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.

Godtorp

Early-attested site in the Parish of Knossington and Cold Overton

Historical Forms

  • Godtorp 1086 DB
  • Gillethorp' c.1130 LeicSurv

Etymology

Godtorp (lost), Godtorp 1086 DB, v. þorp ; with OE  gōd or ON  góðr, both meaning 'good'. The name of the vill is remodelled as Gillethorp 'c.1130 LeicSurv, v. þorp ; with the masc. pers.n. Gilli , presum. that of a new lord. Gilli, which appears to be a Scand  formation, is a short form of Irish names in Gilli - and it may be that its bearer was of Celtic descent, cf. Gilroes, Lei 1221, v. Feilitzen 261 and SPNLY 100–1.