Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (le) Cnor t.Hy2 Ch 1314 Thorney c.1151–1314

• (le) Knarr(e) 1199 ElyCouch 1438 Imb

• (le) Knor c.1250 ElyM c.1270 Thorney 1314 1340 Imb

• Knarresfenne 1541 MinAcct

• Knarre Fenne 1550 Pat

Etymology

Knarr Fm is (le ) Cnor t. Hy 2 (1314) Ch, c. 1151–1314Thorney , (le ) Knarr (e )1199ElyCouch , 1438 Imb, (le ) Knor c. 1250ElyM , c. 1270Thorney , 1314Ct , 1340 Imb. Knarr Fen is Knarresfenne 1541Min Acct , Knarre Fenne 1550 Pat. Cf. also Knarr Lake infra 293. It is difficult with the forms before us to know whether we have to do with ME  knarre , 'rugged rock,' also 'knot in wood,' or the allied ME  knorre , 'knot or excrescence on the side of a tree.' knarre , 'rugged rock,' is probably found in Knar and Knaresdale (Nb) (cf. DEPN and PN NbDu 129–30) and survives in dial. gnarr (v. EDD). The rock sense would clearly not fit here, but the name might denote a 'gnarled' tree. Similarly knorre might be used of a tree—some tree stump in the fenland. There has clearly been confusion between the words, and in the absence of any knowledge as to the exact site to which reference is made, the etymology must remain uncertain. Possibly the term is descriptive of 'rough, gnarled' ground, with reference to the stumps of projecting trees such as are found in parts of the fens.