Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• þrokonholt 656 ASC c.1150

• Throkenholt 1229 ElyCouch

• Throkenold 1439 Imb

• Throcknolt 1548 Ct

• Thrognolt(e) 1550–2 Ct

• Throcknall 1619 Imb

• Trokonholt c.1151–91 Thorney

• Trokenholt 1218 ElyCouch 1438 Imb

• Trockenholt c.1240 Ch 1348

• Hoconhold c.1150 Ch 1348

• Trokeholt c.1151,c.1350 Thorney

• Throkeholt 1235 ElyA

• Heremitorium quondam Endewicke dictum nunc vero Trokenholde nominat' 1196 WisbechMap

• Trokenhold(e) 1251 ElyCouch 1597 WisbechMap

• Trokenhout 1293 Imb

• Trokenhaut 1293 Pat

• Trokkene c.1191 Thorney

• Trokenhee c.1350 ib

• Thorkenholt 1234 ElyC

• Thorokinholt 1301 Ct

• Torkenholt(e) 1436 SewersC

• Trokenhou 1291 Colexliii 1294 Imb

• Trokonolum in loco Euerdewic c.1320 Thorney

• Trokenholum in loco Endewico dicto 1358 WisbechMap

• Trokenhole 1576 Saxton

• Troknold 1570 Imb

• aqua de Euerdwic 13th StNeot

Etymology

The first element is an adj. þroccen , from OE  þrocc , 'a piece of timber to which the ploughshare was fastened' (dial, throck ), also used of the table of the moneychangers, fully discussed s. n. Throcking (PN Herts 187). The second element was originally holt , with later occasional substitution of ēa (with reference to the river) and holh . Hence probably, 'wood or hollow where throcks were obtained,' though the exact meaning of þroc is uncertain.

The earliest form for the lost alternative occurs in aqua de Euerdwic 13thStNeot for the Old South Eau supra 11. 'Dairy farm by the ford through the (South) Eau,' v. ēa , wīc . -uerd - preserves the old locative ending of ford .