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.

Molecomb

Early-attested site in the Parish of Westhampnett

Historical Forms

  • Molecumbe 1284 Abbr
  • Mollecombe 1301 Ipm
  • Moulecombe 1640 Rental

Etymology

Molecomb is Molecumbe 1284 Abbr, Mollecombe 1301 Ipm, Moulecombe 1640Rental . Perhaps 'mole-valley' (v. cumb ). If so, the word mole must have been in use much earlier than the earliest recorded form molle , dating from 1398 (NED s. v .).There is also an OE  pers. name Moll , which might perhaps be found in a weak form. Cf. Mollington (Ch, O, Wa).

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement