Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Priory 1831 Bry

• Ruins and Church Yard 1824 Lawton

• the prior of Bircheuet 1260 Court

• domus Sancti Jacobi de Birkeheued c.1267 CASNSx

• prior ecclesie Sancti Jacobi de Birkeheved 1284 ChFine

• monasterium sive prioratus de Birkhed 1535 VE

• Byrket a late priory of a xvi monkes c.1536 Leland

• priorie of Birket 1552 Sheaf

• Byrkenhead nuper prioratus 1660 CroR

• the priory of Birkenhed in Wirral commonly called Birket-Abby 1666 Orm2

• Birket Head Abby 1818 Sheaf

Etymology

Birkenhead Priory (100–328885), Priory 1831 Bry, Ruins and Church Yard 1824Lawton . This was a priory of sixteen Benedictine monks, dedicated to St James, founded c.1150 by Hamo de Massey, third baron of Dunham Massey 219 (cf. Saughall Massie 321infra ).It is mentioned, with variant spellings as for Birkenhead supra , in the prior of Bircheuet 1260 Court, domus Sancti Jacobi de Birkeheued c.1267 CASNS x, prior ecclesie Sancti Jacobi de Birkeheved 1284ChFine , and as monasterium sive prioratus de Birkhed 1535 VE, Byrket a late priory of a xvi monkes c.1536 Leland, priorie of Birket 1552 Sheaf, Byrkenhead nuper prioratus 1660CroR , the priory of Birkenhed in Wirral commonly called Birket -Abby 1666 Orm2, Birket Head Abby 1818 Sheaf, cf. the abbot of Birkheved 1294 Pat, the abbot of Birkheved 1333 Cl.