Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cherchebi, Chirchebi 1086 DB

• Sudkirkebi 1119–29 Nost14 1188–1205 YChviii

• Suthkerchebi 1121 YCh1428

• Sukirbia 1127 Nost7d

• Sukirkebi 1177–93 YCh1516

• Sukyrkebi 1251 FF

• Sukirkbi 1257 Nost20d

• Suthkirkebi, Suthkyrkebi, Suthkyrkeby c.1130–40 YCh 1153–5 e.13 RegAlbii,19 1226 FF 1230 Ebor 1246 Ass4 1249 RegAlbii,6d 1253 Ebor 1314 Pat

• Sudkyrkeby 1295 YI

• Southkyrkeby 1309 Nost23d 1322 YDxii,292 1437 Surv

• Sowthekyrkeby 1586 WillY

• Sutkirkeby 1229 FF

• Suthkerkeby 1230 FF

• Suthkyrkby, Suthkirkby 1237 Nost136 1316 Vill

• South(e)kirkby 1407 YDviii 1467 Brett 1590 WillY

• Sowth(e)kirkby 1525 FF

• Kirby 1292 Nost63d

• South Kirby 1407 YDviii

• Sowth Kyrbie 1564 Visit

• Kirkeby, Kyrkeby 1296 LacyComp 1350 BM 1368 MinAcct

• Kyrkeby by Elmesall 1439 Pat

Etymology

'Farmstead or village with a church', v. kirkju-bý. There was a church here at the time of the DB survey. 'South' in relation to the lost Kirkby in Pontefract (79infra ), six miles to the north. The village was obviously called 'south' before the name of Kirkby in Pontefract fell into disuse in the twelfth century.