Thorpe
Major Settlement in the Parish of Thorpe
Historical Forms
- Torp 1086 DB 1169 P 1198 Cur 1204 PatR 1240 Woll 1241 RegAnt 1250 DbAxiii
- Thorp(e) late12th Okeover 1203 ChR 1204 DbCh 1233 BurtCh 1241 RegLich
- Thorp(e) iuxta Mapeltone, Thorp(e) iuxta Assheburn 1330 Ass
- Thorp(e) in the Clottes 1323 Pat 1387 Dugd
- Thorp(e) in Clotts 1585 Lanc
Etymology
'Outlying farmstead or hamlet', v. þorp , the forms clearly suggesting that it is the Scandinavian word. In this connection it is impor- tant to note the situation of Thorpe near to the R. Dove on the western boundary of the county. The affix Clott (e )s is from OE clot(t) 'lump' perhaps with a transferred sense'hill'. Nearby is Thorpe Cloud, for which only late forms have been noted, but which is clearly OE clūd 'rock' and also 'hill'. It would appear therefore that Clott (e )s is a regional name for the hilly area around Thorpe and that Thorpe Cloud is the name of the prominent hill north-east of the village, the two names being quite distinct.