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.

Swear Fm

Early-attested site in the Parish of Kirdford

Historical Forms

  • Le Swere 1541 BailiffsAccts
  • Swares 1620 SRS14,109
  • atte Swere 1417 Pat

Etymology

Swear Fm (6″) is Le Swere in 1541 (Bailiffs Accts ), Swares in 1620 SRS 14, 109, and probably gave name to Henry atte Swere (1417 Pat). OE  sweora is commonly used of a neck or col of land. Here it seems to be used of a projecting ridge with the land falling away on three sides.