Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Irsted(e) c.1140etfreqto1186–1210 Holme 1218etfreqto1373 FF 1220 Cur 1226to1277 Holme 1234 Cl 1243 Fees 1254–75 Val 1257,1286(p) Ass 1275 RH 1283to1459 AD 1289 NoLeet 1291 Tax 1295 IpmR 1299,1349 Pat 1316 FA 1330 SR 1489 Ipm 1535 VE

• Yrstede 1153–68 Holme

• Irsteda(m) 1175–86,1183 Holme

• Hirsted(e) 1254–75 Val 1303 FA

• Hyrstede c.1270 Bodl

• Girstead 1645 CtNeat&Irstead

• Isted' 1214 Cur

• Iristede 1234 FF

Etymology

The first element of this name in stede is probably OE  gyr 'mud, marsh', as suggested in DEPN and EPNE I 212. Cf. the lost Ess field-name Gyrstedes (v. Sandred 1963: 153, 183).