Where does “Kirby” come from?
Kirby derives from English kirk, from Old Norse býr, ultimately from Ancient Greek κύριος meaning lord or master, via κυριακός and κυριακόν designating a lord's house or church.
Kirby (English): An English placename
Definitions
- An English placename
Ancestry of “Kirby”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Kirkby | A placename |
| 2 | English | by | Near or next to; From one side of something to... |
| 3 | Middle English | by | be |
| 4 | Old English | bī | lullaby!; near, by; by, near, around |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | bī | by, at; near, around |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | bi | by, at; near, around |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂m̥bʰi | around, on either side of, about; in exchange... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂n̥tbʰi | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |