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 Riding of Yorkshire

Volume edited by : A. H. Smith 1937

Historical Forms

  • Æstreding, Estreding, Est Treding, Oustredinc 1086 DB
  • Austriding(e) 1125–30 1413 Ch
  • Oustriding(e) 1180–90 YCh623 1191–1201 Dods
  • Haustriding(e) 1260 Rental, YI
  • Austreing' c.1130 RegAlb
  • Austridding 1135 BevAct
  • Austreding, Austredyng 1135–47 Bridl 1152–62 Ch 1313 Dugd t.Hy2 1382
  • Estriding, Estridyng 1220 RegAlb 1255 Kirkham 1363 Works
  • Estridinge, Estridynge 1286 Ebor 1299 Abbr 1305 Whitby
  • Estrithing, Estrithyng 1227 YD 1407 HMC(Bev)
  • Estreding 1279–81 QW 1295 Pat
  • Estthridinge 1296 YI
  • Estrihingo 1349 Works
  • Estridding 1493 Test
  • the East Ridding c.1580 YD
  • the East Riding 1695 Morden
  • thrithingum de Crakou 1279–81 QW
  • Crayhou 1296 YI
  • Craykehouhe, Craykehowe 1298,1305 ib
  • Kraychou(u) 1298,1302 ib
  • Craykhou 1303 ib
  • Crakhowe 1352 Ipm
  • thrithingum de Craikhou in wap' de Herthill' 1298 Baildon
  • trithing' de Gartem' 1279–81 QW

Etymology

ON  austr, later supplanted by east 'east' and ON  þriðjungr , late OE  þriðing , 'third part.' Cf. North Riding (PN NRY 1).

In the 13th and 14th centuries the Riding court is described as thrithingum de Crakou 1279–81 QW, Crayhou 1296 YI, Craykehouhe , Craykehowe 1298, 1305 ib., Kraychou (u )1298, 1302 ib., Craykhou 1303 ib., Crakhowe 1352 Ipm; it is once called thrithingum de Craikhou in wap ' de Herthill '1298 Baildon and once trithing ' de Gartem ' (sic ) 1279–81 QW. The most likely site of the wapentake meeting-place is Craike or Craike Hill (infra 167) north of Kirkburn near many old trackways and numerous tumuli (v. haugr ). This at any rate is the only name in Harthill wapentake which agrees in form. It is near Driffield and being thus centrally placed it is within reasonably easy access of all parts of the Riding. Garton (the QW Gartem ) is the next village to the north. The Crak - forms suggest a combination of kraka 'crow' or ON  Kráki and haugr , as in a lost Crakenhou (13thBardney ), but the persistence of Crayk - points rather to the Brit  word *kraik 'rock' which is found in Crayke (PN NRY 27) and probably in Crick (PN Nth 69).