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.

  1. Mountstephen Ho (Early-attested site, Halberton, Devon)

    Whether the family was of local origin we cannot say. The place is on a hill. The form suggests that the name was coined in England and not in

  2. Boston Lane (Other OS name, Clawson, Hose and Harby, Leicestershire)

    , presum . with the surn . Boston , cf. Boston hoale in Knipton f. ns . ( b )

  3. Brian's Close (Other OS name, Laughton, Leicestershire)

    ( 2 ½ ″ ) , a house built in the 1930s ; with the surn . Brian Bryan , a Breton name introduced into England by the Normans

  4. Bruntingthorpe Holt (Other OS name, Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire)

    ( 2 ½ ″ ) , v. wald ; the development of wald locally was *wald > *wold > olde > oult > olt > holt , v. the Olt field in f.

  5. Butlers Cottage (Other OS name, Loddington, Leicestershire)

    , with the surn . Butler , cf. Butlers cunnery in f. ns ( a ) and Butlers close in f. ns . ( b )

  6. Church Thorns (Other OS name, Redmile, Leicestershire)

    , v. þorn ; perh . so called because at the edge of the former Churchfield , but v. Halythornfurlong listed in adjoining Barkestone f. ns . ( b )

  7. Cottagers Close (Other OS name, Aylestone, Leicestershire)

    , v. cotager and Cottiers Close in f. ns . ( b ) infra

  8. Cresswell Spring Fm (Other OS name, Waltham, Leicestershire)

    , v. spring 1 and Cresswell in f. ns . ( b )

  9. Crown Well Bridge (Other OS name, Manton, Rutland)

    ad pontem sub Manetun' 1218 For; pontis de Veynge 1409 PRep

    is probably from OE  crumb-wella ' crooked stream ' with reference to the twisting of R . Chater along this stretch , cf. the Croome in f. ns . ( b ) infra .

  10. Flaxman'S Spinney (Other OS name, Wistow, Leicestershire)

    , v. spinney ; possibly with the surn . Flaxman , from the ME  occupational name flaxman ' a dresser or seller offlax ' , but note Flaxlandes in f. ns .

  11. Guthlaxton Gap (Other OS name, Cosby, Leicestershire)

    Guthlaxton Bridge 1835 O

    , 1807 Nichols , v. gap , cf. Guthlaxton Bridge 1835 O at this site ; v. Guthlaxton Hundred supra and Gutlakestonfelde in Cosby f. ns . ( b ) infra

  12. Harby Hall (Other OS name, Clawson, Hose and Harby, Leicestershire)

    , v. the Hall Close and the Hall Leys in f. ns . ( b )

  13. Holloway Spinney (Other OS name, Gumley, Leicestershire)

    , v. hol 2 , weg , spinney and Holgate in f. ns . ( b )

  14. Marshrow (Other OS name, Exminster, Devon)

    ( 6 ″ ) is Marshbrowe 1611, Marshrowe 1671Recov . The b is probably a clerical error . The place lies in flat land by the Exe

  15. Pincet Lane (Other OS name, North Kilworth, Leicestershire)

    , poss . with pyncette ' tweezers, forceps ' ; this lane in the northern extremity of the parish splits into a Y - fork , echoing the shape of tweezers . The

  16. Sanham Ho (Other OS name, Frisby and Kirby, Leicestershire)

    Sanham House 1863, 1877 White

    . , Sanham House 1863, 1877 White , v. Senholm ( e ) in f. ns . ( b )

  17. Sheepdyke Lane (Other OS name, Greetham, Rutland)

    , alluding to a sheep - dip , cf. Washdyke Close or Sheepdyke Close in neighbouring Exton f. ns . ( b ) , v. scēap , dík

  18. Smith's Free School (Other OS name, Redmile, Leicestershire)

    Smith's Free School 1846, 1863 White

    ( lost ) , Smith 's Free School 1846, 1863 White ; founded by Daniel Smith in 1814 , the building is now part of the Church of England Primary School

  19. Springwell (Other OS name, Whetstone, Leicestershire)

    , 1745Terrier , v. spring 1 , wella and Springwell furze in f. ns . ( b )

  20. Stockland Rd (Other OS name, Aylestone, Leicestershire)

    , v. Stock Lands in f. ns . ( b ) infra