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.

Ferne Ho

Early-attested site in the Parish of Donhead St Andrew

Historical Forms

  • Ferne 1256 FF 1275 RH 1297 FF
  • Ferne al. Verne 1561 ib
  • Verne House 1675 Ogilby
  • Ferne 1225 SR 1255 RH

Etymology

Ferne Ho is Ferne 1256 FF, 1275 RH, 1297FF , Ferne al. Verne 1561 ib., Verne House 1675 Ogilby, and was the home of Philip de Ferne (1225SR , 1255 RH). OE  fearn, 'bracken,' is unlikely, for we should have expected la ferne if that was its history.An alternative possibility is the OE  fiergen , 'wooded hill,' which lies behind Ferryhill (PN NbDu s. v .). Cf. also Fern Down (Do) in DEPN.