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.

Dacorum Hundred

Hundred in the County of Hertfordshire

Historical Forms

  • Danais, Daneis 1086 DB
  • Daneishdr 1160,1176,1188,1190 P 1240 RBE
  • Daneshdr 1161 P
  • Daneys 1255 Ass
  • (de) hundredo Dacorum 1196,1230 P
  • Hundred Dacor' 1248 Ass 1275 RH 1287 Ass
  • Hundred de Dakore 1275 RH
  • Hundredum Dacorum 1303,1402,1428 FA
  • Daycorum 1539 LP
  • Tredunga, Tredunge, Treunge 1086 DB
  • Trawinge 1187,1190 P
  • Treinge 1191 ib

Etymology

The name means '(hundred of) the Danes,' Dacorum being the genitive plural of Daci , literally 'the Dacians' or 'inhabitants of Dacia,' used erroneously in medieval times of the Danes because of a legend that certain tribes from that province had migrated to Denmark (cf. Skeat 49). Cf. St Clement Danes (London), parochie Scī Clementis Dacor '1291 Tax.