Thorne
Early-attested site in the Parish of Inkberrow
Historical Forms
- þordune, þornhæmadic 963 BCS1110 11th
- Thorndona 1208 Fees37
- Thorndune, Thornduna c.1235 Wulst 1271 For
- Thorndon 1275 Ass 1428 FA 1494 Ipm
- Thorne 1431 FA 1535 VE
Etymology
'Thorn-tree hill' (v. þorn , dun ) with later loss of the second element. The second form shows the suffixing of hæme to the first element noted under Doddenham supra 46. It has been noted (Word -Lore i. 172) that these Thorne names are specially common on or near parish boundaries. The explanation of this is of course that suggested by a correspondent in the same paper (i. 216), viz. that thorntrees or bushes were very commonly used as boundary marks.