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.

Gannock

Early-attested site in the Parish of Sandon

Historical Forms

  • le Gannok 1335 StPauls 1348 Cl 1349 Ipm
  • atte Gannok 1287 Ass

Etymology

Gannock is le Gannok 1335StPauls , 1348 Cl, 1349 Ipm and was the home of John atte Gannok (1287Ass ). This may be a compound of OE  gamen , 'game' and ac , 'oak,' referring to a tree around which village sports and dances were held. Cf. Ganwick (Mx), Gannokk 1479Add , Gannock in Reed supra 161 and Gannock in Aldenham (1556AOMB ). For other similar compounds see PN Wo 341 (s. n. Gannow), PN Nth xlv, PN Wa 206 (s. n. Gannaway).