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.

Digswell

Major Settlement in the Parish of Digswell

Historical Forms

  • Dichelesuuelle 1086 DB
  • Digleswell 1198 Abbr
  • Diggeswelle 1086 InqEl
  • Digyswell 1428 FA
  • Digeneswell(e) 1233 FF
  • Digeneswella 1209–35 Wells
  • Dygeneswell(e) 1275 RH
  • Digneswelle 1295 Pat 1305 FF 1346 FA
  • Digoneswelle 1220 Fees 1303 FA 1414 Cl
  • Dygouneswelle 1323 Pat
  • Dyggeneswelle 1327 FF
  • Dikeneswell 1240 Stowe 1254 Val
  • Dykeneswell 1255 Ass 1285 Pat 1306 FF 1387 Walden
  • Dikneswell 1278 QW 1302 Ch
  • Degoneswelle 1391 FF
  • Dekyswell 1398 ADii
  • Dekeswell 1450 FF
  • Dixwell strete 1451 Ct
  • Dixewell 1535 VE
  • Dixwell al. Dydgeswell 1570 FF
  • Diggeswell al. Diggoneswell 1506 BM

Etymology

Skeat's suggestion (52) that the first element here is the common word deacon can hardly be entertained, as that word appears in ME  as dekene rather than dikene . Rather we must take our choice between OE  personal names Dicel and Dicen .The evidence for the former is set out in PN Sx 300–1s. n. Ditchling, that for the latter in Ekwall's Studies (6–7), under Digswell and Discove (So), DBDigenescoua . If the name is Dicen then the two l - forms show common AN confusion of n and l ; if the name is Dicel we must assume that this confusion led to early and complete alteration of the name. The former seems more probable. Hence, possibly, 'Dicen 's spring,' v. wielle .