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.

Hawnby

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hawnby

Historical Forms

  • Halm(e)bi, Halm(e)by 1086 DB 1301 LS
  • Halmbi, Halmby 1170 Riev 1200 FF 1201 ChR 1219 Ass 1301,1399 YI
  • Halmiby 1200 FF
  • Haunneby 1285 KI
  • Hawnbye, Haunby 1538 Riev
  • Halneby 1316 Vill

Etymology

'Halmi's farm' from the ON  by-name Halmi (LindBN) and by. One may also compare the Swed place-name Halmby (Hellquist, Svenska ON -by ), which is derived from ON  halmr , 'straw,' and refers to 'a straw-thatched farm.' The persistence of -e - in the early spellings of Hawnby points, however, to the pers. name Halmi .