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.

Baconsthorpe

Major Settlement in the Parish of Baconsthorpe

Historical Forms

  • Torp 1086 DB
  • Bacunestorp 1203 Ass
  • Bacunestorp 11th-12th HMC
  • Bacunthorp 1242–3 Fees
  • Thorp 1250 Ass
  • Bacunesthorp 1250,1257 1272 Ch 1304 Pat 1309,1313,1336 FF 1311 HMC 1322 NfD
  • Bacunstorpe 1269 Ass
  • Bacumes Thorp 1270 Cl
  • Bacunesthorpe 1272 Ch 1286 Ass 1318 Pat
  • Bacuntorp, Bacunnestorp 1275 RH
  • Bacunestorpe 1286 Ass
  • Bacunsthorp 1458 Bodl
  • Baconestorp 1269,1286 Ass
  • Baconesthorpe 1286 1329 Pat
  • Bakenesthorp 1286 Ass
  • Baconesthorp c.1300 BM 1356 FF
  • Baconsthorp 1307 Ipm
  • Bakonesthorp 1316,1345 FA 1334,1366,1440 FF 1482 AD
  • Bakennesthorp 1324 Ipm
  • Bokenesthorp 1353 Bodl
  • Baconthorp 1361,1370 AD
  • Baconystorp 1459 ib
  • Bakonsthorp 1535 VE

Etymology

At first this place was no doubt simply called Thorp , OScand  þorp 'secondary settlement'. The addition Bacon is the surname of a Norman owner, explained as originally a metonymic nickname for a pork- butcher, from OFr , ME  bacun 'ham, bacon'. Since it was early used of Norman knights, it has also been suggested to be the accusative form of OG  Bacco (v. Reaney s.n.).