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.

Golden Knoll

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wotton under Edge

Historical Forms

  • Goldknolle 1545 AOMB
  • Goldknowe Woode, Goldknole Woode 1575 TRMB
  • Go(u)lde Knol(l)e(gate) Eliz Surv

Etymology

Golden Knoll, Goldknolle 1545AOMB , Goldknowe Woode , Goldknole Woode 1575TRMB , Go (u )lde Knol (l )e (gate )ElizSurv . Probably 'golden hillock', v. gold , cnoll , possibly so called from its appearance; Charles (NCPN 245) notes that Goldcliff (Mon) was similarly named from its appearance and quotes a passage from Giraldus Cambrensis saying that the rock took on a golden hue in the sunshine. But Golden Knoll could also be from the OE  pers.n. Golda .