Croom
Early-attested site in the Parish of Sledmere
Historical Forms
- Crogun (4), Cogrun 1086 DB
- Croun 1109–19 RegAlb
- Croum late12th Malton 1268,1333 FF
- Crou' 1204 Ass
- Croume 1348 Kirkham
- Crohum t.John BM 13th Bridl 1259 Ass 1336 Ch
- Crohom 1297 LS 1298 Ebor
- Croholm 1285 KI
- Crom(e) 1279–81 QW 1582 FF
- Crom(e) upon the Would 1601 FF
- Croym 1286 YI
- Croom 1290 Ch 1293 QW
- Crume 1348 Kirkham 1547 FF
Etymology
Cf. Crow Grange supra 81. Croom is from OE crohum , dat. plur. of OE croh . Some possibilities for the etymology of this word are discussed under Crowle (PN Wo 316), but neither OE croh 'saffron' nor OE crōh 'shoot, tendril, twig' is likely here.On topographical grounds a much more likely source is an OE word crōh , meaning 'nook, corner' or the like, which Middendorff (31) suggests as the first element in names like Crowhurst (PN Sx 502), etc. This word is not recorded in OE, but cognate forms found in other Germanic languages are cited by Middendorff (as MLGer krôch 'a nook of land,' etc.), to which may be added OScand krá 'corner.' In Croom it would clearly have reference to several deep short valleys round about. 'At the nooks of land.' See, further, Ekwall, Studies 166 ff.