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.

Throcking

Major Settlement in the Parish of Throcking

Historical Forms

  • Trochinge 1086 DB
  • Trocking' 1175 P
  • Trockinge 1201,1235,1243 FF
  • Trockeng 1206 Cur
  • Trockinga 1209–35 Wells
  • Trokking(e) 1220 Fees 1271 ADiv
  • Trokkyngg 1278 QW
  • Trogkyng' 1278 Ass
  • Trokyng 1428 FA
  • Throckingg' 1254 Val
  • Throckynge 1279 FF
  • Throkyng 1295 Ipm
  • Throkking 1303 FA
  • Throckynge 1318 Ipm
  • Throckyngg' 1319 Cl
  • Throkkyng 1428 FA
  • Throcken 1700 Sess
  • Thorkyng' 1278 Ass
  • Thorkking 1395 AD
  • Thorking 1611 Speed 1676 S

Etymology

This is clearly a singular name in ing. Ekwall (DEPN s. n .) is doubtless right in associating the name with OE  þrocc , 'piece of timber to which the ploughshare was fastened' (dial. throck ), also used of the table of the moneychangers. Its original meaning and affinities are quite uncertain. The same element is doubtless found in Drockbridge (Ha), þrocbriggæ BCS 393, Throckley (PN NbDu 196) and a derivative of it in Throckenholt (C), þrokonholt 680E (c. 1150) ASC, Trokenholt 664 (late copy) BCS 22. It may also be found in Throckmorton (PN Wo 169), and in Rockmoor Pond (Ha) for which we have forms þrocmere , þorcmere , þorocmere BCS 508, 1080. What the meaning of þroccing may be it is difficult to say in the absence of any precise knowledge of the meaning of þrocc . If þrocc denoted a piece of timber or the like we may have an ing-collective noun of the type found in stocking and stubbing . Ekwall suggests that we may have to do with a personal name derived from þrocc , in which case we have one of the rare formations from personal names with singular ing rather than plural ingas .

Places in the same Parish

None