Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• pastura super Ferne 1321 MinAcct

• Vearn 1783 Bettey1

• close called Ferneyate, close at Fearne yates, Verne yates 1608 LRMB

• Vern Gate 1839 TA

• Yeates 1892 Map

Etymology

Verne Yeates (SY 689729), pastura super Ferne 1321MinAcct , Vearn 1783 Bettey1, close called Ferneyate , close at Fearne yates , Verne yates 1608LRMB , Vern Gate 1839TA , Yeates 1892 Map, cf. Fern Hill c. 1825 Map, Vern Cl , Vern Cmn 1839TA , Verne Hill 1861 Hutch3, probably from fergen 'mountain, wooded hill', cf. Fern Down in Hampreston par. infra and the lost p.n. la ferne in Broadwey par. supra , with geat 'gate, gap', hyll ; this is the highest part of the island (about 400′ at Verne Yeates, rising to nearly 500′ at the Verne Hill ); the 'gates' may refer to gaps or passes on the main north-south route between Fortuneswell and Easton, or to actual gates (two are marked on the roads near here on 1710 Map), cf. Roger atte yate 1332 SR, Atyates , Yateland , (Nether ) Yates (all closes)1608LRMB , Yeats Croft 1839TA , some of which may belong here, v. atte 'at the', land , croft . Cf. also Vern Signal 1811 OS, the Verne (Citadel ) (a defensive work) 1861 Hutch3 (now H.M. Prison 1″).