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.

Polesden Lacy

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Bookham

Historical Forms

  • Polesdene 1198,1202 FF c.1242 Merton 1248,1255 Ass 1316 Ipm
  • Palesden' 1202 Cur
  • Palesdenn' 1204 ib
  • Polesdon 1241 Ass
  • Pollesden(e) 1213 Merton 1219 FF 1235 Ass 1241 1327 Banco 1428 FA
  • Pollesdenne 1325 Ass
  • Estpollesden(e) 1319 Ass 1320 FF
  • Pollesdon Lacy 1538 Merton
  • Pollesden Lacye 1550 Pat
  • Highe Pollesden 1552 Pat
  • Poulesdon 1616 FF

Etymology

'Poll 's valley,' v. denu . Cf. Polesworth (Wa), c. 1000 Saints Polleswyrð , and Polesleage (KCD 641) in Wiltshire. For a weak form of this name cf. Pulborough (PN Sx 152). It has proved impossible to trace the origin of the manorial or pseudomanorial addition.