Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Torp 1086 DB 12 Font

• Torp Gruel 12 ib

• Thorpgrowell' e.14 ib

• Naurethorp 12,c.1150 YDviii

• Thorp(e) Hy2 Ch 1291 Selby c.1254

• Thorp(e) Malesar 12 Font

• Thorp(e) Malsert 1424 YDviii

• Thorp in Kirkebisyre, Thorp in Kirkebysir(i)a 12,13 Font c.1200 Vyner

• Gruelthorp(e) 1279–81 QW 1290 YI 1605 FF 1695 YASMd

• Growelthorp(e) 1290,1301 YI 1317 YDv 1325 YDiv 1353 Fount 1460 RipAct

• Grouwelthorpe 1301 YI 1328 Banco

• Grouelthorp 1303 KF 1345 Ripi

• Grewelthorp(e) 1457 FountBurs 1521 FF 1604 FF

• Grenwelthorpe (sic for Greuwelthorpe) 1535 VE

• Grevelthorp 1541 MinAcct

Etymology

v. þorp 'outlying farmstead'. The affix Grewel - is difficult, but the various forms are exactly parallel to those of ME , OFr  gruel (growel , gruwel , gruel , grewel ) which meant not only 'gruel' but 'fine flour, meal' (v. NED s.v. recorded from 1311); in the present context it would probably denote a place associated with a miller. Of the other affixes, Naure - is uncertain but could be from the ON  pers.n. Nafarr , Kirkbyshire is the name of the Honour (v. 78supra ) and Malsert is a local p.n. as in Kirkby Malzeard 209infra . v. Addenda.