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.

Blue Man's Bower

Early-attested site in the Parish of Whiston

Historical Forms

  • Blew Man Bower 1668 Norf
  • Blueman's Bower 1770 Fairb

Etymology

Blue Man's Bower, Blew Man Bower 1668Norf , Blueman 's Bower 1770 Fairb, described as 'a moated piece of ground' (Hnt ii, 36) and remaining as a rectangular plateau earthwork, possibly a house-site (HntS i, 363, v, 117 ff), from ME  blewman 'a negro', būr 1 'a cottage, a dwelling'. The allusion is not known.