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.

Cherry Hinton

Major Settlement in the Parish of Cherry Hinton

Historical Forms

  • Hintone 1086 DB
  • Hintona 1086 ICC
  • Hinton(e), Hynton(e) 1218 SR 1237 Fees
  • Hintune 13th Misc
  • Brokintone, Brochintone 1301–16 CaiCh
  • Hingtone 13th Jesus
  • Hynkton 1420 Rad
  • Heyneton 1269 Pat
  • Hyneton 1299 1437 FF
  • Henton 1428 MinAcct
  • Cheryhynton 1576 Saxton
  • Cherry Hinton 1658 PRi

Etymology

No satisfactory suggestion can be made for the main part of this name. Ekwall (DEPN) doubtfully suggests the possibility of a derivation from hīgna -tūn , 'tūnof the monastic community' or hind -tūn , 'tūn where hinds (females of the hart) were found.' But the new forms Hingtone and Hynkton suggest that there has been a wearing down of the first element, and speculation as to its original form is useless.Cherry “from the abundance of cherry trees formerly growing there” (1789 Camden ii, 141). Cf. Cherry Burton (PN ERY 191) and Cherry Willingham (L). Broc - from Cherry Hinton Brook (supra 4).