Pirbright
Major Settlement in the Parish of Pirbright
Historical Forms
- Perifrith 1166 RBE
- Pierrefrid 1170 P
- Pierrefrit 1182 P
- Perifrid 1174 P
- Perifrith 1235 Ass
- Perefricth t.John BM
- Perefriht 1241–60 ADiii
- Perefryth 1279 Ass
- Perefricht 1280 Ipm
- Perefrijt 1302,1334 Ipm
- Perefright 1342 Ass 1428 FA
- Perfright 1397 IpmR
- Pirifricht 1225 Ass
- Pirifriʒt t.Hy3 For
- Pirifrith 1239 FF 1330 Pat
- Pirifrihgt 1255 Ass
- Pyrifrith 1235 Ass
- Pyrybrith 1292 Ipm
- Piribryht, Piribright 1330 Ipm
- Purifricht t.Hy3 For
- Purifriht 1235 Ass
- Purifright 1302 Ipm
- Purifrith 1302 Ipm 1336 Pat
- Purifright 1353 Cl
- Puryfright 1360 FF
- Puryfrith 1294 Ass 1354 Ipm
- Puryfright 1360 FF
- Pyrefryth 1258 FF 1263 Ass
- Pyrefright c.1270 Winton 1312 Ass
- Pyrefrith 1325 Ass
- Pirefricht 1265 Misc
- Pirefrith 1291 Tax 1314 Ipm
- Piriefrith 1269 Ass
- Purefright 1274 Abbr 1312,1330 FF
- Purefrith 1327 Banco
- Pirivrith, Pirybreth 1330 Cl
- Piribryht, Piribright 1330 Ipm
- Pyribrith 1330 Misc
- Purbright al. Pirifrith 1426 IpmR
- Pyrbright 1428 FA
Etymology
The name is a compound of OE pyrige, 'pear-tree,' and fyrhþ(e), 'wooded country, wood.' The district is well wooded, and the name may have been given to a little clearing by the stream here where pear-trees were cultivated, or possibly to a site marked by a wild pear-tree.