Churndon
Early-attested site in the Parish of Bridestowe
Historical Forms
- Cherendon 1279 Ass
- Churndon 1325 Ass 1330 SR
- Cherndon 1372 FF
- Charnedon 1586 FF
Etymology
This is a difficult name. We have in a court roll of 1420 reference to a place called Churne in Pinhoe parish. Both there and in Churndon we may have the Cornish equivalent of Welsh cern , 'side of the head,' 'side of a steep hill,' Breton kern , 'crown of the head' (cf. RN 80 s. n. Churnet). Such a term might be compounded with dun .A river-name Churn is out of the question here as Churndon is on the Lew, which is probably an ancient river-name.