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.

Modbury

Major Settlement in the Parish of Modbury

Historical Forms

  • Motberia, Motbilia 1086 DB
  • Modberi(a) 1174–83 BM 1181 P
  • Modbury 1238 Ass
  • Modberegh 1276 Cl
  • Modbyry 1278 Misc 1291 Tax
  • Mychel Modbury 1480–3 ECP2,309
  • Modeberyburgh 1368 FF
  • Motberia 1185 P
  • Motbur' 1281 Ass
  • Motbury 1333 Ipm

Etymology

This is probably a compound of OE  gemōt , 'meeting-place' (v. Mutley supra 235), and burh . Cf. on ðæne gemot beorh BCS 392. Possibly it was at an early date the hundred meeting-place.