Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Bleoburg, (to) bleobyrig 944 BCS801 c.1240

• Bleobirie 1144 RSO 13th

• Bleoburia, Bleoberia late12th ReadingC

• Bleoberiam 1202 Ch 1227

• Bleobir' 1218–19 FF

• Bleobury 1380 Fine

• Blidberia, Blitberie 1086 DB

• Bleubiri 1091 RSO 13th

• Bleberiam 1144–7 BMFacs 1377 Fine

• Blieberia 1191 P

• Bliebiri 1193,1194 ib

• Blieberi 1195 ib

• Blieburc 1214 ib

• Blubir' 1212 Fees

• Blubery 1401–2 FA 1535 VE

• Blybiry 1230 P

• Blewbery 1519 AD 1535 VE

• Blewberry 1830 OS

• (ofer) bleo byrig dune 964 (c. 1240) BCS 1143

Etymology

The place is named from the hill-fort on the parish boundary, on the hill now called Blewburton Hill, which is (ofer ) bleo byrig dune 964 (c. 1240) BCS 1143, v. dūn . Blewbury is a compound of OE  *blēo 'variegated' and burh 'fort'. In Antiquity 23 (1949), 208–11, it is suggested that Blewburton is a corruption of Blewburdon from bleo byrig dun ; and the hill is in fact called Bluberdon in Gough's edition of Camden's Britannia (1789). The article in Antiquity also suggests that the creamy-white chalk soil would have a variegated appearance when the hill was under cultivation. Bleadon in So has the same first el. compounded with dūn .