Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (æt) Cnugel 948 BCS870 13th

• Cnugel 956 14th ib

• (on) Cnugellege 984 KCD641 14th

• Chenvel 1086 DB

• Cnoel 1187,1195 P 1332 SR

• Cnoell' 1200 Cur

• Childecnoel 1202 P 1205 Pap 1236 FF

• Cnohell' 1204 FineR

• Cnohill 1236 FF

• Knoyhull 1451 Trop

• Childecnowell 1204 WintonCart

• Knowel 1275 RH

• Knowel Magna 1285 FF

• Cnowel 1300 Ipm 1327 SR

• Knouwell Magna 1331 Pat

• Knowell Episcopi 1346 FF

• Knowell Odierne 1347 ib

• Knoel Hodyerne al. Knoel Parva 1428 FA

• Stepelknoel 1228 Cl

• Little Knoyell 1408 Pat

• Esteknoyle, Westeknoyle 1467 MinAcct

• Westknoyle al. Cnoyle Oderne 1540 ib

• Estknoyle al. Bisshopes Knoyle 1570 FF

• Noyle 1693 ParReg

• Childecnoel (ib.)

Etymology

The ground here is very much broken and Ekwall (DEPN) is probably right in postulating a lost OE  *cnugel , 'knuckle,' which might be used of a rounded hill. East Knoyle was known also as Great Knoyle and Bishop 's Knoyle from the holding of the Bishop of Winchester here (1204 WintonCart, 1236 FF). It was also known as Childecnoel (ib.), but the reason for this name is unknown. West Knoyle was also known as Little Knoyle or Knoyle Odierne from the holding of Hodierna , the mother of Alexander of Neckham and foster-mother of Richard Cœur de Lion (cf. terra Hodierne nutricis (1236 P ) mentioned next to Mere in a document given in Madox, History of the Exchequer 488). For Stepelknoel , see Milton infra . See Addenda supra xl.