Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Gamelstorp 1086 DB 1207 OblR 1212 Fees 1232 Ch 1316 CollTop

• Gamelsthorp 1281 QW 1316 FA 1353 Cor

• Gamilstorp 1275 RH

• Gamulsthorp 1401–2 FA

• Gameltorp c1115 LS

• Gamelthorp 1276 RH 1382 Misc

• Gamulthorpe 1401–2 FA

• Gamelestorp(') 1180 P 1196 ChancR 1202 Ass 1205 Cur 1205 OblR 1207 P 1208 FF 1338 Pat

• Gamelesthorp 1232 Dugdvi 1257 Ch 1300 Ipm 1311 FF

• Gamelesthorpe 1321 RAii

• Gamellestorp Hy3 CollTop

• Gainestorp 1156–57 YChi 14 Ch R1 1308

• Gaynethorpe 1546 LPxxi

• Gainstrop 1697 Pryme

• Gainsthorpe 1824 O

Etymology

'Gamal's secondary settlement, outlying farmstead or hamlet' v. þorp , presumably of Hibaldstow. The first el. is the ODan  pers.n. Gamal , a name recorded independently and frequently in DB in L. The early forms in Gain - are not supported by subsequent spellings (till the 16th century) and are probably misreadings of Gam -. The later change to Gainsthorpe first noted in the 16th century does not appear to have parallels in other p.ns. and the reason for this development is unclear.