A Brief History of Crayke : Changing place names

Given that Crayke enjoys a striking location on the first hill north of the flat vale of York, it seems likely that its name derives from the word ‘crag’ or something similar.  In the course of researching this article the following variants have been encountered:  Creca [14] (Saxon, AD 685), Cric [6](Saxon, 767), Creic [11], [34] (Saxon, post-Danish invasion, c. 990 and Norman / Domesday, 1086), Crec [5] (13th or 14th century), Crayk [19] (1487), Crek [35] (c. 1520), Craike [23] (1663), Crake [19], [23] (1716 and earlier, c. 1560), Craik [5], (c. 1850 and earlier, c. 1662), Craikshire [2] (early 19th century) and finally Crayke (c.1840).