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.

Colby Folds

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bampton

Historical Forms

  • Colby Folds in Measand 1763 ib
  • Cowby fold 1696 ib
  • Cowby fold in Measone 1694 ib

Etymology

Colby Folds (at grid 83–494158, submerged in Hawes Water when the water-level was raised), 1740 PR, (Colby Folds in Measand ) 1763 ib, Cowby fold 1696 ib, (Cowby fold in Measone ) 1694 ib. Colby is probably a surname from Colby (ii, 96supra ), v. fald 'fold, enclosure', which is often combined with surnames, as in Bracken Fold (i, 142supra ); Measone is Measand (infra ).