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.

Dunkeswick

Major Settlement in the Parish of Harewood

Historical Forms

  • Chesuic 1086 DB
  • Kesewych, Kesewik, Kesewyk(e) 1235,1240 FF 1240 Percy 1276 RH 1289 BltComp11 1316 Vill
  • Dounkesewyk 1550 FF
  • Dunkeswy(c)k(e), Dunkeswic(k) 1135–50 YCh 1246 FF 1266 MinAcct 1615 FF
  • Downkeswic(k) 1524 YDiii
  • Keiswicke 1577 Spoff

Etymology

'Cheese farm', v. cēse , wīc , with initial K - due to ON influence.'Dun-' (v. dūne 'lower') from its position in the valley bottom to distinguish it from East Keswick iv, 184supra .