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.

Horwell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Coventry

Historical Forms

  • Hor(e)welle 1279 Nott 1656 Dugdale
  • le Horewalle 1279 Nott
  • Horewell by Anesty 1376 AD
  • Horewelle 1841 Poole

Etymology

Horwell (lost) is Hor (e )welle 1279Nott et freq to 1656 Dugdale, le Horewalle 1279Nott , Horewell by Anesty 1376AD , Horewelle 1841 Poole. This may be 'dirty spring or stream,' v. horh , wielle , or, since it was on the boundary of the old city of Coventry, it may be 'boundary-stream' (Duignan 72), v. har . “Long depopulated” (Dugdale 128).