Horning
Major Settlement in the Parish of Horning
Historical Forms
- Horningga 1020–2 (13 Sawyer 984) KCD 740
- (þat land at) Horninggen 1020–2 ib
- Horninghe 1044–7 (13 Sawyer 1055) KCD 785
- Horningam 1086 DB
- Horninga 1101–7 Holme
- Horningg(e) 1186–1210 1223–4 NoD 1248 Holme 1286 Ass 1305 AD 1317 Bodl 1337 NfD
- Horning(e) 1175–86 Holme 1253 Ch 1254–75 Val 1269 Ass 1275 RH 1316 FA
- Horinge 1269 Ass
- Horingge 1275 RH
- Hornyng 1310,1345 Pat
- Hornyngges 1316 AD
- Hornyngg 1330 SR
- Hornyngge 1334 FF
- Hernyng 1367 Seld
Etymology
Derivation from a pers.n. is formally possible, but Horn is barely attested in OE (Redin 21) and only as a byname in OScand (LindB s.n. and DGP II s.n.). It is more likely that this is an ing -derivative from OE horn or *horna 'something shaped like a horn', such as a projecting piece of land, especially one formed in a river-bend.This situation actually applies in the present case, for Horning is at a sharp bend of the Bure, i.e. OE *Horningas 'the dwellers at the bend' (v. DEPN s.n. and PN -ing 1962: 58). The plur. interpretation has support among the old spellings.