Guisborough
Major Settlement in the Parish of Guisborough
Historical Forms
- Ghigesburg, Gighesburg, Chigesburg, Chigesburc, Chigesborc 1086 DB
- Gisburham 1104–8 SD
- Gisebur(g)h 1130–5 YCh 1410 Guis
- Giseburc(h) 1155–1210 YCh 1189–1214 YCh
- Gisburgh, Gysburgh 1285 KI 1577 Saxton
- Gisseburgh c.1291 Tax
- Gysborow, Gysborough 1530 Visit
- Giseborne 1086 DB
- Giseburn(e), Gyseburn(e) 1119 Guis 1430 Bodla.i.63
- Gisbourne c.1180 Percy
- Gisburn, Gysburn 1228 FF 1483 Test
- Guiseburna early14 Whitby
- Guysborn 1504 Test
- Guisburne 1531 NCyWills
Etymology
This is a difficult name of which the interpretation is not made easier by Simeon of Durham's Gisburham . There is a rare ON by-name Gígr (LindBN) which would account for the DB forms, of which a diminutive seems to occur in Giggleswick (PN YWR 77). If this is correct the second g was early lost from the combination gsb and Simeon's form can only be explained as a case of suffixed ham ; cf. DBBreilesfordham for Brailesford (Db). For the fluctuating final element v. Cheeseburn, Newburn and Sockburn (PN NbDu s.nn.). Gainsborough (L) and Scarborough 105supra are further examples of burh-names compounded with a Scand by-name.