Swineshead
Major Settlement in the Parish of Swineshead
Historical Forms
- Suineshefet 1086 DB
- Swyneshaued 1209 For
- Swynesheued, Swinesheued 1209 For 1272 FF 1285 FA 1293 Cl 1294 FF 1328 Ch 1428 FA
- Swyneheued, Swineheued 1247 Ass
- Swinehefd 1247 Ass
- Swynyshed 1525 BHRSii.52
- Swaneshed 1526 LS 1535 VE
- Swanneshed 1542 BM
- Swanshed 1549 Pat
- Swanshedd al. Swyneshedd 1585 FF
- Swanshead al. Swinshead 1595 FF
- Swaynshead 1630 BM
- Swinhead 1675 Ogilby
- Swinshead 1765 J
Etymology
There is little doubt that we should take this p.n. to belong to the group of names which includes Swineshead (L, Wo), Shepshed (Lei), Gateshead (Du), and Farcet (Hu), derived from the names of animals. Cf. Manshead infra 112. It is improbable that these names were given from fancied resemblance to the shapes of the heads of those animals and one must rather believe with Bradley that 'these names point to a custom of setting up the head of an animal, or a representation of it, on a pole, to mark the place for public open-air meetings' (Bradley Memorial Volume , 101). Probably owing to the unpleasant associations of the name, an attempt was made in later times to alter the name and to associate it with swan or swain .