Kentisbeare
Major Settlement in the Parish of Kentisbeare
Historical Forms
- Chentesbera 1086 DB
- Kentesbere 1577 Saxton
- Kentelesbar 1212–23 StNicholas 1291 Tax
- Kentelesbire 1252 FF
- Kentelesbyare 1270 Ass
- Kenteslebiere (sic) 1308 Exon
- Kanteleber 1219 Ass
- Kaentlesbyar 1297 Pat
Etymology
It seems unlikely that the first element here is the same as in Kentisbury supra 49. There is no circular hill here, for Kentisbeare lies low by a stream and, more important perhaps than this, there is a Kentis Moor infra 566 a mile to the south, with similar early forms, but no topographical feature in common. There is an OE pers. name Centa and we have OE compounds Centwine and Centweald . The neighbouring Kentisbeare and Kentis Moor may well have taken their name from a man Cæntel called by a diminutive form of the name Centa .