Survey of English Place-Names

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 .