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.

Gowan Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kendal

Historical Forms

  • Gowan bridge 1685 Bridges9 1702 Kendiii,155
  • Gawen Bridge 1748 ib
  • Staveley B. 1777 M

Etymology

Gowan Bridge, Gowan bridge 1685Bridges 9, 1702 Kend iii, 155, Gawen Bridge 1748 ib 159, also called Staveley B. 1777 M. The ME and e.ModE  pers.n. Gawain ; Ekwall (RN 182) notes a local Gawen Brathaite 1671 Kend iii. v. brycg . Cf. R. Gowan (i, 8supra ).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name