Kornhorn is situated along a dike in a raised bog.[3] It was first mentioned in 1596 as Corriger sandt. The current name means the people of Corre/Curre near the bend (of the dike). (See also: Koarnjum).[4] In 1840, the hamlet was home to 61 people, and considered part of Doezum. In 1930, it received the status of a village.[3] In the 1940s, a disagreement to which parish Kornhorn belonged,[5] resulted in a schism and the establishment of three churches.[3] In 2017, one of the churches dissolved.[6] In 2018, it became part of the municipality Westerkwartier.[3]