The suggestion that Merkne is a corrupt form is probably a good one. But the regular gen.pl. of mearc is mearca (mearcena would have to be analogical). Also, the name reappears in the Kirkstead Psalter (Skelton & Harvey p.80) in the text distans aliquantulum de Merkue (or Merkne). Could the correct form be Merkm'e (for Merkmere) 'boundary mere'? After all, the next name in sequence on the map is Mermouth.

From: The English Place-Name List <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Geoff Tann <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 09 July 2018 08:27
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Merkne (Lincs)

I've forwarded Keith's posts on this to Dr Rob Wheeler and he has offered this contribution:

I have some doubt as to whether Merkne is a place at all. The places on the map that belonged to Revesby or to Kirkstead Abbeys are joined by wiggly lines. The other type of name occurs as a ribbon across the map. I suspect this ribbon is an abbreviated recitation of a boundary description "from Mapelbusk in Scirwodhirn, down to Helmerpit, ..." Just because the description was remembered, it does not follow that anyone in the 13th c. knew where eg Helmerpit actually was: there is no later reference to it that I am aware of. And might merkne be a genitive plural, arising through the full description reading 'along the line of boundary stakes'?

Geoff Tann.

From: Keith Briggs <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, 8 July 2018, 13:44
Subject: Re: [EPNL] Merkne (Lincs)

Map 1 is the same map as that printed by Skelton & Harvey.

I'd like to think of mere-kne 'boundary knee(-bend)', but it's perfectly straight.

Keith

From: The English Place-Name List <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Geoff Tann <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 08 July 2018 11:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Merkne (Lincs)

'Maps of the Witham Fens from the Thirteenth to the Nineteenth Century' (ed R.C. Wheeler, 2008, Lincoln Record Society) includes

Map 1: reproduction of 1232x1239 Division between Wildmore and West Fen, from Kirstead Psalter fol. 4v.

This shows Merkne and Neuham.

Map 3 [May 1567] Plan of Wainfleet & district showing new and old haven and new bank. Hatfield House, Cecil MSS Maps 2.48; BL Maps 186.h.2(48) is a photographic copy made 1939.

This labels Newholm and Mere bothe.

Geoff Tann.

From: Keith Briggs <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sunday, 8 July 2018, 11:00
Subject: [EPNL] Merkne (Lincs)

A map of 1224x1249 of Wildmore Fen (10km north of Boston) shows a list of places along what is now the West Fen Drain, marking it as the division between between the baronies of Bolingbroke and Scrivelsby (Skelton & Harvey, Local maps and plans from medieval England, p72).

One of the places is Merkne, which is shown next to Neuham, which survives on the modern map as Newham in Thornton le Fen.

As Merkne is on a boundary, it is likely to be derived from mearc, but what is the -ne element?

Keith

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