Birkby
Major Settlement in the Parish of Birkby
Historical Forms
- Bretebi 1086 DB
- Brettebi, Bretteby 1088 LVD50d
- Brytheby 1230 Pat
- Breteby, Briteby 1249 Heal 1285 KI
- Brytteby 1373 Test
- Birtbye 1577 Saxton
- Berkby 1316 Vill 16
- Byrkbye 1581 FF
Etymology
'The Britons' village' from ON Breta -býr . Such a name might arise if any men of British descent from the north-west accompanied Viking settlers in their movements into Yorkshire.The term Brötar is used for British Celts in Scandinavian sources (cf. Zachrisson, Romans , Kelts , etc. 46–7).