Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• on Þære stowe Þe genemned is æt Ea motum 926 ASC c.1100

• ponte (de) Amot 1279 Ass20,25

• pontibus de…Amot 1374 TestKarl

• Amot(e) 1386,1408 Pat

• Pundamot 1292 QW

• Amotbrig(g), Amotbrig(g)e, Amotbryg(g) 1361 Misc 1362 TestKarl 1373,1376 Ipm 1379 Pat 1523 SheriffAcct5

• Amotebrig c.1450 ADvi

• Ametbrig 1363 Ipm

• Emotbryghe 1477 Lowth

• Emotbridge 1576 Rydal

• the bridgs on Eimote c.1540 Leland

• E(a)mondbridge 1590 FF 1596 Lowth 1754 PR(Brt)

• E(a)mondbrigg 1631 FF

• E(a)mont bridge 1608 PR(Ask) 1671 Fleming 1802 DW

• E(a)montbrigg 1622 CWlxi,151

• Bridge 1687,1705 PR(Brt)

Etymology

Originally the place was called æt Ea motum 'at the river-conflu- ences', v. ēa-mōt, replaced by ON  á-mót. The confluence is that of the Lowther and the Eamont (i, 5supra ), which is also named from it. The bridge (v. brycg , Lat  pons , OFr  pont1) is first mentioned in the late 13th century, and was replaced by a new one in 1425 (cf. Jervoise 114, NWm 265–8). It was by this bridge that the High Street (Road I, i, 19 supra ) crossed the Eamont to Penrith and the north. The modern dial. form of the name in [jæ-] is a development of ON á (cf. Phonol. § 5). On the form in -mond -, -mont cf. Eamont (i, 6supra ).