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.

Web Fen

Early-attested site in the Parish of Horning

Historical Forms

  • Webfen 1155–60,c.1160 Holme c.1240 Holme 1283 NCL
  • Webbefen 1330 SR
  • (marisc. de) Webbecros c.1170 Holme

Etymology

Webfen , which Schram tentatively puts in Horning, may be an elliptical name, the full form being *Webbecrosfen (v. Webbecros 1170 supra ). The first element may be webba 'weaver' or possibly the OE  pers.n. Wibba , *Weobba (v. Redin 108 and DEPN s.n. Weobley , Webton ).