Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Grasmere 1251 ElyCouch 1380 Sewers

• Grasemere 1277 Ely

• Grasner (sic) 1377 Imb

• Gresmere 1336 Rental t.Eliz 1411

• Gresemere 1391 Rental 1599 1422

• Greysmore 1549 ib

• Great Grasemoor, Gracemoor 1810 Wisb

• Gresmoredrove 1449 Ct

• Grasemoor Drove c.1825 O.S.

Etymology

Gray's Moor is Grasmere 1251ElyCouch , 1380Sewers , Grasemere 1277Ely , Grasner (sic)1377 Imb, Gresmere 1336 (t. Eliz) Rental , 1411Ct , Gresemere 1391 (1599) Rental , 1422Ct , Greysmore 1549 ib., Great Grasemoor , Gracemoor 1810Wisb . Gray's Moor Drove (6″) is Gresmoredrove 1449Ct , Grasemoor Drove c. 1825 O.S. This name seems to be the same as Grasmere (We), Ceresmere 1203 Cur, Gres(s)emere 1246–54 Kendale, except that there the first element is OScand  gres , here OE gærs , 'grass.' Ekwall suggests (DEPN) that in Grasmere the reference is to the grassy shores or to vegetation in the lake. That may be so here. For the modern form cf. Gracechurch (London), 1190 P Gerscherche . v. gærs , mere .