Criftins
Early-attested site in the Parish of Long Riston
Historical Forms
- Cryftynges 1150–60 Melsa
Etymology
Criftins is Cryftynges 1150–60 Melsa. This name, like Criftings infra 84, would appear to be from an OE *cryfting , possibly with a meaning similar to that of croft 'small field,' to which it stands in the same vowel relation as OE gylden 'golden' does to gold . This suggests that croft of which the ultimate origin is unknown (v. NED s.v.) might be taken back to Primitive Germanic *kruftaz . Cf. Criftin Fm in Burton Joyce (Nt), the Cliftin (sic)1609LRMB , Criftin Ho in Epperstone (Nt), Christinge (sic)Milne 1591 Wills, the West Criftin 1624 Nottingham County Records and le Halle Cresting 1322 Poulson in Dringhoe.