 FF 1274 Cl 1290 Episc 1299 RBB
  • Aldewell(e) 1221 Ass
  • Oldeswell(e) 1270 FF 1287 Ass 1291 Tax 1586 Comm
  • Oldiswell als. Odiswell 1570 FF
  • Owdeswell 1779 Rudder

Etymology

'Ald's spring or stream', v. wella . The pers.n. is an OE  Ald found in Aldsworth (23supra ). The modern form has been adapted to that of the nearby Dowdeswell (167supra ).