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.

Eamont Bridge

Early-attested site in the Parish of Barton

Historical Forms

  • on Þære stowe Þe genemned is æt Ea motum 926 ASC c.1100
  • ponte (de) Amot 1279 Ass20,25
  • pontibus de…Amot 1374 TestKarl
  • Amot(e) 1386,1408 Pat
  • Pundamot 1292 QW
  • Amotbrig(g), Amotbrig(g)e, Amotbryg(g) 1361 Misc 1362 TestKarl 1373,1376 Ipm 1379 Pat 1523 SheriffAcct5
  • Amotebrig c.1450 ADvi
  • Ametbrig 1363 Ipm
  • Emotbryghe 1477 Lowth
  • Emotbridge 1576 Rydal
  • the bridgs on Eimote c.1540 Leland
  • E(a)mondbridge 1590 FF 1596 Lowth 1754 PR(Brt)
  • E(a)mondbrigg 1631 FF
  • E(a)mont bridge 1608 PR(Ask) 1671 Fleming 1802 DW
  • E(a)montbrigg 1622 CWlxi,151
  • Bridge 1687,1705 PR(Brt)

Etymology

Originally the place was called æt Ea motum 'at the river-conflu- ences', v. ēa-mōt, replaced by ON  á-mót. The confluence is that of the Lowther and the Eamont (i, 5supra ), which is also named from it. The bridge (v. brycg , Lat  pons , OFr  pont1) is first mentioned in the late 13th century, and was replaced by a new one in 1425 (cf. Jervoise 114, NWm 265–8). It was by this bridge that the High Street (Road I, i, 19 supra ) crossed the Eamont to Penrith and the north. The modern dial. form of the name in [jæ-] is a development of ON á (cf. Phonol. § 5). On the form in -mond -, -mont cf. Eamont (i, 6supra ).

Places in the same Parish

Early-attested site

Other OS name