 Previously called Slepe, its name was changed to St Ives after the body of Saint Ivo (claimed to have been a Persian bishop; not to be confused with Ivo of Kermartin) was found buried in the town in about 1001/2.St Ivo's Priory was built on the site where the body was discovered.St Ives was listed as Slepe in the Hundred of Hurstingstone in Huntingdonshire in the Domesday Book.