Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bollinc 1086 DB

• Bollinges, Bollynges 1166 P 1340 Arm

• Bolling', Bollyng 12 Kirkst c.1150 Crawf Ric1 Arm 1234–49 Kirkst 1240–6 Pont 1246 Ass4 1248 Bodl15 1276 RH 1536 Testvi

• Bollinge, Bollynge 1243 Fees 1246 YI 1568 Arm 1616 YDi

• Bowlyng(e), Bowling(e) 1586,1591 FF 1597 SessnR 1639 WillY 1641 WYD

• Bouling 1638 WillY

Etymology

The two spellings with -inges may point to an OE folk-name in -ingas, but they may equally well be pl. forms of an OE  sg. Bolling denoting the two parts of East and West Bowling (cf. EPN i, 283, § 3). In view of the regular and early appearance of -ing the latter seems preferable. Like Cowling pt. vi infra , it would appear to be an OE sg. -ing 2 formation and, because of the regular -ll - in the spellings, the name is without doubt from OE  bolla 'a bowl', used topographically to denote a bowl-shaped hollow or depression, in this case the wide hollow which lies between West Bowling and Bowling Park falling down to Bradford (96–1731). For East Bowling, etc. v. 247infra .