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.

Purnish

Early-attested site in the Parish of Egham

Historical Forms

  • Pernehrs 1252 VCHiii,422
  • Perneric, Pernerich 1263 Ass
  • Perneriht 1279 Ass
  • Pyrnerigħ 1272 Ass
  • Pyrnershe 1340 Chertsey
  • Purners(c)he 1294 Ass 1316 ChertseyB
  • Perenersh 1332 SR
  • Pernershe 1356 FF
  • Pernerhs 1549 Turner
  • Parnerhs 1549 Ct
  • Purners 1630 Ct
  • Parvish al. Parnish al. Pernish 1651 Moulton
  • Purnish 1684 Musters 1790 LandC

Etymology

This is a difficult name and the earliest forms are probably corrupt. The second element would seem to be ersc. Professor Ekwall suggests that the first is an adj. pyrigen , formed from pyrige . Hence 'stubble-land marked by the presence of pear- trees.'