Warboys
Major Settlement in the Parish of Warboys
Historical Forms
- Wærdebusc 1077 ChronRams 17th
- Wardebusc 1086 DB c.1115 AD,A14399 1163 P 1253 BM
- Wardebusche 1123–30 Rams c.1350 P 1167
- Wardeboys, Wardebois 1148–50 BM 1227 Ass 1228 FF 1260 Ass 1272 FF 1321 ADi 1348 Ch 1350 BM 1378 Cl
- Wardboys, Wardbois 1189 ChR 1428 FA
- Werdebusc 1253 BM
- Wardbys, Warbys 1543 BM
- Wardeboisse 1556 FF
- Wardboyes 1670 HMC
Etymology
This is a remarkable compound in which the first element is English and the second is apparently an early loan-word from the Latin boscus , later replaced by its French derivative bois .Another example of this loan-word is found in Hunts in Wiðibusce (mære ) (KCD 733), i.e. withy-bush. The persistent e between d and b is in favour of taking the first element to be the OE pers. name Wearda rather than the element weard . For this pers. name v. Wardington (PN Bk 15). Hence, 'Wearda's wood.' v. Addenda.