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.

Sparrows Herne

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bushey

Historical Forms

  • Sparrows Hern 1764 Sess

Etymology

Sparrows Herne (6″) is Sparrows Hern 1764 Sess. v. hyrne and cf. Sparrowswick Wood infra 93 and Sparwesfeld (1473Ct ), Sparweshous (1351), Sparweshaugh (1391), Sparrowesbourn (1570). In some cases we may have reference to the bird itself.In others the name is doubtless one of contempt for something small. Cf. similarly Wrennesparke (1558), Wrennescroft (t. Ed 3).