Little Minster
Major Settlement in the Parish of Minster Lovell
Historical Forms
- Minstre 1086 DB
- Mynstre Parva 1316 FA
- Mynstre Laundell 1429 FA
- Parva Munstre 1242–3 Fees 1302–3 FA 1349 Ipm 1429 FA
- Lutlemunstre 1325 Cl
- Little Munstre 1333 Ipm
- Munstre Parva 1346 FA
- Parva Menistre 1242–3 Fees
- Menistr' 1246–7 Ass
- parva Ministr' 1268 Ass 1278–9 RH
- Little Ministre 1327 Ipm
- Munestr' 1370 Eynsh
- Lettlemenstre 1324 Ipm
- Lutlemenstre 1324–5 Ipm
Etymology
OE mynster, 'monastery.' Lovell from the family of William Luvel or Lupellus , who appears in this connection 1206 Cur. The same family name is found in Lillingstone Lovell Bk. Little Minster is called Laundell from the family of John Laundell , who appears 1429 FA. The priory of Minster Lovell was founded 1200–6 by Maud, widow of William Luvel, and was attached to the abbey of Ivry in Normandy, but there must have been a monastery, to which no reference has been found, before 1086, or at any rate a church of some importance.