Gayhurst
Major Settlement in the Parish of Gayhurst
Historical Forms
- Gateherst 1086 DB
- Gaherst Radulfi de Niueres 1167 P
- Gaherst 1184 P 1189 P 1229 Ch
- Gahirst 1227 Ass (p), WellsR
- Gayhirst 1227 Ass
- Gaihurste 1227 WellsR
- Gathurst 1237 Fees 1255 For
- Gahurst 1242 1262 Ass 1276 RH 1284 FA 1291 Tax 1346 FA 1389 Pat
- Gayhurst 1242 Fees895 1321 Bodl23
- Goherst 1242 Gross
- Gothurst(e) 1290 Ipm 1302,1316 FA 1340 NI 1350 Ipm 1360 IpmR 1369 1378 1431 IpmR 1513,1526 LP
- Gayehurst 1301 Inqaqd 1535 VE
- Gothirst 1360 Pat
- Gahyrst 1400 Pat
- Goteherst 1436,1458 Pat
- Gotehirst 1440 IpmR 1468 Pat
- Gottehurst 1452–72 Linc
- Gotehurst 1496 Ipm 1503 Pat 1535 VE 1526 LS 1584 BM
- Geyhurst 1526 LP
- Gothurst 1806 Lysons
Etymology
'Goats' wood' v. gat , hyrst . The very early loss of t is remarkable, but has its parallel in Witham (Ess), ASC 913 Witham , but commonly Wyham after the Conquest (v. forms in Zachrisson, AN Influence , 88–9). In Gotham (Nt), where the t has been preserved, there is evidence of its temporary loss in the 12th cent. (Gaham , D and C Durham 2 iii Ebor 10). Side by side with forms with loss of medial t there would seem to have been others in which the t was preserved. The French form, without medial t , has survived to modern times, the Norman a , which was not changed to o , having been substituted for the early ME dark a , which would have, and also in this name sometimes did, become ME long open o , later shortened in the first element of the compound. This form seems to have passed completely out of use.