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.

Thorncombe (Fm)

Early-attested site in the Parish of Blandford St Mary

Historical Forms

  • Tornecome 1086 DB
  • Tornecumba 1160–62 Ch 1336
  • Tornecombe 1292 Cecil
  • Tornecoumbe 1325 MinAcct
  • Thornacumba iuxta Blaneford, Thornecumbe iuxta Blaneford, Thornecumbe prope Blaneford, Thorcumba John AddCh
  • Turnecumb(a) 1203 RC 1234 Cl
  • Thor(e)cumbe 1234 Pat 1244 FF
  • Thorncumbe 1236 FF 1280 Ass 1285 Cecil
  • Thornecombe 1398 IpmR

Etymology

Thorncombe (Fm) (ST 870032), Tornecome 1086 DB, Tornecumba 1160–62 (1336) Ch, Tornecombe 1292Cecil , Tornecoumbe 1325MinAcct , Thornacumba iuxta Blaneford , Thornecumbe iuxta Blaneford , Thornecumbe prope Blaneford , Thorcumba ?JohnAddCh , Turnecumb (a )1203 RC, 1234 Cl, Thor(e)cumbe 1234 Pat, 1244 FF, Thorncumbe 1236 FF, 1280Ass , 1285Cecil , Thornecombe 1398 IpmRet passim , cf. Thorncomb Down 1634 Hutch3, 'valley where thorn-trees grow', v. þorn (gen.pl. þorna ), cumb . The forms in Turne - show influence from the cognate þyrne 'thorn-bush', cf. Turnworth par. infra of which Thorncombe was formerly a detached part (1840TA ).