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.

Cornbrough

Early-attested site in the Parish of Sheriff Hutton

Historical Forms

  • Corlebroc 1086 DB
  • Cornburc, Cornburgh 1154–8 Kirkham 1166 P 1213 Abbr 1316 KF 1317,1330 For 1333 Riev
  • Corneburc(h), Corneburg(h) 1167 P 1204 Ass 1219,1231 Ass 1285 KI 1289,1295 For 1301 1316 Vill 1333 Ch 1372 FF 1391 Test
  • Cornisbour' 1295 For
  • Corneborowe 1537 Dugdvi.199

Etymology

Names with initial Corn - are always difficult. Some may contain OE  *corn, 'crane, heron' (cf. Cornwood, PN Wo 54) but it is difficult to believe that such a compound could be formed with burh. Cornbrough is not on a stream, so DB -broc is probably an error for -borc from a Scandinavianised form in borg .

Places in the same Parish