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.

Ureby Field

Early-attested site in the Parish of Cockermouth

Historical Forms

  • Ourebyfeld 1260 Rental
  • Urebyfeld 1399 IpmR
  • Ureby feilde 1578 Cocker
  • Upperby Field 1757 ib
  • Ureby Field 1809,1827 ib
  • Upperby Field otherwise Radcliff Field 1812 ib

Etymology

There was more than one field of this name, but all were in the east end of Cockermouth, adjoining or near Waste Lane. In 1757 (Cocker ) Richard Radcliffe became customary tenant of these fields. The forms clearly represent a lost village-name ending in . The first element is uncertain, but may be the ON  personal name Úri . Professor Ekwall prefers OE  uferra , 'upper', which may have replaced ON  øfri or efri .