Torpenhow
Major Settlement in the Parish of Torpenhow
Historical Forms
- Torpennev c.1160 Fountains
- Torpennoc 1163 P
- Torpenno 1222 ClR 1223 Pipe
- Torpennoh' 1279 Ass
- Torpennoth c.1165 Holyrood
- Thorpenhou c.1210 StB 1243,1247 FF
- Thorpennou 1212 Fees 1292 Ass
- Thorpenno 1279 Wickwane
- Thorppennow 1286 Ass
- Thorpenho 1292 Ass
- Torpenho 1222 ClR
- Torpenhow 1290 Pap
- Torpenhou 1312 Pat
- Torpeneu 1228 Pipe
- Torpenewe 1606 PCC
- Thorpeneu 1229 Pipe
- Thorpenneu 1231 ib
- Thorpenny 1232 Pipe
- Torpennou, Torpennowe 1278 Ch 1498 Ipm
- Turpenho 1509 LP
- Turpennow 1516 DunBev
- Turpennay 1579 PR(Crosth)
- Torpenny 1576 S
- Torpeny 1675 Ogilby
- Trepenna 1772 PR(Dalston)
Etymology
Torpenhow Hall and church, which doubtless form the nucleus of the settlement, stand on a 'rising topped hill' (Denton 51) which is itself on the northward slope of a long hill and the name Torpenhow is doubtless descriptive of the site. The first element is the British torr , 'peak.' This would seem to have been compounded with British pen , Torpen then denoting 'peak-head.' To this was added in Anglian days the English hōh , dat. sg. hō (h )e , giving forms Torpenho and the like. A similar combination of penn and hōh is probably found in Pinhoe (PN D 443), c. 1050 Peonho .
The old story, first told by Denton (51), that the name bears witness to three successive races—British (Pen ), Saxon (Tor ), Danish (How ) is incorrect; torr , though occasionally found in OE , is really a loanword from British, and torpen may well be pure British. The added how , to judge by early forms in -oc and -oh , would seem to be from English hōh rather than ON haugr.