English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Elwibber

Early-attested site in the Parish of Abbotsbury

Etymology

Elwibber (SY 593850), close to Elworth Withy Bed and (Long) Parks Withy Bed infra on a small stream, probably to be associated with Cockes Wythibere 1376Ilch , Cokkyswythbere 1383Ilch , Cockes Witheber ', Langewytheber '1387Ilch , Wytheber '1391Ilch , Cockes Witheber '1400Ilch ; these are 'withy grove' from wīðig and bearu (for the same compound v. 3340), with lang 1 'long' and cf. Ralph Cok 1269Ilch , ten ' q 'd ' Joh ' Cock nuper tenuit 1376Ilch , ten '…voc ' Jacke Cockesplace 1406Ilch ; the prefix El - in Elwibber may have been influenced by nearby Elworth infra but probably represents ME  eld < OE  eald 'old, long used'.