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.

Cowsden

Early-attested site in the Parish of Upton Snodsbury

Historical Forms

  • Colleduna c.1150 Surv
  • Coulesduna c.1190 EveA c.1220 AOMB28b 15th
  • Coulesdon a.1198 AOMB61 15th P 1242 For 1262 SR 1275 SR 1327
  • Collesdon 1275 Ass 1500 Ipm 1531 Lytt 1600 QSR 1654 Wills
  • Caulesdone 1280 For
  • Koulisdone 1285 FF
  • Couliston 1316 Ipm
  • Coolsonne 1583 Wills
  • Coulston 1590 Wills
  • Colsdon 1600–1619 QSR
  • Coulsden 1682 Wills
  • Cousdown 1855 Kelly
  • Cowsdown 1892 ib

Etymology

Professors Ekwall and Zachrisson suggest that in this name we have as the first element an OE  pers. name Cūfel , a diminutive of the well-established Cūfa . fl was early assimilated to ll , at least in certain of the forms. Hence 'hill of Cufel,' v. dun . Cf. Cowesfield and Coulston (W) with the same pers. name (PN W 64–5). There was a Couleswelle in Wo, not very far off, c. 1250 (AOMB 61).

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement

Early-attested site