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.

Kenswick

Major Settlement in the Parish of Kenswick

Historical Forms

  • Checinwich(e) 1086 DB c.1086 EveA 1190
  • Kekinwiche c.1086 EveB 1190
  • Kekingwik(e) 1208 Fees36 1240 WoP 1270 Wigorn 1275 SR
  • Kinstwick 1221 FF
  • Kekenwic 1242 P
  • Keckingewyke 1275 Ass, FF
  • Ketelingwyche 1275 Ass
  • Kelyngwych 1411 FF
  • Kelonwyche al. Kekonwyche al. Kenchewhiche 1497 IpmR
  • Kengewick 1535 VE 1577 Saxton
  • Kenswike 1560 Wills
  • le Keke in 1275 (SR)

Etymology

The clue to this name is provided by the field-name Kekes Ruding which occurs in a charter of c. 1230 (WoC 39 b ). There is also an Osbert le Keke in 1275 (SR). This discovery confirms Ritter's suggestion (132) that we have to do with an OE  Cēcingwīc formed from a pers. name found also in Kesgrave (Sf), earlier Kekesgrave . Ritter points out that we should have expected ME  forms in Kech - rather than Kek -, but it is clear that some unexplained cause prevented the normal development of this pers. name from Cēc to Keche . The ME and early ModE  evidence prove an -inge pronunciation, suggesting OE  Cēcingawīc rather than Cēcingwīc . The same pers. name is probably found in Keckwick (Ch), 1281 Plea Roll Kecwyke (p), 1329 Ch Kekwic .From this place-name, at some stage in its history, must have been thrown off the pers. name Kekewich .

Places in the same Parish

None