Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Madhou 1300 Ebor

• Maddow(e) 1427 SheffMan 1593 FF

• Maddhowe 1429 SheffMan

• Madhawe 1441 ib

• Mead Hall 1771 M

Etymology

Meadow Hall, Madhou 1300 Ebor, Maddow (e )1427 SheffMan, 1593 FF, Maddhowe 1429 SheffMan, Madhawe 1441 ib, Mead Hall 1771 M. The second el. is ON  haugr 'mound'; the first el. Mad - is unlikely to be from OE  (Angl ) mēd 'meadow' (v. mǣd ), though that word has influenced the modern form. But it may be an OE  pers.n. Māda (from (ge )mād 'mad, foolish'), suggested for Madeley Sa and Madingley C 181, or even OE  gemād itself. Since the place is on the line of the Roman Ridge leading to Wincobank, we might speculate on the possibility of mægden or mægð 'maiden' (with late Mad - for Maid - as in Madeley Wo 277, cf. also Phonol. § 11); the name would denote an old earthwork which maidens frequented (cf. EPN ii, 31–2), and have something of the same significance as Maiden Castle (Saxton) pt. iv infra , but there are phonological difficulties.