Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Torp 1086 DB c.1130 LeicSurv 1209×35 RHug

• Torp iuxta Cosseby c.1130 LeicSurv

• Thorp 1254 Val 1257 Fine 1398 Banco

• Parva Thorp 1254 Val c.1291 Tax

• Thorp iuxta Northbur' l.13 WoCart 1449

• Thorpe 1269 Ch 1285 FA

• Parva Thorpe 1285 FA 1324 Abbr

• Thorpe iuxta Northburgh 1314 Banco 1330,1331 Ch 1352 Pat

• Thorpe iuxta Cosseby 1397 Banco

• Litilthorp iuxta Northburgh 1416 Cl

• Litelthorpe iuxta Northburgh 1424 Pat 1500 Ipm

• Litylthorp 1449 Fine 1500 Ipm

• Litelthorp(p) 1502 MiscAccts 1535 VE

• Lyttelthorp 1544 Fine

• Lyttlethorpe 1550 Pat 1551 Fine

• Littlethorp(e) 1610 Speed 1627 LML

Etymology

'The little farmstead', v. lȳtel , lítill , þorp . In 1807, it is noted by Nichols that 'Littlethorpe…is a member of Cosby'. Eventually it was annexed to Narborough parish in Sparkenhoe Hundred, but lies away from it to the south of the river Soar, a major boundary, so it is preferable to include the township here.