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.

Crouchmoor Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Offley

Historical Forms

  • Crychmer 1567 AddCh
  • Crechemere 1572 FF
  • Crutchmere land 1597 AddCh
  • Cruchemore t.Chas1 ib
  • atte Cruche 1314 SR

Etymology

Crouchmoor Fm [krɔtʃmə] (6″) is Crychmer 1567AddCh , Crechemere 1572 FF, Crutchmere land 1597AddCh , Cruchemore t. Chas 1 ib., and was probably the home of Robert atte Cruche (1314SR ). If the late 16th-century forms are to be taken into account, the original first element of this name would seem to have been the Celtic cruc , 'barrow, hill,' rather than ME  crouche , 'cross.' There is a small mere or pool here. The land is hilly and broken but there is no detached hill such as is commonly called a crich . There are cross-roads here where a crouch might have stood. No certainty is possible.