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.

Kexbrough

Major Settlement in the Parish of Darton

Historical Forms

  • Cezeburg, Chizeburg 1086 DB
  • Kesceburg(h) 1159–1181 YCh 1325 BM
  • Kessceburgh 1383 YDvi
  • Keseburc 1194 P
  • Keseburne 1196 P
  • Keseburgh 1316 Vill 1434 YDvi
  • Keceburg 13 YDvi
  • Kesteburg 13 YDiii
  • Kesseburgh 1316 ADi,ii 1327,1355,1370 YDiii 1347 ib
  • Kessesburgh 1375 Arm
  • Kesburgh 1376 FF 1415 ADi 1545 FF
  • Kesborowh 1430 Brett
  • Kexburgh(e) 1402 FA 1523 YDiii 1581 YDviii
  • Kexbrough 1540 MonRent
  • Cheftesbi, Chestesbi 1086 DB
  • Chezbi, Chetesbi 1115 Ekwall

Etymology

In the earlier spellings -ze -, -sce - and -ce - represent the sounds -ts -, -ds - or -ðs - (cf. EPN ii, 92, s.v. -s), these combinations usually arising with the ON gen.sg. in -s , but the origin of the first el. is obscure.Ekwall has suggested the ON  byname Keptr (gen. Kepts ); this pers.n. would certainly seem to enter into Kexby L (Cheftesbi , Chestesbi 1086 DB, Chezbi , Chetesbi 1115 Ekwall, Keftesby 1202, Kestesbi 1212 ib), which has had a development similar to Kexbrough. 'Kept's fortification', v. burh , and cf. Introd. for this and other burh - names in the district. In this p.n., as in Flaxby pt. v infra , Roxby, Throxenby (YN xxxii), the later form with -x - is an inverted spelling for -z - which arose in the dialect from x , ks as well as from ts . Hunter notes that “the name…is usually pronounced Kesborough or rather Kesper” (1828 Hnt ii, 373); cf. the later spellings of Worsborough 292supra .