Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Edburgefeld c.1190(13th),1220(13th) RSO

• Erburgefeld, Erbergefeld 1222 RSO 13th

• Erburgefeld 1224–5 Ass

• Erberghefeud' 1241 ib

• Erburgefeld' 1242–3 Fees

• Erberghefeld' 1247–8 Ass

• Erberwefeld 1284 ib

• Erburghefelde 1316 FA

• Erborghefeld 1327 SR

• Erburghfeld 1345 Ipm

• Erboroghfeld 1369 Cl

• Erburghfelde 1390 ib

• Hereburgfeld' 1230 P

• Hereburgefeld 1254 Pat

• Hurberfeld' 1284 Ass

• Erburfeld' 1284 Ass

• Erberfeld 1380 Fine

• Erberfild, Herberfeld 1535 VE

• Arburfeld 1535 VE

Etymology

v. feld 'open land'. For the first el. DEPN suggests Hereburh , fem. pers.n., or eorðburg 'earthwork'. Forms without H - are the more numerous and the earlier, and this may mean that eorðburg should be preferred. Dr O. von Feilitzen, who is of this opinion, suggests that the Hereburg - forms are due to association with herebeorg . On the other hand, other names containing eorðburg show some spellings with Erd -. Harborough Banks Wa 289 is Erdbyr ' 1220, and Arbury Wa 79–80 has numerous forms in Ord -, Erde -, Erth -. Such spellings are not represented for the Berks name, unless the two Edburgefeld forms are considered to belong to this category. Also, the forms for Harbury Wa 170, which is Hereburgebyrig 1002 so must be derived from the fem. pers.n., include some which closely resemble those for Arborfield. No final choice is possible between eorðburg and the pers.n. No earthwork appears to be known in the vicinity.