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.

Meriden

Major Settlement in the Parish of Meriden

Historical Forms

  • Mereden 1230,1232 Cl
  • Myryden(e) 1285 Ipm 1441 BM
  • Mirydene 1443 ADi
  • Myrriden 1456 KnowleG
  • Mireden 1656 Dugdale
  • Muryden(e) 1400 ADi 1517 Recov
  • Muridone 1406 IpmR
  • Meriden(e) 1443 ADii 1535 VE
  • Meriden in Alspath 1649 FF
  • Meriden in Alspath al…Alspath in Meriden 1656 ib
  • Meryden al. Muriden 1658 ib
  • Mereden al. Alspathe 1584 Recov
  • Merriden 1630 FF

Etymology

'Pleasant valley,' v. myrig , denu . Cf. Marden (PN Sr 318) and Merridale (St), Murydale c. 1290Deed . In Dugdale's time it must have lost its good repute, for he conceived that it was called Miredene “for the foulness thereof” (720). The earlier and original name of the parish was Alspath infra .