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.

Crich

Major Settlement in the Parish of Crich

Historical Forms

  • Cryc 1009 SaltCh
  • Crice (bis) 1086 DB, Crich(e)
  • Crych(e) 1228 StLK 1265 Pat 1293 HarlCh 1324 Pat
  • Cruch(e) 1149–59,1159,1175,Hy2,Rich1 Darley 1199 ChR 1544 DKR
  • Cruce 1166 P 1345 Crich
  • Crutch' 1312 DbAxiii
  • Cruc 1166 RBE 1276 RH
  • Cruke 1207 P
  • Crauce 1204 Cur
  • Cruz 1229 Ch
  • Crouth 1291 Tax
  • Crouche 1325 Pat 1325,1327 Orig
  • Cruych(e) 1327 Banco 1332 Middleton 1346 Cor 1348 DbAxxxvi
  • Chryche 1585 Trusley
  • Creche 1570 DKR
  • Creach 1789 Camden(Gough)

Etymology

'Hill', v. cruc 1 , from PrW  crüg 'hill', cf. Crook Hill supra 124.It is possible that this Celtic name is comparatively late, possibly belonging to the period when Brit ū had become PrW ǖ (that is, to the early 6th century at the earliest). At least, it suggests a Celtic speaking population in this area at that time. Cf. also Jackson 310ff.