Moxby
Early-attested site in the Parish of Marton le Forest
Historical Forms
- Molzbi, Molscebi 1086 DB
- Molesby, Molesbi 1158 YCh 1161,1165,1167 P 1318 Ch
- Molebi 1172,1178,1179 P
- Molseby 1234 Ebor 1242 P 1248 HCY 1268,1281,1284,1287 Ebor 1301 LS 1345 Pap
- Molsby 1538 Dugdiv.567
Etymology
v. by . The first element is probably a personal name. The DB forms imply some such form as Mold , gen. sing. Molds .An ON weak personal name Moldi , gen. Molda , existed in Scandinavian (LindN), and a strong form Moldr , gen. Molds , is not an unlikely supposition; cf. Mouldsworth (Ch) from an OE Mold and v. Mildenham PN Wo 112. The place-name would, therefore, mean 'Mold's farm.'
The modern form of the name offers some difficulty. The development of ME Mols - in the local dialect would be Mouz -, and this too is the form we should get if the ME form had been Mox -; association of the two has probably led to confusion in the modern English spelling. In fact, x appears to have been inserted for NEDial z in other cases, such as Roxby (Pick), Throxenby, and Coxwold 90, 110, 191infra .