Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Derneford 1275 RH 1281 Abbr 1287 FF 1288 Ass 14 Mansel 1305 Cl 1311 FF 1325 Hutch3 1356 Pat

• Durn(e)ford(e) 1327 SR 1332 SR 1333 Wim 1338 Cl 1357 Pat 1379 Weld1 p1483 Sheen 1572,1721 Hutch3 1774 Hutch1

• Dorneforde 1550 Midd

• Torne in DB

Etymology

Durnford Drove, Durnford Ho (SY 997788), Derneford 1275 RH (p), 1281 Abbr (p), 1287 FF (p), 1288Ass (p), 14 Mansel (p), 1305 Cl (p), 1311 FF (p), 1325 Hutch3 (p), 1356 Pat (p), Durn (e )ford (e )1327SR (p), 1332 SR (p), 1333Wim (p), 1338 Cl (p), 1357 Pat (p), 1379Weld 1 (p), p1483Sheen (p), 1572, 1721 Hutch3, 1774 Hutch1, Dorneforde 1550Midd . Since all the forms before the 16th cent. found for this name are used as personal names, and since it was supposed that there was no ford here, Hutch3 1 631 and Fägersten 123 took this to be a transferred name, perhaps from Durnford W 363. However, Mr R. J. Saville points out that there is in fact a ford on this estate, where Durnford Drove (the main track from the former farm to its fields, v. drove ) crosses the stream giving name to Putlake Fm infra ; it is possible therefore that the place took its name from this ford, 'the secret or hidden ford', v. derne , ford . Eyton 111–12 identifies the two small lost DB manors of Torne with Durnford, v. note on lost p.ns. in Rowbarrow hundred supra , and cf. La Thorne infra . Although the names Durnford and T (h )orne cannot be etymologically related, T (h )orne may well have been an earlier name for the estate later called Durnford, a supposition supported by the probable identification of the pound at La Thorne infra with Court Pound infra (⅓ mile W of Durnford Ho; it was the pound of Langton Wallis, to which manor Durnford partly belonged (Hutch3 1631)), as well as by the fact that at Durnford 'the thorn grows to its greatest height and is the only really native tree' (R.J.S.). Alternatively, even though both single-hide manors are called Torne in DB, the name Torne (and later La Thorne ) may strictly speaking have applied only to one hide (the more westerly, as suggested by the location of Court Pound), whereas the other hide (the more easterly, perhaps bounded on the west by Durnford Drove and corresponding to the later estate of Durnford) may have had the name Durnford, perhaps even at the time of DB. For a different identification of the DB manors of Torne , with Thornham in Ch. Knowle par. infra , v. DBGazetteer 127.