Colerne
Major Settlement in the Parish of Colerne
Historical Forms
- Colerne 1086 DB
- Colerme (sic) 1186 RBE
- Culerna, Culerne 1156 RegMalm 1177,1180 P 1302 Orig
- Cullerne 1572 Recov t.Jas1 ECP 1651 FF 1728 WMxlv
- Cullerne al. Collern 1270 Ipm
- Collerne 1327 Ass
- Collarne 1585 WMxxi
Etymology
The early and persistent alternation between Colerne and Culerne makes the name difficult to interpret. The second element is clearly ærn , 'house.' col -ærn might well denote a house where charcoal was made, used, or stored. Ekwall (DEPN s. n .) suggests that there was an alternative OE form cul , corresponding to OSw , Dan kul . Cf. Culputtehalve infra 434.The modern pronunciation derives from the Cul -forms.