Griff
Early-attested site in the Parish of Chilvers Coton
Historical Forms
- Griva 12th AD
- Gryva 1233 ib
- (la) Gryve 1281 Ass 1327 SR 1424 FF 1443 ADiii 1473 IpmR
- la Greve 13th AD 1247 Ass 1280 Ipm 1285 QW 1332 SR 1484 IpmR
- Greves 1364,1606 FF
- Grebe 1428 FA
- Greefe t.Jas1 ECP
- Gryff 1488 Ipm 1492 BM 1538 LP 1540 AOMB 1654 FF
- Griffey 1675 Ogilby
Etymology
The persistent early forms with i are against our taking this to be the OE græfe, 'grove, copse.' The country is much broken here and close at hand is Griff Hollow, so we are probably right in taking this to be an example of ON gryfja, 'pit, hole.' Cf. Griff (PN NRY 73) and griff sb. in EDD.