Coveney
Major Settlement in the Parish of Coveney
Historical Forms
- Coueneia c.1060 KCD932 12th LibEl 1170
- (insulam de) Coueneya c.1160 Ely
- Coueney(e) 1251 ElyCouch
- Couenhe ib.
- Covene 1310 Pat
- Conye 1319 Cl
Etymology
This may be 'Cofa 's island' or it may be 'island in the bay' as suggested by Ekwall (DEPN). For Cofa cf. Covington (PN BedsHu 238). OE cofa , 'cave, den,' is found in place-names in the sense (among others) 'bay, creek.' v. ēg . The topography suggests that when Coveney was an island it was situated in a deep bay, now represented by the West Fen.