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.

Dowsdale Plantation

Early-attested site in the Parish of Thorney

Etymology

Dowsdale Plantation (6″). Cf. Dowysdale , Dowesdale 1469 Pat, Dovesdale 1529 BedL, Douisdale 1597Wisbech Map , Dows (e )dale 1610 Speed and Dowsdale Arm supra 209. This is to be associated with Dowsdale Bank in Croyland and Dowsdale in Whaplode (L), Dousedale 1331 Spalding , just over the Lincolnshire border. Possibly 'Dúsi 's valley,' v. dæl or, as the topography is not very distinctive, 'Dúsi 's share of land,' v. dǣl . Dúsi is an ODan personal name, found also in Dowsby (L), Dusebi 1086 DB (v. DEPN).