Birkby
Early-attested site in the Parish of Muncaster
Historical Forms
- Bretteby c.1215 StB 1323 Cl
- in Coupland 1316 FF
- Breteby 1278 Ass
- Bretotby 1279 ib
- Britby c.1290 Furness 1425 Cl 1431 Ass
- Bretby 1337 Ipm 1411 Pat
- Bertby 1332 SR
- Brytbye or Byrtbye 1565 FF
- Birbie 1659 CWxiv
Etymology
'bȳof the the Britons.' After metathesis of r had taken place, the first element was in modern times wrongly associated with birk , 'birch.' The name is identical with Birkby in Crosscanonby supra 282.