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.

Downhill Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Handborough

Historical Forms

  • la Dunhall' 1267–84 Os
  • Dunhalle 1267–84 Os 1428 FA
  • la Dunhalle 1268–81,1294(p) Eynsh
  • Dunhale 1273–4 RH
  • la Dounhall 1277 Ipm
  • Dounhalle 1280 Eynsh
  • Downhalle 1290 Eynsh 1309 Fine
  • Dounhale 1309 Eynsh

Etymology

Downhill Fm (6″) may be la Dunhall '1267–84 Os (p), Dunhalle 1267–84 Os (p)et freq with variant spelling Dunhall to 1428 FA (p), la Dunhalle 1268–81, 1294(p) Eynsh, Dunhale 1273–4 RH (p), la Dounhall 1277 Ipm (p), Dounhalle 1280 Eynsh (p), Downhalle 1290 Eynsh (p), 1309 Fine (p), Dounhale 1309 Eynsh (p). 'Hall on a hill,' v. h(e)all. The first element is dūn . The modern name is due to popular etymology.

Places in the same Parish