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.

Swain Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Great Grimsby

Historical Forms

  • Swaynbrigg, Ponte dicit Swaynbrygt (sic) 1492 GrimsExtent
  • Swan bryg (sic) 1543 ib

Etymology

Swain Bridge (lost), Swaynbrigg , Ponte dicit Swaynbrygt (sic)1492GrimsExtent , Swan bryg (sic)1543ib ; the first el. appears to be sveinn 'a young man, a servant', and cf. Swan Lane infra in which the three earliest forms are also Swain - and Swayne -.