Owmby by Spital
Major Settlement in the Parish of Owmby by Spital
Historical Forms
- Ounesbi 1086 DB
- Ounesb' 1185 Templar
- Ounesby 1243 RRG 1331,1353 Ipm
- Ounebi 1086 DB c1115 LS 1166,1167,1180 P 1196–1203,1200–10 RAiv 1202 Ass 1201 Cur 1212 Fees
- Ounesby c1184 Templar 15 FF 1209 Cur 1220 Pat 1227 RAiv 1230–40 FF 1232,1252 ValNor 1254 DCAcct 1446
- Owneby c1225 Queen's 14 Sub 1526
- Owneby iuxta Normanbie 1661 DCLB
- Ownebie iuxta Normanbie 1616 ib
- Ounabi, Ounabia c1115 LS
- Oumbi 1202 Ass
- Oumbye 1576 Saxton 1610 Speed
- Aueneby 1210 FF
- Auneby 1232 Welles 1230–40 RAiv
- Oudneby 1242—43 Fees
- Othenby 1303 FA
- Outhunby 1323 Foster
- Outhenby 1428 FA
- Ouenby 1383 Peace c1414 AASRxxix
- Ounby (iuxta Normanby) 1281 DC 1373 Peace 1383 Cl 1402 FA 1535 VEiv
- Ounbie iuxta Normanbie 1601 DCLB
- Ownby 1445 AASRxxix
- Ownbe 1539 AD
- Owmby 1661 Featley
Etymology
This is a difficult name. It is pointed out in PN L 2, 160–61 that Owmby (Owmby cum Searby), Owmby by Spittle, Aunby (in Careby) and Aunsby have usually been taken together, though the forms for each do not show the same patterns. Both Ekwall (DEPN s.n.) and Fellows- Jensen (SPNLY 41–12) take the first el. of each to be the Scand pers.n. Auðun (n ), according to the former in the shortened form Aun . In a recent study, Cameron (DLPN s.n.) suggests that the first el. of Owmby (PN L 2, 261) and of Aunsby is the AScand pers.n. Ouðen , an anglicised variant of the Scand ON Auðun (n ), cf. the L DB form Oudon . The first el. of Owmby by Spital and Aunby is the contracted AScand Oun , corresponding to ON Aun .
It seems reasonable to suggest that Owmby by Spital means 'Aun's farmstead, village', v. bȳ .