Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Chivelesworde 1086 DB

• Kivelingewurðe 1195 P

• Kivelingewurthe 1208 Cur 1226 RHug

• Kivelingworth 1208 Cur

• Kivelingewrth 1208 FF 1295 Cl

• Kyvelingewrthe 1236 RHug

• Kevelingewurd 1196 ChancR

• Kevelingewrthe 1212 RBE

• Kivelingwrde 1197 P

• Kivelingworth(e) 1220 MHW 1292 Coram

• Kyvelingwrde 1226 RHug

• Kyvelyngworth 1244 Cur

• Kyvelingworth 1293 Ipm 1295 Cl 1316 FA 1322 Misc

• Kevelingwrð 1197 P

• Kevelingworth 1288 Cl

• Kevelingwurth 1296 OSut

• Kevelyngworth 1322 Cl 1328 Banco 1341 Pat

• Kylingwrth 1254 Val

• Killingworth c.1291 Tax 1393 Banco

• Killyngworth 1395 Pat 1396 Cl 1399 Pat

• Kyllyngworth 1383 Goodacre 1397 Cl 1470,1473 Wyg

• Kylyngworth 1431 ib

• Kelyngworth c.1291 Tax 1327 SR

• Kelingworth 1329 AD

• Killeworth 1380 Banco 1390,1391 Cl

• Kylleworth 1406 LCh

• Kylworth 1412 Ass 1416 Banco 1534 Ct 1540 MinAccts

• Kilworth 1424 Wyg 1482 Pat 1576 Saxton

• ~ Rabaz 1220 MHW 1254 Val 1502 MiscAccts 1510 Visit

• North(e) ~ 1288,1295 Cl

• Ricardus Rabaz in 1208 Cur

• Robertus Rabaz in 1244 ib

• Stephanus Rabaz in 1292 Coram

Etymology

The earliest form indicates simply 'Cyfel's enclosure', v. worð .However, a large number of early spellings with -inge - point to an alternative early -inga- construction, hence 'the enclosure of the family or followers of Cyfel', v. -ingas (-inga- gen.pl.), v. worð . But given the simple genitival composition-joint of the DB form, 'the enclosure associated with Cyfel' may rather pertain, v. -ing-, worð . The OE  masc. pers.n. Cyfel is unrecorded. Ekwall DEPN suggests that it is a derivative of the recorded OE  Cufa . The DB spelling with initial Ch - shows early AN usage for the voiceless stop [k]. Forms with Ke - are due to AN substitution of e for i .

The manor was held by Ricardus Rabaz in 1208 Cur, by Robertus Rabaz in 1244 ib and by Stephanus Rabaz in 1292 Coram. Forms with North (e ) ~ distinguish this settlement from South Kilworth infra , v. norð .