Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cearn 737 BCS158(S254MS1) 12 938 12 ib

• Cearnæl 737 Add15350(S254MS2) 12

• Cernemude 1086 DB

• Cernemue 1189 CartAnt 1212 Fees 1221 Cur 1227 FF 1236 Fees 1240 Sarum 1244 FF 1257 Forde 15 Ass 1268 Ch 1278 Ipm 1343–5

• Cernem' 1204 Ch 1313

• Cernemuhe 13 Forde 15

• Cernemuwe 1242–3 Fees

• Cernemuth m13 Forde 15

• Cernemewe 1343–5 Ipm

• Cernmue 1224 Hutch3

• Gernemue 1221 Cur

• Gernemuwe 1286 Ipm

• Chernemue 1268 Ass 1287 Forde 15

• Chernemewe 1316 FA

• Chernemuth(e) e14 Forde 15 1325

• Chernemoth(e) 1324 Brid 1324 Forde 15 SR 1332 IpmR 1398 Forde 15

• Chernemouth(') 1332 SR 1403 AD

• Cher(e)nemouth 15 Forde

• Chermuthe 1280 Ass

• Chermouth 1432 Fine

• Charnemothe 1394 Pat 1399 Cl

• Charnemouth 15 Forde 1428 FA 1487 Ipm

• Chi(e)rnemouth, Chuernsm'he 1422 Ct

• Carnemouth 15 Forde

• Charmoth' Burgus 15 Forde

• Charmouth 1501 Pat

• Charemouth 1535–43 Leland

Etymology

'Mouth of the R. Char (Cerne )', v. mūða . Earlier, in Saxon times, the estate was simply named Cearn (æl ) from the river, cf. the DB form Cerneli for the neighbouring par. of Catherston Leweston supra , and also Cerne Abbas par. supra (named from R. Cerne which is another instance of the same r.n.). The identification of Cearn (æl ) in the 8th- and 10th- cent. Saxon charters with Charmouth is conclusively established by Forsberg, Namn och Bygd 30 (1942) 151–3, based on a close examination of the bounds (cf. Turner, Proc. Somerset A. N. H. S. 98 (1953) 121–5 who incorrectly locates Cearn on the tidal marshes of R. Parrett So). For discussion of the origin of the r.n. Cerne ('the rocky or stony stream') and of the suffixed form Cearnæl , v. Cerne Abbas par. supra , RNs. infra . As is seen in the development of the p.n. itself, the modern form Char of the r.n. results from the normal processes of sound change in ME (with c > ch , er > ar , and loss of -n - in the consonant cluster -rnm -). For the early -mue , -mewe spellings for the second el., cf. Weymouth par. 1 250. The bounds of the Saxon estate of Charmouth (Cearn , Cearnæl ) are described in the charters for 737 (two copies) and 938. Later medieval bounds are given in the Forde Cartulary (13 (15) Forde f. 1) and in 1320 Hutch3 2223.