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.

West Kirby, formerly Kirkby in Wirral

Major Settlement in the Parish of West Kirby

Historical Forms

  • Cherchebia 1081 Ordiii26 12
  • Cerchebia 1081 Orm2ii485 17
  • Chercabia 12 Ordiii281 ib
  • Kircheby 1153–81 France 1535 VE
  • West Kircheby, West Kircheby in Wirhale 1285 ChFine 1632 Sheaf
  • Kirkby 1237 Chest 17
  • West Kirkby 1287 Court 1657 Clif
  • Kirkby(e) alias West Kirkby 1629 ChetOSviii 1633 Sheaf
  • West Kirkby alias Kirbye 1633 ib
  • Westkyrby, Westkirby, Westkirby in Wyrhal(e) 1287 Court
  • West Kirbe 1539 Morris
  • Westkirbie 1592 JRC
  • Kirby, Kirbye, West Kirkby alias Kirby(e) 1633 Sheaf
  • Westkerkeby 1330 Ipm
  • Kerkeby West 1347 ChGaol
  • Kerkeby 1355 Eyre
  • West Kerkbye 1553 Sheaf
  • Westkerkby 1632 Sheaf
  • West kerbie 1621 JRC
  • West Kerby, West Kerby alias West Kerkby 1632 Sheaf 1652 JRC
  • Weskerby 1668 Sheaf
  • Wescerbye 1670 ib
  • Wescerbey 1697 ib
  • Westenkebye 1553 Sheaf

Etymology

'Village with a church', v. kirkju-býr. It is distinguished as 'west', v. west , and as '-in Wirral', from the other Kirkby in Wallasey 332infra at the east side of the Wirral peninsula. For the historical and literary associations of the p.n. West Kirby, v. Sagabook xiv307, EENS 23.