The name is probably derived from Latin, and essentially translates to "boggy head," referring to the raised bog (Hochmoor).

Another interpretation of the name is derived from the terms Horn, miss and grind and meant the same as kahler Bergrücken ("bald ridge"), which carries a moorland on its height.

In the west the slope is cut through by the Schwarzwaldhochstraße (B 500) in approximately 900 to 1000 m, in the east drops the tendency steeply to the ice-age cirque Biberkessel with the landing Blindsee lake.

The Grinden - treeless wet heathlands on the highest areas, were created following forest clearance and the subsequent use of the land as grazing in the 15th century.

By contrast the raised bog, up to five metres thick, in the southeastern area of the summit plateau is naturally treeless.

[1] Parts of the plateau with the raised bog and the Karwand to the Biberkessel were designated as the Hornisgrinde-Biberkessel Nature Reserve (Naturschutzgebiet Hornisgrinde–Biberkessel, 95 ha.)

It originates from the year 1722 and marked the border between the Margraviate of Baden, the duchy Württemberg and the Diocese of Strasbourg.

[2] In 1938 the entire southern range of the summit level was declared as the military restricted area.

These operated on the Hornisgrinde an observing station on behalf of the French foreign secret service DGSE.

The construction of this observation tower in 1910 was an initiative by the Black Forest Club branch in Baden.