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.

Laythwaite Crags

Early-attested site in the Parish of Bampton

Historical Forms

  • Laythalt 1651,1681–1725 PR
  • Laythalt als. Lathhead 1716 ib
  • Laythalt als. Laythead 1762 ib
  • Laythalt in Measand 1731 ib
  • Laithwaite 1774 ib
  • Lawthwaite 1823 M
  • Laithald 1839 TA

Etymology

Laythwaite Crags, 1865 OS, Laythalt 1651, 1681–1725 PR (freq), (Laythalt als. Lathhead ) 1716 ib, (Laythalt als. Laythead ) 1762 ib, (Laythalt in Measand ) 1731 ib, Laithwaite 1774 ib, Lawthwaite 1823 M, Laithald 1839TA .This is probably an ON  *leið -hólf 'track-bridge', found in Laytheolff and Laythold (i, 94, ii, 181 supra ), and discussed under Laither (YW iii, 39). The bridge would have crossed Laythwaite Sike, but the old track on the west side of Hawes Water (shown in 1823 M) has been submerged through the level of the lake being raised. The TA map locates Laithald at grid 83–479146 just within the present edge of the lake.