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.

Horncastle

Early-attested site in the Parish of North Crawley

Etymology

In 1262 Simon de Horncastel made default in Yardley Hundred (Ass ) and in the same year, his place of origin being now spelled Hornecastre , he was party to a Fine in Edlesborough (FF ). He or his family must ultimately have come from the more famous Horncastle in Lincolnshire and have actually applied the name to their new home, or more probably, this should really be taken as a manorial name with the possessive s of Horncastle 's (Farm) omitted. In any case the name cannot have originated locally for in Buckinghamshire the form would have been Hornchester rather than Horncastre . v. ceaster .

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement