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.

Menethorpe

Major Settlement in the Parish of Westow

Historical Forms

  • Mennistorp 1086 DB
  • Menigt(h)orp early13th,1244 Malton
  • Meningt(h)orp, Menyngt(h)orp 1219 Ass 1348 Ch
  • Menytrop 1256 Pat
  • Menythorp 1297 LS 1303 KF
  • Meynthorp 1285 KI
  • Meincethorp 1332 SR

Etymology

'Men (n )ing 's village,' v. þorp . The pers. name Menning occurs in the List of Ælfric's Festermen (c. 1030 YCh 9) and no doubt, like other pers. names in that list, it is of Scandinavian origin.Björkman (ZEN 62) discusses possible sources and the most likely is OScand  menning 'character, ability' used as a by-name or a patronymic from Menni (cf. Menthorpe infra 261) or Manni (cf. OE Manning from Mann , Redin 168). The form in the place-name has to some extent been influenced by the adj. many , meny .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement