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.

Corneybury

Early-attested site in the Parish of Wyddial

Historical Forms

  • Cornei 1086 DB
  • Cornhee 1136–50 BM
  • Corneia 1185 Templars 1197 AC
  • Corneie 1210–12 RBE
  • Corney(e) 13th Fees 1253 Cl 1279 FF 1303 FA
  • Cornee 1252–8 ADi
  • Cornheye 1230 Cl 1278 Ass
  • Cornebury 1437 Pat
  • Courneburye, Corneybury 1526 Ct
  • Corney al. Corney Bury t.Eliz ChancP

Etymology

Corneybury is Cornei 1086 DB, Cornhee 1136–50 BM, Corneia 1185 Templars, 1197 AC, Corneie 1210–12 RBE, Corney (e )13th Fees, 1253 Cl, 1279FF , 1303 FA, Cornee 1252–8 AD i, Cornheye 1230 Cl, 1278Ass (p), Cornebury 1437 Pat, Courneburye , Corneybury 1526Ct , Corney al. Corney Bury t. Eliz ChancP. The second element of this name is OE  eg, 'well-watered land,' the place lying by the Rib stream. The first element is difficult. It is just possible that we have an example of OE  cweorn , 'quern, hand-mill,' as in Cornilo (PN K 567). For bury , v. burh (manorial) and infra 243.