Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Dunheved, Dunehefda 871 BCS531 c.1400

• Dunheued 956 14th ib

• Dunheved 1242 Fees 1249 Ass

• (to) Dun heafdan 955 BCS917 14th

• Dunhefde 1275 RH

• Dunnynghefd 956 BCS968 12th

• Dunneheved 1199 FF

• Duneheve 1086 DB

• Duneheved(e) t.Hy2 Shaston 1279 Ass

• Donheved Sancte Marie, eccl. Sancti Andree de Dunheved, Dounheved Mar' 1298 Sarum

• Sancti Andree 1302 ib

• Seynt Andreu 1324 FF

• Do(u)nhefde Sci Andree 1346 Ass

• Do(u)nhefde Marie 1362 Pat

• Donhefd 1498 ib

• Donhed Andreu 1373 ib

• Dounhede 1406 ib

• Donyet Andrewe 1537 FF

• Dunhed(d) Mary t.Eliz WMxxi

• Dunhed(d) Androwe 1573 FF

• Over Donet, Nether Donet 1618 WMxxii

• Dunhead 1673 Recov

• Donet, Donett 1675 Ogilby

• Donnett St Andrewe 1690 Recov

• Over Donhead, Nether Donhead 1693 ib

Etymology

'Top of the down, down-head,' v. dun . Cf. Dunheved , the old name for Launceston (Co), Downhead (So), Dunehefde DB, and Dunnett in Compton Bishop (So), Duneheved 1242 Ass. The application of this name is not without difficulty. It is clear that it cannot refer to the site of the tiny hamlets which cluster round the churches of Donhead St Andrew and St Mary respectively, for the former at least is in a hollow. Rather it must apply to the whole extent of the parishes stretching south right up to the ridge of the downs. The dative plural form Dunheafdan possibly suggests that already at an early date the area was divided into two townships. St Mary and St Andrew from the dedication of the churches, known respectively as Over and Nether from their relative positions.