Thornwood Common
Early-attested site in the Parish of North Weald Bassett
Historical Forms
- Thornenewod', Thorninewod' 1297 For
- Thornyngwod 1323 ib
- Thornewode 1480 MinAcct
Etymology
Thornwood Common is Thornenewod ', Thorninewod '1297For , Thornyngwod 1323 ib., Thornewode 1480MinAcct . The first element is probably OE *þornegn , formed from þorn with the suffix egn , as in OE holegn , 'holly,' ifegn , 'ivy,' and *salegn , 'willow,' found in Sailings Common (PN Wo 42). Cf. Thornycombe in Vernhams Dean (Ha), Thornenycombe in 1517 (AD v).