Yanworth
Major Settlement in the Parish of Yanworth
Historical Forms
- Janew(o)rth(e), Janewurth' 1043–66,1216 WinchLB 1248 Ass p.1412 GloucHist
- Tenevrde (sic for Ienevrde) 1086 DB
- Ʒeneworþe 1154–89 Glouc
- Þaneword(i)am, Þaneworthe, Þaneworþe (sic for Ʒaneworþe) 12,1135–54,1139–48,1154–89 Glouc
- Ianeword(am), Ianeworþia, Ianeorþe, Ianew(o)rth(e) c.1162–1384 WinchLB
- Ʒanew(o)rth(e), Ʒanewrþe 1211–1428 WinchLB
- Hanewurth' 1220 Cur 1221 Ass
- Ieanworth 1221 WinchLB
- Ianesworth 1251 Ch
- Yanew(o)rth(e) 1251 1268 FF 1282 Episc 1287 Ass 1413 Pat
- Yaueneworth 1287 Ass
- Yanworth 1316 FA 1540 MinAcct 1611 FF
- Enworth 1535 VE
- Yeaneworth 1632 PR
- y- (ib 118)
Etymology
Since OE worð 'enclosure' is often combined with pers.ns., an OE Geana or Gæna suggested by Ekwall may well be the first el.; it would be a shortened form of names like Gænbald , Iaenbeorht and the like; some of these pers.ns. may be merely variants of the common OE name-theme Ēan - as in Ēanbald , etc. (cf. Feilitzen 259 note). In that case we should have to assume the development of a prosthetic y - (ib 118). But the first el. may in fact be related to OE (ge )ēan 'in lamb' (cf. OE ēanian 'to bring forth (lambs, etc.)', OE *ēan, 'lamb', and NED s.v. yean 'young lamb', etc.), and Yanworth would denote something like 'lamb enclosure'; such spellings as Ʒene -, Iean - would be normal, and those in Jane -, Iane -, Ʒane - represent shortened forms in the compound. For initial Y - cf. Phonol. § 43; J - is an AN variant of this (v. IPN 104–5).