Halnaker
Early-attested site in the Parish of Boxgrove
Historical Forms
- Helneche, Helnache 1086 DB
- Hennac 1185 P
- Hannac 1105 France
- Hannake 1272,1302 RH
- Hannak' 1250 FF
- Haunak' 1253 Pat 1262 Ass
- Halnac 1166 LN 1187 France 1226 Pat
- Halfnac 12th Box
- Halfnaka c. 1187 id.
- Halnake 12th Box
- Halnak' 1242 Fees688 1279 QW 1301 Ipm
- Halfnak' 1316 Ipm 1327 SR
- Halfnakere 1316 FA
- Halfnacre 1386 IpmR
- Halnenaker (sic) 1349 Ipm
- Halvenaker 1452 IpmR
- Holnaker 1428 IpmR
- Halfnaked(e) 1274 Ipm 1282 Misc 1283 Pat 1329 Ipm 1402 IpmR 1404 Ch 1425 BM
- Halnaked(e) 1274 Ipm 1279 Ass 1332 SR 1336 Misc
- Haunaked(e) 1288 Ass 1329 Ipm
- Halnakede al. Halfnakede 1347 Ipm
- Halnaket al. Halfnaked 1624 SRS14,66
- Hanycarr 1605 SRS12,182
- Hanekar 1650 SAC25,40
Etymology
There can be little doubt that this is OE healfanæcer , 'half a strip of ploughed land,' with early loss of r as suggested in IPN 108. At the same time it is noteworthy that the forms in r do not appear with certainty (the spellings with final k ' are ambiguous) until the curious perversion to 'half-naked' was well established. The whole name is a good example of the influence of an important feudal centre like Halnaker in bringing about the corruption of an English name. Cf. IPN 97.