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.

Motherby

Early-attested site in the Parish of Greystoke

Historical Forms

  • Motherby 1279 Ass
  • Mothirby 1285 For 1332 SR 1339 GDR
  • Moderbi 1285 Ipm
  • Muderby 1370 Fine 1371 Ct
  • Modreby 1485 Ipm
  • Moderby 1487 1540 AOMB 1589 LRMB
  • Mudderby 1532 Hudleston
  • Mothersby 1316 Ipm 1317 Cl
  • Mutherby 1351 Ass 1361 Ipm
  • Muthirby 1359 ib

Etymology

'Mothir 's .' This personal name, best recorded in ODan  Mōthir , was originally a nickname from móðir , 'mother.' It occurs, though rarely, in eastern England in the 11th century (e.g. Feudal Documents 40).