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.

Catesby

Major Settlement in the Parish of Catesby

Historical Forms

  • Catesbi 1086 DB 1471 ADi
  • Chatesbi 1189–95 AC
  • Overecatesby 1389 ADi
  • Cattesbi 1189–95 AC
  • Cattesby 1208,1235 Fees
  • Kattebi 1209–35 WellsR
  • Katteby 1227,1235 ib
  • Cattebi
  • Catteby 1231 WellsR 1246 Ch
  • Cateby 1246 Cl 1330 FA

Etymology

v. by . There are names Káti in ON , Kate in ODan and OSw, one of which probably lies behind this place-name. This should have given English Cateby . Possibly early confusion with the common word cat arose, and led to the use of genitival s . We may note, however, even in ON, the place-name form Kaats-rud (v. Lind). Confusion with the Scand. nickname Kátr is also possible—this would regularly have a genitive in s as in Katzrud (LindB s. n .). There were still an Upper and Nether Catesby in 1702 (Poll). The former was probably the higher part of Catesby round the church.