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.

Little Haven

Early-attested site in the Parish of Halifax

Historical Forms

  • Lyttyl Heven 1488 HAS
  • Lyttle Heave 1536 Rent
  • Little Heauen 1574 WillY
  • Little Eaven 1603 HAS
  • Little Even 1669 PREll 1771 M

Etymology

Little Haven, 'a messuage lately built…called Lytill Hevyn ' 1473 YD viii, Lyttyl Heven 1488 HAS, 40, 49, Lyttle Heave 1536 Rent, Little Heauen 1574 WillY, Little Eaven 1603 HAS 17, 296, Little Even 1669 PREll, 1771 M, from ME  heven (OE  heofon ) 'heaven' used figuratively to describe a blissful residence; cf. Haven 151infra .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement