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.

Calne

Major Settlement in the Parish of Calne

Historical Forms

  • et Calnæ 997 KCD698 c.1150
  • Calne 955 BCS912 14th
  • æt Cálne 978 ASC c.1120
  • Calna 1091 StOsmund 1130,1156ff. P 1144 AC
  • Kalne 1158 HMCVari
  • Calne 1198 Abbr
  • Caln 1588 NQviii
  • Cauna, Caune 1086 DB 1167 P 1199 FF 1228 Cl
  • Kaune 1236 Cl
  • Calle al. Calne 1460 Pat
  • Cane 1672 StJ
  • Cawne 1556 FF
  • Cawen t.Eliz ChancP
  • Cawlne 1588 Sadler

Etymology

Ekwall (DEPN s. n. , RN 90) takes Calne to be a river-name, the old name of Abberd Brook and identical in origin with Colne (La). If, however, Calstone infra 257 also contains this name as a first element, Calne must be an old name for the Marden rather than for Abberd Brook.