Fawn Wood
Early-attested site in the Parish of St Albans
Historical Forms
- æt Þwangtune 11th KCD962 13th
- Thuangtone 11th Gesta 14th
- Thwanctone c.1250 StAlbansJ
- Thwangtone 1273 FF 1314
- Thuangtonwode herne 1332 Add
- Tuuangton 1186 P
- Twangton 1314 Ass
- boscus de Thauntone c.1250 StAlbansJ
- Thangtonwode 1332 Add
- Fauntonwode 1381 Gesta
- Fauntonewode 1424 Annales
- Fanton woode t.Eliz SP
- Faunton wood al. Faynton wood 1628 Ipm
Etymology
The first element of this name is OE þwang , 'thong,' as in Long Thong (PN Nth 217), used of a narrow strip of hide or leather, here probably applied to a piece of land of a particular shape. The name was clearly originally that of a farm or enclosure (v. tun ), from which the wood took its name. This has now vanished, but the site was near Cunningham Hill Fm in St Peters (Verulam). For interchange of th and f cf. Thrift Fm infra 167 and Introd. xxv and Thrognall (PN K 260).