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.

Swainby

Major Settlement in the Parish of Pickhill

Historical Forms

  • Suanebi 1086 DB
  • Suenebi 1111–22 MaryY
  • Swayneby 1184 RichReg 1560 RichWills
  • Suanesby, Suanisby 1196 Guis 1313 Pat
  • Sweinesby 1349 Dugdvii.920 H3

Etymology

This name is parallel to OSwed  Swenaby (Hellquist, Svenska ON -by , 72 ff.) and denotes 'farm of the young men,' from ON sveinn , the Scand cognate of OE  swan. The first form has been influenced by that word itself, the last ones by the pers. name Sveinn . Cf. Swainby 178supra .

Places in the same Parish