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.

Hognaston

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hognaston

Historical Forms

  • Ochenavestun 1086 DB
  • Hokenaston(e) 1241 RegLich 1241 RegAnt 1250 DbAxiii 1281 Ass 1446 CPG
  • Hakenaston 1346 Pat
  • Hodnaston 1416 Cl
  • Hoknaston 1499,1535 WollCh 1537 CPG 1540 WollCh
  • Hognaston 1433 BelCh 1573 HMC 1577 Saxton

Etymology

This is a difficult name, for which Ekwall (DEPN) suggests 'Hocca's grazing-farm'. This would involve a triple compound, with a second element OE  æfesn 'pasturage' and the third tūn 'farm'.Triple compounds are most unlikely in p.ns., but Ekwall may be basically correct. It seems best to assume that it was first 'Hocca's pasturage for swine' and that later tūn was added to the name. It is therefore the farm at that particular place.