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.

Hr Ansty, Lr Ansty

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hilton

Historical Forms

  • Anesty(e) 1219,1220 Cur e13 Osm 1269 Ilch 1288 Ass
  • Anesti 1275 RH
  • Auestye 1329 FF
  • Ansty 1244 Ass 1355 Ipm 1795 Boswell
  • Anstey(') 1399,1400 Ilch 1463 FF 1544 Hutch3
  • Anstie 1602 AddCh
  • Upper Ansty, Lower Ansty 1870 Hutch3

Etymology

Hr Ansty (ST 768039), Lr Ansty (765032) [ˈɑːnsti], Anesty (e )1219, 1220 Cur, n.d. (e13) Osm, 1269Ilch (p), 1288Ass , Anesti 1275 RH (p), Auestye (for Anestye ) 1329 FF (p); Ansty 1244Ass (p), 1355 Ipm (p), 1795 Boswell, Anstey (')1399, 1400Ilch , 1463 FF, 1544 Hutch3, Anstie 1602AddCh , Upper Ansty , Lower Ansty 1870 Hutch3, cf. Pleck or Little Ansty infra .'Path for one, narrow track', from ānstiga, identical with Anstey D 333, etc, cf. also a point in the OE bounds of Winterborne T. 2 82. M. Gelling, Place -Names in the Landscape (1984), examines the situation of this and other Anst(e)y place-names and suggests for ānstiga a meaning 'linking road, stretch of road linking at least four routes' (here with reference to the short length of road, forking at either end, near Ansty Cross).