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.

East Anstey

Major Settlement in the Parish of East Anstey

Historical Forms

  • Anesti(n)ga 1086 DB
  • (H)anestinges 1201,1205 FF
  • Anestye 1242 Fees784,772
  • Anesteye 1301 Ipm
  • Estanesty 1263 Exon
  • Estanestygh 1285 FA
  • Yestansty 1343 Ipm
  • Ansteycrues 1405 Exon

Etymology

v. anstig . East and West Anstey are over a mile apart and have no topographical feature in common. The names must have arisen independently and since the places are situated on hilltops the names may in each case have referred to a small track leading up to the churches at the summit. Presumably the second n in the earliest forms is due to an error of repetition.Robert de Cruwes held the manor in 1285 (FA).