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.

Gowerdale

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hawnby

Historical Forms

  • Yowirdale 1387 YD
  • Yowerdalle 1434 YD

Etymology

Possibly 'boar valley' from ON  jǫfurr , 'wild boar,' and dalr.The spelling G - is probably modern and perhaps arose by analogy with OE  geat , written gate but still pronounced as [jæt] in the local dialect.