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.

Minsden

Early-attested site in the Parish of Langley

Historical Forms

  • Menlesdene 1086 DB 1391 FF
  • Medlesden' 1201 Cur
  • Meddlesdene t.Ed1 BM
  • Mendlesden(e) 1205 FineR 1212 Cur 1228 FF 13th Wymondley
  • Mendlisden(e) 1304 Ipm
  • Mendisdene 1405 IpmR
  • Myndelisden 1494 Ipm
  • Mynesden t.Ed6 Chantry
  • Minsdenbury 1766 Ct

Etymology

The first element is probably a personal name Myndel , not on record but a regular l -derivative of OE  Munda . Cf. Mendlesham (PN Sf 57), containing the same personal name. The forms show the common Hertfordshire e for OE y , v. Introd. xxv. Hence 'Myndel 's valley,' v. denu . For -bury , v. burh (manorial) and infra 243.

Places in the same Parish