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.

Keswick

Major Settlement in the Parish of Keswick

Historical Forms

  • Kesewic c.1240 Fountains
  • Kesewyk 1266 Pat 1279,1292 Ass 1403 Pat
  • Kesewik in Derewentfelles 1276 Ch
  • Chesewyk' 1285 For
  • Keswyk 1383 Ass 1383 GDR
  • Keswycke 1550 FF
  • Keswick 1589 FF
  • Kesswicke 1648 PR(Greystoke)
  • Kesilwyk al. Kesewik 1489 Pat
  • Kestwyk 1502 CWxvi
  • Casewyke 1530 FF
  • Kyswyke 1563 PR(Crosth)
  • Keesweck 1580 Border

Etymology

This is OAnglian cēse-wīc, 'cheese wīc,' with an initial K - perhaps due to Scandinavian influence, as in Keswick (Nf), East Keswick (WRY) and Casewick (L). Outside Scandinavian territory, in Cheswick (Nb), which contains the same OAnglian cēse , and in Chiswick (PN Mx 88–9, PN Ess 522), which contain West Saxon *cīese , cȳse , the initial has remained unaltered.