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.

Cheshire

Volume edited by : John McN. Dodgson (and, for part 5(2), A. R. Rumble) 1970-97

Historical Forms

  • Legeceaster scir 980 ASC m11
  • Civitatis Legionum provincia 980 FW c.1118 SD 980 c.1130
  • Cestriae provincia 1061–6 KCD939
  • provincia Cestriae 14 Higden
  • Cestrensis provincia c.1118 FW
  • provincia Cestrensis 14 Higden
  • the provinces of Chestre 14 Higden(Anon)
  • þe province of Chestre 1387 Trev
  • Ceasterscire 1085 ASC
  • Cestre Scire 1086 DB
  • Cestreshyre H8 Orm2
  • Cestresshire 1301 Pat 1344 1344 ib
  • Cestria c.1189–99 Ch 1290 Orm2 e13
  • Chestre 1536–9 Leland
  • comitatus Cestrie 1237 Cl
  • comitatus Chestre 1361 Pat
  • countee de Cester E1 Orm2 1666
  • le Counte de Cestre 1331 Dow
  • the counte of Chestre 1434 Sheaf
  • Cestreyra 1250 Dieul
  • Chastirshir' 1313 Cl (p), Bardsley 175
  • Chestershire 1326 Cl
  • Chestershir(e), Chestreshir(e) 1536–9 Leland
  • Chestershire…more short Cheshire 1656 Orm2
  • þe schire of Chestre 1387 Trev
  • the shirez of…and Chestre 1486 AD
  • la conte de Wehestre 1427 Dav
  • co. Westchestr' 1505 Dow
  • county of Westchester 1662 Sheaf
  • county of West-Chester 1696 ib
  • Cheschire 1430 Eyre
  • Chesshire 1442 ChRR
  • county of Cicestre 1439 Cl

Etymology

'The province of the city of Chester', v. scīr 1 , Chester 330 infra .The emergence of this shire is discussed in Part 5. Chastreschireford was on the eastern boundary of the county, v. Derbyshire Bridge 173infra .