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.

Falsgrave

Early-attested site in the Parish of Scarborough

Historical Forms

  • Wal(l)esgrif, Walesgrip 1086 DB
  • Walesgraua, Walesgrave 1169,1190 P 1619 NRS
  • Hwallisgrave 1170 Riev
  • Hwallesgraue 1181 BylE 1334 ForP
  • Walegrive 1175–89 YCh
  • Wallesgrave 1201 ChR 1228 Lib 1275,1298 YI 1312 Ch
  • Walegrave 1231 Fees
  • Whalegrave 1237 Cl
  • Quallegrave 1242 P
  • Whallesgrave 1259 Ass 1304 Abbr 1312 ForP 1487 FF
  • Walsgrave 1575 FF 1577 Saxton
  • Faulesgrave 1568 FF

Etymology

v. gryfja 'pit,' cf. Griff Farm and Stonegrave 54, 73supra .

The first element is the ON  pers. name Hvalr , gen. Hvals (LindN). The change of hw - to f - is peculiar, but is probably due to over-aspiration, in the same way as in some Scottish and Northern Irish dialects what has become 'fat.'

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement