Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Arn(e) 1268 Ass 1316 FA 1319 MinAcct 1327 SR 1332 SR 1388 Pat

• Arn(e) in Purbik 15 ShaftR 1512 Ct

• Arnee 1646 SC

• Harn(e) Ed1 Hutch3 1285 FA 1288 Ass

• Arun 1445 Hutch3

• Aren 16 Pitt 1575 Saxton

• Aren in purbeck e17 Cecil

• Erne 1647 SC

• Earne 1700 Hutch3

Etymology

Probably 'the house or building', v. ærn (so DEPN), although this name would then be an apparently unique example of the simplex use of this el. But if the H - in three of the early forms is organic, the dat.pl. harum of hær 'rock, heap of stones, tumulus' would be possible, in allusion to Arne Hill infra (167′) on which two tumuli are marked (6″), cf. Harome YN 70, Herne Bd 137. For the addition in Purbeck , cf. Isle of Purbeck supra .