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.

Bell Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Rothwell

Historical Forms

  • Bulchill (sic) 1270 Nost44
  • Balghulflat 1292 MinAcct
  • Belle hill Layn 1735 PRRth
  • Bolhull 1342 Surv

Etymology

Bell Hill, Bulchill (sic)1270Nost 44, Balghulflat 1292MinAcct 26, Belle hill Layn 1735 PRRth, possibly identical with Bolhull 1342Surv and also Bolhill 143 supra . Despite the variations, this is no doubt 'rounded, smooth hill', v. balg , hyll , with bol of similar meaning and belle 'bell-shaped hill' as variants.

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name