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.

Thirneby

Early-attested site in the Parish of Egremont

Historical Forms

  • Thirnebi c.1205 CW(OS)i
  • Tyrneby 1278 Ass
  • Thyrnby 1321 Ipm
  • Thirnby 1322 Cl
  • Thirneby 1334,1363 Ipm 1338 Cl

Etymology

The second element is . The first may be ON  þyrnir , 'thorn bush,' or the genitive of the OScand  personal name Thyme , recorded in England as Þirne c. 1050. v. DEPN s. n. Thrimby, and cf. Thrimby (We) and Thurnby (Lei), and Thyrnby Closes supra 50.