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.

Snowcove Gill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kendal

Historical Forms

  • Suancoue (sic for Snau-) 1238–46 Kendi,393
  • Snaw(e)cowe 1577 Dep
  • Snaw(e)cave, Snaw(e)caw, Snaw(e)cowghe 1578 Comm
  • Snawcoo (gate) 1580,1622 Dep
  • Snakey 1633 Dep
  • Snakey Gill 1857 OS

Etymology

Snowcove Gill, Suancoue (sic for Snau -)1238–46 Kend i, 393, Snaw (e )cowe 1577Dep , Snaw (e )cave , Snaw (e )caw , Snaw (e )cowghe 1578Comm , Snawcoo (gate )1580, 1622Dep , Snakey 1633Dep , Snakey Gill 1857OS .'Cove or hillside recess where snow lay longest', v. snāw , cofa , the later forms -cowe , -cowghe , -coo being inverted spellings, and -cave analogical. Cf. Goatscar (supra ) and Tarn Crag (infra ) for other local examples of cofa .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name

Major Settlement