Cropthorne
Major Settlement in the Parish of Cropthorne
Historical Forms
- Cropponþorn 780 BCS235 11th
- Croppeþorne 780 BCS235 11th
- Croppanþorn 841 BCS432 11th
- Cropetorn 1086 DB
- Croptorna, Croppetorna c.1086 EveA&B 1190
- Croppethorne 1305,1335 Pat 1428 FA
Etymology
It would seem that the first element in this name is an otherwise unknown pers. name Croppa , found also near here in Croppedune (WoC ), possibly originally a nickname from OE cropp , 'sprout, bunch.' It must also lie behind Cropredy (O) and Crapnell Fm (So), BCS 112 Croppanhull . Hence 'Croppa's thornbush,' v. þorn .
The element Crop must have been current in OE nomenclature at a very early date for in Berkshire and Oxfordshire documents there is evidence of a mutated derivative Crypsa , formed with a diminutive suffix s which passed out of use before the time of written records; cf. crypsan hylle (BCS 216) and crypsan dic (BCS 789).