Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Crossebi, Crosseby 12 Weth 1153–82 MdMb c.1174 Ch 1294 Pipe 1176 P 1195–1203 Ch 13 Lowth 1294 Whitby c.1200 Pat 1216–27 TestKarl 1232 1361

• Grossebi 1178 Pipe

• Crosbi(e), Crosby 1294 AD80 1401 Fine 1611 PR

• -Towne 1599,1613 PR

• Rauen(e)swart, Raven(e)swart, -su(u)art, -svart 12,1133–56,1154–81 Whitby 1158–66 YCh 1174 Whitby 1256 Ass3d 1366 Pat

• -suait, -swayt 1173–81 YCh 1582 PR(B)

• -swarth(e) 1203 FF 1263,1268 Whitby 1286 Misc 1394 Pat

• -suard 1292 Ass14

• Ravenswath 1369 Cliff 1422 Cl 1652 DdSale

• -swaith 1539 DRH

• -swith 1676 PR(R) 1701 Dep

• Ravynswayth 1370 Hom

• -swath c.1450 ADvi

• Ravensworth 1625 PR 1628 Dep 1804 PR(Mlb)

• Rawnswith 1663 Dep

Etymology

'Farmstead with crosses', v. cros (ON  gen.plur. krossa ), bȳ .The affix is the ON  pers.n. Hrafnsvartr , which was in use in England (Björkman, NP no, Feilitzen 293).