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.

Longleat Ho

Early-attested site in the Parish of Horningsham

Historical Forms

  • Langelete 1235 SarumCh 1315 Ipm
  • le Langelete 1257 ADvi
  • la Langhelete late13th BM
  • le Langlete herne 1366 WMxxiii
  • Longalete 1245 SarumCh
  • Longa Leta 1281 Ass 1297 Pat
  • La Longe Lete 1297 Chanc
  • Longleyte 1546 LP

Etymology

The second element is OE  gelǣt found in the compound wæter -gelǣt , 'water conduit, channel or leat .' The place is said to take its name from the long leat or water-course which brought water from Homingsham to the mill by the convent on the site of which the house stands, herne is OE  hyrne, 'comer, angle.'