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.

Thornby and Thornbymoor

Early-attested site in the Parish of Aikton

Historical Forms

  • Thorneby 1279(p),1438 FF
  • in Ayketon 1589 ExchKR
  • Thornby 1450 IpmR
  • Thornby Moore 1589 ExchKR
  • Forneby 1285 For 1322,1346 Ipm 1323 Fine
  • Formeby 1322 Ipm

Etymology

This name is probably identical in origin with Formby (PN La 125) with the common dialectal confusion between the spirants f and þ .The first element is either the ON  forni , 'old,' or else that word used as a personal name. v. , mōr .