Achurch
Major Settlement in the Parish of Thorpe Achurch
Historical Forms
- Asencircan, Asecyrcan c.980 BCS1130 c.1200
- Asechirce 1086 DB
- Asecherche 1164 P
- Asechirche 1166 P
- Asekirche 12th Ramsey c.1350
- Asechyrche 13th PeterbA
- Asekirke 1209–18 WellsR
- Aschyrche 13th PeterbA
- Achirche 12th Survey 1372 Cl
- Accherche 1285 Ass
- Thorp Hacchurch 1316 FA
- Thorp Achirch 1428 FA
Etymology
There are in OScand a man's name Ási (ODan Ase , OSwed Asi , Ase ) and a woman's name Ása . Both alike are on record as used in England in the Danelaw, and we may have either of these names in Achurch, which would seem to be an example of an owned church. If so, it is an interesting late example of this practice (cf. Mawer, PN and History 26–7). The parish- name seems to have been formed by the union of Achurch and Thorpe (v. infra ). Cf. Bridges (ii, 364), “Achurch, usually called Thorp -Achurch or Achurch cum Thorp. ”