Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Crist 1086 DB

• Criz 1086 DB 1181–2

• Crihz 1212 Fees

• Cric 1086 DB

• Crich(e), Crych(e) 1224 Cur 1280 Ch 1285 FA 1291 Tax 1545 Ct

• Erlescrich 1301 Pat

• Est(e)crich(e), Est(e)crych(e) 1337 Hutch3 1546 Ct

• Est(e)krych 1346 Mansel

• Crihc 1264 Ipm

• Chryicht 1275 RH

• Cryk 1285 FA

• Crech(e) 1204 ClR 1244 FF

• Estecreche 14 Mansel

• Escreche, Eastcreche 1563 Mansel

• E Crech c.1586 Tres

• East Cretche 1586 Hutch3

• Cr(o)ugh 1303 FA

• Cruch 1303 Hutch3

• Crist 1086 DB

Etymology

'The mound, hill or barrow', from PrWelsh *crǖg, v. Jackson 310, referring to Creech Barrow infra which gave its name to a tract of land which 'is about 3¼ miles long, and extends from the boundary of the parish of Corfe Castle on the east, to that of Tyneham on the west' (Hutch3 1598), cf. Creech Grange and West Creech (where some of the early forms cited above may strictly belong) in Steeple par. infra ; for an analogous tract of land with a name of identical origin, cf. The Croach Ch 336. Erlescrich may allude to the Count of Mortain who held the part called Crist in 1086 DB (VCHDo 387), v. eorl . East in relation to Creech Grange and West Creech, v. ēast . The remains of a Roman villa were discovered ½ mile WNW (SY 935827) about 1889.