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.

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).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site