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.

Hungary Hill

Early-attested site in the Parish of Old Swinford

Etymology

Though there are no old forms, there can be no doubt that this is one of the numerous Hunger or Hungry Hills, so called from the poorness of the soil, cf. Hungerhulle (13thAOMB 61) in Pershore. This one is on the coal measures in contrast to the comparative richness of the keuper sandstone of most of the parish. There is no foundation for the legend that the hill is so called from the glass factory started there by Hungarians.The Henzies or Hensells who founded that industry came from Lorraine.