Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Criccheseia(m), Criccheseiā 1086 DB

• Crikesey 1199 Abbr 1205 FF

• Crikeshee 1204 ib

• Crikesheye 1248 Ass

• Crikeseth 1320 Ipm

• Crikesheth 1428 FA

• Crykesey(e) 1259,1261 FF

• Krikesheth 1239 FF

• Crickesheth' (passagium) 1248 Ass

• Crickehethe 1286 FF

• Kirkesey 1247 FF 1367 Pat

• Kirkese 1248 Ass

• Kerkeshethe, Kirkishethe 1291 Tax

• Crekeseye 1248 Ass

• Crekisheth 1318 FF

• Crukesheth 1288 Abbr

• Kryxhithe 1326 Londin

• Kryxheth 1350 Cl

• Crixhithe 1373 IpmR

• Crixhethe 1386 ib

• Crixsey ferry 1606 EAviii

• Carykesheth 1368 Cl

• Kyrk Hythe alias Crykeshethe 1464 Pat

• Kyrk Hithe 1467 ib

• Cryxseyght 1552 FF

• Cricksey or Crickeseley 1594 N

• Creeksea 1768 M

Etymology

Possibly 'landing place by the hill,' v. ciric , hyþ . The hill is however so slight that it is difficult to see why it should have given rise to this name. It should be noted further that ciric , so far as our evidence goes, seems to have been used of some abrupt hill.If we have ciric in this name it is more likely that it refers to a lost barrow. For the genitival form cf. Crooksbury (PN Sr 170). The loss of th is due to French influence, v. IPN 109. The modern form is due to the position of the place on the estuary of the Crouch.