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.

Swaythorpe

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kilham

Historical Forms

  • Suauetorp 1086 DB
  • Suauet(h)orp 1190–1210 LeonardR
  • Swauet(h)orp 12th,13th Bridl 1227,1233 FF 1246 Ass 1276 RH
  • Suapethorp, Suaipetorp 1160–70 YCh849
  • Swathorp(e) 1240 Cl 1278 YI 1285 KI 1516 FF
  • Swauesthorp 1259 Ass
  • Swagthorp' 1297 LS
  • Swaithorpe, Swaythorpe 1530 Test 1579 FF
  • Swathroppe 1544 FF

Etymology

A woman's name Sváfa is recorded in OScand but it appears to be a literary invention. A man's name Suave is found in DB and this may well be from an OScand  pers. name Sváfi 'the Swabian' (ZEN 81–2). Swaby (L) also probably contains this name. 'Suave 's village,' v. þorp .

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Major Settlement