SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

Scandinavian Names in English Place-Names 69
English sources (e.g. Ernild' filiam Asketini (LRS 22,
393), Anketinus messor 1202 (ibid. 627) who is probably
the same man as A nheiillus messor de Lutha 1202 (ibid.
1032)), is apparently not recorded in Normandy. The
abbreviated form Astin would appear to be Anglo­
Scandinavian for it is not recorded as being borne by
a Scandinavian in one of the homelands. It is, however,
of interest in that it shows how easily and naturally the
Scandinavian names were assimilated by the English.
Old sources contain several references to Danes bearing
the name Asjrid. Among those quoted in DaGP are
Osjred cognomento Turdimulo, Osjrid j. Heiligen, Osjred,
all 8Il, Ansfridwn« ninth century, Ansjridi Dani tenth
century, and in the form Ostrid the name occurs
frequently in Denmark after 1239. These Ostrid forms
could, in fact, equally well represent an earlier As(f)roth.
A variant -frear of the element -frior is found in both OW
and OE Scandinavian (d. ON Halifreor, quoted by
Janzen, op. cit. 103, the Manx runic inscription's asru]»
= Asroor < Asfreor, quoted in Lind, and the Hunestad
runic inscription's laikjruj5 = Leeikjroo «-frepuR). The
development e > 0 presumably occurs under the influence
of both the following u and the preceding jr; d. BrNGG
§ 85 n.r. No form As(f)roth is recorded in English
sources but Domesday Book names a few men called
Asjord (d. Feilitzen s.v.) and this form appears in some
place-names: 1. Osfyrotuna in H oylandia 1060 [Asjerton,
Asjortonia 1316J (Asperton L, Payling 108); 2. Osjerdebie
1086 [Asjordeb1'a c. Il25J (Asfordby Le, DEPN);
3. Asjordecrojt 1200 (field-name in Saxilby L, Bower 568);
4- Asjorthebi c. 1200 [Hasjordebi 1200, Esjordebi 1202,
Asjordebi 1212J (Asserby L, DEPN and Bower 141);
5. Hasjordhirn 1316 (field-name in L, Payling). The name
in 1. may be either original OE Osjrio, showing metathesis,
with the later forms influenced by the Scandinavian name,
or an original Asjord, with the 1060 document giving an
anglicised form. The 1086 form of 2. has probably been