Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Thorinthun 1200–20 JRC

• Torinton 1209–29 AddCh

• Torentune 13 ib

• Childre Thorinton e14 JRC

• Thornton 13 AddCh 1331(p),1524,1589 ChRR

• Thorneton 1328 1398 Add 1440 Rental

• Childrethornton 1288 ChFor

• Childer Thorneton 1305 Chest

• Childerthornton in Wyrhale 1364 Sheaf

Etymology

'Thorn-tree farm' or 'thorn enclosure', v. þorn , tūn . The affix is ME  childre , children , pl., from OE  cild (gen.pl. cildra ), 'the children, the young men, the sons', denoting that this manor was allocated to the upkeep of, or was owned by, young men. Who they were is not recorded, but the manor was a possession of St Werburgh's abbey, and the 'children' may have been junior members of the establishment, cf. Knight's Grange 3172, Childwick Hrt 91 and EPN 1 93. Professor Cameron adds Ashby Puerorum L, for the upkeep of the choristers of St Mary's, Lincoln.