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.

Thirlby

Major Settlement in the Parish of Felixkirk

Historical Forms

  • Trillebi(a), Trylleby 1189,1248 Riev 1226 FF 1252 Ch 1285 KI
  • Thirleby 1271 Ch 1316 Vill 1399 YI 1579 FF
  • Thrilleby 1273 Riev 1301 LS

Etymology

The forms point to an ON  Þrilli or Þrylli . No such name is on record, but it is a conceivable weak diminutive of the pers. name element þrýð - found in ON  Þrýð -rikr . If so, the name means 'Þrylli 's by.'