109. _Names first given to Parishes._--Is there any means of
ascertaining the time at which names were first given to parishes? and
can any reason be given for the recurrence of one termination in a
particular locality? Thus between Caistor and Brigg in Lincolnshire, a
distance of about nine miles, there are, I understand, the several
parishes or hamlets of _Clixby_, _Fonaby_, _Grassby_, _Ownby_, _Searby_,
_Bigby_, _Barnetby_, _Wrawby_, and there are many others in the
neighbourhood. Of course, I know the meaning of _by_, as a termination;
but I wish to know why it occurs so often in one locality, when perhaps
a few miles off you have as many _hams_ or _thorpes_.
Can you suggest any probable derivation of _Swinhop_?