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.

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.

Places in the same Parish