The name Knowsley derives from the Anglo-Saxon Cēnwulfes lēah meaning ‘Cēnwulf’s meadow’. When the Anglo-Saxon kingdom overrun the Celtic kingdom, it is likely that the village was taken over by or founded by an Anglo-Saxon called Cēnwulf (translates as Keen Wolf).
The village of Knowsley is hundreds of years older than its neighbouring city of Liverpool. Its name occurs in the Doomsday Book of 1086 as Chenulveslei in the ancient hundred of West Derby in South Lancashire, and has been recorded as Knuvesle (1199); Knouselegh (1258); Knouleslee (1261); Knusele (1262); and Knouslegh (1346).
Language of Merseyside 3 