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.

Hunsonby

Major Settlement in the Parish of Hunsonby and Winskill

Historical Forms

  • Hunshwanby, Hunswanby 1292 Ass
  • Hunsanby 1339 GDR
  • Hundswanby 1345 FF
  • Hundswaynby 1348 Ass
  • Honsonby 1393 GDR
  • Huonsonby 1565 CW(OS)x
  • Unsonby 1532 Lowther

Etymology

The first element, as suggested by Ekwall in DEPN, is probably the gen. pl. of hunda-sveinn , 'dog-keeper.' The second is . The name would then be an exact parallel to Hunmanby (PN ERY 108).Hundsveinn used as a nickname is also possible, Less likely is the *Húnsveinn suggested by Lindkvist (65), Björkman (ZEN 47).

Places in the same Parish