Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Cravmares 1086 DB

• Craumersc c.1100 EgCh 1347 Cl

• Craumershe Bataill 1316 FA

• Prestecrawemers c.1200 AD

• Prustecromerse 1268 Ass

• Prestecrowmerse, Prustecrowmerse 1278–9 RH

• Crowmersh Bataill 1426 Bodl

• Preston Crowmarsh 1610 Ipm

• Preston Crowmersh 1627 Ipm

Etymology

'Marsh frequented by crows,' v. crāwe , mersc . The parish of Crowmarsh (47–8) is named from the same tract of land. Crowmarsh Battle belonged to Battle Abbey in 1086. Crowmarsh Preston is 'the priests' Crowmarsh.' Ekwall (DEPN) suggests that the -ton indicates a weak genitive plural in -ena instead of the regular -a of the word prēost . This form is found in place-names, but as it first appears in the 17th century in this name, it is perhaps more likely to be a late addition of the suffix -ton .