Swyre
Major Settlement in the Parish of Swyre
Historical Forms
- Svere 1086 DB
- Swer(e) 1196 ChancR 1205,1206 Cur 1207–9 P 1212,1219 Fees 1225 Cur 1235–6 Fees 1244 Ass 1474 Pat
- Suere 1199 P 1227 FF 1244,1280 Ass
- Swera 1207–8 Memo
- Sewere 1340–6 Ipm
- Swre 1268 Ass 1275 Ipm 1428 FA
- Suure 1275 RH
- Sure 1276,1285 Drew 1288 Ass
- Swuore 1280 Ass
- Sw'r 1291 Tax
- Swyre 1275 Ipm 1288 Ass 1303 FA 1328,1344 FF
- Swire 1365 AD 1664 HTax
- Swyer 1486 Pat 1584,1597,1607 Russ
Etymology
From OE swēora (late West Saxon swȳra) 'a neck of land', possibly here with reference to the pass in the coastal hills in which the village lies rather than to the high ground (now Beacon Knap) to the west of the village, cf. the two occurrences of Swyre Head further east along the coast 1 19 and 1 112.