Fearby
Major Settlement in the Parish of Mashamshire
Historical Forms
- Federbi 1086 DB
- Fetherby 1184 RichReg
- Feherbi 1193 StudleyRoyalMS.
- Fe(g)herbi, Fe(g)herby 1204 Ass 1231 Ass 1285 KI 1291 Ch 1301 LS 1316 Vill
- Faireby 1231 Ass
- Feryby 1279–81 QW
- Fegtherby 1301 LS
- Foyerby 1361 FF
- Feyerby 1369 BM
- Fethirby 1406 YI
- Fearby 1537 FF
Etymology
There are two types of spellings, Fether - and Fegher -. It seems most likely that the Fether - spellings are original and that the forms Fegher -, Feher - arise from AN loss of th and the insertion of a hiatus-filling gh (v. IPN 109, 111). Professor Ekwall suggests that the first element may be OScand fioðer , fiædher , 'four.' If such a compound is possible, this name presumably contains by in its original sense of 'dwelling' and the name would have some such meaning as 'four farms.'Cf. Sevenhampton (PN Wo 356). v. by .