Kneesworth
Major Settlement in the Parish of Kneesworth
Historical Forms
- Kneneswrde c.1216 Lewes
- Knenisword 1272 Ass
- Knensworth 1364 Christ's
- Cnesworth, Gneswrth c.1218 SR
- Kenesw(o)rth 1235–85 Ass 1425–56 IpmR 1426 Cl
- Kensworth 1400 IpmR
- Kne(e)sw(o)rth(e) 1236 Barnwell 1457 FF
- Kne(e)swurth 1260 Ass
- Kneseworth(e) 1316 Ass 1316,1506 Pat 1317–1454 Christ's 1349 FF
- Knesseworth 1398,1500 Christ's 1472 Peterhouse
- Knethewrth, Knetswith 1236 Barnwell
- Kney(e)sw(o)rth(e) 1268–72 Ass 1549 Pat 1554 EAix
- Knyneworth 1272 Ass
- Knynesworthe 1494 Christ's
- Kynesworth 1272 Ass
- Knos(e)worth(e) 1285 Ass 1347 SR
- Nesworth 1696 Meldreth
Etymology
The first element in this worþ-compound is, as usual, a personal name. The third series of forms suggests that the name has been compressed through loss of the vowel of the first syllable and that we have to do with a personal name in Cēn - or possibly in Cyne -, such as Cēnðegn , Cēnwine or similar compounds of Cyne -. For the loss of the first vowel cf. the history of Knayton (PN NRY 206), Kniveton (PN Db 152) and Kneeton (PN Nt 226–7) going back to such forms as Cheniuetun and containing the personal name Cēngifu .