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.

Grantchester

Major Settlement in the Parish of Grantchester

Historical Forms

  • Granteseta, Grantesete 1086 DB
  • Granteset(e) 1203–8 Cur 1426 FF
  • Granteset(e) iuxta Cantebr', Granteset(e) cum Cotes 1285 Ass
  • Grantesset(e) t.Ric1 Cur c.1236 NLC 1242,1313 FF 1272 Ass
  • Grantisset(e) 1261 Cl 1319 FF
  • Grantecete 1270 Ipm 1279 RH 1284 FA 1291 Tax
  • Grantsete 1272 Ass 1294,1329 Pat
  • Grantshet 1237 FF
  • Grantese 1267 Pat
  • Grantece 1268 Ass
  • Grenteseta 1086 ICC
  • Grenteshet 1212 RBE
  • Grentesham 1214 Cur
  • Grencestre 1426 Cl
  • Gransete 1199 CurR 1393 FF
  • Gransete immo Grandesete 1285 Ass
  • Grancete 1284 FA 1417 ADiv
  • Grancett 1245 FF
  • Granzete 1284 Ipm
  • Gransethe 1299 SR
  • Grancestr(e) 1208 Cur 1559 Rental
  • Grancester 1345 CWool 1349 Crowland 1570 Ely 1577 ADv
  • Grancestour 1456 IpmR
  • Cantesete 1218 SR
  • Gantesete 13th StNeot
  • Grantesheter 1247 StJohn's
  • Grauntceseth' 1254 Val
  • Graunt(e)set(e) 1272 FF 1445 Elien
  • Crantesete 1260 Ass
  • Crauncestre 1335–7 Cl
  • Granseste 1272 Ass
  • Granceste 1339 FF 1341 NI 1372 SR 1378 SR
  • Graunceste 1446 Pat
  • Granteceste 1272 Ass 1327 SR 1417 FF
  • Girancecest' 1279 RH
  • Graunsete, Graunsete immo Grauntesete 1285 Ass 1428 FA
  • Grauncete 1315 Ass 1448 Pat
  • Grauncethe 1346,1428 FA
  • Grawnceter 1553 ADv
  • Magna Cestre 1287 Cl
  • Grandeset(e) 1299 QW 1377 Cl
  • Graundeceter 1518 ADv
  • Graundcester 1549 Pat
  • Grandcittie 1563 Ely
  • Grandcitty 1658 PRi
  • Grauncestre 1322 Pat 1480 ADiv
  • Grauncester 1485 Ipm 1544 ADv
  • Grauncesto(u)r 1549 1559 ADv
  • Granteseter 1327 Crowland
  • Grauntcestr' 1329 Pat
  • Grauntcester 1485 ADiv
  • Grantcester 1617 FF
  • Granseter 1349 Crowland
  • Granceter 1364 Ely 1576 Saxton
  • Grancettor 1380 Ely
  • Grancetre 1434 Pat
  • Gransyter 1554 CHuASv
  • Granciter 1579 Ely
  • Grancytter 1582 ib
  • Grauncet(t)er 1384 Ely 1431 ADiv 1501 ECP
  • Grauncetor 1535 VE 1553 EAvii
  • Graunchester t.Jas1 Rental
  • Granchester 1643 EAvi
  • Grandchester c.1655 ChancP

Etymology

OE  Grante -sǣte , 'the settlers on the Granta,' v. sǣte , Granta and Cambridge supra 6, 36. For the development cf. Tempsiter (Sa), DB Temsete , Temecester 1540 Leland and Halcetor (Mont), earlier Halchseten 1249 Misc (NCPNW 181). For the variation between G and C , v. Cambridge supra 38. Initial Grant - was at one stage taken to stand for OFr  gra (u )nt , gra (u )nd and rendered by the Latin magna . The use of immo before certain alternative forms emphasises official uncertainty as to the correct form of the name.

Places in the same Parish