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.

Selby Dam

Early-attested site in the Parish of Selby

Historical Forms

  • le Damme (stagno) 1321 Selby
  • le Dame, the Dame 1519 MiscEngl 1540 FF 1595 SelbyCt
  • the Damme (a water-course), the Damme carre 1571 Dep

Etymology

Selby Dam, le Damme (stagno )1321 Selby, le Dame , the Dame 1519 MiscEngl, 1540 FF, 1595SelbyCt , the Damme (a water-course), the Damme carre 1571Dep , v. dammr 'a dam'. The name now refers to the water-course which starts in Habholme Dike 42infra and runs into the Ouse in Selby.