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.

Copalder

Early-attested site in the Parish of Doddington

Historical Forms

  • Kekal(d)re 1244 Rams 1277 Ely
  • Kechal(d)re 1256 Rams
  • Kekaller 1286 ib
  • Cop(e)alder 1487 MinAcct 1645 EAvii
  • Copoldree 1529 BedL
  • Copholder Bank 1830 ib

Etymology

Copalder is Kekal (d )re 1244 Rams, 1277Ely , Kechal (d )re 1256 Rams, Kekaller 1286 ib., Cop (e )alder 1487MinAcct , 1645 EA vii, Copoldree 1529 BedL, Copholder Bank 1830 ib. If this sequence is correct, this alder was first distinguished by the addition of kek , possibly related to kex , 'dry hollow stem,' and then confused with the common copp (ede ) alder or 'pollarded alder.'