Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Kyrseheye 1306 FF

• Curshaʒe 1312 Brid

• Curshay 1332 SR 1432 Brid

• Curshegh' 1344,1346 Brid

• Cursehey, Quirsehegh', Quyrsehegh' 1327 SR

• Curseheygh', Cursay, Quireshaye 1332 ib

• Curseyah (sic, for Cursehay) 1340 Hutch3

• Kyrsey 1433 HarlRoll 1583 SoDoNQ

• Kersey Eliz ChancP

• Kersey otherwise Curshay 1793 Salkeld

• Kirsey 1654 Hine

• Cirshay 1811 OS

• Cursey Farm 1839 TA

• Kershay 1863 Hutch3

Etymology

Hr Kershay Fm & Lr Kershay Fm (SY 458914), Kyrseheye 1306 FF (p), Curshaʒe 1312Brid , Curshay 1332 SR, 1432Brid , Curshegh '1344, 1346Brid all (p), Cursehey , Quirsehegh ', Quyrsehegh '1327 SR all (p), Curseheygh ', Cursay , Quireshaye 1332 ib all (p), Curseyah (sic, for Cursehay )1340 Hutch3 (p), Kyrsey 1433HarlRoll (p), 1583 SoDoNQ, Kersey Eliz ChancP, Kersey otherwise Curshay 1793Salkeld , Kirsey 1654Hine , Cirshay 1811 OS, Cursey Farm 1839TA , Kershay (2 farms) 1863 Hutch3, from ME  hay (OE  (ge)hæg) 'enclosure'. The first el. is obscure (the lost Kirshull 1404 in Puddletown par. 1 327 is perhaps to be compared), but is most probably a ME  surname: names in -hay are characteristically formed with the name of a medieval owner in this part of Do as well as in D (cf. e.g. Silkhay in this par. infra , Bilshay in Allington par. infra , Bluntshay in Whitchurch C. par. infra ).