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.

Keymer

Major Settlement in the Parish of Keymer

Historical Forms

  • Chemere, Chimele 1086 DB
  • Kiemera, Chiemere t.Wm2 Lewes c.1090 SAC54,6
  • Kiemela 1107–18 AC
  • Kimera, Kymera, Kymer(e) c.1090,Wm2 Lewes 1672 MarL
  • Chimela 1121 AC
  • Kymeresstrete 1279 Ass
  • Kymare 1545 ADvi
  • Keymer al. Kidmer 1598 SRS14,51
  • Keymor 1673 MarL
  • Keymer al. Kymer 1677 FF

Etymology

Keymer lies low in well-watered land and there may have been a mere here at one time. The name would seem to be 'cow's-mere,' from OE  , gen. sg. of cu , and mere .

Places in the same Parish