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.

Henbury Fm, Henbury Ho & Henbury Manor

Early-attested site in the Parish of Sturminster Marshall

Historical Forms

  • Hennebyr 1244 FF
  • Hennbyr 1244 Ass
  • Hembyr 1249 FF
  • Hymbur 1249 1280 Ass
  • Hymbir 1280 ib
  • Himburi, Hymburi l13 AddCh
  • Hymbury 1327 SR 1334 Wim 1352 AddCh 1476 Cl
  • Hymbere 1504 Ipm
  • Hynbury 1545 Hutch3
  • Henbury 1546 Surv 1664 HTax
  • Henbury Higher or Upper Hymbury, Henbury Lower 1774 Hutch1
  • Lower Henbury, Higher Henbury 1811 OS
  • Henbury Dairy 1826 Gre

Etymology

Henbury Fm, Henbury Ho & Henbury Manor (SY 963982), Hennebyr 1244 FF, Hennbyr 1244Ass , Hembyr 1249 FF, Hymbur 1249 ib, 1280Ass , Hymbir 1280ib , Himburi , Hymburi l13AddCh , Hymbury 1327SR , 1334Wim , 1352AddCh et freq to 1476 Cl, Hymbere 1504 Ipm, Hynbury 1545 Hutch3, Henbury 1546Surv , 1664 HTax, Henbury Higher or Upper Hymbury , Henbury Lower 1774 Hutch1, probably '(at) the high or chief fortified place', from hēah (wk.obl. hēan ) and burh (dat. sg. byrig ), cf. Broadhembury D 557, Henbury Gl 3130; the ground here rises to 275′ at Henbury Hill 1811 OS. In spite of the two earliest forms cited, the first el. is less likely to be henna , gen.pl. of henn 'a hen', cf. Encombe in Corfe Castle par. 1 12. The i - forms for the first el. (if OE  hēan ) are probably due to the change ēa > īe > ī , and the spellings also show ME  assimilation of nb to mb . Henbury Ho & Henbury Manor are respectively Lower Henbury , Higher Henbury 1811 OS, Henbury Fm is Henbury Dairy 1826 Gre.