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.

West Firsby

Major Settlement in the Parish of West Firsby

Historical Forms

  • Frisebi 1086 DB 1185 Templar lHy2,l12 Dane 1200 Cur 1212 Fees 1218 Ass
  • Friseby c1190 RAix 1210–12 RBE 1232–34 RAix 1246 Ipm 1254 ValNor 1265 Misc
  • Friseby iuxta Hakethorn 1272 Ass 1316 FA 1316 YDiv 1332 SR
  • Fryseby 1251 RRG 1252 Ch 1291 Tax 1295 Ipm 1297 Cl 1368 AD 1397 Cl
  • Frisabi c1115 LS
  • Frisbeia 1137–39 YChiii
  • Frisby 1272 RRGr 1275,1276 RH
  • Frisby “by” Spridlyngton 1327 SR 1343 NI 1401–2 FA
  • Frysby 1329 Ass 1349 Ipm
  • Frysby “by” Sprydlington' 1404 ChancCert 1451 Fine
  • Frisseby (“by” Spridlyngton) 1382 Cl 1504 Ipm
  • Freseby 1213 Cur
  • Fresebi 1219 Ass
  • Firsbie 1585 SC
  • West Firsby 1824 O 1830 Gre
  • West Firsby House 1828 Bry

Etymology

“The farmstead, village of the Frisians', from OE  Frīsa, Frēsa and ODan  , identical with Firsby (LSR). This was no doubt an isolated group of Frisians who accompanied the Danish settlers in L. Cf. Friesthorpe which has the same first el. Firsby is described as being near Hackthorn and Spridlington. West Firsby is a “lost” village.