Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

Harnall Lane (6″). Cf. Harnall c. 1170 Monast, 1450 LeetBk, Harenhal (e )c. 1185 (1348) Ch, 1223 FF, 1304Ass , 1308 AD iv, Haranhall 1221 Pap, Ernhale 1221Ass , Arnhale 1262 ib., 1346 Pat, 1656 Dugdale, Harnehale 1289Ass , Harnhale 1306 AD iv, 1309 FF, 1451 Ch, Harnale 1374 ib., 1381 AD iii, 1480 LeetBk, Potteresharnale , Prioresharnale 1315Ass , Prioursharnhale 1348FF , Harnehalewaste 1411Coventry , Priors Harnall 1545 LP.The exact site of Harnall is uncertain. Dugdale (129) speaks of it as reduced to one house and gives Harnall-pool as another name for Swanswell Pool infra 168. Harnall Lane runs roughly east and west, about a quarter of a mile north of the old city wall.It seems to be referred to in the bounds of the monastery as described in Dugdale (101) from a charter of 1349, where we have reference to the “high-way leading from the midst of Harnall near to Stoke, as far as the gibbet.” The probabilities are that the name goes back to the OE (æt þæm ) hāran hēale , i.e. '(at the) boundary nook of land,' which lay just outside the city walls.