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.

Conkesbury

Early-attested site in the Parish of Over Haddon

Historical Forms

  • Cranchesberie 1086 DB
  • Crancresbury 1330 QW
  • Kronkresbury 1269 Ass
  • Cankersburiam 1156 Ch 1318
  • Cancresbury 1301 1330 QW
  • Concresbury 1330 Ass
  • Cong(g)esbur(y), Congisbur(y) 1332 Middleton 1344 Cl 1348 DbAxxxvi
  • Congisburye 1525 Lanc
  • Konkesburgh, Conkesburgh, Conkesbury 1339 DbAxi 1373 Pat 1427 BelCh
  • Conkysbury 1538 MinAcct

Etymology

Perhaps 'crane's fortification', v. cranuc , burh . The first element should be compared with that of Cronkston Grange infra 365, both in the gen.sg., whilst a comparable example with cran 'crane, heron' has been noted in Great Cransley (PN Nth 124). Alternatively an unrecorded OE  pers.n. Crannuc might be considered.