Greystoke
Major Settlement in the Parish of Greystoke
Historical Forms
- Creistoch' 1167 P
- Creystok' 1254 Cl 1294 et freq
- Kreystock 1279 Ass
- Kreystoc 1280 Misc
- Creistok 1359 Ipm
- Crekestoc 1171–5 CWiii 1333
- Crestoc 1229 Pat
- Craystock 1245 Ch 1359 Ipm
- Craystok 1253 1359 ib
- Kraystok 1279 Ass
- Craystoc 1300 Misc
- Craistoke 1305 Ipm
- Graystoke 1259 Pipe
- Graystok 1291 Tax
- Graistok 1332 SR
- Graystock 1349 Ipm 1407 FF
- Greystok 1289 Pap early14th GoughMap 1323,1327,1359 Ipm
- Greistok 1356 Orig
- Grestock 1562 FF
- Greaistocke 1655 CW(OS)i
- Gristock 1657 ib
- Graistoc c.1180,c.1230,c.1237 Weth
- Graystoe c.1250 Lowther 1253 Ipm
- Graystok 1299 FF 1327 Ipm
- Greystoke 1253,1307 Ipm
- Greystock 1253 1278 Ass
- Greistok 1307 Ipm
- Craystoc' 1243 Pipe
- Craystok 1247 1279 Ass
- Craistok' 1254 Cl
- Creystok' 1279 Ass
- Kreystok' 1279 ib
- Creystock 1304 Cl
- Crastok 1279 Ass
- Graistokskales 1332 SR
- Graystokskales 1348 Cl
Etymology
In the parish was also Graistokskales 1332 SR, Graystokskales 1348 Cl. v. skáli .
This is a difficult name, partly because of the various forms which it assumes in medieval documents, and partly because of the scarcity of early evidence. It raises three separate problems—the question whether the initial is C - or G -, the weight to be given to the forms which introduce a k into the first element, and the uncertainty whether the termination is stoc or stocc . Most of the early forms for the place itself as distinct from the family which took name from it, show an initial C - and may probably be taken as representing local pronunciation. The forms beginning with initial G - may be due in part to association with ME grei , 'grey.' It is certain that the vowel of the first element was The form Crekestoc , if it can be trusted, suggests that the first element may have been OWelsh creic , 'hill,' with reference to the high ground on the north-west. On the whole, this is the most probable explanation. If the form in -k - is to be disregarded, it is hardly possible to go further than Ekwall's suggestion that the first element contains a river-name comparable with the name of the river Cray in Kent, and referring to the stream which joins the Petteril to the north of Blencow.