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.

Fimber

Major Settlement in the Parish of Wetwang

Historical Forms

  • Fimmar(a), Fymmar(a) 1121–37 YCh460 1137–55 1175–84 1207 FF
  • Fymer(e) 1205–15 YCh632 1222 FF 1342 SR 1489 FF
  • Fimara, Fymara, Fymare 1121–37 YCh456 1137–55 1154–61 ib
  • Finmar(r)a t.Hy2 MaryH 1156–7 YCh354 t.Ric1 Ch 1308
  • Finmer(e) 1166 P 1299 YI 1343 FF
  • Fynnere (sic) 1272 FF
  • Fimber, Fymber 1541 MinAcct 1563 FF 1650 ParlSurv

Etymology

The first element is an OE or an OScand  *finn 'coarse grass.'For this word Ekwall would compare Norw  finn 'mat-grass (nardus stricta )' and MDu  vinne 'bristle of an ear of corn' (v. Mawer, Problems 92); cf. also Norw  fingræs 'wire-grass, bent.' 'Pool amidst the rough coarse grass,' v. mere and cf. Marton supra 49. There are two pools in the village immediately below the church, the lower one quite considerable in size.

Places in the same Parish

Major Settlement

Early-attested site