Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cornebi, Cornelbi 1086 DB

• Querneby 1219 Ass9 1236–58 YDix,394 1274–1316 WCR l.13 Nost44 1297 LS 1428 FA

• Quernebe 1331 YDi

• Qwerneby(e) 14 YDvi 1386 YDi

• Quermeby 1243 Fees

• Quernby 1383,1384 DodsN 1393 YDiii 1509 DodsN

• Qwernby 1447 YDi

• Whern(e)by 1451 Arm 1487 YDiii 1498 YDxii,236 1506 DodsN

• Wharn(e)by 1462 YDxiii,54 1506 DodsN

• Warneby 1592 FF

• Whermby 1487 YDiii 1542 FF

• Wharm(e)be 1488 WB65

• Wharm(e)by 1492 Arm 1533 FF 1545 LS

• Whornby 1498 YDxii,304

• Quarmby(e), Quarmbie 1519 Arm 1555 YDi 1587,1614 FF

• Quermbye 1604 FF 1636 YAS

Etymology

'Farmstead with a mill', v. kvern , bȳ . On initial Wh - for Qu - cf. Phonol. § 39. The change to Quarm - has a common assimilation of -n - to -m - before the labial -b -. On the DB spelling Corne -, cf. EPN i, 122 s.v. cweorn .