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.

Fonaby

Early-attested site in the Parish of Caistor

Historical Forms

  • Fuldenebi 1086 DB
  • Fulmedebia 1177 P
  • Folmodebi 1204 P
  • Felmetheby 1226 Fees
  • Folmetby 1316 FA 1354 Cor 1378 Foster
  • Folmethby 1343 NI
  • Folnetby l12 Newh Ed1 Ass 1294 FA 1431
  • Folnetheby 1364 Foster
  • Folneby iuxta Castra 16 Foster
  • Fonneby 1562–7 LNQv
  • Fonnabye otherwise Fulnabie 1574 AASRxxvii
  • Fonaby 1720 Foster
  • Furneby Fm 1828 Bry

Etymology

The inconsistency in the early spellings makes it difficult indeed to suggest any etymology. The preponderance of -m - seems to indicate that this is original, and so Ekwall's tentative suggestion (DEPN s.n. Follingsby) that the first el. is OScand  *full-nautr 'one who has a full share' can hardly be correct. No convincing etymology can be suggested and this name is better considered unexplained, till additional material is available.