Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (æt) þorntune, (at) þortune 958 ShaftR(S656) 15

• Torentone 1086 DB

• Torynton 1273 Banco

• Torintton' 1280 Ass

• Torntone 1210–12 RBE

• Thornton(e) 1212 Fees 1244,1280 Ass 1285 FA 1288 Ass

• Thornton(e) iuxta Marnhulle 1316 AD 1664 HTax

• Thornton or Thorton 1870 Hutch3

• Thorenton(e) 1242 FF e14 GlastE

• Thorin(t)ton(') 1242 Ch 1280 Ass

• Thorynton 1273 Banco

• Thorneton(') 1244 Ass 1266 FF 1384 Cl 1547 Ct

• Thorton 1795 Boswell

• Thorley Farm 1811 OS

Etymology

'Thorn-tree farm' or 'thorn enclosure', v. þorn , tūn .Hutch3 4318 mentions a 'church' here, dedicated to St Martin and pulled down c.1800, cf. capelle minores decimas villanorum domini de Thornton '1338–40 Glast, capellam de Thornton 1340 NI, the chapel of Thorneton 1504 Ipm. The farm is called Thorley Farm 1811 OS, but this is probably an error. The Anglo-Saxon bounds of Thorton (þorntune ) are given in 958 (15) ShaftR (S 656), at which date the estate apparently included much of what is now Margaret Marsh par. as well as the SE corner of Marnhull.