Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• (molendinum de) Kibbecliva t.Hy1 Kenilworth 1170 Ch 1314 FF 1199

• Chibbeclive t.Hy2 Kenilworth

• Kibecliva c.1250 ib

• Kilbeclive al. Kilkeclive (sic) 1291 Tax

• Gibbeclyf 1279 Nott 1423 Pat

• Gibbeclyve 1334 Pat

• Gibclyff by Warwick 1496 Pat

• Gybbecliff 1537 Rental

• Gybclyffe 1545 LP

• Gybclyff mylle 1585 LRMB

• Quyesclif al. Gybclyf 1492 Pat

• Guyclif 1530 LP

• Guyesclyff, Guysclive 1535 VE

• Gyesclyeff 1542 MinAcct

• Guistclif (sic) 1554 Pat

• Guis Cliffe al. Gibbcliffe 1579 Depositions

• Guysecliffe 1605 FF

• Guycliffe 1610 FF

Etymology

Probably 'Cybba 's cliff,' v. clif , the reference being to the rocks by the Avon here. The pers. name Cybba is not on record, but might be a pet-form of such an OE  name as Cynebeald . Cf. Kibworth (Lei) and cybban stan (BCS 1002). The later form is due to association with the famous hero of romance, Guy of Warwick.