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.

Melkinthorpe

Early-attested site in the Parish of Lowther

Historical Forms

  • Melcanetorp c.1150 Lowth
  • Melkanthorp(e), Melcanthorp(e) c.1199 Lowth 1279 Ass5d 1281 AD 1292 Ass15 1777 M
  • -throp 1540 MinAcct 1685 PR
  • Melkamestorp 1195 FF
  • Melcamroph 1337 SR
  • Melkent(h)orpe 1256 Ass
  • Melkenthrop(p) 1278 Ass8 1571 FF 1716 PR(Wp)
  • Melkinthrop(p) 1582 PR(Mrl) 1650,1656 PR
  • Melkinthorp 1667–1753 ib
  • Mylkyngthorpe, -i- 1555 FF 1652 DdSale
  • Mylkenthrop 1621 Rent

Etymology

'Melkan's hamlet', v. þorp. The pers.n. Melkan is from Ir  Maelchon , cf. Ekwall, ScandsCelts 70–1, who also notes it in a La p.n. Melkanerhou ; it could, however, be from OIr  Maelcian (CGH 687) or OWelsh  Mailcun . T. E. Casson in an essay on Hornchild and the Battle of Stainmore (CW xxxvii, 30 ff) associates it with King Malkan of the medieval romance. On the use of þorp , cf. Introd.