Whitby
Major Settlement in the Parish of Eastham & Stoke
Historical Forms
- Witeberia 1096–1101(1150),1150 Chest
- Witebia 1096–1101 Chest 1280
- Witebi 1188–91 ib
- Witeby 1260 1272,1277,1278 Chest
- Wytebi 1270–1316 ib
- Wyteby 1272 1279 Whall 1286 ChFor
- Whiteby 1241 Whall
- Whitebye 1539–47 Dugd
- Quiteleye 1291 Tax
- Whitby 1402 ChRR 1535 VE
- Whitby in Wirrall 1596 ChRR
- Whidbie 1655 Sheaf
Etymology
'The white manor or village', from hwīt 'white, stone-built', and burh (dat.sg. byrig ) 'a manor-house, a fortified place', and býr 'a village, a homestead'. The Scand. el. replaces an original OE el., cf. Greasby 291infra .