Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Hobie 1086 DB

• Hobi 1183 P l.12,Hy2 Dane 1212 P 1266 Pat

• Hoby 1212 FF 1216 ClR 1220 Cur 1576 Saxton 1610 Speed

• Houbia c.1130 LeicSurv

• Houbi 1150×1200 GarCh l.12 GarCart 1203 P 1326 Ipm 1335 Peake

• Houby 1209 Fine 1224 RHug 1236 Fees 1370,1375 Peake 1453,1454 Comp

• Howby 1257 CroxR Edw1 Hastings 1314 Peake 1336 PRep 1412 Pat 1547 LML 1629

• Howbie 1580,1581 LEpis

• Howeby c.1291 Tax 1352 BPR 1367 Misc 1438 Peake 1471 Pat

Etymology

'The farmstead, village at the headland', v. hōh , bȳ . The present village is sited at the foot of a great spur of land which abuts the river Wreake. Ekwall DEPN interprets Hoby as 'Hauk's bȳ', but his interpretation depends on the mistaken identification in ASWills of Houcbig 1066 × 68 with the Leics. Hoby. Houcbig is clearly in Lincs., possibly the lost Houcbyg listed in SPNLY 135.