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(View from the Blackhill of Cowdenknowes, looking back towards the Eildons)
"Cowdenknowes" (pronounced "Cow - den - now's" ) was originally "Coldenknollis". It was then corrupted into "Coldunknowes". This was eventually corrupted again into "Cowdenknows" and then "Cowdenknowes" (which was immortalized in the old Scottish Folk song "The Broome o' the Cowdenknowes") and more recently into the modern English of "Coldingknowes".
In Scotland, "Cowden" stands for colltuinn, which is Gaelic for "Hazel". The word knowes means hilltop. Thus the place name may well indicate the "Hazel knolls" or the more modern "Hazel Hill".
Here is an except from the "Scottish place name Society", GENERAL SURVEY OF LOTHIAN [139], Original pagination [pp] from W.J. Watson, History of the Celtic Placenames of Scotland, 1926 (reprinted 1993 by BIRLINN, Edinburgh, ISBN 1 874744 06 8).
"Cowdenknowes is Coldenknollis, 1559 (Lib. Melr.); Coldunknowes and Coldin- in Blaeu ; here 'Cowden' stands for colltuinn, calltuinn, hazel, as it usually does in Scots; the name is a hybrid, meaning 'hazel knolls".
Here are some examples of the different spellings recorded as follows;
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Document/Record & Date
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Spelling on Record
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Crown Charter of Erection, Jan 15th, 1634
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COLDINKNOWIS
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Crown Charter of Confirmation, Dec 16th, 1872
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COLDINGKNOWS
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County of Berwick, Search Sheet No. 101
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COWDENKNOWES
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Extract Decree of Special Service recorded, Mar 15th, 1872
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COWDENKNOWS
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Register of the great Seal of Scotland
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January 15th, 1634
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COLDOUNKNOWIS
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June 28th, 1634
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COLDOUNKNOWIS
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November 7th, 1634
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COLDOUNKNOWIS
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July 1st, 1646
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COLDOUNKNOWES
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July 16th, 1649
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COLDENKNOWES
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General Register of Sasines
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Disposition, Nov 15th, 2003
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COLDINGKNOWES & COWDENKNOWS
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County of Roxburgh, Dec 2nd, 2003 & Feb 6th, 2004
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COLDINGKNOWES & COWDENKNOWS
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County of Berwick, Feb 6th, 2004
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COLDINGKNOWES & COWDENKNOWS
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