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.

Market Harborough

Major Settlement in the Parish of Market Harborough

Historical Forms

  • Haverbergam 1153 Reg
  • Hauerberga 1177,1178 P 1197 et freq
  • Hauerberg(e) 1197,1198 P 1316 Peake 1317 Wyg
  • Hauerbergh(e) 1227 Fees 1314 Peake 1491,1501 MktHPR
  • Hauerbargh' 1439 ShR 1480 MktHPR 1504 et freq
  • Hauerbar(o)ugh' 1465,1471 ib
  • Hauerboro(u)gh' 1466 1517 ib
  • Hauerborgh' 1498 ib
  • Hauerborowe 1556 Braye
  • Hauerburgh' 1385 Peake 1427 MktHPR 1431 Braye 1550 MktHPR
  • Hauerbrugh(e) 1546 ib
  • Har(e)berg(h) a.1250 MktHPR 1310 Cl 1350 LCDeeds
  • Hareburgh(e) 1347 Cl 1409 Braye 1410 Fine 1520 MktHPR 1522 Wyg
  • Har(e)berowe 1444 MktHPR
  • Harborowe 1459 Wyg 1475,1479 MktHPR 1521 1553 Pat
  • Harborough 1613 Polyolbion 1693 LML
  • Herburgh 1424 Pat 1425,1450 Cl
  • Herbourgh 1453 Fine
  • mercati de Haverberegh 1219 ClR
  • Mercat Heburgh 1312 BM
  • Market(t) Harborow(e) 1616, 1627 LML
  • Markett Harborough 1693 ib

Etymology

'The hill where oats are grown', v. hæfera , hafri , berg . Market Harborough came into existence in the middle of the 12th cent., until then being only an outlying part of the fields of the manor of Great Bowden infra . It is sited at a point where the main Leicester to Northampton road crosses the river Welland. Being roughly a day's journey from either town, it became an ideal place for trade. Note mercati de Haverberegh 1219 ClR (with MLat  mercatum 'market'), Mercat Heburgh 1312 BM and Market (t ) Harborow (e )1616, 1627 LML, Markett Harborough 1693 ib, v. market .