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.

Southminster

Major Settlement in the Parish of Southminster

Historical Forms

  • æt Suðmynstre 825 BCS384
  • Suðmynster c.1000 CCC383 c.1125
  • Sudmunstrā 1086 DB
  • Sudminstra 1286 Ch
  • Sudmestre, Sudmystre 1448 MinAcct
  • Sudmister 1535 VE
  • Suhmunster 1268 Ch
  • Semenistre 1195 FF
  • Seministr' 1206 Cur
  • Semynistr' 1248 Ass
  • Sum(m)enistr(e), Sumenystre 1212 RBE 1218
  • Suministre 1218 FF
  • Sumynystre 1367 Pat
  • Suthmenstre 1221 Pat 1303 Ipm 1332 Londin
  • Suthmin(i)str(e) 1239-61 FF
  • Sutministr' 1235 Ass
  • Sinimistre 1247 FF
  • Symenistre 1248 Ass
  • Symynistre 1332 FF
  • Sydmyster 1427 ADiii
  • Sidmystre 1459-65 ECP
  • S(o)uthmestre 1428 FA
  • S(o)uthmyster 1434 ADiii
  • Southmynster alias Sydmynster 1545 LP

Etymology

v. suð , mynster . South , most probably, as distinct from the church which Bede tells us was built by St Cedd at Ythancæstir in the extreme north of the peninsula. v. St Peter's Chapel supra 210.