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.

Little Chester

Early-attested site in the Parish of Derby

Historical Forms

  • Cestre 1086 DB
  • Cestria(m) 1154–80,1159–90,1162–82,Hy2,1253 Darley
  • Cestr' 1348 ib
  • Parua Cestrea, Parva Cestrea, Cestria, Cestrie, Cestr(e) 1232,1245–63 RegAnt 1254–8 Darley 1577 DKR
  • Chestre 1229 Ch
  • Parua Chestre 1392 Cor
  • Chester parua 1577 Saxton
  • Little Chester 1369 Pat
  • Litlechestre 1392 Cor
  • Little Chestre 1407 Fine
  • Little Chester 1610 Speed
  • Derbentione late7th Ravenna

Etymology

'The Roman camp', v. ceaster , with the later prefix lȳtel . It is to be identified with Derbentione late 7th Ravenna, no doubt named from the R. Derwent supra 5.