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.

Townslow Lane and Meadow

Early-attested site in the Parish of Pyrford

Historical Forms

  • Tundesle(g') 1204 Cur 1241,1279 Ass
  • Tundeslegh 1270 Seldxiii 1282,1294 WAM
  • Tondesle 1332 SR
  • Toundesle 1303,1331 WAM 1363 Cl
  • Townesley mede 1548 LRMB

Etymology

Townslow Lane and Meadow (both 6″) is Tundesle (g ')1204 Cur, 1241, 1279Ass , Tundeslegh 1270 Seld xiii, 1282, 1294WAM , Tondesle 1332 SR (all p), Toundesle 1303, 1331WAM , 1363 Cl, Townesley mede 1548LRMB . The probability here is that we have a reduced form of such an OE  name as Tūnrǣdes -, or Tūnwealdeslēah , hence 'the wood or clearing of a man bearing one of these names.'