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.

Symonds Yat

Early-attested site in the Parish of English Bicknor

Historical Forms

  • Symundesyate, Symondesyate 1256 Pat
  • Symondesʒate Symondesgate 1282 For
  • Symmons yate 1626 ib

Etymology

Symonds Yat [ˈsimənz ˈjæt], Symundesyate , Symondesyate 1256 Pat, Symondesʒate Symondesgate 1282For , Symmons yate 1626 ib. 'Sigemund's gap', from the OE  pers.n. Sigemund and geat , which here describes the deep narrow gorge through which the Wye flows.