Harringworth
Major Settlement in the Parish of Harringworth
Historical Forms
- Haringwrth c.1060 ChronRams 13th Ipm 1332–6
- Haringeworde 1086 DB
- Haringewurða 1166 P 1274 Cl
- Harengwrth 1235 Fees
- Halingewurda 1162 P
- Heringewurða 1183 P
- Ering(e)worth 1199,1206 Cur
- Heryngeworth 1261 Ass
- Harryngworth 1323 Ipm
Etymology
An OE pers. name Hering is on record, and we seem to have this name in Hæringes geat (KCD 739) and Heringes leah (ib. 1062) and Heryngeswde (14thNthStA ). Cf. also Hornsey (Mx) with early forms Haring -, Hering -, the former being the most numerous. If the names here given are all ultimately the same name, then Redin's association of them (172) with OE here must be wrong. Phonologically it would be easier to associate it with OE hǣring , 'herring,' but semantically that does not seem possible, and, unfortunately, the etymology of hæring is entirely obscure. It should be noted, moreover, that Harringworth seems to be formed from a gen. pl. Hæringa , so that the exact significance of the name must remain obscure. It is 'the enclosure (v. worþ ) of H- or the people of H -,' but the exact form of the name must remain uncertain.