Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bretebi 1086 DB c.1200,1219 Kirkst

• Bretteby 1259 Ass 1284 Baild

• Britteby 1379 PT

• Byrtby(e) 1524 YDiii 1550 FF

• Birkby(e) 1459 KirkstRent

• Birkby(e) Green 1803 EnclA

Etymology

'Farmstead of the Britons', v. Brettas , ON  Bretar , bȳ . These Britons may have entered Yorkshire with Norwegians from the Lake District, as a group of the Britons of Elmet is unlikely to have retained its identity until the Viking period (cf. Introd., BurtonSalmon 40supra ); on the forms cf. Phonol. § 16.