Dorn
Early-attested site in the Parish of Blockley
Historical Forms
- Dorene 964 BCS1135 12th FA 1346
- Dorne 11th Heming 1190 EveB 1208 Fees35 1275,1327 SR 1428 FA
- Derne 1182 RBB 18th
- Dorn 1356 Pat
- Doron 1482 IpmR
Etymology
Professor Ekwall suggests that this name should be connected with British duro -, 'fort, stronghold,' and for the vowel o for u of the first element, compares Dorchester (Do), British Durnovaria , Dorvernum for Dur -, the old name of Canterbury, and suggests that the name Duronum found in France (v. Holder s. n .) may provide a counterpart of Dorn. He notes that the place is on the Fosse Way and thus a place which may have had a Roman fort. In interesting confirmation of this suggestion it may be noted that there are Roman remains at Dorn Fm.Haverfield (VCH i. 221) discusses these but concludes 'without excavation we can hardly decide whether a villa with out- buildings stood here, or some wayside village connected with the Fosse.'