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.

Torkin

Early-attested site in the Parish of Thursby

Historical Forms

  • Thorchan 1231 Pipe
  • the hill of Torken 1589 LRMB
  • Torkin Hill 1774 Donald

Etymology

“A considerable mount, at a little distance from the house, planted with wood, is a delightful object; it rises from a plain, of a conical form: its vulgar name is Torquin ” (H ii, 462 n.).The forms are consistent with tor-cheann , 'peak-head', the Gaelic equivalent of Torpen-how (infra 325).