Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Canonbig 1372 Misc

• Canonbyg 1372 Misc

• Cannonbygh 1362 ADvi

• Canonbig' 1390 GrimsCt

• Canonbigge 1514 GrimsCBi

• Neubug m13 AD

• Le Neubygfeld 1328 AD

• campo de Neubyges 1378 AD

• quondam Johannis Canon 1492 GrimsExtent

• canonbrig 1512 GrimsCt

• Canon brygge in wellowe gate 1569 GrimsCBv

• Cannon bridge 1638 GrimsMiscD

Etymology

Canonbig (lost), Canonbig 1372 Misc, Canonbyg 1372 Misc, Cannonbygh 1362 AD vi, Canonbig '1390GrimsCt , Canonbigge 1514GrimsCB i , (and cf. Canonbig Lane infra where a later form is given); probably from canoun 'a canon', presumably a reference to the Canons of Wellow Abbey, and an unrecorded ME  *big 'a building'. The noun would then be derived from the ME  verb biggen (ON  byggja 'to build'), cf. ME  bigging 'a building' which is found in Newbigging in Great Grimsby infra . This is the first example of ME  *big so far noted in the Survey though another is Newbig in Haxey, LWR, Neubug m13AD , Le Neubygfeld 1328AD , campo de Neubyges 1378AD . However, it should be pointed out that the surn. Canon is found in medieval Grimsby, cf. John Canon 1339 Pat and it is therefore possible that Canonbig is the tenement recorded in vno t . quondam Johannis Canon 1492GrimsExtent . It was situated “near the abbey gate”, Gillett 7.

Canon Bridge(lost), canonbrig 1512GrimsCt , Canon brygge in wellowe gate 1569GrimsCB v , Cannon bridge 1638GrimsMiscD , v. brycg andcf. Canonbig supra .