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.

Christow

Major Settlement in the Parish of Christow

Historical Forms

  • Cristinestowe 1244 Ass 1258,1259–80 Exon
  • Cristeinestowe 1244 Fees
  • Cristenestowe 1269 Exon 1275 RH 1285 FA 1291 Tax
  • Cristenestou 1259–80 Exon
  • Cristenesstouwe 1285 FA
  • Cristowe 1361 Ass
  • Crystowe 1535 VE
  • Christow al. Christenstow 1618 Deed

Etymology

The church is not dedicated to St Christina and we have no evidence for her cult in England, so we are probably right in taking the name as derived from OE  crīstene -stow , 'place hallowed by Christian associations,' cf. Halstow supra 313.

Places in the same Parish