Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Dounaldcroft 13 Temp

• Dosnaldcroft 13 YDi

• Daweney Crofts 1553 Temp

• Danocroft 1591 ib

Etymology

Dannow Croft, Dounaldcroft 13Temp 8, Dosnaldcroft 13 YD i, Daweney Crofts 1553Temp 50, Danocroft 1591 ib 76. The first el. is probably the ME  pers.n. Donald from OIr  Domnall , Latinised to Donaldus ; this name was in use in Y as Doneuuald , Dunewaldus from the eleventh century (cf. Revue Celtique xliv, 41). It was doubtless introduced by Vikings from Ireland (cf. Introd.). The modern form may be accounted for by the fluctuation of OIr o between a and o in ON (as in Kalman from OIr  Colmán ), v. croft 'small enclosure'.Another local example of an Ir  pers.n. is Dunecan , whose son William was lord of Broughton c. 1156 Pont ii, 477.