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.

Crendon Lane

Early-attested site in the Parish of High Wycombe

Historical Forms

  • Croendena c.1220 ADA401
  • Croindene Hyiii Wyc
  • Croyndoneslane leading to Croyndene Eiv Wyc
  • Crendone Lane 1449 Wyc

Etymology

It is difficult to avoid association with Croydon (Sr), a name which also offers great problems. This is Crogdene in BCS 529, a 13th cent. copy of a 9th cent. charter and Croindune in a ME version (BCS 530). Similarly it is Crogdæne in BCS 1132 (a 12th cent. text) and Croindene in a later version of the same (BCS 1133). The late Dr Bradley suggested that these inconsistent forms might be reconciled by the assumption of two name-forms, (1) from the OE  crog , croh , 'saffron' (cf. Crafton supra ) and (2) from the corresponding adj.*crogig . The dat. sg. crogigan dene would account for the alternative forms.