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.

Uffington Castle

Early-attested site in the Parish of Uffington

Historical Forms

  • (in to) æscæsbyriges (suðgeate) m.10th BCS687 c.1200
  • (to) æscesbyris 953 c.1240 ib
  • (æt) Æscesbyrig 856 BCS491 12th 944 12th 958 12th ib
  • Æscesburuh 960 contemporary ib
  • Æscesburh 953 c.1240 ib

Etymology

The name (parcus de ) Essebir ' occurs 1241Ass (p), probably with reference to land in the north of Woolstone parish, and there is an Ashbury Mead 1771Barrington , near Oxlease Fm in the same vicinity. These places were not near Uffington Castle, but the names probably represent a survival of Æscesbyrig , used of the whole estate before the names Woolstone and Uffington came into use.