Kirk Smeaton
Major Settlement in the Parish of Kirk Smeaton
Historical Forms
- Smedetone 1086 DB
- Smydetona, Smidetona 1147–55 YCh 1170–80 YCh1589
- Smidhetone 1242 YDii
- Smithetun, Smitheton(e), Smytheton(e) 12 YDi 1170–80 YCh l.12 Kirkst c.1200,c.1220 Pont 1239 Ebor 1303 Ebor
- Kyrke Smytheton(e) 1311 NCWills 1313 Dunelm 1328 Banco
- Magna Smytheton(e) 1316 Vill
- Smetheton 1276 RH 1286 YI 1293 Kirkst 1374 FF 1382 BM 1480 MinAcct
- Kirksmethton 1379 PT
- Smeton 1409 DiocV 1413 YI 1428 FA 1496 FF
- Kyrk(e) Smeton, Kirk Smeton 14 Sawl193 1506 WillY 1535 VE
- Kyrksmeaton, Kirkesmeaton 1564,1587,1605 FF
Etymology
'The smiths' farmstead', v. smið , tūn , cf. Smeaton YN 211, 281, and Little Smeaton 53infra , from which it is distinguished by the affix (v. kirkja ); the church, which is first mentioned in DB, is referred to in many of the sources cited (1239 Ebor, etc.). In all these names the form Smethe - arises from ME lengthening and lowering of OE -i - in an open syllable (v. Phonol. § 23).